NHS antenatal classes

[avocadotoast]

I had a letter through last week about being booked in for an NHS antenatal class, and I can't help but feel a bit disappointed.

Other people I know have been for more than one session, but that's either been at a different hospital (although same city) or a couple of years ago, so perhaps things have changed.

But from what I can gather I get one three-hour session, and they no longer do tours of the delivery suite/maternity ward, so none of that either.

Is this normal, or am I right in feeling it's a bit shit? I know the NHS is super squeezed (I have plenty of friends who work for the NHS!) so I don't know if I'm being a bit ungrateful.

I feel like this is really going to shove us towards doing the NCT classes, which will be a bit of a stretch financially, so not sure if that's worth it either!

I have asked about the classes here before and it looks like people who go several times get several shorter sessions versus my hospital was offering one long session. Either way it worked out to about 4 hrs.

In reality it was that we waited for 2 hrs for the class to start and it took about 1hr 15 min.
The midwife doing it gave great practical advices about when to come in and how to recognize labor etc but didnt know much beyond birth center stuff, only very general things about labor ward.

There were no any sort of breathing exercises or positions shown what I expected. I think I will just google that.

They can really vary.

Mine were great and I had three one hour sessions - one on pain relief and different types of births. Another on positioning in labour and the general physical process of labour, one on breastfeeding.

You might find it's all covered in one longer session. I also did NCT and the info with the NHS one was much better.

Hi avocado. If you don't mind me asking, how far along are you? I'm 33 weeks today and didn't find out about my classes until about 3 weeks ago. I had heard about them but my aunty seemed to think they didn't do them anymore, and as my midwife hadn't mentioned anything, I assumed they weren't running the free classes anymore.
Eventually it got mentioned but I'm not sure if I actually had to mention it first! They are run at SureStart Centres. I rang the one she told me about but they only had one day left free so I didn't bother. I had a letter come through from another SureStart Centre in a different village inviting me to a four week block of classes, one day a week for an hour I think. I start them tomorrow. So you could always google your local SureStart centre or ask your midwife.
Also seen people on here talk about maternity ward tours - that's not been mentioned either so I don't think it's something they offer where I live!

When I was PG with DD1 in 2011 we did NHS as well as independent (not NCT) classes.

Like your classes our NHS ones were 1 3hour session (we live in the SE), they were fairly informative, but no opportunity to build rapport / friendship with the other parents.

If this is what you're looking for then I would suggest independent classes as well - although they get booked up pretty quick, you'll have to look into it ASAP (am assuming you're in your 2nd trimester).

They really vary from hosp to hosp

Mine was a 3 hr session and cost a (non voluntary) £10 donation. No other Nhs classes.

I found it quite useful though. They cram a lot in those 3 hrs.

Also it's my understanding that NCT (to a certain extent) set their fees based on income, so if it's going to be a stretch, you may get some sort of discount?

We had a 3hr session and it included a tour of the birthing unit but not the labour ward. I can't imagine what else I could have got out of it if it was sit up into 3/4 shorter sessions and it was fine.

TBH it didn't cover anything I hadn't already read on the Internet.

The NHS breast feeding workshop on the other hand was absolute tripe.

Thanks everyone, that's helpful.

RL20, I'm 29 weeks. I had a form to fill out and hand in at my 20 week scan to register interest in the class so I don't think I've missed anything (I asked my midwife and she didn't mention anything differently).

We wouldn't be eligible for any fee reduction for NCT and I think we could afford to do it, it's just whether the money is better spent elsewhere.

(Should mention, we have provisionally registered interest for an NCT course so we have until 9th March to decide whether to do it.)

My midwife said they don't do antenatal classes any more they are called parent ed classes!

I was booked on to them at my 24 week appointment with her.

I missed the 1st one so I have to go to it tonight, I went to the 2nd one a couple of weeks ago and tbh I knew everything about labour due to reading up on it!
2 student midwifes were running it in place of my normal midwife who popped in now an again i felt sorry for them they were asking the group questions an most people just sat there in silence felt like i had to speak up even though i missed the 1st meeting I seemed to know more then the women who had been to the 1st one!

The sessions on labour are at a birth centre so you get shown around but no good for me as I am not able to use it.
The sessions are 2 evenings for 2 hours and then a 2 hour breastfeeding one that also covers how to look after your newborn that is for 2 hours in the day. This is in south east so not sure what its like for others.

Hi OP,
I'm 31 weeks & have my last class on Wednesday. It's been a course of 4 x 1hr sessions at a local children's centre. The first with an outreach worker, second with midwife, last week was health visitor & this week it's another outreach worker. no tour of hospital/delivery suite but we were given the phone numbers for the local ones to arrange a look around.
Hope this helps

I've got my last NHS class this evening, we've had four classes two hours each class. It's been really great actually, even though I first thought it might be a bit boring the lady who runs it is excellent and has given me plenty to think about.

Mine start this Wednesday - 4 x 2hours at the hospital (starting at 35 weeks). I have also booked an NCT course that starts tomorrow. £120 for 6 two hour sessions for two people. Not sure if either will be useful, but I guess I'll find out very soon!

I didn't get anything. Apparently they were full!

Id definitely recommend NCT though

Nothing has been mentioned to me in this pregnancy about them but when I was pregnant with my dd I attended the young mum groups which I really liked and found informative. At my hospital you can only have a look around the labour ward if they're not busy

Mine is one all day session 9am-3pm with a lunch break, am worried will be info overload!!

Smiley I had my first one today. Really enjoyed it actually, and you should get given leaflets/a pack of info sheets etc. If not, ask if they have any leaflets and if they don't then make sure you take a pad and pen with you just incase!