Prenatal education is one of the main pillars of our work. Our Birth and Parenting courses are carefully designed to give parents-to-be time to explore the many issues and questions about pregnancy, birth and early parenthood as part of a friendly and supportive peer group, usually with due dates around the same time. They perfectly complement both physiotherapy sessions and a hospital class or visit. These very interactive sessions involve a mix of discussion, information and practical activities in a relaxed small-group environment. We usually have 1 or 2 courses for first-time parents starting every month and we recommend that you book early to avoid disappointment.

Our aim is to provide essential information and help you to make informed decisions during pregnancy and birth, communicate more effectively with health professionals and look forward to birth and early parenthood with confidence.

Each of our comprehensive prenatal courses, whether in-person, hybrid or online, is tailored to the needs of the individual group, comprises 15-17 hours, and topics typically covered include:

• The process and stages of labour
• Ways (and exercises) to make labour easier
• Pain-management options
• Choices in childbirth
• Medical interventions
• Belgian (hospital) birth procedures
• The first hours with the baby
• Infant feeding
• Baby care
• Sleep of the baby
  
• Life as a family after birth
  
• Practical parenting tips and resources to find help and support

When all babies are born, the group will come together again for their postnatal reunion. This and each course session help new parents to develop a support and friendship network that continues long after the course ends.

Courses are taught by our team of Prenatal Teachers who have outstanding professional experience and keep up to date with the latest developments in maternity care. They are mothers themselves who have lived and worked abroad with their families. They also teach the Refresher courses and our Pregnancy in Belgium information class.

As our courses are to be booked with a first year membership (unless you are already a member), you are more than welcome to join our New Mums/Dads Group already during your pregnancy. Our playgroups also welcome new parents-to-be for a chat and a little peep of what’s to come. Additionally, we offer a range of helpful courses, classes and services for expectant parents such as pregnancy information evenings, prenatal exercise sessions, pain management equipment to hire as well as a sling library, baby wearing or cloth nappy information that might interest you.

You already have a child and only need a little refresher?
We also offer shorter prenatal courses, that are usually 1:1 and often in-person, our Refresher Courses!

Prenatal Teacher Alison

Alison arrived in Belgium in 2003 with 2 small children and, through the BCT's antenatal teacher training programme, trained with the National Childbirth Trust in the UK, gaining a diploma in higher education, in prenatal education. She taught her first course while expecting her third daughter, and now has 18 years of experience facilitating courses in Belgium.

"It is such a joy to be involved with expectant parents, to help them gain in confidence by providing information and teaching physical skills, and then allowing them space and time to discuss with each other the options available, so they can make decisions which are best for their family. The richness of the diverse cultures here in Belgium means we are always learning together and discovering new things. Occasionally I meet parents years later, who stop to chat, thank me for the classes and tell me they are still meeting with other parents, a lasting legacy of which I am humbled to have been a part in."

Prenatal Teacher Özra

Özra Gökçe is an IDA certified Childbirth Educator and Full Spectrum Doula and she has been accompanying expectant and new parents from all over the world on their journey to birth and parenthood since 2013. Özra has also acquired profound knowledge in the field of Elimination Communication and Postpartum Recovery and holds free talks about these subjects for BCT members. Her early professional experience in people-focussed management and research fields and the arrival of her two sons both add to her being the dedicated and empathic prenatal teacher she is today.

“I feel so grateful to be teaching expecting parents. Providing them with the essential information relieves them, reduces their anxieties, clears their doubts and fears… As we deepen their knowledge about what the natural physiology of birth is and how we (as birthing parents) help ourselves to make it easier with a lot of practical tools, positions, breathing and relaxation techniques, they become completely ready for this huge rite of passage. It is such a rewarding work in so many different ways, it makes me feel completed and centred.”

Prenatal Teacher Katharina

Katharina holds a PhD in evolutionary anthropology with a focus on human fertility behaviour, is author of several scientific articles in international peer-reviewed journals, course instructor for hypnobirthing as well as fertility, pre-and postnatal yoga and a soon to be midwife (Graduation July 2023). She supports women in gaining confidence in themselves and their bodies in order to experience a self-determined fertility journey and childbirth. In her holistic approach to fertility and birth she combines evolutionary biological principles with state of the art midwifery science and complements them with elements from Yoga and relaxation techniques in order to gain the greatest benefit possible.

Thank you for being patient and allowing a few days for a response.
Important: Paying the fee for a prenatal course gives you the right to attend one of our courses. The prenatal team might contact you to move you to a course other than the one you picked as your first choice if that course is better suited to your due date.

Contact: If you have any questions, you can contact us at prenatal@bctbelgium.org.