Pregnancy & Baby - Parenting Hub

10 Fantastic things about being pregnant

For those who are well on their way to bearing a child, I’m sure you feel the happiness and can’t wait for your bundle of joy to arrive in the world! After all, that’s the point of starting a family, isn’t it? But with all these amazing things happening, there will be a bit of discomfort along the way. Yes, like what many mothers experience, there are painful pregnancy symptoms besides labor pain and contractions. While you are pregnant, you may feel nauseous, have weird cravings, or even experience a lot of mood swings along the way! Because of these symptoms, you’re afraid to experience pregnancy or feel nervous about it when in your first few weeks! It can get daunting, but as time wears on, you will realize that there are so many good things about pregnancy that outweigh the bad. Carrying your child doesn’t only mean that you have a new addition to your family, but that you will also experience so many amazing moments that have you feeling like you’re living miracles here! For starters, you’ll always be a priority and skip lines, staying in lounges or having all your loved ones focus on you and your comfort. Who doesn’t want all that extra attention and making people feel a bit of joy as you carry your child? You’ll also feel that overflowing joy and love as you hear your baby’s heartbeat and feel his first kicks. And that’s just the beginning! You see, there are so many things to be thankful for when you are pregnant, and it outweighs those uncomfortable symptoms you’ll feel along the way. Yes, there will be and times and you will feel down, but don’t let that ruin the whole experience! You will surely have an amazing time as long as you remind yourself why it feels great to be pregnant and the things you will experience along the way. That is why I made this infographic, to remind you why there are so many amazing things about being pregnant! So read up and enjoy the little moments. About The Author Hey guys, my name is Naser and I am a BSc Life Sciences student and fitness freak. I write about health, fitness and other remedies on my blogs. I am usually at the gym or strolling in the woods the time I am offline. Let’s connect.

April 13, 2018

11 Things to expect postpartum

Pregnancy is an amazing journey and towards the end moms to be start preparing for their labor and birth, as well as the exciting prospect of meeting their new baby. The baby nursery will be prepared and hospital bags packed and ready. Then once baby has arrived the new mommy will be spending her days caring for her new baby, breastfeeding and bonding. Another important thing to remember and focus on is that the first six weeks after birth is considered a recovery period. Some moms will recover faster and other moms may take longer. How you give birth will also play a role in your recovery period, your symptoms and how you will need to look after yourself. Here are some tips for recovering after birth: Postpartum Bleeding Postpartum bleeding is known as lochia. You can expect to bleed anywhere from 4 weeks to 6 weeks after birth. Postpartum bleeding is heavier than a normal period. Your bleeding will be heaviest for the first 3 to 10 days after birth and then it should get lighter. Postpartum bleeding is made up of blood, mucus and uterus tissue. Your bleeding will turn from red to pink to brown and finally to yellow-ish white. You will need to stock up on maternity pads which are much more heavy duty than normal sanitary pads. Keep in mind that you should not use tampons for the first 6 weeks after birth – tampons could lead to bacteria in your uterus during this time. Consider buying some disposable maternity panties for use in the hospital and while you are bleeding heavily at home. You will undoubtedly leak through your maternity pads at some stage and ruin your panties. Having these stretchy disposable panties means firstly that you are comfortable but also that you needn’t worry about stains and extra washing during this time. If you get large blood clots in your bleeding or your bleeding is excessively heavy so that you are bleeding through a pad in an hour or less contact your doctor immediately as this could postpartum hemorrhage. After Your C-section When you have a c-section you won’t be mobile on the day of the birth. You will receive a epidural which means your lower body is numb and you will have a catheter which will be removed the morning after your c-section. While you won’t be able to move around fast or far in the beginning it is important that you start moving around as soon as possible after your catheter has been removed. This will help your body functions to start working (especially your bowels). It will also help to lower the chances of any post-operation complications like blood clots in your legs. Many women experience gas and bloating after their c-section which may be uncomfortable and even painful. You will need to keep your c-section wound clean and dry for the first 10 days – you will probably have a waterproof bandage on it so you can shower. When you go for a checkup after birth your doctor will remove the bandage and check your scar to see if it is healing properly. Once the bandage is off clean your scar daily and pat it dry afterwards. Check with your doctor whether he advises you leave your scar open or keep it covered. Your c-section scar will be incredibly sore the first few days and stay tender for a long time after the operation. Your doctor will prescribe you anti-inflammatory medication as well as pain medication to help you manage the pain. Using a postpartum girdle after a c-section (or even after natural birth too) comes with many benefits, including providing your stomach with support which will help with easing the pain. You can read more about postpartum girdles here. It is important not to do any lifting after your c-section other than when you need to pick up your baby of course. Refrain from lifting anything other than your baby for the first 6 weeks to give yourself a chance to heal. After Natural Birth Giving birth naturally usually means a quicker and easier recovery than giving birth via c-section, however parts of your body will have taken a bashing. Make sure to look after your perineum (the area between your anus and vagina) properly. For the first 24 hours after birth ice your perineum. Keep a spray bottle handy and fill it with warm water when you need to urinate. Give your vaginal area and perineum a squirt of warm water before and after urinating. This will keep the urine from irritating any torn skin. Your perineum may have torn during birth requiring stitches or your doctor may have performed an episiotomy (a surgical cut to the perineum) to widen you vagina during an assisted birth, if your baby is in distress or to prevent your perineum from tearing. Your body may also be achy and sore from pushing. Your doctor may prescribe pain medication and you can also take a hot shower or use heating pads to ease the aching. Your Uterus and Tummy Your stomach will take a while to get back to its normal size, so don’t expect a flat stomach after birth. You may even still look pregnant for a while. It will take some time for your uterus to contract back to its normal size. You can also expect some cramping as your uterus contracts. Breastfeeding your baby will help your uterus to contract so you can expect to feel cramps when you breastfeed. It may take a few weeks to a couple of months for your tummy to start looking normal again. You can expect to have some stretch marks and if you have had a c-section you will have a scar. You can look into ways to reduce your stretch marks, but also remember that your stretch marks are a sign that you have brought life into this world. Caring For Your Breasts Whether you are breastfeeding or

April 11, 2018

The end of day naps

Much to my horror my 3 year old daughter recently declared that she does not have day naps any more. I have tried my best to change her mind and for a good few weeks still attempted to get her to sleep but it has become clear that no matter what I try this girl has made up her mind. We have battled and once again I have lost! As much as I love my daughter I loved the short break during the afternoon when I can relax a bit, she is incredibly busy and always demands a huge amount of attention from me which can be incredibly tiring. As with any change in routine and new milestones this time is exceptionally tough. I thought the change from 2 day naps to 1 day nap was hard, this is much worse. By 3pm in the afternoon she is tired and gets progressively more difficult as the day goes on. It is hard to try and discipline her in any constructive way as she is overtired: self-control has gone out the window. She cannot listen, she gets rude and cheeky and rough. It is like trying to deal with a person drunk or high on drugs! I need to be patient and remember that she is just a little person, that is tired and going through a major change in her life. At times this is almost impossible as it feels like my child was stolen and a gremlin put in her place! The last few days have been slightly better, but to be honest I don’t think it has anything to do with her, it all comes down to the decision I made recently to stay calm, not get upset and to be more loving towards my child no matter what she does. What age did your child stop sleeping during the day?

April 11, 2018

10 Reasons why colouring pages are healthy for your child’s development

Coloring pages is an awesome and fun activity for children, as well as for adults. Coloring in may seem like it is all fun and games but the truth is that coloring pages provides many benefits for healthy development for kids. This makes coloring pages an important part of your child’s development and education. If you are looking for some reasons to encourage your child to spend some time coloring pages look no further. **Disclosure – this post is sponsored by Top Coloring Pages. However the opinions expressed in this post are all my own.** Here are 10 reasons why coloring pages are vital for your child’s healthy development: Improves Hand Eye Coordination Hand eye coordination refers to your child’s ability to guide his or her hand guided by vision. It is so important for a child to develop good hand eye coordination skills and what better way to go about it than coloring pages? Your child will need to learn how to hold the pencil, how to sharpen the pencil and how to color in the lines. Improves Concentration Now I don’t know what your children are like but mine are like Gummi Bears… on speed. My daughter is all over the place – except when she is absorbed with coloring pages and drawing. She can sit for hours at a time with her pencils. Coloring pages teaches children to focus and concentrate on the task at hand which is going to be a very important skill needed for their years at school! Improves Handwriting Skills Long before your child starts writing or even drawing your child will start coloring in. The skills they need for coloring in are going to be the start of your child writing. Your child will need hand strength to start writing and to be able to hold the pencil correctly, as well as the hand eye coordination mentioned above. Improves Fine Motor Skills Fine motor skills are the small movements that your child makes such as picking small things up between his fingers and holding a spoon. Coloring pages will help your child to develop good fine motor skills which will help your child in other areas of his or life such as mastering a knife and fork or tying shoe laces. Improves Confidence and Self Esteem Coloring pages is an excellent activity to boost your child’s confidence and self esteem. Your child will quickly improve at coloring in and every project that is completed will give your child a sense of accomplishment. Boosts Creativity Your child will use his or her imagination when choosing colors and how to go about making their coloring pages vibrant. Your child will have to think about different color combinations and play around with what they enjoy. Coloring pages gives your child an amazing way to express himself. You will find your child’s personality shining through in his coloring pages making them uniquely his. Stress Relief and Relaxation Coloring pages are incredible for stress relief for children as well as for adults. Coloring in is very meditative and calming on the mind while at the same time keeping the mind busy in a creative way. Coloring pages are just plain fun, they bring enjoyment and increase happiness. Many people, including children, can develop negative habits and coping mechanisms for stress and anxiety. Coloring pages are a great, healthy alternative to help with relieving stress and worries. Increased Knowledge Coloring pages are a fun and easy way for your child to learn new things. Your child can learn about colors, different shapes, animals, patterns and much more. You can find educational coloring pages to help your child learn about numbers, writing and many more things. You can get bible story coloring pages to help your child in bible studies and any other topic of interest that your child is learning about at the time. Boundaries and Structure Learning about boundaries is part of child development and coloring pages teaches youngsters structure with having to follow he rules of coloring in. A child must learn to color in the lines and to keep coloring in the same direction to create a neat and beautiful piece of art. School Preparation Coloring pages involves pencils and paper, just like school does. Children will be doing written work, essays and tests. Coloring pages lays down a good foundation for your child being familiar with and comfortable putting a pen to paper. The boundaries and structure that coloring provides will also help them to adjust easier to the structured work that can be expected in school. So as you can see there are loads of great reasons to get your kids coloring pages. You can even get yourself an adult coloring book and join in the fun with your kids. It will be a great for your own stress relief as well as provide a fun activity for you to bond with your children and spent some quality time with them. Let your kids have fun when they star coloring in, help them to choose coloring pages that inspire them like their favorite characters, famous people or animals they love. You can buy coloring books, or you can easily print coloring pages from the internet. Check out Top Coloring Pages for a wide variety of free coloring pages!

April 9, 2018

Preparing For Baby: What Disabled Parents Need to Know

Preparing for a new baby when you have a disability can be nerve-racking. You may be concerned about navigating feeding time or changing diapers. Toys and other baby items blocking your pathway can be problematic. And how will you navigate to your baby quickly when he cries? Must-Have Items For Every New Disabled Parent Your needs will be a little different than the needs of other parents. There are some basic standard and adaptive items you can purchase. A high-quality baby sling will make carrying baby easier. You can also buy a sling that supports breastfeeding, so you don’t tire while holding your baby. A bedside crib attaches to your bed so you can easily get to your baby with the worry of co-sleeping. Get a stroller system that works for you. Some disabled parents struggle with this. Review stroller videos on YouTube to discover where you might have problems. Check out “The Travel System: Disability Considerations” for insider tips from a disabled mom on managing these systems. How To Modify Your Home For Baby … and You Planning might be a lot more complicated. Research shows that “sophisticated planning” can help new disabled parents learn from mistakes. It may be more time-consuming than it would be for a non-disabled parent, so start working on it right away. Walk through your home as if you have a baby to get an idea of what areas might be difficult. Use your sling filled with weight to mimic carrying your child. Here are some cost-effective safety changes you can make right away: Install grab bars in tubs and showers to help you while bathing your children. Remove anything that might make you trip, clearing areas that you’ll frequently tread after your child’s arrival. Use non-slip rugs and mats for safety. If you are visually impaired, label children’s food items with textured tape or use Braille labels for meal preparation. Test out baby gear with another person to ensure its safety for both you and your child. For example, a baby swing can be hazardous around a wheelchair. A stroller might be difficult to navigate over bumps, gaps, elevators, etc. If you have the budget, you can consider large-scale renovations including widening doorways. Other Considerations There are other things that you might need to consider to welcome baby’s arrival. For example, if you own a service dog, you will need to retrain your dog. A baby may not be a good fit for his background and breed. Ask your dog’s trainer for help with this issue. If you have a traditional dog or get trainer approval, learn about “Preparing Your Dog For Your Baby.” Be creative with things like messes to make it easier for you to tidy up. You might want to designate a small area for baby to play in that you can easily clean it up. You can keep the baby on hardwood floors using a baby mat to wrap toys. This will protect carpets from spit up and diaper disasters. More Resources to Help You Here are some additional resources to help you get started on your journey to parenthood: Parents.com has an entire section dedicated to everything you need to know about babyproofing your home. You can also hire an expert to childproof your home. They may even be able to get products for you that you can’t find. Check out this article from Baby Center to learn what a child-proofing expert can do for you. Visit DisabledParenting.com’s product reviews to learn what products you should be looking for. Plan as far in advance as you can to navigate the challenges you will face so that you can welcome your baby home with a smile. Photo credit Unsplash

April 6, 2018

The power of skin-to-skin

During pregnancy, babies are as close to their moms as they can be – getting the warmth, food, protection and oxygen that they need from their mother’s body. Then, labour occurs, and babies suddenly find themselves without immediate access to those essential needs. It is not surprising that study after study has shown a host of benefits for babies who experience skin-to-skin care (sometimes called ‘kangaroo care’) with their mothers. When babies are held against their mother’s skin, it is the closest they can get to being back in the warmth and security of the womb. Huggies® expert and Childbirth educator, Lynne Bluff, sheds some light on the benefits of skin-to-skin. While most of the early research on skin-to-skin care is focused on the benefits of skin-to-skin care during the first hour or two after birth (often referred to as the “magical hour”), more recent studies show that skin-to-skin care boosts health well beyond the new-born’s first days. The power of touch is good for your baby – and good for you too. Whenever possible, mothers and babies should be in direct contact immediately after birth. When left uninterrupted the baby will pass through the nine instinctive stages where baby will move himself to the breast, find the nipple area, latch on and suckle all on his own – this is instinctive to a baby and will lead to more successful long-term breastfeeding. Long-term skin to skin can be done by mom or dad, when baby has on a nappy to prevent both of them being covered with wee and poo, but the rest of the baby is in the nude lying in direct contact with the bare chest of mom or dad and then covered with a shirt that ties the baby to mom or dad to keep them secure and in place while they can carry on the daily chores with baby attached to them. Huggies® Gold has a New Baby range which offers Huggies® Gold size 0, disposable nappy (for babies up to 4kg in weight) specifically designed for new-borns’ comfort and gentle skin protection. This nappy has special features that include an umbilical cord cut-out to allow for easier cleaning and protection of this delicate area, a wetness indicator that changes from yellow to green when the nappy is wet, fasten anywhere outer tabs to help provide the perfect fit; cottony soft breathable materials and a triple absorbent core with a quilted liner for optimal absorption and skin protection For skin-to-skin mom can also then wrap a shirt around the baby and her together keeping the baby in an upright position between her breasts. If the mother is unable to provide skin-to-skin care, due to labour or birth complications, then dad can step in. Within minutes, you will see the benefits of skin-to-skin care become evident as both mother and baby relax. The baby’s body temperature, breathing, and heart rate stabilize. Here are the five leading benefits of skin-to-skin care: Improvement in heart and lung function Babies go through a dramatic transition after birth as they prepare to take their first breaths of air outside the uterus. Those that experience skin-to-skin tend to adapt sooner than those who don’t. They also tend to have heart and breathing rates that are both more normal and stable. This benefit holds true with premature infants as well as those born full-term. Perhaps the mother’s heart sounds and breathing patterns are familiar to the baby after spending time in the womb. Stabilization of body temperature During pregnancy, a mother maintains her baby’s temperature by sweating when hot and shivering and moving around when cold. After birth, babies have yet to acquire that same ability, so they can’t adjust their own body temperature. In fact, when it comes to keeping a vulnerable new-born warm, a mother’s body is better than an artificial warmer. A mother who has just given birth has a chest temperature that is one degree warmer than normal and has the ability to raise itself by another 2 degrees or lower it by a degree in response to the temperature of her baby on her chest – this regulation occurs automatically by the mother’s body in response to her baby’s temperature. Transfer of good bacteria Babies get exposed to their mother’s bacteria through skin-to-skin contact after birth. Early exposure helps babies develop a range of healthy bacteria. Skin-to-skin contact also supports early breastfeeding. Some of the complex sugars in human milk are indigestible in new-borns, but they boost digestive function, and provide protection from harmful bacteria (pathogens). Experts believe these good bacteria may protect against allergic disease. Reduction in crying Studies show that babies who are held skin-to-skin, cry less than those separated from their mothers. Some refer to a new-born’s cry as a “separation distress call”. During the new-born period, most babies cease crying once reunited with their mothers. Mom and baby should not be separated at birth and should stay skin to skin as much as possible both day and night Relief from pain Studies of babies experiencing clinical procedures show that babies experience less pain when held skin-to-skin during (or even immediately following) the procedure and that the duration of the pain is shortened by the close contact. Skin-to-skin contact is also more beneficial than oral glucose (sugar water, a traditional solution) in relieving pain during a heel stick for blood sampling. The longer skin-to-skin lasts the better relief of pain symptoms. Enhancement of mom-baby communication The time after a baby’s birth provides an opportunity for parents to learn about their baby’s behaviour – signs of hunger, fullness, discomfort, and so on. Having the baby in close skin-to-skin contact helps to ensure that the mother will learn her baby’s signals sooner, improving communication, boosting maternal confidence as well as helping babies develop a sense of trust and security. Skin-to-skin care is a simple, easy method of caring for new-born babies. Hold your baby close and continue to greet your baby with a hug throughout

April 5, 2018

Vitamin B12 deficiency: A silent epidemic with serious consequences

Vitamin B12 deficiency isn’t a bizarre, mysterious disease. It’s written about in every medical textbook and its causes and effects are well-established in the scientific literature. However, B12 deficiency is far more common than most health care practitioners and the general public realise. Research suggests that 40 percent of people between the ages of 26 and 83 years have vitamin B12 levels in the low normal range – a range at which many individuals experience neurological symptoms. Symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency are easily mistaken for signs of other ailments. If you’re feeling more anxious, tired, or worn out than usual, a B12 deficiency may be to blame. Vitamin B12 deficiency can be sneaky and harmful, so keep reading for some insight. WHAT DOES VITAMIN B12 DO? Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin and is also the only B vitamin that is almost exclusively found in animal foods. The human body needs vitamin B12 (together with folate) to make red blood cells, DNA and help promote healthy function of nerves. In addition, B12 is one of the vitamins responsible for a well-functioning metabolism and robust energy levels. Like most vitamins, B12 can’t be made by the body. Instead, it must be gotten from food or supplements. And therein lies the problem: Some people don’t consume enough vitamin B12 to meet their needs, while others can’t absorb enough, no matter how much they take in. The absorption of B12 is also complex and involves several steps – each of which can go wrong. As a result, vitamin B12 deficiency is relatively common. WHO IS AT RISK FOR B12 DEFICIENCY? There are many causes for vitamin B12 deficiency. In general, the following groups are at greatest risk for a deficiency: Vegetarians and vegans Because B12 is not generally found in plant-based foods, vegetarians are at risk for B12 deficiencies. This explains why studies consistently demonstrate that up to 50% of long-term vegetarians and 80% of vegans are deficient in B12. People aged 60 or over The condition is more likely to occur in older people due to the cutback in stomach acid production that often occurs with ageing, making it harder to absorb this vitamin. It has been estimated to affect about 40% of people over 60 years of age. It’s entirely possible that at least some of the symptoms we attribute to “normal” ageing – such as memory loss, cognitive decline, decreased mobility, etc. – are at least in part caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency. People who regularly use PPIs or acid suppressing drugs If you take proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) e.g. omeprazole (antacid or heartburn drugs) you may be at risk for B12 deficiency. These drugs reduce acid production in the stomach and acid is needed to absorb vitamin B12. Medical conditions Conditions that interfere with food absorption, such Coeliac or Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), bacterial overgrowth (intestinal dysbiosis), atrophic gastritis (thinning of stomach lining) or gut inflammation, pernicious anaemia (an autoimmune condition where the body destroys intrinsic factor, a protein necessary for the absorption of B12) can cause B12 trouble. Certain medications Use of some commonly prescribed drugs such as metformin (insulin resistance and diabetes), or anti-seizure medications such as phenytoin may cause a B12 deficiency. Heavy drinkers or alcoholism Drinking alcohol, even in moderation (more than one alcoholic drink a day), can have profound effects on the way your body absorbs vitamin B-12. Genetic variations Common genetic variations may interfere with the absorption of vitamin B12, and subsequently levels of the vitamin in the blood. Weight loss surgery People who have stomach stapling or other forms of weight-loss surgery are also more likely to be low in vitamin B12 because the operation interferes with the body’s ability to extract vitamin B12 from food. SYMPTOMS OF VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY Vitamin B12 deficiency can be slow to develop, causing symptoms to appear gradually and intensify over time. It can also come on relatively quickly. A vitamin B12 deficiency occurs in four stages. Stage 1 – beginning with declining blood levels of the vitamin Stage 2 – progressing to low B12 levels within the body’s cells Stage 3 – increased blood level of homocysteine and reduced ability to repair and produce DNA Stage 4 – finally, macrocytic anaemia Anemia A vitamin B12 deficiency can cause anaemia (low red blood cell production). Red blood cells carry oxygen all over the body. When the body does not produce enough red blood cells, the amount of available oxygen in the body, decreases as well. B12-related anaemia can cause many other issues, including: Extreme Fatigue: It’s normal to get tired during the day if you didn’t sleep well the night before, just ate a large meal, or completed strenuous exercise. But it isn’t normal to experience an overwhelming fatigue that doesn’t go away with rest. Muscle Weakness: You might experience soreness after a hard workout for a day or two, but if your muscles feel like you just ran a marathon after a simple activity like brushing your hair, you may be anaemic. Heart Palpitations: Feel a flutter in your chest? You could be experiencing heart palpitations due to decreased oxygen circulation. Breathlessness: Breathlessness is normal after activity, but if you find yourself short of breath during rest, it’s an indicator that something’s not right. Just like heart palpitations, anaemia can cause breathlessness due to a lack of oxygen in the blood. Pale Skin: Red blood cells are responsible for the rosy colour in our cheeks. When red blood cell production decreases—as it does in anaemic individuals—the skin becomes pale and colourless. Pins-and-Needles Sensation You know the pins-and-needles sensation you often get when your foot falls asleep? This sensation is called peripheral neuropathy and can be linked to nerve damage caused by a B12 deficiency. According to the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy, a B12 deficiency damages the sheath that surrounds and protects nerves, resulting in an unpleasant and sometimes painful tingling sensation. Other diseases such as diabetes can

April 5, 2018

5 Signs baby is tired

If you know the signs baby is tired before he gets over-tired it will make things much easier for you. Trying to put an over-tired baby to sleep is not easy! 5 Signs Baby is Tired ( 3 months – 1 year old): Fussing, whining, crying, screaming Rubbing eyes and/ or nose Pulling ears and/ or hair Yawning Loss of co-ordination (bumping into things, falling over, spilling things more easily) Click here for the signs baby is tired (0 – 3 months old).

March 29, 2018

Thinking about the new baby

I have been trying to prepare my 20 month old daughter for the fact that there is a new baby on the way,of course she doesn’t understand what I mean. I showed her my tummy and explained that there is a baby growing in there. She then rubbed my tummy, said baby and kissed my tummy. She now does it a few times a day and is quite determined to keep pulling my top up so she can see my tummy and kiss the baby. This is of course adorable behaviour BUT a few weeks ago when I collected her from the day mother there was a 3 month old baby there for the day. The day mother was getting my daughter’s things together and this little baby starts crying, I did what any mom would do and picked him up and rubbed his back as it seemed he had a wind. My daughter immediately fell on the floor in a crumpled heap and started screaming and thrashingaround. I got the fright of my life and it took a minute for me to realise that it is because I am holding a baby. I put the baby down and my daughter came over immediately and sat on me with a look that said “This is MY MOM”…. It was at this point I started thinking things might not be smooth sailing and that I will need to start thinking very carefully how I am going to get my girl adjusted to being the big sister. Up until this point I was thinking that I have done this before, I have been pregnant, been through a long hard labour and had an emergency c-section. I have coped with the pain of that and the tiredness looking after a newborn…. now I realise I have not done this at all. I have not had a demanding toddler and a newborn. Something that is driving me crazy at the moment is that my girl climbs all over me, elbowing me in my sore preggie boobs, jumping on my stomach and bouncing on the bed while I am trying my best not to vomit. I am now having visions of trying to juggle a newborn and my demanding toddler, I can see her climbing on me and sticking her pointy little toes into my c-section cut. I can’t even wash a few disheswithout my daughter throwing a tantrum because I am not paying attention to her, how am I going to sit down and breastfeed a baby? When I was pregnant with my daughter I did 2 birth preparation courses, saw a doctor as soon as I found out I was pregnant, went racing to see a gyni and a midwife and started reading all the books I could on pregnancy, child birth, caring for a newborn…. everything I could find. I followed my pregnancy week by week in my books and online. Looking back I think I was quite obsessed. This time I felt a bit bad because when I found out I was pregnant the only reason I saw a gyni was to figure out what on earth happened to my IUD. I haven’t been for a scan yet or a gyni visit and I haven’t read anything. The only thing I did was get some pregnancy vitamins and carry on with life as normal. This pregnancy is already very different to my first. In my first pregnancy I had no problems except a bit of fatigue which I thought at the time was bad, but no morning sickness or dizziness. This pregnancy has already been quite hard on me, I have had morning sickness (which by the way is a STUPID name for this symptom….. it’s all day sickness), dizziness and real fatigue. By real fatigue I mean that I am tired and added into that is a demanding toddler and the fact that I can’t just lie down and rest when I want to. I am responsible for another little being that needs a good healthy meal cooked every day, she needs clean clothes, her nappies changed, she needs to be bathed and she needs her teeth brushed. She is also stripping all day every day and when I try and dress her it can be so demanding on me that I am tempted to just leave her and let her run around starkers in the freezing cold. I am dreading the rest of this pregnancy as I remember just about to the day I started my 2nd trimester the “heartburn” hit… I put that in inverted comma’s because yes it was bad heartburn to me when it started but it was nothing compared to the 3rd trimester heartburn. And what to say about the 3rd trimester? It was a living hell. I had I think every possible pregnancy symptom. I had pelvic pain so bad that I could barely walk at times, I was peeing in my pants if I coughed or sneezed or laughed. I had “morning sickness” all through the 3rdtrimester and of course when I vomited I also peed in my pants. Charming isn’t it? One thing that might be different this time though is that I gained about 35kgs when I was pregnant and in the 3rd trimester I could barely move. I doubt during this pregnancy I will be given the opportunity even for 5 minutes to sit and do nothing so hopefully I won’t get so huge. So what started off as me wondering how I am going to handle a new baby and a toddler I am now wondering how I will handle the rest of my pregnancy and a toddler! I am 11 weeks and waiting eagerly for the nausea to stop and when that stops the heartburn will probably hit me. I am going for my first scan in 1 week and maybe just maybe we will find out if we are having a girl or boy. With my

March 29, 2018

Teaching table manners

Teaching table manners is something vital in my home. I’m not a mom that has loads of rules and I am quite flexible with a lot of things, but one thing that was enforced by my mother in my childhood was sitting down at the table as a family for every meal. We used to beg her all the time to sit in front of the tv with our plates on our lap. The odd times she did allow this is was a great treat! Looking back I realise that at the time I thought it was a stupid rule: to always sit as a family at the table for supper. There were times when we all sat at the table stony faced and angry because of a family tiff (either between siblings or with my mom), nobody speaking and death looks being passed around. Strange how things turned around when I first became a mom! I now look back at this simple rule and remember the wonderful family meals we had, especially when we got older and everyone was off on their own daily missions but at the end of the day we all came together for that one meal, to connect. I thank my mom for having the wisdom to do something so simple for us as a family. When my daughter was born I told my husband that it is very important to me that we get a table and sit for dinner together which he thought was strange. He was not very impressed either when I told him that part of this family dinner rule is that the tv is turned off as we have an open plan house! Not only does it bring the family together, it is also a very good opportunity to teach my children basic manners. It is also the start of teaching my children the importance of helping around the house and doing their bit. Here are the basic rules we follow: Wash hands before coming to the table. My 3 year old is responsible for setting the table. No toys at the table. No phones, iPads, laptops, books at the table. No throwing or grabbing of food. No banging utensils. No spitting food out. Stay seated at the table for the entire meal. No yelling or loud noises at the table. Asking to be excused from the table. Using the words “please” and “thank you”. Saying thank you for the meal. My 3 year old and I clear the table at the end of every meal. If you are religious it is a great opportunity to say grace together with your family before your meal. What do you do for family meal times?

March 29, 2018

Pregnancy the second time round

Pregnancy the 2nd time around is so much easier, it is amazing how different it can be! My first pregnancy was tough, the first trimester was easy except for the tiredness and of course going off my prescription meds for bipolar which was rocky to say the least! The second trimester the heartburnand pelvic pain kicked in and the third trimester was absolute hell, I was the grumpiest, fattest, sore, most unglamorous pregnant woman ever. Pregnancy glow? Not me! If you want to hear about my 3rd trimester struggles and birth click here. This pregnancy has been completely different. One of the first signs of pregnancy I had was morning sickness which I never had at all last time. What I want to know is who named it “morning sickness” for starters? It must’ve been a man! There was nothing morning about it, it was all day, all night and horrible. For 2 months I couldn’t decide if I would rather puke on my desk or sleep on it and every day was a struggle. The worst was that if I got even slightly hungry I would get nauseas and I would have to eat. Eating when you want to throw up is not a good feeling! I am now mid 2nd trimester and it is also very different, I have had a bit of heartburn but nothing that a bit of chewing gum can’t fix. Yes you heard right, chewing gum! Thanks to a tip from a Facebook page fan. Last pregnancy I drank a bottle of Gaviscon a day, didn’t even bother with a spoon just chugged it down straight out the bottle. I have no idea why I kept doing that because it just didn’t work… I suppose it was just so bad I tried to convince myself that this time maybe it will? Other than the odd bit of heartburn the 2nd trimester so far has been relatively easy. I have had some pelvic pain but nothing more than an irritation. I remember before I suffered a lot worse, but that might be because I remember how bad it can get in the 3rd trimester and I know what I am feeling now is nothing compared to what is coming my way. Another unpleasant symptom started yesterday – I sneezed and yes if you have been pregnant you know what happened: I peed in my pants! It was quite amusing because talking to customers that know I am pregnant they always ask how the pregnancy is going, so yesterday one of my customers inquired about my pregnancy and before I could think about it I told her all good, just peed in my pants but otherwise fine. It is quite amusing sometimes the way moms can share and talk about these things. She told me it is a milestone and she has had 3 kids, so it is all part of the process. I must remember to be a little less “sharey” – I mean who tells a customer that they just peed their pants? The other huge difference in this pregnancy is I still look like a normal person, just with a bump! Last pregnancy I just ballooned, everything just got so fat and frumpy. Some people tell me I am big now, and I just smile thinking yeah I can show you big! I am pretty much the same size, except of course my tummy has suddenly popped out. It is quite nice to be pregnant without a double chin and chipmunk cheeks, but I am under no illusion it will stay like this, I am mentally prepared and know that I hit well over 95kgs last time! I am now sitting at a healthy 79kgs, maybe more than most pregnant women pick up by this time but compared to last time I feel like a Victoria’s Secret model! Last week I went for my second scan and the “girl” I was told I was having at my 12 week scan has a winky! There was great excitement in the family and to be honest I was quite pleased. This might sound really strange, but I was so happy I was happy. The reason is that with my first baby I desperately wanted a girl and I got my little girl. When I found out this time I was pregnant once again I desperately wanted another girl. I can’t tell you why, I have nothing against little boys but for some reason I just wanted another girl. I was anxious before my 12 week scan and when he told me it was another girl I was so relieved and happy, I didn’t pay too much attention when he said they are usually 70% right when they do a 12 week scan. At my 20 week scan the gyni asked me if I want to know the sex and I confidently said thanks, but I already know it is a girl and he grinned and pointed at this little thing on the screen and asked me “Well then what do you think that is?”. My first reaction was excitement and happiness, I just thought “OMW I am having a little boy!”. I didn’t expect that at all, I thought I would be filled with disappointment and I am so glad that I only felt pure joy and excitement. The first thing I did on my way home after the scan was stop at my husband’s work to tell him he will have to find another nickname for “Sandy”, something like “Willy” might be more appropriate. He was so surprised and happy. It was amazing to see the happiness and excitement from all our family members and friends when we told them we are having a boy. Of course all jokes aside it means that we had to start all over again with names! No, we didn’t have one picked out already but we had found 2 that we both quite liked. The problem is

March 28, 2018

How long should my baby sleep?

It is every mom’s question: How long should my baby sleep Babies needs change constantly, find below a guideline for how much sleep your baby needs at his age. AGE NIGHT TIME SLEEP DAY TIME SLEEP TOTAL SLEEP 1 month 8 hrs 8 hrs (inconsistent) 16 hrs 3 months 10 hrs 5 hrs (3 naps) 15 hrs 6 months 11 hrs 3 1/4 hrs (2 naps 14 1/4 hrs 9 months 11 hrs 3 hrs (2 naps) 14 hrs 12 months 11 1/4 hrs 2 1/2 hrs (1 – 2 naps) 13 3/4 hrs 18 months 11 1/4 hrs 2 1/4 hrs (1 nap) 13 1/2 hrs 2 years 11 2 hrs (1 nap) 13 hrs 3 years 10 1/2 1 1/2 hrs (1 nap) 12 hrs Find out how to get your baby into a routine in 5 easy steps and check how long your baby should be awake in between naps.

March 28, 2018

Preparing for birth; making a birthing plan

A birth plan refers to your preferences for your birth, both during labour and after the birth. As any woman that has given birth will tell you, it doesn’t always go according to plan when giving birth. However it is still a good idea to give some thought into what your preferences are for your birth and for after the birth and have it written down for the big day. The reasons for this is that your birth partners and care givers can be aware of what you want. It won’t be easy trying to get that across to anyone in mid labour! Here are some guidelines to making your birth plan: Pain relief: Learn about labour and the different options available for pain relief and coping with the pain. It is important for your care givers and birth partners to know what you think you would prefer, also bearing in mind that you might change your mind at the time so remember to be flexible and plan for things not going as planned! Where & How You Give Birth: Hospital, Birthing Centre or Home Birth? Natural Birth or Elective C-Section If you choose a home birth have a back-up plan if you need to go to hospital Who will be present at the birth? Will you have a gyni or midwife, or both? Will you have a doula? Questions to ask your hospital or birthing centre: Who is allowed to be present during labour and birth? (Fathers, close relatives or friends) Are they ever asked to leave the room and why? Can you move around during labour and can you find your own position for the birth? Are babies with their mothers all the time or is there a separate nursery? What are their policies on breastfeeding? Who will help you to breastfeed your baby or will they help you if you choose to formula feed? What are the visiting hours and visitors policy? How soon after birth can you go home? What is their policy on induction, pain relief and monitoring? What facilities do they have for premature babies or sick babies? Interventions: An intervention is an action taken by a midwife or doctor that literally intervenes in the birthing process. If you’re healthy and your pregnancy and labour are normal, you may not need any intervention.Talk to your midwife or doctor about them while you’re pregnant. Your Baby After Birth: Will you get your baby immediately after birth for skin to skin? Will you get your baby to latch immediately after birth? Who will the umbilical cord? Will you wait for a while before cutting the umbilical cord? Will the father be able to hold your baby straight after birth and be with your baby while you are in recovery? When will you want visitors? Immediately after the birth or do you want some time to get to know your baby on your own for a while? Who will show you how to look after your baby? Your birth plan can be simple or you can get right down to details such as having certain music playing while you are in labour and having candles lit. It is important to find out what you can and can’t do at the place you would like to give birth and to relay any special requests. Did you have a birth plan and did it all go according to plan?

March 27, 2018

What is a doula?

A doula is a labour coach that offers emotional and physical support to a woman and her partner before, during and after childbirth. The word “doula” is a Greek word meaning “woman servant”. Women have complex needs during childbirth. In addition to the clinical aspects of birth, women need consistent, continuous reassurance, comfort, encouragement and respect. Studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labours are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily. What does a doula do: Recognises birth as a key experience you will remember all her life Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labour Assists you in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective point of viewpoint, as well as helping you get the information you need to make informed decisions Facilitates communication during labour between you, your partner and your clinical care providers Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting your memory of the birth experience Allows your partner to participate at his/ her comfort level Stays with you throughout labour Helps you track your birthing sensations and help you to decide when to call your midwife or head to the hospital Gets your birthing pool set up Helps you get settled in at the hospital Works with your partner to help you get comfortable Wipes your brow and remind you to breathe Squeezes your hips Helps your partner feel confident Take photos Tidies up post home birth Supports with words of encouragement Guides you through your first round of breastfeeding Shares your emotion Steps back while you enjoy some precious moments Offers education, companionship and non-judgemental support during the postpartum fourth trimester Assists with newborn care, family adjustment, meal preparation and light household tidying Offers evidence-based information on infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from birth, infant soothing and coping skills for new parents and makes appropriate referrals when necessary Did you have a Doula at your birth? How was the experience?

March 26, 2018

COSATTO- Saving the world from boring baby stuff once again with the Zoomi Car Seat

Just when you thought Cosatto couldn’t outdo themselves in terms of making baby travel gear better, they have now released a car seat that not only has the most stylish look, but offers the ultimate ‘anti-escape’ system to keep baby safe on the roads. Cosatto brings a thrill of colour, pattern and quirky design to the world of baby stuff. They believe that every newborn needs a brilliant fanfare of joy and colour – and that’s just for starters. They believe every newborn also needs to be celebrated with maximum joy and colour. The business of ‘saving the world from boring baby stuff’ is about their stuff being the best. “It’s about the service you receive, being the best. We’re parents too and expect the same as you. We want to bring you the moon on a stick”, say this quirky company. And this is where we welcome the new Cosatto Zoomi car seat into the South African market. Protect your wide-eyed wanderer with these stunning any-age, any-stage adjustable car seats. State-of-the-art safety kit developed above and beyond, these toughies know how to cuddle. Grrrr… a kid’s gotta get from A to B – places to go, people to see. The Zoomi is the daddy of child car seats. With sturdy support and unique safety features, this anti escape beauty is a handsome high-backed seat that is good at literally everything. Some of the reasons to invest in the Zoomi: Converts from baby hugger through to booster seat for big kids. 9kgs – 36kgs. Grows on the Go – No need to buy separates. From small to tall, Zoomi’s there for the full journey – cuddling away, forward facing, fitting front and rear seats. Adjustable – With booster seat conversion, 2-part reversible seat liner with grow-how for extended cuddling and a 5 position head rest – Zoomi’s a growing pillar of security. Padded Protector – With tummy pad and chest pads plus comfy padded armrests, Removable washable covers. Snug Security – Bringing a five-point safety harness with quick release buckle for home time plus layers of padding around a tough core. And……… JUST LOOK AT THEM! But let’s talk about the revolutionary anti-escape system that has set the bar higher on car seats. Research has shown that more than 70% of children wriggle out of car seat harnesses, risking severe injury. That’s unacceptable – but Cosatto have built the solution. The Anti-Escape System has been built alongside the makers of the original, award-winning ‘5 point plus’ harness system and in tests, 9 out of ten children could not wriggle out of the Cosatto anti-Escape System – now that’s a result! With two new designs on the market, the Zoomi is now available in South Africa through www.takealot.com, Hamleys Eastgate, Sandton, Menlyn, Mall Of Africa, ww.loot.co.za, Me Mom and Dad Greenstone , www.thebabyzone.co.za , www.purplepepperz.com , Greendot Baby Hurlingham Manor for the suggested price of R6999.00. Invest in a life of safety swag for your little one today!

March 26, 2018

How long should my baby be awake for between naps?

When my babies were young I was concerned so much how long my baby should sleep and how many naps he or she should have. Things got a lot easier with routine when I realised that the length of time in between naps is really important too! Time Awake in between Naps is vital to your baby’s routine How long baby is awake in between naps is very important, if you try and put your baby down to sleep before he is ready he won’t sleep and if you wait until he is overtired you might struggle to get him to sleep. Watch out for signs of tiredness and use the following guidelines for how much awake time your baby needs: AGE AWAKE TIME LENGTH Birth – 6 weeks 45 – 60 mins 6 weeks – 3 months 1 – 2 hrs 3 – 6 months6 – 9 months 2 – 2 1/2 hrs 6 – 9 months 2 1/2 – 3 hrs 9 – 12 months 3 – 4 hrs Here are 5 Steps to get your baby into a routine that you might find very helpful. How long is your baby awake in between naps?

March 23, 2018

11 Ways to cope with pain during labour

If you are worried about how to cope with pain during labour check out these tips. Knowing what to expect during the various stages of labour can help reduce anxiety. Antenatal classes are strongly recommended. Being in good physical condition is important. Exercise gently and regularly throughout your pregnancy, avoid cigarettes and alcohol, and eat a healthy, balanced diet. 1 Breathing Techniques Rhythmic Breathing will maximise the amount of oxygen available to you and your baby during labour. It can also assist with relaxation and handling contractions better. 2 Water Using water during labour and birth encourages reduction in pain, greater mobility that comes with buoyancy, induces relaxation and reduces abdominal pressure. It also softens the effect on the perineum and vulva which promotes stretching during crowning. Giving birth in water also creates a more gentle entrance into the world for baby. 3 Support Continuous one-to-one support can help you cope better with contractions and have a more satisfying birth experience. The right sort of support, such as a doula, can even result in a slightly shorter labour. 4 Massage Massage stimulates your body to release endorphins, the natural pain-killing, mood-lifting substances. 5 Hypnosis HypnoBirthing is a complete birth education programme, that teaches simple but specific self hypnosis, relaxation and breathing techniques for a better birth. 6 Changing Positions and being Active Changing positions, and moving around during labour and birth, offers several benefits: increased comfort / reduced pain, distraction, and an enhanced sense of control. Having something active to do can relieve the sense of being overwhelmed and out of control. Changing positions during labour can change the shape and size of the pelvis, which can help the baby’s head move to the optimal position during first stage labour, and helps the baby with rotation and descent during the second stage. 7 Vocalisation Vocalization is, for many women, one of the most instinctual ways to cope with the intensity of labor. It is a natural way to release the discomfort and energy of contractions through audible tones. 8 Music Music can lower perception of pain, help to regulate heart rate and breathing, reducing the amount of morphine type drugs needed. Music can also reduce anxiety which in turn can help you feel calm and in control. 9 TENS This stands for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Some hospitals have TENS machines. If not, you can hire your own machine. TENS has not been shown to be effective during the active phase of labour (when contractions get longer, stronger and more frequent). It’s most effective during the early stages. 10 Hot or Cold Packs Hot and cold packs are small containers that provide either heat or cold for use in dulling the sensations of pain and discomfort. They come in a variety of styles and shapes. Hospitals generally have chemical hot and cold packs that can be activated and used for about 1/2 an hour. You could also use a hot water bottle, ice wrapped in a towel, a washcloth dipped in hot water or many other ways to bring warmth or cold to a part of the body. 11 Birthing Balls Using a birth ball can help you adopt different upright positions, which can help you to labour effectively. It may even shorten your labour by an hour or so. Using a birth ball during labour has been shown to help reduce the pain of contractions. You may find you instinctively sway and rock in rhythm with your contractions, and a birth ball gives great support for this. How did you cope with pain during labour?

March 23, 2018

3 Early signs of labour

Water breaking A brown or pink mucus discharge known as bloody show which is the mucus plug that blocks the cervix Painful contractions that are regular and intervals are becoming increasingly shorter while contractions become longer and more intense Remember each woman’s labour is different and the above signs can be a sign that labour is starting, or it could still be a few days away. These are all changes that take place in pre-labour, early labour and/ or active labour. If your waters break contact your care-giver immediately!

March 22, 2018

Learning to love your postpartum body

We know that it is so tough to love your body in the shape that it is in postpartum but in saying that, you’ve just birthed and grown a child. HELLO AMAZING MOMMY BODY!!! Self-love starts and ends in your headspace – something I used to remind myself all the time, is that not all skinny girls are happy. Skinny doesn’t equal happiness; rather happiness is birthed within, in a space where we dedicate our energy to love on our bodies by making healthy choices, and thinking healthy thoughts!!! 3 EASY habits to help you love your body postpartum: Write an inspiring self-love quote on your mirror and read it out aloud everyday. While this may seem pointless, remember that it is through repetition that your brain picked up on ‘hating’ your body, it didn’t happen overnight; the same goes for rewiring our brains to look for the positive. PLUS, a positive self image fuels a healthy lifestyle, meaning that by thinking better thoughts about yourself, you automatically are more likely to make better health choices and avoid self sabotaging and opening the biscuit jar (again). Rub-a-dub-dub Putting cream/lotion on your body after your daily bath/shower is a beautiful self-respect practice that encourages your brain to focus on caring for your body rather than rejecting it. Your weight distribution is different postpartum and that is something to come to grips with. This habit of putting cream on my whole body everyday had such a positive effect on me (Kit) loving my new postpartum body, especially in those early few weeks when you still look pregnant. Make a conscious choice to get active Over the first 6 weeks of returning home with a newborn, your baby should be your primary focus, not your body. In saying this, staying hydrated and making healthy food choices will likely keep your blood sugar levels up leaving you feeling better and with more energy. But if you get the ALL CLEAR at your 6 week gynae check-up, then we really encourage moms to get active as soon as possible. This is NOT about becoming body-obsessed, but rather making a decision to dedicate a few minutes to a light home workout or heading out to the gym, if you’re up for that and beginning to get back in touch with your body! Our mommy workout plans are perfect for this.

March 22, 2018

What are the early signs of autism in children

Almost every mom gets herself into a twist if her baby or child is not reaching milestones according to the so called norm, wanting to know if her child is just late to reach those milestones or if there may be a more serious cause for this. While the majority of babies and children reach their milestones at the average age, there will be some babies that reach their milestones much earlier and some that just lag behind the rest. There is usually no need for alarm, they are just late bloomers and will get there in their own time. What is important to look out for is that your baby or child is developing and gaining new skills, even if they are a little slow to reach milestones. Some babies will start crawling late, or not even at all, yet start walking earlier than the norm. If your baby is making progress overall then chances are there is nothing to be concerned about. That said if you are concerned about anything it is best to take your baby for a check up since if there is any sort of developmental delay or disability it is always best to know about it as early as possible. Early diagnosis means that interventions with autism doctors and specialists can be implemented and outcomes can be improved drastically. You will also need to learn about special needs parenting and how you can help your child. Complex disorders of brain development are now classified under the broad terms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Autism. This means that autistic disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger syndrome all fall under the broad spectrum of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, and restricted and repetitive behavior. If your child does have autism it will make the world of difference if you can start behavioral therapy before 18 months of age. What makes this tricky is that very often the most obvious signs and symptoms of autism tend to emerge between the ages of two and three years old. According to Connecticut & Golf Coast ADHD Associates: Autism spectrum disorders are lifelong conditions with no known cure. However, children with ASD can progress developmentally and learn new skills. Some children may improve so much that they no longer meet the criteria for ASD, although milder symptoms may often persist. What are Early Signs of Autism in Children? The earliest signs of autism in children involve the absence of normal behaviors as opposed to the presence of abnormal behaviors. Since autistic babies are very often quiet and undemanding parents may think that they have an easy baby and not realize that there is a problem. It is very common for autistic babies to not respond to cuddling, not reach out to be picked up and not to make eye contact with anyone. Early signs that your baby may have autism are when your baby or toddler does not: follow objects or your movements visually, or does not visually follow where you point use gestures to communicate such as waving goodbye or pointing respond to the sound of your voice or respond to being called by name make eye contact with you reach out to you when being picked up respond to or initiate cuddling make noises to grab your attention play with other people show enjoyment or interest imitate facial expressions and gestures care or even seem to notice if you get hurt or are upset in any way The following symptoms are cause for concern, so you should take your baby to be evaluated: No big smiles or signs of happiness and enjoyment by the age of 6 months Does not interact by sharing sounds and smiles, and imitating of other facial expressions by 9 months old Your baby does not respond to his or her name by one year old Your baby does not make any noises or “baby talk” by one year old Your baby does not make any gestures such as waving, pointing. reaching or showing by one year old Your baby does not speak any words by 16 months old Your baby does not speak any meaningful two word phrases that are not imitating or repeating by two years old While some babies and toddlers just develop later than others, if you are worried about anything take your child to be checked out. It is better to be safe than sorry later on, especially since the younger the child is when autism is diagnosed the better. It is also vital as a mother or father to trust your own instincts, so get a second opinion from a child development specialist if you are not sure about a diagnosis. As children get older the signs for autism become more diversified and noticeable. Impaired social skills, non-verbal communication difficulties, inflexible behavior and speech and language difficulties are typical signs of autism.

March 22, 2018

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CO-SLEEPING WITH YOUR NEW BORN?

Co-sleeping is often thought to be synonymous with bed sharing – also known as letting baby sleep in the same bed with you. But co-sleeping can also mean putting baby to sleep in the same room as you but in a separate bed. If your baby is six months or younger, experts recommend that healthy infants be placed on their backs for sleep, as this is the safest position for an infant to sleep. Putting your baby to sleep on his back decreases his chance of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). This applies to daytime naps as well as during the night. Huggies® expert and midwife, Lynne Bluff, sheds some light on some of the benefits of co-sleeping with a newborn baby. Remember for the first three to four months of life it is recommended to have skin to skin between baby and mom and dad, as much as possible. Skin to skin is when baby only has nappy on and no clothes. Baby is then placed against mom’s bare chest (skin to skin) and baby is wrapped with a shirt or blanket against mom’s or dad’s chest. Many parents choose to co-sleep with baby because it allows for more skin to skin contact. There are many benefits to co-sleeping! Here are some benefits of keeping baby close: Babies naturally fall into a daytime and night time pattern: it isn’t uncommon for new-borns to mix up their days and nights. Many babies sleep extra soundly throughout the day but can be restless or wakeful much of the night. Keeping baby close during the day with lights and noise around can eventually help baby stay a bit more alert in the daytime. Keeping baby close at night, meeting their needs with a quiet and dim environment, can help them learn to rest more at night. Babies also rest more soundly when they feel secure. Co-sleeping helps babies practice rousing themselves: while having your new-born falling into and staying in a deep sleep might sound appealing, it isn’t the type of sleep they were designed to have. Co-sleeping babies are frequently aroused when close with their moms. This practice rousing can help babies learn to use their self-preservation instinct to rouse when there’s any danger such as being overheated, being too cold or something blocking their airway. Being able to easily rouse may reduce the risk of SIDS. Meet baby’s needs without getting up: Most babies need to be fed, soothed and changed at night. If baby is close by, mom can do all of these things while in bed and remaining in a restful state. Getting out of bed, walking down the hall, changing nappies on the changing pad, feeding in a glider and soothing baby back to sleep requires being fully awake and alert. Experience less night time crying: babies sleep well when they feel secure. Knowing mom is close will likely help baby sleep better and fuss less. Moms that co sleep are able to notice earlier signs of hunger and needing to be changed. Often mom can wake during these early signs and meet baby’s needs before they begin to cry. When you co sleep there is less trying to get baby to settle down to sleep before laying them down. This often means less crying. You aren’t likely to have an overtired baby fussing and protesting being laid down in their cot to sleep. Co-sleeping helps with bonding and secure attachment: a secure attachment between baby and caregiver is an emotional bond that leaves baby feeling secure and cared for. This secure attachment, fostered infancy, translates to a child feeling secure and knowing their caregiver will always return to meet their needs. Children with a secure attachment often respond appropriately to situations, show minimal distress when their mother leaves, and are happy when their mother returns. Co-sleeping helps with maintaining an adequate milk supply: feeding on demand helps moms maintain an adequate milk supply. Breast milk production is a supply and demand process. Babies are designed to eat frequently at night and co sleeping helps to make it easier for mom and baby to meet this need. Co-sleeping can mean better rest for mom: moms, not just babies, are wired for closeness. Studies show that new moms do not experience a better quality of sleep if their babies go to the nursery at night. Co-sleeping may not guarantee more sound sleep for every mom, but many report sleeping better knowing baby is safe and close by. Moms also release oxytocin when close to their babies. Oxytocin improves sleep quality and it’s also great for breastfeeding. As your baby grows, he may not want to sleep all night, every night, with you. With a bit of trial and error, you’ll eventually find a method that works for you, your partner, and your baby.

March 21, 2018

The 3 stages of labour

Stage 1: Early Labour This stage begins when the cervix begins to soften and open up, this stage is complete when the cervix has opened to about 10 cms. It is the longest stage of labour and take hours to a few days. You may feel nothing for quite a long time, then you will feel some pain and discomfort. There is no pattern and contractions are irregular. Contractions will then start to become regular with shorter intervals in between. Contractions will become longer and build in intensity. You will need to know how you will cope with pain during labour. In Early Labour you may have: Lower back pain Period like pain that comes and goes Loose bowels movements Blood-stained mucous discharge known as blood show Water breaking An urge to vomit Stage 2: Active Labour This stage is from when the cervix is dilated to 10 cms until the baby is born. In Active Labour you may have: Longer and stronger contractions with an interval of 1 to 2 minutes in between The urge to push Increased pressure on your bottom Stretching and burning feelings in your vagina Shaky, cramps, nauseas and vomiting The pushing phase can last up to 2 hours. Stage 3 This stage is from when your baby has been born until after the placenta has been delivered. What was your experience of labour like?

March 21, 2018

7 Reasons babies cry

Understanding the reasons babies cry can make this mommy business just that little bit easier. 1. Hunger Baby has different cries for different reasons, you will get to know these cries over time. Until then look for signs baby is hungry before he starts crying such as fussing, smacking of lips, rooting (a newborn reflex that causes babies to turn their head toward your hand when you stroke their cheek), and putting their hands to their mouth. 2. Dirty Nappy Simple and easy to check. 3. Tired Look out for cues baby is tired before he starts crying such as a glazed stare, rubbing eyes, yawning, seeking comfort by sucking or feeding, pulling ears or hair 4. Temperature Baby should have one more layer of clothing than you. Feel the back of your baby’s neck to check if there is a temperature. 5. Uncomfortable or in Pain Tummy troubles such as constipation can be the cause of lots of crying, especially if it is straight after a feed. Keep baby upright for a while after a feed and rubbing or patting his back. It could also be something small like something poking him, check his clothing for anything that could be bothering him. 6. Over or Under Stimulated Babies can struggle to process all the stimulation (being passed around, bright light, too much noise) and they cry to say they have had enough. A “demanding” baby might love to be active and entertained and by staying active you can avoid baby crying although this can be very tiring. 7. Wants to be Held Babies need lots of physical closeness and comfort, especially the first few months. Here are some great ways to soothe a crying baby. If your baby cries for prolonged periods of time and there appears to be no reason for it, then your baby may have colic.

March 20, 2018

5 Ways to bond with your baby during pregnancy

Contrary to what many believe, bonding with your child begins while it is still in the womb. In the early months of pregnancy, bonding can be a bit difficult because you aren’t able to feel the kicks or see little more than a blob on the ultrasound; however as the mother’s bump grows and the child along with it, the unconditional love and devotion all parents feel towards their children can begin developing. Bonding with your unborn baby is necessary and should be done with both parents around if possible. Mothers generally bond more while the child is in the womb simply because they are carrying it and can feel the subtle movements and enjoy the unexplainable feeling of content knowing that their child is growing within them, however the fathers should as well. Ways To Bond With Your Baby During Pregnancy 1. Massaging Massaging the bump is a great way to bond between the parents and the unborn child. With various aromatic oils and lotions, parents can massage the mothers belly as it begins to grow. Many women do this regardless in an attempt to prevent those unsightly stretch marks, so why not make it a family ritual? The smells from the oils and lotions is very relaxing and can create a fantastic atmosphere for bonding. 2. Singing and talking There are actually devices out there that attach to the stomach from a small microphone so that the unborn child can begin to enjoy the relaxing sound of its parent’s voices. From singing lullaby’s (something parents should get used to from a very early start), to simply talking about day to day business or reading a book out loud, any communication between the parents and the child helps strengthen the bond. 3. Classes Attending various classes is a fantastic way for both parents to bond with the child and prepare for its arrival. Birthing classes will show the dad and mom how to handle the labour, how to breathe during the process, how to cope with the pain during labour and what to expect. Parenting classes are a great tool for first time parents to learn how to properly swaddle a child, the basics of breast feeding, and other essentials for the newborn baby. Preparation and understanding is what these classes teach, and it will be a phenomenal tool for parents as they experience the joys of their upcoming child together. 4. Go for walks Walking is a fantastic way to not only prepare your body physically for labor (and to speed it along if you’re past your due date), but also to bond. Whether its just mommy walking, or if dad is coming along to, walking gives you some quiet relaxation time to clear your mind and simply just focus on the “now”. 5. Scans Perhaps one of the best bonding experiences for parents and their unborn child is the scans. Scans make the baby so much more real, allows you to actually see what the child looks like, and you can take a photo home and keep it in a safe place. There are various types of scans that can be taken at varying weeks during the pregnancy. The early pregnancy scan is just to confirm that the mother is pregnant and that the unborn child is viable. After that, a gender scan is done (typically between 20-35 weeks) – this is optional, but most parents opt to know their childs gender to continue bonding with it more and prepare for its arrival with gender specific decorations and clothing. Another scan is the 3D/4D ultrasound and this is truly an experience parents will enjoy. You should typically have this scan done between 20-35 weeks as well. You shouldn’t wait too long for this scan as your child won’t have enough room within the womb for a really clear and great photo of the scan, however you still want to have your child with all of its facial features and digits developed. The bonding process between parents and the unborn child can begin from the very day that the woman knows she’s pregnant. Between belly rubs, parenting classes, and general communication with the child, the bond will strengthen and grow as the bump gets larger and the due date quickly approaches. Always make sure that the father is included in the bonding experience as much as possible because it will truly bring a family so much closer and create a very relaxed atmosphere for the child. What are the ways you bonded with your baby during pregnancy? Leave a comment below to join the discussion.

March 20, 2018

Natural remedies for heartburn during pregnancy

Heartburn affects a lot of women during pregnancy, particularly during the third trimester of pregnancy.The reason for heartburn during pregnancy is increased levels of progesterone. Progesterone relaxes muscle, including the stomach valve that keeps the stomach acid out of the oesophagus. Another cause of heartburn during pregnancy is the growing baby putting pressure on the stomach, pushing the acid from the stomach upwards and of course with the stomach valve relaxed it just goes up into the oesophagus. If you have suffered from heartburn during pregnancy you know how horrible it can be so this article is going to share with you some things you can do to avoid heartburn during pregnancy, some natural remedies for heartburn during pregnancy and if all that does not work some medication you can take to try and get rid of your heartburn during pregnancy. Ways to avoid heartburn during pregnancy Prevention is always better than cure, so here are some measures you can take to try and prevent getting heartburn during pregnancy. While they may not work entirely to prevent heartburn you can be assured the symptoms would be much worse if you didn’t do these things. Eat Smaller Portions – Instead of eating 3 larger meals a day eat much smaller meals more often. This gives your system a chance to digest the food without overloading your stomach. It also means you are eating more often and have less of a chance to get hungry. If you are hungry you will also be prone to heartburn during pregnancy. Keep snacks on hand if you are out so you can eat regularly. Eat Slowly – Eating slowly not only aids digestion but it gives your stomach a chance to let you know when you are full. This will help you to eat smaller portions which will also help prevent heartburn during pregnancy. Sip Liquids – Instead of drinking large amounts of liquids, sip constantly throughout the day and in between meals. Avoid drinking any liquids with a meal. Sit or Stand after eating – Make sure you sit or stand for a few hours after eating. Avoid bending over and lying down as this will cause the stomach acid to come up your throat, Don’t eat just before sleeping – Wait a few hours after eating before you lie down or sleep. This will give you a chance to digest your food before lying down. Sleep elevated at night – Being in the lying down position encourages the stomach acid to come up your oesophagus. Prop yourself up on pillows so your head and chest are elevated while you sleep. Avoid heartburn trigger foods – Certain foods trigger heartburn, so try and avoid these. While there are certain foods that are often triggers for a lot of people, they may not be for others. Pay attention to what you are eating and if you get heartburn try and eliminate those foods that caused it. Foods that commonly trigger heartburn are caffeine, fizzy drinks, chocolate, citrus, spicy foods, fatty foods, fatty red meat, french fries, omega 3 (fish oils), raw onion, oil, fried foods, butter and tomatoes. Wear lose fitting clothing – Avoid any clothing that can put pressure on your stomach or chest areas, this will just make any heartburn symptoms worse. So think stretchy, it will be much more comfortable for you anyway! Natural Remedies for Heartburn During Pregnancy Although there are some steps you can take to lessen your chances of getting heartburn during pregnancy the fact is that many women will still suffer from it. When you do here are some natural remedies you can try before you resort to medication. Yogurt or Milk for heartburn – Eating yogurt or drinking some milk can relieve heartburn. While cow’s milk often gives immediate relief, it can over time worsen the heartburn. Alternatives you can try are nut milk, rice milk or goat milk.You can also warm milk and add some honey. This can soothe your burning chest. Bentonite Clay for Heartburn – You can take bentonite clay before eating meals can coat the stomach and bring down acid levels. Bentonite clay is found in tablets, capsules and powder form.It is alkalising and absorbs the stomach acid, easing heartburn symptoms. Marshmallows for Heartburn – Sounds crazy right? Well apparently marshmallows coat the lining of the stomach and oesophagus, protecting them from the stomach acid. Slippery Elm Bark – Slippery elm bark is available in capsule, powder and lozenge form. It builds up the mucous lining of the stomach and protects it from the stomach acid. Chewing Gum – Try chewing gum for heartburn during pregnancy, it works! Apple Cider Vinegar – Low stomach acid creates heartburn, so drinking acid cider vinegar can increase the acids can result in relief. Papaya, pineapple, avocados and bananas – These all contain naturally-occurring enzymes which help break down food. Green Olives – Apparently eating a dozen green olives a day can help prevent heartburn and ease it if it does occur. Coconut Water – Coconut water has lots of potassium and electrolytes that help to keep the body hydrated. Sipping coconut water throughout the day and drinking a glass before bed can help to acid reflux away. Almonds – Roasted or raw almonds will do, just eat some every day to keep the heartburn away. Ginger – Ginger in any form is great for heartburn, whether powdered, pickled or fresh. You can even try ginger biscuits or ginger ale. Bicarb of Soda – Bicarbonate of soda quickly neutralises stomach acid, relieving heart burn. Drinking Aloe Vera Juice – The healing property of aloe vera soothes the entire oesophagus track and provides relief from heartburn. Chiropractor – Some recent studies show that seeing a chiropractor can help with heartburn. Certain chiropractic adjustments shift the oesophageal valve into a better working position. This relaxes the muscle, helping prevent acids from making their way back up. Aromatherapy for heartburn – Add four drops of lemon, orange blossom or orange essentials oils to a teaspoon of

March 19, 2018

Natural remedies for relieving back and neck pain during pregnancy

While pregnancy is a time of great joy and happiness, very often it is accompanied by aches, pains and unpleasant pregnancy symptoms. Although the mother to be is often very uncomfortable it is tolerated as a bitter sweet experience. It is very common for a pregnant woman to experience back pain and neck pain, sometimes it can be mild but some women experience quite intense pain that can impact her lifestyle negatively. Back pain during pregnancy can cause numerous problems from missing time at work, a more difficult labour and birth, and very often can also create problems that can extend long after birth. So while back pain and neck pain during pregnancy are common symptoms it is essential to look at the problem and manage the back and neck pain during your pregnancy. There are two common types of back pain during pregnancy, lower or lumbar back pain (sciatica) which is felt above the waist and posterior pelvic pain which is felt below the waist. Lumbar back pain is most often felt when standing or sitting for too long, or from repetitive lifting. Posterior pelvic pain is often brought on or made worse when sitting up from a lying position, standing up, rolling over, running, walking, taking stairs, bending forward, lifting something or twisting your body. The three most common causes of back pain during pregnancy are weight gain, changes in the moms centre of gravity which puts strain on different muscles and hormonal changes which relaxes muscles and joints. Here are some helpful natural remedies you can try for relieving your neck and back pain during this time. Proper Exercise During Pregnancy for Relieving Back Pain While exercising during pregnancy is highly recommended it is very important to do exercise that is appropriate for pregnancy. You don’t want to cause more damage than good. Being fit and active during pregnancy will help you to strengthen your back muscles, abdominal muscles and pelvic floor which will help to reduce back pain. Being active will also help to keep your weight gain under control, which will in turn also help manage back pain. The fitter and stronger you are during pregnancy the easier your labour and birth will be on your body, so it can also help reduce your labour pain. Exercise that is considered good during pregnancy is swimming, brisk walking, indoor stationary cycling, yoga and low impact aerobics. Make sure to take take yoga and aerobics classes taught by a certified instructor. Maintain a Good Posture to Manage Pregnancy Back Pain As mentioned above, when you are pregnant your centre of gravity shifts causing new muscles to take strain. Add in the additional weight and very often pregnant women then fall into the habit of bad posture. Having bad posture will cause back and neck pain, so try and hold your spine erect with balanced posture. Massage Therapy for Managing Pregnancy Back Pain Getting a massage during pregnancy can help your body to relax. A massage will also increase reduce joint swelling by increasing circulation and moving fluids around the body. This can help relieve sciatica. The massage therapy can also include heat pack or a cold pack for providing the maximum relief. It is important to be safety conscious and to only book a massage with a therapist that is qualified in prenatal massage. Get Enough Rest It is vitally important to get enough sleep during your pregnancy so you can enjoy your pregnancy in good health. If you are not getting enough restful sleep you will feel it in your body which could increase back pain. You can check this web article which provides you good information and tips on getting relaxed and pain free sleep at night. There are many high quality specially designed pillows for pregnant women that can support your back and your belly at the same time. Buy one for your body and baby to give yourself the best care. Sleeping on your side with a pillow between your knees can help to greatly reduce back pain. Visit Your Doctor This can be your last resort after trying out some of the basic things above. You doctor may recommend you do some effective exercise along with medications that are meant to reduce the inflammation and relieve joint pain during pregnancy. Neck and back pain during pregnancy can definitely be relieved with the help of these measures. In fact, as soon as you experience some form of pain, the ideal option for you is to become proactive and find out the most suitable measures that can help you. Consequently, you will be able to breathe a sigh of relief soon.

March 16, 2018

Heads up on infant health ahead of taps running dry

When the dam levels reach 13.5%, the city will begin to shut down its reticulation system in residential areas, which essentially means the taps will run dry. Day Zero, currently earmarked for mid-May 2018, has serious ramifications for the city, which has already been declared a disaster area and it’s close to 4 million residents. ‘We have been inundated with advice about water saving tips,’ says Gerhard Van Emmenis, Principal Officer of Bonitas Medical Fund, ‘and, as a medical scheme entrusted with taking care of our members wellbeing, we felt compelled to do our bit to help our members and the citizens of Cape Town with advice around health issues during a drought, especially for the more vulnerable such as infants and the elderly. ‘We have researched the potential health risks in the time of a water crisis and compiled easy to follow guidelines. Even before taps are turned off, when clean drinking water is not readily available there is a high risk of some diseases which, as a health care community, we need to anticipate and mitigate.’ In the case of infants (aged under 3 years), advice from the Bonitas Babyline team is as follows: Care should be taken to adequately sterilise bottles and pacifiers. In the current heat, any formula or milk left in the bottle after a feed should be discarded if not consumed immediately. Parents should take care to make just enough for baby for each feed Make sure your child has enough water to drink and is well hydrated. Children often do not realise they are thirsty and play in the heat. Ensure your child drinks water often With water restrictions, children are prone to bacterial and fungal infections of the skin. Ensuring the skin is cleaned as thoroughly as possible every day will help prevent these infections The single biggest threat to child health with water restrictions is from gastro-enteritis. Make sure food is prepared as hygienically as possible and reduce the amount of bought cold foods and salads in the child’s diet. Cooked foods served fresh are best. Here are 10 tips to help you stay healthy ahead of the taps being turned off Boil water or use water purification tablets for the rain water we are able to capture. However, preferably use this for flushing the toilet, not for drinking. Use Milton to add to water to wash raw veggies – with the listeriosis outbreak as well as the possibility of a Hepatitis A outbreak we can’t afford not to wash our fresh produce! Use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser or wet wipes to keep hands clean (and hand cream because that stuff gets pretty harsh after a while!). Bicarb and vinegar are excellent for cleaning especially as it doesn’t destroy water for grey use. Dodgy tummy prep: Rehydrate, probiotics and medicine for stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhea. Use vinegar in the toilet and drains to help with any odours and bacteria. Clean with micro-fibre cloths or rags as sponges become unsanitary. It’s far easier to clean cloths and hanging them up immediately can delay them smelling. You can also throw rags away. Alternatively wipe down surfaces using wet wipes. Stock up on bottled water exclusively for drinking while water stations are being sorted out. The recommendation is 5 litres a day and to have four days’ worth of fresh water per person. Do not drink non-potable water (gray water). This water should also not be used for cooking. Vaccinate against Hepatitis A if you have never been vaccinated (especially healthcare workers, communal food handlers, patients in long-term care facilities and immune-compromised people.) Mental illnesses such as increased anxiety, depression and even suicide can be managed with the right help. If you, your family and especially your infant have any of the above symptoms, visit your doctor for an assessment sooner rather than later. ‘We know it is a difficult time for Capetonians’ says Van Emmenis, ‘it is stressful trying to save as much water as possible while trying to remain healthy through this time. But help is at hand, the local authorities and medical professionals are on high alert and standby to assist and, for Bonitas members, we also have our Babyline – 24-hour children’s health advice line manned by paediatric trained registered nurses. They are on the other side of the phone to assist with any parental concerns, or health related issues, 24/7, 365 days of the year.’ The Babyline service is available to members across all Bonitas plans, for children under 3 years. Parents simply need to call the Babyline on 0860 999 121.

March 15, 2018

The benefits of yoga for pregnant woman

Introduction Unknowingly, many of you are transforming from a woman into a mother and you have all the privilege to give birth and to nurture. At this stage, pleasure and pain merge into this cosmic experience of creation, and you can think of nothing, but your little precious baby. This world will soon be your baby’s playground, a place that he/she can grow into his/her own unique characteristic. But for now, the child is starting experience the world through us, therefore, we need to prepare all of the best things to welcome them. Therefore, I would like to share my experience with yoga during my pregnancy which can help any moms stay fit as well as deliver healthy and happy babies. What Yoga Can Help Women in Pregnancy For me, pregnancy and bringing a child into the world is regarded as the unique experience, but it is also a time of immense change of excitement, joy, anticipation, nervousness as well as other fluctuating emotions. As a consequence, practicing yoga is extremely beneficial for pregnant women for many reasons that I will show you now. Nevertheless, you still need to consult with your doctor before taking it up so as to make sure that you will not suffer from any pregnancy-related complications. When I was pregnant for the first time a few years ago, many people advised that I should enhance strength for my lower and upper body in order to endure the additional weight as well as adapt to such adjustment in balance. Thus, I started coming to yoga and surprisingly, this routine deals with the actual birthing muscles which are utilized during the birth process including my lower back, pelvis muscles along with the hip. Furthermore, during my pregnancy, I had to put up with back pain as my tummy size increased dramatically. As a result, pain-busting moves in yoga did a great job in supporting my waist and then my lower back. Moreover, owing to the increase in my weight and the change in my body shape, I felt wobbly, so that some balancing exercises in yoga can help me to get familiar with my changing center of gravity. Going to the next point, I used to go through a depressed period when having my first baby and prenatal yoga can help me release endorphins in my system. Thanks to this incredible exercise, I can get into happy positive state of mind, avoid the morning sickness as well as keep me active the whole day. Therefore, do not hesitate anymore since you have to try this and you can totally achieve all of these great things like me. In addition, you and your baby are so intrinsically connected that when there is any toxicity in your body or any stress, all of them will go straight to the baby. Therefore, practicing yoga can help moms to live more purposely and efficiently. I used to have doubts in these benefits when first inviting to yoga, but now, I have to admit that it is exceptionally suitable for any pregnant woman. Before, I believed that sleeping is the the best way of rest but I have changed my mind after coming to a yoga class. You will be surprised to know that the relaxation pose that comes at the end of any yoga classes is useful for your rest. I am sure that many women do not believe at this moment, but you need to take my advice and see the magic in the end. Last but not least, I recommend that taking part in yoga classes is the cheapest method to meet moms who are going through the same process as you. After some classes, I have made a lot of good friends and until now, we still meet each other with our children at the weekends. We can share the difficulties as well as some tips to take better care of our precious children. Conclusion As you know, pregnancy is one of the most powerful and tough times in a woman’s life. Therefore, prenatal yoga really trains the woman’s mind and body to be able to give birth consciously. After reading this article, why don’t you join a yoga class right now and if you have any confusion, please feel free to contact me anytime. Emma Baster is the editor of Eruditemommy.com. She understands deeply about the difficulties of pregnant women and mothers. Therefore, she built this blog to share her knowledge about nutrition, taking care of children, mommies’ health. Better care for families is everything she wishes to convey in this blog. Follow Emma on Twitter @EruditeMommy

March 15, 2018

The do’s & don’ts of returning to exercise after a caesarean section

Moms out there who have had or are planning to have a caesarean we’d like to give you a few tips and coping mechanisms regarding that sometimes very scary and difficult recovery period. First and foremost a caesarean delivery can be considered as major abdominal surgery therefore postpartum return to exercise must be delayed until you have made a complete medical recovery. We therefore strongly suggest that your doctor needs to give you the “green-light” to commence exercise. Generally, it takes about 6 weeks for your stitches to heal if you have experienced no other complications. So here are our top 5 tips on coping with the return to exercise post C section. 1. First and foremost, getting in and out of bed… There’s no two ways about it, you WILL need to get in and out of bed countless times during the night to tend to that new born so here’s our advice as to how to protect that wound as well as your lower back when getting in and out of bed: Bend your knees up one at a time Roll onto your side with your knees still bent and together Push yourself up with your arms (Not sitting up using your abs), allowing your legs to swing down towards the floor Stand from this position Do the same in reverse to get back into bed 2. It has been suggested that new moms are, in fact, encouraged to walk as soon as possible after a caesarean delivery. Walking increases blood flow circulation, which helps speed up the healing process. Therefore it is safe to suggest that you should be up and walking as soon as your spinal block has worn off. So up you get, have a nice warm shower and then start with little bouts of walking to and from your baby and around the maternity ward as much as possible. Increase these bouts of walking slightly each and every day leading up to your 6 week doctors check-up. Remembering that if you would like to go walking with your baby, use your pram rather than a front pack or sling as this can stress your core and lower back. 3. Now for our personal favourite piece of advice for that 6 week recovery period, begin practising your pelvic floor exercises as soon as possible. Pregnancy can put a strain on your pelvic floor, so these exercises are important, however you gave birth. Every time you lift your baby, tighten your pelvic floor muscles and lower tummy muscles at the same time. This will help to protect your lower back, and will prevent you from any accidental leaking. 4. Whether you choose to breast feed or bottle feed your new born we suggest that you make sure you’re always seated comfortably, someone once told me to make sure that I bring my baby to me rather than taking me to my baby during a feed which made perfect sense. Avoid hunching over/leaning down to feed your baby. Feed in a comfortable and well supported chair that also supplies arm support and where possible make use of a feeding pillow so that it does the work rather than you bearing the weight of your baby. 5. Last but certainly not least, make use of any and all medication given to you. You will probably be supplied with a week to 10 days’ worth of pain relief, anti-inflammatory and constipation medication, and while you might start to feel great a couple of days after leaving hospital and think that you no longer need these meds TAKE THEM! They have been given to you for a reason which is to support your body during the inflammatory response of healing and so they are a necessity.

March 15, 2018

How to get your baby to drop during pregnancy

Baby dropping refers to a medical term called lightening. Lightening is one of the major signs that occurs when labor is approaching. According to the American Pregnancy Association, lightening suggests that the mother is about to go to labor. It commonly occurs several weeks or even few hours before you begin to experience labor. Baby dropping happens when the baby’s head lowers into your pelvis. The baby then becomes engaged between within the pubic bones. In some circumstances, your due date might be around the corner and lightening is yet to occur. According to health experts, this is a normal occurrence because some babies will only drop after labor has begun. However, there are some exercises you could do to encourage your baby to drop deeper into the pelvis. The exercises will also help you to prepare for labor and delivery. Tips on how to get your baby to drop Seek advice from a healthcare giver It is advisable to seek advice from a healthcare provider before engaging in any activity that is meant to enhance baby dropping. The health expert will discuss with you the safest techniques to use. Daily walks You could also engage yourself in regular walks to help place your baby’s weight on the cervix. The baby’s weight will cause the cervix to dilate leading to contractions that will assist lower the baby to the pelvis area. Braxton-Hicks contractions that are experienced in the later stages of pregnancy help push the baby towards the pelvis area. Practice sitting with spread knees Spreading your knees while seated while leaning your body forward may help the belly to hang down. Sitting in this position will focus the baby’s weight on the cervix causing it to dilate. Avoid sitting with crossed legs as this could halt the lightening process. Sexual intercourse According to experts, sexual intercourse could dilate the cervix. Sexual intercourse could also aid the progress of labor. The male sperms produce results that are similar to prostaglandins. The presence of the prostaglandin hormones helps the thinning process of the cervix. Female orgasms during sexual intercourse may also trigger contractions of the uterine wall. However, individuals who have been prescribed a pelvic rest or those who have lost the mucus plug should not engage in sexual intercourse. Apply the evening primrose oil According to midwives, primrose oil could help ripen the cervix. You can insert one capsule of primrose oil before bed to prepare the cervix for labor. Primrose oil can be applied directly to the cervix. You can also take it through the oral route. Primrose oil should be used under a health-care giver’s supervision. Avoid any home labor induction technique until lightening Home remedies for inducing labor such as castor oil and spicy foods may cause stomach upset if they are taken too early during pregnancy. How to make your baby move using exercises and physical activities These exercises may encourage your baby to drop. They may also prepare your body for delivery. However, you should not attempt these exercises if the baby lies in breach position. A baby in breach position cannot get into a head down position. Walking Daily walks are the best exercise for pregnant women, especially in the later trimesters. Walking opens the hips and helps relax the pelvic muscles which may encourage a baby drop in the final weeks of pregnancy. According to health experts, walking is a moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. You should start slowly and at a comfortable pace. Squatting Squatting exercises may help expand the pelvic opening. Through gravity, squats assist the baby descend into the pelvis area. Squatting strengthens the legs and opens the hips in readiness for labor. Individuals who have not been exercising throughout their pregnancy should use caution when performing squats during the third trimester. Squats can be performed against a wall for support and balance. You could also squat while seated on a birthing ball. Birthing ball Using a birthing ball in the last stages of pregnancy has a lot of advantages. A birthing ball will help lower the baby into the pelvis. It also helps relieve pressure while also increasing blood supply to the baby. The Arizona Doulas Organization and Birth Education Association encourage pregnant mothers to be sitting on a birthing ball on a regular basis during the last six weeks of their pregnancy. Besides supporting a baby drop, birthing balls help rotate the baby into the most favorable position for delivery. It also lowers the chances of experiencing a painful back labor. Pelvic tilts You should perform pelvic tilts throughout your pregnancy if possible. Pelvic tilts also known as pelvic rocking has been found to encourage a baby drop. Pelvic tilts help strengthen and stretch the core muscles that are involved in labor. It also helps relieve pain experienced in the lower back which is common during the second and third trimester. You can perform pelvic tilts by getting on your hands and knees. You should place your hands directly below your shoulders. Tilt your pelvis forward and relax the lower back. Bring back the pelvis to a neutral position then repeat the process for about three minutes. Signs you may notice when your baby drops before labor Easy breathing When a baby drop occurs, the baby physically drops into the pelvis. As a result, there will be less pressure exerted on your diaphragm. You will realize that you can exhale and inhale air in a much easier manner. You may feel a lot of pressure When a baby drop occurs, you will notice an increase in pressure around your pelvic region. There will be an increase in discharge When lightening occurs, the head of the baby will apply a lot of pressure against the cervix. As a result, the cervix will dilate and open to begin labor. The thinning of the cervix occurs by removing the mucus plug that was blocking the cervix opening. There will be an increase in discharge during the last weeks of your pregnancy due

March 14, 2018

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