simonethebeaver

Hmmm. As someone who has spent the week settling her 11 month old in at a nursery I like very much, I'm now in tears at this thread.

Something to remember, Pasta, is that if your Yr 3 gets a place, your Yr 1 will immediately go top of the waiting list on the sibling criteria.

We borrowed a pool (not Gubodge's, although dammit, why didn't you offer?!) and I had a very long latent labour. The midwives gave me the OK to get in the pool and I spent two days on and off in it, 'watching' TV. That and the TENS got me through. Sadly I had to get out to give birth as the baby was at an awkward angle. Next time (fingers crossed) I'd like to stay in to the end. I absolutely loved the pool and was starkers throughout with no awareness at all of being naked.

I have two young stepkids so a child free wedding was never on the cards, but we both agreed that we hated the idea of a child free wedding anyway. It's part of the fun for us both. (Thea, you mention a stepdaughter. I assume she's invited!) We always had the mindset that we wanted to invite everyone we wanted and arrange the wedding around that. So we had the wedding in London, where most of our guests lived. We hired people to look after the kids, a bouncy castle, a magician and had a kids table that was served first. We did the whole thing in a church hall and marquee and had fish and chips for dinner. Loads of people said they'd had a chance to relax and enjoy themselves without needing to find childcare. Most of the kids and their parents went home by 9pm out of choice. We all had a great day. Actually though it is very hard to get right. My steps were 8 and 11 when we got married and the wedding we attended right before had organised a cr?che for under 7s. Our two were the only kids at the wedding over that age so were bored to hell by themselves!

Thanks, Ludo. I'm 11 months post partum and no sign of a period yet, but will give my size A a chance when the time comes. Another way of clearing out the cup is to hold it under the flush. Effective rinse!

I love my mooncup. No way would I change to anything else. Although I want mooncup wisdom. I've been using size A for quite a bit past 30 with no problems! But I have now sprogged (VB) and am waiting for my womanly blessing to return. Do I have any chance of my size A still doing the job?

I did the class at Sophie's house in Catford. It's a short car journey or the 185 bus from ED.

Another vote for the lovely Sophie. I would have loved her to be there for the birth! I used hypnobirthing techniques throughout my four day slow labour and it helped so much. Although annoyingly I found the balloon breathing impossible as breathing in was excruciating.

Hi Hazel I also took your class. I have to say if I could change something it would be to spend less time talking about photos of baby animals and more time on actual discussion and information about BFing. I also found the NHS class better for me because it was far more factual and down to it. I felt that your class spent too much time selling us on BFing and not enough time preparing us for it. Having said that, neither class covered what turned out to be my problem, which was supply. No one mentioned cluster feeding, which is so common, and a real reason why people give up as they think they can't meet their baby's needs. Also there is a message that anyone can feed their baby when in reality lots of women struggle with supply. I desperately wanted to exclusively BF and I ended up mix feeding after my HV and Katie Fisher at the Tongue Tie clinic scared me stupid over my daughter's slow weight gain. I have IGT, which is rare but checked for pre-natally in Norway I noticed on the NHS video, but others have their own reasons to struggle with supply, and had I known it could be an issue I would have sought help sooner and perhaps managed to preserve exclusive BFing. Also I never managed to get through on any breastfeeding lines. Saying all that, I am still BFing my ten month old. But I have spent a fortune on various substances, pump hire, LCs etc to get here!

I loved both the Moby and Kari-Me but would definitely agree that Emily at the Sling Library will be the best person to help here. Enjoy!

Jenny, how horrible. I had the same thing happen to me last summer on Forest Hill Road. Like you, my real regret was losing photos. Most of our photos of our then three month old were on there and not backed up as our computer was broken. I still cry at the thought of them all lost forever. She was with me when I was mugged too, so I felt completely unable to fight back. But as someone said to me at the time, better that the real thing wasn't harmed. Like you, I found both the police and passers by to be lovely. I hope you feel better soon.

The Lanes and Oakwood midwifery groups, run out of DMC and Forest Hill Rd, are both also highly supportive of home birth, if you fancy getting in touch with either. I had a lovely home birth with Oakwood. I third the recommendation for Sophie at Calm Birth Calm Baby. She was superb.

I agree completely about the need for a new secondary school. I also agree on the quality of existing primaries. I'd be happy for my daughter to attend any of them. The issue is that there are not the places - see other threads on the subject. Further, that the local authority cannot provide extra permanent provision unless there is no interest from any group in doing so themselves. At present the only group who have indicated an interest are a Steiner school and I personally would not want my children to attend that. Other groups may come forward with similar ideas but they may be faith groups or others with drums to bang that are not to the liking of many parents - there is no reason why these groups will not suggest single sex provision. The present plan is rotating bulge classes until 2015 when some more permanent provision will be needed to meet the demands of the 60-75 children who can't fit into existing primaries. So I would say that to say there is no need for a new primary is wrong.

Yep, moving is quite different to Reception applications. When we moved into the area, my stepson was offered a year one place in either Goodrich or Heber (I forget but think Heber) although we were not remotely in the catchment. I'm not sure though whether you'd be good for a sibling place with your age gap, although you'll know that.

I think Lewisham secondaries are mostly, if not all, single sex other than the faith schools.

My understanding is primary, Dorothy. Alieh, I also work! In fact, I almost didn't start this thread through foolish fear that it would somehow mean I had to start the school myself in my spare time. But a group of us might be able to do this. Eg my husband is a parent governor in an existing local primary, with an Outstanding Ofsted. We must have lots of parents out there with various bits of expertise. I'm willing to read Toby (ick) Young's book if that's what it takes!

So I'm reading the threads about the need for a primary school around here, and not finding the Steiner school particularly attractive. I have a child who will start school in 2015. It seems that the only way to get a new co-ed non-faith school started up is to do it ourselves. So my question is, why not? East Dulwich must be full of parents who could form a pretty formidable group to get a primary school started. My understanding is that the local authority has to provide lots of support and the government gives funding. What do others think?

Best cupcakes ever from Pat-a-Cakes in Crofton Park. Large quantities can be ordered (we're planning to get some for our daughter's birthday) or you can buy them over the counter.

Thanks, all. This is really useful. The room is reserved for the baby for the time being, and probably some time to come, but I like to dream.

Thanks, clux. That does sound very stressful. Unfortunately we have a wheelchair user in the family so have to travel by car a lot. Although actually she has been sick again so I now think she has a bug. Still interested though to hear about travel sickness as I'd like to keep an eye out.

For two days running, my nine month old has been sick in the car. She has been otherwise fine, eating well and pretty much her usual self. I've had a suggestion that she may be travel sick. I was car sick as a child but was always travelling with two smokers so I put it down to that! What age has travel sickness appeared in your family? And any tips if you do have sufferers?

Interesting, thanks. And I'd be happy with the washing stuff rather than a loo. I'm not a huge fan of being able to lie in bed and, um, hear everything. I think we'd actually have room for a bath.

We are moving into a Victorian house with the typical Victorian three bed layout for East Dulwich. The big front bedroom has been divided up into a decent sized room and a small room. We were pondering creating an en suite if possible but the bathroom is at the back of house, as are the waste pipes, and the house is terraced. Has anyone put an en suite into a similar house? Is it possible and is it hideously expensive?!

He would, because he lives with us full time, but too old. He's already 9. Bad planning!

Hmmm. It's a toss up between this one and one definitely in the Fairlawn catchment. My daughter is only 9 months so I suppose who knows what will happen then. Eliot Bank is an outside shot perhaps. My stepson is there and we love it so I'd love her to go there.