Vanessa3

Hi Juno, I'm 32 weeks pregnant with baby No. 3, which will be a planned c-section at around 39 weeks. Baby 1 was an unplanned c-section, Baby 2 was an attempted v-bac which also ended in a c-section. I met with the consultant several weeks ago & was recommended the safest advice is a planned c-section for baby 3. Of course every pregnancy is different, and you need to consider the reasons you ended up in surgery both times. In my case, Baby 2 was a repeat of the same issue with Baby 1, so liklihood of the same thing happening with the 3rd pregnany is rather high. Consultant gave me the stats - 1 in 400 chance of uterus rupturing during V-bac, that risk rises significantly after 2 c-sections to 1 in 100. Childbirth is a very emotional experience, and I totally understand a womans desire to have another go at delivering a child naturally after two c-sections.... but for me, my choice will be the safest option. The ends justify the means, and if another c-section delivers baby & me safely through the birth process, I'm all for it.

Another tip is to put him back into his cot/bed, and close the door, but hold the handle so that he cannot come out of his room. He'll soon work it out. Issues like this are covered in a great book called 'Solving your Childs Sleep Problems' by Dr Ricard Ferber. If things don't work out, please PM & I can lend you my copy! Good luck!

I rubbed Vicks on my 2 year olds chest - worked much better than any cough mixture.

Does anyone know if Toddler's World is on today? I cannot get through to reception at Crystal Palace.

Hi Claire E, I was talking about Dulwich Park - just trying to find out why the children's playground was a crime scene this evening. I was there with the kids at lunch time & all was normal.

Just back from a run in Dulwich Park & police have taped off the swings area. Anyone know why? I cant find any threads relating to it.

Jack & the Beanstalk - how could anyone forget "fee fi fo fum! I smell the blood of an Englishman. Be he alive or be he dead, I'll grind his bones to make my bread" An absolute classic you could never forget.. Right? Wrong! I picked up a copy this week for my son only to find the words have changed. "fee fi fo fum! Watch out everyone, here I come" Have all versions changed, or just this particular book from Cheners? Was the Giant really that offensive that he needed toning down for little new age ears?

Thanks Polly D, I love this

littleEDfamily ... We're with you on this one ;-)

You can take the P&T's to the gate at T5 - I would also recommend the travel bag for it - we didn't have one on the way to Oz & it was very battered by the time we got to Sydney. Every terminal is different though, so I'd pack a sling for the newborn just in case you cant take the pram all the way on your return leg.

Hi EmmaCC, I am not a HR professional, but I believe this is correct. While you are on maternity leave, you continue to accrue all benefits you receive as part of your package (such as car allowance, travel allowance, health allowance etc) including childcare vouchers if you currently accrue them. You have the option of cancelling them, however legally you are entitled to still receive them as your employer cannot take away a benefit from you while you are on mat leave. As you will not be receiving a salary, there is no way for your employer to recover the cost from you, so your employer is effectively contributing on your behalf. When I discussed this with my HR department, we joked that this would just about cover the childcare cost for the KIT days I am planning to work during my mat leave!

Check out this web-site.. plenty of good ideas:- http://www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/search.php?county=kent Our little one is 14 months old, so day's out in Kent are great if you tie the car journey in with their sleeping patterns.

We had a similar system to Canadianlisa - Hubby & I picked a few weeks where work was quiet for him, and decided that was the time to get baby C out of the night time feed routine as he was eating solids really well & we knew he didn't need it. I needed help to settle the little man because he could smell the milk on me. It only took a few weeks & it also broke to co-sleeping habit we had from birth. Within two weeks, he was sleeping through, in his own cot & attacking his brekkie with huge amounts of enthusiasm. Perhaps you & your hubby could find a similar time frame that works for the both of you to do this together. Good luck with it.

I'm an incredibly light sleeper, and understand how frustrating it can be when you're lying in bed wide awake. I found that our little man was ready to drop that 3am feed by 7 months as he was happily on solids. The waking at 2-3am was a comfort thing - once he worked out he wasn't getting the boob he started sleeping through, and so did I. Is baby Gussy on solids yet?

Hi Rydalema, Have you thought about cycling to work? It's the only exercise I fit in on a daily basis & reduces travel time to & from work, so I get to spend a little extra time with the little fella.

December 11th - cazbee - Blue! December 15th GP - don't know what flavour ! December 20th - Vanessa3 (no 2) - Surprise January 15th Candj (no.3!) - Blue January 15th - Lou (no 2) - Surprise January 24th Penny - Don't know. Januraty 25th sylviamaria - don't know January 26th Vickster - Pink! January 26th CLH (no. 2!) - Pink February 5th - Kirsten - Blue February 18th KathG - Blue

Hi Snowboarder, I too am expecting No. 2 in December & will be attempting a VBAC. I am also with the Lanes & discussed birthing options with my midwife. I too am keen on an active birth & want to spend as much time in the pool as possible. She said that monitoring in the pool is possible as they have hand held monitoring devices that can be used under-water. She told me an active birth is absolutely possible with a VBAC, providing there are no complications.

Check out the thread for the Winter babies Club

-1 O'Clock Club at Peckham Rye -Kiddies storytime at Dulwich Library (check which day/time to suit your toddlers age) -Soft play at Peckham Pulse -Goose Green Playground has been revamped recently & the kids love it

It depends on the airport - some let you take the pram right to the gate, and others ask you to check it - for some it's a weight issue & others it depends on the size of the pram. I would definitely use your travel bag for the pram - we didn't use it on a trip to Oz & it came back a little worse for wear.

We did exactly the same as Pickle - dressed the little guy in a babygrow with a vest underneath, kept him wrapped in cellular blankets & kept heating on all through winter. You can also add mits & a beanie if it's really cold, but our little one hated them, so it wasn't worth the trauma! I'd keep the little one swaddled (arms in or out) rather than piling blankets on top.

If you're heading for a long walk, head to Dulwich Park. There is a road through it with a curb - walk with one foot on the raised curb & the other on the road as this can stimulate the cervix (a bit like walking up & down stairs, only not as tiring). Also, given that you are already overdue, and this is going to be the last thing on your mind.... but sex really can get things moving...

Spent days putting together the perfect playlist... baby was eventually born via a C-section & the lovely staff at Kings had late night love songs (either Heart or Magic) playing. While I'm being prepped in theatre I hear Shania Twain & exclaim that my child cannot not be born to this sh*t... lucky for us, Al Green - Love is a Beautiful Thing followed by Peter Cetera - Glory of Love. Gotta love late night love song dedications!

There is also swimming classes at Beckenham Spa - they have fantastic facilities & do swimming lessons for babies from a very early age.

There is Babble & Squeak on a Friday morning (10 - 11.45) at the Magnolia on Lordship Lane. I was planning on taking our 10 month old to it over the coming weeks to try it out. I believe kpjigsaw has all the details if you are interested, or check out the attached details I found from an earlier thread. [email protected] 0752 802 3692 [www.babbleandsqueak.com] [www.themagnolia.co.uk]