nhs ante natal classes versus nct classes?

sarcycyril

Hi,

I am just looking at the options available to me as i am pregnant with my first child. I understand you do get some antenatal classes through the nhs ( not sure how many? ) but does anyone have any opinions/reviews on the nct classes?

I have looked into the nct classes and have always heard good things, however the cost of the course is £240. so a lot! so wondered if this is money well spent?

any advice would be great thanks!

lauren_1

There was nothing my NHS antenatal classes taught me that couldn't have been read from a book or from the internet (youtube have some breathing exercises and birthing position video's which i found far more helpful)

I attended with DD but didnt rate it much at all.

If I had the money I would go for the NCT

balletshoes

I only went to my NHS ante-natal classes because they got me off work early for 6 dreary Winter afternoons . I don't honestly remember following any of the advice given, during labour or the birth etc. I don't remember learning anything earth-shattering either.

As I managed fine to go through labour and have a healthy birth and baby, with the help of the midwives and doctors at hospital, I'd say save your money, why would you pay anything at all for information you can get for free?

~daisy~_2

i found the nhs ones a nice way of meeting other mums who were due around the same time as me and stayed friends with some for a while and formed a nice little support network at what was quite a scary time !!

go_cat

I only ever went to NHS ones and went to 1/3 as i had given birth before they finished

It may depend when the NHS ones are available in relation to how many weeks gone you are.

Just be warned the one i went to showed me a ventouse and forceps which left me more traumatised as I sat there thinking there is no way they are coming near me :rotfl:

claretmatt

We decided to go to NCT class after friend of OH went to NHS and got buddied up with a 14 year old.

We went to a small NCT group which was over two fridays at a cost of £60ish pounds. It tended to cover more of the emotional side of the pregnancy and the effective methods of dealing with the ranges of emotions as and when they come along. OH has also kep in touch with the other girls many of whom actually went there to try and make other friends.

We also went to the NHS class, but it was a bit rushed and there were lots of people there. It was good in the sense that you get to look around the hospital including pre and post natal wards and the labour suite. You also get to see all the things that could be used during labour.

We also chose our DS's name after the NHS course. A bed in one of the rooms had letters scratched from the bed head to leave letters spelling "Ellis". It was a name on our shortlist and thats what decided it for us.

So in summary both were good

pinkshoes

Most people I know have gone to the NCT classes, really enjoyed them, and met lots of nice people who they kept in touch with, hence I have also decided to go down the NCT class as I think it's money well spent.

The NHS classes seem to depend on your area, but I haven't been offered an NHS alternative yet, and those I have spoken who went thought it was naff, and too many "youngsters" in it!

gratefulforhelp_2

If you were a single parent, especially a teenage one, then you would have found the nhs antenatal classes I attended very offputting.
The health visitor running it insisted on referring to "your husband" frequently, which may be the ideal, but clearly wasn't the reality as we had several teenage mums in our class.

I would have gone to NCT but there was such demand you basically had to sign up before you were pregnant!!

MadDogWoman_2

I went with the NHS when I was PG with my daughter as my hospital offered a choice of a course of classes over several weeks or a one day seminar on a Saturday.

I chose the one day as DH does shifts so would have struggled to attend a course of classes.

Everything was covered, there was no physical tour of the hospital, we we played a DVD though.

I did use the breathing exercises for the short time I had contractions - I had to have a c-section.

do_it_today!

Hi :hello:
DH and I did nct classes simply because the nhs once were booked up. Not having a clue as first time we thought it was money well spent and convenient as they were on Saturdays. Alot of useful information and activities 6-7 sets of couple of 'nice/professional' people (we found them to be quite cold and unfriendly) except for one couple who we are still in touch with today the others just couldnt be bothered!.

This time round I live in a neighbouring area so will try and book the nhs one to get a comparison, but if we dont get on a group then I wont bother - as I remember half the info and have books to refer too.

So if you can get a reccomendation for your local nhs one I would go for that if not the nct should be good.

SarahNeedle1872

I went to the NHS one (3 sessions) then another one that we paid £10 that covered the more 'natural' stuff like breathing, pain relief through massage etc, and I thought they were fine. I did use some of the breathing techniques while in labour, but as everything went pretty well, I'm not sure if they made much of a diffence. I'm glad I didn't go NCT though, and I'm sure not all NCT members are the same, but the people I've met from my cousins NCT group (she still sees them 3 years on) are the most neurotic mothers I have ever met! Personally I'm glad I didn't spend the money!

Is there anyone you know who has used your local NCT group that you could ask?

Sx