Antenatal classes

If you are pregnant, antenatal classes can help you to prepare for:

• Labour
• The birth of your baby, and
• Becoming a parent.

Some classes also include practical advice on how to care for your baby after their arrival, as well as how to look after yourself.

Many maternity hospitals and health centres offer antenatal classes for free, though you can also register for private classes. You should book your preferred classes as early as possible as they can fill up fast.

If you are employed, you may be entitled to take paid time off work to attend antenatal classes. You should give your employer at least 2 weeks’ notice (in writing) before the classes begin. See 'Time off work and antenatal classes' below.

Some maternity units offer online antenatal classes for women booked into their hospital. Online resources include:

• Pregnancy, labour and caring for a newborn (University Hospital Kerry)
• Online courses and Elearning hub (National Maternity Hospital), and
• The Learning Hub (Rotunda Hospital)

Check with your maternity unit or hospital about any face-to-face and online resources that are available. Find your local maternity unit or hospital.

If you are unsure about which antenatal class to attend, talk to your maternity hospital, GP, midwife or public health nurse. They can guide you on what class would suit your specific needs and in your area.

Some antenatal classes focus on labour and the birth, while others include a variety of topics. Some classes are tailored to parents with specific needs, such as lone parents, teenagers, or parents having twins or multiple births.

If you have previously had a caesarean birth but now wish to have a vaginal birth, many hospitals and services offer vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) antenatal classes.

Other topics that may be covered in your antenatal class:

• Keeping well during pregnancy
• Emotions that you may experience during your pregnancy
• Labour
• What happens during labour and birth
• Positions and breathing for labour and birth
• Pain relief in labour
• Different types of births and interventions
• Preparation for becoming a parent
• Caring for your baby
• Looking after your relationship with your partner
• Safe skin-to-skin contact
• Breastfeeding
• Your health and mental wellbeing

Classes are usually participant-led, which means that you (and other members of the class) can have a say in the topics discussed and ask questions.

Classes usually involve midwives, public health nurses and physiotherapists. Partners are usually welcome at classes too. Check with your midwife before you go.

When to start your antenatal classes

Most formal antenatal classes start when you are between 26-32 weeks pregnant.

If you are expecting twins (or any multiple births), consider starting your antenatal classes early. Your babies may arrive before their due date.

You should book your preferred classes as early as possible. Find contact information for public hospitals.

If this is your first pregnancy in employment, and you are attending a set of 8 classes, you are only entitled to be paid while attending 5 of those classes. This is set out in legislation. The last 3 classes would normally occur after your maternity leave has started.

You do not have the right to paid time off work to attend antenatal classes each time you are pregnant. The entitlement covers one set of classes (for one pregnancy) only.

However, if you are unable to attend some antenatal classes due to reasons beyond your control (such as premature birth, illness, miscarriage or stillbirth), you can carry over your entitlement to your subsequent pregnancies. This means you can take paid time off work to attend any untaken classes (except the last 3 in a set).

Partners have a once-off right to paid time off work to attend the 2 antenatal classes immediately prior to the birth. This is also set out in legislation.

To take this paid time off work, you must notify your employer in writing at least 2 weeks before classes begin. You should outline the dates and times of the classes, as your employer has the right to request this.

For more information on your entitlement to take paid time off work to attend antenatal classes, contact the Workplace Relations Commission.

Antenatal classes held by your local public maternity hospital are free of charge.

If you choose to attend private antenatal classes, you will have to pay a fee. Remember to always check the credentials of the class provider before paying.

Further information

You can find lots of information on pregnancy, birth and after your baby is born on the HSE’s MyChild website.