Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Other subjects
Original poster

Not allowed to go to NCT ante-natal classes!

26 replies

startingtobehalloweenylover · 08/10/2005 19:56

I was speaking to an acquaintance the other morning and we got onto the subject of ante-natal classes.
She had wanted to go to the NCT ones, but when she rang to book a place they said she couldn't come if she didn't bring her partner! He didn't want to come... wasn't interested in that kinda thing... but she wanted to go by herself and they wouldn't let her!

Is this normal?

OP posts:
jessicaandbumpsmummy · 08/10/2005 19:59

so what happens with single mums then - do they get excluded as well? i would have gone MENTAL

WigWamBam · 08/10/2005 20:01

They prefer you to have a partner because a lot of the exercises you will do involve both partners, or will be looking at things from two angles.

She will be able to take someone else with her as a supporter, though - that's how our classes worked, anyway.

tillykins · 08/10/2005 20:05

Thats awful - what if you don't have anyone to go with you?
she should make her partner go!

ladymuck · 08/10/2005 20:06

I also think that if your birth partner is not interested in finding out how to support you at the birth, then the classes probably aren't for you. There's no point in having gained knowledge of all the helpful things your partner could be doing, if he isn't bothered! It would probably just create more problems!

Original poster
startingtobehalloweenylover · 08/10/2005 20:06

yeah i realise that they look at it from both angles... but at the end of the day she was going to pay them the full price (which isn't cheap) and she wanted to go by herself! Why should she be excluded?

Surely the point of them is to teach you about pregnancy, childbirth etc etc... you're there to learn... and why does it matter if you have someone with you?

OP posts:
buffytheharpsichordcarrier · 08/10/2005 20:11

no this is NOT normal
I am training to be an antenatal teacher with the NCT and I think it is wholly unacceptable to turn someone away for this reason.
the teacher should be able to accommodate everyone's needs. what if she had no partner.
Tell her to complain.
grrrrrrr....

Original poster
startingtobehalloweenylover · 08/10/2005 20:14

but ladymuck the point of the classes is not to learn how your partner can help you!
fwiw her partner is VERY uspportive but just doesn't really feel comfortable with that kind of thing

that doesn't mean that she wouldn't benefit from going!

will tell her that though harpsichordcarrier! our local branch does seem a bit odd

OP posts:
Pruni · 08/10/2005 20:15

Message withdrawn

expatinscotland · 08/10/2005 20:16

Ach, well, that saves her 150 bob.

buffytheharpsichordcarrier · 08/10/2005 20:17

can I just say grrrrrr again?
god that is so irritating
useless teacher
if it wasn;t for the people I met at NCT classes I would have gone stark staring mad in the first few post natal weeks

bubble99 · 08/10/2005 20:17

Maybe they could hear her rattling formula tins in the backround?

Original poster
startingtobehalloweenylover · 08/10/2005 20:19

pmsl bubble!

and expat... agree! they're hideously expensive aren't they?

I actually was going to go to them but the website is totally out of date, the e-mail addresses didn't work and I could never get through to anyone on the phone! lol
think i'm glad I didn't go now!

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 08/10/2005 20:31

Thanks to other mumsnetters - THANK YOU, mears, especially! - I've found a lot of resources locally that are free to use, which is good, cuz once again we didn't get a SINGLE number on Lotto!

ScarySkribble · 08/10/2005 22:32

I went to NHS classes that were for couples but there was also classes for just mums. Sometimes I wish I had went to mum only ones to meet local mums as the couples ones were further away. We were made to feel strange because DH wanted to go.

buffytheharpsichordcarrier · 09/10/2005 19:02

btw, meant to post last night that if you want to go to NCT classes and can't afford it (on benefits etc) then this shoujld not be a problem. cost should not be a barrier, and a very reduced rate is applicable.

GeraldGiraffe · 09/10/2005 19:10

Rubbish. i am an NCT student teacher and we would NEVER exclude anyone for not having a partner. in fact we are taught to be careful of language etc in case we are teaching singles. She must have come across a crap bookings clerk (unfortunately they are volunteers and often receive little training). She ought to kick up a stink, tell her to try and find out who the chair of her branch is (will be able to find out by ringing general enquiries) and flag it up with her.

intergalacticwalrus · 09/10/2005 19:12

I went to the NHS ones, and having compared notes with friends who did the NCT ones, I am glad I didn't fork out tbh, as they were pretty much the same

GeraldGiraffe · 09/10/2005 19:13

sorry , that rubbish wasn't directed at you harpsichordcarrier!

GeraldGiraffe · 09/10/2005 19:13

IGW- think it varies widely though. they have just cancelled most of the ones in the neighbouring NHS trust to us so its pretty much NCT or nothing.

GeraldGiraffe · 09/10/2005 19:14

Should parp myself really

intergalacticwalrus · 09/10/2005 19:18
Grin
weesaidie · 09/10/2005 20:06

I got the NCT classes free as I was on benefits. I took my dad as he was one of my birth partners!

buffytheharpsichordcarrier · 09/10/2005 20:52

thanks GG - see my post of 8.11 last night
am still going grrrrr as it happens

Blu · 09/10/2005 20:55

eh? Half the people in our class came on their own - small problem of partners being at work!

GeraldGiraffe · 10/10/2005 00:44

heehee HC- wonder if we 'know' one another?