midivydale

Hi Pommie, well done for seeing your GP. I noticed that as well as medication/therapy some lifestyle changes helped me feel miles better. Everyone is different but I thought it cant hurt to attack this from all angels - right? I felt alot better once I included omega 3+6, had regular small meals with as much wholesome food as possible (Low GI for stab bloodsugar levels), avoiding too much coffee and alcohol etc) really did make a difference. Everyones advice is also to sleep alot but this is of course easier said than done with a baby/toddler. I found that when sleep deprivation was at its worst spending time outside in the day was vital for a vitamin D boost. This helps boost mood as well. I, and many others I have talked to also feared that the meds "wouldnt work for me" but remember that these thoughts are part of the symptoms. When I was very low and thought I would never get better an amazing forumite and friend (lochie) kept saying to me, You WILL get better and feel more like your self. You WILL. And you will too. Hang in there and in the meantime, be kind to yourself. x

Hi Rebecca, You are in the right area and will make loads of new friends I am sure. Have you joined the spring babies group? Their thread is on this forum. Also try and go to some of the bumps and babies groups as you will meet loads of people that way. www.edtots.co.uk are great for info. I would def recommend the group at the Crooked Well for the early days when the baby is v young. It is a lovely group.

Thank you all!

Hi Pommie, I feel for you. Do you have a good GP? They can help with a diagnosis and you dont have to commit to treatment if you dont feel ready for it. Well done for posting, when you seek help (and get it) you may find that you feel better fairly quickly. In my experince and those of others that I have talked to is that when the right diagnosis has been made the treatment works very well. Best of luck and like lochie says, be kind on yourself. PM me if you want to ask questions, happy to chat. X

I gave birth there a year ago and medically they are fantastic. My community midwives never made the birth but I was looked after by a brilliant midwife. We had complications, I have posted these on another thread but the care me and my baby received was amazing. Having said that, the post natal ward is a tough place to be. I hink this is the case for most hospitals and not just for kings. Following the complications we had at birth we spent a week there and that really took a toll on me. Again, staff were amazing on the whole but I normally describe it as a week long live show of Jeremy Kyle. You are in safe hands at Kings, we are very lucky I feel to have this hospital so close by. One bit of advice would be to have someone with you at all times on the postnatal ward. You are likely rather vulnarable post birth and its hard to manage stiches, washing, lifting baby etc.

Ah welcome back susyp! Dish and spoon in nunhead is great for food and a play although your daughter may be a little old for the toys? Horniman she will love! X

Thank you all, just wanted to share some happy news after a year that has been such a rollercoaster. X

Ks- ha ha i know!! We were rocking those PJ's! Although i was a walking ghost still traumatised to the core when we met but you!!! Glowing!Will never forget how gorgous you looked and your down to eart "oh yea I have just poped in to give birth". X

Saffron, I hear you. It is so expensive! To be honest I just want a happy and strong marriage. The wedding itself I can take or leave it. I have never been a big white dress kind of girl, as you could probably guess after my take on poor old cinders:)I just want to be married to the love of my life. To be his wife. Oh lord I have gone all sentimental...

Hu Chantal, Congratulations on your pregnancy! You will get the results there and then but may have to wait a while ie a couple of hours x

So after 10 yrs, a house and a baby my other half proposed last night! I am over the moon and soooo excited. It is just so romantic and lovely and beautiful. Sorry if this post is abit silly, just so happy and excited!

I have given up on this place after calling and emailing for weeks and NEVER got a call back. Beyond frustrating to say the least. I lost all confidence in them.

TheClockhouse, What a fab service this would be for local mums! The fact that the times are flexible (you dont have to rush feed, sleeps etc) is a godsend. Really excited about this. Well done on the refurb as well, I havent had a chance to come in yet but from the outside it looks lovely.

Yay for play group at clockhouse! Please if possible could you bear the toddlers ie 12mnths plus in mind? I find that similar groups at crooked well is difficult once the baby is moving. Your room sounds great upstairs though. Excited to have another group in the area and agree wholeheartedly about the cheap and cheerful (and the wine).

I live opposite Ivydale and personally I love it. I love the community feel it brings being close to a school. It does get noisy (if children laughing and playing could be called noise). Again, this "noise" I love, it makes me feel part of the community. I am hoping also that the close proximity to the school means baby ivydale can go there in a few years but this is by no means certain... Parking of course is an issue but only at drop off and pick up.

Aw susyP, wish i could have one with you! Big hug! X

I would not worry at all. I only have the one and he has been early with everything to do with mobility as he is crazily active. However the fine tuning of movements he has seemed 'alot' later than his buddies. Ie clapping hands, using thumb and index finger, etc. My mum said, they will sit,clap, walk, etc for the next 70-80 years (God willing) so what difference does a few extra months make? Wise words I think. The HV made a fuss at 8mnths check up that he didnt use his thumb and index to pick things up. He is 12 months now and still doesnt:)i havent told her:)

I feel really inspired by this thread too! I know I can def improve with waste of food. My mother in law an stretch her pennies better than anyone I know. She always bulk buys things like toothpaste, kitchenroll etc. She is amazing. Good luck Grotty and try not to dwell on what you have done in the past. Focus on moving forward and dont beat yourself up over old decisions. Order a copy of your credit reports online (experian and equifax) your rating may not be as bad as you think.

My sons Jellycat Elephant was lost earlier today in or around PR park. Could be on East Dulwhich Road around Tesco and could be anywhere really between there and Nunhead. If found please please PM me. C x

How about after you have done your budget you withdraw cash to cover expenses for the month. It is amazing how much more you think about parting with money rather than a card. For instance, if you have done a food shopping list and it comes to ?24, bring the ?24 in cash only. This means that you cant spend more than the money that you have taken out with you. We have a food jar and a baby jar where we put money at the beginning of each month. This prevents dipping into savings/other accounts. We had to take stock when I was on maternity leave as we were down to one income only and had to make some major changes in order to finance me being at home. Now when I am back at work it is the same story really as just like you childcare eats up alot of my monthly salary. "Finances" can be such an overwhelming subject that is often helpful to break it down. So log your spending habits, look over your utility bills, budget, just see them all as small steps and do one at the time. We have a current account each and a joint account for bills and this works well for us. I find it easier to manage if all direct debits came out from the one account.

Firstly, You need to get an idea of what you are spending your money on. Get a small notebook a d write down every.single.thing that you buy. Lattes, babywipes, chewing gum. Do this for a month, then you will have a clear picture of where your money goes. I was v surprised to find that I spend nearly ?900 a year on lattes... Once you have a clear picture of your spending it will become rather obvious where you can make changes and save if that is your goal. The next step would be budgeting and there are great resources for this online. Moneysupermarket is a good one. Always make a habit of checking your statements weekly to make sure nothing is a miss. The next steps would be looking at returns on your savings but I would focus on your outgoings first. It is empowering to be in control of it all in the end- worth the effort. Abit like going to the dentist. You feel very good once done:) Good luck!!

I am going to the library to get cinders tomorrow, sounds even worse than I remember it. X

So sorry I missed it. Lovely idea. We were planning to pop by on route to playgroup but the norovirus put a spanner in the works- gutted!

Re dressing in pink. It should of course not equate to "being girly and feminine". I agree but it often does. I would never dream of dressing in anything pink at work. Otta- my hubby does look V V hot in a pink shirt under a sharp suit I have to say:). X

WM- i go through ALOT... Also blaming my red swollen eyes on hayfever (which I have never suffered from in my life).