jollybaby

Azalea - it depends what the hospital treatment is. Most hospital treatments are funded/commissioned by local clinical commissioning groups. CCGs have replaced primary care trusts. Some specialist services are funded directly by NHS England.

Have a look at the kings fund website - it explains NHS funding in quite a straightforward way.

Really well done Belle. What a positive way to use your experience.

Burial for me. Terrified of fire.

We bought a babydan travel cot which is the same size as a standard cot. Has been really useful and lasted well. My youngest daughter is over 2 and still fits in it comfortably and if we are using it home for any reason (ie when guests stay in her room) we pop her proper cot mattress in.

If it is likely to be used regularly at the grandparents it might be worth investing in a semi decent mattress for it. You can but thin ones quite cheaply from kiddicare.

I wish I could reread the original Kevin the cat flap fitter thread- that has to be up there with the best.

Here is the number for the anticoagulation clinic at Kings 020 3299 3333. They should be able to point you in the right direction

I agree that registering as a temporary resident might be the best way forward.

It is not just the question of having the blood test - someone will need to follow up the result and decide on her dosage for the next week. She may even need further tests.

Zingo is a favourite at my daughter's childminder.

For some reason I photographed my sister's placenta for her.. .

Umm just put 3 year old daughter to bed and she was talking about having a 'sleepover' with me later. . . guess that's me in the spare room tonight then!

Penguins best of luck. It will all work out in the end. Everything just seems so difficult when you're sleep deprived.

Cross posts Snowboarder!

Could the person sleeping in the spare room share with your son? We've got a 13 week old and a just 3 year old and this is what we've been doing when the eldest has been waking at night. I've never been particularly keen on the idea of co sleeping but we've opted to take the path of least resistance in this situation. Her wakings are already becoming less frequent.

I has an emergency c section with my first daughter after a horrid three day induction. I can honestly say that the c section was the best part of the whole experience and so I was sure that I wanted an ELCS with my second.

For me the main reason was to have some degree of control as I found my first birth so terrifying. I'm not sure if I would have felt differently if my first section had been an elective or for breech rather than 'failure to progress'. I must admit I don't have much faith in my body's ability to give birth.

I'm now living in Kent and didn't meet much resistance to my decision. I was meant to attend a birth options clinic to discuss in detail but the earliest appointment they could give me for this was after my due date! The only time I wavered slightly was when the registrar mentioned the risks of surgery increasing if I go on to have a third section due scar tissue and adhesions.

I must admit another factor in my decision was that I know 2 people who have had scar ruptures - though in both cases mother and baby were fine after. Like kes I wouldn't have been happy to not be monitored etc and so it would have ended up being a medicalised birth anyway.

I'm now 3 months post my second section and happy with my decision. I arrived at the hospital at 7.30 and had my daughter by 11. They lowered the drapes so I could see her being delivered. As with my first section I recovered quickly. Was out having lunch on day 4.

Agree with others that it's a very difficult and personal decision. I suppose in part it depends on the circumstances of your first and how you interpret risk.

I had my daughter's tongue tie snipped by an independent midwife at home. Her name is Rene Schwencke and she is based in Bexley but covers the ED area. It cost ?120 which included an optional follow up visit. She was able to see us the day after I called and the relief was immediate.

https://www.facebook.com/rene.schwencke

Maybe a bit closer to the time .

Yes many childminders will offer a longer day . I'm not in ED but found several that were willing to have our daughter until 7 in case of late running trains. This was despite most stating that they finished before this on the council website. I'd try putting an advert on childcare.co.uk.

My discharge was a bit of a surprise to be honest. Because I had spent the first night in the labour ward high dependency section on IV antibiotics etc I thought I'd be staying an extra night. Midwife came round about 5pm and said 'Your blood test is fine - you're going home'. I'd barely left my bed til then. My top tip would be to get up and about as soon as possible.

Due my second section 2 weeks today. definitely got to stay in for 2 nights this time due to a drug I'm on . Hopefully won't be too much of an ordeal as hospital only has single rooms - yippee!

1-2 nights depending on what time in the day you have your section and how you're recovering. I was unwell post emergency section (due to an infection that had developed during my induction)and was still discharged after 2 nights. Good luck.

Must admit I've always found my maclaren quite tricky to fold. I hate the way you have to put your foot on the side bit. The easiest folding buggy by far is the baby jogger city mini - slightly bulkier but would still be easy to carry onto a bus with one hand. Can push with one hand too.

Hello Hellosailor. Firstly many congrats on your news. I'm due with number 2 in a few weeks too but unfortunately no longer in ED.

I've only got a sister so no personal experience but my boyfriend has 2 sisters and they get on really well. Of my female friends with brothers, I can't think of any who has a particularly difficult relationship. I think you just have remind yourself that they are different people being brought up in entirely different circumstances to you. The chances are that they will have at least an 'amicable' relationship.

What about moving to be near NCT group Browncoffee? Schools pretty good out here!

Sillwoman - just had a peek at the website you quoted and the rate of emergency sections at St Thomas was 19.6% vs 18% at Kings. I'd be surprised if that was a statistically significant difference, and so not really sure that you can say that you are 'less likely to have an unplanned section at Kings'. Having said that I can't comment on the ethos of either place.

I was put off having my daughter at St Thomas' as I didn't fancy travelling down the Walworth Road mid contraction.

On a more superficial note - food options are much, much better at St Thomas'!

Lagos in Western Algarve has always served us well.

My suggestion would be to Keep a few numbers handy. When I was going in to be induced I had to ring around several firms as no cars were available.

Hi Pommie - I had postnatal depression with my last pregnancy (and with hindsight antenatal

Depression too). I felt at my worst at around 2-4 weeks when the sleep deprivation was really kicking in.

I know that some women are recognised to have late onset PND, but In a way it doesn't really matter whether you have PND or 'normal' depression. The treatment is very much the same. Please do see your GP and I hope you feel better soon.