Are NCT classes worth it?

[apples82]

I'm currently 20+2 and am being told that now is the time to look at booking NCT classes as they book up quick.

But at around £160, are they worth it?

I understand that they will be teaching us bits, giving us info, and that it's also good for the social side of things in that i'll meet similar mums in my area.

But at £160, do I need to do it, am I going to get anything from it that I wouldn't a) be told at the free classes at hospital or b) be told anything that i'm not going to pick up being a new mummy anyway?

I know it may sound tight, and yes we can afford the classes, but is it an unneccessary expense when we're soon going to be buying a mountain of baby gear???

[Hormoneoverload]

Absolutely worth it for us. The first time round I was like a walking encyclopaedia of childbirth after excessive reading, but found the hospital tour, c section reenactment (with dh "giving birth"!!) and balanced perspective of our teacher brilliant. But even if I'd learnt nothing, I'd have been left with a hugely supportive group who I still meet up with regularly even though our first babies are now at school. Very good value for money for us, although less expensive then and unfortunately we might have thought twice these days.

[jasmine51]

Completely agree with your hesitation. Its alot of money isnt it.
I would say that you probably wont learn a whole lot more than you are told in free classes or can learn here from other mums to be online here.
However it is an opportunity to meet other mums in your area if you are worried about being isolated. It is also an opportunity for dps to learn what you probably already know, to meet other dads and maybe to get a bit more confident about what is going to happen!.
My dh hated every second of the 'tree hugging fest' that was our NCT class but he has been alot more involved in the pg since we went and seems alot more confident about talking about 'yukky stuff'
Will you be taking your dp and do you think he will get anything from it?

[jasmine51]

Have just read hormones response...her NCT class sounds alot more dynamic than mine! Nothing exciting like a hospital tour or c section reenactments in ours! Maybe find out who the teacher is and what the content is likely to be...sounds like they vary alot

[apples82]

Yes DP will be coming too (he doesn't have a choice!!!). He has said it's my decision whether to do the classes or not. He's fine with us spending the money on them, just like me, he thinks it is a lot of money for what is essentially a luxury.

I guess i'd better pull my finger out and decide really, I could be debating all this and then the class gets full.

I am a little worried about the isolation aspect. We moved into the area a couple of years ago, and don't know many people, so I would like some new friends, and if they were new mums too it would be great.

Maybe i've just answered my own question, for the social side of things it may be worth it.

[Daisy03]

I think it depends how much of a support network of friends and family you have around you. The actual classes I didn't learn that much from that I couldn't have found out from books or just plain old common sense.
However I don't have many family around, and my friends all work full time, so have found the other mums I met on the course to be great, although kind of thrown together we have quickly become firm friends meeting a couple of times a week, we exercise together, do lunch, chat about everything (not just babies).
I generally find it hard to approach people and make friends and think maternity leave for me would be a long lonely place without this.

[icravecheese]

I would say, personally, NCT classes are worth every penny....

As most ladies above have said, you probably don't learn anything new that you couldn't read in a book, but its the social aspect that has been fab. I still see 3 of my NCT girlies almost every week - we're now onto our 3rd babies & our 1st's are all starting school in september. There were only 5 couples in our class in total, 1 couple of whom decided to not socialise right from the outset, the rest of us did.

Also, my husband & 2 of the dads are very close, going out for boys curry nights every few months. We also do big sunday lunches all together, been on hols with one couple, baby sitting circles, middle of the night emergency babysitting when baby no.2's have arrived. Basically, its been a totally crucial social network that we couldnt have survived without!

[ThePieSmuggler]

We're in the middleof our NCT course right now (I'm due in 3 weeks) and I think they're well worth it. The content isn't anything groundbreakingly new but I've picked up loads of useful tips (and this is from somone who researches things almost obsessively!) I also find that it's good having someone there to ask daft questions of without feeling silly.

From a social point of view, we seem to have been lucky in that the other couples in our class appear to have similar outlooks on things (not necessarily birth related) which would bode well for friendships forming.

[edwinbear]

I would second everyone else in that I didn't learn an awful lot from the actual classes that I couldn't have picked up from the internet/books but the group of friends I have made has proved absolutely invaluable. For me it was vital to have our weekly meet ups when we were all on maternity leave to get me out of the house and compare what everyone elses baby was doing for reassurance that DS was 'normal' :-). Now they are nearly 2 we still meet up every month or so for a girls night our or Sunday brunch with the babies. It was the best thing I bought and well worth the money in my view.

[Snakeears]

I thought it was a lot then worked out it was about £6-8 per hour for 2 of us - so £3 to £4 each. I've not been on the course yet but tried to book in and decided to go for it because I want all the info I can get.

[PrincessJenga]

I can't really add anything new but agree with most of what's being said... I've just finished my NCT classes and if I'm honest I don't think I learnt anything as I'd done so much reading and spend so much time on mumsnet

However, it was really good to have a designated amount of time to really concentrate on my baby and the birth; the people were lovely and we've already started meeting up and sharing experiences (I can't wait till we start giving birth and meeting our babies!)

More than that, it was excellent for DP. He's also read a lot, but without mumsnet didn't know as much as he thought he did. A lot of the sessions are focused towards your birth partner and he definitely has more of an idea of what his role will be now. For the less assertive / more squeamish partners in the room I think it was probably even more helpful; they have a lot of techniques for dealing with their own concerns as well as their wives'/girlfriends' now.

In summary: not essential, but if you won't miss the money (or time!) then it's well worth it.

[Calypso74]

Total waste of time. Was like being in the 1970s. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY ON THIS MYTH. Felt like a child being shown baby pics.. If you can learn anything from NCT then you should probably wear a condom..

[Oysterbabe]

Given that OP's child is 6 now, you're probably a bit late helping her make this decision.