NCT took several weeks to get back to me and in the meantime, I found an antenatal weekend course that sounds great and is ran by a lady with real midwifery experience. However, NCT have now told me they have availability, I've heard that the advice is not hugely helpful and its getting to know other mothers that is the key benefit, has anyone used www.pregnancybirthandbeyond.co.uk before or comment on the usefulness of the NCT other than the social element?

Personally found NCT fantastic - made 10 new friends who I still see a year and a half later. Forming bonds with people going through the same experience is invaluable. What they said at the classes seems almost irrelevant. The forging of friendships is the real value.

Yes, I really thought the NCT classes were worth the money, wasn't just about the physical side of the birth and after but also dealt with the psychology of being a parent. Lots of great advice, and with it being a small group we all got to know each other. Plus we were all from similar backgrounds as well, all married/long term relationships, all working mothers too.

nct teacher are taught especially to teach antenatal classes midwives are taught to catch babies.
i think theres 2 ways to look at it do you want an antenatal class or do you want antenatal classes shaped to what you want and friends for life?
ive never heard of the classes you mentioned but id be keen to hear about them

(also remember lots of nct teachers are midwives)

I haven't heard of the independant classes you mention but I can give another vote for NCT classes - we still see everyone a year and half on but I did find the rest of the info very good too - don't dismiss finding a group of close friends going thro what your going thro, birth is such a short time in the scheme of things being able to have local mums to talk thro baby things is invaluable

another vote from me for nct classes - I coudln't have got through the first few weeks after the birth without them - we met up once a week and there was always someone on the end of the phone/email - and we're all still friends now. Having a group of mums with babies the same age as yours is invaluable.

NCT rocks for me too! It has been an absolute life line. We have seen each other at least twice a week for the last 8 months and have helped each other through controlled crying, sleepless nights, breastfeeding, relationship changes, weaning, you name it. Highly recommend also the post-natal course if your course organiser does one. It made us all get out of the house and gave us a safe forum to get things off our chests!

Can you build the same NCT relationships if you don't do the antenatal classes and join NCT afterwards and take part in the bumps and babies mornings?

I tried booking on my local NCT class at just 8 weeks and it was already booked up! I have now booked on the Pregnancy Birth and Beyond weekend class you mention (in late March) and shall let you know how I get on. The course seems excellent - covers a lot of ground, is flexible and they ask what YOU want included too, and is half the price of other classes I was looking at - £200 for 2 days intensive, with my husband too.

Hi beccablum, I've done the same and booked onto the Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond course. Have been emailing the teacher and she's been so lovely and helpful. Looking forward to it!Will post back after it.

Hi Jo - are you on the same course in Islington at the end of March (easter weekend)? Becca

My NCT class (in W2) was good - gave me courage to argue with a registrar over a syntocinon drip and to understand that the stress of the monitoring was holding up by labour. All seemed a bit happy clappy but did me a favour. But to be honest, I wouldn't beat yourself up about which class - they are much of a muchness - I hit it off more with people in my NCT postnatal group but this is more unusual I think.

we didn't get into NCT classes we went to birthlight classes instead - birthing course then antenatal yoga, baby yoga and baby swimming - In conversation with them at the moment about training to be one of their teachers

jinglyjen, I trained with birthlight on their baby yoga course. I really enjoyed it. which course are you going to do?

there iz a lovely doula on here who runz antenatal clazzez in north london.
you ay know her already- zhe iz quite a well known MNer..marzlady

the clazzez are called babymoon and i think there iz an ad in the zmall buzinezz zection.

zhe iz a lovely woman- and zhe'll take good care of you

I really want to do the antenatal Yoga teaching I got soo much out of it that I would love to be able to help some other mums.

I will do whatever it takes just waiting to hear what I have to do and when I would be able to get on a course.

I'm thinking about doing that aswell.

jinglyjen did you do baby yoga with Melanie?

Sally - Does Melanie do the Newmarket classes?

I still see the people I met at my NCT classes once a week three years on and would definitely recommend it in terms of meeting people who are going through the same thing at the exact same time as you. I found it particularly helpful as had moved to a new area and didn't know anyone with children.

yes melanie is in Newmarket, sally is lovely too.

I guess you are living round here then Yogimum.. which training are you interested in doing?

No I live in Dorset but did the training in Culford and Newmarket. I would like to do the ante-natal yoga at some point.

I'm signed onto the Easter weekend course with Lucy at Pregnancy, birth and beyond. JoTang

I know it's different for everyone but I looked into the NCT classes but thought the cost (£290) was quite a lot considering half of the classes were in the day and meant my hubby wouldn't be able to attend and I'd have to take time off work.

Found this one www.gentlebirth.org.uk/ and have signed up to the one day course. The midwife I spoke to when enquiring was very friendly and informative.

Going to combine this with the local NHS classes and have signed up as a NCT member so can still go along to all the local coffee mornings to meet other new mums and make friends.

Hi - went on the Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond course last weekend and it was absolutely brilliant. Great teacher, with excellent assistant too, really interactive and informative. Met lovely people too - including Jo Tan, the op! I would really recommend them.