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Birth clubs

Connect with mums-to-be with similar due dates to share experiences and support.

Original poster

First-timers Due last quarter 2007

265 replies

geekInPigtails · 08/03/2007 10:30

After hearing a couple of people complain about the lack of it, and then experiencing it myself, I thought I'd follow nomoremagnolia's suggestion and create an ante-natal thread just for us poor scared naive first-timers

Of course I'm not saying we shouldn't also be on the normal ante-natal club threads so we can learn from people with a bit more experience, but a little newbie club might be friendly and reassuring too?

So if this is your first baby and you're due Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec 07, please join me!

Please?!

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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revelyell · 08/08/2007 15:57

glad im not the only one stefka! although ive been reassured that baby activity classes after the bub is born are just as good for meeting people. and appara NCT do coffee mornings, and it doesnt cost c. £200 to go to a series of those so i guess theres the bright side!

Mrswizz · 08/08/2007 16:34

I'm wondering if it was worth forking out the £200. DH is moaning about it. The other mums insist I have to and that its invaluable. I've grudgingly taken up a place in October - really just to meet people.

revelyell · 08/08/2007 19:41

well the hackney and islington branch have just got back to me asking for more info, so maybe i will get on one after all... i think i might go on it if offered mrsswizz, athough it will be like you, grudging, cos maybe it really doesnt need to cost £200 just to meet local mums?!

argh...!

suey2 · 09/08/2007 08:39

yes, i ahve paid the £200- they banked it last week, but i still haven't heard any info! Maybe the postie strike, but t surely shouldn't take nore than a week to get from fulham to chelsea!

Ambi · 09/08/2007 09:26

I'm 2 minds about booking these classes, def won't be shelling out any money though - 2 weeks mat pay, don't think so..

Feel it will be handy to learn new stuff, but I take so badly to others telling me what to do, I'm looking forward to figuring it out on my own. I have researched as much about labour and childbirth as much as I want to know, any more and I'll be opting for a general anaesthetic!!! For me, the less I know, the less to be potentially afraid of. MN has prepared me enough, although started to avoid the pg and childbirth forums as they are very scary, I've had a very easy pg so far and don't want to fill my head with what can go wrong, ignorance is bliss..

Although hope you guys enjoy your classes, think I've talked myself out of them now!!

Ambi · 09/08/2007 09:33

Sophus,38,Due Sept 5th
honey2theb,22,Due Sept 6th
MrsMar,36,Due Sept 19th
Holly29,33,Due Sept 19th
nh101,29,Due Sept 25th
Laska,?,Due Sept 26th
Polarmummy,29,Due Oct 4th
Stefka, ?, Oct 14th
Kittiwake,?,Due Oct 15th
Mandler,33,Due Oct 19th
PoppyField,41,Due Oct 23rd
fch,30,Due Nov 1st
geekinpigtails,28,Due Nov 4th
AnnainNZ,36,Due Nov 4th
Silkcushion,31,Due Nov 7th
revelyell,26,Due Nov 15th
Littleoldme,?,Due Nov 28th
Beachbunni,28,Due 1st Dec
Mrswizz,33,Due Dec 2nd
thelady,?,Due Dec 4th
Ambi,26, Due Dec 4th
suey2, 37, due Dec 10th
Caz10,31,Due Dec 11th or 12th (we are not sure)
Poppy10,38, Due Dec 20th
fleacircus,31,Due Dec 25th
Imawurzel,28(29 Dec 11th)Due Dec 31st

Mrswizz · 09/08/2007 09:48

Well done Ambi. You're probably doing the right thing. I booked classes, then cancelled thinking they'd be rubbish, then I had friends who put the fear of isolation into my head, sitting for months with dribbling DS in depressing December, Jan and Feb so I booked the classes again with a cunning lie to explain my previous cancellation in teh hope I'd find someone else I could get on with and maybe get some tips on breastfeeding or something. Not sure it will be worth it but we'll see.

Original poster
geekInPigtails · 09/08/2007 11:08

Don't any of you get offered antenatal classes on the NHS then? My area does, and does quite a wide selection (standard general 3 eve thing, then breastfeeding session, waterbirth session, sessions for young mums and twins+, a couple of others I can't remember!), so I'm going to some of those. There's no way I'd pay £200 for them, I had no idea NCT ones were so expensive!

OP posts:
Stefka · 09/08/2007 12:06

I was told the NHS ones weren't very good. I would have been given a discount on the NCT ones because we don't earn much but I don't know how much. I will go to the bumps and babies sessions afterwards and hopefully I will meet some people then.

suey2 · 09/08/2007 12:51

we get NHS antenatal ones for free. My pals tell me that they are by no means comprehensive, and that you get much more info from the NCT ones. But, I agree that you can prob get most of this from a book.
I am quite prepared to take a lot of the NCT stuff with a serious pinch of salt, too. Particularly in regard to BF and labour without any assistance. Frankly if the pain is too much, i am happy to have an epidural, although i would rather avoid it if possible. I understand others may feel different.

Ambi · 09/08/2007 13:13

Mrswizz, would be handy for me to meet other mums too as don't know any other mums round our area. The thing that worries me about that it the alpha mum thing, the competition of "our little angel can do this before any other babies" Might tip my sleep deprived brain over the edge, but maybe I've got it all wrong and it's a good support network, hoping to spot some mums and tots groups after I've had her.

(Very strange to say her, still refer to LO as it, although DH says she or her or by the name we've chosen but I find it difficult - perhaps I don't have much faith in the our NHS ability to check the sex!!!)

thelady · 09/08/2007 20:00

My midwife said that the local NHS classes are utterly useless - strongly recommended NCT or similar even though I'll be driving an hour each way to get to them!

She said turn up to the NHS ones just to see the labour ward and facilities, but if you're expecting anything like decent information/advice, then think again.

Original poster
geekInPigtails · 10/08/2007 11:30

hmm, interesting responses about NHS classes. Well, my midwife (who seems quite friendly and helpful) didn't say anything about the NHS classes being rubbish in my area - they're run by the maternity hospital which is a relxaed modern midwife-led unit (so I'm told) with full-on medical facilities on a different floor, and which has a reasonably good reputation. I also heard recently that they have a very good breastfeeding counsellor there. So hopefully, I'm in luck If they are rubbish, then as thelady says, at least it's an opportunity to see the place, and all the info I could possibly want is here on mumsnet anyway!

Unfortunately, my classes aren't until September, so I'll only find out whether they're any good just over a month before my due date, so not much time to change. But I'd still be interested to hear how you NCT people get on.

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nomoremagnolia · 10/08/2007 17:06

Sorry to butt in but I wanted to say hi to geek - I was thinking about you this morning (as I was using my Liz Earle stuff) and wondered how you were getting on. Can't believe you're so far along now Anyway that's about it, just wanted to say hi so..er.. 'hi'

Stefka · 11/08/2007 09:31

I think with the NHS it is a bit of a lottery. Where I live I have never seen the same person twice and don't really feel like I know what was going on. I was not offered any alternative to a hospital birth at my booking in appointment and at the time I didn't know to ask about other options. I am still waiting to hear about the classes.

My sister in law on the other hand is being looked after in a midwife led unit and has been offered a water birth and has in general been very impressed with her care. She's just in a different area from me. Such a shame that these services are not offered to all women no matter where they live.

Original poster
geekInPigtails · 13/08/2007 13:57

Hi nomoremagnolia!!! Sorry I only just noticed your message, had the in-laws round this weekend (mainly to see the bump ). Bless you for thinking of me How are you at the moment?

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kelmcd · 15/08/2007 16:40

Hello all! I am due my first baby in bout 3weeks. I like everyone else i'm sure am feeling quite nervous about the up coming events. I am having my baby in a hospital which isn't local to me and have decided not to go to the NHS classes but i think that they are great as the let you know what your hospital does and its policies etc. May not seem important but at least you will know what you will be offered, if only not to be disappointed

nomoremagnolia · 15/08/2007 22:27

Hi geek I'm fine - still ttc no1 though Have just started Clomid so am feeling that at last I'm doing something positive about it all. Glad to see you're doing well and that your thread (which I suggested [proud] ) is still going strong.

thelady · 20/08/2007 18:59

Good luck with the Clomid.

Didn't work for us - on it for most of last year as a last resort before IVF - after 10 years together and upwards of 5 of trying.

Told in Jan that it was IVF or nothing - no obvious physical reason for infertility in either of us - and then got the BFP on my birthday in March.

Anyway - just to let you know that even if Clomid doesn't work, don't assume that's it!

Mrswizz · 21/08/2007 11:04

Thelady, that's a lovely story, and to find out on your birthday. 5 years of trying must have been hard.

thelady · 21/08/2007 16:59

It was hard, yes, particularly as I have very irregular cycles (21 - 78 days!) so I never really knew when to test. I'm 25 weeks now, and just starting to believe it's happening enough to think about making shopping lists etc

Stefka · 22/08/2007 21:53

Good news - I managed to get a last minute place on an NCT course and I get a discount because we are on a low income. I was lucky - someone canceled. I am very pleased though - I think it will make me more confident plus give me the chance to meet some people.

FCH · 24/08/2007 11:44

Hello all,

I contacted my NCT early because I work away from home and wanted to do weekend classes so that DH could come too - particularly as I am a real bookworm and feel that I am pretty well informed (and my sister has been a midwife for the last 10 years so I knew quite a bit already) but he really hasn't got a clue and I think it will be really reassuring for him. I also wanted to meet women where I am going to be once the baby arrives, not where I am now. Also, because we live in a city and the local NHS trust does have a really high number of young mothers (this is anything under 25 as far as I am concerned ) and I am really hoping that NCT might be the option that more women my age (early 30s) might go for. We have our first class two weeks tomorrow, which is very exciting!

By the way has anyone else read the "what sort of mother will you be" thread? I thought it was really interesting and it was nice to see some real common sense advice aimed at first timers! If I know how to do those link things I would put one in!

Have also done quite a bit of shopping and am about to be the proud owner of a cot, a pram and a car seat, and all with 10 weeks to go. Unprecedented organisation going on in the FCH household!!

Anyway better sort myself out or I will never get away for the weekend!

Original poster
geekInPigtails · 24/08/2007 15:43

Congrats Stefka, well done I'm getting quite impatient/excited about my NHS classes (starting in just over a fortnight) - not sure why, but sort of feel like the baby isn't "allowed" to arrive until after I've had them

FCH, well done on the organisation! I've just spent a small fortune on mothercare online, so waiting for the cot to arrive - I think that was the most complicated buying decision so far! When that delivery arrives I'll think we'll have all the basics for the first few weeks at least, but it'll all be dumped on the floor of the nursery, because we still haven't decorated it yet... must get on with that...

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primigravida · 24/08/2007 15:57

I live on the border of Stockport/Manchester and have been to the NHS classes in both Stockport and Manchester and both have been excellent (yes I have too much time on my hands). I guess it really depends on where you are as I've had the same midwife all the way through. Btw, NHS classes have a whole range of ages teens to forties. NCT would have eaten up my bugaboo fund. Good luck everyone with whichever class you go for.