goldielab

To echo HannahKT and Bellenden Belle, thank you for a great evening! Also a first timer, it was lovely to meet such a friendly and easy to talk to group. Anyone who may find it daunting to turn up not knowing anyone, DON'T! I, unfortunately, won't be able to attend next week due to hubbie travelling but will aim to make the Tuesday after. I have also decided to get my own persona on the Forum (Goldielab is my husbands) so I will soon reappear under a new name. Hope to see you all soon and good luck to those having scans this week Steph x

I have the same problem with moths and have tried the ceder balls, the moth paper, mothballs (all from Farmers). The mothballs do smell terrible and although they say "air-well" before use for clothes, I found that they continued to smell even after washing. I still have moths but fewer (I think). I am going to try the carpet/rug cleaning route suggested in the thread candj pointed out (Thanks candj!).

Funny but I was discussing similar thing with my mum (who was a primary school teacher then Head for 45 years) and she has told me that children do not choose to push boundaries at school/nursery - and I suppose with childminders - they do it at home with parents! Hopefully Lochie toddler starts appreciating his Mummy soon. S

One of my good friends is a trained hpynobirth tutor/teacher (not sure of correct term?) and used me as one of her first clients whilst she was qualifying. My husband was VERY sceptical at first and was insistent that I should give birth at hospital with all the equipment etc nearby in case of emergency. After the first session (which is basically about why we should not be scared of giving birth, that it is natural and part of pregnancy etc and that most of our fear comes from what we are indoctrinated to believe/worry about) he was a convert! I agree with some of the comments above that it takes a lot of practice to get the relaxation technique right and that it is good to do more than read the book so that it is tailored to you. Cutting a long story short, I gave birth at home. Only pain relief was gas and air (and the warm water of the birthing pool) and I felt hypnobirthing worked really well for me. I didn't achieve a completely trance-like state as my friend had in her birth... mainly due to my husband talking constantly and asking the midwife if he could get her a cup of tea/slice of toast etc!! But the relaxation and visualisation techniques were fab and for a first labour it was pretty quick, around 8hours (which in itself means fewer hours of "intensity" [Hypnobirthing lingo rather than pain]). It is best to start about 5/6months in to give yourself time to learn and practice. S

Sillywoman et al You may have all the comments you need but as a mum who has an Amby hammock and used it for my first child, I thought I would add my thoughts. I bought mine on recommendation from a good friend who used hers for both her children and was very happy with it. My son slept well in it (although he's always been a good sleeper anyway). It has a lovely bouncing motion which is easy to do one handed lying down in bed (if the hammock is next to the bed!). Its cosy and he stayed in it till about 7months. He was big /tall so I transferred him to his cot from the hammock at around 7months (which, I remember, seemed horribly spacious and not cosy at the time!) I am due with baby number two in January and will be using it again, happily. Although I will be buying a new mattress for it as the mattress is thin and is dented where Oli's head was. Almost forgot! One of the key reasons I got the hammock was to avoid Oli getting a flat head - which it did. Although I don't know if this is the case for all babies who sleep in them. Well worth the money in my view. S

Thanks Miss Mack/Anna for the welcome and the list (now I see why everyone else was enthusiastically thanking you.. it is a very helpful to see all the ladies and their due dates in a list!) I have my scan the day before you (8th Sept) but although I will be finding out the sex of bambino number two, the hubbie REALLY doesn't want to know so I won't be sharing I'm afraid. I am around in half term as the nanny has holiday and we'll be sticking around ED. Should be around on the 27th Sept too so hopefully meet some of you then.... I'll be the one with the bump ;-) Btw - name's Steph S

Hi all Winter Mums Just joining this thread as have a boy (2 yrs old in October) and expecting my second baby on Jan 13th! One of my friends (NCT buddy from first baby!) who is expecting a couple of weeks before me mentioned this thread and thought it was a great idea. Don't feel the need for an NCT refresher as I think the details of giving birth are seared on my memory :)). However would love to meet more second time mums to hang out with whilst on maternity leave (from Christmas) so our toddlers can play together. I work Monday to Thursday so if there are any plans to meet on a Friday, at 1 o'clock club or something, or to go out again, I would love to join! Do any of you go to pregnancy pilates on a Thursday at PUSH? I might have already seen you there if you have as I go. S

Bugaboo donkey is VERY expensive though and as its new, not sure there will be any second-hand available. My nanny (share) uses a Maclaren double, side-by-side. She likes it as it folds small (for a double) and fits in her car boot and both sides can lie-flat. I have my second baby due in January and the age gap between my two will be 2yrs and 3months and I am going to use the Maclaren double for longer trips when a Baby Bjorn and single buggy won't do!