NHS vs private antenatal classes

[strawberrysundayss]

Hi all,

I'm looking to book antenatal classes and I read that the NHS do them for free but it seems most people pay for them.

Any thoughts on comments on the two? Has anyone done the NHS one as all my friends have paid so don't have any comparison.

Thanks in advance.

[PrayingandHoping]

I did the nhs one. Tells u everything u need to know

Book early though as they book up quickly

[Dyra]

I tried to book NHS classes only to be told they didn't run them over the summer, and I'd just missed the last set being held before I gave birth. So I went for NCT. Didn't teach me much that I didn't already know, but I still consider it money well spent for the reassurance.

Definitely go to the NHS ones if you can.

[strawberrysundayss]

@Dyra @PrayingandHoping
Thanks for your input! I'm 22 weeks and struggling to find any NHS ones, plus the private ones for my due date are almost fully booked 🙈
At this point I'll take what I can get

[PrayingandHoping]

@strawberrysundayss speak to your midwife. She should have given you the details of your local nhs classes

We had to book ours through a website called Eventbrite. Don't know if every nhs trust uses it

[Dandelion1993]

Speak to your midwife but don't worry about doing the or feeling you have to.

I didn't with either of my two and just found helpful resources online.

[Pipandmum]

Did NHS ones. Nothing I couldn't have found out myself but I did meet local mums to be and at the post natal classes we continued to meet up for years afterwards. As I worked full time before I didn't know many people in the actual area so it was nice to make connections.
Also it introduced me to the area health visitors. Even though I lived in an affluent London suburb i only ever had one post birth visit due to lack of staff, so I walked to the clinic (where the classes were held) for my baby check ups.

[lakelandbex]

I'm 24 weeks with my first and think I should go to the classes so I know what to expect? Might stop me from overthinking 😂 I've read a couple of books.
My hubby is not interested in going, does anyone know if anyone goes on their own?
Our nhs classes are on a wed evening but we have my step daughter on Wednesdays so I thought I could maybe go on my own. 😳

[BikeRunSki]

I did both, but the nhs ones were only 1 day and 1 evening, and as country mice we lived miles from anyone else in the group, who all lived in the hospital town. This obviously may be different for more urban places.

NCT had a lot more people nearer to us, but I made my long lasting mum friends at local baby groups. (Dc1 is 11 now).

[strawberrysundayss]

I really want to meet other mums locally so may do NCT ones for that reason. Thanks everyone for your input!

[EsmeSwan]

The content of both classes are the same, as is any treatment Private or NHS