Antenatal classes in Singapore: what each hospital's class covers, fees and when to book

Antenatal classes in Singapore are short courses, run mostly by hospitals, on labour, pain relief, newborn care and breastfeeding. Among the public hospitals that deliver babies, KKH charges $240 for its four-week course or $306 for a one-day course if you're a KKH patient. NUH charges $288 for five Saturdays, $238 for a shorter Express class, or $50 for online videos, and SGH's one-day course costs $217.60 to $308.34. Private hospitals such as Mount Alvernia charge $346.62 to $486.14 per couple. KKH and SGH suggest registering after 16 weeks, and most private hospitals suggest attending from around week 20. These fees come from each hospital's own page, read on 11 October 2026; check before you pay, because they change.

Antenatal class fees in Singapore at a glance

Only KKH, NUH and SGH deliver babies in the public system, MOH says; Sengkang General Hospital runs outpatient O&G only. These are the hospitals that publish class fees online:

Mount Elizabeth and Gleneagles ask you to contact their parentcraft teams for fees. Raffles Hospital shows its price on its payment site, and Thomson Medical's fee wasn't on the course page we read. Raffles charges a $78.50 cancellation fee. For a course focused on breathing and relaxation, see our guide to hypnobirthing in Singapore.

What each hospital's class covers

KKH

KKH's programme covers labour and delivery, antenatal and postnatal physiotherapy, breastfeeding and newborn care, taught by its lactation consultants, midwives, physiotherapists and parentcraft nurses. The four-week course runs on Wednesday evenings from 6.30pm to 8pm at KKH; the one-day course runs on a Saturday from 9am to 4pm at the Great Eastern Centre on Pickering Street. The November 2026 run starts on 4 November. Registration closes two weeks before the start, and there are no replacement classes if you miss one.

NUH

NUH's National University Centre for Women and Children runs its classes at NUH and at polyclinics: the next Express class is on 24 and 31 October 2026 at Tengah Polyclinic, and the next Normal class runs from 14 November to 12 December at NUHS Tower Block. Topics include posture, exercise and birthing techniques with a physiotherapist, and a session called "Becoming the father I want to be". The online course adds emotional wellness and relationships. One fee covers all topics, each participant can bring one partner, and registration opens two months before each run.

SGH

SGH's one-day course includes methods of pain relief and a labour ward tour. Its 1-to-1 physiotherapy assessment is part of the antenatal package, not the one-day course. Slots are limited, and SGH may give priority to its own patients who are 30 weeks or more.

Private hospitals

• Mount Alvernia: a one-day crash course that includes topics such as sterilising feeding equipment and handling a crying baby; the fee is per couple, and you can start after 20 weeks.
• Mount Elizabeth Novena: covers topics including elective caesarean and first aid for a choking baby under 12 months; the next listed 2026 date is 14 November.
• Gleneagles: aimed at parents pre-registered to deliver there, with individual classes in English or Mandarin on request.
• Thomson Medical: a 4-hour theory class and a 3-hour practical class of up to 10 couples. Topics include the husband's role and pregnancy-safe exercise.
• Raffles Hospital: a full-day class from 9am to 6pm at Raffles Specialists Centre, which now includes a physiotherapy session; the remaining 2026 dates are 17 October and 12 December.

HealthHub notes that many hospital classes include a tour of the delivery suite, which is one reason parents pick the class at the hospital where they'll give birth. Our guide to hospital maternity packages covers choosing that hospital.

What antenatal classes usually cover

• The stages of labour and how to tell real labour from a false alarm; our signs of labour guide goes deeper.
• Pain relief options, from breathing and positions to an epidural.
• Caesarean birth, planned and emergency.
• Breastfeeding: latching, positions and early milk supply.
• Newborn care: bathing, nappies, cord care and settling a crying baby.
• Your own recovery, posture and exercise, often taught by a physiotherapist.
• The partner's role in labour and the first weeks at home.

A class teaches what is typical. Run your own birth choices and pain relief plans past your doctor, and our guides to epidurals and labour pain relief and making a birth plan help you prepare questions.

When to book and when to attend

Hospitals don't agree on one week, so follow the hospital you're booking with:

• KKH and SGH: register after 16 weeks.
• NUH: start in your second trimester, though earlier and later are welcome; registration opens two months before each run.
• Mount Alvernia, Mount Elizabeth and Thomson: attend from around week 20. Thomson suggests registering as soon as your pregnancy is confirmed.
• Gleneagles: says most women attend their first class between 8 and 12 weeks.

HealthHub suggests checking early, because popular classes have waiting lists. Our 16 weeks pregnant guide lists what else is due that week, our pregnancy week by week guide maps the months ahead, and our due date calculator shows your booking window.

How to choose a class

• Where are you delivering? Your own hospital's class often costs less and may include a ward tour.
• Do you want several shorter sessions or one long day? KKH and NUH offer both.
• Can your partner come to every session? NUH allows one partner, and Mount Alvernia charges per couple.
• What happens if you miss a session? KKH, NUH and Mount Elizabeth don't run replacement classes.
• Do you need hands-on practice? Online videos suit theory; bathing and latching are easier to learn in person.

What to bring on the day

Wear comfortable clothes for floor work, bring water and a snack for a full-day course, and take notes or photos of slides where allowed, along with a list of your partner's questions. Afterwards, our hospital bag checklist and breastfeeding support guide pick up where the class leaves off.

Frequently asked questions

How much are antenatal classes in Singapore?

On the fee pages we read on 11 October 2026: KKH $240 to $326, NUH $50 to $288, SGH $217.60 to $338, and Mount Alvernia $346.62 to $486.14 per couple. Prices depend on the format and on whether you deliver at that hospital.

When should I start antenatal classes?

KKH and SGH suggest registering after 16 weeks, NUH recommends the second trimester, and Mount Alvernia, Mount Elizabeth and Thomson suggest attending from around week 20.

Can I attend a hospital's class if I'm not delivering there?

Often, yes. KKH, NUH and Mount Alvernia take outside patients, and KKH and Mount Alvernia charge them more. SGH may prioritise its own patients, and Gleneagles aims its classes at parents registered to deliver there.

Is a one-day course cheaper than a multi-week course?

Not always. At NUH the Express class ($238) costs less than the Normal class ($288), but KKH's one-day course ($306 for patients) costs more than its four-week course ($240).

Should my partner come?

Ideally, yes. Classes show partners how to help in labour and at home. NUH allows one partner per participant, and Mount Alvernia's fee covers the couple.

Are antenatal classes compulsory?

No. They're optional, but many first-time parents find them reassuring and practical.