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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Expecting in Oxford in 2011 anyone?

366 replies

Jer79 · 05/03/2011 12:38

Wondering if anyone else is having a baby in Oxford this year (2011)? I am due in the summer and would love to meet other mothers-to-be who live around.

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CaringForPod · 09/03/2011 12:12

Ah, bummer, we're away that weekend (a final fling before the baby comes along!), so can't make the Wine Cafe meet up...

As for prams, we've gone for a Graco Quattro Tour Deluxe (trips off the tongue). We got it from Boots, so I got shed-loads of advantage points too Grin. Husband has played around with it, and seems happy with it. The only problem is that some of the wheels are huge, but it still fits in the boot of my 206.

PipCarrier · 09/03/2011 12:23

Thanks Jer...ah shame about the Wine Cafe - time doesn't work for me as little man naps 12-3 each day. Hope you all have a lovely time and hope to meet you all soon though. x

Jer79 · 09/03/2011 14:59

This is just a little warm-up meet-up to get things rolling, so we can definitely make sure that baby naptimes, lunchtimes and holidays are all taken into account when we plan the next one so we can all hopefully make it.

Updated list:

Steph28uk - March 21st 2011 - Abingdon (Girl) 3rd Baby
BeetleBaby - 7 April 2011 (though the 2 April by my dates!) - North Oxford - (gender still a mystery) 1st Baby.
CaringForPod - April 29th 2011 - Botley - (Boy) - 1st Baby

MrsGraham May 25th 2011 - Iffley Village - (Girl) 1st Baby
Pipcarrier - June 11th - North Oxford (don't know gender) 2nd Baby
Jasmine51 - June 16th 2011 (Boy) 1st baby
Jer79 - June 22nd 2011 - Jericho (Girl) 1st baby
Owlbooty - August 7th 2011 - Kennington (probably) (Boy) 1st Baby
AgBag - October 20th 2011 - Banbury 1st Baby

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owlbooty · 09/03/2011 15:13

I reckon I can make it :) Nice one Jer for trying to organise something :)

BeetleBaby · 10/03/2011 08:08

Just thought I'd give this a bump to make sure everyone who might want to come along has seen it! Smile

"Our First Meet-Up will be on Friday 18th March in Summertown at 2.30pm at the Summertown Wine Cafe.

There will be another one a few weeks later in Portabello Cafe in Summertown, but this first one is just to get the ball rolling."

jemski72 · 10/03/2011 10:26

Hi - I am kind of gatecrashing as I am actually having my 2nd baby in Reading but I am moving to Oxford at the end of the Summer so I am really keen to meet new mums in Oxford and find out a bit more about the area. So hope I can join this thread (and maybe meet all of you!)! I am 17 weeks pregnant and due on 18 August, 4 days after my little girl's birthday - I am sure she'll thanks us in years to come! I am also joining an NCT antenatal class at the end of May in Oxford but have no idea which one yet? For some reason much more nervous this time round but not sure whether or not this is because I know what to expect this time! Hope to hear back from you all. Jemma

Updated list:

Steph28uk - March 21st 2011 - Abingdon (Girl) 3rd Baby
BeetleBaby - 7 April 2011 (though the 2 April by my dates!) - North Oxford - (gender still a mystery) 1st Baby.
CaringForPod - April 29th 2011 - Botley - (Boy) - 1st Baby
MrsGraham May 25th 2011 - Iffley Village - (Girl) 1st Baby
Pipcarrier - June 11th - North Oxford (don't know gender) 2nd Baby
Jasmine51 - June 16th 2011 (Boy) 1st baby
Jer79 - June 22nd 2011 - Jericho (Girl) 1st baby
Owlbooty - August 7th 2011 - Kennington (probably) (Boy) 1st Baby
AgBag - October 20th 2011 - Banbury 1st Baby
Jemski72 - August 18 2011, Reading, 2nd baby, no idea if boy or girl!

PipCarrier · 10/03/2011 10:50

Hi Jemma, congratulations on your 2nd. I'm on my 2nd too, my little boy is 16 months old - what's the age gap going to be between yours?

Do you know whereabouts in Oxford you're moving to yet?

jemski72 · 10/03/2011 11:33

Lily is almost 19 months now so a bundle of fun and energy! So she will be just 2 when the next one comes along! We're not sure where we are going to move to yet and just starting to have a scout around. Tim, my partner, works in the centre of Oxford so we want to try and be quite central and close to nurseries and schools... But as we don't know the area terrible well in terms of somewhere somewhere to live, we are really looking for any advice possible!

Whereabouts are you? Any suggestions?

Congrats on your 2nd too! It's all a big adventure!

PipCarrier · 10/03/2011 11:38

We're in a little village just north of Oxford.

Depends what you like really, we like village life and there are lots of nice ones around Oxford. If you like it a bit busier then Summertown is lovely and easy to get into the centre of Oxford from there.

Also depends a lot on budget of course!

2nd time is great isn't it - all the fun of the first time but without the nerves!

Jer79 · 10/03/2011 12:56

Hi Jemski, great to have you.

Oxford is a fantastic place to live, and it has neighbourhoods for every preference/budget - I rate Jericho massively, but we have come very close to moving to the town side of Cowley Road and will eventually move that way I think. Both areas have great cafes, an independent cinema, good places for eating out be it takeaway or a celebration, good shops (Jericho has cute ones, but Cowley Road has all the best practical ones) and really nice parks nearby. I don't know west Oxford around Botley so well, but there are a few people on here who do.

Before I became pregnant my priorities for an area were so different to now! Now it's all about baby places, so cafes, parks, mother-and-baby groups all feature really highly. Summertown is great for these too.

Have you found Dailyinfo.co.uk? It is great for finding places to live and it's also really good (I've only recently appreciated this!) for baby things - so with a toddler and newborn there are a lot of mother-and-baby coffee things and toddler activities in their Babies and Children section, and in their What's On For Kids section.

Also, the Big Scream at the Phoenix will be a life-saver I think! They show a current film once a week where you can only go in if you have a baby! This week's one looks a bit too baby-related, but mostly it's the main film they have going like Black Swan or The King's Speech a few week's ago. I think it's less to do with keeping up with the Oscars than helping us to meet each other and stay a little bit sane.

If you know you're coming to Oxford in the next few months to suss out neighbourhoods, we can try and arrange one of the meet-ups to fall when you're here.

On the coming Meet-Up, thanks Beetlebaby for bumping it there.

Looks like it's Jasmine51, Owlbooty, Beetlebaby and myself definitely able to make this one, and the Summertown Wine Cafe is where we'll be on Friday the 18th at 2.30 if anyone fancies popping along.

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Jer79 · 10/03/2011 12:59

Oh and Steph28 - just thinking today how close you are getting! Good labour vibes coming at you - 11 days!!

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bubbablubber · 10/03/2011 15:13

Could I invite myself to the meet up? Am not technologically minded enough to be able to update the list from my phone but I'm due March 24th with my first, a girl.

Would like to meet more mums around Oxford

bubbablubber · 10/03/2011 15:15

Oh forgot to add I'm in east Oxford :)

Jer79 · 10/03/2011 16:17

Excellent that you can make the Wine Cafe meet-up Bubbablubber.

UPDATED LIST

Steph28uk - March 21st 2011 - Abingdon (Girl) 3rd Baby
Bubbablubber - March 24th 2011 - East Oxford -(Girl) 1st Baby
BeetleBaby - 7 April 2011 (though the 2 April by my dates!) - North Oxford - (gender still a mystery) 1st Baby.
CaringForPod - April 29th 2011 - Botley - (Boy) - 1st Baby
MrsGraham May 25th 2011 - Iffley Village - (Girl) 1st Baby
Pipcarrier - June 11th - North Oxford (don't know gender) 2nd Baby
Jasmine51 - June 16th 2011 (Boy) 1st baby
Jer79 - June 22nd 2011 - Jericho (Girl) 1st baby
Owlbooty - August 7th 2011 - Kennington (probably) (Boy) 1st Baby
Jemski72 - August 18 201 - Reading, 2nd Baby, No idea if boy or girl!
AgBag - October 20th 2011 - Banbury 1st Baby

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CaringForPod · 11/03/2011 10:44

Just like to give a big thumbs up to West Oxford and Botley to Jemski.

It's not as trendy as North Oxford, but it's quite nice feeling like you're out of the city, while it's dead easy to get in to the centre too (30 minute walk or so, or a quick bus ride). It's easy to get out to the countryside, too.

Downside is there aren't as many baby/mummy places. The children's centre is pretty good, but there aren't many cafes and no cinema etc. The shopping precinct has a couple of supermarkets, charity shops, restaurants, PO and a smattering of funeral homes for good measure!

But, like I said, it's really easy to get into town, even with a buggy in tow (loads of bus services, or the walk is flat). And it's nice to feel like you're going out, rather than just staying in the same area all day, if you know what I mean. I'll definitely be making my way to the Phoenix for the baby-friendly films.

Oh, and it has a good sports centre up at the Brookes campus, that is really cheap for local people. They have Water Babies swimming lessons there, that I'll definitely be taking little one too. And when you're feeling up to it, there's a pool, gym, squash courts...if you walk up past the sports centre, you're out in the open countryside too, which is lovely.

Not sure how prices compare with the rest of the city though.

So, overall, it really depends on what your priorities are. If you really want to be on the doorstep of all the city amenities then it's probably not for you. But, if you value being close to the countryside and open spaces, then I'd definitely consider it.

Anyway, that's my sales pitch over! DailyInfo is a great resource, as has already been mentioned - I've got several baby bits and bobs from the classifieds on there, and it;s great for finding out what's going on.

Hope this helps Smile

EvaLongoria · 11/03/2011 18:32

Hi All

Just wondering if I could join you lovely ladies as well. I normally check the Local page quite often but lately just using the laptop is a pain so mostly browse with my phone.

I am due my 2nd on the 18th March. My DD is 3 years old. We do not know the sex of this one yet. Could have had a c-section today but for whatever reason agreed for a VBAC. So praying it comes quick. I had EMCS with DD.

BTW we are in Witney so quite a distance away. But with DD in nursery some mornings or days I am sure I can easily fit in with meetups
Oh and having baby at the JR. Planned to have DD in Chipping Norton back in 2007 (when we lived there) but she was way overdue and we ended up at the JR. This time we in Witney and I am under a consultant at the JR due to complications last time.

EvaLongoria · 11/03/2011 18:36

I'll Update the list

EvaLongoria - 18th March 2011 - Witney (Mystery Gender) 2nd Baby
Steph28uk - 21st March 2011 - Abingdon (Girl) 3rd Baby
Bubbablubber - 24th March 2011 - East Oxford -(Girl) 1st Baby
BeetleBaby - 7 April 2011 (though the 2 April by my dates!) - North Oxford - (gender still a mystery) 1st Baby.
CaringForPod - 29th April 2011 - Botley - (Boy) - 1st Baby
MrsGraham - 25th May 2011 - Iffley Village - (Girl) 1st Baby
Pipcarrier - 11th June 2011 - North Oxford (don't know gender) 2nd Baby
Jasmine51 -16th June 2011 (Boy) 1st baby
Jer79 - 22nd June 2011 - Jericho (Girl) 1st baby
Owlbooty - 7th August 2011 - Kennington (probably) (Boy) 1st Baby
Jemski72 - 18th August 2011 - Reading, 2nd Baby, No idea if boy or girl!
AgBag - 20th October 2011 - Banbury 1st Baby

Jer79 · 13/03/2011 12:22

Hi Evalongoria

Where are you all choosing/thinking of choosing to have your baby? I'm going for the delivery floor of the JR as I think I want an epidural, but just wondering if most of you are thinking of the Spires or Wallingford or somewhere else?

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Jer79 · 17/03/2011 06:06

Hi everyone,

Our first Oxford mothers-to-be meet-up is tomorrow in Summertown, at 2.30pm at the Summertown Wine Cafe.

There will be another one a few weeks later in Summertown, but this first one is just to get the ball rolling.

Hopefully see you all soon!

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Jer79 · 17/03/2011 06:18

GOOD LUCK EvaLongoria (18th March), Steph28uk (21st March), and Bubbablubber (24th March)!

Really hoping you all have exactly the births you are hoping for. Come back and tell us how it all went!

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toomuchteaching · 17/03/2011 07:45

Hi, this is kind of cheating because I've already had my baby in Oxford, Jemima was born on January 17th at the JR, but can I join in? I'd like to find more things to do babywise, I'm not originally from around here. We're in a small village just north of Oxford.

Happy to answer any questions about the JR in my limited first baby experience!

BeetleBaby · 17/03/2011 09:14

You're more than welcome to join us toomuch All advice and experience is welcomed by this first timer! Smile

I second the Good Luck to those that are due in the very near future. Hope it all goes well and your babies don't keep you waiting too long after your due dates!

I'm looking forward to tomorrows meet up, though do have an image of us all turning up clutching guides to pregnancy to identify ourselves, in the same way people on blind dates in films always have a book with a rose in! Grin

marthamay · 17/03/2011 09:51

Hello everyone, do you mind if I tentatively join in?
It's very early days for me, just got a BFP yesterday! Not getting too excited just yet, in a week maybe.....
I'm also in Oxford actually living at Wolfson College in Summertown and as I am soon to be a full time SAHM with my DS#1 (he's 10 months old) I'd like to meet some more people around the place.
I don't think I'll be able to make it to meet you all this week but I'd love to come next time!

Some of you are so very nearly due - it's amazing. A big GOOD LUCK from me. It feels like only yesterday I was giving birth to my DS at the JR I hope you all have a fantastic birth experience and get one of those super fantastic JR midwives.

I didn't have the best first birth. Wanted to be in the spires but ended up in delivery ward. This time I'd really like to have a home birth.

Hopefully get to meet some of you soon! Smile

Jer79 · 17/03/2011 10:53

Hi toomuch and marthamay it's great to have you. It'll be really nice to meet you and your babies at the next meet-up - Summertown should be pretty easy from Wolfson, Marthamay, and hopefully not too far from your village Toomuch. Give us your due dates and we'll add you onto the list.

'Super fantastic JR midwives' - now there's a sentence to make an expectant JR mother happy. I hope you get your home birth this time MM.

Beetlebaby It'll be great to meet you tomorrow - fortunately we have a pretty good giveaway, you in particular Mrs-three-weeks-away. Plus it's pretty dozy up there in the mornings which is why it's so nice, people see the Wine Cafe bit and presume it isn't really a coffee cafe. Such comfy chairs!

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jemski72 · 17/03/2011 14:50

Hi Ladies,

Sorry it has taken me so long to post back but as usual, Lily and my job have got in the way. I dread to think how I will manage with 2! But really looking forward to meeting him and her and just starting to feel the little kicks now so all beginning to become more 'real' now!

Thank you SO MUCH for all your really helpful information regarding Oxford, areas to live and useful places to look further for info. Wish we were moving to Oxford now! Hope you all have a great meet up tomorrow and really hope I can join in one soon!

We are booked into the NCT group in South Hinksey on 29 May. Is anyone else joining or thinking of joining this group? Or any other NCT group?

Jemma