Birth and Parenting Practical information

Practical Information

We have put together some practical information that you might find helpful when booking a Birth & Parenting course with us.

If you have any other questions about these courses or our Refresher courses, please contact us at prenatal@bctbelgium.org.

WHAT IS THE EXACT COURSE CONTENT?

It is not possible to detail the topics covered in each individual session, as this is typically agreed with the participants during the first session. This also means that it is not possible to split your sessions across more than one course.

HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT COURSE FOR ME?

Please choose the course that is allocated to your due date and at least one other that you are able to attend.

If you are not sure which course to choose or if everything seems to be full, please still select your preferred course  (even if it is full) or a future course. Then please add your comment and/or the details of your availability in the comments box. You can also email us at prenatal@bctbelgium.org. We do our best to ensure that everyone who wants to attend one of our courses can do so.

I CANNOT ATTEND EVERY SESSION ON A COURSE

If you will miss more than 4 hours of a course (for foreseeable reasons, such as holidays or work requirements), you might want to consider to booking an alternative one whose dates suit you better. If this is not possible, tutors can give catch-up information for any sessions that you miss, provided this is arranged with them before the course starts.

MY PARTNER CANNOT ATTEND EVERY SESSION ON A COURSE

If your partner will miss only a few hours on a course, don’t worry. Often partners cannot attend every session and you are unlikely to be the only person in this situation. Sometimes mothers-to-be attend alone, and even fathers-to-be do so on occasion. If you wish, you can bring somebody else along with you for those sessions your partner cannot attend.

Once you are enrolled on a course, it is important to let the tutor know which sessions your partner cannot attend before the course starts: she might be able to alter the agenda so that your partner is present for any sessions that are particularly important to you both. However, her ability to do this will depend on the needs of the whole group.

If your partner will miss more than just a few hours of a course, it may be best to choose a different course. If you cannot find a course that matches your availability, please contact us at prenatal@bctbelgium.org for further advice. You can also select a course option and add your comment and/or the details of your availability in the 'availability issues' box.

WILL I DEFINITELY GET MY FIRST CHOICE OF COURSE?

Unfortunately, we can’t always guarantee your first choice. Although the website is updated regularly with information on availability, we often have sudden rushes of demand and cannot update the website as frequently as required, especially during holidays and festive periods. Please note that all course administration is carried out by volunteers.

WHAT ELSE DOES THE BCT OFFER TO PREGNANT WOMEN?

The BCT has a range of services available to its members throughout pregnancy and early life as a family.

Apart from our Pregnancy in Belgium evenings, which provide practical information on pregnancy and birth, we also have TENS machines and valley cushions for hire.

After the birth, we have a large team of postnatal support volunteers to help with everything from general emotional support to bottle- and breast-feeding concerns to dealing with very specific issues. We also offer First Aid for Parents classes.

We have a small library of relevant books at our Clubhouse. Most importantly, perhaps, we have many parent and baby meet-ups, weekly coffee mornings and playgroups at our BCT Clubhouse and at members' homes throughout Brussels. We also organise events throughout Brussels and surrounding areas to give you many opportunities to meet other families at the same stage as yours.

Read more about the benefits of a BCT membership.

IS THE COST OF THE BCT PRENATAL COURSE REIMBURSABLE THROUGH HEALTH INSURANCE?

Some private health insurance schemes do refund the cost of BCT prenatal courses.

Each of our teachers holds a prenatal teaching qualification but they are not medical professionals, thus many Belgian mutuelles/ziekenfonds will not offer a reimbursement.

You will need to check with your own mutuelle, health insurer and/or your employer’s Human Resources department to find out whether or not the costs are reimbursed.

I'M BOOKED ON A COURSE AND NOW CAN'T MAKE SOME OF THE SESSIONS, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

It depends on how much of the course you will miss.

If both you and your partner will miss fewer than 4 hours, please contact your course teacher as soon as possible and she will outline your options. Her contact details can be found in various communications you will have received from us. Where possible, please contact her before the first session of your course (unless you are already part-way through). Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that we can make arrangements to help you with missed sessions but the earlier you let us know, the more likely it is that we can find a suitable option.

If you will miss more than 4 hours of the course, please contact the booking team as soon as possible at prenatal@bctbelgium.orgThey will advise you on whether it would be better for you to switch to a different course, depending on availability.

I'M BOOKED ON A PRENATAL COURSE BUT CAN'T MAKE IT. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Please contact us immediately at prenatal@bctbelgium.org if you are unable to attend the course, so that we can see if there is a suitable alternative available that you might wish to attend. As there is usually a waiting list for courses, this will also help another family to take up the place instead.

IF I HAVE TO CANCEL AFTER I HAVE MADE THE PAYMENT, CAN I GET A REFUND?

It depends on the exact circumstances and reason for the cancellation, as well as the timing of the cancellation. If you cancel more than a month before the course starts, you will normally receive a refund. In those circumstances, an administration fee may still apply.

Birth & Parenting

Go back to the list of courses or

Refresher course

Go back to the refresher course page or