to think NCT antenatal courses are pretty much a load of crap???!

[Gateau]

What a waste of money. Yes, you meet some good friends from it, but IMO that's one of the only positives.
They draw over about six weeks what could be said in one or two classes. All the members of our course said that.
The course is almost all about the woman's 'birth experience' which I found just makes women obsess about the birth itself. So many women I knew were "disappointed" with the birth, when surely it's not all about teh birth, but more about the wonderful reward you get at the end?And they barely touch on having a C-section - which is what I had.
And there's all this rubbish about "challenging" the medical staff when they suggest you have a C-section- with what energy, after 14 hours in labour? And when they say either have a c-section or risk endangering you and the baby, what choice is there?
our NCT teacher asked me to do a talk to her new group post-baby - or rather I was the only one who said I would. She very much disliked that fact that I was telling them I bottle-fed (because we are breaking the breastfeeding law, of course)and that I DIDN'T advocate sitting around the house in pjs after the baby was born - it doesn't suit everyone's state of mind. The NCT IMO is dogmatic.
I think the NCT course would be much more productive if it focused a little more on the early parenting side of things - that's where me and most of my NCT friends could have done with the advice!!

gateau i've seen a few posts of yours the last few days

are you new, or a namechanger?

Howridiculous. From her face?? I suspect paranoia on your part. Love the assumption that a person who deal swith zillionsof babies could care less.

I think it'll be a good thing if the CEO of the NCT sees this, as Gateau has obviously hit a nerve here, given the number of people who agree with her.

I think it's probably largely down to the teacher - our teacher changed halfway through and I much preferred the second lady who was all for informed choice and not at all disapproving of anybody's birthing or feeding choices.

You're ridiculous, moondog. Why would I be paranoid?????! Bloody hell, I noted a look of disapproval; believe me, without looking too deeply into it..
Just look at the other posts on here to find out what people think - in the main, of NCT

Gateau,she couldn't have cared less.
Face it kiddo.

wow still goin then
i think that nct courses are ok generally if you can afford them.

but surely the NHS should be providing something countrywide that every pregnant woman can attend?

that's what nct should campaign for - be childbirth trust not 'natural ' iyswim, although i'd love natural to be possible it doesn't seem to be for lots of people

actually maybe this should be the next MN campaign??

gateau i've seen a few posts of yours the last few days

are you new, or a namechanger?

[paxman]

I agree with Gateau, it's usually quite obvious if someone approves/disapproves with your options you voice even just in the way they look at you. There's a lot to be said for body language alone at these sorts of gatherings...

The N stands for NATIONAL not natural.

Wow, your powers of deduction have sent me reeling moondog.
I'm cut to the bone.

she knows it's not 'natural', but the point she is making is that it should just be CT not NCT. As in, less emphasis on the 'natural' part, as not all women can do 'natural', some of us have to have cs.

I must admit I thought this a little after my first NCT course, however; I've just done and refresher course for my second baby and it's been fabulous.

Fantastic, none dogmatic teacher. Didn't rule out anything and talked us through most scenarios. Very understanding and helpful. Breastfeeding workshop was the same - none dogmatic and even discussed reasons we might not be able to exclusively breastfeed. Never felt patronised or like I'd failed because of past experiences (induction, epidural, EMCS and bottle fed).

It's been a real revelation and am so glad I spent the money on it.

We didn't do NCT classes we did Birthlight classes
I found them to be informative and non judgemental. taking away the idea that anything to do with the birth of a child could be associated with the word failure.
I have a couple of friends who have done NCT classes with various degrees of enjoyment. I think it is all about the teacher and this applies to any classes you do IMO.

As Isaid, have experince of NCT but this constant assumption that bottle feeders sneered at cracks me up. Invariably when you inquire further conclusion basedon imagined 'dirty look'.

Face it, noone CARES what you do, short of swinging yer infant round yer head in public and hurling it through plate glass window

my realistic perspective is that my NCT classes were great. no hectoring, no face-pulling, just good constructive advice, support and facts. we were all asked what we wanted from the class (which was pretty much 'talk us through labour, please') and got it.

the bfing class, otoh, wasn't very good, much less practical imo. so all of us fed back that info in the questionnaire (teacher was new) and it was changed.

have you checked as to how your questionnaire changed your classes, gateau, or are you operating on the basis that nothing has when you advise women that they're a load of crap?

yep, it's definitely National, not natural. think it might have briefly been known as natural in the 70s.

gateau i've seen a few posts of yours the last few days

are you new, or a namechanger?

[paxman]

twowashtutter, do you like repeating yourself??

"a person who deals with zillions of babies? DEALS with babies - yeah, she wishes. She's an ANTENATL teacher, NOt a midwife

tell you what moondog, go to a NCT class, experience it, and then we might consider your ravings.

Tutter, what are you going on about? What's it to you if she;s knew or a namechanger?

what's it to you what it is to me?

what's it to you if she wants to ask? why do you care if she cares? [cyclical]

Thing is moondog, people DO CARE what I think - look at all the posts that are in agreement.
Have many people answered yours that do nothing but slag me off?

I DON'T THINK SO!!!!
Now go be quiet somewhere.