NHS Antenatal classes / birthing classes

[Hobby2014]

I've got an application form here from the midwife for "information groups" and "active birthing classes". It doesn't tell me anything about them, just that I need to reserve my place after 20 weeks, I can apply for one or both and I'll attend nearer my due date.
What are they? Is the information one like talks / presentations and we go and listen? Are the active birthing ones where you practise breathing, pushing etc in a room full of other couples?
There's literally no information about what these cover.
I'm in Essex if that helps.
I don't really want to go to a birthing one and get myself scared. I'm not worried about birth and don't want to go and get freaked out. I know I can have ideas in my head of how I want labour to go but I know it doesn't work out like that so would rather just go with the flow and what happens, happens. Is that silly?
Thanks.

Im up in yorkshire and my classes were just shit no other way to describe them. I went to the 4 2hour classes I was offered they went like this

1st- spent the whole time telling us we were pregnant and that we were going to have a baby as if we hadn't noticed at 30+ weeks gone

2nd, 3rd and 4th- talked about a place thats been closed for years but used to be a birthing centre so totally irrelevant and finished off with some pictures of this place (which looked like a hospital in a war zone) and some chat about stuff they used to do nothing about how its atually done or possible complication etc.

I hope they are done better down where you are id go toall tthe classes etc your offered but dont expect muchfrom them.

Hmm that doesn't sound very good at all! Not sure if it's a waste of time or not. Do most people go to these? How has anybody else found these? What was your experience?

Everyone has tried putting me off going to antenatal classes but I figure I have nothing to lose by going

Mine were good, midwives were excellent and most importantly made lots of good friends. Even if they are not good in your areas, still go for the friendship

Hobby, I'm in east Essex and wanting to book anti-natal classes so I'm interested in this thread too. Need to chase up the midwives though as they've kind of lost contact with me :( yet they keep giving me assurances that they'll get back to me.

It's my first baby and I haven't been to one! Had NHS classes booked but I was too sick to go for the first 2 weeks and then felt I couldn't go late in! I know about childbirth from books and younger siblings, am 33 weeks now

We went. They have pretty essential information IMO. You can get the info elsewhere but it was a reasonably gentle, easy way to get it.

*antenatal, d'oh!

A good antenatal class won't make you scared of birth! I think the best weapon against fear is information and the more I learned about childbirth, the more confident and happy about it I was.

I really rated my NCT classes, I have read on here that some people have the opposite experience. At the very least, it's nice meeting parents-to-be at the same stage as you.

What do you stand to lose by giving them a go?

I am going to NCT and the one-day NHS ones. I have heard NHS can be very functional and NCT very emotive... so between the two I figured I'd cover all bases!

I liked going to my classes. They were held by the midwife that was seeing me and it was a great way to meet other mothers. I made friends there and went to toddler groups after with the same people. I am still friends with them today.