midivydale

I agree with Fuschia, it is only a problem if it is a problem for you. My son alwaye falls asleep with a bottle feed and skin to skin contact he is 14 months and has fallen asleep like this since the early days. I too enjoy the closeness and have never seen this as an issue. If it becomes one later I will deal with it then, but for now it is just extra cuddle time. X

Thank you Renata, is it possible to access data with regards to number of siblings in the comming years? A long shot I admit. I understand and appreciate that there are other great schools in the area, however not being able to send your child to the scho that you can see from your living room window is rather absurd:) I appreciate your patience in answering all our questions.

I hear you! Coffee shops etc is out for us too I just go to the park and let him walk (crawl when he was younger). Dish and spoon is good for crawling babies. I also try to arrange to meet at home/ friends houses rather than coffeeshop.

Does anyone know what tool they use to calculate the distances between home and school?

Congratulations! Take your time and make your decision. I was with the Lanes and they were fantastic. I had a few bumps along the road both antenatal and postnatal and the midwives were outstanding. Vanessa in particular went over and above her duty and was constantly by my side or a phonecall away. I still miss having her around and she gave me so many words of wisdom that have helped during the first year of motherhood. I was at kings and medically I cant fault them but I have heard great things about Tommies too. Best of luck with your pregnancy and huge congratulations again.

Hey, sorry to hear you have had sad news. I too have a great and compact pump you would be more than welcome to borrow. All the best C x

I know:(

Yup me too:(

Working mummy - that is EXACTLY what i do. No watch at all and letting little one take as long as he takes in the evening, i am also in bed by 10 to make sure I am okish for his early wakeup. Interesting that we have the same coping strategy!

Hi, I am a few weeks in after returning from a 12 month mat leave with number 1. What an emotional rollercoaster it has been! Before I had my son I was fiercly ambitious and very focused on my career. I changed after my son was born and if I had the option financially to be at home with him, I would "give up" my job in a heartbeat. I never expected to feel so attached as I have, have always seen myself as a working mother, one of those "women can have it all types" who juggle a high powered job with cupcake baking. But I have changed in a way I could never have imagined. I see stay at home mums and I feel an acute pain in my heart. I want to be with my son ALL the time. I find my days in the city EASIER though than being at home. I get to wear a dress, high heels, lipstick and people actually listen and take note of what I say (or at least they pretend too). I get to drink hot coffee, someone else even makes it for me (!?) and I can go and "powder my nose" whenever I want. But I would trade it for chubby little banana covered fingers and sloppy kisses in a heartbeat if I had the choice. I cant think about my son at work as I will break down in tears and my poor childminder finds herself under my constant scruitany. This morning, my son tried to hide my shoes so that I couldnt go to work and it breaks my heart. So, this was alot more emotional and probably not at all what the OP was asking. I will get back on the practical side of things and workplace attitudes - but now I should do some of that work..... To all mummies and daddies, whether you are at home or at work. You are doing a great job, the guilt is constant but try to find comfort from the fact that you are doing your best. My dad (a very wise man) always says "dont ever underestimate your best efforts, it is good enough".

Mens what a tough decision! BUT a good postion to be in nontheless. Have your children visited the school? How settled are they in the school that they are currently at? I understand your dilemma and would be thinking the same thing as you. Ultimately you want to give them the best education possible but at the same time you want them to feel belonging and togetherness, be a part of the community etc as those are vital aspects of education too. A really tough one! Sorry I have not been of much help so far, just wanted to say that I understand your concerns.

Hi all and thank you so much for your replies and PM'S. All now sorted and if anyone ever finds themselves in the same predicament we normally have a huuuuge stash as I am paranoid of running out. Thanks again everyone xx

Good luck everyone!

Yes, what nonsense. When my son was ill recently my oh needed to take some time off (I had just returned to work from mat leave and would rather not take time off so soon). My partner's boss response was "does the poor child not have a mother?" My partner's response? "oh yes, he does have an excellent mother, one with a career".

Once again we have been let down by repeat prescription services. Does anyone have a tub of neocate that we could come and collect tonight? Will return it tmrw along with a box of chocolate tmrw. We are desperate! Please PM urgently and I will arrange for collection.

Hi, This work-motherhood balance is a juggling act isnt it? You may have to find two or more people for your needs ie one to do cooking/cleaning (and could have set hours each week) and one person who can be more flexible with childcare/pick ups? Just a thought, I am sure that there are others out there with more experience on the matter.

Pickle I was waiting for you:) Thank you both, Tony and a rug- I can do this. Any idea for wear on the stairs? I may have to change carpet on the stairs actually to something more hard wearing. We are 7 years in and the carpet on the stairs have seen better days. It looks worn.

So ladies (and gents wouldnt want you to feel left out Otta:) ). As you may know I am from Scandinavia where there is no carpet in sight so I need some help. We have beige carpets throughout our flat - and we have a 13 month old...This combination is not great. And no before you ask I can not put wooden floors down as that would be a breach of my lease. When it was just my DH and I we had the occaisional carpet cleaner that came in. Along with some Varnish that did the job rather well but with a toddler, I need to up my game. What do I do? Get one of those at home carpet cleaning systems? Are they any good? Or do I just budget for a carpet cleaner on a regular basis? Help ladies, all ideas welcome.

I sent oh to work and got on the 484...dont recommend:).

Guilty of applying makeup on transport at times - sorry for any offence caused. I saw a woman CLIPPING HER NAILS on the train though and found that revolting. Her nail clippings were flying everywhere.

I did a class at push studios a few years back which was a ballet based core class. Focus was on barre work (sorry spelling). It was a great class- maybe they still do it? X

LauraHW Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Our son was in the SCBU at Kings for 2 weeks when > he was born and he required surgery. The care that > he received was truly outstanding and the > compassion that the doctors and nurses on the ward > showed us was amazing. We felt so lucky to have > the hospital so near us, especially when parents > were travelling every day from as far as Hastings. > Some sections of the media (esp Mail) love to have > a pop at the NHS and portray it and all health > professionals (esp nurses) as uncaring and > unprofessional but this couldn't be further from > our experiences. Not saying that it doesn't have > its faults but how lucky we are in this country to > have such an amazing service, free at the point of > delivery. Hurruh for the NHS I say. I agree wholeheartedly! I hope your son is well now Laura. X

Otta Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Yep, agree with everyone else. > > As an aside, I really for the life of me do not > know why in the name of God people actually want > to take their kids out for meals in pubs. I am not > saying they shouldn't by the way. Me and the wife > had a rare couple of hours without the kids last > Sunday. We went for a bite on Lordship Lane, then > decided to have a quick drink before picking them > up. Walked in to The Great Exhibition, and walked > straight out again. It was awful!!! > > Again, I am making no judgement on people taking > kids to pubs, I'm just genuinely intrigued as to > why the Hell anyone would want to sit in that > environment. Agree 100%

MrsS, lovely that you posted an update on your wellbeing, I am sure many forumites have been thinking about you. Ellie, I understand where you are comming from 100%. I could have written your post myself, in fact I am sure I have. Sleepdeprivation is truly awful and has always had a huge emotional impact for me. What I did find on Sertraline was that a) I slept better (less anxiety) and b)I coped with sleepdeprivation alot better emotionally. I also wouldnt say that sertraline made me "happy" but they enabled me to help myself. Without them, I dont think that I would be in the good place I am now. I am sure that I would have missed out on alot of joy from my son's first year. Having said that I understand and respect that they are not for everyone.

Congratulations on your pregnancy bubblebob!