chica9

From what I understand, both centres have really improved and are keen to have more babies born in the midwife-led units. It?s worth contacting them both to find out whether you are likely to meet their criteria for having a baby in the midwife- led units though - I found the criteria were pretty strict and have failed to meet them both times! So it?s worth thinking about how you would feel if you ended up on the main labour ward of each hospital. That said, those people I know who have been able to birth their babies in the (midwife led)lewisham birth centre speak really highly of the experience.

If you do a search on the Sydenham Town Forum there?s a thread from a couple of years ago on Byne Road and school catchment areas. Depending on where on Byne road the house is, St Bart?s and Kelvin Grove are both good schools which are potential options. With faith schools it?s worth remembering that they can vary quite a lot in terms of how religious they seem, and the split between % of kids attending through ?foundation? (faith) and ?open? or ?community? (ie people who happen to live locally) places. The schools can tell you the split (I think for St Bart?s well over half of places offered for next year were ?open? places) and the furthest distance offered for these places. So depending on how strongly you feel about the concept of faith schools they can be an option worth considering, even if you wouldn?t describe yourself as religious. I know a number of kids at each of these schools (including my own!) - feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

My GP referred me to the consultant obstetrician at the hospital where I gave birth. It was really useful - both the meeting itself and also the letter she wrote for my medical records about what had happened and how to manage risks in any future delivery. I?d also recommend seeing a counsellor to help work through your feelings - I found this really helpful.

Klh - king?s have been really supportive and basically said it?s my decision whether to have an ELCS or try for VBAC after EMCS. So far I have seen 2 different obstetricians and found them both to be really constructive.

Hi, I am currently weighing up whether to try for a VBAC at King?s. I?ve seen the separate thread on ELCS vs VBAC but wondered if anyone could share their experience of VBAC (or attempted VBAC) at King?s over the past couple of years? I?m particularly interested to know whether you were given the option of using a pool, and also if you had continuous electronic fetal monitoring how much you were able to move around? I?d be really grateful for any insights - I don?t have to decide for another few weeks but am trying to work out what my key questions and thoughts are before my next obstetrician/midwife appointment.

We were happy with this nursery - but I think the best way to deal with any concerns is to speak with the room supervisor, and then if you're still not happy meet the manager in person and be really clear about anything that you'd like to change. Have you thought about posting in the se23 mums Facebook group to find other parents with kids in the same room?

Rodrigo at the hue is great - my daughter loves going there to get her hair cut having resisted for a long time. Although worth being aware he may straighten hair to get a really accurate cut - am sure you can ask him not to though!

There are lots of sub areas within Forest Hill and HOP - the right one for you will depend on your preferences for bus vs train, being able to walk to various amenities, school ethos and housing stock style. All of the schools are pretty good (including the ones that tend not to get mentioned on the EDF!) but there is quite a range in ethos. Based on your criteria I'd suggest the roads around Kilmorie and Dalmain schools might be a good place to start looking.

Welcome! My Sydenham-based friends send their kids to Cuddly Bear (just off Kirkdale) or Townsend Montessori in Forest Hill. You might also like to consider the kindergarten at the Dietrich Bonhoeffer church if your kids speak German.

Thanks everyone. I think what I'm keen to find is someone who can advise me on something which is workable and makes sense given the different legal systems, bureaucratic requirements and tax regimes in the UK and US - so I was wondering if there are any lawyers or firms which can do both the practical/financial advice and then the drafting! On the custody point, I wondered if there were any particular process requirements for a non-US guardian of a US minor overseas - and how the financial arrangements to provide for a surviving child might be set up and taxed given that my daughter is liable to both UK and US taxation. Having dealt with the bureaucracy of winding up the estates of close relatives in both the US and UK in the last few years I've been struck by the many differences and so am keen to have a will which is straightforward for all involved!

I am hoping one of the many US citizens living in this area might be able to help me with this! OH and I are finally getting around to drawing up a will including arrangements for care of our child should we both die. I'm British, OH is American and our daughter has both nationalities, and we plan to reside here permanently. Over the longer term we anticipate holding no assets in the US (which I think means that in principle we only need a UK will, but I'd like to find a lawyer to confirm this!) Can anyone recommend a lawyer who could draw up a will which would cover any points which might be relevant for the US but which might not typically be included in a standard UK will, in particular on the child custody points? I'd be grateful for any recommendations or advice!

Thanks Pugwash, will check them out!

Pugwash - which place off Stanstead road do you mean?

My daughter is very happy there - happy to answer any specific questions over PM!

For me, switching from the Swing to the Freestyle was completely worth the cost. It was quicker, more convenient (especially as I also 'invested' in one of the special bras they sell so you can comfortably go hands free) and my supply definitely went up. I sometimes cleaned the bottles in non-Medela sterilisers although I preferred the Medela microwave bags as things seemed to dry out quicker. They're much cheaper to buy from the US though!

In addition to the places already mentioned, you could try: - the brilliant softplay in the Salmon youth centre in Bermondsey - 3 sessions a week, free and v easy to get to from Forest Hill - the sessions (Monday and Friday I think) at the Ackroyd Centre which aren't badged as 'baby gym' but have lots of stuff to play with/on; - the session at St Saviour's church on Tuesday mornings (called Busy Bees or something similar I think?

I'd echo what others have said here. I've done several long haul flights with my daughter, now 9 months old (and also mixed fed) without any problems. My daughter loved all the attention from the stewardesses and other passengers! I usually make up a couple of bottles just before I leave home using pre-mixed cartons, then carry them in a little cool bag which will keep things cool for 8-12 hours - security may ask you to taste them but I figured that by unscrewing the top and tipping a bit out onto my hand to taste I was keeping what was in the bottle reasonably sterile. I found it useful to have an emergency bottle to hand in case of long queues and sudden meltdowns in the airport. For later in the flight, I took one of those dispensers into which you measure out 3 separate formula powder doses - this made making up bottles in the galley really easy. They have hot water dispensers where the temperature is over 90 degrees - I would then cool the bottle by putting it in my daughter's sippy cup together with some cold water from the water dispensers (or washroom) - I guess your daughter may not have one yet but any wide enough container will do! The bottle cooled quite quickly by doing this a few times. And I guess you could ask for ice. I also bought cartons of pre-mixed formula from Boots once I had passed through security, but it's worth remembering that some new planes don't seem to have fridges in the galley, so you'll have to tip away any of this formula that you don't use immediately. I'd take enough bottles and formula for the flight, airport transit (at each end) and at least one spare. My daughter is very easily distracted from breastfeeding - all the people, lights and activity in airports and planes appeared to be much more interesting than feeding, including during take-off - and so I was glad to have a couple of extra bottles just in case I needed them. A couple of other tips: The one downside to the seats with baby cots is that whilst you have lots of space on the floor for your stuff during the flight, you can't have anything there during taxi and take-off, so all your supplies will be in overhead storage for what can feel like quite a while if you're flying from Heathrow! It's worth stashing what take-off essentials you can around you / in the magazine holder in front of you. I'd suggest a sachet of calpol + tube of teething gel; some wipes or muslins; maybe a bottle; and a couple of favourite small toys/rattles- particularly any your baby likes to gnaw on. If your daughter has a favourite TV programme, and you have an iPad or small laptop, I recommend downloading a couple of her favourite shows to take with you. No help during take-off, but this can be a lifesaver midflight and for the middle of the night once you're at your destination and you have a wide awake jetlagged baby. Have a great trip!