NHS antenatal classes

[Trickytricky]

Am I missing out if I don't do these? I'm due at beginning of Oct and can't get a place on any of the classes (been told they're all booked up). Bit annoyed as I submitted an enquiry weeks ago but no one came back to me. I'm due to start NCT soon but fancied doing the NHS ones to meet some more people.

First pregnancy? I found them relatively useful but only for the breastfeeding advice, the wooly boobs and the holding a doll to practice positioning. Everything else I could have learned from a good old fashioned Google. I haven't bothered this time around, I'm kinda hoping everything is the same.

My MW told me not to bother as huge classes and you don't learn much . She recommended NCT. Which to be fair was brilliant advice in my case

NCT will teach you everything you 'need' to know so don't worry!

The only thing I found useful in the NHS ante natal class was the walk around of the labour wards and the discussion of the logistics of what to do when in labour - for example you can just abandon the car outside the maternity ward rather than walking some distance from the main car parks and DH then moves it once you are settled in the labour ward. Although TBH I can't see any reason why your midwife can't just tell you this when you are doing the birth plan.

Not at all! I did them last time round and quite frankly didn't learn anything we didn't know or have the common sense to work out ourselves.

I even get angry thinking about the bloody breastfeeding class and the fact that they only tell you the good bits and completely fail to mention how hard it could be so not preparing you at all for the real thing!

Thanks everyone. I thought this might be the case! Will just keep fingers crossed we meet some nice NCT people!