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NCT/Birthmatters Classes - worth the money?

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  • daska
    daska Posts: 6,212 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Aside from the 'earth mother' aspect that you can find with the NCT - I would emphasise that this is not compulsory, our class leader was very up on personal choice rather than alternative dogma - I've thought of one thing that really differentiated the classes I went to. The NHS ones were largely stay at home mums who were very much younger than me (I was 29 when I fell pregnant with DS1) and the NCT classes were more my age or older and with one exception (me LOL) qualified professionals expecting to return to work - maternity leave was only 14 weeks back then.
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  • Ours were £120 for 12 hours - so similar price per hour - in the Midlands. I can honestly say it was the best money I spent during my pregnancy - although you have to take some of the advice with a pinch of salt, it was invaluble to have someone to ask those 'silly' questions, and I think I have made good friends there to boot. All our babies were born within 3 weeks of each other so it has been a great support network so far.

    There were two classes, each on consecutive Sundays. The first week was pre birth and the information helped me understand the birth process, which in turn helped me get through the first stage of labour. The second week was caring for the baby, including feeding and bathing and nappy changing (with dolls complete with marmite in their nappies - meconium really is that hard to get off!)

    As it happens, I didn't even get a place for NHS classes.
  • balletshoes
    balletshoes Posts: 16,610 Forumite
    Sorry I'm not in your area but I would say it really depends on what you want out of your classes.

    All I wanted was facts, I found the NCT classes too overbearing and eart-motherish, I really wasn't interested in alot of the stuff they were talking about. There was a certain amount of martyrdom in my local group and I didn't want BF and natural delivery without pain relief rammed down my throat.

    For me the NHS were fine and gave more than enough info and support, although they do differ in quality from area to area.

    Can you try the NHS ones before committing to the NCT classes, or do the dates clash?

    thats what I'd suggest too.

    I quite liked 2 of my NHS classes, was pretty bored through most of the other 6 or so (I only really went because it got me an afternoon off work :rotfl:).
    Our NHS class midwives gave us a guided tour of the maternity wing where we were intending having our babies, which was very informative and really all I needed. The breathing exercises they taught us through the classes I don't think I retained at all, although they were nice to get me to relax and occasionally drop off in class.

    I too wanted facts and practicalities, not feelings etc, because everyone is different in that respect.
  • balletshoes
    balletshoes Posts: 16,610 Forumite
    daska wrote: »
    Aside from the 'earth mother' aspect that you can find with the NCT - I would emphasise that this is not compulsory, our class leader was very up on personal choice rather than alternative dogma - I've thought of one thing that really differentiated the classes I went to. The NHS ones were largely stay at home mums who were very much younger than me (I was 29 when I fell pregnant with DS1) and the NCT classes were more my age or older and with one exception (me LOL) qualified professionals expecting to return to work - maternity leave was only 14 weeks back then.

    isn't it strange how different things can be - my NHS class was 6 of us I think, and there were 2 who were under 25, all the rest of us were like me, first time mums over 30.
  • I did NCT and in my area (South London) they were an eye-watering £264. OH moaned about the cost prior to starting them, but my main reasoning was I wanted to meet other first time mums in my area as none of my old friends have kids.

    Our course teacher was excellent, and in fact I still see her now from time to time for a coffee, and all the information we got from her was useful. Ok some of it was obvious stuff, but it was good to go through everything in stages.

    The social side of it however was worth every single penny IMO. I spent a fantastic year of maternity leave with my group of 7, and we have all kept in touch and still meet regularly, have girls nights out etc.

    We're probably lucky that group gelled so well. The boys all got on really well too and have curry and beer nights and keep in touch as well.

    I do know other friends who haven't been so lucky with their group however.
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  • mucklebones
    mucklebones Posts: 164 Forumite
    edited 10 January 2012 at 3:08PM
    Id recommend a breastfeeding workshop over a birthing one if you intend to do so. Birthing is something Im not sure you can be prepared for first time lol. However I wished I had found out more about breastfeeding before the day, it was more frustrating for me than the birth. Something thats so natrual dosent always come quite so. I overcome my problems thankfully but if I had more information the first few days of having a newborn would of been much happier ones. Goodluck.

    Edit to add: I just noticed they were NCT classes which would also have a good breastfeeding part I would imagine. I found the NHS ones pretty useless all round.
  • I just went to the (free) NHS one, was brill, covered the gory details and we have remained good friends with the other parents
  • Magicboo
    Magicboo Posts: 803 Forumite
    I've signed up to the NCT classes because most of my friends did & highly recommended them-plus, to boot, when I asked my midwife about whether I should do NCT classes, her exact words were "well if you want to learn anything, yes"-which gives me great confidence in the NHS classes!!
    Ours cost £149 for 2 x day sessions & 3 evening sessions.
  • cazziebo
    cazziebo Posts: 3,209 Forumite
    you could just join the NCT group after baby's birth and save the money on the classes. I moved house 3 or 4 times in between pregnancy and baby's second birthday and NCT was great for meeting others. I'm still friends with some now (20 years and two more house moves later!)
  • Mojisola
    Mojisola Posts: 35,571 Forumite
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    Did anyone watch this over Christmas - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khfJ-HB12Z0
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