NCT...any point?

[manchesteruntied]

I initially signed up to a local NCT antenatal on recommendation of m/w. Once I'd completed the web form, I felt a bit bombarded with NCT gubbins about needing to book postnatal courses (at 22 weeks???) and membership (I found this stressful as money is mahoosively being budgeted now)

So I cancelled it, after feeling overwhelmed and unprepared for more emails and mither than I'd anticipated.

Should I rejoin? Is there any point? Our hospital course is actually more expensive and further away, but if I feel less harrassed (no flimflam about memberships etc) then perhaps that's the way forward?

I found the course really helpful. It gave me strategies for labour and information about after the birth that I didn't know. I could probably have found it out if I'd looked harder though.

What it did give me was a fantastic support network. As the mother of an 11 day old baby, being able to message a group of mothers in the same position as me at 2am is fantastic. I would definitely recommend for this aspect. It makes these first few days far less isolating.

I didn't find it helpful. It was all stuff I knew already from reading on the internet. The only useful thing would have been if I'd made new friends, but people didn't really exchange details, partly because people had travelled 30 mins from all directions to attend the course so we didn't really live near each other.

You don't need to join, I didn't, but I found the course helpful and have made a great group of friends. We all had our babies two months ago and meet weekly for coffee (and wine!)

You’re having to pay for the hospital antenatal ones as well? Or have I misunderstood? You should get some NHS ones free shouldn’t you? NCT can be good but if you can’t afford it then don’t do it, it is hugely expensive!

You don't have to join NCT to do the courses, and you should be able to opt out of mailings.

I found it helpful as I’d moved to a new area and didn’t know anyone. I’ve made mum friends and we all still meet regularly - our kids are 5/6 now. If you already have friends with kids, or expecting then you may not find it as helpful.

You don't need to join the NCT or do a postnatal course. Most women who attend make friends but not all. They are expensive but the training of the leaders is second to none e.g 2.5 years university level training.

I really enjoyed our NCT course and the friendships I made were absolutely invaluable. I never got any sort of marketing stuff from them and there was no pressure to sign up for anything more. I would definitely do the course if it's an option, but just send the marketing emails to spam or ask to be removed from their list. I never joined and never took any further courses (what the hell is a postnatal course anyway and who has time for that?!) and no one cared.