Do you really need antenatal classes?

[AlteredCarbon]

Hi everyone, I was just looking for some advice/experiences really as I'm currently 19+5 in my first pregnancy and was wondering if antenatal classes are essential?
I was looking at the NCT courses but they are miles away from home (I live in rural Lincolnshire) and quite expensive. Are they invaluable experiences or a waste of time?

I too would have to travel an hour into the city to go to NCT classes so not sure if I will or not. They only run in the evening and I'd be quite late back -not good if feeling as I am now.
I'm going to ask the midwife at my next appointment about NHS classes although there'd still be that journey time, maybe they'll be at a more convenient time and the hospital is near my work.
I know that the doctors in my town do breastfeeding groups so I'll go along to that but think it's only for support once you have your baby. There are also yoga sessions in a village nearby which might be doable.

My NCT class was brilliant. Really enjoyed meeting other woman, having a space to ask questions and having time every week to talk about pregnancy, birth, life with a newborn etc, and not having to worry about boring people! Because I'd already read a lot, I'm not sure I learned that much, but I picked up some good hints and tips. And the best thing has been meeting a group of women who are lovely and going through something very similar. We've met up every week since and they're a great support.

The NHS classes that one of my NCT friends went to were a disaster. They were negative, pain focused ("This is going to be the worst pain of your life. You're going to want to die".) and scary (pull the delivery instrument out of the bag and guess what we do with it games!) but it sounds like some people have had a more positive experience...?

I'm going to do the free NHS classes - one on labour and one on breastfeeding. I'm getting most of my information from reading. My friends who have had babies told me the only benefit of going to NCT classes is if you want to make friends with other soon-to-be parents.

Mssleepyhead unfortunately I had heard of some the other way ('intense feelings' were as close as they got to saying pain) which to me would be far far worse. I simply wouldn't believe anything else they said after that! I must say that is why I chose the basic NCT class over the more expensive one: I had heard it was more 'realistic'.

I have avoided the NHS breastfeeding class I was offered after finding out a 'taster' of advice the MW gave was not only out of date but not advised (squeeze nipples daily to get the colostrum going ... can cause uterine contractions before labour! And absolutely no need: colostrum comes when the hormones tell it to). Still going to use NHS, but at my local clinic not the hospital.

I did the NHS ones and met 2 other first time mums who I am still friends with over 3 years later. There was nothing in them that I couldn't have found out from the midwife or the Internet but I made 2 fantastic friends whose support was invaluable in the first few months (and even now!)

I went to the first of the two NHS ones I was offered. Didn't find it hugely informative, but I guess it was good to discover I hadn't missed anything vital! Baby arrived before we had time to go to the second class, so I can't comment on that one!