Due June 2009: first time expectant mum in central/west London/Marylebone

[yaelgoldie]

Hi,

I am not good at these chat things and got a little overwhelmed reading the ones with 4,000 posts and threads. Sigh.

Basically I am a 32 year-old, married American woman living in Marylebone, expecting my first child in June 2009 (fingers crossed) at Great Portland Hospital. I guess you could also say I am a temporarily recovering lawyer.

I would love to meet other expectant mums nearby, and crave all other advice anyone wants to give as I am doing this far away from family in the states.

I guess that's it!

yaelgoldie

congratulations on pg.portland antenatal classes,yoga etc try that to meet mums

Hi yaelgoldie,

I'm 32 due in April with my first at Portland, currently living in Marylebone.
We have moved to London from Sydney this year and have no family here. Don't think I can help much with advice as going through this for the first time as well, but coffee & cake meet up at Marylebone high street can always be organised!

X

Would like that... let me know a good time!

Hi yaelgoldie,

you should come and have a look here
We're all due in June and going through the same thing.
Take care!

Thanks June2009! I have read some of that link... it's helpful to see what others are going through. I was also hoping to meet some soon-to-be new mums though, and it doesn't seem that thread involved anyone planning to get together.

Yael

Hi Yael,

I'm due with my first child in June (expected due date 14 June), am 33, married, living in Notting Hill and (still!) a lawyer.

I work in central london, not far from Marylebone - and am also new to chat rooms. We considered the Portland, but after a bit of debate have decided to go for the Elizabeth Garratt Anderson ward at UCH with a private midwife.

Lived in the States (near Philadelphia) for five years as a child - my mother gave birth to my youngest sister there so had the 'miles from family' experience on the other side of the ocean.

Can't give much advice, either, as it's my first time too! But i'd be happy to meet up in marylebone in the new year and share experiences (and random questions) so far.

A

Hi A / Milly6,

Would be great to meet up. We can compare hazy notes of Philadephia as my parents are both from there. I also hope to be a lawyer again one day ha ha.

A few of us are trying to get together on Marylebone High Street one weekend after the new year. Click this link here for that discussion thread (have to go to the second page of the discussion) and let us know what date looks best for you.

So fun our due dates are so close. And chat rooms are tiring!

Yael

Hey ladies

I'm a first time mummy too due to give birth at the Portland on June 16th..very exciting time but no idea what to expect! Currently on bed rest which is no fun at all but having the web at my finger tips is a great way to pass the time.
Hope you all had fun Xmas's and are glad at being half way!!

Emma xx

Hello!

I'm also a first time mum, also a lawyer (for now) and living in Islington but moving to Notting Hill in May. When I am 8 months' pregnant, God help me! We are having our little one at UCH, too.

Did you ladies meet up? Do you fancy meeting up? I'm Australian and the only person I really know having a baby. So funny talking to your non-PG friends about pregnancy (think I am scaring them, well, my side profile is anyway!), but would be great to talk to people also going through the same thing. Not sure my friends can help me choose a pram, for instance.

I think there are a couple of other "due June 2009" threads, but agree that they are v long.

Anyway, if I am not too late and you fancy meeting up, let me know. Otherwise, good to hear I am not the only person far from home in central London who is "in the family way".

Cheers

Bunnymother

Hi all,

I'm so glad to have found this thread, I also recently joined and overwhelmed by all these forums

Anyway, I'm due June 12, live near Lisson Grove, and work as a designer and university lecturer. My husband and I are both Canadian so we're also going through this far from family!

I'm replying a bit late to this thread, post-your January meetup but would love to meet others nearby as well, sometime in February or March?

cheers
Katherine

Hello - it's a bit OT but I am a mum and photographer living in the area and I am offering a few free shoots for newborns to expand my portfolio. I'm looking for babies less than 10 days old to really capture that sleepy newborn look. Feel free to CAT me if you are interested or if you would just like to ask me any questions.

hi zozokat and bunnymother - I live in notting hill too (also a lawyer - don't let that put you off, zozokat!) and missed the marylebone meet-up so i'd be keen to meet somewhere locally in March. I'm due June 14.

Hi Milly6,

Great! I'm up for that -- wonder if this thread is just a bit too old for previous posters to be checking (??) I just realized all our email options are off so went in and turned mine on? still have no idea what a CAT is?

Anyway Bunnymother if you're still out there let us know

Sorry - a CAT is 'contact another mumsnetter' I think - no idea why that acronym though. I think you have to pay a small subscription to receive an email this way, but if you just click on their email symbol it will tell you if you can do it or not.

HTH

Aww, not fair!

I was soo lonely in my pregnancy and I live in St Johns Wood. Good luck with everything.

I did make a friend or two at the Portland during my antenatal classes, but I was the only American, and no one else lived in my area.

Hello Ladies,

I've just joined Mumsnet and am a first time mum.

My husband and I are both Australian and we are currently living in Bayswater. I'm due on 20 June 2009 and we're booked in at the Lindo Wing, St Mary's Hospital with Lorin Lakasing.

We have quite a few friends over here, but unfortunately none of our friends are expecting. Given that this is our first baby, I'm keen to meet anyone else who might be going through this, so would love to meet up at some stage!

We also need to register for antenatal classes and I'd be keen for any recommendations, particularly those around Notting Hill / Maida Vale / St Johns Wood as this is where we are looking to move. We had been putting this off until we found a more child-friendly flat, but have unfortunately had no luck as yet.

Would love to hear from you.

Emma

x

Hi Emma,

Great to hear from you, I am nearby and also at St Mary's -- as for antenatal classes I'm doing the ones at the hospital (4 weekly sessions starting April 28th) and an NCT weekend course in May at the Quaker Meeting House near Euston.

Still up for a meet up if you're interested, hopefully others will join in too?

What about coffee on the weekend (or is weekday an option -- I am free some weekday mornings)?

cheers
Katherine

Hi Emma, sorry to barge in on this thread, but I am about to start my care with Lorin Lakasing and noticed that you already have her booked as your consultant... how have you found her so far? I am having my first baby and am quite nervous about it all...

Hi Katherine (Zozokat) and Mama2b,

I hope you are both well!

Katherine - sorry about my delayed reply. I'd love to catch up! Weekends are best for me. We're still trying to find a child-friendly flat, but hopefully we should have this sorted in the next two weeks, so I'd be keen to catch up after that. As I live in Bayswater, I'm pretty close to Maida Vale, Notting Hill and Marylebone. Do any of these places suit better? Should we aim to catch in two weeks? I'd be keen for others to join us too.

Mama2b - lovely to hear from you and honestly, you're not barging in. Great to hear that you've started with Lorin Lakasing. My husband and I just love Lorin! I too have been quite anxious about this being my first pregnancy, particularly as we don't have any family or pregnant friends in the UK and being Australian, weren't overly familiar with the UK health system. I have found Lorin very professional and thorough during our visits and she is incredibly supportive whenever you appear anxious! I honestly always leave her sessions feeling very relaxed and assured that my care is in very good hands which I think is a reflection on how well she responds to patient needs. Based on our experience so far, I'd definitely recommend Lorin to anyone that asked. When are you due?

Cheers

Emma

Hi Emma,

Good luck flat-hunting, I've had a lot of practice with that around here and it is a real challenge!

About 2 weeks would be good for me too -- so maybe sometime over April 4/5? Any of the areas you mentioned are fine! Some initial thoughts: maybe the patio at the Bridge House in Maida Vale if its nice out, the rooftop café at Alfie's antiques market on Church St, or somewhere around the Whiteley's?

If anyone else wants to join in we can always meet elsewhere to suit

cheers
Katherine

Hello ladies

Randomly looked at this post again, and it seems a get together is looking likely. Can I come too? Only I move on Friday 3 April to Notting Hill area, so 4 and 5 April may be out for me (unpacking...), but if you meet up another time, I would be keen.

Bunnymother (Belinda)

Hi Belinda

That's great, yes the rate we're moving I'm sure we're looking at Easter weekend or the following one now either of those better for you? and Emma if you're checking this?

We are planning country walk by the seaside at some point in April, before I get too immobile ;) but haven't set the date yet, so weekends are still flexible?

K

Hello again!

I really need to check this thread more often. I will be around over Easter, and the weekend after that. Country walk sounds good, too. Am assuming that slow pace and frequent toilet breaks are factored into the schedule. Seem to be in slow mo these days...

B

Hi again

Sounds good, how about Saturday of Easter or the following weekend -- do we have any other takers?

Actually what I should really do is start a new post under meet-ups or the June list or both? will link to it from here if I get around to it!

And yes we are talking very leisurely walk with lots of nice breaks. I'm definitely slowing down these days too and its just good to get out of London and get some fresh air!

K

Hi there

I am on the "due in June" post and the ladies are really lovely and v helpful - lots of wise advice, as well as support. Please do join us.

Think the Saturday after Easter would be best, so Sat 18 April. Time flies.

Any preferences as to where?

B