Ante-natal classes- when to start?

[apples82]

Does what it says on the tin...

When in your pregnancy should you and your partner start going to ante-natal classes?

Im currently 28 weeks, and I've got mine booked for when I'm 32 weeks. Some women go a little later than this. I was getting totally confused too, (first baby!) and I kept calling up my local hospital where the classes are based and every week they would tell me you are too early and too call next week, until one of them FINALLY said you can pre book for when you are 30 weeks onwards.

I think this partly depends when they are offered to you. At my hospital I had to fill in a form and send it back before 16 weeks then they sent us a letter with a date. Our class is on Friday when I will be 32 weeks. I think it said on the form that the course would be after 30 weeks. Your midwife should give you more information. I think mine gave me the leaflet at my booking appointment.

NCT antenatal classes tend to finish about 1 month before your estimated due date. So if you have an 8 week course they may start 3 months before you are due, likewise if you have a weekend intensive it could be about 1 month before you are due.

You do need to book early though as they book up quickly. It's also worth noting that with the NCT, as they are a charity, there are several payment options available, eg instalments and up to 90% off full course price.

HTH

In my area they run one course per month. So I am starting tomorrow - at 31 weeks.

Thank you everyone, I shall talk to my MW and see what the timeline is like for our area.

Here they run at the beginning of every month, and you go in the month before you're due, I've just done mine as I'm due in April.

We were booked in for them at the 20 week scan appoinment.

We have to book ourselves into AN classes after we are 30 weeks. Unfortunately the ones most local to me are only held in the day, which my DH couldn't make, so i have booked into ones about 10 miles away which are held in the evening. They are held every month, running for 4 weeks, but because they are in the evening and are only 1 of 2 locally that are, they are very popular and were fully booked for this March. (The other one was completely booked for march and april). I am due to begin them on 6th april - EDD is 4th May!