Maternity Rights - Paid Time Off Work for Antenatal Classes
Pregnancy is not just about “getting on with it” while carrying on as usual.
It’s a sacred window where your body and your baby both need time, care, and space to thrive. That’s why the law protects your right to take time off for antenatal care — because your health and your baby’s health matter.
In our culture, it’s often seen as a mark of strength for women to keep “carrying on” at work as though nothing has changed.
But true strength sometimes means doing the opposite
— saying no,
stepping back,
and choosing to put your own health and your baby’s wellbeing first.
That’s why the law protects your right to take paid time off for antenatal care.
It recognises that your body and baby need time, space, and care to thrive.
Taking time for a pregnancy yoga class, a relaxation session, or other antenatal support isn’t indulgence — it’s essential. These pauses build resilience, prepare you for birth, and strengthen the bond with your baby.
Honouring this right is not about being less capable
— it’s about being deeply wise.
It takes courage to prioritise rest in a world that values productivity, but there is nothing more important than safeguarding the start of new life.
So if you’re employed, know that this right is yours — protected in law.
Taking it isn’t asking for special treatment;
it’s honouring the powerful work you’re already doing every day:
growing new life.
📌 GOV.UK
“Employers must give pregnant employees time off for antenatal care and pay their normal rate for this time off. Antenatal care is not just medical appointments — it can also include antenatal or parenting classes if they have been recommended by a doctor or midwife.”
👉 GOV.UK – Working when pregnant: your rights
📌 ACAS
“By law, you have the right to reasonable time off with full pay for pregnancy-related appointments and care. This includes relaxation classes, parentcraft classes and sometimes pregnancy yoga — as long as they’ve been recommended by a doctor or midwife.”
👉 ACAS – Time off for pregnancy appointments
📌 NI Business Info (covers UK law, plain language)
“All pregnant employees have the right to reasonable paid time off to attend antenatal care appointments. Antenatal care covers not only medical examinations related to the pregnancy but also, for example, relaxation classes and parent-craft classes.”
👉 NI Business Info – Employees’ right to paid time off for antenatal care