Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

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

Flip

1 2

Original poster

NCT classes, are they worth it?

28 replies

Strawberrythief87 · 18/02/2018 16:13

Hey
I'm looking for advice as to if people feel that they got that much from NCT classes.
I was all prepared to go for it but am shocked at the price locally (over £320, was expecting about half that really). We're not eligable for any discounts and would need to use the money we're saving for maternity leave to pay for them.
Our local hospital offers 5 two hour sessions on labour, feeding parenting etc and along with apps such as Mush to meet other mums do you think that the NCT classes would be a waste of money?
If they'd honestly be offering us something more than we can get elsewhere then we could use the savings money to pay for it but is it worth it?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

zaalitje · 18/02/2018 16:29

I'm questioning whether I've wasted my money.
Very small class, I'm the only singleton and the activities are very much targeted to working in twos (not necessarily your partner but I'm very much feeling in the side) also other couples are mid 20s, I'm 40 so I feel completely an outsider, did wonder if I'd get my money back if I skipped the rest of the course?

Wakeuptortoise · 18/02/2018 16:33

All the information can be found elsewhere for free. Only worth it for meeting some friends. However, 2years on and I only see one of the four regularly. The others, I had nothing in common with were snobs and we ghosted each other.

trilbydoll · 18/02/2018 16:36

The benefit of nct is that everyone is looking to make friends so you're all in the same mindset wrt socialising.

There is a risk you won't get on obviously. You're probably more likely to meet people with common interests at a specific class, ie if you like exercise chances are you'll make friends at buggyfit.

PinkAvocado · 18/02/2018 16:42

I think most who have paid for them will say they were. Also, everyone who says they thought they were worth it has said (IMO of reading on here and irl) that they were worth it for the friends that they are still in contact with.

Whilst I don’t doubt the support of the friends that can be made at the classes, it’s not a given you will make any and it must be hard if it doesn’t happen and you hoped it would.

Also, few people have done NCT and another to compare them to.

First time I didn’t do any-all info from midwife and met new friends at baby groups after.

Second time I did a non NCT class and met some lovely people and learned things I didn’t realise I didn’t know. I found them useful and they were quite a bit cheaper than NCT.

Lambly · 18/02/2018 16:56

I did my first one yesterday and really enjoyed it. I can't comment on the longevity of the friendships yet, and whilst I don't think I learnt any 'facts' I didn't already know, I did get some insights on the systems and processes of the hospital where I plan to give birth which will help in my decision making.

I also met some very local mums to be and my other half got a lot more out of it than he was expecting to. We paid £249 for the signature course and so far, I feel it's been a good investment, obviously with the breast feeding session and second all day class still to go.

I'm also planning on going to the active birth class and feeding workshop put on at the hospital. I like to have as much info as possible!!

CL1982 · 18/02/2018 17:31

OP there is another longer thread not that far down the list with more info if you're interested? Yes it was massively worth it for us. All of the couples are lovey and have been a great support. Worth every penny even if you take what you want from the course.

NoNoCharlieRascal · 18/02/2018 17:36

The classes were completely pants imo but it was useful to find friends in the same position. We all chat daily and meet weekly (while we are on mat leave). Complete mix of ages and circumstances. I found the online company invaluable in the early days, especially during the night feedings.

frutti · 18/02/2018 19:14

I wish I’d have done them only because I found the nhs people completely different to me and now my dd is at school I can see all the nct mums are there and I’m now making friends with them albeit 4 years later!
When I was pregnant I only didn’t do them because my commute made me home too late to make the 7pm start.

I really wish I had. With regards to the actual facts you learn on them I doubt you would find anything you can’t find on google but it really is nicer to meet people.
I did however meet people in baby clubs I am still in contact with and my nhs maternity class I am still in contact with 4 mums from that so I suppose I didn’t completely miss out. It depends. If you can afford it, I would do it because meeting more and more mums to be helps create more options of people to be friends with.

Seahawk80 · 18/02/2018 19:19

It was 100% worth it for us. I didn't learn anything but DH found it useful and it's so good to have a ready made group of friends. I did make other friends from baby classes but it was great to have friends "in advance " if that makes sense. That said we have a great group, I'd have felt quite short changed if I hadn't got on with anyone. Obviously you can't know that beforehand but it's worth the gamble imo.

greentreeseverywhere · 18/02/2018 19:25

I did the nhs courses and found them useful. (we were put off by the price of nct)
my friend did the nct and found them useful and now has a group of people she doesn't really like or have anything in common apart from a baby with that try to meet up every week.

50andgoingstrong · 18/02/2018 19:29

Not worth it for us at all.

Ended up making all my mum friends at nhs classes which were free and local baby groups.

Maybe I was unlucky, but I found my group of NCT mums were really cliquey and stand offish bar one. Probably all my fault for being fat and living in a flat...

They did invite me to begin with but the activities they organised were too £££ for me. Think baby massage at one of their large SW London houses £40 for an hour!

pestov · 18/02/2018 20:04

Totally worth it for friends in the very early days where everything is new and difficult. You won't find a 4am WhatsApp friend at playgroup for quite some time! As time passes you'll find your own way. Our group of 8 couples had 2 emigrate and 1 flake within the first 18 months. We've made one great couple friend but the rest are more acquaintances now.

The other thing I gained was the confidence to question the midwives and take control of our care. I also did a 1 day NHS course and it was rubbish - very little critical analysis of what my choices were

RoryAndLogan · 18/02/2018 20:18

My NCT group are one of the best things about maternity leave for me, I'd have struggled to get through it without them.

People in pretty much the exact situation you are for the whole year (and ideally into the future), they get what you're going through. And they eat cake with you and help to mass the monotonous, tedious days of looking after a small person who never stops crying.

welshweasel · 18/02/2018 20:23

Learnt very little but made amazing friends. 2 years on we chat daily on WhatsApp and have just had a joint 2nd birthday party for all 8 kids with all 16 parents. We are fairly rural though and there's no NHS classes available.

gryffen · 18/02/2018 20:25

I did the nhs ones at our hospital and there was private ones but we found out it's the same people who run the NHS ones who do them!

Friends in London have done the NCT and cost them a small fortune, if the money is needed then imho don't spend it on the classes - join Mummy Social and make friends that way and they will keep you right.

Thistlebelle · 18/02/2018 20:27

We did both NCT and NHS classes.

In our case the NHS classes were dreadful, we only stick them out because of the labour ward tour at the last class.

We didn’t meet anyone or have any opportunity for chatting at the NHS classes.

The NCT classes were wonderful and the friends we made there were a lifeline for both of us in the early days.

And yes, we are all still in touch.

It’s not for everyone though.

greendale17 · 18/02/2018 20:32

Was worth every penny to us. We learnt a lot and made great friends

mommybear1 · 18/02/2018 21:40

Pointless please save your money. I found them useless and patronising admittedly I already knew what my birth plan would be due to long standing back issues - elcs - the class leader queried whether I'd really thought about my decision 😂 err yes love along with three neuro/spinal and ortho consultants all of whom were a tad more qualified. She continued to express her concerns with my "choice" - I therefore stopped going. Our friends recommended the classes and they have "NCT friends" but it's really hit and miss depending on who you get in your classes we were the eldest in our group (32/38) and felt it!

sausagepastapot · 18/02/2018 22:05

I think they're a waste of money and set you up to fail a bit. Really unrealistic. I met and am still friends with all the mums I met at baby groups/pre-school and now school.

That's probably neither helpful nor what you wanted to hear but I'd never recommend them.

SlB09 · 18/02/2018 22:23

Did both (well a version of NCT just different company).

The birthing & parenting information on both was very similar but nothing you couldn't read up on online from reputable sites. The NHS one didn't really offer the friendship side which in the end was actually the most helpful part for me and Im not really a group kind of person!

We paid around half of your quoted price and it was absolutely worth it in terms of the support in the very early days. In our case the teacher encouraged one person to set up a whatsapp group and although before births there wasn't much action, after all the babies arrived I think we would all agree that it was like a lifeline. Im not sure we will all be lifelong friends just in terms of where life takes us, but they are all very nice people who I'm happy to be around at this stage in my life. Im not sure I would do it with a second as Id be more confident going to classes etc but with my first I am so happy I did it x

LaurG · 22/02/2018 08:16

Look into alternatives. I booked a cheaper version of nct with a much less ‘preachy’ prerogative. Mine were £100 less than the nct and over two Saturdays. All the nct ones near me inckuded mid week during the day... no use if you aren’t bankrolled by your partner. My friend had an awful experience with nct as she chose to have a c section due to a late traumatic miscarriage. She was treated terribly by the other mums and dismissed by the instructor who repeated again and again that sections were for emergency only. She had no sympathy for my poor friend. Tgey are also very judgemental about breastfeeding. Personally, I don’t care how people choose to feed their baby but I do resent them being shamed.

OhBergine · 22/02/2018 08:20

Personally I found it a total waste of money. We paid slightly more to do the "signature" classes. I learned nothing (except that your pelvis is 27% more closed if you give birth lying on your back!!) and didn't gel with any of the couples. I'm surprised PP said her couples were in their 20s - I'd say most of our were in their 40s.

Sleepinghooty · 22/02/2018 08:20

Was brilliant for making friends for me. Dc are much older now, but one of my best friends is from NCT (and we've moved away so much bigger effort to stay in touch). I'd never have coped without them in the early days, although I'm sure you can make friends in other places too!

ShangriLaLaLa · 22/02/2018 08:27

I found the NCT classes horribly competitive, full of first time parents determined to ‘out-birth’ each other. Then came the competition to host the weekly post baby gathering. All for the joys of spending time with a group of people you would never normally pass the time of day with!

coffeeforone · 22/02/2018 08:52

I did the NHS classes which were fine, the midwife was great, and actually the same community midwife I saw a lot, especially after the birth and really did help me put her ‘training into practice’. I didn’t do the NCT ones as they weren’t convenient time/location wise. However I will never know if I missed out on the amazing friends for life that some speak of. I did meet a great bunch via a local baby massage class though!

Flip

1 2