Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Anyone regret not doing NCT?

75 replies

potatowaffle27 · 04/09/2023 15:01

Hi All,

I'm a FTM, due in November. DH and I are dithering about whether to sign up for NCT classes. The general consensus from friends we've spoken to is that the information given on the course is readily available from other sources, but that the social group it provides is the main reason for doing it.
If the classes were a reasonable price, we would sign up with no more questions, but the courses in our area cost £369! Almost £400 seems a really steep price to pay in the hope you will make some friends...
Most of our family and friends are within an hour of us, but we only know a handful of people in our immediate area. I'd hoped that I could avoid shelling out for NCT and could make friends at baby groups after the birth if I felt isolated, but having read other threads on here, it sounds like if you don't get in the NCT cliques from the start, you may end up being excluded at those classes anyway...

Did anyone make the decision to skip NCT and really regret it?

I should add that we are already signed up to do a free prenatal class at our local hospital, so we've got the information side of things covered.

Thanks in advance!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

dogmum93 · 04/09/2023 16:47

I don't have an answer but have a similar question! Our first pregnancy, and we are dithering on NCT. We are currently saving for the baby and also renovating a house, so money is tight. I have plenty of friends with kids, so I'm comfortable around them, and as you say can obtain information from other means. I also have 5 friends pregnant and due within 7 weeks of me! So it feels like a lot to spend on a new circle of friends that might just not gel anyway.

Silverballet · 04/09/2023 16:56

It depends why you want to go. Some want to go for info, some to meet other people due to have babies in the local area to develop friendships. Or both.

I went to one for my first baby but didn't really get a group thing going, we didn't stay in touch barring one coffee after the birth. My friend went to an NCT group and did meet a nice group though who she stayed in touch with for quite a long time. However, I met a really great new bunch at a local baby massage group shortly after the birth and they became my baby group and info-swapping people.

lemonsaretheonlyfruit · 04/09/2023 16:56

I have heard lots of good and bad experiences over the years. Some people who have done it never saw anyone from their course again after the course. I was lucky I think. We all carried on meeting up as a group for a few years. Then a few people moved away. However 2 of my closest friends are from my initial group.
I think (apart from the actual people on the course) a lot depends on how close you all live to each other. The 2 I was closest to and saw every day for walks / tears (!) and things both lived within walking distance. Meet ups seem to happen less if cars/ car seats/ etc are involved due to the sheer hassle factor!

I'd do it again given the choice but I know many who didn't really get anything from their too.

Persipan · 04/09/2023 16:59

I was all set to do it but then I got so pissed off at them for holding the course at an organic cheese farm in the middle of nowhere with no public transport that I decided against. No regrets at all.

scarceiron · 04/09/2023 18:01

Do you have Bump & Baby in your area? Their course was about £100 cheaper than NCT for me. Not started the course yet so can’t vouch for them, but I’ve heard good things from friends who’ve done it.

OneMoreCookieMonster · 04/09/2023 18:04

I regretted doing NCT. second time around I didn't. When in labour wished I remembered the breathing.

I'd suggest a couple of hypno birth, mummy yoga classes instead. You're just as likely to meet other mums. The Internet is free (not really but...) and all the baby info is available from reputable sources quickly

Bettyboobaloo · 04/09/2023 18:05

Didn't do it. I went to nct coffee morning instead and we formed our own group. It was really lovely x

Twentytwo22 · 04/09/2023 18:07

We didn't go to NCT. We found an alternative antenatal class that was cheaper and much better than NCT. Made some friends we kept in touch with.

Blimeor · 04/09/2023 18:12

I didn't and wished I had. My son is on the spectrum and it made making mum friends tricky because he was so unsociable. Having friends from before he was born would have made it much easier. Then when my daughter was born there was Covid not long after. I didn't really made mum friends until they started at school.

pavillion1 · 04/09/2023 18:14

i made 2 of my closest friends at the nhs classes . didnt cost a penny.

Awrite · 04/09/2023 18:14

I didn't even consider it. No regrets.

mynameiscalypso · 04/09/2023 18:16

I didn't. No regrets. I didn't particularly want any mum friends, which seemed to be the main purpose of it. My obstetrician told me to ignore anything they said about birth!

anicecuppateaa · 04/09/2023 18:19

I think any form of pre birth classes could give you the same type social circle. The birth info can be obtained from bump to baby or free NHS courses.

I did NCT twice (moved areas and wanted to meet people). 6 and 4 years on we are all still in touch and meet regularly, even though my circumstances are drastically different (dc1 died whereas fortunately that didn’t happen to anyone else). Last pregnancy I put a call out for other pregnant mums looking for friends on a local fb group and that had the same effect.

MariaVT65 · 04/09/2023 18:23

I did a form of NCT during lockdown, but it was a free online class.

The friends I made there have saved my sanity, but the information was useless, especially if you end up with a c section and need to formula feed like I did.

Might be worthwhile joining the Peanut app if you want to meet more mums :)

Jules912 · 04/09/2023 18:39

I did it and we met regularly through maternity leave ( invaluable at the start) then drifted apart. A few of the people I met at baby groups I'm good friends with and we meet quite often.

CCTVcity · 04/09/2023 18:46

I did it. Was great for support group. Not so much ‘people’ as you say - you can meet them at a baby group although it is easier if you already have a tribe.

There’s just something about 8 women all going through the same thing together. What’s invaluable is the WhatsApp in the early days. When you haven’t even managed to leave the house yet but are dying of after pains, or not quite sure if something is normal, or concerning.

These aren’t conversations you have with random people at baby group.

Sparkle88K · 04/09/2023 18:56

We are about to finish our bump & baby course this week. I am so glad we signed up for these classes. My partner & I were clueless about birth & labour & how to look after a baby. We have learnt so much and feel pretty much baby ready! Due mid Oct.

The 9 other couples we have met are all lovely & in the same boat as us, Got a great WhatsApp group stared where we can ask each other questions & swap advice.
We are one of the last out of our main friendship group to have a baby so it's nice to have other mums to be to talk to.

I'm not normally a person that enjoys going to classes but these have been invaluable to us. I hope once our babies are born the friendships will continue too

EmmaBQ12 · 04/09/2023 19:01

I didn't do it as was too busy with work and then assumed I'd meet people at baby classes. But that was early 2020 and my plans didn't quite work out! I think if you don't know many people locally and can afford then it might well be worthwhile.

overwork · 04/09/2023 19:05

I didn't do NCT. I didn't want to make friends with people just because they'd had a baby at the same time as me and so far haven't regretted it one bit.
I also think the teaching is too focussed on vaginal births and breast feeding which isn't for everyone.
I did do an online course that cost about £60 so that I atleast knew the basics!

OopsieeDaisy · 04/09/2023 19:13

I did a free course offered locally instead which was really useful so I definitely never regretted not paying a fortune for NCT. You forget a lot of information anyway so the internet really is your friend post birth! As others have said, baby groups are a great way to make mum friends.

AbacusAvocado · 04/09/2023 19:23

It’s such a luck of the draw. I have friends who made lovely supportive groups with their NCT class, went to all the baby groups together, etc etc. Our group didn’t click - no big drama just clear none of us really gelled. We never met up as a group after the births. So total waste of time and money for us! Is there anything you fancy doin go like prenatal pilates or yoga? If so you could start meeting people now through that, continue with postnatal mum and baby sessions etc.

HorseBlue · 04/09/2023 19:33

I didn't. There are cheaper prenatal classes you can do.

lilyfire · 04/09/2023 19:57

Is there a post natal NCT course locally to you? I did that which was cheaper and made friends there.

Soopermum1 · 04/09/2023 19:59

I didn't for either of mine. Did NHS classes the first time (they were rubbish) and knew what I was getting myself into the second time. I was up and out pretty soon with both, so took myself off to the local cafes and found other like minded new mums, some of whom I still see ( we now go to the pub without the kids.)

Lollyloup91 · 04/09/2023 20:06

I did NCT. I found the classes a bit cringey when we all had to introduce ourselves etc but that's just me being awkward. The actual info they gave wasn't anything I hadn't already read online! And I'm sure that went for everyone in our group, but I did find the breathing stuff useful, like how they tell you to imagine a contraction is wave and when you heat the peak you are going back down again etc etc..

What is a bit difficult is the mum what's app group - even now over 4 years later everyone is very proud and doesn't really let on how they're feeling. I have tried to change the tone of the group a few times but it seems the others are just a bit reserved.
When we meet up however it's great, and we get along (despite one of the mums who's got a bee in her bonnet).

I did also find that when the babies arrived, there was a bit of completion, e.g. who rolled over first, who slept through the night, who ate the best, then eventually who walked first, so that wasn't always great (although nice when your DC is first at something I guess).

But I have made some nice friends out of it, ones I interact with a lot still over 4 years later. And I wouldn't have them had I not done it. My DH is also friendly with some of the dads.

I would say go for it. But if you're a sensitive and awkward person like me, remember it won't always be fun 🤣😆

Flip

1 2 3

Swipe left for the next trending thread