ClareC

I entirely agree! It is so hard trying to find this type of data yet it should be recorded as standard by an independent body. Guess it all comes down to cost. Drug companies do pool their information on testing / use / adverse effects etc on all drugs, not just in relation to pregnancy but all manner of side effects etc. This is published but not publicly and only within the syndicate drug company members. Unfortunately it comes down to money - Potential liability and profit - it is not in the drugs companies interests to make this information publicly available. They are extremely sensitive about who gets to see it and its uses. Course even if it was publicly available it woulrnt help with swine flu, that info wont be around for a while yet.

Does anyone know what the catchment area is for these surgery's that are connected to Oakwood / Lanes etc? FH road surgery and ED medical Centre? Really annoying though because I like my Dr surgery, just wish they too were linked in this way!

Oh no! What a nightmare!! We still have water and pressure so hopefully yours is just a short term thing..... I am in the weird state of wanting to go into labour (fed up and would like the baby to be born before my parents go on holiday later this month) but wondering if I did how hard it will be to get to hospital!! I have also given up on going out anywhere given the ice so am under house arrest!!

Not at all, I am now with St Thomas's. I am not naive enough to believe that all will be OK because I am there, I know that there are some that have had bad experiences there too (and every other hospital in the country). What I do know is that I feel relaxed there and confident with the care, I have been impressed with everyone I have seen from midwifes to receptionists, all have been really helpful and made me feel like a person rather than a number. They have been really professional and knowledgable. I just hope it's as good on the big day!!! For me, knowing I will go there feeling confident they care makes all the difference. :-) Happy to let you know how it goes....

Having been on the labour ward tour at Kings and seen it at what I hope was far from its best, I (at 34 weeks) was quite concerned and discussed my concerns with my midwife. My only real option was to go for a home birth, although by this point all the designated continuous care midwifes were fully booked up. I was advised I could still have a home birth and that there were two teams of midwifes at Kings who were designated for this, I just wouldn't get to meet the midwife fist etc. I actually decided to change hospitals, I didn't feel confident enough to try for a home birth first time round and had lost a great deal of faith in Kings by this point, not from a medical point of view but from a bedside manner point of view. ie that my fears and feelings did matter. I ended up booking into an alternate provider hospital at 36 weeks (nothing like last minute) - so far so good in terms of booking in / midwifes ive met / labour tour etc all been faultless. However at 39 weeks I have yet to go through the whole labour part. From my point of view at least I will now be going into it with confidence that they actually care about me as a person and will give me care appropriate to that rather than simply conveyor belt get the baby out free the bed mentality (I may be proven wrong). Ultimately the important part is that the baby is delivered safely and I am OK, however, I think the more relaxed and cared for I feel the easier it should be to safely deliver! I just wish (as a first timer) you were told about your options and what is available when you are first pregnant when there is the availabilty to book into the continuous care option, by the time you learn about these things (NCT classes for me), they are already fully booked . The annoying part is that I did ask questions and do research, the information was simply not forthcoming from my Dr surgery!

I do realise that, I don't believe it's allowed (in this country) even if there were willing volunteers (which I would be surprised if there were) They test on pregnant animals (rats) instead. The results of these tests can be found online. When I was first pregnant I suffered with hayfever quite badly as I couldnt take my usual antihistamines. My GP friend is also quaified in homeopathy and uses both standard drugs and homeopathy to treat her patients as appropriate (I wish sge practiced round here). She mixed me up a homeopathic cure for the hayfever, and told me if I really had to resort to antihistamines to take piriton given its longevity on the market rather than my usual zirtec which is a relativly "newer" drug. She confirmed that the longer a drug is on the market the more they know of its side effects etc. As you say, it is those pregnant women who have to take the drugs for one reason or another that effectively test them for future use. Hence all boxes of medicines seemingly saying not to use when pregnant unless directed by a physician. Pregnant women having the swine flu jab now are effectively the current testers, although given the seasonal flu jab's use on pregnant women in the States for some time it is not an entirely "blind" test! There are simply certain situations when the Gov feels the benefit outweighs the risk, the question is whether the individual agrees and therefore is willing to take the risk (albeit hopefully small). Coming from a legal background I am probably more cynical than most on this aspect of the debate!

I would second the stair gate on the doorway advice! My sisters youngest son broke his leg climbing out of his cot at about 20 months, they changed the cot to a bed asap and then had the problem of him getting up etc. Putting the stair gate on his bedroom door made all the difference. He shouts hello a couple of times and if he gets no reaction goes back to bed!

I also interepreted the 'difficult situation' as WIs slaughtering Aussies at cricket and him being surrounded by WI fans..... Seems to me you can interpret a lot of things to be racist if you search hard enough! I don't agree with racism at all but I also find purposely interpreting things to be racist when they are not intended as such to be bordering on a form of racism itself (and down right irritating!!).

Def yes :-) Clockhouse, Rye Hotel, Bishop, Plough and dog all dog friendly :-)

In addition, although the seasonal flu vaccination was used for pregnant women in America, it wasn't in this country until this year when the swine flu vaccination was being pushed. If you read the information provided by the NHS the question "is it safe to have the vaccination when pregnant" does not confirm it is....... they simply don't know, its not been tested on pregnant women. It is something that will continue to be unknown for sometime. Research suggests it is but there is nothing conclusive confirming this. I opted not to have the jab despite being pregnant and having asthma - from what I read the risk of me having the jab was with my baby whereas the risk of me not having it is with me. I understand that in early pregnancy it is slightly different as the high temperature the flu causes can be harmful to the baby. I sincerely hope there are no detrimental effects from having the jab, it really is one of those area's where you just need to research as much as you can and make an informed choiced based upon your personal circumstances. I took advice from my friend who is a Dr too...... she wouldn't have it in my position and hasn't had it herself, neither have any of the other GP's in her practice. That doesnt make them right, just highlights that even the experts dont agree! There is no right or wrong answer, you just need to do what is best for you and what you are most comfortable with.

Thanks Pickle, good to know these services are available. I strongly suspect my temporary cleaner situation may well end up as temporary as yours did!!!

Hiya, I am due in a week now and would like to get a temporary cleaner asap. Does anyone know of anyone trustworthy and thorough that wants a bit of extra work after Christmas? Alternatively are there any businesses out there that offer these services on a temporary basis? I can't be the only one finding it a bit too much despite not working (sounds so lazy!!!) There is a chance this may lead to a permanent position (if it were wanted) - My previous cleaner left about November and I didn't replace her as I couldn't justify the expense given I had stopped work by then, however, I will go back to work at some stage so if someone was really good I wouldn't be adverse to keeping them on :-) Thanks Clare Edited to say I would like someone asap on a weekly basis from now until the baby is at least a few weeks old - so probably around 6 weeks. I think 3 hours a week would be the right amount of time.

drives me round the bend too, it seems there are people that just want to pick arguments and belittle others (general observation not personal to this thread or its contributors.

I found it :-) http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,292489,page=1

I agree that if you feel you need a prenup you shouldnt be getting married in the first place! The two are poles apart. I also have been at the receiving end of losing 50% of everything through no "fault" of my own having shared everything and earned significantly more than my ex during the marriage.

I am with 306 Lordship Lane, been really pleased with them and always see the same Dr / Nurse each time I go.

I saw them too, there were loads! They started at midnight and were still flying over past 1am Couldnt work out if they were part of the official South Bank display or not..... think not, im sure they wouldnt have been allowed! I liked them :-)

Hiya, Can't really add much to what has already been said, other than to say that my partner and I based the decision around whether we would want to continue with the pregnancy should the baby be downs. Fortunately we both decided that we would so we went into the nuchal scan knowing that regardless of the results we would not have further tests given the risks involved. I appreciate it is not pleasant, and quite a shock being told you are high risk, however 1 in 85 is in reality still pretty low - 84 more times likely the baby is fine. Good luck, hope it all works out for you

Hiya, due in a couple of weeks and wanting to visit some friends in Australia at some point in the not too distant future - preferably pre baby being 2 years old. Is there a particular age that is "easiest" for a long haul flight? My entirely misinformed opinion was that pre crawl \ walk age would be easier, night flights and breaking the journey by stopping off mid way for a couple of days....... any advice would be good :-) Thanks

mmmm apple sauce, sounds nice :)

Sue, apologies...... :-$ As for catching the goose, was intending on outsourcing that part! 6 for Christmas dinner and 10 for boxing day hence the goose Christmas day and Turkey boxing day. Good idea re the parsons noses, top tip ;-) Thanks for the tips and recipes :)-D

First year we are in ED for Christmas and both sides of the family are descending! We have ordered a goose for Christmas day and a Turkey for boxing day. Have never cooked as goose before..... any tips / good recipes? DO you still have cranberry sauce with goose?!?!?

Ought to catch her on camera phone doing (unseen by her of course) it and pass the footage to the police along with her address! People like that are just mindless scum!

Thank you Sillywoman for posting that response, its certainly reassuring to know that I wasn't misled when I asked the question direct. I appreciate that there may be a wait for a room, I assumed this to be the case since with an induction you will be low priority at the point of arrival, given you are not actuallly in labour just overdue. Far better their attention is with the one's that need them :-) Its the procedure / policy / treatment from the point of induction onwards that was where my concern lay. It will be interesting to see what King's response is, I specifically asked them the question too and was told the policy which really didn't suit me as a person - certainly sounds like whatever the actualolicy is, discretion is sometimes used.

We have decided on a name for our daughter who is due in a few weeks. We have shared both the gender and the name with anyone that has asked and have not had anything negative said. I think the worse question is how we chose..... erm we just liked the name!!! It is nice having a name and using it before she is born - both when talking about her and to her. My partners parents want a surprise, so don't know, its horrible not being able to use her name when we see them. They are staying with us over the Christmas period (along with my parents, sister and her family, who all know name and gender), its going to be soooooo hard not to slip up!!! It's bound to happen!