Why you should take a twin-specific antenatal course when pregnant with twins

How pregnancy courses for multiples can support you

Expecting twins, triplets or more can feel exciting and overwhelming at the same time. Your pregnancy, birth options and early days at home may look different from friends expecting one baby. Standard antenatal classes often only touch briefly on carrying more than one baby, if they cover it at all.

Specialist pregnancy courses focus on your situation from the start. They explain how carrying more than one baby may affect your health, the appointments you’re offered and the choices you might have around birth. They also make space for questions about early delivery, neonatal care and what life with more than one newborn might look like.

At Twins Trust, our offer includes our flagship pregnancy courses, Preparing for Twins and Preparing for Triplets (LINK), alongside specialist antenatal courses (LINK). You can do both. The Preparing for Twins and Preparing for Triplets courses focus on practical planning and everyday life with more than one baby, while antenatal courses cover labour, birth and clinical care. Together, they help you understand your pregnancy and prepare for life with more than one newborn in a way that feels manageable.

What our antenatal courses cover for multiple pregnancies

A specialist antenatal course gives you practical tools for pregnancy, birth and early parenthood. You’ll look at what might influence your labour, including how your babies are positioned and whether they share a placenta. The course explains what monitoring may look like with twins, triplets or more and how care may differ from a singleton pregnancy.

You’ll also hear what to expect with both vaginal and caesarean births. Teachers talk through common interventions and what could happen if your babies arrive early, including possible neonatal care and who might be involved in looking after them.

Planning your birth is a key part of the course. You’ll explore how your healthcare team will work with you, how plans may change if one baby needs extra support and how to prepare practical details such as packing for hospital. There’s guidance on how your birth partner can support you and what the first hours after birth may look like, including skin-to-skin contact, early feeds and time in neonatal care if needed.

Postnatal preparation is another major focus. You’ll learn about recovery after birth, how to look after yourself and how to manage daily routines with two or more newborns. Feeding guidance covers all feeding types, including positioning and tandem feeding. Safe sleep information helps you plan arrangements that support your babies’ wellbeing and fit your home.

Day-to-day care skills are covered too. You’ll look at how to bathe more than one baby safely, change nappies efficiently and organise tasks in ways that make life easier. You’ll also learn strategies to help with crying, soothing and routines, so you can find a rhythm that works for your family.

For families who already have children, second-timers courses offer advice on balancing the needs of older siblings while caring for newborn multiples. This includes planning support, preparing children for the changes ahead and understanding what may feel different this time.

Courses also create opportunities to connect with other families expecting multiples. Meeting people who understand the excitement and challenges of a multiple pregnancy can make a real difference. In-person courses offer time to chat with others, while online courses usually include a WhatsApp group so you can stay in touch and share experiences.

How the Preparing for Twins and Preparing for Triplets courses fit alongside antenatal support

Preparing for Twins (LINK) is designed for all expectant twin parents, whether this is your first pregnancy or you already have children. It is led by a twin parent, not a medical professional, and it does not cover labour, birth or clinical decision making. Instead, it focuses on everyday practicalities and realistic expectations for life with twins.

Preparing for Triplets (LINK) offers very similar content, tailored for families expecting three babies. It is led by a Twins Trust staff member who is highly trained in supporting families and has extensive experience working with parents of triplets. Like the twin course, it is non-medical and focuses on practical, real life preparation.

Both of these courses are on-demand, made up of bitesize videos on specific topics. You can dip in and out of the content, choosing the sections that matter most at each stage. It is easy to find the information you need when you need it, without feeling overloaded. You can return to the videos whenever you like, during pregnancy and after your babies arrive.

The courses look at key areas such as where to find support, finishing work, planning finances and getting ready for possible hospital stays in a realistic, non-medical way. They also cover early life with more than one baby, including safe sleep, bonding, routines, bathing, changing, crying and life with older siblings, all from a lived-experience perspective.

Preparing for Twins (LINK) and Preparing for Triplets (LINK) are designed to sit alongside, not replace, a medical antenatal course. Many parents choose to do both. The pregnancy courses give you real life insights, practical tips and reassurance for everyday life, while antenatal courses provide detailed information about labour, birth and clinical care from experienced antenatal teachers.

Choosing the course mix that’s right for your family

Our specialist courses are available in different formats so you can choose what works best for your family. Options include:

• Preparing for Twins and Preparing for Triplets, our on-demand Twins Trust pregnancy courses for expectant parents of twins or triplets
• In-person antenatal course with one-day sessions at locations around London
• Online antenatal course delivered as a three-part series live on Zoom
• Second-timers antenatal course for parents who already have children, delivered as a two-part series live on Zoom
• Private antenatal courses tailored to your family’s needs

In-person sessions cover all core topics and give you time to meet other families expecting twins or triplets. Many parents value being in the same room as others who are on a similar path. Online courses run as three live sessions of around two hours each. They are interactive, with breakout rooms, quizzes and group discussions. Content mirrors the in-person course, and you can join from home, which can be easier if you’re juggling work, appointments or childcare. A WhatsApp group helps you keep in touch with the people you meet.

Second-timers courses are delivered over two live sessions of around 90 minutes each. The content focuses on what will be different when you're expecting multiples, from juggling school runs to supporting older siblings with the transition. Private courses are available online as one three-hour session or two shorter sessions, and in-person in Greater London as a three-hour home visit. These fully personalised courses adapt content to your medical history, questions and preferences.

All antenatal courses are led by experienced antenatal teachers who support families expecting more than one baby and understand the realities of life with twins, triplets or more. Choosing the mix of courses that suits you can help you feel more informed, better supported and more confident as you get ready to welcome your babies.