NHS Antenatal classes

[Mum2be79]

When do they begin????

I'm under York Hospital (live in East Riding) and 30 weeks + 4 days. I asked my MW at my 28 week appointment about them and she seemed to think that letters had just gone out and that I had 'just' missed out and be in the next 'cohort'.

Is it normal to be still waiting at this 'late' stage? Or am I just being impatient?

I have enquired about NCT ones but don't want to fork out so much money and they are in the evenings about a 45 minutes drive away, which in my current work circumstances (teacher, not home until 6pm), not ideal!

Hmm, I'm in Manchester and. Had to actively book onto classes at my hospital, not just wait for them. Are you sure you don't need to ring up an book a place?

Varies hugely by area - in south London you're lucky to get any as they book up before many people book in!
I'd phone up and ask.

I had to book mine myself and was told to do it ASAP or I wouldn't get a place! I had them booked by around 14 weeks...

They quite often don't want you to go until late in pregnancy. I was 36+wks at my sessions with DD.

If your MW said you'll be in the next batch I'm sure you'll get a letter soon, but no harm in clarifying that you don't have to ring and book.

I'm in gateshead and ours have been cancelled due to cutbacks so don't happen at all :(

Oh no pottering. I'm in Newcastle. Mw told me at 16 weeks to book ASAP and even gave me the number. I called and am booked in for Dec time. I'm 24 weeks atm

i had to book mine at my 12 week appt but they dont write back to confirm so its a case of if you dont hear back your booked on..... but, they dont hold them here until 35-37 weeks. (oxford) which seems awfully late to me!!!

Hi Mum2be79, I'm also in the East Riding but live nearer the coast so booked into Scarborough. With DC1 (now 2 & 10 months) I seem to remember booking myself onto the courses, I think through my community midwife. I actually did 1 session at about 30 weeks, simply because we knew DH couldn't make the one the following month due to work commitments, and then the other sessions about a month before my due date

I'm now 24 weeks and have an appt with the MW next week, and intended to get dates sorted then. But maybe it's changed since DC1 was born? Now I think about it, I've seen ante natal drop in on the timetable at our surestart centre, so maybe it's there now? Hmm, I'm rambling now . I'd make a quick call to your MW.

All the best for the rest of your pregnancy

Well, she certainly never mentioned about ringing or booking them myself! She made it quite clear that a letter would arrive in the post inviting me onto them. The East Riding will hear me roar if this is not the case and I've missed them! My actual MW appointments have been very good up to now despite having to use PALS in July to get my dating scan sorted. If I hadn't of contacted them, I would have still be waiting for my scan at 15 weeks!!

I'm a first timer and NEED to know what I'm letting myself in for!

Started mine at 34 weeks. Had had the baby by the last of the four sessions!

They were an utter waste of time in my opinion. Sorry.

Yes, I almost missed my 12 week scan this time round as well. I rang up to find out when it would be in week 12 and was told 'tomorrow at 11'. I said I hadn't got a letter about it and they said 'they hadn't realised I needed notifying' . Clearly I should have paid more attention in my mind reading lessons ... I don't know whether I feel better or worse for knowing I'm not the only one

I don't think being over subscribed is an issue round here, so you'll get on a course (once you track on down), but I do know they're cutting the number of sessions

Hope you sort it all out