NHS antenatal classes

[Mumwaiting]

Are these different (free?) compared to the NCT ones? Where do I find more information on what they are and how to sign up? There's a generic page with a phone number that's the main hospital helpline, but no details on timings etc. Anyone had any success signing up to these, esp in London?
Thanks!

Yes they are different. I would phone and ask, but I also got the info at my booking appointment. All our local NHS ones have been cancelled due to covid, same with a relative (in London). NCT has moved a lot to Zoom, I don't know anyone who has had an in person antenatal appointment since last March. RCOG are still saying the risk to pregnant women post 28 weeks is increased which is the reason we were given for NCT moving online.

*antenatal class sorry!

Never did Nhs classes but did do nct. Nct was more about meeting a group of people all having babies about the same time. It's a social thing really.

The free NHS one was quite good with my first. It was in the hospital (north of Scotland) by midwives who actually worked there so the chat was really helpful about the actual hospital and labour etc.

This pregnancy they've offered no face to face classes at all in my area (now central Scotland) so they offered an online generic pre recorded uk class. It was rubbish. No opportunity to meet anyone else, ask questions etc and literally about 5 minutes of info about labour. The online offering was free to people in my area but not all nhs boards offer it for free apparently.

It's worth asking your midwife if there's anything face to face available in your area, but it may be the online only option for you too. The NCT classes, even if online seem to give you much more information, which may be better for a first time mum, but probably will be covering a larger geographical area so may not be able to give hospital specific information.

@PurBal that's really interesting. All my antenatal appointments have been in-person thus far, but have not recieved any info about classes.

@bump2677, thank you I will check with my midwife and probably join the NCT classes too @welshladywhois40 I'm a first-time mum so it will be nice to meet other mums who are going to give birth at the same time!

It’s not free in my trust

I did one at Kingston (wasn’t free had to “donate” £10) I remember there being very little info available at the time but I phoned up and left my details, eventually someone called me back with all the monthly classes and I just had to book whichever one coincided with me being roughly 34 weeks? I thought it was really useful! Definitely phone to get the info. I looked into NCT but couldn’t justify the extortionate price, like PPs have said it’s more for the mummies who want to stay in touch and meet up for coffees and pay the extra price to do so! I’m a miserable sod so didn’t want to make any friends

I did the NHS ones and thought they were really good and informative. Went into a lot of detail about different kinds of birth and what happens to your body during labour. Definitely worth it in my opinion. Was free in my area.

I have just started free nhs online antenatal classes. You can also donate money if you can afford too. The 2 i attended so far were good. Im in west london. The class details were on the website

I've signed up for the free NHS courses run by my local trust- these are offered live via Zoom so a similar set up to NCT. It's 4 classes of about 2.5hrs I think.

I just couldn't justify the price of NCT when it's all virtual. Would rather spend it on a massage or baby bits or yoga classes.

Ask your midwife at your next appointment. To sign up I had to go to the Padlett link our local midwives set up.

NCT do walks for new mums in my area which you can go to for a small cost. There are loads of classes around for babies and the Peanut App has been great to meet other people so far in my pregnancy. There is also a six session postnatal (talks from a physio, wellbeing professional, sleep specialist, birth stories session etc.) course near me (private company not NHS) which is at cost (£100) but is an option if I'm struggling for friends, they include free buggy walks too.