Maternity and parent information
For information factsheets and booklets, please see our information factsheets page here.
Parent information evening
The parent information evenings take place on the first Tuesday of the following months: February, April, June, August, October and December. (Please note, all information evenings are currently suspended until further notice due to the pandemic)
As early as possible in pregnancy, women are invited to our free parent information evening.
This is held in the outpatients department (E level), and offers advice and information to expectant parents and those planning to be pregnant about all aspects of pregnancy, such as diet, breastfeeding, nappies, car seats, and travelling abroad.
There is no need to book for this - please just come along. The evening is very informal, and we are there to help and answer all questions. The evening will start promptly at 7pm, please download the programme for the evening to see all the topics covered. We also have about 20 health and commercial stands with relevant information. Please note this evening does not include a tour of the Princess Anne Hospital but a video tour of maternity services is now available.
The department also has a library of books and videos available to lend, free of charge, to all expectant parents.
Antenatal classes
We are not able to run our usual maternity information programme face-to-face at present but you can find links to recordings of all of the topics usually covered by these classes here as well as an additional session on infant feeding.
Women living in the Southampton city area
We have a comprehensive education programme to help prepare women and their partners for labour, birth and the early weeks of parenthood. All courses and workshops are free, except for water birth workshops where a small donation is asked for to attend, and are held at the Princess Anne Hospital or at locations around Southampton during the day, evenings and at weekends. You will find more information and a booking form in the maternity information programme (at the bottom of this page).
Women living in the New Forest area
If you live in the New Forest area, information is available directly from your midwife rather than an organised course. However, if there are spaces available on the antenatal courses at the Princess Anne Hospital, you are welcome to attend. You are also welcome to attend the individual workshops.
Read more about the maternity information programme and please phone 023 8120 6052 if you have any queries.
Information and resources
- The Lullaby Trust
Safer sleep for babies, support for families - ICON
Providing information and advice around coping with a crying baby.