Early Bird Class

[MrsP26]

Has anyone else been asked to attend an Early Bird Class through Sure start prior to their Booking appointment?

I called my Dr's surgery today to find out when I should make my booking appointment and was told that their procedure has changed and I must first attend an Early Bird session at about 4 - 5 weeks (ie. about now) I contacted my local Sure start buy they don't have a space for another 2 and a half weeks.

I asked what the session is for and they said to tell me what foods to avoid. As this is my second child and it is going to be so close to my midwife appointment I really can't see the sense in taking up a place on what seems an unnecessary class (the lady I spoke to said they are massively over booked at the moment as well, which is why there are no spaces for so long.)

Can anyone else advise whether these appointments are worthwhile or whether common sense and experience are just as effective?

To me it wasn't worth while but here you can't see midwife without going. Was literally in there 5 minutes. Asked if I smoked. Weighed and measured me, gave me leaflets on foods to avoid and about screening. As I left she gave me a slip of paper for Dr requesting 5mg of folic acid as my bmi was higher than recommended and she suggested I buy some vitamin d, that really was everything x