Antenatal classes run on weekday mornings, when I'm teaching. Did the fathers find them worth taking leave?

coral_rain_555914 Sept 2026

The hospital where my partner is booked runs its antenatal classes on weekday mornings. My school day starts early, and taking a morning off means arranging cover for my classes. Possible, but not something I can do every week. She would like me there, and I want to go. I'd just like to know what the sessions are like before I start asking for leave. For fathers who went: which ones were worth attending in person, and which could I reasonably catch up on from her notes?

1 comment

maple_trail_72714 Sept 2026
We did this fairly recently, our daughter isn't one yet, though I run my own business, so I had more flexibility than you will. The sessions on labour and on the first few days after the birth were the ones I was glad to be in the room for. The feeding session was useful too, mainly because it gave me something practical to do later. The early ones on diet and exercise in pregnancy I could have skipped without losing anything. Ask the hospital for the full schedule and pick three or four.
- silver_drum_639915 Sept 2026
  Agree about the labour session. Our son is fourteen, so this was a long time ago, but that was the one where I finally understood what I was supposed to be doing on the day. Most of the rest I learned once he arrived.