Prepares you and clothes your children (NCT)

Member Name: coleclan

Product:	NCT
Date:	24/09/01 (270 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Makes you realise you're not on your own, Gives you a ready made post-birth support group

Disadvantages: Costs (about £50 or £60 I think)

Preparting for the birth of your first (or or any other) child is a nerve-wracking experience. You have little or no idea what to expect, suggestions, recommendations and warnings are offered from everyone from your mother to the cashier in your local tesco. Is there a voice of sanity somewhere out there? I would suggest there is (at least one) - the National Childbirth Trust (NCT www.nct-online.org)

This is a charitable organisation supported primarily by members' subscription payments and fundraising who have been supporting new and soon-to-be parents for over 40 years and at the same time supporting parents in making informed decisions on how the child is born.

My wife and myself went on a locally run NCT antenatal class and found it invaluable in preparing us for the birth of our first child. If your NHS antenatal provision is as bad as it is in our area you will benefit from something more - guarenteed!

The sessions (I think there were 6) included teaching on what to expect before going into hospital, what to expect when you got there, and how to cope when you got home (do i really need an infinite supply of cotton wool balls?). I would say the format of the sessions are about half teaching (by a trained NCT antenatal teacher)and half discussion, and this certainly starts you thinking about what caring for a baby is all about.

Talking through your preconceptions and worries with other soon-to-be parents is ,I think, the ideal way to understand that you're not the only one going along this scary journey.

One other important thing - NCT nearly new sales. They are the biggest way of saving money we have found without exception. They are run by the local NCT groups and involve piles and piles of nearly new baby/child clothes for anything from 25p to a few pounds. The savings that we have made so far must run into over £100 at least - it's a bit hard to keep track when you come home from the sale wit
h two big bags stuffed full of almost brand new good quality clothes

Find out where you're nearest one is, and if you've got children cancel everything and go - by the way I've just found a link to all locally run NCT sales on their website (address above)!

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