NCT Reviews

I have been a member of the NCT for over 3 years now. Initially I heard about the NCT through a workmate who told me it was a good way to make friends with other first time Mothers. The joining "fee" is around £100 in my area (Hampshire) and this covers your initial classes which cover coping in labour, the different pain relief you ...  Read the complete review

I found out about the nct from a colleague at work who told me I simply had to go to these as it was a great way of meeting like minded people and developing a support network for the future. Since I knew i would not be going back to work plus we were new to the area it was important to me to make some "mum" friends. We did the ...  Read the complete review

Couldn't afford the classes so got books from the library instead - much more informative - Advantages: Well-known - Disadvantages: Too commercial, Too expensive, Too middle-class

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) ...  Read the complete review

This web site is just bursting with sensible, no nonsense information that most of us want to know about when pregnant, especially for the first time. The National Childbirth Trust ( NCT) website can be contacted at www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com. Whilst the NCT is a registered charity, their services can be accessed by all and they want ...  Read the complete review

Breast is best. - Advantages: natural, forms bonding, builds immunity - Disadvantages: social problems

I joined the NCT (National Childbirth Trust) a few months ago because i needed to get out and meet new people, I have 2 kids under 3, my local branch is brilliant and i have met so many wonderful people. I have recently decided to become a MAVA Bra agent for my local branch (volunteer bra fitter in other words) just so that i can help ...  Read the complete review

On a recent visit to the National Childbirth Trust(NCT) Good as New sale in Harrogate this month, I was very impressed with the quality of clothes and equipment available. With clothes ranging from newborn to six years of age there was plenty of choice. The clothes are given to the sale by mothers and fathers and all proceeds go to the NCT. ...  Read the complete review

I joined the NCT two years ago when I was expecting my second child. I heard about them via a few of my friends and I was very impressed with what I was told. The antenatal classes where very good, lots of information and the teacher would find things out for you if she wasn't sure by asking midwives at the local hospital. It ...  Read the complete review

A few days after I gave birth, I left the hospital still really struggling to breastfeed my son. I have inverted nipples which didn't help, but after being in hospital for several days, I lost count of the different positions and ways that each midwife showed me regarding breastfeeding. I came home really confused, still struggling to ...  Read the complete review

I particularly reccommend postnatal groups to parents who don't know many people locally. Having been to my local health service antenatal classes I did not use the NCT until after my baby was born. The people at my antenatal class live a few miles away so I thought I'd try the NCT. I found a group a 10 min walk away from my house so I ...  Read the complete review

I thought the NCT was great. My partner and I went along before the birth of our first child. Although we expected the room to be full of blokes with beards, earth mother types, and everyone wearing kaftans and whole-wheat sandals, we were pleasantly surprised to see that everyone was just normal, like us. It was just as well, because much tea ...  Read the complete review

I found my local NCT group unhelpful. The ante-natal classes were very good but there is very little support for working or non-breastfeeding mothers. I only breastfed for 5 days and I cried most of those because I was struggling so much - the NCT frowned on this. I spent a lot of time justifying why I was doing it. My breastfeeding contact ...  Read the complete review

If you are pregnant (especially with your first child) I wouldnt hesitate in telling you to sign up for NCT classes. We went along to our first class with the fear that it might be full of lentil eating sandal wearing people that would tell us that even taking an asprin in labour was wrong! It was full of normal people -they limit the class sizes ...  Read the complete review

As a father of two, it is with a little experience I speak of breast feeding. My wife was determined to breast feed so I tried to support her as much as possible. We tried several different types of breast pump, battery powered and hand pumped and none seemed to work to well. The problem seems to be that mum often needs both hands when feeding ...  Read the complete review

I would advise any "expecting" parents to sign up for the NCT (National Childbirth Trust) Classes, particularly for the latter stages of pregnancy. My wife and I toyed with the idea as the cost was £45 for 8 weekly sessions, and were quite a distance from our house, as we live in rural Norfolk. We decided to attend the free NHS and more ...  Read the complete review

In 1986 I joined the NCT. I was immediately put in touch with 6 other mum's expecting babies around the same time. I was sent information on antinatal classes and given phone numbers for support with breast feeding. I started to run the new mum's coffee mornings in 1987, and after having used a breast feeding councellor, trained to ...  Read the complete review

Although the breastfeeding counsellor I spoke to was unable to assist me with my problem, she was extremely supportive and said that she would consult a collegue, which she did. I then joined the NCT, duly sending my £36 annual subscription. Some 3 months later I recieved an out of date newsletter, but nothing about the coffee mornings in my local ...  Read the complete review

My mother was one of the original NCT members back in the 60's...thankfully since then I think NCT has mellowed and grown a lot! The NCT have always been real pioneers in the area of women's rights in the sphere of birth and breastfeeding, and are involved in educating everyone from school kids to teens and parents about parenthood. ...  Read the complete review

During both of pregnancies, I saw the NCT Breastfeeding Councillor, who also happened to be my midwife. The advice she gave me was great - compared to one stuck-up midwife in hospital telling me I wasn;t doing it right but only helping to reduce me to tears. They also do a regional newsletter too, or at least the Southampton branch had a ...  Read the complete review