The Parenting Posse

The Parenting Posse is a new type of modern, evidence-based labour and parent craft preparation classes for soon-to-be parents. Our philosophy is simple. There are never judgments on your choices, just information to help you make them. Our job is to help you make the right choice for you and your family.

We do this in a fun, and interactive way – because one of the biggest problems with becoming a parent is the isolation it can cause. Most of us live far away from family, and we often have children at different times from our friends. Therefore you often need to create a new group of friends when you have a baby – a parenting posse, that appreciates what you are going through at the same time you are going through it. We therefore bring together small groups of people that live in the same area, and encourage friendships to develop through a variety of ways, including games, opportunities to talk, group dinners and shared WhatsApp groups.

Our service is unique in a number of ways;
(1) each class is delivered by an NHS midwife with an understanding of what is on offer at the services that you have chosen to birth in;
(2) our education is embedded in science – our founder, a midwife of twenty years experience, has a PhD from UCL and has published over 20 peer review scientific articles on pregnancy related issues. They know the evidence related to the choices you will face, and can help you decide what is important to you.
(3) alongside being designed to help you create lasting friendships, our classes focus on both parents, not just the birthing person. We recognise that this is a journey for you both, as individuals and as a couple. The physical and psychological aspects of parenthood and relationship changes are discussed, and we also allocate time for single-sexed discussions just incase there are things that one of you want to ask without the other present.

The classes consist of 12 hours of guided education over five days. The first four classes are in the evening, between 19:00 and 21:30, and the final meeting is held a month after the final baby is born as a postnatal celebration.

Class one focuses on labour and birth, including choosing where to birth, defining and explaining the three different stages of labour and recognising when to ask for help.
Class two focuses on choices, including tools for asking for more information, pain relief options, assisted births and Induction of labour
Class three centres around baby care, including discussion on good products to buy, relationship changes and supporting one another and nappies, crying and comforting
Class four addresses feeding and baby first aid, including benefits and techniques for breast, formula and mixed feeding, feeding patterns and techniques and Baby first aid.

Each course is accompanied with printed materials to help jog your memory, and snacks and drinks are provided. They are hosted in convenient locations near to public transport and good parking. If you have booked a class and are unable to attend then we will provide you with high-quality recordings of the lessons included. However, as a large portion of the Parenting Posse philosophy is to make friends, try to avoid this wherever possible. If one of you can attend a certain class, but the other cannot, feel free to come solo and we will make sure you’re looked after!