GinaG3

I'm in the exact same phase with my daughter right now. She is 18 months now and still we are struggling. Im still breastfeeding aswell, we recently stopped co-sleeping and she now sleeps in her own bed. I rarely go anywhere without her, she is always at my hip. The problem she has is with me though mainly, she wouldn't dare with other kids she is too loving of little people, she is friendly and shares with others well, she gets really upset when other toddlers try to push her around. The violence was extremely bad at night at around 14/15/16 months, hence moving her to her own cot, worked an absolute treat right next to our bed just so she couldn't smell me in the night and wake to feed. Right now the most exciting thing to her is slapping me round the face whilst feeding or scratching my chest. I get pulled along like a rag doll, this is no exaggeration - she will actually try and walk off whilst feeding dragging me along with her at 'teethpoint'. I ignore, I tell off, nothing gives. I'm hoping she grows out of it soon. Do you get out a lot, I think this is route cause for most of my daughters behavior. If we went out more and she was distracted it would possibly be easier. Although, we do already have the 'Im sitting here and not moving for NOTHING' tantrum in the middle of the park sometimes too. You just cannot win with the little monsters, and then you cannot win with the big monsters either. Lifes tough for us Mums!!!

Great help! I am wondering what your area of work is, you know an awful lot of on a variety of subjects. The knowledge fountain, huh? Much appreciated though. A slight weight off my mind. Would welcome anymore advice, you can certainly PM me as I agree with privacy :)

My heart leapt out of my mouth there thinking I was going to get judged. Thank you for understanding, and you Keef!! You know far too much information DJKQ, come and fight my corner for me. I often think of becoming a squatter although this would be frowned upon too (could never with my child though anyway), that is living the dream. I would take up in some millionaire property developer/landlords swish pad, that'll teach them. Even the condition of our flat was disgusting. When we viewed the walls were all dripping with tobacco staining, there was dog poo all over the carpet, the kitchen units were hanging off the wall, holes in the doors and yellow UPVC frames. I hated it, but was so desperate. The landlord said somebody else on the council incentive scheme was interested too and it would be the first person to come up with the 'extra' deposit. I sorted this out first as I had the money stashed away for white goods (these were provided in the flat so I didn't need to buy and instead gave this money as the extra deposit - I might add it took me 1 year to save this little amount of money, but it was a lot to me). She told us the flat would be available after her decorator has painted which could be up to 5 weeks, or else she offered to buy materials and we could do it ourselves and be in within a week. We stupidly opted for this option, we were mega desperate. She spent all of about ?100 tops on paint and brushes and we did it ourselves (saving her hundreds, of course). She replaced carpets also. I had to battle the kitchen, which was covered in the previous tenant 3 years of chip fat and grease, dog hair in the fridge and freezer also. Her previous tenant never paid a deposit and the landlord never requested one (stupid!) and had completely trashed the place. This was her reasoning for extra deposit to sort out the mess from the previous tenant and to insure we wouldn't do the same. I wouldn't anyway as I like to keep a respectful and tidy home, but of course she only had my word for that. We were left with no heating for 3 weeks after the boiler got shut off by the gas board, it could of killed us as it was leaking carbon monoxide. I had warned her several times as it wasn't firing up properly. I HATE LANDLORDS (not all)! Our rent stands at ?1,096pcm, LHA pay maximum ?231 at the time we found our tenancy meaning the rent actually being paid to her is only ?934pcm (correct me if I'm wrong) she has so far not mentioned the missing ?100+ in rent a month. Can I be made to pay this at the end of the tenancy? I hope not, that would leave me in upwards of ?1200 worth of arrears. I have seen in excess of 200 bids on some places on Southwark bidding systems. It just doesn't matter to people whether they are living in the middle of the ghetto as they are so desperate they will take anything. The real world is hard though, if your living in the depth of high poverty we have within Southwark, in social housing especially its going to be hard for you to get out. Poverty is spreading across the country and eating up people's lives while the government let us rot. Thanks Dave! Some would consider my life to just be starting, I consider it nearly down the pan. I'm in a state of financial depression that I cannot ever see lifting, just getting worse..

sophiesofa Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I think it's a good idea to re-asses the need. A > very small majority simply do not need large flats > at cheap rents. > > My boyfriend's friend earns about 34k and has > about 100k in the bank and lives in a 3 bed > council house on his own. He's 40 something and > had lived there with his mum and I appreciate that > he grew up there etc but there are people who > really need a 3 bed flat and a single man on a > decent wage isn't one of them. I know this is > only one example and it must be quite uncommon but > if a new review system helps make room for people > in genuine need then great. I don't know what the > earnings threshold cut off would be but I'd like > it to be high enough that as soon as people move > out they then get into debt etc. as a result but > can live comfortably. I don't know much about > these things though so I probably am missing > important factors out and therefore completely > wrong! I too have heard/witnessed situations like this. I know people who are still living in council homes they grew up in with their parents. The council just let them take over tenancy it would seem. Also 2/3 bed properties being lived in by just one person by themselves. This really gets me though, sorry for the rant (I don't wish to be judged on my situation either please) but.. I live with my partner and our 18 month old daughter, we tried to get help with housing from the council as we were previously living with family in a snug 2 bed. At the time of our assessment the council told us we weren't considered to be living in overcrowded and inhumane situations although their was 1 toilet to be used by 7 adults at the time (I'm aware this counts as inhumane living conditions and it should be 1 toilet to every 3 adults? Am I wrong? I was told this previously by someone else at the council) and just 2 bedrooms for 7 adults and a baby. We lived in the living room for nearly the first year of my daughters life. We were allowed to bid for social housing but were told to expect to wait anywhere up to 4 years for housing as we weren't as needy as other people in the community (I understand this, at least we had a roof over our head, even if we couldn't swing a cat). We finally got housing in the private sector through Southwark councils housing incentive scheme, but the landlord wanted more money than they could offer, after a year of looking I couldn't risk the one place I had found, I paid out my own savings to my landlord on top of the council payment 'in secret' to secure reasonable accommodation for my family (I am 99.9% sure I will never see this money again). So my in laws rent council, we rent private. Our combined household income (albeit from benefits) is 3 times less than them our rent is just under 2.5% higher than they pay. I'm stuck in private housing that I cannot afford to live in, I'm due to resign my tenancy in October but I just don't know what I'm going to do, my partner is currently seeking work after training in a skill which will hopefully provide him good work. When he starts working we will no way be able to pay our rent, neither a deposit to move. I would need a nest egg to get out of my situation and there is no way I can save ?2000 for a deposit on another tenancy. I know of vacant council properties on Southwark, a good few of them too and they are just sitting there empty. I wouldn't have a chance in hell, I often feel to ring them up and ask whats happening with these places. I just want to get off benefits and be able to pay for things myself (I hate relying on benefits), this was never my life plan. DJKQ you have made this thread very interesting for me so thank you for your input. Its much appreciated.

I had a positive planned birth at Kings although I would of loved a home birth. Really encouraging and absolutely lovely midwife, couldn't thank the woman enough. Helped me through all natural labor, really positive and encouraging of my choices and decisions. I felt towards the end I literally couldn't give birth to my daughters head and requested a doctor come and make an incision, as the doctor was busy and couldn't see me for 30 minutes I had to try and get through it. After much encouragement my daughter was born a few pushes later after 2 and half hours of pushing. Midwife helped with breastfeeding straight away, skin to skin was encouraged etc. Labor ward was great, no complaint apart from waiting for upwards of an hour with strong contractions to be seen by a midwife (I was infact after all that only 1cm dilated). I was transfered to post natal ward 4 hours after birth and I honestly couldn't wait to get out of there (sorry for the negative). I really needed help with breastfeeding and the midwife and ward sister kept leaving me and not helping, just telling me to keep trying. I found it really hard and took it upon myself against advice to discharge myself that night. From then it all got better, we received great breastfeeding support from our community midwife, finally!! I I had to go through the experience again I have no worries about being under Kings care for the birth of another one of my children. Laboring was fantastic, and it may just have been my personal experiences that made the post natal negative for me. If I could do it again, I definitely would. Good luck with your pregnancy and birth :)

These look gorgeous. I'm going to get one for my daughter. Wonder whether they will make one to specification if the are custom? She would love a landscape with lots of dogs! kittysailing Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I would thoroughly recommend looking on website > ruka ruka. I received gorgeous personalised date > print in bold graphics. Looks really good on > nursery wall! They do lovely cityscapes with kids > name on too. Love the London bus one.

Why does mother nature intend on making a lot of women throw up daily whilst pregnant? Or why do we have to go through monthly visits and men don't? Mother nature treated us women unfairly for unknown reasons, maybe she was on the looking out for a nice father nature? Everything in life is practiced and learned really. Breastfeeding included. Some women take to it so naturally, others due to various problems (possibly mother nature being not so clever again) find it a struggle. Most women with a bit of support and advice tend to overcome their problems, after all mother nature cant stop us experiencing the our problems and getting through them to help out another women in our position. Breastfeeding was never intended to be easy just because its natural, same as giving birth. If you overcome problems with anything in life the rewards are usually satisfying. Life ain't easy.

Well done. I'm really pleased too. It is definitely worth sticking it out. Good luck with the rest of the journey. For the record - I cried almost everyday for the first 2 months of breastfeeding. It was extremely difficult for both me and my daughter due to latching problems and 'low' weight gain issues. We received amazing help and got through our bad patch. This was 18 months ago now and we are going stronger than ever, still! There is definitely light at the end of the tunnel. All the best.

Ha, these made me laugh. My daughter is an explorer for a living at 18 months, very young, but very calculated!!! We've had; Getting leg stuck in cot railings (don't know how or why) Often ringing people on my phone, she has left 7 minute long voice messages before! Trying to climb in the bin as a result head first legs dangling out the waste paper basket. Moving 'dirty' fake coal from gas fire to my nice clean carpet. We were due to go on holiday, but she hid her shoe, her only pair and one was missing. ERGHH! Nightmare, after we returned from holiday I found it in the tomy eggbox! Clever.. The usual climbing in the washing machine, or winding up in the curtain. Sitting underneath the computer desk with all the wires (I HATE THIS DANGEROUS BEHAVIOUR!!) She loves to climb on the arms of the sofa, balance and then try getting on the window sill to watch the 'carcars' or alternatively just nose dive off the back of the sofa. It depends who she feels I suppose. Kids are hilarious to watch growing up, I've laughed more times in the last few months than EVER before!

This has been confusing me too. My daughter is 18 months old. How do I find out about catchment areas? I'm dreading this process, no matter how much I read I just get confused..

These are still the same, haven't changed overnight or anything. Smothered in sudocrem last night. None have dried out and the a few have been there 3-4 days now. I'm unsure, I suppose I will just see how it goes. I'm still breastfeeding so I hope that will make it a bit easier if she gets in a state etc. I've also heard breastmilk straight onto CP spots can work better than calamine lotion?! I will test this theory. Thank you buggie and I hope she is better soon too. :(

I realise this thread is a little old now but.. My daughter who is 18 months old has developed first 2 spots on her inner elbow around 2 days ago and then today I noticed around 8 or so on her legs. They appear to be slightly blistered and yellow in appearance, but red from afar (IYKWIM?). These are very small pimples, like insect bites but a lot smaller. She has no fever, nothing like this. Right as rain just being really grouchy like usual, I understand this could be a CP symptom too?! I've never experienced first hand before, I had it too young, and never remember siblings having it. I thought the rash was more profound. Even I'm itching now. I will take her to the doctors if she gets feverish and poorly of course, but in the meantime.. Someone help me?! Is it chicken pox?

I'm teaching toddler not to throw rubbish. If she eats something in her pushchair she will sometimes pass me the empty or sometimes decides to chuck it. I always pick everything up she drops as I don't want her to be living in a litter bin which is exactly what it will be when she grows up and the days of using bins ended decades ago. I must admit, I felt useless the other day when she threw some litter and it blew through Alleyn's fence. If I could of reached, I would of. Either that or I sent her under the fence like a cat to collect it. I guess not though! And, I HATElitter on buses. I don't want to be moving other people half eaten macdonalds or spat out chips just to sit down. I shouldn't have to. I agree you shouldn't be able to eat on buses. You cannot drink alcohol any more. And fast food on buses stink, especially on a hot day. YUCK!

Could it be a be lactose intolerence as opposed to a milk allergy, this may be why he cannot drink milk products but is fine with butter. Is this something you have ruled out? Or of course it could be a mild milk allergy (or he could be outgrowing the allergy) meaning he can eat small quantities of dairy produce but not fresh milk itself. My mother suffered terrible allergies with all my siblings, she found similar occurrence with my younger brother. My brother was allergic to everything under the sun. Animals, dust, pollen, wheat, diary, everything. He miraculously outgrew this at about 3 years old (it is actually quite unusual to carry a milk allergy especially throughout your whole life). I hear many similar stories. I hope you find a solution.

Give Willesden Treetops Children's Centre a call, I'm pretty sure they will provide some sort of breastfeeding support. The number is 020 8838 3901 Hope that will put you on the right track.

I probably give too much affection. If I was a kangaroo my Joe(lla)y would be in 'her' pouch ALL day.

I'm unsure whether you know, there is a breastfeeding drop in session running from 12.30-2.30 at Mickeys Star Playgroup on St Michaels street. Around the corner from St Marys. If your daughter is interested in going she may want to call first to see whether they are open during the 6 week break, 0207 262 5784. I hope it gets better soon :)

I'm still following your story to see how your getting along. How are things now? I'm hoping things are getting much better. Engorgement may be at its peak as the 10th day postpartum comes close, hopefully then will subside dramatically if it hasn't already.

I third Lansinoh, life saver. Another thing is also her own milk, if she smothers her nipple in breast milk every time she feeds (then let air dry) that will help with cracked nipples too. Its worth having the positioning of the baby checked, more often than not a little help with latch solves nipple soreness. As the above poster says, they will toughen up over time. I have heard a good few people that are also not happy with post-natal care at St Mary's, being misadvised on both breast and bottle feeding. I'm sure there is a lactation consultant there, I will try and find some contact details. She could also seek advice from her local breastfeeding cafe. I can get details for this too if needs be.

East Dulwich Grove is the worst!!! Saying that around Harvester is no good either, we have added into the mix a car alarm opposite that loves loud music...

Its a shame some of the care given to women regarding breastfeeding. It will get better though. To minimize engorgement, baby should be feeding on demand and unrestricted. At least 8-12 times in a 24 hour period. Engorgement is common between the 3rd and 6th day after birth and can take 7-10 days to subside. Pumping, compress, and regular feeding should keep it minimal. Further help may be found for positioning and latching, it can be incredibly difficult during engorgement. Is there any pain at all, or just feeling full? Glad its getting a bit better, it can be very difficult at the beginning.

I'm also wondering how its going? Did you manage to get anyone to see you yesterday?

Benjaminity it can be a pain to get hold of someone at weekends so keep trying (even just if a community midwife gets out to see you).. Alternatively (for the meantime) breastfeeding cafes offer one to one advice and support with any breastfeeding problems in a breastfeeding friendly 'cafe' atmosphere. There is a breastfeeding cafe in Dulwich (Townley Road Clinic) open 10-12 on Monday where you could go for help, they will be more than happy to see you. Also one in Peckham (5th Floor Peckham Library) open 10-12 on Thursdays, we would be happy to help here too. Best of luck.

Ah. There is something going round then? I was wondering this. I have been feeling really faint and nauseous, stomach cramps, dizziness & now the beginnings of a cold. Then again I've been suffering everyday for 3 weeks now. So cant be this..?! There must of been another bug around 3 weeks ago as I knew a good few people who had 24 hours sickness, probably still traveling somewhere. Not nice.

KalamityKel Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > timmy its timmy he's a little lamb with a lot to > learn, timmy its timmy he's a handful of trouble > at every turn, timmy leaves the farm to go out to > the world, trying to be cool he's number 1... > > Just dont ask! SNAP!!!