Ante-natal classes - for 2nd time mums

[Niddlynono]

I'm PG with my second child and just wondered if many mums go to ante-natal classes for their second or subsequent pregnancies. I know that locally they run classes for pregnant mums but they're in the evenings which are difficult for me to find a sitter for DS so I might enquire about the first time mums classes which are in the day. The main reason I'd like to go is to meet other local mums (something I missed out on first time round).
If you're pregnant with your 2nd/3rd are you planning to go?

[MissChief]

you know, personally wouldn't bother. Found mine (NCT )useless in terms of info and not much better in terms of meeting other mums - rather uptight group. Instead, highly recommend doing antenatal yoga/swimming whatever runs locally and go as often & as regularly as you can - found it a great way to meet friendly mums and to keep fit too.

[hotmama]

I'm also pregnant with my second child - due at the end of Jan (ish).

I am going to a 2 hr refresher on Monday at 10.00 - apparently that is all that is offered. However, my dd1 is only 15 months and as the mw pointed out my knowlege is pretty recent!

I think that if the age gap is bigger and you want to attend 'normal' antenatal classes you can - I'd have a word with your mw. HTH

[mazzystar]

i'm not pg (yet) but hoping to be soon. i think i'd quite like to go again. met a couple of great people that way first time round. also you forget so much.

bex have you thought about joining the nct if you haven't already? that very good for a local network.

[mazzystar]

ooh yes, antenatal yoga and swimming. they were brill. and often come with a free creche. but have to stick up for the nct. they're really nice round here.

[hotmama]

When I went to NCT classes when I was having dd1 - there was a 2nd time mum there.

[Niddlynono]

Thanks ladies, that's really helpful. I think I'll look into the exercise classes and joining NCT.

[Mandymoo]

I'm pregnant with #2 and dd is 3 yrs so i would like to attend an ante natal group - none were available last time. Although obviously a lot of it wont be new to me, i found myself feeling very isolated last time simply because i did not know any other mums.

Also did ante natal yoga last time and am still good friends with 3 of the other mums - it was such a good group and i would have been even lonlier had it not been for my 3 yoga friends!

[amanada]

I'd quite like to go this time round just for a refresher, but the local budget cuts means they don't offer any 2nd time or evening classes now and so the day classes are pretty full and 1st timers (quite rightly!) get priority.
Shall dig out maternity swimsuit and scare everyone at aqua thingy when I stop work instead!
Have to say I agree with MaloryTowers re smalltalk with naive first time parents. Until you've been there you can't comprehend what it'll be like whatever people tell you. and there's never a need for bunny prints on your birth plan! (Mine just said "I don't intend to be brave" and I wasn't)

[eidsvold]

we went - but only cause we never went first time round.... found it hard as we were the only 2nd time parents - we skipped the at home ones - about bringing baby home etc - figured we knew that.

If I get pregnant again - owuld not bother.

[pol25]

I didn't go with no one and she is nearly 16 months now... I wanted to go but had so many complications I was always in hopspital when the classes were and only had them in the day when I had my D, we lived somewhere else...
I am hoping this time for both me and p to go and so he can be more support for me- rather than going to sleep... yes he slept through most of my labour with our D! GRR! But partly because he just didn't know what to do.
Would like to go to meet friends too as new to the area so that would be nice.