Please note there are currently no antenatal courses running in 2025-26
Join us on The Pregnancy Project, a new hybrid antenatal programme which offers nurturing support for your physical, emotional and mental wellbeing, before and after birth.
Our Course Includes
- Six expert led talks on topics not commonly covered in traditional birth preparation courses.
- A facilitated WhatsApp group for ongoing peer support, with access to a Midwife in the run up to the birth, as well as a Lactation Consultant in the early postnatal days.
- Fortnightly online sessions during the fourth trimester to support your emotional and mental wellbeing.
- Post birth social for parents and new babies, with on-site baby carrying and sling support from a Babywearing Consultant.
- Digital resources curated by our experts to support you through birth and beyond.
- Discounts and access to further services from our course experts.
- Priority booking for our free, local postnatal support groups once baby has arrived.
Expert Led Talks
Our course includes six expert led talks, either hosted online or in-person in a relaxed setting in the heart of Sydenham Hill, South East London. Each interactive session will be led by a specialist, and whilst they share evidence-based information and practical knowledge throughout, the talks will be informal and provide plenty of opportunity for questions and getting to know your new cohort!
The course will cover aspects of labour and birth choices, but also aims to support your physical, emotional and mental wellbeing by keeping you informed about the lesser spoken subjects surrounding pregnancy and early parenthood.
Talk 1
Your Birth,
Your Choices
Midwife and Antenatal teacher Charlotte Mills will be leading this session on the choices you have for your birth, and how to ensure these are made with confidence, and are right for you. Topics covdred:
• How you are feeling about your birth, how you want to feel, and how to get there.
• Place of birth, pain relief options, and your birth environment.
• What to expect in different birthing scenarios, and making informed decisions.
Talk 2
Preparing To
Feed Your Baby
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and Breastfeeding Counsellor Eleanor Campbell will be discussing how to get your feeding journey off to the best start. She will be touching on:
• Exploring your preferences on how you want to feed your baby – whether breast or bottle feeding, or a combination of the two.
• Information about how breastfeeding works, what are the potential hurdles, and where to get support.
• Expectations of life with a baby, and how to know what’s normal and what’s a problem.
Talk 3
Introduction To
Baby Wearing
Babywearing Consultant Bethan Morris will be speaking about how to introduce a sling or carrier from day 1. She will be covering:
• Various aspects of baby wearing, and how it can help you and your baby.
• Sling safety and comfort.
• Carrier types for the early months, and beyond.
Talk 4
Preparing For
Birth & Your
Postpartum Body
Women’s Health Physiotherapist Annabelle Fish will take you through how you can prepare yourself and your body leading up to the birth, and the physical changes you can expect after your baby has arrived. Topics she will be covering include:
• Exercises and massage to help reduce/prevent pain, stiffness and tearing in the weeks before, and after delivery.
• Which activities to avoid in the early postpartum days/months, and when you can safely return to your hobbies and sports.
• Signs of diastasis recti or pelvic floor dysfunction, and how to approach recovery.
Talk 5
Looking After
Your Perinatal
Mental Health
Perinatal Therapeutic Coach and Mentor Sakina Ballard will be leading this session about the transition from pregnancy to parenthood, and the impact these changes can have on your mental health. She will touch on:
• What is perinatal mental health, and why does it matter.
• Key perinatal mental health conditions, signs and symptoms to look out for, and what can make us more susceptible.
• Removing stigma and any sense of shame surrounding these conditions.
Talk 6
Postnatal
Planning & Life
With A Newborn
Postnatal Doula Katie Tazzyman will be covering the steps on how you and your family can be supported through the early, hazy days with a newborn. She will be discussing:
• What is postnatal planning and why it matters.
• Newborn transition from womb to world.
• How to set yourself up for the fourth trimester you deserve.
Online Support
The fourth trimester is a time of great physical and emotional change not just for mother and baby, but for the entire family. Our course continues to support you and your loved ones online once baby arrives, from the comfort of your own home and when it might not be possible to leave your house during those early days.
- Fortnightly online sessions for the birthing person to check-in on how you are holding up physically, emotionally and mentally, through breathwork, mindfulness practice and peer support. This session will be led by the core It Takes A Village, Crystal Palace team, with support from IBCLC Lactation Consultant, Eleanor Campbell.
- A live online session for the birthing partner to gently discuss your emotional and mental wellbeing since the birth. This session will be led by a Perinatal Therapist.
- Option to join a facilitated WhatsApp group from the start of the course, with support from a qualified Midwife in the run up to the birth.
- Digital resource packs for each topic covered during our expert talks, personally curated by our practitioners, to support you once the course is complete.
“Your course has been a breath of fresh air.” – Amy
The Right Course For You
With an overwhelming amount of information available surrounding pregnancy, birth and babies, how do you sift through the noise to choose the best antenatal course for your family?
The Pregnancy Project is for you if:
+ You are expecting your first baby or you are welcoming a new addition to your family. Our course content is relevant to all.
+ You’re looking for a fresh, modern antenatal course that is inclusive and accessible, and offers nurturing support for your mental, physical and emotional wellbeing from pregnancy all the way through to parenthood.
+ You need honest and easily digestible information on pregnancy, birth and babies, delivered by experts in their field. Our team of local practitioners offer a broad range of advice on caring for yourself and your new family, covering important topics that can often be missed in traditional birth preparation courses.
+ You prefer a more intimate set-up. Our groups are small and bring together expectant parents living in the local area.
+ You are ready to find your village and join an award-winning, ready made community created by local parents for local parents. Our free weekly postnatal meet ups, workshops and social events are here for you and your little ones throughout parental leave and beyond.
“The Pregnancy Project was such an inclusive and instantly welcoming space for me. The topics covered were relevant and useful, and there was lots of space given for questions and open and honest discussions. As a second time mum, I knew a lot about what to expect but it was so lovely to have a safe space to share my fears and joys, and process my feelings and expectations.” – Christie
Course Dates
The Pregnancy Project
November Course
(Ideal for babies due mid January 2024 to early March 2024)
Saturday 25th November 9.30am-4.30pm
Kingswood Arts, Seeley Drive, SE21 8QN
Welcome
Talk 1: Your Birth, Your Choices
Talk 2: Preparing To Feed Your Baby
Talk 3: Introduction To Baby Wearing
Sunday 3rd December 9.30am-1.30pm
Kingswood Arts, Seeley Drive, SE21 8QN
Talk 4: Preparing For Birth & Your Postpartum Body
Talk 5: Looking After Your Perinatal Mental Health
Wednesday 13th December 6.45pm-8pm
Live Zoom group session
Talk 6: Postnatal Planning & Life With A Newborn
February to mid March (dates tbc)
Live Zoom group sessions
Fortnightly online sessions for the birthing person and baby
Mid March (date tbc)
Live Zoom group session
Online session for the birthing partner
End of March / early April 11am-2pm (venue tbc)
Post birth social, with on-site professional baby carrying and sling support
For future courses, please get in touch for more details.
Pricing
£179
Thanks to support from The National Lottery Community Fund, we are offering tickets at a subsidised rate of £179 per couple. For those attending as a solo parent, please contact us for a reduced rate.
We are also able to offer a small number of free spots to low income families, or those with current or previous perinatal mental health challenges. Please complete this form to request a space.
“This group has been a massive source of support, care, friendship and wisdom, and has had a huge positive impact on my wellbeing and experience as a new mom.” – Hagit
For more news about The Pregnancy Project, follow us on Instagram @ittakesavillagecp
It Takes A Village, Crystal Palace CIC 