Antenatal class recommendations

[CucumberCool]

FTM here wondering about opinions on antenatal classes.

Was looking at Positive Birthing Company's hypnobirthing course. thepositivebirthcompany.co.uk/digital-pack

Anyone done course with Positive Birthing Company before?

Anyone have any recommendations?

I bought the PBC digital pack and I did think it was good, but I found it quite hard to motivate myself to watch all the videos and properly take everything in (I'm now 38 weeks and have only watched about 75% 🙈). I'm not sure if that's because I read the book first though so it felt quite repetitive. It definitely helped me to feel positive and informed about labour/birth though.

My husband was keen to do some classes together as I watched the PBC videos alone and we did The Honest Midwife sessions on Zoom. The first is free and then they're £20 each after that, but she usually gives a discount code at the end of the previous session. There are 4 main ones which take you through labour, feeding, newborn care etc and then there are others on more specific things like PGP or mental well-being, but we haven't done those. It's quite interactive despite the big group sizes and I found her really easy to understand and even funny at times. Would definitely recommend!

A recent thread on here about Positive Broth Company... www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/4284015-The-positive-birth-company

Nothing wrong with NCT if you get lucky and get a tutor that gives a good balanced view of all different types of birth and doesn't set you up to 'fail' if you don't have a 'natural' birth. Still speak to my own group at least once a week now two years on.

The NHS antenatal ones didn't cover half what we did in NCT even about their own hospital routines and baby care, but at least they were free!

I did daisy birthing 5 years ago and I found it brilliant. Bit of education on birthing, yoga, breathing exercises and a relax. It's actual classes rather than online which I prefer. I will be going again this time.

Thank you both for your insight!

I'd clocked the term 'birthing people' within the content but it was alongside 'woman'. My partner is convinced they mean birthing partners!! Perhaps they do? (Mean to encompass father's/partners as well as non binary??)

NCT is £210 for three hour course where I am! That is just absurd! Esp as it sounds like you might get a crap teacher...

PBC is £40 for what seems like loads more content, but not in person obv. But you can go at your own pace...

Will definitely ask about the NHS ones as they are free!

Wils301- which book did you read?

@sexesam

I did daisy birthing 5 years ago and I found it brilliant. Bit of education on birthing, yoga, breathing exercises and a relax. It's actual classes rather than online which I prefer. I will be going again this time.

Thank you! I think I'm being stupid but when it says £80 per mum and birth partner does that mean the both or £80 or £160 if I want to go with my birth partner

The baby academy do a few free online classes that are worth taking a look at! Me and my partner have done a couple and they're really good! We've booked on to the full day class that you have to pay for! Haven't done it yet but the free ones were amazing so expecting good things xx

@PrettyPlatapus

Thank you both for your insight!

I'd clocked the term 'birthing people' within the content but it was alongside 'woman'. My partner is convinced they mean birthing partners!! Perhaps they do? (Mean to encompass father's/partners as well as non binary??)

NCT is £210 for three hour course where I am! That is just absurd! Esp as it sounds like you might get a crap teacher...

PBC is £40 for what seems like loads more content, but not in person obv. But you can go at your own pace...

Will definitely ask about the NHS ones as they are free!

Wils301- which book did you read?

It was the PBC's one called Practical Ways to Make Your Birth Better by Siobhan Miller. It's quite easy reading so I'd read most of it before I got around to watching the videos (I'd bought both as a deal), which I think is probably why I didn't enjoy the videos so much.

Hypnobirthing/PBC appealed to me because I liked the scientific aspect of it and learning about what actually happens in labour, but the positive affirmations/meditation type side to it is not really my thing. I've still taken away something useful from it but I think I enjoyed The Honest Midwife's course more and was equally as informative on labour/your body etc and actually touched on the hypnobirthing breathing techniques too

There are 2 courses they run. One is 6 weeks for the woman and the other is a 1 off optional course for partners too which gives an overview to partners and ways they can help you in labour. I honestly cannot remember the cost but I cannot imagine I paid £100+ roe the overview but I may have been wrong.

Does your hospital offer free classes? I just did the free ones through my maternity hospital and found them very good.

I have to say I didn’t bother at all and it didn’t seem to make any difference

Interesting I thought a free one to start with would be good. Thanks for the recommendations.

Shame daisy only invites partners to a one off session...