Antenatal classes? Worth it and when did you go?

[kitkat321]

I've been going to Lazy Daisy birthing classes for 12 weeks now and I feel quite confident about the impending birth itself.

Some of the girls in my class also went to the NHS run classes and said they were really poor.

I'm wondering if it's worth bothering and if they really teach you that much?

My friend went and said it was good if only to get a tour of the hospital but my maternity unit has an online virtual tour. I'd be looking more for advice on after baby is born but I'm not sure if they cover this?

Also, generally when do you go to classes? I'm 30 + 3 now so not sure if I might have left it a bit late and should just go and buy a book instead!

The one fact dh retained from an NHS antenatal class turned out to be a life saving piece of information for me and dd.

I'd say it can't hurt to go.

Depends on the set up of the classes really, mine (nhs at the MLU) were good and led by the midwives who worked at the birth centre, so were able to give lots of information specific to where I'll hopefully give birth, as well as the look around and stuff. Also depends a lot on your partner, there's no way mine would have read an equivalent amount of information in a book so I'm glad we could go together. On the other hand, it wasn't nearly as sociable as I had hoped, I mainly went to meet other new mums as I'm new in the area and that didn't happen.

Nhs were great I didn't bother with anything else. Didn't cover after baby was born except for breast feeding. They did post natal classes after baby was born which wee really good.

Thanks all - I'm worried that I might have missed the boat but will hopefully get something organized - got the mw tomorrow so will speak to her!

Well if you have already done 12 weeks classes then you haven't anything to worry about.