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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

What classes did you bother with?

23 replies

Scampynoodle · 26/10/2007 17:56

I'm intrigued to find out what classes you all went to and how valuable you found them. I'm booked to go to NHS ante-natal classes and am toying with NCT classes. Is it worth it or does all the prep fly out of the window once the babe pops out? Or can you learn just as much from a book? And is it worth going just to meet other mums-to-be?

Do tell!

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nightshade · 26/10/2007 17:59

went to NHS ante-natal. you can learn as much out of a book but i did feel it helped me understand more about making decisions on pain relief.

extremely beneficial for dp, who didn't consider to lift any books throughout pregnancy!

Indith · 26/10/2007 18:36

My NHS parentcraft class was pretty much aimed at people who knew nothing at all about anything. You are on MN, you probably already know more than they told us there!

But, meeting mums-to-be is great. I went to aqua natal classes which were great fun, met lots of people and we did breathing exercises and stuff there, which didn't come into the parentcraft classes.

RGPargy · 26/10/2007 18:41

I've not been to antenatal classes or anything! I didn't with DS because my x-dp didn't want to go and i didn't want to go on my own and then chose not to go to any with this one because there's not much more they can tell me really after what i learnt with DS. DP isn't bothered about going and trusts me to teach him.

To meet other mums, i think i'll just go to mother & baby groups or summat.

juuule · 26/10/2007 19:05

During my first pg I went to relaxation classes at my local clinic. I went because I enjoyed the company and found it interesting. I hadn't had anything to do with babies up to that point.
Subsequent pregnancies I didn't attend anything. Partly because I was busy looking after toddlers. Partly because there was no-one to look after my them while I went.

NAB3 · 26/10/2007 19:09

I had NHS ante-natal classes and private aqua natal. I thought both were quite good in different ways.

Sarahjct · 26/10/2007 19:37

Bit of a raw subject this. I've only signed up for the NHS classes on the advice of my SIL who is with same doctor, same hospital etc and had youngest 18 months ago.

Just found out today that they are mums to be only and it's too late to hook up to an NCT one even if I had the money.

So here I am, 29 weeks, scared witless and I mean really scared - been crying all day), never even been near a hospital before this, no idea what to expect and my DH will be even less prepared than I am. And I'm supposed to go into the delivery suite feeling relaxed and confident?

My advice, sign up to anything you can and get as much info as you can. I wish I had.

juuule · 26/10/2007 19:39

At 29weeks pg - aren't you a mum to be? Why can't you go?

Sarahjct · 26/10/2007 19:43

Sorry, wasn't very clear! I mean women only, no partners.

AllBuggiedOut · 26/10/2007 19:44

I did an NCT couples class and hospital ante natal too. I expect you can learn from a book, but it's fun to do the classes if you can, and for me the main point was to meet people in the same situation as me. 4 years on, I am still close to mums (and some dads!) from both classes despite having moved away from the area. Having your first baby is such a unique experience it's lovely to share it with others going through the same thing at the same time!

Heated · 26/10/2007 19:46

I went to the 5 antenatal classes run locally, which was useful in parts (pain relief options for instance), saw a totally grim birth video and it was nice getting to know the mw team, but would have preferred more practical hands on info - like how to bathe a baby for instance - and I think some classes are like this.

Took hb to the 4 hospital evening info sessions, 1 of which was good on things to buy, how to tell if baby is hot etc...

Also went on the Saturday tour of the hospital just to see what facilities were like.

juuule · 26/10/2007 19:46

Oh, I see. I only ever went on my own anyway so didn't think.
Couldn't you go along and relay any info back to your dp and request a visit of the delivery suite for both of you? I think I'd go along and discuss it with whoever is taking the classes and also the midwives. If you are so concerned I would think they could arrange something for you.

LilianGish · 26/10/2007 19:51

If you're planning a hospital birth I'd try and do the antenatal classes there as it will give you a good idea of what to expect. I read a lot of books in my first pregnancy, but in the end the most relevant thing was what the midwives who were delivering the babies at my hospital said. My first (and indeed second) birth was pretty much exactly as they had described in their classes and although I don't think anything can really prepare you for the experience of being in labour and giving birth I felt very reassured to know what was happening when iyswim (as it happens I was living in Paris so the entire procedure was conducted in a foreign language, but that's a different story). I liked going to the hospital for the classes because by the time I gave birth it felt like a very familiar place. It would have been pointless me swotting up on a water birth as that wasn't available on the other hand it was useful to run through what happens if everything doesn't go according plan - dd had the cord round her neck (hardly a huge complication in the scheme of things I know) but having done the classes I knew what their procedure was. Don't know much about NCT, but sil made all her best baby friends there (even though she said the classes were a bit pointless for her as she ended up having a caesarean which wasn't really touched on!)

elkiedee · 26/10/2007 19:57

That's terrible Sarahjct, my dp came to the antenatal parentcraft one with me, I missed out on the NCT ones too.

When are your hospital classes?

If you or your dh have questions to ask, do ask on here. If you;re short of money to buy the books, perhaps your library has some or you could see if anyone's selling theirs on here, or try charity shops.

Try Mumsnet local to see if there's anyone in your area you could meet up with or ask specific questions about the hospital/groups of mums or expectant mums nearby.

elkiedee · 26/10/2007 20:09

As well as antenatal classes, the NCT also does postnatal courses - I did one which I found really useful and those of us in the class have kept in touch since the course ended in July, and met up a few times, most recently 3 of us last week. You don't get to prepare for the birth, but you get to talk about what happened and about those first few weeks, and by that time you're all off on maternity leave.

You could try contacting your local children's centre(s) to see if they have any groups which would be open to women who are expecting as well as those who've already had their babies.

The thing I most regret was having no idea of what problems I might face breastfeeding, I do believe I could have had much more success with my baby if I'd known where to turn for help. There are lots of groups which help with bf problems if you have them, so if you think you would like to bf find out about them in advance, and ask for advice and help from the hospital rather than waiting for them to come and show you what to do after the birth.

If you have cable/satellite TV, Living 2 has some quite good BabyZone programmes midmorning - when I was pregnant they were showing them early evening too, and I found a magazine programme called Pregnancy and Birth: The Truth helpful as I only had a one day antenatal course.

MuffinMclay · 26/10/2007 20:44

I just went to the local NHS ones, and they were awful. Lots of role-playing which I loathe with a passion. Didn't learn anything at all of any use. It was very 'coupley' too; I went on my own (dh could never get back from work early enough) and felt very out of place.

I went to 2 out of 4 classes, came home both in floods of tears, and wished I hadn't bothered.

mum2bejan · 26/10/2007 20:58

I haven't been to any yet. I have been thinking of booking up the Nhs ones but loathe the thought of it to be honest. I've read up a lot and have family who have had kids so not sure if it would be of any great benefit to me.

Original poster

Scampynoodle · 27/10/2007 12:07

Thanks for all your help there. I'll be going to NHS classes (there are only three and one of them is a tour of the delievry suite)and I have a one day mum-to-be course which is a privately run gig. Perhaps that'll be enough.

It would be good to meet other new mums though - I do worry about being lonely post-birth (I've got my husband and mates and family but you know what I mean...)

OP posts:

CrowOnTheCradle · 27/10/2007 12:10

I went to one NHS antenatal class and a rather chipper and upbeat young woman (childless) started ceremonies by whipping out a flipchart and twittering 'good evening boys and girls and who knows what a contraction is?' This absurd class lasted for 2 hours, I learnt two things: I can fall asleep with my eyes open; dh has no problem with falling asleep in public and snoring.

Floated off to a hypnobirthing course and was much happier at being treated not only like an adult but one with a brain.

franke · 27/10/2007 12:13

Scampynoodle - you are doing exactly what I did and I found the private one day thing really useful. The only thing I would add is that I did a breastfeeding 'workshop', again with a private teacher, which was a 3 hour evening thing. It was absolutely invaluable - took all the mystery out of it and was a help when faced with all the conflicting advice in the hospital. If you are thinking about bf, I would highly recommend finding something like that.

DeathByPruners · 27/10/2007 12:21

sarahjct, how does your dh feel about going?
I only ask because I knew my dh didn't really want to go to antenatal classes, so I didn't try and make him. He also never read a book. It didn't mean he wasn't interested - he was a brilliant support and the most fantastic dad, from the off.
I suppose I mean that sometimes it's just fine if it's a women-only thing. Obviously if you want his support there then that's a different matter, and if he wants to go to classes, then that's important too.

Anyway, I chose Active Birth classes because I had toyed with a bit of yoga and because they were women-only. I got a lot out of them, including learning roughly what the protocols were at the local hospital through returning members who came to talk us through their births and breastfeeding experiences. The yoga bit was incidental and largely optional. I'd really recommend them.

iwouldgoouttonight · 27/10/2007 12:23

I went to NHS ones (we weren't allowed to take partners either) and they were ok for giving you an idea of what to expect when you get to hospital, where to park, which room to go to, etc but not great for learning much else that you couldn't just get from a book.

I did a yoga for childbirth course the week before I gave birth and that was brilliant - I got loads out of it, they showed videos of different kinds of births, did loads of breathing exercises, relaxation, etc and it made me so calm and relaxed about the whole thing and I really enjoyed the birth!

I'd definitely recommend going to some groups after the birth to meet other mothers too.

Sarahjct · 27/10/2007 15:39

Hi DBP. He really wants to go. Apart from the scans he hasn't been very involved but not through want of trying. He's been religiously reading my books and magazines and is coming on the hospital tour on Monday. He's a bit worried about what to expect as well and how he can best help.

I suppose I just feel a bit abandoned. As I am a good bit overweight I expected all sorts of trouble and extra tests etc but (touch wood) it's all been plain sailing so far and no one has really bothered about me.

I don't know - I'm not very good with hospitals and thought I'd be a bit more prepared and he would too. Seems like my expectations were a little bit unrealistic. Hey ho.

DeathByPruners · 27/10/2007 15:44

Well, that is rough that they don't do classes that include partners, then. Good on your man.
Could you go to an NCT one or two-day course? Sometimes they do weekend ones that are well spoken of.
Alternatively, a friend of mine got a doula/ex-midwife round to spend a couple of hours with her and her dh, really to clarify what would be happening at the birth for his benefit. That was very successful. I think it cost about £50.

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