NCT Booking

[showmethegin]

Hi All, we are expecting a baby, due on Christmas Eve. I'm a planner and have already found the NCT class for our dates in our area online! We are weary about booking as I am only 6+4 at the moment but do they get booked up very quickly?!

I suppose it depends where you are? We booked ours around 7/8 weeks before they started, were in the midlands and the class is probably reachable by a few towns but no major cities IYKWIM

They were fully booked up in my area by the end of the second trimester. Fortunately they ran a second class due to demand. I think you'll be fine to wait until after the anomaly scan to book.

I was looking at classes early on as initially I was due early August. However the 12week scan moved me by a week to July and the course I had planned to join (for August - September babies) finished early July and it all felt too close. I was glad I had waited until after the 12 week scan. I guess you could look at terms and conditions and ask them what happens if your due date changes or you need to cancel. Our NCT class started last weekend on zoom and I thought it was really good. Hopefully by then it will all be back face to face!

It will completely depend on your area. We were advised by friends to book NCT as soon as you knew you were pregnant as it fills up so quick despite them having classes about a mile apart from eachother all year around in SW London. Someone I know gave birth at 28 weeks so obviously had her baby by the time NCT started, they gave her a full refund. I read the T&C's when we booked (for Feb 19) and it said to just contact them if you have a miscarriage/early baby and can't go. They seemed quite accomodating.

Just to point out with due dates, they still might end up being ages between the babies regardless of the due dates. Mine was mid March 19 to mid April 19 and we ended up with 11 weeks between the oldest and youngest as the first 4 came early (between 4-2 weeks early) then the final 2 were 2 weeks late so our babies were actuall born last week of Feb to first week of May.

I would also check about refunds/cancellation in case social distancing is still happening.

I waited until after my 12 week scan and my nearest class was booked up /no longer showing up.
We opted for a course in one of our neighbouring towns which worked out better for us as they did most of the course on 2 Saturdays (plus 1h breastfeeding session mid week). Our nearest one would have been week day evenings which would have been a tricky with both of our commutes.

You can reserve a place and then pay a bit later on. I'd get booked up so you don't get disappointed later on. Also even if social distancing is still happening they are doing their classes via zoom at the minute so you'll still be able to do it and meet the couples you would have done in your group.

Thanks all! Somehow this thread popped out of my 'I'm on' tab and couldn't find it by searching!

Thanks for all the advice, based on it we booked on. We are in an area swarming with buggies and babies so thought it was the most sensible thing to do! We have an early 8 week scan this week so fingers crossed everything is ok