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Also this info on another site http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Chickenpox-(Varicella).htm

I hadn't realise that chickenpox could lead to complications, sounds awful meakit. The NHS website says this: http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1032.aspx?CategoryID=62&SubCategoryID=63 Re. shingles, the site isn't clear who is at more risk of shingles, people who have had the vaccine or those who haven't. I know several people, all of whom had chicken pox as a child (without any nasty complications), who have had shingles and it is horrible. Is there anywhere locally offering this vaccine privately?

We are having similar problems, thanks for the tips!

We got told the likely sex of our daughter at 12 weeks by a big-mouthed research doctor - they turned out to be right! Tried to get a guess out of them again this time but they were giving nothing away! As others have said, the first bit of the scan is weird as they don't immediately say that there is a heartbeat or that things look OK. I explained in advance that I was anxious about the scan and my reasons for this, and they did seem to make an effort to be nice. At the end, if you have not "opted out" of the relevant tests, they will give you a print out with all the key measurements, due date etc. and your personal "odds" of Down's syndrome and another genetic abnormality, which they should explain to you in a private room (I saw some people getting their results in the waiting room or corridor, and this happened to me with my daughter, so this time I asked to be taken somewhere private). The tests at Kings are extensive compared to lots of other hospitals, but they emphasise that only invasive tests like amniocentesis (which I think they offer to any women who ask for them) can provide an answer. There is another thread on this forum about the invasive tests. Good luck for your scan.

Hiya, if it is someone specialising in fertility rather than a general acupuncturist the Zita West network is meant to be good - though not local, and pricey. I understand that there is also a big acupuncture training centre in Camden that has a fertility section, they may be able to recommend someone in SE London.

Loved the bit where the girl was in pain when pushing in the final stages and the young lad, who was totally focused on her, gave her his hand to bite on - what a man!

I think that around 25% of births are C-sections, which is probably what is shown in the programme. sophiesofa Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Another lovely episode but there seems to be an > emergency c-section every week!

Unfortunately, not all the state schools in Southwark are (according to Ofsted) "outstanding" or even "satisfactory".

Hiya, congratulations on your pregnancy and getting on Brierly's list! Kings should write to you in the next few weeks with a date for the scan / blood tests, which will be between 11 and 13 weeks (mine was 12 weeks on the dot) and information about the tests (Kings do various checks for Down's and a few other genetic abnormalities and also clinical research on pre-eclampsia that involves blood pressure checks, but there is the option to "opt out" of these and just have a scan should you wish to). The letter says to allow up to 2 hours for the scan and tests, but the waiting times can be long (we were there 3 1/2 hours altogether). The waiting room is busy and not comfy, bring refreshments and reading matter! Oh, and change for scan pictures (it is ?1.50 per picture, there is a machine and you buy tokens before you go in).

Poor you, defo consult the doctors (again)....sometimes it feels like we are always at the surgery!

We should do a thread on "unhelpful things that people say to new mums"!

Rumours are true, get name down (or due date!) if you want nursery as an option, especially for under-twos. But there are other options too! homewardbound - people sometimes sort out nannyshares by putting notices up in the family classified sections of this forum. This tends to be more expensive than nursery.

Really sorry you are having a bad time. I had insomnia too (in my case think it was hormonal, not helped by the sleep disruption and having so much new stuff to think / worry about!) and it took a long while to go away. If it carries on it might be worth talking to your GP - someone else on a similar thread, for example, went on a course offered by Southwark PCT about sleep which helped her I think. Might it also help to talk to someone about the birth if it continues to distress you?

I had a miserable time in "good" state primary schools (where other kids and some of the teachers seemed to be actively hostile to more academically-able pupils) and a much better time in an "average" secondary. My husband (whose parents were in the forces) had a state primary education which was disrupted by frequent moves and a private secondary boarding-school education, which he enjoyed. We both got good exam results, friendships and good jobs etc. We have been arguing about state vs private education for many years! We are now hoping to be able to go private for our daughter because of the benefits that others have mentioned. I have niggling doubts and middle-class angst about this, but not enough to overcome the selfish desire for "the best" education for our child. I do think, though, that at primary stage especially being happy at school is the main thing. Re. Arriety's point, many parents are not that altruistic, including those who send their children to state schools but who do everything they can (e.g. move house to a different catchement area or another place, or to an area with selective state schools) to get into "good" schools. Disagree with Keef: gross generalisation.

Hiya, sympathy, remember that stage being really hard. Postnatal hormones as well as sleep deprivation. Anything less than 3 or 4 hour stretches of sleep is a real killer. Not going to comment on ways to improve the baby's sleeping (not done well in that department and my daughter is nearly 2!), but rather ways of coping 'til it improves! As others have said, get your partner to do as much as possible in the night - e.g. on certain nights of the week you sleep in a separate room and he brings the baby to you if/when he needs to be breast-fed, your partner doing the settling etc. Go to bed extremely early - I used to go at 8pm at your stage! Is hard to let go of time to yourself / with partner, but worth it to get some sleep! Get naps in the day when you can. Clock up as many hours sleep as possible, even if not all in reasonable stretches. If your mind is too active to sleep, at least lie down and give your body a break. Try to let go of goals during the day, e.g. cleaning, cooking etc. Stuff won't get done - it doesn't matter, you and the baby and getting rest are more important. Get any domestic help that you can afford or that friends / family can offer. Take care with safety - e.g. hot water, roads etc. Sounds really silly, but in that burry sleep-deprived state I wasn't on top of things when at home / out and about with the pram (e.g. nearly getting hit by cars, hoover falling down the stairs, hot water pans near the baby, falling asleep when baby was awake at home and rolling around), and was lucky not to have an accident. Is there is anyone who can watch the baby for a couple of hours in the day while you get some rest? (If not, could your partner can do this on his days off work?). Get lots of sunlight in the daytime (meant to help body when tired). I never felt like any exercise, but when I actually got some, e.g. pilates or light workout DVDs, walk in park it actually helped. Sorry if this sounds bossy, is just a dump of ideas. It WILL pass! And LOTS of other mums, including in ED, in same position.

I like the new pathways and crossing by the park.

B****** Daily Mail.

I had a positive experience with my (unplanned) C-section, though was high as a kite for a while afterwards, so the first memories are quite fuzzy! Don't personally feel like I missed out, in fact was simply relieved to escape the pain of "natural" labour! And to have the baby delivered quickly and safely of course. It was also fab for my husband, who got lots of time with the baby rightaway.

Re. choosing between Kings or Tommy's, it used to be possible to choose one hospital and then change your mind at a later date, you just had to have a later and second booking-in appointment at the one you switched to, but am not sure what the arrangements are now. There is lots about this on other threads, but I decided on Kings simply 'cos it was closer, and was glad in the end not to have to travel to Tommy's when in labour and coping with unexpected events!

Men!

There is a place called Emmaus in West Norwood http://www.emmaus.org.uk/south-lambeth 9 Knight's Hill, West Norwood, London, SE27 0HS "We welcome good quality donations of furniture, brick-a-brac, electrical goods, clothes, homewares or books. Please take your donation to our shop in West Norwood, or alternatively contact the shop at 020 8671 4276 or email [email protected] to arrange for a collection. Unfortunately we are currently unable to collect from or deliver to upstairs properties."

There are some lovely purple crocuses at the Court Lane entrance to Dulwich Park.

Oh dear. It must be really hard, it is a nightmare when out and about with a stroppy toddler, is essential (unless one has super-nanny style discipline skills which is a whole other debate) to have something to strap them into in order to get stuff done!

Lovely episode, not stressful for a change, the lady having her fifth was really funny with the gas and air, basically breathing just gas and air the whole time, it seemed to work for her though! It was just so, so quick after the waters broke, amazing. The babies were gorgeous, as ever. Felt really sorry for Joy, all those days in early labour with no progress and she had to have a C-section. It was good to see her looking lovely and being cheerful at the end - presumably back at home, a bit of lipgloss and a blow-dry can work wonders!

I feel yet another rant about men coming on (apologies). My OH wants to get one of those bike trailer things for taking our 2-yr-old (and any future little ones) to nursery, with him dropping them off by bike and me wheeling it back. I feel that they are clearly not designed to be the main buggy, so if bought would need to be in addition to any P&Ts buggy or other buggy/stroller. The bike things are also expensive, even second-hand on ebay (though that means it'd probably be possible to sell for those of you who have them in the garden!) Think this is a case of men wanting to do their thing (in this case cycle to work), and trying to convince us that the necessary (costly) gadget that will make it easy for them is in, fact, also a good plan for us, i.e. they are doing us a favour. Grrr.