Antenatal Classes

[VeronicaFranklin]

I'm 37 weeks pregnant with my first child, me and my husband have been to a couple of zoom Antenatal classes which we found useful but not overly helpful (they didn't really tell us anything we hadn't already read etc. )

The rest of our classes at our Trust are now close to my due date so unlikely we'll be able to book on them before baby arrives.

I've read a couple of books and done lots of googling.

Just worried I haven't attended enough Antenatal classes / done any hypnobirthing classes etc. And before I've realised, there's now little time left! 🙈

Just wondering what people's thoughts were on Antenatal Classes?

Do I need to panic book and pay to do some online before the big day arrives?!

I didn't find antenatal classes that useful tbh, they didn't teach me anything I'd not read in a book. DH on the other hand didn't have a clue and found them very informative.

I did zero prep before the birth of my dd, no classes, no reading up or researching anything etc

I'd been told the basics by friends who had given birth already, I didn't need to know anymore than that

I found antenatal classes helpful only because I could ask questions. I didn’t really learn much I hadn’t already read about. The only one I found useful was about the different pain relief available in labour but it’s not necessary to go to a class on that, you can research online etc. I did some hypnobirthing classes but if I’m honest it all went out the window halfway through the labour so I really wouldn’t stress :) I’d forgotten 80% of what I’d learnt in antenatal classes when I was in labour and I was fine haha

I gave birth prematurely- I remember the midwife kept asking questions whilst in Labour and in the end I snapped and said I’m 29 weeks and I’ve not read that far into my book! She apologised and ending up explaining - the main thing was the injection for placenta if I recall correctly. I had it. Didn’t help much but that’s another story. I would say as long as you understand the basic process and that it may not go according to your ideal then you are as ready as can be.

OK thanks everyone, sounds like I'm panicking over nothing then! Instagram seems full of new mums praising their hypnobirthing courses, so I felt like I was a little behind the times!

I didn't do any antenatal classes. We were in lockdown basically all through my pregnancy and I just couldn't take another thing over Zoom. I did look up stuff about labour and asked my midwife a couple of questions. I don't feel there was anything I didn't know that I'd have benefited from knowing tbh. I did have a bit of experience with babies though so wasn't too worried about stuff like how to change a nappy.

Oh, I did do some (non-live) hypnobirthing stuff as my friend recommended it. I actually did not find it helped me at all! I suspect some people find that sort of thing really helpful and others, like me, don't find it works for them.

I didn't go to any because we couldn't afford NCT and the hospital ones were at a time that we couldn't do. I think most people do NCT to make friends rather than to get information. I was fine not having done any classes.

The classes were more useful for sharing experiences with other soon to be mums and then in post natal classes, and we continued to meet for a few years afterwards (then I moved away).
I had a section snd don't recall any discussion about that so the antenatal classes were of little practical use. Don't think I'd have bothered if they were via Zoom.

I didn't get a chance with DD as she came early. I didn't really miss them.