NCT for my location is after my due date!

[Sbd11]

Hello! I'd like some advice please..I'm due mid june and the NCT in my area is for late june to mid july due dates with the last class being late May when I will be heavily pregnant. There is another one around 25 mins away but I'd like to meet mums in my area! Such a situation.. what would people advise? Does location matter? Thanks

[Lantern19]

Oh no did you not think to book sooner? There's no point going after you've had the baby so either go towards end of May or 25 mins away

[Sbd11]

I had no idea they'd get so busy! June still feels so far away.. I could do the one 25 mins away which would be in April and early May or my local one but then im worried what I'd baby is early? It's my first so it probably won't..decisions decisions.. I just want to meet mums in my area so I have support and contacts around :/

[Florin]

Hi I work for the NCT. Location definitely does matter as it makes such a difference after your baby is born. It’s worth thinking that the course that is 25 mins away some of the others on the course will live even further from you on the other side of the course so could be a long way away. Drop your course organizer an email and ask when the others on the course are due you may find they are all bunched up near the mid/end June anyway.

[Jxtina86]

I did NCT earlier this year. Ours was for July due dates and the last class was early June so I was around 35 weeks pregnant. Another woman on my course was due a week before me so was even further along by the end of the course. I'd go with your local one rather than 25mins away!

[Florin]

Unfortunately the main time people book into courses is about 10-12 weeks so anyone else contemplating booking definitely get in there early to get the best choice of course hence why your choices are unfortunately a bit limited.

[Aderyn19]

You can have a baby without going to NCT classes. If you want to meet other mums you could ask your health visitor about other activities local to you. I took my DD to baby massage for example and there are mum and baby swimming classes etc. You might still have time to book pregnancy exercise classes if you want to meet people before the birth.

[welshweasel]

Definitely do the local one. If it finishes end of May and you’re due in June it should be fine anyway. My last session was the week before my due date - as it was, baby came early and I only made one class, missed 3 and went to the last one with a 3 week old baby! I only did it to make friends and from that point of view it was very successful!

[MaisieMolly]

Why do you have to book so early? I’d like to do NCT but wouldn’t book until after seeing everything’s ok at the 12 week scan, especially as it’s so expensive!

[gothefcktosleep]

Book the May course. You’ll want to be local. (Although all my NCT group unhelpfully are a good 20 minute drive from my town) 🙄

[gothefcktosleep]

@MaisieMolly I booked at 20 weeks and was fine... but I suppose it depends on how popular the course is in your area. You can go to their website and check how many places they have available for your course, that might help.

[Teasville]

Meh - I didn't bother with NCT classes. I felt uncomfortable with the idea of basically paying to make friends. Instead I did the NHS antenatal class and joined a NCT email group for my area. Between those and other postnatal activities I made friends, several of whom are still good friends, 6 years and a long distance move later.

So in your situation I'd either try to get on the local one or not bother and spend the saved money on a lovely weekend away for you and DP prior to baby's arrival.

[Sbd11]

Thanks everyone! I'll book the local one today :)

[Florin]

It is just when people tend to ring us to book the courses, we don’t advertise the antenatal courses that much it is much more word of mouth and people book early to get the choice of courses. However we do have a cancellation policy which can be found on the website www.nct.org.uk/sites/default/files/related_documents/Cancellation%20Policy_1.pdf
If someone sadly lost their baby they are of course given a full refund.
For anyone it applies to they also offer generous discounts to anyone with a gross household income under £28,100 working on a sliding scale.

[Florin]

@ gothefcktosleep the website is instantly up to date with available courses and number of places left however how courses book is incredibly hard to predict. Sometimes a course books steadily and sometimes we can get 4 reservations for 1 course in one day making it suddenly full up. Most courses have space for 8-9 couples.

[MaisieMolly]

How do you see availability on the website? When I look it just gives a form to fill in to request a spot/ get more info (and this is for a August due date!)

[Sbd11]

You have to leave your email to get more info. They'll email you and then you'll get a follow up phone call. Might be easier to call..the lady I spoke to was very helpful

[Florin]

@MaisieMolly click on the course and on the right it will say enquire now, fill in your details and this will automatically reserve you a place on the course. You will then receive 2 emails. One with more information and one with a booking link.