Saffron

Wow! AMY, you sold me, and I don't even have a headache today!! GINAG3, have you talked with your GP about trying Tegretol (carbamazepine) for your headache? This is an epilepsy drug that can also be used to treat certain types of persistent pain. It has a different mechanism of action compared to standard analgesics. It is also considered safe for breastfeeding. It has been used for many decades to treat epilepsy and other conditions, so a lot is known about side effects etc. You should be able to find a lot of info about it. I would also recommend acupuncture for pain. Giles Davies on Barry Road is very good. x really hoping you find something that helps x

Have you tried giving smaller feeds more often? Some people believe teething coincides with development changes to the gastrointestinal tract... which seems odd until you realise that teeth are part of the digestive system ... it may also go some way to explaining why many babies have diarrhea with teething.

Have you tried using a TENS machine?

My baby is a great eater, and we started weaning around 5 mo when she started grabbing food off me... no improvement with sleep though! Now at 8 mo, I can count on one hand the number of times she has slept more than 3 hrs. Also, she's been teething since 3 mo, but still no sign of teeth. I'm convinced that when a little pearly tooth does finally 'foink' through, her sleep will improve dramatically (at least that's what I tell myself). Sorry I can't offer any advice, but I have LOADS and LOADS of sympathy!!!! We've been suggested to try cranial osteopathy by Fabiano da Sliva on Barry Road, but with everything else on at the moment haven't had a chance. If you give it a try and it helps, lemme know :-) x Saff x

Sounds fine :-)

Hi- We'd be happy to meet up and share experiences. Little Saff is 8 months and loves to feed herself! Monday\Wednesday\Friday are best for us... x Saff x

I second the Woodhouse, and also recommend the Herne http://www.theherne.net/home ...you will definitely need reservations at the Herne.

My clean socks were on, lipbalm touched-up, the doornob was almost within my grasp: Cue vomiting episode from Husband and Baby! Not gonna make it tonight... have fun, and I'll see you all at the next one!! x Saff x

Hold your belly, grimace, and shout wildly, 'I need to sit down, I'm having contractions!' Followed by, 'Oh, false alarm', when you get the seat. Hahahaha!! Just kidding... but seriously... I agreed with R_B... asking for a seat is a matter of safety for your baby, not just a personal convenience. Have clearly in your mind what you will say. Ie, Can anyone in a Priority Seat please let me sit down, because I am not able to stand safely on this bus/train/tube. Like you, I used to travel on public transport when I was heavily pregnant. There was no mistaking my bump for anything other than a pregnancy. I was like a beachball with sticks attached! Still people occasionally failed to notice. I'm sure it's just that people are zoned out, and not intentionally rude. x Saff x

My LO likes chewing on a clean, damp face flannel. "Sophie the Giraffe" teether from NCT is also quite popular. You can try offering her other things from around the house too, like a large plastic spoon or cold fruit. I notice that my LO often gets bored with things and I have to rotate them. And sometimes, she likes to chew on unexpected things... today it was the buttons on my mac!

trevone Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > has anyone taken out their white sheets out of the > wash to find small brownish dots that wont come > out under any circumstances...what are they If you try some rust-remover solution on them, and they resolve, then you'll know for sure... and unfortunately this will likely confirm that a (rusty) washing machine is to blame!

If you're ever short of ideas for a good deed, I need a foot massage! x Saff x

Good luck all. My LO (8 months) still wakes 3 or 4 times a night. So I'll send you positive vibes at 3AM, when I'm up too! Honestly, I think a lot of the whole 'babies should sleep through by X months' is just marketing. REAL babies are awake A LOT!! x

linzkg Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > had heard that formula has more calories or > something so babies sleep better Formula has less calories per mL than breastmilk, but formula takes longer to digest. This may or may not help some babies to sleep longer.

ludoscotts Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hi thanks everyone not sure if they are bpa free > they were tommy tippy ones butthink I still have > box so will take a look. Oh, if you know the brand, you can always check directly with the company! :-)

Thanks, Agathoise. Great info, and I'm sure I'll be referring back to this thread when Little Saff is a bit older. And thanks, Molly, for starting a thread on such a tough topic! x -Saff

Can you remember if they were BPA-free bottles? If not, you should dispose and replace.

I had ante-natal acupuncture from Ella Keepax. It was very helpful. She practices out of Harley St, 07787118931. Locally, Giles Davies is also very good. His practice is on Barry Road, 07739414210.

Hi Kamila- Again, lovely that you care and want to help. I share your sense of frustration, and agree with others that you take advice from an animal welfare charity (although what more they can say, I don't know). What is the woman owner herself like? Maybe she, like her dogs, could use a little TLC. Try to befriend her. Offer for her to join you for coffee. Maybe she needs help, but doesn't know how to ask? Have you complimented her on the dog that has gained weight? How did she react? Perhaps you could find a local specialist vet, and recommend her for a consultation? Some vets might consider doing a little pro bono work considering the dogs' condition. ...hope you can help, Saff

Oh dear, I fear we may be headed this way with Little Saff, who is very much a "boobie baby". It seems so harsh just to whip the proverbial rug out from under a little one all at once. And, I wonder if that wouldn't also leave the child feeling as if he/she had done something wrong and was being punished in someway, or was somehow less important/less worthy of love? (Imagine if one day out of the blue, someone you love said I'm never pouring you another tea/wine/coffee/etc ever again?!) I have a friend who has an older nursling. They stepped down from one feed a day everyday, to feeding just once on Saturdays. This seems to be working pretty well for them at the moment. I wonder also if you could reintroduce a warm bottle when you phase out the breastfeed? ...easier then to phase out the bottle later, than to go cold turkey on the boob? Curious to see what everyone else's thoughts are... ...best of luck, Saff PS: Has anyone asked a certified lactation consultant for advice? Just a thought. PPS: Another thought... Once you've worked the feed down to 1/day... if your bubs is old enough to start grasping numbers, offer 50p for every day that s/he takes a beaker instead of the boob. At the end of the week, this could total (a whopping!) ?3.50, which could serve as the pocket money standard for some years to come. Help your bubs keep track of progress with a star chart, and never take stars/money away for bad behaviour, so as not to mix this paradigm up with any other behavioural contexts. This means that giving up the boob can only ever lead to a reward. (Scary feeling I'm route mapping my own future here!)

Lovely that you noticed and wanted to help. Probably the dogs are ok. Italian greyhounds are supposed to be thin. It's the way the breed looks in general. Breed standards are weights from 6 to 18 lbs, with divisions for dogs under 8 lbs, or over 8 lbs. It would seem this woman's dogs fall into the later category? Also, they can be fussy eaters, so that probably doesn't help. But if the owner has seen the vet, then it's likely just fine. As for the poor poochie's shakes, it may just be a very nervous dog. That's fairly normal too and not indicative of any problems. Are you a dog owner? Perhaps if you see the woman more often, you could walk your dogs together. If you get to know her and her dogs, you can see that they are fine, and you'll have made a new friend too.

Lochie Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I would happily have him on my knee whilst saying > my vows but for whatever reason I am not sure if > you are allowed (as much as I hate to think that > would be the case) cos the registrars seem to get > quite serious about vows being a legal declaration > without distraction - but I will no doubt find out > on the day! x Yeah, the registrars can be a bit stuffy, but you can have fun flouting their "rules". It's your day!

Lochie Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I'm getting > married on Sunday and am a bit worried this might > happen as I am walking down the aisle and I'll > have to scoop him my arms and say my vows with him > clinging on for dear life!!! If you have to carry him up the aisle with you on the day, it doesn't have to be a bad thing. People will think, There goes a beautiful loving mother, and shortly to be a devoted wife! Also, could your Maid of Honour or the Best Man hold/carry your little one, so that he can be close to you throughout the service? Best of luck on the day :) -Saff

If I had it to do over, I would use an Amby Baby Hammock from birth! I didn't find out about these until Bubs was about 4 months old. Even so, I still let her sleep on me or next to me a lot, as she likes to cluster feed, and it's the only way I can get any sleep. Just do whatever makes you feel that your baby feels your love. I would also read The Wonder Weeks (Vanderijt & Plooij) and The Continuum Concept (Liedloff) sooner. Best of luck and have fun :-)

Or check out next day delivery from asos.com. Their maternity section is pretty decent. I had black maternity leggings from them last winter, and they were great.