You will hear very mixed reviews about antenatal classes (also known as antenatal courses, prenatal classes, bump classes or bump and baby classes). Some couples swear by them for the vital information required to write a comprehensive birth plan; some women feel they need the information about infant feeding and all things 'baby'. Some parents say their antenatal classes were a vital source of peer support (that is, they met other parents at antenatal classes or antenatal groups) and that they remained friends with the other parents in the group for many years. 

 

With all this is mind, where do we start, when we are considering antenatal classes? And do we really NEED to do antenatal classes (especially if it isn't our first pregnancy)?. Why do antenatal classes? Are antenatal classes necessary? If so, when should I start them?