Polly D

Sorry Fuschia but I do think it's reading posts like yours that can make people feel guilty about their choices and decisions regarding breast vs bottle. I think most parents think their choices through, don't you? Do you actually believe deciding to offer your baby formula means you're not coping? What do you mean by a slippery slope?

Go for it Iain and Anna. I wanted to echo ryedalema's comments. Turning to the bottle can work all round! When my son was 6 weeks old we introduced a bottle of formula at bedtime so my husband could give me a break and I could sleep either side of that feed - it saved all our lives I believe. Sorry if that sounds a little dramatic but really, after feeding every hour for first 6 weeks it was a massive turning point as he then began to sleep for longer. Re the pump - you'll need one if you want to try expressing first. We tried this when he was 3 weeks old but finding the time and energy to express even 100ml became just one more stressful thing to do and so at 6 weeks I stopped expressing and he had one bottle of formula. Don't be afraid of it, it's not poison. I believe supplementing baby E's feed with one bottle will reduce A's milk supply but if you plan to do this regularly then it's no problem. She will still continue to produce enough milk for the rest of the feeds. One more piece of advice: if you want to give her the bottle, try it sooner rather than later. Quite sure there will be others who totally disagree with my 'advice', and of course it's all about choice and finding what works for you, but I remember feeling so guilty about the bottle and now I can't believe I wasted any thought - and lots of tears - on it at all.

He's not in East Dulwich but my 9 year-old nephew is madly into Jack Stalwart and Famous Five.

Ring one of these helplines and they'll first give you advice and reassurance over the phone, and if there's someone within their org who lives nearby they'll try and send them round: http://www.nct.org.uk/info-centre/getting-help/helplines http://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/breastfeeding-helplines.html http://www.laleche.org.uk/pages/about/helpline.htm I can't remember which one I rang but I managed to get the help of a lovely woman for 45 minutes on the phone, and she offered to send someone round but it was okay in the end. Also, Anna could go to the breastfeeding cafe at the top of Barry Road - in the church - on Monday morning. It'll be okay.

Who said they were flakey?! I think most of us have written in great support of the amazing and inspirational work that the Oakwood midwives do.

Let's not turn this into a race issue 'thebestnameshavegone'. Seems to me sakurasteve has experienced something totally out of order and is appealing for witnesses, and support. Appalling attack ss, and I hope very much you aren't affected too badly for too long.

Found this great place yesterday just off Regent St, near Habitat: http://www.tibits.co.uk/e/restaurants-take-away/heddon-street/ It has an amazing children's area with great toys, blackboard, rocking horse, loads of crawling around space, and best of all (ED parents you'll like this) - tripp trapp highchairs! Plus sofas for the grown-ups, easy-going staff, buffet style food - wasn't amazing food but pretty reasonable - and if you're just looking for somewhere to change a nappy, give a meal to a child who's been stuck in a buggy all afternoon, and have a drink yourself, I heartily recommend this place. Edited to say I probably should have posted this somewhere else as not related to ED, except for maybe the Tripp Trapp part, but I don't know how to move it.

I don't know if this really works but if you lay her on her back and very gently move her legs, as if she was riding a bike...! This apparently helps to get it going. But I'm not a professional so maybe check with someone who is. Also could try very gently massaging her tum. Hugs to you all! It'll all be fine, and that'll be some poo.

Ooh I love the blini idea njc97

Yup, I also had my first scan before seeing the Oakwood midwives and felt a bit lost, especially when one of the sonographers looked surprised that I hadn't seen a midwife at that stage, but once I had met them they were amazing. And as Sanne Panne said, they're just too busy to return messages left on answerphone - unless in their eyes it's v serious, in which case you would probably have their pager. I think I read v recently on here that there had been 13 or 15 births with the Oakwood midwives recently so of course they've had their hands full, plus perhaps having taken on some Albany mums. I know it's easy to say 'don't worry' but really, I would stay with them. I was very inspired by these women and having read and heard other birth stories over the last year since I had my son, I am more and more grateful for having had the expertise and support of the Oakwood ladies during my pregnancy and labour, and aftercare. The other thing to point out is that although you will have been allocated a named midwife, there will be a chance later on to meet all the midwives in the group as it could be any one of them who delivers your baby. I agree it's a shame that you can't have home visits for check-ups but I would still stick with them, this was quite a luxury according to my non-Oakwood friends. Good luck ladies!

Thanks both - is ham okay at this age?

What else can I put in R's sandwich, or on bread for tea, apart from: cottage cheese grated cheddar mashed avocado philadelphia He's 11 months and a good eater but I need new ideas for simple finger food (he usually has his 'main' meal for lunch), and ideally something that wouldn't go too soggy when I make it the night before for his lunchbag for the childminder.

I just didn't have the energy to read all these books at the beginning, and I had loads of them, working for a publisher. I would leaf through them - usually sobbing - at 2am, 3am, 4am desperately searching for answers or more, wanting the books to tell me I was doing it all right and that the baby would eventually sleep at night, which he did of course. To be honest, we found the best advice came from the midwives and from our own mums. Re Gina Ford particularly I remember thinking she sounded too regimental and that if I was to follow her strict ideas, I would never be able to leave the house. And that if it didn't go according to plan, I'd feel like a failure. But then I hate reading the manuals whether it's about a baby or how to make the new boiler work...

Hey, ours too...last Friday night. From Upland Road, not that far away in SE22. Ours was yellow and white, also a pop up. Think it was either towed away or put on to a truck 'cos doubt it would have started in that big freeze. Watch out fellow campers, perhaps there's something going on here.

Sean, please don't spoil our fun! I always thought they'd be surviving on the Alka Seltzers by day 3...

This is very exciting! Please keep us posted with viewing info, am deeply envious AcedOut!

I asked at Panther once and they said you could take the baby in the car seat, they'd then leave it at their office and if/when they pick you up, you have it again.

If your family has a long-standing jokey pet name for something, like for example you've always called a dog - a dig - what do you do about telling your child what something is called? I don't know whether this makes much sense but I'm finding it almost impossible to say: "Look R, there's a dog" but I don't want him to think that dogs are called digs...what do other families do?

Many congrats new little family! Linda also delivered our baby nearly a year ago and was amazing! Really glad all went well for you.

This website is great too: http://www.fabricland.co.uk/

Thanks ladies, v useful. And thanks for offer of trying yours out L - I'm 5'3'' though and might not reach the floor! I don't have a basket on the front but would definitely want to use my panniers at the back so that's one of my reasons for thinking front seat would work best, apart from feeling that he is more protected there, although not from the wind: good point! He's only going to be on the bike for 5 mins in am and 10 (uphill!) on way home in evening so I have one more question for front seat users: when the baby isn't on the bike, do you find the seat gets in the way?

What do people think works best: front or back baby bike seats? I like the idea of a front seat, like a weeride, but have been reading the reviews and many say it makes it hard to ride your bike with one at the front, particularly if you don't have very long legs...I am quite short, and so, therefore, is my bike. I feel the front one looks safer and it would free up space at the back for paniers. I want to get one so I can drop my son off at the childminder - a 5 min bike journey - and then continue to work. He'll be one by the time I need it and probably weighs about 10kg ish.

Oh Rook, what a thoughtful soul! I didn't get (or want) diamonds - all I wanted was sleep and when R was 16 weeks old, my husband paid for and organised for me to have a night alone here: http://www.churchstreethotel.com/

We knew we were having a boy, and people would always ask if we knew, and what would the name be, and as we'd already decided on the name I told people but only when they asked, which they did, a lot. I found everyone's response to be positive but even if they thought 'oh don't you want a surprise' or 'WHAT?!' to the name I wouldn't care because it's so personal. And family's response was all positive. We ummed and urred a bit though because his name is kind of male version of his cousin's name but we asked SIL and she was great about it. We now only call him by his nickname, however, but we'll have to stop soon because it will embarrass the hell out of him when he's older...believe me.

I'm thinking this could have a romantic thread...maybe girl with blue bike took a shine to the crashed man on bike and wants to meet again. Or do I watch too much telly?