Confused. Baby parent classes in hosp instead of midwife ? First time parent

[ChildOfTheMoon]

I was contacted by someone who runs a group in same hospital I attend for my midwife appointment.
She was asking me for a decision but I need to think about and learn more about it and dicuss with my partner who is currently at work.
She said I'm not obligated but it would be a chance for me to learn more about becoming a parent, labour, breastfeeding ect i think she said. There are 6 classes and they would cancel any future midwife appointments and instead they would carry out my antenatal checks .
I'm just wondering if anyone could give me a bit more information about these kinda classes if you attended them. Was there a difference In care? And what exactly the classes do. I dont know weather to attend these or stick to my midwife appointments

I don’t know, but I’d be very suspicious of anyone who calls out of the blue and pushes for a decision. The midwife care is generally good. There are NHS baby classes and private ones - you can sign up for some without any obligation or pressure. So why the sudden rush?

These people can be very dodgy - there was a company called Bounty a few years ago whose employees would go around the wards dressed in something similar to nurse uniforms and carry a clipboard, accost new mums, hand them a folder with some pamphlets, and ask for their personal information. When asked who they were they would say “oh we’re just helping, the folder has some discount codes and your child benefit form (which you can print for free from the gov website). Being in the hospital you’re used to being accosted by a wide range of uniformed people who ask your name and date of birth, your temperatue, your breakfast order, your urine output etc, so you just go on autopilot and answer before realising they should not be there. Anyway, their business was selling personal information of new mums to the advertisers. GREAT WORK. And the hospitals allowed them in because they would pay for access and the hospitals are strapped for cash. ALSO GREAT.

Anyway, I can’t see what the scam is, but it would be a no thank you from me, unless your own midwife suggests it.

@LegoDeathTrap I'm sure she's genuine as she has all my future appointments and scan dates and it takes place in same maternity department so it's highly unlikely to be suspicious. It's for first time parents. I'm assuming it's something like antenatal care and learning instead of my usual appointments with midwife but I've never heard of this before so I wanted to know from anyone who's experienced this what they learned and which they preferred

This sounds like Pregnancy Circles which I saw a poster for in my local hospital but it wasn't offered to me. Interesting concept. Midwife appointments are pretty routine, BP, urine, health questions, feel baby listen to baby, bit of advice. I think this might be a great way to get more actual info because the midwife will only be saying it once to 6 women instead of repeating it 6 times in a morning, she'll have more time to go into detail. Tbh I was surprised by how little information there was at midwife appointments. I don't think I was asked how I planned to feed baby until 38 weeks. Some babies have arrived by then!

Plus what a great way to meet other local parents to be without paying for private antenatal class.

When I had my first in 2004 I attended birthing classes at the same hospital - I only went to the first one though - I knew everything already 🤷‍♀️

We went with our first and it was a total waste of time to be honest. All they did was put the fear of god into everyone about c-sections which wasn’t helpful when I did infact needed one. I’d stick with the midwife apps to be honest

I think you need to ask on your local facebook mum’s group- you can always create a special account if you dont use facebook. Usuallu those groups are the only ones who can answer specific questions like this.

Hmmm can you message your midwife and check it's all above board? Is it free?
I had midwife appointments and attended both NHS and NCT antenatal classes. NCT was paid for, the NHS ones were free. Both gave useful info, also I made some lovely friends through NCT and it was invaluable to have friends going through the same stages with their babies and who were happy to talk baby without feeling like I was boring them!
Personally I wouldn't want to stop midwife appointments but do think antenatal classes are useful, if it was me I would stick with the midwife at the hospital and find another avenue for the classes.

I think it sounds great. It's a little like baby clinic but for mum's to be. Go along get all your standard tests done, a space to learn things & ask questions, and you get to meet others in your area. Presumably, if there are any issues you will see a midwife separately. Sounds like a good way to make sure everyone gets seen with the current shortage.

So how exactly would it work? Do you do the classes then have your 1:1 antenatal checks after? Would you have to wait around for other women to have their checks done first?

I personally wouldn’t stop my midwife appointments. I am also suspicious of being offered “group services” as it sometimes feels like a cost saving thing.

Ask your midwife !!