AUBI not to go back to antenal classes?

[Sastra]

So I signed up for the three antenal classes offered in my area, and went to the first one on Monday.

I really quite hated it. I felt it was dominated by people who were also at NCT and who had quite a lot of "advanced level" questions, and the quieter people in the group didn't get a chance to speak. Also these people seemed very anxious - something I find quite contagious and am keen to avoid.

I don't think I've actually learned anything new, would I be reasonable not to go back to the next two? There's a separate 4 hour breast feeding workshop that I will attend.

Its up to you. I only went to one lot. When I had the second I did not bother. I would reccommend the BF workshop.

As for birth plans, well there is a plan, most of the time you just don't know what it is, lol.

I never went. Watched a hilarious video produced in about 1985- complete with whale sounds. Told my husband if he tried to "soothe" me during labor, he risked having his fingers broken. Turns out all I need to birth successfully is a good epidural. BF class moderately helpful but having someone see you when you actually have the baby is much more useful (real babies are different than dolls!). Did take a post-natal baby care class that I liked.

I didnt go to one, i didn't want to pay a lot of money for them. PLus because I had a very high chance of resulting in a c section (I didn't in the end) I didn't want to looked down on by people as Ive heard they are very "natural birth" evangelists. I don't think I missed out on not going, I got a lot of info from here, and midwives.

The only thing is that I didn't have any friends on maternity leave which I think would've been nice.

I went to one and never returned. The video, sweet baba jesus the video. Also the midwife was about 12 and seemed more anxious than the rest of us. If you're getting a bad vibe just avoid. Long as you go to your appointments you'll be fine.

I sent to the hospital run twin group it was Great for the first Couple of Times then everyone but me and dh Joined the same nct group. We Were the only non ivf couples there as Well and they would all stear the conversation into how much their twins has cost what doctors they used and how much Money they sent ön stuff for the babies etc...we couldnt afford all any of the silly courses . I begged to be allowed to go to my local gp group but was told no ;-(

Not One person stayed in touch and i use them all many Times in the local area all together i questioned once why i didnt get än invite and was told it was än ntc meetup...

Massivly contributed to my post natel depression ;-(

I went with dd but tbh got more info from the ante natal threads on here. Didn't bother with ds and haven't bothered with dc3.

Will be going to a bf support group nearer the time but is a lucky bitch and has 2 close friends who are qualified bf counsellors

YANBU if it's not useful to u don't bother!

Yes, I slightly regret not doing NCT because of the having ready made "baby" friends aspect (although I hear they can be quite competitive).

I went to a one day NHS one - I think it was useful for DH to be forced to listen to the info (he never listens to me!) but we would have been fine without.

You can get loads of info and advice on Mumsnet!

If you don't like it don't do it! Why not find something else like a yoga or Pilates class.

As an aside just because people ask "high level" questions doesn't mean they aren't nervous too.

coffeedog they sound like a pack of bitches and you are well shot of them!

Hazchem they were most certainly nervous! It was listening to them stress about the correct way to do perineal massage that kind of did it for me I think...I wanted to know stuff like how do I know when I should come into hospital. The vocal ones already knew all that stuff meaning that the midwife was just fielding all their questions rather than giving us all the basics. Felt a bit unfair.

I'm not thar concerned as I feel that I'm lucky in that I've found MN! I guess I was just pissed off as I could see quieter people not having a chance to speak. I reckon another 4 hours and I'd be ready to smack someone

Maybe give one more class a try and see if you can connect with anyone as it can be great to know people who are having a baby at the same time as you.

I went to NCT ones as the hospital I was going to was not near where I live (for complicated reasons) and thats where the lessons were and i wanted to meet people local to me.

I already knew I was probably going to have an elective CS, so really didnt go for the knowledge (and really didnt learn anything except that I really wanted an CS!), but for the potential for friends.

I made great friends who I saw at least once a week during maternity leave and two of whom I still meet up with every week (our DCs are 2.5). Yesterday we were chatting about those classes as two of us are pg again and laughing about how we spent one hour long lesson learning and practicing how to climb in and out of an imaginery bath (mat on the floor) safely and how we all went along with it having one or two tries. Utterly useless info.

Dont worry about the questions, take a deep breath and ask your own questions as they will probably sound 'high level' to others.

If you really cant face it, do remember that being at home with a new baby can be isolating, so try some different classes like pregnancy yoga or similar or be prepared to brave the mother and baby groups later (and that will be a whole other thread).

good luck

I had to do NCT as there was no space on nhs in our area. There's no space again 18 months later. I don't know what the breastfeeding classes are like nhs wise, but probably worth going to if you want to breastfeed. I wouldn't recommend the bfing advisor that came to our NCT classes though, full of hippy crap and told us the issues my mother and another parents mothers had didn't exist. I'd have far prefered someone to say "look, it's not going to be easy and some people take to it better than others". The women in my group mainly felt awful as the advisor just kept going on about how easy it all was...

I did NHS classes and they were extremely useful. When I had DD there was nothing I didn't understand or expect and I think they helped me feel more confident and comfortable about the whole process.

Afterwards I went and thanked the midwife who ran them and she was ever so chuffed.

Glad you've had a positive experience bunmaker.

I think part of the problem was the format. Basically she divided us into 2 groups and had us write out a list of questions we wanted answers to, and then the next two hours was her answering them. This is how some people came to completely dominate with their own issues...

I mean bunBAKER!!

I didn't go to any. I just read MN for 9 months. Probably knew more than the midwife by then. :)

MN didn't exist when I was expecting DD. Also, we didn't have broadband then as it was in its infancy.

PMSL at "advanced level" questions. What happens if you're a bit thick about childbirth? Do they stop you going into labour until you've passed the exam?

There's nothing told at antenatal classes that you can't read about yourself. Or if you want to know anything specific about the way your hospital does things then you can ask your MW. The tours of the hospital are good if you get offered it though.

I found the best thing was meeting the other people, Im still in touch with some of the mums I met at antenatal classes 13 years on. But if you already don't like the people, it fairly pointless for you to go. Send your birth partner instead.

I went and wished I had'nt bothered, was a complete waste of time, they did'nt teach us how to breath correctly during labour, the midwife said we'd pick it up when we were actually in labour so no point in telling you now.