No space left on the NTC course- am I destined to a lonely life with no mummy friends?!

[SadPander]

I've heard so much about how great the NCT antenatal courses are for making lifelong friends and a support network. I tried to sign up about 4 weeks ago (about 29 weeks) but seems I'd left it too late as the only spaces left were for after my due date. I can't see any postnatal classes for my area either.

I'm worrying a bit now as I don't have any friends with children near me and not sure how I feel about turning up to a baby group alone to try and meet people. Has anyone made good friends without the NCT courses?

I did NCT and am still in touch with most of the mums three years later. However I never really felt part of it - they all lived nearer each other and wanted to meet near them and I didn't have a car so had to do two bus journeys to get to meet ups which was hard.

However my local NCT ran new mum coffee morning type things where you don't even need to be a member and I met lots of lovely local mums through that - do they do anything like that near you? Also met friends at a local breast feeding cafe too.

Good luck!

I would also recommend your NHS antenatal classes and some type of antenatal exercise class.

I'm 35 weeks pregnant and have had 2 meet ups with 6 women from my NHS Antenatal classes and 1 meet up with a woman from my aquanatal group.

I was really worried about feeling isolated on maternity leave, so I have made a lot of effort to socialise where I'm normally more reserved.

Nobody said a word to me at our classes. And they were shit. Don't worry about it.

SadPander
Am feeling a little bit like you!

Am 31 weeks but looking online for local NCT groups there doesn't seem to be anything except after my due date.
Found out about the pregnancy v late- was 20 weeks or so- so it has taken a long time to get my head round things!

Women I've spoken to re NCT have given mixed opinions- one raves about it, sees them all often, going to birthdays, weddings etc

Another friend was a bit meh saying that her group didn't really bond & hardly any of them are still are in touch. She put it as "paying for new mates".

Re the information you get at NCT nobody really said much about it, pretty standard & more about meeting other PG women!

I wouldn't stress too much about it, kind of accepted I won't have an NCT group...although the 200 quid or so saved is a bonus!

I did daisy yoga and met some lovely people there. Also aquanatal although left it a bit late to get to know people there as was a day class but everyone was v friendly and some that had been going a while where all friends. You need to start a class reasonably soon though so you have a bit if time to get to know people

I did yoga the people were nice but I haven't met them since. NCT isn't compulsory - the yoga class I did gave me amazing strategies for the birth which in turn as it was successful enabled a good start to bf. NC
T wasn't convenient for me and dh to both go and didn't appeal to me.

All my friends (existing) talked about nct as if I would be missing out if I didn't go but I never felt I missed anything!! And I don't even feel I dedicate enough time to my existing friends so would feel a bit guilty spending spare time socialising with new people. There are many other ways to meet people if that's what you want. I met a really nice other mummy on my street when she left her ds's nursery bags on the pavement and drove off and I looked after them till she got home.

Also reading this I can't believe the cost of NCT! I didn't know that.

So I'd recommend doing something you would do anyway if there's something in your area and you'll meet like minded people.

All the best !!