slh2009

Hi, I don't have experience of the Birth Centre unfortunately but just to say that they are very strict on who they let give birth there. If you have any complication at all they will not allow it. I wanted to use the Birth Centre but was unable to so recently gave birth on the Labour Ward. Although the birth was quite traumatic, the care that I received at Lewisham was very good and better than others I've heard of at Kings by all accounts. I'd recommend it!

I think lots of people end up getting a Maclaren at some point regardless of what they start off with...so it is probably a good choice! My baby is only 9 weeks old so I'm still loving the pram :)

I've got an icandy peach and love it! It's a bit heavier than the cherry but feels solid and is a dream to push around. The only annoying thing is that you can't get much in the basket while in carrycot mode which is a shame as the basket is big. The main difference between a cherry and a peach is that the peach can be transformed into a double by buying a few extra add-on bits, so might be worth it if you think you might use it in that mode. The peach is only available in 3 colours, I got the brown one which is much nicer in reality than the pictures! I was deliberating between a bugaboo and peach for ages, in the end chose the peach to be a bit different but am seeing more and more of them around now! Hope that helps and good luck!

Hi, I know you can't yet buy online (although think it is imminent) but I have seen nursing tops in H & M Regent Street. Quite basic vests and jersey tops, not sure about smarter tops.

Hi, I have also bought the BT 150 altho not used it yet as baby due next week. It got the Which Magazine Best Buy which usually means it will be good.....

Hi there I've just finished an 8 week evening course in West Dulwich, can really recommend it. There were some couples from E Dulwich there as well as other areas (I'm in Forest Hill). I also went to classes primarily to meet other local mums to be and we were encouraged to make some dates to meet up over the next few weeks/months so hopefully we all will. I'm on my third week of maternity leave and it does take some adjusting but am getting used to it, altho baby has not arrived yet :-)

Hi Emma I was diagnosed with GD about 5 weeks ago, at 30 weeks pregnant, after having the Glucose Tolerance Test at 28 weeks. The test itself was fine, they take some blood then give you a sugary drink, ask you to sit for 2 hours and then test your blood again. My result came back slightly high so I now have to test my blood sugar at home, at first three times a day but now only every other day as I am managing it well enough with diet. I'm not sure there is much you can do to change the result of the test but they recommend a low GI diet, so cut down on carbs, eat granary bread, and you are not meant to eat cakes and sweets! It does not seem to be diet alone that affects blood sugar as I can eat the same thing 2 days running and get a different test result. Tiredness, stress and emotion can be factors. Exercise is good for lowering the blood sugar too. I'm at Lewisham not Kings but I have found the care very good, have had an appointment with a diabetes dietician and get monitored every two weeks by a diabetes specialist midwife, with additional scans to check the growth of the baby (they can get big). So all in all very reassuring. I was upset that I am not now eligible to use the birth centre/pool as I have to be monitored in labout, but I have now accepted this is the best thing for me and the baby. All being well the diabetes should revert after birth. Hope that helps... Sara

I'm a self-confessed shopoholic so have been a bit disappointed in the maternity ranges in stores, and have resorted to online shopping where there is a much wider choice generally. I know it is a bit of a pain re sizing but I have some lovely linen trousers and jeans from Next. They have lots more things online than I have seen in their shops. Had not thought of looking in Gap for jeans (not sure why as my "normal" ones are from there!)....so thanks for that tip. Happy shopping! :)