Antenatal appointments. Do I really need them

[ChildOfTheMoon]

I'm wondering do I really need to attend antenatal appointments? This is my first baby.
It would combine my usual antenatal checks but with the addition of parenting classes. This would change the time and dates of all my midwifes appointments and it would cancel my midwife appointment next week as my first antenatal class wouldn't be until start of Feb. I did want to keep my midwife appointment next week as I've had alot of bad cramping and back pain and wanted to ask them for advice and a check but this would cancel that appointment but I do wonder if the classes might be beneficial. The only things I'm keen to learn are feeding baby and labour options. The rest not so much. I don't need to discuss feelings / bonding with my baby .
I'm a first time parent. Do you really think this is important ?
I kinda feel like I can learn all that from online / support from family. It runs at a time which is not convenient with my husband getting off work. It means him having to take the whole afternoon /evening off and we can't really afford all this extra loss of pay with a baby on the way. ( already in lots of debt from fertility treatment ) and had lots of time off so I'm trying to outweigh the classes

Sorry, I'm confused. Are you talking about not going to antenatal appointments with your midwife, or not going to parenting, labour, etc, classes?

I think your thread is confusing. Antenatal appointments are the clinical bit, classes are the guidance. Missing appointments would be reckless especially with a first pregnancy. Missing classes is totally fine. They can be helpful but lots of people don't do them.

Keep any antenatal appointments with the midwife. There are usually a variety of different parenting/labour classes available so perhaps find one that suits you better?

Antenatal appointments with a midwife or other healthcare professional are to check the health of you and the baby during pregnancy. It is not advisable to miss these.

Antenatal classes, such as NCT, are entirely optional. I would have thought they’d be useful for you as a first time parent but it’s your choice.

You must see your midwife over parenting classes. Towards the end of your pregnancy your midwife will discuss feeding and birth anyway

Your message doesn’t make sense.
what are you asking if you can miss?

Sorry for the confusion .
No I would not be missing checks.
It's a combined programme. My checks urine, bp ect would be carried out by the team who run the antenatal parenting classes.
My hospital run two programmes
I can have my midwife only appointments
/my hospital run a programme for first time parents it combines the checks but addition of parenting classes at same time.
But they would just be rescheduled to days / time classes occur

I'm also pregnant with my first baby and waiting to start the extra classes (there's 4- labour and birth/inductions and interventions/early days/caring for your baby)

Coincidentally, I've only booked these today. They aren't necessary so just book them if you want to/feel the need to.

I'm attending all antenatal appointments but I'm not doing any of the parenting classes that the Trust has on offer.

I think that's what you mean?

I spent time with the mums from my nhs antenatal class in the weeks before and months after birth. Not friends for life or anything, but they were good support at the time, when dh and other friends were at work during the week. It was nice to have a friendly face to meet at the library or buggy fit classes.

Is feeding / labour pain options ect not something that's ever discussed at midwife appointments?
Are these only covered by antenatal preparing for baby appointments

Birth options may be discussed but it will be very limited. More asking what you want than providing you information.

Feeding in don't think is covered. My classes also covered bathing and basic baby care post birth which was actually way more useful .some classes also include basic first aid.

The labour part is also useful to know what's gonna happen. But i don't think it's compulsory. If you want to stay with your midwife you can usually find evening classes etc though may have to pay for them

I never did the classes. I had helped raise baby siblings and I read every parenting book available during my pregnancy. I also had family and friends around. Didn’t feel the need, basically.

Its up to you.

I did both appointments with DC1. I made many good friends and we saw each other through the darkest of newborn days.

During your midwife appointments you usually make a birthing plan and talk pain relief, just be aware birthing plans are not set in stone sometimes they can be followed sometimes they can’t. I never went to antenatal classes for any of my children, I read pregnancy books as I was interested in what was happening but all the parenting and looking after I learnt on the job lol

How far along are you? I never attended classes but my understanding that they’re for later in pregnancy?

The midwives on the postnatal ward will teach you how to breastfeed/do baths- that was my experience with my first birth anyway.

I don’t think this is a very common set up so you might not get much advice from those that have made a decision one way or another.