But surely they make clear what the courses do cover. And if it’s what you don’t want, you dont sign up. I dont think they mislead people about what’s involved.
Sure, there might be a gap in the market for some of the other things people want.
There are a range of options for this pre-natal courses. The NHS do some and other organisations too. Probably what the NHS offer has reduced as funding is so tightly stretched now. The groups will be big and there isn’t any formal follow-up groups, but some people find they make friends at those if they are interested in that.
I think NCT has always been a ‘buy a friend’ service to some extent. It’s what some people are willing to pay for…but there are no guarantees you’ll make lifelong buddies, and lots of people join quite reluctantly I think….not really sure they want to make friends with anyone in a ‘forced’ situation and some not sure the NCT is their type of friend. But they join anyway. Some are pleasantly surprised and others have all their doubts and prejudices confirmed.
And there is a type. Although NCT runs courses and tries to put younger mums together, most who apply are 28+ with quite a lot at 40+ these days. They tend to be more affluent and although it’s certainly not exclusively so, married couples are well represented in most groups. It’s the fact it’s a paid-for service, plus who has traditionally joined which shapes who mostly joins, but there aren’t restrictions at all. If some people feel out of place, it’s not really that the NCT sets out to do that or even that the group members themselves do, but there is a certain type of person who typically joins. If anyone is uncomfortable being a bit different, they might not like it. Lots of people who don’t fit the standard mould join and feel welcomed and get lots out of it…but perhaps they are more confident and not so likely to have self-esteem issues which might be triggered by some people having bigger houses or more high flying jobs or more money to spend than they have.
And after birth, when grouos meet of their own accord and not in an official NCT capacity, each group will be different and meet at the places most of the group want to go to and be discussing the stuff the group are interested in. For some groups that will include stuff like cloth nappies, breastfeeding, baby led weaning, co-sleeping etc….things which might not be of interest to all. Other groups will be less interested in these things. But again, it reflects the demographic. Older, more affluent mums might be more interested in some of the environmental issues or what is seen as ‘tree hugging’ by some. All groups get shaped by those in them. If people speak up about what matters to them and they are interested in, it will shape the direction and interests of the group. All groups have louder, more dominant people and those who are quieter. It’s something people everything have to negotiate, and for some, being in groups like this outside the workplace isn’t something they’ve really done before with strangers. Some are more confident to voice their different views and some less so. Some will find they can voice their dissenting voice in a discussion and others will simply leave the group. Either is fine.
And the last thing I’d say is that groups have different lifespans. Some serve their purpose by proving the info about birth and a place for people to talk about their growing bump and childbirth worries. Some last for 6 months after and give people others to talk with on WhattsApp in the small hours about night feeding, and then fizzle out. Others last another couple of years until one or two people move away and oerhaos the key organiser is no longer around. Some still meet 20 years later. It’s not a failure if the group isn’t still meeeitng after 20 years or no-one has made a bosom buddy.
I suppose it comes down to having realistic expectations too. You spend your cash and you can expect to get info on childbirth and to meet people in a similar situation who are about to have a baby. That’s all you’re promised and pay for. Everything else is a mixture of luck and the level of input you and the others are willing to put in. There are other things you could spend your cash on. If money’s tight, and you aren’t the kind of person who generally likes spending time with those they don’t know, and finds they get on well with most types, maybe the money is better spent elsewhere. If you don’t mind spending the £350 then there’s not a huge amount to lose and potentially a lot to gain. You take a punt if you want to. Lots have felt it was money really spent. I’d say everyone receives the basics they’ve paid for, but some don’t find they get much more out of it. Hey ho!