Antenatal Courses in Cornwall
1:1 antenatal & birth prep classes that get you both really ready for what lies ahead.
Empowering 1:1 birth preparation
Totally tailored to your priorities & preferences
Delivered in your home & to your preferred dates.
Reserve your course with a 25% deposit today
“Gemma’s support has been absolutely pivotal for us, and I honestly can’t imagine going through this journey without her. She uses brilliant resources and breaks everything down into manageable, digestible pieces making sure it’s tailored exactly to your needs and situation. ”
“Gemma is THE BEST! She helped us open up to each other about how we see labour which bought us so much closer. We asked questions we probably wouldn’t have done in a group setting and we feel much more prepared! ”
Antenatal Done Differently
Preparing for birth is best done when you are the focus.
Your birth & baby journey is personal and unique: as a doula, I support the uniqueness of this every single day.
Experience has proven that antenatal classes real do work better when I can put you, your hopes, fears and goals, at the heart of everything we do.
Whether you choose a single session or a full course, every moment of our time together will be tailored to you, helping you both to feel calm, confident and in-control of what lies ahead.
Why do an antenatal course with me?
I am an active birth & postpartum doula in Cornwall, and that matters here; my antenatal courses prepare families for the reality I see and support every single day.
Experienced eyes
If it’s on my course, it’s not because a textbook has deemed it to be important; it’s because lived birth support has.
Relevant & realistic approaches
Doula work shows me what works, what doesn’t and what needs tweaking. I use these experiences to help you discover what’s likely to work for you.
True continuity
Birth prep isn’t a tick-list affair and neither is my support: all of my antenatal courses give you support that extends well beyond our diary slots.
Proper personalisation
As an independent practitioner, the only person I work for here is you. No bias, no agenda, no policies: just a passion for helping you to achieve the positive birth you’re aiming for.
So, tell me where you’re at right now and let me show you how I can help:
First-Time Parents
Your first birth is absolutely not a practice run.
Answering the biggest of questions, these first-time specific courses are the grounding for your confident birth and baby journey.
Every course includes:
2.5 hour in-person sessions: antenatal knowledge and hypnobirthing skills built your way.
A digital workbook: taking you one step further with pre-session & reflective tasks.
A printed antenatal guide: the ideal quick reference perfect addition to your hospital bag.
Private Whatsapp chat for questions, information and emotional support until ‘the big day’.
Access to the Born to Birth Cornwall virtual community; make friends, ask questions and feel far less alone on your journey!
“A fantastic, bespoke way to feel much more prepared for the adventure ahead, making the daunting yet exciting chapter familiar and allow us to journey with confidence.”
Strong Foundations Antenatal Course
Building knowledge and inner strength for a confident birth journey with three tailored sessions exploring the questions that matter most.
This course is for you if you:
are preparing to meet your first baby
want to build your confidence and strength for birth & beyond
a working knowledge of what to do when the time comes
want supported spaces to explore your options & make your own decisions
want practical tools to use through birth and early parenthood
Strong Foundations Antenatal Course Content
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This first session focuses how birth works in every space, place and way, and what you can do to help it unfold as smoothly as possible for you (even when things don’t go to plan!)
Antenatal information covered:
birth physiology
birth hormones
induction
assisted delivery
caesarean sections
Hypnobirthing strategies covered:
Fight-flight-freeze responses
Grounding influences
Sensory anchors
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Our second session focuses on developing practical strategies to promote confidence and control within the birth space.
Antenatal information covered:
Birth rights and practical advocacy strategies.
The power of movement and positioning in birth.
Options for pain relief (drug based & holistic)
Hypnobirthing strategies covered:
Breathwork
Affirmations
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Our third session focuses on the realities of postpartum, and the creation of a strong plan to navigate it.
Antenatal information covered:
The postpartum body and a smooth recovery
Your first parenting decisions: the golden hour, cord clamping & vitamin K
Feeding: fact vs fiction, and starting your journey positively.
Understanding safe-sleep
Nappies: what they tell you & how to manage them
The umbilical stump & safe bathing
Hypnobirthing strategies covered:
Strategies to stay calm through sleep deprived days
Total cost: £330
Available weekdays, evenings & Sundays. Flexible payment plans are available.
“More than anything, Gemma helped us feel empowered. Each session left us feeling more confident in our choices, more prepared for birth, and more connected as a couple. ”
Complete Confidence Antenatal Course
Develop a deep sense of self-trust and self-belief with six deep dive sessions into every aspect of your birth and baby journey.
This course is for you if you want:
to feel totally prepared to birth and care for your first baby
to go beyond the basics and understand explore things that matter
to develop a deep rooted trust and belief in your abilities & priorities
space and support to explore all of your options and questions in detail
time to build a strong toolkit with which to navigate birth and early parenthood
Complete Confidence Antenatal Course Content
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This first session focuses on building your understanding of how to help birth go smoothly, in spontaneous and medical scenarios.
Antenatal information covered:
birth hormones
birth physiology
induction
assisted delivery
caesarean
Hypnobirthing strategies covered:
fight-flight-freeze responses
body scans & hormonal awareness
calming breathwork for birth
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Our second session focuses on developing a stable, resilient mindset and practical grounding strategies for labour.
Antenatal information covered:
Birth team foundations
The pelvic space and basic biomechanics for birth
Pain relief options (drug & non-drug based)
Massage and counter pressure
The role of mindset
The influence of environment & the senses
Hypnobirthing strategies covered:
Grounding anchors
Positive birth playlists
Breath work & body scans with partner support
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Our third session focuses on the essential skill of navigating fears and prioritising self-belief & confidence during decision making.
Antenatal information covered:
Understanding advocacy, birth rights & legal responsibilities.
Practical use of BRAIN in common pregnancy and birth scenarios.
Hypnobirthing strategies covered:
Affirmations for birth
Visualisations for birth
Using strategies to manage anxieties
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Out fourth session focuses on the realities of the initial stage (first 24 hours) of the postpartum phase.
Antenatal information covered:
Your first parental decisions: cutting the cord, protecting the Golden Hour & Vitamin K.
Introduction to feeding: myths vs facts
Starting your breastfeeding and/or formula feeding journey.
Hypnobirthing strategies covered:
Grounding strategies for the transition
Influencing hormones for bonding & feeding
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This fifth session focuses on the realities of the first few weeks of postpartum.
Antenatal information covered:
Postpartum body & recovery needs
Safe infant sleep strategies
Nappies: what to look for and what they tell us
Caring for the umbilical stump
Hypnobirthing strategies covered:
Strategies for rest and emotional stability during sleep deprivation
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Our sixth and final session focuses on the realities of the first year of postpartum, creating a strong plan to navigate it
Antenatal information covered:
The fourth trimester
Supporting Matrescence and patrescence
Postpartum mental health
The role of nutrition, routine and social structures
Balancing changing relationships
Hypnobirthing strategies covered:
Strategies for lifelong resilience and calm.
Total cost: £550
Available weekdays, evenings & Sundays. Flexible payment plans are available.
Expanding Families
You’ve done this before and know what’s ahead, only this time you want it to be different
Tackling the things that matter most to you, these birth prep courses help families approach birth stronger than they did before.
Every course includes:
2.5 hour in-person sessions: knowledge and skills tailored totally to your needs.
A printed antenatal guide: the ideal quick reference perfect addition to your hospital bag.
Private Whatsapp chat for questions, information and emotional support until ‘the big day’.
Access to the Born to Birth Cornwall virtual community; make friends, ask questions and feel far less alone on your journey!
“We feel so confident and calm going forwards; we came to feel prepared and now feel totally ready, but also okay about navigating the unknown.”
Core Essentials: Birth Preparation Workshops
Building your confidence and sharpening your skills by focusing on what matters most for this birth with a single session workshop and extended personal support.
These workshops are for you if you:
have done other antenatal or hypnobirthing courses
have a specific idea of what you want to learn & develop skills in
would like in-person sessions supported by WhatsApp access
are available for sessions between 20 & 35 weeks of pregnancy
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Creating positive births from confident choices.
In this 3 hour workshop, you’ll work together to:
explore how home & hospital birth works in Cornwall.
understand the differences between induction, assisted delivery, caesareans and different forms of pain relief, and how each works at Treliske.
consider the pros and cons of different birth places in Cornwall.
learn how to create a birth plan that works for, rather than against you.
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Know what to do when it matters most.
Over the course of our three hour workshop, together you will…
understand the emotional side of birth hormones
explore emotional cues and how to support oxytocin release
build a practical toolkit for pain management, including massage, counter pressure, positioning, environment, & hypnobirthing approaches.
develop advocacy skills to help navigate policy & pressure within NHS supported home and hospital births
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Navigating life after birth with confidence.
In this 3 hour workshop, together you will:
Explore your hopes, fears and priorities for the fourth trimester (the first three months after birth).
Understand what postpartum recovery is and needs
Learn the basics of baby-care (hygiene, sleep & the principles of feeding)
Explore common challenges in postpartum journeys & how to overcome them
Total cost: £105 per workshop
Flexible payment plans are available.
“Now my daughter is 7 months old and we have had time to reflect, I can wholeheartedly say that we would NOT have had the birth experience that we had if it hadn’t been for taking the antenatal course. I will be forever grateful to Gemma for this.”
‘Second Time Around’ Antenatal Course
Creating a sense of calm, control and confidence around your next birth & baby journey with three stages of reflective & personalised preparation and extended personal support.
This course is for you if you:
have previously experienced birth
want to build on your previous experiences towards a better one
would like support navigating the maternity system on your terms
are available for sessions between 28 & 38 weeks of pregnancy
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Through a series of written prompts, both you and your partner will be encouraged to explore your previous birth experience(s), and to consider…
positive moments
moments you’d like to avoid this time around
NB: this stage is done confidentially via Google Forms in the style of a journal.
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Our first in-person session is built around your virtual debrief.
Together, we will explore the following parts of your previous experiences…
that carry negative associations or memories for you.
that felt out of control or problematic.
that felt strong, powerful and positive.
… to plan an approach based on information, practical skills & hypnobirthing strategies to improve the experience of your next birth & postpartum.
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Our second in-person session is built around the information shared during your virtual debrief and first in-person session.
Your totally personalised, tailored session will give you the tools you need for a better birth & baby experience this time around.
Depending on your experiences, priorities and needs, this may include:
explore relevant, reliable and trusted information
learn practical support & hypnobirthing strategies
build mindset tools to build resilience and emotional strength
develop specific advocacy skills for your situation
Total cost: £250
Flexible payment plans are available.
How to book your antenatal course in Cornwall
Booking your antenatal course with me couldn’t be simpler.
Select the course & dates that work for you.
Pay the deposit to secure your space.
You’ll receive a booking confirmation, paperwork and digital logins within 24 hours of your booking.
Please note that these dates are not exhaustive & other times are available, including future dates.
You don’t have to do this alone:
Looking for the people who get it?
Pregnancy and postpartum are so much easier when you have people around you who understand exactly what life is like for you right now.
That’s why I created two community spaces for parents & parents-to-be in Cornwall to find their feet, their friends and the confidence to move forwards.