Feel ready for birth.
Feel steady in early parenthood.
Practical antenatal and early parenting education that helps you stop guessing and start feeling ready.
Learn what's normal, understand your options, and discover practical ways to support each other through labour, birth, and life with a newborn.
Trusted by more than 5,700 parents since 2005
Preparing for birth and becoming a parent can bring excitement, questions and uncertainty, sometimes all at once.
At Bellies to Babies, you’ll find practical, real-world education that helps you understand your options, build confidence and feel better prepared for birth and those first weeks with your baby.
You don’t need to know everything. You just need to feel ready for what comes next.
Hi, I’m Janine Penny
This video gives you a quick look at who I am, how I teach, and what you can expect from my classes. If you’re after real, practical support and a friendly, down-to-earth approach to pregnancy, birth, and early parenting - you’re in the right place.
Why I started Bellies to Babies
Bellies to Babies grew from seeing just how much difference good antenatal education could make.
Not just knowing the stages of labour or what pain relief is available, but walking into birth feeling, “We’ve got this,” rather than, “What the hell are we doing?”
I wanted couples to have a space where they could ask the questions they were actually thinking. Where birth wasn’t presented as something that always goes perfectly to plan, and where partners weren’t left sitting on the sidelines wondering what their job was.
More than 20 years later, that is still what matters most to me.
I don’t expect you to leave my classes knowing everything. You don’t need to.
I want you to leave trusting yourself a little more, knowing your options, and feeling confident making decisions, especially if things don’t go to plan.
Choose the learning style that works best for you.
5-Week, In-Person Classes (Hawke’s Bay)
Learn, laugh and prepare for birth alongside other expectant parents in a relaxed, supportive environment here in Hawke's Bay.
Boutique Weekend Antenatal Class (Hawke’s Bay)
Prefer to get everything covered in one weekend? This practical and engaging two-day course helps you feel prepared without spreading learning over several weeks.
Planned Caesarean Birth Preparation (NZ Wide)
Private, live online preparation for your caesarean birth, recovery and the first weeks with your baby.
Self-Paced Antenatal Course
Learn when it suits you. Access practical antenatal education anytime, anywhere and revisit topics as often as you need.
Private Consultation - Antenatal Education 2 × 2-hour sessions
Looking for personalised support? Enjoy one-on-one education tailored to your pregnancy, questions and birth preferences.
Ready for Birth & Baby Community Hub $Free
Ongoing support, practical resources and a welcoming online community you can dip into throughout pregnancy and early parenting.
5-Week, Live & Online Antenatal Classes (NZ Wide)
Join from anywhere in New Zealand and learn in real time from the comfort of home. Ask questions, connect with other parents and prepare for birth together.
Bellies to Babies Antenatal Education Designed for Real Life
However you want to prepare for birth, there’s an option that fits your schedule, your learning style, and your level of support.
All classes are evidence-based, practical, and down-to-earth - with honest conversations, real tools, and space to ask the questions you might be Googling at 3am.
What are my classes actually like?
Relaxed, practical and interactive.
We talk through real-life situations, explore your options for labour and birth, practise useful skills and make plenty of room for the questions you really want to ask.
Expect clear information, hands-on learning, honest conversations and plenty of laughs along the way.
No awkward icebreakers. No tests. No pressure.
What You’ll Learn
Understand the stages of labour
Learn what’s happening in your body, what to expect as labour progresses, and how to recognise when things are moving forward.
Support your body during birth
Discover practical ways to work with your body during labour, including movement, positioning, comfort techniques, and partner support.
Make informed decisions
Understand common procedures and pain relief options so you can ask questions, weigh your choices, and make decisions that feel right for you.
Care for your newborn
Build confidence with the basics of early baby care, including feeding, soothing, sleep patterns, and what is normal in the first weeks.
Navigate early parenting
Prepare for the transition into life with a new baby, including recovery, adjusting as a family, and finding your rhythm in the early days.
See the full list of topics covered.
Upcoming Antenatal Classes
Classes run throughout the year in Hawke’s Bay and online across New Zealand.
Ongoing Support & Helpful Resources
In the Media.
