Nct class

[Fortheloveofbaths]

Wasn't sure whether to do Nct or not but decided to so I could meet other mums in the area 😊 paid the money etc all good.

Included is a bf session which I thought would be super helpful as I've no clue really!

Anyway so far we have had 3 (out of 5) sessions rearranged or venue changed. This has made it difficult for us as I don't drive and had to meet dh after work but we have made it work and got to all the sessions. The bf session was meant to be tonight and I've just had a text to say it's cancelled (no reason given) and that hopefully they will be able to rearrange.

I'm a bit 🧐 at the wording of the message as it doesn't make it clear if it will be rearranged and when I rang the lady to ask she said she would 'try her best'. Now I understand that life happens (although I don't know the reason that it has been cancelled) but we have paid a lot of money (£250) for this course. Aibu as I know Nct is a charity?

I should say I haven't found the classes particularly helpful (lots of sitting in the dark listening to the woman read poems while we all breathe in and out) but I thought the breastfeeding one would be the most helpful to us as it's by a bf consultant.

Erm I wouldn’t be happy with that. It’s a lot of money. And I wouldn’t be happy with your classes so far! I did it at the start of the year and found them informative, non judgemental and realistic, and with not a poem to be heard. I am aware they have a reputation for being a bit “all about the natural only” so maybe I got lucky

Why does the venue keep changing?? Sounds like rather amateur organisation and I'd be irritated.

Whatever happens, I'd recommend you check out what BF support is available once you give birth as that's when you might really need help. I had one antenatal day which was interesting but not particularly useful!

Get your money back!

@ClairParavel yes I'd heard such mixed reviews I worried that maybe it wouldn't be for me and would be a waste of money but then I thought the bf class would be helpful and the meeting mums thing.

So far the only practical thing we have done is change a nappy (which ironically I've done a lot of already 🤦🏻‍♀️). I thought it would be more things like how many nappies to expect each day, when to wean etc but it's been lots of talking about feelings. Don't get me wrong it's been lovely to talk to other mums and dads but I could have done that without spending £250 haha!

I hate the whole sat in dark listening to the poems and inhaling/exhaling. Especially as I have a problem with my nasal cavity so I can't breathe very well out of my nose (so I spend the whole time trying not to sound like darth Vader mouth breathing 🤦🏻‍♀️🙈🙄🙈)! I have told the Nct lady this and she just kept saying how important breathing is to labour.

Now the bf class might not go ahead I'm feeling a bit short changed!!

Sorry for the rant, I feel bad as it's a charity but at the same time they have made it into a product for purchase.

@Bottledate we were told the venue keeps changing as it's in a primary school and apparently sometimes they have unforeseen events? I don't really get that as surely most school events are booked well in advance! Anyway we have had it in the original primary school and a working mans club so far but she did originally ask if anyone had a house we could use! Stupidly for a second I considered it then quickly realised there is about 20 in the group and we don't have the space or the parking 😂

Tbh the Breast feeding one isn't super helpful either. I think with Breast feeding you really nees the support after baby is born. Did you get a breastfeeding booklet from your midwife ? Read that for tips on what to expect etc from how often they will feed and what poo will be like etc I would research local Breast feeding support groups for after baby arrives.

One thing to remember if it's your first is try and fees as soon as you can after birth and then keep bringing baby to the best every few hours after they are born even if they don't seem hungry.

With my first I tried about 30 mins after he was born and then sort of waited for someone to tell me to fees him again so didn't try again for hours !!! Now I realise that was silly but at the time I had no clue !

Also you are not being u reasonable about the rearrangements etc that's very annoying and like you say the course is not cheap. Usually people are close to their due date so maybe she isn't sure she can rearrange in time before babies start being born ?

@Hollowvictory do you think it would be bad to ask for a partial refund? If the bf class doesn't happen? I don't want to seem like a trouble maker and have enjoyed chatting to the other parents (we have made a little fb group) so I don't want to be 'that person'.

You'll enjoy chatting at the nhs ante natal class and that includes a breast feeding session too. Yanbu to ask for your money back for the remainder of 5ge sessions

@Bluewall thank you for the advice :-) I've started reading up as much as I can because while I don't want to put pressure on myself I am very keen to bf if we can do it :-)

I thought that about the due dates but most of us still have a few weeks yet, I'm one of the furthest along and I'm 36 weeks.

She just emailed saying she will send out some Nct links for us to read tonight instead of the class 🧐 one of the other mums has messaged our group asking if that means it's cancelled completely or what. So maybe I'm not alone in being a bit frustrated!

To be honest I found the bf class the most unhelpful. It was all about letting the baby find their own way. Nothing practical about the realities of bf.

However my classes were good, lots of talk about birth and group work for the mums and dads. And we all went to lunch together.

Your teacher sounds a bit shit. I think NCT can be really hit and miss.

Feel such an idiot for essentially wasting the money that could have been spent on the baby 😕 we can live without it but still that's not the point 😕
M

@PJMasksAreOnTheirWay what was your group work if you don't mind me asking? We do maybe an hours group work each session but it's been about emotions so far with no real feedback from the leader. So for example one was about the types of pain relief available so we all went into groups and wrote down what we had heard of/researched. She then gathered us all back together and moved onto another topic? I thought she might go through it all so that we would know pros and cons etc but no (I have done a hell of a lot of reading myself now online and books).

If the class isn't going ahead then they must surely refund you for that, its crap to just send some links?

I definitely think you should ask for a refund if it’s not rearranged. You’ve paid for 5 classes and are only getting 4. I found the BF class really useful. Yes support after birth is also really important but the info from Nct has been useful to me.

This might make you all laugh as well. The first session was a video of a few ladies in labour and after she asked our thoughts. One of the dad asked if they were actually in pain or if they were experiencing such intensity that they couldn't comprehend that it wasn't pain but actually pressure. She told him he was right to think along those lines and that positivity was the way to get through it all. 😳 I'm all for going into it with a positive frame of mind but I'm also sure it's going to hurt somewhat!! 😂

I was going to suggest checking their page for links they usually have good info sheets which you can print out and keep handing.

Also I suggest row loading a feeding app you can use it to keep track of how often you feed, what side you fed on last (you will also do the squeeze test where you feel your own boobs to see which one feels fuller :p) and how many wet and dirty nappies your baby has. This is really handy in the beginning and the midwives will ask you these things in the hospital and after at home when they visit so it's good having it jotted down.

Buy lasnsinol or another nipple cream and breastpads

When sitting down for a fees at home get a pillow, a drink, your phone etc beside you before you start otherwise you will be sitting there stuck

The NCT website should have a sheet in stomach size, a new born stomach is tiny so they will feed little and often.

They will also clusterfeed which is there way of telling your body to make more milk. This means some days they will want to feed what feels like non stop. This is normal and just them telling your body they are growing and need more milk. Your body will adjust and the feeding frenzy will calm down for a while. Just know this is normal.

Also feeds overnight are important as they help increase your supply and a midwife told me once this is like baby putting in their order for the next day so again it's normal for newborns to feed a lot at night.

(Just giving you ideas of things to Google and read up on)

The Breast feeding network website is also good for info and have things on what medicine you can take etc

Can I breastfeed in it UK on facebook is also a great page for finding now breastfeeding clothes (which are usually maternity) that are easy to bf in.

Buy a nursing bra before baby arrives (maybe just one or two in case you change size once your milk comes in) but having the clips is so much easier. Also sleep bras are good as you will probably need breastpads at the start. Either actual nursing ones or the crop top type soft ones you can buy in asda or Sainsbury's etc

Sorry fornthe essay and all the typos

@Bluewall thank you that is really really helpful! More so genuinely than Nct so far 😊😊

I found this hugely helpful

It’s an American lactation expert.

Watched it when I was pregnant when it’s all a bit abstract and kept coming back to it the first couple of weeks after DD was born.

Hope it helps ! I meant non Breast feeding clothes btw so it's just normal high street clothes with buttons or zips or nice stretchy tops to put over vest tops for one up and one down.

Good luck ! I have BF 3 times and all three I have really struggled for the first few weeks it is a labour of love but we got there in the end and once we were all sorted it did make life easy !

@AnneLovesGilbert thank you! I never thought of trying YouTube :-)

Also these bras www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B010RYWNMG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_DLP4Cb159D78H?tag=mumsnetforu03-21
They wash well, dry quickly, so comfy you can’t feel them on and unclip and clip with one hand. Also get a massive water bottle. I carry mine around the house wherever I go!

YANBU about the classes either, I’d be very pissed off at being so messed around. They’re a charity. You’re not.

@Bluewall haha yes I've heard it's an up hill struggle at first but that if you can get through that bit then things get a lot easier :) I'm hoping we can do it and so want as much info as possible but if we can't then at least I know I've tried :-)

@AnneLovesGilbert just added them to my basket :-) yes you're right about the charity thing :-) if the class doesn't go ahead I'll send them an email :-)

Thanks everyone for the reassurance that I'm not being totally unreasonable and the invaluable advice :-) xx