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Lifestyle Antenatal Classes is a small company run by
Alison Green, offering a personalised service to all parents,
whether this is your first, second or subsequent baby.
Due to staff shortages and budget cutbacks, many NHS hospitals are only
able to offer a very brief overview of birth and parenting in their Parentcraft
classes. Some hospitals are unable
to offer any form of classes at all. The
National Childbirth Trust does a wonderful job in trying to fill the breach, but
many areas of London have long waiting lists for places on their courses.
Lifestyle Antenatal Classes hopes to be able to provide a high quality
service to those parents who are unable to access the information they need
elsewhere and at a time and in a setting that suits them.
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When my son was born in 1999, my husband and I found
the antenatal classes we attended invaluable.
Although you can learn a lot from books and magazines, there is no
substitute for the personal approach of a qualified professional, together with
the chance to discuss one’s hopes and fears with a small, like-minded group
Having given up full time employment to look after my son, I therefore decided to train as an antenatal teacher with the National Childbirth Trust and applied to study for the Diploma in Antenatal Education (NCT) from Luton University. Three years and a baby daughter later, I qualified as a teacher and began teaching for my local NCT branch.
I continue to
teach for my local branch on a regular basis and am therefore strictly regulated
and receive ongoing professional support and training to ensure that I am always
fully up-to-date with the latest information and techniques.
I firmly believe that antenatal education is an essential part of
childbirth and parenting, but I also think that classes should be fun and I do
my best to make sure that the important information is mixed with lots of
laughter! |
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Here are some comments from past clients
The classes we did with Alison definitely made a difference to my labour and
George's birth! I managed the first 9 hours with TENS and entonox, and feel very
pleased that I did that before asking for an epidural, which was a much more
informed decision that it would have been without your teaching. We are now
managing quite well at home, and have now established breastfeeding quite
successfully, again I think this would have been a lot harder without the
confidence we got from your classes.
Bridget and Oliver, Sutton
We decided to book antenatal classes in addition to those provided by the NHS because we wanted the opportunity to learn in more detail about options for the birth and also learn the basics of how to care for our baby.
Alison
was our teacher; she was extremely friendly and approachable.
It was a highly interactive class, with tasks and discussion.
We felt comfortable to ask questions and raise worries, however silly
they may have seemed to us, and by the end of the course we both felt more
confident and knowledgeable. We
felt informed to make choices, realising what choices were available to us, and
focusing on controlling the birth of our baby.
Our
course was well worth the time and money, Alison was an excellent teacher, and
we would recommend attending to anyone.
Darryl and Sarah Shaw, Epsom
I participated in ante-natal
refresher classes with Alison. She was practical, informative and supportive. My
first birth experience was not great so for my second child I enlisted the
services of a doula. Alison supported my choice and provided me with a wealth of
information on Vaginal Birth After Caesarean which reassured me and made me feel
more relaxed and prepared.
Emma Berry, Sutton
I would like to recommend Alison Green very highly as an Antenatal teacher. Having attended a course before the birth of my first child, I found the information Alison provided extremely helpful and the sessions enjoyable and relaxing. The course enabled me to feel more confident about the birth and as prepared as it is possible to be. With hindsight, I also appreciated the information about caesarean sections as it turned out to be relevant for us.
I was so impressed by Alison's teaching, that I attended a further course
when expecting my second child. I
feel that the information and support Alison offered at that time was very
influential in enabling me to avoid a repeat caesarean.
Hannah, Wallington
We were both very happy with Alison's professionalism and knowledge and would thoroughly recommend her.
Kathy and Gary, Worcester Park
When labour started I
felt I could embrace it and I didn't feel scared or in a panic, which meant I
could think about the things we had discussed that would help me and my body
through labour. I managed it without pain relief or intervention so thank you
for all your suggestions and advice.
Sarah, Stoneleigh
Alison was very approachable and friendly and put us completely at our ease. The involvement of partners in the course was excellent.
Amanda and Darren, Fetcham
