Private Antenatal Class
Personalised preparation for birth, feeding and life with your newborn, from the comfort of your own home
Pregnancy can come with a lot of questions. How will labour feel? What are your options if your plans change? How can your partner support you? What will the first few days with your baby be like? And how do you give yourself the best start with feeding?
This private class gives you the time and space to explore all of this in one relaxed, four-hour session in your own home, tailored completely to you.
Led by Lola Dexter, Registered Midwife and IBCLC, the class is shaped around your pregnancy, your plans and the questions you most want answered. Whether you're preparing for your first baby, have had a previous birth, are planning a caesarean, want to breastfeed, are considering combination feeding, or simply want to feel ready for the transition into parenthood, we'll spend our time on what matters most to you.
You'll also receive a companion book covering everything we talk about, so you can revisit the details whenever you need to.
“The breadth of her knowledge is truly impressive. As a dad to be, I feel so much more prepared after the class, with lots of takeaways about how I can support my partner. I can’t recommend a class with Lola enough!”
One private session, everything covered
The class is a single four-hour session in your home, for €300. We'll take a break partway through, and you're welcome to pause whenever you need to.
Before we meet, I'll send you a short questionnaire so I can understand your pregnancy, your plans and anything you're feeling unsure about. That means we can spend our time together on the topics most useful to you.
This class may be redeemable against most health insurance policies. I recommend checking directly with your insurer to confirm your cover.
What we can cover
Pregnancy, labour and birth
Recognising the signs that labour is beginning, and when to call your maternity unit
The stages of labour and what you can expect
Positions, movement, breathing and comfort measures
Massage, counter-pressure and ways your birth partner can support you
Pain relief options and making informed decisions
Induction of labour, monitoring and common interventions
Assisted vaginal birth
Caesarean birth, whether planned or unexpected
Birth preferences and making a flexible birth plan
Meeting your baby, skin-to-skin and what happens in the first hour
Feeding
Breastfeeding, positioning, attachment and feeding cues
Colostrum, hand expressing and getting feeding off to a good start
Pumping, expressing and introducing bottles
Combination feeding, and protecting breastfeeding when supplementing
Your newborn
Normal newborn behaviour, sleep and settling
Nappy output and knowing your baby is getting enough
Practical care, including nappy changes, bathing and cord care
Safe sleep and creating a safe environment for your baby
Your recovery and wellbeing
Physical recovery after a vaginal or caesarean birth
The emotional side of the fourth trimester, and adjusting to parenthood
Looking after yourself as well as your baby
Knowing when and how to seek extra support
As a Registered Midwife, IBCLC and Caesarean Scar Specialist, I can give you detailed, evidence-based preparation for feeding, while helping you understand how birth, recovery and newborn care all fit together.
“She created a safe non-judgemental space, listened patiently to my concerns and provided tailored advice. Her kind and supportive approach made the entire experience significantly easier.”
Why choose a private class?
A group antenatal class can be a lovely way to prepare, and private education offers something different again. You have dedicated one-to-one time with a Registered Midwife and IBCLC, and every minute is spent on what's relevant to you.
The class can be shaped around your:
Pregnancy and medical history
Previous birth experiences
Birth preferences and concerns
Plans for feeding
Partner's questions and role
Caesarean or induction plans
Feelings about birth and parenthood
Questions about the first weeks with your baby
There's also time to ask the questions you might feel less comfortable raising in a group.
Who is it for?
The private class suits:
First-time parents who'd like thorough, personal preparation
Parents who would prefer one-to-one time over a group class
Parents who have had a previous birth and want to prepare differently this time
Anyone planning a vaginal birth, induction or caesarean birth
Parents who want detailed breastfeeding and feeding preparation
Parents considering combination feeding or expressing
Couples with specific concerns they'd like more time to explore
Parents who want their partner to feel confident and involved
You don't need to know exactly what you want from your birth or feeding experience before booking. That's what our time together is for.
The class works best between around 28 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. If you're further along, get in touch and we'll find a time that works.
In the comfort of your own home
The class takes place in your own home across Wicklow & South Dublin so there's no need to travel or arrange childcare for older children. You can settle into your own space, take breaks when you need them, and have your partner fully involved.
Having the class at home can also make those first weeks feel more real. We can talk through practical things in your own environment, such as where your baby will sleep or where you might feed at night.
Living further afield? I'm happy to travel beyond Wicklow & South Dublin for an additional travel fee. Get in touch and I'll let you know the cost for your area.
Continuing your care with the Feeding Support Add-On
If you'd like support that carries on beyond the class, the Feeding Support Add-On brings together an antenatal consultation, a colostrum harvesting session in clinic, and a postnatal lactation consultation at home once your baby arrives. It's usually €360, and €295 when added to your class.
About me
I'm Lola, a midwife, lactation consultant and mum of two, living here in Wicklow. I've spent my career alongside families in some of the biggest moments of their lives, from calm water births to emergency caesareans and those first wobbly feeds in the middle of the night.
Becoming a parent myself, even with all my training, showed me how different it all feels from the other side. That's a big part of why I love teaching. I want you to feel relaxed, able to ask anything, and confident that you understand your options, however your birth unfolds.
When I come to your home, it's just a conversation between us, at your pace, focused on the questions that matter most to you.
Registered Midwife · IBCLC · Caesarean Scar Specialist · Perinatal mental health and birth trauma qualification, Trinity College Dublin
Private antenatal classes near you
Home visits are available across Wicklow, South Dublin and North Wexford, including Bray, Greystones and Delgany.
One private four-hour session · €300