too late to join NCT?

[bluecheesefiend]

Hello. I'm quite new to Mumsnet and wondered if anyone could help. I am 13 weeks PG and currently living in USA. DH and I are planning to move back to the UK in June and baby is due in August. I'd really like to join an NCT group but will I be too late? I heard they fill up early. When do they recommend that you join and will I have missed out on the whole bonding phase if I'm not around til I'm 7 months PG? I don't really have any family so I think an NCT group would provide great support and am nervous about missing out. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

My DD is 2.5 and I've just joined. There aren't even really any activities in my area but I'm helping them out as a volunteer on some things and hopefully I'll get to join in with some of the bigger events.

The classes fill up early, but there should be coffee morning and things you can join in with.

I'm due in feb (this week!) and my classes were december and january, but other people I know signed up for a whole weekend course the month before they were due, so you'll have plenty of time to do one in july depending on where you are in the country and what the local group offers. I signed up in my EIGHTH week of pregnancy though to get a place! So, if i were you, i'd sign up now on their website -i think they should be able to give you rough dates already. Definitely worth doing, and a great way to meet people, especially in a new area, like I am. hope that helps x

Hi bluecheesefiend
I joined NCT when DS was about 4 mos old because I was having trouble breastfeeding and they have b/f counsellors. They were great, and I ended up being an area rep for them in my area of south london. I'm in Brighton now and definitely planning to join again, as i'm p/g with my second. It's not too late, and definitely worth it - if only to go to the table-top sales and new mum coffee mornings. I met people through that that I'm still friends with now DS in 4.

Hello
Has no one said WELCOME and CONGRATS On your pg!

But join up npw and you can sort things out when you get there!
Best of luck with it all

IF you know where you are moving too, then you could join up now for antenatal classes. June is about the right time for August due dates.

But my NCT branch also runs coffee mornings, "Bumps and Babies" groups and Early Days classes. There is plenty going on for once the babies are born. We also have a Saturday coffee morning/playgroup for dads and mums that work full time.

Hello - & welcome to mn

NCT classes do get booked up ridiculously early - but levels of depend do vary geographically, so if you know where you're going to be in the UK, it would defn be worth contacting them via the website & seeing if they can fit you in. The classes usually happen around 7-8 months I think - and that's when the key bonding stuff happens ime.

But, even if you don't get in on the classes (which are expensive...) it might well still be worth you joining the NCT - they often have coffee mornings/socials/bumps & babies groups which are much more informal/drop-in based. So you can just rock up & join in. It's not he same as the classes when you have a 'ready made' gang of mates all giving birth at the same time, but there are likely to be lots of mums new to the area on the look out for friends

Hi bluecheesefiend, & congratulations on your pregnancy. I'm an NCT antenatal teacher in London. As I understand it there are a few ways to hook into an NCT group.

The most popular is probably booking into an antenatal course - you get to learn about labour, birth & life with a new baby with other couples all at the same stage - if you think this is your preferred option then I suggest you book through the website NOW! The classes are madly popular & do get booked up ridiculously quickly. However they really are worth it (though I am very biased!)

If this isn't for you then you might want to join a postnatal tea group, where Mums who live near each other & have babies within a 6 week span of each other get together once a week for coffee & cake? this option doesn't need to be booked, you just need to contact your local branch (or whichever one it will be when you come back).

If neither of these appeal then you can get involved & meet people by just contacting your local branch (in the UK) and offering to help out at local events etc.etc.

I hope this info helps you with your choices & good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Oh my goodness, everyone has been so helpful - thank you so much!! I will get on line asap and see if I can get my name on a list for June-ish.
Thank you all - wishing you all well with your various bumps, babies and lives!
xxx