tomo

Congratulations Anna!! Sounds like an ideal birth. Well done you! Can't wait to finish work now, I'm pooped! Baby is still breech, his head digs into my ribs when I try and sleep on my right hand side (I find it impossible to only sleep on my left hand side all night). So getting plenty of disturbed sleep - all good practice I suppose. Still trying the moxibustion sticks and spending as much time as possible on all fours! Not so easy when I'm still at work. Fingers crossed he'll turn soon. Interested to see who's next...All very exciting! Take care all Caroline xx

Congratulations Sara and Lindsay on your Christmas Babies! Wonderful news! Can't believe they were turning people away from the labour ward, where did you expect to go- a stable out the back?! Glad you both survived the craziness and hope you're both doing well with your little ones now. Love Caroline xxx

Congratulations Bee. Fab news and nice quick birth too! Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas! Hopefully catch up with the club in the new year- roll on maternity leave. Are there any meet ups scheduled in for the new year yet? Caroline x

Congrats to the other new arrivals! Pampering session sounds fab Hannah, but I won't be able to make it this evening. Me and Mr Tomo are finally going to the labour ward tour this evening. Meant to go a few weeks back but it never quite happened. Had my 32 week scan on Monday and baby's doing well, but is currently breech. Bah! Have got a acupuncture/moxibustion session scheduled for next week before baby gets too big to move round. Anyone got any tips that they've found particularly successful in turning babies? Still lots of time for him to turn on his own, but really want to try and avoid ECV and/or C section. Hope your BP stays down Bee- hope that baby arrives soon for you! Cx

Yay, I've been waiting for this news to arrive! Congratulations to the Mothercourage family! Well done you. Who's next? Cx

For anyone who is interested I was forwarded this fantastic blog about the birthplace study. It certainly puts the facts into perspective: Hackney doula article

Hello all! Glad to see so many other homebirthing birthing hopefuls! I'm with Brierley too K4ti, they've been great so far. As for the birthplace study- the gutter press as usual have vastly exaggerated the risks. I spent the morning reading the report on the BMJ website. The increased risk of complications affecting the baby, was 5.3 per 1,000 births in hospital compared with 9.3 per 1,000 home births. However the slight increase only applies to first time mums- of which I am one! There is no increase in risk for second time mums choosing homebirth. There are huge benefits to birthing at home and we're literally minutes from Kings should we be one of the 35% of first time mums that need to transfer. Hope you all enjoy the Hypnobirthing. I finished my hypnobirthing course run by Sophie Burch last week. I'd highly recommend it! I'd also be up for the first aid course too Sara. Hope you and your bumps are all keeping well. Hopefully see some of you next week. Caroline xx

I love a good legging! Have had several pairs of American apparel ones. They do a good range of colours (a great plain grey I'm also not a fan of the grey marl) they have a high rise, so no cold midriff. Boden- nice quality, but unusually generous on the waistband- so go down a size, not as high a rise as AA though. My latest faves are Fat Face- which I managed to pick up in John Lewis- really nice grey colour, good rise and stretch. For maternity- have got some over the bump ones from H&M- which are faring very well so far and dirt cheap.

Ditto above. I found the sleep seminar really useful. Hopefully I'll remember it all by the time baby arrives! But if not I have the comprehensive handout to refer to. Well worth it to get an overview of approaches. Thanks to Anna for hosting in your lovely home and to Emma and Nic for the tasty baked goods. Hopefully see you on Thurs, but planning on doing the maternity ward tour at Kings beforehand (in case we do have to transfer, I want to know what we're going into!) Caroline x

Hello, Sorry for short notice but I can't make tonight afterall. Hope you have a good chinwag. See some of you next week for the sleep seminar. Caroline x

Morning, Apple strudel sounds perfect on this rainy autumnal day. Might have to get me some. Well done on sorting out the sleep clinic Mothercourage and MissMack. I'm pretty flexible on dates, so any of the proposed dates that Mothercourage suggested works for me. The only dates I definitely can't do are 9th Nov and 28th Nov. Hopefully see some of you next week, Mr Tomo is away in SA all of next week so will be needing an excuse to get me out the house. Have we decided on which venue yet? Cxx

Hello All, Good to see some of you the other evening. I'd be interested in the sleep workshop too. I totally get your point Pickle about it being a good idea for when baby has actually arrived, but equally think I'd find it useful to have a strategy that I can at least attempt to put into place. Can't say I've even considered the various approaches yet! So would be useful to have an overview of them all. As for availability I can do evenings/weekends or Wednesday or Friday days. Will have a think about other possible locations. Caroline x

So sorry about not making it last night- was held up at work and then with one thing and another decided I just needed to get home for some food! Hadn't checked on here to update though, so apologies Hannah! Congratulations to those who've had scans- BB- a boy! How lovely! I think that means that we're both on team blue?!(or green or yellow or purple for that matter!) Mothercourage- congrats to you too, was that you at the pregnancy yoga this morning? I agree fortnightly sounds more manageable. Caroline x

Hello ladies, Sorry to add to the numbers of those that can't make tonight, but I'm knackered after an epic week as well as not sleeping very well. I'm definitely going to try and make next Tuesday again- I had a great time last week. We had our 22 week scan this week and thankfully all seems to be progressing as it should be with mini-tomo. We also found our suspicions were correct because we're expecting a Boy! Very excited to now be planning for the arrival of our little fella. Hope you all have a great evening and hopefully see some of you next week. Caroline x

Ah, congrats Anna! Another wee girl- lovely. Bums about the sciatica though. Hopefully the physio and pilates will help. Hello to all the other newbies! Just so you all come prepared, The Gowlett only takes cash - at least they have the past few times I was there. Last time was only the other week! Mooncake- thanks for the offer of organising the Hypnobirthing classes. I've signed myself and Mr Tomo up for hypnobirthing with Sophie Burch at http://www.calmbirthcalmbaby.com/ Doesn't start until 12th October though, so can't vouch for how good it is yet. I know I mentioned to a few of you when we last met that I'm planning on having a homebirth with the lovely Brierly MIdwives. Was just wondering if anyone else is hoping for a homebirth? Caroline x

Morning, Indeed, what a lovely evening! Thanks Bellenden Belle for organising. Was great to put some faces to names and compare notes on pregnancy experiences so far. Thursday 27th works for me, either venue sounds good and can vouch for how good the pizzas are at The Gowlett! Caroline

Hello again, We're quite a group now! Nice work on the helpful list missmack. Thanks everyone on all the advice re the NCT classes, I'm still undecided what to do! Mikandnik, I had a look at your other class suggestion, it looks great and it works out slightly cheaper than the NCT course, so may end up going for that. I really want to do Hypnobirthing too. My Sister in law did hypnobirthing with her first and had a brilliant labour and now has a very happy 8 month old. I know it's no guarantee but I think it's well worth a shot. So at the moment it's all a case of weighing up my options... Nabz- welcome! You'll get a discount on NCT courses if you're a student- have look on their website. Looking forward to meeting you all properly on the 25th!

Hello all and welcome to the other newbies. Congrats on all the healthy scans too- huge relief! Green and Blue on the 25th sounds great! Will definitely try and make it along. Is anyone signing up for NCT classes? I have my name down for one, but just seen how inordinately expensive it is! I've only heard good things about them from friends who've done them so hoping it'll be worth the expense. Any experiences? C

Just got back from Rye Lane- all seemed calm, most shops shut, and some police patrolling.

Hello, Another newbie here. Had my 12 week scan at the end of last week and thankfully all was progressing as it should. Big sigh of relief. So, I'm due my first baby 5th February! Very exciting. Good luck to everyone! C

Excellent! Thanks for all the info.

Great, thank you! So they process the blood test on the same day? It's a pretty anxious time as it is without having to wait longer for additional results.

Hello, I'm having my 12 week scan next week. I understand that as part of the NT combined screening I'll have a scan and bloods taken on the same day. My question is will I be given my risk assessment the same day as the scan or do I have to wait for the results of the blood test too? Thanks

We picked loads of blackberries in Belair Park too! Enough for crumble and some for the freezer. Cellophane lids: could try the cookshop on Lordship lane or AJ Farmer?

We've got a pair of Blackbirds regularly collecting for their nest and picking out quite a few worms too boot. Have also had a pair of Jays stopping through our garden. Beautiful!