Need to talk? Call 1800 882 436.
It's a free call with a maternal child health nurse. *call charges may apply from your mobile

Is it an emergency? Dial 000
If you need urgent medical help, call triple zero immediately.

beginning of content

Antenatal classes

7-minute read

Key facts

  • Antenatal classes help you get ready for labour, birth, breastfeeding, and caring for your newborn baby.
  • During your pregnancy, you may find it helpful to attend antenatal classes to learn what's involved in having a baby.
  • Attending antenatal classes lets you talk to other people in a similar situation and share experiences.
  • Ask your doctor or midwife about antenatal classes.
  • There are many different sorts of antenatal classes - check that the person running the class has been properly trained.

What are antenatal classes?

Antenatal classes are also called labour and birthing classes. They help you get ready for labour, birth, breastfeeding, and caring for a newborn baby.

If you choose to have a birth support partner, you can bring them along to the classes.

Should I do antenatal classes?

During your pregnancy, you may find it helpful to attend antenatal classes to learn what's involved during the birth. This helps build your knowledge and understanding of labour, birth, breastfeeding, and caring for a newborn. It can help you feel more confident as the birth approaches.

What are the benefits of antenatal classes?

Most antenatal courses are designed to suit the schedules of busy parents. They may run over several weeks for about 8 hours in total. It's a good idea to book a class for when you will be around 28 weeks into your pregnancy. Classes often fill up quickly.

Antenatal classes may cover topic such as:

During these classes you will meet other people who are expecting babies. You'll be able to talk to other people in a similar situation and share your experiences.

You can ask questions about what will happen when you are in labour. It may also include a visit to the birthing centre or hospital so you know what to expect.

Who teaches antenatal classes?

Antenatal classes are often run by maternity health providers, including hospitals, charities, and some private practices. Some private classes may be run by a doula (a person who offers non-medical support before, during and after birth).

How can I find an antenatal class?

If you have access to the internet, search online for classes that are offered in your area. Some local councils also offer courses.

Ask your doctor or midwife about available classes.

If you still can't find a course that's right for you, one of our maternal child health nurses may be able to help. Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436.

What types of antenatal class are available?

In addition to traditional antenatal classes, there are many different sorts of antenatal classes available.

Some examples of these antenatal class are:

  • Lamaze classes — involving breathing techniques, relaxation, and support
  • Active Birth — learning birthing techniques and positions
  • Calmbirth — childbirth education program based on understanding of the birth process
  • Hypnobirthing — a form of deep meditation and relaxation
  • aqua antenatal classes
  • antenatal yoga or Pilates

What is Calmbirth?

The Calmbirth program focuses on the mind-body connection and how your emotions influence the birth.

Calmbirth uses this mind-body connection to reduce any fear, stress or anxiety about giving birth. Pregnant women are empowered to birth their baby calmly, fearlessly and confidently.

It seeks to retrain the mother's response to stress and supporting them to be proactive during labour and birth.

The Calmbirth program includes techniques to release fear through guided relaxation strategies. This helps you to overcome any negative feelings you may have about childbirth.

What are Lamaze classes?

Lamaze childbirth education classes help to build your confidence in your ability to birth your baby in the most relaxing way possible.

The foundation of these classes are the 6 healthy birth practices:

  1. Let labour begin on its own.
  2. Move around and change positions throughout labour.
  3. Bring a support person — a loved one, friend or doula.
  4. Avoid interventions that aren't needed.
  5. Avoid giving birth on your back.
  6. Keep mother and baby.

What are active birth classes?

Active birth classes focus on the use of movement and different positions to help you manage your labour.

Supporters of active birth feel that both you and your baby can have a better birth experience through:

  • moving around during labour
  • staying upright during birth
  • using your preferred position to birth

What is hypnobirthing?

Hypnobirthing is another way to prepare for childbirth. Supporters of hypnobirthing believe that it helps with managing birth-related fear or anxiety. This leads to body relaxation during your pregnancy, labour, and birth.

Hypnobirthing followers believe it's important to prepare your body and mind to achieve a calm, gentle, and positive birth.

There are many different hypnobirthing classes available.

Which birthing class is right for me?

If you decide to do antenatal classes, you may want to look at the different types of classes available.

Before choosing a class, you may want to:

  • think about the type of labour and birth you'd like to have
  • make a birth plan — a list of what you would like to happen during your baby's birth
  • look at the published research that supports these antenatal classes

There are also classes especially for:

Can I do classes online?

Online classes can be a good option for parents who can't go to face-to-face classes. But you won't have the benefit of meeting other parents.

How much do classes cost?

The cost of antenatal classes varies and depends on where you live in Australia and who is running the classes. Medicare does not cover childbirth preparation classes. Some hospitals provide free classes while others have costs associated with them.

If you have private medical insurance, you might be eligible for a rebate. Check with your private health care insurer.

Resources and support

To find out about labour and birth classes speak with:

The course coordinator can provide details of an individual course.

Speak to a maternal child health nurse

Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: May 2023


Back To Top

Need more information?

Antenatal classes: why they’re good | Raising Children Network

Birth or antenatal classes help you and your partner get ready for labour, birth, breastfeeding and early parenting. You can also meet other parents-to-be.

Read more on raisingchildren.net.au website

Pregnancy at week 17

By week 17, you may want to start thinking about antenatal classes to help you and your partner prepare for the birth and beyond.

Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website

Birth support: getting ready | Raising Children Network

You can prepare for a birth support role by going to birth classes, helping with a birth plan and hospital bag, and learning about labour and birth.

Read more on raisingchildren.net.au website

Maternity services in rural Tasmania

Find out what maternity services are available in rural or remote Tasmania and how to get care and support during your pregnancy, labour and birth.

Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website

The First Few Weeks Following Birth | RANZCOG

The first few weeks after having a baby are a time of great change.

Read more on RANZCOG - Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists website

Vaginal birth: a guide | Raising Children Network

A vaginal birth is often the safest. Continuity of pregnancy care, birth classes, a birth plan and a calm birth environment make vaginal birth more likely.

Read more on raisingchildren.net.au website

Paracetamol for children - myDr.com.au

The correct dose of paracetamol for a child depends on their weight. Find out about using paracetamol in kids.

Read more on MyDoctor website

Birthing services in Central Australia | NT.GOV.AU

Antenatal care, midwife services, labour and birth, lactation consultant, childbirth education and support for Central Australia.

Read more on NT Health website

Pregnancy and birth care options - Better Health Channel

Pregnant women in Victoria can choose who will care for them during their pregnancy, where they would like to give birth and how they would like to deliver their baby.

Read more on Better Health Channel website

Antenatal & postnatal depression | Raising Children Network

If pregnant women and birthing mothers experience negative emotional changes that last longer than 2 weeks, it might be antenatal or postnatal depression.

Read more on raisingchildren.net.au website

Call us and speak to a Maternal Child Health Nurse for personal advice and guidance.

Need further advice or guidance from our maternal child health nurses?

Healthdirect Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners and to Elders both past and present.

This information is for your general information and use only and is not intended to be used as medical advice and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes.

The information is not a substitute for independent professional advice and should not be used as an alternative to professional health care. If you have a particular medical problem, please consult a healthcare professional.

Except as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, this publication or any part of it may not be reproduced, altered, adapted, stored and/or distributed in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Healthdirect Australia.