First ante-natal class tonight....

[squishy]

and DH is actually being a real pain. He's said since the word go that he didn't want to go to them, but I've said that we're going (I figure I get to make that decision seeing as I'm doing the majority of the hard work!).

I've warned him that if he shows me up (so I don't take him again) I will be most unpleased!

I really hope that he gets something out of it, because he's got me feeling so negative about it that I don't want to go now, especially as I'm the one that works full time, am knackered and go to bed early most nights (and the class doesn't finish until 10....!).

Did anyone else's DH enjoy the classes?!

mine didn't go.
They were all on week day afternoons. He was working.
I don't think he would have enjoyed them ata ll...the MW made lots of "jokes" about basically how useless men in general are and how they are really only good for using as a punch bag in labour. I didn't like it.

The classes we went to were a very long time ago - about 10.5 years. We did both hospital and NCT classes - which one are you going to tonight?

I have to say that, although dh did not make any fuss about going, it was not really his thing and he was only doing it to support me. Perhaps if you don't expect your dh to feel as you do, but just ask him to come along as a supportive thing, he will be less adverse to it?

Have fun! It is exciting and interesting for us women but I don't think all men feel quite the same way about it.

We're going to NCT ones, don't think the hospital ones would suit. Tried to do the asking him to come along as support and he offered to wait outside in the car for me (for 2 hours!). If I don't like them, I won't insist we go back but do wish he'd be a little more positive/open minded in his attitude

Oh he has to go in to the NCT classes! They are very much geared towards the men as well as the women. Also, the people you meet there (ie often couples) may well be your next best friends!

That's what I thought! But he thinks one of my main reasons for going (to meet other couples, we don't know any in the area) is not a valid one as there will be no choice, he says (i.e. there are 0ther pre-determined couples, no choice!)

I took my partner to my first ante natal class, he didnt really enjoy it because they spoke about what the show would look like, what to expect from the birth labour etc, spent most of the time pulling faces! To be honest he didnt really need to be there, its all for the mums not the dads, was good to have him there for my first class tho! he hasnt been to the second or the third, but they are during the day!

Well, to be honest, I was feeling pretty low about it by the time we got there and the first half an hour was pretty strained. Then we got separated into men and women to do an exercise and I realised how much he was cringing, so whispered "if you really don't want to come again, you don't have to, but please try and keep an open mind".

Completely manipulative of me, I know, but I knew that if he kept feeling bad through the rest of the evening, he'd be fuming. I have no intention of letting him not come to the rest! As we left, he said that it had really helped that I had said that to him, but he'd give it another week or so to see what happens.

I realised how well informed I am, but I still learned stuff and it's stuff I want him to know, not him having to rely on me to be calm and tell him it's all normal! He told me on the way back that he feels he'll deal with it better when the time comes; I think it's essential he is a bit prepared (for me, if not for him!)

My DH didn't particularly look forward to the classes but he did find it useful once he got there. The midwife involved the dads a lot and asked them to make a list of what they wanted to know and talked to them about how to support you in labour, what would happen at hospital and afterwards etc.

Couldn't afford NCT classes so we just stuck with the hospital ones. In fact there was probably 90% attendence from dads/birthing partners.

It definitely helped dh to meet some other fathers to be - and to see the labour ward etc.

Our hospital does specific 'couples classes' and at my first m/w appointment on Monday she suggested that I book a.s.a.p. as they get full up really quickly. Rang the Antenatal Education Centre at the hospital to find out when they're on (form midwife gave me said daytime only, which would be awkward for DH, but she did add that there were evening ones too) and no-one could tell me a thing. Spoke to 4 different people and all I got in the end was that it's 'too soon' (baby due in February) and that last time they were on Mondays. Really inspires confidence - not.

And that was after the m/w appointment where the printed labels she had been given for my records, bloods etc. from the hospital had my name and address incorrectly spelt. So wish I could afford to go privately!