NCT courses, worth it?

[shouldIbecrossaboutthis]

I Have looked after children from newborn for 10 years, weaned 50 and potty trained 38. I know nothing can prepare you for having your own children, but in terms of "handling" (??) I know what I'm doing. Apart from the breastfeeding bit! DP doesn't have a clue.

A local NCT course is £240, it includes 2 hours on breastfeeding And 7 other 2 hour sessions but I don't know what they will cover. The course costs £240, is that not a lot?

I thought I would look at a course to make some local mum friends, but it just seems so much money. Will I be a Billy no mates if I don't do this course?

I also want to do a hypnobirthing course which is £275, but judgey pants pulled up I don't think I'd meet many like minded people there. So another course at the same price seems excessive!

I did NCT classes, which I found a bit useless for information (agree I think they vary, but also I did miss the last 2 due to DD being born early!) but am still friends with a few of the other couples. I also went to the post-natal classes which our local hospital ran and I met lots of people there who I am friends with, so am really glad I did. They gave useful information on feeding, caring, weaning etc as well as providing a social portal so it might be worth seeing if there are any of those in the area.

I did NCT classes when pregnant with DD and almost 3yrs on am still good friends with most of the girls. I see a couple of them most weeks and the 6 of us are going out for a meal next month. I am a GP and thought I knew lots about the labour side of things, DH was clueless so it was great for him to learn a bit about what moight happen. The breastfeeding classes covered other stuff like co-sleeping, nutrition and meant I'd met the lovely breastfeeding counsellor lasy so when I rang her in floods of tears a couple of times when DD was small I could put a face to her name and feel really confident in the advice I got.

I've not managed to meet any other mum friends in spite of goijg to loads of activities (except after I moved and met 2 new good mates from joining NCT and going to activities they ran). I always thought NCT was for wierdos, I've totally changed my mind and am now quite involved in our local branch

I did the NCT classes and the NHS ones.

The NCT ones were very detailed and I formative, covered all aspects of childbirth including intervention and emcs and lots of good positions for labour.

They were invaluable for the friendship group I made. I'm in sw London and our group are in late twenties / early thirties and definitely not gina ford types. 6/7 still breast feeding 6 months in, some of us co-sleep, baby wear etc so don't think that certain areas attract certain types of person.

The nhs classes were useful as it was hospital specific. I didn't make any friends from them. The classes were big and not much time to chat.

The local breast feeding support group was a great help in the early weeks.