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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to consider giving NCT antenatal classes a miss and go on a spa day instead??

58 replies

pinkfizzle · 30/08/2009 21:52

ok I am pregnant with first baby.

I think I have left it too late to book nct classes, a few weeks into trimester 3.

I have also been a bit shocked at the price.

I am thinking that I could just put the money towards a lovely spa treatment or two? Or a weekend away with DH to relax?

A lengthy period of time sitting listening and learning seems a great deal of effort. Moving from my living room to my bedroom sometimes seems like a great deal of effort.

I am also considering a post birth doula or breast feeding counsellor instead.

I am pretty chilled out about everything and have a very supportive Dh who suggested I put this question to you lot.

I have been physically sick throughout this pregnancy - so don't want to exert too much effort outside work.

I have been to a birth type work shop which I found good. I might also try hospital classes, if they are not cancelled due to swine flu fears.

Any feedback welcome, either positive or negative on antenatal classes. Did they help? With the benefit of hindsight what would you do?

OP posts:
saltyseadog · 31/08/2009 09:48

Oh, and first time around I did lots of poncey things like pregnancy yoga - I vowed that second time around I would not waste my money on such nonsense and that I would derive more pleasure from a spending spree in Space NK.

I'm now pregnant with my 2nd, so on Saturday I went and had my hair done, got waxed, bought some Ren Otto Rose bath oil and some NARS make-up. That made me feel far better (and as a result probably made my bump feel better) than three months of prancing around after work in yoga pants .

G'wan - book the spa day.

lisianthus · 31/08/2009 09:48

Definitely go for the spa day!

I found the NCT courses too expensive (and depending where you live, you have to book them really early), so I just did the hospital classes, which were completely fine, and read books. I am now post-birth, and WISH I had had your fantastic idea of a spa day.

You'll get lots of chances to meet people, such as the ideas suggested above of mother and baby groups, massage classes and so on, but you absolutely WON'T be able to go on a spa day for a very long time after your baby is born, especially if you are breastfeeding.

Grab this chance with both hands!

BonsoirAnna · 31/08/2009 09:51

Beauty treatments and hairdresser are where you should put your money in pregnancy IMO -it is is easy to feel depressed about your appearance when you get larger by the day and you need all the help you can get!

HelenHighwater · 31/08/2009 09:51

Spa day.

Never went to NCT and so glad I didn't as it would have been a waste of my time. Ended up being rushed for a section before even going into labour.

hellsbelles · 31/08/2009 09:52

I'm on the NCT side. I found the teacher annoying but loved the friends I made. 6 years on we are still meeting up. We were all from different areas so wouldn't have met in the normal places after the babies were born if it hadn't been for NCT.

Original poster
pinkfizzle · 31/08/2009 10:00

Thank you for all your posts, very much appreciated.

I think I agree with the general consensus that it a spa date that is calling me.... I think I have left the nct classes a bit late anyhow.

After another night of pregnancy insomnia I am going to be exhausted before the bub arrives and undergo more sleep deprivation.

I think I will also try throw in a top to toe personal grooming event too as I simply can't be bothered at the moment to do a manicure, pedicure, hair cut so what hope will I have after the baby arrives.

lol at the prancing around in yoga pants.

oh and I have already looked into a baby massage class.

OP posts:
mummy2isla · 31/08/2009 10:02

I love the girls I met on the NCT and they were a huge support during the first few months. But I had a doula too and she was better than any NCT class!! Go for spa day!

galaxymummy · 31/08/2009 10:12

Hi
A couple of questions.
What do you think would be a reasonable price for an antenatal class?
Why do people go to NCT classes?
What makes a good antenatal teacher??
ps spend money on a birth or pn doula I can recommend marslady maker of wonderful lemon drizzle cake.

Wizzska · 31/08/2009 10:16

I was very cynical about antinatal classes. I thought £250 was too much to pay. It turned out to be the best £250 I have ever spent. I was lucky enough to get 6 really good friends out of it. I'm going on holiday with two of the couples tomorrow. The people I met there really helped me through the early days of motherhood, and we really bonded on our maternity leave. The actual classes were rubbish, but meeting the people was invaluable. I guess I was lucky but I have heard other similar stories.

spongebrainmaternitypants · 31/08/2009 10:17

galaxymummy, I would start your own thread if I were you, so you can get the answers to your questions separately to this one, which seems to have already run its course .

ZephirineDrouhin · 31/08/2009 10:20

If you already have good friends who are pregnant/have small babies and live close to you then I would go for the spa day. If not, then I would go for the NCT every time.

Having a baby for the first time is such an unimaginably huge event, and really really hard at times. I found getting to know other women who lived near me and who were going through exactly the same thing utterly invaluable. And we are still friends four years on. Was really lucky with my group though - they are all lovely.

Original poster
pinkfizzle · 31/08/2009 10:26

Well - I think 250 is a bit steep especially as the content seems a bit hit and miss and it is a couple of long sessions ... my bum will get sore sitting down.

The support aspect of other attendees at nct classes is a positive but is not a guaranteed outcome.

I will also consider a post birth doula along with my spa day.

If need be I will start a thread for nct drop outs who want to meet up.

Spa bliss awaits me. ahhh

OP posts:
galaxymummy · 31/08/2009 10:35

Wow pink fizzle that is mouth wateringly expensive. Do you think £150 is a good price?
Hi spongebrain thats a good idea I will sstart a new post

spongebrainmaternitypants · 31/08/2009 10:43

make sure you link to it so we know where it is

Original poster
pinkfizzle · 31/08/2009 11:08

Band C: £199-304 for the intensive course - but I have realised that that would include membership to the nct.

I think the course without membership is more like £230.

www.nct.org.uk/in-your-area/course-finder/course-prices/membership

OP posts:
ThingumyandBob · 31/08/2009 11:10

I?d be off to the spa! You might not get another chance for a while.

I/we got onto a NCT class that they laid on at the last minute to accommodate the late bookers, it was ok, but I have to be honest I was so worn out from work that by the time I got to class I just wanted to sleep so I didn?t get that much out of it. As for making friends, because our group were made up of people who had booked late we were from a massive area so it was tricky to stay in touch afterwards.

The best class I went to was run by the hospital called Active Birth.

MartiniMummy · 31/08/2009 11:14

I'd say only do the NCT classes if you want to meet people. The actual content of our classes was useless - although I'm sure that's dependent on the teacher, which is very hit and miss. If you're confident that you can meet local people in other ways, then give the classes a miss and opt for the spa. There's nothing a good massage can't sort out!

Fruitbeard · 31/08/2009 11:22

re. the meeting people thing - most NCT groups also run 'bumps and babies' coffee morning type things (although our local ones are on a Friday in the - very child-friendly - pub ) and they're completely free - you just might have to take a turn hosting one if your area doesn't go down the pub route!

diddl · 31/08/2009 11:29

Book a spa!

Mouette · 31/08/2009 11:41

YANBU. If you don't fancy being lectured about the need to have a natural birth (read: painful) and breastfeeding, give it a miss and have a nice day in a spa! You can read about labour etc there are plenty of books on the subject, and you might want to visit your local hospital to see the delivery suites etc. Most hospitals organise free antenatal classes anyway and most people find that sufficient. Frankly the NCT have a certain ideology and not everybody agrees with their approach - I don't!

Mouette · 31/08/2009 11:42

BTW I ended up being induced and having a c-section so all the stuff I had learned about labour was pointless anyway.

theDMplagiarisedLeonie · 31/08/2009 11:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Mouette · 31/08/2009 12:14

Hear, hear.

antenatal · 31/08/2009 14:58

Hi - I am an antenatal teacher and would recommend both!

For me - and the aim of my classes - it is way more than just the imparting of information which I agree can be got from a book (although even one or two books will not give a completely balanced view and all evidence with which to make an informed choice).

Some people only hear what they want to hear or what they think they might be hearing or expect to hear. Classes allow clients to explore the issues in a way that just reading cannot do - classes may challenge the client to think beyond the 'expected standard' for their area, group, family etc.

This is why home birth may be mentioned - not to persuade anyone but in order to make a true choice, one has to have all the 'actual' facts and not hearsay, preconceptions etc. It doesn't mean that this will end up being the best choice for someone but having truly considered the options of ALL choices then afterwards, you can feel that you made ther bext choice for you.

I feel that classes allow safe and frank discussion of all the issues, fears, concerns and hopes facilitated by someone with no agenda other than to support parents-to-be make informed choices and that this is an excellent start to parenthood!

Spa days are also fab! So - Weigh up the pros and cons of both options and decide - or go for an alternative and do both!!

NCT offers a discount policy which can make a big difference and also allows payments by installment.

sherby · 31/08/2009 15:01

spa day