MUMS and dads across the district have been helping academics prove that nurturing antenatal classes help them bond better with their babies.

Parents from Bradford, Allerton and Bingley who joined a special eight-week antenatal programme called Welcome To The World have been giving vital feedback on their progress to researchers at Hull University.

The 12-month study, evaluating the impact of the antenatal classes run by national Family Links charity, monitored 131 parents nationwide, made up of 96 women and 35 men following their experiences.

It has been one of the projects being provided through the Better Start Bradford (BSB) scheme in Little Horton, Bowling and Barkerend and Bradford Moor encouraging parents to get involved and prepare for life with a new baby. Parents have reported feeling psychologically better and better able to cope with demands of having a new baby as well as being more positive about their baby even before it is born. One of the BSB mums is Noshi Iqbal, who has since given birth to Salman. She said: “One of the best decisions I have ever made was attending the Welcome to the World sessions. This was my first baby and I had zero experience and wanted to make sure Salman had the best start possible.”

Wilsden Medical Centre, St John’s Church Hall in East Bowling and St Edmunds Children’s Centre in Washington Street, Girlington, also run Welcome to the World classes focusing on getting in tune with baby, understanding and sharing feelings, finding out more about infant brain development, making healthy choices, managing stress, promoting self-esteem and confidence and how to communicate well.

Catriona Jones, a Senior Research Fellow at the Faculty of Health and Social Care for the University of Hull, said: “Family Links’ Welcome to the World programme appears to play an important part in preparing parents for parenting and brings significant benefits.” The next free BSB Welcome To The World classes start tomorrow from 12.45pm to 2.45pm at Mortimer House Children’s Centre, Mortimer Avenue, Bradford Moor, call 01274 668537. Another starts on Thursday, February 2 at 1pm at Burnett Fields Children’s Centre, Greaves Street, Bowling, call 01274 720090 to book.