NCT/Birthmatters Classes - worth the money?

MrsExcited

Dear fellow MSErs

I am expecting our first baby in August. My midwife gave me a leaflet for Birthmatters (run by NCT trained advisors) antenatal classes.

I have had a quote for these classses and the cost is £198! This is for a total of 18 hours - so that works out at just over £10 per hour which sounds ok. But £198? That could be spent on other things for the baby.

I would really appreciate any views on whether these classes are worth the money or if my husband and I would get everything we need from the NHS classes.

Are there any MSErs on here from the Maidenhead area who have done the NHS classes? What did you think of them?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

cheers
MrsExcited!!!!!

daska

(Not Maidenhead)

Have to say I love the NCT classes I went to for DS1 and found them infinitely better than the midwife led classes I also attended. The NHS ones were pretty formulaic and there was far more scope for exploring the detail with the NCT where the NHS classes have to 'toe the line' on government policy, not to mention that the classes are far smaller. Really depends on what you're after.

peachyprice

Sorry I'm not in your area but I would say it really depends on what you want out of your classes.

All I wanted was facts, I found the NCT classes too overbearing and eart-motherish, I really wasn't interested in alot of the stuff they were talking about. There was a certain amount of martyrdom in my local group and I didn't want BF and natural delivery without pain relief rammed down my throat.

For me the NHS were fine and gave more than enough info and support, although they do differ in quality from area to area.

Can you try the NHS ones before committing to the NCT classes, or do the dates clash?

Icey77

We started our NCT antenatal classes last night and it was great. I knew a fair bit but still learnt stuff and this was the overview night - we'll be getting into the detail next and subsequent weeks.

As this is our first and we simply don't have a clue they are worth their weight in gold to us. We can't get NHS antenatal classes as the hospital we are going to (10 miles closer to home) is actually in a different NHS trust to the one we come under.

I don't know how big/small the classes get on the NHS ones but we have 6 couples in our class.

MrsExcited

Thanks for the replies guys.

Gosh it's so confusing. What I'm mainly worried about is not having all the information that i need for the birth and not being prepared for the crazy experience it is bound to be.

The bumpf I've had through from Birthmatters says that the classes are small and spaces are limited so I don't want to think about it for too long and then lose the place. But then I really don't want to spend the money!! I'm so tight since I became an MSE convert.

missindecisive

ive had a large family & did'nt attend any classes! you will be fine!

sweaty_betty

I did both NCT and NHS classes (called Parentcraft in my area).

In my experience, the NCT classes were great for making friends with people who would have babies at the same time - I'm still in touch with mine quite regularly 18 months on. I took the subject material with a bit of a pinch of salt as they do go on about natural, drug-free birth, breastfeeding etc and when I asked questions about more interventional methods/problems with breastfeeding, they were rather swept under the carpet. Although it's good to know what the "ideal" experience is.

The NHS classes were much more factual (or "brutal" as my OH described them!), but I really appreciated this as I wanted to know as much as possible for a full range of scenarios - e.g. if I hadn't been told at the NHS classes that there may be up to 13 people in the room if you had a c-section, I'd have been stressed beyond belief when it actually happened.

In my area the NCT classes were £175 and for me they were worth it. The NHS classes were free. It's probably worth finding out exactly what the classes cover so you know that you're going to get as much as you need from them.

Good luck!

clearingout

if you know a good number of parents in the area, then going with the NCT classes is perhaps a luxury. However, I knew no one in the area with children when I had my first child and the small class lead to lasting friendships - one woman I met there got me through my divorce! I found the NHS class too big to make friends in but I recognise that could be as much about my personality and the way I approached it as anything else. No way of knowing.

If your wife wants it, for heavens sake indulge her!

clearingout

oh, and I was told the number of people who would be in the room with a c-section at the NCT class....it might depend on who gives the class, I guess, in both scenarios as to how helpful they turn out to be...

MrsExcited

Cheers ... actually my husband has said that if I want to do it he will pay for it.

I am just wondering if it is worth the money. Lots of people on other forums have said that it is worth going to to make friends but this is not important to me. What matters is if the class content is worth paying for.

I am planning to go to the local mum & baby groups after the birth to make friends.

I think I will research exactly what the NHS ones involve and then decide from there.

Thanks to all for taking the time to reply. xx

neneromanova

MrsExcited wrote: »

Thanks for the replies guys.

Gosh it's so confusing. What I'm mainly worried about is not having all the information that i need for the birth and not being prepared for the crazy experience it is bound to be.

The bumpf I've had through from Birthmatters says that the classes are small and spaces are limited so I don't want to think about it for too long and then lose the place. But then I really don't want to spend the money!! I'm so tight since I became an MSE convert.

I went to the NHS ones with my first and to be honest, nothing can prepare you really. I think the thing that helped me most, was one born every minute programme. Plus the people on here in the pregnancy forum (the main one, not the smaller side ones.) I personally wouldn't waste the money. But that's just me