NCT classes?

[CoolNoMore]

Yo. I signed up for NCT classes because my Mum was insistent that I had to. Now I've got to pay for them and I'm wondering how it can possibly be worth it. Any thoughts? I'm in a friggin terrible mood today and the idea of sitting around with some perky woman telling me that you can never fully prepare for childbirth does not appeal.

 

[nikkix86]

I did the free classes with my first and really did find them a waste of time lol

 

[JillMcCoy]

My friend sis NCT and I went to the free ones. In my opinion, i didn't see what they were paying for...they seemed to come away with the same basic information. Either way it is all hypothetical depending on your own individual labpur/child/ self. X

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[Blueclass]

A friend did them.as she was in her 30 and she is a bit of a snob. She expected the nhs classes to be full of chavs also they are good for building friendships so I hear. I just did antenatle classes through nhs and they was fine. Tell your mum if she wants you to go she can pay lol or just do it nhs. X

 

[JillMcCoy]

A friend did them.as she was in her 30 and she is a bit of a snob. She expected the nhs classes to be full of chavs also they are good for building friendships so I hear. I just did antenatle classes through nhs and they was fine. Tell your mum if she wants you to go she can pay lol or just do it nhs. X

Yeah agreed! I did the NHS ones,and I ended up staying friends with one of the women whos wee boy was born the day before my wee girl. Our group was a small one of 4 couples so it wasn't too bad.

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[CoolNoMore]

Thanks everyone! The NHS ones offered at my hospital seem amazing - they cover every topic imaginable. Maybe that's normal, but I wasn't expecting one specifically on pregnancy massage!

I'm a bit paranoid about not being able to make 'mum friends' so I still might do the NCT ones. I'm getting a bit overwhelmed by the cost of all the baby stuff already, and I haven't even bought anything yet. Arrgh!

Blueclass, you've got the right idea, I think I will see how Mum feels about paying

 

[snowbee]

I have a dumb question, how do you find out about the NHS classes on offer and when are you supposed to do them or sign up? I did look at the NCT ones but am unsure about the costs and how much different it would be to the NHS ones so would like to find out more about the free ones.

 

[JillMcCoy]

I have a dumb question, how do you find out about the NHS classes on offer and when are you supposed to do them or sign up? I did look at the NCT ones but am unsure about the costs and how much different it would be to the NHS ones so would like to find out more about the free ones.

The midwife should give you the Information and ask if you want to he registered. If they haven't, give them a call and ask to be booked on. I found them useful but tbh was better for meet if mums at a similar stage as you.

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[nikkix86]

They normally start around 30 weeks x

 

[CoolNoMore]

I have a dumb question, how do you find out about the NHS classes on offer and when are you supposed to do them or sign up?

My hospital helpfully has a lot of them listed on their website. I also noticed lots of posters for even more classes (offered at a small cost) when I went to see the midwife. Some of them you could book yourself in for but some of the specialised ones (physio sessions for ladies with back pain, for example) you had to be referred.

Each hospital seems to be very different in their approach though, so definitely ask.

 

[ams25]

I never did NCT as they aren't in my area and I found the NHS classes prepared me fine! I would recommend 100% though finding a local pregnancy aquanatal or pregnancy yoga class and make the effort to keep in touch with some of the ladies you meet there. I've done aquanatal with my older 2 children and we still have a group on facebook for the classes and all still keep n touch nearly 5 years after the first group and 18 months after the second. We made the effort to collect people's names and email addresses at the classes when everyon was nearly due so we could set up a facebook group and keep in touch, and it worked brilliantly and we did loads of meet ups on maternity leave. Some of the girls I met there i count as best friends now! They're a lot cheaper than NCT, my aquanatal class is the best £3 I spend each week xxx

 

[smilingsophie]

I didn't pay for NCT and just went to the NHS antenatal class which was sufficient. I think NCT Is good as it provides you with a ready made mummy group once baby is born. I felt a little lonely at the beginning without this. However, at about six weeks I started taking my daughter to baby groups and have made some really good mummy friends through these. I also went to a free new parents group through the sure start centre and met five mums who I see weekly for catch ups.

 

[cassi]

I'm going to do NCT as I guess NHS are only for first time parents? My babies are 10 years apart and my partner will be a first time parent so I think they'll be good to refresh. I did the NHS ones with Jakob though and if I recall they were good

 

[Elspeth]

Just to add another opinion, I did an nct class with my first.
They were terrible, the woman was really pro natural birth and avoiding interventions if at all possible. We didn't cover induction at all and 4 of us ended up being induced! I really wasn't prepared at all for the birth.

However, my main reason for signing up was to make Mummy friends. I met a lovely group of ladies, we are still really good friends now and go out for nights out etc and play dates very regularly.

The 100 quid it cost was completely worth it for me. Although I'm sure you can make friends by going to classes and baby groups. It just made it very easy.
CNM, if your mum is insisting you do these classes then it would be great if she could pay for them too.
I know people who did both sets of classes so you get the best of both worlds.

 

[CoolNoMore]

£100, Elspeth?! Mine is going to cost £310!

I feel like a total moron, but I'm going to do it. And sulk about it. I'm such a stresshead I think I'll end up doing every class available. The making friends aspect is definitely the main reason for going, it seems.

 

[CoolNoMore]

Erm, in the end I decided against it. I'm nothing if not indecisive!

Or am I?

 

[cassi]

Why not do the NHS ones? x

 

[CoolNoMore]

Oh yeah, I'm definitely doing those! It was just a case of deciding whether to do both.

I am a teeny tiny bit obsessive in my quest for pregnancy-related knowledge

 

[cassi]

Oh yeah, I'm definitely doing those! It was just a case of deciding whether to do both.

I am a teeny tiny bit obsessive in my quest for pregnancy-related knowledge

Lol! You'll get it all on here 👍

 

[CoolNoMore]

I know! Logic doesn't appear to be featuring in my decision-making at the minute though!