NCT classes?

[passionberry]

The midwife just gave me a leaflet on ante-natal classes and said I should book a place asap as they book up really fast . . . just not sure whether to pay £135 for the NCT course or just go for the free one at our local hospital.

Are the NCT courses in some way better than the free ones? Are they worth the money?

Where would I be more likely to find some friends?? The only thing that is swaying me towards paying is that the NCT course mentioned a post-natal meet-up.

If you can afford to, I would definitely do both. I did NHS-only first time round, but did an NCT refresher course 2nd time round. Both were useful, but quite different, and they're both ways of meeting other new mums and making friends. My NHs group are still in touch now 2.5 years on.

We did both and think they are worth the money (sometimes the fee includes a optional years membership to the NCT so might make it a bit cheaper).

The ones run from our local health centre were still good - lucky to have an entertaining and informative midwife! There was a lot of info to cover and not much time to cover it in so felt a bit rushed.

The NCT ones are run by non-midwives (but trained to run these courses). There was much more time for discussion and questions and to get to know the other parents.

As a result of doing both I feel better informed and more prepared for the birth and first few days of baby.

OOh didn't think of doing both - it says in the leaflet "no need to do both", would I be filling a place needed for someone else?

I don't think anyone gets turned away from the NHS ones (correct me if I'm wrong) so no one will miss out. I wish I'd done both as then you get to meet more people and get two slightly different perspectives on everything.

I found the NCT one better in terms of what I learned, but the NHS one better for making friends as everyone lived within a very small area whereas the NCT mums were much more spread out.

My NCT classes were great and they were run by an ex-midwife so chickane isn't entirely correct.

They ran for double the length of time that the NHS classes ran for and so were able to cover stuff in far more detail. The teacher also covered specific areas that we asked about too and covered all options in an informative and non-biased way.

Also the NCT classes were smaller so better for getting to know the others.

I would thoroughly recommend the NCT if you can afford it, but also go along to the NHS ones too, since they are free and you will be able to meet more people.

NCT gets booked up quite quickly so I wouldn't leave it too late before booking a course if that's what you decide to do.

We weren't able to do the NHS ones (times were really inconvenient) and are in the midst of our NCT ones now (I'm 30 weeks). Ours are run by an independent midwife so NCTs aren't always run just by trained antenatal teachers.

I'm loving them - they're so comprehensive and the group is small (8 couples) so already friendships are forming and socialising is happening. For instance, we had a whole two hour session devoted to breastfeeding which has really boosted my confidence/belief in my ability to feed my baby.

Ours booked up really early - I think we booked when I was about 8 weeks. It felt very unreal to be booking them that early but I'm glad we did.

I've also heard very good things about NHS classes, but can't comment as we couldn't do them.

Also just started the NCT classes, and just think it's wonderful! Small class, loads of opportunity to chat and laugh. I provisionally booked at about 8 weeks, and by 10 weeks they were asking me to confirm, which worried me - they get VERY booked up! Your health in pregnancy grant which comes at 25 weeks would be well worth spending on the NCT classes IMO.

I would also recommend both, but if you don't want to do the the full NCT course (or can't get booked on one) they do run a weekend version. We did this as I booked it very late on. We went for two full days over one weekend. We had a really small group (only three couples) but I found it all useful and we've all beome friends. The NHS classes where I was living at the time were great. The mid-wives running them had really good knowledge of the hospital I was registered with and it helped me know what to expect.

I booked on the NCT course at about 12 weeks as they get so booked up. It was run over two Saturdays and that was all there was for where we live. I have met so many mums since who couldn't get on that course. I'd check your local availability to see how quickly you need to book.

The NHS class was massively overcrowded but actually more informative and useful than the NCT class. The MW was fantastic. It was far two much to take in over 3 sessions and there was no opportunity to meet other parents.

I am still friends with 5 out of 7 of the of the other NCT mums 2 years on so worth the money. However if you miss the boat or can't afford NCT don't worry as there are loads of opportunities to meet other mums. Because I liked getting out a lot on mat leave I tended to see the same faces at BF groups, signing, massage, swimming, rhyme time etc and have made some lovely mum friends.

The thing about the NCT mums is because you have to be so quick to get a place they are very organised over achievers and I feel a bit inadequate compared to them sometimes!

I found it invaluable.. definitely do it if you can afford it.

I did both.

The NHS classes were much more factual / technical (not quite sure that's the right word) in that they showed you things like forceps and a ventouse and stuff whereas the NCT classes talked about these things but were less detailed.

Our NHS classes were a bit big and there wasn't really much chance to chat so I stayed in touch with no-one and there didn't seem to be any out of class mingling.

The NCT class was a bit more touchy feely (I thought) - talking about feelings and worries, relaxation exercises, that sort of thing (but not just that - lots of good info too) BUT in terms of meeting people to go through the whole experience with it was invaluable. Our boys (7 couples - all had boys!) are 18 months old now and we all still meet up as regularly as we can - 3 of us badminton every week, the 7 ladies went out on the beers a couple of weeks ago, and all 21 of us met up for a meal last Sunday.

It was particularly great just after we had the babies to have people going through the same thing at the same time to talk about problems and check stuff that was going on was normal.

I don't have any family near by so these girls have been a real support for me.

I do know people who have made such friends through NHS classes, but you hear of it more regularly with NCT.

Anyway (sorry) in summary - worth the money

To sum it up I think if you are an extroverted person and want to build up relationships with other people over a period of 8 weeks then go NCT. We are part way through ours and I am getting the feeling that it could be condensed down a lot but I am enjoying making friends and TBH that is kind of why I thought it worth paying the money. PLus the times are more convenient!

i never made a single friend at the NHS one - despite attending over 6 weeks. they were useful from a factual pov though as i had always enjoyed biology at school though had not had to do any since. a lot of what was covered went right over the heads of most attendees though. the hospital was in a deprived part of london (after one session, got back to the car and window was smashed - loads stolen) so the 'free' course ended up being the more expensive in the end. i got the impression that some of the people there had been summoned to attend by social services - rather unlike the NCT classes.

I ended up doing 2 NHS run courses, one a general course which was very oversubscribed, and one which was run by the local physiotherapy department this course was limited in numbers and was absolutely fantastic. Typically the local health trust want to cancel this course as they are unsure of it's usefulness .

I did try and get on a NCT course, but was informed when I telephoned them at 15 weeks that 'round here women are educated - they pee on a stick, tell their husbands and then book in with us!' Well, blimey. Clearly I was not educated enough to join them quickly enough. Foolishly I waited until after my scan to make sure there was definitely something there and then rang them. Interestingly I had several canvassing phone calls from them later in my pregnancy telling me that several places had become free due to 'sad losses.' I had already been on the NHS ones by this point and felt no need to spend money on something I had just had for free, particularly if it meant I would have to be patronised to hear it.

This obviously in no way reflects on the NCT outside of my area, but I can't be bothered with them, which is a shame.

My best friend did the course and her primary reason was 'to get to know the other mummies' as she felt she would need this kind of circle of friends once she had a baby. They all come across as a bit Stepford Wife-ish in their obsessive mummy-ness to me. I prefer my friends from before babies, some with, some without children. They know me as a person, not just as a 'mummy.' Shudder!

Shoot me down now!

I attended the NCT ones in my first pregnancy and although they were useful/informative, some of the discussions were unnecessary for someone who have done a lot of reading. But she did spend a lot of time discussing breastfeeding and when I had a problem later I went round to her house and she helped me.

In my hospital the NHS ones were during the day and I worked - it was hard enough taking time off for ante natal appointments would have been pushing it for ante natal course (although you are entitled etc I know) and that also DH really wanted to come too.

We didn't really keep in touch with people as a lot of my other friends had babies of a similarish age and many of the NCT people lived quite far away. That being said, we did a nanny share with one of the families and their DD and min (born a week apart) are best friends even though they are at different primary schools.

BTW - didn't even occur to me to call until after 12 week scan, we were not telling anyone!!!! and it wasn't a problem getting a place.

Not sure if that helped - I guess it all depends whether you can afford it and what sort of person you are!

well i suppose NCT attendees are all a bit samey but i actually appreciated that - in general they all gravitate towards the same groups once the babies are born so you will end up meeting them further down the line anyway if a sahm, even if you avoid them before birth (and you will get to know 'the type' without even having to ask!

it is nice to be able to arrange impromptu playdates without desperately trying to find common ground with the mum who is more interested in gawping at your house and possessions than in listening to your opinions. NCT mums were a safe bet in that respect - nobody trying to feed dd chocolate (pre-weaning) when you leave the room to make them a cup of tea (really did happen!). the other gem was the really ani-bf mum who casually dismissed bf as "pornographic" - at this point, i had been doing it for over a year

Thanks for all your view points - I am now feeling a bit skint after christmas so am wavering again!! Good point about the health in pregnancy grant though.

I have been offered a place on an NCT class but they are only holding my place till 4th Jan so I need to decide soon!

I have signed up because I have heard good things from my sister and friends. I am also a little worried as though I have friends who have babies non of them live near by, all my local friends don't have kids. So I hope to meet some people who I can meet up with during the day in the week when all my mates are at work.

I have heard that it can be a bit competitive, but my sis says that like any situation in life you end up hanging out with the people you get on with anyway.

I'm just trying to make this decision now too. We are in London so the NCT ones are VERY expensive, somewhere over £200 I think. But as someone suggested the HiP grant will cover most of it, and we can afford it anyway. My neighbour didn't do them but said she made lots of NCT friends through a local bumps and babies session. She recommended the ones run by the physio department at the hospital - I don't quite understand what these are?

I have another couple of local friends who have had babies in the last year or two who I know have done NCT classes so I want to ask them about whether they think it's worth it, now that we're telling people our news post-scan!

If you can afford it, I'd recommend doing it. Whilst I've got quite a few local friends, most of them are at work during the day for at least part of the week so, if I hadn't done NCT, I wouldn't have anyone to meet up with on those days. Yes, I've met other people through mother & baby groups since LO has been born but that's a bit daunting as you have to decide whether to risk looking desperate and make the first move and ask for someone's number and, if you do do that, decide when to call (yes, making new friends is remarkably like dating!) whereas the NCT provides you with the contact details of the people in your group and organises post-natal meet ups (or at least they do in our area) which makes it easier. I've found it so helpful to have a group of people to compare notes with, get advice from etc, even though some of them are very different to my regular circle of friends. Of course, you do have to take some information with a pinch of salt (eg someone's claim that their baby is sleeping through the "night" will turn out to mean from midnight until 5am; another person's claim that their baby is in a routine will mean, on closer questioning, that they give it a bath and put it to bed at the same time every night but glosses over the fact that some nights their LO goes straight to sleep and other nights they'll be rocking the baby for the next two hours!) but I don't think that that just applies to people you'll meet from NCT!