NCT antenatal classes

[horsygirl]

I'm starting them next week. My DH is petrified and is trying to wriggle out of it. I don't mind if he goes or not really, but if he doesn't, will I be the only woman alone?

And what happens once you're there?....

hi, when I went to ante natal my husband couldn't come to the first one as he was working. he was the same as your husband (tried to get out of it) but I told him it was important to me and promised to buy him a beer afterwards. Although there was other girls there without their partner, they did have a friend with them and I'm glad my husband came to the last two with me because it prepared him for the birth and he felt a little more useful. hope this helps, good luck x

He should go if poss - at my classes all the women had their partners there or a relative if their husband couldn't make that session. DH said he did learn a lot from the sessions and it does help them when they know what the midwife is talking about in hospital. Saves them panicking. Also if he doesn't go he won't have a clue who you are talking about when you talk about your new NCT friends for the next year +

Oh, and as for what happens - we had a couple of hours on the birth process (no videos at all, more open discussion along the lines of "no question is stupid, please do ask anything", then a bit on what to put in your hospital bag, what to expect if you have a vaginal birth, instrumental or CSection....a session on breastfeeding (v useful for both of us as it gave DH some understanding of what was going on)...a couple of hours on pain relief and what is offered and the effects of it...I also remember a bit on postnatal stuff, changing nappies etc. Really useful for me and DH anyway, and as I said it was all done in such a way that you felt you could ask any question no matter how stupid.

It's worth ringing the teacher, as it may be that you aren't the only one there without a partner as some people's DHs may be services/abroad/funny shifts/work late and so you wont feel awkward. (Not that you should even if you're the only one solo.) Definitely worth going to even if you go alone. I LOVED my NCT classes, though I've heard it really varies from teacher to teacher and group to group, and DH enjoyed them too. He wasn't expecting to but then by the end of the course he said it was his favorite hour of the week .

I think we did about 8 sessions, covering loads of stuff like the anatomy of labour, how to bath a baby, what role the father can have, etc. It was a bit self-conscious-making but everyone's in the same boat.

One of the best things was meeting a few couples who you sort of go on a journey into parenthood with. Despite thinking initially that I couldn't see myself as good friends with any of them, I totally love seeing them all and their babies. They're lovely and it's brilliant as we're all at the similar stage with the same vulnerabilities and excitements (teeth! wow! etc).

Ah, I'm feeling all nostalgic now!

NCT Classes were great for me, very supportive, i went to one very early (5/6 months pg) as that was the only one in my area with spaces, i still meet up with the girls from the calss every week, we all now have lovely babies. in my class one girl's hubby was away all the time and she brought a friend who was to be her birth partner if she went into labout whilst her hubby was working out of the country, and another was in your situation where her dp just didnt want to go (she didnt admit as much, but i knew her before the classes so i guessed!). our classes were over 2 days and by the second day she had forced persuaded him to come along

my dh came along (with a little persuasion!) and he really enjoyed it and was the best birthing partner i could have wished to have. made me feel quite guilty that i'd imagined him fainting/leaving the room in a panic [ blush]

enjoy, you hopefully will make some really good friends - oh and dh meets up with the lads fromt he course occasionaly for a bike ride/pub session, would that help your dh any?!