Whether you’re planning a family, are already pregnant, or have recently given birth, it’s beneficial to obtain as much knowledge and information as you can so that you are fully prepared. So, when we spotted a comprehensive antenatal course that allows free* access to UK families, we naturally wanted to share the opportunity with parents, expectant parents, and our readers. With that in mind, today’s post introduces you to a Complete Antenatal Course. It’s a free, 8-hour online course, led by midwives, that you can access today. We have already investigated it for you and thought it was fabulous! Read on to learn more about the course contents, highlights, and easy access details to get started — all at zero cost!
“This course has been carefully designed to guide you through every stage of your antenatal journey.” — NowBaby.
This well-presented antenatal course is delivered in video format. It contains 8 hours of content, divided into bite-sized chunks, which can be perused at your own pace. You can dip in and out, as time permits, via your login, which we’ll cover later in this article.
* Is the Course Really Free?
Yes — the Complete Antenatal Course is currently free (correct at the time of writing, mid-February 2026). That assumes, of course, that you don’t choose to upgrade to premium options or sign up to other courses etc. We found it quick and easy to sign up without such add-ons — achieving virtually instant access to the course, without cost. That said, some families may consider paid upgrades if they so wish, for example, if they would like access to speak with midwives during the course, or get involved in Q&A sessions. It’s also worth pointing out that the main course is free because it’s funded through a commercial partnership — apparently saving £175! You may therefore see some short commercial clips during the course, but we found them minimal and unobtrusive.
“It’s divided into easy-to-follow modules, each containing short, focused videos. This structure allows you to learn at your own pace, whether you prefer to watch a few videos at a time or complete a full module in one sitting.” — NowBaby.
What Does the Antenatal Course Cover?
The online course provides evidence-based, practical guidance for new and expectant parents through the stages from pregnancy, through birth, right info early parenthood. Each module is led clearly by experienced midwives to inform and empower parents on their early parenting journey.
The following course content is included:
Pregnancy
The Pregnancy module includes 6 sub-sections that cover choosing a care provider, an antenatal appointment schedule explainer covering scans and tests, your diet including what you should/shouldn’t be eating during pregnancy, smoking, etc., self-care during pregnancy, possible complications to be aware of, and informed choice and consent information.
Preparing the Mind & Body for Birth
Preparing the Mind & Body for Birth has 7 sections that cover what affects the birth experience, choosing a birth place, what to pack in your birth/hospital bag, writing down your birth preferences (your Birth Plan), hormones and labour, your birth environment (a.k.a. Birth Zone), and finally perineal massage and its benefits.
Labour & Birth
Labour & Birth has ten sub-sections that include discussions around foetal position and which is best, signs that you’re heading towards labour, how to know you’re beginning labour, the various stages explained, the optimal time for cutting the umbilical cord, what’s known by midwives as ‘the golden hour’, the importance of skin-to-skin contact, checks on the newborn baby, the role of birth partners, and assisted births (using ventouse or forceps).
Pain Management
Pain Management comprises 6 course videos explaining the various options available to manage pain during labour. These include hypnobirthing, warm water showers, baths, TENS machines, Entonox (gas and air), opioids, and epidurals.
Induction of Labour
The Induction of Labour module is divided into 6 sub-sections that cover everything from what being induced means, augmentation of labour, decision-making, methods of induction, starting the process, and pain management during induction of labour (bearing in mind induced labour may be more intense for some).
Caesareans
The Caesareans module is divided into 3 sub-sections that include possible reasons for caesarean sections, the process of giving birth via caesarean and what to expect, and finally what to expect when you go home following a caesarean.
Postnatal Recovery
The Postnatal Recovery module discusses possible blood loss following birth, breast changes to expect, perineal tears, emotional and mental health considerations, and common postpartum concerns.
Newborn Care
The Newborn Care module is a very comprehensive course containing 12 sub-sections. These cover the Golden Hour that immediately follows birth — and why it’s important — along with the checks that are likely to be made for newborns, dressing your baby, swaddling, cleaning and bathing your baby, sleep for newborns, nappy change preparation and tips, jaundice and what to look for, and more. Towards the end of the module, there is also a commercial that you have to watch before being able to proceed to the next module, but it’s only short.
Breastfeeding
The Breastfeeding module is another comprehensive one and contains 9 sub-sections. These cover everything you need to know about breastfeeding, including anatomy and physiology, the benefits of breastfeeding to both mother and baby, how best to establish successful breastfeeding, expressing/pumping, ‘responsive’ feeding explained, what cluster feeding is and how it presents itself, potential problems or concerns around breastfeeding, and much more.
Infant First Aid & Medical Conditions
Infant First Aid & Medical Conditions is the final module in the free online course. This is a huge section, although most of the 20 or so sub-sections are only 1 or 2 minutes long. Covered are common conditions that may affect your baby, tips about how to manage them if you were at home without medical assistance nearby, common breathing problems, how to do resuscitation, first aid and basic life support for babies, tummy troubles, screening and tests commonly undertaken for babies, growth and centiles, followed finally by a section about jaundice and what the course midwife refers to as ‘funny head shapes’.
Remember: if you’re ever concerned about your baby, do reach out to a health professional, for example, your midwife, health visitor, GP, or paediatrician. In the event of a medical emergency, dial 999. For non-emergencies, the NHS number is 111.
The course is a “comprehensive guide for expectant parents to navigate pregnancy, prepare for labour, and care for newborns, ensuring a healthy and informed journey into parenthood.” — NowBaby.
How to Sign Up for the Free Antenatal Course
You can currently sign up for the course here. Currently it’s free of charge and, when we tested it, we didn’t need to enter any payment details at all, having not selected any extras during sign-up. In fact, it was surprisingly quick and easy to gain access to the online course.
Choose your preferred password and, once you’ve signed up, you’ll receive various emails by return. These will include one welcoming you to the ‘Complete Antenatal Course’, and another confirming the login web address and a username reminder. Enjoy!
We hope many parents and prospective parents take the opportunity to make the most of this wonderful — and free — antenatal course. It’s incredibly comprehensive and informative, while also being presented in an easy-to-digest way. By immersing yourself in the course, you should feel more confident, informed, and empowered, and ready for the parenting journey ahead.
Your Childcare Provider in Clayton-le-Woods
Little Acorns Nursery provides high-quality childcare in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley
Are you looking for high-quality, reliable weekday childcare for your baby, toddler, or child under five? If you live in or around Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, Little Acorns Nursery would be a great choice! With a Good Ofsted rating, support for free childcare hours for eligible working families and our own Forest School, Little Acorns would make a fabulous choice.
To start exploring a possible place for your child at Little Acorns Nursery, please get in touch via one of the following options:
As well as suiting families in Clayton-le-Woods, Clayton Brook, Clayton Green, and Chorley, Little Acorns Nursery may also be convenient for those in nearby locations like Thorpe Green, Pippin Street, Buckshaw Village, Whittle-le-Woods, Farington, Bamber Bridge, Lostock Hall, Euxton, Leyland, and Penwortham.
About NowBabyThe free antenatal course is delivered online by NowBaby, whose website states: they provide expert antenatal education online and in-person to expectant parents across the nation; courses are run by qualified and highly-experienced midwives and healthcare professionals and are peer-reviewed for accuracy; they work in partnership with over 140 NHS antenatal clinics across England and Wales and have partnered with the NHS for 24 years; they have a 4.8 rating on Trustpilot. (Learn more about NowBaby here). That said, we cannot make any guarantees in relation to third-party information, services or websites, including those of NowBaby. It is therefore important to do your own research and due diligence. |
