NHS and NCT antenatal classes
NHS Classes
These may be run by your local midwife, or at the hospital. They may
cover labour and birth in detail, or they may cover skills for labour
in just one or two sessions and devote more time to handling your baby
and what to expect after the birth.
Advantages
- they are free
- they tend to be local so it gives you a chance to meet other local
mums
- they are run by a midwife so will be up to date with all local procedures
(which can vary from hospital to hospital)
- if they are held at the hospital the place and the people will become
familiar to you, so you will know where to go and you may well have
met some of the staff beforehand
- there may be guest speakers - such as a physiotherapist talking about
exercise, or a dental hygienist talking about caring for your own teeth
and your baby’s teeth
- they may include a hospital tour
Disadvantages
- they may be held during the day, so it might be difficult for you/your
partner to attend
- they can be quite large groups; perhaps 20 or 30 people may attend,
which can make it hard to ask questions
- they can sometimes seem a bit formal
- some are run by a different person each week
*Find out more about NHS classes from your midwife or your doctor.
NCT classes
These classes are held by trained and qualified NCT teachers (who are
not necessarily medically qualified) and usually focus on skills for labour
and birth, including detail on assisted deliveries etc.
Advantages
- they are often small groups so you have the chance to make sure you
cover what you want
- they are usually held in the evening, so it may be easier for partners
to attend
- they usually go into quite a lot of detail about labour and birth
- they usually provide postnatal support for the first six months or
a year
- they are a good way to tap into the NCT network locally
Disadvantages
- you have to pay, though reduced prices and free places are available
in most areas
- you may need to travel to find an NCT class
- class members may be quite spread out, so getting together after the
babies are born may be difficult
- because the class is small (usually a maximum of eight couples) you
may feel you cannot hide in the back row!
Join a babyworld Antenatal Class NOW
- online support from our qualified midwife and antenatal teacher
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