colsy

Subject title says it all.

Would love to know what those of you who've done both NCT and NHS antenatal classes think. I'm definitely doing my NCT classes, no question of that. But I can't decide whether I actually need to bother with the NHS ones as well. I'd rather be out in the campervan to be honest instead of practising changing a nappy in a city hospital!

Ta for any thoughts xx

firegal

I can give you my opinion on this so far! We had our first NHS class last week and I didn't learn a thing from it, plus the class size is so big that you don't really get the benefit of getting to know other couples. So, we're thinking we won't bother with the remaining 2 classes, we're just going to stick to our NCT ones.

augustbaby09

I think is is different area to area (Nhs ones). Ive heard so many people who have said it was a waste of time and others who enjoyed it.

I ha dmy first last week (got 2nd tonight) and my class wasnt very big and had 2 midwifes - all very pleasant. I found it a bit tedious having to move into groups ,write questions down on a paper...then say it as a group to everyone else. However I did find some parts of the evening helpful.They did go into great detail about the early stages of labour and it made me feel a bit more clued up.I admit most of it id read in a book but it made me personally feel happier hearing it from a midwife.

So you may find that you wouldnt want to do the NHS classes if your already having NCT (as could be repetitive) but i think it depends on the area your in and the individual midwife who leads it.

Mary Jo

I haven't done NCT, so I cannot compare the two - and I agree with the comments I've read about NHS classes from many women that there's very little they are told that they didn't already know. But, what I didn't know, and couldn't know from another source, was what specific procedure at my particular hospital is, what their policies are and why. THAT was very useful to me and has made the classes worth going to. Also, it's good to meet more of the midwives, and the specialist breastfeeding midwife, and for OH and I both to be familiar with the labour ward, where it is, etc, etc, so there is less chance of panic on the day.

My classes have been massive (first one had at least 70 couples) and there is a lot of the stuff that, to me, is a waste of time (like getting in groups and writing questions down - I'd have preferred them just to tell us the ist of what is going to be covered and if anyone wanted to add a question they could) but overall, I am glad I have done them

firegal

That's a good point Mary Jo.. something I did get out of last week is the message that my hospital don't cut unless absolutely necessary, they don't offer pain relief unless you ask for it, and they try to avoid interventions of all kinds. That said, I could've just chatted to my midwife and got the same info from her I guess. Also I would guess the labour ward tour (which I'm doing in the next week - this is separate from the antenatal classes) would answer a lot of questions.