NCT classes online instead of face to face

[MF1981]

Has anyone done the NCT classes online instead of face to face? I’m not due to start mine until 7th July and thought with restrictions being lifted next month that they would be able to happen face to face. But they’ve emailed tonight to say they’ll be online instead and I can have a 15% refund. Is it worth doing the classes online? Interested to know people’s experiences. I’m having twins so will be doing an online class for multiples with the Twins Trust as well but wanted to do NCT so we could meet some local parents. I’m really disappointed.

We tried an online taster session and absolutely hated it. They also wanted £175 for online course rather than 205 and I thought that was crazy money. I think it’s a personal decision and depends on your own circumstances in terms of support etc but I thought it was poor value for essentially info I can get online for free and access to a WhatsApp group.

I’ve just finished mine and really enjoyed it but there have been a few posts about nct and everyone always seems quite negative about nct in general and I always feel like I’m in the minority! I learnt so so much that I didn’t know it was definitely worth it for me and DH x

We did NCT in person pre Covid. We did it to make friends. At the end of three awkward days with strangers in a church hall we couldn’t even remember people’s names. But we set up a WhatsApp group, and once the babies were here the and the middle of the night messages started we bonded fast. We started to meet up and within a few weeks we were great friends and still are a year and a half later. It’s expensive yes, but I really don’t think that not being ‘in the room’ would have made any difference for us. The friendships came later. I’d do it if that’s your reason.

If doing it for the information, it’s not worth it in my opinion. We learnt nothing we couldn’t get from a free course, a book or online. But the friendships were invaluable for us, particularly in those scary early days of parenthood.

I also got a message about my July NCT class going online this evening and I'm a bit disappointed. I know the venue where it's being held and with a small group we could easily socially distance, so I feel like it's health and safety overkill. I'm just so fed up of doing everything over flipping Zoom after 15 months of pandemic life, and even with the 15% refund it's still a lot of money. I'm getting cold feet about NCT as well because they seem quite dogmatic about "natural" birth from what I've heard. I'm trying to be open minded as I might learn useful things, and it will probably be good prep for DH as he doesn't really read baby books or chat to his friends about birth and babies in the same way that I do with mine (although who knows, maybe they all do sit around in the pub and talk about the pros and cons of epidurals and re-usable nappies....)

We did it and it was great - would totally recommend and wouldn’t be put off by it being virtual. We have met outdoors already and everyone is lovely.