Antenatal courses - Lulubaby, Bump & Baby or NCT? Post Reply

[delsh]

I'm pregnant with my first baby - due in March - and have started looking into booking antenatal courses. I've pretty much discounted NCT from the possible options as I've been told by so many people that "it's great for meeting people, but ignore everything they tell you"! The general consensus seems to be that they're a bit "preachy" in their approach and anyway, I'd like to consider other approaches rather than just go with what seems to be the default choice.

I'm in Balham and Bump & Baby Club or Lulubaby seem to be the most prominent local competitors to NCT but there's not much in the way of reviews for either of them, especially B&B Club. I'd love to hear from people that have done either or both of them, or from anyone who thinks NCT should still be an option worth considering.

Thanks in advance!

[Bluebunny]

A local friend of a friend runs antenatal classes called Doctor and Daughter (she is a local mum / entrepreneur and her dad is an experienced obstetrician) and from what you said they might really suit you. They aim to provide a no-nonsense alternative to NCT:

http://doctoranddaughter.co.uk/antenata ... m-clapham/

Good luck!

[nadiaraafat]

Hello
If you can stretch to Thurleigh Road, Clapham South, I run an ongoing 8 week Mindful Birthing Course which brings Mindfulness to pregnancy, childbirth and early parenting. As well as make some really good friendships, you will discover some skills for Life and learn how to use your mind and body effectively during your labour and birth. I am an antenatal teacher, a yoga and meditation teacher and a birth doula with 13 years experience.
You can read more about my course here:
http://nadiaraafat.com/mindful-birthing-course/

Wishing you well on your journey to Motherhood.

Nadia

[Dr&DaughterPreg]

Hi
Congratulations! We would love you to join out classes! They are evening classes at Ramsden Hall, opposite Waitrose. If you would like to read any reviews we have quite a few on our Facebook page and our website!
http://antenatalclassesinlondon.co.uk/testimonials/

Do let us know if you have any questions.
Best wishes
Rebecca

[delsh]

Thanks all, but I'm really looking to hear personal experiences of the courses I've listed (or alternatives) rather than promotions from people who run courses. I'm sure your classes are great but I want to hear feedback from people who have actually done them to help me make the right decision.

So, no more promotional posts please!

[SomethingToSay]

I absolutely second the recommendation for Doctor and Daughter. We had our first baby in April and attended antenatal classes with them as I wanted an unbiased approach (which I've heard is not always the case with NCT). We found it to be a well-informed, humorous and open-minded mix of medical facts (from Roger, a retired obstetrician who has delivered thousands of babies) and what the reality of these facts is like (from his daughter Rebecca, who has had 2 children). My partner found that the information really helped him to understand what was happening during labour and birth, and therefore to stay calm and supportive. We made some wonderful friends who we meet up with on a regular basis. The course content was really thorough and included weekly handouts, a breastfeeding session, and talks from a physiotherapist and hypnobirthing teacher. I really couldn't recommend them more highly. Good luck

[MummyWalker]

I did an NCT antenatal course to prepare for the birth of my first child, and I also did a refresher course before having my second. In my opinion the "ignore everything they tell you" comment is a bit harsh As someone who was having an uncomplicated pregnancy, was keen to have as "natural" birth as possible and also wanted to breastfeed it may well have been the case that I was being told what I wanted / needed to hear though, and I can see that people in other situations might feel differently. Looking back, I found the refresher course invaluable when it came to giving birth the second time as I ended up needing to be induced. What had been talked about regarding how to handle things not going the way you've planned really helped me, and made a real difference to my birth experience. And definitely don't underestimate the importance of meeting people and making friends! Four years on I am still in touch with all 7 families from my original group - we all meet up a couple of times a year and those of us still in London regularly meet for playdates and evening dinners. One final thing I'd suggest you look at when comparing courses is whether Dads are included as well (it might be a positive or a negative for you but its a factor to consider either way). My husband got on really well with all the Dads in our group, and they often socialise without us Mums. I think the guys "bonding" tends to be what helps keep a group together in the longer run, but of course if they're not involved in the classes, you can still introduce them to each other on another occasion. Finally, in the interests of full disclosure, I started volunteering with the local NCT branch this year from a branch management / fundraising perspective but I'm not in any way involved in the antenatal classes. Best wishes for the rest of your pregnancy!

[popmama]

I did an NCT course for my first child and found it helpful and informative. I did not feel it was particularly preachy. We covered all the drugs and interventions including c-sections (which I had in the end) and a bit about breast-feeding, when a member of our group stated that she wasnt going to bf, that was fine. I also met a great group of friends who were really supportive during the first year.

Whatever course you do, i felt it is very important (particularly for the first baby) to meet other who's due date is close to yours....they change so much in those first few weeks and i found it very helpful to meet with other mums with babies the same age that were close-by (ideally walking distance).

All the best with your decision

[delsh]

Thanks so much for your replies popmama and MummyWalker - it's good to get some new opinions on the NCT course so I may reconsider them.

I do still find it odd though that there's not more competition out there for people who might be looking for a different approach to the one offered by the NCT, so if anyone else has any genuine experience of any alternatives I'd love to hear from them.

[KatherineHepburn]

Why don't you have a look at the local hypnobirthing courses offered?

Most offer a good amount of birth preparation and they are very popular.

I am a hypnobirthing teacher - although, however tempted I won't advertise! - and I can tell you that the preparation and the knowledge gained from hypnobirthing can completely transform a birth experience.

Most mums to be know the basics of birth but not how to approach it mentally and physically and also how being in control of your choices can make for a far happier birth experience.

Do PM me if you'd like some further info or just to be put in touch with someone who has taken a course and how they felt about it post-birth.

Also, plenty of the couples I teach do also take NCT classes and although they do use language that I avoid I don't hear many complaints. The friends you make at NCT will last you forever though.

xx

[NYE31]

I wouldn't bother with NCT, either the pre or post baby or the refresher courses, I did all 3 & they were of no use, so preachy & heaven help you if you are planning a c section or to use formula! As for making "friends" it's a lottery as to who you end up with, some love their groups, others find they have nothing in common with their group & there are plenty of other ways to meet people when you have a baby.

I haven't been to these classes but I have heard very good reports about them.

http://www.thebumpclass.com/

Good luck

[smenon]

Hi - highly recommend Doctor and Daughter. The doctor in question was an obstetrician until he retired at the Chelsea and Westminster hospital and his daughter Becca has the practical knowledge having had a couple of her own. Full of detailed info delivered in a fun format, and I made really good friends too (we meet up all the time). I think the pricing is similar to NCT. My son is nearly one now and I still have good memories. Any qs let me know! Supriya

[firsttimerSW11]

It really depends on what you're looking for. I found the NCT great for "buying" mummy friends, I didn't really learn much. I didn't realise that other options existed when I had my little one but because NCT is the most widely used of the pre natal courses, you're all but guaranteed to be put in a class with other parents to be living in your neighbourhood which is useful. You can always do the free pre natal course run by your hospital on top, which will fill in the gaps left by NCT.

[Bluebird27]

Congratulations!

I did NCT for my first and Lulubaby as a refresher for my second.

You don't learn a heck of a lot from the NCT course, but the friends you can potentially gain are invaluable...because in all honesty that is the real reason the NCT is such a hit. They will be there with you through the thick of it and trust me it is so nice to have friends you can lean on and get advice form who are going through the exact same thing as you! 3 years on I am still great friends with my NCT group and we still meet up regularly.

And from MY personal experience, the Lulubaby wasnt really worth my time or money. Didnt really learn anything new nor did any of us keep in touch. Lulubaby didnt really encourage or foster the friendship aspect in the same regard as NCT.

So...my vote is for NCT! Without a doubt!

[Hypnobirthinglottie]

Erm….I am a Hypnobirthing teacher….*wont advertise!* and I also helped run the NCT Homebirth support group. I haven't done an NCT course but my friend who is a doula and is an NCT teacher her approach is fab and very closely aligned to Hypnobirthing however her stance is more towards information, practical games, practical explanations and using different learning styles to educate mums and birth partners. I found Hypnobirthing to be the right thing for me as I'm an anxious annie and I needed to release the fear and get into the mind set. You see, I'm sure you know, but our bodies are usually quite able to give birth (special circumstances not applicable obviously) and genuinely when we're in panic mode, we just cease up - this makes contractions harder to manage, and so we may end up not getting the birth we want. Whoever teaches Hypnobirthing will be singing off the same hymn sheet essentially. It's focus is primarily on fear release, helping you to understand HOW it works by way of talking you through hormones and the role they play, the physiology of birth, your choices, options, roles and responsibilities of mum, dad and your midwife, choices of where to birth, how your environment can shape the birth you want, all sorts really. If you're in a group you can make friends, but you can also join the NCT bump and baby club for £25 a year I think which is a membership and gives you access to friends. Like everyone else says, you can also PM me if you want, but I wish you the very very best birth experience and i'm sure you'll be in wonderfully capable hands whomever you learn with. Lottie x