NCT Refresher classes - are they any good?

[KeepingQuiet]

Has anyone taken the NCT refresher antenatal classes? Would you recommend them?

One of our NCT mums arranged for our original NCT teacher to do a refresher day for 4 couples. We decided to spend part of the time talking about the labour and part on how to introduce the new baby to its sibling. It was quite pricey and I certainly would not say it was essential. I think I would have been fine without it. However, having decided to do it, I really enjoyed it. My labour and birth was completely different second time around so I was grateful for a reminder of what was involved. I also found the tips on preparing the elder child for the new arrival really useful. DD1 had very little problem adjusting to DD2 - I don't know how much of that was due to the little things we did.
Anyway, whatever you decide to do, I hope that it all goes well!

I found them quite good because you concentrate on what you want to change from your previous labour. The ones I went to were driven by the couples rather than the teacher.

I'd consider it for the same reason I did it first time round, as a way of meeting people.

It was a way of meeting people , and the class also focussed on how the older child would be with the new arrival. As with all NCT things they vary from branch to branch.

the refreshers classes in my area were just for the women and the partner came along for one of the sessions, so no major worries about baby sitting.

Also a lot more dicussion can take place between teacher and parenst as you have alreaady done it once and have an idea what you want and don't want.

How much of the classes was devoted to childbirth, and how much to other things like sibling rivalry? I'm going to have an elective caesarean this time, so won't want hours stressing the benefits of natural labour, but sibling rivalry problems could be useful for me - and of course meeting other parents would be a huge benefit.

Tutti - The content of NCT classes can vary , refresher classes are usually 4 sessions unlike first timers which can be 8. It would be difficult to say how much they would devote to any subject.

If you discuss with teacher what you would like out of it then I'm sure she will oblige. On a refresher course you will all be having 2nd or 3rd babies so no doubt will be interested how to cope with child 1.

NCT is about information and choice not about 'natural ' labour .