Antenatal classes

[lady3]

Hi ladies,

When and where are you going to be doing your antenatal classes? I've signed up with my hospital (St. Thomas' in London) but I'm wondering if anyone is going to do the NCT classes. I was looking at them and they're expensive. I don't have any friends who are pregnant yet though, and thought that I might meet some mums-to-be in the classes. I wanted to do the classes early in the 3rd tri though so I can meet those mums so I have others to talk/compare notes with.

Thanks for any info!

 

[charlottecco2]

what are the NCT classes? I have been booked in to a local hospital for my antenatal classes, however they are late in the 3rd tri, and like you i was hoping to meet some other pregnant women to befriend xx

 

[xxleannexx]

ive got my first class booked in for when im 34 weeks, humm i didnt realise i had to pay for them though!

 

[lady3]

National Childcare Trust classes. Maybe you don't have to pay for them everywhere? Check their website. Hospital classes are free. My classes run from £90-£299!!! Sheesh. And the cheap one is the breastfeeding class which I would take at the hospital anyway.

 

[Always&4ever]

I had ante-natal classes but they were through the hospital and were free and I had mine at around 30weeks

 

[Abbys_Mummy]

OH my gosh in australia they are free and you can usually start them about 25wks some places are unreal cant believe they are going to charge you

 

[JennyOwens]

Hiya

I haven't lived in this area for very long so my midwife suggested I go to the NCT (national childbirth trust) classes as they tend to be the same mums and dads each week and you build up friendships with the other attendees. As the NCT ones clashed with the timings of my NHS ones I only went to the NCT ones, except for one run by my midwife on a different day.

Our NCT classes cost £120 and cover 6 antenatal classes and two post natal sessions. But I really wouldn't recommend them to anyone. Considering how much they cost and how well known and well respected the NCT seem to be, I'm amazed at how I have got so little from the course. Its very hippy-ish and touchy feely, plus lots of the other mums-to-be are quite a lot older than us. I'm sure we'll keep in touch with some of the people from the course but it has basically been like buying friends! You will make plenty of new mum friends at mother and baby groups, baby massage, baby yoga..etc.

The NHS class I attended was so useful and so practical that I've asked to be invited to some more NHS ones. The NCT teacher started off the first lesson by saying there will be nothing on the course about how to change, feed (apart from breast-feed), hold, bath your baby. I couldn't help thinking to myself "well, what are we going to cover for the next 12 hours!".

In contrast the NHS ones had dolls and we all pretended that we had to stop the baby crying, we talked about how to put them to sleep, what stuff you need to buy, what to pack for the hospital... all very practical.

If you don't think the NCT ones are for you I suggest you keep your money and go to the NHS ones instead. You'll make plenty of friends in the future, and there's no reason why the people you are mates with now won't want to be your friends anymore!!

Hope this helps!

 

[anita665]

Hmmmm, I guess I should probably be looking into some classes soon. Maybe I'll ask the midwife next time I go but for me it's a real hassle getting to the hospital anyway and I really hope I don't have to pay.

 

[Linzi]

Theres some 'preperation for motherhood' classes on at a health centre near us that I was thinking of going to. Think theyre at about 30 weeks. You don't have to book them or anything, so I dont know if theyre the same as antenatal classes. I was hoping Id be able to have some at the hospital so that Matt could come too.

xxx