title: Preparing for parenthood: the role of antenatal education.
abstract: The transition to parenthood is a time of great change for mothers and fathers, and also lays the foundation for the long-term health and wellbeing of the child. This emphasises the importance of preparation for parenthood. A Department of Health-commissioned review found provision and uptake of antenatal education to be variable, and so brought a group of experts together to consider Preparation for Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond. This paper provides an overview of the learning from the expert group's work, offering a new framework that professionals may use to plan effective local programmes and services.
authors.affiliation: Family Nurse Partnership and Healthy Child Programme, Department of Health. kate.billingham@dh.gsi.gov.uk
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Billingham
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D016742:Preconception Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D006113:United Kingdom