How will I make friends if I don’t do NCT?
Let’s face it, a lot of us go to traditional antenatal courses just to make friends to spend maternity leave with - I was that person.
I’m not bashing these courses. They are a good place to meet individuals in the same stage of life, learn practical ways to care for a baby, talk you through the hospital birth process and discuss medical pain relief options but there is so much they do not cover (& it’s a really expensive way to make friends).
Depending on who is teaching your course, you routinely do not learn the physiology of birth, biomechanics & positions that are optimal for birth, your birth rights, non-medial pain relief options, breathing techniques, the science behind hypnobirthing, the fourth trimester or how to manage postnatal expectations and emotions.
So if you’re weighing up the cost of hiring a doula or booking a hypnobirthing course vs making friends on an NCT course - here are some great local places you will make wonderful friends whilst on maternity leave, all tried and tested by me.
The Soul Space - Carshalton
Jo runs fabulous Mum & baby yoga, pregnancy yoga and ‘new mum socials’ at her lovely home studio in Carshalton.
The Mum & Baby yoga classes run Mon - Wed at 10am & 1pm.
Jo has created a safe space where Mum’s are free to vent, laugh and cry together - I made some wonderful friends here. So many classes focus on just the activity for the babies but this one is definitely one for you to get anything off your chest whilst also practising gentle yoga, singing nursery rhymes to the babies followed by a natter over tea and biscuits.
Mum Fit Wonder - Wallington
Lauren is a PT who runs Mum & Baby fitness classes Mon - Fri from her home in Wallington, The Centre - Wallington, Beddington Park and online.
They are a great way to stay active with your baby as you can bring them along with you and they can even form part of the workout. Lauren’s tuesday ‘yogalates’ class is followed by a cup of tea & chat so Mum’s can connect, form friendships and talk though any worries.
Baby Sensory - Sutton
Suzie runs Baby Sensory Sutton at various times & locations in Sutton, Cheam, Carshalton and Banstead.
The interactive classes are themed each week and focus on activities that provide ideas for creative sensory play, tummy time, textures, scents, music and visual development. They follow babies sleep wake cycle so that they do not get overstimulated.
The classes are relaxed and fun, there is a break in the middle for babies to rest and parents to have a chat.
Rhythm & Rhyme @ Oru Space - Sutton
Francesca runs a free rhythm & rhyme music session on Thursday mornings, 9.45am @ Our Space wellbeing studio.
The class is relaxed and engaging for children of all ages. There are different musical instruments laid out for children to play with as they sing and dance along.
Oru Space have a wonderful cafe, Trinco on the first floor where parents can head to after the class for coffee & cake!
Start Well - Sutton
Sutton Children’s Centres offer a range of free classes across their four centres. Amy Johnson Centre - Wallington, Greek Oak - North Cheam, Thomas Wall - Sutton and Tweedale - Carshalton.
The centres offer classes for all ages but the baby classes include baby massage, baby and me and bumps and babies. The staff are welcoming and will offer you a cup of tea and biscuits whilst you relax, chat and get to know the other parents.
All classes are available to book for free on the EventBrite app 24 hours before the class starts.
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