My working life... Antenatal practitioner

Cerys Byrne is an antenatal practitioner for the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) in Basingstoke, Hampshire. The NCT has more than 300 branches across the UK run by both paid staff and volunteers. Ms Byrne delivers training courses on a part-time basis to expectant couples about how to prepare for the birth of their first child.

She says, 'I just have to turn up and teach. The NCT branch head tells practitioners in an area how many courses they require, and we bid for what we want to deli- ver. The only paperwork I do is to submit an annual return to NCT to prove I've taught enough hours to maintain my practice licence. I don't take bookings - that's all done centrally.

'I deliver six to eight courses a year. NCT offers two courses: 'signature' and 'essentials'. I teach signature, which is more parent-led, while essentials has a firmer structure. Each course has five three-hour sessions held in evenings and weekends in public buildings such as a church hall. I normally have six to eight couples in a group.

'The most challenging part is the beginning when you walk into a new group where people don't know each other. As well as teaching parents about birth and parenthood, my aim is to help them form a self-sustaining network to act as their support system once their baby is born. People don't often have that group around them when they have babies, because they are working.

'We start by doing introductions and everybody says something about their baby. I ask them what's important to them and what they want to learn. I usually split them into single-sex groups for that. Often, the dads focus on postnatal whereas mums are more interested in the labour and birth. The course is structured, but I also adapt what I teach to meet the group's requests.

'Over the sessions we cover many subjects. There's a lot about the labour, such as what to expect. We talk about different birth places, so couples know there are alternatives to hospitals. We look at common interventions in labour and how to try to avoid them. We prepare the group for unexpected outcomes, such as having a caesarean birth, and teach relaxation techniques.

'We also cover postnatal subjects such as practical baby care, with the help of a breastfeeding counsellor. I get the group to practice changing nappies on dolls, and to think about how 24 hours with a crying newborn might feel. I do a lot of confidence building, as we live in a culture where you don't really see newborns.

'There's also a mental health element, as we discuss how the baby might change a couple's relationship. We talk about postnatal depression, how to spot the signs, the fact both men and women can get it and that it's going to be fine if they do.

'Before I became an antenatal practitioner, I was a personal assistant and HR administrator. About 20 years ago, when I was pregnant with my daughter, I attended NCT antenatal classes. I became increasingly involved as a volunteer, becoming chair of my local NCT branch and supporting the charity's regional work, so I decided to study the NCT diploma and make my role more formal.

'The job fits in well around family life, although you have to work evenings and weekends.

'The hourly rate is good, but you work few hours so it's not very well paid overall. Many antenatal practitioners do it alongside another job.

'I love the role because it's such as special time to be working with people when they're on the verge of a whole new phase of their lives. About three months after the course we arrange a reunion and seeing how parents' confidence grows is lovely.'

CV

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

1990-1996: Photographic library personal assistant, The National Trust, Basingstoke

1996-2000: HR admin, Air Products, Basingstoke

2000-2009: Career break

2009-2012: Part-time student

2012-present: Antenatal practitioner, NCT, Basingstoke

QUALIFICATIONS

1989: BA in Modern Languages, University of Southampton

2012: Diploma of Higher Education in Antenatal Education, University of Bedfordshire

Training

Antenatal practitioners work for NCT, the NHS or private organisations. Within the NHS, classes are usually delivered by midwives or health visitors. Both of these roles require degree-level qualifications. To work for the NCT, antenatal practitioners must gain a Level 4 Certificate of Higher Education to deliver the essentials course. A Level 5 foundation degree allows graduates to work as an NCT signature antenatal practitioner, breastfeeding counsellor or postnatal practitioner. Both qualifications are offered at the NCT College with the University of Worcester.

After qualifying, NCT practitioners receive a licence to practice. To maintain this they must attend two study days a year, which includes specific subjects such as obstetrics and midwifery procedures.

Useful websites

- NCT College, www.nct.org.uk/nct-college

- NHS Careers, www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/explore-by-career/midwifery

- Antenatal classes, www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby.