Bellenden Belle

Hi David,That's the only number available David - all the others are pager numbers which wouldn't be of use to you. Emily does get back to you eventually (and incredibly quickly if you are one of their patients.

Broccoli and cauliflower florets are life savers in my house. They're available everywhere - one of the most popular choices I think.

Like Pickle, I've got a Bee and got very excited by the word organiser. In looking it up I read the customer comments on the John Lewis website. One states clearly that you can't use it when parent-facing. Thought I'd mention it. Personally, I've never used a change bag but use the Melobaby change bag instead, and just keep it popped underneath the bugaboo at all times. It comes with its own change mat and works like a clutch bag and I've found it pretty perfect. http://www.melobaby.com/product-p/mb105.htm

I am afraid I am one of those ones that came to the earlier pre-birth meets and have never been seen since. Sorry! I think I got lucky with a supportive ante-natal group and then on other days I just didn't manage to make it out of the house! I've joined the group on facebook and would like to try and come along to meet some of the babies at some point in the near future. Lovely to hear the group has been such a lifeline for so many - hoorah for the East Dulwich Forum!

http://m.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/may/12/best-childrens-books-twelve-years-over?cat=books&type=article This list looks really helpful. I was also thrilled to see Judy BLume mentioned - she was my go-to author around this age - perhaps a little earlier Working at a children's theatre where we are often on the lookout for books to adapt it often surprises us how 'adult' some of the books being read by this age range actually are. But when I look back at my own reading habits at this age, I remember reading some shockingly inappropriate books like S E Hintons The Outsiders that I read simply because I was in such a hurry to grow up. Kindles are fantastic for this age group. Nearly all books on kindle offer a sample copy for free so you can try a chapter before you buy - really important to give this age group choice.

Absolutely incredible. Quite frankly I doubt any amount of money could provide a better service. I had a personal midwife in the same room as me for more than 24 hours. The care beforehand is also exceptional - home visits where there was loads of time to ask questions. When I became anxious towards the end of my Pregnancy they organised a meeting with a kings consultant within 24 hours. They administered two sweeps at my own home....In short, they went over and above the call of duty every step Of the way. Being able to meet and know the midwives over a period of time is an extraordinary opportunity.... Grab the space with both hands before someone on the long waiting list does!

We swaddled our little one. During our ante-natal classes we'd been taught how to swaddle but it looked like origami to me. So we invested in this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Woombie-Original-Swaddle-Raspberry-Months/dp/B004G6JQPE/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1340778287&sr=8-8 Depending on how you viewed him he looked like a fat slug or that he was in a baby body bag. But he never escaped. It was a really good cue for him that it was nap/ sleep time and I think it's one of the reasons he's always gone down quite quickly. We used that until about 9 weeks; then we swaddled him quite loosely using a gro-swaddle (from the gro bag company) and then when he hit 12 weeks we popped him in a sleeping bag. I think the gradual transition helped too. The Woombie was hugely expensive (?25 - ouch!) but worth every penny in my opinion.

So week two and despite feeling I'd totally fallen off the wagon I lost two pounds! Thrilled since by the end of day three I'd used every single weekly as well as my daily points. But I guess it did force me to keep counting and keep being good. But does anyone know if you can change your goal weight once you've hit goal? I put down 11lbs to lose which was my pre pregnancy size but was a lot less to lose than WW recommended weight for me, or what I would like in an ideal world. Also, just seen Buggies post - there's tons more info including plans and recipes on the actual website rather than the app.

Thanks to Pickle and Pebbles for their reassurance about losing weight in the first week.My eating habits this week suggest I don't need to worry about not eating enough. Eco79 - I am a big walker - once did around 70 miles in a week in the Yorkshire Dales (in the rain I'd like to add) and whilst I am a little out of practice I could definitely be persuaded to give it a try. Whereabouts were you thinking? Locally or further afield? I am having a terrible week this week. Weigh in day was Friday but then everything went wrong on Saturday (was at a work function); managed to be quite good yesterday; and now today two large glasses of wine, two weight watchers "treats" and a large handful of salted almonds have left me with only 3 weekly points remaining. Better make sure I stay focused the rest of the week.....and get some exercise done quickly!

Scareyt - I wore mine with a black bolero style cardi! And absolutely agree that you'd never know it was a nursing dress - I'm already considering getting it in blue!

http://www.mummylooksfab.co.uk/Sophia-Nursing-Dress I wore this to a gala last night (it also comes in blue) and absolutely loved it. It is a soft jersey material that hangs beautifully and I think I will be able to dress it up or down in the future. Reasonable price too - I have seen some beautiful but crazily expensive options, considering their lifespan is likely to be limited.

First and foremost a huge congratulations to Pickle - really inspirational, particularly since you gave birth only a couple of months before me. This thread is so useful and the tips and advice are really helping me - thank you so much. So - first week over and I lost 5lbs. I am of course totally elated but also quite concerned at losing quite so much - particularly when I'm breastfeeding. In the end my milk supply is more important than my waist line at the moment and whilst I haven't had any problems this week, should I be worried? I used my 40 points each day but didn't touch many of the additional weekly points and made no allowances for a considerable amount of walking. Too much? Or should I relax because it's probably mostly water this week anyway? Also just to let people know - Morrisons are doing a range of salads, ready meals, yoghurts, etc which are called Nu You and on the packaging they tell you the Weight Watcher points. Meals currently on special offer if you want to stock up. I've found if I have one of those at lunchtime, I can be a bit more relaxed about the evening meal with the other half.

I went there a couple of months ago so I don't know if things have changed since but they offered no baby changing facilities. They had a huge downstairs with unisex open plan toilets and seemingly ample space to fit a changing table but nothing. I ended up changing the poor mite balanced between the two sinks. For me that was a clear indication that this was a place not really catering for families. Perhaps that has now changed if they are offering storytelling for children.

Kittysailing....congratulations - we watched it last night and thought it was excellent. Heartbreaking for the families whose homes were unfairly deemed slums - such a eye opener. Really looking forward to the Camberwell Grove episode. Wish there was more work like this.

Thank you Pickle ....and well spotted! I've just finished my online WW log for what I've eaten today. Apart from discovering just how much that peanut butter addiction is costing me it's not too bad - though I used all my 40 points up very easily which is scary as I was definitely being "good" today. What was really exciting though was the actual Weight Watchers site and how useful the support tools are.It was so easy to work out the points of each meal. I last did WW about a decade ago and don't know how I managed to keep track back then. I have a feeling the site might unleash my inner geek which might prove quite helpful too!

Can I join your gang please? Things came to a head when I was on the tube on Wednesday night and someone offered me their seat....14 weeks after giving birth! We'll brush over the fact I was on my way to a pork scratching night at Harvey Nics.... So I have set a realistic goal of 1lbs to lose. Would love to have reached that goal by September - wish me luck! Edited to say - I want to lose eleven pounds! Not 1lb! - top marks to proofreader Pickle!

Don't feed the troll....

I've got a newborn (well three months) so I am probably not the best to advise, although obviously my little bf one is runny in extreme! I was recommended these by a friend who has used them for two children. So far I haven't experience any scrunching up - it seems pretty solid and like the ultras, are reusable if only wet.

Though not East Dulwich a friend has just sent me the details of an exciting event taking place on Thursday that some of you might be interested in.... 'Perambulator' is a walk that explores navigation, way finding and collective decision making (with the addition of prams). Join artist Clare Qualmann, with baby Ernest in the pram, for a walk from Lewisham Arthouse. We will decide on the day where to go and how to get there using a range of tools: from local knowledge to locative media, observing the inaccessibilities and obstructions that impact on our route as we go. Please bring a pram if you have one or can borrow one - babies and children welcome! [email protected] http://www.clarequalmann.co.uk http://www.walkwalkwalk.org.uk If you can come along this walk with prams starts at 4pm sharp outside Lewisham Arthouse (SE14 6PD) and lasts just under and hour."

Yep - Gumboots, take a bow. If I'd known I was no.64 on the waiting list, with little chance of a place, I might not have written my cheque so swiftly.

Cloth nappies. They are more reliable than disposables and are a great investment. Also, don't be afraid to buy them second hand - they cost a fraction of the price and actually are more absorbent if they've been used previously.

I suspect Reading is described as 'hardcore' precisely because it's where sixteen year olds go to 'mosh' - do kids do that nowadays? - in a lot of mud, without the niceties one finds at other festivals like V, Green Man, etc. Quite frankly it's exactly the sort of festival I expect teenagers to go to - their time of attending festivals where they sit on the grass listening to grown up bands whilst flicking through the broadsheets will come. In the meantime let them enjoy the sweaty, exhausting yet exhilirating experience of it all.

Another vote for Roz. I have seen her both as an individual and in a couple. She's warm and practical yet challenging. And has been practising for more than a decade.

Crooked Well in Camberwell. Very civilised surroundings, great menu, lovely staff.

Just to thank every one for their replies and pms....I saw Robin Kirk as recommended by Kittysailing this morning so am now waiting to see if there's a difference. Fingers crossed - will update and let you know how it goes. x