NHS Parentcraft classes

[mummytobejuly2014]

can anyone tell me whats involved?
I've been told there are only 2 classes that you have to go to spaced a week apart. I have to go on my own as OH works til 5pm & the class is 2-4pm both days.will I likely be the only one on my own/do I need a buddy to "act out" scenarios or whatever? any experiences/knowledge welcome

They are different from area to area and, really, from midwife to midwife In our area we have the same situation as you, two classes spaced a week apart. Ours sadly were rubbish but we didn't have to play out any scenarios, the most interactive thing we had to do was go into groups and brain storm what we knew about different methods of pain relief.

I had mine a couple of weeks ago; two 2hr classes, a week apart. The first class was the better one - what to expect in labour - which was fairly useful. The second was post-natal info, which could just as easily been condensed into an A4 leaflet. There was no interactive/participatory exercises and as a result there was no social element to the classes, which I had been hoping for. If I had known this I would have perhaps gone for NCT classes too - they are fully booked in my area now for my EDD time.

So, overall the Parentcraft classes were useful, but a bit disappointing. But maybe my expectations were too high! I think it will depend on the group whether it will be all couples or not, but being on my own certainly wouldn't have hindered any activities in the classes I attended.

Definitely depends who runs it! The midwife who did mine was great.

2x 2 hour classes

Labour and Pain Relief

Breastfeeding and Early Days

They were very interactive and informative.

The only thing I remember about mine was having a cry in the toilets because everyone else had brought their DP along and mine was at work. Mine were helpfully run in a Saturday so dads could go along. Except my husband was busy teaching martial arts all day. Pregnancy hormones.

Ours were quite good. We had 4 x 2hrs over 4 weeks. We went through the labour and birth process, feeding, post-natal care bathing etc and in the final session had a tour of the labour and post natal wards which was really useful.

We had 4 x 2 hour sessions over 4 weeks too and they were very informative. I can't imagine that NCT classes would've been much better. The only thing I didn't like was the class on interventions and c-sections where he midwife showed us the instrument used to break waters, the ventouse and, worst of all, forceps! Fortunately I didn't need any of those.