NCT classes - advice for anxious first time mum

[vhappymumma2b]

Hi all

My DH and I are really excited to be expecting our first baby due in early Oct, after many years of me not feeling brave enough to become a Mum because of all of the medical bits and pieces that go hand in hand with it.

I've been told that NCT classes are really helpful but I wonder please if I could ask some advice regarding the content that they cover.

I want to make sure that my husband and I are adequately prepared for all of the action coming our way, however as I am someone who gets anxiety, I don't want to have to sit through something that is going to frighten the living daylights out of me for the month prior to the birth... should I just wait until the big arrival day and just do as I am told as it happens by the medical staff rather than overworry myself in the lead up by seeing procedures etc at the classes that may not even be relevant to us in the end.

At this stage, I am making sure that I am reading up on pregnancy and know all of the essentials, but I don't want to overthink myself into a state by looking up on too much gory stuff. I could really do with some advice please from those of you who have visited these classes before, I want to make sure that we're doing the right thing for us and the baby.

Thank you so much in advance.

I found my NCT antenatal classes fascinating and also got to know other local mums in my situation - we were all home with our babies afterwards and it was great not to feel alone when the fanfare had died down.

I'm not squeamish so can't say how you'd feel about the content. My feeling is the more knowledge the better. In one class we did a simulation of induction where my husband was the dummy with strings hanging off him representing monitors, gas, catheters etc. We all had a good laugh and when I ending up having a real induction it was a lot less scary.

I remember a lot of blah about breastfeeding and pain relief but it was really getting to know the other couples at a major time in all our lives (first babies) that made it worthwhile. It was also reassuring when two or three of the others had their baby before me so I felt if they could manage it so could I. Good luck!

I'd really really recommend going to some kind of antenatal class. Some of it might be scary, but you'll be in a room with other people going through the same thing, and with someone you can ask questions of, rather than trying to understand it all on your own with a book. You'll be much better prepared not only for the birth, but also for life with a small baby afterwards. And you also might find that you have particular preferences for your labour that you want to let the midwife or doctor know about, which you can talk through at antenatal classes.

It's also really good for meeting people who you can talk to when your LO is born, which is invaluable at the beginning when it can seem very daunting. I did NCT classes and we all still see each other regularly nearly three years on and we've been able to help each other through difficult times during that period.

I think that the content depends on the person delivering the sessions, maybe you can ask your local leader what they'll cover. Ours was very open to suggestions about including other things that we wanted to know about so it's not always a fixed thing, anyway.

Go! If you're anxious you will likely need more support once baby arrives and having a group of people that you've got to know as friends who are off work at the same time and can support you through the tears when baby won't feed / stop crying / sleep / wean etc is a godsend. You can always tell the class leader about your fears and if need be miss the sessions that might make your stomach lurch...although you'll probably find that everyone is just as scared as you! Best wishes for the pregnancy!!

Thanks so much all for taking the time to respond, it is really helpful. Best wishes to all of you :)

I am looking for a good NCT class in my local area, around Tufnell Park, Dartmouth Park North London......does anyone know the best one to join and how do you know a good one when you've found it?