Summer babies club (due June, July, August 2011)

[Ruth_Baldock]

I can't believe I missed you all AGAIN! Urgh. My husband came home, and bathed my son and I fell asleep. He said I looked so knackered, he decided not to wake me up. (Good call). Can't believe I missed the Gowlett meet up because I was face down on my sofa! Oh well. My mat leave starts on 16th June, but from the 15th-23rd I am totally free in the day/evening...my husband is taking Cheeky S away to Lisbon, and as I'll be 36-37wks pg, I am home alone. Wah? So happy to make any meetups, and help any very new mummies with their newborns if they bring them along :) (can hold newborns without Cheeky S throwing a fit...)

That probably sounds dead stalkey and weird. Ah well...

[ladyruskin]

I enjoyed the evening at the Gowlett, it was good to meet a few other pregnant women as I haven't met any except through my NHS antenatal classes. I finish work on 17th June so would definitely be up for some daytime socialising - preferably involving a lot of sitting down!

[Mrs HF]

Hi Ruth & LadyRuskin,

I finish 16th June so totally up for park/sitting/tea/chatting from 20th June. Anyone fancy Cafe on Peckham Rye Tuesday 21st or Weds 22nd?

Hannah x

[ladyruskin]

Either Tuesday or Wednesday are good for me at the moment. We'll be having our new bed delivered at some point that week so I may have to miss out but will hopefully know next week which day will be delivery day.

[Mrs HF]

Cool - lets pin down a date and time closer to then and see who else is around.

Hx

[JBoylen]

Hi!

I am moving to Dulwich this weekend and I am currently 34 weeks with my first. I need to look into hospitals that are closer to the new home, any suggestions?

I would love to meet up with some other Moms!

Jessica

[Ruth_Baldock]

Jessica; most parents in SE22 choose to have their babbies either at Kings College, or Tommys (Guys and St Thomas', on Westminster Bdge). Theres always having your baby at home, too, have you given that any thought?

Welcome to the group :)

[JBoylen]

I have thought about a home birth but my husband is a nervous nilly about it and not having family around or friends close I think a birth center is the best option for the first time around. I will look into King's and Tommy;s. Thanks!

I look forward to going to a gathering once we are settled.

[Mrs HF]

Hi Jessica,

You might want to check out the Home from Home Birth Centre at St Thomas's it sounds like it might be right up your street giving you the best of both worlds? http://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/services/womensservices/maternity/labour/homefromhome.aspx

As Ruth said most in our area go to Tommy's or Kings, but we do get a choice of three therefore you could look into the new Birth Centre at Lewisham. It opened last May and looks amazing. I checked it out and the only negative I could see was that if for any reason you need any unforseen medical intervention, you're in Lewisham hospital - which I'm sure is fine but it put me off slightly so I opted for St. Thomas's home from home (if anything unforseen happens you're just next door to the ordinary birth centre).

Hannah x

[lenster]

Hi all. Can't wait to hear from Claudine!! Has anyone heard from Pegs too? All very exciting.

Just over a week til maternity leave starts and will then be free for lovely strolls in the park, etc. Look forward to meeting those I missed as I could not make the last get together.

[ksh]

Hi all

Glad everyone is doing so well and sorry I missed the last get-together too. Evenings and weekends are trickier for me but I'm very keen for the day-time park action later this month. Count me in. I may even bring my dog to join in the proceedings (outside the cafe of course!).

Sarah, Ruth etc, I feel your pain. I also have PGP and the physio at King's basically just gave me crutches (but am also being stubborn) and a belt and told me there is nothing more she can do. I have just over 7 weeks to go so I'm just going to have to suck it up and get on with it, I think. Taking regular paracetamol now, which I wanted to avoid, but its not for long I guess.

Anyway, looking forward to seeing some of you in the park.

Kimberley x

[Audrey]

Hi all,

Wondered if there were any new/existing maternity leave people kicking about next week to meet up? I have nothing planned for next week and may start going crazy given I'll be overdue post Saturday.....

Audrey

[ladyruskin]

I finish work this Friday so can do something...

[kapaxiana]

I also finish work this friday woohooo... nothing to do next week!

[lenster]

Me too! Roll on Friday!

xx

[Ruth_Baldock]

I finish next Thursday (weird day to finish) and am around WITHOUT my toddler (bliss; sleep! Telly!) until the 23rd when him and Mr B get back from Lisboa.

[viper]

I am now on maternity leave (as of last Friday - woo hoo) and due in 3 weeks, so would definitely be up for meeting with other ladies in the same boat! It does feel very weird not working and just waiting!!

Any ideas on date/venue Audrey??!

[Face]

Hello all

Thought it was time i stopped staring and let you all know that Alfie Cater was born on 29th May at 5:09am in Kings!!

I would have posted earlier but after 2 days at home sniffing and staring at Alfie i had to go back in with swollen feet and headaches and was made to wear those sexy stockings for another 2 days in hospital whilst they worked out i had post natal hypertension, bit of a shame as feel like have missed out on time with Chris and Alfie at home but never mind better to be safe than sorry.

Kings were amazing so anyone going there rest assured you will be looked after :) i was induced on Friday and had Alfie on the sunday and had a doctor and midwife for the entire time, advice to anyone who gets induced sleep as much as you can before they break your waters as it's very tiring i was made to walk up and down camberwell for 8 hours to get things moving (at times like that you wish they had good shops and not just peacocks!!) by time it came to pushing i was asleep!!

So as of Monday im on my own and i must admit it's quite daunting as Chris has been such a help the days seem to fly by and just going out takes me about 4 hours of planning!!

Audrey soz didn't get back to you about walk in park i have had to have midwives round every day to monitor my blood pressure and they don't tell you when they are coming so its difficult to leave the house and at night times im normally sititng there with a madonna like boob/bra contraption strapped to my chest expressing milk which im sure Darren might find a bit odd on a first get together so i need to get my milk sorted into a routine (how bizarre that you need to train your boobs) but you do or they bloody hurt!!

Not sure if you guys sorted out a meet anywhere but I'd love to get out on my own on Tuesday to get over this first hurdle so how about Tuesday in the Chandelier about 12:00ish on Lordship lane it's a cute place to go and have tea and cakes? or if you have sorted somewhere else ill attempt to get there so you can meet Mr Cater junior

Claudine xx

[lenster]

Claudine! Congrats honey!! Such fab news. Am up for Chandelier on Tues. Can't wait to meet the lil fella.

Len x

[Ruth_Baldock]

Congratulations Claudine; don't worry, your boobs will "toughen up" soon and sitting in front of the Tv with them out, expressing or whatever will feel like second nature in no time at all! Xx

[mirabelle]

Great news! congratulations Claudine! Still at work so won't be able to join you on Tuesday unfortunately, but maybe next time! Nadia x

[kapaxiana]

yay congratulations Claudine!!!!I am in for tuesday!

[Ruth_Baldock]

Will try for Tuesday as I'm 'working' from home (pfft, always ends up with me falling asleep for a few hours...) but may need to actually finish some work before I go off to have the baby. Ho hum.

[Audrey]

Great - would be good to see you all on Tuesday.

Claudine, no worries I was thinking you were probably getting to grips with life on the other side! Poor you tho' I hope thats the end of the trauma.

Would be great to meet Alfie as well, apparently hanging out with newborns helps convert bumps to babies, and I'm going through all the tricks at the moment...!

[viper]

Hi all - will be joining you this afternoon in Chandelier, though I won't be able to get there till about 12.15/12.30.

Look forward to meeting you all then!