To ask if anyone did antenatal classes?

[chxjw]

Just want to know if they are worth it and if people found them really useful?

I've read different experiences - some saying they are worth doing and others who didn't attend any at all.

FTM so would love if you could share your opinions

I did antenatalonline.co.uk and the videos were really good - explained the labour process, the pain and best birth positions which all actually came in really useful for my particular first birth experience. No NHS sessions near me and the NCT ones were really expensive.

I participated in the ones that are run by the NCT. The only good thing was the friendships I’ve made. I’ve kept in touch with them over the years. We swapped contact information. Additionally we aim to meet at church and at a local pub for lunch and a chance to discuss our children. We also have had play dates in the summer at a local park and picnics.

Did NCT and really enjoyed it and thought it was useful, the one day class I did aimed at fathers was excellent. The NHS session was so bad we only attended the first one.

We did NCT. I don't remember all that much of what we learned but our group is still pretty tight knit after nearly 5 years and they were invaluable support, especially throughout the first year, so it was worth it for that!

Just as another thought, it might be worth googling whether there are any other private antenatal classes locally. Our area had some and they were less than half the price of NCT and more local to us. Worth it mainly for meeting people, I’m still in touch with most of the group even with school age children now!

I went to the HSE ones (Ireland). I found them handy enough but my DH found them invaluable. He hadn't read up on things like I had and found them a real eye opener.

We did NCT, my husband found it useful, I didn’t learn anything I hadn’t already read or looked up myself but I met some other mums and we’re still in touch.

I would say that they’re expensive for what they are, but as you only get one opportunity I rather do it than not. Just accept that it’s overpriced and if you don’t get anything out of it then just chalk it up to experience.

No, and I went into labour at 30+3 and my son was born the next day. I had no notes, no clothes (on holiday!) and I managed lol. The midwife talks you through everything while it's happening. Good luck

I kind of regret not doing the classes since a lot seemed to make friends in them.

I didn't do them and so when I arrived at hospital in the throes of labour I had no idea where to go. I had to go to A&E to ask for directions while dh parked the car. That was painful and I felt silly and imagined antenatal classes would have explained about the logistics of how to get to the Labour ward.

I did nhs classes and thought they were great. Still in touch with 4 of the other mums nearly 13 years later

Yes, I enjoyed the classes and I'm not someone who likes groups and 'joining'. The classes were good for my husband too so we both knew what was going on and what to expect, he was excellent while I was in labour. Of course, you can read it all too or instead of.

The only thing I would say is that not everything has to be done 'by the book' and you have to trust your instincts. In a couple of years, what is 'taught' at antenatal classes will have been replaced by other theories.

We went to everything our hospital had to offer and found them extremely useful. We learnt a fair bit more about the labour process than we'd already read, feeding your baby including alternative methods, post natal info and what the expectations and policies for our hospital upon admission and during our stay were. We were also taught various things that made me feel stronger as a parent like your rights when breastfeeding etc. We were given a tour of all the delivery suite and birthing centre and were able to go into more depth with our questions then we could at our usual appointments.

It's fine if people don't want to go to them but I do find irritating when people say "they're rubbish" followed by "we didn't go (how would you know then?).

If it's free and you have no constraints then why not.

Worth it largely for the support group factor after the birth.

I did learn stuff from them but I can't remember what, ten years on. I do remember those weekly meet ups when the babies were small though being an absolute lifeline at a confusing, stressful and completely new time.

I went to the NHS ones, only attended about 2 in the end due to work commitments etc. DH only managed to get to one of them.

They were ok but nothing I couldn't have found out from the internet/Mumsnet

The main thing I remember was the midwife being totally breezy about an epidural saying if you wanted one, an anaesthetist would come and do it for you

I tried asking her about what happens during busy times/weekends/nights etc and I felt the response didn't really answer my questions.

All felt a bit lambs to the slaughter

Didn't bother with NCT- way too expensive and preferred to put that about towards a pram and bedroom furniture etc. Also, had heard very variable options about its use.

Definitely go along to as many as you can but also use other resources to get informed e.g. internet, Mumsnet!

My NCT lot aren’t particularly close, you’re not guaranteed good friends. They’re nice enough people on the whole.

I don’t feel like it was a good return on a £300 investment. In hindsight I would have just done the NHS ones and joined some baby groups instead.

Useless, made me worse. Gave me daft advice that ultimately helped lead to terrible depression

I did NCT and NHS.

NHS free and useful info
NCT expensive and a waste of time

I done NCT and found it a waste of time. The mums did get together and invite me but I had zero in common.

You def shouldn't go to NCT expecting to get a group of best friends out of it, I think that's the exception rather than the norm, though lovely if it happens. It simply gives you a group of people who are going through the same thing at the same time, which is invaluable.

Husbands don't get it.
Friends without kids don't get it.
Friends with much older kids have forgotten what it's like.
Friends with toddlers are much too busy to indulge the mad whitterings of the newborn period.
You need other friends with newborns. Even if they aren't especially "friends" as such, it doesn't matter. It's not about you being bosom buddies, it's just about having someone who understands and gets excited when your baby sleeps through the night or has their first suck on a banana.

If you don't want to/can't afford to do NCT and there are no alternative classes in your area I can highly recommend going to some kind of newborn or late pregnancy class/support group and starting up a whatsapp/text circle to fulfil this purpose, if you really can find nothing else, MN birth month groups tend to be similar, it's just you probably won't be geographically near anyone else.

32 years ago I paid shedloads to NCT for antenatal classes. It was all very weird and I eventually found out (when DS was a year old) that it was me and 4 midwives in the group of 5. I'm sure the midwives got value for money but it was a total waste of time for me.

I did antenatal nct and post natal nhs - I found nct better for me but it will depend on the individual “teacher” in your area as it’s a franchise. I didn’t learn anything having been reading up myself but all the classes were joint with partners and I felt it helped my husband (more than he’d admit). I was adamant I “didn’t need any more friends” but got on with the other couples and it was really nice meeting at the “reunion” after we’d had the babies as we’d all had difficult times and all were able to be quite open with each other!

As others have said though people who did nct do tend to have “nct meet ups” and you can miss this. I’m glad I met people before giving birth as I’ve not met anyone at baby groups and I didn’t click with anyone at the nhs one!

I did and a total waste of time. I sharnt be attending this time around

Started having issues with my baby at 20-something weeks so never got around to committing to NCT classes. Later on went to one NHS class and then discovered it was largely focused around childbirth, whereas I needed a c-section. Only went to one before DS was delivered prematurely (by c-section) the later that week.

Wish I'd had more opportunities to meet people, and I'm not sure if I'll get the option of the classes again this time around - they might be more useful this time as I'm planning on VBAC!

I was given a 10 week course by the nhs and signed up to nct. The nct weekend I was in hospital si got nothing for my money. The nhs ones created a whatsapp group to stay in touch. As the time was longer we got know each other better so by the time our babies came we were already friends. I’d go along just to make mum friends it’s such a life line in the early days plus you can send a message at 2am and someone will probably answer as they are also awake with a baby so you don’t feel alone.