mrs f

If you get the chance I'd jump at being with the lanes, you will have a dedicated midwife who will follow your pregnancy, birth & post natal care. I've met 4 of the 6 midwives on the lanes team (through meet the midwives session) & they are all lovely. Mainly though having a community midwife is a huge benefit through the continuity of care you receive. Also if you are interested in a home birth, the lanes are set up to deal with that (as well as hospital births) I feel so lucky to have a lanes midwife & am totally at ease about going into labour as I know my midwife knows exactly what type of birth I want & knows me so it will be brilliant having her 'on side' when the time comes. Good luck & definatly go for it if you get the chance

No prob, coffee is good for me... Anything to distract me from being due!!

Hi, sorry to have not made it on fri, I hope it was good, is there anyone else on mat leave who wants to meet on Monday for lunch, I think Yak and I are both about & would be lovely to see some other bumps & babies.... Annie, any news? A x

1. Classic black trou - straight leg, dress up or down type style Hmmmm... I always get my smart trousers from Paul Smith.... but that might be a bit too smart.... perhaps Hobbs or Cos? 2. Very cool jeans - (I am not thin enough for really skinny jeans, but I do like the look of them) go for a straight leg then, a super skinny jean only really works well if you are SUPER skinny or are wearing heels, for the jeans, it depends on your shape, go to liberties or selfridges and try them all on... nudie and severnfor all mankind are good, but it depends on your shape 3. A complete 'going out' outfit (I have a night out with school mums in a month or two and have no idea what one might wear - I don't want to wear heels though, as heels make me angry and walk like a man) Oh where to start!!!! Get either a great pair of flat 'dressy' sandals (invaluable anyway) or a pair of really pretty pumps.... in terms of the outfit, that depends on you, a simple dress that you can accssorise is always good, then you can dress it up or down, if you have that great pair of jeans then get a dressy top and that can do the trick of looking good withought trying too hard (which is never a good look!) 4. Tops??? What sort of tops??? Does Topshop, do as the name would imply, do really good tops or will they just fall apart? um, topshop are great but really it's only worth bothering with the oxford circus one and looking at all the boutique and other 'designer' ranges they have, the rest is mostly tat (nice tat but yes it won't last you forever) but they are brilliant for basics.... I agree that a good white shirt is a basic (if shirts are your thing?) otherwise, silk is always great for dressing up, basic but very pretty vests are great in the summer, these are the things that change the most in your wadrobe (if you think of your trousers, shoes and jackets etc as your investment peices then your tops can change more with the seasons, so go Safari if that is 'the look' this summer) 5. Shoes - I wear Bensimmon plimsouls for all of the time I am not wearing ugg boots or flipflops. Any ideas around cool flat day shoes and where to buy? have a look at Paul Smith 'men only' shoes, brogues, moccasins etc, they are very 'on trend' but also flat, sensible and comfortable! 6. Summer-ish jacket (I actually have one of these - navy blue, sits at the hip - it's a classic style and very 'me') Perfect, a 'men's style' jacket is also a brilliant one in a nice colour to instantly smarten up a pair of jeans and a vest... 7. Tailored shorts - like the idea of this, but what does one wear on top so as to avoid looking too American? 8. Dresses - a day dress and maybe a dressier dress Tailored shorts are definatly a great idea for the summer.... I would go to the high street for these as the shapes change so often, perhaps even gap, cos, Nicole Fahi 9. Cardigans (I feel like an old woman just writing that word, but sensible me says one needs at least a couple in the English climate) Cardians are a must really...... and get them anywhere, invest in some classics and then buy some more high street throw away ones. Try lots of shapes on, eg long 'boyfriend' short cute ones etc and see what works with you, also think about outfits, I have some short 'cute' ones which are great with dresses or dressing up etc and more boyfriend for casual looks 10. A nice necklace? well of course! try Kabiri or ECone..... For shoes try selfridges shoe lounge or poste mistress for great selections (also paul smith men only styles) actually, ASOS I think is a really good website for a mix of designer and highstreet as well as net a porter for designer designer (great for inspration too) and the outnet for designer bargains remember, get the basics right, a great pair of jeans, a jacket, shoes, handbag etc and the rest you can play around with.... enjoy!

Hello little ed family... So I work in fashion, not that I'm a fashionista or anything but I know a bit... (just about enough to get me through at work!) Selfridges would be a good place to shop but it can be really overwhelming there just trying to find anything, id say liberty is possibly better, they have a really good mix of interesting designers & it's fairly small so not overwhelming. Im not sure about these fashion ladies who tell you what suits you as I've never heard of anyone going to them, I'd imagine if you were totally clueless it would be brilliant but you may well be able to work out a 'new style' for yourself without having to pay.... I'd say that magazines (vogue, elle etc) are a good place to start, not to follow their recommendations to the letter but see what the 'trends' are and then decide what you think would suit you. Then go shopping armed with a few key items you would like to get, a great pair of jeans, a summer jacket etc.... Start with the basics and build on that..... Someone mentioned coz & I'd second them, also Hobbs have started doing much more interesting things recently (but this all depends on your taste & style) I'd offer to come shopping with you if I weren't 39 weeks pregnant myself! Good luck & enjoy it!

1 at G&B sounds good, see you then x

oh yes please bring your baby Alieh..... as long as we are allowed a cuddle ;-) where is good for everyone, shall we meet on Lordship lane? The bishop, green & blues?

Sorry only just seen this! Bit late now! I can do mon lunch if anyone is interested? X

I'm on maternity leave as of this week! Bliss! Am happy to meet during the day and am also free on 18th for an eve drink. Hope everyone is well

Congratulations to you both Snowboarder and Alieh, that is lovely news... I look forward to the next meet up with some babies in tow!

Sounds great, I doubt I'll make the first one as my little one is not due until 28th March but I'll keep an eye on the thread for future ones, picnics in the park through the summer will be lovely :-)

Hi ladies, so sorry to have not made it :-( sat at home with stinking cold & exausted after week at work... Hope to see you all next time if not at the NCT sale tomorrow. Ali x

Brilliant idea! I'll use this site I'm sure, new baby clothes are so expensive and used for such a short period of time... being able to get stuff locally is great.

Oh that sounds good, the MIL is down that weekend for some deccorating and baby shopping so i might start her off with the NCT sale!

Either eve suits me.... will be nice to see all the bumps again! Montpellier is good for me too

Sillywoman, I LOVE this idea, I'm so going to organise one when I've had mine.... anyone free in April? Cake at mine!

Hi jasmina, you can only become a Lanes patient if you are registered already at Dulwich medical centre... Not sure about Birely.

if it helps (i did my alevels a wee while ago) I did art, photography, film studies & psychology... I went on to study a very focused design degree (shoe design!) but started doing a fashion foundation beforehand. I did know I wanted to study some fashion based degree when I chose my A-Levels, but not what exactly. To be honest I think it doesn't make thet much difference which A-Levels one chooses as long as you have art in there and yes I think foundation courses are not only what people do but actually very valuable time to be able to focus yourself on what exactly you want to study and where to do as there is so much choice out there. Good luck to him

Hiya yes I've been quite a few times, sadly I can't make it tonight... you don't need to take anything apart from yourself and wear comfy clothes. It is very relaxing and not at all hard work... but it's great for breathing techniques and relaxing- which i have found invaluble at times. The instructor will provide you with a mat, blocks to sit on and a blanket. Enjoy.

Morning ladies, it was lovely to meet you all last night & so many of you as well! We must have been an interesting sight to others in the pub!! Looking forward to future meetups Ali x

Oh hi Ruth, sadly I'm no longer on the SS as I couldn't afford to keep that & the new more pregnancy & baby friendly more upright bike I had built up, I have to say I cycled to Dulwich village at the weekend & really enjoyed my 3 gears-such a novelty!! If you fancy a pregnant ride let me know & we can potter somewhere. I do love the Copenhagen cycle chic site, so glam! The ride will be good though, enjoy it before you get too big :-) X

Hi Helen, we are meeting tomorrow, see the thread for details x

Hi Ruth, I cycled (single speed) to work & back up until about 16 weeks and was fine, personally I still think cycling is brilliant exercise (pregnant or not) because it is very low impact and you can, as you say take it slowly, even have a little rest on the downhill bits. I did a lot of reading about cycling whilst pregnant and actually as far as I could assertain the only risk was when over say 30 weeks and that was in regards to your ballance being off. Obviously if it's an organised ride there will be no traffic so that won't be a worry. In the end I had a little bit of a scare and that was the only reason I stopped cycling so soon. I would have continued longer if I hadn't had a scare. I've just got back on my bike, (for shorter, local cycles at 29 weeks) although it's now a more upright and 3 geared version and I was fine! So go for it, sounds like it will be a good ride.

Hi Yak, yep I got to prego legs bums & tums at jags too, haven't been for ages but it is good to actually move! I actually joined as I thought it would be cheaper than going to classes elsewhere, the prego ones are always quiet & the pool is lovely. And yes, as time passes it feels more real and you get more into being pregnant especially when you actually start to feel a bit better in the 2nd trimester! Enjoy it!

Oh I'm gatecrashing too as I'm due for a spring baby but just to say I do the Jags Yoga classes, (they also have legs bums and pregnancy tums) and they are not at all strenuous, very nice after a hard day at work, and the relaxing bit at the end / snooze if you are anything like me is great!!!