Irish Academy of Antenatal Education

Antenatal education is in an essential component of antenatal care and the preparation for labour, birth and parenthood. International best evidence suggests that women and their partners that attend antenatal education in preparation for their birth feel more in control and have a more positive birthing experience.

The Irish Academy of Antenatal Education recognises the importance of education and have designed a unique and comprehensive programme that will provide you and your partner with the knowledge and skills to support you through your labour, birth and transition to parenthood. Our antenatal classes are taught by two highly experienced midwives and birth educators, ensuring expectant parents are provided with the most up-to-date, evidenced based, information, whilst facilitating for all types for adult learners.

Antenatal Class Overview

Our classes will provide you with the essential education and information that you will need for empowered decision making for your birth and parenting. This education will assist you in how to become actively engaged in all aspects of your care and provide you with knowledge on a wide range of choices. These choices include holistic and medical options helping you to remain central to your birthing experience.

The philosophy of the Irish Academy of Antenatal Education is to ensure that through the provision of up to date evidence based information, education and a variety of facilitation methods, women and their birthing partners feel prepared, confident, calm and in control of their birthing experience.

Practical parenting will be a key element of the classes in which parents will learn how to care for their newborn with emphasis on infant feeding, attachment, bonding and relationship building. Another key element of our education focuses on parental health and wellbeing.

At the Irish Academy of Antenatal Education we also offer a one-day refresher course for woman who have already had a child or children. For more information on this course please click the button below.

Preparing For Antenatal Classes

Some parents find it useful to bring with them a notebook and pen. Water and light refreshments, tea & coffee will be provided on the day. For lunch parents can choose to eat in the hotel bar or nearby in Celbridge village.

Please note the time of class: 10:00am to 17:15 pm.

It is advised to wear comfortable clothing and, if possible, bring your own pillow and birthing ball. If you have questions please feel free to call 083 831 4551 or 085 880 1759 or email info@antenataleducation.ie

Course Dates & Times

Classes are conveniently run over one day on either Saturday and Sunday for ease of access. Each course starts at 10.00am and finishes at 5.15pm. Places are limited as we like to keep classes reasonably small and intimate as this helps facilitate a more rewarding and focused session for the participants. We therefore recommend booking your place as soon as possible. To do this either fill in the form below, call 083 831 4551 or 085 880 1759 or email info@antenataleducation.ie.

Refresher Classes for Parents of Second & Subsequent Children

This class is designed to meet the needs of women who have other children. Women find this class most beneficial to recap over any previous antenatal education they may of had or likewise if they have had no exposure to antenatal education in the past. Some women may have undergone and induction of labour in the past and are now hoping for a normal physiological birth and would like some education. Likewise some women may now for the first time be preparing for a Caesarean birth or induction of labour and would like to take a class in preparation.

The course will cover the physiology of birth and how women’s bodies work in normal physiological labour along with the key principles of Active Birth. One key focus of this course is to provide women and their birthing partners with a comprehensive toolkit for labour to assist them through their birthing journey. The use of both non-pharmacological pain relief and pharmacological pain relief will be discussed together with relaxation techniques for pregnancy, labour and birth. We will also discuss postpartum recovery.

The cost of the refresher course is €80 per person. As we are registered midwives part or all of the cost may be covered by your health insurer if you have a private healthcare policy.

Celbridge Manor Hotel, Co. Kildare

It is well documented that people learn better when in an environment that is comfortable. This is important to the academy, so we have chosen a beautiful setting for the facilitation of antenatal classes in the Celbridge Manor Hotel, Co. Kildare.

Celbridge Manor Hotel is a magnificent Georgian-fronted hotel situated in the heritage town of Celbridge. The hotel is minutes from Celbridge village and was originally built in 1737 by Parliament Speaker, William Connolly. The hotel mixes old-world charm with the very best of modern convenience. We look forward to welcomeing you to this fabulous location.

If travelling to the Hotel by car there is ample free parking. If travelling by bus the number 120 bus, from Dublin, stops outside the hotel. For more information on traveling to the hotel please click HERE