NCT classes

[j-mo]

Hi everyone

Wondered if anyone could share their experience of NCT classes in either Nunhead or ED.

What are the teachers like? I've heard some horror stories from elsewhere about very 'new age' teachers who encourage the fathers to draw their ideal birth experience. Thats really not my kind of thing and will end up stressing me out more than making me feel better. Have also heard lots of good news about meeting like minded people who go on to be really good friends.

Also, the ED courses seem to include daytime sessions. How did people manage that with their jobs?

Any comments/advice very gratefully received.

Thank you

[Lochie]

Hi J-Mo,

I did NCT ante-natal (was not living in London at time so it wasn't around here), and I think I had one of the 'new age' teachers you describe, it really put me off NCT purely because of that experience. The teacher spent each session sharing horror stories about why you shouldn't have a hospital birth/epidural/c-section/episiotomy etc, she clearly had her own agenda, and it left me with little confidence about going into labour in a hospital!

When I came back to live here friends who had NCT in the East/West Dulwich and Herne Hill areas had nothing but praise and were very shocked by my experience. So...what I'm trying to say is from what I've heard, the NCT classes around here are very good and unbiased and supportive. For the last 9 months I've gone to a local mother and baby group run by NCT teachers in North Dulwich, they are excellent, and if I ever have another baby I might even consider doing a refresher course with the NCT, as by all accounts the teachers in this area are very good.

I guess my only gripe is the price, my pregnant sister in law was recently quoted nearly ?290 for the weekly sessions and instead went for the intensive weekend class as it was cheaper. I also did the intensive weekend class and that may have accounted for my poor experience as I also felt it was harder to form new mummy friends, I think that comes more naturally if you see mums and dads-to-be week in week out for several weeks as you get to know each other better.

Hope that helps and good luck

[snowboarder]

NCT classes have been long debated on this forum - try a search for more info?? However we did them 1.5yrs ago in ED and thought they were great. The daytime session took place whilst on maternity leave for us, so worked fine, and was a women only session. Would really recommend, but it's quite a personal thing....

[bumpy]

We did the intensive weekend course just before Christmas last year and although at the time I wasn't sure why I'd signed up, as I'd already done a fair amount of research so guess it didn't teach me much BUT it did teach my hubby lots in a very normal, non threatening environment plus we made some great friends. From what I've heard all the teachers in East Dulwich are lovely.

[felt-tip]

We start the weekly one in September and have a degree of trepidation towards overly competitive parents / dogmatic instructors etc. but we've heard that the NCT woman in ED (Tess - I think) is really good and open-minded and won't judge you if you decide to use pain relief / hospital birth / formula etc. which from I gather are generally big no-no's around here.

[alieh]

Because of the presence of the lovely EDForum, I decided to take the free NHS ante-natal classes which seemed absolutely fine in terms of content. I think it was 3 sessions at the small hospital on East Dulwich Road. Then I used the EDForum to meet up with other people at a similar stage in pregnancy.

[missd]

We did the NCT class in Nunhead a year and a half ago when I was pregnant with our son. It was really very good. I was very cynical beforehand and wasn't expecting great things at all but I was really surprised - I made some very good friends, some of whom I see a few times a week. It has really surprised me but it was excellent to have friends who have babies who are exactly the same age (in terms of weeks) so you can talk about the tiny things that your friends with older babies have now forgotten.

It was definitely worth it for me

[Fidgetsmum]

We did ours in East Dulwich (it was 2.5yrs ago now) with a lady called Xenia - a good mix of factual stuff about hospital birth with some good information on home birth - but not new age at all.

[charlottep]

I had tess in ED and thought she was great - balanced and supportive. Made some good friends that we still see two years later. I would recommend tess's sessions.

[cuppa tea]

I found the East Dulwich NCT great. The classes were really balanced and in no way 'new age'. Lots of good factual info about hospital and home births, breast-feeding and bottle feeding etc, without coming across as opinionated. I made some good friends who I still see 3.5 years later. I would say it's well worth doing.

[duchessofdulwich]

i just stuck with the nhs antenatal classes I was quite shocked by the price the NCT charge for their classes. I found the woman who followed up my enquiry for classes quite off putting on the phone.

[kerry.finlay]

Alieh, we're doing exactly the same as you. Shunned the costly NCT for NHS, and using my own steampower to find lovely local ladies due about the same time as me, to build a network. Thank crunchie for EDF :-)

[Gimme]

NCT classes in ED were worth every penny. The support you get is excellent, the people you meet are invaluable to your early parenthood (and if you are lucky you will end up with a new group of friends), and the birthing information you pick up is something you could easily miss in books. As a bloke, I only felt odd the one time when we were practicing helping partners to breathe correctly... The best one was the dads night where we talked through our fears and got to ask all sorts of stupid questions that we'd not been brave enough to ask in front of our wives.

Our NCT group is still meeting up (particularly the girls) and we're looking forward to a joint 1 yr birthday party coming up.

Go for it.

[Keef]

the people you meet are invaluable to your early parenthood

Obviously not for everyone. I know it wasn't your intention, but that statement is a bit dramatic to someone who may be a bit fearfull about impending parenthood.

Basically this always brings a mixed response. It's rare that people will say they've had a bad experience with NCT, and often people will say they were great. Equally, people will say they don't regret not doing it.

[jollybaby]

I've just completed my NCT classes and have mixed views - I've met a great group of women (and men) but didn't really find the course that informative and half wish that I had attended the free NHS ones instead. There are plenty of other chances to meet new and expectant mothers ie through this forum.

[littlebelka]

I send e-mail about second-timers in Forest Hill in June, but still nobody answered back to me. So I found mums here and I know pretty much what to do.

Also I attended classes at Dulwich hospital with my first one.

[j-mo]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I think we probably will go for it, although probably for the Nunhead classes as the ED ones are during the daytime and I will still be working then and won't be able to get the time off. I'll def be using the forum to find other ways to meet new mums too.