While Pregnant
Tower Hamlets NCT antenatal classes all include a two-hour breastfeeding course, with a local breastfeeding supporter.
There are free NHS Breastfeeding classes, run by Jo and Joy, Tower Hamlets' breastfeeding specialist midwives, held at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, every 3rd Wednesday of the month, on the 4th Floor Holland wing from 1pm - 3pm. I'm afraid only women are welcome. If you have questions, ring them on 020 7377 7000 Ext 3948
You don't need to book ahead, but you should get there for the start of the class. To attend, you should be giving birth at the RLH, or be a Tower Hamlets resident.
You could also visit one of the local BfN breastfeeding drop ins for a chat, and to meet local breastfeeding supporters.
When Your Baby is Born
The Tower Hamlets Breastfeeding Project is a team of breastfeeding support workers who provide information via home visits and drop-in groups to all first time mums in Tower Hamlets, and any mums of second or subsequent babies who would like their help and support.
If you live in Tower Hamlets but give birth outside the borough, you can refer yourself to the project. As soon as you get home, phone 020 7377 7000 x 3948 saying your name and address and that you've just had a baby. You can leave a message anytime. Someone from the team will call you back as soon as possible. The team works office hours Monday to Friday.
The Breastfeeding Network is very strong in Tower Hamlets. Their supporterline, on 0870 900 8787, is a very good place to start getting help if you are having trouble. (The NCT, La Leche League and Association of Breastfeeding Mothers are other good organisations offering breastfeeding support in the UK. But the BfN covers Tower Hamlets better than any of the others.)
BfN members run a wide range of breastfeeding drop ins in Tower Hamlets. You don't need to be having a problem to visit, you can just drop in for a chat.
You can find information and support about breastfeeding at a range of websites:
Wednesday, 10 January 2007
Meeting Other Mums
If you attend a Tower Hamlets NCT antenatal class, you will meet other mums there. Whether or not you take one of our classes, there are a range of other ways to meet local mums:
Coffee Mornings
Coffee mornings are mostly held in people's homes. They are open to pregnant women, or mothers of new babies, living in and around Tower Hamlets. You do not need to join the NCT to attend a coffee morning.
The best way to get coffee morning details is to join the NCT - you will be sent our quarterly newsletter, with details of coffee mornings in it. You can also get details of the coffee mornings from:
Tower Hamlets NCT Committee
Our branch is run entirely by volunteers, and we are often looking for people to help out. You can start while pregnant. If you're interested, please email me.
Tower Hamlets Mums 2 Be Group
A local mum is organising fortnightly social evenings for Tower Hamlets mums-to-be. The venue will vary between local bars/cafes and being hosted at NCT members' homes.
For more information, you can email the organiser, or join the mums to be yahoo group.
Because organisers of this group keep going off an having babies, we're always looking for someone to take over her job. It isn't very demanding, and is an excellent way to meet other pregnant mums in Tower Hamlets.
THNCT Yahoo Group
Our yahoo group is also a good place for information and chit-chat. We have monthly pub outings, nearly new sales, etc etc.
Coffee Mornings
Coffee mornings are mostly held in people's homes. They are open to pregnant women, or mothers of new babies, living in and around Tower Hamlets. You do not need to join the NCT to attend a coffee morning.
The best way to get coffee morning details is to join the NCT - you will be sent our quarterly newsletter, with details of coffee mornings in it. You can also get details of the coffee mornings from:
- E1/2: Kate Murphy, or 020 7702 7111 (8am to 6pm)
- E3: Lisa Logan, or 078 4338 5705
- E14: Emma Wigmore, or 07949 135 220
Tower Hamlets NCT Committee
Our branch is run entirely by volunteers, and we are often looking for people to help out. You can start while pregnant. If you're interested, please email me.
Tower Hamlets Mums 2 Be Group
A local mum is organising fortnightly social evenings for Tower Hamlets mums-to-be. The venue will vary between local bars/cafes and being hosted at NCT members' homes.
For more information, you can email the organiser, or join the mums to be yahoo group.
Because organisers of this group keep going off an having babies, we're always looking for someone to take over her job. It isn't very demanding, and is an excellent way to meet other pregnant mums in Tower Hamlets.
THNCT Yahoo Group
Our yahoo group is also a good place for information and chit-chat. We have monthly pub outings, nearly new sales, etc etc.
Antenatal Exercise in and around Tower Hamlets
Antenatal Yoga:
Bodywise. Roman Road near Globe Road. Discount for all NCT members.
Flow Studio. In Wapping
Holistic Health. Broadway Market, in Hackney.
The Quiet Space. Docklands
The Yoga Place. Bethnal Green.
Aqua Exercise:
The Arches Leisure Centre in Greenwich offers antenatal aqua exercise classes
Bodywise. Roman Road near Globe Road. Discount for all NCT members.
Flow Studio. In Wapping
Holistic Health. Broadway Market, in Hackney.
The Quiet Space. Docklands
The Yoga Place. Bethnal Green.
Aqua Exercise:
The Arches Leisure Centre in Greenwich offers antenatal aqua exercise classes
Homeopathy for Pregnancy and Childbirth Workshop
A local homeopath is planning a two hour class for mothers to be and their birth partner.
£20 per couple or £45 (including a 42 remedy kit).
Dates for 2007: Saturday July 14th, Saturday September 15th, Saturday November 10th.
Homeopathy is a form of natural medicine that is effective and safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. During this class, you will learn about remedies that can help during pregnancy, with a particular focus on those that can be helpful during childbirth.
Every birth is a unique and challenging experience that is naturally unpredictable. Remedies support this process in a number of ways: to establish effective contractions, prevent exhaustion and by helping to resolve fear and anxiety. We will also look at how homeopathy can be used to speed recovery after the birth.
Email Tracy to book your place.
£20 per couple or £45 (including a 42 remedy kit).
Dates for 2007: Saturday July 14th, Saturday September 15th, Saturday November 10th.
Homeopathy is a form of natural medicine that is effective and safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. During this class, you will learn about remedies that can help during pregnancy, with a particular focus on those that can be helpful during childbirth.
Every birth is a unique and challenging experience that is naturally unpredictable. Remedies support this process in a number of ways: to establish effective contractions, prevent exhaustion and by helping to resolve fear and anxiety. We will also look at how homeopathy can be used to speed recovery after the birth.
Email Tracy to book your place.
Booking Onto a Course? Here's How it Works ...
First Steps
First, you send me an email (include your estimated delivery date!), or fill in the online form at the NCT webpage.
If your class is not yet ready, I will send you an email telling you, and saying I will email you when the class has been set up. (You can look at this entry to see how close the course is to being set up.)
When the class dates have been finalised, I will email you (along with everyone else on the list) with the class dates, enrollment forms, and some general information.
Enrolling
You need to send me back the enrollment form, with a cheque for the appropriate amount.
When I have your form and cheque, I will email you to say you have a place on the course. Sometimes I get cheques after the course is full - if this happens, I can put you on the waiting list, or discuss other courses that might suit you, if I have any. Places are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, in the order I receive the cheques. If I receive two cheques in a day, for a single course place, I flip a coin.
Then, I will send you a letter with the dates, times and locations of all parts of your course, some details about the course venue, and a copy of a current branch newsletter. (This sometimes takes a little while, I'm not great at posting things.)
Getting Ready for the Course
Two weeks or so before your class is due to start, I will send you a reminder email. This will include a letter from your teacher, about anything she wants you to bring. I need you to reply to this email, so I know you are still planning to attend. If you do not reply, I will telephone you.
If you cancel, I will do my best to find someone else to take your place, by emailing people who are on my list. If I find someone to take your place, you will get a full refund.
When I have a cancellation, I email everyone on my spreadsheet who has an appropriate delivery date. I generally give people 48 hours to reply, and show they are interested in the place. If there are several couples interested, I flip a coin to decide who gets the place.
The Course
The teacher will arrange to share course attendee details, and arrange a course reunion for some time after all your due dates.
FAQs
I don't live in Tower Hamlets, can I attend these courses?
Yes. I don't select class attendees based on where they live - only by due date.
I know you haven't released the class for my due date, can I reserve a place?
When the classes dates are firm, I will email all interested people, and everyone will have a fair chance to enroll.
What if I have the baby early? Or move house? Or am otherwise unable to attend?
As long as I have a few weeks' notice, I can generally find someone else to take your place, guaranteeing you a full refund. Medical emergenies will be considered on an individual basis.
First, you send me an email (include your estimated delivery date!), or fill in the online form at the NCT webpage.
If your class is not yet ready, I will send you an email telling you, and saying I will email you when the class has been set up. (You can look at this entry to see how close the course is to being set up.)
When the class dates have been finalised, I will email you (along with everyone else on the list) with the class dates, enrollment forms, and some general information.
Enrolling
You need to send me back the enrollment form, with a cheque for the appropriate amount.
When I have your form and cheque, I will email you to say you have a place on the course. Sometimes I get cheques after the course is full - if this happens, I can put you on the waiting list, or discuss other courses that might suit you, if I have any. Places are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, in the order I receive the cheques. If I receive two cheques in a day, for a single course place, I flip a coin.
Then, I will send you a letter with the dates, times and locations of all parts of your course, some details about the course venue, and a copy of a current branch newsletter. (This sometimes takes a little while, I'm not great at posting things.)
Getting Ready for the Course
Two weeks or so before your class is due to start, I will send you a reminder email. This will include a letter from your teacher, about anything she wants you to bring. I need you to reply to this email, so I know you are still planning to attend. If you do not reply, I will telephone you.
If you cancel, I will do my best to find someone else to take your place, by emailing people who are on my list. If I find someone to take your place, you will get a full refund.
When I have a cancellation, I email everyone on my spreadsheet who has an appropriate delivery date. I generally give people 48 hours to reply, and show they are interested in the place. If there are several couples interested, I flip a coin to decide who gets the place.
The Course
The teacher will arrange to share course attendee details, and arrange a course reunion for some time after all your due dates.
FAQs
I don't live in Tower Hamlets, can I attend these courses?
Yes. I don't select class attendees based on where they live - only by due date.
I know you haven't released the class for my due date, can I reserve a place?
When the classes dates are firm, I will email all interested people, and everyone will have a fair chance to enroll.
What if I have the baby early? Or move house? Or am otherwise unable to attend?
As long as I have a few weeks' notice, I can generally find someone else to take your place, guaranteeing you a full refund. Medical emergenies will be considered on an individual basis.
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