NHS antenatal classes

[Flobeee]

I’m currently 25 weeks with my first baby and my midwife was encouraging me to go to the NHS antenatal classes. Am I being naive to think I can muddle through without them?

I’ve read two hypnobirthing books and bought an online course so feel pretty well informed on labour/pain relief/different types of birth. I’ve been a nanny for 8 years and had plenty of newborns in my time so I feel like I’m well prepared for caring for a newborn. The only class I think would be useful if the breastfeeding one.

I don’t know whether I’m being very naive to think that the classes can’t teach much more than I’ve already read/experienced. What was everyone’s experience? Do you think I’m being silly thinking about not attending?

I didn't go to an NHS one but a local one to me with my first, and tbh what you learn there you can read in books look online... plus once baby is here I always think you wing it anyway haha!

But it's up to you :) you might meet some new friends!

I went to 3 NHS classes and they didn't teach me anything I hadn't already read online!

That’s good to hear, maybe I’ll be ok giving them a miss. I suppose there is the benefit of having friends with babies the same age but I’m startung Aquanatal so maybe I’ll find friends there.

Did anyone benefit from the nhs breastfeeding antenatal class? I feel like help with that would be easier once baby is here

Did anyone benefit from the nhs breastfeeding antenatal class? I feel like help with that would be easier once baby is here

Since you will most likely be feeding within the first hour of labour I think it is useful to have some info in advance. I went to a breastfeeding workshop separate to the antenatal (getting ready for baby) classes that I found really helpful but i think these are just offered on an ad hoc basis. We were advised to attend a breast feeding support group before having the baby too so that you feel more comfortable attending when baby arrives.

They were totally useless for me. Huge focus on how to give birth "naturally" I.e. push it put without pain relief (saving £££ I suppose). None of which helped me when I woke up after an emergency caesarean. There was absolutely zero info on caesarean births and recovery, which is bizarre when you consider the percentage of babies delivered in this way.

I went to the antenatal class and then breastfeeding information session and found both useful. I didn’t learn huge amounts from either as I’ve started hypnobirthing and read a lot but did learn something from both so would recommend them to other people if it’s their first baby.

To follow on from other posters my antenatal class with nhs touched on c section and were open to discussion and conversation so I guess it depends on area and who runs the class as to what is covered