redmare

We use probiotics with our little one for the same reasons - allergies and eczema. We found Solgar ABCdophilis had L rhamnosus in its mix of probiotics. I've also started using Proven probiotics with multivitamins which has the combination of probiotics which was used in the Swansea Baby trial http://www.lab4probiotics.co.uk/the-swansea-baby-trial/ No miraculous rollback of her allergies but she's flourishing otherwise. Her eczema is much, much better but this may be down to avoiding the foods she's allergic to rather than the effect of the probiotics.

Thank you all for the suggestions and PMs - hugely appreciate it. Husband recovered a bit and is holding the fort with the little one. I still can't walk which is scary but have some industrial painkillers which will hopefully help. This episode reminds me why we're moving to be closer to family, but also why I'll miss the forum and the kindness and generosity of people on here.

We're at our wits end: both struck down with vomiting, Ive wreaked my back from throwing up and can't stand - think I've slipped a disc. We've a 3 month old baby who'll be needing fed in a couple of hours. Does anyone know of any emergency nannies we can call on?

Thanks @RenF, I'll drop you a PM for the name of the lactation consultant to have up my sleeve. Interesting that you mention domperidone too - I wonder if I should get some just to be totally sure that my supply is sufficient. I was working on the assumption that your supply regulates itself to the demands of the baby but perhaps I should take it to be on the safe side. If it comes to it I'll supplement her with some formula (I was raised on it as I refused point blank to take the breast much to my mother's grief, and like to think I turned out ok!) but want to give the breastfeeding the best run I can. The amount of information and advice out there is pretty overwhelming so I'm really grateful to have all these experiences to add into the mix of my own instincts about the wee one.

Thank you all so much for the replies. You're really kind to take the time to reassure me! I'm just trying to hold my nerve and not worry so it's really useful to get your perspectives. She doesn't give the impression of being hungry after a feed (she does the lolling drunk baby thing which I love!), plus good sleeping and contented disposition (most of the time!) suggests to me that she's getting what she needs. @telemum that's very interesting about domperidone. How did you know your supply was low - was it your daughter's weight gain or something else (I wish we came with gauges to know what's in and what's going out!)? @undiscovered it was the same scales in the same surgery. That said, you've reminded me that I've been amazed at the variation when weighing myself from one day to another so perhaps there could be a bit of a wobble given it's such small amounts we're talking about - thanks for the perspective @Saffron, I hadn't thought of it like that. @prm she has just started sleeping quite a bit - some nights she can go 5 hours, others 4, others 6. Perhaps it has had an impact. But she's not got any other issues and is waking up pretty content even after a long sleep. She feeds every 2 - 3 hours during the day. @Saffron she's long and lean so what you're saying about different growth cycles is fascinating. Her daddy's tall and lean and there's a lot of height on my side of the family (my sister is 6 ft) so she could be putting in her efforts there. I'll definitely ask for a referral to a lactation consultant if she's not put on weight next week ( and thanks for saving us a trip to Harley St!) @KatDew - that's an incredible amount to be out by! I wonder if they have another set of scales at my practice to do a comparison. Thanks again for all the wisdom - lots to think about. I'm feeding her like she's a little Strasbourg goose today so hopefully next week will see her a bit heavier. x

If any of you have any advice about a little one losing weight I would really appreciate it. We went for our 8 week check up and jabs today and the doctor found that my daughter has not only not gained any weight but lost some. She's never been a big baby and we had a bit of a job getting her weight up to her birth weight at the beginning; she's been on the 9th centile consistently but I thought we were getting on ok and wasn't too fretful about her being on the light side. She was up to 3.7kg 2 weeks ago, but today she'd dipped towards the 0.4 centile, going down to 3.6kg. I'm breastfeeding and, despite a few problems with plugged ducts in the breast which I managed to shift before it progressed and painful nipples for a while, I'd started to really enjoy it. I went to the breast feeding clinic in Peckham to make sure that she was latching properly and that there's no tongue tie issue when I got the plugged ducts and all was declared well. I'm feeding on demand and, while she takes a long time to feed, I'm letting her stay on until she pulls herself off. I'm trying breast compressions too - my breasts rarely feel particularly full and I've been taking milk thistle and fennel tea for supply - and expressing occasionally to try to build up a stash in the freezer for emergencies. I'm eating well and taking a breast feeding vitamin supplement too. She's active, alert and a happy little soul in general, napping pretty well in the day and sleeping well at night. I haven't been particularly worried about having a baby whose weight was on the light side but this has thrown me. Does anyone have any thoughts on what I can do? Thanks!

Very sorry to hear this news. May he rest in peace.

Kes that sounds like a happy story to me! I meant 'happy' with no pre-judgement about the kind of birth it turns out to be (I'm trying to think through 'what would I do in that situation?' too so all info - warts and all - is really helpful). If the writer feels traumatised by the experience (what I was thinking of as 'otherwise' stories) I try to avoid them. Look forward to reading your story - can you post a link to your blog?

I'd say go for it, but if it's possible signal early if it's a happy or otherwise tale. The otherwise tales are disconcerting for those of us about to go through labour for the first time... :)

Thank you all so much for the replies! It's great to hear such positive stories about the Birth Centre, and also to be reassured about the main labour ward - thanks slh2009. I'll speak to my midwife (if she ever gets back off sick...) about how to book in there. I'm booked with Kings by default (when I was asked very early on where I wanted to have the baby I had no idea - it's not like 'where do you want to do your weekly shop?'!) and hopefully there won't be a problem switching over. I was going to do the waterbirth tour at Kings anyway - hadn't realised that you'd see the labour ward (thanks for the tip sillywoman!) - so that will be really helpful in coming to a decision. Thanks a million again for taking the time to give your views.

Thank you all for your replies - really appreciate it. It sounds overall like you've had a pretty positive experiences at the Birth Centre (though I'm sorry to hear that you were abandoned fapl!). I've been looking at the NHS Choices website which is useful, but doesn't seem to split the main hospital maternity ward from the birthing unit, so it's a bit harder to get a sense of each of the services and the care on the main labour ward. That said, I'm reassured by what you said, mouseysarah, about care improving there. I've asked for a tour of the unit which sounds like a good idea for getting a feel of the place; I was a bit disappointed that King's have stopped their tours and just have a video online. Jo'sEnglish - thanks very much for the offer to answer more questions - I may well take you up on it once I've had a chance to see the place. Thanks again all - all the choices are a bit bewildering....!

Hello I was wondering if anyone has had their baby at Lewisham Birth centre and would mind sharing their thoughts on the care they got there? Their website talks about a 'home from home' atmosphere, birthing pools, one-to-one midwife care, encouraging active labour which sounds exactly what I'd like if all goes to plan - I'm having a very normal pregnancy, so hoping that will continue to the birth.... Any thoughts would be much appreciated! Thanks in advance

We had a fabulous meal last night in Johansson's in Camberwell - lovely service too, and a nice chilled out atmosphere.

done!

Another vote for the sticky traps in demi-diamonds - we get them on Amazon too.