Relax Stretch & Breathe

10/03/2026

09/03/2026

We've been voted Best Antenatal Class and Best Antenatal Education Course for 2026, so we’re celebrating the best way we know how: Save 20% on all NCT Antenatal courses starting in March!

Our award‑winning courses give you:
💚 Trusted, evidence‑based info
💚 Support from experienced NCT course leaders
💚 Practical tools for birth and early parenthood
💚 A ready‑made community of parents due at the same time

Spaces will go quickly, so grab one while you can - no need for a code, the discount will already be applied!

Book today with NCT 🔗 www.nct.org.uk/courses-workshops/nct-antenatal-course

03/03/2026

24/02/2026

📞 It’s , and a reminder that no parent should feel alone when feeding feels overwhelming. No matter how you're feeding your baby, the early days can bring big emotions and even bigger questions. And that’s why the NCT Infant Feeding Line is here.

💚 Free, confidential support from trained NCT Breastfeeding Counsellors
💚 Open every day, 8am–midnight
💚 For any feeding question, big or small

Sometimes the hardest part is reaching out. Today is all about making that step feel easier 👉 If you need to talk, we’re here 📞 0300 330 0700.

20/02/2026

Just a reminder of a really important question.

In an editorial in The Lancet's EClinical Medicine, Professor Hannah Dahlen looked at the meta-analysis by Hutton et al (2019), which looked at 14 studies involving around 500,000 women.

It showed (again) that home and hospital birth are equally safe and that homebirths in well-integrated settings appear to lead to better perinatal outcomes.

She then raised an important question: 'Is it time to ask whether facility based birth is safe for low risk women and their babies?'

If you’d like to know more about the evidence on home birth, see https://www.sarawickham.com/research-updates/is_home_birth_safe/

We have an entire page of studies and links to load of evidence-based information about homebirth.

Dahlen HG (2019). Is it Time to Ask Whether Facility Based Birth is Safe for Low Risk Women and Their Babies? EClinicalMedicine doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2019.08.003

18/02/2026

We're so thrilled to announce that we have been shortlisted for the Loved By Parents 2026 Awards!

We have been shortlisted for:

💚Best Antenatal Class
💚Best Antenatal Education Course
💚Best Parenting Brand of the Year

We'd be so honoured to win a Loved By Parents award again, but we need your help to get there. Please support and vote for us now - all you need to do is enter the shortlisted categories above and 'NCT'. But be quick, as voting is only open for a week and closes midnight on the 25th February⏱️

A huge thank you to our amazing NCT practitioners and course leaders who support thousands of parents every year on their unique journey through pregnancy, birth and life with a new baby - and to our wonderful community of parents who choose NCT's trusted courses and all those in the NCT community, we truly couldn't do it without you!

Make your vote count, and today🔗 https://lovedbyparents.wufoo.com/forms/lbp-awards-2026-voting-form/

15/02/2026

Birth works best when the body is allowed to do what it was designed to do.

For most of human history women labored upright because gravity, movement, and instinct made birth smoother. Standing, squatting, and kneeling naturally opened the pelvis and helped the baby descend with less resistance. Modern hospital routines shifted mothers onto their backs which reduces pelvic space and increases pressure on the spine. Researchers found this position can slow labor because it forces the body to work harder against gravity. The change was introduced for medical convenience, not because it supported the natural physiology of birth.

Families today have more awareness and more options. Upright positions, side lying, and gentle movement can make labor feel more manageable and support better alignment for the baby. Even small adjustments can lower stress and improve comfort. Birth is safest when mothers feel supported, informed, and able to choose what works best for their body. When women work with their instincts rather than against them the entire experience becomes calmer and more empowering.

09/02/2026

📣 Important update on formula milk recalls.

There are further recalls on certain SMA, Aptamil, Cow & Gate and Little Steps formula products because of possible contamination. We know this can sound scary, but most formula milks aren't affected. It’s important to check any products you have at home to be safe.

What to do?
💚 Check the latest Food Standards Agency recall list and immediately stop using any affected batches
💚 If your baby becomes unwell (vomiting, diarrhoea or tummy pain), contact your GP or NHS 111
💚 It’s safe to switch to another first infant formula milk, they're all nutritionally equivalent
💚 If your baby uses a specialist formula (lactose‑free, anti‑reflux, comfort or amino‑acid based), speak to a health professional before switching

Check recalled batches 🔗 https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/infant-formula-recalls

If you’re feeling worried or need feeding support, our Infant Feeding Line is open every day, 8am – Midnight 📞 0300 330 0700.

29/01/2026