theratprincess

Renata Paddy makes a good point regarding the lack of bulge this year at Ivydale, given the plan to expand the school in the long term. I did directly contact you to ask you to raise this with the relevant authorities. You fobbed me off with suggestions that I look at other schools (that I already told you I had looked at). Did you raise this previously with the relevant authorities? If not, why not? And more importantly, can you please raise it now? Thanks

So far, we have been impressed by what we have seen of the Harris Free School. We are very seriously considering accepting our offer. If we do accept, we are another set of parents committed to making the most of the school and shaping it for the better.

We have been offered Hollydale. It's not our first choice. Would like to hear thoughts either here or via PM. Trying to weigh it up against our offer from Harris Free School. Thanks

Just that really. Have done a search of the forum already and can't find any recommendations. Thanks

Not sure if this helps, but I feel like this too. Today I felt like I don't know if I can keep all the plates spinning. This time around, I've been back at work for about 5 months and seem to have hit a bit of a wall. I have a nearly 4 year old and a 15 month old, work 4 days per week in central London, both children at nursery. Partner and I split drop offs and pick ups equally, but the practicalities of the nursery run really do my head in. Problem is that I don't want to stay at home, as I would have to give up a career that I've worked hard for, but I don't really feel like what I am doing is sustainable. It's exhausting. To make myself feel better, I have booked some time off work and keep trying to focus on one task at a time, rather than thinking too deeply about the bigger picture.

CFM - I guess you've already seen the previous threads on this? Just in case, they're here: http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,1258429,1259323#msg-1259323 I too am looking for a recommendation for an independent SLT. No particular specialism required. Thanks

Some of you may have already done so, but it is really worth reporting each and every fault - to protect yourselves and other road users. You can do it online here:https://reportit.tfl.gov.uk/pub/servlet/ep.blank?srvCode=ABOUTREPORTIT&st=TOUCH&title=About+report+it&csrftoken=eg03M56EqnTIM%2B1cD0uhiY%2FBFOEbw3GxtWLa4Cpg%2F4RX51ha707YSjcUoeMuekAVVnqLghpps4QNgwF%2FoHKh6S4aeutqxYHEf5GGOpTbbsZZXQ1v7MxmYA%3D%3D

Thanks - this is really helpful. I've discovered I am 20m nearer than I thought I was to our first choice school. I don't suppose anyone has the Eastings and Northings for Lewisham's schools?

2 year 7 month age gap here. My son was pretty uninterested in most of the books above, I think because there isn't much of story to follow. He did like Za Za - although Za Za felt a bit negative to me. One nice book which is good for exploring the idea of a sibling more generally is Annie Rose is my Little Sister by Shirley Hughes http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0099408562. As with all her books, the illustrations are amazing. Also, the last section where it talks about how they will be brother and sister forever is really moving.

http://m.wikihow.com/Replace-Eggs-in-Your-Cooking This link has some good ideas for egg substitutes in baking. Then you're not tied to a particular egg free recipe. It's good advice re matching your replacement to your recipe eg I used (cooked) apple pur?e in a rhubarb and polenta cake and banana in choc chip cookies. I tried 'no egg' branded substitute and the cake went a bit odd.

Another one with separated stomach muscles here. The separation is much worse after my second child. I've got the Tupler technique book but failed to do any exercises from it. I also bought a splint, but failed to wear it on more than a handful of occasions. It was a bit cumbersome - found I couldn't really sit down in it or breastfeed etc. I also had to guess the size when ordering off the internet and the one I got was slightly too big. First time around, I found that when I started cycling to work again, I seemed to be engaging my stomach muscles in a way that helped a bit.Just about to return to work and cycling again, so we shall see if it helps this time. I would be interested in attending a class or paying for some group sessions.

My daughter's non feeding drove me around the twist. I used to actively avoid feeding her out and about, as much as I could (have a 3 year old as well). The non feeding and fussing was harder to deal with when out. With hindsight I would not do this again - I think it only made my anxiety worse. As regards going dairy/soy free I know what you mean - it's hard to find the head space and energy. Fortunately, my sis had just gone through the same thing, so I copied her ideas and menu plans. Mumsnet allergy pages also have some good ideas eg I discovered a dairy free pesto, which at the time made me overjoyed! I just re read my earlier post and it sounds so negative. Just hang in there. Things will get better. A positive source of support for me was also my health visitor - Rachel Shauney at Townley Road. She has a bit of reflux knowledge and came up with some really good suggestions when I was really at rock bottom.

You have my sympathy. Another ex-refluxer here. Daughter is now 10 months old. She was incredibly difficult to feed. She was/is BF (totally refused a bottle). I cut out dairy, soya and eggs from my diet. She is still on ranitidine. we tried Omeprazole but GP wouldn't prescribe oral suspension (too expensive), so gave up. Her reflux improved very slowly from about 6 months onwards. Real improvement around 7 or 8 months. The only thing that really worked was time! We also did a bit of osteopathy with Lizzy Lomax which did seem to bring some improvement her feeding, by releasing stiffness in her jaw (NB I went into the sessions as a sceptic as there is little evidence that it works) Other things you could ask the consultant about are reducing sugars test in stool sample (can help diagnose CMP allergies/intolerance) and when baby is a bit older IG testing (blood test looking at immune response to indicate allergies) GPs at DMC are totally useless on this. Consultant at Kings (Babu) not particularly great communicator either. The thing is, they don't have all the answers and a lot of it is guess work based on your description and assessment of the symptoms. My take on it all is that there are so many complex factors at work that it is hard to work out what, if anything, is making any difference. I just kept muddling through, until without realising it, there was some improvement. It was incredibly stressful though - I ended up with awful anxiety attacks and having CBT at Kings. Feel free to PM me.

Goodnight Digger is a good one for digger addicts (which my son was at that age!)

I had an elective at Kings nearly 8 months ago. If you have a choice, avoid Mondays as apparently there tends to be a back log from the weekend. I was scheduled for Monday but got bumped to Wednesday. It was handled spectacularly badly by Kings (nil by mouth for hours in the outside waiting room with no information or updates). After I made a complaint, the Wednesday went very smoothly. I was first on and baby was born by 9am! I was put on the accelerated discharge programme and was discharged within 24 hours. So you could ask to be put on this programme? Echoing others, the surgery and recovery was a doddle compared to complicated natural birth I had first time around. It definitely helps to pluck up the courage to get up and about as quickly as possible. Good luck!

Thanks - Deliverance sounds a good plan. I'm stuck on the same two takeaways here. Fish & Chips or Il Mirto seafood pizza (without cheese). Indian food is tricky (because of the ghee) as are Thai and Chinese (because of the soy sauce). However, had forgotten about sushi where soy sauce is normally on the side. Hurray!

Thanks very much. Some good ideas here. I shall investigate. If anyone else has any ideas, keep them coming. I'm trying to look at the positives. I've explored whole new areas of cooking that I would never have imagined ....Homemade dairy,soya,egg free mayo anyone? It's actually a lot nicer than it sounds!

Poor little thing. Hope he gets better soon. Hope you can get some rest too. It's very noisy and bright there. Ear plugs, eye mask and asking nurses to switch off corridor lights at night helps. Also if you're BF, make sure you get your free hospital food!

Another recipes request... I've been on a dairy, soya and egg free diet since January - my daughter is BF and has reflux. My latest attempt to reintroduce resulted in worsening symptoms and skin rashes for her. I've so far been pretty inventive but I am now officially bored, bored, bored. Does anyone have any suggestions for meals (lunch and dinner), snacks and desserts which might inspire me? I'm a fairly good cook and ideally need things that can be family meals for my partner and 3 year old son (who have no dietary requirements). NB I also don't eat meat, but do eat fish. Thanks

My daughter had her TT divided at the private clinic run by Katie Fisher and Mr Patel in Croydon. Katie was a great support to me during some pretty difficult times feeding my daughter. She made herself available on the phone a lot (no charge) including evenings and weekends and this was really invaluable. I also like the fact that she has an evidence based approach. I would reccomend her.

One last thing.. I know it's really hard watching them struggle, literally watching every breath they take. But you just have to keep the faith. He will get better! My daughter is 6 months old now and you would never know there had been anything wrong with her.

Also, if your son had pneumonia you would probably know about it as there would be the signs of severe respiratory distress that I mention above. My daughter could not have managed without oxygen, tube feeds and nebulisers etc. But again, if any doubt go back to A&E. You really don't want to mess around with this.

Sorry can only reply quickly, but feel free to PM me. My daughter was in hospital for two weeks with Bronchiolitis. She also got a secondary pneumonia - a collapse in the right upper lobe. This was identified on an X-ray when she really was not getting better. She was very snuffly and unwell for 4-6 weeks after being discharged from hospital. However, she had been very ill and was briefly in intensive care. She had the full range of treatments on the Tony and Guy ward - on oxygen, tube fed, regular suctioning and hypertonic and saline nebulisers, IV ABs. While ill, she didn't have a particularly high temperature. If you go private, the person to see is Dr Broughton at Kings. He did a PhD on Bronchiolitis and is lovely too.

Oh poor thing. Hope he gets better soon. The RSV virus is such a pig for them to shift. It took my daughter a good 4-6 weeks to fully recover. Such bad luck too - for him to get it outside of the season for it. If in doubt about his breathing again, definitely take him back to A&E. I took my daughter back 2 or 3 times after she was discharged. Each time, staff were really understanding. GP not so good as they don't have the equipment to assess it and tend to refer you on to the hospital. You have my sympathy - I had an energetic pre schooler to contend with too. Best wishes.

When she was 9 days old, my daughter was in hospital for 2 weeks with Bronchiolitis and Pneumonia. If there is a serious lung infection they look for signs of respiratory distress eg sucking in the trachea or diaphragm or head bobbing. Coughing up gunk was seen by my daughters doctors as a good thing. If you're concerned there really is no substitute for taking him to Paediatric A&E. There are basic checks that they can do which might really ease your mind (oxygen saturation levels, heart rate and respiratory rate and listening with a stethoscope). Good luck.