South West London Parents to be - any meet ups arranged that are outside working hours?

[bumpitybumpbump]

I am due mid March and to date haven't attended any NCT classes or meet ups because I cannot take the time off work to attend them - not because my employer won't let me but becuase I'm so busy in the run up to my maternity leave that I don't want to be out the office at the moment. Is anyone aware of any other options that are available just at the weekend/evenings? I'm mostly interested in the social aspect rather than the courses and just want to meet other local (fulham) mums to be but it seems that everywhere assumes that we can all sit around drinking coffee mid afternoon mid week?! Any other working mumstobe out there who have found a way to join in? Thank you!

Have you checked the nct classes in your area? All of mine except for one have been evenings and weekend.

I live in Kensington and with my first did an 'intensive' NCT course over three Saturdays. I was too busy with work to get out every week for 5pm or whatever and found this worked really well. It was full Saturday x2 plus one Saturday for the BF session, though I had the baby before the BF session so missed that - that'll teach me for leaving it to the last minute...

I'm in Wimbledon and my NCT classes are also evenings predominently. There are two women-only sessions which are during the day, but I'm ok with taking a few hours. I also go to maternally fit classes (evening - think they have a putney class) and pregnancy yoga (weekend) where you obviously meet other mums to be.

I have a busy job too and am also feeling the pressure (self imposed) of getting things done before mat leave BUT please please please think of yourself as well. I think things like NCT are as much about meeting others and creating a post-baby support network than anything else. Won't you completely miss out if you don't go?

Incidentally, I looked into changing the date of my NCT class recently and there was still room in the alternative classes I looked at. Perhaps you should check out their website and find out whether you might be able to sneak to another class.

Maybe a bit far for you but I went to evening antenatal classes at the Life Centre in Kensington with Lynda Leach. They start at 6.45pm and go on for 2 hours over the course of 5 weeks. They were brilliant but are a bit more expensive than NCT.

Thanks everyone - I checked out my local NCT classes and whilst some are in the evening they all include morning classes too - really good idea to consider other ways of meeting people through yoga etc though!

Ooh, thanks VickyU, I'll check out Lynda Leach.

Thanks everyone!

Antenatal yoga can be great. I joined a postnatal yoga class in Wimbledon, where everyone else had done the antenatal version and they all knew each other really well - some of them are now pregnant with DC2 and doing the course again (it's here if you're interested.

Wimbledon & Wandsworth NCT also used to do Welcome Evenings for new parents (to be) in the area - perhaps they still do?

If you're interested in other birth preparation type things, hypnobirthing courses are often in the evenings.

The Vauxhall NCT group does an intensive weekend class and regular evening meetings!

The NCT course in my area (WC1) was an intensive course on weekends (3 days in total). It also allowed DH to attend all the sessions which was nice. Have a look to see if there is an intensive course offered in your area.