antenatal / parentcraft class

[amoney]

Hi All

First time mum so don't know what is standard but have just been told by midwife to book onto parentcraft / antenatal classes.

Turns out this is just 1 class, a full saturday - comprising antenatal class in the morning and then a tour of the hospital ward in the afternoon.

I was under the impression that antenatal classes would be a series of classes (maybe 4) that would concentrate on various topics each week? Is this standard or does it just depend on area etc...

Just keep feeling that 1 morning will never be long enough to cover everything?

Your impression is IME more normal but it will vary according to area.

Why don't you see what the NCT is doing in your area? I never joined but my SiL did as the antenatal in her area were patchy.

Every area is different. We have 4 sessions but they were only about 1.5 hours each so basically the same as 1 full day. Also if yours are on a saturday thats great for not having to take time off work. As with everything in the NHS its pot luck. My classes were useless, my sister in law 10 miles away but a different NHS area had fantastic ones.

I had six Parentcraft classes, each lasting 2 hours, the last hour was a physio/exercise session so the actual classes added up to 6 hours. Bits of the classes were really good - baby first aid, St John Ambulance etc, the midwife facilitating the classes was a tad anti painrelief, anti formula feeding, anti dummy etc but overall I thought the classes were good and obviously free!! The tour I found invaluable as it helped you visualise what would happen throughout d day.