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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

The NCT catalogue - WTF!!

143 replies

MachinesAreGo · 01/10/2009 22:32

Just seen a copy of this catalogue. Now, for an organisation which is trying to shed its lentil-weaving, middle-class image, it has got
this VERY wrong.
It is a garment designed to give birth in ffs with, and I quote, "An inspirational, original poem printed in silver on the inside neck line".
£60 for a bit of cotton! What about an old shirt if you want some coverage? Do they think women should really be spending their money on this sort of thing?
Interestingly, it has sold out in sz 10 (comes in black and raspberry, arf!), so there is obviously a market, but by God, by sellig this the NCT are really pushing the 'perfect birthing experience' line, which imo does women no favours at all. Makes me mad! AIBU?

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 02/10/2009 14:42

For an organisation that expounds the virtues of skin-to-skin contact after birth, this is a little bit odd.

sabire · 02/10/2009 15:02

"that the NCT are a bunch of smug lentil weavers who try convince us all that birth is a wonderful experience"

Bog off. Stop stereotyping people. I'm no 'lentil weaver' and I'm heavily involved with the NCT. It bloody pisses me off that you'll get mightily slagged off if you come on this board and stereotype anyone other than middle class mums. Mumsnet is swarming with middle-class women. What it is? Are you all full of self-hatred or something?

And my last two births WERE wonderful experiences - mainly because of the help and information I got from the NCT and from my midwife (who was also an NCT teacher).

As for the dress - if you don't like it don't buy it. I'm far more offended by the stupidly expensive, ugly prams that are on sale everywhere and designed to keep babies at an arms length from their mothers.

Undercovamutha · 02/10/2009 15:25

CornishKK - my experience was exactly the same as yours - apart from the fact that I can't even remember what I was wearing the second time (maybe just a bra?)!
I bought so much crap before DC1 was born, mainly because magazines provided lists of the 'important' things for labour, birth, hospital etc etc. I must have used about 2% of what I packed. The same with breastfeeding - bought a load of 'breastfeeding tops' that cost a bomb, and then realised it was easier (...cheaper, and more attractive) to wear 2 vests and pull one up and one down.
The magazines who advertise/sell this load of crap are preying (and cashing in) on first time mothers insecurities (and don't even get me started on those bump belts....).

pigletmania · 02/10/2009 15:27

Not at all Sabire, I am sure that if dc number 2 comes along I will contact the NCT about bf support, i am referring to the overpriced dress. Whether its from John Lewis, M&S, Bravissimo whatever it is too expensive for what its worth. And to reiterate what Brenda Phipps from the NCT had to say about it

"the dress may not be to everyone?s taste and price range ? but the idea is that giving birth is a pretty special thing ? and you usually get to have a lovely dress for your wedding so why not your birth" A wedding imo is different you wear a nice dress nice venue, flowers and car etc, wedding dress is not going to get covered in blood and sick and end up soaking somewhere. I personally did not care what i was wearing for the birth, was more caught up with the pain and worry.

EverySingleStar · 02/10/2009 15:48

Anyone else pissed off it only goes up to size 18?

I'm not beyond size 18 but still pissed off. Maybe it's hormones

sabire · 02/10/2009 15:49

"The magazines who advertise/sell this load of crap are preying (and cashing in) on first time mothers insecurities (and don't even get me started on those bump belts....). "

The difference is that the profit made by the NCT from their sales arm goes into funding their breastfeeding line/training breastfeeding counsellors/funding outreach work/funding research into pregnancy and birth related issues.

I thnk the catalogue has loads of lovely things in it this year. Personally I wouldn't buy anything from it myself though - I'm too tight. I bought loads of stuff from NCT nearly new sales instead when I was having my first.

"I personally did not care what i was wearing for the birth, was more caught up with the pain and worry".

Yes - maybe the NCT should sell a sick coloured dress with little splodges of brown and red on, to camoflage vomit, blood and poo. Don't know anyone would want to buy it though!

I just think it's very sad that women who've had shite births get so het up at the very suggestion that birth can be enjoyable in any way.

As for the dress being 'too expensive' - I've been out shopping today and really £60 for a good quality jersey wrap dress isn't silly or outrageous - that's how much you'd pay for one in Monsoon, Oasis and most other mid priced high street outlets.

pigletmania · 02/10/2009 16:01

no not saying that thatSabire, but i dont want to pay a lot of money for something that is going to end up with blood, sick etc on it. You dont have to spend the earth to look nice,you can get some lovely nightwear on a budget from La Senza or M&S or even Matalan for a fraction of the price, i would rather myself spend that money on a dress that i can wear going out than on nightwear. I am a bit tight as i like many people nowadays are on a budget.

Undercovamutha · 02/10/2009 16:11

sabire - surely trying to persuade con people into buying something they are never going to use isn't okay just because the profit goes to worthy activities?

Also, I would say I had two rather good births, and was very lucky, but that didn't stop me ending up covered in all sorts of flotsam and jetsam (as my DH rather lovingly described it at the time )!

charis · 02/10/2009 16:14

It is a pointless dress that doesn't deserve to exist in my opinion. NCT need to focus on their reason for existance and not fleece inexperienced first time mums.

ThingOne · 02/10/2009 16:17

Load of old tosh from Belinda Philips if you ask me.

mosschops30 · 02/10/2009 16:17

Bonkers

Ive bought a plain dark t-shirt from asda (mens) in a large size that was £2. I know it will be stinking and I will throw it away as soon as I take it off.
I cant imagine wearing anything again that Ive worn for labour or being in hospital.

Ive also bought £1.25 flip flops and some £2 slippers, both of which will be chucked in the bin before I return home.

I would much rather spend £60 on something else, thats crazy!

MrsSantosisafeminist · 02/10/2009 16:18

Sabire hits the nail on the head. I have had a crap birth experience and a really rather nice one. Perhaps I should develop a split personality syndrome and accuse myself of being smug for having a good birth second time round

As for birthing dresses, breastfeeding chairs and other such bolleaux - listen, if people are dumb enough to part with that amount of money for something totally unnecessary, at least it is going to a charity that campaigns on behalf of all the rest of us parents (says she who sent for the Isabella Oliver catalogue when pg first time round and nearly fainted at the price of a maternity t-shirt )

BTW is is something about the equinox that brings about the periodic NCT bash?

pigletmania · 02/10/2009 16:20

Just looked at the NCT catalogue, £58 for a pair of maternity Jeans, £29 for a long sleeved t shirt my goodness, at those prices no way

pigletmania · 02/10/2009 16:23

I would prefer to give donations, the NCT should be a bit more competative in their pricing that way there will be more people willing to buy from them especially because its a charity helping parents and children. If their jeans e.g. were £30 then i would rather buy from NCT than pay £30 from MOthercare

pigletmania · 02/10/2009 16:24

but at £58 no no no

MoonlightMcKenzie · 02/10/2009 16:30

I would love to get on my high horse about this, but actually I think it is a nice practical dress and would buy it if it was half the price.

Not sure about how it would make me feel feminine though. Surely that dress only works with supportive underwear, particularly at the top.

MrsSantosisafeminist · 02/10/2009 16:34

That's a good point Piglet - write and tell them - or you can probably email. I dunno - maybe they use organic cotton or something. I haven't bought anything from the NCT catalogue for years - it is all really overpriced, but then so is a lot of stuff - Mothercare for example. Nearly New Sales, Car Boots and charity shops. Even if I ever do drag myself out of deep skintitude, I doubt I could stomach paying full price for things anymore

Original poster
MachinesAreGo · 02/10/2009 16:35

^By charis on Fri 02-Oct-09 16:14:15
It is a pointless dress that doesn't deserve to exist in my opinion. NCT need to focus on their reason for existance and not fleece inexperienced first time mums.^

Succinctly put charis, and I totally agree.
I am not 'slagging off the NCT' btw - as I said, I am a paid up member. But this item really annoys me. The NCT advice about wearing an old shirt gives a far more realsitic expectation of the realities of labour and birth than the Womama.

OP posts:
pigletmania · 02/10/2009 16:36

I might just do that MrsSant good idea.

MrsSantosisafeminist · 02/10/2009 16:36

Nearly New Sales, Car Boots and charity shops are the way to go

CloudDragon · 02/10/2009 16:46

I always always always end up naked when giving birth, but never remember taking my clothes off. so would be the most pointless item in the world.

StrawberrySam · 02/10/2009 16:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sabire · 02/10/2009 16:57

"but i dont want to pay a lot of money for something that is going to end up with blood, sick etc on it"

What - would you throw something out because it got dirty? And are you one of those sort of women who use 'intimate wipes' as well? (sorry - should I say 'waipes').

Just fling the bugger in the wash afterwards. I'm sure it would come out fine (unlike most of the stuff I have purchased from Primark, which is unwearable after 3 washes).

"What about a healthy dose of realism to stop women feeling like they have failed birth when it doesn't go all swimmingly?"

What - in a catalogue?

The NCT produces loads of information and material on complicated births - including c-section recovery.

"The NCT are creating false and unfair expectations and should bl88dy well stop"

What - by suggesting that birth can be straightfoward and even enjoyable?

The fools!

Maybe they should produce a pair of crutchless pyjamas with 'have an epidural and enjoy the ride' emblazoned across the back... pyjamas with nice padded bits on the ankles, so when you're in stirrups having ventouse and a nice big episiotomy, at least your feet feel comfortable!

StrawberrySam · 02/10/2009 17:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pigletmania · 02/10/2009 17:03

Those are good ideas Sabire crothless pjs oooh la la now you are talking lol. No i dont want to pay £60 for that no, i can get some nice decent things from M&S or whatever that cost less. Of course i dont throw things away i would put it in the wash. At the end of the day its up the ther person if they want to buy it so be it.