supergolden88

I think I am beyond the pelvic floor exercises now. I dont want to go into details but I am unable to do them properly anyway. I cant stop crying

I think I very likely have some form of vaginal prolapse. I have all the symptons but only put them all together now - visited doctor today. I have a follow where I imagine there will be an internal exam but to be honest I am 100% convinced it is that. I am freaking out. Any info or help much appreciated

theatre outing and southbank sound great...

Swimming she would love... soft play I think she has outgrown unless she goes with her friends. Was thinking more like a museum or similar. I like the idea of the sticker room at the Tate but not sure it would keep her attention for very long.

Both me and my husband have work on this half term which means we are not doing anything special with my daughter apart from endless playdates with her friends (which she loves of course). We do have thursday morning free - any ideas where to take her as a treat? We need to be back home by 2pm so whatever it is has to be reasonably close. She is nearly 6.

yes definitely an option

My daughter who turns 6 in June has been asking for a bunk bed. She sleeps in a junior bed at the moment which she has outgrown and so we need to replace her bed soon in any case. Her brother is only 15 months so not likely to sleep in a bed for some time. Given their age difference (4 1/2 years) I am questioning whether room sharing and therefore bunkbed is a good idea. By the time my son is old enough she will be quite grown up and may not want to share her room with a boy! Anyway I was thinking of getting a bunk bed that can convert into single beds. Those of you that have bunk beds I would love to hear your views and also advice where to get one. The Ikea ones seem very cheap and not very nice - am thinking an online company may have better options.

My stomach seems to be ok with porridge - not sure it is IBS and not something else still need to see GP about that. Did not manage to make any this morning despite best intentions. Will try the overnight soaking method in a jug and see if that works out. But yes the stomach issues almost exclusively happen on work days. I walked up 10 flights of stairs today just to get some exercise.

Hmmm will give it a try tomorrow. Best thing is I had no adverse stomach reactions at all (although am at home not work)

Any time I attempted the microwave option I had either explosions (!) or soupy awful porridge. Which is why I switched to the instant brands but they are not very nice and have sugar etc added.

A few people recommended porridge for my dodgy stomach/IBS and today I actually managed to make a proper batch on the stove - all previous attempts being soupy failures. Delicious and my little boy ate some too (some miracle). Quick question. Can you prepare the day before and reheat as needed? Getting ready in the mornings is literally a race against time so I don't see myself preparing fresh porridge (usually I haven't got time for coffee let alone anything else). thanks

Thanks for the feedback and some very nice PMs. I am going back to the GP soon - I have had too many days off due to illness (and baby illness) recently so I don't want to push my luck too much as I have been in this new job less than a month. To be fair to the doctor she asked me to wait because I was experiencing a lot of other issues (was mugged and had hurt my spine; had a terrible cold and was generally unwell). But it doesn't look like this is something that will resolve itself. For those of you with IBS any tips welcome. Dont want to go on an exclusion diet yet but will if GP advises it... Am taking Colpermin though not consistently enough probably

Very briefly as am at work and supposedly busy... Following a very stressful January I started having the following symptoms. Straight or soon after eating lunch at work I would have moderate to sometimes severe stomach pain usually on left side. Pain would come and go and I would also suffer from terrible bloating, gassiness (sorry TMI) etc. I looked up the symptoms and they seem to be consistent with IBS. Does not happen every day but it happens a lot and is making me rather miserable. Went to the GP and was told to wait a few weeks before investigating further. Any IBS sufferers out there? Does this sound likely to you? edited to add I know this is not strictly a family issue rather a personal one but not sure I feel comfortable sharing with rest of the forum!

Hi Chantelle - do you mind jotting down the brand names for me? I was going to get something on Amazon but not sure which one. I am still in disbelief that I was mugged. I hate feeling like a victim and I hate the fact that this opportunistic prick got away with my personal effects. He also pushed me hard against a metal railing because I resisted when he tried to grab my bag so I now have a very sore back. Still I am dying to go out running again (once my back is better) but don't feel like I should until I get that alarm!

My bag was stolen last night at 5.30pm right opposite my daughter's school. Thankfully she wasn't with me at the time but the whole thing has left me quite shaken and very angry. I wonder if I should buy one of those personal alarms - I think it would have helped in that situation.Has anyone got one of those and would you recommend it or anything else? I also go running around Peckham Rye common in the evenings after it gets dark on my own...

The Dukan diet worked for me - especially after combining it with exercise. It took a a couple of months (probably more than a couple) but I have dropped over 2 dress sizes. I do find it almost impossible to lose weight so it was not easy. I loved the Dukan because it is so easy to follow, did not need to count calories or pay any money other than to buy the book. In terms of exercise I worked out to DVDs at home and used my powerplate for about 10/15 minutes whenever I could. I also did some running round the park. I am addicted to this exercise dvd currently. It is low impact but my god is it hard to do. Seriously, seriously addictive. http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Physique-57-Workout-Exercise/dp/B005H0GLOC/ref=pd_sim_mov_3 http://www.physique57.com/ This is also very good http://www.amazon.co.uk/Strong-Body-Fit-Muscle-Weight/dp/B0044DAOSC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326540230&sr=8-1 As is this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Totally-Ripped-Core-DVD-Worldwide/dp/B005GGO32Y/ref=sr_1_7?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1326540455&sr=1-7

I just made quite possibly the least healthy and most calorie laden tray bake ever: Tray bake Bakewell Tart Not sure why I sabotage my diet in the worst possible way...

Ivydale children's centre run some brilliant parent & toddler groups info here http://www.ivydale.southwark.sch.uk/childrenscentre.asp

http://www.mamamio.com/uk/PB nearly half price for these bundled products if anyone is interested

Just a quick post to say that I was also putting on weight (long) after I had my son last November. I was eating a lot and not paying any attention to calories etc. Cake and pizza and wine every day? Yup! Exercise was difficult to fit in around a baby and freelance work so I was not doing much of that either. I was a size 14+ and I am very petite so it did not look good on me. I was also very unfit. In the end I just made up my mind to diet properly after our summer holiday. I armed myself with the Dukan diet book and jumped right in. It was pretty awfull the first couple of days but after that not so bad. The diet is divided into phases during the first of which you are only allowed lean protein. Then you have protein days and proteins + veg and eventually once you reach your goal weight you introduce carbs and fruit. The book is very funny - either a written badly or translated badly or both but there's no denying the diet works. At first I weighed myself every day and was very frustrated that despite changing my diet drastically (not just what but the amount as well) I was not losing much weight. Things turned around once I started doing exercise along with the diet. I just did exercise DVDs and at first I did 5 mins then stopped and started again I could not do the whole DVD in one go. I also have a powerplate machine which had been gathering dust for months and I finally started using it (only for 10/15 mins a day). Anyway not go on and on about this I did manage to lose the weight gradually. I got rid of the scales in frustration but my clothes were a very good indication that I was getting slimmer. I am now a size 10 (months later) and I have not been this slim since my 20s. Maintaining this will be hard (and I did NOT diet over Xmas) especially since I am starting a new job which will leave no time for exercise but I am determined to try! Good luck everyone. PS: this blog helped with my Dukan diet just reading someone else going through it all http://mydukandiary.com/ PPS: am selling my powerplate if anyone is interested - look at the classifieds section. I want to get an even bigger one or a treadmill have not decided yet.

My daughter was thrilled to receive a Fairy house in shape of Boot from ELC at 18m. And any doll of any shape and size. She was very into Disney films so any toy from Disney store was huge hit (Little Einstein figures etc). A playhouse (those tent ones you can move around). A smart trike - I was going to get one for my little boy but in the end decided against it as too cold to get any use for a good few months.

Thanks for help everyone. We customised one my (unworn) H&M tops with fluttery angel sleeves but today I found a cheap costume at Clinton Cards (?7) daughter is beyond thrilled

hmmm dont trust ebay or amazon to deliver on time - and most of them are out of stock. May pop into Tescos if time allows otherwise am thinking any white dress will do... with some paper wings

I left this too late and now panicking - need one for Monday (and most of) next week. Anyone know if any toy shops or supermarkets have angel costumes for little girls? If anyone has one I could borrow I would be very grateful!

His grandma is getting him one of the three tier garage thingies. His sister has two buggies (both pink -oh well!) but he's not walking yet. I want to find a large car type toy perhaps one that carries other cars, has doors that open etc. There's so much out there and all so expensive.