NCT/Birthmatters Classes - worth the money?

daska

Mojisola wrote: »

Did anyone watch this over Christmas - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khfJ-HB12Z0

Brilliant, thank you, had a good giggle at that - well apart from the bit about the epesiotomy, that had me squirming.

skintchick

I did Birthmatters in MArlow (is that where you'd be doing it?), they were great, as good as NCT, like you say they are all NCT trained anyway, and it is very informative and helpful, especially for the men, I found. They tended to be clueless at the start and very well informed by the end! If you are looking at Julie's classes, she is so lovely, and her house is gorgeous!!

If you want to PM to ask more questions please do, but I think these types of courses are invaluable, especially if you don;t want to do loads of reading by yourself. I did do loads of reading and knew all the stuff the course told us but it was still really helpful and worthwhile.

an9i77

I did NCT and also the NHS funded one day antenatal course. It depends what you're looking for. If you're after the facts, I'd save money and just go to an NHS course. If you want to meet other people in the same boat and make new friends (particularly if your other friends don't have young children) then it's not bad. My beef with the NCT course, and antenatal courses in general, was that there was so much focus on the actual birth and not so much on what to do with the baby after it actually arrives. The way I see it, the birth is (hopefully) just one day, and you don't have an awful lot of control over how it goes usually anyway. I just wanted a healthy baby at the end of it, that was my priority and tbh I didn't really care how I got there so long as the baby was ok. But that's just me. But when you come home with a screaming babba, how to deal with it/feeding it/changing it/health concerns - this was more what I wanted the course to cover. Although we did cover some of these things towards the end, the majority of the course was focused on the pregnancy and labour bit. Although I'm glad I went on the NCT course (didn't make loads of friends on it but was good to meet some others in same boat!) I don't know if I'd spend the money on it again if I had my time over, it was pretty expensive for what it was and I could have bought some lovely fancy baby stuff with that money instead! NCT bumps and babies groups, which cost around £2 or so to attend, are great for meeting other mums in your area, so if you just want the social side of it I'd do that instead.

skintchick

I should have said that I tried to get on the NHS ones but the dates didn;t work for me and they refused to let me do session one one month, and session two the next, they said I had to do both in teh same month or not at all, so I didn;t do them. My midwife later told me that was wrong and I should have been allowed!

But I was also told the NHS ones spend almost one whole session telling you about the hospital (RBH for me) and as I was having a home birth it would have been irrelevant, and I wondered how much they'd actually manage to cover about birth and breastfeeding in just one two-hour session!

I think the paid-for courses cover a lot more material and allow for more discussion and questions, which is what you need when you're working out how YOU want YOUR birth experience to be.

peachyprice

My NHS classes were six sessions, same as NCT. It differs so much from area to area.

skintchick

peachyprice wrote: »

My NHS classes were six sessions, same as NCT. It differs so much from area to area.

I am not far from the OP, although Maidenhead is a different health authority so might be different.

shirlgirl2004

Personally I'd look at a Hypnobirthing course instead. Some classes (including NCT) talk all about pain which it doesn't need to be about. Since I had a great hypnobirthing birth I have recommended it to friends who have also had great experiences. I'm guessing that is why you are thinking about classes so you know what is going to happen and how you and you partner deal with it.

Lemoncurd

I thought Birthmatters was local to the Maidenhead area. I've had three children and attended only NHS classes for all of them, the format was quite different each time so I guess they change them regularly. The latest consisted of 4 sessions at St Marks led by an alternative therapist who is involved with Birthmatters! during that pregnancy they also offered another 2 session course at Wexham Park about active birthing (I think). I think I got a lot out of the classes but the most useful factor was the people you meet, the class leaders all encouraged us to exchange details and each time we all kept in touch and met up regularly to support each other before the births and afterwards.
I tried to sign up to NCT classes each time but didn't manage to get a space, actually think most of the classes would be pretty similar in outcome.

mildred1978

We did NCT classes and the 5 other couples we met (and the babies they went on to have) are now in our closest circle of friends.

I found the information useful (even if I wasn't ready to hear it :rotfl:) and as the NHS forgot to invite us to their classes, it was all I had!

barbiedoll

A lot of mums that I have spoken to have said similar things about NCT classes as some of the posters on here. That they are great for meeting new mums in your area, although, perhaps because of the cost, they do tend to be used by older/more affluent parents. I've also heard a lot of comments about the evangelical approach to "natural" childbirth and if anyone dares to suggest that they don't want to breastfeed, they are practically banished from the class! One woman told me recently that her NCT class teacher told her women that they "shouldn't let them (midwives/doctors) cut you", as if that's something that happens routinely! :mad:

My advice would be, if you want purely practical information about what happens during the birth, then look for NHS classes. If you are keen to explore the natural approach and are hoping to breastfeed and need a bit of moral support and encouragement, then NCT can be very helpful. I completely agree with the poster who said that the classes tend to concentrate on the birth, I see no end of women who are completely out of their depth when they get home and they realise that their classes have not prepared them for the reality of looking after a newborn. Sadly, no class on Earth can prepare any of us for parenthood really but if you already have a good network of friends and family, I'd agree with the poster who mentioned hypnobirthing. I've never heard one single negative comment about that, everyone I've met who has used the techniques, have had nothing but good to say about it. Possibly a better use of your money?

And good luck with the birth!