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DO YOU (OR MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY) EXPERIENCE DIGESTIVE DISCOMFORT AFTER EATING DAIRY PRODUCTS? If you are affected by bloating, diarrhoea, stomach cramps or vomiting after eating dairy, you could be one of the 15% of the UK population who are thought to be lactose intolerant. Find out more here 

Hello from Mumsnet HQ...

Where we hope you're enjoying the part-man, part-woman epic that is Middlesex, our April Book of the Month - and are (unequivocally) planning to join us for a bit of a natter about it on Tuesday 28 April, 8pm to 10pm.

If the Easter hols have left you awed by a friend's bottomless maternal forbearance – or even pleasantly shocked at your own – you'll be thrilled to hear we're inviting nominations for our Mumsnet Mum of the Year. Inspired by, and in collaboration with, National Family Week's Family of the Year competition, we're asking you to tell us who should win this most preen-worthy of titles and why – and, if our judges agree with you, you could bag your nominee a luxury family getaway at Chewton Glen.
 

Now for this week's parenting news ...

Home birth "safe as hospital": Giving birth at home is as safe as giving birth in hospital, providing a woman is low-risk, according to the biggest study on the subject. The new research, from the Netherlands, found no difference in death rates of either mothers or babies. Meanwhile, in the UK, many health authorities are not on track to provide the midwives needed for one-to-one care, figures obtained by the midwives' trade union this week suggest. The Royal College of Midwives wants one midwife for every 28 births, but the new figures show only four Strategic Health Authorities will hit or better this by 2012. (BBC Online 15.04.09 and BBC Online 16.04.09)

Kids' tooth decay on the increase: Up to 30,000 children are admitted to hospital for tooth decay and extraction every year – and the number is rising, according to new research. Experts from Peninsula Dental School and University College London, writing in the British Dental Journal, said the data highlighted a "major public health issue" after they found a large increase in the number of children admitted since 1997. The peak age for needing a tooth extracted due to decay was five, the study found. (Daily Mail 16.04.09)

Other stories in brief

 

ENTER OUR PRINCESS POPPY 'SEARCH FOR A PRINCESS' COMPETITION for a chance to win a princess party. The first 500 people to enter will also receive a Princess Poppy trinket pack. Click here to find out more.

Hot threads 

 

Competitions

This week's exceedingly classy prizes are:

It's easy to enter (and keep an eye on winners' corner to see if your name has come out of the hat).

 

MUMSNET TICKET OFFER: SAVE UP TO £9 ON TICKETS FOR GRAND DESIGNS LIVE! Book your tickets now for Grand Designs Live – and not only can you bag them for just £9 each (saving up to £9 off the weekend door price), you’ll also receive a free show guide worth £8. Plus, kids go free (aged 15 or under, when accompanied by paying adult). Click here to book or call our ticket hotline on 0871 230 5577; don't forget to quote MUMSN when you book. Offer ends 24 April 2009.

Quote of the week

mollyroger's gnomic observation on a thread about the political correctness of letting kids wear clothes with skulls and crossbones on: "To err is human. To arrr is pirate."

Looking for somewhere to take the kids? Mumsnetters say try:

Bucklebury Farm Park, Reading: "It's not big enough to make a whole day of but nice, nonetheless. You can go on a tractor ride and feed the deer, and there are lots of smaller animals (chickens etc) to look at." MarlaSinger
Gogmore Farm Park, Chertsey: "A really good playground with a super area for toddlers, and a separate one for older children. There is a lovely walk on either side of the stream with duck-feeding opportunities, plus a cafe (open during warmer weather) and toilets." scienceteacher
Puxton Park, Weston-super-Mare: "The soft play section is great and has a nice-ish cafe. There's also a decent restaurant in the farm-shop area. The shop itself is fab with lots of gluten-free foods and eco-friendly cleaning stuff, as well as the usual farm-shop stuff." FourArms
Find more Mumsnetter recommendations for great days out near you in Mumsnet Local. 

Aitch's TV round-up: Missing, Thursday 16 April, Channel 4, 9pm
Only a few of the quarter of a million people reported missing in Britain each year make it to the front page of the papers, and this thoughtful documentary tells some of their stories. With 300 calls per week to attend to, the Greater Manchester Police are kept busy. Each one could be the grisliest of murders, or more likely the result of a family bust-up and too much booze....

Recipe of the week: Mummy2Luca's Easy-Peasy Chinese Chicken
Need a bit of "anything but cheese sarnies" inspiration for next week's school lunchboxes? How about these succulent, honey-marinated chicken strips? And school-dinner-lovers needn't miss out: they also hit the spot beautifully in a stir-fry supper with egg noodles and thinly chopped veg.

That's all, we're off to bribe persuade people to vote for us as Mum of the Year. Do you think a slightly pre-loved Easter egg would swing it?
Love,
Mumsnet Towers

FREE YOURSPHERE MEMBERSHIP OFFER! Mumsnet's discount partner Yoursphere, the site that puts kids' safety first, is offering all Mumsnetters a whole extra month to snap up their FREE membership (usually £27.50). Find out more here.

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