NCT vs NHS antenatal classes

I haven’t tried the NHS ones, but I started my NCT course on Saturday and I’m already really pleased we’re doing it! Already got a WhatsApp group with the other girls and birth partners and the first session was super informative and can tell I’m gonna have some mum friends already x

I did NHS not NCT. I got all the info I feel I needed from the NHS. I would say we didn't meet people though which tends to be the reason people do NCT. NCT aren't always run by people with medical knowledge so worth looking into that part too.

I did NHS ones and as a second time mum I was wanting to meet other mums (unlike with my first, none of my friends were pregnant at the same time). I found then informative but I did get any connections with others so if that's important to you, it might be worth paying. We couldn't justify the cost having already been through pregnancy once, albeit through covid so there weren't any in person classes

Im going happy parent happy baby and love it. Slightly cheaper than NCT too. We have WhatsApp groups and it's all very social

I was told that people book NCT classes mainly to meet other couples, as the content is not necessarily better than NHS classes. So, if you're willing to pay nearly £300 just to meet people, go for it. However, I've met many girls and their husbands through this app for free. 🤷🏽‍♀️

I’ve done a Hypnobirthing course (4 weeks) and have also done Happy Parents Happy Baby… both were great but the hypnobirthing has been an absolute game changer for me!! I’m looking forward to my labour so much because of it and feel so empowered about being able to make choices that are right for me and my baby xx

We have done ‘Bump & Baby’ twice now (once in 2023 for our first, and now for this baby). It cost £175 the first time, and £185 this time. My partner said he felt a bit silly doing it a second time, cos mostly the ppl are FTM/FTD 🤣 But for me, the connections we made the first time were so so important, and are friends we still regularly see now ❤️ The only thing I would add is that I’m not sure you’ll find anywhere (NHS or private) with availability for your DD now.

We’ve done 3 of our NCT classes so far out of the course, and really enjoying it. Really gives a lot of info about choices and what will happen, makes you think about things completely differently. It’s impartial too. We’ve met and made friends with the others and it’s nice to be going through it all together. Not done the NHS ones so can’t compare. But so far really really glad we’ve done the NCT ones, plus it’s a charity so the money goes to a good cause

The NHS antenatal class in my Trust is online.. so there is no social aspect to it.

I did the local NHS classes and I really enjoyed them, I did actually meet some girls (you just have to put yourself out there a bit but guaranteed they’re all also looking for new mum friends) I’m still in touch with them now. I didn’t do NCT as I couldn’t justify the price. You will also have nhs groups once baby is here, I did the new parent one which I enjoyed and again met some nice mums there and we’ve met up since x

I did neither with my first! Just bit the bullet and researched as I needed to. I am qualified in early childhood education so felt like didn’t need to. I wish I’d taken a breast feeding course or something but it all worked out in the end. I’ve done no classes this time either

We have just done both. NCT and NHS. Both covered very very similar information but I would say we got a lot more from NCT in terms of social and there was more time in general so we did cover more detail than in the NHS. We had already booked NCT before we realised we could get the NHS one and probably wouldn’t have gone to both but we are expecting twins so the NHS one was twin specific which was definitely helpful and we did meet some other twin parents to be but it was so much shorter we haven’t really made that social connection in that way.

We did NCT courses and have a group of the best of friends now, would really recommend as due dates seem to be v close which helps for those maternity leave days you don’t feel alone at all xx

NCT every time!!! 👌

Neither, research to see what others are run in your area. We did bump to baby which is online and in person. Run by local midwives. A year on and we’re still friends with the other couples who did the course

Seems like the consensus is NCT is good for connecting with people but there are other ways to do this (like peanut!) Thanks fellow mums, much appreciated!