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NCT classes
NCT classes in my area seem to cost loads. If I'm honest, I think the main thing I want out of them is to meet other local folk in the same position.
Am I underestimating their use? Did you find the information useful/any more detailed than from the books etc?
Are there any other ways of meeting mums to be in my area? (unfortunately we don't seem to have any exercise classes nearby, aimed at pregnant folk)
Am I underestimating their use? Did you find the information useful/any more detailed than from the books etc?
Are there any other ways of meeting mums to be in my area? (unfortunately we don't seem to have any exercise classes nearby, aimed at pregnant folk)
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Replies
Does your hospital run classes? Ours do, they are free as well xx
I'm so glad we booked them, for the information we are receiving you don't necessarily get in books and the support network also. Well worth the money! Zxx
You should have the option of a few different classes. At the bare minimum there will be NHS classes that are free and in our area we have NCT and a midwife led group too.
Lots of my friends have said how useful NCT were and they are meant to be much more thorough than the freebie classes at the hospital.
I was recommended NCT as apparently they tend to attract a lot of professional women who might be in a similar boat as me - having to juggle baby with going back to a demanding job eventually etc etc.
The nct coffee mornings once baby is born though are also really good for meeting people! xxx
Will look into doing the free hospital ones as well though.
K x
Or, is it possible just to sign up for the first class or something?
Some people have done it and not found the same, unfortunately that element is the luck of the draw!
Another big factor in us doing it was that my hubby couldn't make the NHS ante natal classes and I think NHS care often overlooks the partner. The men were made to feel very involved and given chance to discuss their own worries separately, which I think helped him.
I did learn some useful things about the birth but to be honest I don't think there was anything massively new, and I could have found answers to questions myself.
I have also worked to find mother and baby groups in my area, and so whilst I have made some good friends through NCT and would do it again, I don't think I'd be lonely without it.
Don't know if that helped much! I think they are worthwhile classes overall but it is a lot of money, as you say. Sadly I don't think they let you do a taster session as it wouldn't suit the group dynamic. You may be able to get the number of the course leader and talk to her by phone if you think that would help you get a feel for what she's like?
a - OH learnt loads. NHs ones were int eh day and he wouldn't take time off work for them. Literally saved my life on the day I gave birth because he was on the ball.
b - met some great friends through them. We would meet almost every day after babies were born. Someone does have to step up and make the effort to organise things at first I found. We've now all found we're pg at the same time again!
the classes themselves were good, the teacher was nice but these were best things I got out of them.
xx
Over a year after the birth of our babies the mums have regular meet ups with baby's and girly evenings and we also have whole family gatherings with dad's too.
I would say it was well worth the money
It's true that OH could definitely do with a bit of a clue as to what's going to happen! Hadn't thought of it from that point of view. I think he thinks it's a bit like popping a champagne cork!!!
I've just looked up the 'local' classes and the closest is about a 40 min walk away! Given that I'll be 8 months pregnant, and the bus doesn't run that late where we are, I'm thinking that might be our answer anyway!!! Will look into ones further away to see if they're any better.
Will look into the children's centre too- that's a surestart thing, right?
R x
I am now pg with no 2 and have signed up for refresher classes, again purely to meet people. Might have more luck with the group this time.
I think that other classes really neglect the Dad's and NCT's really included hubby and although I didn't learn a huge amount that I hadn't already read about hubby certainly did and he gained a group of male friends who are all happy to talk babies (not so easy for lads with their usual group of friends)
I have since supported an NCT group and also am about to sign up for refresher classes for baby number 2, so that they also have a ready made group of friends their own age.
It might be worth finding out if the NCT in your area run Bumps and Babes sessions, these are like coffee mornings or afternoons, cost ??1 and it is somewhere you can start to go to meet people before baby comes. They also run Breastfeeding Coffee mornings and again you can pop along before baby arrives.
For me NCT has been fantastic but I can see how some of the issues that others have mentioned above can happen.
Amme
17 weeks today!