the antenatal course

Arrive at your leisure on Friday (you can check in to your room from 2pm) and spend the afternoon in the spa or on the golf course before chosing from one of the restaurants to dine in ... unless of course you want to choose a DVD from the in house library and order some room service! We will meet as a group at 7pm to have a brief introduction to the week-end and then Patrick will have a session solely for the dads, this is the ideal opportunity for fathers to consider what the week-end means to them, what their feelings surrounding this change are, and how they can support- and be supported- by their partners to understand and enjoy this experience. It also allows you to enjoy a beer with the rest of the fathers in the bar afterwards!

On Saturday we will start our session at 9.30am and run until 1pm. After a break for a buffet lunch we'll reconvene at 3pm for the afternoon session, finishing at 6pm so that you can have the chance to get changed for a more formal dinner or pop for a swim...the choice is yours.

After breakfast on Sunday we will meet up for the penultimate session, talking about the postnatal period, breastfeeding and other tips on coping with your new baby. Breaking at one for the famous carvery lunch you are welcome back at three for the question and answer session before setting off home, relaxed and excited.

Each course is tailored to the needs of those attending but all courses will cover the following topics:

• Physiological Labour
• Positions for labour
• Coping strategies for labour
• Pain relief
• What happens in labour and how the baby is born
• Complications of labour that may occur
• Role of a partner or other labour support
• Becoming a parent and the needs of the new baby
• Partners/Birth supporters and how they can help
• Birth plan