Saffron

I flew LOADS for work/uni when I was pregnant, and foetus & I were fine. Every airline has a different policy about their cutoff point. EasyJet always asked how many weeks pregnant I was, and they had an early cutoff (probably makes their insurance less, hah!). British Airways had the latest cutoff and never hassled me. At 33/34 wks, in addition to thinking about what would happen if you had your baby away from home, you also need to think about how flying will make you feel while you're pregnant. I wasn't bothered, but some women find it uncomfortable. xx

If you're only out for a couple of hour and can keep the expressed milk cool, it should be fine to put back in the refrigerator. Your midwife/HV should be able to give you info on local b/fing cafes, and I'm sure you can get lots of recommendations on the Forum! :-) xx

I read some research (sorry, can't find the reference at the moment) that suggested that if it's truly cradle (ie, fungal infection of the scalp) and not just flaky skin, then adding oil can worsen the condition or prevent it from improving b/c the cradle cap fungus feed on oil.

You also have the option to vaccinate immediately after exposure. Vaccination within 3-5 days of exposure can reduce the risk of developing an active case of CP by 70-90%. Complete immunization requires a booster at 6 wks, and another in the teen years is highly recommended. You might want to consider vaccination particularly if you have older children who have been exposed to CP, as the active infection does seem to be worse in older children compared to babies. Vaccination is available privately. My daughter had hers done at the MediCentre at Vic Sta. They seemed the most reasonable for cost. Also, some medical experts are now recommending the CP vaccination to older adults to help prevent shingles. xx

I had an IUD fitted 6 wks postpartum by a doctor at the Surgery on Forest Hill Road. I think I just had to book it as a double appointment b/c it takes a little longer than a normal app obviously. But in general I can't recommend this surgery. I have a very low opinion of a few of the GPs/HVs there (although the Oakwood Midwives are fantastic). We have since moved house and changed GPs now. However, I think one of the Nurse Practitioners there is qualified to do IUDs. When I had an IUD fitted previously, I was living in north London. Then I had to go the the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead. They told me this was b/c I hadn't had a baby yet. It's meant to be more difficult the dilate the cervix if you're nulliparous. I didn't have a great experience a the Royal Free Hampstead (a lot of waiting, student drs seeming a bit confused, typical rude receptionists, etc), but it was nowhere near 4 hrs waiting! You should think about filing a complaint with the PCT that oversees Camberwell Clinic.

Emily Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > 'would you like a school based > on bizarre superstitions ...? erm... did anyone else's parents send them to Catholic school? Yeah, pretty weird. Grain of salt, people, grain of salt.

IPL is NOT a laser. It is very gentle and can target just problem areas. It works by stimulating the skin deep within the dermis. It kills bacteria deep within the skin where topical treatments can't reach, and encourages new skin cells to grow. It's actually better to treat acne prone skin sooner rather than later. Earlier treatment means spots are less likely to scar. You son might also benefit from some time in the sun (or a very short session on a tanning bed, depending on his age of course). Small doses of UV light are known to improve many skin conditions including acne/spots. Be careful though, as too much exposure would make things worse. If you're looking for 'natural' remedies, try mixing a few drops of tea tree oil with sea salt and a splash of water. Use this as a weekly scrub in the bath or before a shower, but don't scrub too hard. Also, for treating individual spots, apply a little natural toothpaste before bed, let dry, wash off in the morning.

Look for products with salicylic acid. These are very helpful for mild/moderate acne. For moderate to severe acne, I would recommend IPL (Intense Pulsed Light). This is similar to laser skin resurfacing, but less painful and less expensive. When I still had acne in my early 20s, I saved up for a few courses of IPL. It was terrific, and the results were really long-lasting for me. I had mine at The Private Clinic in Harley Street, but there are other licensed clinics in London. xx

Peanut butter works very well (good for getting gum out of hair too). Also many labels are affixed with heat. The glue sets as it cools. So if you want to remove a sticky label, try heating it with a hairdryer then gently pulling the label away.

'The Continuum Concept' by Jean Liedloff 'The Wonder Weeks' by H. Vanderijt & F. Plooij

A small nightlight is helpful for night feeding and changing. Some baby monitors have a light on them. Make sure to put it somewhere you can easily reach in the dark. Our baby monitor also gives a temperature reading for the baby's room on the parent end. Even if Baby is sleeping mostly with you to start, it's good to do naps in the nursery. In which case I second the recommendation for a blackout blind or heavy curtains. We bought an adjustable one with suction cups that can go on almost any window. If you want to give a cottop changer a try, you're welcome to ours. It fits standard 70x140 cm cotbed, white wood with wipe-clean changing mat. I found it really useful when Little Saff was quite small. Although if you have room for a fouton in the nursery, you'd probably do just as well to change Baby on there. You might want to consider getting a baby hammock instead of moses basket. We had an Amby hammock, but there are other brands out there. A chest of drawers or open shelves are fine as long as you secure them to the wall, for one day when your LO wants to climb on them! A radio/cd player in the nursery is a nice idea too. xx

My lovely cleaner has Mondays free. She is ?10/hr, but so worth it. Get in touch if anyone is interested. xx

We started adding some formula for Little Saff around 7mo... also didn't help with the sleep. And sometimes she would refuse a bottle at night and just want to b/f. Even though she was eating LOADS of solids, that didn't help her sleep either. Some babies are just wakeful. It's really though! I know sometimes she was just waking for comfort too. And even though I hate dragging myself out of bed in the middle of the night, I have always loved that I'm able to give her what she needs, whether food or comfort or both. Good sleep is such a milestone that Hubby and I marked it on our calendar the first time Little Saff ever slept through the night. We plan to celebrate it every year as a very special kind of anniversary. We're going to leave Little Saff with friends overnight and book ourselves into the Zetter Hotel Clerkenwell for some much deserved pampering!

Buggy Pit Stop might also be able to help. http://www.buggypitstop.co.uk/default.html They were really friendly when I needed replacement parts for my bugaboo gecko, although I did have to phone and email them a lot. They are only a small business, so I guess they get busy? I ordered parts from their website. You can also drop off your buggy for repair. Hope that helps. x

Little Saff was a snacker, b/fing every 1.5 hrs. She was a night-nurser and a cluster feeder. It was so difficult. She's only just started sleeping though with any regularity at 1 year old. I'm sure my sanity has been permanently tweaked. SG88, you have all my sympathy! Of course it doesn't sell baby formula or sleep guides to acknowledge that breastfed babies can take a loooong time to start sleeping through the night, and that this is totally normal. xx

Keeping baby out of the sun is the best option. If you can't keep them out of the sun, sunglasses really are a good option. Especially for children with blue or green eyes. In Caucasian Europeans who have migrated to lower latitudes, for example, there is an increased incidence of sun-damage related eye problems that is often only apparent in later years. This is b/c sun damage in the eye is cumulative. Just like sun damage in the skin, damage can take a lifetime to manifest and is more prominent in non-native individuals spending time in lower latitudes. Look for baby sunglasses with a soft adjustable strap. Try them on your baby for a few minutes at a time at home, so you know how to fit and adjust them before going out. Don't expect your LO to wear them for too long at first. Like all things with babies, sunglasses will take some getting used to. But, if you always make it a point to encourage your LO to wear them, eventually it will just become normal for you both. xx

new mother Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > We now have agency girls who I have had to > train completely - 8.50 an hour. I wldn't pay more > for their work as they are very slow indeed and so > end up being paid much more than a good cleaner at > a tenner an hour would be. Yup, that can be a reason agencies cost more! :-(

How much you pay might also depend on much you like your cleaner, how good a job s/he does. Hubby and I think our cleaner is tops, and we even gave her a holiday bonus. Maybe it also depends on how trashed your house is... I'd personally feel a bit mean giving our cleaner less than ?10/hr. Anyone who's ever seen our house on a Monday (cleaner comes on Tues), would probably think ?10/hr is a bargain! If you're going through a small agency, how would they 'absorb' the cost for vat etc, just curious? Also, you might want to find out if the rise in cost will benefit the employees or if it simply reflects overall rising cost of living in London.

Sun can damage babies' eyes, more so at lower latitudes. I have a pair of BabyBanz you can borrow (they are pink). Mr Saff and I found that if we got them on Little Saff quickly, then got her immediately distracted with something else, she was ok with them. The less we fussed with them the better. When she got tired and started eye-rubbing, I'd have to take them off. But then she was shortly down for a nap anyway. xx

We pay ?10/hr, but our cleaner is freelance (not an angency). That seems about right to me. Agencies tend to charge a bit more, but then you have the security of knowing that you're going through an agency.

Try the acupuncturist on Barry Road, Giles Davies, very experienced and sympathetic to post natal problems like insomnia etc. Little Saff is only just now sleeping through after A YEAR! Yes, it is very stressful. Hang in there.

Some of what looks like swelling can also be due to relaxation of the ligaments in your ankles and feet, which explains why you don't see a reduction in it overnight or when you elevate your feet. You could try getting a new pair of trainers. Go to a specialist shop for athletic shoes and have them fitted by someone who can really watch you walk and recommend a shoe to aid your foot. Things like pronation and fallen arches can become more apparent in pregnancy. The right type of shoe can really help with this. I wore Uggs a lot. They were easy to get off/on, but had to add some extra arch support. My husband and the midwife tried to take them off me at the hospital when I was in the throes of active labour, but I wouldn't let them b/c my feet were so warm and comfy! xx

You CAN receive the standard vaccine after exposure. If you (or your child) has been exposed you have 3 to 5 days to receive the standard chicken pox vaccine. This is expected to result in a 70-90% reduction in the likelihood of developing the active infection. I don't know if there is a different vaccine for pregnancy. However, there is an antibody formulation (varicella zoster immunoglobulin or VZIG) that can be given to infected individuals who are severely immune compromised, eg newborns or people with leukemia etc. The current chicken pox vaccine should not be given to individuals who have recently had the MMR. So if you are getting the CP vacc privately, make sure you coordinate with your NHS provider, so as not to overlap too close. The cp vacc comes in two jabs, given about 6 wks apart. Immunity of greater that 90% is thought to last around 10 years, so another booster in the teen years would be advisable. I took my daughter for her jab at the MediCentre in Victoria Sta. They were really friendly. The cost was ?73. And just a final note to say that there is a suspected genetic link to individuals susceptible to contracting chicken pox more than once. So if you've had it more than once, your children may too.

> clay like poo sticks to a metanium bum > you still have to rub quite hard! Wiping with oil (olive oil, baby oil etc) should help this too. Metanium is oil-based. You need an oil to dissolve an oil-based product. I can also really recommend walnut oil (provided you're ok on the nut allergy front). Walnut oil is more expensive but is fantastic for skin. It's slightly lighter than olive oil, absorbs quickly, and has lovely smell.

Oh no, how awful for you and your LO! :( I would think b/c it's gone on so long, there might be a bacterial element to it (which might just coincidentally be overlapping with the teething). Your GP should be able to do a stool test to help confirm if this is the case. But then again, it could all be totally normal... the fact that she still has a prominent gag reflex might suggest her digestive tract is still maturing. So the poo might just be a sign of the intestines continuing to develop. For the sore bottom, try wiping her with olive oil and then a soft dry flannel. This method worked really well for Little Saff and seemed to require less wiping on a sore bottom this way, esp'y if the poo is runny. I think you can also buy pre-packed wipes with oil, but I can't remember what the brand is. Metanium works wonders on weepy type rashes, and Drapolene is very soothing on more chapped type bum, from our experience. Lots of nappy-free time is great too. But if your LO is pooing all the time, I'm guessing you don't want to leave the nappy off too long! I had Little Saff's nappy off for 10 min tonight after her bath, and she'd done a tinylove (as we ironically call the free-range poos around here) on the carpet and then danced in it. Sigh. Hope things get better soon. xx