Antenatal classes - any advice on finding good ones?

[emeraldgirl1]

Just beginning to look into this as I know my MW is going to ask how I am progressing with finding a class when I see her tomorrow.

I am keen to meet expectant mums in my area (though we are moving so don't yet know where that will be which makes it harder!!) and obviously would like some basics of how to actually handle a newborn (!) but I am NOT at all into anything hippy-dippy. A lot of the local classes I have been looking at all seem to involve a lot of hypno-relaxation and yoga poses, and that is just not me at all.

Obviously there are NCT classes but (and please please don't think I am knocking these!!!) I have heard such mixed reports. A cousin of mine LOVED them and made friends and support for life. A good friend of mine HATED them and said she felt as if she was being indoctrinated into a particular style of birth/child-rearing that wasn't at all up her street.

Does anyone have any evidence or experience one way or the other to support either of these extreme views?! Obviously NCT is nationwide so is the easiest one to research on-line but my friend had such a horrible experience with her class it gives me a lot of pause! I don't get the impression NCT is hippy-dippy, though, which may mean it would suit me more?

I really am looking for genuine advice, this is such a steep learning curve and I am floundering a bit. Thanks so much in advance. :)

"Did NCT first time around, mainly for the meeting other parents thing"

most people I know who did NCT say this, that they didn't particularly rate the teacher but did it to make mum friends

its an expensive way to make friends and I hate the way the NCT has creeped into our culture as being THE only way to make baby friends! (and to buy and sell second hand stuff) - its not! Most of my mummy friends I made SINCE NCT classes not at them. for the first year I met up with about 4 of them in an aquaintancey way about once a month for about a year, one of them was a "friend" but that fizzled after about 2 years.. I have lots of mummy friends and DS has playdates and friends his age from other things but NCT isn't necessarily THE best or only way to make em!

mothers have always managed to gravitate together for cuppas and chats and playdates and to flog each other their used baby stuff, I'm always shocked when some people think this wouldn't happen in the absence of the NCT and that the NCT invented it! (really! poster on another thread said it wouldn't be possible to have nearly new sales without the NCT )

I did Lazy Daisy classes with my 2nd and I didn't find them hippy-ish at all. I didn't want to be told things I could find out on the internet (pain relief) I wanted something different, and frankly I couldn't afford the NCT classes, £250!!!

The best bit was there wasn't any pushy you must breastfeed, you must do this etc..It was all how to help in labour. I wish I had them with my first!