Ruth_Baldock

Have you tried to PM Kimmy? Or call All Fired Up to ask? I assumed it was, because when I mentioned bringing Cheeky S, and Newborn A (when she arrives) in the sling in late July, I was told 'oh please do!'

Not AFAIK; Cheeky S had his 4mo injections and then 5 days later, his BCG.

I don't know what Mayday are like, but I'd say Kings hands down, just from the excellent care I have received there- both in my last pregnancy and birth, and this one (pregnancy at least; birth is imminent!)

Sophie, what do they do in Sweden? V intrigued now. I'm in two minds about BF Awareness Week. On one hand, I think it gives support to Mums who are currently breastfeeding, but do agree with others in that a lot more awareness could and should be raised for services that would encourage more women to breastfeed and to help than continue to breastfeed during problems when their LOs are born. This was a spectacularly vague and useless reply to this thread. Oops.

Hi Mel, It is open, AFAIK, and has been taken over by a lady named Becky :)

Seconding the happy memories letter. My Father died when I was two, and his brother (and best friend) wrote ME a 17 page letter, for when I was older, all about my Dad- from little incidentals ("He hated Physics") to long winded stories about his adventures following Joy Division around the country. I was too young to understand what had happenned to him when he passed, but I still have that letter and re-read it frequently.

Well, Cheeky S and his Daddy are over 900 miles away in Portugal, so he has no choice but to spend time with the baby ;) I believe they're spending the day fending off interfering comments from my Husband's grandmother, and trying to book an earlier flight home (I KNEW he'd find it too hard on it own with the baby, I KNEW IT!)I DID make CHeeky S scrawl on a card with crayons though and put it in their suitcase, though.... Happy Father's day, Dads!

We tried Seb with one at 16months and he just jumped off it. We tried him again a week or so ago and he tried to climb into the buggy it was attached to (a bugaboo chameleon) hilarious but unhelpful. I suspect this would be the case whether he was 18mo or 2 years old, it's just his personality I think (hence the need for tank-like p&t instead of lovely light maclaren and buggy board. Sigh. He hates his buggy and screams to get out of it, but walking along is a bit of a trial as he's so into everything and will walk into front gardens and go up to front doors, lift up the letter box flap thing and shout "allo?! Is ab!!!"

Maybe I should hang around Jojo Maman when I feel a bit twingey this time round? Mmm, love their baby clothes. Way expensive and I refuse to drop ?30 on cardis for baby though...

They were LOVELY, actually, when it happened- floor manager came up to me as I was wailing 'the shame, OH THE SHAME!' and said they had insurance and not to worry myself at all- then was ushered out to car (was having contractions at this point) and told Nick to 'drive like the wind, son'. Asked us to keep them updated, we did, they sent lovely john lewis teddy for Seb and, er, a sizeable amount of vouchers. Bloody LOVE John Lewis, they are excellent (did work for them when I was a student, too)

Wish I'd know about those last time, Buggie, as my waters went in John Lewis as I was stood very very close to a bed with posh-bedding. Yes, it did go on the bed. Yes, lots of bedding was ruined. Mortified doesn't cover it. My fault for hauling heavily pregnant self around Bluewater at 38+6, really...

Present for S has been purchased; it's toy car based. As is everything in the house. Yoga pants and magicool are on the list. No fear about video camera getting any "money shots" as husband will probably have fainted by then/ be in floods of tears. Second carseat already in the car! We won't be driving up to hospital in labour so will despatch husband for car fetching post-natally.

"There is a huge big middle, that's mostly where the normal people are" That's what my MA tutor said to me, she was from CO. Is that in the middle? I think it is, sort of. IA though, it's kind of like only London/Scotland/Wales being shown on US tv to represent the UK. No on ever talks about Eccles or Swindon or Norwich, do they?! Still love the NHS Maternity services. Or rather, King

Helena, wait, are you telling me that not ALL american's are Soccer Mom's with massive SUVs ala Lynette Scavo? I have been lied to by the telly once again.

Yak: That cartoon = me and my husband to a tee. We need hobbies I think...

My husband and I are proper hoarders of hotel toiletries, so have that covered for my minatures in the shower gel/shampoo section. Excellent suggestion re: lavender oil though, am assuming I can get some from Holland+Barrett? SNap re: heat in the PN ward. I used my nipple cream for my cracked hands and lips more than nipples tbh. It was sahara-esque.

Fair does, I just wanted to make sure you hadn't been given any erroneous advice about your milk drying up or anything :) If you want to check whether it's a formula or teat reaction, you could always squirt a tiny amount of formula onto her leg or arm, without the teat contacting her skin, and see if you get the same reaction. If so, it's the formula. If not, it's probably the teat. Silicone allergies can happen too, although they may be slightly less common-place than latex.

SG88: Re: who bashes (ooh err) breastfeeding Mothers. Choosing my words carefully, I'd say it's anyone who gives us looks or says anything derogatory to us in public when we get the ol' boobs out to feed our babies. It's also they myriad of people, in our lives sometimes (well meaning relatives, you know the sort) who assume breastmilk can't possibly be enough for the baby to thrive on. As hard as it is for Mothers who bottlefeed to deal with any sort of, un-needed, rebuttle it's hard for BF too. When you've got a newborn, and you're just getting to grips with breastfeeding, it is NOT helpful to suggest that: 1) Breastfeeding is perverse because it, shock horror, involves getting your boobs out and how very DARE you do it outside your home. 2) That the baby is crying because they're starving because your breastmilk can't possibly be enough to satisfy them. I have had both said to me, on a number of occasions. The latter statement was said by my son's great g-ma, three days post-partum. And then by lots of her friends, about three weeks later. I've been told I 'can't do that here' when BF my son (all over the place, it's happened. Shockingly at Peckham Pulse Jelly Babies of all places). I've been told his slow weight gain was down to my shoddy milk ('now Mum, what's wrong with your milk? it's just not enough, is it?' said the HV to me. Idiot). I have been given 'looks' and tutted at loudly when feeding him in public, and my own Mother (who was an extended breastfeeder herself...) has asked 'when are you going to stop THAT?'. No one asks a bottle feeding mother 'When are you going to stop FF and start giving the baby cows/goats milk?'. Or do they? Anyway, some anecdotal evidence of BF bashing. I don't have any stats or studies to back my point up, because I'm a bit cr*p like that.

May not be an allergy to the formula, but the teats. What are they made out of? Like HH, I am allergic to latex (allright, allright, laugh away with your condom jokes, have heard it before) and get contact dermatitis whenever I use latex gloves etc. She may be demanding milk more often now due to a growth spurt, so unless Baby is losing weight and isn't producing enough wet/dirty nappies (wet- 6/day generally) don't automatically assume she's ravenous due to lack of milk. If she's generally happy, not losing weight (static/slow weight gain in BF babies is common) and isn't dehydrated, then your milk is aokay. If you know all this already, apologies for repeated information :)

I cannot for the life of me: 1) Find a good thread about what to put in one's hospital bag or 2) Remember what I put in it last time So far my list goes: For me- Big pants Big pads Flip flops for showers/pottering around ward TENS machine (need to get pads) Iphone charger Assorted vest-tops Nipple cream Bra pads Spare hair ties Small fan Snacks, such as tracker bars and ribena cartons. For baby: Nappies x 7million Adorable vests to be pooed on within ten seconds Little socks Little hat Blanket Money, to bribe baby to be good and quiet. Any other useful suggestions?

Thanks, Pickle- a few trips you say? Not to Harris Birthright ;) ? Actually, I've been really impressed with all their services; Paeds A+E have always been exceptional with Seb (and me, weeping like a mentalist whenever I've taken him in). Even right down to the phlebotomists who had to take my blood whilst I tried to escape, everyone has always been fab.

I have just had an appointment where the very lovely registrar spent well over an hour discussing VBAC options with me, in great detail. I felt like a person, not a number and was listened to, consulted and treated with consideration and patience. Registrar has convinced me that now that my baby is head down, to go for a VBAC rather than assume I 'can't possibly do it'. He also went through my notes from my previous labour with me, and I now FINALLY know why cheeky S wouldn't come out. All in all, Kings are absolutely brilliant and I am struggling to fault them at all.

AFAIK entenox isn't offered in most US hospitals. I really didn't like the way this was produced; UK version seemed a lot more "down to earth" and less DRAMA! If that makes sense. Also I don't think the UK version told you how long the ladies had been labouring for unlike the US version; speaks volumes I think? Also hated the way that the l&d nurse was discussing poor Tasha's situation with her family over her head! And all that "is the doctor happy that you can give birth naturally?" way to empower thpoor lady! *written on my iPhone in suite 8 at Kings. My life truely revolves around babies and pregnancy...

It was More4 (channel 14 in our house) at 9pm, may possibly be able to view it online?

I watched it too, and my god- I have always thought that the UK maternity services were top notch but I am thanking my lucky stars I am in Blighty rather than the USA. I HATED the way the couple wishing for a natural labour were seemingly being mocked; especially by the post-production choices made (narrator sounded like they were practically smirking, lots of 'funny' music etc...) In the USA, from what I gather from friends, a 24hr labour is SUPER long. Jesus H, what would they have made of me? A friend commented that hers was described as 'long and epic'. It was 11 hours long. I'd LOVE an 11 hour labour, tbh.