Is it worth doing NCT to meet other future mums? Post Reply

[Swilll12]

I'm due in Jan, Is it worth doing NCT? I've found a hypo-birthing class I want to try but wasn't sure if I would need to do NCT as well just to meet some 'NCT friends' so I've got some other new mums to hang out with after my baby is born.

[Nev123]

I'd say yes. My LO came early, before we had attended even one class but we still went to a later class in order to meet the group. I'm so glad we did as in those early months having a group of other new mums to meet up with and exchange experiences with was invaluable. Of course you can meet new mums elsewhere but it's great to have a ready made group of new mum friends.

[jg75]

I'd say probably yes as well, for me it was good just to have people to hang out with and share experiences. Do take the content of the classes with a pinch of salt though... I found my hospital's antenatal classes to be much more informative and objective (and they were free).

[topmama]

Definitely yes! Even though the course was expensive it was one of the best things I did in preparation for my first baby. The course was interesting but the girls I met on my NCT course became my best friends and were were vital for the first few months after the babies birth. All the babies were born within 5/6 weeks of each other so were developmentally at a similar stage. We all had our second children within 2 years of meeting and continued to meet every week or twice a week for the next 4 years. We even went on holiday together!

[KatherineHepburn]

Personally I didn't feel the NCT course was really worth the money. It's a lot to pay to meet new mums. The course content did not reflect my birth and I felt that the tutors did not wish to discuss emergency c-sections, epidurals or anything other than what the tutor considered to be a 'natural' birth.
I would personally sign up to the hypnobirthing course and then join something like Match-Up Mums to meet other new mums in the area.
Your chosen hospital will be running far more realistic courses.

[LP73]

Having heard mixed reviews about NCT I've decided to join Lulubabies instead.
There is also Match up Mums a new service that matches mums on location, ages, interests etc that would be worth considering.
http://www.matchupmums.com

[NYE31]

I did NCT & the post birth NCT classes, both were a waste of time, a lot of preaching about breast is best, natural births, reusable nappies, no expressing or formula etc.

I did meet up with some of my NCT group for the 1st 6 months or so but I didn't have much in common with many of them & I found that I met new mummies through monkey music, baby swimming & other groups in the area that I had far more in common with & I am still in touch with now.

NCT groups are done on postcode & due date so it's pot luck as to who you end up in a group with. Plus I think they can be super competitive about who's breast feeding for the longest, who's going back to work or not, when you are having number 2 etc etc.

Match Up Mums sounds like a great idea

[BettyBoo]

Definitely do it. I met 2 of my now closest friends there. The content I could take or leave as I know birth is painful and its your choice on drugs or not, boob or bottle etc. but knowing people who live close by and will be on maternity leave the same time as you is invaluable for your sanity.

As babies get older they become playmates too.

You will get to meet about 7 couples and over the weeks you will figure out your own group. What's app is always a life saver too for asking questions and needing an immediate response/opinion from your group.

Good luck.

[oab]

I did the NCT course but i am not sure i found it very useful (plus it's not cheap). I found the hospital-run antenatal courses much more realistic and informative.

The girls in my group were very nice, but i didn't keep in touch as in the first few months i was too busy and to be honest preferred to spend the little free time with family and friends (that's personal of course).

[BTCparent]

I did the NCT classes quite a while ago and although my children are now into double figures we are all still in touch and have reunions even though half the group no longer live in London. In the early days my NCT friends were the ones who got me through the difficult times as they were going through excatly the same things at the same time - mastitis, sleepless nights etc. Not sure I could have done it without them!

[Bubs]

Yes ! I've done it twice (large age gap between children, so second was a refresher course) and both times we were so fortunate in the lovely group of parents we met. The Dads are now friends, Mums definitely so, and families moving away from London and living abroad hasn't dampened our fun - more places to go and visit with the excuse of getting the kids together.

I'm so pleased we did it, mainly though because I had a difficult time after my second was born a little poorly and these ladies were my absolute rocks - more so than some family and longer-standing friends. Worth their weight in gold for me.

[MummyWalker]

I would definitely recommend doing it. Whilst the content isn't anything you can't read in a book / find online, it's nice to have some dedicated time to think about it all and have the chance to ask questions. But I would definitely agree that the main advantage of the course is the social aspect. Yes it's not cheap and my husband and I regularly joke that we effectively "bought" ourselves a great new set of friends, but it was definitely money well spent in our case as we had a fantastic group. 2.5 years on, we are all still in touch and some of us have been on holiday together etc. I think often the key to groups staying in touch over the long term is the Dads getting along well and socialising on their own (without the mummies) a bit, so maybe chat to your other half to see if its something he fancies doing. I think the Dads benefit from the moral support just as much as the Mums do!

[stayathomemuminsw11]

I would definitely recommend NCT, although it's not everyone's thing, I did find it useful. Although my group wasn't particularly successful, I have friends who swear by theirs.

However, had match up mums been around when I had my two, I would have joined that, because I like the fact it matches you based on interests, rather than just due dates... I've already heard some great things about it.

So I would say if you were in it more for the friendship side, rather than anything birth related, give Match Up Mums ago-especially as they have some really good offers on memberships at the moment-in fact the Bronze level is currently free!

Good luck.

[AbbevilleMummy]

I did it with my first and it was ok. What I also did with my first was an NCT early days course which was amazing and so much more useful. It was every week for 6 weeks from when they're around 4 weeks old. It was great to chat about everything that was going well (or not so well!), have a moan, a cup of tea and some practical advice from the NCT person.

I don't know if they still do these courses but if they do I would highly recommend that over the antenatal course.

[Coco_tallulah]

I would recommend NCT too. I wanted to meet other mums in the area & found it to be the best option. I also did a hypnobirthing course & prenatal yoga (not specifically to meet mums) & haven't really had that much contact with those mums.

Agreed that the course itself presented childbirth/breastfeeding differently to my experiences & it is expensive. However I found it invaluable as a first time mum to chat on what's app & know that I'm not crazy & what's happening is normal! We met up a few times before our babies were born which I think really helped & now 7 months later we meet weekly & sometimes more.