Knomester

Thanks for the idea of splitting into separate bags Fuschia. I think that would be best for me seeing as I'm hoping we can stay at home - so one for me full of labour stuff and one with baby things and spare clothes for me for afterwards. Goodness knows when I'm going to pack these bags... I'm very good a writing lists though!

This is what I have on my list so far (gathered mostly based on advice from friends). I'm hoping for a home birth but packing a bag for hospital anyway so that it's all in one place and just in case I need to go in. It seems so much - not sure it'll be one bag....maybe two! Would love to know if I've missed anything you think I'll need! Water, juice, energy drinks Sweets Snacks, cereal bars, nuts, dried fruit, etc TENS machine? Straws Front-opening night shirts (dark) Dressing gown Slippers Flipflops Tracksuit Bottoms (dark) T-shirts Feeding Bras Night feeding bras Clothes to travel home in Breast pads Maternity towels / Always night towels Old knickers Nipple cream Tissues Dettol / anti-bacterial wipes Toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, body lotion, deodorant, moisturiser, toothbrush, toothpaste, cotton wool pads, cotton buds) Pillow Flannels (dark) Towel (dark) Hair grips Lip balm / vaseline Hand cream Antibacterial gel Paracetamol Toilet roll (super soft) Cotton wool Baby wipes Baby toiletries Muslins Nappies (lots) Nappy sacks Babygrows / Nighties (newborn and 0-3 mths) Vests (newborn and 0-3 mths) Cellular blanket Hat, mittens, etc (depending on weather) mobile phone / blackberry + charger Cameras + memory cards Money Notebook + pens Books, magazines, etc Car seat

Oh my...and I thought choosing a pram was difficult enough! I want something unisex that both me and my husband will feel comfortable with. Some of those Pacapod bags look great! I love the separate sections.

I'm afraid I'm away on 2 June and busy on 26 May so I can't make either of those dates...sorry.

I would recommend Jo Mitchell who is a cranial osteopath at the Sunflower Centre in Brockley. I have begun sessions with her after she came highly recommended to me. She works with a lot of babies and children as well as pregnant women (like myself) and adults of all ages. I hope everything goes well for you and your little one.

I'm in for Wednesday 9th June!

I can make: Mon 7 June Wed 9 June (and possibly 26 May but need to check as have something on that night which might be moved). Thanks!

Yes! Would be lovely to meet up again and meet a few more mums (and dads) to be. I can't do Thursday evenings but am fairly flexible for any evenings other than that. Sadly can't do lunchtimes unless it happens to be a day when I'm working from home but I am around most weekends.

Cate - Depending on the type of chocolate you use, I would add natural vanilla extract to this recipe too! It just depends on the type of chocolate really as I find some woek well with vanilla but others have more fruity flavours (Madagascan for example tastes quite citrusy to me). I think a nuttier sugar would work well too (I definitely prefer the golden caster to the normal bleached caster sugar) - Billingtons do some really tasty sugars which I've been testing recently. I might have to experiment with your alternative sugar idea....! The cocoa adds a different level to the chocolate flavour - I like the use of both chocolate and cocoa to get that richness.

I've just stumbled across this thread and am clearly now in need of chocolate brownie....! I never used to be a big fan of brownies, but started making them for other people (and then tasted some and decided I quite like them...). I like them to be gooey on the inside with just a thin layer of crispiness on top. I've cut and pasted the recipe I use below in case it's of any interest (it seems like a LOT of sugar, but the brownies are quite rich so it goes a long way, or at least that's what I like to tell myself!): Ingredients 200g butter 200g good quality plain chocolate 600g golden caster sugar 4 large eggs 250g plain flour 4 tablespoons cocoa Method Preheat your oven to 180C. Grease a rectangular roasting tin or oven proof dish which measures approximately 8" x 12" (20 x 30cm) and line with baking parchment (not greaseproof paper as this will stick to the brownies!).Melt the butter and chocolate in a glass bowl over a pan of simmering water. Make sure that the bowl doesn't touch the water inside the pan and be careful not to let the water come into contact with the chocolate as this could make it all go horribly wrong. Cool the chocolate and butter mixture slightly and then stir in the caster sugar. Whisk the eggs and add then a little at a time, making sure they are well blended before adding more. Sift the flour and cocoa into the mixture and beat until smooth. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin. It may take up to 50 minutes to cook, depending on your oven, but you don't want to over cook it or your brownies will be too dry. To get the right consistency the mixture needs to be just cooked, so start testing with a cocktail stick after about 40 minutes ? there should be moist crumbs clinging to the cocktail stick, but not wet batter. Cool the brownies in the tin slightly and then mark into pieces. Depending on how big you want your brownies to be, this mixture will make between 15 and 24 pieces. It is fairly rich though so you may just want to make mini sized brownies, in which case you could make 32 pieces. Leave the brownies in the tin until they are completely cold, then turn out onto a board and cut into pieces along the pre-marked lines.

Hello Quite a few people couldn't make it in the end but two of us had a good old chin wag over a glass of juice (?!). I'd be happy to meet up again sometime over the next month or two. I generally can't do daytimes unfortunately as I work up in the city, but I can be back to East Dulwich by around 6.15pm / 6.30pm with enough notice and I'm around at weekends. Hope to meet some of you soon!

Hi lucyjessica / hkirsop Are you all still OK for 6.30pm this evening at Green & Blue? jayd5 can't make it due to work unfortunately but I'm still free to come along. Cheers

Hi hkirsop We're still planning on meeting on Monday 26th - see you there!

I can do 6.30pm at Green & Blue - Monday 26th right? I'll PM my mobile to you jayd5 and lucyjessica.

What sort of time do you think you'll all meet on Monday 26 April? I work up in the city but at a push (if work isn't too manic) can be back by around 6.30pm and wouldl love to join if I'm not too late!

I suffered with growing pains as a child. I grew quite tall quickly up to the age of 10 / 11 and then only a few inches since then. I remember pains in my hips, legs, ribs and my back. I'm not sure whether they were technically growing pains but that's always what my dad called them.

I always dreamt of having 3 children. I'm 5 months pregnant with number 1 and have sworn it will be an only child! I am not one of these women who 'bloom' in pregnancy that's for sure... Everyone tells me I'll forget how horrid the sickness, exhaustion, heartburn, etc was in time - maybe they're right. But even if that is the case I definitely think I would stick at 2. I'm one of 4 children (aged 34 to 16) which meant my mum had the youngest 2 at 40 and 45. I can't imagine how she managed. She's a very sound sleeper though. It's a big family with 4 children, a touch too big I'd say (although I wouldn't swap my brother and sisters for the world!).

Yay - lovely for you! I hope your scan went well. Ours is next week (and we're still not going to fidn out!!).

Hello again. My next midwife appointment is Friday 23 April so I'll probably work from home that day if that's any good for you all. Alternatively, I might be able to do 15 April. anna_r - Do you have to be a member at Jags to do the exercise classes do you know?

Hello. Would love to join you all for coffee at some stage (I'm 20 weeks with my first - due on 10 August) but unfortunately work full time in the big bad city so can't do week days at the moment. I may be able to work from home when I have midwife appointments over the next few months though so I'll let you know when my next one is once I find out tomorrow!

Hi reren I've faced the same reaction as you (I'm just past 20 weeks), but thankfully mym mum has been supportive. We're not close as you are with your mum, but she is a trained nurse / health visitor and now lectures in healthcare and childcare, so I think she looks at it objectively rather than emotionally. It amazes me how strong other people's views are on homebirth when I am sure they know little about it in reality. It's very difficult to just ignore people when they are so negative - I've found it quite upsetting at times and have questioned my own opinions - but ultimately it is for you and your partner to decided. You're the one who needs to feel comfortable in your surroundings when the time comes. I'm hoping to go along to the next meeting that Sophie organises (see above) so maybe see you there!

I can make 16th April if you decide to go ahead with that date!

Hi Bishberro I've had the same problem as you finding creams that don't contain parabens, etc. The products at Neil's Yard don't contain any of the nasties and they have a mum to be range which doesn't contain the essential oils which aren't suitable in rpegnancy. Unfortunately the range is quite limited (body balm, bath oil and something else I think) and it's not cheap. I have the body balm (a solidified oil is the best way of describing it) and a little goes a long way, but I only use that on my bump etc and like you am lacking some sort of body lotion. Out of interest, what face moisturiser are you using - I've struggled to find anything suitable...

I do one-to-one pilates once a week a the Sunflower Centre in Brockley and am continuiing through my pregnancy (although what I do now compared to before is different to take account of the baby!). I find it's the only thing that really keeps me moving - I started it because of having major surgery on my spine 18 months ago and so far (touch wood!) I'm 20 weeks in and haven't had any recurring major problems with my spine. My instructor does some yoga type movelemts with me too and encourages me to do these at home to increase strength and suppleness (sp?). http://thesunflowercentre.co.uk Like bumpy said - maybe give both a go!

Hello! You know what I'm doing already....waiting until he or she arrives to find out! For me it would be a shame not to go into the birth still having that element of surprise ahead. For me it really doesn't matter either way, so many clothes, toys, etc are unisex these days that there doesn't seem to be a practical reason for knowing - it's just whether you can bear the suspense! I've no idea whether I'd feel any different with baby number 2 - who knows. Like Verds, my mum was convinced I was a boy - she had even named me - so it did come as a bit of a surprise when I turned out to be a girl! A good surprise I hope...