Is everyone planning on joining NCT?

[sophied1983]

It's quite pricey, but is it worth it?

[Champagneformyrealfriends]

I have-classes start in Feb. I couldn't decide whether or not I ought to but my sister did and it gave her a support network she really values. I don't have many friends in the same area so I hope I'll be able to make a couple of friends.

[SnuffleGruntSnorter]

I did the daisy birthing course instead. Much cheaper and really relaxing

[nixxxy]

The only ones the NCT run near me are the really expensive classes, not even the basic lead in ones. I've just gone for the NHS classes, 4 in total of which I have 2 left. These are free and really good - called "Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond." - though I don't know if they run them in every area? There are only 4 couples in mine and it's a really nice group (thankfully). I'd have gone for NCT if they'd been less pricey tbh.

[FourForYouGlenCoco]

NCT is a rip off and very very biased IMO. Stick with NHS courses if you have them nearby, or a cheaper private option if there are any.

[1frenchfoodie]

Moved to a new area at 20 wks so signed up for NCT after debating the price for some time. Nice group that I can see keeping up with and classes okay if a bit slow paced (only the 19h option was available for late feb/early march due dates near me). No home births planned and nobody thought eating the placenta was a good idea. In fact I am the only attendee planning cloth nappies so my fear of joining a bunch of hypnobirthing experts raring for the joys of the euphoric birth experience were as daft as they now sound in hindsight.

[1frenchfoodie]

FourFor bias shows here and there in language e.g on 'failing' to establish breastfeeding as opposed to choosing formula - but I found there was a fairly earnest attempt to maintain balance. Bloody expensive though!

[YouCantCallMeBetty]

I didn't with DS (couldn't afford it) and missed all but the first NHS class because he made a slightly early appearance! I survived and managed to give birth not having prepared much at all really. Made some nice friends at the mum & baby group at my health centre who I hung out with a lot during my mat leave. So I'd say you don't need to.
We are doing the basic NCT course this time round though now I'm pregnant with DC2. We're in a new area (and have a bit more spare cash) so thought it might be a good thing to do. Will need to take some of the course content with a pinch of salt though I imagine...

[badg3r]

I didn't bother. All the mums I know who did it seemed to enjoy it, as expected their was A LOT of talking about babies and milestones etc. Some people really enjoy this and find it reassuring but it isn't really my cup of tea. I made loads of friends with other mums and dads at baby things and didn't miss not having an nct group.

[Bedsheets4knickers]

I didn't for either of mine . We did the 3 classes the nhs offered . I made some life long friends and they covered all you need to know .. I felt no pressure to breast feed even tho I did . No pressure to set sleep routines mine both sleep . The birth no amount of classes can prepare you for good bad or ugly .
We have done just fine without nct x

[badg3r]

Should have specified that the chat about babies etc was after the classes had finished when they all met up after! Which from what I gathered was the main bonus, to meet other mums due the same time to hang out with on mat leave.

[Dinosaursdontgrowontrees]

I did with dd1 and really hated it. All the other parents were awful. Leader was patronising, outdated and generally hideous. Complete waste of money.

[SuckingEggs]

Awful waste of money with awful people. Met lovely mums via the other site

[CoffeeCoffeeAndLotsOfIt]

I loved mine. Looked forward to each session, and still very good friends with (some of) the women now.

Worth the money Imo - and I knew due to a health issue that I'd be having a Caesarian!

[trinitybleu]

I did it and loved it - still see the others at least weekly and the kids are nearly 9! No bias, lovely teacher and we nearly all ended up doing roles for the branch at times to give something back.

[frikadela01]

I won't be. I'll be doing a full day nhs course . Not interested in the making friends bit because I'm only taking 9 months off work and when I am back at work I find it hard enough to keep up with the very few friends I currently have.

[Flingingmelon]

If you don't know many people near where you live and fancy taking a chance on meeting seven other women in the same boat who you could end up being very good mates with; try it. I was lucky and we all get on really well.

But as PP's have said, it could also be a bunch of weirdos. After all, you are thrown together based on timing, geography and disposable income. That's it.

[MotherKat]

Tried but no classes available in my area, doing Daisy, which is amazing, many like minded hippy mums, the NHS ones for multiples keep clashing with things, so may skip them entirely, did a baby calming workshop to help us get our minds in gear.

[mangocoveredlamb]

I loves mine and met a great group of people who live locally, and understand the challenges you are facing at each stage. Now the DC are nearly two, we do babysitting swaps, as well as meet ups which is brilliant!

[CointreauVersial]

I did, and it was fantastic. Excellent classes (the NHS ones were rubbish), invaluable breastfeeding support, and I made friends that I still see now, 17 years later. I even joined the local committe for a while, to keep my baby brain occupied.

[hownottofuckup]

I booked and paid but didn't go. The lady rang me before hand to ask why I hadn't put my partners details down, I explained I didn't have one and would be attending on my own. By the end of the call I didn't feel comfortable to go.
Went to my local ante-natal instead, it was just me! But, I did learn some interesting things about the new borns developing brain which has stayed with me and had a positive impact.

[Runningupthathill82]

I didn't bother, went to the NHS classes instead, which are pretty good in my area.
As the NHS provision is good around here, there is a definite NCT "type" - and I'm not it.

[kiwiscantfly]

I did a local version (no nct where I lived) on the recommendation of my midwife to make friends because we were new to the area and I knew no one. Those seven ladies helped keep me sane and even though I now live half a world away I still keep in contact via FB with a few of them.

[sophied1983]

Got the quote back and it was almost £400 for the 3 sessions. We have a really active local online forum in our area advertising loads of mother and baby groups and event so I might just stick with that and the NHS classes. I live near quite a few gentrified areas and I worry about what sort of mums I'll come across at NCT.

[cally0]

Woah £400!! I always thought nct was free, huh how stupid I was!

Is there a cheaper alternative? I've recently found out I'm prego and I'm new to the area I live in so was looking forward to nct so I could meet some friends xx

[LucilleLeSueur]

I did NCT with dd1. The classes were dreadful and the teacher nice but totally ineffectual.
However having thought I would never have anything in common with the women in the class, I am still (6 years later) in regular contact with two of them, and I consider them two of my best friends. Meeting them genuinely changed my life, I feel very lucky to have met them.

That was luck though - the other three women didn't really gel with any of us so I'm sure they consider it a massive waste of time and money.