Antenatal Classes - worth it?

[whigfield]

So I've been looking around the area for information on antenatal classes and I'm just wondering how many of you are going to go to them or who has already been?

If you've been before, would you recommend them?

I feel like I spend my life googling and reading as much information as possible - would it even be worth it?

 

[Pussy Galore]

I suspect you will get a mixed bag of replies to this question!?

With my first pregnancy I attended ante natal classes at my local hospital which took place over two Saturdays. I learnt very little (because like you, I had done a bit of research) and in fact lots of the info given was rather inaccruate (for eg.. episiotomys are rarely done!)

I have no intention of going again, but if it were my first pregnancy, I suspect you have nothing to lose...?

I do recall lots of people recommending the private NCT classes however!

 

[Lau88]

I went to an all day one at the hospital. Tbh i found it pointless, it was like being back in school the girls had to fill in a sentence worksheet together and so did the men. She also had us grind to Michael buble :/. My hospital only lets you go if your a first time parent so even if i wanted to i couldn't, but i learnt nothing and wasted a day and a fortune on car parking.

 

[tamina800]

I learnt nothing from it. I'm not taking any classes this time.

 

[Gingerspice]

My classes were ok. They were nhs but were identical titles to the nct ones. Was for 6 weeks 2 hours an evening. I don't plan on doing them again this time but it was probably worth it to get some idea of labour options etc. I had no need to go for social purposes but I know some like to go along (esp nct ones) to meet and form a social group. I'm not gr e at at making new friends up I had several with children already so didn't need to go creating new friendships to meet others with simolar age children.

 

[butterfly80]

I went to ones with my first and they were fantastic (Nct ones) my husband and I both went and learnt so much, great tips, info, what to expect, what he could do to help and importantly what he should ask and do if things don't go to plan, each week we got info sheets. I made notes on them and have just dug them out and read through all stuff I forgot. With these you get to have the time to ask questions, actually see some if the equipment you may see so are familiar, learn birthing positions, all about pain relief with positives and negatives, support with breast feeding and formula feeding, the stages of birth and what happens to your body and how you can help things along etc. With the NCT ones they place you with about 6 couples all due similar times and they become great friends and support networks (many a time when doing the night feeds we all text each other for advice) I would completely recommend them xx

 

[ttclou25]

You may not learn much more than you already know. But it's a good way to get to know others I still see about now x

 

[NotNic]

I also did NCT and highly recommend it. The instructor caters it around your specific requirements and questions, so i found it much more useful than a generic nhs one. I also found the advice empowering as it was more what I could achieve, rather than focussing on negatives. They are very pro-natural births / bfing etc. which isn't to everyone's tastes, but our instructor was still knowledgeable about csections, pain relief etc. TBH though it depends on what your group is like. We were lucky that our group wanted a similar birth and approached labour in the same way as us, and we all ended up staying in touch regularly afterwards. I know my SILs didn't have quite so much in common with their groups.

I did try an early NHS course but didnt do the third tri course. I found that they spoke to you like you were a bit simple and I just got the feeling it wouldn't be very balanced and I didn't think I personally would get much out of it.