Antenatal classes, should I join NCT? Hypno-birthing? Any other suggestions?

[Victoria2002]

Hi I am due to have my first baby ( fingers crossed) in July. I'm looking into Antenatal classes. My DP will join me.
I've in London so imagine I'll have plenty of choices. I've been a nanny for 15 years so I don't need to learn about routines/how to change a nappy/sterilise a bottle, but do want to prepare for birth and know what to expect/about my local maternity units/ what my choices are re pain-relief/possible complications etc.
I have loads of mates who are mums and nannies so I don't think I need the networking aspect (of NCT for instance).
Since I 1st heard of NCT when I was 14 years old I've always heard complaints that it's terribly middle-class and competitive, so I'm not sure it's the best use of my £270 (plus valuable spring/summer weekends)!
I know the NHS offers some sessions at the hospital but I'm not sure if they'll be enough.
Thankyou mums, any advice of your experiences gratefully received.

I wouldn't recommend it. It's best to meet mums where you don't have kids of exactly the same age as this avoids the competitiveness. My NCT group were awful in the sense that none of us had anything in common. Total waste of £300. My best friends were met at antenatal yoga, music class and other activities. There is too much pressure to instantly bond with the NCT ladies in your group which is not a natural process and one bound to fail. I still occasionally see my NCT group but after each meet (every 2-3 months), I think god that was painful, but I was determined to hang on in there to see if we did become friends eventually - we have not.

You could get lucky with your group as some do, but I wouldn't do it unless £300 is nothing to you or you have no other means to meet mums.

Regarding birthing choices...NCT has a natural/BF agenda which takes precedence over other info provided. I have heard that NHS is more realistic (in the sense that more women want a natural birth than actually have one for whatever reason) and provides more open information to the more medical options. But nowadays all info can be gleamed online, with books (what to expect is very good) or via your MW or Dr.

Victoria, I'm in the same boat. Live in London and due late June and looking at my antenatal class options. Unlike you we are the first of our friends to have children but are not short of other sources of information for all the basic babycare info.

Apart from being costly I have also heard that NCT classes have their own agenda and promote it strongly. I have been looking at pregnancy yoga and exercise classes and have also found a few local companies that offer private birth preparation classes. We will probably investigate the NHS classes provided in our area but I'm also particularly interested something to get my DH involved too.

Interesting thread this. There is a local NCT Bumps and Babies meet up group near me, but I wasn't aware it cost anything. Further away there's a babycafe meeting. frankly my area is swarming with mums and babies so there must be a lot of options!