hpsaucey

Hhm - yes Sue its extremely flaky! One of my best friends - well I think she is - bought it for me. Have put off reading it for two years! You've obvioulsy seen reviews of it? Might try Green Metropolis - sounds interesting. Name - my initials are HP!

Have to put a damper on this but I've had a couple of friends who used these. They said it worked for a while - week or so - but then for some reason didn't. I guess just the clock on its own isn't the answer. Having said that tempted to get one myself anyway as they look so nice! Good luck

More on Woodvale poking over from the Cemetary if you don't feel squeamish picking them - v. tasty!

Keep meaning to Bookcross - really nice idea. Although I have got some real stinkers I may leave around. If anyone finds a copy of 'The Celestine Prophesy' left around its probably from me. If I were you I wouldn't pick it up LOL.

There are some more the other side of East Dulwich Road where Peckham Rye Common extends that way. Has really made a difference to what was a bit shabby compared to the lovely park! Well done Parks staff!!!

Another thing about a dummy. Remeber reading something telling me giving a baby a dummy was sort of like 'imposing' it on them. Well, maybe I just thought it to make myself feel better but I remember thinking sod that view point! My baby was old enough to take it out if he didn't like it. In fact he used to delight in putting it in and out so I think it actually gave him both comfort and a little bit of control over something! Did used to get some disapproving looks, but then, just as many who'd sneak up and say that they were glad to see someone actually using a dummy LOL!! Most things come around again.

Well said Jessie. Hope next week is better!!!

HI - did the same as crystal. Got a bedside cot which means that in effect you have a bigger bed area but they are sort of in their own cot. Means I can get baby in and out to feed without any disturbance and without having to stumble out anywhere to feed them, and with minimal noise and disruption to anyone else. I love sharing with my little ones though. Figure they grow up so quick anyway would rather have them with me.

Agree - go with the dummy if it works for all your sakes! If it calms him donw then great. There's no evidence it does any harm long term as long as they don't use them forever! IN fact there's even some evidence that dummies reduce the risk of cot death although can't quite remember exactly what the reason for this was. My eldest had a dummy for a couple of years. Given up and no ill effects!!! Good luck.

Second Molly's suggestion about taking as much maternity leave as you can afford to. It's not just for your child's benefit but for your physical and mental health as well. You don't get too many chances to do this. DON'T be /feel pressured into going back earlier/more than you really want to (again speaking from experience and from that of many friends). Also agree about things somehow always working out, although sometimes I do wonder how!

I saw this as well and cried! I've been there - with a prolonged spell of pre/post depression after baby number one. Luckily I eventually got some help. I know how easy it is NOT to get help - somehow you just don't think about it as you're too busy feeling you are going mad and trying to hold it all together at the same time - so can empathise with this poor mother. I'd beg anyone who thinks they may be at all depressed/down before or after having their baby to talk to someone. Hopefully it will 'just' be baby blues and disappear quite quickly but good to have it checked out so you can keep an eye on it and your loved ones can give you support and some TLC! There's so much help out there that tragedies like the one in the Times article can hopefully often be avoided.

You're SO right Chantelle - all about marketing - not much difference as far as I could tell. There's been a lot on here recently on the forum about diffrerent types of milk - soy vs goats vs cows - with nearly as much angst and strongly held views as there seem to be with breast vs bottle! Am I off topic?? Sorry! Think we Mums should give ourselves a break. There's enough to worry about and ALWAYS something to feel guilty about when you've got little ones!

Agree with all the above. No hard and fast rule. As long as you keep offering liquids - including enough milk - throughout the day. If its allergies you're worried about then there's always goats milk. My little one is still breastfed (he's about 16 months) but also drinks cows, goats and soya milk depending on what's in. We also use Nannycare goats milk powder. I was probably more hung up about what my older one had but really but tried to be guided by what he wanted as we were with the whole solids transition as well. I'm sure whatever you decide to do will be absolutely fine! Helen

Hi- also interested, but another one wondering what counts as creative?

SHameless 'bump' in case any one else has tips. Again, hoping no one minds being quoted in an NCT article. Will chack nicknames!

Hhm - know what you mean by relaxing and tightening the grip. Mine does that when he's off to sleep. Sometimes really difficult to prise him off. The joys of it all!

Hhm - nasty. Only been bitten once or twice by either of my two. When teething I've always made sure that I've shoved plenty of breast in there quickly so that they can't really get a grip to bite and can only suck for milk. Seems to have worked. The times I WAS bitten I howled so loudly I think they were traumatised. Neither really did it after that, although I hope I'm not counting chickens .... I HATE that moment when you're been REALLY brave by feeding them as you're not quite sure what they're going to do - either treat you gently or savage it! Hope you fine something that works for you. H

Celestial Sleeytime a good one! Hadn't thought of that. Was too busy trying to down mugs of raspberry leaf - eurrgh!

Damn - such a good one too! Thanks Moos! And yup HAL9000- 'zero' gravity NOT 'anti-gravity'. Doh!!!

What about the story of the American pens specially invented for space that work in anti-gravity. Took a lot of research. The Russians - clever buggers - took pencils!!! Is is true????

Hello there. Thanks for all your replies! hope you don't mind if I qoute some of them. I did the same with the hypnotherapy - put it on and within minutes = blotto LOL. I feel your pain, and your sleeplessness! Fuschia - must be so tough with twins. I've got two of differing ages - 4 and 1 - so at least the 4 year old sleeps through. Guess twins wake each other up. Must be so tiring. Like the idea of the substitute husband body pillow and the massage! Wonder why nature does it to us? Can't just be hardening us up ready for after birth?

Hello there. I'm writing a piece for the next local NCT newsletter on lack of sleep in pregnancy. I'd be really interested in Dulwich Mums' experiences and views. Did you have trouble getting to sleep and find yourself cleaning at 4 a.m. (like me). Did you struggle to get comfortable? Were you trying to get some rest with older kiddies still waking up in the night? I remeber the luxury of at least trying to sleep when you wanted to with number one, which just didn't happen with number two! Did your OH help out and support you? And what strategies and remedies did you find that helped or didn't you find anything to help? I'd love to hear any views. Please also let me know if its OK to quote you (name changed) in my article. Thanks in advance Helen

Sorry - 'correct something said earlier' is too strong. Different areas seem to have different policies on home births after a difficult one. Getting off the post subject anyway. Just didn't want anyone to think you COULDNT have a home birth after Caesarian/other traumatic births. Must stop whittering ....

Just to correct something saud earlier. Actually you can have a home birth on the NHS - Brierley etc. after a previous Caesarian!!!! My friend is currently with them under these conditions and due to give birth next week. She will have her home birth midwife with her at home and the midwife will transfer wiht her to hospital IF she needs to go. I was told the same after a traumatic first birth - not Caes but pretty bad damage. Kings Hospital are more enlightened nowadays and will not push you to a cases sedonc time round. the home birth midwife team saw no difficulty. Had a wonderful home birth with the Brierley. Save your money!!!!

Think I ran into this guy when pregnant. REALLY obnoxious when I apparently didn't show the date on my travelcard well enough. Rather than dissolving in floods of hormonal tears however it just made me more feisty in return and held up the bus journey whilst he harrangued me and everyone stared - hopefully in pity! Feel sorry for the less hardy individuals he bullies. Must be raising his blood pressure though! Will be thinking calm zen-like thoughts meself if I'm ever on his bus again otherwise I'm likely to brain him with my brolly!