Antenatal Classes

[urban23]

Hi, i'm currently 23+5. I've not booked any antenatal classes as I spoke to a few of my friends and they said they're pointless other than making pregnant friends. I go to an aquanatal class so I was quite happy with just this however now i'm starting to worry if i've made the right choice. What does everyone think of the antenatal classes?

 

[candymycandy]

I personally didn’t find them overly helpful tbh. I think you can get the info from your own MW or the internet. They are useful for asking questions but again, you can ask your own MW. You could go to one and see if you get anything from it?

 

[KHTW]

Me and OH when when pregnant with my first and found the classes very helpful. Won't be going now pregnant with 2nd but if you are a first time mum I would consider going. Ours were organised by hospital and were free x

 

[GBLiz]

i've never been in fact i didnt even know if they still existed in these internet days! I think it would be nice to make pregnant friends- after all its the real life version of what we do on here right? Not sure why your friends would be negative about it. It might be unnecessary for information but socially i think it can be a really good thing. people can make friends for life at antenatal classes!

 

[urban23]

Thank you all ladies! I've made quite a few pregnant friends at my Aquanatal classes and I think if I didn't do that I would be more inclined to go to an Antenatal class. Plus i'm at that age where alllll of my friends are pregnant or just had babies at the moment haha!

 

[Princesssaxy]

I’ve booked NCT classes - had the money at the time although could do with that money now ha! A few of my neighbours did it and recommended it, said it’s like paying for friends but because it was such a small group they found it really useful. I’ve heard good and bad things about them, think it depends on where you live, but I’d personally rather do the classes in a small group which NCT provides .

 

[rh2014]

I’ve booked NCT classes - had the money at the time although could do with that money now ha! A few of my neighbours did it and recommended it, said it’s like paying for friends but because it was such a small group they found it really useful. I’ve heard good and bad things about them, think it depends on where you live, but I’d personally rather do the classes in a small group which NCT provides .

I'll second the NCT classes we're on week 4, and while we started them mainly for the friends aspect they've provided so much information so far and also reassurance. We got told only 8% of women do antenatal classes, and from the 3 I've been to so far I can't understand why it's so low!

 

[Aurora_J]

I did Antenatal classes with my 1st and they where more about making friends. Most of the mums i met also went to the same baby groups together so was nice to know other mums there.
My area dont offer them to woman who have had more than 1 as they say the mums never attend for 2nd or 3rd babies

 

[MissKW]

I didn't go to any other than the tour around the birthing suites etc to get to grips with the place before hand. They also showed partners a few massage techniques for labour which was nice, pros and cons of pain relief and other bits.
If you don't feel up to it there's no need to go to any. I think for a lot of women it's just something to do more than anything, they can't tell you much you don't already know

 

[MoominGirl]

I think it's very much a personal choice and there are pros and cons. We are doing NCT but a more intensive course over a weekend and one evening rather than lots of short sessions as it was much easier to fit around work. OH was much keener to do it as we're first timers but we couldn't get one particularly local so even though it will be nice to meet people, I'm not sure if I'll realistically keep up with anyone because of that. I've also met other ladies through the local pregnancy groups I've been going to and would be far more likely to keep up with them. NCT is quite expensive so I hope it feels worthwhile. NHS classes appear to be non existent where I am otherwise I probably would have just done those.