Are anti natal classes really that important?

[Natzer]

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?

No, antenatal classes aren't that important.

I also feel like I've learned loads from Mumsnet and reading books, but we chose to do them anyway - partly because we're new to this area and would like to make friends AND because it would give my partner a chance to get involved.

We had our first session on Saturday and, luckily, we've struck gold with a lovely teacher and six nice, friendly couples. Even though I've read quite a lot, I still learned new things. The teacher was great at involving the men and my partner came away feeling enthusiastic and more confident about his 'role' in labour.

But of course, they're not essential. You could always join a pregnancy yoga class to meet new Mums, and then just read-up on childbirth. That would be a much cheaper way.

Or you could become an NCT member but not attend a course - membership is quite cheap and allows you to attend their weekly get-togethers.

Or check out your hospital ante natal classes.

Also, the NCT do some informal 'means testing' so if you're a student or on a low income, you pay less for their courses.

ha! i went and it was awful! wouldnt bother really! they got me really worried about labour and said that because it was my first baby id have to stay in the hospital for a few days after delivery, which really upset my for the rest of my pregnancy as i hate hospitals. anyway had little man in record time and i left hospital the same day, with just my gas and air
they told me i would need everything but the kitchen sink with me, i went into labour when i was prepared and had nothing ready haha! so i just grapped my notes and got a taxi to the hospital.
and as for the other women there in my experience it wasnt a place to make friends, it was a place for people to raise eyebrows at what other ladies were naming their children.
in my opinion they are pointless and make you worry, you can know to much about it i think, and dont get me started on learning how to breathe!!

prepared - unprepared

I wasn't expecting much from ours bar hoping to meet other first-time mums at the same stage. I felt pretty clued-up before I went anyway, went to pregnancy yoga and hypnobirthing, and so felt a bit resentful that we'd spent £300-odd on the NCT course.

However, I thought it was very useful (course leader was ace), and it helped my partner get up to speed with the things I'd been learning about too. It was a good group of people and I hope that we will all stay in touch. I'd definitely recommend doing it.

DH and I ran away during the tea break of the second class and never went back. I've never felt so patronised in my life.

At the time a large part of my job was teaching adult trainiers. I spent the whole time cringing at everything the trainer was doing wrong. By half way through the second class, when we were told we weren't going to be able to practise positions/exercises/relaxation techniques as there wasn't enough room, the thought of enduring any more was too much for us. We waited for the tea break and fled.

My 'local' NCT classes were not close to my house and cost £300 so I didn't sign up. I'm planning on doing the hospital classes and the group antenatal physio class. I'm a bit worried I'll get lonely in the early days so I'm planning on visiting a couple of bumps and babies coffee mornings near where I live while I'm on maternity leave in the hope of meeting local mums.

I mainly want to do the antenatal because I'm a high-risk and intervention will probably be required. I'm the kind of person who likes to be very prepared and to know what it all the words mean so that's why I want to go. DP will not be going with me.

I am 37+3 expecting DC1, and haven't been to NCT but have been to the NHS ones. I did find them useful, as even though I have read lots of books and read and asked for advice on here, there were still new things to learn, and it gave the opportunity to actually think a bit more about the process and what I would like to do/consider at each stage. Before I went to the classes, I was completely sure I wanted an epidural as soon as possible, and now I've gone the other way and think I would like to try to labour in the pool if possible (I know it might not be).

So it helped to clarify some things for me. It also gave me a better understanding of what is considered 'normal' or 'optional' for the hospital where I will be giving birth. Not that I mean that is deciding what I can and can't do, more clarifying if there are things I/DH will need to insist on, and things that will be done without us having to ask.

It was also useful to actually see, try and hold some of the things that we might 'encounter' on the way, e.g. I would never have considered getting a birthing ball until I actually tried one, and we got to see some of the possible intervention-type things like the ventouse etc. which helped allay my fears a bit if this is needed, because it was nowhere near as big and bad as I had thought.

So yes I think it was useful for me and DH, despite me having read lots and lots about birth.

D

Jeewizzjenn - I knew I was very likely to have a planned c-section by the time I did my NCT classes (baby was breech) and the teacher made sure to incoporate lots of extra information about sections for my benefit (after trying to pursuade me that I could try for a natural breech birth if I wanted....I declined!). It was doubly useful as one of the other women in the group ended up having a crash section. Anyway it should always be included because something like 25% of births end up in a cesearian so insist on them covering this.

Thanks strandednomore - that's really helpful!

Just got back from my NCT class and personally find it really helpful. You can read as many book/websites as you want but you can't ask them questions that are particular to your situation. Our teacher seems great so far too, plus a nice group of people in the same boat. Haven't finished the course yet but so far would recommend it.

Lol, yes OK OK just realised my mistake with ANTI natal, I did keep looking at it and thinking it looked wrong....

It's the baby brain honest!

I suppose I just cant imagine what will be talked about from between 9am until 1pm each saturday for 4 weeks. I will need to take something to munch on in my bag, I don't think I can last that long!

I went to a physio-relaxtion class which was useful as it covered things like breathing techniques for labour.

I then went to the first anti-natal class and I wish I hadn't! The midwife was much too focussed on talking about the pain of labour and made me and my boyfriend really scared about the birth, I don't think there is any need for that and she should have focussed on the positives. I missed the second class as I had a cold and was quite glad of the excuse not to go!
I am sure that there are plenty of good anti-natal classes out there though, I just went to a bad one.