Postnatal groups - Bumps, Babies and Beyond

Postnatal

Are you a new mum, dad or carer wanting to make new friends and get out and about with your baby? Then why not come along to a local NCT postnatal group. The postnatal groups are informal and a great way of sharing experiences.

You don’t even need to be a member of NCT to come along. We just ask that you make a small donation per visit.

For details of your nearest postnatal group please see below.

To find out more about the groups please email the postnatal group leaders by clicking on the group name.

Alwoodley
In the Alwoodley group at present we have mums with newborns to pre-schoolers (bumps welcome). We meet on Thursday mornings and on alternate Tuesday and Friday afternoons for a coffee and would welcome any new members.

Burley
The Burley group meets on Monday mornings at 10am in the Burley/Headingley area.  Some of the mums have moved from Burley since joining but still host the group from time to time.  It is a small, friendly group with a full pre-school age range of children from 4 year olds to a 3 month old and 2 and 3 year olds in between.  We are looking forward to meeting and welcoming some new mums soon.

Chapel Allerton
The Chapel Allerton group meets at Chapel Allerton Children's Centre, Blake Grove, Chapel Allerton LS7 3NB on a Tuesday morning. It's an informal group with around 15 mums on the 'list'.

"Personally I have found the group great for getting to know people that live close by, the other groups and activities I go to cover a larger geographical area but everyone in this group is pretty much within walking distance, so it makes a nice change to be able to walk to the coffee mornings rather than having to get in the car.  Hopefully this may also mean we may keep in touch even when we go back to work and also bump into each other on Chapel A!" Rachel.

"Its a great way to get out and meet new mums and babies and swap stories and advice" Abi

"The group is fantastic, really good to see other mums with babies of different ages. A good chance for my only baby to socialise with other babies and for me to realise I am not neurotic and other mums share the same worries. It is very well run and organised, thanks Ange you're doing a great job!" Karen

"I started coming to the coffee mornings when my little one was 8 weeks old and the youngest in the group. It has been a life saver in those days when i just needed to be out of the house in order to feel less alone and more 'normal'! Now my little one is 8 months old and is one of the oldest in the group and we both still enjoy meeting up regularly with everyone. The coffee mornings are a great way to meeting other local mums and is fantastic for supporting you in those early difficult months.  I have made some good friends through the coffee mornings and have even started to socialise again with their help!" Nita

Chapel Allerton Next Steps

NCT Next Steps group meets every Wednesday from 10.30am - 12.30pm.  The group is for older babies from when they start being mobile please.  The group meets at the Chapel Allerton Children's Centre, Blake Grove, Chapel Allerton LS7 3NB

Cross Gates

The Cross Gates group currently has 21 people on the email distribution list although, thankfully, the most we have ever had at one time has been around 14! We've started holding an extra Friday morning meeting once a month to cater for those mums who work on Wednesdays. We also have social nights out on a six-weekly basis.

"I moved to the area after seven years away and did not feel I knew, or connected with anyone. I emailed the group and was sent a list of dates and addresses of meetings. I arrived at my first meeting a little shy, and did not know how I would be received. I needn't have worried everyone was very welcoming and friendly, and I particularly enjoy the thriving night life of the group! Recently I have been involved in training to be a Breast feeding buddy, and this has given me a renewed confidence to approach the workplace again, and I also feel I am going to contribute to something very worthwhile. This is all thanks to the crossgates nct, and their commitment to the NCT."

"I started going to the Crossgates group just after it first started up and have found it to be very friendly and welcoming. They have regular trips out to play centres, parks etc and also regular nights out too.  The group was a real support to me when my now toddler was a baby and I was in need of advice and reassurance. I've also made some good friends."  Mandy

Gildersome

The Gildersome Bumps, Babies and Beyond group is a brand new group, for mums/dads/carers in the Gildersome and surrounding area.  We will be meeting every Tuesday morning 09:30-11 at group member's houses for coffee and a chat.
For details of where we'll be meeting, please contact JackieAshmead@hotmail.com   Come along and don't be shy, we'll be nice to you, promise!

Horsforth

A new group has started in Horsforth. Meetings are on Wednesdays from 9.30am 'til 11am or thereabouts. Please contact Natalie by clicking on the Horsforth link.

Oakwood
We meet every Thursday from 10am - 12pm at each other's houses. We usually have about ten mums, a few bumps, a lot of babies and some children up to pre-school age. If you would like to join us, please get in touch with Andrea.

Pudsey
We meet every Monday between 10.30 and 12.00 at each other’s houses for coffee and chat. Due to a sudden growth in numbers (approx 20 mums) we have split into two groups depending on age of babies. The age range varies from 6 weeks to 4 years so we can support each other on many different issues. We also socialise regularly, sometimes at the cinema, theatre or bowling, but most often at the pub! New people are always welcome. You don’t have to be a member of the NCT to come.

"Everyone at the NCT postnatal group has made me feel very welcome. It's great to meet up with mums with children of different ages and get tips on what to expect in the next few months/years! It's also a great reason to get out of the house, epecially in the difficult first few months!"  Kathryn Finn

"Anna was 5 weeks old when I contacted the Pudsey NCT post-natal group.
She is now 13 months old and our group has been a life-line for me, Anna, my husband and my sanity. We meet every week and take it in turns to go to each others' houses. This was fabulous whilst they were all babes in arms but now they are all on the move and the chaos is great fun!!! The support within the group has been brilliant. We have mums who have children a year or two older than Anna, Mums whose babies are the same age give or take a month and some new mums who are making us go broody with their new babes. Between us there is a wealth of knowledge and experience which has helped us to get throught those sleepless nights, breast-feeding, bottle-feeding, teething, weaning, vaccinations, returning to work, childcare, social groups and all those things still to come...
potty training for one.
The best thing to come out of our post-natal group has been the friendships that we have made and for us that has been fantastic. We have no family locally and so for me personally, thank-you to all our friends we have made over the last year. Anna and I look forward to many more Monday gatherings."  Ruth

"For the first 8 weeks after Frederick's birth, I felt most comfortable at home and didn't miss anything. At first, my partner was still on paternity leave and we really enjoyed this intense family time. Then my Mom came to stay with us, and it was nice to have someone around. Only when they all went, back home or back to work, I realized that the only "real" conversation I had during the day was with the check-out girl in Sainsbury's or the quick phone chat with my friend in London, which had to be well timed between feeds and Freddie's sleep. I then decided to find out about my local NCT-postnatal group. Before the first meeting, I felt a little apprehensive, but I received a very warm welcome. It is such a diverse, bubbly group, and everyone is easy to chat to. Obviously we talk a lot about our children, and I find it helpful to hear the stories, tips and topics of the older toddlers and how their mummy's cope with teething, fevers, sleep deprivation, nurseries etc.  So, for me it's brilliant to have other mothers in the same situation to talk with, and to get to know new people. I also think it's great to meet with so many other children: Frederick is always fascinated by the noise level, by their abilities and attention and I think it is good for him to observe and be around other kids. And in a few months, he will be able to try out different toys and enjoy playing with the other children. It's nice to meet in each others' houses: it just makes me realize that there are children living in all areas of Pudsey, and it helps to discover new streets, playgrounds or footpaths on my walk with the pram. The weekly meetings help me to structure my week, and after each meeting, I already look forward to the following. And Frederick's nap on Monday afternoons is always longer than on the other days. :):)"

Rothwell
New group meeting every Wednesday
afternoon 2pm - 4pm. Would welcome any new members. e-mail: rothwell@nctleeds.org

Roundhay
The Roundhay/ Gledhow postnatal group is a well-established group of mums with tiny babies to pre-school kids (bumps also welcome!). We meet for coffee three times a week on Mondays and Wednesdays 10am-12noon and Fridays 1.30-3pm.  The Friday group is more toddler friendly but everyone is welcome to attend any or all the groups depending on what suits you.   There are also regular socials, some are just for mums while others are for the whole family. 

Weetwood and Far Headingley
We meet every Friday morning 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. for a cup of coffee and a chat with other mums while our children play. We welcome children from a few weeks old to pre-school age. Our current group covers people from Kirkstall, Meanwood, Adel, Far Headingley and Weetwood. We also run social outings every now and then.

If you live in Menston or Guiseley please contact Eleanor at the Wharfedale branch.

Dad's group
meeting every third Saturday of the month at various venues across Leeds. Would welcome any dads that wish to join the group. e-mail: dads@nctleeds.org

 

If there isn't a postnatal group in your area and you would like to set one up please ring Helen on 0870 421 4548 or email her at postnatal@nctleeds.org