What did you learn at NCT?

[StrawberryQuik]

DH and I have our first NCT class in 2 weeks and both DM and MIL have asked what we'll be learning - tbh I have no idea, I mainly joined in the hope of making some mum friends

DM was in another country when she had me and learnt a lot about breathing and visualising during labour but nothing about baby are. MIL did the NHS ones and learnt how to give the baby baths. - both sound pretty useful so hopefully there'll be some of that.

[StrawberryQuik]

*baby care

[BikeRunSki]

Why there would be 10 people in the room if I needed a c section. I did, and was calm about all the people.

Also had an insight into some utter snobbery.

[Artioo2]

Ours covered some birth related stuff like what to pack in a hospital bag, and some baby care stuff like how many layers to dress a baby in and how to make up layers of bedding in a cot. Apart from that I can't really remember! It was nothing you couldn't get from a book or the internet. But it was most useful for making friends - that was the primary reason for doing the course for me.

[JasperDamerel]

We had an lessons on what happens during a normal birth,things that help your body to labour well, what the hospital was like and what to expect there, common complications in labour, advantages and disadvantages of different types of pain relief, a look around a birth centre, what happens during a C-section, tips for recovering after the birth, how to breastfeed, where to find help, what life is like after having a baby, how your relationship with your partner and family might change, a chance to discuss our fears, how to dress a baby/ hold a baby/bath a baby/change a nappy.

[Hoplikeabunny]

In all honesty, absolutely nothing that I hadn't already read in my pregnancy books. However, I did make five invaluable friendships, and we're still good friends now three years later. It was worth it just for that.

[TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams]

Competitive parenting

That drugs during childbirth was a form of quitting, that a C section can always be avoided, and that bottlefeeding makes you a bad mother.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The NCT folk were lovely, this was the other mums to be.

[waitingforsomething]

That contractions are like a bad period pain
That bottle feeding is the end of the world
That men should be nice to women during and after birth

[Cinnamon2013]

Seconding the c-section info. Only thing that ended up being relevant. Was great socially though.

[BumpPower]

It was more about having the opportunity to talk with DP about stuff. I'd read all the preggo books but still can't imagine having a talk with him about perineul massage etc but having someone else bring it up at nct made it a lot easier. If that makes sense. Plus I have a really great group of friends from it.

[brookeberry]

We just had our course this weekend. It was good to discuss everything with other (clueless like me) first timers.

I think it was very good for my DH - it focussed a lot on what the partner could do to help all the way through the labour and birthing process, making the whole thing feel like a team effort.

We discussed the labour, pain relief options, induction, C-section, breastfeeding, and general caring for baby.

It's a great chance to ask any and all questions that pop into your head. It was generally an enjoyable experience and a chance to meet a great group of people (well, in our case ).

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es]

Birth, labour and most of all friendships, still meet the other mums most weeks for coffee 12 years on and we have supported each other through all sorts.

[JasperDamerel]

I didn't particularly get in with any of the other parents on my course (I made my forever mum friends at an NCT bumps and babes group instead) but I did find the course useful. It was mostly stuff that I already knew or could easily read up on, but it was very useful having time set aside to talk those things through with DP.

[dizzylemon]

I think it's luck of the draw as to who you'll meet in these classes. I was lucky that all the couples at ours seemed lovely and non judgemental even when views of how we'd all like to do things differed.

We found a lot of info on the local places to give birth. Practical stuff on a wide range of topics - pain relief options, c-sections. Life with a new born (nappy changing, washing, taking care of). POst natal depression/baby blues. Stages of labour. A whole session on feeding, including formula. Lots of info about local services. Options/preferences for birth.

I'd already read up on a lot of it and been through some of it on my hypnobirth course but was still pretty happy with the content and results. Main motivation was to meet local folk, which I did as I don't know so many people locally (this being Hampshire and me being from London/Kent most of my life!) and now I have a timetable of meetups for mat leave which makes me happy!

[TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams]

DH was utterly clueless so he was much reassured by it all.

[greenlizard]

Lots about birth and what's happening to your body and options of pain relief. Some baby care (changing nappies and dressing the baby. Feeding (breast and bottle). The reality of having a baby!

It sounds ridiculous but it was only after I had done the course that it sank in I was actually having a baby. We hadn't really bought anything so it gave me a kick up the behind to get prepared and I had time to do a bit of hypnobirthing/visualisation exercises which helped keep me calm and relaxed despite my birth not being textbook.

The best bit was meeting other Mum's going through the same thing - a year on we all we meet once a week, have a babysitting circle, have coffees and have a what's app group which is great. Definitely would recommend to anyone who can afford it.

I didn't feel any pressure to have a certain birth or to breast feed only. We were taking through the options and discussed them openly. Mind you I went in with the idea that I would breast feed if I could and my birth plan was whatever ended in a healthy mum and baby with any pain relief I felt I needed at the time.

[LaPharisienne]

I am reading this with interest - I was really in two minds about signing up but I don't know anyone with children and I'm hoping it will be friendly rather than competitive (which is why I was in two minds about signing up)...

TreadSoftly - where did you go to your classes, if you don't mind me asking?

[BeardMinge]

Very little that I didn't already know, even more pointless because I already knew I was almost certainly going to have a c-section due to breech baby.

The breastfeeding session was good though.

Basically, I acquired four fantastic friends who kept me sane for the first twelve months, and who are now great dinner companions.

[Xmasbaby11]

They tried to brainwash us into believing childbirth was almost painless and that breastfeeding was possible for everyone.

Luckily a few of my friends already had babies so I knew this was rubbish. I went there for the friends and it was worth it for that.

[Whatdoidohelp]

It was bat shit crazy. Epidurals would leave you paralysed possibly. Formula is only for emergencies. Planned c sections were awful and there would be 10 people in the room and you would find it hard to bond with baby.

Biggest waste of money ever. But made some great friends. Thankfully they all realised it was all rubbish aswell.

[PerspicaciaTick]

We got to have a look and feel at the tubes and stuff used for epidural. We had a go with a tens machine on each other's hands. We found out about the signs of labour, talked about what to do/eat/drink in early labour (cheese is apparently nasty if you vomit later, a glass of wine is not going to hurt anyone it helps you relax). We talked about how our relationships might change, what life would be like with a baby. We found out about lochia and vernix and vitamin k and all sorts.
TBH there was nothing you can't research for yourself but it is a really useful way of getting you and your partner to a similar knowledge base and talking about things. Plus it was great socially. And it was a good place to find out the answers to all sorts of daft questions which MW appointments seemed to busy to get in to in detail.

[jellycat1]

Nothing hugely useful. DH hated it. Strong agenda. Not for nothing did they used to be called the 'Natural' Childbirth Trust - so are definitely in the business of promoting all of that. I found the whole thing about avoiding induction at all costs a bit overwhelming and I was in fact induced at almost 42 wks so felt a bit like I'd failed. I also know more than a few cases of late (term / post term) stillbirth personally and second / third hand so think it's pretty irresponsible rhetoric. Nice other girls though who all felt the same way! Half of us are on our second babies now and still in touch. It's worth doing to meet other parents.

[Parker231]

Nothing - a big waste of time and money. Everything they covered was common sense. It didn't help that the other mums planned on becoming SAHP and I went back to work after 6 months.

[1frenchfoodie]

Not a lot though was interesting to try TENS machine, nice group though, I knew few people having moved to the area at 20wks gone so that was my main motivation. Agree with undertone in classes of epidural and bottle feeding being cop out but in general group were not snobby earth mothers I had feared.

[ilovewelshrarebit123]

I thought they were just posh ante natal classes which cost top dollar!

In my opinion they taught the same as any other ante natal group.

I felt bottle feeding and c section was skirted around. Breastfeeding was discussed a lot (fine by me).

When we all met up later I felt embarrassed to say I'd had to have section as I was the only one.

The people we met were all lovely, and I'm still in touch with them.

[PerspicaciaTick]

My NHS antenatal classes were run by a HV with some huge issues about fathers, intervention, parents suing the NHS and breastfeeding. With hindsight, she shouldn't have been allowed near vulnerable women (which is what a second time mum said at the time) and made the NCT seem an oasis of cool, calm rationalism in comparison.