Ruth_Baldock

You might be right, Snowboarder, I remember hearing this somewhere. It is also sometimes possible to get a MW to go over your notes with you. I got my notes to help me on the road to a successful VBAC and at 25pounds, if the VBAC is successful (+ve thoughts...) will be a small price to pay for it. Not sure I'd feel the same if it was 50 quid though...

I flew TAP to Lisbon at 26 weeks pregnant, was ab fab going out but coming back at 29w pregnant, that staff at Lisbon airport went POTTY, thankgod I had my notes. They called my midwives in the UK to confirm all was fine, but it all took so long to do that we missed our flight D: (Well, they said husband could go but I couldn't until it had all been sorted. If hsband had buggered off to Gatwick without me, he'd have returned home a single man...). We got on the next flight, and they bumped us to First Class ;) I'd take a letter from the MWs stating Mrs Karter and Baby K are in good health and okay to fly just to cover yourselves, also her maternity notes go without saying! ENJOY! It's lovely to have one last holiday before Babby arrives. (Also, take those flight socks things and make sure Mrs K drinks plenty of fluids.)

Thanks everyone for your replies. On closer inspection, little S seems to have some new teeth coming in afterall- and yesterday afternoon after a long nap, he had a bit of a meltdown shoving his little hand in his mouth and howling. So perhaps it's a mix of starting to walk, his room layout being changed (to make room for New Baby's stuff...uh oh...) and teething. Last night was a bad, bad night but hopefully this will all pass sooner rather than later *fingers crossed*

What a brilliant idea! I could ask to put details on a little knocked together flyer in "house" and possibly The gallery cafe too, if you like? Me and seb and 29w bump will be there! Xx

Hi Hollie, I got mine by contacting PALS > http://www.kch.nhs.uk/patients/services/pals/ They emailed me a form, I filled it out and took it in and paid my 25 smackers. I opted to pick mine up rather than have them sent, and this speeded up the process- took about 10 days to get mine and I collected them straight from PALS.

Thanks, Belle :) He's been weaning himself off his dummy in the day (I timed it, he had it for a total of 7 minutes in the day yesterday) and we've been thinking of ditching it for a long, long time. Husband has the week off next week and I think we're going to give it a proper go then- at least we can do shifts of sleeping etc so that we're not both pathetic and useless the next day. Status quo and babies? The two don't go together, I'm afraid. Why am I doing this all over again? Someone remind me?

He has one nap in the middle of the day 1.5-2 hours, and he's often so knackered from broken sleep in the night that I have to wake him up. Oh, Cheeky S, you are a head scratcher...

Ha, me and Husband take it in shifts with the earplugs- he keeps an ear out on Sundays, Wednesdays, Fridays, me the other days ;) Don't think he's teething, he's devoid of the usual drooling/whining package. He is still coughing sometimes at night (why, God, WHY?!) but thinking about it, it may be because he coughs and his dummy rolls out of his reach (he has a very small, flat, non-suffocation risk pillow- don't call social services, shh!) so I may do away with his pillow tonight. I wouldn't mind the bed-sharing if he would LIE STILL, but he likes to sit up, put his cheek on my mouth and then go 'a mama! MA MA MA MA!' over and over again for up to 2.5 hours :( No sleep is had by any, and I normally end up plonking him in his cot, saying 'GoodNIGHT, Seb!' and shutting the door. Sounds harsh but 5 minutes of 'NOOOOOOOOO MAAAAAA MAAAA!' later he's normally conked out, but it's stressful for all and not something we want to do every night (husband also worried about neighbours going mental when he's screeching at 4am, doesn't want to get an ASBO or similair)

Cheeky S is 14 months old and started STTN at 9months. He was consistently doing 7-7 (or longer sometimes) apart from periods of illness. However, over the past fortnight or so, he's been going down at 7pm and then waking at 1am, 3/4am etc etc. It takes about 20-30 minutes to get him back down to sleep, which involves laying him back down in his cot, replacing his dummy, re-covering him, and putting on his mobile. I know he's doing a lot better than some, but at 19w pregnant the lack of sleep is starting to kill me. He's started walking in the past fortnight, and has definitely got used to us giving up trying to settle him in his own bed and thus bringing him in with us. From 5/6am onwards, I have no problem if he wakes- he comes in with us and that's fine, but he's been waking up earlier and earlier expecting to come and bedshare. One night, he woke at 11pm expecting it. No siree! Will this pass or am I doomed to be woken up umpteen times again? I thought we were past this, wah wah wah etc.

Would toddler world be okay for a cheeky and energetic 14 month old? or is he too little? husband wants to take him on a 'dad and baby day' whilst I go off and pretend I am not a knackered Mum for the day (wonderful husband that he is)

I loved the lady with the successful VBAC. She made it look so normal and easy. Just what I needed to see, I think everyone and myself has been getting obsessed with VBACs being ever so complicated and risky recently (Don't want to start a debate on this, please, but think it's nice to see a VBAC represented as 'normal' rather than high risk)

Hi, we live off camberwell church St with our 14 month old with no plans to move when baby 2 arrives in July. We've found it brilliant- close to Peckham pulse and close enough to dulwich for all the baby things we go to- even thigh there are things in se5 too. Safety never been a problem for us and cafes etc baby friendly.

Evening all, Husband, myself and Cheeky Sebastian are thinking of heading off to Center Parks next weekend- Husband and Cheeky are very outdoorsy, hence the attraction. Also, people with kids seem to flock to it. Has anyone ever been? Good/bad experience? Is it worth the almost 400 big ones for a long weekend? I am reluctant to fly off for a short break (nervous pregnant lady etc) and like the idea of being able to go swimming, cycling and do outdoor things with our newly toddling toddler.

'The rough guide to babies' was really great; the best of the lot I reckon (I had a whole library of baby books)

We can fit a double buggy in the back of our Audi A4 Estate- it's a P reg and we got it for ?850, so it didn't break the bank! Lovely roomy boot- fits double buggy and other baby/life detritus. I believe the same could be said for the VW Passat Estate, too (v similair measurements etc)

Couldn't agree more, Keef, except that...a lot of women think that because c-sections are so common-place, they're practically day surgery. They're not. Major abdominal srgery, quite risky really. I had PPH (post partum bleeding) so badly after mine that I had a transfusion etc. Surgeon had to keep trying to get his dr mates to calm down my husband who was convinced I was going to die (in surgery for 3+ hours, can't blame him really.) I don't think people realise they're Really Bloody Serious and think they're 'easier' than vaginal birth's. But, lets be frank. Having babies = NOT bloody easy at all, whichever way they come out.

Ladies; the day's are long, but the years are short (Saffron [off this forum innit], 2011) For all you first time Mums, I know this is INFURIATING and exhausting and seems like it will never end; but it will. Things will improve, you WILL sleep again. It took almost 10 months to get Baby B sleeping 'well', and at the time this was excruciating but it was only a small part of what I hope will be a full and happy life for us both, as Mother and Baby (don't care if he ends up King of England- he will ALWAYS be my baby). It sucks, no denying it, but it won't last forever, I absolutely promise. And for us second time Mums (I am soon to be joining your club), you can do this. You've done it before, you know the story. Commisertations for all, I do really feel your pain. If Baby B didn't nap during the day, I would go a bit mad...his sleep hasn't been fab recently but the naptime save my sanity. Sleep for baby, sleep for Mum, phones turned off, any people ringing the doorbell decapitated...

Keef: My husband has always had OCD (no, really...) but since Baby Baldock arrived, it has got a LOT worse. I worry for his mental health on a daily basis. A lot of it is worrying about the cleanliness of the house, and will little bubs' get dysentry from toddling into the kitchen and so forth. I am a bit oCD about his clothes and socks and toys being neat and tidy. But my husband? Seriously, strait jacket/nice men and ladies in white coats for him STAT.

When my son was about 6 months old, I went to see my bank manager. I had to take Baby along with me and after commenting on how cute he was (obviously) he said 'And he is sleeping through, I assume?'. When I said No (Ha ha ha. Aha. HA!) he tutted and told me to see my GP as something was 'obviously wrong' and that all 4 of his kids were sleeping through from 2 months! Load of bollocks. I feel your pain. Babyless friends very rarely get it, I'm afraid. My son was BF for a year and had formula top ups at 10.30 and was still waking up multiple times until we sleep trained. Different strokes and all that.

Hello Mums and Dads and Babies and Toddlers and...assorted family folk. Lovely Bumps and Babes needs some more volunteers. Well, the former ones WILL insist on going back to work, having more babies, letting their children grow up and out-grow the group (The NERVE of them) (myself included in this). For those of you that don't know us, we're an NCT drop-in group held at the Goose Green Centre on Mondays, from 10-12. It's a lovely informal drop in, for expecting Mums and parents/carers with babies up to 18montyhs, usually featuring antics from Cheeky Seb (who specialises in eyeing up people's changing bags and trying to hug smaller babies. Oh dear. He also does a good line in buggy inspecting and biscuit nabbing). It's run by volunteers, who host in pairs to set up and clear away the hall. We used to have both sets of volunteers arriving together and setting up and putting away together, but I am probably going to change this so that one half of the pair arrives, sets up, and then the other half arrives at 10.45-11ish and is responsible for clearing up etc (I know routines and naps are a problem if people are there for 3 hours, and want to make it as easy as possible for all concerned). It's not a huge comittment, but is worthwhile doing in my opinion :) I am also looking for someone to co-ordinate the whole shebang, as I am having to step down (bump/baby/work comittments). Seb is getting a bit big (and demanding) for the group now, and I have a rather-large-for-18-w Baldock Bump 2 which is getting in the way somewhat. if anyone is interested, do feel free to PM me or contact me on [email protected]

The whole epi/spinal thing makes me cry- I can't have either due to a spinal condition so anything that warrants them means I'll have to be totally out- under a general. I literally have panic attacks about this :( Still love OBEM though. It's like my crack.

LEDF: She did. Where else did you think it would hurt, lady?!?! Your right foot?

I agree, SW, baby shopping is the best kind. Am obsessed. The staff at John Lewis Baby Stuff know me well, how sad. I am only on my second (or will be in 5 months time) but remember Ma saying that going from 0-1 was a huge shock, 1-2 was difficult but by no means impossible and she knew a lot of it already- it was hard because she had a child to sort out and a newborn to look after. She said 2-3 was a doddle, and was a bit 'oh, do I have a newborn? I hardly noticed'. When she went into labour with Baby 3 she said 'Oh, the contractions are quite frequent now. I suppose I had better go to the hospital then...'. Going from 3-4 was easy peasy for her, but she stopped there.

Bit confused with my ante-natal care this time round. With Baby 1 (2009) I had a booking appt. at 10 weeks, then NOTHING until 28 weeks. I was then seen at 34w, 36w and my 38w appointment was cancelled and re-sheduled for a few days later, by which time, Baby had been born. This time round, I am a VBAC and slightly higher risk. I was seen at 13w (booking), yesterday at 16+4, and will be seen at 28w, 34w, 36w, 38w, and then at 40w for a 'sweep'.(ha!). I have not had any appointments with any consultants and the like. I have also never heard my baby's heartbeat, apart from a few snatches at my nuchal scan. This seems a bit sparse for appointments, but is this the norm? Was also given some crappy (sorry) advice re: VBAC (we won't let you go past your due date, if you go past you'll be an automatic section; we won't induce you, you'll monitored, and have an IV Cannula, come in the MOMENT you get a contraction- yeah, RIGHT, I do NOT bloody think so...) I don't really want to change MWs, because I have a favourite MW who is LOVELY, but I am considering making some kind of an enquiry. Or am I expecting too mch?

Would second getting hold of your notes- was your first baby through Kings? Contact PALS and they can e-mail you a form to request your notes. It costs about 25 quid, and if you collect them in person it can be a faster process. It took me 10 days to get mine and I lug them around to every MW appointment.