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Original poster

Anyone not doing NCT?

31 replies

jjj789 · 07/10/2014 19:04

It's super expensive in London and we might be moving again in the summer so I'm not over-keen to splash out. But, it seems to be expected and the norm. Everyone is so keen to tell me that I'll be bored and lonely with a baby unless I do NCT but I'm struggling to justify it. Anyone else not bothering and hoping to meet friends via baby groups once the baby's born?

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skyra13 · 07/10/2014 19:08

I have no idea if I'm going to do it to be honest, don't really no what I plan to do lol not even though about it!

I don't really know many ppl were I live and been in Kent for 3 years!

Annbag · 07/10/2014 19:18

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at the poster's request.

JennyBlueWren · 07/10/2014 19:36

My mum keeps mentioning it. I would go if it was in my own town but as it's in the city in the evening I'd be too tired for it. Not much use for making friends either as they'll be too spread out or all in the city. I'll go to any NHS ones as the hospital's nearer my work and use baby groups and the breastfeeding group to make local mum friends.

broodysnoopstie · 07/10/2014 19:43

Me too in London and can't afford it. I'm doing nhs ones x

BananaToast · 07/10/2014 19:45

I'm going to do it but I wouldn't if I knew I would be moving soon. I don't know many people who lie nearby, and none with kids, so want to use it to meet people - but others I know have met really good friends through baby groups etc. so I don't think it's necessary, just a nice thing to do if you can afford to.

AGreenie · 07/10/2014 19:49

You don't need to pay the full price -if you can't afford it, you should be able to get it discounted....this is what the website says

Discounts are available for this course; please enquire in confidence about these. Everyone can pay for a course by agreed instalments as long as the final payment is made by the time that the course starts.

Christinecagney · 07/10/2014 19:49

I went once when I lived in London, when pg with DS1. 'Twas bonkers. And expensive. Don't bother. You'll meet people anyway soon enough.

Slongette · 07/10/2014 19:50

[skyra13] I'm in Kent.....

I didn't do NCT as it's just not my scene. I ended up making good friends at a 6 week course run by the local Children's Centre which was great.

I've also made baby friends at a music class and at swimming. I've just had time to be bored and lonely!

You can get all the info you need at the NHS classes (although I did not do these as they weren't offered) and mumsnet of course!

Good luck

Christelle2207 · 07/10/2014 19:51

I did it and met some nice mums. However I also attended a (free) "early days" group at our local children's centre and met another bunch of mums who are all within walking distance so a lot more local than the nct lot. What was good about the nct lot though was the course was quite some time before we had the babies and we ended up having quite a few coffee and cake sessions in that time after mat leave had started but babies hadn't arrived yet. I enjoyed the course, but didn't learn anything I couldn't have picked up elsewhere.

ByTheWishingWell · 07/10/2014 19:53

I didn't go. The NHS classes were fine information-wise, and we've met other local mums through the groups we go to (baby sensory, swimming and breastfeeding support).

frazzeled · 07/10/2014 19:54

I didn't do it as I moved at 38 weeks pregnant, and it seems that the only thing most people gain long term is a good social network. To be honest lots of my friends have been very stressed by the pressure they have been put under that they must breast feed , and natural childbirth is the best way (I am sure I am about to get a barrage of abuse from NCT lovers and advocates) from NCT classes - but have all made really good friendships. You can make friends elsewhere - I wouldn't worry at all.

Ps am very pro breast feeding - not a negative againste that advice!

Polkadotscarf · 07/10/2014 20:36

I'm just doing the two, two hour sessions with the nhs. My midwife said the NCT ones are more about building a social network so if you're moving may not be relevant.

schopenhauer · 07/10/2014 21:46

I'm not for same reasons as you, everyone keeps asking if I've started ante natal classes yet and some ppl very surprised when I say I'm not doing any, but it's just too expensive! I hope I haven't missed out too much.

muddylettuce · 07/10/2014 21:57

I didn't with my first, dp and I are shift workers so found it impossible to fit classes around his and my work. We just about managed the nhs ones! When I felt human again when DD was about 2 months old I went to a local baby group run by nct as well as some others and met a lovely group of people through that. A year and a half on we still socialise together so I don't feel I have missed out at all by not doing nct. X

bakingmad83 · 07/10/2014 22:08

I'm just doing the NHS ones near us, you get 6 x 2hrs here, though quite a big group so haven't really got properly chatting. I'm starting aquanatal this week too, as know a couple of people who still regularly meet up with some of the mums they met there are couple of years on.

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 07/10/2014 22:11

I tried every group going to get to know people. I utterly loathed the NCT with all their best is breast mantra. I made my good friends in other groups.

londonlivvy · 07/10/2014 23:02

I did NCT and frankly it wasn't worth it. I didn't learn anything that I hadn't already gleaned from books and I don't have friends out of it either. Though the people were nice enough, none lived particularly close, all were ten years younger than me and I had nothing in common. i was particularly annoyed that none of them lived in the town where the classes were held (where we live). My sisters loved being able to pop round the corner to their NCT friends' houses.

We spent 9 months meeting once a week, exchanging social niceties before I got bored. I have far better friends who I met at playgroup. NCT is potluck. some people make lifelong friends. Others (like me) just waste money.

rubyinthedust · 08/10/2014 11:27

Just to balance things out a bit, I wasn't sure about doing the NCT classes for the same reasons as you - and I also had heard bad things about them being militant about natural birth and breastfeeding. In the end I did decide to go for the classes (NHS doesn't offer a good alternative around here, and my husband has zero experience with babies), and I have to say that I'm really pleased I did. Our course facilitator was amazing and really open about all options, encouraging us to use our common sense rather than follow advice blindly. I've met some really nice people and we've been for lunch and coffee a few times - even if I do move next year it'll be nice to see them this year.

I know that some people have negative experiences with the NCT still, and unfortunately you won't find out until your first course how it's going to be, but just wanted to say that there are some excellent NCT courses out there!

WhyOWhyWouldYou · 08/10/2014 11:58

Tbh, other than on here I've not even heard people really mention NCT. Certainly no one I know did them, they all just did the NHS ones.

Personally I don't see how they can be worth the money.

splendide · 08/10/2014 12:32

I've just finished my NCT classes. Overall I'm glad I did it but they were really expensive. I didn't find they had any obvious agenda - other than quite reasonable positions so breastfeeding was described as the best option if you can manage it which seems non controversial to me.

Definitely worth it for meeting people more than anything else so if you don't need/ want that then I wouldn't bother.

cherrygirl59 · 08/10/2014 13:12

Try Birthmatters for an alternative - they were almost half the price of NCT in my local area, and well worth it.

FirsttimerG · 08/10/2014 13:21

We went expecting pushy breast is best etc but Nhs where we are only does 2 x 2.5hrs antenatal courses, which we also attended and in my opinion were insufficient and rushed.

We paid for the classes and I have to say its the best investment we made. Met some really nice people, the course leader was really open and helpful and NOT biased, simply pushed choice on all sides.

Our breast feeding session was great, particularly since due to medications I am taking I may not be able to. The counsellor offered to help me replicate all the positives of breast feeding with bottle feeding and to help me stop milk supply etc so no one was pushy, only supportive.

In my experience the NHS midwives have been less receptive to my issues and I get the breast only message more strongly from them.

I am not into anything hippy, so j was sceptical with NCT but our group was splendid and I can't recommend it highly enough xxx

Hazelbrowneyes · 08/10/2014 13:28

I'm not doing NCT and I'm only doing the NHS ones because the midwife booked the classes for me. I'm awkward in group situations (I know this needs to change once baby is here) so I'm absolutely dreading it

eurochick · 08/10/2014 13:35

I didn't bother with any antenatal classes, NHS or NCT. I was planning to do a hypnobirthing course but had my baby early before the course date. I might have done NCT for the social side but we were planning to move around the time of the birth, so it wouldn't have been worth it for that.

My baby is now 11 weeks old and I don't feel like I have missed out. I am quite happy in my own company and enjoy time at home catching up on some box sets and cuddling her. I have a couple of friends who had babies around the same time and see them and other "non-baby" friends who work part time or for lunch if they work full time. I see my parents around once a week. I'm certainly not bored or craving company.

One thing that has been great is the FB group that developed from the MN antenatal thread I was on. It is much more active than the thread and loads of good advice has been shared on there. I guess if I didn't have that support I might find the company of other people going through the same thing from an NCT group useful.

Pobblewhohasnotoes · 08/10/2014 13:44

I did Nct in London and yes it was expensive but worth it as I found it good for meeting people. 2 and a half years on we still meet up or are in contact which is nice. The NHS classes I did were oversubscribed, there were 100+ in my class so no chance to get to know anyone or ask many questions.

Our Nct teacher didn't press a natural birth, she discussed epidural and c sections too. Was good for DH too as he wasn't sure what his role was supposed to be, where as NHS classes didn't go into as much depth about that. It was definitely nicer having a smaller group, there were ten couples in mine.

But yes the breastfeeding class wasn't very good, that was run by someone else though. I would check out all breastfeeding support before hand.

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