8 Antenatal Classes In Singapore To Prepare You For Parenthood

Becoming a parent is an exciting and transformative journey, but it comes with its own set of challenges, not to mention a whole lot of unknowns. While we can learn a lot from those who have gone before us, like our own parents and confinement nannies, it is also good to glean new information and gain more modern perspectives from professionals on childbirth and newborn care options. Antenatal classes can play a crucial role in preparing expectant parents for the rollercoaster ride of new parenthood. If you’re unsure where to look, here's a roundup of available antenatal classes in Singapore to help you better prepare for this incredible journey, as well as a guide on what factor to consider when choosing a class:

1. Your birthing hospital

Every maternity hospital in Singapore offers its own antenatal course for expecting parents, so chat with your gynae or call the hospital hotline to find out more. Attending an antenatal programme at your chosen birthing hospital can be most helpful since it will give you the greatest insight into exactly what to expect when it’s time to labour and deliver your precious one, as well as how the hospital will take care of your fresh bundle of joy afterwards. This also minimises possible conflicting expectations, and prepares you exactly for what is to come—compared to if you attended a course touting starkly different philosophies from your chosen hospital’s.

2. Beloved Bumps

Founded in London in 2012, Beloved Bumps comprises a team of skilled midwives and health professionals from the UK, Australia and France, who are dedicated to providing couples with fun and informative courses to help you in your parenthood journey. The team prides themselves on sharing the latest unbiased pre and postnatal information, completely without judgement—so you can feel safe whatever your birth plan and ideas may be about baby care and the like. From antenatal classes and birth workshops to hypnobirthing classes and doula or lactation home visits, Beloved Bumps also offers a happiness guarantee and postnatal support via WhatsApp. The best thing about Beloved Bumps is its thriving community, all the other couples you will meet, the mummy friends you’ll make, and the baby friends your baby will have once you start taking them to Beloved Bumps playgroups.

Beloved Bumps classes are held all around the island, but is headquartered at 6 Kim Yam Road, #03-05, Singapore 239351, tel: 8809 8623. Visit their website for more information.

3. Mother & Child 

Established in 1994, Mother & Child prides itself on being “Singapore’s first and most trusted prenatal and postnatal centre for birth and early parenting”. Offering a wide range of antenatal classes alone, not to mention lactation and postnatal support for mums and dads, first aid courses, yoga, Pilates, baby music and play classes, this could be the one-stop shop for your entire early parenthood journey. Its antenatal class options include childbirth preparation courses as well as a refresher course for existing parents, hypnobirthing courses, midwife consultations and doula support, plus a huge perk—a complimentary Active Birth class to help you prepare for active labour! 

Mother & Child is located at Tanglin Mall, 163 Tanglin Road, #03-109/110, Singapore 247933, tel: 6836 0063. Visit their website for more information.

4. Four Trimesters

Four Trimesters is a mother-centric outfit focused on empowering mummies to have the safe, fearless birth experience that we all inherently want. Their belief is that all women can have a “safe and empowered birth” with the right education, knowledge and doula support. To this end, they offer doula-led antenatal classes both online and in person, with a strong emphasis on hypnobirthing and labour relaxation techniques to help make birth painless and easy. They also offer a complimentary weekly Parents Circle Support Group where you can connect with like-minded parents and learn from doulas and guest speakers, as well as support during labour if you choose to engage one of the doulas on their team.  

Four Trimesters is located at 38 Jalan Pemimpin, #03-05, Singapore 577178, tel: 9664 4565. Visit their website for more information.

5. Blooming Births 

Founded and helmed by Chantel Kismet who is herself a “trauma-informed” doula, Blooming Births is where you will find holistic support for your pregnancy and delivery journey. What’s unique about her practice is that Chantel incorporates her textured experiences as a mum, birth coach, parent coach, somatic practitioner, hypnobirthing educator, bodyworker, womb massage therapist and shamanic meditation guide into it all, supporting parents in a way that few others can. Her antenatal classes are unconventional and designed to more than just provide information and tools, but also guide parents on a journey of self-discovery and awareness that will empower them to “approach childbirth and parenthood with confidence and grace.” You can also join a free birth class and learn her top five tips for having a “positive, empowered and easeful” birth!   

Blooming Births is located at 79 Anson Road, Singapore 079906, tel: 9171 4357. Visit their website for more information.

6.  ParentCraft by Dr Wong Boh Boi

Dubbed the “baby whisperer”, Dr Wong Boh Boi offers a more local flavour if that’s your inclination.  Boasting years of experience and professional qualifications in infant care, Boh Boi is a veteran antenatal course conductor in local hospitals and privately. Offering antenatal classes which can either run over a series of weeks or take the form of a one-day crash course, her comprehensive classes cover pregnancy care, labour techniques, labour pain and relief, breastfeeding, maternal nutritional needs, as well as newborn care. She also offers special workshops on prenatal yoga, breastfeeding, sleep training, baby massage and weaning.

ParentCraft by Dr Wong Boh Boi is located at Connection One, Tower 4, 167 Jalan Bukit Merah, #02-14, Singapore 150167, tel: 8939 8684. Visit their website for more information.

7. Hegen Lactation Centre 

Unbeknownst to many, popular bottle and breast pump brand Hegen also provides prenatal and postnatal services at the Hegen Lactation Centre, including private antenatal classes, childbirth and newborn education, baby massage and breastfeeding workshops, and one “New Parents’ Survival Guide” workshop. This is probably the one you would attend for an overview of everything you need to know to survive pregnancy, childbirth, and new parenthood. It’s only three hours long so you may wish to consider adding on a promotional package for a more focussed class to better prepare you for postpartum, E.g. an hour’s lactation consultation, a four-hour childbirth or newborn care class, etc. These short, one-off classes may be exactly what busy expecting parents need.

Hegen Lactation Centre is located at 438A Alexandra Rd, #02-01, Alexandra Technopark, Singapore 119967, tel: 6842 5885. Visit their website for more information.

8. Bump Birth & Beyond

Founded by local author, creator, postnatal coach and mother-of-three Esther Yap, Bump Birth & Beyond caters especially for busy parents who struggle to attend fixed courses in brick-and-mortar classrooms. Yes, their antenatal course takes place completely online and you can do it at your own pace, in your own time, wherever you choose. Lessons are taught by a team of subject experts including a certified Early Childhood former head teacher, a certified nutritionist and dietician specialising in paediatric and adult chronic diseases, as well as Esther herself. You’ll enjoy lifetime membership and access to course resources, a WhatsApp Breastfeeding Support Group, a live Zoom Q&A call after completing your lessons, and another follow-up call two weeks postpartum for postnatal support. The cutest thing is the Parent’s Starter Kit you’ll receive in the mail—which includes a life-sized training baby doll for practicing on!

Bump Birth & Beyond is a completely online facility founded during Covid-19. Visit their website for more information.

8 Factors to consider when choosing your class:

1. Time

On top of checking schedules to see if the class is conducted at a time and day feasible for you and your partner, duration is also an important consideration. Evaluate the duration of each class session and the overall length of the program to fit your schedule and personal preference. Consider also what kind of course structure better suits your pregnancy energy levels: attending a two-hour weekly session for eight consecutive weeks or completing a full six-hour crash course in one day.

2. Place 

Opting for a class that is convenient and accessible for both you and your partner is naturally wise. However, you have another option in this day and age: to attend completely virtual classes, in which case you can even attend a class taking place anywhere else in the world. Perhaps this is preferable for you as a couple, not needing to leave the comforts of home for a lesson, but consider also that you may miss out on important human interaction and experience some difficulty staying motivated and focussed during classes.  

3. Cost

Cost is a natural consideration when you already have so many baby purchases to make in preparation for your new family member. Compare the costs of different classes, considering what is included in the package before making your decision—it may not be worthwhile to sacrifice knowledge for a few dollars. If you know a few other expecting mummies from a mummy’s group, you could also try to negotiate a group discount for yourselves!

4. Class size 

Consider the size of the class. Larger classes can tend to be cheaper to attend, but smaller groups often allow for more personalized attention. This means more opportunities to participate, more focussed and enhanced learning, as well as better interaction among the group and with the instructors. You may also prefer private classes so that you and your partner can enjoy totally undivided attention and personalised instruction. 

5. Coverage

Have a look at the topics covered by the programme. Some cover only childbirth or infant care but not both, so you may wish to ensure that the class covers a comprehensive range of topics—including pregnancy, labour, childbirth, breastfeeding, newborn and postnatal care.

6. Philosophy

This is so important, to select a course provider whose philosophy and approach aligns with your personal school of thought—depending on if you lean towards traditional or more “new agey” practices. Whether it's a focus on natural childbirth, mindfulness, medical interventions, or an Asian confinement culture, it’s most beneficial if you research a little to make sure the course philosophy lines up closely with your own personal beliefs.

7. Reviews 

Reviews and recommendations are most reliable from friends or family who have attended any of these antenatal classes, but reading online reviews also helps to gauge the experiences of previous participants. The honest feedback of past attendees can be invaluable when it comes to assessing the quality and credentials of a course and its instructors.  

8. Support services

Finally, you may also wish to inquire about post-class support services, such as additional resources, follow-up phone calls or emails, midwifery or postnatal services, and other possible ways that the course provider can further assist you in your parenting journey. Good luck choosing!