NCT opinions

[StrawberryLacesAddict]

It's just dawned on me after a lonely trip to a country park watching lots of mums chatting and their children playing that I know no one in my local area.

I have no friends really JUST Dh and my MIL. I moved to be with DH and found it had when dd (7) went to school and all the mums knew each other that I've kind of just got on with it.

I was a single parent so I was almost happy with just DH! My work colleagues all live quite far and I go on maternity leave in the autumn and was googling (pathetic I know) how to find friends and the Nct came up.

Has anyone done these? Do you feel less isolated?

I looked into it before when I had dd but money was far too tight. I dont need the classes as such due to my job but the socialising would be nice I guess. I dont know if I'd get the same thing after baby is here going to the baby groups as I felt useless last time.

I'm doing their prenatal classes and I was dreading them but I absolutely love them and look forward to them every week. I obviously can't comment on the after birth ones but meeting other people in the same position and has definitely definitely been worth it.

That's really great to hear. Thank you

I did NCT but didn't make any friends. Luckily I did the free local NHS ones as well and met a group of women. We tentatively met up for coffee after the classes had finished......

14 years (and several other children each) later were still good friends!

It's scary meeting new people. It's a fine line to tread so as to appear friendly and open but not pushy or needy. I find a bright and breezy approach good. Let people talk, don't talk too much about yourself at first (I have a habit of talking too much when I'm nervous). It does take a little time but be persistent.

When my eldest went to a secondary school where we had no connections or knew no other families/parents, I felt like I wanted to join in something to meet people and feel plugged in. It took until my dd was 14 to pluck up the courage but this year I've volunteered for loads, started to help organise things and then applied to be a school governor. Even then it's slow but sure, I bide my time and talk to lots of people. Slowly friendships emerge.

Good luck OP. X

Yes, I went to nct classes for exactly the same reason. We moved here recently and didn't know many people so I was hoping to meet a few folks with new babies off on maternity leave at the same time. It's been great, we share a lot and meet reasonably regularly, I'm really glad I met them! I find it hard making friends so although I chat to people at baby groups etc, I haven't made any friends that way.

The women I met through NCT were amazing and a life saver when on maternity leave. We're all back at work but still meet up and talk. I always refer to them as the best friends I'd ever bought - we all went to NCT for the same reason.

Thank you all for sharing and making me feel not so alone!!!

I've emailed them.

Made 5 fab NCT friends that I still see 5 years later that I really cherish especially as I am an older mum whose pre-pregnancy friends have teenager/grandkids. I would have been quite lonely without them during maternity leave.

I had the same lonely feeling towards my end of the pregnancy so totally relate!

I really regretted not doing NTC! And thought I had missed out on a a really great chance to meet new friends (hardly happens really later on in life unless u actively try or move work a lot?). So I signed up to a newborn mums class in the area and we still meet and keep in touch.

So glad I did it, but next time I will go for NTC too. You may not meet totally likeminded people but it gives you that opportunity!

NCT not NTC - Doh!

I have found it invaluable for making friends. I have friends in the area but they mostly work full time in the week so I needed people to hang out with during maternity leave. I was lucky - 9 couples in my class and 8 of the women regularly meet (not all of us but a few each week and we are all invited - no sub groups yet! Though babies are only 2-3months old). My sister was not so lucky, 5 couples and she doesn’t really get on with any of the women (I don’t think it’s her - she’s quite the socialite and far more popular than me generally!) she still meets them for coffee and stuff on mat leave, but I get the impression she probably won’t stay in touch for years like some do.

The groups vary - my antenatal class group were great and became good friends (until all but 1 moved away), but a local baby group clearly didn't want new people unless they were very similar to themselves. Luckily various other groups at children's centres and churches were mostly pretty friendly - try all the ones you can, at least twice. It was more lonely on my second mat leave as many groups had bonded over their first babies, but I found people to hang out with. If your eldest is 7,could helping the PTA get you to know other local parents better?

Thank you everyone!

As I'm waiting for NCT to get back to me I'm just wondering if anyone is roughly willing to share how much they were?

Around £300 I think, but it depends on area. They do a short course I think, and also one for second time parents, which is bound to be shorter so presumably cheaper.

I didn't do nct and looking back, maybe should have. It is hard making new friends when a lot of activities or groups tend to be nice, etc, etc but when it's time to leave everyone just vanishes and goes home. The friends I did make, and still enjoy seeing two years on are from the baby massage sessions that we went to - complete with up to an hour of tea, cake and chat afterwards. Maybe try and find a group like that?

I did NCT and didn't particularly make any friends. Have a whole bunch of mum friends now from playgroup and baby classes though!

Our NCT course was £400 (London)

I would recommend, I made some lovely friends from NCT who I still see regularly. Though it is a bit of a gamble because it is a group of people with only due dates in common. In London our classes were a bit over £300. They do offer discounts depending on your situation also

I met a fab bunch of ladies at Aquanatal class at our local pool. My DS2 is now 12.5 and we are still all in touch although one has lived overseas for the last 9 years - thanks to Facebook!!

With DS1 now 16 we moved while pregnant so I had no friends. Was a lonely time, but forced myself to go out loads and joined all the baby groups. Made lots of friends, but took a while. Still in touch with some of them including my bestie who was my rock!!

My 8 week class (2 hours a week) was £220 (Midlands)