worry I'm sure you know this, but you can decline to be weighed if you want. I refuse to get on the scales. I don't want to be weighed because I have previously been unhealthily pre-occupied with my weight, and don't want to go there again. In addition it is a very poor measure of how your pregnancy is doing. Frequent weighing is not good for my mental health.
Also, regarding midwives and referring to family / friends for advice. In my first pregnancy I was really really put off midwives. I found them ignorant, dismissive and inconsistent. I chose to see my GP instead, who turned out to be very clued up and gave me good care. In my second pg I was consultant lead and only saw a midwife for my booking in, and again when I was admitted for my CS (that midwife totally reinforced my previous view of midwives)! This time I was determined to avoid MWs again. But it just so happened that I had my booking appointment with a good one, and things have changed so I will have her as my named contact for the whole pregnancy. And you know what? She's been amazing and helpful and accessible. I had a chicken pox related scare and she handled in quickly and reassuringly, and completely in accordance with the NHS guidelines.
I'm a HCP, and really do not like giving advice to family and friends. I will give cagey / non- committal answers along the lines of "..its really hard to say without access to your records..." "..I can't give a certain answer with access to all my usual equipment.." because I know that 1. I don't want to be responsible for someone I know and love, and 2. because actually, those are the professional things to say. It might be that you have a different relationship with your HCP family / friends.
toffee I did an non NCT antenatal course with DS1. I didn't find it useful. Didn't learn essentials for once he was born, not sure I could have used the techniques in labour (has a pre-labour EMCS). Certainly did not make any long term friends (they were all cows). I guess it's lack of the draw really. I did a hypnotherapy book and CD which I found helpful. I got the most reassurance from my mum who said: the contractions hurt, but you do get to rest in between them, pushing is really satisfying because it feels like doing a massive poo (!), her hardest labour was the one with the epidural, so try to manage without, and it's only a short phase in parenting, the hard bit is after! Anyway, I didn't do classes for DS2 and won't this time.
Our trust will listen to HB at 16 weeks. Theyve found ti both times before.