Antenatal classes
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Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
Forum Description: Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=29536
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Topic: Antenatal classes
Posted By: Treen
Subject: Antenatal classes
Date Posted: 23 October 2009 at 5:41pm
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Hokay, so last night, DH comes home from work and tells me that all the boys on the site say you'll leave after the 1st couple of hours as they're rubbish. They told him that they're really patronising and the show you diagrams of the vagina like you're in a form 1 sex ed class?!
I also hate (with a passion) games etc and I do worry that antenatal classes might involve games so that people remember stuff and interact with each other (ugh)? Is it really like that? What do they teach you that takes 12 hours? I remember a few people saying a while back that they found them unnecessary. I'm currently looking into the classes they have at Birthcare Auckland and I'm quite interested in the natural birth classes but then I'm left wondering why you need the antenatal classes as well? And does DH need to come to both the natural birth classes and the antenatal classes? ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: crafty1
Date Posted: 23 October 2009 at 5:59pm
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We did the Birthcare one. There weren't games as in getting to know each other but you did have to get into groups and do things like list stages of labour, or come up with ideas for pain relief or whatever. I have a very low tolerance for that crap and it didn't really bother me too much.
We did the weekly one so you didn't get too bored or overwhelmed but the weekend one i think would drive me up the wall. I found it pretty good but DH got the most of it as that was the sum of all the research he did into the whole labour, baby care thing. It's also a good way to meet other mums and get into a coffee group - another thing i thought was a bit naff but actually has been a total lifesaver and have made friends for life. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: shadowfeet
Date Posted: 23 October 2009 at 8:17pm
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My experience sounds like crafty1s. We did weekly Parent Centre classes. I didn't find any of the group activities over the top, and most were needed because they encouraged discussion. I also have a low tolerance for games/ icebreakers, but they were definitely ok. I found the classes really useful, and I think my DH did too. ------------- 
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Posted By: Aprilfools
Date Posted: 24 October 2009 at 8:19am
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Our midwives group do their own and for the most part they were hilarious. Rather than show videos or pictures and diagrams they put on a skit and act out the labour and birth. We all laughed so hard our babies nearly came early. One week they did a plan a birth and then the following week a plan b where they covered pain relief, ventouse and all that. We didn't play games but the men and women were seperated twice. Once was to have a discussion and come up with a list of concerns; the men actually had far more concerns than he women. The second time we were seperated was for the women to discuss breastfeeding and how to do it and the men were taken and taught how to change a nappy and do a bath.
I hated the thought of a coffee group to be honest but as it turns out none of us are really into that and we go out on zoo trips and to the beach and just a couple of weeks ago we all ditched our babies for the night and hit the town. It was great for the men to catch up as well. We have all become such good friends, in fact one couple stayed over last night for a few drinks and we're doing a campervan trip together soon and they'll be coming here for Christmas. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Caro07
Date Posted: 24 October 2009 at 12:31pm
I have to admit that I didn't gain a huge amount from our antenatal classes. We had some group exercise, no games. I stuck at it for the social perspective and it did pay off. Even though we have since moved I am still in contact with a few people and will catch up with them next month when we are up that way 
I won't be doing another set with this baby though ------------- Caroline, SAHM to 2 boys, S (4 years old) and J (2 years old) 
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Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 24 October 2009 at 3:59pm
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I would say if you are going to do the birthcare one then you I wouldnt think you would need to do seperate antenatal classes.
If they dont cover what happens if things go wrong or induction than make sure you have a frank discussion about them with your LMC. While your plan may be to have a natural birth without drugs or intervention you just dont know whats going to happen (as I found out, my birth was a far cry from the peaceful, drug free waterbirth I had planned). We have a coffee catch up once a week, not everyone comes every week but most are there fairly regularily. Its great to see the bubs growing and see how everyone is getting on and some of us go walking together. Ocassionally we head out to the mums and bubs movies or for a vino at night. In a couple of weeks we are having a big bbq on a weekend so all the dads can get to see all the bubs. Actually some of the dads still catch up fortnightly at the pub for a beer. Both DH and I have found this great as we dont have any friends around us with babies, we do now -------------   
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Posted By: ShellyBR
Date Posted: 25 October 2009 at 3:04pm
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We did them for the social side as we weren't long in the country and didn't know anyone let alone anyone with babies. We only actually made it to 2 of our classes as dh really didn't want to go and I had gd so was knackered by the time they were on. I am so glad I kept up the contact after the births though as 2 years on the group is more or less together we meet up every tueday and some of us meet other days aswell. It gets quite hectic around May as they all have their birthdays at the same time. We also have a little getogher at christmas and have bbqs at weekends so the dads can come. I have definatly made some really good friends. I did my classes through Parent Centre. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: HoneybunsMa
Date Posted: 25 October 2009 at 5:00pm
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We did ours through parents centre we felt abit left out because we were the youngest couple there by far, just the luck of the draw I guess but we get along with everyone well there were a few group activities and the guys were made to wear the belly for an hour and man did they complain, um try doing that 24/7! One of the funniest moments was when the guys were all dressing up as if they were having a csection and the guy who was the mum and the dad were hilarious giving eachother back rubs and birthing this baby lol The other group activities were just about pain relief and putting pictures with feelings and stages of labour. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: SarahJane
Date Posted: 25 October 2009 at 5:14pm
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Antenatal classes aren't just for teaching youabout the birth.
They are also all about finding you a support network after the birth. I found my a/n group invaluable once ds was aound 3 months old. Just a group of mums who understood how it was, how you were feeling, and a reason to get out of the house. The isolation of being a brand new mum is pretty tough, and not necessarily expected while you are pregnant. |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 25 October 2009 at 5:26pm
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I must admit, we were a couple who got nothing out of antenatal class and dropped out part way through actually. Even going in for the social side was a waste of time in the end. We did ours through North Shore, I have heard better things about the Birthcare or Parents Centre ones. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: X
Date Posted: 27 October 2009 at 5:41pm
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We went to antenatal classes at Birthcare-the ones that are once a week for 7 or 8 weeks. The classes themselves were just okay. The MW who did the class was a bit of a hippy wierdo & made us do some really stupid stuff (like a guided meditation on our first class where she said things like "oh little baby, swimming in the amniotic fluid...." I laughed so hard I nearly wet myself & thought they were going to tell us never to come back).
I agree with the rest though-even though the classes didn't teach me anything, I made some good friends there. It was so nice to have a coffee group once a week so we could all talk about our experiences together-the support was invaluable. Our coffee group met up once a week for the first year, & now we see eachother every now & then. One of the girls & I are now really good friends & see eachother at least once or twice a week. Just making that one friend for life was well worth the experience. I think you should go. It's only a few hours out of your life. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: myonlineself
Date Posted: 29 October 2009 at 6:32pm
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we've just finished the north shore hospital ones and I really enjoyed them, much more than I thought I would. We did some group activities (which I thought I would hate), and they were are really good way to have to talk to each other, and it wasn't uncomfortable at all. I am really glad I did them, even though a few people had said they were a waste of time. I think DH especially got a lot out of them, in terms of what to expect, and I feel more like we are both on the same page now. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: HuntersMama
Date Posted: 29 October 2009 at 7:24pm
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We are starting ours thru SAMCL, and they are 3 hours for 4 weeks. Im not sure if DH will be able to make all the classes tho because he works weekends (classes are on Saturday). I could change to the weekday classes which dont finish until 9.30pm but im a zombie by that time!
Oh well, I might have to take my mum instead ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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