Michele

ooo, Mr Dimbleby and Co (inc. Tony Benn) were recently at our daughter's school for the live broadcast - I recommend anyone to go along, it was very good, enlightening and professional, whilst being warm and welcoming. Michle

Oh my giddy aunt!!! Yet another bizarre idea! The very latest evidence-based research is to only milk feed up until 6 months old here in the UK. (OK I'm sure lots of ppl ignore that, but not as early at 3 months old.) And as for fluoride - I added drops in 1990 as recommended by my Health Visitor, but by 1994 with the second we had stopped, it depends on your local regional water authority. I've asked about it lately, and no-one knows about it anymore. Remember that the teeth are forming in the gums long before they ever sprout, so anything remotely sweet with absorb through the gum and attack the teeth whilst they are forming.... tum te tum Michle

Oh, sorry I thought this was going to be a thread about Service Aprs Vente... *oops look I'm being cynical* m

hmm I guess it depends how many hours *exactly* they are talking about? I see both POV! Isn't there some sort of verboten thing anyway about volunteering in the State system? When I offered my services to the maternelle, they were polite but adamant that it was just not allowed. However, I did give English lessons in my daughter's (private R/C) school - they fell over themselves to get me in there (lol)! I used the BBC Muzzy video and workbook - but working with them (CE2) was certainly an education from my perspective If you can come to some sort of regular but ad hoc-ish, no ties if you can't make it, type of arrangement - I would encourage it, wouldn't it be better for local relations? m

Hi Debbie you've prob. had your baby now, but the one word that springs to mind is "douleur" Hope you didn't experience too much of it - Bonne Chance m

ooo helpful post! TY!! Does anyone know what difference it makes, in / if you join the Brittany Home Owners' Club? thanks Michle

ooo helpful post! TY!! Does anyone know what difference it makes, in / if you join the Brittany Home Owners' Club? thanks Michle

Hi This might not be particularly helpful, but friends went to Belgium to a Ford dealership for a RHD Galaxy, which they imported into France. It was ordered specially for them, 2nd hand, and a good price. And they live in 01... way aways from Belgium ;) I think the idea was, "in case they ever moved back to the UK," but so far (4 yrs later!) they haven't. Incidentally, I drove my RHD for the whole time (5 yrs), I was in France, much to everyone's amazement. *shrugs* !! m

Hi! I can't find anywhere on the forum to introduce myself, so thought it was OK to do it here!! I am really pleased to stumble across this website today, I wished I had known about it when we lived in the Pays de Gex for 5 years... (is there a *rolls eyes smilie?*!) Now we have a house in Ile et Vilaine, but are usually resident in Hampshire. Just wondered if there were any others out there, and also if anyone knows about any English speaking Churches? bientot! Michle

Hi I am new to this forum, so apologies if this information is sitting elsewhere! As a student midwife, I am toying with the idea of spending my elective placement at the end of the 2nd yr (next summer), at a maternity hosp in Brittany. Is there anyone who can suggest such a hospital - my house is entre Mt St Michel, Fougres and Rennes. I would also appreciate any comments of experiences of maternity care and labour experiences in France. (I am already really surprised you don't get access to NOO2 - nitrous oxide/oxygen) ... what would be the various "levels" of pain relief, from the least to the greatest? thanks in advance Michle

LAST EDITED ON 30-Apr-04 AT 10:11 AM (BST) Hi Alistair and Emma-Jane (and everyone else, as I have just found this forum by chance! Is there a new member thread for introductions?) I am a student midwife in the South of England, with a home in Brittany, and almost 5 yrs experience of life in France (on the Swiss border). I am really interested to read all these ladies replies. I think you should consider the options of midwifery led care in the UK. All women have a named midwife who would routinely undertake ante-natal care. I recommend you enquire in your area, if there are any caseloading midwifery teams. This is IMHO by far the best service the NHS currently offers. What this means is, that your midwife will come to your home to "book" you at around 12 weeks, and undertake all your care in the home, including routine blood tests, and refer you for anything particular like scans or to a Consultant if necessary. You will have prob. seen your GP first for referral. If you get a caseloading team, your midwife (or one that you may have met in the team, eg, at Parentcraft/ a/n classes) will accompany you into the hospital, or come to your home as you have chosen. The essence of midwifery care in the UK, is "woman-centred" care, with informed choices by the woman, and good holistic care of her and the whole family. If you are well informed, you get better outcomes, less intervention, less medicalised prescriptive care. Obviously, post-natally, your midwife will come to the house (daily or as req.) for anything up to 28 days, where you get support integrated by the Health Visitor as already discussed. This is not only v. convenient, free, but a wonderful support mechanism - especially for breast-feeding support. If you get a good midwife, you should have a positive experience whatever the labour entails. This is something that will be a pivotal experience in your lives, it's really refreshing to see your considerations at this time. anything else you want to know, please ask! regards Michle *who is just a tad disappointed that the registration process wouldn't allow her accent grave!! ;)*