Which class you wished you had: NCT or Hynobirth class

[photographerlady]

You experienced mommas I have a question for those that paid for An classes. I've been looking at NCT and hypnobirthing classes. They cost the same. Now I am worried I'm not being realistic. NCT is more social and hypnobirthing is more to aid my waterbirth. Which would choose if you could go back and do it over again?

[CityDweller]

I asked my friend this (who's had two children) as I could only afford to do either NCT or hypno. She said hands-down hypno, so that's what I'm doing. I'm hoping I'll manage to make new-mother-friends through other means, e.g. my local NCT runs pre- and post-natal groups open to those who aren't doing the courses, which I plan on joining.

[Karoleann]

I did both with dc1, I'm still very good friends with 5 of our NCT group and that's 7 years later. Our children have grown up together and in the beginning early stage it was wonderful having a good support network.
Hypnobirthing was interesting, unfortunately I had a problem during labour and both dc1 and I were in Hcu for a couple of days. I did try the techniques again with subsequent labours, but I found a tens more useful.

I would buy the hypnobirthing DVDs and if you're not too late book the NCT classes. Incidentally the evening ones tend to be more bonding that the weekend ones.

[shagmundfreud]

Totally different things!

If you want to make friends and spend time talking about coping with postnatal life and looking after your baby then do NCT.

If you want to focus on physical preparation for birth then do hypnobirthing.

If you want to do both then do NCT and buy a Natal Hypnotherapy CD and make sure you use it daily!

[LynetteScavo]

What shagmundfreud said.

But the money for hypnobirthing classes was probably the best money I ever spent.

[shagmundfreud]

Wish I'd done hypnobirthing AND nct. I didn't do either!

I think hypnobirthing really improves the quality of your life in the last few weeks of pregnancy, by reducing anxiety. Don't think you can put a price on this!

[sw11mumofone]

I did NCT for DC1. And further to traumatic first birth I am trying Hypnobirthing this time round. Im hoping it will be helpful but nothing could compare to the frindships and support I have had from the girls I met on my NCT course. Hypnobirthing may be useful to you for a few days but potential NCT friends could carry you through many ups and downs for years later. Not convinced Id have made such solid friendships just meeting people at post natal groups as you go through the last few weeks of pregnancy, birth announcements and first few weeks of comparing notes on coping with a newborn.
And definitely think you could benefit as much from hypnobirthing cds.
Even if you have lots of friends and a great support network nothing compares to bonding at such a special time in your life. Big vote for NCT - wouldnt have survived without mine!

[WillowB]

NCT covers a broader range of topics than just the actual labour/birth. We covered in depth breathing techniques, massage, epidurals/pain relief, c sections, breastfeeding & postnatal care. I made some fantastic friends who have been a lifesaver whilst on mat leave.
Hyponobirthing would have been wasted on me as despite my best intentions for a natural birth I was only in labour for 1hr before a crash section. Didn't even have time to get my tens machine on. Contractions weren't as bad as I thought though. Got to 5cm without even noticing then they just felt like bad period pains. Might have felt differently if they'd gone on for hours!

[PoppyWearer]

I did NCT, made amazing friends, then did the Natal Hypnotherapg CD course, also fab.

[squidkid]

I did neither though I used a hypnobirthing CD and I went to NHS antenatal class. (Also a paid preg yoga class, £5 a session) I didn't make any mates, but I know a lot of people who had babies just before or after me... perhaps if it had been only me this year I would have paid for it for that reason.

I don't really know if the CD helped or not. I listened to it almost daily from about 36 weeks. I DID have a straightforward home birth - but it was very long and painful and I wouldn't describe it as golden light! I was fear-free leading up to and during labour mind which was an enormous plus. People that have done the classes instead, is there a benefit over the CD?

[GingerDoodle]

I did both and would say try and do both if you can! NCT for social and general info - I haven't been to any baby classes (not really my thing) so really have felt the benefit of the social connection.

Hynobirthing taught me to relax and breath! Both invaluable when you end up doing most of the labour on a packed commuter train and in a car!

[Msbluesky32]

They are very different courses. NCT is very much the nuts and bolts of what to expect when your going into to labour, what choices you can make in terms of how you have your baby and practical things about when the baby is born. its also a very good way of meeting people near you. Hypno is very focused on teaching you how to think positively about birth and arming you with practical techniques for labour.
We are in the middle of doing both and I'd say do both if you can. We are doing the NCT for the social aspect rather than the learning ( much of what we have covered so far I have already read either in books or online). If you aren't too concerned about the social aspects then I think you could read everything they cover in the NCT, easily. The hypnobirthing appeals to me because it is so focused on helping with the one thing I know nothing about yet: birthing. The teaching is encouraging and although I know of people who have just bought the book and cd and done the exercises by themselves I'm not sure I would be getting as much out of it as I am at the moment.

[Bambi86]

I'm currently doing hypnobirthing classes, after spending months reading the book. (currently 32 weeks)

I really didn't think that I needed to pay out for classes - but I'm glad I did! Turns out I was doing the breathign exercises all wrong! And I received a copy of the Rainbow Relaxation CD, in English (as opposed to the American narrator on the free CD with book, quite cheesy!). Sooo glad I'm doing the course!

[Lotta1234]

I did NCT and hypnobirthing two years ago.

Have such an amazing group of friends from my NCT course. We thought our NCT tutor a bit bonkers so that really helped the group bond. But I also found NCT made me very scared about labour when before I'd been quite open to the experience.

So I then did hypnobirthing. I was the only one in my NCT group to do hypnobirthing and had one of the more straightforward births (water birth w/ gas and air). Several of my NCT friends are saying they'll do hypnobirthing next time.

If you can't afford the hypnobirthing course read Ina May Gaskin's birth stories book and Marie Mongan's hypnobirthing. They definitely got me through labour.

[CitizenOscar]

I did both first time round.

Hypnobirthing made more difference for my DH who had been really anxious about the birth. He found NCT classes a bit annoying & didn't bond with the other blokes at all.

I'm glad I did both but if I had to choose, I'd probably go for NCT. For the practical info & the friends, who sustained me through my maternity leave. 50% of us are pg again now so we'll be going through it together again.

So I guess it depends what you most want to get out of it. NCT didn't do much to reduce anxiety about the birth - everyone else in the class was noticeably more nervous than we were as we'd already done the hypnobirthing class. But I think I'd have been underprepared without the Nct class.

[Dorisday13]

Hypno - we did nct and it just scared me, don't bother!!

[photographerlady]

thanks for sharing. I did end up signing up for both. Hyno was a prevalentines gift from the DH