Hi I'm Susan and I am a registered practicing midwife. I have started a business called Gooseberrybush which is all about antenatal and postnatal education. For more information visit www.gooseberrybush.biz

Hello all

Another new Mum in Swansea. Did anyone find any antenatal classes which are in the evening, normal ones or swimming classes would suit.

I don't think the organisers think about working mum's to be.........

Hello Mumgonecrazy!

It's a bit quiet on the Western Front isn't it?

Still - I havent got much time lately, due to all the threads I am watching. MN has taken over a bit...

Pregnant in Caerphilly here

4th baby on way due in late sept having a c-section in the royal gwent round about mid sept tho due 2 previous c-sections

BTW thanks for the info 1stMrsF - I'll be heading there ASAP.

Hello Hellie - I'm based in Aberdare and only just found this thread. I guess you are nearing the birth of the baby now. Hope it's wonderful! Did you find good classes in the end?

I'm due September 4th but hoping for a late August birth .

Any other S.Wales mum2bes?

Hello - I'm not actually in South Wales, but my parents live there and I'm visiting this week. Just wanted to share my best local tip of the pregnancy so far, which is the JoJoMamanBebe warehouse and sale shop in Newport. They have end of line stuff at really bargain prices and new stock every week so well worth a visit. I've bought most of my maternity clothes there at prices such as £5 for skirts/tops and this week went back to look at baby stuff - reductions e.g. £10 to £3 on clothes and they have baby equipment too - e.g. nightlight in damaged box half price.

Good luck to all.

Hi all SWANSEA ladies!

Im living in Swansea too and am due in June.
To be honest I am finding the whole community MW a nightmare- she seems a bit useless to me and doesnt know much when I ask her. I am really trying hard to find out about Antenatal classes for me and the suffering partner!- HOLLY where are your classes?? Also any classes that I can go to that arent in the middle of the day as I work full time. It would also be great to get to know some other mums to be as I havent lived down here that long...some buddies to share with would be great.

Also having baby in Singleton hospital.

xx

Message deleted by Mumsnet.

viclb76, the course runs from Friday evening (it starts with dinner and a very gentle introductory session) until Sunday at 4 p.m. What I've done is make the Friday evening and Sunday afternoon sessions fairly vague and general, so that if anyone has to arrive late or leave early, they won't miss anything too important.

If you want to know anything else, e-mail me patricia@coachingformothers.com or ring me on 0845 838 6399 and I'll answer any questions you have.

Funny you should ask about teenagers - you're the third person to ask this week! It's something I'm considering a little further down the line. My older son's nearly 12, and I have an inkling of what's to come, but want a bit more direct experience of the teens before I tackle this one!

pattilou...
just looked at the website and it looks like a great service your offering.What are the hours for the res.course in abergavenny.
Do you run courses on bringing up teenagers

linz07,
I have heard that hiring an IM is great as you get 121 care throughout.
It is very pricy though.

Hi Pattilou,
Is the course for pregnant woman and new mums only .I haven't heard of a residential course like this.Tell me more please

Hello, Welsh mums and Welsh doulas. Just wanted to make contact as I work with mums and pregnant women (I'm all paid up and official in the classifieds section, so I'm not cheating - just lots of people don't look there).
I offer antenatal coaching and courses preparing you for the emotional challenges of becoming a mum, and I also coach mums postnatally (and later on!) on all sorts of issues. Course coming up in June in Abergavenny (res. and non-res. places available).
Any questions about any of this, there's more information at Coaching for Mothers

Patricia x

Hello.
I'm only seven weeks pregnant with my second child however when I was pregnant two years ago with my son I was pushed from midwife to midwife throughout my pregnancy and ended up giving birth in the care of a midwife I didn't know. Even after the birth I had visits from different midwifes I hadn't met before. Even though the care I received was good I found it really impersonal and a little frustrating at times.
Just wondered if anyone has hired a midwife and did they find it beneficial?

Hi ladies,
I thought I'd post on here in case any of you were thinking of hiring a doula for your forthcoming births.
I am a doula based in Cardiff though I do cover a 40 minute radius.
I offer emotional and practical support through the last weeks of pregnancy,labour & delivery and post-natally.
Further information can be found on my website at www.freewebs.com/vickylb
Look forward to hearing from you
vicky

callie I know what you mean, we stripped the nursery about 5 weeks ago, thats as far as we've got lol!

Off pram shopping this weekend hopefully!!!

Julezboo, I'm 28 wks today and haven't bought or done a thing, apart from moving a few small bits out of our spare room/soon-to-be nursery....!!!

How is everyone doing?

Im 30 weeks now, starting to panic about not having things ready!!

I live near bridgend too, where abouts are you girls from. Would be great to make new friends as Im new to area!

Hi Holly!
very strange to stumble across a thread of people I know!!! we met at scraggys in June when I had first found out I was pg! Am due just a month later than you (17.03) and bump is finally becoming obvious. Like you, also having ds (who is attending regular kick-boxing classes and keeps poking his foot very firmly into my bellybutton). Moving to Lancaster in less than two weeks, and as you at the beginning of this thread, am worried being at home with baby and not knowing anyone...hopefully will met other mns.

Anyway, message getting to long and am v tired. Good to hear from you again! Say hello to your dp from us!

Hi there! Am finding this resurrected thread very funny as it was me who started it nearly 2 years ago posting as Holly290505!

My little girl was eventually born 9 days late after a nightmare 24hr labour and ventouse delivery (not that you want to hear about that...!) I am now expecting a ds on 16/2/07 and time has flown by and even more so re-reading this thread- We are even having our 2nd 4d scan next Saturday!

ScraggyAggy and I met up through this thread and our daughters were born 36 hours apart - we are firm friends although the kids currently have a love-hate toddler relationahip!!

Anyway great to see there are more mums using this thread after all this time and best of welsh luck to you all!

Hiya,
Just thought I would let you all know that I am a Doula in the South Wales area, approx 30minutes from Newport, Cardiff and 45minutes from Swansea. I am able to support you through late pregnancy, your labour (including home births) and postnataly.
I've also got two young children myself, so know the concerns etc that you are going through!

I am also able to do massages for you if needed as I am an alternative therapist. I can do a full body massage or indian head massage.


If you are interested and want further information, CAT me, or email me on:
welshdoula_therapist at yahoo dot co dot uk

Ds was induced (10 days late!), which ended up in being an assisted delivery with ventouse/suction. But mw has said that there is no reason why I shouldn't have a home birth, as I am young(ish) healthy and fit (laughed when she said that ) We've agreed to leave planned place of birth blank until nearer the time (due April 10th)
Dh is supportive of me, and what I want to do, but he's just concerned that the me and baby will be ok.

Hi Spiderlight, mammyjo, runnyhabit and julezboo. I'm a south Wales-er too, expecting first one in March. Spiderlight, was interested to see you are from Cardiff and hoping for a home birth - me too! Have you discussed it with MW yet? I tell you what, if you're working, you want to make sure your EDD is down as April 6 rather than in March cos you'll have the option of three more months stat mat leave (crappily paid but better than nothing). Btw you've always got the option of joining the March 07 thread too . Link is here

Ooh, runnyhabit just noticed you're hoping for home birth too. What did you have last time?

Hi Spider. I live in Bridgend and am due in April. If you just click on the conversations for the last day you will normally find the April 07 thread in the ante natal clubs. It is a very active thread! A new one has just been started called Easter surprise. Hope to see you there!

I'm due on March 31st, although my original date was April 6th and I'm pretty sure I'm right and the doctor's date is wrong!

I can't find the April 07 thread...I've only just joined Mumsnet and I can't work it yet. Help...?

Ann

Just noticed the bits about 3d/4d scans. My friend had one done at the Bupa hospital in Cardiff. She said it cost £240, but got loads of pics, and a 30min dvd. They even put a message on one of the pics saying hello to her other ds! They only drawback I can think of is that you'd know the sex, and we really don't want to find out. Like the suprise too much

Spiderlight - Are you due in April? Come and join us on Due April 07 - Hold on to your hamburgers thread...!

Hi to everyone else

I live near Bridgend with dh and ds (18mths) this one is due in April, and fingers crossed, having a homebirth (although dh is not too sure ) never mind, got plenty of time to talk him round

*waves madly*
Hello! Are you excited? I am...but also terrified (this is my first...)

I have a feeling that I'm going to end up having a hospital birth, although I really don't want one. I've got a heart murmur and a few other health complications, so it'll be up to my cardiologist when I see him next week. I'd love a home birth because I'm terrified of hospitals and the lights make me dizzy, but only if it won't be risky for babybump.

Ann

Hello!

Im 27 weeks with second baby, having hospital birth in cardiff!!

Hello! I've just joined after finding this thread on a Google search for Cardiff home births, so I thought I'd resurrect it. Anyone out there? I'm 20wks with my first baby and I really want a home birth.

Ann

Oooh Jo - just saw this - so excited for you - look forward to seeing your pics and remembering how we felt (by then we will have had 7 weeks of sleepless nights with new baby!!)

Hope it all goes well for you and you convince your DH he wants to know! They are really nice in MUMS too Good luck X

Just to let you know - I've booked a scan in the MUMS clinic - going on 15th July - I can't wait. Now I just have to convince dh that he wants to know what it is! They did say that we don't have to find out if we don't want to - but I really want to!

How's everyone in the South Wales Mums-to-be - there haven't been many posts lately? Hope everyone is well.

Jo - they told us she was a girl but it was so clear (and I had looked at a lot of scans online before we went too so i knew what I was looking for) it was quite easy to see. When the do the scan though the measurements and gender and everything is done in black and white on a 2d scan and is switched to 3D to look at hands and feet and face.

I haven't heard of anywhere in Cardiff doing it and I did do a lot of research! Good luck whatever you decide - its certainly magic being able to watch the DVD whenever we like

Have to say as well that on a personal note I feel so much more bonded with her know I know she's a girl and has a name and face. Well worth it - even though we ummed and ahhed about whether we should keep it a surprise for AGES!!

Thanks for your advice - the picture looks amazing! Could you tell what she was a girl yoursleves from the scan or did they have to tell you? It's just that I would like to know the sex, but my hubby wants it to be a suprise! It's a shame they're so expensive - I just don't know whether to spend that kind of money. I've heard that there is somewhere in Cardiff scanning fr around £75 but I can't find them. The only one in Cardiff I can find is the Bupa clinic, but thats £250. My clinic charges £90 to find out the sex anyway so if we decide to find out the sex then I'll probably go for a 3d scan for a bit more money!
Hope all is well and thanks for your advice.

Sorry about double post - and link didn't work - here it is:

MUMS clinic

HI Jo and welcome - you'll find loaads of useful information, empathy and advice on mumsnet!

It was me who had the 4D scan- We had our scan at MUMS clinic near Birmingham and it cost £180 - worth every penny! Its much more expensive if you got to one of the london clinics - about £275. We finally found out (after not being able to tell at the 20 week scan!) that we are having a little girl and have named her Ruby Annabelle. If you have a look under member profiles you can see a photo

I was 30 weeks when we had the 4D scan and the baby was very squished a lot of the time. She also insisted on keeping her foot in her face for the first 10 minutes - so we went for a walk and thankfully she had moved when we got back (I was getting quite anxious at the thought of so much money for a photo of her foot!)

The photos from the second half of the scan are fantastic and I can't wait to see my little girl for real now! They also did all the measurements that they do at the hospital so we know everything is OK - and she weighs 3 1/2 pounds apparently! We also have a video and DVD. My parents are working in Australia and it has been fantastic to be able to send them pictures.

Anyway i would recommend this to anyone who can justify the cost but I would say try to go between 25-28 weeks! Hope that helps Jo! Good luck with the 2nd trimester

HI Jo and welcome - you'll find loaads of useful information, empathy and advice on mumsnet!

It was me who had the 4D scan- We had our scan at MUMS clinic near Birmingham and it cost £180 - worth every penny! Its much more expensive if you got to one of the london clinics - about £275. We finally found out (after not being able to tell at the 20 week scan!) that we are having a little girl and have named her Ruby Annabelle. If you have a look under member profiles you can see a photo

I was 30 weeks when we had the 4D scan and the baby was very squished a lot of the time. She also insisted on keeping her foot in her face for the first 10 minutes - so we went for a walk and thankfully she had moved when we got back (I was getting quite anxious at the thought of so much money for a photo of her foot!)

The photos from the second half of the scan are fantastic and I can't wait to see my little girl for real now! They also did all the measurements that they do at the hospital so we know everything is OK - and she weighs 3 1/2 pounds apparently! We also have a video and DVD. My parents are working in Australia and it has been fantastic to be able to send them pictures.

Anyway i would recommend this to anyone who can justify the cost but I would say try to go between 25-28 weeks! Hope that helps Jo! Good luck with the 2nd trimester

Hi guys - I'm a newbie to this site - glad I found it though - it's great to read about what others are going through. I'm from Aberdare in S.Wales so in between you guys in Cardiff/Swansea. I'm 13 weeks now and I'm due 8th October. I'm really looking forward to it. My sickness has faded so I'm starting to enjoy the pregnancy a bit more now. I read that one of you is having a 4d scan - where are you having it done and how much does it cost? I've seen them online and I think they look amazing - I would love to have it done. Hope everyone is well - look forward to chatting with others from Wales.

Hi guys,

Love to meet up soon!

Yeah - power to the homebirthers!!

Am happy to discuss my own personal views (i.e. v much in favour), although obviously I am not the Oracle on the subject. If you do a search on mumsnet there was a discussion about 4 months back when people recounted their different stories and that really inspired me.

Do bear in mind that there may be reasons why you can't have a homebirth so do prepare yourself for every eventuality.

Hey Flicka! Nice to see you again! Have you checked out the Due in June thread? x

Hi Holly and Scraggyaggy!
I think I met you on the nct birth weekend last weekend, M and I live in Swansea and are due 17th June. Would be good to meet up again sometime soon...are you planning anything?

Hiyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Im here lmao. Im due in september, just gone 13 weeks, and got my booking appointment on the 22nd.

Lisatattoo - I'm in Cardiff so a bit far from you guys but am due in 2 weeks and have a home birth planned. I have been lucky because my midwifes are very supportive of home birth and are in fact the ones who suggested it. Please don't let you midwife put you off - the Welsh Assembly have committed to increasing home birth levels to 10% (they are currently at 2%) and you have a LEGAL right to a home birth. As long as your pregnancy is straightforward then there is no additional risk to a home birth - in fact there is less chance of intervention with a home birth and it can actually be safer than hospital. This is something I feel very strongly about and have done a lot of research into so please feel free to ask if you have any other questions. If your midwife is unsupportive then I would suggest that you speak to the local Head of Midwifery who should be able to help you. Good luck

Hi Lisatattoo and welcome! As you can see by the date of the last post after trying to get south wales mum's together Scraggy and I gave up and now just the two of us get together occasionally. We are due in May/June and are in Swansea. When are you due?

I know what you mean about the midwives - have met some terrible ones but some good ones too. Scraggy is going for a homebirth so she may have more advice on positive midwives - I think there is also an antenatal class geared more towards homebirth she may be going to.

Anyway hope your scan went well (ours crossed its legs on the 20 week scan so we don't know what we're having - going for a 4D scan next week so fingers crossed!)CAT me if you want to chat!

Message withdrawn

Hi I am a newbie on here. so..did anyone get put off a homebirth by there midwife...We are in Swansea (Morriston) and our midwife was not a pleasant person at all..not at all easy to get on with, I am having my 20 wk scan tomorrow Wed, (in Morriston), so I(we) will known the sex, hope eh!!..We would love to have a homebirth, but ..like I said...our midwife seemed to be against it...please talk to me to help...Thanks

I'd really like to join some ante-natal clubs but haven't a clue which ones would be good. My mw says that yoga is good as it destresses you too. Are you doing anything like that? I don't feel confident enough to go ante-natal swimming yet... maybe when my bump is more bump-rather-than-splodge-like!!

Hope you find this Brighteyes!

Holly,

Had my mw appointment this morning. She really is lovely. We heard the baby's heartbeat which was really reassuring and talked more about home birth. She said that we aren't to think about making a decision until we're at the 30 week mark, so that's good. Time for us to change our minds! She did say that we can work on the home birth plan and always change later. She also said that there is going to be a new birthing unit open in Feb at Singleton hospital which will be mid-wife led and is for those people who want an intervention free birth. I'm going to have a look, but am still in favour of a home birth.

As for ante-natal classes, she said that we should start our 8 week course at about 28 weeks. (Seems to be cutting it fine to me!)

Am good on the sicky front. Haven't done too badly. Was sick quite spectacularly outside the Millenium Stadium one morning on the way to work! People must've thought I was an alchie!! Then there was an episode with some melon... I wanted melon for breakfast, but baby though differently and in the end the only way to stop myself retching was to throw the melon in the bin! And it did stop immediately. Then the last time, was when I got up at 6.30am, thought I'd get breakfast on the train but baby had other ideas and so again I started retching, only to stop when I managed to stuff some biscuits in my mouth!!!

I've not bothered with too many clothes, seeing as it'll be summer, you just don't know what the weather will be like. Hopefully, we'll get given loads as you say.

Speak soon! Scraggy x

Come on pregnant ladies of South Wales - there must be more than two of us!!

Pg buddy and non-alcoholic cocktails sound brilliant - must do that soon! Although not sure which is Cuban bar (lack of nightlife for years!!) - Cafe Mambo? No?

Know what you mean about the young feeling - dp is 34 this year and STILL thinks he's too young! Bless him :-)

You're so lucky with the home birth plan - would LOVE to if I was allowed! :-( Is this your first baby?

Have done thorough research on buggy and finally bought one (and a cotbed) last weekend but they've not been delivered yet....exciting! Been trying not to buy clothes as I'm told I will get given loads and newborn ones are only useful for five minutes. Problem is my parents are out in Australia working for 2years and my mum is so excited she must've sent me half of Australia's stock of newborn clothes already - despite not knowing the sex!

How've you been feeling? I had morning sickness for about 9 weeks but been ok since - am suffering insomnia now though which is a right pain.

Anyway am skiving in lecture so best go! Talk soon x

PS my email is hol_anne at hotmail if you want to chat about getting together without saying where we live on public boards!!

Holly,

I don't think 25 is too young for a baby! But I don't think the "too young" feeling ever goes away. I'm almost 28 and dp is 32 this year and we still feel too young!!

My mw said that ante-natal classes tend to run 20-28wks. She said that they don't like to start you earlier as you tend to forget it all before the birth. I can't see how I'd forget!! Am already building myself up for the most painful experience of my life! I should be seeing her on Thurs so I'll ask her then and report back to you.

We're hoping to go for a home birth, but will have to wait and see what the mw says on Thurs... scary!

As for dates, goodness knows when ours will really arrive. We worked out dates to be the 8th of June, then the hospital said the 2nd June (although I think they calculated it wrong), but now they're saying we could be two weeks under what we thought originally which could put us mid-to late June!! Aaargh! I'm sticking to the 8th June as I quite like that day!!! And we've got a wedding to go to on the 4th...

Have you bought anything yet? We've got our buggy and I bought everything for the nursery, although we've not put it up yet. I think we'll wait til we're about 28 weeks so I know it's definitely all ok.

I know it's a bit premature, but perhaps we could meet up some time? Would be nice to have a pg buddy. We can have a non-alcoholic cocktail night down at the Cuban bar on the Kingsway? x

Hi!
Wow thats brilliant! I'm ridiculously paranoid about being at home with a new baby and not knowing anyone in a similar position (my friends think we're all far too young still - nearly 25!)

Anyway I work part time in Swansea area for social services doing contact with foster kids and I'm also doing a full time Masters degree in Child Welfare (yes I am mad..and very tired!) I sympathise with your commuting - i get tired enough going from one side of swansea to another!

I'm hospital led due to an illness I had a while back so they're being a bit cautious with me. I did have a community MW for a while but didn't like her much!

Antenatal classes - noone has told me anything! I keep ringing round and NCT say leave it a month and the hospital said ring her back in two weeks. I really hope I'm not going to get left out (plus I want my partner to know what to do when I'm screaming at him!)

Anyway GREAT to know there is someone else out there - I'm due 29 May but have suspicion I'll be late mainly because my partner's b'day is 6th June and mine is 16th so I reckon we'll all be junies! Are you going to have a hospital birth (Singleton?) - maybe we'll be in at the same time!

Must go sorry for rambling :-) x

Holly! Hi!

Sorry for the excitement but I'm in Swansea toooooo! I'm due the 2nd June. Can't believe that SOMEONE on here is in the same place as me. All my fellow MN-netters are either London based or further North.

At the moment I spend my time commuting a lot as I work in Cardiff, but spend 2-3 days a week down in London which is beginning to get immensely tiring. How about you?

Are you community or hospital led? Perhaps we have the same mw? Mine is community based and although I've only met her once I really do like her (which is always a good thing!)

Apparently, our ante-natal classes are going to start soon, which I'm really looking forward to as I don't know anyone nearby who's also pg so it's going to be great having some pals who are going through everything at the same time.

Hopefully MN soon! x

Hi everyone,

Would love to be in touch with other people having babies in S Wales (I'm in Swansea area). I'm 24 and expecting first baby 29th May. Hope there are some others out there!
x