EmmaG

Just filling some pans/jugs/kettles etc so I have at least water to drink, and the pressure seems back up to normal now in St Aidan's. Can anyone else try and let me know? I will probably get on the phone to Thames Water anyway as I'm due to give birth any day and at the moment the birthing pool is empty!

Our water has just gone off in St Aidan's Road. When I say "gone off" I mean it's on incredibly low pressure.

Nine posts till contributors on the Forum start arguing about this event. Why do people have to engage in arguments on the Forum?

Just revisiting this wonderful thread. My baby is due tomorrow (but shows no signs of coming though) so avoiding stuff about birth and re-reading stuff about babygrows and night-sweats.

Sorry to sound thick but if I were a burglar the first thing I'd do is invest in a property marking kit and then put my own mark on whatever I was nicking. I don't get how it prevents burglary.

ClareC said it all with regards to the decision we took regarding the invasive tests. However, a friend subsequently said that Kings have never had a miscarriage through amniocentecis or CVS because they're such a brilliant centre of excellence of foetal medicine and are very experienced at doing the tests. I guess many, many people get referred from elsewhere. By the way, another friend (who lives in East London) was told she had a 1 in 40ish chance of a baby with chromosomal abnormality so she went to see Kypros Nicolaides (the King's specialist) at his Harley St clinic for a 4D scan and that it was very reassuring. Their baby was born with no abnormalities whatsoever despite the high risk. The tests aren't infallible. I don't know whether that helps you make the decision but best of luck and my thoughts are with you.

Thanks Fuschia

My baby is head-down but at an angle (ie the spine is at about 2 o'clock as I look down on my belly) - is this a problem or should I be trying to turn him/her to 12 o'clock? On a related topic, I am desperately keen not to be induced and wondered if anyone had any tips to bring on labour spontaneously. I'm trying the usual: sex, raspberry leaf tea, walking, curry, etc but willing to try reflexology and acupuncture. What is the general opinion and can anyone recommend any practitioners? My baby is due on Tuesday. Many thanks!

> Decent birth-control supplies? Ah, my midwife told me that East Dulwich is the most fertile place in Europe. Sorry, I am contribuing to SE22's surfeit of progeny.

Might not be what you're looking for, but this accommodation is fabulous and specially aimed at families. http://www.glynnbarton.co.uk/

I have two nieces, one of whom was autumn born and the other who was summer born. This replicates the situation with their mother (my sister) and me. Both the summer born children have had major confidence issues with reading and progressing to the extent where my dear little younger niece speaks very disparagingly of herself and how she can't read. I don't think it's entirely to do with progress in class but also to do with comparing themselves with their older siblings. I truly believe that a child will indicate if it's ready for the challenges of school and that it should be down to the parents to make the decision. My heart breaks when I think of my sister (born August) and her younger daughter (also born August) and how both have really struggled over the years. FYI, there is an interesting chapter in Malcolm Gladwell's book Outliers about this issue in relation to sports progression. It's a fascinating topic.

THank you so much - really appreciate all that info and advice. The babster seems fine as do I. I have to admit to having had nuts galore throughout pregnancy and fairly rare steaks. Have avoided sushi and mayo but it didn't cross my mind that icecream might be full of raw eggs until it was too late. Thanks for the Guardian article!

Morning everyone I went to the Herne for dinner last night and rounded off a delicious meal with three dollops of icecream. Woke up with a thought this morning that a) does the Herne use raw eggs in its icecream b) I'm 7 months' preggers c) is that dangerous for the baby? Baby's been pretty quiet this morning ... arrrrgggghhh. I know there's no point worrying now: it's too late, but I can'thelp it.

My husband beat all the buses by walking from Peckham Rye station up the route of the 63/12 at 6pm because it was still so bad. The police appear to have been measuring up for evidence but did say that no one had lost their life.

Oh dear not another serious pedestrian accident. Sigh. We're having a lot at the mo'

Mellors and Physio I agree about the craft shoppy workshop fabric place. I asked the owner of this place http://www.themakelounge.com/ to open a branch here but she wasn't v interested. Imagine a Make Lounge in the old Job Centre premises. Or in the Foxtons premises for that matter

I hope no one was injured. God it was bloody chaos round there. Huge queues in every direction and about 15 63s and 363s lined up at the side of the road. It has taken me probably 40 mins to get through Peckham. Avoid!

Si Mangia is a nice Italian!

Sean - I was joining in kind-of. A nice Greggs would be nice though. Soup and sausage roll = ?1.49. Where's that kind of value in the super-classy ED these days I ask myself ... And whatever happened to that Job Centre that used to be on LL? Re the B&B - can't quite fathom why there are so many hotels and B&Bs up in Crystal Palace and none down here. Why did Shepherd's on Marmora Road close down? I guess it was before its time or too far away from LL or something. Don't get the desire for a record shop, despite so many pleas for one. I suppose I just buy my "Now 234" in Sainsbury's once a year and iTune any random songs I fancy. It's that male vinyl-collecting thing I guess.

Yep, I'm with you on the Greggs. Also, we could do with a Carphone Warehouse and a Primark and a TK Maxx. A Waitrose please. Er, what else ... I'd like a full Marks and Spencer too.

All I know is that this posh bit was a long walk from where our hotel was. It's a crescent full of intimidating stone houses. Didn't see any kids and didn't see any expensive coffee shops (you're right though, I paid ?3.30 for a tea and croissant in LL this morning). Yes, I stalked him. V disappointed he lives in LA and NW8 nowadays! I'll have to notify my friend of the bad news.

A B&B or hotel please. I know about the Uplands, but their rooms aren't all en-suite and their double bed isn't big enough or firm enough for my parents - and it's above a pub!! We need a B&B with a choice of rooms and bed-sizes.

I think Barry and this thread is the best bit of customer communication and customer service I've ever seen. It's a model of excellence. If anyone knows of any customer service award of any kind, do please post it as I would be more than happy to make nominations.

Ewan McGregor lives in a very, very posh part of Glasgow, right next door to my friend's flat, in an absolutely gorgeous house. I've looked in his windows and seen his garden, but haven't clapped eyes on the man himself, alas.

Hi everyone I've just booked a place on a Hypnobirth course and the teacher mentioned that she still has a space on it. The group classes are held in Clapham on Wednesday evenings. I'm posting her email to me in full below. If you are having a baby in January it might be worth getting in touch and signing up and it would help me as it means the class will definitely go ahead. Hello Emma, thanks for your email and congratulations on your pregnancy. I'll be delighted if you are able to join a HypnoBirthing course as it will prepare you for a much easier, calmer and more comfortable birth. The skills and techniques learnt will also be useful in many other areas of your life, both for you and your partner. The classes complement other birth preparation classes such as yoga and NCT, what is important is not to take on any negative information if you are attending these or hospital antenatal classes. I run HypnoBirthing classes at The Awareness Centre in Abbeville Road, Clapham SW4, over 3 weeks on Wednesday evenings, 7 - 10pm. The cost of the group class is ?295 for you and your partner and includes all course materials (book, cd or downloads and working folder). I ask for ?100 deposit to reserve your place with the balance payable on the first evening. Alternatively I can offer you private sessions in Harley Street or Herne Hill if the group classes are not convenient. Group dates are 25th Nov, 2nd Dec and 16th Dec. The classes are a good mix of theory and practical work with plenty of time to answer individual questions. You will learn various relaxation and breathing techniques, with partners playing an important role. Releasing any stress or anxiety about birth or parenting is vital and I also teach you a wonderful massage. Taking the course over 3 weeks gives you the opportunity to consolidate what you have learnt and to practice at home in between classes, bringing any questions along to the following session. With a maximum of 6 couples the classes are fun and everyone has a chance to participate. I am a fully qualified Clinical Hypnotherapist, HypnoFertility and HypnoBirthing Practitioner with practices in Harley Street and south London. I also work at the Zita West Clinic and at the Lister Hospital, specialising in fertility, pregnancy and childbirth. I have been teaching HypnoBirthing since July 2004, running a couple of courses every month, resulting in many fabulous births. Please call me if you have any questions at all or to discuss the different options. In the meantime please visit www.positive-birth.com, a site with professionally recorded downloads which will make your pregnancy and birth much easier by being mentally prepared. There is a FREE download, Bonding with Baby, and also a wide range of tracks for the different stages/aspects of pregnancy and birth for you to choose from. Visualise your Positive Birth and Positive Birth Affirmations are provided with the course. Looking forward to hearing from you, kind regards, Kristin Kristin Hayward BA Hons DCH DHP HypnoTherapy . HypnoFertility . HypnoBirthing 07963 046 456 www.kristinhayward.com www.positive-birth.com