GinaG3

There's me and my partner talking about another baby in the next 2 years then I go and make him watch it! Silly me. Once again cried at both births and felt sorry for both of them. Then I remembered the best bit of advice I was given - concentrate the screaming to the pushing!

Snap crystal exactly the same with my daughter. She is now one of the most intelligent, bright, cheerful and happy little girls. Nothing was ever wrong she just wasn't by the book with her weight. I do genuinely think unless your instincts tell you something is wrong with your child they are probably just fine. Hopefully stories of other mothers going through it will help you feel reassured. Toddler-hood is a totally different ball game now, the independence and confidence is growing. They start to test where the boundaries lie. Believe me, I'm a witness! My daughters most used word for the past 3 weeks is, NO!!! But she isn't naughty she just always seems to test our reactions to her behaviour. On the other hand last night we spent the night watching her perform the whole twinkle twinkle little star song into the handle of her scooter, its not all too bad!

Very common around that age. My daughter did the same for weeks on end and it would worry me silly but she still had masses of energy even if she had only had a couple mouthfuls of something and a little yogurt all day! She still goes through the phase and is 2 in 2 weeks. Every few weeks she just point blank refuses to eat. Best to just continue offering food as usual, if he doesn't want it just leave it a while and see if he picks at it. Don't let it frustrate you because he will pick up your agitated and continue to wind you up. Just let him get on with it as he wishes I'd say. We did this and its fine, sometimes she isn't hungry, sometimes she is! It will all even out I'm sure. Think if he is still full of energy he must be running on something.. All the best, it can be very worrying and frustrating.

Fuschia, how long have you been in this pattern with him? Having read what you've said I'd be inclined to try giving more EBM at slightly longer intervals and see how he does. Would definitely get the tongue tie rechecked aswell!! If he is averaging around 25oz in 24h I'd say thats not bad at all, if you could get it more toward 30oz that would be great and you may find he is a bit more satisfied and sleepy. Unrelated to tongue tie but my daughter was unable to latch for 2 months and the nights were horrendous feeding. I sympathize with you a million times over. Hope you can get a 3 hours night nap in soon..

Facebook Nurse-in - Friday 7th Jan 12.30pm Nearly 2,000 people today are protesting via profile pictures against the extreme moves of facebook against breastfeeding. I'm in, anyone else who isn't too shy if you want to do it, do it. All you have to do is display a breastfeeding picture or international breastfeeding logo from today at 12.30pm

Research and clinical trials across the world suggest breastfeeding as a contraceptive to be 99% effective if done correctly. This would put the effectiveness of the method on level with condoms and a variety of other contraception methods available worldwide. To achieve the best results your baby can be no more than 6 months old, should be fed night and day (straight from the breast) without any long periods of time without a feed and cant be taking any other liquid or solids. For ultimate effectiveness it supposedly helps if your baby goes straight to the breast after birth, is not given any expressed milk also you should feed through illness of mother or baby. Of course your monthly periods cannot of returned or this method will likely fail. Clinical trials in Chile, Pakistan and the Philippines studied the effectiveness of LAM (lactational amenorrhea method) and came to the conclusion it was 98-99% effective. Studies on 422 women in Chile ended with only 1 woman becoming pregnant whilst practicing the method, of 391 practicing in Pakistan only 1 also became pregnant and of 485 women practicing the method in the Philippines only 2 women became pregnant during the trial. A study in Italy as early as 1988 followed the use and data of LAM to predict a rate of 98% effectiveness if the main 3 criteria were met. Very interesting stuff, 'Breastfeeding prevents pregnancy by inhibiting ovulation and in cases where ovulation and fertilization do occur, by inhibiting implantation of a fertilized egg.' but a lot of health providers are still reluctant to discuss breastfeeding as a method of contraceptive and would rather prescribe a fully tested and safe (not that breastfeeding isn't, or natural) contraceptive pill recognized as a major contraceptive right across the world.

Should be acceptable for you to breastfeed anywhere now. Breastfeeding mothers are protected under the human rights bill now. Your baby is protected too. I'd go wherever you like and if anyone says anything you can remind them they are the one infact breaking the law. Your under shall we say double rights with a baby under 6 months as it also comes under maternity rights too. Do your thing mummy and congratulations x

Postman delivered to me at the Harvester at about 8.30pm a few weeks ago. I also left my house on NYE at around 4.30pm when I got home the next day the postman had left a parcel on my doorstep all night. Glad it wasn't nicked it was quite a expensive order I had placed in a less convincing sized box but still shouldn't of been left there at all!

Its a complete an utter joke. Younger generations are only going to find it harder and harder. The more lads mags 'glamorize' nudity and explicit poses the more girls feels they have to live up to. In turn reducing the already low breastfeeding rates in 16-24 year olds in case of sagging or general cosmetic wear and tear (mythical or not). Its such a shame, it really is. I'm 20 myself, and my daughter is just about to turn 2, I'm still breastfeeding! Good thing is I'm not affected by peer pressure, whereas a lot of girls are. I'm the generation of girls where we believe were less than the girls in the magazines and have a lot of insecurities about our own bodies. A lot of my friends find it wrong that I'm still breastfeeding but it really doesn't bother me I'm trying to do the best for my baby and that I have done. P.s probably 80% of my friends in the 16-24 category (lol) have or will bottlefeed, purely for vanity!

Typical, they should be pulling all sexually explicit material that's still on there. I wonder how many complaints they got in the first place to start this war on breastfeeding. Can imagine the numbers are much exaggerated. It's insane breastfeeding is a positive thing I'd rather see my daughter grow up in a world where she saw the positive effects of a womans breasts as opposed to airbrushed naked perfection scrawled across every little nook and cranny making her think she has to be or look like a glamour model to get by in life. I need a time machine.

I've got no choice other than to go NHS. I guess I will just have to sit on it a couple more months (or years..) Think I will try getting a referral straight to a dermatologist. Now I just have to sway doctors thinking of hives for a full investigation. I'm not wrong for wanting answers am I? I always get told to think about the costs to the NHS before I push something. But how can you live with something for 3 years and have no answers to your entire medical history, just 'normal' ailments that most obviously to my mind aren't. Saff, do you have a medical background? Ive looked up more on your suggestions and they don't pop out at me screaming 'this is it' but appreciate your help all the same. I'm only 20, I don't really want to be going through all this. Its really preying on my mind, heavily. Thanks for all comments so far.. x

Good that he enjoys it and is taking GCSE's too!! I was home schooled from year 9, my sister from year 8 and my brother from year 2. Me and my sister opted out of taking our GCSEs, doubt my brother will do them either to be honest. Home schooling never worked for me and my sister as we refused to learn at home (we were removed from school and moved 100+ miles away from 'our lives' - rebellion). My brother up until recently has been doing online maths via Carol Vorderman, he should now be in year 8. My mum and dad took an extremely laid back route to home schooling and it was all online. My brother got involved in many activities outside of education such as swimming and scouts etc. We were inspected every few months and education inspector was always happy with progress regardless of lack of key stage curriculum. He is above and beyond his peers and a very intelligent young boy who seems to have learnt everything gradually and at his own pace. Best of luck to you with it all. I'm sure there are plenty of home schoolers in Dulwich area, forum is just a bit quiet after Christmas.

In my mind you should boil any water until 1 year. I started giving my daughter tap water not previously boiled from about 15 months. Unsure about bottled water, advice differs all over. I think personally I'd stick to boiled for a little while longer.

I want to try vibration plates also. Imagining it being 110% out of my price range though and can't view the website. Does anybody know the pricing?

Thanks you for everybodys advice and over PMs too. First I have to find a doctor who will listen to me. I'm at Melbourne Grove and know I should change already but never got round to it. No GP will see me in Dulwich unless I'm 'their' patient. Problem with MG is you see a different person every single time, I just want a regular GP that will listen and take me seriously. I had to really push the fact I needed to be seen by a gyne and took about 5 appointments with various GP and practice nurses to get a referral that took 2 and half months whilst suffering absolute chronic abdominal pain. I just get treated like the biggest hypochondriac and all I want is answers for my daughters sake. Is it going to be quicker to try and get a referral to a dermatologist or should I just wait to be recommended a good doctor specialising in rheumatology or such like?! I'm determined this year to get it all sorted and get on with my life again. Rant, rant, rant, I'm so sorry EDF'ers!

It does blanch slightly yes but doesn't totally disappear when pressed. No trigger for it at all, wake up with it in the morning and wait for it to slowly fade out, sometimes it doesn't. It comes out darker in water, but dont really think thats relevant. The rash appears to share the appearance of livedo reticularis. I can match up to 8 symptoms with Lupus so I'm going to find a recommended Lupus doctor to talk to. Next mission, although I have to wait until the charity offices open on January 4th. I'm feeling so frustrated and stressed out with it all now, thanks for the responses already.

They have not. Funny you should say it though, its on my 'possibility' list. I suffer too many symptoms attached to systematic lupus and the rash does have discoid (sp?) appearance. I doubt doctors will even consider it though, they see me so much I don't think they actually believe me anymore..

I think you made the best choice. I remember leaving my daughter for the first time literally to go out for a drink 5 minutes away. I was fretting for hours and I was only 5 minutes down the road let alone in another country. Plenty of time to do things for yourself, much easier with toddler who likes a bit of time to themselves too.

I want somebody with medical knowledge please.. Doctors are useless with me, and I give up totally!!! I have suffered a 'underskin' rash for just over 3 years now. I first noticed it (could of gone unnoticed still for months) when I arrived back in the country after a holiday in Ibiza summer 2007. Since that time I have been researching my little heart out trying to find an answer. Doctors can only be shown pictures as the rash wasn't very persistent (every 3 days or so for about 1-3 hours) but is now daily and lasting upto 24-48 hours. It doesn't itch, it doesn't raise out of the skin. Ive been tested for several things which came negative (this was 2 years ago) and have also been told it could just be Ulticaria - just hives isn't it? If so, not that! Doesn't itch!! Best advice doctors can give is to rush to A&E when the rash appears. Then what? I waste A&E time over a rash that doesn't physically bother me at all just looks really ugly and must have a reason to be there, that I would like to know. The rash started on just my arms, now spreading to legs, abdomen, chest and hands. It has never appeared on my face or feet. It just generally getting much worse in appearance. Ah thats a good one, its appearance. I'm like a leopard! It is actually a purple and red leopard print rash. For extra information my father suffered with the same thing for years, was seen by top dermatologists and tropical skin experts (as he has basically traveled the whole world, it could of been picked up from any country in the world) - no answer was ever found, and it was labeled a massive mystery. I cant go on without an answer, its driving my insane now! I'm taking a shot in the dark here, but I cant be bothered to go sit down A&E for 4 hours to be told its just a rash or I've wasted their time. My mind wonders could it be circulation, or underlying medical? There are a million and one other things wrong with me that 'cant be diagnosed or tested/scanned' because 'it costs the NHS too much money!' I feel sooo let down. EDITED: TO ADD PICTURE - feeling embarrassed! http://img802.imageshack.us/img802/962/16648248824260804751662.jpg

Personally I couldn't leave my daughter, even now at 2 I've never spent one night away from her. Its a very personal choice, just make sure you feel right with your decision, if you even get a niggle I wouldn't go.

Maison blanc. One on fulham road I believe. Always had our cakes made at one in Oxford. Gorgeous!

Best to be safe than sorry with both telling the refuge and not opening the door.

I wish I could watch but I don't think I can quite sit at my mother-in-laws all day watching people give birth live on TV and make everyone else put up with it too. I loved the last series though. I'd be sitting there all day crying my eyes out.. For this reason, I cannot bring myself to train as a midwife!

Im still waiting for parcel ordered 3rd November, Amazon wont refund till back in their possession. Ridiculous! 6 weeks for a book..

Ruth, snap snap snap on all your posts. I'm training my man into the 21st century after growing up in a house where the women does everything. To be fair though his mother likes to have everything just so, like me really! I like things on slant (ie. candles on slant, photo frame on slant) OH comes behind me and straightens everything, that tells you something! Although he is handy with hoover.. Thankfully, I hate hoovering, with a toddler especially (who plays chicken with it)!!