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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

NHS antinatal classes...

17 replies

lilyblue5 · 14/07/2014 22:14

35 weeks and finally been invited to antinatal classes, feeling distinctly underprepared as it's my first pregnancy.
They start this week.

Told by the midwife there are two sessions, one on labour - 2 hrs. One on breast feeding - 2 hrs. Panicking now, how much can you learn in 2 hrs!!!

Anyone been to these - are they good/enough???

Also, the man is working so I will be on my own - is that usual?

Also, only 2 sessions??
I feel like I will learn more through mums net!!!

Your experiences welcome, thanks :)

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Original poster

lilyblue5 · 14/07/2014 22:16

Just realised I've spelt antenatal wrong, that explains why my phone didn't like it! Please excuse thus...

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museumum · 14/07/2014 22:19

We had four but I can't remember anything from the last two - first two were birth and breast feeding which is pretty much all you need to know pre-birth.

Alb1 · 14/07/2014 22:27

We get one 2 hour session which includes tour of chosen birth place so it's slightly better than that atleast!

stargirl1701 · 14/07/2014 22:30

I would recommend doing your own research. For Breastfeeding:

Read The Food of Love
Read The Womanly Art of Bf
Visit your local bf cafe
Visit your local LLL meeting
Put the bf helpline numbers in your phone
Watch latch videos on Dr Jack Newman's website
Read articles on kellymom.com

RAFWife12 · 14/07/2014 22:31

I went to mine alone - DH was away. They packed a lot into 2 hours, but not a lot that ended up being helpful to me! They covered normal labour, and normal after care stuff. Helpful for the majority, but there was very little normal about my labour and birth experience!
They cover the basics, hopefully you won't need more than that.

13Stitches · 14/07/2014 22:37

I think we had 2 antenatal evenings and a BF one where we all piled into the local BF group.

Tbh I didn't really get much from the antenatal sessions apart from discovering that the local midwives are into homeopathy (you'll be proud of me, I didn't shoot her down or argue. Just a 'right ok then'!)

Although the squashy baby vs pelvis model was interesting to see.

Reading Ina May Gaskin's book and the NHS site and threads here taught me more.

The BF sesh was good though and meant I was less nervous when I finally visited with a baby.

Timeforabiscuit · 14/07/2014 22:40

Mine were a tour of the hospital and a thorough going through of what would happen in an emergency, a c-section, how an epidural would be administered - with the proviso that your birth plan says one thing and reality can go in a distinct otherly direction.

DH found it reassuring, and I had a straight forward birth - so you could call it useless or a good heads up!

Timeforabiscuit · 14/07/2014 22:42

Modelling breast feeding with a plastic doll DID NOT prepare me for a heavier model that moves independently.

Buffy81 · 14/07/2014 22:43

We get to have up to 5 2 he sessions. One on active birth, one on pain relief, one on looking after baby after birth, one on multiple births is twins and a health and well beie which is for women only. We are only going for the 1st 3. We don't get a tour of the maternity unit we can watch a video of it on the hospital website or buy a DVD of it as we have 2 hospitals both of which have maternity units. We also if have the option of booking onto a course regarding water births if that is something that we are interested on.. We can do a Brest feeding one, bit that is done elsewhere and we have to book ourselves Iinto it.

I guess it depends on what they are going to cover. With labour, they might also include types of pain relief, touch on birth plans and c-section. Not sure what they would cover on breast feeding as that is one that I need to book onto

I guess each trust is different to how many they do and what they will cover

If your partner can't make them, can you not ring and change your your times/days ortasle as friend with you?

Heatherbell1978 · 15/07/2014 07:06

I got invited to 3 NHS sessions but didn't go as we opted for NCT instead (which we're doing now). I know they're different classes but I've got a lot out of the NCT despite doing a lot of my own research. We had a 3 hr breastfeeding session last night which was helpful but as they're there to promote bf, there was nothing covered on alternatives if things go wrong so I feel a bit unprepared about that. But we did a great session on pain relief options and labour. I would go if I were you and don't worry about going alone, I'm sure there will be others in the same boat.

Fairypants · 15/07/2014 08:21

I've been offered 5 x 2 hr sessions. So far had 2 (one on labour and one on bfing). They did manage to get a lot into the labour one -stages of labour, when to call mw, pain relief and a bit on interventions. I'm not sure what is left really- I know there is at least one with a physio but can't imagine there is much left to cover unless they are going to go more into detail so I guess they can cram it all into 3.
In terms of partners, mine hasn't made it so far due to work and that is fine. About 50% of women had partners at the first session and very few had them at the second one. If they are during the day, there are always lots of dads who can't make it as they don't get the time off.

Marnierose · 15/07/2014 08:27

I think if you want more it's worth looking into private classes

Lj8893 · 15/07/2014 08:33

We had 3 sessions, one on classic labour, one on complicated labour and one on breastfeeding. And a hospital tour.
i felt this was enough for me as the midwife running the classes was fantastic and answered every question.
there was only about 5 of us in total, one lady didn't have her dh with her and it wasn't an issue.

dreamingofwineandcheese · 15/07/2014 08:38

In my last pregnancy there were two sessions of 2 hours, one was labour and one was caring for the baby. They were really informative. This time we are in a different area and it's one whole day of 9-4. We are going as DH was away last time so I took my sister instead.

I had done a lot of reading as well though so I felt quite prepared. I second Stargirl's recommendation for reading The Food of Love if you are planning to breast feed it's very informative, I have read it again this time around. I liked the fact that when people told me baby shouldn't be feeding so much/questioning milk supply I had the answers and it gave me much more confidence in my decisions as those who haven't breast fed don't really understand how it works but will give their opinion anyway!

NickyEds · 15/07/2014 08:53

We had one, 2 hour session on the NHS. Run by mw, first hour was on labour, second hour was pain relief. Dvd on breast feeding and we went on a visit to the delivery suits and labour ward. I got the NHS e- mails and read all of the crapleaflets the mw gave me. I knew the basics of labour and pain relief. No amount of reading would have actually prepared me for birth but I really wish I read more about problems with bf. I also wish I'd done nct-my friend made some good mates there.

squizita · 15/07/2014 09:00

I did NCT's basic classes because I was told by people I know the NHS classes are crowded and very fast. I had reservations as I thought they might be heavily home-birth etc' but thankfully they did a survey and as we were all using hospital/MLU they focused on that alongside pain relief etc'.
Although they did cost £££! Even for basics.
Their breastfeeding one was very optimistic shall we say... mates of mine who BF and are pro BF were shocked when they said most women don't get chafed nips to start with etc' ... I think they're trying to 'sell' it but even so I agree with PP find someone who really did it for a few months and ask them.

Original poster

lilyblue5 · 15/07/2014 19:28

Thanks ladies, I am definitely going, I need to learn as much as I can!

I looked into NCT, unfortunately all that's available in my area (I think I left it too late) is after my EDD.

I just naively thought the NHS classes were a bit more. Never mind! I guess nothing can really prepare you except from actually doing it!

I will go open minded of course, look forward to seeing how much they can fit in! :)

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