Re: Second time around

[Guest guest]

I think this is appalling, we offer " subsequent Mums " courses for anyone on

a 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc pregnancy who wants to take them up, unfortunately our

take-up is not huge.

Cerys Byrne

Basingstoke Branch Chairman, Membership Secretary & Exp Reg holder

Mum to 1/12/95 & Kieran 31/12/98

Re: Second time around

> I had *only* NHS classes first time round. I wanted to do NCT classes

with

> my second, but the refresher courses were only for mums who had already

done

> NCT classes, so I didn't qualify.

> So off I went to NHS classes again. I also went to NHS classes with my

> fourth.

[Guest guest]

> And lots of 2nd time mums would probably quite like another set of

> classes, especially those who only had NHS...

Very true. Offered these during the day with DS2, but no creche and no

toddlers allowed, so couldn't go. We do not run refresher classes in this

area. At that point the branch ran PN ex and discussion. Again a place you

can't take toddlers; ditto bumps and babies, new baby groups.

[Guest guest]

> And lots of 2nd time mums would probably quite like another set of

> classes, especially those who only had NHS...

Very true. Offered these during the day with DS2, but no creche and no

toddlers allowed, so couldn't go. We do not run refresher classes in this

area. At that point the branch ran PN ex and discussion. Again a place you

can't take toddlers; ditto bumps and babies, new baby groups.

[Guest guest]

As a parent-to-be I attended labour days for DD1(evening classes were full)

and a full set of evening classes for DD2. For the second set, babysitting

(and money!)was a problem so I offered to host and class-support to solve

this.

As ANB sec I came across many couples who 'just' wanted a refresher course

when they hadn`t done NCT classes before. IMHO, if anything, they need

*more* than the first timers class - not less! They may have gone through

first labour without the benefit of 'knowledge' (factual/self/couple) which

NCT classes can provide. Also they they have lots of debriefing on the first

experience to do. I currently feel that if I have a second time couple on

one of my future courses, I would like to have a separate session with them

before the start of the course to do this - and to avoid any 'hidden agenda'

when the full class starts

Barbara

Student ANT (feels like teaching is a long time off...)

PS I`ll post something to ANT list - prob tomorrow, just off to tart myself

up for dancing class

> Diz: Some years ago, we were told that 'subsequent mums' should have been

to classes previously if they wanted to attend a shortened 'refresher

> course', as the ANT could then work on the basis that everyone shared a

> common knowledge base. I'm not sure if this is still the case though -

> ask on the other list?

[Guest guest]

As a parent-to-be I attended labour days for DD1(evening classes were full)

and a full set of evening classes for DD2. For the second set, babysitting

(and money!)was a problem so I offered to host and class-support to solve

this.

As ANB sec I came across many couples who 'just' wanted a refresher course

when they hadn`t done NCT classes before. IMHO, if anything, they need

*more* than the first timers class - not less! They may have gone through

first labour without the benefit of 'knowledge' (factual/self/couple) which

NCT classes can provide. Also they they have lots of debriefing on the first

experience to do. I currently feel that if I have a second time couple on

one of my future courses, I would like to have a separate session with them

before the start of the course to do this - and to avoid any 'hidden agenda'

when the full class starts

Barbara

Student ANT (feels like teaching is a long time off...)

PS I`ll post something to ANT list - prob tomorrow, just off to tart myself

up for dancing class

> Diz: Some years ago, we were told that 'subsequent mums' should have been

to classes previously if they wanted to attend a shortened 'refresher

> course', as the ANT could then work on the basis that everyone shared a

> common knowledge base. I'm not sure if this is still the case though -

> ask on the other list?

[Guest guest]

> As ANB sec I came across many couples who 'just' wanted a refresher course

> when they hadn`t done NCT classes before. IMHO, if anything, they need

> *more* than the first timers class - not less! They may have gone through

> first labour without the benefit of 'knowledge' (factual/self/couple)

which

> NCT classes can provide.

I'm doing " refresher " classes on second time round but didn't do first time

NCT classes. This does not mean I wasn't knowledgable - I read loads of

books (mainly NCT ones) and discussed stuff with people. I ended up with a

c/s and felt out of control but so do many women who have had NCT classes -

4/6 of a recent local class ended up with em c/s.

>Also they they have lots of debriefing on the first

> experience to do.

I think *all* mums need debriefing on first experience and this is not to do

with whether they previously did NCT classes or not.

>I currently feel that if I have a second time couple on

> one of my future courses, I would like to have a separate session with

them

> before the start of the course to do this - and to avoid any 'hidden

agenda'

> when the full class starts

A good idea, but I thought the initial thread was questioning why women who

wanted to do refresher classes couldn't if they hadn't previously done NCT

classes. We certainly have no such rules about refresher or normal antenatal

classes in our branch. As I see it the main obstacle to doing first time

classes on your second baby is getting a baby-sitter for 8 or 9 weeks on the

trot while you and partner do classes!

Helen