Unsure about booking an NCT course

[Needadoughnut]

When I was pregnant with my first I remember that the NCT was the best place to make mummy friends. However I had a VERY negative experience regarding breastfeeding and I've already made my mind about and don't want any more pressure about "breast is best". I won't be able to have a vaginal birth either. So I wonder if the course is even worth it? I think most things won't apply to me, but being the only pregnant one within my social circle I desperately need new mummy friends!

Have you looked at Bump & Baby Club? I know quite a few people who went with them to avoid the preachiness of NCT.

I’m pregnant with my first but not bothering with NCT. The best the midwife can say to sell it to me is it’s a way of making friends. Bloody expensive phone numbers in my book so I’m planning on just doing bumps and babies at the local library once he arrives.

I made lots of friends through the NHS ante natal and post natal classes. We are still friends 10 years on. And yes they are middle class professionals before anyone suggests that the NCT attracts a higher class of attendee😂😂😅

I thought it was really expensive for a lot of information we probably all know, anyway. Especially those who are already mothers.

If you're not planning on having a vaginal delivery or breastfeeding then I can imagine it's going to be even more useless for you.

I'm planning on going to a few local bump & baby groups, plus storytime at my local library to make mum friends. Think I might go to to bump and baby groups with my SIL and her 7 month old once my bump is showing a bit more (only 10 weeks right now).

I did an NCT refresher course which was aimed at second (or more) time parents. It’s a much shorter course and I went to it being very clear I would be having a section and combine feeding from birth (or formula feeding if needs be due to pregnancy complications) and there was no judgement from anyone at all. There was also only one section on breastfeeding which took up about 40 mins.

I've been thinking the exact same thing - it's our first but I'm having an elective section plus am leaning towards bottle feeding. Both of those are for 'selfish' reasons (ie my mental health - not selfish to me but I'm aware as to how some shitty people perceive it). I'm lucky in that I have friends with babies/pregnant so I feel pretty well off in terms of 'mum friends' and, frankly, DH and I are a bit too lazy to make new friends.

I’ve not booked onto an NCT but I’ve booked me & my OH onto a half day workshop that is £70 for mum and birth partner and focuses mostly on labour (excellent reviews and seemed to fit in with the hynobirthing I’ve been doing too). It’s run by an organisation local to me but there will similar stuff around the country, I just had a bit of a google.
Also did a 2 hour NHS breastfeeding course which I found very useful as a first time mum.

This is my first baby but I decided not to sign up for NCT classes after seeing the price! When I enquires the last was quite pushy and that put me off a bit too... I'll be sticking to the antenatal classes at the hospital for now!

I really enjoyed NCT. I think a lot must depend on the leader you get, as I didn’t find it anywhere near as preachy as I expected, either about breast feeding or having a ‘natural’ labour. I haven’t had my baby yet but the mums have already been meeting up for coffee and so on and those who have had their babies have shared details of their labours and so on. It’s great to have a group to moan to about the aches and pains of late pregnancy!

If youve already had one child I think they offer shorter courses, presumably with less of a focus on labour as you’ll already have done it?! Otherwise, I’ve met people through pregnancy yoga classes if all you want is pregnant friends :)

It depends what kind of people you want to meet and probably what group you get.
We were very much the outcasts in our weirdly snobby NCT group and it was a horrible experience.

So sad as my mother and sister made lifelong friends at their classes and I'd hoped to do the same but it wasn't to be.