NCT classes - worth it?

[WombatStewForTea]

Trying to decide whether it's worth forking out for it. I know the potential social side and networking can be great but there's a chance that we won't be similar types of people?
Our hospital offers a full day antenatal class as well as hypnobirthing classes so can't decide what to do.

I made some wonderful friends at nct and we still see each other regularly, over 5 years later.

I also did postnatal nct which was a lifesaver for me.

I've learned so much more through my hypnobirthing course this time round though!

It's quite a commitment of both time and money but if you can manage it, I'd recommend them. I, reluctantly, went to them and at the time thought they were a waste of time! But after labour I actually wrote to the lady taking the course to thank her as so much of the course turned out to be useful for me. We also continued to meet up with the other members of the group for years after.

Always a lottery as to who you'll meet but I would say on balance most people I know who've done it we're pleased. Ours was fab. I think the money in some ways means people who do it are invested in making and keeping friends. You don't have to have anything in common other than the desire to keep in touch when you have small babies and that in itself is a lifeline. The content of the course was virtually irrelevant IMO - do hypnobirthing or nhs antenatal as well.

Worth every penny for me. As above, the course content wasn’t overly new information. I actually completed a year of a midwifery degree before life events meant I couldn’t continue.. so I’d seen many babies born & new a fair bit about the basic biology & drugs!

But the friends I made remain great friends now. It is a lottery but I won mine. They were a huge support during the early days & now we support each other through life in general! We’ve been to weddings & birthdays & christenings & we have a birthday party for the kids each year.. I’m so grateful for them as I don’t know anyone else with a kid my age. My friends either have older, school aged kids & the other gang aren’t in that place yet!

They aren’t cheap but if you want to try to find yourself a social network, they aren’t a bad place to start

*knew

They were fantastic for us. We didnt know anyone with babies in our area. Our kids are 2.5 now and 6 out of the 8 of us still meet up regularly. I see at least one friend from NCT every week.

Yes there is chance you will be in a group that doesnt get on, but chances are you will click with at least 1 or 2 of the other mums. Even if you don't become great friends, those first few months it I lovely to see a friendly face at baby groups you've not been to before, or have someone - anyone - to talk to when you're up at 3am.

Thanks all think I'll sign up!