Babypringle, I know you are absolutely right but as this is hopefully only a medium term venture I am determined not to let myself mind too much. Also Cambridge town centre is reasonably civilised as these places go, and I think that is a big factor in not having had too much hassle. It's also a harsh fact of life that the older you get, the more bloody rude and inconsiderate people get towards you, and I am hoping having age on my side helps. I remember the experiences of my MIL, who was also wheelchair bound with end stage renal failure, and the grief she got, eg being parked facing the wall and simply left in the doctor's surgery once our backs were turned, not being spoken to, etc, so I know exactly where you are coming from.
Nutty, DS1 uses Earth Friendly Baby in a desultory and ineffective fashion, so I have to rinse his hair. Ta for advice - I'll switch to Weleda for a bit and only wash his hair once a week (he will be extremely relieved! Have you two been conspiring, I wonder???)
Springy, Persona machine group action took 7 years, we were all forced into it even though many of us had private legal insurance and wanted to take our own cases independently. The science behind the machine was totally flawed, we found out later, and it was thought we all had a very good case. It cost over £100k to prepare the case over the seven years (luckily I had legal insurance) and in the end all 40 of us got a payment from Unipath of a miserly £7500 each, apart from one woman who refused to settle. When you think that the group included one woman who was not with the partner who got her pg and who had had triplets naturally as a consequence of this appalling device, and that it is still on sale, and making them millions, this is a sad day indeed for justice, but not for big business or lawyers' deep pockets.
Mathsmummy if your water are leaking it will go on and on, if it is any other bolidy fluid a bit of toilet going and wiping will sort you out. You are supposed to be able to tell by the smell but I honestly couldn't when this happened to me. I think hospitals have a special test stick they can use to do a quick chemistry test on it. If you're still worried at lunchtime then see someone perhaps. (Good advice there from BB, Boff assistant!)
BB I didn't have a stand at first and it was OK (as long as you don't have under floor heating!), but then I bought a second hand stand, and this was very useful because it knackered my back less picking small people up in the middle of the night to be fed. However removal men trashed the stand and my mum bought me a little crib for baby no 3 as she and I had both always wanted one! But I have got a new moses basket now just to plonk on the floor of the living room.
Bleuravin I have found a homeopathic link here that helps you diagnose suitable cures for things like back pain/sciatica so you might care to try it. Nutty with regard to the SPD/back, have you thought of trying to get a referral to the NHS homeopathic hospital in Bristol? I am going to try to go to the Women's Clinic at the London one.
www.ainsworths.com/arf/arf.aspx