Did you take an antenatal/birthing class? What was it like?

Oh boy. I should have been on top of this earlier in the pregnancy. But, due to previous difficulties, I was not sure that it would be a successful pregnancy. I couldn't bring myself to sign up for lots of classes and then have to cancel them again.

But, now it looks like we're actually going to have a baby in July. Hurrah! And after months of worry, we're excited and would like to sign up for a class... But, what to take? Nevermind that it looks like I'll be lucky to get in at this point.

There are a few sessions offered by the NHS. Anyone experienced with these?
The NCT also offers a course. Anyone know about these?
And, then, there's a hypnobirthing class in our city. Sounds interesting. Any opinions or advice?

Many thanks.
Rutabega

I took the 8 week NCT course.  The actual material on the course wasn't particularly earth shattering.  I could have gotten most of it from a book or the free NHS classes.  What it did provide is 8 very close friends with babies the same age that act as the best support system I could have hoped for in the first year.  We got really lucky that everyone gets along and we made an effort to meet up every week from the end of the class (right about the time babies started being born).  We set a standard day, time and place and a year later those of us not back to work still meet up.  Totally worth the £200/300 in my opinion. 

My midwife said she would give us information at our 26 week visit about some classes available in the area...so I'm holding out to see what they have to offer.  The classes I took in the US were completely useless to me as they mainly described comfortable positions to get into and I was confined to the bed during my labor.  I'm interested to see if/how classes in the UK will be different...and hoping (even though this is baby #2) they will be more informative than the US counter part I experienced.

I've already signed up for hypnobirthing classes that are available in my area...they were REALLY REALLY REALLY expensive...not sure if that is "the norm" for the UK or not though.  I have several friends who have used hypnobirthing and swear by it so considering my situation (extremely low pain tolerance, severe anxiety associated with pain, etc.), I think they could be really beneficial for me to help with relaxation during labor.  There are also books and tapes you can buy but my understanding is that the practice before labor is the most important thing to make sure it works to the full potential.

I've done both the parentcraft class offered by the hospital and antenatal classes at my local GP. Both were really good and with the hospital one I had a chance to tour the delivery suites and the maternity wards, so I know where I'm going and what to expect.

Every person I've met that's done the NCT classes say that they're really only good for meeting people and the content is the same you could get on the NHS. One person told me that the NCT classes were really preachy and it was all about what this particular woman felt people should and shouldn't do.

I personally haven't done the NCT classes as I wasn't prepared to spend that kind of money on something I could get for free.

I'd totally recommend getting into a class if you can.

I did an NHS class and an NCT class and hands down the NCT class was a million times better! The NHS class was not good at all. The NCT class, I thought, had good information but more than that I made 7 great friends who had babies within a 3 week period of mine. I saw them at least once a week for 8 months until we moved back to the US and we all got together this past fall with our kids, who were then 20 months. It was so worth the money to me.

I've just finished taking the 4 SureStart ante natal classes.  They were 2 hours each session.  I highly recommend them as I learned so much.  I feel so comfortable with my due date approaching (24th April)  I highly recommend them....just find a sure start center near you.  The classes are free. 

Thanks for the heads up, everyone! Bring Us A...Shubbery, I too, just signed up for an expensive hypno-birth class. Hopefully my husband can deal with the hippy-esque approach. But, I decided that the content in the hypno-birth class was material that I wanted access to... It was expensive. But, I am under the impression that I qualify for the Health in Maternity grant, so that makes me feel better.

A doula that's going to help us after the birth recommended the hypnobirthing class. Coming from a former RN and now practicing doula, I think it should be good. But, BUAS, let's keep in touch about this!

Best,
Rutabega

Sounds good to me