QueenMab

OK, Lakey, I have found out that my friend is at the Forest Hill Road surgery. I'll cut and paste the very helpful information she gave me earlier on in my pregnancy, as it's really helpful. I hope that you find something that suits you! "There are several options for Midwifery care ... [note, some have waiting lists, so get in there as soon as you possibly can] 1. Book at Kings College Hospital for shared care and hospital delivery. A midwife from Kings College hospital East team will see you at the surgery for appointments. This is usually Stella. Once in labour you attend Kings College hospital for your delivery by the midwives on labour ward. Postnatal care will be from the East team. 2. As above but aiming for a home birth with a midwife from the East team. Once in labour you call the East team. A midwife from this team will attend you at home. 3. Book at St Thomas hospital for shared care and a hospital delivery. You will see a St Thomas midwife at one of their community bases in Kennington, Vauxhall, Streatham or at St Thomas hospital. The hospital has a midwife led unit for uncomplicated pregnancies. The St Thomas midwives cannot attend home births in our area. Postnatal care is provided by Kings midwives at home as we are out of St Thomas area. Occasionally referrals from this area are refused if they are already fully booked with woman who live closer to St Thomas. 4. Oakwood midwives based at Forest Hill Road surgery. This is a ?caseload? service provided by six midwives. Appointments are at Forest Hill Road surgery except the booking and 36 week appointment which are at home. You will normally see one of 3 midwives from the team each visit, one of whom will assess you at home in early labour. The midwives will attend you at home or accompany you to hospital depending on your choice. The midwives provide your postnatal care at home. Priority is given to Forest Hill Road patients and those wanting a home birth. Tel 0208 299 5696 to go on the waiting list 5. The Lanes midwives based at Dulwich Medical centre. This is a ?caseload? service provided by 6 midwives. Appointments are usually with your named midwife who will see you at home and attend you during your birth. Births can be at home or in hospital depending on your choice. Priority is given to patients of Dulwich Medical Centre and longstanding patients have priority over recently registered patients. There is often a waiting list even for DMC patients. Tel 07966 435 945 to go on the waiting list. 6. Briarley Midwives. This is a ?caseload? service provided by midwives based at Dulwich hospital. The service provides antenatal care, care in labour and postnatal care for woman who would like a home birth. They also provide specialist care for woman with a history of mental illness for both home and hospital births. They do not provide routine care for woman wanting hospital births however if a home birth turns into a hospital birth because of problems during labour the midwives will accompany you to hospital and provide care there. Tel 0207 346 6163 to register for the team."

Hello to both of you! Lakey, my doctor is wonderful, but is in Herne Hill, which is where I used to live. My (also pregnant) friend goes to an amazing practice in East Dulwich which has some kind of crack team of midwives who are assigned to you when you sign up and who look after you throughout pregnancy and birth. I'll find out which it is, as I'm assured (even by my own midwife) that what they provide is considered the 'gold standard' in maternity care. Hypnobirthing sounds great. My friend is 4 weeks into a 5 week course and it sounds marvellous. I know I will never get my partner to agree to attend as he will write it off as hippy nonsense before we've even got through the door, but I am seriously considering it, although on top of the cost of my NCT classes it is going to be very expensive. ksh, I'm not surprised you've decided that an epidural is the most logical option if you've been watching One Born Every Minute! I can't stand the idea of watching it (for that very reason!). Also of course, TV producers are only interested in selecting the most extreme experiences to portray on TV, and what you get to see is probably in no way representative of what generally happens. A Summer Baby meeting would be a great idea.

In lots of those smaller supermarkets the refrigerators rarely seem cool enough to me. I rarely buy any chilled meats or fish there, whether raw or cooked. I think louisiana has the right idea: vote with your feet and shop elsewhere for your meat, East Dulwich is hardly a food desert.

A friend of mine is doing hypnobirthing. She seemed to feel that some of the information was useful, but there was also a lot of airy-fairy twaddle presented as fact, which led her to question the validity of all the other stuff they were being told. I guess a lot may depend on your teacher.

Incidentally, what is this bike event? It sounds great!

I'm not sure about immunisation, but I have done quite a bit of reading about cycling in pregnancy. Not least as I see no reason to stop and my partner goes into a cold sweat at the thought of me being out on a bike. So we have had to examine the information out there together and try and make a decision based on evidence rather than panicked supposition. Essentially, so long as your sense of balance is good (apparently some women can find theirs affected during pregnancy), you're not carrying twins or have some other health reason not to do normal exercise, there's absolutely no reason why you shouldn't. Some sources seem to say don't cycle as you might fall off or be involved in an accident. But only you can assess what you feel the risk to be. After all, you could have an accident driving your car, or be hit by a bus crossing the road. I've been cycling in London for 5 years and the only time I've fallen off was because I was blind drunk! Have a look at this blog about cycling in pregnancy, I found it helpful and inspiring: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/green-living-blog/2010/may/21/pregnant-cyclists?showallcomments=true#end-of-comments

If you can't find your NHS notes, just ring your midwife unit and ask them for information about classes local to you. Apparently at Dulwich hospital, the classes, which are geared for those giving birth at King's, are held: Monday 10-12pm 6.30-8.30 Tuesday 10-12pm 3-5pm 6.30--8.30pm Weds 3-5 6-8.30pm Thurs 6.30-8.30pm

Hello Lenster! For the NHS classes, you should have got a form to fill in from the midwife when you had your first appointment, mine was in with all the medical notes. You can look up NCT classes via their website: http://www.nationalchildbirthtrust.com/in-your-area/course-finder (Scroll to the bottom of the page for the course finder).

I don't, but I know quite a few who are very hacked off with being asked if they're not desperate for a girl! They all feel they are very lucky to have their children at all and blessed to have them fit and healthy.

Gosh you didn't waste any time with your second, Ruth! And you are not patronising at all, it's very reassuring to hear. Thanks! So far I've identified some likely classes at Brockwell Lido, (where I'm a member, but open to non-members too). Some pilates and yoga classes at the Therapy Rooms in ED. And there are some pregnancy yoga classes at JAGS too which are open for non members to attend. According to my friend, the pregnancy yoga at JAGS is not at all strenuous but is very relaxing. Once I've had a crack at a few classes I'll report back! I got my antenatal classes sorted too, which is good. My partner is not convinced we need to go to 2 different types, but I said I shall go anyway and he can please himself which he'd like to come to.

Well I booked into the NHS classes today, and left a message for the NCT lady to get back to me. At least that means I'll get one set of classes. My partner was dubious about the benefits of attending 2 sets of classes, but he's completely antisocial, so doesn't really get the benefit of "meeting other people"! Don't worry LadyRuskin, what you said made perfect sense to me, not rambling at all. I too have been avoiding looking at the practicalities of actual birth for fear of...well I'm not sure quite what. And prior to my 12 week scan (which was barely 3 weeks ago) I felt anything like that would have been jumping the gun somewhat. I just don't feel I'm quite ready for that sort of information yet. As it is, I'm not really even looking pregnant (just looking a bit fat!) It was only yesterday that I actually looked at my NHS pregnancy book and dared read as far as the giving birth bit. That One Born Every Minute programme came on TV yesterday (the reality TV programme in a maternity unit) and I demanded the TV be switched off instantly! Luckily I have a friend who is a few weeks ahead of me, and she assures me you do naturally start to focus on certain things at certain points so don't need to worry about rushing things. Next: pregnancy yoga and pilates!

Hello! I'm due at the end of June/beginning July. Any solidarity with other women in same position will no doubt be helpful. I am currently floundering looking at antenatal classes, which apparently you have to practically book at conception to get onto. Also I'm a bit confused about the NHS vs NCT classes issue. Also, hypnobirthing! Water births! Frankly, I've only just got my head around being pregnant at all, and now I have to start thinking about giving birth. Has anyone else booked their classes yet?