mollie

The NCT Introducing Solids Workshops are for parents, carers, grandparents or childminders who want to have up-to-date information about this subject. The Workshops have become very popular and are for those with children aged 4-5 months at the time of the Workshop. Running for 2 hours in East Dulwich it's a chance to ask your questions and hear about when to start introducing solid food, what are suitable first foods, what to watch out for and where to go for help and support and much more. There will be books and information available at the Workshop, as well as a chance to meet other people with children the same age. To find out more go to the main NCT website: nct.org.uk or contact Alison on: [email protected] Please ask Alison for more details or ask me on this thread. Some people attend with friends from their antenatal group, others come because they want to meet others in the same area. Some people are now looking after their grandchild and want up-to-date information, all are welcome. Due to high demand 3 Workshops are happening in August, if there are more people interested than places extra Workshops can be put on. All the best

School performances are the things children remember for the rest of their lives! I teach music part-time in a 3 form entry Primary school, there are performances for each year group throughout the year. Christmas plays, concerts, recitals, shows (great Roald Dahl plays/musicals), pantos, etc. Year 6 have done Oliver, Pirates of the Currybean, Grease, Lion King, Abbatastic in the last few years. The way it works is for the 'play' to be the focus of the curriculum for those weeks running up to the performance. The singing, music, costumes, acting, dancing, programme design, backdrops, lighting, sound, props etc all become part of the learning. Why do all the good things get squeezed out of education? I do a huge number of risk assessments every year for the various trips to the 02 with 100 children in the choir, the Borough music festivals and joint schools events. We even have to risk assess walking round the corner to sing carols. But I make sure I do these things because it is for the benefit of the children (and those who hear them). We have school of rock bands, steel pans, accordion groups, choir, recorder group, staff steel pans and other ensembles that play for different events. The sky is the limit with children, but unfortunately the real limit is with those who control the creative diet in our schools which our children receive. I am employed because the Head Teacher knows that music is great PR for the school, he knows it brings the whole school (650 pupils) together, and raises morale, self-esteem and well-being for the children, staff and parents. If you feel strongly about the school play then follow your heart......let the school know what you think, and put a plan of action together. All the best

Hi, I run the New NCT Birth and Beyond Courses which are held in SE5 at Camberwell Leisure Centre. There are the usual traditional NCT Antenatal courses locally too. There are spaces on the Birth and Beyond course starting on 29th Oct, which may fit in with your dates. Also I run the NCT Early Days Courses which run for 6 weeks postnatally. These are held in Christ Church Barry Road. Finally, I also run the Introducing Solids courses, also at Christ Church, these can be booked for when your babies are around 4-5 months old so you can start thinking about which approach you may want to take. So, there's lots to think about! Contact Alison on [email protected] for more information or PM me.

Changes in relationships is one of the issues that we discuss on the NCT Postnatal courses. As well as being another opportunity to meet with a group of parents with young babies and form new connections with those living in the area, it is time to think about what people expected and what actually happened when they had a baby. The impact on friendships is one of the things that comes up time and again. People sometimes feel that their friends have stopped contacting them, and it's good to take time to consider 'who moved?' in the friendship. Did they move away? Did you? Did the fact that you became pregnant become a stumbling block for them? Were they hoping to become a parent themselves? There are so many unknowns, and even within families the impact of pregnancy and birth on siblings can be huge. Through the NCT Postnatal courses we discuss how these changes have impacted us as new parents, we think about ways of re-connecting with others, and how to strengthen the relationships that people have at the moment. 'Baby-Friends' is not a particularly helpful phrase, but we do meet others in the same situation when we become parents, I remember seeing another mum at a play area when my child was a baby and thinking: 'she looks like someone I could talk to'! We did chat briefly, and later on our children were in the same reception class. We discovered their birthdays were 2 days apart and decided to have a joint birthday party sharing the cost, the fun and the stress! We still see each other now, and our girls are in their teens. So, 'Baby-Friends' can be so much more than just that, many people say that the friendships they forged during the early months are the ones they rely on in the day to day of family life. If you want to know more about the NCT Postnatal courses do ask, all the best Mollie

Hi Jo, Is this the NCT Bumps & Babes group?

Due to demand another date in August is being planned, watch this space!

The NCT run extremely popular Introducing Solids Workshops for parents/grandparents/carers. One attendee said the workshop provided 'a wealth of information in order to make good decisions about the next stage' The positive feedback shows participants felt more confident as a result of attending the session and that the up to date information was helpful. The next 2 hour workshop will be in the afternoon on August 29th in Barry Road. People can attend with or without the baby/ies. This workshop is suitable for parents/grandparents/carers of babies aged 4-5 months at the time of the course To find out more go to the main NCT website: nct.org.uk To reserve a place contact Alison on: [email protected]

You might be interested in the new NCT antenatal course called Birth and Beyond which is running in Camberwell SE5 starting in May finishing on June 4th. The course is on Tuesday evenings and runs for 5 sessions and then a reunion later on. Also there are NCT postnatal courses which run in East Dulwich which are great for people who want to meet up after the birth. These are 6 week courses. Have a look on the main nct website: nct.org.uk or to book onto courses contact Alison on [email protected] All the best Mollie

Congratulations! If you want to meet other local new parents there are Antenatal and Postnatal courses run by the NCT in East Dulwich. Have a look on the website: nct.org.uk All the best,

I have a lovely set of Childrens Picture books on the subject: Happy Birthday! by Robie H. Harris & Michael Emberley Walker books There's a House Inside My Mummy by Giles Andreae and Vanessa Cabban Orchard Books Hello Baby by JenninOverebd & Julie Vivas ABC books All different but all helpful as it's more a chance to talk and have the picture books as a starting point, rather than a lesson.

Dear mrsS, so sorry it has taken from Feb 20th for your voice to be 'heard' and help from the GP to materialise. I can't imagine how difficult this time must have been for you, and thanks for posting here about how things are going. So many people have read your messages and it has been great to hear people sharing their experiences. Networks of support are so important especially at inbetween stages in our lives: pregnancy being one of those key times. Hope this week goes well for you

New to East Dulwich: NCT Introducing Solids Workshops. Come along with (or without!) your baby and try some baby food! Booking now for workshops on 12th April, don't miss out. Next one after that is 12th July. Contact: [email protected] Other courses: NCT Postnatal 'Early Days' Courses, and new NCT 'Birth & Beyond' course in SE5. Check out nct.org.uk for more info on all of the above or PM me.

Dear mrsS glad to hear you are getting a good response from health professionals, A&E suggestion is good to know of. EDF is a great way of getting answers! Hope this weekend goes well for you and DH.

Dear mrsS, did the midwives get back to you? I know you mentioned your midwife was on annual leave, if not do follow this up and make sure they are aware of how you are feeling at the moment. Thinking of you.

The NCT Shared Experience Helpline is 0300 330 0700 and operates from 9am-7pm and has an answering service outside of those hours. They can put you in touch with people who have gone through the same experience. HTH

Dear mrsS, People do care about you and I know how hard it can be to motivate yourself to do anything when the 'black dog' rears its head. Going to the GP and contacting the brierley were good steps, well done. Do PM people who have offered this if you want to and can I suggest that you let people around you know how you are feeling? Sometimes we try to hold it all together for others, but in fact they could be a help even on a practical level when things get very difficult. There is a link through the NCT's website for people who want to be put in touch with others who have been through the same experience as them. It's called the Shared Experiences Register. The main website is nct.org.uk, I'll have a look now and let you know the link. Keep in touch.

Hi mrsS, it will pass, but it is now that can be difficult. I think finding support at the moment would be a good thing, and antenatal depression although not often talked about, can affect both men and women, so approaching the Brierley sounds like a good starting point.I work with women and their partners both antenatally and postnatally, and over the years can see how those people who recognise their symptoms of depression and contact their health professionals really do benefit from their support. Pregnancy is a rollercoaster for many people but I think you are so right to recognise how you are coping and look for support. APNI: the Association for Postnatal Illness have a good website in case that is of interest. All the best, and do keep us posted.

There's a new Antenatal Course starting in May which you might want to look at. It's run by the NCT and is called Birth and Beyond. The focus is on preparing you and your partner for the arrival and first months with your new baby/ies. The course runs for 12 hours over 6 evenings and is ?170. Venue is The House Gallery SE5, so not far from East Dulwich. 4 spaces left on this course. Thought you'd like to know about this as it's a new course, the focus will of course be on the birth but with much more time spent on preparing for life after the baby arrives. Info on this course from me or [email protected] or the main NCT website: nct.org.uk All the best

New NCT Antenatal Course starting in May at House Gallery SE5. Course is designed to prepare you and your partner for the arrival and first months with your new baby. Course covers the development of your unborn baby, changes for you, your health and wellbeing, giving birth and meeting your baby, caring for your baby and where to find support. More info from: [email protected] or contact me.

For you first timers don't forget there's the NCT Postnatal course at Christchurch Barry Road. 6 week course covering sleeping, feeding, crying, relationships, dealing with advice, managing feelings etc email: [email protected] for dates and times. All the best x

Next NCT 'Early Days' course for new parents is at Christ Church Barry Road on 8th Jan 2013. Much cheaper than the NCT antenatal course and really excellent! Contact [email protected] for more info. Suitable for all new parents with babies aged 0-8 months. All the best

Have you heard about the NCT Postnatal course which covers feeding and weaning? Next one starts on Jan 8th and runs for 6 weeks. Contact [email protected] for more info. All the best,

There are some spaces on the next NCT Early Days Postnatal course which starts on 8th January 2013. Contact [email protected] asap to get onto this course. The next one after that starts on 26th Feb. PM me for more details

Try the Early Days Course from the NCT. You'll meet a group of new mums with babies aged 0-8 months and have a chance to talk about life with your baby. Held at Christchurch Barry Road SE22 0JT, go to nct.org.uk for details. All the best

Starting in January at the Goose Green centre a course that focuses on the new parent, not just the baby! This course gives you a safe space to explore how having a baby has impacted your life and will give you the chance to voice what it's been like for you. Maybe you have found yourself at home full-time after years of being out of the house, maybe the baby's arrival was earlier than you'd expected, maybe you're new to East Dulwich and want to meet people with babies the same age, maybe you just want to get out of the house and be with other people to find out how they cope with the things you are going through....... If you want to know more about this 6 week course email Alison on: [email protected] on go onto the main nct website and look up postnatal courses in East Dulwich or PM me. All the best, Mollie