Some very random questions about NCT Classes - start mine next week!

[JambalayaCodfishPie]

I know all classes are different, as they're run independently, but just wondered if you could answer any of these questions for me?

1)Our class is 9.30-3.30 - this will include breaks im guessing, and a decent lunch break?

2)Were tea/coffee/biscuits provided? Were they good biscuits...?

3)Were the other couples there what you expected? Actually, what were you expecting?

4)Did they make you play any of those 'getting to know you' games where you had to rememeber an interesting fact about the person to your right?

5)Did you have to role-play? At all?

And DP's question....

6)Did you have to watch a graphic 70's childbirth clip complete with mahoosive pube-wig?

Answers to these, and anything else I might find useful to know, would be great!

Thank You!

I don't know the answers as just pregnant with my first, but love your DP's question!!
:o

1. Yep, plenty of breaks, you can wander off for the loo whenever you want too, and munch whenever you want. We were told to bring in one savoury and one sweet item each for a shared lunch, there ended up being tons of food!

2. Tea and coffee was provided, and someone has always bought in cakes or biscuits you can snack on, but if you're worried you'll get the munchies then take some of your own

3. The couples on our course were lovely, we all still see each other now - I guess they were pretty much as I expected, we're all a similar age etc. But that's a difficult question to answer!

4. Nope! Thank god, because I would have hated that... We introduced ourselves by just saying when the baby was due and where it would be born, that was it. We did lots of other group work where you got to talk about hopes, fears etc but absolutely nothing scary

5. The only role-play we did was to do with a cs, but it just involved us being given a 'job description' (consultant, mw etc) and trying to work out where that person would stand in the theatre. That was actually really helpful because it showed us that you end up with loads of people in theatre with you - I had an emcs, and it was reassuring to know that there weren't 9 people in the room with me because anything awful was happening, that was how many people it takes for a cs

6. Heh Sadly, no, you don't. No videos at all. Though I would have loved to watch DP watch a video like that...

So don't worry, you're not really going to be forced to do anything you don't want to do! But the thing is, the group seems quite small once you are there and you're all in the same boat anyway so it does feel very relaxed and friendly. And we had a women only session where we talked about all the grosser stuff, that was so much easier because the men generally don't want to talk about episiotemies...

1. Yep, breaks and lunch break. As pp said you can go off to the loo. We all brought stuff for bring and share lunch.

2. Tea, coffee and amazing home-made cake provided at mine.

3. I am not sure what I was expecting. Everyone got on well. Some still see each other regularly 4 years down the line (I moved 200 miles away)

4. No.

5. They did stuff like getting people (the blokes) to change a nappy on a doll. But no spoken role play stuff.

6. No. No videos at all.

1)Our class is 9.30-3.30 - this will include breaks im guessing, and a decent lunch break? - Yes to breaks - usually two tea breaks for this amount of time...the lunch arrangements differ depending on teacher, might be a proper break where you can go out but might, if you were asked to bring a lunch mean that you are expected to stay and discussion carries on through lunch.

2)Were tea/coffee/biscuits provided? Were they good biscuits...? In most classes they are provided. Rarely the venue means they can't be and you have to go to a cafe/bar area to buy them (usually in hotels, health clubs) but generally provided. Quality of biccies will depend on teacher...the NCT only a set amount for expenses and it is very small so depends on how generous the teacher is or what is on special offer!

3)Were the other couples there what you expected? Actually, what were you expecting? Can't answer that one....the people vary so much from course to course and from area to area.

4)Did they make you play any of those 'getting to know you' games where you had to rememeber an interesting fact about the person to your right? YES! They do help break the ice and remember names though. There is nothing worse for a teacher than a group who don't gel.

5)Did you have to role-play? At all? Some teachers do but generally it is reading things from cards so no imagination needed or for instance a man lying on a table like he is having a caesarean and others being appointed the other roles around him to show what it is like in theatre - should be very friendly un scary role play.

And DP's question....

6)Did you have to watch a graphic 70's childbirth clip complete with mahoosive pube-wig? Depends on teacher preference. Some show videos and some don't but all should give oppportunity not to watch. There are actually not that many useful birth videos out there and that is often why they are so old! By the way pubes are normal.

"By the way pubes are normal"

Thanks Ladies. :)