What is different about The Bump Class?

The Bump Class was started by Dr Chiara Hunt and her sister Marina Fogle who were fed up with seeing new mothers unnecessarily traumatised by their births, because they weren’t properly prepared. We know that up to 1/4 first time mothers will have a caesarean section, yet many antenatal classes gloss over this reality.

Experts are at the heart of everything that we do, so you will learn about your pelvic floor from a physiotherapist, about infant feeding from a breastfeeding specialist and about medical intervention from a doctor. Each class also has a host, a real mum who is passionate about supporting other women into motherhood, so you get the best of both worlds - real life experiences, combined with the best evidence based information with medical professionals.

Are partners involved in The Bump Class?

Absolutely! We want your partner to be as prepared as you are to become a parent, because it is their baby too! That said, we believe that the skill set you need to have a baby is different to the skill set you need to support others having a baby. We are the only antenatal course with a specific class just for partners - be that boyfriends/girlfriends/husbands/wives/sisters or whoever is supporting you during the birth. We also recommend you both do a paediatric first aid course, so you can confidently respond in an emergency. We get incredible feedback on this combination of classes, ensuing everyone has the preparation they need to become a parent.

Why is the 8 week antenatal course women only?

Frankly, women do not ask the questions that we want them to ask about their bodies with other people’s husbands next to them. We think it’s important that no topic is off limits, so we will be discussing everything from incontinence during pregnancy, to hemorrhoids, to whether you need to get a wax before you give birth. We also find that women bond more quickly as a group when it is women only. That said, we believe passionately in partners being involved as well, which is why we have the Partners Course and First Aid for both parents.

I’m having my baby via a surrogate. What class would you recommend?

This is so exciting! We have a number of women on The Bump Class who have used a surrogate to become a parent, and they are such a special part of our community. The benefit of being a small business is we can be really flexible in our teaching. Do reach out to us and we can advise you on what would be best - either joining our traditional 8 week course or perhaps arranging a few private sessions with one of our incredible teachers.

When do you recommend I start antenatal classes?

As soon as you find out you are pregnant, or perhaps you are just thinking about getting pregnant, book onto our Early Pregnancy Class. This tells you all your options - from how to choose a hospital, to what tests and scans you can have to how to travel and stay healthy during pregnancy.

During your second trimester, you may want to book our Antenatal Retreat with The Tenth and do a paediatric first aid course as the latter is much easier with a smaller bump.

Around 30 weeks pregnant, you will start your 8 week antenatal course. We recommend you book this as soon as you are confident to do so, as the places go really quickly, and we are not able to extent the bookings in order to maintain the quality of experience for our clients. That said, we do try and be flexible, so any questions drop us an email.

Why are your classes more expensive than other antenatal classes?

Our clients are busy people, and they want the best for themselves and their babies. Most other courses will rely on pre-recorded content, and one teacher but this means you only get one person’s experience and expertise. At The Bump Class, you will meet a different expert in each class, so you can have a mini consultation with the best in their fields.

As a women-founded and women-run organisation, we also believe in paying people properly for their time. The teachers on The Bump Class have been with us for years, meaning you get the best possible teaching and preparation to become a parent.