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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

NCTantenatal courses - worth doing?

19 replies

Saffra · 16/02/2011 22:52

Is it worth doing these courses?

Not sure if it's an unnecessary expense, but like the idea of meeting new mums-to-be in my area. Plus also get DH more involved too, if poss.

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Original poster

Saffra · 16/02/2011 23:00

Just also to mention that I will be doing a lot of reading around the whole subject of childbirth/babies, so won't be reliant on a course as such for knowledge.

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PukeyMummy · 17/02/2011 07:35

The best thing I got out of it was meeting a group of people going through the same thing as us at the same time, especially my fellow mums. Who else is going to sit for hours and listen to your birth story in gory detail, and know exactly what you mean?

And if you get on well, you'll have a ready-built babysitting network once the babies are older!

clarkland · 17/02/2011 07:48

I agree I am still great friends with the girls I met on my NCT course 2 and a half years ago! Vital for my sanity. I am the last of the bunch to be having No.2 now (due in 5 weeks).It is invaluable to have people around you in the same situation.

humph123 · 17/02/2011 08:24

I've just signed up for the NCT antenatal classes as i've heard good reports about them.

Katietatie123 · 17/02/2011 08:33

We have just finished our NCT course, and it's fair to say that we approached it with a fair dose of skepticism. However, we now both think that it was well worth the money and actually really enjoyed it. All of the people seem really nice and the first meet up is already arranged! Of course the proof will be when baby arrives and we see how much we actually learned, but it's really nice to know some people locally who are at the same stage.

Oneof4 · 17/02/2011 08:50

We only signed up to meet people, but I found the course gave me a real feeling of confidence about the whole thing, which I wasn't expecting. I'd done a lot of reading, but the course gave me a high degree of reassurance that I hadn't realised I lacked. Really worth doing in my opinion. And we met some great people too.

FeralGirlCambs · 17/02/2011 09:04

I'm wondering about this too and considering just doing NHS ones - there are a good number offered in my area. A friend said she found those more useful and has kept in touch with people from them as well as her NCT classes. Anyone got any thoughts? And Saffra have you asked your midwife about availability of these (free) in your area?

Bumpsadaisie · 17/02/2011 09:10

The information is pretty useful. But best of all you make friends and have 8 people going through the same as you and to socialise with after the births!

You may not all gel immediately in the early weeks but you'll be surprised once babies start coming how much you cling together!

cocoachannel · 17/02/2011 09:15

Our NCT course was excellent, especially for my husband who hadn't read up on much post birth do was brand new to even the basics like nappy changing. We've not had our baby yet though do who knows how the preparation will seem when reality hits!

As others have said meeting other parents-to-be has been great. Having a weekly coffee with the other Mums has helped with the wait over the last fortnight whilst I've been on mat leave.

comixminx · 17/02/2011 09:24

The meet-ups are good, but actually I've found that I've got a lot of support / useful info here on MN ( joined the antenatal thread for the month I was expecting to give birth in, and we've got a RL meet up coming up soon). I've also bumped into quite a few mothers around and about locally as I've gone to children's centres etc, though I believe that can be quite variable according to where you are and how much you want to get out and about once LO's born. Our NCT group has been quite good at scheduling get togethers, which gives a bit more of a kick up the bum to go out and about compared to just popping out to the local children's centre as and when.

I like the fact that the NCT group also gives DP something of a network of dads, which he'd otherwise be more likely to miss out on at this stage (I suppose that'll change as DD gets older and he does more of the childcare).

fiorentina · 17/02/2011 09:28

I found the NCT classes to be a waste of time from a knowledge point of view. If you've read books and spoken to friends with babies they really taught me nothing. The sessions were really unstructured and they have a very narrow view of childbirth and feeding, which you may or may not agree with.

However as others said above, they do introduce you to other mums-to-be, so if you are looking to meet others in your area, they can be useful.

salander · 17/02/2011 09:31

Agree that the best thing about them was the other folk in the class who I am now vg friends with. Gives you a support network which is v important. The classes themselves I found quite one sided and against medical intervention. Which is fine if all is going well and normally but my labour did not and I think I could have been better prepared for that.

OrganisedMayhem · 17/02/2011 09:52

I have totally forgotten the class content, but the fantastic friends I have made were well worth the course fee. Having a new baby is tough but having a network who are in the same sleepless and stressful boat as you are priceless. 4 and half years later and a house move I still see my first time NCT friends, not only because I am great friends with the Mum's, but the dad's still get together for beers and my DD nags me to arrange play dates with her 'special London' friends as the children have a special bond too.

If you ask me it's a no brainer....

Also did a 2nd time course when pregnant with DD2 (as had moved area after DD1) and met some great Mums and dads then too so I am a bit evagelical about NCT and meeting people..... but that is just me!

PipPipPip · 17/02/2011 10:11

I think they're very hit-and-miss and depend on the personality of the teacher and other attendees.

Having said that, we struck gold with ours - had a LOVELY teacher and six fun, interesting couples. We genuinely enjoyed the classes and have come away from it with new friends. I feel much more prepared for labour and life with a baby.

So based on our experience, I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Having said that, I'm also doing the free hospital antenatal course and the content is almost the same. So if its info you're seeking, the hospital one would be fine. If you're seeking friends, support, encouragement, I recommend NCT.

The NCT do some means testing, so if you're students or low income you can pay a reduced fee for the course.

LittleMsH · 17/02/2011 11:38

I was hoping to make some NCT friends but I'm not seeing this happening now. I agree with others - it all depends on personality.

Personally, I'm not gelling with my NCT group(the men are all so blokey and the other mums-to-be have wildly different views on childbirth to me. Not necessarily a bad thing to have perspectives challenged but there are great swathes of conversation that I just can't join in with). I think for me I could do with other mums-to-be, then mums in a couple of months, who I would be friends with anyway, not thrown together with because we happen to be having children at the same time. But as some folks say, I might feel differently once baby arrives!

I'd also say it could depend on the timing of the class. Ours finish quite late on a weeknight so there's no opportunity to do anything after or before. If I'd have thought, I might have gone for classes that were at a different time.

Bumpsadaisie · 17/02/2011 11:43

LittleMsH

I do think it will be different once those babies come ... just make sure you all exchange email addresses etc.

During the classes themselves I was just too knackered and uncomfy to really be bothered making friends!

It does take there being one or two people in the group who take the initiative and ping round an email to everyone - well worth doing.

Original poster

Saffra · 17/02/2011 12:14

Thanks for your comments, I have now registered my interest on the NCT site, as definitely would love to meet mums/couples in same boat as well as gain more info. I think it's probably one thing reading the info online and in books and discussing it with others who are facing the same decisions etc (i imagine anyway!).

FeralGirlCambs - no, I haven't spoken to my midwife yet as appt is not until 3 weeks away @ just over 12 weeks. I didn't want to leave it too late as heard the courses are popular. Also, I just wasn't sure that DH would be able to make the NHS ones if they were during the day due to work. I really reckon that DH would benefit from this, as he's just not the type to read books and research online.

OP posts:

GraceK · 17/02/2011 13:19

Thought I'd also mention the NCT Nearly New Sales - they're fab places to pick up good quality, cheap babt clothes, equipment, toys & maternity clothes. Really eorth going along to those too.

We're still good friends with most of the people on our course 4 years later, though we see each other less than when we had newborns - met up almost weekly for the first year - so nice to have other people to sit & breast feed with whilst discussing items of limited interest to your other friends (even those with older children) such as birth stories & poop colour discussions.

Good luck

oggybags · 17/02/2011 19:18

As first timer parents to be and with poor nhs antenatel provision locally (1 hr anyone??!) we booked nct as a full weekend, which was last weekend and thought it was great. I have read the books etc but it was good doing an intensive weekend full (if exhausting) as you think about things differently when all facts presented, wheras I found reading them i skimmed over bits i didnt want to know as much about!!
people were generally nice and huge variety in ages, which was unexpected and pleasant - from 20-40ish and all manners of jobs etc
ours was £130 so less than £5 hr each for us for the 2 days
we covered everything from pain releif to feeding, and mu DH said he now feels far more included and relaxed about what is to come,
worth also noting if youre on restricted income you can get upto 90% reduction on fees
hope that helps

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