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Original poster

Are anti natal classes really that important?

37 replies

Natzer · 30/01/2011 20:30

Im currently 29 weeks (first baby) and thinking again about my NCT classes I have booked for March.

I feel pretty relaxed about the birth, am an avid MN reader so feel I have learnt alot over the past 6 months. I know the baby has to come out, and I know its gonna hurt , I guess im worried that the anti natal classes will put worries in my head.

Does anyone have any views as to whether these classes (not necessarily NCT but any anti natal classes) actually help?

OP posts:

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CrawlingInMySkin · 30/01/2011 20:55

I never had any or internet on my first, everything was fine for me gas and air and I just listended to my body (obviously luck played a big part), if you are happy to go without then IMO that is fine.

brizzagirl · 30/01/2011 20:57

Well I found the NCT is more about meeting a nice group of girls who will have babies the same age as yours... The classes were useful but the network is great, especially to start with. I would go anyway. Good luck!

freelancescientist · 30/01/2011 20:59

I had hospital antenatal classes - I think DH found them more useful to be honest, it gave him an idea of what was going to happen.

purepurple · 30/01/2011 20:59

I never went to any classes, didn't have any internet or even read any books. I went in totally blind both times and was fine.

Oneof4 · 30/01/2011 20:59

It's fine to go without, though I've been surprised by how much I've enjoyed my NCT classes. It's not like I've learnt anything astonishing or worrying, but feel very reassured and quite confident about whatever labour throws at me. Even DH has quite enjoyed the whole thing.

strandednomore · 30/01/2011 20:59

It's actually the group of people you meet through the classes that are more important than the classes themselves (in my opinion). So long as you are lucky and get a nice bunch - and you'll probably get one with at least one of the other couples - the support you give each other post-birth is invaluable.

Having said that, the classes themselves can be helpful for many things - not just the birth itself but what to expect post birth, what it's like having a c-section etc.

CuppaTeaJanice · 30/01/2011 21:00

I suppose they're not essential if you have mumsnet and the internet to find out the information you will need.

I found them great for making friends though. 3 years later we still meet up at least once a week (not the whole group, but different friends from the group). It is so lovely to have friends who are going through the same stuff as you, and who are on maternity leave at the same time so happy to meet up during the day.

The classes aren't just about the birth!

sam26oscar · 30/01/2011 21:02

i went really for the company and to meet new mums !! to be honest i am of the same mind frame, its gotta come out and its gonna hurt nothing the ante natal groups, nct or nhs are going to stop that!! I also went for breastfeeding advice which to be frank was shit and even worse advice in the hospital, but thats another story!!

1Catherine1 · 30/01/2011 21:02

Am 33 weeks with my first and have signed up for NCT classes starting week after next. Really I am looking for a group of woman who will have children the same age as mine and hopefully find a supportive network as I live quite far away from my family and all my work colleagues either don't have children or their children are much older.

I doubt they will make you more nervous of birth and since they're booked already I would say it is a waste to drop out.

FakePlasticTrees · 30/01/2011 21:07

I thought I wouldn't need them, but I found the NCT classes really raised a few more questions for DH and I.

And all the woman in my group are lovely!

justbeingmummy · 30/01/2011 22:55

I went to mine and wish i didnt bother to be hoonest, after the tennis ball in the sock (meant to be a baby coming out!) the knitted boob that was used to show breastfeeding and the poor guy who was wearing a brown stripy jumper was made to stand at the front so we could see all the different colour poos your baby does (i bet he burnt that jumper after) we was told there was no point talking about quick labour and what happens cos we were all first time mums so would all be in labour for hours, I went on to have my son in under 3 hours and was completely shocked.
However I do know other people who have been and found it really helpful, i think its personal choice :)

bessie26 · 30/01/2011 23:04

I don't think I learnt anything much at my NCT classes (i'd read all the books/mumsnet before hand), although DH did (read nothing). But for me it was more about meeting some other people having babies at the same time, and it was well worth the money for that alone. 2years on 7 out of the 8 of us are still in touch & most of us meet up every week for cake

CupcakesHay · 30/01/2011 23:09

I've been to one class... btu to be honest, felt i learnt more watching videos on you tube. I've heard they are LOVELY for making friends - but I live abroad with DH's job - so not much point for me.

DuelingFanjo · 30/01/2011 23:13

I went to NCT classes and really bought into the whole natural waterbirth thing. As it turned out I ended up having everything bar a C-section. I think you should prepare yourself for the fact that you may end up not having the birth you want but also that it's not the end of the world if you don't. I had an episiotomy, epidural and pethidinie - all things I really didn't want - I don't feel traumatised at all.

The people you meet are the best thing about the classes really.

Pinetreeland · 31/01/2011 09:07

I only went to the NHS one and it was definitley more for the benefit of my husband - he was clueless before and it was useful for him.

ShowOfHands · 31/01/2011 09:10

lol @ "anti" natal.

Our nhs antenatal classes were rubbish. In a room that was hotter than hell, a woman took 3hrs to push a doll through a knitted vagina.

DH actually fell asleep.

LoopyLoopsPoopaScoop · 31/01/2011 09:12

Oh God I hated my NCT class! I didn't find it very useful in terms of information, and was simply a very expensive way of meeting other parents-to-be, which would be great if they happen to be your kind of people, unfortunately mine weren't.

CountBapula · 31/01/2011 09:24

I mainly went to meet other mums-to-be and wasn't that bothered about the course content but actually found a lot of it very useful, even though I'd done a lot of reading beforehand.

The support network has been invaluable, though. I shudder to think what life with a new baby would have been like without those friends, because I didn't know anyone locally at all. Worth it for that alone.

Meglet · 31/01/2011 09:24

I'm still in touch with my NCT group 4 years on. Our classes were pretty good and the teacher went through c-sections in detail - just as well as I ended having an EMCS.

IIRC the teacher sent us all down the pub for one session, the dads went first while the women did some relaxation / breathing practice then we all met up afterwards. She got the ball rolling by arranging a get together once the classes finished and the mums have got together nearly every week since (except me at the moment as I'm back at work so see them once a month, but we e-mail and catch up on FB).

cocoachannel · 31/01/2011 09:36

Indeed SoH - bit late to be 'anti' natal now

I've just finished my NCT course. We did two Saturdays and a couple of hours on breastfeeding separately. I really, really enjoyed the course. I am not sure that I learnt anything new, but it was very useful hearing advice from our experienced teacher, not just reading it.

The breastfeeding session, with a different teacher, wasn't brilliant, but I had a lovely lunch with my new NCT friends afterwards so not an entire waste of a morning!

Apart from meeting some great people, the best thing about the course was the fact that it really helped my husband get his head round things..!

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 31/01/2011 09:37

I went to the hospital one, that was useful because you got to see around, and find out what sort of ethos there was etc - but the actual antenatal content was pretty meh - nothing like as good as mumsnet!

HeroShrew · 31/01/2011 09:38

I wish I hadn't bothered with NCT - patronising teacher, competitive mums-to-be and blooming expensive for what I got out of it. Lots of people I know have recommended the local NHS classes however. FWIW I learned most by being on MN.

ThatllDoPig · 31/01/2011 09:43

Definately agree that it is worth going just to meet other mums for afterwards. It really is necessary to have friends to meet up with that are going through the same things. I'd go for it, unless you are lucky enough to already be surrounded by solid support.

I went for second baby as I had a bit gap between, and my DH needed to know more about labour etc. (IMO)

The weird thing was the first class (this was NHS) was all about aromatherapy in labour. There were women taking notes! Everyone else was first time mums, and I just didn't have the heart to tell them that they are not going to give a shit what it smelt like it there!

Dylthan · 31/01/2011 09:49

It's definatly more useful as a way of meeting other soon to be new mums.

With dd I was new to living in this area so when the mw made no mention of antenatal classes I asked about going and she told me that as I was a second time mum I was not allowed to go as in their experiance second time mums scared the first time mums

It was an extremely isolating experiance being pg for me. We moved not long before ds was due and then moved again just before dd was conceived so I feel I've missed out on the experiance of meeting and being close to a bunch of women that were pg the same time as me

JeewizzJen · 31/01/2011 09:58

One thing that concerns me with antenatal classes is that I'm going to be a scheduled c-section, so I do wonder how much of the classes will actually be relevant, as they seem to concentrate largely on labour and natural birth. Would there be enough information relevant to me to make it worthwhile?

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