Antenatal cancelled. What now?

[DadAgain]

I am absolutely disgusted with the NHS in Solihull. The midwifes assistant phoned my wife today to inform her that the antenatal course that she was booked on to has been cancelled due to staff shortages. The cutbacks in the NHS are becoming ridiculous. Not only will my wife be having the baby in a midwife led unit because the cutbacks mean that there are now no doctors at our local hospital but we are now being told that there is zero help in preparing for the birth.

We were told that there is a single 2 hour class which we can attend for free to talk about what happens after the baby comes etc. We are now faced with having to find and pay for our own antenatal classes at 30 weeks when we were previously advised that these usually get booked up months in advance.

I'm not one for complaining but this has really angered me. Should I discuss this with the local MP maybe or does anyone have any other suggestions?

 

[DeeDeeAbi]

Can you not see if there are other classes held at other hospitals near you? I've just been to one tonight at my local hospital which was excellent, but I know leeds hospitals do their own too which I could still go to even though I'm not giving birth there. Maybe something to look into? Please don't bother forking out for an NCT course- biggest waste of money is what I'm finding so far!! Not at all realistic and just seem to want everyone to follow an active birth and breast feed- tending to ignore drugs to help and formula feeding. Good luck, hope you find something!

 

[SAHF]

I appreciate it's a frustrating situation, but the NHS is extremely stretched and I think we should appreciate it more. There are classes you can do with NCT with you can pay for, or councils also provide free classes through Sure Start centres. Have you looked into those? Not all free antenatal classes are through the NHS.

 

[DadAgain]

I appreciate it's a frustrating situation, but the NHS is extremely stretched and I think we should appreciate it more. There are classes you can do with NCT with you can pay for, or councils also provide free classes through Sure Start centres. Have you looked into those? Not all free antenatal classes are through the NHS.

I totally agree that the NHS is extremely stretched and I am not blaming the NHS staff as they do an amazing job. However the government are cutting things back to a level that is causing unnecessary risk to people. I am looking in to alternatives but it is frustrating that we now have to try and find something at such short notice.

 

[JillMcCoy]

Added stress neither of you need. I agree it's not the staffs fault but what a nightmare.

 

[theshipscat]

I enjoyed the nct ones but they were expensive and I agree they did encourage natural birth and breast feeding a bit more. Still very useful though if you can afford it. X

 

[lisa1985]

Try and see if the daisy foundation do classes in your area? I found them cheaper than NCT. They do ones just for mum and I think a class for mum and dad.

 

[JD.Deedee]

I appreciate it's a frustrating situation, but the NHS is extremely stretched and I think we should appreciate it more. There are classes you can do with NCT with you can pay for, or councils also provide free classes through Sure Start centres. Have you looked into those? Not all free antenatal classes are through the NHS.

I totally agree that the NHS is extremely stretched and I am not blaming the NHS staff as they do an amazing job. However the government are cutting things back to a level that is causing unnecessary risk to people. I am looking in to alternatives but it is frustrating that we now have to try and find something at such short notice.

Are you being serious..? People who work in A&E shouldn't be scrapped.. The doctors whom are delivering babies in complicated pregnancies or in case of complications SHOULDNT be scrapped..

Antenatal class... How about picking up a book about pregnancy and labour or go on youtube, the internet full stop full of stuff that can easily replace the antenatal class. I went once just so I didn't have to go to work instead and it bored me so I didn't go back to any of the others.. It didn't put no one at risk because information is easy to access in different ways.. If that's not enough go to an antenatal appointment and feel free to have questions directly at the midwife but do that instead of wasting your own time writing to your MP..

 

[babyslog]

tbh the classes r a bit shite anyway so ur not missing much!
U wont learn anything more than havin a read on this forum in the baby and toddler secrion, or a pregnancy book!

I dnt think anything can prepare you until baby is actually here

 

[kumber]

I never had classes, didn't much see the point! Heart of England Trust is really struggling atm and even with the classes I don't think you'd be prepared for the quality of care and how much they don't listen to you in their hospitals! I gave birth twice at Good Hope and the postnatal care was appalling. I got little to no breastfeeding help with my first and any help I did get was extremely rough, and with both they were meant to have 2-4 hourly obs which didn't happen. The Trust is spread extremely thin to the point where there is an investigation into why. Having said that, at no point were I or my children at risk by not having antenatal classes or their obs, the care we received in labour was fantastic.

Personally, I think you're being a bit melodramatic wanting to write to your MP. As others have said, get some books and read up on the forum. Use the Baby and Toddler section to ask as many questions as you want.

 

[theshipscat]

I think it's completely up the the individual whether you think you need a class. I didn't learn much new info at all but to my partner it was all new. Plus I found it useful to discuss things with other new parents. You should really do what's best for you. X

 

[DadAgain]

I appreciate it's a frustrating situation, but the NHS is extremely stretched and I think we should appreciate it more. There are classes you can do with NCT with you can pay for, or councils also provide free classes through Sure Start centres. Have you looked into those? Not all free antenatal classes are through the NHS.

I totally agree that the NHS is extremely stretched and I am not blaming the NHS staff as they do an amazing job. However the government are cutting things back to a level that is causing unnecessary risk to people. I am looking in to alternatives but it is frustrating that we now have to try and find something at such short notice.

Are you being serious..? People who work in A&E shouldn't be scrapped.. The doctors whom are delivering babies in complicated pregnancies or in case of complications SHOULDNT be scrapped..

Antenatal class... How about picking up a book about pregnancy and labour or go on youtube, the internet full stop full of stuff that can easily replace the antenatal class. I went once just so I didn't have to go to work instead and it bored me so I didn't go back to any of the others.. It didn't put no one at risk because information is easy to access in different ways.. If that's not enough go to an antenatal appointment and feel free to have questions directly at the midwife but do that instead of wasting your own time writing to your MP..

Where did I say that cutting antenatal classes is putting people at risk???? I said that the government are cutting things back to a level that are putting people at risk. Things such as having no doctors available in the same hospital as the maternity unit.
The local MP is a point of contact regarding local services. Why should he not be answerable to his constituents when he was elected based on his promise to keep local NHS services running?

 

[DadAgain]

A lot of you are saying that you have been to these classes before and that they are not needed etc. This is my wife's first baby. She has not had the benefit of going to these classes to know whether they are worth it. It is a nerve-wracking time for her and all we want is the support that we were promised by the midwife. You may not think that we need to attend these classes to gain information but there are huge amounts of contradicting information on the Internet.

If it was as simple as 'reading a book' then why have the NHS been running these classes for decades? Sorry but I think some of you may have forgotten how it felt the first time around.

 

[DadAgain]

To those of you who offered constructive advice, thank you. I will look in to some of your suggestions.

 

[Pin badge]

We did a 4 hour class as that was all that was offered in our area. I was about 37 weeks when we attended it so you still have some time.
It was ok but to be honest I learned more from books and watching one born every minute.
I saw the midwifery led unit as a positive thing as I was keen to have as little intervention as possible. It worked well for me and I had the birth I wanted.
I totally understand that you want to feel prepared for the birth but try not to make yourself feel more anxious, be practical and do some research so you feel more in control. Xx

 

[Pin badge]

One thing I'd definitely try to do is get a tour of the unit where you will give birth, that was really helpful.xx

 

[babyslog]

Lol.
I do remmember what it was like, and thats why i was giving ADVISE. Wasnt shooting u down for wanting to go.

Was basically trying to reassure you and your wife that if you were not able to get on a course, not to worry as you can find alot of helpful information from 1st time and x amount times mums on here asking and answering alot of questions that are not even covered in these classes.


None of which told me what it was going to be like in the 1st few weeks after giving birth.
That id have a midwife come and ask me to spread my legs for 10 days to check my stitches or that id need to jug of water poured over my vagina just so i could have a wee!!!!

Undestand your 1st time parents. We are just advising..
Even the breastfeeding classes were pointless, they show u how to do it with a doll, yet dont tell you the complications you could get or the pain it is when a baby doesnt latch. Or the fact mastitis is very common and that my nipples were going to bleed and puss because they were so sore!!!!!


I wont bother replying to your posts again if you are foing to get your knickers in a twist. Hope you enjoy your classes!

 

[JillMcCoy]

A lot of you are saying that you have been to these classes before and that they are not needed etc. This is my wife's first baby. She has not had the benefit of going to these classes to know whether they are worth it. It is a nerve-wracking time for her and all we want is the support that we were promised by the midwife. You may not think that we need to attend these classes to gain information but there are huge amounts of contradicting information on the Internet.

If it was as simple as 'reading a book' then why have the NHS been running these classes for decades? Sorry but I think some of you may have forgotten how it felt the first time around.

As a first time mum too I found the classes interesting. Some of the content was a bit like common sense but some bits I didn't know. I feel bad you guys never got to go and books are useful but being with other couples was really useful as they asked stuff I hadn't even thought about.

 

[Becky1]

If you and your wife are that worried then pay for classes. All my NHS trust offer is a one off 1.5hr class anyway. Yes NCT are expensive but there are other classes out there. Perhaps she could talk to family and friends that have had babies too?

Not quite sure how you think your MP will help... Run the class for you maybe?!

 

[B81292]

I had the same thing - my evening antenatal were cancelled and we managed to get on a full day course which covers everything . To be honest , I didn't learn a lot more than what I could teach myself , I.e books YouTube videos Internet. It was interesting don't get me wrong and I'm glad I went but I found I knew quite a bit what they talked about .