Antenatal classes — Nelson Marlborough
Classes to help you prepare for labour, birth and parenting.
Pregnancy to Parenting at Nelson Hospital
The Pregnancy to Parenting education series at Nelson Hospital is a free 2-day course.
You will gain skills to take you through pregnancy, labour and birth, the early days of parenting, and more.
Classes provide information on:
- forming a birth plan
- coping skills
- the process of labour and birth
- what to expect after the birth
- feeding your pēpi
- planning your new roles as parents.
You will meet other expectant parents, offering a chance to form social networks in your community that relate to your current life stage.
The course ends with a tour of the Nelson Hospital Maternity Ward.
Young parents
Nelson Hospital offers 4-hour condensed courses for young parents on a Friday afternoon every 2 months. This is an opportunity to get information in smaller groups and meet other young parents.
Refresher groups
These less formal, short sessions provide up to date information and the opportunity to socialise with other parents expecting another child.
These sessions would be good to attend from around 36–37 weeks pregnant, but you can come at any stage of your gestation.
English as a second language (ESOL) classes
ESOL classes are held on an as-needed basis with a relevant interpreter. Email antenatalclasses@nmdhb.govt.nz to organise.
Pregnancy to Parenting class dates for 2025
- January 11 and 12
- February 22 and 23
- May 3 and 4
- June 14 and 15
- August 9 and 10
- October 4 and 5
- December 13 and 14
Pregnancy to Parenting online course dates for 2025
A 6-week course delivered via Zoom runs Tuesdays at 7pm, from March 25 to April 29.
Register for a course
Complete the registration form to get access to the Pregnancy to Parenting education series class materials.
Registration for classes will be accepted at any point in your pregnancy. Attending antenatal classes from 28 weeks onwards, and ideally before 37 weeks, offers the best experience of learning for you and your birth partner.
Registration form
Pregnancy to Parenting registration form
After registration you will receive an automated reply with general information. Your requested date will not be on here, so make a note of which date you book for.
You will also receive an email with the link to access the Pregnancy to Parenting education series class materials.
Our antenatal class coordinator will be in touch the week before your session with more information.
If you have questions or difficulty registering, contact your midwife or email antenatalclasses@nmdhb.govt.nz
Marlborough antenatal classes
Our free antenatal classes support you every step of the way as you prepare for the arrival of your pēpi.
Designed to be informative, fun and interactive, these classes help you get ready for the journey ahead with confidence and support, and other expectant parents.
It can be your first baby or your third. Antenatal classes are for every expectant parent wanting more information on pregnancy, childbirth and early parenting.
Classes are held at Wairau Hospital in the Tatau Pounamu rooms.
Attending antenatal classes from 28 weeks onwards, and ideally before 37 weeks, offers the best experience of learning for you and your birth partner.
Information about our antenatal classes
Classes have two formats.
Option 1: weeknight class
These classes take place over 6 weeks on Wednesdays, 6pm to 8:30pm (with a break).
Option 2: 3-week class
This series of classes takes place over 3 weeks, on a weekend day and is run from 1pm to 5pm (with breaks).
Topics covered include:
- pregnancy lifestyle
- birthing environment
- childbirth
- breastfeeding
- early decisions for newborns
- newborn behaviours
- parental wellbeing
- practical parenting
Register for a course
Complete the registration form to get access to the class materials.
Register for an antenatal class in Marlborough
Once you have registered, you will receive a welcome email within the week.
A week before your classes start, we will send another email reminding you of your upcoming sessions.
If you have questions or difficulty registering, contact the Pregnancy and Parenting Educator Nedra Schofield:
Nelson Parents Centre antenatal classes
Nelson Parents Centre provides childbirth education (antenatal) classes in Nelson and Motueka.