NCT just cancelled the course i'd booked months ago! Now what?!

[GretchenFetchem]

I'm all a fluster and don't know what to do

I booked onto an NCT Signature course months ago and it was due to start in February. I've just received an email saying the course didn't generate enough interest and they've therefore cancelled it. They've offered me another course in an area 10 miles away but it's no good because the days and times would mean my husband couldn't go because of his work patterns. That and I booked the course to make friends locally and 10 miles away isn't local in my eyes. I've also checked their website (as they suggested) for other courses but there are none suitable or closer.

Luckily I'd also booked into my local NHS antenatal course so I will still get all the medical information I need from that, but I don't know that it'll help me make friends?

I don't want to be alone for my whole maternity leave. What else can I do?

Nct run bumps and babies groups to go to post natally. There are also a zillion groups to sign up for with baby - swimming, baby sensory, baby massage, buggyfit, post natal yoga/pilates etc etc

Hi
This happened to me with my original nct course....when it was rearranged I asked where the couples were from who were going so as I could gauge whether it was worth meeting them from a geography point of view

10miles is nothing my opinion.

Be careful what you wish for though as the folk I met on my course as super mums who now over share EVERYTHING and I couldn't be more unlike them! X

It's worth having a look to see if there are any other providers of antenatal classes in the area. I didn't do nct as I hadn't heard great things about the classes locally.

The lady I did it with was a retired midwife. Very practical, balanced about pain relief and breastfeeding etc. One of my group was fitted in when an nct class was cancelled!

The group leader also did baby massage and we all went back to do that once the babies were born. Now we meet once a week and have a great what's app group which has been really useful and supportive.

Have a quick google, you might find something else that suits you better. Good luck! X

I booked an Nct day class on water births and they cancelled it at short notice. I ended up with an emcs before I'd ever had a contraction so in the end I was glad to have saved the money.

I met my core group of mum friends at a group run by the health visitor. They're all local and have babies the same age (ish) and it's worked out well. We're still meeting up 2+ years later and there's a big cross over on nurseries, likely schools etc. I also met mums at breastfeeding clinic, baby massage and water babies. Even if you're not naturally all that sociable, it's not too difficult to chat because you have something all consuming in common. Compliment their baby/ask a question and off you go. Don't worry!

If you're undecided between yoga and hypnobirthing go with hypnobirthing. It will better prepare you for labour and birth (I've done both, but either will be useful).