What excellent antenatal training needs to cover: 5 essential areas

One of our amazing students Hayley leading an antenatal workshop

When I first qualified as an antenatal educator back in 2021, I thought I was totally ready to support expectant parents through one of the most transformative experiences of their lives. I had my certificate, I knew the basics of labour stages and pain relief, and I could explain breathing techniques with confidence, plus I was obsessed with birth and all it brought with it.

But once I started teaching I quickly realised how much I didn't know! Quickly I knew I had a lot more work to do. Which is why I founded The Perinatal Academy!

After supporting hundreds of families and training dozens of educators through The Perinatal Academy, I've identified the critical elements that antenatal training programmes must address. If you're considering becoming an antenatal educator or you're already qualified but feeling like something's missing this is for you.

1. The Reality of Birth Trauma and How to Hold Space for It

Most basic training covers the "happy path" of birth what happens when everything goes according to plan. But not every birth story has a fairy-tale ending, and as an educator, you'll encounter parents who've experienced trauma, loss, or deeply disappointing births.

You need to know how to:

• Recognise the signs of birth trauma in your classes

• Hold space for difficult emotions without trying to "fix" them

• Know when and how to refer to appropriate support services

• Navigate conversations about previous traumatic experiences sensitively

This isn't just about being empathetic it's about having the practical skills to support all parents, not just those with straightforward experiences.

2. Cultural Safety and True Inclusivity

Here's something that shocked me, most antenatal training barely scratches the surface of cultural competency. They might mention "being inclusive," but they don't teach you how to actually create safe and welcoming spaces for people from different backgrounds, cultures, or family structures.

Real inclusivity means understanding:

• How different cultures approach pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care

• The specific barriers faced by LGBTQIA+ families in accessing maternity care

• How to use inclusive language that doesn't assume traditional family structures

• The impact of systemic racism and discrimination in maternity care

• How to ensure everyone feels welcome in your spaces, not just tokenism

At The Perinatal Academy, we developed our training in partnership with The Queer Birth Club and Mars Lord because this knowledge is essential not optional.

3. The Business Side of Being an Educator

You don’t want to choose an education provider whose sole focus is entirely on the educational content but then leave you completely unprepared for the reality of running a business. you need support with:

• How to price your services appropriately

• Marketing strategies that actually work for birth professionals

• Managing the emotional labour of supporting families while protecting your own wellbeing

• Creating sustainable income streams beyond one-off classes

• Building long-term community relationships and reputation

Many newly qualified educators struggle to make their training investment pay off, not because they're not good educators, but because they don't know how to run a sustainable business. Our ethos here is that you are the CEO of your own birth business, but you are not doing it alone.

4. Navigating the Maternity System

The reality is that most births in the UK happen within a highly medicalised system, and parents need to understand how to navigate this effectively.

You need to be able to discuss:

• The cascade of interventions and how to make informed decisions

• How to advocate for yourself within the NHS system

• Understanding hospital policies vs. your rights as a patient

• The psychological impact of unexpected medical interventions

• Supporting partners who feel helpless in these environments

This isn't about being anti-NHS far from it it's about empowering parents with knowledge so they can make truly informed choices.

5. The Depth of Postpartum Reality

Most antenatal training focuses heavily on pregnancy and birth, with maybe a token session on "life with baby." But honestly, this does a massive disservice to new parents.

The postpartum period is where many parents feel most unprepared and isolated. You need to understand:

• The reality of postpartum mental health beyond "baby blues"

• Practical support for feeding challenges (not just "breast is best" rhetoric)

• How relationships change after birth and how to prepare couples

• The physical recovery process that nobody talks about

• Building realistic expectations about early parenthood

This is essential knowledge for anyone who wants to truly support families through the perinatal period. When educators lack this deeper understanding, parents suffer. They leave classes feeling unprepared for the realities they'll face, and that's not fair to them or to you as their educator.

What This Means for Your Training Choice

If you're considering antenatal educator training, ask these questions:

• How many hours are dedicated to cultural safety and inclusivity?

• Is there ongoing business support after qualification?

• Does the training address the realities of the medicalised birth system?

• How comprehensively does it cover postpartum support?

At The Perinatal Academy, these aren't afterthoughts they're integral to everything we teach. Our graduates don't just leave with a certificate; they leave with the confidence and knowledge to truly support families through all aspects of the perinatal journey.

Ready to become the kind of antenatal educator who can truly support families through their entire journey? More details here