snowboarder

Anyone know what they actually check? Never made the 8m check either!! If they have it at townley rd centre I really won't bother - rubbish and over nap time. Lucky newbie sb is a chubby one like his brother and I'm not bothered about getting him weighed!

And just to add - whilst I'm gutted we didn't get our hbac - I know we tried everything and baby really did need help to come out...

Ruth - as you know we went for HBAC. We did have IM (yes lucky and we are still paying for them!!) who supported us, so were privileged in that respect, but I did also face opposition from Kings consultants (one ms penna!) but in the end I decided that I had no other risk factors other than a scar on my uterus. And if I was going to succeed at a natural birth I would have more chance at home being able to move around with intermittent baby hr monitoring BUT constant personal monitoring by 2 experienced midwives who would be with me the whole time and watching everything. When I spoke to the Lanes (previous mw) they said that they WOULD support me in an hbac but would make it clear in my notes that it was not advised. So you may be ok? Worth an ask if you feel you want to try. And, no, we didn't succeed, but it was not because I had a previous C section. And the transfer to Kings was calm, because we were sensible and knew when to call it a day. I'm not sure what to think when people say they are not allowed to do something. or a consultant wont let them undertake their preferred route. Ultimately the doctors are our advisors surely and having obtained their advice WE must chose what we believe to be the best option for us. No-one can 'make' you do anything. ps - I saw a fb comment from my IM that 2 days ago they were at a birth where a woman delivered her 3rd baby post c section in the pool at home - baby was 10lb 12oz!! Doubt that would have happened at hospital!

Yep F we come to you!!

Morning play meet in park somewhere? - little sb currently obsessed with football...

Ugh baby plus toddler = awake since 4.45am. New baby is the loudest snortiest sleeper too - I think he's drowning most of the night. I am the lightest, worst sleeper ever anyway so basically spend most of the night listening to him. Oh well..

Hmph same here - have come to conclusion there is nothing to be done. Thank god he's imprisoned in his cot. He sang his version of 'happy birthday' (ah bir-day oo oo) at volume for an hour 5.30 and 6.30. Sigh.

Oh I also know that a group of the midwives who used to work at caroline flints birth centre have set up together - think called Phoenix independent mw...

I recently used this group: http://www.independentmidwives-southeast.co.uk/ They are not homeopaths - they might use some homeopathic remedies within a range of other pain relief/aids etc but sure they would totally respect your wishes if you said you were not interested! Feel free to pm me if you want more info. I found them amazing support for both ante and post natal care. ps Caroline Flint's Birth Centre went into receivership in December.... Edit to say and they were truly fab for the actual birth too! Only people I met who weren't remotely phased by a number of supposed 'risk' factors but treated me as an individual....and support came without pushing any particular agenda...

Bumps and Babes group at St faiths is nice - but a mums coffee thing rather than singing. People recommend Baby Sensory for little ones? We didn't go though. Library sessions would be good as free. There's not much really until they are more like 5/6 months, and it's worth bearing in mind that if you want to do any of the 'sign up' classes they generally follow the school terms - so maybe look towards starting some things after the summer? We liked sing and sign and gym babes - but it can all get a bit pricey! Swimming also good and you could do that just with friends. Basically I would enjoy the fact you can meet friends and have coffee etc whilst you can. I have now discovered I can't even go into shops with my 2 yr old as yesterday he pulled anything within reach off shelves/hangers. Nightmare.

Cant do wooden circle but friday is good for us. Happy to chase toddlers - need to get fit again!! Anyone else? Dulwich park? Morning or afternoon? When was baby due?

BellendenBear Wrote: So glad (and jealous) that you got > your home birth. Me too...! Anyways - would any of the toddler encumbered amongst us (or anyone else who doesn't mind keeping their beady eye out for small rioting people) fancy a take away coffee park meet one afternoon after nap? My coping strategy for life with two is to get out as much as possible but I am struggling on my own at the parks with toddler and baby (imagine runaway small boy with ball/need to chase/baby in pram scenario) and feel that strength in numbers may help....

I know. The breast vs formula issue never normally comes across as 'fun'....

On bbc 3 'Fun yet compelling' apparently....Hmm we shall see!

Congratuations mrs f!! Not sure me and the boys will make it tomorrow but maybe...toddler is increasingly unimpressed with coffee shops!

Our dilemma over where our next house will be continues. Having skimmed all the school threads I'm unsure whether we can actually stay here and have any certainty over our children's education....or am I being naive and this would be the same everywhere? My husband has a stipulation that we have to be within a reasonable taxi ride of central London (for work reasons) so that limits things somewhat. Like ratty I wonder whether Beckenham direction might do - or would we just be depressed?!? I keep thinking maybe West Wickham as it has a little high street, the primary schools actually have playing fields and there is a swimming pool and coffee shops etc, but then I look at estate agents websites and all the houses for sale are granny houses...and that just seems to suggest the demographic there is VERY different!

Re having 'different' beakers/cups/bottles etc - we have loads and I rotate them to keep my little boy interested - he's a sucker for a new funky bottle! Current favourite are the ones you get with flip up straws - in partic this one from ocado! He only ever has water in his cups - very sweetly he calls it his 'juice' anyway. This will not last long!

HI ladies going to struggle to get up to DP as have to be back for 4pm ish..will try but depends when toddler wakes up...otherwise see you soon...with babies hopefully!

We could poss do the afternoon too - will have (not so new) baby (5 weeks tomorrow!) and sadly again be encumbered with toddler....

Hmm. Acupuncture? I had some the Friday before full on labour started on the Sunday...but was already in early labour really so no idea whether it worked! Drive around the side streets of Dulwich over all the speed bumps...Walk up and down stairs sideways (but be careful!). How many days over are you? Sending you lots of baby-come-NOW vibes...

Sorry family roomers - the inevitable next chapter in the snowboarder house following the arrival of new baby last month. So with a nearly 2 yr old toddler who still naps from 1-3, how do you go about getting baby into any kind of feeding routine? I need routines, I need to know and plan stuff in advance, AND toddler is not alway cooperative about baby being fed, so it helps to be prepared!! Currently am completely winging it and basically cluster feeding poor old newbie first thing in the morning and over nap time to allow for toddler activities in the morning and after nap. It all goes wrong by toddler supper time as both are hungry and cross...cue screaming baby throughout toddler tea, bath and bed time, then long bedtime feed for baby. Ugh. I used to feed my first around every 3 hrs so basically 7/10/1/4/7 - but the 10am and 4pm slots are right bang in 'out with toddler' time. And I would certainly struggle to feed when out with toddler - eg at park - he would run away! I know I sound really uptight about it but I'm finding it super hard to organise 2 - especially from around 5pm which is just agony (not helped by major witching hour crying atm from baby - I know this will improve but GAH really). Umm - any words of wisdom - what did you do? I really don't find feeding on the move especially easy - both in terms of keeping control of toddler and just generally.

I didn't manage to shine my sink but this I NEED desperately!! Currently starving due to rubbish 'have new baby not managing to eat so stuff face with chocolate throughout day' diet. Is not good. I'm actually thinking weight watchers - for me it's not just healthy eating it's lose weight too. So - help - how does one eat properly with 2 to look after (my next thread when I get 5 mins is HELP how does anyone cope with 2. Watch this space.).

I am obv a bit weird - I found the older midwife who was talking about how she would always step in for any of her colleagues because she had no one waiting for her at home, and on how she felt about midwifery and her vocation really moving. Am however in slightly hormonal/emotional state post baby no 2 so could just be me....

Due to new baby I recently had an unexpected 4 days totally away from my 23 month old, then 5 days in hospital where I saw him during the day but he went home with his dad. Only ever left him for one night before this. He was so fine, especially for the first 4 days when he was with his grandparents (and staying at their house - never ever stayed away from home before!!), so wish had packed him off for the odd weekend sooner!! And he is very mummy centred as I don't work - so it seems they are fine and we are the ones that worry!! I decided not to call or speak to him as thought that might actually upset him and remind him I wasn't there. Little present is a really nice idea though - if you think she's old enough to 'get' it.

Baby feeding/toddler dependent we may get there around 10ish if anyone else is around early - feel free to pm me and we can exchange mobile numbers. I realise that with toddler and baby we may not be everyones favourite coffee companions - toddler prob won't let us stay too long anyway!! Sooo - I'll probably head for the courtyard if not raining, and am fairly noticeable - large phil and teds pram and in possession of sturdy blond toddler running amok...