ladyruskin

I am due to give birth to my first baby in July (11th being the NHS's prediction). We start our intensive training classes with the NCT on 11th June (a date we were allocated with having given them our due date). I am due to be starting NHS classes this week and was told that their June class beginning on the 2nd June would be too late for us as I may have given birth by then! I am now worried that the NCT classes will be too late and I won't make the mummy friends I had hoped for. From my scans there have been no indications of early delivery, but now I am panicking that I am going to be stranded as a first time mum with no buddies to help me out :( Yours, A truly neurotic pregnant woman

Damian H Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > If Sainsbury's > want to offer 'Extra Wide Parking Bays' that might > be a very good idea Sainsbury's do offer extra wide parking bays, in the area immediately to the right of the car park entrance. They are available for everyone to use, but are as far from the store as possible so obviously not as attractive.

There's an Otford Cicular walk on the Time Out walks site which is lovely (especially if the bluebells are out, but it may be a bit early for that). You can get the train to Otford from Denmark Hill station. It does have a steep up hill walk at the beginning, but the rest of it is level/down hill if I recall correctly. If I weren't 6 months pregnant, I'd be out for a walk myself - I may have to make do with once round the park!

henryb Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Was this along Grove Vale by any chance? > Unsurprising cyclist go on the pavement there - it > is particularly dangerous. It was actually on Champion Park opposite Denmark Hill station. Due to the large trees growing on the pavement it is often tricky for pedestrians to get through, nevermind cyclists! The offender abviously couldn't be bothered with waiting in the traffic like all the other road users.

Loz Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > When the first generation of electric cars came > out they discovered they were more dangerous to > pedestrians because they didn't make much noise > and so fake noises are being introduced. I > suggest that bicycles may have the same issue. > > Maybe those old plastic widgets/cards that you > clipped on to hit the spokes and make 'motorbike > noises' should be mandatory! Bikes can have bells attached to them. The lack of noise doesn't excuse the cyclist from being irresponsible by riding on pavements/jumping red lights/undertaking buses etc. I agree that pedestrians also need to be vigilant. I have been guilty of stepping out in front of a cyclist or two when crossing the road outside of a crossing, so accept that point. I shall endeavour to be a more alert pedestrian.

True. But there's little to be said about a pedestrian walking along a pavement. I suppose that two incidents on quick succession infuriated me more than usual, especially on a Monday morning!

I am furious. This morning on the way to the station I had not one but two close shaves with cyclists who broke the 'rules'. The first was a women cycling very fast along the pavement, who jeered at me when I remonstrated with her and carried on her merry way. The other was a man who jumped a red light at a pelican crossing and nearly took my toes off! What's a girl to do? They both obviously have no consideration for pedestrians and I have no way of lodging a complaint with the authorities, so they get off scott free. I realised that registraion of bikes/cyclists in the same manner as cars and motorists would be an administrative overhead, but surely there must be something that can be done? Are there any statistica available highlighting the number of pedestrians injured by gung-ho cyclists?

I didn't know anything about a feeder march from Kennington. Where did you find out about this? Thanks! I'm pregnant and planning to go with bump - no children to entertain as yet!

Don't put it down the drains

I'm having more scans from King's at 32 and 38 weeks to monitor growth, despite there being no problems whatsoever. Personally, I think they just like playing with their toys, plus it all helps with their research.

bluesuperted Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Another ergo fan (ergo maniac some may say...) and > worth looking around/trialling if not sure. I'm > currently renting a manduca (fab, similar to ergo > but has some nifty features such as ability to > cross straps for even more support something I'm > considering as I'd like to babywear to one year > plus) and also has a clever in built infant insert > which might interest you. Renting via Slumber Roo > who I recommend, fantastic customer service and > advice from Debi and much cheaper to check out by > hiring than buying the wrong one. > > I use my ergo all day everyday! Use the pram once > a week... And my LO is 6 months and 21 lb and I'm > 5'3. My husband loves it too and it's the piece of > baby equipment I'd save in a flood!! Where do you rent slings/baby carriers from? I am keen to 'wear' my baby when it arrives this summer but don't want to buy anything in advance as not sure what would suit us both. The idea of renting/trying a few designs out is really appealing...

Thanks for all your thoughts. As I suspected, it's not a decision that we can take now, and will be made when we know a bit more about our baby and what will suit it best. I think it might be worth our while seeing a few nurseries and getting on the waiting lists just to be on the safe side. It seems from your experiences that it's easier to find a childminder at shorter notice (months not years!), so not something we need to worry about right now.

I am expecting a baby in July. I am also terribly organised and, having read about 1 year + waiting lists for local nurseries, I am starting to think about childcare on my return to work (my other half does think I'm a little premature on this point, but I feel it pays to plan ahead). What is better for a baby of just under one in terms of childcare? A childminder with relatively few charges, in a home environment, or a nursery with sufficient staff to cover illness or other absences? Also, how easy is it to find a childminder? Would I have to start looking now? Your advice is, as always, very welcome.

The JAGS pregnancy classes are pay as you go, which is good. I have been to a few yoga classes which are relatively sedate. The distracting thing are the noises coming from the nearby squash court which make relaxing basis!

My parents used to lock our front door mortice lock and hang the key on a hook at the hinge side of the door (which was flush with the door). This was helped by the fact that the letterbox was on a window at the opposite side of the door (1970s houses for you). we were all rigourously trained to be able to find the key in the evnt of fire etc. Have you thought of getting a chain fitted? I was burgled 18 months ago (by spiderman who jumped a 60ft drop to get in to my 5th floor flat!) and Victim Support came and fitted a chain for me and offered to fit a cage around the letter box too.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I shall have a browse and see which one suits me best.

So, I have the pregnancy & birth books which are currently gathering dust, but will get read before the baby arrives in the summer, but which book(s) should I buy for when the baby actually arrives?

ksh - I have been going to the pregnancy yoga at JAGS for the past couple of weeks, which is ?8.50 for an hour. It's a very relaxing session (although the squash court next door detracts from the calm occasionally!) but is more strenuos if fewer heavily pregnant women are in the class - this week there were only 3 of us and we were all under 25 weeks so we got to do an adapted version of the sun salutation, which heavily pregnant women can't do apparently.

My nephew enjoyed Eoin Colfer/Artimis Fowle (sp?) books and the Eragon series (not sure who that's by though...) at that age.

I had my 16 week MW appointment last week and she suggested that the norm was to have appointments every 6 weeks - due to my (non-pregnancy related) medical history I am having them every 4 weeks just to monitor things. However, the MW did want to see me every 2 weeks which I thought excessive! I did get to hear the baby's heart beat last week though and anticipate this will be the case at future appointments.

I hadn't really given much thought to slings/carriers but I think that they may be easier for us in the early days as they take up much less room that a pushchair!

Thanks bluesuperted.

Can you use a sling for the first 6 months? Obv depending on baby's weight...

sillywoman - can I book you to come round to mine sometime in early August?! Edited for typo

The lord of the manor & I are expecting our first baby in July and are currently venturing into the mind-boggling world of pushchairs. My mother in law (a teacher) is rather insistent that we get a parent-facing pushchair, as otherwise our child will be slow to develop language skills and is unlikely to be able to string a sentence together before the age of 30. Whilst naturally we have the best interests of our offspring in mind, we also have certain limitations to consider (living in a 5th floor 2 bed flat with the world's smallest lift being the main one) and we need to be practical when making our decision. What is the general consensus on the research available re parent-facing pushchairs? I feel that we will interact with the baby in other ways and that if we get a traditional pushchair (the Maclaren XLR being a current fav) it won't be too detrimental to the baby's development. Also, is this a sign of things to come in respect of interference from the MIL?