Midwife appts, antenatal classes

[BabyBobbins32]

Hi, I am pregnant with my 1st & just wanted to ask a few, probably silly, questions: 1 - had my 20 week scan the other day & now I don't know what I'm meant to do. My pack says I have my next appt at 25 weeks - I believe this is with the midwife at my local surgery. Do I just phone the surgery and make the appt or will I be sent a letter? All my previous appts were just sent to me in the post or I was told to arrange at the reception desk - I wasn't told anything this time? 2 - antenatal/nct classes should I book these off my own back or will midwife advise?

I would call up the surgery to book your next appointment. Then if you do receive a letter with a different appointment, you can choose which to cancel. NCT classes you would have to organise off your own back, but NHS antenatal classes should be discussed with you by the midwife. At your next appointment, if she doesn't mention it, make sure you ask so they can book you on.

Thanks so much for your advice, I've just been getting a bit confused with it all! Thank you

Hi guys,

I am 13 weeks (and 5 days :p) pregnant and this is my first pregnancy.
I am very nervous about it all as I dont know what to expect, as I know its different for everyone..from morning sickness to labour pain.
I would have loved though to be able to go to free antenatal classes and learn more & make friends (mums to be like me) but that is not possible.
I live in York (North Yorkshire) and here there are no longer free antenatal classes available since 2013 as they decided to abandon them. Not only that, but it seems that York is the only city in England where this service is not available.
It is really unfair and I just wanted to do something about it.
So I made this petition through which I hope something will be changed.

The only thing left now is to have as many people involved as possible - actually at this time: 94 more signatures.
Please, please help me and all parents-to-be in York to have the Antenatal Classes back.

It just takes 2 minutes out of your time to help us out.
Click on the link bellow and sign the petition:

www.change.org/p/antenatal-department-of-york-bring-back-antenatal-classes-in-york

Thank you!

I had to make my go appointments with my surgery but the midwife ones were given to me by post or at the previous appointment. Re antenatal classes, my MW told me to book the jus ones asap as they don't run very often and get very booked up. She said not everyone finds them useful as space restrictions meant some people end up doing them too early or late. She told me this about wk 16 and I was already too late to get a space! Ring your midwife Asap if you want to do these.

Nct classes are expensive but did help me work out what sort of labour to aim for (it is not entirely within your control despite the best plans) and did change my mid from what I assumed I wanted early on in the pregnancy. I made friends too. The quality of classes will inevitably vary from teacher to teacher though so if you know any local mums maybe see if they have any recommendations?

Thanks very much for your advice. The real issue for me is York doesn't offer free antenatal classes and I cant afford to pay for private ones.
Im sure Im not alone.

No free antenatal classes where we are either (Berkshire), booked with NCT in the end as my parents agreed to pay the £244 for us (hubby just qualified as Primary Teacher in Sept and am now 35 weeks, son due 1st April). Both sets parents also helped with nursery furniture & pushchair & car seat (mothercare £110 in sale so you can get good bargains - from there, Ikea, Ebay - chicco baby bouncer £43 from there - and Freecycle), plus family & friends donated lots baby clothes as son getting bigger or had daughter after son, etc. so lots ways to save. Changing mat £3.49 on sale at Mothercare and Tommee Tippee electric steamer £24.99 on offer at mothercare, but only one bottle, bought 4 more & bottle cleaner from Boots but all in all cheaper than the £140 were charging for same item with more bottles & cleaner elsewhere. Classes are good though, was struggling with what happens next as had one MW at 9 weeks and one at 28 weeks, then one at 34 weeks so felt I had had limited care & advice. Classes started Sat 21st Feb, finish approx. 21st March, def helped me & hubby.

Very good advice zebrasinpyjamas, I agree totally, classes have helped me decide on planned waterbirth with gas and air, originally wanted hospital birth with as many docs & drugs as poss! But time will tell if it goes this way. The women seem nice too, two classes so far and Monday is one where its just the women. All seem similar age & married like us.

Waterbirth in Birthcentre at hospital in Berks.