The Antenatal Class for Your Relationship
You're dedicating time and thought to preparing the perfect nursery –
now, extend that same attention to your partnership. The Next Chapter of Us invites expectant couples to invest in their connection, ensuring your family's new chapter begins with a bond that's truly ready for anything.
“The greatest gift you can give your baby is a happy and strong relationship between the two of you.”
-Dr John and Dr Julie Gottman
Research consistently shows that 67% of couples experience a decline in relationship satisfaction within the first three years after welcoming a baby. Factors like sleep deprivation, increased household demands, shifts in intimacy, and differing parenting styles can lead to stress, conflict, and feelings of disconnect.
However, this doesn't have to be your story. Studies demonstrate that relationship education programs like ours can significantly improve mental health, couple functioning, and co-parenting satisfaction. These programs help couples develop effective communication strategies, build stronger support systems, and navigate the changes of parenthood as a united team.
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A strong, loving parental relationship isn't just beneficial for you; it's crucial for your child's well-being and development. Children thrive in environments where their parents are securely connected, fostering better emotional regulation, social skills, and overall resilience from infancy onwards.
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The Next Chapter of Us provides evidence-based tools and insights to help you meet these challenges head-on as a team. Our program cuts through the social media filters and fear-mongering, helping you build realistic expectations for parenthood's genuine joys and honest challenges.
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Joining our in-person group offers unique opportunities to connect with other expecting parents and forge genuine relationships for this wild new chapter – a chance particularly vital for dads, who often miss out on these crucial early connections.
What You Can Expect to Learn:
Sleep-Deprived but Still on the Same Team: Nervous Systems in Sync
Learn the science of stress and distress. Parenting can be joyous but it can test our limits and our relationship- gain insight into what is happening in your bodies and brains when your baby is still crying at 3am and what to do about it.​
Mind the Gap: Communication Pitfalls, and What to Do Instead
Identify unhelpful communication patterns that can rear their head in your relationship. Learn tried and tested tips and tricks to nip them in the bud.
What's This Really About?: Repetitive Rifts and the Art of Repair
Disagreements are a natural part of relationships. Learn how to move past the surface, identify the root of your arguments and work together towards mutual understanding and change.
Between My Needs and Yours: The Space Where We Meet
Learn about your relationship with expressing needs and asking for help- recognise, communicate and meet your own and your partner's needs - not just that squishy baby's.
Relating With Emotional Intention: What We Keep, What We Change
Discover your emotional comfort zones and triggers, explore the emotional “rules” you grew up with, and begin to shape how you want emotions to be understood and handled in the family you're building together.
Roles, Rhythms, Real Life and 'The Reasonable Person'
What does 'equal' mean to you? Bring intention to the sharing of roles and responsibilities in ways that prevent resentment, increase confidence and trust and reflect your family's unique values and culture.
A New Wave of Intimacy: Love, Touch, and Real-Life Romance
Explore how connection, touch, and sex evolve post-baby—and how to nurture intimacy in meaningful ways.
Turning Pages Together: Your Shared Story from Here On
Develop your Family Roadmap. Step into parenthood with shared vision, values, and goals that strengthen your sense of “we.”
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Our Story
Discover the heartwarming story behind 'The Next Chapter of Us'. Founded by Liz and Anna, two family therapists and mothers, our program is dedicated to enhancing the relationship between expecting parents, ensuring a supportive and loving atmosphere during the beautiful transitional phase of pregnancy.