When should my midwife tell me ???

[janmk]

Hi, I am 28 weeks and each time I ask my midwife about ante natal classes I get told I don't need to worry about that until The 32-36 week as I will forget. There has also been no discussion of any birth plan or hospital visit - is this normal ??

I did my ante natal classes at 31-34 weeks, round here they start at the beginning of each month and run for four weeks so you do need to get booked on for april really if it wprks that way near you, they fill up fast here!!

They will talk about birth plans at the classes, also my hosp visit isnt until 7th April and i'm due on 12th lol might end up just staying in if she decides to come a bit early x

I have an appt tomorrow so will ask again. Just not got much faith in my midwife !! Thanks

Hmmm...is she maybe trying to fob you off? I asked my MW at around 20 weeks, she said to speak to her again nearer the due date, so when I asked her at 30 weeks, she said our area had stopped them and were introducing a DVD instead, which would be avaliable in around three months...so around a fortnight after my DD.

I had no antenatal classes. I could have gone to an NCT one, but have heard from others (who liked them) about them and felt they werent for me.

I'm 28 weeks too and have my antenatal classes booked for the end of April. I had to
Book mine when I got to 25 weeks and I would imagine most places require you to book in advance so I'd definitely chase that one up. As for birth plans, no haven't talked to anyone about anything yet. But I have a schedule of what will happen at each midwife appointment in my notes and it seems to suggest thy there will be some discussion about this at the 34 week appt (not holding out much hope of a detailed or informative discussion seeing as I've never had any more than 4 minutes with a midwife at any appointment, so planning on finding out as much for myself as possible!)

I asked my MW at 25 weeks and she said I was going to talk about that anyway as I had my 28 week check up at hospital. I'm just waiting for when my ante-natal class is and I'm booked on a breast feeding class for April.

I would nag your midwife for classes sounds like she is fobbing you off

BLUSHINGMARE there is a section at the back of your green notes for a 'birth plan' which you can fill in

It's basically to write stuff like you want skin to skin straight away which is obvious and they do anyway if baby is well, my friend wrote only forceps as a last resort but again they do this anyway it's not like they go round pulling all babies out with them left right and centre for fun!

I've left mine blank to be honest i know i'm going to be in the best hands and there's nothing i feel overly strongly about, you can easily tell them if you want an epidural or not etc. but i suppose some people like it written down x

My midwife gave me a leaflet about local NHS antenatal classes at my booking in appointment, and advised me to book my place early as spaces are limited. The leaflet had relevant phone numbers for the venues running the courses (all were run at surestart centres), and I had to phone up myself to book.
Hospital tours were part of the antenatal classes.

Availability etc will probably vary from place to place, but I'd ask her for the details again.

I didn't really bother with a birth plan, as things can be out of your control, and I didn't want to get my heart set on things happening a certain way and then get upset if things change, if you see what I mean.