Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Anyone not attend antenatal classes??

37 replies

pookie81 · 06/07/2006 12:00

Hi all,

I don't think I will be able to attend antenatal classes due to the fact i have no way of getting to and from them (too far away..even when they say local). Just wondering if any of you went through pregnancy not going to any classes...did you regret it? I am worried that I am missing out. Thanks.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

KathyMCMLXXII · 06/07/2006 12:05

Went to one, complete waste of time - three quarters of the class consisted of breastfeeding propaganda (even though every single one of us in the class was going to bf anyway!)
But I had worked quite hard at getting info beforehand, reading books, watching videos etc, so I think it depends on how you like to take in information. I prefer to do it at my own pace, with a range of sources and properly referenced information, rather than having to listen to some prejudiced undereducated hv droning on.

Also I have met several people who actually regret going to NCT classes because they feel like they were being sold a line about the wonderfulness of childbirth and the ease of breastfeeding etc.

I think most people who go do consider it worthwhile though.

Feistybird · 06/07/2006 12:07

I did go once, but when we had a break in the class and they mentioned that we'd be doing 'role play' I told my DP I needed some air and when we got outside I made our escape.

Just not my thing.

I don't regret it because I'm not sure what it is I missed. I did loads of reading tho and chatted to people who'd had babies. So it can be done.

AllieBongo · 06/07/2006 12:07

i didn't do any. midwife answered my questions and i read lots and watched tons of baby progs.

Iklboo · 06/07/2006 12:10

I enjoyed mine, but only because I met new people. They don't tell you anything you can't get from another source anyway - and all the breathing exercises (imagine you're climbing a flight of stairs...) went out of the bloody window as soon as DS decided he was on his way

rubles · 06/07/2006 12:21

I went to a series of NCT like classes and we both dreaded each one every week. I had read so much elsewhere that it didn't really help me in terms of general childbirth or breastfeeding. I think what lots of people get out of them is the meeting other couples aspect. So you maybe just need to do lots of reading of your own and you'll know as much as you need to.

Feistybird - we had to do role plays too. Euuugh. I love your idea of disappearing mid-way through, they must have really scratched their heads about that one!

expatinscotland · 06/07/2006 12:23

i went to one nd it was a waste of time.

i wouldn't have been able to do role play, though, b/c that's just beyond corny.

2labs · 06/07/2006 12:23

My sister didn't go to any, and relied on info from her team of midwives (which wasn't much) but did regret it as when she had problems breastfeeding and didn't get any support in hospital she didn't know where else to go to get help, or what was normal, and gave up. She also hadn't had properly explained to her the options she had for pain relief etc so got very stressed in labour when asked if she wanted different kinds of drugs as she didn't know what they were. Which is all stuff I learned in my NCT classes. However it is also stuff you can find out from elsewhere if you do some research on your own. And of course you have mumsnet to ask zillions of questions on.

KathyMCMLXXII · 06/07/2006 12:27

This is what you need, pookie.

It has this amazing nutcase of a woman called Betty Parsons MBE who apparently was antenatal trainer to the queen sitting around in a Kensington drawing room with a lot of women in flowery dresses with big white collars and Princess Diana hair, giving them Chinese burns to demonstrate psychological approaches to pain relief.
She tells you how to push and everything.

Original poster

pookie81 · 06/07/2006 12:35

Thanks everyone..I feel a lot better now knowing that I don't HAVE to go to classes to learn about a lot of what will happen when the littlun is due to arrive! I shall carry on reading my books

OP posts:

KathyMCMLXXII · 06/07/2006 12:43

Am regretting missing out on roleplay now though

DH would have simply HATED it!

(So what did you have to do in the roleplay then Rubles?)

emzickle · 06/07/2006 13:58

My classes start in a couple of weeks - and I'm really concerned they will be horrible and embarrassing. (Cant tell other half of fears, as he may decide he has to "work late" or some thing and leave me to go alone!!!)

pol26 · 06/07/2006 14:20

I missed them when DD was born as had high bp and lots of probs so was in DAU most days. The first two classes I missed and so didn't think i'd go as everyone would be settled and i'd missed half the stuff, plus DP worked away so just felt going on my own would seem weird.

This time, when I actually wouldn't mind going- more to make friends than anything my mw said that I didn't need them as I had done it before not that long ago!!! (labour and birth not the classes)

Would never consider NCT classes tho, I would be the spawn of satan - with DD I had an epidural and didn't end up breast feeding!

2labs · 06/07/2006 14:40

I'm surprised so many people had bad experiences of NCT classes. Have to confess I found mine incredibly helpful: no breastfeeding propaganda, just lots and lots of information and tips, and absolutely no role play, thankfully. At the start we were asked as a group to discuss between ourselves and set the agenda for the classes according to what we wanted to know. We were given a full rundown on epidurals etc - the teacher never suggested we shouldn't have whatever pain relief we wanted.

Maybe that's unusual?

desperateSCOUSEwife · 06/07/2006 14:42

i went to one ante-natal class and it bored me
I would rather sit at home and watch paint dry tbh

but that is my imo and I know that other people have benefitted from them

KathyMCMLXXII · 06/07/2006 14:58

Oh, I think this thread is always going to give a skewed picture, 2labs, as the thread title is going to appeal more to people with negative/no experience of them. Don't think you're actually unusual in finding them useful!

mazzystar · 06/07/2006 15:04

I went to a series of 6 run by our community midwives. It was really, REALLY good. My DH, having been reluctant, also loved them. They were very informative, very sociable (still hang out with some of the people I met there) and what I learned definitely helped have a more positive approach to labour. Don't dismiss it.

DogMum · 06/07/2006 15:11

I've booked antenatal classes, but can't yet say whether they're helpful or not. As well as reading around pookie, you might want to familiarise yourself with where you're giving birth (or might be transferred to if you're giving birth at home) and what your healthcare's policies are on different aspects of childbirth - just so you know what you're dealing with and there are no surprises on the day. I expect your midwife will be able to help.

FirstAtForty · 06/07/2006 15:40

I couldn't get on our local NCT classes as I left it too late and they were booked up, however don't think I'm missing out on much actual info as I bought about 8 books which I have been reading throughout my pregnancy, there are plenty available (check out Amazon) which give tons of info on pain relief, breast feeding etc.

Might have been nice to meet other attendees at classes as we don't know many people in our area.

However our hospital does offer tours of the labour rooms and wards which I found very useful - even if you're planning a home birth it helps to take away some of the fear of the unknown if you can picture what the facilities will be like if you have to go.

They also offered a talk on epidurals by one of the hospital's 'real' anaesthatists which was very impressive - there was a question and answer session afterwards in which he got a real grilling about everything from midwife v doctor politics to paralysis etc and he answered all questions very reassuringly.

Pagan · 06/07/2006 15:45

I went to one class and found it very patronising. A midwife (a crusty old one at that) with a rubber dolly showing you how it comes out, a blackboard and a pointer!! I felt it was aimed at 15 year olds who didn't know why they'd gotten that way in the first place. The class was full of expectant mums in their late 20s early 30s who looked as bored as I did. I missed the second one and had an antenatal appointment same time as the third one. It was in the same place and as I glanced into the class I noticed that there were only about 5 people in it compared to the 22 who started out. I never went back.

Alan · 06/07/2006 15:45

me, we never went
hth

clairemow · 06/07/2006 15:48

I have attended with both pregnancies - mostly this time because had c-section last time, and wanted to be reminded about breathing etc. etc. Our local authority classes have been excellent. No breastfeeding propaganda, informed discussion of elective c-sections as well as "natural" birth.

Pol, hello from September thread..! I went to NCT classes, had teacher who'd bottle fed one baby, breast fed another, and gave no strong viewpoint on epidurals. Think they sometimes get bad press, or maybe we were just lucky with our teacher. When I had trouble with feeding, she spent hours on the phone with me as well. I'm still in touch with my NCT class from last time, we are good friends now, even though we moved 120 miles away. It was well worth it.

Also have a lot of friends from doctors' surgery post natal sessions - when we moved to a new area this was an invaluable lifeline for me.

torquil · 06/07/2006 15:51

we went but mainly for the social sort of stuff, to meet other local parents. the classes were quite entertaining (grunting etc) and I still keep in touch with some of the other mums

KathyMCMLXXII · 06/07/2006 16:03

1stat40 - good point about hospital tours. We went on one of these and it told you all sorts of essential stuff like where you could park when bringing in someone in labour (totally crucial to know this where we were) and where to ring the bell if it was out of hours, what you needed to bring in, what you needed to do if you wanted a private room, etc.

titchy77 · 06/07/2006 18:54

I didnt attend any when pregnant with my ds 9 years ago and didnt regret it not sure if i'll go this time round thou my dh2b would like to go so maybe i will this time.

pol26 · 06/07/2006 19:45

Hey clairemow!!! Used to nanny for a lady who owned her own nursery store (very handy with my two bubbas!) and she used to hold antenatal classes there and had a lovely private mw who used to do classes for extra cash. She was lovely!

But the NCT lady was a bit of a horror, I do think it varies for each person tho- thank god otherwise I think the NCT would do themselves out of business!

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread