Which antenatal couse - NCT v hypnobirthing

[MrsMayers]

I have booked on an NCT course as I'm due on 9 March next year.

At the time, on the website it looked like the nearest one to me was nearly 10 miles away but booked it anyway. I've since found out there was one on my doorstep but it's full, so it didn't appear on the search.

I'm a bit gutted as I feel like I'll miss out on the 'social' side of attending the NCT classes. I'm on a waiting list in case any spots on the closer course become available.

In the meantime, I've found a number of alternative antenatal classes, one at the hospital and a local hypnobirthing one around the corner from my house.

I'd always thought I'd go to NCT classes, mainly because most of the people I know have and highly recommend them.

I suppose, would you cancel NCT and go for something alternative more local? Or stick with NCT even though it's further away?

Thanks!

Is 10 miles away really a problem? The one I did was that distance and I found people travelled from a reasonable distance to get to it and we tended to meet up at each other’s houses or various baby groups anyway. As long as you have a car, I don’t see the issue and you might well find that local people are on your course anyway because the other one is already full.

I’m my experience, people recommend NCT because they have no other experience and have paid a lot of money to like it and make friends. The truth is (I know not for everyone but again ime), you will meet people at baby groups and other antenatal options are equally good. There is somehow a myth (that is strongly and widely believed) that NCT is the only way to make friends and stop you from becoming lonely. It is not. I’d go for the hypno course.

I didn’t do NCT with DD1 and went to baby groups every day to make friends. I did come away over a year later with three good friends but it was hard at times and there were loads of ready made friendship groups where I went that were impenetrable. I did the NCT course with DD2 purely for the social side and it made a massive difference for my mental state because I had a group of ready made friends from before I even gave birth that I was able to message at anytime and meet up with. So based on my experience, so disagree with PinkAvocado and would highly recommend the course. However, it is dependant upon who is on your course. I am still very good friends with three of my NCT and we meet up at least weekly, even now. The rest of us do still message and meet up sporadically.

Thanks all for you advice!
Due to where I live and access, I’ve gone for the local hypnobirthing classes. I think I was slightly swayed by the content and times suit me much better as well (all after work and OH will be able to go).
Hopefully the HB group will be just as social, I’m sure they’re all thinking the same as well.
If we decide to have a second will definitely be more organised and get on the NCT one.

My point more is that there are other ways, not just NCT. I know people who paid for NcT to get other ‘mum friends’ and we’re bitterly disappointed they didn’t click. The impenetrable NCT group is common and another reason I was determined not to be one of that group. I’ve done a non NCT antenatal course and met people but not more or less than those I met at bumps and babies (which you can go to when you’re pregnant) and baby groups. Research other antenatal courses as well is my advice.

I think you've made the right choice, for me it wasn't about the content of the course so much - although it was good content, I think absolutely anything would have helped if it tells you a bit about what to expect and gives you some ideas to help you cope.

The real value was the ready made support group, and so I think local will be the best.

I'm overseas so no NCT here but I did both hynobirthing classes and more traditional antenatal classes through the local hospital. Both were just as useful from a content perspective but 2 years on, and I am still incredibly close with all of the hynobirthing women (and DH with their husbands) We catch up in person either with or without kids almost every week and we talk almost daily in a WhatsApp group. Whereas with the antenatal group, I never saw or heard a word from anyone of the day the moment we all left the last class.

I think what I'm trying to say is, it's luck of the draw. I don't think you're anymore likely to make friends at one group or another.

Have you had a look to see if The Daisy Foundation are in your area? It's a 'quieter' Antenatal offering as each area is owned by one teacher, rather than many teachers in one area.