Antenatal classes se24

[JoHo8]

Hi mommas

I pregnant with miracle baby number 1 - and trying my best to navigate through options for antenatal classes - which is a lot trickier than I set myself up for...

So hoping for some experienced momma advice!

We're based in Tulse Hill, SE24. So realistically would be accessing Herne Hill, West Norwood, Clapham, Brixton or East Dulwich for classes.

I've come across NHS, NCT, Bump and Baby, hypnobirthing...

At the moment I don't know if we'll be lucky enough to have a natural birth as I've got a low lying placenta, although of course it could always move up.. fingers crossed! If we did go natural, i'd so much love to go med free, in which case I'm told hypnobirthing is useful to learn about. But then theres the next question, what kind of hypnobirthing to go with??! Other than that, i don't really know what I need to learn about - i'd hazard a guess at birthing techniques, breast feeding, baby first aid..! Not sure what else!

I know lots of people do classes to make friends - i cant work out if this is important to me or not, as we're thinking of moving away from the area altogther when our newborn is 6 months old.

And then theres the whole, do it all in one weekend option or spread it out weekly. I'm thinking spread it out weekly would be good for avoiding information overload. But then again, the nearest NCT classes i've found out about start at 6.30pm and last for 3 hours which frankly exhausts me just thinking about!

Also everything is so expensive!! So needing to make sensible choices!

Could you guys share your thoughts and experiences? What did you choose to do and why? Did you make the right decision? What would I usefully be thinking about to narrow down my options?

Would be participating in any classes with my lovely partner.

Thanks loads! X J

I did NCT and was fortunate in that the couples on my course all got on really well and I meet up with the NCT ladies and babies at least once a week. For hypnobirthing I used the Maggie Howell CD and book which I found great for the lead up to birth and for the actual birth.

We chose NCT as we wanted to meet other couples, I was never offered NHS antenatal classes, they ran through everything including c sections and what to expect. Our tutor asked us at the beginning to talk about things we wanted to focus on and she tailored the course to meet thus. We also had a three hour breastfeeding and bottle feeding session which I found helpful, and my friends utilised the support of the same breastfeeding counsellor post birth.

Thanks very much Dixiechick! J

If you're happy to go to East Dulwich then have a look at Ariadna Sole's classes, she was excellent when we used her three years ago and friends have used her since. She is a practising midwife which for me made it better than NCT for the practical experience.

I think spreading it over 6-8 weeks helps you bond with the others more rather than an intensive weekend course.

For friendship groups look at the East Dulwich Forum Family Room thread for others giving birth the same time as you. They set up threads for people having babies in 3 month blocks. I made some great friends through it with DD (lots of whom lived in Herne Hill!) and I'm just starting to meet new mums to be due this Dec/Jan/Feb. It's like an extended NCT group which is great!

Even if you'll be moving away after 6 months I'd say it's worthwhile making new friends for those 6 months. It makes the days shorter when there are people to meet up with...

I live in forest hill and am on the se23 mums Facebook group- tulse hill gets the odd mention for baby activities etc and there's lots of info on what's going on in dulwich, forest hill and surrounding areas plus folk selling nearly new baby gear locally. Its a private group so you need to request to join and the admins check your location before adding you (not restricted to se23 only, you just need to be fairly local to there).

Hi badgerface and carshare - thanks ever so much for your helpful contributions! I have since been in touch with Ariadna and I have also put in a request to join se23mums. Ariadna has also signposted me to a hypnobirthing colleague. Cant thank you enough. thanks loads, J

Also, for others looking - I have also just come upon www.matchupmums.com/