jollybaby

My sister bought an 'out and about' on the birth of her 2nd child 3 1/2 years ago and it is still going strong. It survived her two daughters (the eldest was big for her age- 97th centile!) and it is now being used for her childminding duties. She finds it really light, easy to manouevre and it fits through most doorways - so a definite recommendation from here.

Kalamiphile you can come and give me a hand and advise all you like- my mother has already told me that she doesn't really like newborns and laughed when I suggested that she'd be welcome to stay for a few days! Oh families . . Now back to the feeding question - I couldn't believe that a 'routine' one of my friends had printed off the internet apparently suitable for 2-3 week old babies suggested that the baby should be sleeping between 11pm and 7.30am without any night feeds. As you can imagine this one went in the bin!

Bought the most amazing trousers yesterday - lounging pants from Gap. Not from their maternity range but they have one of those big bands that you can fold over or under your bump. I'm wearing a large and they fit over my 35 week bump with ease (I wasn't particularly skinny pre pregnancy either). They're a really soft, silky cotton and look a lot smarter than my H&M tracky bums - I think I may go back to buy another pair as I think they're going to be great for hospital/post natal period too. Is it possible to be in love with an item of clothing?!

I take it that's you on page 92 . . . . I was in the Pontins brochure once - didn't get any vouchers for it though!

Shame you didn't get to try a brownie from 'Homemade' on Barry Road. I had one the other day and it was pretty damn good.

They stock them in Soup Dragon and Just William on Lordship Lane

I used to love hanging around Covent Garden at that age

This is where mine was made- I went there on the recommendation of a few others http://www.thediamondshop.co.uk/order/index.htm It's not as showy as some of the other places and you get a very personal service.

Blastaway - diamond white and castaway - tasted like lilt Two dogs Does anyone still drink dry martini and lemonade?

Am afraid I'm much less glamorous - maternity tracksuit bottoms from H&M! When my sister gave them to me I was in my first trimester - and I swore that I would never, ever wear them but took them to be polite. A couple of weeks ago I spied them in my drawer and thought they look comfy . . . . I've barely been out of them since. I may have to find something a bit more glam for a party tomorrow though.

Regarding anaesthesia, elective c sections are usually done using spinal anaesthesia (as Moos described) rather than a general unless there's a very good reason not.

But is it good to speak your mind? That's the whole point. What was it going to achieve in this instance apart from some form of bizarre gratification for the OP. As has been said public humiliation like this is unlikely to change this woman's behaviour (and as Ligaturiosity has admitted herself that this was not the aim of her tirade). Esme - you make it sound like shouting at this woman would achieve some form of redress for all the women in the world who are having difficulty conceiving

I cannot believe what I've just read. I'd tried to inject some fact into this 'debate' and now you say that you don't really care about the health implications/protection of her foetus you just felt you had the right to verbally abuse her as you found her behaviour offensive. As I said 1 in 4 pregnant women smoke at some point in their pregnancy. This is not an isolated, freak event. You must live a very sheltered life if you are so easily shocked.

Out of interest these are the most recent stats I could find on smoking in pregnancy 'In England in 2005, 32 per cent of mothers reported smoking in the 12 months before or during pregnancy. Seventeen per cent of mothers continued to smoke throughout pregnancy, whilst 49 per cent of smoking mothers gave up before or during pregnancy' from the NHS stats website So given that this is likely to be an underestimation and the 17% doesn't include those who give up during pregnancy - this suggests that over a quarter of all pregnant women will smoke at some point during pregnancy. So ligaturiosity you have your work cut out in your one woman mission to stop pregnant women smoking by public shaming - You could simply target every pregnant woman in the street and you'd have a 1 in 4 hit rate. I work in healthcare and treat people with smoking related diseases and as Bellendenbear said shock/disciplinarian tactics like you used rarely work.

Beagle - I know what you're going through- and it's often the most minor items that cause the most angst. I spent ages in mothercare trying to decide whether to buy a cream or pale yellow blanket! There's quite a good thread on baby changing bags - though may complicate things further for you! http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,464486,page=1 Now if you don't mind a bit of hijacking - does anyone have any thoughts on bouncers/rockers - is it really worth spending ?60 plus on one of the ones with multiple vibrate/rock settings and loads of cushioning or do the simple ones like this one work just as well. http://www.johnlewis.com/230436458/Product.aspx

Maybe we should look on it in a positive light - the fact that caused such a reaction suggests that it is something that is becoming less common. I used to work in a hopsital where there would always be about 10 pregnant women huddled round the back entrance having a fag (and always in tiny dressing gowns that barely covered their bumps or bums). Though of course maybe many woman are still continuing to smoke - but in their own homes where they won't have to face a barrage of abuse in the street.

Hey I'm a southerner and grew up saying thank you to the driver when getting off the bus . . . I still do if I pass the driver on my way out - shouting from the back of the 12 probably wouldn't go down so well though.

I don't think it's usual to get any form of mat pay beyond 9 months including SMP. I too work for the NHS - known for being one of the more generous employers and after 6 months I'll be receiving maternity allowance alone (not SMP as I've recently moved trusts) and any leave after 39 weeks will be unpaid. I don't know how it exactly works out but I've been assured that my take home pay including mat allowance will work out the same as if I was receiving SMP.

As I remember jrussel also had a thing about there being too many trees in East Dulwich too!!

You may have better luck if you post this in the family section. I don't know the time of the Thursday tour but the Monday one is definitely at 4pm (for anyone else who is wondering). If you can wait til tomorrow to find out the maternity helpline opens at 10am 020 3299 1380

I've just realised that in the three years or so since I joined I don't think I've ever donated . . . . am going to rectify that now - long live the forum!

LittleEDfamily /Ruth - I've had some similar comments - I was at a good friend's wedding the other day and her father (someone I've known for years) came up to me and said 'I hear congratulations are in order . . . now HOW did it happen? Don't tell me - you had a bug' . I think he was trying to be funny but it wasn't and you could tell that he would be mortified if his daughter had had a child out of wedlock. I'm glad my parents are a little more open minded.

We weren't particularly bothered about getting pictures at the 22 week scan so didn't buy any tokens. Even after telling the sonographer this we somehow still ended up with three! Not that I'm encoraging people not to pay . . .

Remember they will offer you a transvaginal scan at this visit too - to check the length of your cervix so you may feel better if you are umm - how to put it delicately - fresh down below!! Hope all goes well. Sorry cross posted

Oh maternity shopping . . . . . . where to start. I'm feeling ridiculously guilty after having a big blow out yesterday at Mamas and Papas on Regent Street. By the time I made it to gap I felt so bad I didn't buy any more but agree their jeans and trousers were lovely and fitted really well. I've bought a couple of things from Pretty Pregnant - one dress that I've a feeling will be a total waste of money but would really recommend the black jersey skirt from their Queen Mum collection. I've been wearing it almost every other day to work and almost dread the days when it's in the wash. Jeans wise - I'd avoid the top shop maternity ones - both my friend and I have them and agree you spend most of your time pulling them up. I wish I'd gone to gap at the start. I haven't ventured into New Look or H&M yet (though soon will be to get my vest situation sorted) but was very disappointed with the M&S maternity range. I think I may ahev heard zara do maternity too but I've always found their shops hard to navigate round for normal clothes so haven't given them a try. My far more shopping savvy pregnant friend also swears by ASOS on line.