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Pregnancy

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Original poster

Anyone not going to anti-natal classes?

38 replies

Merlin333 · 25/07/2015 08:51

Just wandering if anyone else not been to the classes, I feel like it's what you should do but I'm not overly keen! And there is so much information about it available online or dvds etc would I really be missing out by not going to the classes?

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NeuroticFox1 · 26/07/2015 16:20

I don't understand why you wouldn't go to them? They are free and not really long so not much of a sacrifice even if you end up feeling you could managed without. I'm intrigued as to why people are choosing not to attend - I'm not judging just interested :-) x

Nolim · 26/07/2015 16:46

I dont think they are free in my area and as i mentioned i didnt have the time.

OhahIlostmybra · 26/07/2015 17:10

Went for dc1 - both nhs and NCT. NHS were more balanced and informative.

Not bothering for DC2 as the NHS ones are 2 hours every wed morning for 4 weeks. I only work 3 days a week and felt I couldn't really justify pretty much a morning away a week for a month. I know you are entitled to the time, but I wasn't that bothered this time.

BikeRunSki · 26/07/2015 17:39

Went for dc1 - both nhs and NCT. NHS were more balanced and informative.

I found the exact opposite!

Must depend on who is leading the course.
The NHS ones kept bringing up the hospital's low C section rate, their excellent bf support and hypnobirthing.

hotcrossbun83 · 26/07/2015 17:56

Made amazing friends at NCT but it is a lottery. Pg again, might try and find a one day session for non-first timers, just to meet some more people on mat leave at the same time

OhahIlostmybra · 26/07/2015 20:12

Bikerunski my NHS ones were run by my community midwife and covered all types of birth, drug options, feeding options etc. Whereas my NCT class was somewhat biased on natural births and when it came to us asking questions about c sections etc we got told things like 'people who are born by c section are more likely to have drug problems as adults'. I pushed for the source of that but she wouldn't provide it. We were also made to feel that if we didn't have a natural, drug free birth it was our fault as we should all be able to. 7 of the 8 of us had c sections or other very medicalised births!

mrswishywashy · 26/07/2015 20:46

No class here for me either. Our hospital gives a link to videos to watch online. Not interested in NCT as our area is expensive, will pop along to their bumps and babies group when I go on maternity leave. I'm 25 weeks and trying to keep open minded

BikeRunSki · 26/07/2015 21:10

Made amazing friends at NCT but it is a lottery. Pg again, might try and find a one day session for non-first timers, just to meet some more people on mat leave at the same time

Check out the NCT website got local coffee groups. I was scared of them first time round, but found them excellent second time around. I wanted company, but wasn't full of angst about how babies work.

plonkie · 26/07/2015 22:23

Neuroticfox- for me personally one of the big reasons why I'm choosing not to attend is because I would rather do the research myself, without being subjected to a situation where someone's (or an institution's) stance is heralded as correct. I'm able to read so many differing opinions and experiences for myself on the Internet, talking to ppl, books etc, I'd rather avoid the formal meeting! Totally understand why ppl would go though.

NeuroticFox1 · 26/07/2015 23:00

Thanks for your thoughts Plonkie I see what u mean. When my mw talked me through the birth process I was surprised how little she suggested things were a choice, so I'm pleased I've done my own research too. I guess I see the classes as just another source of this info but good to hear what others are doing. X

plonkie · 27/07/2015 18:48

Yes could defo be a good source of info! Hope I'm not missing out tbh x

simplydivine05 · 31/07/2015 10:58

I didn't go with ds as I couldn't get time off work unless it was unpaid, and as the only parent working in the house at that time I couldn't afford to. I also hadn't seen round the hospital. I went into it feeling very unprepared and at only 22 I felt a little lost. Even during labour I wasn't informed. Everyone seemed to go into labour on the same day so the ward was under staffed. A lot of things I wish I had known back then we're surrounding my disability I didn't know I had at the time and I don't think even midwives would have been able to explain. Like why the anaesthetic didn't work for my stitches (local just doesn't work on me and never has). Now I know more about my disability I fear if I had to have a CS the spinal wouldn't work and I would feel everything. That's something I wouldn't know until it is too late.
I think the social aspect of a class would have helped me greatly as by the time I was going to baby and toddler group I was already deep into PND and didn't have the confidence to talk to others. I will consider classes second time around if only for this benefit, although I have a different other half now who is a million times more supportive!

chopsface · 31/07/2015 11:54

I'm probably not doing the NHS classes as they are on a morning between 10-12! Impossible for me and dh to get to without missing tons of work. I have looked into nct classes and clicked the enquire about this class button, as you can't just book it online. I have yet to receive a reply if I do not have hear anything I won't be bothering with those either. I'll just take it as it comes I think!

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