Antenatal classes

[GetTheRedTinselOut]

My local hospital has limited spaces in their antenatal classes and I was too late to book a place on one. I've been valling regularly to see if a place has become available (as told to by the hospital) but none have and I'm getting worried. DP says I shouldn't worry, he and his ex didn't do any classes when preg with DSD, but I can't help it.

Are the classes important? What will I be missing? Is there any way to get classes elsewhere other than the hospital?

I did the nct classes. They are expensive but for me making friends (who we still see weekly with 4 month old babies) was worth it.

I've seen other people on here mention that they've done free online antenatal classes - just providing you with the info you need I guess.

I did NHS classes and tbh although the info was all useful, you would have found everything about the stages of labour, keeping yourself comfortable in labour and pain relief options online.

How much are NCT classes?

Nct classed vary depending on the area but I think ours were about £160 for four evening sessions and one full day.

Was that instead of the nhs classes?

Antenatal yoga sounds interesting, is that at a gym or something?

With hindsight reading a book and a lot of mumsnet is perfectly adequate prep - in some ways better (if I'd really believed that BFing should be as painless and wonderful as our NCT counsellor told us, I'd have quit long ago when it was really bloody difficult). But it was worth it to 'buy friends' - not all groups gel, but we've become really close and see each other at least once a week.

Yes, we did nct instead of NHS. The information was ok, nothing I couldn't have read in a book and yes I agree, the information on breastfeeding was shit. I had just moved house so didn't know anyone so the friendships are valuable for me but I have made more friends at baby groups too.

I did the 3 NHS sessions around 30wks. They didn't teach me anything I hadn't already read elsewhere. The tour of the local hospital was useful but when I went into labour I'd forgotten everything so in reality it didn't prep me.