Here are the summaries that the Baby Talk Panel Nominees have provided. I have included both the Online (Non-Local) Panel Nominees as well as the agreed Local Panel Representatives. The vote only covers the Online Nominees.
Online Panel Nominee Summaries:
ninabeanie
Ok a little bit about me, bear with me cause I am not good at these things.....
Being a Mum - Well I am a Mum of two, a two year old and my SD who is 14. I suffer from PCOS and was told I would never have a child without IVF, after trying for six years and getting doctors to take me seriously I finally got referred and the week of my appointment I found out I was pregnant - Molly is without a doubt my own personal miracle. Lauren I have known since she was 1 and have been on all sides of the parenting cycle with her, from only seeing her every other weekend to fighting with social services and all in entails to ensure she was happy, safe and cared for. We gained full custody in 2009 and have never looked back. My own struggles have been depression from not conceiving, Gestational diabetes, PCOS, Breast Feeding, Silent Reflux in Molly, social services, court reports, dealing generally with teenagers which is a major skill!
On Me - my background is HR and I am 35. I am pretty much an easy going person, who thinks it takes all sorts to make the world go round. I am opinionated of course, and happy to share that opinion but I think I am quite respectful of other people and accepting.
On Hitched - I am part of the woodwork been here since 2001 when there was only one discussion board and about 30 users maximum (still in contact with the majority of them too!) this place has literally seen me through thick and thin, my divorce from husband no1, my marriage to Rob 9 years ago, the trials and tribulations of Lauren's battles, struggling with PCOS and my health in general and of course Miss Molly. I couldn't have done any of it without Hitched and more importantly Hitchers.
Why would I like to be part of the panel? Because I have been a hitcher for so long I would like to help us try and hold on to what we all love so much, whilst hopefully ironing out some of the issues we have. I have a varied background and have shared so many experiances on here I would like to stick around and share more as my children grow older and as new people join be able to offer them the support which I have recieved.
TheNinjaPigeon
Id be interested in being on the panel as I like to think I am good at putting forward the group view at the expense of my personal view. Working with barristers means I am capable of standing my ground but in a reasonable and reasoned way. On a personal note I am a thirty year old mum of one. I had a pretty easy labour but although I didn't post much about it here the support I got in that first 8 weeks post birth really helped me get through what I realise was a difficult time.
Most of all I love our community and want to fight for what's best for us as a whole.
Dumblespud
I originally began on WP and came over to BT when I started TTCing in Nov 09. BT is such a supportive place and people pull together and support others going through a difficult time. This support I experienced earlier this year when I had two consecutive mcs. It would be a shame if BT disappeared as there is such a wealth of knowledge between us and I would like to see it continuing for many years to come.
Madonna
My qualifications for this panel are solely my passion for the community of Hitched. Ive been here a bloody long time. My back story is, quite frankly, irrelevant. I simply hope I've made enough meaningful connections in 9 years to generate some support.
Mrs Cee
Well I've been here since 2001, and got married 2002. We started trying for a baby 2003 with no success, I found out I had premature menopause at 29 and was told the likeihood of conceiving naturally was nil, had 2 lots of ivf with my own eggs which didn't work. We finally decided in 2009 to go to Spain and use donor eggs. First go didn't work but 2nd go worked and we found out we were expecting twins. My pregnancy was pretty uneventful apart from some early bleeding until the twins decided to arrive 9 weeks early and i was plunged into the world of premmie babies. They were in hospital for 5 weeks whilst i got over the shock. The drama didn't end there my little girl got Pnemoccocal meningitis when she was 10 months old which thankfully she recovered from and had lots of aftercare hearing tests and physio, she has no side effect thankfully. Now my son is also with a physio because he has Hypermobility and this means he hasn't started walking yet as his ankles roll inwards. I like to think that the past nearly 3 years have given me a good insight into the world of twins and babies in general and I hope to be able to put my thoughts across if I get chosen for the panel having been here over 10 years.
**Pip**
I have been on hitched for a while now and came over to BT four years ago. I have, like others here, seen it go through changes - the change from yellow to purple and the exit of many of the previous members. It has been a lifeline of support for me through various difficult times in my pregnancy and parenting journey. I have gained so much knowledge from here and met some of my very best friends along the way. I have been here for four pregnancies and the births of my three children. I dont have any specific experience of websites or marketing. I do have experience of the journey that some of us go through and how it isnt always a smooth one. I hope that I have supported members on here as much as they have supported me over the years.
Pittabre
I am more than exceptionally flattered to be nominated and have been requested to sell myself to you...
This is my fifth attempt and I am determined not to delete this one. I care about the people on here. I grew up in a household where the example was not to care for others and I rebelled against that with all my heart. I don't care if I am remembered but if I can make a difference with some words that is important. I find it hard to jump to judge and would rather support someone whatever the circumstances. Most of all I would rather people were happy and then passed it on, so I try to take a less than serious point of view. Yet I love a good debate. I have lots of information but aren't as clear about my opinions.
I take 'Bugsy Malone' as my guide to life.
Houdini
I have been on Hitched for 3 years now, since getting engaged in 2009 and married in 2010. I, very luckily, fell pregnant on first cycle and went on to have a relatively trouble free pregnancy - barring a small bleed early on and horrific sickness! I am now a very new first time mum to M who is 18 days old. I feel I am coming to a point where H is going to be a huge source of knowledge and wisdom and it's this passion that makes me want to join the panel and keep the board going in the way the members would like. Without Hitched I don't know where I would be.
slightly mad
I have not been here that long compared to some, a mere 3 years. I have no background in marketing or anything else for that matter but I have lots of experience in family stuff. I have 6 kids ages 23 - 2, I have been a long term dtcer of 10 years. 1 of my children was born at 25 weeks due to placental abruption. I also have 2 SEN children and a dog. I am a SAHM as I gave up work to care for my daughter. On top of that I have 3 grandchildren and 2 on the way. Most of you know all this about me, so I am not telling you anything new. What I can say is that Hitched is a very dear place to me for lots of reasons and I love the community spirit we have going.
Thats about it really, can't think of anything else to say except hopefully I can represent you and be your voice.
Agreed Local Panel
Rusty the Clown
I joined Hitched in 2005, after Mr R proposed to me just 6 weeks into our relationship. We were married in September 2006, so nearly 6 years now. We have one daughter, Matilda, who was three in February. My pregnancy, whilst not terrible, has made me a pro at all-day-long sickness from the moment I got a BFP until the day I had her, 18 days late. I had a c-section and seem to produce offspring of the large kind (10lbs 11oz). Specialist subjects also include a dairy intolerant child and impressively putting on 5 stone whilst pregnant (did that make you all feel better?) I was in the Police until last month, but I now run an accountancy firm with my H and when I am not desperately trying to catch up with the housework, you will find me at the gym.
Bag of Bones
I think I can add value/input as one of the older ladies on here and as one who understands the sensitivities of DTCers, valuable members of our community.
My Hitched BT history started after my wedding in 2004 when we started to TTC. I went through 3.5 years DTCing and 4 miscarriages before having my daughter (after fertility treatment and steriods in pregnancy) in 2009. At nearly 41, I'm one of the eldest on here and have plenty of life experience. My daughter is a one and only by choice, partly as I enjoy my work life balance so much. I'd be looking for the new BT to increase its focus on parenting and school/family life rather than just TTC and the baby days.
Working Hard
I've been here since WP days and throughout my somewhat unexpected pregnancy as I had PCOS) and prem delivery of S. We also had many visits to hospital once he started nursery. Unfortunately I had a missed MC earlier this year too so have experience of a fair few issues that other hitchers might encounter. I'm a FT working mummy (but flexible enough to make any meetings for this). I like to think I'm pretty logical so I hope I would be useful on the local panel.
Sofa leopard
I've been here (counts on fingers) 9 years, from WP and OT in the old yellow days and then on BT since 2007. I have 2 girls (aged 3yrs and 3 months) and luckily had a pretty straightforward TTC journey but a bit of a sticky birth first time round (second time was much easier!) I work part time in Marketing (and have actually had a meeting with Hitched years ago to pitch a project but we couldn't make it work financially for both parties) but as I'm on mat leave I have a (teeny) bit more spare time at the mo. I've worked on media launches and rebranding projects so am familiar with what they are trying to achieve with the new site (I've worked on marketing projects for Mothercare and Huggies amongst others). I'd like to be on the panel as I've seen the Hitched communities through many changes over the years and have learned so much from BT (and gained some great friends, both online and IRL) so I'd hate for it to go down the pan now. I think we do still have a chance to make it work for most, if not all of us, if we can get Hitched HQ to listen. I see it as being a representative of people on here - this is the view I would go in with over any personal preferences.
stripeyrache
I'm a comparatively new member! Started on WP and moved over to BT just over a year ago. 2 mc's (chalked up to low progesterone) and am currently pregnant with my third time lucky baby, due in July. Background is marketing and events.
Margot
And a bit about me...I'm 32 and a primary school teacher, with 2 boys aged 4.5 and nearly 2. I've been on here for about 6 years now, although I was a bit of a lurker to start with and have been a lot more active over the last 3 or 4 years. I was lucky to have a relatively simple TTC and pregnancy journey both times, but I've still really appreciated the support here, especially with my non-sleeping toddler. This place means a lot to me and the friendships which I and others have formed through it, both virtually and in real life, are amazing. My main priority is to keep our community together and to represent people's views so we can make it as inclusive as possible. No marketing background or anything like that, but as someone who works with small children, common sense is definitely one of my key skills!