Antenatal Classes and the rest!

Hi everyone,

I am new to the site and new to this whole pregnancy business. I am 23 weeks, this is my first pregnancy and it's taken me about 20 weeks to realise that this is really happening and now I have a billion questions and concerns!:think:

Im not really sure about how to go about getting advice on things, so I thought i'd just post a tread and see how it goes! any help would be greatly appreciated!:pray:

I guess what I am looking at now is Antenatal classes/Birthing Classses, Breastfeeding classes, daddy classes etc.. and anything i can do to be as prepared as possible. I am booked into the birth centre at John Hunter Hospital and know that they do antenatal classes but have no idea how to go about it all!

I have just begun freaking out as I will be leaving work in the next few weeks and now this is ALL i have to concentrate on!

would love some help and direction and support and guidance!

natari :)

Wow your leaving work early - how lucky for you !!! I am green with envy I had to work up to 34 weeks and I was buggered.

I am not sure about your hospital, mine started to discuss the classes round the 24 week appointment time when I actually booked into the hossy. We did a physio class, 2 antenatal classes and 1 breastfeeding class. All were very valuable for information about different things but I would suggest either using these forums or asking your Ob or Midwife if you had something very specific that you wanted to find out about.

If they don't discuss booking you into the classes at your next appointment then you bring up the subject. Or ring them and ask them while you are thinking about it. Its never a guarantee that they will remember to cover everything with you so you need to be responsible for your pregnancy and actively seek out what you need if that makes sense.

Good luck - breath and relax you will be just fine.

Nae x

Hi Natari!

Not 100% sure about John Hunter but I'm going to Newcastle Private for mine. Being that they're on the same grounds I would say their procedures would be very similar.

I have my booking in appointment for hospital at 20 weeks (they said they like you to be 20 weeks before they book you). When I rang up to book that I enquired about Antenatal and the lady said that they like you to be finished by 32-35 but usually leave it as late as possible.

I'd suggest ringing and asking to be put through to maternity and asking someone there ASAP as I was told the antenatals can book out really quickly and if you can't get one the nearest is Maitland.

Good luck! And feel free to PM me want any more info or if you just feel like chatting to another local ;)

Hi Guys,

thanks for the advice. I have had success booking into classes so im all ready to get started!

BOC I will most likely take you up on that PM offer so I can chat with a local, I don't have any one close that is pregnant or has kids so its always nice to chat to someone and relate to them!

Natari

Absolutely! Would love to chat!

When are you booked into your classes?

Great!

I am booked in from the 12th November for 1 2 hours class per week for 6 weeks. Finish just before Chrissy.

Hi local girls,
Best of luck with your classes - I went through the private to have DD and I did alot of reading before having her. I didn't really find that the classes all that beneficial but couldn't have been talked out of them first time around. (DH and I were bored out of our brains) I ended up with a C section so most of what they taught didn't apply anyway.
I also did the BF classes and similarly found that most of that learning was done on the job.
I hope you get more out of them than I did xo

:hello: Janie! Another fine Novocastrian! Welcome!

Thanks for the tips on the private classes, I noticed on my booking form that they also do bf classes and I'm thinking of signing up, even if I don't really get a whole lot out of them it would be interesting to see some of the techniques etc so by the time I'm in hospital surrounded by people I won't feel so clumsy & overwhelmed.

Hey I noticed your DD was conceived thru IVF, my bub is an IVF special too! Did you go to Hunter IVF? I was seeing Andrew Hedges and thought he was fantastic. In fact they are having another brunch this weekend that we're going to and I'm looking forward to seeing the staff again.

How are you going Natari?

I loved my classes, and even though I ended up having a CS they were still valuable (I did the CS class even though most opted out of it) A few of the girls from my class ended up in my mums group and 6 years on we still meet up on a regular basis. Go for it, it is one of the best times of your life make the most of it and if nothing else you will know the staff, which will be great when it comes time to giving birth and afterwards BF etc.:D
And look.... already good things have come from it, you have met local girls in the same situation.;)
Good luck and have lots of fun.

BOC - DD and snow bubba that's on board now are both through Sydney IVF - Woolcott. I've heard lots of great things about Hunter IVF - my ob is through them so it probably would have been easier to go there from the start.
Blackduckies - Our class must have been a bit funny the opportunity was there to catch up afterwards but no one did. Some people refused to put down contact details. I guess the group you're with can really add to the experience. Our due dates are very close.

Janie, who is your Ob? I'm seeing Jillian Spilsbury

My ob is Denise Nesbitt, Jillian does all my scans though. Jillian is great - you're very lucky to get into her. Her books were full with my DD then I decided to go with the doctor who knew my history this time around.

Hehehe I had the opposite effect, Denise's books were full when I rang her LOL but I'm very happy with Jillian, she's so calm, relaxed & down to earth.