NCT

[Pennypie]

Hi everyone.

All you UK mums to be on here, have any of you got any feelings about NCT classes? I can’t work out whether it is worth it.

On one hand, it’s always good to learn more and I’ve heard it’s a great for meeting other new parents.

On the other hand It’s really expensive and I’ve heard they are very breastfeeding only and a bit judgy if you don’t do what they deem to be right.

Looking for other views on it.

Thanks xx

 

[Gemsy]

For your first baby, I think they are amazing for meeting a group of mummy friends - I'm still friends with my NCT group 5 years on and a lot also had second babies together too.

They are very pro-breastfeeding, but the breastfeeding class is only one session, and just take from it what you need.

Its the best £200 I spent!

 

[Rubyredslipper]

I know a couple of people who did NCT and are still friends with them years later. Personally I couldn’t justify the price!! I made a few really close friends through the mush app and baby sensory, so I don’t feel like I’ve missed out on anything and am 200 odd quid better off!!

 

[Pennypie]

Not heard of Mush, but shall download it. There are very few people where I live with babies - no groups or anything so have to travel quite a way for baby and toddler groups.

 

[Rubyredslipper]

I have heard lots of good things about it, I’m not bashing it at all ☺️ Mush is great, basically tinder for babies haha! Connects local people to you. Hopefully it’ll throw up some people nearby that you were unaware of! x

 

[Mayflower85]

I could never justify the price! My midwife did six antenatal group classes for free - I met lots of local mum's and kept in touch with a couple.

 

[MoominGirl]

Trying to get NHS classes in my area is a nightmare so we booked NCT. Hoping it will feel worth it but it seems to work for some but not others. I want to try and breastfeed but that is entirely my choice. If I was choosing to formula feed from the start, OH would probably find himself rather embarrassed as I would not allow myself to feel judged for my decisions and would be more than happy to make that known!! People make the choices that are right for them and that should be respected.

Getting classes to fit around work for both of us was a bit of a project but OH is a lot more anxious than me and was really keen for us to do something. We finally decided on a course over a weekend. If we meet people that's great but otherwise I hope we learn something useful.

 

[IVW]

We were wanting to do these as i am the first among my friends to have a baby, so we both wanted to make friends locally who were having a baby at the same time but obviously we wanted to learn everything included (goes without saying), but when the cost of £286 was put in front of my eyes i soon knocked it on the head. More so because we are saving for a house so we just couldn't justify the money

If we had a house and were settled i would 100% do it. I can imagine for first time mums its very beneficial.x

 

[Akua]

We were wanting to do these as i am the first among my friends to have a baby, so we both wanted to make friends locally who were having a baby at the same time but obviously we wanted to learn everything included (goes without saying), but when the cost of £286 was put in front of my eyes i soon knocked it on the head. More so because we are saving for a house so we just couldn't justify the money

If we had a house and were settled i would 100% do it. I can imagine for first time mums its very beneficial.x

£286?! What the hell! That’s daylight robbery! For that price I want the nct teacher to come to my house and do half the night feeds or something

 

[IVW]

We were wanting to do these as i am the first among my friends to have a baby, so we both wanted to make friends locally who were having a baby at the same time but obviously we wanted to learn everything included (goes without saying), but when the cost of £286 was put in front of my eyes i soon knocked it on the head. More so because we are saving for a house so we just couldn't justify the money

If we had a house and were settled i would 100% do it. I can imagine for first time mums its very beneficial.x

£286?! What the hell! That’s daylight robbery! For that price I want the nct teacher to come to my house and do half the night feeds or something

and then i get a second e-mail for nct classes taking place in the next town to us for £254 - because thats loads better so yep we will just have to read and have a bit of trial and error thats how i generally get through life, so i am sure my baby will be just fine

 

[Akua]

I’m honestly shocked at that price. Because it’s a group thing isn’t it, so if you have 8 couples they’re getting £2000. And it’s only like six classes isn’t it?

Clearly I’m in the wrong job!

 

[IVW]

Yep, so its a 19 hour course, which is 6 weekday evening courses, 1 Saturday morning and 1 Friday morning and includes 2 breast feeding sessions and a 2 hour reunion after all the births.

The course would be great, but we just cant justify that cost, esp when there are prams, nappies, bottle warmers etc to buy.

 

[Pennypie]

The cost is what is what is putting me off. I’m in the mindset now of the less I spend, the more time I can have off! Will try Mush and see how we get on. There are lots of people who are desperate to give advice and hopefully some nhs classes. Maybe. x

 

[MoominGirl]

We were wanting to do these as i am the first among my friends to have a baby, so we both wanted to make friends locally who were having a baby at the same time but obviously we wanted to learn everything included (goes without saying), but when the cost of £286 was put in front of my eyes i soon knocked it on the head. More so because we are saving for a house so we just couldn't justify the money

If we had a house and were settled i would 100% do it. I can imagine for first time mums its very beneficial.x

£286?! What the hell! That’s daylight robbery! For that price I want the nct teacher to come to my house and do half the night feeds or something

and then i get a second e-mail for nct classes taking place in the next town to us for £254 - because thats loads better so yep we will just have to read and have a bit of trial and error thats how i generally get through life, so i am sure my baby will be just fine

Ours cost £193 which isn't much better but yours seems really expensive!! Ours is a Saturday, Sunday and a weekday evening session plus the reunion. We justified the cost against the IVF we thought we'd be having so it didn't seem quite so bad!! I hope it's worthwhile and doesn't just scare my already anxious husband!!

It might be worth looking at Daisy if it's around in your area. I'm doing the Daisy birthing which is a 6 week block of women only classes mainly covering labour and birth. So a bit different to NCT but a small group and an opportunity to meet other local people. Also much cheaper than NCT!! Also pregnancy yoga classes might be another option.

I definitely don't think any of these things are vital for first timers when information is so widely available. The main thing is meeting people I think and there are lots of ways to do that. I really liked the sound of aquanatal but I couldn't find a suitable class in my area.

 

[IVW]

We were wanting to do these as i am the first among my friends to have a baby, so we both wanted to make friends locally who were having a baby at the same time but obviously we wanted to learn everything included (goes without saying), but when the cost of £286 was put in front of my eyes i soon knocked it on the head. More so because we are saving for a house so we just couldn't justify the money

If we had a house and were settled i would 100% do it. I can imagine for first time mums its very beneficial.x

£286?! What the hell! That’s daylight robbery! For that price I want the nct teacher to come to my house and do half the night feeds or something

and then i get a second e-mail for nct classes taking place in the next town to us for £254 - because thats loads better so yep we will just have to read and have a bit of trial and error thats how i generally get through life, so i am sure my baby will be just fine

Ours cost £193 which isn't much better but yours seems really expensive!! Ours is a Saturday, Sunday and a weekday evening session plus the reunion. We justified the cost against the IVF we thought we'd be having so it didn't seem quite so bad!! I hope it's worthwhile and doesn't just scare my already anxious husband!!

It might be worth looking at Daisy if it's around in your area. I'm doing the Daisy birthing which is a 6 week block of women only classes mainly covering labour and birth. So a bit different to NCT but a small group and an opportunity to meet other local people. Also much cheaper than NCT!! Also pregnancy yoga classes might be another option.

I definitely don't think any of these things are vital for first timers when information is so widely available. The main thing is meeting people I think and there are lots of ways to do that. I really liked the sound of aquanatal but I couldn't find a suitable class in my area.

They must base costs on where you live, i live in a lovely expensive part of Surrey

I really want to do Yoga, just need to pull my finger out and actually look into it and actually go

Yea i mainly want to do it to meet mums local to me, so i can meet up and have coffee with them

 

[Gemsy]

Look around your area and find out what is available. It doesn't have to be NCT if you don't like or can't afford the cost, but what I would say is finding yourself that support network is absolutely vital.
The information you get etc. is great, but for me the take-away was the ongoing support from our group. We literally met up at least once a week, sometimes more, had a Facebook group we could all message on. Do not underestimate how much you need that, particularly once your partner is back at work and all your excited new baby visitors have lost interest. Then, you need people who are going through the same things as you, and you can laugh (and cry!) along with.

 

[IVW]

Look around your area and find out what is available. It doesn't have to be NCT if you don't like or can't afford the cost, but what I would say is finding yourself that support network is absolutely vital.
The information you get etc. is great, but for me the take-away was the ongoing support from our group. We literally met up at least once a week, sometimes more, had a Facebook group we could all message on. Do not underestimate how much you need that, particularly once your partner is back at work and all your excited new baby visitors have lost interest. Then, you need people who are going through the same things as you, and you can laugh (and cry!) along with.

100% why i am counting on finding something like this, but not for a silly cost x

 

[Pennypie]

I have now joined Mush, it’s been a whole day and already love it. Highlight recommend it. xx

 

[Rubyredslipper]

I have now joined Mush, it’s been a whole day and already love it. Highlight recommend it. xx

Am so glad! I met two girls who have become really close friends and 2 years on we speak and meet regularly.
Also, class wise if you have baby sensory by you that is just amazing! Class and post class coffee was the highlight of my week x

 

[MoominGirl]

We were wanting to do these as i am the first among my friends to have a baby, so we both wanted to make friends locally who were having a baby at the same time but obviously we wanted to learn everything included (goes without saying), but when the cost of £286 was put in front of my eyes i soon knocked it on the head. More so because we are saving for a house so we just couldn't justify the money

If we had a house and were settled i would 100% do it. I can imagine for first time mums its very beneficial.x

£286?! What the hell! That’s daylight robbery! For that price I want the nct teacher to come to my house and do half the night feeds or something

and then i get a second e-mail for nct classes taking place in the next town to us for £254 - because thats loads better so yep we will just have to read and have a bit of trial and error thats how i generally get through life, so i am sure my baby will be just fine

Ours cost £193 which isn't much better but yours seems really expensive!! Ours is a Saturday, Sunday and a weekday evening session plus the reunion. We justified the cost against the IVF we thought we'd be having so it didn't seem quite so bad!! I hope it's worthwhile and doesn't just scare my already anxious husband!!

It might be worth looking at Daisy if it's around in your area. I'm doing the Daisy birthing which is a 6 week block of women only classes mainly covering labour and birth. So a bit different to NCT but a small group and an opportunity to meet other local people. Also much cheaper than NCT!! Also pregnancy yoga classes might be another option.

I definitely don't think any of these things are vital for first timers when information is so widely available. The main thing is meeting people I think and there are lots of ways to do that. I really liked the sound of aquanatal but I couldn't find a suitable class in my area.

They must base costs on where you live, i live in a lovely expensive part of Surrey

I really want to do Yoga, just need to pull my finger out and actually look into it and actually go

Yea i mainly want to do it to meet mums local to me, so i can meet up and have coffee with them

Can't recommend pregnancy yoga highly enough. I definitely think it's been good for me physically and the ladies in my class who do have back/pelvis problems really rate it. Our teacher also has a postnatal group which I'll definitely be going to. Daisy Birthing I would also recommend. We have a WhatsApp group and I've already been meeting some of them for lunch. We all had babies due between Oct-Jan so enough of a range but not too much and Daisy do baby classes as well which I'm hoping to do. I've been very conscious of the fact that as I've worked full time in a different town that I really don't know anyone locally and I know how important it will be for my sanity once baby is here!!

Also feel I should share my experience of NCT just for those that might be interested. Our course was ok. Group were perfectly pleasant and we've set up a WhatsApp group but sadly we live quite a bit away from all the other couples so from the social side, I think that's realistically going to be as far as it goes for us. As far as the content goes, it was fine but the vast majority of it I'd already read about so there wasn't much new. I'd have felt better about that if OH had come away feeling like he'd learnt loads but even he said he knew more than he though he did. Of course that gave his confidence a bit of a boost but it was a pretty expensive way of doing it. As far as labour, they covered a lot about various interventions which I agree is important to know about but really not much about how he could support me in labour to help me avoid these interventions!! I'm basically going to go through some of the Daisy stuff with him as I think it would be good for him to understand why I'm doing what I'm doing and maybe be able to prompt me if needed. There was a breastfeeding session which had a lot of good content but there was really no information about formula feeding which I find odd considering the guidelines have changed and all feeding choices should be supported. I'm keen to breastfeed if I can but I still feel like I have no idea about formula feeding should I find myself switching for whatever reason.

So overall a bit meh. It wasn't terrible but if I'd had my time again I'd have booked something different but unfortunately they book up so fast that I had to book it well in advance. I'd also have felt better about it if the other couples had been local but that's the chance you take. I do think it's good to find a couples thing if you can as I think it would be good for OH to meet other new dads too.