Winter babies club (due Dec 2012, Jan/Feb 2013)

[Family Room Moderator]

It feels like just yesterday I was setting this thread up for the last batch of Winter babies!

Congratulations to all who are expecting little bundles of joy in the winter. This is your thread, use it as you see fit.

I try not to moderate the baby club threads too closely, the only thing that's really frowned upon is if businesses start using them to sell their wares to unsuspecting pregnant ladies, so please do report any messages you don't think should be here!

Wishing you all very happy and healthy pregnancies.

FRM

[shoe.lane]

I'm expecting a winter baby! My second, due on 1 December. Anyone else out there?

[CharDale]

Yes, I'm expecting my first, due on on 23 December.

[Salsie]

Yes, I'm expecting my 1st, due 17th December!

[klove]

Congratulations to you all! I'm due on the 26th of December (praying it's going to be late, rather then a day early) and it's my first as well, so it's all a bit overwhelming.

Has anyone started thinking about where they would like to give birth yet? Am dithering over having a birthing pool... any thoughts?

[ranawumps]

Heard good things about the EDF winter babies club and was keen to sign up! I'm due to have my first on 4th December.

[Ramble66]

Yay! At last winter babies 2012/13!!

I'm due my first on the 24th December (according to my scan anyway, I think 29th December!)

I don't actually live in ED anymore. I live in Brockley. I still work in ED though.

Can I still join?

[CharDale]

Klove - I'd like to use a birthing pool but at hospital. I'm under the care of St Thomas's and they have a home from home centre which has birthing pools so hopefully one will be free when the time comes...

Also, I went on a work related tour of Lewisham Hospital's midwife led birthing centre recently and it looked really good. Five rooms that all look like posh hotel rooms including three with pools. But you have to be low risk to be admitted there.

Ramble66 - I'm sure you're still allowed to join!

[kanghsin]

Has anyone started thinking about where they would like to give birth yet? Am dithering over having a birthing pool... any thoughts?

http://www.keyforex.info/g.gif

[pinkglitter]

Hello all! I'm due 22 Dec with my first...eek! Live in N Dulwich but please can i join? :-)

[Ramble66]

Welcome pinkglitter. It's great that there are so many of us expecting our first. Though 2nd and 3rd time mum's will be great to for advice and experience.

Sorry klove - I missed your question. I'm in Brockley so I'm hoping to be able to use the lewisham birthing centre. As mentioned there is a strict criteria but as yet there is no reason why I shouldn't be able to have baby there.

I am definite I want a water birth. The benefits are massive and I can't see any negatives. If our flat was bigger I'd be tempted with a home birth.

When is everyones 20 week scan? Mine is the 6th August. I have my 17 week midwife appointment next week.

How are the bumps coming along?

[cnn]

Hello all,

We should have a tacker arriving 7 Dec and have decided to go with Kings for now; so far so good though it's a huge teaching hospital so expect a lot of poking and prodding by aspiring medicos. A few of our friends have had kids there with no complaints so no real reason to switch for now. For those thinking of having theirs at Kings they no longer do mat ward tours but have made a 'tour' DVD which you can borrow from your midwife; it's not the same as the real thing but they are apparently too busy to accommodate non patients wandering through the ward.

Stay in touch and hop to meet some/most all of you later on,

C

[Sonners]

I am excited that I can finally join this thread - had my 12 week scan earlier today! It's my first and due on 21 January so a bit behind most of you ladies.

Ramble, I am thinking of a water birth too if possible although I'm not brave enough to do it at home. I think at Kings as it's the hospital most local to me. Still, a very long way to go yet!

[Ramble66]

Sonners - congrats on the 12 week scan. Amazing isn't it. I was petrified before hand though. Then I was on cloud 9, couldn't believe there was actually someone in there.

[Sonners]

I know, it's like a little alien! I'm still finding it all a bit surreal to be honest. I think I need a bump to start to appear...

[Ramble66]

Even with a slight bump is seems surreal. I can't wait to feel movement.

I'm at the funny stage at the moment, I don't look pregnant, I just look like I've been eating too much!

[shoe.lane]

Hi all,

I had my first baby in 2010 at King's and have absolutely no complaints. I was lucky as it was a very straightforward birth, but I'd have no hesitation about recommending the place.

First time around, I didn't ask for a waterbirth as I worried it might add unnecessary complication (what if there wasn't a pool free? what if it meant I couldn't have an epidural? etc etc) but this time I think I'm definitely going to ask. Can't hurt, after all.

Bump is already massive - I think my stomach muscles just gave up the ghost after the last pregnancy - and scan is on 26 July

[n_m_jones]

Hi,

I'm expecting my first baby on New Years Day! Very excited by the whole thing.

I was thinking of a water birth at home (even though we have a tiny flat). I guess it just depends how things go. Is anyone else booked with the kings community midwives, based at DMC? My midwife from there seems excellent and planted the idea of a home birth for me. I always thought you couldn't do it for first babies but of course that's not true. She reckons that a third of births in ED are at home.

Anyone booked antenatal classes yet? And how are everyone's pregnancy symptoms?

I'm very happy to meet you all (in a virtual way at least!)

[Ramble66]

Hi n_m - Nice to 'meet' you. I love the idea of a home birth too. I don't think it matters that your space is small as long as there's room for the birthing pool.

Love the idea of a cuppa in bed with the baby straight after the birth.

We just can't decide about NCT. Seems so much to spend to basically just make friends but then friends are important. I've found that ladies who did it recommend it and those that didn't say you make friends anyway, so save the money.

I managed to have a pretty symptom free first trimester. Tiredness hit at 12 weeks and bump started to appear at 15 weeks. I am having lots of twinges/tugging but keep reminding myself it's just ligaments. Can't wait to feel movement.

How have you been?

[n_m_jones]

I know what you mean about the cost of NCT and like you say, it's really just to make friends. We booked on anyway in the end. Lucky you to be symptom free, though I've not been too bad - just tired and sickly. No real bump for me yet, I just look a bit flabby! Can't wait til it does start to show.

Nicola x

[Sonners]

Ramble we looking at a 6 week course similar to NCT but run by an independent midwife. Do you know how much NCT classes are? This course is ?235 so I'm not sure if it's any cheaper. It's more convenient for us than the NCT classes I've seen as it's held upstairs at the Mag. If you want further details then please feel free to PM me.

[Ramble66]

Thanks Sonners, I think the lady who runs that PM'd me about it. I live to Brocklwy now so the Mag isn't the ideal location. The NCT classes we are looking at are ?267 or ?247.

What to do, what to do?????

[Sonners]

I think that the main thing to do is to not overthink it! :o)

Whichever way you go will work out and obviously we have the lovely EDF to make new friends on anyway (hopefully!!)

[shoe.lane]

Ramble is there a Surestart children's centre near you? The one near me runs baby massage classes, and a friend from our (free) NHS antenatal class went to a parenting skills class in the one near her. They can be a great way to socialise with other parents, if a little less formalised than NCT groups.

[Ramble66]

Sonners - I do like to over think EVERYTHING! Must stop!

Shoe.lane - I have no idea. Will have a look. Thank you.

At the moment back to thinking we will do it. Once the money is spent we won't miss it. Good for DH to meet men too.