Yes, it is completely normal to feel unsure, anxious or scared about birth, especially if this is your first baby, if you have heard difficult birth stories or if you have had previous experiences that make the idea of birth feel worrying. It is completely normal to feel scared.

Antenatal education can help you understand what is happening in your body during labour and birth, explore your options and learn practical tools that can help you feel calmer and more prepared. Many parents find that once they understand the process of birth and the support available to them, their confidence grows significantly.

Techniques from hypnobirthing and birth preparation can help you work with your body during pregnancy and labour, reduce fear or anxiety and help you to approach birth feeling more confident and in control.

Yes. I am a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Registered Midwife with over 12 years of NHS experience, currently working across maternity services. This clinical experience allows me to provide realistic, evidence-based preparation for birth and early parenthood that reflects current practice and is relevant to maternity care in your local area.

FEDANT stands for the Federation of Antenatal Educators, the professional body for antenatal educators in the UK. Being FEDANT accredited means that the antenatal education I provide meets recognised national standards for evidence-based teaching and professional practice. It also means I follow a professional code of conduct and undertake ongoing professional development to ensure the information shared in classes is accurate, balanced and up to date. This is so important when choosing your antenatal classes.

The Coastal Birth Club is proudly local and independent. As a practising midwife working within the local NHS maternity service, I have a deep understanding of the care you will receive during pregnancy and birth, including the local policies, guidelines and services available to you here in East Devon.

This means the preparation you receive in classes is realistic, relevant and aligned with the care you will experience through your local maternity team.

Alongside clear, evidence-based birth preparation, The Coastal Birth Club is also designed to help parents build genuine connections with others at the same stage of pregnancy. Antenatal classes are not just about learning — they are also about creating a supportive community.

Each course includes a planned social gathering so parents have the chance to spend time together outside the classroom and get to know one another before their babies arrive. After your babies are born, I also host a complimentary postnatal meet-up where parents can return with their babies, share birth stories, reflect on their experiences and support each other through those early weeks of parenthood.

My hope is that these connections continue long after the course has finished, creating friendships and support networks that can make the transition into parenthood feel less isolating and far more enjoyable.

Antenatal and Hypnobirthing classes are suitable for first-time parents as well as those expecting another baby who would like a refresher or a different approach to birth preparation this time. Partners are very welcome and encouraged to attend. The Coastal Birth Club is an inclusive and welcoming space for all families, including LGBTQ+ parents. Every family and every birth journey is warmly welcomed and respected here.

We recommend booking your antenatal classes earlier in pregnancy to ensure you secure a place on the course that best fits your due date, as classes can fill quickly.

If you are early in your pregnancy and the dates you need have not yet been released, you are very welcome to join our waitlist. This ensures you will be one of the first to hear when new course dates become available.

We keep our antenatal classes small, with a maximum of 8 couples per course. This is intentional. It helps create a relaxed and supportive environment where everyone has the opportunity to ask questions, take part in discussions and get to know the other parents in the group. I also want to make sure you feel you have been personally listened to and got the most out of your classes

This course is designed to complement your NHS care, not replace it.

You will continue to receive all of your clinical care and support from your midwife and maternity team. The Coastal Birth Club aims to enhance your understanding whilst giving you time, space and guidance to better understand your options, feel more prepared and approach birth and early parenthood with greater confidence.

Yes — your full hypnobirthing package is included within the course.

Hypnobirthing is woven throughout, so you’ll learn simple, effective techniques such as breathing, relaxation and mindset tools that support your body during pregnancy and labour to help you feel calmer, more confident and more in control.

You’ll receive everything you need to continue practising at home, including The Coastal Birth Club hypnobirthing audio tracks and a dedicated toolkit within your workbook.