The Nappy Lady

Tanza, not sure whether they would have a proper stamp album, but that 'Puffin Crafts' shop in the parade of shops by Goose Green might (by the All Fired Up ceramics place) does loads of 'scrap booking' stuff, so you may get something there? Maybe phone first rather than going out of your way? Molly

Well on a practical level, if you can get her a massage - maybe from one of the people who will come to your home (I have a number for a lady who does home massage and reflexology and is very good). Your entire body aches after giving birth, and then with the breastfeeding and picking baby up and down from the cot etc. So, for me a massage was ultimate luxury in the first few weeks after the birth. On an emotional level...yes...diamonds for me too I'm afraid! I was given a beautiful solitaire diamond set in white gold to wear on a necklace after our first daughter, and then matching earings after our 2nd. My 5 year old already calls it 'her necklace' and keeps reminding me that it will be hers one day cheeky madam! I do love the fact that I had a long lasting, very personal item given to me for each of the births, that I can one day pass on to them though. Molly x

Watched Elf this evening with my 5 year old and she was totally captivated and in tears at the end saying "I believe in Santa, so he will be able to fly again".....ooohhh it is too cute.

Hi all, Lovely to see you all last night - can you believe I've only just got on line, it really has been a busy day. Thankfully felt fine this morning, and wasn't woken until 5.30am, then managed to sleep on until 8.30am, so fairly civilised (thank goodness). Pickle, think it is set to be very cold this week if the predictions are correct - I'd take up the offer of the oil filled rads if I were you - where do these things always happen at the worst possible time? Molly x

I'd say 8.30/9pm when at school, later in the holidays...depends a bit on the child as I think some need more sleep than others, but I think that is what time my friend's daughters work to. Hope this helps. Molly

Had my first 'proper' night out for about 2 years last night....Hubby put both kids to bed and I swanned off into town to meet up with some old work mates. It was fab, though I must admit I was home and in bed by 11.30pm....feels like a nice 'warm up' for Saturday night - I even managed to wear a pair of high heels! Molly

peckham_mum, I think all of this can be discussed in one thread, I am fully supportive, but I do think it was getting a bit out of hand with 4 different threads all very closely related. Molly

Go get a pedicure, manicure, massage etc. I say! Or get your hair done...I'll recognise you as the glam and relaxed looking one!

I am so over excited about the prospect of a night out! :)-D

Fuschia, I so agree with you. I really don't think being in hospital is 'safer' than being at home. In both my births I had a midwife with me, exclusively for the entire process, with a 2nd arriving towards the end to back her up. No distractions, no one else to worry about, and I was so reassured by that. It was the over-riding reason for choosing a home birth. I understand that it is extremely rare for a woman to be 'blue lighted' into hospital from a home birth situation, but if it does happen Kings is so close you can be there in very fast, may even get faster intervention than if in a labour ward with overworked midwives no paying you quite as much attention as they should be (not a dig at the midwives, just the reality of the pressure they are working under). Most of those who end up transferring into hospital do so after a calm and rationale discussion because labour is not progressing, and go in under their own steam. I remember in my first pregnancy a 'normal' labour was described to me as being a straight line, and that each intervention takes you further away from that line.....in theory you can get back to the line at any point, but as each intervention takes you further away it will get harder and harder to get back. I think this is really key, and it is why I have always been pretty anti induction, because I think it is often the beginning of a slippery slope. I think if a woman is genuinely scared of labour a will feel safer and more relaxed in hospital then of course she should give birth there, but oterwise far too many people think of it as a medical proceedure rather than a natural process. Of course it is going to hurt, but it is pain with a purpose, and a very worthwhile reward at the end of it. Sorry you didn't get your home births, but sounds like you got the next-best-thing. Molly

Well said mumof3......it never ceases to amaze me that even this day and age with so much media etc. issues can so easily be 'swept under the carpet'. Your argument is so clear and rationale. Molly mumof3girlies Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I just want to respond to some recent posts - > firstly WE ALL want to see an objective report > about this 'Albany stuff' The Albany are being > honest, open and have presented all their > statistics and figures for perusal and analysis, > however it is KINGS that have not done this - > where were they in the media yesterday? they were > asked but declined, I know this because I > participated in the radio and television input. > Kings have forbidden the Albany Midwives to share > the results of their 'report' on the grounds of > confidentiality, which is convenient, however the > report is anything but scientific, anybody with an > ounce of knowledge about research knows that you > need to use a cohort of a large number of women > for it to be scientifically significant, i.e. at > least 500-1000. I understand they used a selected > number of approximately 30 women having babies > with the Albany. A statistician who analysed the > report questioned the sources of the figures > presented and stated that it was impossible to > draw any reasonable conclusions from the figures > and facts presented. Until Kings present PUBLICLY > their 'evidence' about the Albany's practice, it > is impossible for there to be a truly fair > discussion and debate about the situation. In the > meantime all I can say is that I had all 3 of my > babies with the Albany, and they were excellent > every time, they were safe, professional, kind and > compassionate, at no point did I feel that they > took risks or were cavalier in their midwifery > practice, I feel that I am able to comment on this > as I used to be a midwife. Furthermore, although I > never worked at Kings, but sadly in every hospital > mistakes are made and babies are put at risk - I > am not excusing this but illustrating that > hospital is not always a completely safe place to > have a baby. Finally, sadly it is a tragic fact > that even in a developed country it is impossible > to have 0% mortality rate of babies, all that can > be done is strive to maintain the mortality rate > at an exceptionally low rate - 4.8 per 1000 like > the Albany compared to 11 per 1000 in the borough > of Southwark. I just wanted to finish with the > point that I have read nothing but positive > reports of women who have had their babies with > the Albany, however I have lost count of posts and > reports of women who experienced > horrific/shambolic/uncaring treatment in Kings. To > mirror what power_parent said the organisation > with the higher perinatal mortality rate should be > closed down, not the Albany.

Girls - re coats with hoods, check out this link to umbrellas you can use while pushing a buggy, scroll down to the 'shoulder holder' or the UFO umbrella....Snowboarder, I can so see you in the UFO umbrella.....tee hee..... http://www.neatorama.com/tag/umbrella/ More seriously, I saw this one in the paper a while ago and remember thinking it would work..... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-518723/The-hands-free-brolly-wont-turn-inside-bad-weather.html ....if you could deal with the strange looks.....I too hate the feeling of having a hood up blocking my vision, so this sould solve that problem. Belle - do be careful if you go to ask for a Brazilian, that you make it clear that it is the blow dry version for the hair on your head that you want, or it could prove very painful and/or embarrassing!! Molly

Peckham mum, think Sandy Rose means Kings cannot have many concerns about Albany Midwives work if offering other posts to them....think you may have misinterpreted? Molly peckham_mum Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Dear Sandy Rose, > > They can be bothered, thanks.

Yes Heidi, I can see the logic in that, tho I would probably have been equally distressed about being taken in and induced, so it may have been the lesser of 2 evils. Glad I didn't have to make the choice in the end! HeidiHi Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Molly, on my birth club they gave links saying it > could make the baby poo, or because it could make > the mothers sick, dehydrated, have stomach cramps > etc, it could distress the baby.

Thanks, some great suggestions here. I used to love The Magic Faraway Tree, think I may even have a copy in the attic, will go and look! I'd like to get something Christmas based to read to her on Christmas Eve so will have a hunt for something suitable and let you know if I find anything really cracking. Molly

12 hours uninterrupted sleep (would give up all other presents for even a sniff of a chance of this)! A Pashley Princess Regency Bike, but not going to happen, so a Dawes Dutchess will do! A big box of Marzipan Fruits Matt Santos from the West Wing, wrapped with a big red bow! Molly

I have a feeling that in France they count it differently, so whilst I do think they let you go to 3 weeks it sounds as if they let you go longer, because I think to them pregnancies last (for example) 41 weeks anyway. Could be wrong on this, but have a vague recollection of a discussion with a friend who lives in France. Heidi Hi - all I read up on Castor Oil suggested it can make Mum feel pretty awful, and bring labour on hard and fast to boot, but I didn't find anything about it affecting the baby at all. Molly

Thanks so much, hopefully sorted thanks to a number of offers, you guys (and this forum) are amazing. M

Maybe get some photos of other teenage bedrooms sent to you to show him?!!!

Vabgough, so sorry to hear your story. Check out Verona Hall, a local independant midwife, and also it may be worth looking at the Brierley, though they are primarily a home birth team they will accompany you to hospital if necessary. I wish you the positive birth experience evey woman deserves this time. Molly x

So good - my daughter was talking back to him (thought it was Skype I think!). Just done one for my hubby tee hee! Many thanks for sharing this. Molly

Argggh, I bought a pair of shoes for my daughter today on impulse and they are too big....can't easily treck back to Bluewater to swap them, and just wondering whether anyone might work, or be likely to be passing near an Accessorize and be in a position to take shoes and receipt and swap for me (if I phoned first to check they had the right size in store). I know this is a long shot, but figured it was worth a try.... Molly Edited for typos (should go to bed)....

Not read the entire thread, but I've heard people say they have a rule to only wash clothes that are in the laundry basket (sorry if this has already been suggested). Knowing most teenagers they will soon get the message when they start to find their favourite jeans etc. are not ready for the next 'big day or night' out they have planned. I already despair at the state of my daughter's room and she is only 5, so have little hope for the future! Molly

Apparently the fact that I feel > compelled to iron muslins makes me even worse than > my Mum was. Ahhh Pickle, thank god it isn't just me. I did cave in for a while when baby 2 was little and life was just too overwhelming, but they are all ironed and put away neatly now, with only the odd one in use. We are sad, sad women....I do know that.... Molly

> > Molly I know some people dont agree with the whole > castor oil business but surely it cant be any > worse than having an induction like you said... Yes - this is the conclusion I came to - if I'd been facing a hospital induction I'd have tried the castor oil first as a final bid to get things going. Having had 1 home birth already the thought of going into hospital was really terrifying! I know that sounds back to front, and I was trying hard to be pragmatic about it, but I really didn't want to be in hospital. Thank goodness things worked out perfectly in the end, and without the seal coming off the castor oil.....phew!