NCT vs Hypnobirthing classes?

[Anglepoise]

I signed up for NCT antenatal classes rather late and they're now full, though we're on a waiting list. I've just been having a look at Hynobirthing classes - are they a similar kind of thing/replacement? I can only afford to do one, so which should I do? Any advice gratefully received

Three reasons for going to any class (IMO):

(1) Make friends
(2) Prepare you for birth
(3) Prepare DP for birth

Either class would do for all three. Think the approach to birth would be slightly different for (2) and (3) and you might get a wider range of people at the NCT ones. Either focuses on relaxing during labour.

I really enjoyed my NCT classes, mainly because I made friends but having read a couple of pregnancy books, I learned NOTHING whereas DP learned EVERYTHING!

Have no experience of hypnobirthing but a friend had a horrible first birth so was terrified for number two. She bought a hypnobirth cd and she said it really, really helped.

My advice - if (1) is the most important reason for you then go for the classes closest to home. If (2) or (3) then it might be worth buying a pregnancy book (Ebay have millions second hand) and going to Hypnobirthing [unless someone on Mumsnet with more experience says they are naff.]

Hi

I attended Natal Hypnotherapy classes last weekend and founf them really benifical. I feel really prepared for the birth and positive about it. It was really good preparation for my husand also. We both found it a worthwhile experience and I would highly recommend.

I wish I'd done hypnobirthing rather than NCT...

You can explain to the NCT that you can't afford the full cost of the course. They will try to help you. Give them a ring. Don't tell them you're paying for hypnobirthing or if it comes out, say it was a gift from your mum.

Try and do both because it's really important to get the most information everywhere so that you get a balanced perspective.

And the more friends you make with babies at the same time as you, the more support you'll have and the less isolated you'll feel.

I have done both
hypno ones we did were just about the technique
nothing about birth, the nhs, what to expect

nct v good for meeting people but we didn't learn anything that we hadn't already read

Personally I would:

Contact the NCT and ask to join the tea groups - this will deal with the social side - you all meet up for tea / evening drinks / dinner before birth to get to know each other.

Buy the Hypnobirthing book (comes with CD) - the Mongan Method and read it through thoroughly.

Ask your antenatal midwives about a hospital run antenatal class(es) and/ or their parentcraft sessions. This in my opinion is going to be the most helpful in terms of what happens during birth 'naturally' and 'medically'.

Ask your local birth centre if they run any classes or sessions where they show you round and give you info on birth etc.

Trawl mumsnet!!

Thanks for the replies

Friends would be good, as we're moving 200 miles six weeks before my due date, so know almost no one locally! I do have lots of family up there though and am hoping to meet people at coffee mornings and so on.

For me, I kind of feel that I should have some sort of class (first time mum), but have also read loads so not sure how much I'd learn. At this point, I'm far more worried about DH, who I think is a lot more anxious than I am - that I'm going to be in pain and he's going to be useless etc - so I think classes would be good for him.

Just discovered that my cousin has lent me a hypno DVD (which I'm desperate to watch, but it says from 32 weeks - if I watch it at 30, will the baby fall out? ) and I'm assuming whichever hospital I end up booking in with will do free NHS classes, so fingers crossed we'll get by on those if the worst comes to the worst ...

Ooh - cross-posts Thankyouandgoodnight but what you've said makes a lot of sense to me - thanks!

No baby won't fall out - I assume it's so that you start in time to practice plenty.

I would really recommend the book - the CD is just talking to relax you but the book has a lot on the mechanics of labour and birth - very good to educate yourself on what is normal, how the body works and what is happening at each stage. This will remove fear of the unknown and make a huge difference to you. Also that basically the uterus is a muscle that will get the baby out without any help from you whatsoever. That you should breathe (as you would need to for any form of exercise) to ensure that the uterus gets enough oxygen etc and that you shouldn't actively push on top of what your body is doing because you will actually work against the uterus - oh and ways to practise that (e.g. when doing a poo - breathe it out rather than push)......

Fab - I'll go trawling for it now!

Also - I don't know where you live but in London there are children centres and lots of them have weekly drop in antenatal classes run by doulas - all free.

London for the next three weeks, then Cheshire - I'll have a look, thanks

wrt regard to claiming that you can't afford NCT classes....can I just point out that NCT is a charity. The only reason they are able to offer subsidised classes (or free even) to people who need them is because busy parents give up their time to run Nearly New Sales etc,so think carefully before you take advantage of that.

Paradise Park Children's Centre Nursery164 Mackenzie Road, London, N7 8SE

Tel: 020 7697 7341

i think thursday mornings...

If you're going to be in West Cheshire, the Countess of Chester Hospital has outsourced its antenatal classes so that they are now run by NCT teachers but are free.

I belong to Mid-Cheshire NCT group, which is very active and you don't have to be a member to go to any of their events (coffee mornings, nights out, etc.) Chester group also seems pretty active.

Was thinking about doing hypnobirthing classes now in preparation for my third baby (due October) as am keen to try to avoid a third c-section but haven't quite got round to booking anything yet....

I did NCT classes and a hypnobirthing class.

The NCT class was good and I made a great group of friends that I still see every week. The NCT class provided better info on intervention etc than the hypnobirthing class (they avoid talking about what can go wrong in hypnobirthing!).

The hypnobirthing class wasn't local so I've never seen anyone from the course again but the hypnobirthing techniques helped me to have a calm birth with just gas and air. I found the hypnobirthing relaxation and breathing techniques really helpful.

You don't need to do NCT classes to meet people - they run lots of social meet ups and some branches offer postnatal courses.

I was looking at booking into either Chester or Wythenshawe hospitals (I'll probably be about equi-distant from both) but am now considering a home birth, in which case I'll book into Warrington as it's closest ...

I've found a hypnobirthing class here in London on the two weekends we can do it but need to decide fast whether to go for it or not and it's so much money. Someone tell me what to do! I think the main appeal is really that DH will have to come and it will give him a very specific job to do, as a lot of the time I worry more about how he's going to cope with this whole birthing business than with how I am!

They are two very different classes so I'm not really sure you can compare them. Maybe decide what it is you want from whichever class you choose?

NCT - pepares you for labour, birth, bf'ing and looking after your lo in the early days.

Hypnobirthing - prepares you for labour and birth.

As to a earlier suggestion, please be aware that the NCT are a trust and subsidised fee's are paid for via fund raising efforts by the local branch. These subsidised places are for people who can't afford any classes.

I've taken advice re NCT cheap places on board - though tbh I don't think I'll get a place on NCT now anyway, so it's academic!

I think I'll do hypnobirthing and NHS - just trying to decide whether to do hypnobirthing course for £300 or just get the book and CD for a tenner

I personally would just get the book and CD - we didn't find it worth the money for the course. You can always find a course near your new abode if you feel that having read the book that you would like to go on a course after all.

agree with springerspaniel--although would switch the order a put 3 before 2!

the antenatal classes are for pregnant women to meet other pregnant women and for men to learn what their responsibilities are. i thought my teacher was a total flake but it didnt' matter b/c i made 7 friends and we met up after the birth a lot, which was fab.

oh yeah, forgot to add if you call your local nct they may be able to offer options so you don't have to sit on a waiting list.

Was the NCT thing mentioned by someone else? Sorry, didn't mean to harp on

Is this your 1st?

I found during labour with ds1 that I naturally adopted hypno techniques without knowing what hypnobirthing was. So with this pregnancy I have got the book and some cd's.

However, if it was my first I would go on the course - iyswim

I went to a MW run parentcraft session on Saturday with my dh, and we left after an hour, turned into a GCSE biology lesson, rather than preparation for the birth.

Very patronising towards the dads, lots of things were preceded by, dads probably wont know this, which my dh wasn't impressed by.

I am now looking into something on the hypnobirthing and perhaps NCT side of things as well to try and get some help on my birth plan.

I am thinking of a book or CD rather than a course on the hypnobirthing side of things, cos it is more about the technique than anything. When I had a slipped disc last year, I was given a cd by a friend that had some general hypnotherapy pain management relaxation techniques on there, about 25 minutes a session. Afterwards, from being so tense and unable to stand unaided or walk to the loo, I was able to walk around for at least a couple of hours before my muscles started to tense up again. My doc was impressed with them as well.

Yes, this is our first - plus the fact I'm now considering a home birth is kind of making me search around for coping strategies! Tbh at the moment I'm feeling pretty happy and excited about the birth itself (possibly unwisely!) but DH is a bit anxious and worried he'll be a spare part, so the idea of giving him a job is appealing.

The appeal of the course really is that DH and I will have to sit down and do it, whereas otherwise we're liable to fanny about instead Could wait until we get north but I'll be 33 weeks by then and then would need to find a course ... being indecisive is such a pain!