Private Antenatal Course
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?
The Private Antenatal Course gives you the time and space to explore all of this in a relaxed, supportive environment, with the entire course tailored to you.
Led by Lola Dexter, Registered Midwife and IBCLC, the course is delivered privately in your own home and is designed around your pregnancy, your plans and the questions you want answered.
Rather than following a fixed curriculum, we can focus on the areas that are most relevant to you, whether you are 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 more prepared for the transition into parenthood.
Every participant receives a companion book, covering everything discussed across both sessions, so you can revisit the details whenever you need to.
Two private antenatal sessions
The course is divided into two 3.5 hour sessions, giving you a full seven hours of personalised antenatal education. Each session is €270 when booked individually, or €500 for the full course. Book Session 1 and add Session 2 at checkout to complete the course. Or book Session 2 on its own if that’s all you need.
This course may be redeemable against most health insurance policies. I recommend checking directly with your insurer for confirmation of cover.
Continuing your care with the Feeding Support Add-On
For those who’d like support to carry through beyond the course itself, the Feeding Support Add-On brings together an antenatal consultation, in-clinic colostrum harvesting and a postnatal lactation consultation at home, usually €360, for €295.
Session 1: Pregnancy, Labour & Birth
3.5 hours | €270
We will explore what to expect as you approach labour and prepare you for the different ways birth can unfold.
We will cover:
Preparing for labour and recognising the signs that labour is beginning
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 and what to expect
Monitoring and common interventions
Assisted vaginal birth
Caesarean birth, including planned and unexpected caesarean birth
Birth preferences and making a flexible birth plan
Immediate newborn care and what happens after birth
You do not need to have a fixed birth plan to benefit from antenatal education. The aim is to help you understand your options, feel informed and know what to expect if your plans change.
Session 2: Feeding, Newborn Care & Recovery
3.5 hours | €270
The early weeks with a new baby can feel like a lot to take in. This session focuses on feeding, newborn care, your own recovery, and your emotional wellbeing after birth.
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 what to expect in the early days
Practical newborn care, including nappy changes, bathing and cord care
Safe sleep and creating a safe environment for your baby
Your recovery
Physical recovery after vaginal and caesarean birth
Preparing for the transition home and those first weeks as a family
Mental & emotional wellbeing
Emotional wellbeing and the realities of the fourth trimester
Adjusting to parenthood and looking after yourself, not just your baby
Knowing when and how to seek additional support
As an IBCLC as well as a Registered Midwife and Caesarean Scar Specialist, I can give you detailed, evidence based preparation for feeding while also helping you understand how birth, recovery and newborn care all fit together.
Booking one session or the complete course
The two sessions can be booked individually depending on what you need, or together as a complete private antenatal course.
If you book Session 1, you can add Session 2 at the same time. I'll send you a code so you can book your Session 2 date separately, whenever suits you, rather than having to fit both into the same day.
Session 1: Pregnancy, Labour & Birth — 3.5 hours | €270 Session 2: Feeding, Newborn Care & Recovery — 3.5 hours | €270 Complete Private Antenatal Course — two 3.5 hour sessions | €500, a saving of €40 on booking both individually
All sessions are delivered in your own home. If you're unsure which option would be most useful for you, you're very welcome to get in touch before booking.
Why choose a private antenatal course?
A group antenatal class can be a great way to prepare for birth, but private education offers something different.
You have dedicated one to one time with a Registered Midwife and IBCLC, with no fixed curriculum and no need to spend time on topics that are not relevant to you.
The course 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 is also time to ask the questions you might not feel comfortable in a group setting.
Who is the Private Antenatal Course for?
The course is suitable for:
First time parents who want comprehensive private antenatal education
Parents who would prefer one to one preparation rather than a group class
Parents who have had a previous birth and want to prepare differently this time
Those planning a vaginal birth, induction or caesarean birth
Parents who want detailed breastfeeding and feeding preparation
Parents considering combination feeding or expressing
Couples who have specific concerns or questions they would like more time to explore
Parents who want their partner to feel confident and involved
You do not need to know exactly what you want from your birth or feeding experience before booking. That is what the sessions are there to help with.
Preparing for birth is not about planning every detail
Birth does not always follow the plan, and good antenatal education is not about trying to predict exactly what will happen. It is about understanding your options, knowing what questions to ask, feeling confident communicating with your maternity team and having practical tools to help you through labour and the early days with your baby. My aim is for you to leave these sessions feeling more informed, more prepared and more confident in your ability to navigate whatever your birth and early parenthood may bring.
Antenatal classes in the comfort of your own home
The Private Antenatal Course is delivered in your own home across Wicklow, South Dublin and North Wexford. There is no need to travel to a class 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 in the sessions.
Having the course at home can also make the transition into those first weeks feel more practical. We can talk through the things that matter to you in your own environment and make the preparation feel relevant to real life.
About me
I'm Lola, a Registered Midwife and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). I studied midwifery at Trinity College Dublin, graduating with First Class Honours, and I've spent my career since then supporting women and families through pregnancy, birth and the early weeks after.
My clinical background is in postnatal and theatre midwifery at the Rotunda Hospital, with further experience gained in Denmark during an Erasmus placement. Across that time I've supported families through everything from water birth to emergency caesarean, and all in between, which is part of why I try to prepare you for the full range of ways birth can actually unfold, not just the plan you're hoping for.
I also hold a micro credential in Perinatal Mental Health and Childbirth Related Trauma from Trinity College Dublin, so how you're feeling, and any previous birth experiences you bring with you, are always part of the conversation, not an afterthought.
And as a Caesarean Scar Specialist trained with Restore Scar Therapy, I bring particular depth to supporting anyone preparing for or recovering from a caesarean birth.
My approach is evidence based, realistic and non judgemental. I'm not here to tell you what kind of birth or feeding experience you should have. My aim is to give you the information and confidence to make the decisions that feel right for you and your family.
Private antenatal classes near you
Home visits are available across Wicklow, South Dublin and North Wexford, including Bray, Greystones and Delgany.
Two private 3.5-hour sessions
€270 when booked separately, €500 when booked as a full course
Sessions can also be booked individually if you don't require the full course.