Preparing for Parenthood classes

[TooImmature2BMum]

Hi!

Has anyone been to these? I'm due to start mine in January, and I have very little idea of what's covered. I'm based in Midlothian, so if anyone else has been to similar classes I'd be very grateful to hear what they're all about. Do they give you advice for the birth and teach you about birth stages, pain relief, breathing etc etc? Or is it more about learning how to change a nappy or meeting other mums-to-be? I feel woefully ill-informed about birth in general, so I hope the classes do cover it. I am going to do a lot of research, but I'd still like to discuss it with other people. I think the midwife does run the sessions, which is a good sign.

Anyone?

Hi, it depends on who is running the class. Can you ask midwife for a rundown of what's covered at your next appointment?

Antenatal classes normally cover the late pregnancy/labour/first few days with baby bit/

Preparing for Parenthood sounds more like a parenting (nappy changing, what to do when it cries) kind of class but it could be a misleading title.

NCT antenatal is v good (and they do it v cheap if you need it to be, not everyone pays anything like full price).

There's a course finder at the bottom of this page www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com/in-your-area/course-finder

Thanks Happy - will check with midwife. It's all I've been offered, hence why I'm not sure if it's the full whack or not. I don't see the midwife until 14 Dec and I was reading some of the Childbirth threads and panicking myself a bit!

You won't be offered NCT. You just book on the course and they fill up quickly (booked mine at 10 weeks) although they'll try to add extra classes if it is super popular.

You don't have to join either so only pay for that if you want to.

My NCT ones are in January too - I'm due April 5th. I couldn't go to the NHS ones cos they're at 14:00 on a weekday so I'll be at work.

Anyway good luck, hope it goes well. Don't rely on the NHS for everything, they'll cover off the essentials but not anything more.