slh2009

Hi, I had gestational diabetes and did all the blood sugar testing but my baby was not big (I had borderline GD). Have you been referred to a dietician? I found that quite helpful in monitoring what I ate as I had no experience of diabetes. I do find it a bit odd that the midwife said you would not be induced or have a c-section as this was made clear to me as soon as GD was diagnosed that even though my baby was not big (he was 6lb 140z)I would be induced on my due date followed by a swift c-section if necessary, because I had GD. I was not very happy with that but went along with it as it was my first baby and I didn't feel I could argue with the doctors(although I did get a few days grace and went over my due date!). Sorry I can't help with advice on a big baby but would recommend trying to get more information on how to control GD. Good luck!

I've read this with interest as have also been given conflicting advice! At a postnatal group run by health visitors I attended, we were advised by a paediatric dentist from Kings to use adult toothpaste as soon as teeth appear. However my dentist who I've been seeing for some years now and trust implicitly, has just told me that the worst thing I can do for my just one year old is use ANY fluoride at all! This is due to adult teeth forming at this time and the fluoride can create white marks on the teeth. He said that after 18 months- 2 years it is ok to use milk teeth toothpaste. So I have gone back to using just water for now. It is all so confusing as even the British dental website advises using some toothpaste!

My friend has stayed in a couple of big villas in majorca from www.villaparade.co.uk, looked stunning in the photos and they were very happy with it....was extended family with 6 kids under 11!

Hi, I also have a Peach which I love but have just bought a Silver Cross Pop for occasional use, holidays etc. I've not used it yet but it is a Which Best Buy and is currently on sale in Mothercare for ?97. Could be worth considering! I was comparing it to Maclaren Quest for about the same price. Pop is slightly heavier but handles are higher so if your husband is tall it might suit him. Also liked the hood with sun visor which isn't on the Quest.

Hi there I don't have any great advice as my baby is about the same age but just to say I had a similar problem with breakfast/baby porridge until I mixed some of Plum or Ella's fruit pouch (eg apple & banana) into the porridge and then he would eat it! I tricked him with the first couple of mouthfuls of just fruit to get him interested and then mixed in a bit of porridge, increasing the porridge and decreasing the fruit with time. I still have to mix a bit in but he will at least eat something. The last couple of days he has enjoyed some Weetabix (with no fruit!) and a chunk of banana, I've tried it a few times before but he always spat it out. Good luck!

Hi, I would also be interested in any feedback as I am going to view the nursey soon...I know they have been overwhelmed with applications and have a waiting list...

Oh that's good, glad it went well!

I don't think any of the babies I know found it as bad as the regular immunisations so hopefully you will be ok! Also I do think it is worth having as I know someone at the moment with suspected TB in London and would rather avoid that. Good luck!

Hi...the actual injection (in the arm) is fine...there were no tears anyway. About 8 weeks later it came up in a massive lump filled with pus which burst one night in the bath, did not seem to bother baby at all, just not nice to look at. It is going down gradually but still there some weeks later and will scar I guess but he hasn't been upset by it at all.

I have a Peach and am very happy with it. I used the carrycot throughout the winter and my baby was very snug and warm in there and slept well in it. When he was almost 5 months old I moved him into the stroller as he was keen to see around him and is quite long so was only just fitting in the carrycot. It's a dream to push around but I tend to walk, drive or get the train everywhere so have not been on a bus with it yet. I imagine if you will be getting the bus a lot the Bee would be easier to handle as it will be much lighter. The Peach wasn't the heaviest pram I tested but it was a bit heavier than the Cameleon. The only annoying thing I found with it was when I was using the carrycot the basket underneath was pretty much inaccessible which is a shame as it is quite big and now I'm using the stroller it's really handy for shopping. I'm not sure if the Bee accommodates a car seat as well but I found that useful with the Peach. Lastly if you were thinking of having 2 babies close in age then the Peach can be adapted to become a twin. Hope that helps!

Hi, the following are less than 5 mins walk from Liverpool St station: Pizza Express - on Bishopsgate, opposite the station Giraffe - in Spitalfields GBK - in Spitalfields S & M (sausage & mash) - Brushfield St opposite Spitalfields Wagamama - Old Broad Street Hope that helps!

Already mentioned but you can't have enough muslins! Vibrating chair

Hi, I don't have experience of the Birth Centre unfortunately but just to say that they are very strict on who they let give birth there. If you have any complication at all they will not allow it. I wanted to use the Birth Centre but was unable to so recently gave birth on the Labour Ward. Although the birth was quite traumatic, the care that I received at Lewisham was very good and better than others I've heard of at Kings by all accounts. I'd recommend it!

I think lots of people end up getting a Maclaren at some point regardless of what they start off with...so it is probably a good choice! My baby is only 9 weeks old so I'm still loving the pram :)

I've got an icandy peach and love it! It's a bit heavier than the cherry but feels solid and is a dream to push around. The only annoying thing is that you can't get much in the basket while in carrycot mode which is a shame as the basket is big. The main difference between a cherry and a peach is that the peach can be transformed into a double by buying a few extra add-on bits, so might be worth it if you think you might use it in that mode. The peach is only available in 3 colours, I got the brown one which is much nicer in reality than the pictures! I was deliberating between a bugaboo and peach for ages, in the end chose the peach to be a bit different but am seeing more and more of them around now! Hope that helps and good luck!

Hi, I know you can't yet buy online (although think it is imminent) but I have seen nursing tops in H & M Regent Street. Quite basic vests and jersey tops, not sure about smarter tops.

Hi, I have also bought the BT 150 altho not used it yet as baby due next week. It got the Which Magazine Best Buy which usually means it will be good.....

Hi there I've just finished an 8 week evening course in West Dulwich, can really recommend it. There were some couples from E Dulwich there as well as other areas (I'm in Forest Hill). I also went to classes primarily to meet other local mums to be and we were encouraged to make some dates to meet up over the next few weeks/months so hopefully we all will. I'm on my third week of maternity leave and it does take some adjusting but am getting used to it, altho baby has not arrived yet :-)

Hi Emma I was diagnosed with GD about 5 weeks ago, at 30 weeks pregnant, after having the Glucose Tolerance Test at 28 weeks. The test itself was fine, they take some blood then give you a sugary drink, ask you to sit for 2 hours and then test your blood again. My result came back slightly high so I now have to test my blood sugar at home, at first three times a day but now only every other day as I am managing it well enough with diet. I'm not sure there is much you can do to change the result of the test but they recommend a low GI diet, so cut down on carbs, eat granary bread, and you are not meant to eat cakes and sweets! It does not seem to be diet alone that affects blood sugar as I can eat the same thing 2 days running and get a different test result. Tiredness, stress and emotion can be factors. Exercise is good for lowering the blood sugar too. I'm at Lewisham not Kings but I have found the care very good, have had an appointment with a diabetes dietician and get monitored every two weeks by a diabetes specialist midwife, with additional scans to check the growth of the baby (they can get big). So all in all very reassuring. I was upset that I am not now eligible to use the birth centre/pool as I have to be monitored in labout, but I have now accepted this is the best thing for me and the baby. All being well the diabetes should revert after birth. Hope that helps... Sara

I'm a self-confessed shopoholic so have been a bit disappointed in the maternity ranges in stores, and have resorted to online shopping where there is a much wider choice generally. I know it is a bit of a pain re sizing but I have some lovely linen trousers and jeans from Next. They have lots more things online than I have seen in their shops. Had not thought of looking in Gap for jeans (not sure why as my "normal" ones are from there!)....so thanks for that tip. Happy shopping! :)