Smiler

Shocking. Would be good plan to follow up in writing, as written complaints are more likely to be followed-up and recorded, e.g. for when they report to the PCT on the service. One would also hope that the managers would follow up with the individual GP concerned.

Horrible bug. My 22 month old had it - was being sick, minging nappies etc. for 6 whole days - hideous. No fever though. Then I got it, though more mildly, and had to have more time off work, urgh. Was v.hard to get her to drink any dioralyte, mixed it with everything and she just wouldn't have it. Maybe there are other flavours (the blackcurrant isn't appetising). Pickle, hope you are all well and that the flight goes smoothly.

Fuschia, have you complained to SELDOC in writing? They should know what has happened.

How awful for you all, hope she continues to recover well. My friend's little boy (aged 3) got hurt when his shoes stuck to the slide in a soft-play place. Same can happen on the slides at the park etc., though not really feasible to run around in socks outdoors!

At Kings in the scanning bit (suite 8 Jubilee Wing, think is where the ante-natal scans are done), there is a sign up with a number to call if you have a baby in the breech position after a certain stage, think is 36 weeks or something, presumably so that women can discuss the options and arrange any late-on scans, though your midwife might already have done this. My daughter was breech, but it wasn't diagnosed until I was in labour, had C-section, though at least didn't have the stress of trying to get her to turn etc. Hope your little one turns round and stays there!

The Lanes number is 07966 435945. Good luck with it all!

Poor you. For ladies in a similar situation, and possibly some more tips, I recommend Baby and Bump website, First Trimester section! Think that fatigue makes it worse, so agree with alibo that rest - and sick leave if your work is good about that - is a good plan.

My almost-2-year-old had the jab a few weeks ago, no problems at all. The receptionists at the doctors may well not know about any swine flu cases, as people are advised to contact the national line rather than attend the GP.

Hiya Lou, there is quite a good list in the free SE22 mag that comes round, all kinds of things, some free some not.

I stuck my little finger in my daughter's mouth in desperation, it did work, but was told off by a nasty night-worker who said "you'll never breastfeed doing that"! Argh. She was wrong though.

Didn't see this but am intrigued. Re. waiting for babies to cry after C-section, hopefully the lady was too spaced-out to worry, when I had mine I was high as a kite on the drugs and wasn't even aware that the baby had been born despite being told by the doctors, then could hear this really far-away wailing, but it just didn't register that it was my baby at all. Which was actually a good thing, especially given that she then didn't stop crying for about 10 hours (good lungs)!

Make the cookies - they will love it, not "crazy" at all! helena handbasket Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I was planning on making valentine's cookies for > my son to take to pre-school but now I'm not sure. > Is that just too "crazy" for here?

Hi BTE, Welcome to Dulwich (nearly!) Definitely worth ringing round the midwive practices as they get booked up (think they have waiting lists though). Re. the debate on Kings vs Tommys, others have posted the old threads. I found it helpful to attend ante-natal classes with NCT (the classes run by Kings were, at the time, limited to half-day workshops, so there was no opportunity to meet people or think of questions week-to-week) and read up on the options and various medical interventions etc. This helped me and my partner to be confident and assertive when it came to the birth (at Kings). There is a number at Kings to ring about ante-natal classes: I'm hoping that they are now offering more, but somehow doubt it. With respect to GPs, I have found Dulwich Medical Centre (DMC) excellent. They have long opening hours now too. When deciding on a GP it's worth asking about how many doctors and other health professionals work at the practice (the more there are the easier it should be to get seen and the more services will be offerd), surgery times, waiting times for appointments, how to make appointments etc. (is worth knowing "the system" by which they manage demand). Re R&A's point, I can see both sides. I am not surprised people do this, since the only way to get dedicated midwifery is to have a home-birth (or say you want one). The Lanes now practice for hospital births too, though, which is great! Good luck with the move and it all.

Sweet, though I am with those who see it more as a romantic, couply occasion. Am hoping for some nice flowers, especially since Mr Smiler is going on a stag do this weekend - grrr! With All Fired Up you have to go quite far ahead to do the ceramics, they take 2 weeks to put in the kiln etc., worth phoning to check in advance (they might be doing an express thing for valentines). I have never found the staff very helpful in there - may be worth taking a childless friend to help you out with the painting / toddler control! Heart-shaped cake (or indeed any cake) sounds nice. Or just a little card with a nice message. Or, if he has a sweet tooth, some chocolates (Sainsbury's has a good selection of valentine chocs if you don't want to spend a fortune- ooh, must mention those to Mr Smiler too)! In fact Sainsbury's had all manner of tacky red valentine's stuff if you are going for kitsch appeal!

We have a Bee (we also have a flat with lots stairs and left it folded-up in the communal hall - is this an option for you?), and did really like it for the first year, but it was small (and narrow). Our daughter was really squished in it at about 14 months, so we stopped using it and switched to a pushchair. Don't think it'd be comfy for toddlers. The brake on the Bee also broke, just after the guarantee had run out.

I would be very impressed if a scamp on a trike reached 25mph! Potential future olympians?

A plug for the lovely library up near the park.

Sounds good, but check the airline's policy on flying during pregnancy - some are mean about it if later than 28 weeks. As well as health insurance, it'd be worth taking a European health card (has now replaced E111 forms), just in case.

They also do waterbirth talks at Kings if that is something you're interested in.

We have got a really useful bed (from John Lewis) that is a single with another single that is stored underneath, which can be put up to the same height to make a large double. So it is a single most of the time, and can be put up into a (very comfy) double when needed for guests. Co-slept in it for ages, she is now in a cot, and going to use it as a single with a bed guard when ready to come out of the cot.

snoopy28, that is really bad, complain in writing to the DMC practice manager and to the Lanes midwifery service (they should be made aware of the problem). You never know, making a fuss may mean that you are prioritised if space does become available on the Lanes list (e.g. if someone moves out of the area before the birth).

verds, this happened to my little one, she was fine at the gym creche until she hit 9/10 months, then separation anxiety kicked in and she cried a lot. It was stressful, even though as you say the ladies were lovely. In our case I stopped leaving her there, but only because I returned to work so no longer had time to go to the gym, and she had to go to nursery instead! Younger babies don't care as they haven't got to the development stage of having separation anxiety. Those who are used to nursery from a young age will probably continue to be OK (at nursery, though not necessarily in a creche) when they get to this stage: others will need to adjust, guess how quick / difficult this is depends on the child. If you give it a break and try again when older you might just find that the same thing happens: my little one is now two, and has been at nursery part-time since she was one and is OK there, but am sure she would still get upset if I left her at a creche as she isn't used to it. Perhaps if you persevere (indeed go more often for a bit!) she will get used to it. It'd be a shame not to go swimming anymore, as it is good for health to get a break!

Hi ladies, Just to say that it seems to be standard in Southwark that you are not seen by midwives until after the 12-14 week scan / blood tests at Kings. Think my appointments (a while ago) were from 16 weeks onwards, and not frequent until much later on. Know it seems hard, but the Lanes practice said to me that there isn't much that the midwife can advise on or monitor in the first trimester, other than the normal advice about not smoking, taking folic acid etc. It isn't even necessary to visit to "confirm the pregnancy" as home tests are so reliable now. Also, if you have any medical issues, e.g. viruses, or want to check things, the GP surgery can usually help. For urgent problems, e.g. bleeding or pain, Kings (Jubilee wing, 3rd floor) has an early pregnancy walk-in service (doctor-led) every weekday morning (though it gets really busy and waiting times can be long, so best to arrive early - 8.30am). Re. changing, it might be difficult as all the practices get busy.

Hisar is good and lots of space. Mexican isn't very nice food.

It'd be good to find a babysitter, not from an agency. Agree with emc that cooking for her is a v.good plan, my friend is being romanced in this way at the moment!