NHS Antenatal Classes

[Mum2b]

Hello,

I'm 11weeks pregnant with my first child. Its a very scary yet exciting time for me and my husband. However we are totally clueless about all of this and have found that we haven't really been told anything or given any support via our GP. We have of course got ourselves some books and looked up various things on the internet but its all a bit of a mine field! I was told by my midwife to think about birthing options, but seriously can't bring myself to even contemplate that yet! It's far too terrifying. I just want to get to 12 weeks first and know that our baby is developing ok and that everything is well. I feel very alone and have been suffering terribly with morning sickness and tiredness. I'd really like the chance to chat things through with other mums or professionals. Are there any classes or clubs that expectant mums go to? I understand that booking in early for antenatal classes is advised as they get booked up very quickly and this may be a good way to meet people and find out more, but i have no idea how to find out about them. I know that the NHS are supposed to run classes but I have been to the NHS website and can only find general information on classes and no area specific details. I have contacted the NCT and am on the waiting list, however i understand these classes can be pretty pricey! Can anyone advise where around here i can find NHS classes, or indeed if they are worth bothering with..

Many Thanks

[sillywoman]

Congratulations. You're certainly in the right place for having a baby as a walk down Lordship Lane any day of the week will testify! The NHS classes can be great. If you're booked with Kings they run them at ED hospital, I think that you get 3 x 2 hour (or is it 3 hour?) sessions and the Midwives that run them (who are lovely) try and cover straightforward labour and birth in the first one, 'what if things don't go to plan' in the second & babycare in the third - however it's been a couple of years since I did them so things may have changed. If they have I'm sure someone will come along soon & correct me. You can book onto the NHS classes through your midwife, but as the midwives who run them also do the admin you may not hear back from them until you're about 28-30 weeks. I think you do the classes at about 34 weeks, but again I'm not certain & my memory is a bit hazy on this.

Some sort of class is definitely worth doing, but then I would say that cos I'm the local NCT teacher:))! But I'm under no illusion that my classes can be pricey and not everyone can manage the extra cost, especially in these straightened times. I would add that there are reductions available so if you're considering NCT but the cost seems too steep it's always worth asking. You can PM me if you want to know anything more specific.

The other classes that seem to be both popular & effective are pregnancy Yoga, which you can do from now, & hypnobirthing - again probably something to do a bit nearer the third trimester. I can't recommend specific practitioners for either but I'm sure someone'll be along soon who can. There seems to be quite a bit of choice round here.

Once again, Congratulations on your lovely news. Oh - and try and book in with The Lanes midwives, (Dulwich Medical Centre), The Oakwood midwives(Forest Hill Rd Practice), or The Brierly midwives (East Dulwich Hosp - your midwife can refer you) as they offer the best of the NHS maternity care system in the way of care during labour & birth. It may not make much difference antenatally, but it may make a lot as your due date approaches.

SW.

[Keef]

Classes at St Thoma' were good too.

[BEANIE1]

Congratulations! Keep an eye out for a thread on the forum which will be posted by the administrator - the summer baby club. There is currently one for the spring babies (march to may) so the next one should be starting soon. It's a lovely way to get in contact with other mums who will be having their babies around the same time but in an informal way. Good luck.

[Ruth_Baldock]

I only did the NHS classes rather than NHS and NCT. NHS classes were brilliant, really informative. At Dulwich Hospital when I was 29-31 weeks pregnant, lovely MW who ran them. However, I WISH I had done NCT classes too- for the support network, really. I didn't know anyone after I had my baby and spent the first 10/12 weeks of his life feeling totally isolated. Friends who had an NCT group said it really helped having others in the same position, and also a weekly meetup to look forward to.

[radnrach]

We went to the NHS classes at East Dulwich Hospital. I loved them - the midwife (i can't remember her name!) was perfect, she really covered a lot in the 3 sessions. To be honest, I really didn't know the first thing about labour/after birth until going to the lessons, they pretty much taught me all I know, and I was very well prepared when it came to it! I would also say to go prepared with all of your questions, because she is very good at answering them.

Congratulations!

[sunbob]

We did the NHS classes at ED hospital too. I have managed to stay in touch with one other mum from my class and that is really nice. In the last class we all wrote our emails down and a group of us got together a few times, that group gradually shrunk down to those who were really up for being sociable on a regular basis.

[Kes]

Congratulations Mum2b!

I didn't do the NHS antenatal classes, although I did do antenatal physio and pain relief workshops (at St Thomas')which were both very good (very cute anaesthetist for the latter too) I did do NCT and it was worth it's weight in gold for the group of friends I got from it, but I did find that the class I did (not in East Dulwich I should add sillywoman!)was very focused on natural childbirth and although that was what I'd hoped for in the end things didn't go to plan and I rather wish I'd done the NHS course too as it sounds like that might have helped me be a bit more prepared. I'd say definitely do the NHS course and if you can afford it the NCT too.

I think a couple of the children's centres have early pregnancy drop ins, (I hated that you don't see anyone until 12 weeks - it seemed like forever!) google let's go southwark and you should find info.

Hope the sickness and tiredness pass soon and good luck!

K

[KristinH]

Lovely to see lots of messages and support for you. Yes, there's no shortage of courses and fantastic midwives in East Dulwich so I'm sure you'll soon feel much more confident!

I run Hypnobirthing classes in Clapham for groups and in Herne Hill privately as well as going to people's homes. I'd love to tell you more about the course as the techniques will give you the confidence and trust that you really can have an easy, comfortable birth. It's amazing and really works.

There is also a website, www.hypnobirthingdownloads.com, with a great range of tracks to download to prepare for pregnancy and birth. You could take some of these tracks to feel relaxed and positive - there's also tracks for Morning Sickness and Stress Release so hopefully some of these will help you.

Do give me a call, I'm running a 1hr Intro to Hypnobirthing in Clapham on 24th Nov, 8pm. My number is 07963 046 456 or email [email protected].

Hope to hear from you, best wishes, Kristin :)