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Pregnancy

To NCT or not to NCT.......

49 replies

Normski79 · 13/06/2015 09:55

Hi all, so although only 14 weeks a few people in the antenatal thread have started mentioning courses get pretty booked up. Are you going to book on and on which? Signature or essential?
Or are you attending and enjoying? / hating?
Appreciate your thoughts.

OP posts:

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Normski79 · 20/06/2015 07:15

Thanks again, have booked on the signature course. It's perfect for me as I commute long distances for work (appreciate might not be nearer due day) course is two Saturday's and one evening. I live outside London and the Home Counties so not as £'s as some have mentioned. Fingers crossed we can meet some other lovely parents to be.

OP posts:

Normski79 · 16/06/2015 21:53

Thank you so much for all of your input, most helpful. Seems most people have gone for signature NCT. Anyone experienced the newer NCT essentials course?

OP posts:

Clarabell33 · 16/06/2015 20:31

DS1 is 11wks old. I didn't know anyone else having a baby or with young children in our area, so did NCT to meet other new mums - buy a friend, as PPs have said. There are 8 women in that group, and their partners are very much a part of it. I also did NHS, where there were 7 women but their partners were not really involved, we've only met a few in passing, so NCT was definitely better for DH. It's turned out that the NHS group are more local to me and so I meet up with them a lot more (sometimes at very short notice for a walk around the block and a breath of fresh air - and a vent!), whereas the NCT group are more wide-spread so it's more hassle meeting up - just further to travel. However the mums do meet up every 2-3 weeks and sometimes a few of the dads come along too.

The main thing for me was the risk. I preferred to have as much chance of finding new mum friends as possible, and it's worked out very well, I've been very lucky to find two groups of fairly like-minded women. However, I heard that the NHS group who came right after our group had only two women in, so had that been me, I'd have been panicking* if I'd not also done NCT too. NCT was more guaranteed re numbers.

*until starting the numerous local baby groups where I'd have met loads of other new mums... so if you don't do NCT, and don't meet many new mum friends through NHS groups, don't panic, there are plenty more opportunities!

TreeSparrow · 16/06/2015 20:13

I've found this thread really useful. Thanks to everyone. I was umming and ahhing about ask the options. I've decided to book the full antenatal course as I don't have any "baby friends".

surferchic41212 · 16/06/2015 19:52

My OH and I did it. We had a really good woman rubbing it who got us in groups of blokes/women, and the men learnt to change the 'baby's' (doll) nappy, wind, etc.. Then they had to 'teach' the ladies- genius!! All the blokes believed they were 'experts' at nappies!!
We met all the friends we now have a few years later, and the blokes learnt so much about birth and supporting us (massage!) and other stuff. But, like is said, depends on the person doing it.

Worth it just for the friends. Our NHS classes were also good, but the NCT was really great..

Our lady wasn't dictatorial and gave us really good info on pain relief, c section etc.

Plus, we didn't know anyone in our local area pre baby, so that was ideal..

WorldsBiggestGrotbag · 16/06/2015 19:52

Didn't go to the postnatal ones and our instructor ran a weekly meet up anyway where we could go and ask for advice etc so don't think there would have been any point.

AliceAnneB · 16/06/2015 19:49

We went and loved them despite being sceptical. We met great people and it was nice to go as a couple. It's a great way for dads to feel involved in the process and not so shut out. I actually think it's really important for the dads to make friends to.

Bodicea · 16/06/2015 19:44

I did. They were a bit dull, more like group therapy. I went to a few of them and it was good to help us get to know each other more bit towards the end we were all thinking we would rather be in a nice coffe shop!

TreeSparrow · 15/06/2015 23:30

Has anyone done the post-natal classes? Combined pre and post classes amount to more than five hundred quid. Not sure we can stretch to that.

austengirl · 15/06/2015 23:11

We've signed up for them as everyone we know with kids is post-baby and were first time parents. Some people I know regret not doing them, others felt no need to sign up. I'm trying to keep an open mind, but hope it it'll be worthwhile.

BabySalt · 15/06/2015 19:48

We have just finished an nct signature course. I was totally against going especially as there is a vast range of classes for free at our local hospital and thought we could use the money more wisely with a baby on the way. Hubby really wanted to go as the whole labour scared the hell out of him and work colleagues had recommended it.
Well I am happy to say I was totally wrong. I loved it. The trainer was wonderful. Covered all options with no judging or pretence which I was worried about. I learnt so much - even as a Google-hollic that I would not have known.
Also as the first in our friendship group to have a baby having like minded couples in the same position has been wonderful. I know they are not guaranteed to become my new best friends but having like minded support is very reassuring.
It's expensive but I would do it again in a heartbeat and would recommend it to all my friends.

formerlyofLadysmith · 15/06/2015 10:38

NCT do reduced prices for those on low incomes. We were both students when we did our NCT course, can't remember how much we paid but it wasn't a lot - perhaps £40?

Mopmay · 15/06/2015 10:30

I would second that my NCT group saved my sanity 50 times over in the early days... All our babies were born within a month. I did meet other mums after a few weeks via baby massage / sure start but I found that most people don't get out to groups etc until after about 6-8 weeks. Especially if had C sec. That's where the nct was ace

Lottiedoubtie · 15/06/2015 08:32

My MW told me not to bother with the NHS ones as they were a waste of time! Real vote of confidence there!- she reccomended NCT and I was skeptical for all the reasons mentioned on this thread.

However I went, and I am so so glad I did. I met lovely people who have become proper friends. I can't tell you how comforting it was to be able to whatsapp at 2am and find supportive people also going through the same thing at the same time! Perhaps I was just super lucky, but my group is great and I am sure they have saved my sanity more than once this year!

WorldsBiggestGrotbag · 15/06/2015 08:25

Mopmay my NHS one was supposed to be 50 people crammed into a room for an hour... But then they said they were oversubscribed and I couldn't have a place!

cherryade8 · 15/06/2015 08:24

I loved my Nct classes, even though I ended up with a section. The breastfeeding advice was great, they did cover caesarians but most importantly I made great friends, years later I see them every week still! A couple of the group drifted off in tge early months but I really needed the support and friendship of other new mums!

If you have a strong support network already then Nct may be less useful to you, but if not then it's an interesting course with great benefits.

Mopmay · 15/06/2015 08:18

Our NCT was a great laugh and made good mates - still see some 6 years later. Our NHS was 50 people crammed in a room for an hour ?!?!?

WorldsBiggestGrotbag · 15/06/2015 08:18

*studebt wife

WorldsBiggestGrotbag · 15/06/2015 08:18

Normal people on mine too. Range of ages/occupations/income brackets including a student vicar and his student gf.
I'm not sure why it's considered ok to slag off the perceived 'middle classes'.

Hippymama1 · 15/06/2015 08:15

Middle class yummy mummies? There are a lot of people pulling up their judgy pants on this thread!

I have done NCT and am certainly not a yummy mummy with a Mulberry bag - nor were any of the other women in my course. Not that I am saying this never happens, I think it depends where you live but I live in a fairly good area of London and the other couples on my course were just normal people...

I really enjoyed the course and got a lot out of it even though I already knew a lot of the mechanics - it was really helpful and practical and if you have the funds I think it's money week spent.

CityDweller · 14/06/2015 17:24

I didn't, because I was stubborn about the not wanting to pay £300 to buy friends thing. But I regretted it when DD was about 6 or 8 weeks old (basically when the novelty wore off and my non-baby friends stopped visiting so much and I didn't have a 'network' of friends w/ babies same age to hang out with). I did eventually make some really good 'mummy' friends with babies the same age that I met through a variety of means (from the GP waiting room to an NCT email group) who I'm still friends with 2.5 years later.

But yes, if you can afford it do it. If you don't make friends, no big deal. But maybe you'll be one of those who's still pals 20 years later...

dancinglorna1984 · 14/06/2015 16:41

Just wanted to pop in and report back after our first session. Both me and my hubby really enjoyed the first session and found it very helpful and met some really nice groups of people (no middle class yummy mummy's).

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ColdCottage · 13/06/2015 21:52

I found that the friends I made were very important to me. Although others you know have babies or children, going through it at the same time and sharing that support was important to me.

Also NCT is a charity so they offer reduced rates if you are on a low income or free if for certain groups.

AliMonkey · 13/06/2015 21:40

I did both for DC1. NHS ones were daytime, mums only, with one to which dads were invited, and in the town I live in. NCT were evening, partners too and in the next town. Both had some useful information - although often the most useful was answers to the questions that I or others asked. Glad I did both because NCT ones involved DH and NHS ones were where I made friends. Lots of the other mums in my NCT stayed friends afterwards because they all lived within walking distance whereas I didn't. I stayed friendly (in as much as we met up once a week) with several of the NHS mums for a couple of years, which whilst we didn't become bosom buddies I found really useful in terms of knowing other mums who were at the same stage. I know people who still meet up with their NCT friends up to 40 years later!

FlossieTreadlight · 13/06/2015 21:34

My NCT class was great - diverse, interesting women who I've remained friends with 4 years later. It was expensive but I found out a lot and felt reassured... If you've got the cash, do it, if you haven't don't worry as there are other options. Good luck with it all

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