To be honest, you can find out all the cold hard information on the net or by asking on here.
There is a lot of "touchy/feely" stuff - apologies to the NCT - about expectations, mum's role, dad's role, etc. They are also very keen on breastfeeding, but until you actually do it, you don't know what problems you're going to encounter so they only deal with it in a fairly general way.
Pain relief, you can definitely find information on the net although it sounds as though you have limited choice - don't they have gas and air? Hot water or pethidine sounds pretty limited to me? Pethidine is an opiate derivative so can make you feel woozy (allegedly - I refused it) and is communicated to the baby so it can make them dozy for a few days after birth. Water is good for pain, I found. Really, really surprised if they don't offer gas and air, thinking about it.
What else? They covered stuff like how to bath a baby, change a nappy - find someone who already has a baby and get them to show you or let you have a go.
Oh and BRIAN - benefits and risk assessment. Main message there was that your partner might have to help you make decisions and to remember to ask about Benefits, Risks, Implications, Alternative and - b*gger, can't remember what N stands for!!
Caesarean rates vary enormously from hospital to hospital. You do need to ask your m/w centre what happens in an emergency and to which hospital will you be transferred so you can get info on their c-section rates. The most amazing thing about that was the number of people you end up in theatre with - something like 14 in total!!
Then they talk about the three stages of labour - hopefully someone will correct me on this if I'm wrong. First stage is all about dilating; second stage is where you push the baby out and third stage is where you deliver the placenta. With the third stage, you can have an injection of syntocin or deliver naturally. In either case, there is a small risk the placenta will be retained in which case you need surgery.
Can't think of anything else at the moment, but I promise you it is out there to be found if you can't get onto a course. Remember to ask your m/w to help you with positions and breathing during the labour. Chances are you wouldn't remember it if you learnt about it beforehand - I didn't! Good luck...