Ann

ClareC you have made some relevant points, but I would point out that the Swine Flu jab is a vaccine and not really a drug. As you probably know a vaccine is a small dose given to make our immune system build up an antibody which would then protect from the actual disease. In that sense I can't see why there would be any other risk to the unborn baby than the usual viruses pregnant women can succumb to. In a crowded city like London we certainly share our viruses! I have never met anyone who has lost a baby due to flu. I certainly had a nasty 'flu like' illness shortly before my son was born and he's been blessed with good health all his life so far. I suppose the point I'm trying to make is that a vaccine can't really be more harmful than an actual disease and flu has never been linked to particular problems in pregnancy, as far as I'm aware.

I wonder if the attempts to 'clean up the blood' was from staff training directed at keeping the public safe from blood born viruses; the most risky being HIV and Hepatitis B? I've no idea, I don't work in a Supermarket but I do find some of the criticisms a little harsh. It was a Sunday afternoon, there may have been many Weekend workers, some of whom who might well still be at school. I'm not saying Sainsbury's were perfect in their management, I wasn't there, but were the shoppers put at risk? It would be interesting to get some feedback from someone who works within the organization.

Thanks for adding that sbain, hopefully that will reassure other pregnant women that the vaccine is safe as indeed flu vaccines have been in the past. I'm curious as to why so many women are afraid of the Swine Flu vaccine bearing in mind that flu although unpleasant has never been shown (I think) a detrimental effect on a fetus? I wonder if the on-going controversy about the MMR has a part to play in this inasmuch that vaccination programmes have previously been very successful, certainly in terms of uptake? Smallpox, for example has now been completely eradicated worldwide and wouldn't have without an effective vaccine. As Flu is a virus this can't be so as ( I believe ) a virus is harder to iradicate due to it's simplistic form; hence no cure for the common cold. I'm interested to hear what some of you think.

Who's gone? I don't understand this thread at all.:-S

Black

orifice

My experiences go back a while but childcare options haven't realy changed much in the last decade. I think the 'problem' is that your child is now nine months and it's great that you've had that time at home with her. Older babies will miss thier mother more initially. My daughter was a similar age when I went back to work. That initial separation is a huge step for all of us, I suspect your baby can cope better than you think; they tend to respond well to caring nannies/childminders. Don't undereastimate her capacity to form a comforting relationship with some-one other than yourself, a well loved baby will do that. Of course you'll be anxious at first but I found after a relatively short peroid my daughter was settled and I could go to work without worry. Good luck with your return to work and keep us posted, I'm sure there are many others in similar situations to yourself.

Great news Susudio, your post was poignant and honest. I was first pregnant in 1993 when none of those tests were available so we never had those dilemmas but I can fully appreciate it's not any easy decision for anyone. You did what was right for you so here's to pleasant and uneventful pregnancy! Best wishes, Ann

Who's going in this year? It's the last might as wel watch.

BBC 2

damp

However the statement does reiterate that there are nine midwifery-led group practices locally that still exist and that King's has a 9% homebirth rate; which they are rightly proud of. Why do people think Albany have been selected for special treatment? Some of you will be aware that Independant Midwives may not practice indepenadantly at Kings and Caroline Flint is one of them. I'm surprised that HIE is considered an out-dated term as King's Neo-natologists use it all the time. Frederick Still ward ( Neo-natal Unit), is, I'm fairly sure, a world standard centre of excellence. Midwives have an over-riding responsibilty to make sure that no full term baby ends up there, even if it goes against the parents Birth Plan.

Pickle, she's jealous.

Going back to the OP'd thread, it is worth considering pets; we brought our Guinea Pigs in last year when it was really cold. As maybe says, just make sure their catered for. Our family pets have been a much loved addition to our family.

Have any of you complained to the appropriate authorities? If not then why not? A service can only improve if an identified lack of service can be identified and dealt with.

Great TV. No-one would have thought Chris would win but he entertained, yes he entertained.

Without doubt a good Vietnamese restaurant would do well, but no doubt it's a huge financial outlay to start a new restaurant. I remember Chopsticks when it was just a take-away and had been disappointed withn the food more than once so never went back when it became a proper Restaurant. Let's be honest though, we don't really need another Curry House!

That's the number for Chris by the way.

09015222305. Have voted twice!

The following statement can be viewed on Kings web site. Albany Midwifery Practice King's College Hospital puts patient safety before all other considerations. For this reason we have terminated our contract with the Albany Midwives practice. We have become concerned about the safety record of the practice in comparison with the Trust's overall maternity safety record. Our records show that whilst Albany delivered babies for 4% of all King's births, those births accounted for 42% of our full term babies born with Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy, a condition whereby brain damage may be caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain, at or around the tome of delivery. The Trust formed the view based on this evidence that babies delivered by an Albany midwife were at higher risk serious Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy ( HIE). Albany are responsible for some 200 births out of an annual total of around 5,500 babies born at King's. Albany are working with us to ensure that the women booked with them are being looked after. We also hope that individual Albany midwives will join the Trust as employees. The Trust runs nine other midwife-led community practices, who offer choice to the women of SE London. At 9%, King's has one of the best records of home births in the country. I just thought some of you would like to know a bit more detail as to why Kings felt they should make the controversial decision to suspend the contract.

contreception

Psycho

Case

Brazil

Bolt