Saffron

I'm disappointed to see that in the linked document from NICE under the heading "Common Health Problems", Postpartum Depression doesn't appear even to have its own heading. Instead "Baby Blues" are a listed condition, including the following description, "Action: If [baby blues] symptoms not resolved after 10?14 days, assess for postnatal depression, and if symptoms persist, evaluate further (urgent action)". This makes it sound as if depression is a possible outcome of baby blues, and not a separate health problem. It also makes it sound like further evaluation and treatment are necessarily delayed 10-14 days whether or not it's depression. This can prevent practitioners and parents from correctly understanding the diagnosis of and treatment strategies for postpartum depression. Depression should be screened and referred for immediate action at the earliest time point. Indeed women should know that they can now take a self-directed online questionnaire. And any women actively seeking medical advice with symptoms that could present as depressive should not be told to come back in 10-14 days. NICE needs to be way more proactive in making women and practitioners aware of postpartum depression, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes. Also, by grouping postpartum depression under the heading of baby blues instead of its own heading, NICE had failed in this document to mention the need to account for patient history of depression. Where there is a history of depression before, during, or after pregnancy, patients presenting with depressive symptoms should always be screened at the first opportunity and duration of symptoms should be measured in days not weeks. This NICE document has done a very poor job of clarifying and emphasising these aspects of postpartum depression. Also, I don't see any mention of postpartum psychosis, a serious complication which can endanger the lives of both the mother and child. Anyone woman who reports concerns over her mental well-being should be taken seriously at the point of access. It's worth noting that the EPDS is a short questionnaire for depression that is readily available for health workers and parents, and can also be accessed online for self-evaluation: http://www.postpartumhealthalliance.org/screen-test.html.

Nice summary, LondonMix!

I don't know what line you're travelling to London Bridge, but if it's part of London Overground, it looks like the child doesn't need to pay if he's with a fee-paying adult, and the child looks under 10 yo. And in that case, you don't require a separate child card either. (Or did I miss something?) But you might want to have a child card if you're regularly going to travel on a line that will require your child to pay (simply for convenience), although you could buy a child single without an ID card, if your child looks under 10 yo. Blimey, I've seen mud clearer than these rules!)

From the above TFL link: And...

Wait, let me get this straight. TFL will issue a photo ID card to a 5 yo, and not charge her/him if the child is travelling with an adult, as long as the child doesn't swipe-in. So by contrast, TFL implies that there are occasions where a 5 yo would travel with out an adult?!? OR, there are occasions where a child must swipe-in on TFL, even when travelling with an adult?

I agree that reducing serious areas of policy down to one-word bites (i.e. "Gove") is often seen as associated with qualitative rather than quantitative arguments, although everyone is entitled to make their qualitative arguments of course. Nothing wrong with that in my book. It is, if nothing else, a measure of how badly out of touch many people feel with Gove's change to education policy that there is such a vehement qualitative argument against him. HOWEVER, the thing that has really confused me was reading that Labour party officials have indicated that in the main they would not reverse the policy changes that Gove has installed. These issues are broader than a single political party then, no?

:)

bluesuperted Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > By progressive I personally mean: > Creative, engaging/motivating, useful in real > life, inclusive, developmentally appropriate, > child-centred (which should all make it pretty > effective). > > And not: > Dated, irrelevant to modern world, rote-learning, > exam-only based, elitist. > > Ken Robinson's speech/TED talk on creativity is > really insightful re: what education should/could > look like, he talks about how the traditional > approach basically prepares us to be > academics/professors, which clearly only a small > proportion of the world end up becoming. He argues > this in turn extinguishes a lot of true creativity > and talent at a very young age. I find this > fascinating, and I say this, personally loving > exams, academia, further/higher study. But I know > that the world is made up of plenty more people > who don't - and quite right, if everyone was > researching niche areas and reading endless > research papers, we'd be rather stuffed - and in > trying to push everyone in this direction, many > are left disengaged > and disenfranchised... > > Re: schools getting better, I think that trend is > likely to reverse, as more and more teachers leave > the profession, and teaching morale is low NOW, it > wasn't anywhere near this bad a few years ago > (pre-2010 election) in my opinion. Do you have a link to that TED talk? It sounds intriguing. I'd like to know what his take on the 'traditional approach' is, because my take on the traditional approach is that it is not necessarily even any good at turning out adequate academics. And it's definitely rubbish at preparing professors. Academics need to have creativity too. And increasingly, I'm noting a need for a return to a style that I would refer to as much older than simply 'traditional'. Academia needs individuals who've been educated in what I'd call a 'classical' style, i.e. integrated arts/humanities/sciences, beyond traditional school-house rote learning. I think rote-style, stream-lined learning damages potential academics as much as the failure to provide creative technical learning damages potential non-academics. And although in many senses state schools are better than they were historically (in some areas), the current excessive workloads experienced by many teachers cannot be seen as anything other than an impediment to their ability to deliver the very best in any curricula. The gap between what should be done about it, and what is being done about it, is discouraging to say the least. xx

I think this is superficial discolouration and will reverse with time, or can be treated with dental solutions to remove discolouration. Check with a registered Pharmacist who should be able to give you more specific info while you're waiting for the dental appointment.

Fair enough. xx

Make of it what you will: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-26837682

I love the look and selection of storage solutions from GLTC.co.uk, but sadly I've not gotten around to buying any of them. Still drowning in Lego and plush toys. Sigh.

Great, now put it in the laundry basket.

Whatever your suspicions are, Otta, I offer the recommendation as much for any other readers who may be experiencing postpartum emotional disfunction, as for the OP. And with all due respect to the couple in question herein, we're not getting the details of the situation from the couple themselves. Therefore we don't know what their motivation to stay together may/may not be. Plus whether or not they stay together as a couple, if one (or both) would desire private psychiatric support, then my recommendation is here. While the idea of simply changing the locks is (darkly) humorous, it's not a constructive solution and could result in making the situation more unstable for the child involved. Although of course should you wish to change your own locks in the same scenario that is your perogative. xx

If your friend's partner would be amenable to psychiatric evaluation, but would prefer to be seen privately, I can very highly recommend Dr Jeremy Pfeffer. He is a privately practicing psychiatrist with consulting rooms in Harley Street, contact tel. 02079 353878. He has a multidisciplinary background with a specialty in psychiatry, and he is happy to work with NHS providers to help clients receive the best, most rapid treatment. Unless you're covered by insurance, expect to pay quite a steep consultation fee. I think I paid ?500+ around 4 years ago, when my severe postpartum depression got very badly mismanaged by the NHS*. After a single extensive consultation with Dr Pfeffer, he was able to write a letter to my NHS providers including diagnosis and professional recommendations for treatment. I was then able to get the rest of my treatment through the NHS. xx *Don't get me wrong, there are some wonderful people working in the NHS. But my NHS care providers at the time really dropped the ball by failing to diagnose me accurately, and making the matter worse by suggesting inappropriate treatment.

Thursday the 24th is good for me. The topic sounds really interesting. xx

Yes postpartum depression can include symptoms of extreme anger, but just to be clear, that is absolutely not an excuse for psychological or physical abuse. Documentation need not be formal and can include e.g. emails, journal, or diary entries. If there is suspected postpartum depression, that is more reason for the HV/GP to be made aware. This type of extreme behaviour is unlikely to resolve spontaneously. Doing nothing will only facilitate the abuse. Whether or not your friend decides to stay in the relationship, the sooner he reaches out for some type of structured help the better the outcome is likely to be. xx

Massage? Hot packs? Lots of sympathy! Also maybe worth doing some research if you find you're experiencing frequent blocks/mastitis, to see if a different antibiotic would be more helpful? Some people respond better to different ones. xx

muffins78 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I've randomly seen this and am not best placed to > answer it, as not a mum yet - but apparently I was > like that as a child. Mum said she'd give me > something to mind for her, that was belonging to > her and smelled of her (if it was for a longer > period), so that I'd know that she had to come > back for it. I do remember as a small child been > given her dressing gown or something, if she was > going on a proper holiday for instance. So > perhaps, if your little one is old enough to > notice what is yours, you could keep something on > you or with you that she'd recognise, and hand it > to her whilst you pop to the ladies, and ask her > to mind it for you - she may be too young though, > so sorry if this isn't of use to you :( I started leaving my scarf with my daughter from a very young age, if I was going out (admittedly not often when she was small). I also would drape her buggy with it. It's not just the look or feel but the smell too. You can use lightweight silk or cotton ones in the summer. My daughter is 4, and she still goes through phases of wanting to have my scarf when I leave for work. Separation anxiety is something most babies and children will have off/on. The best response is the one that makes them feel most secure. Security eventually leads to independence. xx

He needs to document absolutely everything. He has a very good case for primary custody should he choose to leave. If they're going to stay together, at the very least he needs to make their HV aware. Also if he's Southwark/Lewisham he can use SLAM to self-refer for personal or relationship counselling. So sorry your friend is going through this. Hope things will get better soon. xx

Hmm would have to know more about it before I gave up a Saturday for it. It's not so local for me. xx

Sounds interesting. Would love to hear if it helped. xx

Audrey Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I don't think its possible for babies to sleep on > their sides on a hammock? Might work as a comfy > alternative to a flat bed, for the reluctant baby, > but if he is just going to splutter I don't know > if it will work. > I don't know what type you had/have so couldn't comment. The Amby hammock is made for babies to sleep on their backs with the upper body slightly elevated, which makes it good for colds/reflux. Although of course every baby is different. xx

Otta Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Yes, we must not promiter these products that are > designed to get people off of the MUCH MUCH MUCH > more harmful products! I think their advertising should be very carefully regulated. They present a serious hazard in so far as their promotion to 'appropriate' groups must not spill over to inappropriate groups (ie children). Furthermore, adds should not portray ecigs as a healthy or safe habit for adults who don't already smoke. Considering that I've seen glammed up ecig adds in magazines, and on giant public billboards, I would personally consider that these are being advertised in very ethically questionable ways. University campuses have already banned them in the London, and I think we're set to see a lot more regulation. Rightly so IMHO.

I'm in SE4, not far. There are lots of things to do locally. Catford, like Brockley and Ladwelly, is now beginning to get the overflow from Nunhead and ED, so there seem to be plenty of parents with young children, and lots to do! xx