NHS antenatl classes in my area are rubbish!!!!

[Dee2009]

Hi All,

I'm 30+2wks and thought it about time i asked my MW about NHS antenatal classes, she looked gob smacked then said "OH there a bit hit and miss in this area dear" "there may be a one hour class you can go to but i think this may have stopped now!!" I mean bloody hell i'm a first timer at this no idea what to expect and no classes to attend!! Am going to spend the day trying to find classses in a different area that may be able to help and failing that will get in touch with NCT and pay for some! It just makes me so mad as i have worked full time and paid my taxes for the last 16years! What drives me even more mad is that my MW did not think to mention this sooner!!
Anyobne else in same boat??

Sorry for the rant!

Mine (in Birmingham 2 years ago) never even got started.......we all turned up for the first class and sat in a corridor for half an hour - the midwife didn't turn up! My husband had booked a half days holiday and everything. Luckily I managed to get onto an NCT class which was really valuable in terms of making new mummy friends, but I didn't really learn much that I didn't already know about birth and labour etc. If you get yourself a book on the subject you can find out everything you need to know.

Agree that it's really crap service from the NHS. I felt like I had absolutely no support from them the whole way through. My MW was great but you only get to see them for 10 min every 4 weeks through most of the pregnancy!

That's rubbish! I haven't heard anything about the NHS ones in my area either and I'm nearly 34 weeks. Apparently they will start next month. I may end up giving birth before they finish!

I'm so glad I went to NCT. But they can get booked up early so recommend you try now to get on a course.

buy a book instead

We only got one 2 hour session here too. I wasn't too worried but DH wanted some more info so we got this DVD. We didn't get to watch most of it as DD was born early but it seemed quite good.

Ours were cancelled because of the swine flu. They wont even do tours of the maternity ward so I'll have no idea what I'm doing. I must have watched every birthing you tube video going. I also discovered a fab american website called pregtastic which has radio podcasts. They've made me feel so much better, but I still feel very unprepared.

They were crap in my area, too. You had to book NCT classes when you were around 16 weeks pregnant to get a place. Obviously, as a first-timer, I had no idea I had to book up so early. I

I ended up going to a 4 session NHS course at the local hospital which was a bit lame, really. I honestly could have learned more from a good pregnancy guide. In fact, for the 'breastfeeding session, the midwife just stuck a video about bf-ing on. Could ahve watched the Discovery channel and learned more!

I did go to NHS classes - I got 2 one hour sessions. They weren't great TBH! I had already done quite a bit of my own research (mainly from the childbirth and pregnancy threads on here!) So they didn't offer me any more info than I didn't already know.

The second session on was on breast feeding and, on reflection, the information given was fairly rudimentary. They didn't give out any further info on where to find support and TBH made out like BF was a walk in the park. I know they want to encourage people to do it but it just wasn't that helpful.

So it is possible that you are not missing out on that much! I don't think most areas are commited to them so either they dont run, or those that do are a bit sketchy.

If you can afford the NCT classes I would look in to that - it's something I wish I had done with my first pg.

Books are OK, but I can't take it all in. There's nothing like sitting in a class and being able to discuss it, ask questions etc; it all sinks in so much better. I think NCT do some weekend courses which you may be able to get on if its too late for a full 8 weeker. They really are worth it. It makes you feel far less daunted by the whole labour thing, which is apparently far easier the more relaxed you are at the time.

When my NHS class eventually meets, I'm treating it purely as a chance to meet more local people than I did at NCT rather than expecting it to be particularly informative.

Oh I forgot about being able to have a look round the delievery suites - yes that was worth it actually. It's bad that they can't organise some sort of tour even if there's no class.

ClaieryFairy cant you try and say you are demanding a home birth unless they let you look around - that might get them moving!!

We had to pay a voluntary contribution for ours and they were crap.

They won't let anyone visit my local maternity unit because of swine flu.

Thanks all for your advice, have spent the morning trying to find out about classes. The local hospital don't run any classes the rely on your MW to be organised!!
So have now sent email to NCT seeing if they can us on any course's in our area although money is very tight at the moment so have asked if they give any consessions (worth a try)

NCT do concessions but I think your household income has to be below a certain level. I would ring them yourself to find out what is available and what the charges are rather than relying on your MW.

It is a pity that she didn't point this out to you earlier. I found out from friends about the need to book early. I went to both the NHS ones and the NCT ones. The NHS one was a bit pants really and the NCT ones so-so (and I say that as a fully paid up member/volunteer).

If you can't get on a class then try reading up a bit. "Know your birth rights" is very political but might give you some idea of how some maternity units tend to push women around. Forearmed and all that. You will also need good info on the pain relief options and what the implications are of using the various methods. Hopefully an NCT ANT will post.

Good luck with your labour and birth

Well I went to the NHS course ran at our local hospital and to be honest it was rubbish, I left at the coffee break.
I don't think you really need to go to classes, people didn't for centuries!
I guess if they will make you feel more happy/comfortable then great but to me the biggest thing was seeing the hospital maternity ward and knowing the procedure about when to go in and what to do to book in etc.

My class was rubbish. All teen pregnancies including me. I was the only one open minded to pain relief (you'd think they gave medals!). No one else wanted to breastfeed so I felt like a freak. And the midwife said now we watch the video, and everyone said oooooooh no thanks why would we want to see that. Then we all went home.

Luckily I had my son in a different area. After seeing how the classes we're run I asked to be moved. My current one didn't understand that "teenage mummy" doesn't define us. sigh

I am a midwife considering the possibility of starting a business providing private one to one or 'group of friends' antenatal classes. Do you think this is something you might have considered if they were available in the light of all this bad press about the ones provided by the NHS?

I spoke to my midwife this week about the classes and due to the time of them its too awkward to get there because of work so my midwife said she will do a home visit in about 2 or 3 weeks time when i am on maternity leave instead

i dont mind what classes i do but i cant afford to pay for nct ones or any other private classes

I have managed to get on an intensive NCT class starting next sunday for 6 hours!! with a womans only session the follwing week for 2 hours! I know i could just get some good books and read up, but my husband really wants to know what to expect-and i admire him for that!! He gets really worked up when i'm in pain and we're in hospital (have had many visits with enodmetriosis), and i think my mind needs to be else where and not explaining things to him or trying to calm him down!!
But in answer to your question all4one i would of liked more choice or to at least been told sooner that i would have to make my own arragements!!

Glad you got something sorted Dee