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When meeting up take sensible precautions. Meet in a public place and let others know where you are going.

Original poster

roll call for any Aussie mums in London who want to meet up?

609 replies

quokka · 03/08/2006 19:27

Been here 7yrs now have 2 ds's 2yrs and 6months and am married to a pom so looks like I'm here for the long run! The closest I get to an aussie now is watching neighbours (I know its quite pathetic). Anyway if there are any others who fancy a catch up, I'm in west london?

OP posts:
kiwibella · 27/10/2006 22:31

Hi Gen!!

I'm 22 weeks now. The midwife was a nightmare... in fact all of my appointments have been. No-one had turned up so I waited an hour to see her before heading home. The surgery phoned for me to come back in at half 12 when I waited another hour for her because she was 'on her way'. Grrrrr.

A lovely quiet weekend planned, chilling before the return to school / work on Monday. Dd will be off on school journey so I'll be spending as much time as a 10 year old will let me with her

Kaybee7777 · 31/10/2006 12:09

Hi Gen!

Kiwibella, your mw sounds even worse than mine!

Hope everyone had a nice weekend. How was Wales Quokka? We had our antenatal class on Sunday - it's all starting to get a bit real now

Veggiemummy · 01/11/2006 22:06

hello all, welcome to Gen. I'm gonna keep checking the thread and popping into say hello sometimes, but wont get to meet up in until new year as that is when i finally finish up with work and DS finishes nursery. It has been extended a little as my team is really busy over christmas so need to stay at work til then but after that i'm free to be with my lovely baby boy full time yay.

Kiwibella i found a great baby & toddler group at the idea store in canary wharf on a tuesday morning. I know you have to have the child first (and a little young for your DD) but is there ready for when it comes out.

kiwibella · 03/11/2006 23:12

brilliant Veggie... thanks!! We like the new Idea Store and visit there from time to time, lots over the summer.

I'm off to Brisbane tomorrow... sounds exciting but really to support my father who is having major brain surgery. Atleast it will be warm... and I'm looking forward to scouring the supermarkets for anything familiar that I might be missing

Original poster
quokka · 04/11/2006 09:36

Hi Gen I'm in Gunnersbury so quite close to you, we should meetup soon . Theres a good kids cafe in Richmond called Hugos I think. For a rainy cold day as the kids play area is supposed to huge.

Kiwibella hope your dad is ok

Nice to see you both (Cori and Kaybee) the other week, can't believe that next time you will have a little bubs kaybee .

Wales was lovely the cottage was great, with lots of cows and sheep next door. We didn't do much which was brill and dh didn't get many calls from work

OP posts:
Kaybee7777 · 06/11/2006 10:15

Hi quokka, good to hear you had a nice week away.

I can't wait for this baby to be born now - just want to get it over with and get on with the whole 'baby' part

Off to pick up my TENS machine this morning from the hospital. Am driving our car now as DH has put me on our insurance, even though my uk licence hasn't arrived yet. It's nice to be able to drive places but am finding it quite uncomfortable driving while pregnant!!

Original poster
quokka · 06/11/2006 12:37

Kaybee you sound very organised and ready to go. I was driving to Ikea the day I was due with ds1 and dh thought I was mad . Let me know if theres anything I can do?

How are the classes going? Dh was so silly at our classes he was rolling his eyes and whispering, "I know all this why are we here". Then when I was in labour he had no idea what to do and what was happening - so typical!

OP posts:
Kaybee7777 · 06/11/2006 14:44

Hahaha I think I will be too embarrassed to go out anywhere near my due date, in case my waters broke and made a big mess everywhere!!! Stupid but that's my thinking!

The classes were good. DH behaved himself reasonably well, he actually seemed to take it all in and is fully on board the 'no pain relief' band wagon (unless I ABSOLUTELY have to have some). We got lots of info on positions for labouring in etc. All the men in the class were quite interesting in the breastfeeding part of the class, esp the knitted wool breast!

Original poster
quokka · 06/11/2006 16:51

your joking about the breast aren't you? God who would want to suck on that pmsl! Have I told you about the wonder of savoy cabbage in the first 2 weeks? That should make your dh do a double take!

OP posts:
Kaybee7777 · 06/11/2006 17:40

Yeah you did mention the savoy cabbage, and the NCT woman said the same thing. DH is looking foward to seeing me try that one!!!

I have a question for you about expressing breast milk? The NCT woman was saying that if you express and use that for your DH to feed bubs while you go to bed early, then your supply might go down as you are in effect missing a feed.... I don't like the sound of that, surely thats the point of it!!!!!!!

Original poster
quokka · 06/11/2006 19:27

Are you going to have a routine for bubs? If so your milk supply will be fine if you express at about 9 or 9:30pm as long as the last feed was at 7pm. Then dh can feed him at around 10-10:30pm, then he'll wake up again somewhere between 2 or 3am for you again. Don't worry this wont last forever! If you get enough milk into him during 7am till 7pm then his night feeds will drop which will be ideal. You will only get an extra 1hr sleep if dh does the 10pm feed but it's just the fact that you don't have to do that feed and you can rest that makes you feel better for the 3am feed.
You will be feeding every couple of hours at the begining, and I would actually suggest expressing during the day once or twice (first thing in the morning and mid morning). I don't mean emptying the breast totally just 30 - 60 ml. That way you will have milk to freeze or use as a top up when your tired. Also it will keep you milk supply up as you make as much as you use, iykwim. I hope that helps, and doesn't sound too confusing!

I'm so excited for you, think I'm feeling broody again! My neighbour has just asked me if I would consider looking after her 2yr dd, I'm temped by the money and to see what its like to have a girl in the house .

OP posts:
Kaybee7777 · 07/11/2006 09:47

Yes I am going to try and have a routine for bubs! I guess thou it will take a couple/few weeks before we can get a routine going, esp if hes feeding every couple of hours at first
I haven't bought a breast pump yet as I was going to see how things progress, but I hear those Advent Isis ones are supposed to be good. Did you have a manual or electric one?

2quokkasandaparetree · 07/11/2006 09:51

I have both, as I had ALOT of milk. You can always borrrow them? I have a really good electric one (cost about £90), it has 2 pumps so you can do them at the same time it's very quick.

Kaybee7777 · 07/11/2006 10:04

Oooh you've changed your screen name!

Hahaha just the thought of being 'hooked up' to two seems so much like milking a cow!!! Would love to borrow from you but not too sure if we'll get a chance to see each other before i need one

luckysmile · 07/11/2006 20:01

Hi,

Sorry to join in but I just discovered this thread. I am another aussie living in London, due with my first dd in January. Lovely to hear there are some other Australian mums around.

2quokkasandaparetree · 07/11/2006 20:51

Don't be sorry luckysmile welcome, where are you from? I have ds 2yrs and ds 9months and I'm from Perth

Kaybee maybe just get the avent hand pump (about £25) then If you want an electric one then I can pass it on? I'm planning on meeting the little fella

Kaybee7777 · 08/11/2006 11:31

Hi luckysmile, nice to see some more antipodeans coming out of the woodwork :-)

Quokka, might go look at breastpumps today You'll definately have to come and meet bubs when he decides to make an appearance No signs as yet though.....

2quokkasandaparetree · 10/11/2006 10:55

Kaybee - stop scaring people away!

Kaybee7777 · 10/11/2006 11:32

Oops sorry, did it again!!!

2quokkasandaparetree · 10/11/2006 11:44

it was ll that talk about breatspumps - did you get one?

Cori - you lurking, everyhting ok?

Kaybee7777 · 10/11/2006 12:16

Yeah that would do it wouldn't it! Haven't got one yet...
My Dad arrived yesterday so am off into London to see him and his partner today. Making sure I take my hospital notes with me just in case. !!!!
Any exciting plans for the weekend?

2quokkasandaparetree · 13/11/2006 19:26

hope your having a good time with your dad, any twinges yet?

cori · 13/11/2006 19:43

Hello, am still lurking around. Am OK, days are getting shorter and colder feels a bit depressing really. But am looking forward to Christmas, I have been really good and already got DS 1 main Christmas present.

Kaybee7777 · 14/11/2006 11:08

Hi Cori, I know how you feel, this weather is depressing isn't it!

No Quokka, no twinges yet that I know of. He hasn't even quietened down, still moves around like a mad thing! I thought he'd start to move less when he's getting ready to come out?!?!? Dad has gone off to Ireland and Paris so fingers crossed for some action while he's away...

How are your boys?

2quokkasandaparetree · 14/11/2006 12:14

You still have Oz weather on your mind! What work is it you do part time Cori?

Boys are good ds2 is cruising sround and likes to be chased at the mo. Ds1 is always jumping, might get him a little trampoline for xmas, or train set - what do you reckon Cori?