sillywoman

Maisie Susannah is pretty. Isn't Betty a contraction of Elizabeth? Might that have potential to cause problems with Daughter 1 - "It's my name" kind of thing?

Oh so true, so true . . .

I've now got 3 at The charter & judging by where their friends live I think the catchment for The Charter may be wider than commonly thought. The furthest flung are Nunhead (near the Nuns Head), West Dulwich (near Elm Wood School) and Brixton (near the market), so the reach can be quite far out.

Yes Saffron I did wonder whether that's why BB100 suggested GP, but like you I would assume that the MW's would do this, not least because GD would surely need referral to a specialist dietician not just a general one? It seems like an odd thing to do to recomend a pregnant woman seek advice from a general practitioner rather than a pregnancy specialist (MW or Obs). 'Specially when many posters have already advised to seek specialist help. I was (& am still) puzzled as to why BB100 suggested it? Thought maybe there was something GP's could do that I wasn't aware of?

BB100, just curious - why do you suggest she sees her GP if she's worrying about delivering a big baby? What is it that they can do? Also not sure how your "friend of mine was fobbed off by a midwife at Kings and her baby got stuck (15yrs ago though)" story is useful or helpful to Pommie? Maybe I'm missing something though?

What road are you in Tallulah?

I think I might be able to help you Elly. Sent you a PM.

POmmie, I agree with the other posters - you need much more information. If you have GD then my understanding is that you should be referred to the specialist midwifery team, the Ruskin Midwives for all your antenatal care. They will monitor your Glucose levels and act appropriately. GD is a very personal condition in that it manifests slightly differently in each woman and you would need a personal programme tailored to you. Most forms of GD (roughly 80-90%)can be fairly easily controlled with some simple diet modifications and the Ruskin Midwives would be able to talk to you about this & advise in depth. Once the GD is being controlled then there is very little probability that the baby would grow 'too big', but you shoud have extra growth scans to monitor the baby's growth. If for some reason (and if you follow the specialist MW's advice the I cannot emphasise how unlikely this is) the baby should have uncontrolled growth then it's likely that you would be offered either an induction of labour at approx 38 weeks, or a planned CS depending on circumstances and other health and medical factors. You might find it helpful to check out the NICE guidelines on 'Diabetes in Pregnancy'(July 2008 CG63)? You can find them at www.nice.ogr.uk HTH

And a very Merry Christmas wish to all of the EDF family roomers from me too :)

leather gloves & nice scarves (on LL)? Posh foodstufs? or , husbands approach - bottle of posh wine & box of posh chocs? Good Luck out there!

Stocking & one 'big' pressie from FC, all others from Mum & Dad, family & friends etc.etc. Our stockings are relatively small though - they only fit about 10 or so small things in (68!!!??).

Sometime between 3 & 6 months is the crucial time for them to learn to get themselves to sleep. If it happens earlier, great, if not I wouldn't sweat it tbh.

They just cut through our movement sensitive light. B***ers

Random: just any present wrapped in any paper (all bought & wrapped by me) then BIG labels on each one. Stockings not wrapped. Mum/ Santa hopefully too p***ed on Baileys to wrap any more by stocking stuffing time :)

Ooh, it's so exciting, and I'm so, so touched by all your lovely responses. I feel so strongly about the women in ED getting the best possible care through the perinatal period. I definitely intend to be an ED Midwife - I won't be going anywhere else!

ClareC, this year FC is working on 9 pressies (1 big, 8 small-ish) each child and a stocking. He's nearly bankrupt & wondering why he does this (goes over the top) each year.

Dad is American F, & I lived a large part of my early childhood there. Hence a real predilection for junk food (well that's my story & I'm sticking it). Nothing to do with being naturally greedy of course!

Don't put knickers on her for the first few days - they can be confusing as they feel a little like wearing a nappy so your toddler might forget that 'things are different now'. Try it for a few days and if you have no success at all, abandon the attempt and try again in a month or so. I'd have thought that, cold notwithstanding, this is probably a fairly good time of year to do it - you need to make sure you've got a few days when you're all at home a lot, so no stressful out & about situations for her to deal with - The Christmas holidays will probably give you that space? And be prepared to do a LOT of cheering whenever she does do a poo or wee in the potty. Good Luck Otta.

I'm afraid that Christmas and birthdays are the only day's we're allowed outrageously expensive and completely sugar-laden "lucky Charms" for breakfast. Along with the bucks fizz for me of course ;) Also, turkey curry on boxing day - well it has to be doesn't it?

feels like a big step - it's only taken me 16 years to get here, but am so excited :)) I might be helping to catch some of your babies next year!!

I've been offered a place to study Midwifery in September at Kings. I'm chuffed to bits and just wanted to share really. :))

A friend of mine had four boys who were all a couple of years ahead of mine. Her advice to me when I had son number 3 was "think of them in the same vein as dogs. They need to be fed regularly and exercised regularly & then they'll do just fine." I think she was right.

But I thought Trossachs, Tarbert etc etc were built in 1879? Was sure I'd read that somewhere.

in fact I still use almost all of those techniques with my teens. Well, they work.

Now why, oh why did that letter make me cry?! Having children has really turned me into such a cry baby - it's so frustrating! Still, I've C&P's it for future reference. Should the need arise ;)