Antenatal classes in Cambridge - NHS or NCT?

[VegemiteSandwich]

Hi!

Does anyone know what the NHS antenatal classes are like in Cambridge at the moment? We were planning to sign up to the NCT ones but if the NHS ones were particularly good perhaps the money could be better spent elsewhere.

We're not flush with funds but could find the money for the NCT ones. What I particularly like is that they are in the evenings (so no time off work), presumably small groups and have a "friend-finding" aspect to them.

Even though I'm not due until December I'm looking into this v early as have heard (on mumsnet!) that they can get booked up quickly.

I found that I have stayed in closer contact with the people in my NHS group as they were all from 'round my way' whereas the NCT ones were perhaps better in terms of content but as the attendees were spread out across the city, I have not stayed in touch so much. But then I was looking for people to meet as I didn't know anyone else with kids locally.

Thought I'd throw in my two-cents worth as well. I did the NCT and NHS classes in 2008/2009 when I was pregnant with DS1. NHS ones were too big and too few in number to meet anyone, but the NCT ones were fab - DH and I considered it 'buying friends', as we were new to Cambridge, and that's exactly what we got: a great group of friends who I still am in contact with now. All but one couple lived in south Cambridge, so we met up regularly.

I had DS1 and DS2 (Jan 2012) at the Rosie. First time round I was only there for an hour before the birth, so had little midwife care. It was very busy, and I wasn't impressed with the midwife we got. Aftercare was poor - too busy.

Second time round I was induced and they kept me on the Lady Mary ward throughout my labour. It was horribly stressful and embarrassing trying to be quiet while in labour and surrounded by people not in labour. They kept promising me a room in the delivery suite, then giving it to someone else. They ended up sprinting upstairs with me as DS2 was descending, and I was in the delivery suite for 20 mins before he arrived. Horrible experience. Aftercare was essentially non-existant. They're just too busy. So good idea to do it at home!

I heartily recommend Anna's classes (antenatal and baby), the Romsey Mill baby groups, and Balzano's! Black Cat is nice, but very little space for buggies, and very slow service (not really a problem when you're on mat leave, I concede!). The other fabulous place on Mill Road is Cafe Brazil - really baby friendly, lots of room for buggies, and nice food.

bluechampagne yes, I think that with these narrow streets I am going to have to become a sling kind of girl!

Thanks auntibulgaria and buttertart for more info. I've hard that Cafe Brazil is good but haven't checked it out yet. Never really had to think about buggy friendly places as not many of my friends have babies. I need to find out what goes on at Romsey Mill too!

I wonder whether there's a standard max width for buggies, and presumably mobility aids and things, as mine which seems to me to be a fairly wide one just fits nicely through almost all doors and shop aisles and along pavements (so long as it's not bin day and the cars aren't overlapping the dashed lines on the pavement - whether kerbs are a nuisance depends initially on how the birth went and how recovered you are and later on how much shopping you've festooned the buggy with!). It's easier than I thought it would be. Obviously it's down to preference though as I see loads of people with slings and baby carriers. I quite often leave the pushchair outside places like Hot Numbers - keep meaning to dig out a spare bike lock for it although I've been lucky so far.

Romsey Mill timetable

I did the NCT class with Alison Marcus and it was brilliant. I was a bit worried abotu NCT being all preachy but Alison (scientist) was factual and evidence based and not at all airy fairy. Met some lovely couples who are now some of my closest friends. The evenings over several weeks were paced really well and were a really good opportunity to learn about labour and post birth with your partner. Probably the best £200 odd quid I've ever spent. It was 2 years ago now so not sure about current prices or whether Alison is still teaching.
I didn't do the NHS ones, but know a couple of people who did and they didn't seem to get as much out of them.
Always a bit tricky to know whether NCT will be worth it as so much depends on the teacher and who the other couples are.