ante-natal classes- going it alone?

[pinkgirlythoughts]

Hi,
I have my first (and only, actually) ante-natal class tomorrow. It's a one-off, four hour course, run by the local hospital, and DP was supposed to be coming with me, as he's been working abroad for almost my entire pregnancy, so the 20-week scan is so far the only baby-related thing he's been able to come to. However, he's just started a new job (back in England, thankfully!), and has to work tomorrow, so he now can't make it. I've gone from really looking forward to going, to now absolutely dreading it, and seriously considering not going at all, rather than have to go alone and spend almost a whole day surrounded by happy, baby-fied couples, while I sit there by myself. There's no point taking anyone else with me, as they won't be there when the baby's actually born.
Has anyone been to these type of classes alone? Is it worth it, or shall I just forget about it if he can't come with me?

Oh, and I've already tried re-booking the class for a different date. The next available one is a week before my due date.

Perhaps it's due to the area I live in, or perhaps it's normal, but at our classes, my DH has been the only man present. I'm sure you won't be the only lady on her own. Use the situation to your advantage, and make some friends while you're there. I've not made any friends at my classes, as I'm the odd kid attending with a man!

I attended a large NHS antenatal class when preg with DC1 - it was over several mornings, I forget how many.

There were about 20 women in the class and only 2 brought their husbands or partners to every session, and a couple of fathers came to the odd one, most (in fact I think all) the women in the group were either married or living with baby's fathers (8 of us stayed in touch afterwards), so it wasn't due to a high percentage of single mothers, just to the fact the course was in the working day and employers expect mums to need the time off for the course but it's not automatic in the same way for fathers.

As nancerama says the mums who attended with partners were a bit left out of the social chat between mums, and consequently not part of either of the groups that formed friendships and stayed in touch afterwards, as they were a "unit" with their partners so didn't mix nearly as much.

So I'd say it's better to go on your own :)

The problem is, the class is arranged for a Saturday, and a one-off session rather than a few weeks, so that as many dads as possible can come to it. It also seems to be the case around here that most people take their partners to everything- I'm regularly the only one waiting at midwife appointments with no man in tow :(

it will be fine, honestly. even if you are the only one on your own, its not like no-one will speak to you. The only thing DP found useful at the session we went to (which sounds identical to your set up) was the tour round the ward and they run that every week so maybe your DH could go on a different week to that?

Really wouldn't worry too much about going alone to the class, after all you're the one that's having the baby.

Don't know where you live but I don't know many women who had their partner with them at midwife / antenatal appts (as partner was usually working / babysitting the older kids!)

Stay strong, you WILL be fine.