NCT or NHS for antenatel classes?

[ClaireVictoria]

First time mum (24 weeks) just found out that appointments for antenatel classes will not just gently fall onto the doormat like the other maternity appointments did! Any advice on which is best option?

It depends

NHS advantages: really useful to find out how things run at the local hospital, and to get a tour of the wards. You may get a better flavour of 'how things are done', including pain relief etc. You may meet some great new friends. Free of charge.

NHS disadvantages: variable quality of group leaders (antenatal classes may be an unwelcome task foisted on reluctant midwives), group may be big and so not so much time for asking questions and talking.

NCT advantages: many women go because they want to make their new mummy friends, and I found it invaluable for that (we still meet up 5 years later). There's some time for relaxed discussion. You may get more discussion of how to do things your way, not the hospital way.

NCT disadvantages: it costs - quite a lot. Some women find it too doctrinaire, too pushing an agenda (I didn't, but I guess it depends on the quality of the teacher).

It really comes down to how lucky you are with both the teacher and the other women. But you could try both - lots of women do.

Best of luck to you. First pregnancy is so exciting - I envy you!

I did both. learnt different and helpful stuff from both.

Thank you! I never really thought about doing both! It sounds like the perfect solution.

When is it best to do the courses? I looked into local NCT classes and one ends 8 weeks before my due date, the other ends 2 weeks before.

I did both in the end but for a while the NHS were cancelled so I was really glad I had the NCT ones booked.

I was also really fortunate that the NCT ones were led by a midwife from the hospital I was due to give birth in.

I would say the ones that end 2 weeks before would be best. 8 weeks is a long time!

I'm doing both, which the MW said is allowed. I couldn't have booked onto NCT so late though as in this area it's SO full! I booked at 8 weeks! Worth provisionally booking if you're still thinking. FWIW, the NCT ones are way more detailed and there i a lot of chatting. NHS is "here's the info, bye". Nice MW, but no discussion.

I was worried about the pushiness of the NCT classes, but it's not like that at all. I love it! And both advocate breastfeeding, active birth and upright positions for labour, so there's no real philosophical difference!

And finally, try and do the course with people due the same month as you as then you can go through the same things with baby at roughly the same time which is brilliant!

My NHS one was very detailed and helpful. What I found particularly helpful was that it was run by midwives who have seen hundreds of births in all kind of different conditions. The NCT one was run by mums who had done training but hadn't the vast experience of the midwives.

Our NHS clinic also helped us start a baby group, very much like an NCT group. Still in touch with some of those mums 13 years later.

I did both. NCT to meet couples I could see after the birth at coffee mornings etc. The hospital one was also very useful so I could determine their approach and policy eg. how do they handle waterbirth, when should you go in etc. I particularly found the anaesthetists talk interesting and recommend that if they offer it. Then you understand more about the different pain relief on offer from a clinicians point of view.

I only went to the NHS one with my first baby, and I found it very helpful. Can't comment on the NCT one as was put off by the massively exorbitant price.

I did both and I can't recommend NCT enough - not so much for the teaching (both were quite similar) - but because I ended up with a lovely group of friends who were all going through the same stuff as me at the same time. It is expensive but everyone I know who has done it has similar experiences and ended up with a group of mums they keep in contact with, so for me it was well worth it.

NCT was very helpful and good fun, and dads to be are involved too, which was really good. its not particularly doctrinaire, although it could have done with being a little more honest about the challenges of childbirth, then again, maybe not..

If you are on a low income you can go on the NCT course for a nominal fee - there is a sliding scale from £20 I think.

Definitely worth it in my experience, I did both, the NHS ones were awful. NCT was fab and had a lovely teacher who went through all options including caesareans - I was planning a home birth but she didn't really cover this in classes as I was the only one. Really non-judgemental about pain relief options etc.

Also it's worth noting you don't have to join the NCT as a member to do their classes.

I would go to both. I wish I had.

I went to the NCT classes which were very good - comfortable and informal. However, I do wish I'd gone to both (even though there would have been a bit of overlap) so that I could have met more local people.

The main reason I picked NCT over NHS was that I thought I'd make some good friends there. But in the end no one from our group lived in the same town as us and we haven't really kept in touch. Everyone I'm now friends with met each other at their NHS group.

I'd definitely recommend the NCT classes for the info and tips, but wouldn't necessarily recommend it as a way to make lasting friends.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Wow thank you to everyone that has offered advice. I have had a really tough day and it was so nice to come home and see so much wonderful advice. It has put a huge smile on my face. XXC

I also did both, and would recommend it. Met very different people in each, and still in touch with some from each.
Our NHS classes were actually conducted in the maternity ward and I found it really helpful to spend some time there before the big day!

Hope your day is going better today.