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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Are NCT classes worth going to?

31 replies

BlueRaincoat89 · 28/12/2017 15:51

I just wanted some advice from people who have already done NCT classes. Most people I speak to say it's mainly worth it for the circle of mum friends that you'll get. We live in an area where there are plenty of baby clubs so don't think finding a circle of people would be too much of an issue if we didn't attend.

We are however completely new to this so could do with all the advice we can get! Are the NCT classes better for that than the NHS ones?

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LuckyTwiglet · 28/12/2017 16:12

I think it’s a good idea. It’s great to have a crew at exactly the same stage as you, and tbh those groups are not really for babies under 12 weeks, if you do go you’re going more for you than the baby ( no problem with that, but it’s the way it is). NCT gives you a kind of enforced intimacy so you then aren’t desperately trying to make friends in those early days when you can hardly walk because your stitches are healing, are feeling wobbly from the hormone rushes, exhausted from sleepless nights, etc. It’s great to have the moral support and it’s also nice to have a ready made “crew” so that you can take your time making connections with others you’ll meet. X

tailspin · 28/12/2017 17:30

I haven’t gone to the NHS one yet, I thought the NCT one was great BUT it was all down to the instructor being amazing. I’d look up reviews if you can of your local ones.

I personally didn’t like anyone in my NCT class very much so don’t really feel like it did anything for me on that front!

CL1982 · 28/12/2017 20:25

We're going! All our friends have said categorically that it was brilliant for getting friends for after the birth :) I am slightly dreading it as I am not keen on the whole patronising 'breast is best' and 'it's all about natural childbirth' which I have heard they can do but we're going to do the NHS one as well as a back up....

Original poster

BlueRaincoat89 · 28/12/2017 20:59

I think we will go then - as has been said, it'll be good to have other mums at exactly the same stage as us. Any info we get will be useful too, especially for DH who doesn't have dozens of pregnancy apps 😂

We might do the NHS one too as I think you get a tour of the maternity ward?

OP posts:

ruleshelpcontrolthefun · 28/12/2017 21:04

Most of the baby groups I went to had huddles of various NCT friendships. My eldest is 4 and I still see 6 of my NCT group at least once a month (some more frequently due to shared days off, DC at same clubs etc). So, yes, it's worth it for the crew.

user1471426142 · 28/12/2017 21:47

As a previous poster said you might find all the baby groups are populated by Nct groups. Most of my good friends were made at various antenatal classes. The only thing to watch out for with NCT is that sometimes there can be a big push for the natural agenda. My leader was obsessed with home birth and seemed pretty upset no-one wanted one.I found the NHS classes the best for information and the NCT ones for friends.

thisismadness77 · 28/12/2017 21:49

A hundred times yes.

StarkintheSouth · 28/12/2017 21:50

I recommend! We did it as we knew literally no one in the area and I think I’m well on my way to making firm friends. Mat leave was a pleasure thanks to them!!

Littleblackflowers · 28/12/2017 21:55

Yep. Do it. So handy for the 'mum circle'
My daughter is 5 now. I'm still very close to a couple of them. Drifted from the others but a good supportive group for the first year or two. Do it!

thaigreencurry82 · 28/12/2017 22:00

I’ve been wondering the same and have this eve decided to go for it. I’ll be doing the signature course for March due dates. Mainly for the ‘buying mum friends’ aspect that I keep hearing about. Am starting free NHS ones next week too, which I expect will be more about the info.

happymummy12345 · 28/12/2017 22:05

I never went to any classes as its not my thing at all, and I knew I didn't need to go.
But a lot of people really like them.

trinitybleu · 28/12/2017 22:10

Definitely... We're still in touch daily via fb, see some of the guys weekly (depending on work schedules), have joint birthday parties etc. and the eldest kids are nearly 11!

piglet81 · 28/12/2017 22:14

It varies massively. Ours was an expensive waste of money, but for many people it's a great way to find friends. Unfortunately there's no way to know before shelling out ££!

Ninjamilo · 28/12/2017 22:16

I was wondering about them, but when I asked mum friends they all said they wouldn't spend the money again.

All the comments here are the polar opposite so now I don't know!

We're moving a month before I'm due so probably not much point in spending so much on NCT...

SaltySeaBird · 28/12/2017 22:19

Wasn’t for me, ours was a very small group and we never really met up afterwards

UnRavellingFast · 28/12/2017 22:24

As others have said it’s good for the mates but mine all moved quite quickly afterwards. I thought nct concentrated too much on the mythical birth plan which made the whole thing over elaborate and my midwife tossed to one side and never glanced at. I felt stupid at the time. What I would have benefitted from was advice on being a first time mum once my baby was born as I was lost and had baby blues and cried every day for a month till my eyeballs got wrinkly- never knew that was a thing! Being prepared for breastfeeding stuff and how to overcome issues, how babies need to settle, general putting things in perspective would have been good.

trinitybleu · 28/12/2017 22:32

Based in what Unravelling said, check if your Branch offers the Support Mum system. If so, you get a couple of mums with 1 year olds or so who arrange the first couple of meet ups and are there for general advice and support. We saw ours for a year and then became part of the system and Branch ourselves.

reetgood · 28/12/2017 22:32

I really liked ours. Didn’t feel there was agenda pushing, more practical advice tailored to group (we had scheduled caesarean, scheduled induction, just one home birth planned). Focused more about how to think ahead to your particular birth.

I particularly appreciated how it made me take some time and space to consider my options, think about whether I had opinions on things etc. It was useful doing as a couple as well. We were a smaller group, and have been in sporadic contact (due dates spread over Dec and jan). So not sure if mates exactly but nice for check ins.

reetgood · 28/12/2017 22:33

Oh and @unravellingfast which course did you do? We did the signature one which included a breast feeding session, and two(ish) for post baby.

Bellamuerte · 28/12/2017 22:38

I didn't find the classes useful. Most of it was stuff I already knew from the internet and books. It wasn't useful in terms of making friends either - we travelled half an hour to our class and others travelled half an hour from the opposite direction so it wasn't realistic to meet up afterwards. Also just because you got pregnant at roughly the same time doesn't mean you have anything in common with the other parents!

alletik · 28/12/2017 22:39

I don't think I learnt anything new at the NCT classes (I had already devoured every book going). But what I did get was a circle of friends who were all at exactly the same stage and with whom we could talk candidly about anything and everything- we did! Having bonded pre birth, we had an openness and honesty I didn't find elsewhere. It was so reassuring to know it wasn't just me going through all of this, and I wasn't mad when I was worried about my daughter's green poo etc...

14 years later, they're still really good friends, my youngest daughter is best friends with another younger sibling from the group and I would say it was a lot of money, but well worth it, in my experience.

UnRavellingFast · 28/12/2017 22:42

@reetgood this was 15 years ago so can’t really remember, sorry- I’m not sure they offered a choice then? The support for new mums sounds excellent, I could have done with that!

cinders15 · 28/12/2017 22:46

Well - there were 10 of us, and only one dropped out - a couple of others went abroad for a couple of years (RAF) but came back
That was 20 years ago and we still get together every Christmas and see each other quite a lot as all live very close - have coffee, etc and have a Facebook and WhatsApp group now
Well worth it as I now have very close friends and our kids are too

DasPepe · 28/12/2017 22:48

I've done NCT with my first and also the free hospital course offered.

My experience is this: NCT as a class did not offer anything for me which I had not found online already. This could be down to the teacher of course - but that's always a gamble anyway.

It's an expensive way to make friends: that means paying to meet people who have a due date at the same time and are invested enough (usually first pregnancy) and have enough money for these extras.

I am just being factual so far. eeve had one person "drop out" of the circle. the rest of us have become great friends and are till in tough going on Birthday 5.
We've moved away this year and it's been hardest with this group for my DS1 and me.

BUT it's always a gamble.

If you can't afford it - there are ways to find a free group online. Or start your own! There are plenty of people in the same boat.
If you can afford it - go for it! You might make friend laugh for life!

Pixilicious · 28/12/2017 22:53

Yes! I only went to make friends and 6 years later we are still friends. So definitely worth it in my book.

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