Joining NCT or not

building_with_lego

SqueekyMouse wrote: »

Same in my area too.


IMO joining NCT seemed a bit pricy for what you got.

Also regarding the antenatal classes - I looked into NCT ones but found out they were given by women who had just attended a course, but had no medical background. Instead I found a local group run by 2 midwives (one retired, one working part time) who were able to provide more of a sense of what to expect due to their wealth of experience. I would suggest looking to see if you can find something similar if you feel this is important to you

The course is a University Diploma and takes 3-5 years to complete; please don't think that they've been along for a weekend's training! They don't necessarily come from a midwifery background but do spend time shadowing midwives and doulas, and do an awful lot of study on all aspects of ante-natal health. (I have a friend who's recently qualified as an ANT so have some idea of what was involved.)

Some NCT branches run postnatal groups for a small fee each week- these were the easiest way for us to make new friends, as we didn't take the NCT classes. Our branch has lots of local meetings so you end up meeting mothers from your area. I've made an awful lot of good friends through that group over 7 years and two children :A

Mrs.W_2

shell_girl wrote: »

I'm planning on going to a NCT sale tomorrow, but I'm not a member. Does anyone know if this matters?

As others have said, all are welcome to an NCT nearly new sale, but be sure to sharpen your elbows before you go; the first half hour (bargain time) can be a real scrum!

Nicki

Crikey! If the woman who ran my NCT antenatal class had a university degree in the subject, she hid that very well! She gave no technical or scientific info at all, but lots of new age stuff about the evils and risks of all forms of pharmaceutical pain relief (but not the benefits) and recommended that the best thing to relieve the pain of the first stage of labour was to iron your husband's shirts (I kid you not!) due to a combo of heat from the iron and leaning over the ironing board, and to deal with the pain of transition we should apparently squat over a mop bucket. None of the ladies in my antenatal group used either of these methods when the time came by the way!

kj*daisy

I did as I had not long moved to a new area and needed to meet people who were in the same situation as me, I could have just gone to postnatal bumps and babies coffee mornings without joining but I did want to do the birth classes too. Up to you if you join or not now, but I would advise u to find out what they offer in the way of coffee mornings and get involved anyway as its great for meeting up with people.

mintymoneysaver

I can only go by personal experience, but it was the best thing I ever did. I loved the classes, made friends for life, my now 18 year old daughter is still friends with all the babies ( and even dated one of them!) had a good social life, both with and without the children. If my daughters are ever fortunate enough to be pregnant, then that's what I'm going to pay for for them!

Metranil_Vavin

I found the NCT invaluable.

Ok the actually stuff you learn is pretty much common sense, but the friends I made were so important.

we used to meet up at least twice a week, and in the very early days when I was totally overwhelmed at times, and struggling with things like breast feeding, they used to keep me going.

We even used to messenger each other in the wee hours when struggling with feeding or sleepless nights for support!

My LO is 15 months old today, and I still see them regularly.

barbiedoll

I work in midwifery (as a healthcare assistant, NOT a midwife) and from anecdotal evidence, the benefits tend to be as other posters have said, the emotional and moral support given by other members of the group. This can be invaluable in the early weeks, especially if it's your first baby, the loneliness and feeling of being absolutely overwhelmed are a shock to almost every new mum so any support then is priceless.

I agree with Nicki about some of the advice which can sometimes be described as ambiguous at best. A woman recently told me that her NCT teacher told her class "not to let the doctors cut you under any circumstances", as though obstetricians routinely "cut" women for no good reason. :mad: And they are evangelical about breastfeeding, which is great if that's your thing, again, any support during what can be a difficult time, is usually only a good thing.

Some of the midwives that I work with fear that NCT teachers are giving some women unrealistic expectations of their pregnancy and birth experience. There is lots of talk about demanding "caseload" care, but sadly, in these times of austerity, NHS trusts simply don't have the money to offer named midwives, home ante-natal visits and lots of hand-holding to perfectly healthy, low-risk women. There is also a bit of a mantra about "natural" childbirth and some women have been made to feel that to use pain relief during labour, is a sign of weakness, which is definitely is not!

On balance, if you can afford it, and you can also do your own research and go with an open mind, then I daresay that NCT classes can be a force for the good. But if there are other, free groups for you to meet other pregnant women in your area, then check them out too. Your midwife may know of what is going on and also check the internet, local papers and even message boards in the local shops/supermarkets.

And good luck with your pregnancy and birth!

bigmomma051204

barbiedoll wrote: »

I work in midwifery (as a healthcare assistant, NOT a midwife) and from anecdotal evidence, the benefits tend to be as other posters have said, the emotional and moral support given by other members of the group. This can be invaluable in the early weeks, especially if it's your first baby, the loneliness and feeling of being absolutely overwhelmed are a shock to almost every new mum so any support then is priceless.

I agree with Nicki about some of the advice which can sometimes be described as ambiguous at best. A woman recently told me that her NCT teacher told her class "not to let the doctors cut you under any circumstances", as though obstetricians routinely "cut" women for no good reason. :mad: And they are evangelical about breastfeeding, which is great if that's your thing, again, any support during what can be a difficult time, is usually only a good thing.

Some of the midwives that I work with fear that NCT teachers are giving some women unrealistic expectations of their pregnancy and birth experience. There is lots of talk about demanding "caseload" care, but sadly, in these times of austerity, NHS trusts simply don't have the money to offer named midwives, home ante-natal visits and lots of hand-holding to perfectly healthy, low-risk women. There is also a bit of a mantra about "natural" childbirth and some women have been made to feel that to use pain relief during labour, is a sign of weakness, which is definitely is not!

On balance, if you can afford it, and you can also do your own research and go with an open mind, then I daresay that NCT classes can be a force for the good. But if there are other, free groups for you to meet other pregnant women in your area, then check them out too. Your midwife may know of what is going on and also check the internet, local papers and even message boards in the local shops/supermarkets.

And good luck with your pregnancy and birth!

Excellent answer!!!!

Abbafan1972

Sorry to hijack the thread, but what is (the) NCT?

bylromarha

I never joined.

NHS classes and magazines gave me all the info I wanted about labour and birth.

While pregnant, I saw loads of baby groups existed round here. There I found the social life which would have been the only benefit the NCT groups offered me.

And as I met people who were part of the NCT, I'm very glad I didn;t join as the alpha femaleness described above was VERY definitely present in our local branch - my friend, who was heavily involved, got told off, yes TOLD OFF, for posting details on the local forum about a local business she wanted to recommend as she'd had a good experience there.