NCT versus NHS classes

[Daydreaming]

Hi y'all

First of all I want to say sorry for not being around the forum much, I manage a brief view of the threads every now and then, but been too busy most of the time.

Read people discussing NCT and NHS antenatal classes, so I didnt want to takeover a thread but I wanted some advice - my dilemma is that NHS classes are cool because they are free and I get time off work, but as they are in the afternoon hubby won't be able to join me. I really like to keep hubs involved and it would be nice for him to meet other expecting couples too, not just me.
NCT classes are in the evenings so we can both attend but naturally we have to pay.

Is it worth doing both? Or will I just be repeating things?
Thanks for any info!

 

[BellaRiven]

I am plamning on doing both for exactly that reason

Hubby is just starting a new job so not ideal that he would be taking loads of time off with me, and he is paranoid he may get something wrong and wants to go to classes

 

[Nurse 26]

Here we get NHS evening classes for couples, maybe worth asking if there are any, we had to request these and they are quite late on when i will be 37 weeks. xx

 

[jmw1664]

I've just been given my dates for NHS classes and I have also registered with NCT so I get updates etc by email but never booked in for their classes purely because of the cost and I just don't have that spare atm...anyhow when I spoke to the Midwife at the hospital last week when booking NHS classes she seemed very concerned about possibly hiding from her whether I'd be doing the NCT classes aswell as NHS :S She asked me twice to confirm that I was NOT attending NCT classes and that it is most important to let her know if I was.

Was slightly bothered by the way she spoke to me demanding to know my business lol but I can only assume there are many couples out there that can't afford the NCT classes like myself and if the NHS classes are all taken up by people who can then lots of people will miss out on spaces in the NHS classes.

 

[frankie247]

I wanted to do nct classes but my nearest is 20 miles away and not easy to get to, so it's just the nhs ones or me - although the midwife said they are held on weekend so hubby can come with me

 

[Cherrycola]

I did NCT classes with my first pregnancy. Was also going to do NHS ones but my DD came early so I missed them.

I'm really glad we did the NCT classes, more for the fact that you get to meet other mums to be rather than for the actual content of the classes. We might have just been lucky but we had a fantastic group, since giving birth we have all met up once a week. Our babies have just turned 1 and the support I have got from having a group of friends with babies very close in age to my own has been invaluable.

As I said we never made it to our NHS classes but from what I have heard from others is that the content is good, in that it is much more practical however they might not offer the same opportunity to get to know others in your group.

 

[Constantstar]

I did one nhs class as went into labour when the second 2 was due lol. From what I've heard the nct is more of a social thing where u become friends with the people on your course and meet up for lunch etc when u had baby and I was going back to work 6 weeks later so didn't have time for all that nor did I have the money! X

 

[Em91]

i was going to ask the same thing tbh. not got loads of money so don't want to waste money if its not worth it. what have other peoples experiences been?

 

[KarenC]

I looked into NCT courses and there are none near me. Teach me to live in rural North Wales, huh? The nearest was Chester, which would have been OK at about half an hour's drive, but the benefits didn't outweigh the cost. We'd be unlikely to socialise with people we met on the course because we don't go out to Chester a lot, and the course is expensive! I'd much rather spend 210 quid on stuff I really need. I'm hoping to meet more local pg ladies at the local sling meet and breastfeeding groups, which I found on Facebook. And to do any NHS classes that are on offer.

 

[coruscating17]

We are just doing the NHS ones..have 5 in total. They are all in the evening here so OH can come Not sure about NCT ones..not an option for us as money is tight x

 

[Daydreaming]

Thanks for the info everyone.
Still not decided, but glad I have heard other opinions

 

[TaffyRose]

We've looked into the NCT classes after being recommended them by my OH cousin. In our area there is 9 classes including a post pregnancy catch up where everyone takes their baby's in. As it's our first my OH wanted as much info as possible so we will probably go for the NCT classes xxx

 

[l_maclean]

I've just done two lots of classes - both were nhs, one in town I stay in with my local midwife, which was in morning so on my own. The other set at the mlu I'm going to, so mw's who could be delivering, in the evening with DH.

I found some stuff repetitive - the first evening one was a complete waste of my time - but DH seemed to take a lot from it.

Also because the classes have different people in them, different questions are asked so I did get info in one that wasn't discussed in the other.

Xxx

 

[Em91]

Ive looked into classes the course near me is 174 for 8 sessions and the catch up afterwards. but because I have earnings under 16,000 I will get discount so think we're going to go for it x

 

[hellywelly]

We were going to do NCT but at £230 for the lessons and then £48 to join we decided our money was better spent on a tumble dryer for when bubs is here!! We have managed to get on the NHS ones that are considered to be pretty good (they hold them at 3 different locations in my city and some are thought to be better than others). Also I'm lucky as they are in the evening so hubby can come. I have heard that the NCT ones are better for making a 'baby' social circle, but I'm also quite lucky that lots of my friends are having or have had babies recently so I've already got a few people to hang out with. I think if I'd just moved somewhere new where I didn't know many people, or not many of my friends had babies then I would go for the NCT ones.

 

[Em91]

Ooh, just got an email back from the NCT lady saying because my income is under 15,000
You are entitled to pay just 10% of the course fees, so the Antenatal Course will cost you £17.40 & the Postnatal will cost £8.40.

NCT it is then. Was worth enquiring

 

[Rachel1509]

Are you sure there aren't any NHS classes that are anytime apart from afternoon? When I rang up to book mine, they gave us the option of afternoon, evening, weekends or just 1-2 full days. We chose evening and could have anyday of the week too, so it seemed quite versatile when you could do it.

NHS ones were really good actually, better then I was expecting after having others tell me they found them pointless.

 

[FirstBabyEek]

Ooh, just got an email back from the NCT lady saying because my income is under 15,000
You are entitled to pay just 10% of the course fees, so the Antenatal Course will cost you £17.40 & the Postnatal will cost £8.40.

NCT it is then. Was worth enquiring

That's a great deal! Defo worth making the enquiry.

We were quoted £250 plus £48 joining fees. So I think I'll just do the NHS ones and perhaps take a few yoga classes for £5 a session instead. I figure that there is a wealth of info on here alone that perhaps I won't need the NCT classes.

Either that Em, or you could tell us what they teach you xxx

 

[Em91]

Ooh, just got an email back from the NCT lady saying because my income is under 15,000
You are entitled to pay just 10% of the course fees, so the Antenatal Course will cost you £17.40 & the Postnatal will cost £8.40.

NCT it is then. Was worth enquiring

That's a great deal! Defo worth making the enquiry.

We were quoted £250 plus £48 joining fees. So I think I'll just do the NHS ones and perhaps take a few yoga classes for £5 a session instead. I figure that there is a wealth of info on here alone that perhaps I won't need the NCT classes.

Either that Em, or you could tell us what they teach you xxx

if I had to pay the full amount i,wouldn't have done them but when its that cheap I figure why not. lol I could try!

 

[FirstBabyEek]

Absolutely. Quite right that you should too. I'll be coming to you for some advice xx