monniemae

Did they saywhy? Did they make an alternative offer? I know that when it has beendown to administrative error parents have successfully had the offer reinstated. Check mumsnet. Last year or year before Lewisham made a massive balls up of loads of places at once school - St James Hatcham I think - which was set to have a knock on effect but the parents challenged it.

We also have Miele cat & dog and love it. Henry another good choice

hello, there's a facebook group that's v active, think the link is further back on fhis thread maybe p.7? typing onehanded on phone so I cant check right now (feeding baby)

Oh in our session Clare went on and on about tongue tie. In fact I'm embarrassed I didn't heed her advice and it's taken two weeks to discover my baby has it. She also talked us through mastitis etc. And I didnt feel the benefits were overblown (as they often are), and in fact she was q pragmatic about stuff and for eg said not to worry too much about drugs in labour and that she'd had everything going... Maybe they improved it based on earlier feedback. We all had to fill out feedback forms. The nhs antenatal classes at the same location, however, were shocking - totally partisan, factually incorrect, etc... wish I'd complained.

I did it in August with Claire Kedves teaching it. I found it really useful although it's a long old session discussing something that doesn't really make sense yet! I would definitely do it. There was great advice on where to find support etc. Without having done it I think I would have struggled a bit.

Fuschia do youhv contact details?

thanks - reassuring advice here. Fwiw I wasnt massively freaking out, I just mentioned to the hv that I was tired when she asked how I was, and it spiralled from there! If it's normal and I'n not making some glaring mistakes then I can def hang in there a while longer as baby gets her head around things. Thanks all.

thanks everyone, esp Jtpickers, will call Clare tomorrow and see how we get on, and maybe call Katie Fisher if it's looking like it will take ages.

thanks alieh! yep wasn't totally convinced... esp given her sleep advice as per other thread..

My health visitor came earlier this morning, insisted I was training my 13day old to need mummy too much, and made me leave her in a bouncy chair to cry for 30mins before admitting defeat and thrusting screaming baby into my arms then legging it. So - I'd also like some advice :( I currently have to get the baby up after any nighttime feeds (which take hours anyway), take her downstairs, shh/pat while boubcing vigorously on birth ball, tiptoe back upstairs, sleep with her on my chest (so I can't move or fall asleep confortably). Any deviation from this results in hysterical screaming. Swaddling is met with hysterical, beserk thrashing until it's off - no matter how tight. Dummies are spat across the room. Is this all normal and will improve gradually starting soon? If so, great! But equally am I creating a future nightmare as the hv says.... If so what can I do beyond leaving her to scream which seems utterly pointless and cruel for both of us..

Health visitor has confirmed 13day old baby has "a partial tongue tie" but as the baby is putting weight on wasn't bothered and suggested I alternate using bottles if feeding is hurting. I think I would prefer to get things checked out / snipped - feeding is q sore and the latch is shallow and it all takes ages etc etc... Does anyone know the best way to get referred? Should I go to a breastfeeding cafe? We live in New Cross Gate but the baby was born at Kings (our nearest hospital) so am assuming that's the best place for us to get referred to. Or has anyone had it done privately? A friend has recommended Kate Fisher who I think runs a private clinic with the Kings surgeon Mr Patel. Thanks for any advice

Thanks Fuschia, tried to pm you but your invox is full - I won't relay everything here but I guess I'm also wondering if it would get to a point where I could i sist on a section rather than risk traumatic failed induction / emergency c section. All academic as I'm more than likely to go into labour spontaneously *hopeful face*

Embarrassed to post this as I'm sure I'm an obsessive Kings information gatherer.. But just wondered if anyone had any experiences of refusing induction etc at Kings?

Fisher Paykel do very good, larger than normal trad top/bottom freezers plus a gorgeous one with french style doors - so rather than side by side, the freezer is at the bottom (drawers) and the frige is double width on top. water dispenser, ice dispensed in the freezer so it doesn't take up all the (narrow) freezer space as in a trad american style one. Rangemaster also do version of this called s x s (side by side) but we sent ours back as a) couldn't fit it down victorian hallway and b) it was plasticky and crap at the sides so if it's going to be freestanding I'd recommend the F&P one. Not sure about colours I'm afraid - I've seen cream (eg rangemaster) but we got stainless steel. ALso - I got loads of quotes then called local stores to get them to match them and went with Wellingtons in Erith who were brilliant, ordered in the fridge we wanted, sent it back when it wasn't right, ordered the new one, sorted fitting etc. But for more recs I'd get a month's trial subscription to Which ..

2 bed!!!! Pie in the sky chance for most women then. Lewisham has 2/3 the deliveries and theirs is 5 bed with a 10bed labour ward. *abandons hope*

Just found out I'm set for vbirth instead of c section. Trying to find out about the facilities at Kings, it says on their website that they are in the process of improving the facilities to be finished summer / early autumn 2013. Has this been completed? Does anyone know what the improvements do or will actually mean? I was thinking of transferring to Lewisham birth centre but if Kings will truly be offering a "home from home" environment it might be worth staying.. This is what it says on their website: "Work has now begun in King's Maternity services to create a new midwifery-led birthing unit, a new maternity assessment unit, plus a five-bedded recovery area on our Nightingale Birth Centre. The creation of a midwifery-led unit will create a ?home from home? environment for women in labour, and the expansion of the labour ward will also improve the experience for those who come to King?s. The preparatory works have already begun, with the project due to be completed by the end of the summer/early autumn 2013."

I spent ages weeping at that site when my employer reacting very badly to my pregnancy. I also asked for advice but my question (and reply) never appeared... Anyway I got really great advice from Maternity Action http://www.maternityaction.org.uk/adviceline.html - my situation was complicated as I'm on a fixed term contract, and I found ACAS gave me conflicting advice, but Maternity Action were supportive and helpful regarding what I felt was a constructive dismissal situation. Anyway it came to nothing - I can't say why, but I suspect the confidence and information I was armed with that I gently disclosed to employer meant they backed down and it became a much more enjoyable situation very quickly. Also I kept emphasising that I love my job, was committed to the company, etc etc... Good luck today!

I found them very good for most of the time I was registered with them apart from one insensitive GP phone call regarding test results (nurse was lovely). Apart from that though I honestly couldn't fault them - was able to get appointments, they referred me for reassurance investigations when a close relative was extremely ill, nurses were great etc. A friend had great support including on-site counselling for short term mental health issues. They degistered with me without warning when I *temporarily* moved a very short distance out of catchment so I'm still smarting about that! I subsequently registered with Nunhead Grove Surgery who I was delighted to find were even lovelier.

South London Gallery has a lovely light filled room and courtyard (plus delicious food if you wanted to pay) There used to be a space in Camberwell called The Perch or The Roost - old pub used for photoshoots and events etc, our friends married there with their own caterers and booze (served from real bar) but not sure if it's still operating. Think the Hackney one definitely is though. Don't say it's a wedding though! Doubles the price. The Old Nuns Head also hosts wedding and private parties. Or Beauberry House is nice and looks posh but I think has different hire options ... I tried the Rivoli a couple of years ago to do something similar for friends who'd married in Australia but the answer was a firm Get Lost... The Garden museum near Waterloo / Westminster is ace, not sure what the deal is with food and drink though.

Thanks for all this info everyone. Interesting that some people are being told 3 nights still - the KCH website has an info leaflet which says 1 night but the antenatal class midwives are saying a minimum 3 nights still... So a real mix of info from people working there! I shall hope for the best ie 1 night And thanks theratprincess for advice to avoid Mondays - I'm 39 weeks on a Friday and thought I should ask for the monday instead to avoid the weekend as others have said the care / discharge is slower - but perhaps I'll stick with a friday after all.

Thanks everyone! Yes I've heard the same about discharge taking ages - and was with a friend who was kept waiting ten hours despite hassling - might take a leaf out of another friend's book and discharge myself (after they've said they're going to discharge me) if nothing happens.* *I'll probably end up begging to stay in all week after all this but thank you.

Thank you! Sorry to hear you had a tough time but good you were still home quickly.

Anyone had an elective c section at Kings recently? Or Lewisham / St Thomas? It's looking likely though not definite I will need one, I was ok about this as despite hating hospitals I was told by one midwife you can get discharged after 24 hours if everything is ok but another midwife has contradicted this and said it's a minimum 3 night stay. I'm sure contradictions are par for the course but would love to hear any recent experiences. It's a first baby in case that makes a difference

Get her to look at cheaper places to live - I went to Manchester which had among the cheapest halls - ok some were ?125 a week (this was late 90s) but mine were ?25 a week. It showed! But my flatmates / friends were in the same boat. Also private rents in Manchester were among the cheapest nationally, it was very, very easy to get part time jobs, etc. Other options Newcastle, possibly Leeds / Sheffield / Liverpool I imagine? And it's great they have that attitude to uni debt - the real tragedy is all the talented kids who won't even consider it because the thought of debt overwhelms them too much.

Oh god that's what I thought - so I was also going swimming and doing breaststroke and thinking "hmm my hips / back hurt, so the yoga/swimming must be helping to realign them or something". In fact breaststroke a big nono - DM me your email address and I'll send you the SPD physio factsheet my physio friend sent me, it has helpful info and exercises while you're waiting for appt. I'm still waiting but the pain has eased while I've been following the advice. hth x