Angela Lomas and her NCT group share their story and how they’ve provided each other with much-needed support (and cake) over their first year as parents.
We first met at our two-day antenatal course in January 2016. We were all nervous, particularly the boys, but we need not have been.
It’s such a cliche but everyone smiled, everyone was in the same boat and we had a good laugh from the start.
The dads set up a WhatsApp group and started sharing stories as they got ready for our impending due dates.
The mums also set up a WhatsApp group and we met within a couple of weeks of our course (pictured right). Our meet-ups became weekly when we’d all had our babies.
I don’t think any of us realised what a brilliant support network we had for those early days as new mums until we were actually living it.
Our little ones (pictured left) have presented us with different challenges – be it sleep deprivation, coping with reflux or the challenges of breastfeeding and bottle feeding.
Having our WhatsApp group on hand 24/7 has been a life saver. One of the other mums said: “I remember the day after having my son. I was incredibly emotional and uncomfortable after a c-section birth. To be able to talk candidly about anything and everything, and get hints and tips, was amazing!”
We’ve all gained a great deal from meeting through NCT. It gave us confidence as we started out as new mums and it was great to have a ready-made network of people to meet up with in those early days when we were nervous about venturing out into the world.
NCT gave us confidence as new mums.
This is particularly important today, as not everyone has family on their doorstep and not everyone has a partner around to help.
Having a group of women to chat to who are in exactly the same position as you and on hand 24/7 (one of the benefits of technology) is important – it gets you through.
Be prepared to be flexible. It’s good to have a birth plan and have an idea of what you want but don’t be wedded to it as you can pretty much guarantee that whatever scenario you’ve not thought of – or wanted to avoid – will probably happen!
Trust your own instincts and go with them.
If you have the benefit of support in the early days, take the opportunity to practise being on your own, even a short walk down the road with just you and baby. It will help you get out once partners return to work and wider family or friends are not around.
Finally, listen to advice and take tips but then make your own way with what you feel is best. Trust your own instincts and go with them.
If you have a story to tell about your NCT group and your amazing friendships, email nctmatterseditor@nct.org.uk.
