Ramble66

Welcome pinkglitter. It's great that there are so many of us expecting our first. Though 2nd and 3rd time mum's will be great to for advice and experience. Sorry klove - I missed your question. I'm in Brockley so I'm hoping to be able to use the lewisham birthing centre. As mentioned there is a strict criteria but as yet there is no reason why I shouldn't be able to have baby there. I am definite I want a water birth. The benefits are massive and I can't see any negatives. If our flat was bigger I'd be tempted with a home birth. When is everyones 20 week scan? Mine is the 6th August. I have my 17 week midwife appointment next week. How are the bumps coming along?

Thanks ladies, Lots of great advice, it's been really helpful. By the sounds of it it's great if you do it but mainly for social reasons and I will make friends if I don't. I just need to make the effort. We are so lucky to have a great forum and lots of different meet ups around. At the moment I think the money will be better spent elsewhere. If we had it spare then I'd go for it but as money will be tight and there is a good chance I'll have to stop work earlier than I'd like I might save the pennies. THanks again.

Thanks Hellosailor!

Yay! At last winter babies 2012/13!! I'm due my first on the 24th December (according to my scan anyway, I think 29th December!) I don't actually live in ED anymore. I live in Brockley. I still work in ED though. Can I still join?

Thanks again ladies and for the PM's. So hard to decide. I suppose I need to work out my priorities. I'm self employed so only get the allowance so no 90% for 6 weeks. I also do manual work so there is a good chance I'll have to stop work way earlier than I'd like. Saying that we're being lent lots and eBay and the classifieds on here are brilliant for saving pennies. Last question - did the fathers get much from it? My husband is reluctate but will go if I want to. Also when is the best time to do it? Thanks

Yay! So pleased you are a convert!! sillywoman Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > sillywoman Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > > > I've been sitting on the fence for a while now > but > > I think, prompted by your friends review and > the > > posts from the lovely women of ED on here, that > I > > will bite the bullet and get one. Thanks for > > thetop tip about avoiding alcohol though > VanessPMR > > - will take that firmly on board (more > sniggering > > into my cup of tea over that one). > > > > :)) > > > > Update: > . . . aaaaand - I'm a convert. OMG this little > contraption has really changed my life. I love it. > No more horrible pads, risks of night time leaks, > tampons-that-I-can't-tolerate-for-long, or > concerns that my handbag will fall open & an > emergency pad will fall out. Mooncups are > brilliant!!

No I don't think I'll be eligible for a discount but thanks for the suggestion. My next question is location. Is is best just to choose the closest in location or more borough? OUr closest is in Nunhead but there is one in New Cross. I tend to go to new cross more but the nun head one is actually closer? Would the new cross one be better even though it's a little further? Anyone done the lewisham hospital antenatal classes? I'm hoping to use their birthing centre.

Thanks for so many opinions! I am looking early, not due until end of December. I don't actually live in ED anymore but only down the road in Brockley. I have a few courses which are within 1 mile. It's so hard, people who didn't do it say don't and most that did say do! I'll only be on maturnity allowance so money will be tight. We were looking at the intense course but do you think the closer friendship groups are those who did the evening course over a longer period? Most of the ones available to me seem to be weekend courses.

Thanks ladies! Not had chance to read all the responses yet but I will. TBH I completely forgot to check for replies. I expected to get a email notification of replies. I'll post again once I've read all the replies and I'm not on my mobile. Thanks!

Hi ladies, Just wondering if you think NCT classes are worth it? They seem very pricey and I'm not sure I'd get much benefit except for making friends. My theory is there are so much baby stuff to do in the area that I'll meet mum friends anyway? What are people's opinions? Thanks.

I bought mine in a boots store but I'm pretty sure health matters stock them. Good luck!

I just empty mine in to the loo and wipe it out if needed. Some ladies carry a small water bottle to rinse it with. As long as your hands are clean it's not a problem. Risk of infection is lower than using a tampon. Then I boil mine at the end of each cycle. The great thing about them is they hold a lot and you can leave it in a lot longer than an ordinary tampons. I find I only need to do it in public if I'm out for a long day. I think they are safe to leave in for 12 hours.

Not read all the postS but I started using one about 4 years ago and have never looked back. Absolutely brilliant. Does take a little practice but worth it. One thing I've notices that you have to check the tiny holes are clear. If they are blocked you don't get a good seal.

david_carnell Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > amydown Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Can someone explain to me in simple terms how > > cranial osteopath works? Clare Kadvis also > > recommended it for our baby who had a tongue > tie. > > I'm a bit sceptical about it though - perhaps > > because I don't know enough about it? > > Amydown - I'm going to be controversial here. And > no doubt alienate many. For that I'm sorry but it > needs to be said. > > It doesn't work. > > At best it is a harmless head touching practised > by the naive. At worst it is a con run by > charlatans taking money from stressed and > desperate parents whom, often, are at the end of > their tether with screaming babies. > > The idea it could cure tongue-tie is utterly > delusional. And that's not attacking you Amy - nor > the person who recommended it (unless they are a > medical professional) but is certainly attacking > anyone practioner who claims it can. > > You'll often read that practitioners claim to feel > a subtle pulse in the fluid surrounding the brain > and claim that there is some research to suggest > that these pulses are related to slow, regular > changes in blood pressure in the brain. This is > wrong. > > First, cranial osteopaths don?t even think the > pulses are blood pressure; their theories revolve > around the ?inherent rhythmic motility? of the > brain and spinal cord, mixed with breath and > cardiac cycles, causing rhythmic fluctuation of > the brain and surrounding fluid, which they think > they can feel through the bones of your (or your > baby's) skull, and fix up with a bit of wiggling. > They write long articles about actin and myosin > (the things in muscle cells that make them move) > being present in brain cells; unfortunately, they > always forget to mention that brain cells lack the > dense arrays of those filaments which are > necessary to generate any significant movement. > > At this point you might well ask - "but are there > real 'cranial pulses' to be felt, however they may > be generated?" > > It?s easy to find out: ask a couple of cranial > osteopaths to write down the frequency of the > pulses on the same person?s skull, and then see if > they give the same answer. There have been five > papers published doing just this, and in none of > them did the osteopaths give similar answers. > Which suggests to me that (a) this is not a > reliable biological phenomenon, and (b) perhaps > these cranial osteopaths are, er, imagining it. > So: the discipline is based on a misunderstanding, > they can?t measure what they claim to measure and > work with, and there?s no evidence to say it > works. > > As a parent of a new born baby myself, I can > understand the appeal. My little one was a forceps > delivery and midwives and others were quick to > tell me how I should sign the little chap to have > his head rubbed by a medically unqualified > voluntarily-regulated quack to help cure him of > such things as "crying". > > Babies cry. They have colic and reflux. They go > through growth spurts. They cry some more. They > stop. Often this occurs most in the 2-6 week old > period. Funnily enough, cranial osteopaths and > cranialsacral therapists will often offer sessions > running across this time frame at the end of which > your baby has miraculously stopped crying nearly > as much as before. > > In short, it's woo. Please don't hand over your > hard earned money to people who claim it is > anything other than a rather pleasant head rub. > Stroking your baby yourself will be just as > effective. > > Remember, the plural of "anecdote" isn't evidence. > It's anecdotes. I'm not going to rise to reply to all your message but I will say that Osteopaths are classed as primary healthcare professionals and are regulated by the General Osteopathic Council. Registration and CPD is mandatory.

Sainsburys own brand is the cheapest. Otherwise SMBS and Heath matters sell it.

Common causes - stress or possibly just the cold weather. Try putting a bowl of water near the radiator in his bedrrom for some moisture.

Not got time to read above so sorry if this has already been said but Aveeno cream and google oatmeal baths/compresses.

womanofdulwich Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > How lovely. Congratulations. > 1.Look at each others parents - you particularly > look at his Dad and he particularly look at your > Mum. It may be really helpful in the future so you > understand where he is coming from and what his > model of a marraige is ( I expect you have done > this already). > 2. Dont take each other for granted. > There are loads of others- but when I look at > friends who have divorced these are the 2 things I > think of. ( apart from Infidelity which is a big > one) Errrrm my DH father ran off with another man!!! That best not be my husbands model of a marriage! My tips:- 1 - Regularly tell each other or show each other than you love them. 2- Treat each other with respect and don't undermine each others opinions and decisions. 3 - Communication. 4 - Date night! 5 - Have a hug when you see each other at the end of the day. Congratulations?

Is the pain at the front on the pelvis (pubic symphisis) or the back (sacroiliac)?

Errrm there might be a play therapist at THe Vale Practice but i'm not sure.

civilservant Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I do take your point - to clarify, I understood > from the dermo that steroids will dispel the local > flare-up of eczema, but won't dispel the child's > overall tendency to eczema. So steroids also only treat the symptoms. They are anti-inflammatories and do unfortunately have side-effects with long term use. I do accept that they are sometimes required for short term use in severe cases. Oatmeal on the other hand, again only treats the symptoms but doesn't have any adverse side-effects. I've heard lots of positive anecdotal evidence. As for asthma, I read an interesting post on here a while back when someone was looking for raw milk locally. It was suggesting that is could help with asthma and other atopic conditions. I did some reading after seeing this and found that there was definitely plenty of research and anecdotal evidence to support it. Maybe worth a try.

Aveeno cream and google oatmeal and Eczema. You can either apply as a wet compress wrapped in muslin/stocking or put it in a bath, again in muslin, try over the tap and run the water through it. Good luck.

Not for washing but for treating try oatmeal baths. Google oatmeal and eczema and you'll get loads of info. Aveeno cream is good too.

It really isn't strange. They are just being helpful. I've dropped my wallet before and some kind gentleman managed to contact me via info in my wallet. I was very grateful. I wouldn't waste police time if I found a wallet. I'd do exactly what sazzel did and try to contact the person and if no luck take it to the bank. There could be many reasons why she hasn't got back to you. Be patient.

New bedsheets?