Antenatal & Parenting Classes on the North Shore, Hibiscus Coast and North-West Auckland

From Pregnancy to Parenthood, We Gather.

Gather is that place. It’s a space designed to bring you together with experts who empower you and a community that sustains you.

“We aren't just preparing you for a due date; we’re gathering the village you were always meant to have.”

G - Grounded in Evidence

A - Allied with all families

T - Together in community

H - Honest, real life conversations about pregnancy, birth and parenting

E - Empowering you through knowledge

R - Respect and honouring your choices, your identity, and your journey

People sitting in a room, smiling and laughing during a gathering, some holding balloons and surrounded by gift bags and personal items.

  • Our antenatal courses are a safe, inclusive space for you to prepare for your new arrival. We believe that birth and early parenthood are profound transitions that deserve time, space, and a peaceful presence.

    Our philosophy is rooted in the celebration of all families. We are committed to providing a safe space for all expectant parents including our gender-diverse and LGBTQIA+ whānau, a space where every parent and birthing person feels seen and every journey respected. We go far beyond the basics, moving past a simple 'checklist' to help you understand the true physiology of birth and the innate capabilities of your pēpi. No matter how you identify, or what your journey to conception looked like, we honour you, your autonomy and the unique path you are walking into parenthood.

Two babies playing and crawling on a white blanket in a bright, airy room. Toys scattered on the floor as self guided play for the babies during a parent & pepi class.

  • Our Parent & Pēpi groups, held over eight weeks, offer a consistent sanctuary for you and your baby during the profound transition into early parenthood. We believe this season deserves a peaceful presence and a deliberate slowing down, a break from the busyness of everyday life where you can spend time connecting with your baby and other parents.

    We partner with specialized guest speakers to provide deep, evidence-based insights into infant wellness and parental wellbeing. Rooted in inclusivity, our groups are a proudly LGBTQIA+ inclusive and gender-affirming space. We celebrate all family constellations and identities, ensuring every parent feels seen, respected, and celebrated without judgment.

    Whether led by our founder, Lucie, or one of our expert guests, these sessions are about more than just education; they are about building your 'village' and fostering the lasting friendships that sustain you on this journey."

A newborn baby lying on a blanket, smiling and holding hands with an adult.

  • Baby massage is a powerful, evidence-based tool for the fourth trimester and beyond. These sessions provide a calm, welcoming space to learn practical techniques that support your baby’s digestion, improve sleep patterns, and relieve the discomfort of wind and colic.

    Beyond the physical benefits, this is a dedicated time to focus on your pēpi, learning to read their cues and strengthening your bond through respectful, mindful touch.

    As with everything at Gather, these classes are a "no-judgement zone." We keep the conversation honest and the environment relaxed, giving you a chance to meet other local parents and share the realities of early parenthood while you learn. No previous experience is needed, just you and your baby.

A handheld digital device labeled 'Babycare TENS' with purple buttons, placed on a black surface. Next to it are a plastic bag with purple and blue items, a round container with a green and white label reading 'Gather,' and a large green leafy plant. The items are on a wooden surface with a white wall in the background.

  • An Elle TENS is a purpose built, drug free pain management device used during labour. It uses four adhesive pads placed on the lower back to send gentle electrical impulses through the skin. This helps block pain signals to the brain and triggers your body to release natural, pain-relieving endorphins

Testimonials

  • Antenatal Course

    I’m so grateful that I found Gather and enrolled in the antenatal classes. The experience has been nothing short of wonderful, and I truly couldn’t have asked for anything better. Lucie has been absolutely amazing and has set such a high standard with her knowledge, care, and support. She created an environment where I felt welcomed, informed, and genuinely cared for throughout the journey. I’m incredibly thankful for the experience and will happily recommend Gather and Lucie to my colleagues, friends, and anyone preparing for this special chapter in their lives. Thank you for making such a meaningful difference during this important time.

  • Antenatal Course

    “A heartfelt thank you to you Lucie for creating such a wonderful experience. Your warmth, patience, and genuine care made every session enjoyable and reassuring. It’s clear how passionate you are about supporting parents through this journey, and I’m incredibly grateful for the knowledge, confidence, and sense of community you helped create. Thank you for making such a special time feel even more meaningful.”

  • Antenatal Education

    Honestly, there’s very little I would change. You do such an incredible job facilitating the sessions and creating an environment that feels welcoming, engaging, and easy to follow. I particularly appreciate how you strike the perfect balance between sharing information and encouraging interaction. The sessions are not only informative and easy to understand, but they also create opportunities for people to connect, ask questions, and learn from one another. It keeps everyone engaged and makes the experience genuinely enjoyable. Your passion, warmth, and ability to make complex topics feel simple really stand out, and it’s clear how much thought and care goes into every session. I

  • Parent & Pēpi course

    Lucie was a wonderful mentor who eventually became more like a friend to me. She created a truly supportive, stress-free environment for first-time mums. I was initially scared to be alone with my baby or even leave the house with him, but Lucie helped build my confidence. She shared so much knowledge and practical advice, which really helped us mums thrive in motherhood. There were also fantastic guest speakers during the course. I would love to join another of Lucie’s courses for older babies. After all, we may move on to new stages, but we’ll always be first-time mums in need of support!

  • Antenatal course

    I actually feel empowered and have a positive sense of excitement in anticipation of my birth experience. I feel much more equipped and feel my partner and I have been very open about discussing our expectations, concerns and learnings together.

  • Parent & Pēpi Course

    Lucie really made everyone feel at ease and provided a really safe space for us to learn and develop. It never felt forced or rushed. Open dialogue was also encouraged. Lucie also connected with each baby and mama personally and you could see she really cares for us all. I also enjoyed the crafts especially the little keepsakes like the Xmas ornaments.

  • Antenatal Course

    “Lucie was great at starting conversations that allowed us to ask questions without being judged & is so knowledgeable”

  • Parent & Pēpi Course

    I'll always look back at these sessions fondly. The sessions helped me build confidence with taking bubs out in the car and socialising with other mums. It gave bubs the opportunity to interact with other babies. I always looked forward to the sessions and even though they finished months ago, us mums are still in touch.

  • Antenatal Course

    “Lucie was great- she gave us a good balance of evidenced based information and practical advice at a level of detail that was really well balanced - not overwhelming but enough so I felt like I knew the basics and could go further where needed.”

  • Antenatal Course

    I would 100% recommend Lucies classes to other people and already have on multiple occasions! The best part was she didn’t force her own opinions down our throats she just gave us all the information inclusive so we could make our own choices. Some people have really wild opinions on pregnancy and birth and it was perfect for us that this was incredibly inclusive.

  • Parent & Pēpi Course

    Lucie is the loveliest facilitator who created a fun and supportive space for us to connect with other mums and bubs. Every session was carefully planned and organised so we could relax and spend quality time together as a group. Lucie is so thoughtful, even providing swiss balls so I could bounce my colicky baby to sleep. I’d definitely recommend Parent and Pēpi classes to any new mums in the area.

  • Antenatal Course

    "Lucie was very inclusive and always made us feel able to ask questions. Always had time to answer our questions and gave us info on all options. She also encouraged us to research something more if we wanted to and provided good resources via Facebook to read up on."

  • Parent & Pēpi Course

    I loved attending this group with my pepi, Lucie provided a wonderful inclusive and safe space for us and we have been able to build some true friendships beyond the group. It definitely helped build my confidence as a first time mum and I think my daughter has benefited from it.

  • Antenatal Course

    “Thank you so much Lucie, I feel empowered and prepared (as best I can)! I really enjoyed your teaching, and your future ante-natal classes are lucky to have you!”

  • Parent & Pēpi Course

    If you’re going to book in for anything, this is it! Lucie provides a safe and supportive space to learn and connect. Not to mention her amazing baking. Would 100% recommend this course to every new mum. Thank you Lucie!!

  • Antenatal Course

    "Lucie has been a huge part in helping us feel more prepared for having a baby & life after. We really found the class valuable.”

  • Parent & Pēpi

    I can’t recommend this highly enough — I found a real support network. Lucie helped me build confidence as a first-time mum and created such a calm, welcoming space. Her advice made a huge difference in my motherhood journey.

  • Antenatal Course

    Lucie was great not only as the teacher but also had children of her own and had recently given birth. Felt a lot more authentic and that she genuinely cared about teaching soon to be parents ☺️ 5⭐️

  • Parent & Pēpi Course

    I loved attending this group with my pepi, Lucie provided a wonderful inclusive and safe space for us and we have been able to build some true friendships beyond the group. It definitely helped build my confidence as a first time mum and I think my daughter has benefited from it.

  • Antenatal Course

    I feel very excited and well equipped with all the information that was provided. And I feel confident in myself and my partner to advocate for me and baby once that time comes.

  • Antenatal Course

    Both me and my partner feel more confident about our journey - we feel more prepared knowing that birth doesn’t always go exactly how we plan and feel at ease knowing all of our options if we need them