NCT antenatal classes vs NHS?

[Smicha]

I'm 18 weeks pregnant and I know it's early, but I was advised by my midwife that private antenatal classes book up fast so I should register for some now for when I'm between 30 and 36 weeks if I was planning on taking private classes.

I've had a good look at the NCT website and they offer a variety of courses but the NHS also offer two free 3 hour sessions where I live. What I was wondering was whether anyone has experience of both NCT and NHS classes and could advise on the difference or give any recommendations?

Thanks!

Hi Smicha

I have just finished mine, so I'll give you my opinion for what it's worth. We did an NCT course, which consisted of 6 sessions and had 2 free 3 hour NHS sessions - one on birth preparation and one on breastfeeding.

I wouldn't say any of them covered anything I didn't already know, but that's because I've been on mumsnet a lot, reading books, have a phone app etc, so have already got my information from there. The NHS covered the same content as NCT, but with NCT there were more activities based around the info - so rather than sitting and listening to someone talking about it, there were activities to do - some of which were a bit crap, but others that were good just because they got you all chatting about things.

NCT goes on a bit about the "natural birth" thing and you having control over your birth etc, whereas NHS is more about the practicalities, which I prefer in one sense, but it was also good to be made more aware of the fact that you could question your midwife more etc.

The NHS classes were good and informative and told you everything you needed to know. The advantage of the NCT was that it got us in the "baby zone" much more, because it was spread out over a longer period and the way it was delivered initiated more chat between me and my DH and us and other couples. We had quite a nice group for NCT and we are arranging to meet up again later, whereas I didn't really meet anyone through the NHS ones as it was a much larger group of people, there was no group work and it wasn't the same people at the two classes.

It was definitely worth doing the NHS birth preparation one as that also included specific info about the hospital we're going to and a tour of the delivery suite etc, which obviously NCT doesn't cover.

NCT was good, but it cost us over £300 and I'm not sure if it was that good as content was covered in the NHS ones. But lots of people talk about the value of NCT giving you a support network etc - it remains to be seen if this will be the case for us, but I can see the sense in it.

Hope that helps!

Hi smicha I asked this questions a few weeks ago, thread is here if you want to have a look? www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/1438391-NCT-courses-worth-it

I decided in the end to spend my £300 on hypnobirthing course and will go to the free NHS ones too. I'm hoping I meet some mum friends via baby groups.

HTH. Good luck!

Thanks so much for the detailed response blushingmare!
I will definitely go to the NHS ones as they're free and it seems silly to turn them down, especially, as you say, that's where I'll get most advice about the local facilities.
I too have read so much already on what to expect etc and not so sure I'm keen on group activities!! But my sister in law has gone on so much about the value of NCT classes that DH thinks they're the only way forward!
I do like the idea of a support network though as I don't have any family near to where we live, so if that's what comes of NCT then maybe they're worth doing.
Thanks again.

Great thread shouldIbecrossaboutthis, I probably should have looked a bit further into the site before posting! Thanks for that.

I get the impression from friends and from should's thread that the main point of it is for you and DH to meet other local couples having a baby at the same time. Useful after the birth if you are stuck indoors and desperate for someone in the same position to meet up with/share concerns with. Not so useful if you already know lots of local mums and/or will feel confident making friends after the birth via other routes (classes/drop in centres etc).