Complimentary antenatal classes & Events

This free online Early Pregnancy & Pre-conception workshop is taught by one of our Specialist Education Midwives.

We recommend you attend this class in pregnancy as early as possible (ideally before 12 weeks of pregnancy). For those planning a pregnancy this workshop will provide information regarding general health but not cover fertility advice. 

During this 45-60 minute workshop our Midwife facilitator will discuss:

• Diet and exercise for pre-conception and pregnancy

• Foods to avoid

• Vaccinations and screening tests available

• What to expect from your maternity appointments

• Information regarding our free, pregnancy classes

• When to contact for help

There will also be time to answer your general questions.

To book this course sign in to your Maternity Parent Portal and visit the "Free Courses & Events" Tab. Planning a pregnancy? Contact the Birth & Beyond Team to book your space rsch.birthandbeyond@nhs.net.

We are delighted to team up with Royal Surrey's Pelvic Health Physiotherapy team to provide a series of classes to support you in having a healthier pregnancy and a smoother postnatal recovery.

During this antenatal class, our specialist physiotherapists will cover topics including:

• how your body changes in pregnancy
• tips to stay comfortable during pregnancy
• exercise advice for pregnancy
• antenatal pelvic floor exercise advice

You can join these classes from 12 weeks of pregnancy. These free classes are available for women registered to give birth with Royal Surrey Maternity. 

To book this course sign in to your Maternity Parent Portal and visit the "Free Courses & Events" Tab.

This free in person or virtual pregnancy event is facilitated by our Specialist Education Midwives for first time parents and expectant parents who are new to our Maternity Services.

We recommend you attend this event with your birth partner from 13 weeks of pregnancy to receive relevant information for the second trimester and to view a virtual tour of the Maternity Unit

During this event, you will be able to;

• Meet our Birth & Beyond Midwives and to ask questions about our education services
• View a virtual Maternity Unit tour (Delivery Suite, Midwifery Led Unit and the Postnatal ward) with live in person commentary and the opportunity to ask questions 
• Explore your birthplace options 
• Learn the importance of your baby's movements and how to monitor them 
• Explore the importance of "Bump Bonding" in pregnancy
• Start to prepare physically & emotionally for birth
• Learn when to use the Call a Midwife Advice Line 
• Collect a 20% discount code to use when booking a Complete course (expires within 48 hours from the date of the course).

If you are looking for information before 12 weeks, please see our Early Pregnancy Class. For information after 25 weeks of pregnancy, see our Complimentary workshops and Well-Being Walks.

If you are not able to attend. Please cancel your space to allow someone else access. Repeated non attendance could result in the the removal of class access.

Would you like to meet more midwives from your continuity team and increase the chance of getting to know the midwife who may care for you in labour?

Would you like the opportunity to meet and network with other local expectant families?

Come along to your team's Meet the Midwives Events.

To learn more sign in to your Maternity Parent Portal and visit the "Free Courses & Events" Tab.

All are welcome to join the Surrey Hills Homebirth team for their informal coffee mornings.

For expectant parents this is a fantastic opportunity to meet the team and local home birthing families and explore all of your birth place choices in a relaxed, informal setting.

Present and past clients of the team are also warmly welcomed for a catch up and to share your homebirth experiences.

To learn more sign in to your Maternity Parent Portal and visit the "Free Courses & Events" Tab.

If you are unable to make these events but would like more information about birthing in your own home please email the team at rsch.homebirth.referrals@nhs.net

This free online pregnancy workshop is taught by one of our Specialist Education Midwives.

We recomment that you attend this class with your birth partner from 12 weeks of pregnancy to help you identify what you need in order to prepare for your baby's birth. 

During this 45-60 minute workshop our Midiwfe facilitator will discuss:

• Why we recommend you plan & prepare for birth

• Why is it important to consider all potential types of birth

• How useful plans are and the difference between plans, preferences and intentions 

• Common concerns pregnant people and their partners have about birth and how we can support you including what classes we offer 

• How to record your birth plan

• Why and when to share you birth plan with your community/named midwife

Our Facilitator will also guide you through a couple of reflective activities to help you to identify the most important elements for you to have a positive birth experience and what you need to do/know to achieve this.

There will also be time to answer your questions about developing your personlised care plan and selecting parent eduaction classes.

Please note that this session is intended to support you to recognise what you need to learn/practice/research in order to prepare for birth and develop you birth plan.

To book this course sign in to your Maternity Parent Portal and visit the "Free Courses & Events" Tab.

We are delighted to work in partnership with Dad Matters Surrey to offer a FREE New Dad* Workshop, designed to support dads-to-be and new dads during the early stages of parenthood.

Dad Matters Surrey is a supportive project that works with fathers from pregnancy through the first two years, recognising the vital role dads play in their child’s development and family wellbeing. The project provides safe, inclusive spaces where dads can talk openly, build confidence, strengthen relationships with their babies, and access practical support for their emotional wellbeing.

This online workshop is for expectant dads and new dads with babies under 12 weeks old.

During this session, the Dad Matters Surrey team will cover key topics including:

• attachment and bonding with your baby

• supporting your baby’s development

• consoling your baby and coping with crying

• mum’s and dad’s mental health and emotional wellbeing

• looking after yourself during this major life transition

• supporting your partner

• where to access help, support, advice, and services for new parents

This is an opportunity to build confidence, ask questions, and connect with other dads in a supportive, non-judgemental environment.

Further information about Dad Matters Surrey can be found on their website here
Please direct any follow-up questions about this workshop to Dad Matters Surrey via their website.

*Due to specific funding, for the purposes of this workshop, “dad” refers to anyone taking on a fathering role, including grandfathers, adoptive fathers, trans men, and trans-masculine parents who identify in a dad role. This session is not intended for pregnant women/people or female partners/co-parents. We are committed to inclusivity and are actively developing additional resources to support same-sex families and diverse family structures.

 

This free online pregnancy workshop is taught by one of our Specialist Education Midwives.

We recommend you attend this class with your birth partner from approx. 30 weeks of pregnancy. 

During this two hour workshop our Midwife facilitator will discuss:

• The hormones of labour and ways of helping yourself
• Recognising labour and knowing when to call the midwife advice line
• The stages of labour (the process of birth)  
• Variations from physiological birth such as Instrumental/Assisted Birth 
• Decision making using the BRAINS tool
• A Q&A session on your pain relief options; TENS, Entonox, Pethidine & Epidural
• Postnatal recovery relating to vaginal birth

There will also be time to answer your questions about labour & birth during the session.

You do not need to attend this workshop if you are booked on to our Birth and Beyond Complete or Birth & Beyond Core Courses as the information will be throughly covered during sessions 1-3 of those courses.

To book this course sign in to your Maternity Parent Portal and visit the "Free Courses & Events" Tab.

There are many reasons why parents may consider the use of water in labour, including as an aid to relaxation or as a form of natural pain relief. Led by experienced midwives, this workshop will provide up-to-date evidence based and accurate information to empower you to decide if water is something you wish to include in your birth plan and will help you to know what to expect when using the pool.

This two hour paid workshop includes;

• The benefits of water for the birthing person and their baby
• How we can support you in your choice to labour and/or birth in water at Royal Surrey
• The practicalities and what to wear
• Special considerations, including the consultant led pool room
• Role of birth partners and coping methods which complement the use of the pool

An online workshop facilitated by experienced Royal Surrey Hospital Midwives.

This workshop is a great option for clients who are planning to give birth to their baby/ies by Caesarean and don't wish to attend a full Labour & Birth Course/workshop. We also welcome any expectant parents who wish to build on information taught in other courses* to feel better prepared in the event of a Caesarean Birth.

Birth & Beyond Caesarean Birth Workshop includes:

• A one-hour online workshop for you and your birth partner to plan and prepare for a surgical birth and postnatal recovery
• Opportunities to ask questions 
• Exclusive "Birth is Amazing" Caesarean Birth Relaxation Audio 

See the Free Course & Events Tab in your Maternity Parent Portal to learn more.

This free online pregnancy workshop is taught by one of our Specialist Education Midwives.

We recommend you attend this class with your birth partner from 32 weeks of pregnancy. 

During this one-and-a-half-hour virtual workshop, our Midwife facilitator will discuss:

• Postnatal Bonding and Emotional Attachment
• Recognising your Baby's signals & Responsive Parenting
• Meeting your baby
• Newborn Skin & Umbilical Stump Care
• The recommendations for vitamin K & vitamin D
• How to recognise if your baby is unwell 
• An overview of the screening tests you will be offered in the newborn period

There will also be time to answer your questions about postnatal bonding and essential baby care.

If you are looking for more detailed exploration of the newborn period with practical elements such as changing a nappy we recommend our in person Baby Care Workshop  (included in the Complete package). 

For information on Safe Sleep please sign up for our free Sleep, Baby & You Workshop.

To book this course, sign in to your Maternity Parent Portal and visit the "Free Courses & Events" Tab.

This online breastfeeding class is taught by a member of our Infant Feeding team and has been designed to prepare and support Royal Surrey parents on their breastfeeding journey. We recommend that you attend this class from 30 weeks of pregnancy.

A member of our infant feeding team will discuss:

• Relationship building (bump bonding), and the part breastfeeding plays in this. 
• Colostrum Collection.
• The importance of establishing the foundations of health and how colostrum milk and breastfeeding can support this.
• Normal newborn behaviour and how this often conflicts with societies expectations.
• Correct positioning and attachment at the breast.
• Where to find practical support.
• What you can do to prepare for Breastfeeding.

There will also be time to answer your questions about infant feeding.

We warmly welcome partners to attend this course with you. Research has shown that when partners receive the same antenatal education as the breast/chest feeding parent, feeding intentions/plans are more likely to be successful.

These free classes are available for clients who are registered to give birth with Royal Surrey Maternity.

To book this course, sign in to your Maternity Parent Portal and visit the "Free Courses & Events" Tab.

We also host a weekly Colostrum Collection Clinic on Thursday afternoons. Recommended attendance from 34 weeks of pregnancy. Attend one of the 30min slots to learn more about how to collect and safely store your Colostrum. You will also be able to purchase a Collection pack (£3 correct cash only). Drop-in sessions are held at 14:30 and 15:00. Please attend promptly to reduce disruption. Additional booked appointments available for clients under the diabetic team.

Please note that this is the same talk given by our Infant Feeding Support Workers (green tunics) in the local Maternity Hubs.

This free online pregnancy workshop is taught by one of our Specialist Education Midwives.

We recommend you attend this class with your birth partner from 32 weeks of pregnancy. 

During this two-hour workshop, our Midwife facilitator will discuss:

• Safe sleep recommendations, including airway management, and TICKS guidelines for baby carriers.
• What to expect regarding infant sleep and why night waking is normal 
• How normal sleep develops.
• How to adjust to the demands of normal infant sleep.
• Sleep myths and what you can actually do to support your baby's sleep
• When to seek support with sleep.

This workshop includes time to ask your questions about newborn sleep and access to an exclusive baby sleep information leaflet.

To book this course, sign in to your Maternity Parent Portal and visit the "Free Courses & Events" Tab.

Looking for tips for postnatal recovery and how to exercise safely after giving birth?  Our specialist pelvic health physiotherapy team run a free postnatal class for women/clients who have birthed with Royal Surrey Maternity.

This class is suitable from four weeks post birth and includes:

• healing following pregnancy and birth
• returning to exercise
• everything you need to know about your pelvic floor 

To book this course, sign in to your Maternity Parent Portal and visit the "Free Courses & Events" Tab.

Our Online Baby and Me Postnatal group is a four-week online postnatal group suitable from birth (ideally before your 6/8 week GP appointment). The course is facilitated over four consecutive weeks from the date selected and it provides information and support relevant to your baby's development and your postnatal recovery. 

Birth & Beyond Baby & Me Postnatal Course includes:

• 4 online sessions each with a different focus 
• Virtual information pack with relevant resources 
• Access to a named education midwife for follow-up questions

In Detail

Week 1: Further postnatal recovery and Infant Feeding 

In week one, we will explore further recovery (beyond the initial weeks discussed in our pregnancy courses) from pregnancy and birth including: what to expect at your eight-week postnatal check, scar massage and tummy muscle separation. We will also look at further feeding issues such as mastitis, thrush, and discuss reliable sources of information and support.

Week 2: Digestion

In week two, we will explore the digestive issues that impact some babies, such as colic, reflux, constipation and allergy. We will discuss their symptoms, what parents can do to support their baby and where to seek further support if a condition is suspected

Week 3: Baby Sleep

Did you know that most sleep advice on the internet and from well-meaning friends is not based on research evidence and doesn't take into account natural variations between individual babies?! This postnatal exploration of sleep uses the latest research evidence to present practical suggestions to support improved sleep patterns for the family unit. 

Week 4: Play & brain development

In the final week of the course, we take a look at baby body language and use that knowledge to inform our quality time with them. We look at the importance of play and discuss some simple play suggestions to support their brain growth and development, including tummy time.

Weekly relaxation

In addition to allocating time and space to ask your questions*, each session will finish with a short bespoke guided relaxation written by our in-house cognitive hypnotherapist, Midwife Natalie.

*Hypnosis and visualisation techniques are taught and used during this course. If you or your partner has a mental health diagnosis or a neurological condition, such as Epilepsy, this class may not be suitable. Please discuss with your mental health team, GP or the Jasmine team before attending the session or commencing any hypnobirthing practice.