NCT antenatal classes

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

I know one of those 'middle class' types(actually she isn't but thinks shes superior) who go to those classes, into all things new age and clap trap. Can't fight her way out of a paper bag, so needs a something to make her feel secure having her first child, mid thirties.

I am not sure I would class myself as middle class, just bloomin' terrified before having first child. When we actually got to the time I forgot everything they told me except where the buzzer for the door was, I still maintain this is very important the first time you arrive at the maternity wing in the middle of the night. And no I did not consider having either child at home and I was glad I didn't because second child had complications and I was very glad to be in hospital.

We did not bother going to the classes for the second one because we already knew where the buzzer was and what we needed in our bag.

Originally Posted by Mrs DJ Fridge

The most important thing is to go to something at the place where you will be giving birth because if like me you go into labour in the middle of the night you need to know where the entry button is to get into the maternity wing of the hospital.

Absolutely this.

Most units don't offer tours now due to infection control issues, but if you can you should do a couple of practise drives to the unit at different times of the day, find the best car park for the maternity entrance - find out if you need to pay for parking - find the way into the unit and what doors to go to.

Hospitals are intimidating at the best of times, so knowing where to go can really help.

Great advice.

[appollo1]

i remember going to one of those before our daughter was born, she was our first, and there was a mix of people in there. i have to admit there were a few "posh" people there.

The most memorable bit of one of the days was showing a film clip with a birthing pool. I noticed a smal "fishing net" on the side of the pool and whispered something to my wife about it being for scooping up poo. Have you ever been in a situation when you are trying so hard not to laugh and it makes it worse by trying not too? When the film came to the bit with the woman giving birth and the midwife "fishing for poo" we couldn't hold the laughter in any longer and the couple next to us were wetting themselves as well.

[dizzyblonde]

This middle class female in my example, apart from not fighting her way out of a paper bag with satnav, probably still thought babies came from cabbage patches until her bump started to grow!

The one thing I would have liked to have an enclopeadia on was how to have a caesarian. ...childbirth by any other means, is a piece of cake......in my own experience. I certainly wouldn't ever have one by choice.....which is apparently on the political agenda now, and very wrong imo to give choice, as if its the easy way out, so many mindless are led to believe. They don't tell you not to cough, laugh, cry, move.......until after you've gone through it.....cheeky buggers, nor do they tell you 12 months later your stomach muscles suddenly re awaken, after they've been flapping around like a deflated hot air balloon!
I'd swap that any day for a couple of weeks, a sore flooo and a rubber ring
My second child was so complicated I knew practically all of the day and nightshift midwives from 26 weeks by name. I'm surprised they didn't give me my own swipe card to get in on the ward!

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

This middle class female in my example, apart from not fighting her way out of a paper bag with satnav, probably still thought babies came from cabbage patches until her bump started to grow!

So to that end NCT and antenatal classes would have been invaluable for her, she'd have been in for a shock when she didnt discover a cabbage patch at the hospital...

I do believe that women need to gather information from a variety of sources - other mothers, midwives, classes, the internet. To have one strict view on anything (pain relief, instrumental delivery, hypnobirthing whatever it is) is a bit silly in my opinion.

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by fenjer

I do believe that women need to gather information from a variety of sources - other mothers, midwives, classes, the internet. To have one strict view on anything (pain relief, instrumental delivery, hypnobirthing whatever it is) is a bit silly in my opinion.

I'm not so strict of opinion....I'd have never have used Moxa therapy to turn Oli if I was. Didn't work though............I swear it was just there to get the parents stoned on hospital premises

We didn't go to the ante-natal classes. There is a very good reason

We found that all the moms with babies had formed friendships at ante-natal classes. It was hard to break in, they all knew each other from there or from the maternity ward - and we didn't.

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

I'm not so strict of opinion....I'd have never have used Moxa therapy to turn Oli if I was. Didn't work though............I swear it was just there to get the parents stoned on hospital premises

I meant that they should seek information in lots of different places, from lots of sources, not just stick to one source.

There are a lot of options out there and no one person or class will tell everyone what they are.

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by Ed

We didn't go to the ante-natal classes. There is a very good reason

We found that all the moms with babies had formed friendships at ante-natal classes. It was hard to break in, they all knew each other from there or from the maternity ward - and we didn't.

Only the mums.......where were all the dads?

...mainly, long since buggered off