NCT v NHS antenatal classes

[kerry.finlay]

Great, thanks Bishberro!

[crystal7]

I did the nhs classes in jan 09. Very informative about labour and pain relief options. We had to get into groups and write down questions which the teacher answered over a few sessions. We also practised birth positions on birth balls. I read so much that it was nothing i didn't know but my oh found it useful. They also showed us how to bath and dress a baby/doll. And i'm still in touch with some people i met there!

[Jo]

To the OP...

I had the same questions about the NCT you did about a year ago. I did an intensive course with Sillywoman in the end and it has been worth every penny. There was no judgement about epidurals, or c-sections, and the possibility that you might end up with things you hadn't planned on was so well covered that when my home birth turned into a very drawn out affair that took 48 hours from waters breaking to baby arriving, and yes eventually an epidural having made no progress at all in god knows how many hours, I didn't panic or freak out at all. There is an ideal about having a good labour, and we'd all like to have it, but the best outcome is healthy baby, healthy mother in the end, however you get there. Another good thing was the session focused on what to do with the actual baby, which was v useful for my husband as he ended up changing every single nappy for the first two weeks.

My NCT friends have also kept me sane(ish) and I would have paid twice the amount had I known how much I'd rely on them and how splendid they would be. Although, sillywoman, that is not a license to send an invoice...

[BellendenBear]

I agree with Jo, NCT worth every penny. Not sure how I would have stayed sane without my NCT buddies in those early weeks. And as someone else had said, it is really important that you are all going through it at the same time. You quickly forget what each stage is like.

I also went to the NHS classes at Dulwich, well actually only went to one. Very crowded, knackering as they are in the evening after work during those final weeks, and we just didn't find it very useful. We didn't really learn anything that you couldn't have easily picked up in a book or on here, and there was no real opportunity to chat with the other parents.

NCT (with Sillywoman) was great. Lots of time to get to know each other and lots of stuff about the first few hours, days and weeks with baby. My partner was not particularly enthusiastic when I signed us up but found it really useful, especially the pictures of what babies really look like when they come out - elongated bruised head, swollen genitals and a little period after 3 or 4 days, he was prepared for it all!

[ludoscotts]

hi I couldnt do nct with my work schedule so it wasnt an option for us so we did the nhs ones at dulwich hospital. I obviously cant compare them but I though the nhs ones were great, lots of info felt really prepared for what was about to happen. The social thing didnt really happen at the classes as there wasnt time but the teacher did do a list of everyones email addresses and put a message round so we could stay in touch. Out of our class 4 couples stayed in touch with each other. Purely by emailing over the first month or 2 until the babies were all born then we started meeting up and nearly 3 years on we see each other regularly. SO if you do opt for the nhs ones you can still make friends it just might happen afterwards rather than at the classes.

[katgod]

We did both. Did not bond especially with nct bunch, but found the local tea group invaluable. The nhs ones at dulwich hospital were factual and practical. The midwife was great. There were lots of people and so there was not much interaction in the classes. But, it is what you make it. Someone suggested a quick drink after the hospital tour session and about 8 couples went along to the pub at denmark hill station. We swapped numbers. I went into labour the next day, so missed the rest of the classes, but we started meeting up and still do. Nhs don't have to be unsocial, but you have to make the effort to get numbers and break the barrier coz the teacher does not do it for you how nct do. Good luck.

[EmmaG]

We paid over ?300 for an NCT class and although I enjoyed the groups and met nice people, we haven't become friends. There is a real emphasis on the labour and not on the nightmare ... er, sorry, adventure of parenthood post-birth. I'd spend the money on hypnobirthing classes pre-birth and then on a night nanny for a couple of days after birth.

[Saila]

I really enjoyed my nct class and still regularly meet up with the others 5 months after we had our babies

However, I also felt there was a 'natural birth' bias especially as the whole topic of pain relief was left to the last half an hour on the second full on day.... so everyone was tired at that point. During that time we were shown horrid photos of interventions marks caused by ventouse etc My baby was born with ventouse help and he didn't have a mark like that at all... so that was slight scare mongering i feel. Also the usual c-sections are AWFUL path...

I went into hospital with every intention of getting an epidural. It so happens that the midwives didn't believe how far gone i was and how much pain i was in and so i never got my epidural. Instead my partner was sent home and i had to beg for him to be allowed back, only for him to find me pushing on my own on the floor of the antenatal ward, by my bed...

Anyway - had i got the epidural maybe it would have slowed everything down a little and i would not have required the ventouse and episiotomy that i did get in the end because the baby was stressed out (not surprised as i was pretty stressed out too). But he came out safely and that's all i care about, thanks to the doctor that swooped in and sorted everything out

grumble over - anyway the classes were really useful to me as i ended up having that birth she described (unfortunatley on my own in the loo of the antenatal ward) so i did all the breathing things she said which helped.

she was also very pretty and that helped with the men's concentration spans ;-)

on a final note, the men met for drinks after all the births and all agreed that the nct classes were 'unrealistic' (i'm not going to repeat what they really said)

anyway i'd really recommend it - just go in with a pinch of salt and do your own reading around the birth.

oh and i should say that I found the post birth advice really helpful too so again it depends who you go with

[Keef]

My baby was born with ventouse help and he didn't have a mark like that at all

To be fair, I guess they have to prepare you for what could happen. Our daughter had ventouse, and her head was a state, all cut up.

See sillywoman, I can stick up for your lot on occasion ;-)

[Saila]

totally agree and they prepared me in the event that i didn't get an epidural (and many others i imagine, willingly or not willingly)

i assumed i would as i decided before i went into labour i wanted decent pain relief

people don't tell you that getting an epidural is a battle in itself (too early, too late, no doctor available etc etc)

but you're right, he could have had a big nasty mark.

my point was in my nct class the insinuation (meant or not) was that an epidural would lead to ventouse, when it happens all the time with or without epidurals

[sillywoman]

Big MWAH! to Keef. :))