free prescriptions/dental care while pregnant?

just checking-- would these be considered benefits or am i free to take advantage of this?

no its not considered benefits. You're fine.
I was on a FLR when I was pregnant and was able to do all of it without a problem. Just so you know,even after you have your baby, you are still entitled to the free dental and prescriptions for a year after the birth

ah, good news, thanks!  i have a dentist appt soon, so i'll be able to take advantage of this then!

You have to have the maternity exemption card to claim your free prescriptions and dental.  Your Midwife will fill out the paperwork for for you and you have to send it off.  Usually this is issued between 16-20 weeks.  It will have the expiry date of one year after your EDD.   

You have to have the maternity exemption card to claim your free prescriptions and dental.  Your Midwife will fill out the paperwork for for you and you have to send it off.  Usually this is issued between 16-20 weeks.  It will have the expiry date of one year after your EDD.   

My card came really quickly. I had my first midwife appointment at 13 weeks. It arrived in the post less than a week later. I was pleasantly surprised. I haven't even used mine yet, though. I really wish I had gone to the dentist for a check-up while pregnant. Now that the baby's here, it's much more complicated to get away.

Just pointing out a small technicality since I don't know the OP.  I'm assuming she's here on a spousal visa, in which case it's right, but there are some visas (especially visitors and such) that wouldn't be able to access any of that even while pregnant.  I'm quite sure this isn't a problem, but just saying anyway . . .

It's a nice thing isn't it?  I've managed to get some good dental around LO's birth that I couldn't have afforded.  Now I'm nervous because they are saying I'll be needing my first root canals and crowns, but they can't do it yet without x-rays b/c of my pregnancy, so I'm having to wait till the baby comes and hope for the best in the meantime.  So a month or two from now, I may not be such a happy camper.

Thanks for the info, everyone!  Yes, I am here on FLR (after switching from Tier 1).  I've got the form I need from the midwife and all--just didn't want to do anything with it until I was sure. 

I've been very impressed with the maternity care here, in general!  Not that I have any prior experience in the US to compare it to, but it definitely seems like this is something the NHS does very well.