Ante-natal classes ONLY on Saturdays!!!!

[BranflakeGirl]

I have just found out stupid Crawley's pathetic excuse for a hospital ONLY runs ante-natal classes as informal "walk-in" sessions ONCE A MONTH and ONLY on Saturdays!

What about all the M2b's and their DP/DH's that work Saturdays...or have LO's already?!!!

I don't work at the mo but DH does and HAS to work Saturdays, as do hundreds of other men and women in this town, some of whom are expecting, and yet this run down, crappy excuse for a hospital ONLY offers a once a month session of "stalls and workshops" for 3 hours once a month!

Now DH and I will be unable to attend together and he will miss out on the things he needs and wants to know. How bloody unfair is this?!

I had the opposite problem - ours only ran during working hours in the week! That's why we had to attend NCT in the end , at great personal expense. Rubbish, ain't it? however, NCt ones were excellent and can heartily recommend if you can possibly afford it.

He won't miss out. He can take annual leave, or read a book, or any number of things. The ante-natal class is really not the only opportunity to learn.

Haggis - want to swap locations?! Lol!!! Just looked up NCT and am very impressed just from what I read, especially the range of reduced prices for us poor folks! Given the state of Crawley Hospital I think I would trust the NCT far more. But, it totally is rubbish that we should even need to do this!

It's really unfair! We were told that there are no antenatal classes run in our area anymore due to 'insufficient interest' I asked what we'd do if we needed any information, and I was told that the NHS book (Ready Steady Baby) contained all the information we need, and that if we had any questions, we could ask at our mw appointments (where the mw doesn't have enough time already!)

We've had to sign up to the NCT classes in our area, as this is our first, and we'd like to be as prepared as possible.

OMG Gillybean, that's even worse than here!!! Poor you. Like a bloody book can give you hands-on, practical help! for you!

Can't help wondering if this slip in provision of ante-natal services is linked to the increase in unplanned pregnancies to chav mothers who can't be bothered to go cos they think they know it all already...and it'd mean less time smoking (I actually overheard a pregnant girl of about 17 tell her friend "I ain't givin' up smokin', nah way! Makes it easier to get it out cos it's smaller innit!")

I know what you mean about being as prepared as possible, this is our first too. I am most certainly going to use the fact that I am now going to have to pay for NCT classes to back up any argument there may be over my having a home birth..."I paid £137 to learn about having this baby so I'll have it any damn place I please!" Grrrrr!!! Lol!!

I can easily believe that in some areas antenatal class provision has been scaled back through lack of uptake. The course we took with my first DC had 23 couples on it initially. Dwindled to 8 by the 3rd of 6 sessions. The course was very very good, run by 2 excellent community midwives and I made some great friends on it. But the economies of scale maybe just don't stack up.

Branflake - it is a shame that there is not more on offer where you are - have you checked with the community midwives as well as the hospital? There is still lots that you can do to prepare yourself. All the best.

llareggub - he can't take annual leave one Saturday a month as he only gets a small amount per year and this is needed for our holiday and when baby arrives (and yes, I have told him he needs to let his employers know the legal entitlement is higher and about paternity leave but he does work for a company who refused 1 days compassionate leave for his Nana's funeral so we're not holding our breath!) The point is he wants to go to classes as it's more practical and "hands on" which is his preferred learning style.

mazzy - That IS the community midwife team! They work out of the hospital (infact it's one of only a handful of departments left there now!) so it's the once a month Saturday "walk in" that's being run like some kind of recruitment fair with "stalls and workshops" for 3 hours (but we are welcome to go as many times as we need to!) or go private. As DH can't go on Saturdays, and I doubt I would want to if it's run in that sort of format, we have little choice. From what's been said here and what I have read it looks like NCT is the way to go.

Well, I accept that he wants to hands-on and that is good, but I think you have an unrealistic expectation of what the classes will be about.

My ante-natal class consisted of a video about feeding and another on pain relief. That's it. Not terribly informative, but given the current situation in the NHS I'd much rather that they prioritise and focus spending accordingly.

If you want bells and whistles then you really need to pay for it. It sucks, but I suspect that given you are posting on mumsnet you are willing and able to look at websites and make an informed decision about your birth plan.

I'm sure that you mean this to be a light-hearted thread, but if you continue to be so negative about the hospital at which you will give birth I am pretty sure it will impact upon your birth experience.

Let's face it, people only go to ante-natal classes to meet other people, don't they?

Branflake girl - you may want to look at http://www.abumpsababy.com/index.html this which is not too far from you. My mw in Haywards Heath told me about them - NHS doens't offer anything at Princess Royal any more so some of the community midwives have set this up. It runs on 5 weekday eveniongs which may be better for you but I'm not sure it is cheaper than NCT.

FWIW my old London hospital only offered similar, and for classes of about 40 couples, and it just sounded rubbish. We went with NCT and had a group of 6 - still see them despite house move and 2 years further on

Thanks megonthemoon!

It's the same for me - I'm booked up with NCT on Sundays but my husband is a display pilot and he'll be away at airshows every w/e from May-Oct. I'm really not looking forward to attending alone, but there's nothing we can do...

Can't you switch to a weekday evening course or don't NCT have any in your area?

llareggub - Actually I can't birth at that hospital, it has no in-patient facilities. I want a home birth which is why I'd like some decent ante-natal classes.

And I'm posting on MN cos this is my first baby, I have no expectations of classes, or birth or anything and I wanted to know other people experiences of this sort of thing. Most have been really helpful.

I also think the NHS should prioritise spending but then I think running a few decent ante-natal classes is more of a priority than, say, treating people who f* themselves up smoking!

NCT here does Sundays only - and it's one branch for a huge area, so there really isn't another nearby. Such a pain, especially considering the price(!)

My antenatal classes were a total waste of time. We got told nothing useful, on reflection. So don't worry too much.

What did you want people to say, though? There are plenty of sites where people will be lovely and fluffy and tell you that you are being completely reasonable. Mumsnet really isn't!

Honestly, I've had two babies and you really aren't missing out at all. Most people rant because the ante-natal classes are held during the normal working week and actually want them at weekends. The fact that your DH works weekends and has a dodgy employer really isn't the fault of the NHS.

You really ought to investigate the NCT. You get to meet a few other couples having their first baby, plenty of discussion about babycare, feeding, delivery and most people knock around with their group during their maternity leave and after. I'm still meeting up with mine 3 years on.

You do sound a bit worked up about this, and it really isn't the end of the world. It'll be fine. I do see what you mean about smoking mothers but I'm sure you'd much rather have your homebirth and lots of NHS resources for that, than a bored midwife on an ante-natal class?

To help you I shall sum up my 4 classes (slightly jaded view I know)

1: tour of delivery suite. Talked about what a contraction feels like. A period pain apparently. When I said I got my period pains in my back so I don't know what the ones in your stomach feel like I got a raised eyebrow. Went round group and said whether or not we wanted to breastfeed. A second time mum got shot down for saying she had sore nipples for two weeks ("if it hurts, you're doing it wrong" [hmmm]). No other help with breastfeeding.
2: Assisted deliveries/C section. Got shown a ventouse cap. Went through the process of an elective section. I think she did this because I mentioned my placenta previa, and a section was on the cards but not definite then. As this is what I ended up having, it was actually quite useful. But probably a waste of time for the others!

1. Birth positions. We practiced sitting on a ball and making a nest from cushions. Partners massaged us.
2. Session cancelled.

Now I know that classes vary but this is really all that happened in ours!
If you want a homebirth you'd be better off with NCT, or a DVD or something.

JosephineClaire - That really is pants! Poor you, especially as you're paying for the classes. Such a shame your hubby can't be there with you, I know how you feel cos I was gutted when I found out our community midwife service only ran their "classes" on Saturdays...and that's free! for you. Maybe some show will get postponed cos of the great British weather and he'll be able to make it to a few, eh?!

Our trust don't seem to do much at all either, and the NCT ones are all at weekends, DH has to work a lot at weekends so probably would hardly make any of the classes.

I'm really annoyed as I think it would be as useful for him as for me, as I know I will need his support, and I just never anticipated this difficulty.

In any event, I emailed NCT to ask questions about classes and no one has ever got back to me, so don't even know how to get myself booked on now

I think the classes can be good for making friends though - especially if it's your first baby. I am still in touch with some women from my classes almost 4 year ago.

This time round, the only class is in the evening so with no other childcare me and DH can't go and tbh after a long day at work, it's the last thing I fancy. My last classes were in the day and because of maternity rights I could of course take time off from work to attend - brilliant.

tiredfeet - that really sucks . I know what you mean cos I feel the same about it being useful for both of us and needing support. DH is trying to read the books but it's not his strong point, he's a more practical/visual learner. I can't believe the NHS are letting down so many expectant Mums by not providing decent/accessable courses. The NCT weekday evening classes I am looking into aren't actually that local to us, we'll have to travel to Haywards Heath. Bit worried now you've said they haven't got back to you though. I think I might call their enquiry line. The number's 03003300770 if that helps.

fifitot - I think making friends and meeting other m2b's due around the same time is a plus. It's nice you still see people from your class too. Shame you can't make classes this time round but if you're working and have LO to care for it must be nice to come home and put your feet up in the evenings...if you can!

oh ok I didn't spot the enquiry line number, thanks Branflakegirl that does help (ill with morning sickness so everything is a struggle ) thank you!

I really want to go to the local ones as we're fairly new to the area and I don't have any friends here at the baby stage yet. Our other friends are lovely but I think I will need a new network of people too. It is a shame the NHS aren't really running classes though, NCT's not exactly cheap, and I think its important that everyone gets offered a chance.

tiredfeet - Glad to help a fellow m2b. Sorry you're struck down with morning sickness, hope it eases soon. It is hard to meet people when you're new to an area, I have the same thing here. Loads of friends where I used to live but none with/having babies yet. NCT's not cheap but I think they offer some discounts if your on benefits or have a low income. DH and I couldn't afford it otherwise.