Pregnancy - Parenting Hub

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Has my water broken or is it just urine?

During pregnancy, many women experience at least some degree of urinary incontinence, which is the involuntary loss of urine. The incontinence may be mild and infrequent for some pregnant women, but it can be more severe for others. The kind of incontinence experienced during pregnancy is usually Stress Incontinence (SI), which is the loss of urine caused by increased pressure on the bladder. 30-40 % of women experience some degree of urinary leakage during pregnancy. In clinical studies, these numbers increased with gestational age. The prevalence of urinary incontinence before, during and after pregnancy is 3.6%, 40%, and 14.6%, respectively1. This makes urinary incontinence a frequent, yet common side-effect of pregnancy. Therefore, urine can be mistaken for amniotic fluid (water breaking). In addition to this, the levels of vaginal discharge increase greatly in pregnancy, which can also be mistaken for amniotic fluid. This can result in a lot of uncertainty when experienced and may lead to unnecessary hospital visits due to “suspected rupture of membranes” or “thinking the water broke”. What is this Amniotic fluid (water)? Amniotic fluid plays a very important role in supporting the foetus during pregnancy. The mother’s body produces amniotic fluid as soon as 2 weeks after conception. As the pregnancy progresses, the amniotic fluid helps the baby move around inside the womb, and thus, supports the development of the baby. The most important role of the amniotic fluid is to protect the baby against physical shocks from outside. It also helps the foetus to move around in the womb, consequently, allowing the foetus to develop his muscles. Maintaining a constant temperature – The amniotic fluid is typically 1 degree Celsius higher than the mother’s body temperature. This helps the foetus to maintain his body temperature. Amniotic Fluid Leak Complications (PROM – Pre labor rupture of membranes): PROM is defined as the rupture of membranes (amniotic sac) and leakage of amniotic fluid before labor begins. This can happen after 37 weeks of gestation. If the rupture of membranes happens prior to 37 weeks of gestation, the condition is termed PPROM (preterm premature rupture of membranes)2. It is important to be able to identify PROM as sometimes it is a gush of water that comes out and sometimes it is not very obvious, thus it can easily be mistaken for stress incontinence. Diagnosing PROM is very important for proper management of the pregnancy and delayed diagnosis could lead to complications for both mother and baby like an infection developing or pre-term birth. Diagnosis facilitates the commencement of appropriate therapy and could lead to reduction in complications. Diagnosis of PROM can be difficult if: The fluid leak is low There is spotting When the classic “gush of fluid” does not occur. The question becomes, how do I know if my water has broken or if its urine? The AMNIOPADTM is a self test kit used to test for leakage of amniotic fluid (water breaking) during pregnancy. The test comes in the form of a panty liner; it’s highly effective, easy to use, results are easy to interpret, and is the only test available in South Africa that can be used at home. This easy-to-use home test kit allows you to detect probable leakage of amniotic fluid whenever you encounter unidentified wetness, or among women with a history of premature membrane rupture. AMNIOPADTM panty liner changes colour when it comes into contact with fluid of pH levels greater than or equal to 6.5. Amniotic fluid pH levels are greater than 6.5. HOW TO USE: Simply attach the special AMNIOPADTM panty liner to your underwear and get on with your day. When you feel a fluid leak, check for a colour change on the yellow background. The pad colour change can be partial or complete (any intensity, shape, size or location). Note: a colour change appears within 10 minutes following a fluid leak. If there is a colour change to blue or green, amniotic fluid may be leaking from your uterus, or you may have a vaginal infection. You should consult your physician or go to the hospital without delay. If the panty liner remains yellow or turns yellow after 10 minutes, the fluid leak is probably urine, which is common during pregnancy. If you continue to experience vaginal wetness, apply a new panty liner and repeat the test. Any minimal amount of amniotic fluid leakage which can be sensed as wetness by the user will create a visible blue or green stain. For further diagnosis and medical care, report the results to your physician. AMNIOPADTM panty liners are recommended for screening either high-risk or normal pregnancies. Leaking amniotic fluid increases the risk of infection to both mother and foetus and early detection can help to: Prevent complications or premature birth. Identify a possible membrane rupture, especially after amniocentesis. Confirm that your water has broken so that you arrive at the hospital in time for a safe delivery. This product is intended to detect leaking amniotic fluid and identify the cause of wetness during pregnancy. For further diagnosis and medical care, report or show test results to your physician. READING YOUR RESULTS: 10 minutes after removal, look for a colour change on the panty liner. The AMNIOPADTM offers you peace of mind when uncertain about when it is time to seek medical attention. Taking the test in the comfort of your home will help you know if the wetness experienced is due to amniotic fluid leaking or urine which is common during pregnancy. The AMNIOPADTM is also avail in UK, USA, NZ and Australia. For more information about how to buy the AMNIOPADTM, visit: www.coincido.co.za or www.Facebook.com/Amniopad Tel: 011 589 9089 References: Sangsawang B, Sangsawang n. Stress urinary incontinence in pregnant women: a review of prevalence, pathophysiology, and treatment. Int Urogyneocol J. 2013 Jun;24(6):901-12. Source: James Alexander et al, Seminars in Perinatology, Vol 20, No 5, 1996: pp 369-374; Mercer et al, Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1999 Amniopad Package Insert

February 28, 2018

Hey Ladies are you feeling Wet down there? No need to worry …….

Most women at some stage in their lifetime will experience some form of vaginal discharge. The discharge may be normal or have a vaginal infection, characterized by discharge, itching, or odor. Vaginal infections are one of the top 25 reasons for women to consult doctors in the USA. The 3 most common types of vaginal infections (vaginitis) include: Bacterial Vaginosis, Trichomoniasis and Candidiasis, and these may or may not be associated with cervical infection1. The key to proper treatment of vaginitis is proper diagnosis. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) Bacterial Vaginosis is a vaginal infection that occurs when the balance of bacteria in the vagina is altered. It is a common condition affecting millions of women. Bacterial Vaginosis is characterized by the following symptoms: Increased vaginal pH to level of above 4.5. Thin homogeneous vaginal discharge – watery discharge (up to 50% of pts). Positive amine test – fishy odor (In pts with no discharge, the fishy odour may be more noticeable after sex or menstruation). Nearly 50% of pts with BV do not have symptoms and don’t know they have BV. Although the syndrome is curable with standard drugs, recurrence rates are high. Because many patients are asymptomatic (do not experience any symptoms), recurrence is difficult to differentiate from treatment failure. BV is associated with serious complications such as: Premature delivery Infections after abortion or hysterectomy and After placement of an IUD, increase in development of PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) and endometriosis, Inflammation of uterus / womb and fallopian tubes Bacterial vaginosis is not a sexually transmitted infection; however, it is associated with the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV/AIDS. Various diagnostic methods are available to identify the abnormal vaginal discharge. Clinical laboratory testing can identify the cause of vaginitis in most women OR BV can be diagnosed by the use of clinical criteria (i.e., Amsel’s Diagnostic Criteria considered the gold standard laboratory method for diagnosing BV) Clinical criteria require three of the following symptoms or signs: Homogeneous, thin, white discharge that smoothly coats the vaginal walls; Clue cells on microscopic examination; pH of vaginal fluid > 4.5; or a fishy odor of vaginal discharge before or after addition of 10% KOH (i.e., the whiff test). BV can be treated with over the counter medication or by prescription medication. Proper clinical evaluation is recommended to ensure proper treatment. Trichomoniasis Trichomoniasis is the most prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted infection. Trichomonal infections are asymptomatic in as many as 50% of male and female patients. The signs and symptoms of Trichomoniasis are: More extensive inflammation Erosion of the epithelial lining that is associated with burning, itching, and pain during urination Smelly or typically foamy discharge Yellow or gray-green discharge. Increased vaginal pH to levels above 4.5 Trichomoniasis should be treated by a clinician and not by over the counter medication. The sexual partner must also be treated in order to avoid reinfection. Candidiasis It is said that approximately 75% of women will experience at least one episode of Candidiasis in their lifetime. Candidiasis, otherwise commonly known as Candida is not a sexually transmitted infection and is usually caused by an overgrowth of the yeast that is normally present in the vagina. Some of the signs and symptoms of candidiasis are: Vulvovaginal irritation and / or soreness Whitish, cheesy discharge The pH levels of the vagina remains normal <4.5 With the availability of alternative therapies and over-the-counter medications for candidiasis, many women with symptoms seek these products before an evaluation by a medical provider. Obtaining a medical history alone has been shown to be insufficient for accurate diagnosis of vaginitis and can lead to the inappropriate administration of medication2. This makes it important for women to have a tool they can use either at home or at their Drs room to determine the cause of their vaginitis and treat correctly. Coincido offers the only rapid test on the market that can be used either by women at home or by healthcare professionals to monitor vaginal pH and assist in determining the cause of vaginitis: Result interpretation (considered as part of the clinical evaluation): Positive result (blue, green) consider BV or Trichomonas infections. Negative result (yellow) consider yeast infection The SwabEze is comprised of a vaginal swab with a polyester tip. The swab tip changes color when it comes in contact with vaginal secretions presenting elevated pH (abnormal acidity) or low buffer capacity (watery discharge). A change of color from pale yellow to green or blue (even if only part of the tip change color) is easy to identify, considered as positive reading No color scale needed to interpret results. The Swabeze gives you piece of mind and guidance with appropriate treatment of vaginitis. By using the Swabeze at home you can avoid embarrassing questions when seeking treatment at the pharmacy. The Swabeze is also available in Australia, USA, New Zealand, UK and many other international markets. For more information on how to order the Swabeze for monitoring vaginal pH you can visit: www.coincido.co.za or call 011 589 989 MANAGEMENT OF VAGINAL DISCHARGE A AHOOSEN CME February 2004 Vol.22 No.2 Page last reviewed: June 4, 2015 Content source: Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

February 27, 2018

A Healthy Lifestyle is a Must for Your Unborn Baby

Becoming a new mom is a thrilling, yet daunting experience! From the moment, you find out you’re expecting a little bundle of joy, you need to make numerous life changing decisions – even before the big arrival. Choices need to be made – everything from what colour to make the baby’s room, to who will take care of your baby once (if) you return to work, and of course, one of the most important decisions – choosing a name. However, despite all these important choices you need to consider, often it’s the moments ‘in between’ that really count – like your health and lifestyle choices, which could direct affect your unborn child. If you have been taking your health for granted, well then now is the time to assess your current lifestyle – to see if any changes must be made. Your unborn baby will rely on you for all essential nutrients, which are important for his/her development, and by eating well, exercising and taking your prenatal vitamins you can decrease your risk of a complicated pregnancy. It is for this reason, that as an expectant mom, you should prioritise your health and looking at an exercise and eating plan can go a long way here. The importance of exercising How long can I jog for? Am I able to lift weights? These are some of the questions that a lot of pregnant women are unsure of when it comes to exercise. Many expectant moms want to jump in and exercise to ensure to keep the extra weight off, but sometimes its not a good idea to start something your body isn’t used to. Despite all the myths around exercising during pregnancy, health practitioners encourage moderate exercise, as it is highly beneficial for both mom and growing baby. So, how will exercise benefit you and baby? Increases your energy levels Improves sleep Strengthens muscles and builds endurance Reduces backaches Relieves constipation Eating right – for you and the baby There will always be contradicting ideas from friends and family on what an expecting mother should eat or drink, however, it is always important to do personal research and get advice from your doctor or clinic. Of course, there are certain foods that should be completely avoided by a pregnant mother, like raw meat and uncooked seafood. Ideally, expectant moms should aim to eat foods that are high in calcium, antioxidants and nutrients, as regularly as possible. And, before you get carried away and utter the words “I’m eating for two” – remember that eating too many calories is also harmful to you and baby. You might even struggle to lose the post pregnancy weight, which can leave you frustrated. In terms of the food you eat, make sure you get enough: Vitamin D – which helps with the absorption of calcium Iron – is vital for creating the baby’s blood supply Vitamin C – improves the uptake of iron from non-meat sources Omega 3 fats – are important to ensure optimal brain development of the baby Calcium – which helps developing the baby’s bones and teeth Ante natal visits and appointments As soon as you find out that you are pregnant, schedule appointments with a reputable gynaecologist/mid-wife, who can help you plan your antenatal care. This will ensure that you are getting the right advice for a healthy pregnancy, right from the get go. Ante natal care is an essential part of pregnancy, and on days where you are tempted to skip your appointment and rather relax on the couch – remember that sticking to appointments is essential in assessing your unborn baby’s health, and to examine whether the pregnancy is progressing well. And of course, the absolute best part of an antenatal visit is when hearing the heartbeat and getting a visual ‘sneak peek’ of your growing little one during an ultrasound. Of course you hormones are a factor during your pregnancy, but with moderate exercise, plenty of sleep, healthy eating and making use of your support system, you can help ensure that your pregnancy is healthy and that you give your baby the healthiest start. Enjoy this time – it’s the start of a truly wonderful journey.

February 27, 2018

Knowing how UIF works

Claiming UIF can be stressful and confusing for most people. Now add to that pregnancy hormones and twins or triplets in your belly and this is enough to cause any mom and extra dose of craziness. We spoke to Helene Vermaak from Mom’s Link to UIF who gave us some simple pointers on how to make the process easier and who can benefit from the system. The main purpose of UIF is to assist people who stop receiving a salary for a period of time for various reasons which can include pregnancy or adopting a child under the age of 2 years. Who can claim? The future mom – to -be can claim for a period of up to 17 weeks. The Dept of Labour pays between 38% and 58% of your salary. The higher your salary, the lower the %. The maximum monthly amount that your employer can deduct from your salary towards UIF, is R148.72, i.e. 1% of R14 872. Because you pay UIF on this salary, the payments from UIF is also calculated from a maximum of R14 872. No matter what your actual salary is. Maximum payment is 38% of R14 872 = +-R5 600 per month You can also claim even if you have a miscarriage, here you can claim for a period of up to 6 weeks. Non South Africans with a valid passport and who contribute monthly to UIF may claim Who can’t claim? Unfortunately there are those moms that can’t claim for various reasons. Some of them being If you work less than 24 hours a month Commission earners. You can only submit if you earn a basic plus commission Are a learner ( so a student in high school or university ) Sole proprietor ( a business trading in your own name ) Work for the government If you are a salary earner and you have never paid UIF Salary earners who resign while they are pregnant can only claim up to 4 months If you earn a full salary while on maternity leave you may not claim There is a chance you may not claim if you have claimed other UIF benefits in last 4 – 5 years What forms do you need? Complete the relevant application forms Copy of your ID or passport Submit your employee’s details on form UI.19 Supporting documents like payslip and proof of residence Ensure you have filled in the form correctly, any blank spaces will slow down the process and incorrect banking information will cause a delay in payment. How is the payment calculated? Payment is calculated in two ways. If you were contributing monthly, you will multiply your monthly salary by 12 and then divide it by 365 days If you were contributing weekly, you will multiply your weekly salary by 52 and then divide it by 365 days Extra points to remember You can only claim within the first 6 months of your babies birth You do not pay tax on your UIF claims If you are retrenched claim your maternity benefit before your other benefits from the Dept. of Labour. Maternity Claims don’t affect your credits UIF Agencies There are many agencies that offer their services. After asking on Facebook these came up as the prefer ones by other twin moms. Moms link to UIF www.momslink.co.za Mothers joy www.mothersjoy.co.za UIF hero www.uif-hero.co.za Babybenefitsuif www.babybenefitsuif.co.za You can also contact the UIF offices directly in Pretoria on (012) 337 – 1700

February 27, 2018

A Gender-Neutral Approach to Pregnancy

Finding out the baby’s gender is one of the highlights of pregnancy for many parents, as this serves as their starting point to prepare the things their child will need when they enter the world. After all, how do parents know if they should get blue or pink items without knowing what their baby’s gender is in the first place? Today, however, more parents are opting for a more unisex approach. Their reason? To make sure that their offspring aren’t tied to the gender stereotypes imposed by society. Thanks in part to celebrities such as Pink and Angelina Jolie who said that they are bringing up their offspring in a gender-neutral environment, this parenting method has become a trendy approach to raising children. This strategy though, is actually backed up by science. Health journalist Helen Thomson noted that taking on a gendered approach may be harmful to kids in the long run. A BBC documentary showed that children developed better behaviour and self-esteem when they attended a school that promoted gender neutrality. The mounting evidence supporting a unisex approach to parenting has led to an increasing number of parents following this method. If you’re considering raising your offspring in a gender-neutral environment, the good news is that you can actually take certain steps to promote this even before your child is born. Here are some strategies that you can apply: Pick a unisex name If you’re serious about using a gender-neutral approach to raise your child, a good first step would be to choose a unisex name such as Alex, Jamie, or Sam. If you want a more off-beat choice, you can choose a name that is traditionally identified with the opposite sex of your baby. For instance, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds had no qualms about naming their daughter James. Decorate your nursery properly If you want to make your child’s room as gender-neutral as possible, you can follow the advice given in ‘Decorating Your Baby’s Nursery’ and choose a neutral shade for the walls and flooring. Gender-neutral shades include yellow, green, grey, and cream. A neutral-toned room doesn’t necessarily mean boring, because you can pair the neutral backdrop with brightly-coloured decorations. For instance, What to Expect suggests hanging a multi-coloured mobile as part of the decor. Alternatively, you can style the room following a gender-neutral theme such as woodlands or the beach or a carnival. Shopping for clothes The type of clothes you choose may not only affect how children see themselves later on in life, these items can also have an impact on how other people interact with them. In effect, biases are formed towards them even before they are able to walk and talk. In the case of newborns, you can get onesies that come in all colours. It isn’t necessary to avoid blues and pinks, so long as you mix them up with other shades such as green, yellow, purple, and red. Choosing toys Shopping for toys shouldn’t be too difficult, as the concept of taking on a gender-neutral approach means allowing children to have different types of playthings, from cars to dolls. What’s more important is to get toys that will teach them to learn developmental skills and allow them to exercise their creativity and imagination.

February 23, 2018

Planning to Become a Mom?

Here’s the financially savvy stuff you should be thinking about With Hollywood booming with pregnant celebrities like Beyoncé, Amal Clooney, Ciara and Natalie Portman – just to name a few – expectant moms and those planning a family may be dreaming about their future bundle of joy. The cuddles, the smiles, the giggles, the bibs and the booties. A new baby will capture your heart. It will also capture a fair portion of your family’s budget! Danelle van Heerde, head of advice processes and tools for Sanlam Personal Finance, says “Pregnancy and parenting is costly and there are many financial unknowns. Going into this new life stage with your eyes wide open is therefore important. A financial plan that spans each stage of your pregnancy as well as the months and years that follow will go a long way to help you cope well with the financial side of this exciting life journey.” A plan – drawn up in consultation with a partner, employer, medical aid provider and financial planner – should cover the following costs and considerations. Pre-pregnancy Make sure your medical scheme’s maternity benefits offer sufficient cover. If you are not a member of a medical scheme, sign up before you fall pregnant. Most schemes won’t sign you up once you are already pregnant. First trimester Find a competitively priced gynaecologist with an excellent reputation. Your first antenatal consultationmay cost between R700 and R1 000 and after that expect to pay approximately R700 per appointment. Start saving for big items, a new pram and baby cot can cost between R500 and R10 000. Second trimester Now that the morning sickness has passed, use the second trimester to review your long-term financial plans with your financial planner. Start thinking about updating your will, appointing a guardian, revisiting your estate planning, increasing your life cover and emergency fund, and starting an education fund. Meet with your HR manager to understand your maternity benefits. You are legally entitled to four months maternityleave, but this could be unpaid. Prepare to claim for UIF. You can expect to receive between 38% and 60% of your gross salary, capped amount at R 14 872 per month salary for a maximum of four months (there are agencies that can help with the admin for your UIF for around R500). Third trimester Start to gently whisper to your bestie that you’d like to set up a registry for your baby shower so that you don’t end up with 20 teddies and no white vests! Keep receipts for all purchases – you can exchange items like nappies for a bigger size if your baby outgrows them. Look for specials – you could save a fortune on nappies! During this period your budget will have to accommodate your maternity leave, living needs, savings, insurance, medical aid and essentials required for the baby. Antenatal classes will cost on average R300 each over 6 to 8 weeks. Buy a car seat (R600 – R6000) and get used to using it (the first trip back from hospital will have you rattled enough without having to battle with buckles). Birth If you don’t have medical scheme cover, prepare for an average cost of R21 000 to R26 050 for a caesareanand R16 000 to R19 000 for natural birth at a private hospital. Additional professional fees can add R10 000 to R20 000 to the overall bill. Gap covercan help make up for this deficit, but it depends on the policy you take out. However, gap cover is relatively inexpensive and your financial planner should be able to help. Add your new baby to your medical scheme immediately and expect a premium increase as a result of the additional dependent. After your baby has arrived Budget for check-up consultations with your paediatrician – these range from R500 to R1000 per visit. Vaccinations are free in a government health clinic, but can cost up to R5000 in a private baby clinic. Childcare expenses start at R1500p/m and can climb to R8000p/m should you require a fulltime nanny. Nappies will cost you about R300p/m, while toiletries can come to R400p/m. Remember, your work situation might change. If you’ve decided to stop working or reduce your working hours, then you need to take your adjusted income into account and adapt your budget accordingly.

February 23, 2018

TIPS FOR THOSE LAST FEW WEEKS OF PREGNANCY

Birth is such an awesome and exciting event. As pregnancy progresses into its final stages once can be faced with various physical challenges where just standing up has become a process on its own. Therefore, it is important to always take care of your health, fitness levels and continuing to prepare for the arrival of your baby. There is nothing as amazing as knowing that you have prepared well ahead for the birth of your precious miracle and breastfeeding moments you will have together. A few tips for those last few weeks and days of pregnancy: Make sure you are eating healthily to keep up your energy levels for the hard work of labour ahead. Similac Mom provides you with all the special nutrients that you need for this time Keep Similac Mom close at hand for those days ahead when you will be breastfeeding. While you are breastfeeding, have a glass of Similac Mom next to you not only to quench the extra breastfeeding thirst, but to also make sure you have the correct nutrition for both you and your baby during these precious times Rest during the day- you never know when you might go into labour so never let yourself get really tired because that is the day you probably will go into labour. If you are tired when labour starts, you start at such a disadvantage, rather start labour feeling refreshed and with high energy levels Stay active so you keep up your fitness levels Make sure your bags are packed and ready for labour. Keep them with you if you go far from home Make sure you have discussed your birth plan with the doctor/midwife and the hospital where you will be delivering to ensure everyone is on the same page as you Practice your skills learnt at childbirth education classes together with your birth partner Make sure you have a lactation consultant’s number saved in your phone in case you need one in those early days of breastfeeding Ensure you do a breastfeeding course. Knowledge is very empowering and helpful for this new skill that will be required of you Know your baby’s normal movements. Be aware your baby should move nicely every day. Your baby should move 10 times in less than 2 hours. A quicker but as reliable method, is 3 kicks in an hour. You know your baby is fit and healthy by feeling him move. He has times of sleeping as well so won’t be moving 24/7. If you cannot feel your baby moving, have something sweets to eat and drink and then do what generally gets your baby moving – for some it is to take a bath, others to lie down. If you are concerned your baby isn’t moving as well as usual or is moving far more than normal – contact your caregiver or the labour ward at the hospital. Towards the end of pregnancy, your baby may move differently, fewer but bigger movements. Spend lots of time communicating with your partner as you prepare for labour together as well as your new journey together as parents Enjoy this time! Your pregnancy will soon be over and you will have lots of new skills to learn! By Lynne Bluff About Abbott Nutrition As a division of Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Nutrition is recognized as one of the world’s trusted names in children, adult, and healthy living products, including Ensure®, PediaSure® Complete and Similac® Mom. Abbott Nutrition South Africa first opened its doors in 1940 and for more than 75 years, has remained committed to the highest standards of quality, excellence, and innovation and as leaders in science-based nutrition, they continue to support people’s nutritional needs throughout their life stages.

February 22, 2018

Nutrition in pregnancy: Giving your baby the healthiest possible start

With so many myths out there about diet and pregnancy, no wonder new mothers-to-be feel confused about the do’s and don’ts of their own diets. To eat appropriately is the one thing a mother have a lot of control over, and wants to get 100% right, but is so afraid of getting it wrong. We are regularly told that our weight, nutritional status and health during pregnancy and breastfeeding have effect on a baby’s risk of developing disease in future, birth risks, the baby’s health and growth both in the uterus and after birth. Scary as it may sound, with the right dietary advice and support it can actually be quite easy to get your diet right with a few easy tips. Keep reading. Will my pregnancy cravings influence my child’s eating habits? Want your child to love veggies? Start early. Very early! New research shows that WHAT a woman eats during pregnancy not only nourishes her baby in the womb, but can influence a baby’s palate and food memories before he/she is born. The study found that a mother’s diet shapes her baby’s food preferences and acceptance later in life. Flavour perception develops as early as in the unborn infant and taste and smell continues to develop once they are born. In the womb, a fetus is surrounded and nourished on amniotic fluids, which is filled with the flavours of what the mom has eaten in the last few hours. The fetus starts to swallow large amounts of amniotic fluid from about 12 week’s gestation. By the time a women reaches her third trimester the fetus’s brain starts to communicate with the taste and smell receptors – for the baby to start to associate with certain flavours and odours in the amniotic fluid. A baby therefore already starts to build a memory bank of tastes and flavours during pregnancy. Amniotic fluid is therefore the first food for the baby to feast on and contains protein, sugars, fat and different flavours of the food that the mother eats. The fetus can detect these tastes and flavours – forming memories of these flavours and will prefer flavours that were previously experienced in the amniotic fluid. It was shown that if mothers who consumed carrot, anise or garlic flavoured food during pregnancy, their infants would be more accepting to flavours later in life. The flavour learning continues when infants experience the flavours of mother’s diet transmitted in breast milk, especially flavours such as anise, garlic, carrot, mint, vanilla. When babies start solids they showed greater liking for and acceptance of flavours to which they had early exposure. This means you can teach your baby to like broccoli from an early age! This varied experiences with food flavours increase food acceptance and may help explain why children who are breastfed are less picky during childhood. Formula tastes the same day-in and day-out. If you plan to formula feed your infant, and worry about the lack of variants in flavours just make sure you introduce your baby to the largest variety of solid food and flavours early on in the weaning period. To conclude, if you want your children to eat a healthy diet (e.g. their broccoli) or more adventurous diet, you should expose them to all the right, healthy flavours early on. Will WHAT I eat during pregnancy affect what diseases my child may have in later life? There are some studies that show that the mother’s diet may affect whether children have the risk for developing diabetes, heart disease, obesity or high blood pressure later in life. During the war, when pregnant women were exposed to very little food, especially in the first trimester, their children were more likely to be born heavier, taller and develop heart disease in adulthood. Some studies suggest that when an expectant mother has too little protein and too many carbohydrates in her diet, the child may have a risk of high blood pressure later in life. This also applies to when you do not supplement your diet with the recommended vitamin and mineral supplements e.g. folic acid, iron calcium and vitamin D. “Over nutrition” during pregnancy also has detrimental effects and may cause the fetus to grow faster than the fetus’s organs and can lead to liver, heart and kidney disease in adulthood. There is also a suggestion in research that if your diet is rich in omega 3 fatty acids (mainly available in oily fish and seeds) during pregnancy it can protect the baby against ailments such as high blood pressure and heart disease in adult life. Should I avoid certain foods during pregnancy to prevent my child from having food allergies? Many scientific studies have been done to investigate whether mothers who avoid certain foods in the diet during pregnancy can control the presence of allergies and eczema in their babies once they are born. They all concluded that babies might or might not present with food allergies and eczema, regardless of the mother’s diet, especially when there is a strong family history of food allergies. They also concluded that avoiding certain food in the pregnant mother’s diet have shown to affect the mother and the baby’s nutritional status. Both may run the risk of missing out on essential vitamin and minerals contributing to an inadequate nutritional intake and is therefore not recommended. You can actually do more harm than good by avoiding anything in the diet for instance nuts, fish, eggs, milk, citrus fruits to prevent allergies in your baby. If you as expectant mother do suffer from food allergies and need to avoid certain foods it would be of benefit to consult a dietitian who would be able to provide you with a nutritionally balanced diet and ensure both you and your baby get all the nutrients you require. Super foods for pregnancy Eggs: It contains choline that helps to reduce the risk of neural tube defects, such as spina bifida. In addition, studies suggest that choline is key to the

February 22, 2018

Understanding The Possibilities Of A High Risk Pregnancy

So you’ve reached the 12 week mark…phew! If you are like me you would have waited until now to ‘officially’ spread the news! I will never forget how excited I was…I AM PREGNANT! Besides the morning (and evening) sickness…I loved every minute of my pregnancy! I would read every new development from my trusted baby app, most mornings flooding my husband with all this new knowledge. In my opinion I was plain sailing and I couldn’t understand why some women complained about pregnancy. We made it to 20 weeks…yay half way! But this was also the beginning of my downfall. The dreaded word Pre-eclampsia was never mentioned during my pregnancy, but it’s presence was always the elephant in the room. I had become a high risk without even taking it seriously. Even after being warned I could give birth as early as 34 weeks, I still didn’t think about the risks I was going through or giving birth to a premature baby. The night I gave birth, the ‘condition that should be named’ hit a climax and my body was losing the battle. With a blood pressure reading of 200/120, our daughter was born at 30 weeks at 3:50 in the morning. We survived the night but the journey was far from over. What is high risk pregnancy? High risk pregnancy is defined as a condition that threatens the life of the mother and foetus. Besides Pre-eclampsia (1), there are a few other conditions that make it onto the high risk list. Namely, gestational diabetes (diabetes that develops during pregnancy), chromosomal abnormalities in the foetus, stillbirth, Placenta Previa, HELLP syndrome and multiple births just to name a few (2). There are a number of health factors that can promote a high risk pregnancy like obesity, stressful lifestyle, mature age, unhealthy lifestyle choices, and previous pregnancy problems. Now take a breath, if you have been told you may be high risk that doesn’t necessarily mean you will have problems during your pregnancy. Many women have gone on to have a healthy pregnancy with minimal birth complications. You will need special monitoring and perhaps extra treatment & medication provided by your OBGYN or Midwife. Serious conditions may result in preterm (3) birth where your little one/s will need to spend time in NICU care. What can I do? It is vital that all appointments with your OBGYN or Midwife are kept, eat a healthy diet, keep away from alcohol, cigarettes or drugs that are dangerous for the baby. Try and attend an antenatal course, the knowledge and support you will receive is priceless. You may be advised to limit your working hours (depending on your career) or be admitted to the hospital for monitoring. The main thing you can do is relax.

February 20, 2018

Pregnancy Education = Informed Choices

The thought of giving birth can be both scary and confusing; particularly with conflicting advice given by friends, health workers, family and the internet. Research* has shown that pregnancy education, also known as childbirth education or antenatal classes, is one of the most effective tools to minimise fear. “In this day and age getting information isn’t the problem,” says Pretoria-based neonatologist Professor Suzanne Delport, “it’s finding the right source of information.” The theme of this year’s Pregnancy Education Week campaign in February ‘Date and way of birth – what would baby choose?’ highlighted howchildbirth education enables parents to make informed choices about what is best for them and their baby. “Only about 5% of pregnant women attend formal antenatal classes,” says Lynne Bluff, national co-ordinator of the Childbirth Educators’ Professional Forum (CBEPF). Doctors would like to see that number increase, as the labour outcome for an educated parent is likely to be better. Recent research* has shown that pregnancy education is one of the most effective tools to minimise fear during birth. “You can tell during the birth whether or not parents have been to classes. They are more knowledgeable, less anxious and more relaxed,” says Bluff. Professor Delport has been sharing up-to-date research on the optimum date and method of birth with childbirth educators. “A full-term pregnancy used to be considered to be somewhere between 37 and 42 weeks. Newer research has shown that foetal brain development continues late into the last week of pregnancy. Full-term is now considered to be 39 to 40 completed weeks; birth prior to then is now considered early term and carries a risk of delivering a baby who may develop serious complications due to immaturity of organs, including the brain.” Delport says method of birth is another area where opinions can often outweigh factual information. “More than two-thirds of births in the private sector in South Africa are by caesarean section, yet evidence indicates no benefit, and increased immediate and long-term risks to both mother and infant. By sharing evidence-based, factual information childbirth educators allow expectant parents to confidently make informed decisions.” Johannesburg-based nurse-in-action Dumisile Mncwango has been giving childbirth education classes for the past three years. “I encourage partners to attend. In some communities people say birth is a ‘woman’s thing’ but it helps so much if both parents have the same understanding to deal with the many myths that do come up.” “We strongly recommend childbirth education,” says Lauren Macnab of Bio-Oil, official partner for Pregnancy Education Week. “It allows parents to make informed choices and gives expectant parents confidence and reassurance.” To find a childbirth educator in your area and visit www.expectantmothersguide.co.za or www.facebook.com/ExpectantMothersGuideZA or #WhatWouldBabyChoose. Additional Information Six good reasons to attend childbirth education classes: 1) Expertise – educators are experienced nursing sisters and midwives who have chosen to specialise in childbirth education because they passionately believe in it. 2) Knowledge – you learn about ALL the childbirth options available to you, and the pros and cons of each. 3) Tools – you’ll be given practical tips and techniques – such as breathing, relaxation, positions, massage and visualisation – that can help you have an easier birth. 4) Confidence – you and your partner will feel more confident knowing what to expect and how to manage it. 5) Preparation – you’ll be taught about all aspects of pregnancy and birth, from stretch marks to caring for your newborn. 6) Connections – you’ll meet other expectant parents from your area.

February 19, 2018

Chiropractic care for mothers during and after pregnancy

Chiropractic has typically included the care of pregnant patients to insure a comfortable pregnancy and to help facilitate in an uncomplicated labour and delivery process. Low back pain is often described as an inevitable complication of pregnancy. It has been reported that approximately 50 % of all pregnant women experience back pain during their pregnancy and 50 % to 75 % of women experience back pain during labour. However, only 21% of pregnant women with back pain seek consultation with medical practitioners. Therefore, it is important to have a look at some possible causes of low back pain during pregnancy. Biomechanical changes and stress to the neuro-musculoskeletal system are present during and immediately after pregnancy. Adaptations of the body structurally may be a contributory source of low back pain throughout the gestation period. As the foetus develops, its weight is projected forward and the lumbar lordosis is increased, placing extra stress on the intervertebral discs and joints of the spine. Spinal dysfunction related to the change in the load distributions are a factor in back pain. Hormonally an increase in circulating progesterone, estrogen, and relaxin (especially in the third trimester) cause hypermobility in the pelvis and a decrease in spinal stabilization. Physically strenuous work and previous low back pain are factors that may also be associated with an increased risk of developing low back pain during pregnancy. Common treatment techniques that chiropractors utilize include gentle myofascial relaxation of specific muscles, which can greatly aide in the reduction of pain and tension. Also, improving the strength of the core muscles is thought to prevent some of the typical postural alterations. Release of muscle spasm can be quite beneficial in relieving suboccipital headaches, cervicothoracic pain, thoracic outlet syndrome symptoms, or myofascial pain syndromes. Chiropractors can also help the pregnant patient manage an exercise routine compatible for her changing body throughout pregnancy. Research shows that approximately 75% of pregnant patients who received chiropractic care during their pregnancies stated that they found relief from pain. After delivery, the ligaments in the body are tightening up to help bring the joints back together, this process can take up to 8 months. Rehabilitative exercises should be used for weakened back and abdominal muscles. Regular chiropractic care is valuable during the post-partum recovery phase and is beneficial in assisting proper restoration of normal spinal biomechanics. SOURCES: Borggren, C.L. (2007). Pregnancy and Chiropractic: A Narrative Review of the Literature. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine. 6(2) p 70-74.

February 16, 2018

Pregnancy: The First Trimester

If you missed the announcement last week Friday, then SUPRISE! Dan and I are expecting our first little bebe in April next year. We are so excited, so nervous and feel so incredibly blessed. But along with all the ooh-ing and aah-ing at the cute baby clothes at Cotton On Kids, I’ve been navigating my way through pregnancy and let me tell you, it’s been a crazy happy, overwhelming, exciting adventure so far. By all accounts, I had a really easy first trimester but since I’m a first time mom-to-be there were definitely some things that kind of blew me out of the water and so I thought I might as well tell you about it, even if it’s just for you to laugh at me, which I totally don’t mind! Pregnancy brain is real! In fact, this is how I just knew in my heart that I was pregnant, I hadn’t even missed my period yet. I started doing really stupid things because I wasn’t thinking properly. Things like putting a boiled egg into the microwave (BOOM!) and forgetting to put a bra on before I walked out of the house (seriously sexy). I got over the initial “stupid phase” after about 4 weeks but then the brain fog started. I would be speaking and then would literally stop mid sentence not knowing what I was actually talking about. A bit embarrassing when you’re in company. Thankfully that disappeared after about 8 weeks. Your first scan is internal. Oh yes, you read that right! I had all these beautiful pictures of my first ultrasound in my head… Well when we got there and my gynae whipped out this um, shall we call it a probe, a condom and some KY I got a bit of a fright. She must have seen my face because she explained everything really nicely and asked Dan to step out for a few minutes. Besides the initial “what the hell?!” reaction, it really isn’t uncomfortable or embarrassing – your gynae should cover you all up nicely so that you don’t feel exposed. Seeing and hearing that heartbeat for the first time will make you feel ALL the feels! It’s possibly the best sound and sight (even though I had to squint to see it) in the entire universe. There’s a kid in there, it’s alive and it’s yours! The week or so before your first scan can be the most nerve wrecking time. For me personally it was the absolute crippling fear that there would be no heartbeat (this was the case with our first pregnancy, you can read a bit about that here). The night before and the morning of our 8 week scan I was a complete mess and felt so guilty because I was trying so hard to stay positive. When I saw that heartbeat though, I could literally feel the hugest weight being lifted off my shoulders. Morning sickness…ha! Let’s not kid around, it’s all day sickness okay. Although mine wasn’t really that bad, it was certainly there. It felt like a very dull form of motion sickness and it just sits in your throat aaaaaalllllll day. Provitas and water got me through. You think you know what tired is, but you have NO idea. I thought I would be okay, I had stayed up late partying, working, watching series and managed to get through the next day. No, just no. This is like a supernatural kind of exhaustion. I could fall asleep at the drop of a hat and felt like a walking zombie most of the time. It made me feel very groggy, like I was only half awake. Makes sense though, you are growing a human! Luckily, like clockwork, the day I hit the second trimester I could feel that I had more energy. I started getting stretch marks in my first trimester. Yip, no exaggeration, I was devastated! And when people said to me “But you’re pregnant, give yourself a break” I would want to scream back “Stretch marks are forever you idiot!”. Yes, I was an absolute dream to be around. Look, I was aware stretch marks were inevitable but I didn’t expect them to rear their ugly head so quickly. Healthy eating and lots of stretch mark cream is what I’ve been doing to hopefully minimise the amount that I do get. Reading how your kiddeo is growing inside of you is so incredible. When we were trying to fall pregnant I was obsessed with P Tracker, now that I am pregnant, I am hooked on two apps: What to Expect and Pregnancy +. Every week both apps give you the approximate length and weight of your baby and a fruit or veg that is a similar size (you might find yourself scouring the aisles of Woolies to find this fruit to cradle – hormones hey…). It will also tell you what is developing in both baby and your body. The only reason I like Pregnancy + a tiny bit more is because you can see scans and 4D scans week by week (not of your baby of course), this really helps me to visualise because I really battle to connect with something that I can’t physically feel (yet) or see. Your nose will rule your life for a while. I could smell a smoker 20km away and for about 3 weeks I could not see, smell or eat red meat. This has also calmed down a bit and I can finally enjoy a steak again, even if it has to be well done…sigh. Your 12 week scan is even better than your 8 week scan, I think. I’m not sure why I expected baby to be lying still but I did. I almost fell off the bed when I saw the ultrasound! It wasn’t just a tiny pulsing blob anymore, you could see so much: little feet and legs kicking, a nose and eyes, tiny hands and fingers waving around and oh

February 15, 2018

Huggies® raises awareness around childbirth education this February

A very limited number of expectant mothers research their options before giving birth and as a result childbirth educators, hospitals, and baby product providers such as Huggies®, focus on childbirth education annually during the month of February where there is an emphasis on pregnancy awareness. The nine months leading up to childbirth can be one of the most exciting and fulfilling times in a woman’s life. However, choosing to have a baby is also one of the biggest decisions you will ever make. It is therefore vital that you become informed about the many facets of pregnancy. The experience of birth profoundly affects women and their families. One of the best ways for women to empower themselves before giving birth is to attend childbirth education classes, to consult a childbirth educator or read various online and printed guides that are available for expectant mothers. “We would like to encourage pregnant women to gain knowledge. Know your options. Get evidence based information. Know dad’s role. Make informed decisions. Question all aspects of pregnancy, labour, birth and parenting. Learn more about vaginal births and caesareans. Gain insight on breastfeeding options. Know about skin-to-skin for all moms and babies as well as self-help techniques,” says Nthabiseng Leso, Senior Brand Manager: Point of Market Entry (POME). Pregnant women need to know their rights, including: The right of a woman to choose her companion who will provide her with support during pregnancy and childbirth, and who will accompany her to the antenatal care clinic and help her through the labour The right of the woman to be treated with respect, dignity and confidentiality The right of the woman to ask questions and to get explanation about her condition To understand the importance of childbirth education, Huggies® introduced The Huggies® Club in 2016 at public clinics across the country. This program facilitates a number of heath talks which focus on a variety of topics that relate to pregnancy, birth and new born care. These talks are conducted by Huggies® Brand Mums. These Brand Mums are well-trained and knowledgeable. They work together with the Department of Health, public clinics and have been involved in several health-related campaigns. The talks cover topics that include: The opportunity to exclude and manage existing medical conditions which can be aggravated by the pregnancy, such as hypertension, diabetes, infections and anaemia Free HIV testing and voluntarily counselling (VCT) Early recognition of danger signs in pregnancy and post delivery Birth preparedness and complication readiness Self-care including nutrition and high standard of hygiene Information on the role of the father, the male partner and the family Lynne Bluff, a registered nurse and internationally recognised childbirth educator who is also the editor of the Expectant Mother’s Guide explains how important childbirth education classes are: “Proper childbirth education can help women become more confident and far less fearful about giving birth. We do what we do because we want moms to come out of labour and be able to say, “that was a wonderful experience,””. Being properly prepared both physically and emotionally, and becoming knowledgeable about the various options and considerations regarding childbirth is crucial for parents. This allows them to feel confident about giving birth and ensures that they will know how to provide the necessary care once their precious newborn arrives.

February 15, 2018

Pregnancy and Migraines

Pregnancy is an exciting time for many women. Unfortunately pregnant women also suffer from headaches and migraines, and tend so self-medicate with over the counter medication. According to Dr. Elliot Shevel, South Africa’s migraine surgery pioneer and the medical director of The Headache Clinic, “Often the migraines or headaches worsen during the first trimester (the the first three months of pregnancy), but don’t despair – in 70 % of women the migraines get better in the second and third trimesters. Unfortunately medication is not a good option during pregnancy, and the only pain medication that is safe is Panado or Paracetamol,” he says. “Unfortunately pregnant women who suffer from migraines with aura, (a term used to refer to warning signs of migraine such as seeing zigzag lines before the pain starts), usually don’t find relief in the second half of their pregnancy and have less chance of improvement.” Two studies show that many pregnant women rely on over the counter medication. The first study, published in the Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, showed “a significant number of pregnant women relied on over-the-counter medication”. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Isra University Hospital in Pakistan for six months and comprised of 351 pregnant women who were interviewed face to face. Overall, 223 (63.5%) patients were using over the counter drugs before pregnancy and 128 (36.5%) had used them in a previous pregnancy. A further 133 (37.9%) were using the medications during the current pregnancy. Quite worrying is that a total of 103(77.4%) had no knowledge about the possible harmful effects of the medication they were taking. Whilst this study highlighted the frequent use of over the counter medications in pregnant women, another study, published in Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, indicates most women experience automatic relief during their 2nd and 3rd trimesters. For those not getting relief from headaches or migraines, medication needs to minimise. So is surgery a viable option in pregnant women? One of the most successful treatment methods for migraine is to close off the small arteries under the skin of the scalp that cause the pain (not the arteries in the brain), by means of minimally invasive surgery. Commenting on the surgery during pregnancy, Dr Shevel says, ‘We usually wouldn’t do the surgery during the first three months of the pregnancy because the drugs used in the sedation or anaesthetic may affect the fetus and cause problems. After the first trimester the operation is safe to perform, but we prefer to wait until the baby is born to avoid any possible unforseen complications. Sometimes however, an expectant mother is just in so much pain that the operation can’t wait.” Other pressing issues Expectant mothers always have a lot of questions about headaches and migraines. Here are some answered: Will the baby be affected by the trauma and pain of my headache? No, says Shevel. “There is no evidence to indicate this, but the baby can be affected by a medication the mother is using and that is why we are saying only Panado or Paracetamol is safe.” Is there an ingredient in the pill that aggravates or makes headaches worse? The short answer is yes. “The pill contains a variety of different hormones, and changes in those hormone levels can affect the headaches. It is interesting to note however, that although they can make the headaches worse, they may also sometimes make them better – it’s impossible to predict.” What role does breastfeeding play? According to Shevel breastfeeding can also play a role. “If women breastfeed after birth the headaches usually stays away until the baby is weaned. “

February 14, 2018

The benefits of eating well during pregnancy

When you discover you are pregnant for the first time – your whole world shifts. Up to this point decisions you made with regards to your eating only had a direct effect on your body. Suddenly what you eat affects your unborn baby in more ways than we even realized. Benefit 1: A good balanced nutritious diet will have all the necessary nutrients to allow for optimal growth of your little one! Keep it simple but healthy. You need to eat foods from all the food groups. Avoid fad dieting while pregnant as you will miss out on some essential nutrients. You need a range of fresh fruit and vegetables as this gives you the vitamins and minerals you and your baby need. Lutein is an anti oxidant found in green leafy vegetables and is very good for your babies immune system and brain development. Carotene is found in orange veggies and is very healthy for your babies eye and skin health. A healthy skin may be protective for your baby against allergies later on in life. Aim to eat at least five servings a day. Protein foods like meats, eggs, milk, nuts etc are very important for muscle development and for keeping your placenta well nourished with a healthy blood flow. Some pre term deliveries may result from a placenta that has ‘dried’ up too soon. So aim to eat at least 4 portions (palm size) daily. If you are struggling with nausea in these early days then it may be helpful to get a good supplement that you can take to ensure you meet you protein needs. Starch foods like rice, pasta, wholegrain breads and cereals are very important for energy for you and your baby and also for fibre. Like fruit the fibre in these whole grain products ensure that you stay regular when drunken with adequate water. Have 3 -4 servings of healthy low GI starch daily and at least 1.5L water through out the day. Fats like avocado, linseeds, flaxseeds, olives etc are important to provide the essential fatty acids necessary for you the mom to retain brain cells J and for your little one to create new healthy brain cells. Aim to have 4 fat servings per day (1 tsp/serving or ¼ avocado) Benefit 2: A lot of ongoing research is looking at the moms diet and including high risk allergen foods and initially the thinking was that we should avoid allergens during pregnancy however this has not shown to be beneficial and may even be more harmful. The recommendations now are to include all allergen foods as long as you are not allergic to one of them. So avoid all foods except those you are allergic to. Benefit 3: Some very interesting and current research is going on at the moment around fussy eating and when foods were introduced to babies and its affect on fussy eating behaviour. We know that babies swallow amniotic fluid and we know that babies can taste tastes in the amniotic fluid. So there is some research looking at the variety of vegetables eaten by a mom and then acceptance of theses vegetables later. So in summary if you want your little one to eat his veggies it may all start in the womb!!!!

February 12, 2018

The Effects of Pregnancy on our Intimate Bits

The miracle of pregnancy is universal and timeless, and even though we are, by divine design, capable of going through this process, it does have a pronounced effect on our bodies and our sexuality. During this event, higher levels of progesterone cause drowsiness while the increased estrogen lifts our mood, making us more radiant than ever. As our bodies gradually grow larger, we may suffer from stormy hormonal changes. Suddenly we have irrepressible cravings and our sense of smell becomes acute; we have whimsical shifts in preferences and aversions, and if exposed to the sun, we may even acquire a pigmented ‘moustache’ and brown patches on our cheeks. During the fourth month of pregnancy, our intimate bits also start changing – it becomes puffy and enlarged, and the colour of the labia deepens considerably. Both the increased blood supply to the vagina and the increased pressure on it create a permanent state of gentle sexual arousal, leaving us moist and more conscious of our lady parts. The thin line that runs between our pubic patch to our navels also becomes more pronounced. The most common long-term problem associated with pregnancy and childbirth include urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. During pregnancy, the weight of the baby, the ‘water’ and the placenta put a twenty-times-heavier-than-normal strain on the pelvic floor, and this often leads to urinary incontinence during the last trimester. Vacuum extraction, forceps delivery, an episiotomy, lying on the back, and applying fundal pressure (pressing on the abdomen to help move the baby out) are all factors that increase pelvic injury risk during vaginal birth. Even by opting for a caesarian section we are not exempted from pelvic injury risk; in fact, this procedure inceases the risk of maternal death by sixteen-fold, and it increases the risk of having to have a hysterectomy by ten times. The pelvic floor consists of a complex, multilayered group of muscles, tissues and nerve endings that creates a hammock between the pubic bone and the base of our spinal cord and supports a number of organs including the bladder, rectum, uterus, urethra, vagina and anus. The pelvic floor seems to be the ‘headmistress’ that has all our lady parts neatly secured in her firm hand. She has the huge task of coordinating, directing and protecting all of our beneath-the-belt bits, and she plays a valuable role in our womanly health. We should be well aware of her strengths and shortcomings. The best and safest way to protect ourselves from pelvic floor impairment is Kegel exercises. The importance of these exercises cannot be overemphasized; they play a vital role in the prevention and treatment of pelvic-floor disorders. Work those muscles daily to keep them strong, elastic and toned.

February 9, 2018

Eating During Pregnancy

When you discover you are pregnant for the first time – your whole world shifts. Up to this point decisions you made with regards to your eating only had a direct effect on your body. Suddenly what you eat affects your unborn baby in more ways than we even realized. Benefit 1: A good balanced nutritious diet will have all the necessary nutrients to allow for optimal growth of your little one! Keep it simple but healthy. You need to eat foods from all the food groups. Avoid fad dieting while pregnant as you will miss out on some essential nutrients. You need a range of fresh fruit and vegetables as this gives you the vitamins and minerals you and your baby need. Lutein is an anti oxidant found in green leafy vegetables and is very good for your babies immune system and brain development. Carotene is found in orange veggies and is very healthy for your babies eye and skin health. A healthy skin may be protective for your baby against allergies later on in life. Aim to eat at least five servings a day. Protein foods like meats, eggs, milk, nuts etc are very important for muscle development and for keeping your placenta well nourished with a healthy blood flow. Some pre term deliveries may result from a placenta that has ‘dried’ up too soon. So aim to eat at least 4 portions (palm size) daily. If you are struggling with nausea in these early days then it may be helpful to get a good supplement that you can take to ensure you meet you protein needs. Starch foods like rice, pasta, wholegrain breads and cereals are very important for energy for you and your baby and also for fibre. Like fruit the fibre in these whole grain products ensure that you stay regular when drunken with adequate water. Have 3 -4 servings of healthy low GI starch daily and at least 1.5L water through out the day. Fats like avocado, linseeds, flaxseeds, olives etc are important to provide the essential fatty acids necessary for you the mom to retain brain cells and for your little one to create new healthy brain cells. Aim to have 4 fat servings per day (1 tsp/serving or ¼ avocado). Benefit 2: A lot of ongoing research is looking at the moms diet and including high risk allergen foods and initially the thinking was that we should avoid allergens during pregnancy however this has not shown to be beneficial and may even be more harmful. The recommendations now are to include all allergen foods as long as you are not allergic to one of them. So avoid all foods except those you are allergic to. Benefit 3: Some very interesting and current research is going on at the moment around fussy eating and when foods were introduced to babies and its affect on fussy eating behaviour. We know that babies swallow amniotic fluid and we know that babies can taste tastes in the amniotic fluid. So there is some research looking at the variety of vegetables eaten by a mom and then acceptance of theses vegetables later. So in summary if you want your little one to eat his veggies it may all start in the womb!!!!

February 8, 2018

8 Awesome Benefits of Pregnancy Massage

Massage is not just about it feeling good, it actually comes with many health benefits that you may not be aware of. Having a massage while you are pregnant can actually help to lessen some of the unpleasant pregnancy symptoms you may be suffering with as well as be a lovely way to unwind and relax. I had a pregnancy massage when I was 6 months pregnant and on my honeymoon. I really struggled with my first pregnancy and it was amazing to have that massage. The strangest thing though is that I felt the most amazing sensation of stress relief when the area in the crook of my elbow was massaged on the one side. When you are pregnant your body goes through some incredible changes and a massage can really help your body and your mind to cope better. If you are pregnant it is really important to highlight that you need to see a massage therapist that is qualified in prenatal massage. 1 Increased Blood Circulation This will bring more oxygen to mother and the baby, stimulating the lymphatic system. This will result in a stronger immune system and help to reduce toxins in the body. Increased blood circulation will also result in your baby getting better nourishment. An added bonus is that increase blood circulation will help prevent varicose veins from forming which is common during pregnancy 2 Massage Helps To Relieve Lower Back Pain Lower back pain is a common pregnancy symptom that can be caused by the hormone relaxin that causes ligaments that support the spine to relax. This can cause instability and pain. Pregnancy massage improves lower back pain through improving the lumbosacral tilt that occurs during pregnancy. 3 Relieves Depression and Anxiety In case you didn’t know, it is actually very common for postnatal depression to start during the third trimester of pregnancy instead of when you expect it to start (after your baby is born). Massage helps to stabilize hormone levels which can relieve anxiety and depression. Massage also releases endorphins that soothe and relax the mother. 4 Improved Sleep Any woman that has been pregnant knows how hard it can be to really relax and sleep well while pregnant. Due to massage relaxing the nervous system and extra feel good hormones moms to be will sleep better. In addition to the mom being more relaxed the other benefits of massage such as back pain relief will also make the mother more comfortable which will help her sleep better. 5 Decreased Swelling Edema, which is the swelling of joints during pregnancy, is caused by decreased circulation while pregnant as well as the increased pressure on major blood vessels. Having a pregnancy massage can greatly reduce edema by improving circulation and reducing the fluid collected in swollen joints. 6 Reduced Muscle Pain and Headaches During pregnancy your body changes and your center of gravity moves. In addition to this there is quite a bit of extra weight placed on muscles and joints. All these changes result in your muscles taking strain and can also result in headaches. Pregnancy massage can help to relieve this pain and to reduce any headaches if you are suffering from them. Pregnancy massage will also help you to keep better posture which will also in turn help to reduce muscle strains and pains. 7 Reduces Common Discomforts During Pregnancy Along with all the above benefits having a pregnancy massage can also help with lessening numerous other common pregnancy symptoms such as sciatica, heart burn, constipation, carpal tunnel syndrome, leg cramps and much more. 8 Prepares Your Body For Labor and Birth Studies has shown that women that have pregnancy massages have less complications during birth as well as fewer postpartum complications. These women reportedly had shorter hospital stays, shorter labors and less incidence of post natal depression.

February 7, 2018

How to Budget for That Unexpected Pregnancy

An unexpected pregnancy can bring upon a slew of emotions. Should you feel excited? Should you feel stressed? Maybe a mix of both? Regardless of how you feel, there’s one thing for certain: It’s going to put a damper on your budget, even if you’re doing okay today. An unexpected pregnancy is possibly one of the most common life-altering events when it comes to your budgeting, and many soon-to-be parents are often shocked at how much a baby can really cost you. While my last pregnancy was expected, my first came as a shock. I figured, at the time, I would have nine months to plan and it would be enough time to straighten out my financial obligations so that I could enjoy motherhood to its fullest. After all, your babies don’t stay small for long, trust me on this one. To help you budget and enjoy your newborn instead of stressing out about your finances, here’s what I did when approaching my finances: Evaluate Your Needs It’s no secret a kid isn’t cheap. In fact, the USDA says it can cost $245,000 to raise a child until they reach the ripe age of 18. During my pregnancy, I needed to focus on what my child would truly need to survive. This included the obvious: diapers, food, health care, a car seat, clothes and hygiene products. Honestly, that’s it. While a baby bouncer or one of those cute baby play mats are great, it really isn’t necessary, especially if you’re on a tight budget. The same can be said about the furniture. Don’t splurge on the fancy $800 diaper changing table made from cherry wood or that $500 designer branded diaper bag. After all, it’s for a baby and things are going to get messy. Don’t forget to throw a baby shower as your loved ones can pitch in and really help you with what you need. Again, while it’s tempting to scan everything at the baby registry, again, only put the things you truly need. If anything, ask for diapers as you will need lots! Even if you plan on having a baby shower, you still won’t get everything, so create a list of all the things you need, not want, and write down how much each item will cost if you were to be as frugal as possible. For example, a gently used stroller can often be found at a local consignment shop for less than $50. The same can be said about baby clothes. Remember, your baby will outgrow their outfits fast, so don’t be surprised if they only wear it once or twice. Look at Your Healthcare Options The minute you know you’re pregnant, the first thing you will probably, and should do, is visit the OB/GYN. While it’s hard to budget for immediate healthcare since you will need it today, it’s so important to take care of your health and visit your doctor as soon as possible to get things rolling. Even if you don’t have health insurance or feel your policy isn’t adequate enough, a good doctor’s office will be able to explain what you’re going to owe, help you setup a payment plan and/or even get you in contact with the state to see if you qualify for aid. Even if you have the best insurance policy possible, it’s important to research it to know what’s going to be covered as many policies have restrictions on who you can visit and how many appointments you can have. Taking Your Income and Expenses into Consideration With my first pregnancy, I was still finishing my bachelor’s degree, and at the time, I had to rely on my husband’s income, which is kind of scary now that I think of it. While I was making some income working part-time freelance writing, it wouldn’t have been enough to pay the bills to survive. Plus, I had to keep in mind that even if I had a great paying job, I would have had to take off a few weeks after the baby to recover. For some, it could be even more time off if you were bed ridden during the pregnancy or had complications during the birth, so this is something to take into consideration. With all that being said, now is the time to start tracking your income and determine how much you can save when your baby is born. Plus, using the list you made, as stated in my first point, you can determine how much you’re going to need for all the necessary supplies. Even if you’re able to save $100 per month for the next nine months, this is an extra $900 that can go quite far in terms of diapers and formula. Remember, your child is going to be your number one priority now, so it’s best to avoid eating out, drinking those fancy $10 drinks at the bar and taking those weekend getaways that cost $500. Every dollar you can save can help save a lot of stress in the future, trust me. Aside from saving a fixed amount of money, it’s also important to plan what your expenses and income are going to look like when the baby arrives. When the baby arrives, you’re going to want to figure out when you’re going to go back to work, and if you do, who’s going to take care of the baby? Factor in the diapers, formula, daycare if needed and necessary starter accessories for survival. Remember, a good daycare can easily cost $200 per week, if not more, in a higher cost of living area. Lastly, Don’t Panic! An unexpected pregnancy won’t be the end of the world. When I really look back at it, there’s never a good time for a pregnancy as there always seems to be an excuse. If you plan it right and you know where your money is going, your stress levels can lower quite a bit. Plus, if your baby has the necessary essentials, a

February 6, 2018

Childbirth education for an empowered birth

‘Empowering Birth’ is the theme of Pregnancy Education Month in February 2018, when childbirth educators, Bio-Oil and hospitals nationwide will be highlighting how education empowers expectant parents and helps create a better birth experience. For more details visit www.pregnancyeducation.co.za. Birth is the most natural process on earth and yet studies have shown that one in every four women describes her birth as traumatic, one in every five to 10 meets the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder and one in three or four has postpartum mood disorder. Studies have also found that women who fear childbirth experience longer labour and were more likely to need an emergency caesarean than those who did not. ‘There is a link between a lack of knowledge, fear and the experience of childbirth,’ says Lynne Bluff, national co-ordinator for the Childbirth Educators Professional Forum (CBEPF), which is partnering with Bio-Oil and hospitals nationally for Pregnancy Education Month 2018. With the theme ‘Empowering Birth’, the campaign highlights how pregnancy education empowers expectant parents and helps create a better birth experience. ‘It is so important that parents are comprehensively informed about birthing options safest for the mother and infant in the event of a low-risk, normal pregnancy,’ says Professor Suzanne Delport, neonatologist. Good childbirth classes, says Bluff, will equip parents with knowledge about all available childbirth options and the pros and cons of each, practical tips and techniques for the birth and after it, and the confidence that comes from knowing what to expect and how to cope. Ideally childbirth educators are nurses and midwives, as well as being parents themselves, who can prepare expectant parents for every aspect of childbirth and instil faith in their own ability and strength to give birth. ‘We believe that when parents are informed, any type of birth, from homebirth to caesarean, can be an empowering one. It shifts from a potentially overwhelming experience to one that is fulfilling, positive and, ultimately, beneficial to mother and child,’ says Anna Guerin of Bio-Oil. ‘There is simply no substitute for evidence-based information provided by qualified and experienced professionals. With quality childbirth education, parents are empowered and properly prepared in a warm and supportive way,’ says Bluff, who is also a registered nurse and midwife. “Although childbirth is one of life’s most significant milestones many parents are simply ignorant of the facts vital to decision making,” says Bluff. For example, many parents are not aware that when a baby passes through the birth canal, he or she picks up a multitude of micro-organisms that will benefit their health and guard against chronic illness for the rest of their life; or that there are a number of caesarean options available, some more friendly to mother and baby than others. And most of us know little of the interplay of birthing hormones that click in, one step at a time, to pave the way for birth, help manage pain and stress and give us the feeling of joy when seeing baby for the first time. To find out more about childbirth education, Pregnancy Education Month activities or to find a childbirth educator in your area, visit www.pregnancyeducation.co.za. #PregnancyEducationMonth #EmpoweringBirth

February 2, 2018

Surviving a Heterotypic Miscarriage

I had a heterotypic miscarriage and it was painful. Heterotypic pregnancy is when one is carrying twins, the one foetus grows in the uterus and another in the tube. It is rare in natural conception to have a heterotypic pregnancy, research estimates that 1 in 30,000 pregnancies are heterotypic pregnancies. I lost my first child on Christmas day. I had just finished preparing Christmas lunch and was taking a bath when I started vomiting, felt what the doctor later called ‘acute abdominal pain’. My 10year old son had to help me out of the bath, assist me while I was getting dressed (my mother, my husband and my nieces had gone to get some last-minute necessities for the lunch). My son called his dad who came rushing and took me to the hospital. At the ER, the doctor attending did a pregnancy test and the results were positive, she then told me that I was showing signs of an ectopic pregnancy. She wrote her diagnosis on my medical file and I was wheeled to the ward. When the gynaecologist arrived, he did a sonar and reconfirmed that I was indeed pregnant but that the pregnancy was in the womb and not an ectopic pregnancy. He then ordered the nurse to run some tests and in the morning told me that my oestrogen levels were higher than normal which meant that I was pregnant, however my oestrogen levels were lower than the previous day which meant that I was having a miscarriage. He further explained that I would undergo a ‘minor procedure’ i.e. evacuation of the womb. December 26, 2016, I went for evacuation of the womb. I did not feel better, I was still bloated, I still could not do much, I was in pain. 10 January 2017: I was back in the hospital and the diagnosis, ruptured ectopic. At 3 am that morning I felt so much pain, it felt like period pains, at the same time I was freezing cold and sweating at the same time. I woke my husband up and asked him to call someone to take us to the hospital (he panics so I’d not have made to the hospital). I told him that I was feeling faint and the next thing I remember is being carried out of the house to the car; by this time, I was vomiting and without energy. I woke up in the ER briefly and the next thing I remember is waking up in ICU, surrounded by doctors and nurses who looked very concerned. Now when nurses get concerned and curious, then I know something is not good. “My dear can you hear me?” one of the nurses asked, I nodded. As she put lip balm on my lips she said “You look much better than you did last night…” she then told me that my doctor was on his way and he will discuss a few things with me. My doctor arrived he looked at my medical file and when the nurse asked what the diagnosis was, he simply showed her the file. When my husband asked him what the diagnosis was, he said; “Don’t worry about that now, let’s take care of your wife’s health.” I went to the theatre for a laparoscopy. In the surgery, three fairly small incisions were made, two in my tummy and one in the navel; and because my tubes were ruptured, the fallopian tube containing the pregnancy was surgically removed. Upon my return to the ward, my doctor seemed to be concerned about something, he asked the nurse how much was ordered and the nurse replied “two”. “No no! We need five at least and we need it within the next hour” my doctor said. Moments later blood was delivered, the nurse explained to me that I had lost blood. “It happens with ruptured ectopic pregnancies, so now your heart is pumping faster, trying to compensate for the blood loss and is beating at twice the normal rate. You need at least five blood ”. The nurse had been coming to my bedside at least three times a day just to see how I am and explain to me what the next steps would be. Some struggles after the surgery: I went through physio therapy, to learn to walk and move I was constipated for about two weeks I was on schedule 5 pain medication for weeks I had no appetite I could not play my children or sleep because the pain was unbearable A week after I was discharged from the hospital, I went for a check-up and the doctor told me that I had had a Heterotypic pregnancy. He apologised for not seeing the issue when I’d come in on Christmas day. It only hit me as I set at home counting that in September 2017 I could have been a mother to twins, that I had to be at death’s door to get a proper diagnosis. My doctor apologised and told me that he did not know which of my tubes were removed, to this day I do not know. Perhaps mommies will learn to ask their doctors to not only check the womb but the tubes as well, to avoid or diagnose what may be missed. To my unborn children, I’d have loved you, as I do now

February 1, 2018

Will you bank them, or bin them? Wise up on stem cells before it’s too late.

Becoming a parent is fraught with responsibilities. Prospective parents should know the facts about the life-saving abilities of umbilical cord stem cells so that they can make informed decisions for their families. Stem cells should be called master cells as they can replicate, regenerate and differentiate themselves into any one of 200 different specialised cells in the body, and are used to treat over 80 potentially life-threatening blood related diseases including leukaemia, lymphoma and bone marrow failures. Blood stem cell transplantation, using stem blood cells from sources such as bone marrow, has been performed for more than 50 years, with more than one million blood stem cell transplants across the world playing an important role in the treatment of bone marrow failures, blood cancers, blood disorders, metabolic diseases, immune deficiencies and autoimmune diseases. Cryo-Save South Africa has listed the top 10 most noteworthy facts about stem cells that you need to know: Stem cells are your body’s internal repair system Stem cells continuously replace dead or diseases cells with healthy ones to maintain a normal functioning body. They fall into two major groups; pluripotent and multipotent stem cells. Pluripotent stem cells are powerful, meaning they can develop into any type of cell in your body. However, these cells are still fraught with ethical controversy. Multipotent stem cells, also called adult stem cells, can develop certain tissue cells to maintain your body’s organs as you age, such as blood-forming stem cells. Blood-forming stem cells produce new and healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to all parts of our body; white blood cells to fight bacteria; and platelets which form clots to pervert excessive bleeding. Best time to collect stem cells is at birth Stem cells age as we age, so the best time to collect blood stem cells is at birth. These cells have not been exposed to pollution and poor lifestyle choices and can therefore offer greater therapeutic possibilities and better transplant outcomes. Stem cells from umbilical cord blood don’t need to be a 100% match for transplants Although your baby’s umbilical cord blood stem cells are a 100% perfect match for own use, there is a 25% probability for a 100% match for siblings. However, unlike bone marrow transplants, you often don’t need a 100% match using cord blood stem cells, which means the probability of finding a suitable donor is so much greater. Stem cell storage is not that costly Stem cell storage is available to anyone who wishes to store their baby’s umbilical cord stem cells. Cryo-Save offers multiple cost options and interest-free payment plans from as little as R273.00 per month to store cord blood and R350.00 per month for storing both cord blood and tissue. Mixed ethnicity parents should store stem cells The chances of finding a perfect matching blood stem cell donor for an allogeneic (matching donor) transplant are only 1:1,00,000, but the odds are much lower for anyone from a mixed-race family Despite its diverse ethnic make-up, Africa has no public cord blood stem cell bank, which makes the likelihood of finding a matching donor even more challenging. Therefore, Cryo-Save encourages mixed race families to store their babies’ stem cells. Banking stem cells is not just for families with a history of cancer Many people don’t realise that stem cells now play a part in the treatment of over 80 blood diseases and conditions. Every day we are seeing more diseases developing, and more clinical trials are taking place to identify treatments of many of these diseases. Some of the most promising research is being done to use children’s’ own umbilical cord blood stem cells in the treatment of cerebral palsy and autism. Additionally, statistics show that more than 90% of cancers develop due to lifestyle factors, not genetics, and that the incidence of cancer is increasing. Stem cell collection is a safe medical procedure Collecting stem cells from an umbilical cord is quick, painless and non-invasive, posing no medical risk to mother or baby. It is only after the clamping that the blood and tissue are collected from the umbilical cord for stem cell processing. Stem cell banking is possible with any type of birth Cord blood and cord tissue collections can be performed at both vaginal and caesarean deliveries. Immediately following the birth but before the placenta is delivered, the healthcare provider collects the cord blood from the baby’s umbilical cord. You can store your second child’s stem cells if you didn’t store for your first child Today, umbilical cord stem cells are used in more than a third of blood stem cell transplants around the world. Siblings have a 25% chance of being a perfect match. But because cord blood stem cells do not require a perfect match for transplant, the likelihood that siblings will be a match is much higher. Therefore, storing your second child’s stem cells has the possibility, depending on the degree of matching, to treat your first child should a stem cell transplant be required and may also be used for other immediate family members. Stem cell storage is available in South Africa Cryo-Save has been storing umbilical cord stem cells for families all over the world since 2000. It is the leading family stem cell bank in Europe and ranked fifth most influential cord blood bank in the world by Bio Informant. Cryo-Save South Africa offers both local and international storage options in either Pretoria or Europe for both cord blood and cord tissue. This local laboratory complies with the highest international standards and importantly complies to the coveted American Association of Blood Banks accreditation standards. Just as some people need organ transplants to treat or cure diseases, blood stem cells can be transplanted too. If the blood forming stem cells in our bodies cannot produce healthy cells or stop producing cells completely, we cannot function normally and our stem cells will have to be REPLACED with healthy ones that can be found in the bone marrow or umbilical cord blood. Sometimes these stem

December 18, 2017

Cost free stem cell storage programme gives hope to South African families affected by life-threatening blood disorders

Storing umbilical cord blood stem cells at birth could prove to be a live-saving investment for the child, or a sibling, diagnosed with a life-threatening blood disorder, treatable by a stem cell transplant. However, not everyone chooses to bank their baby’s cord blood stem cells. Cryo-Save South Africa, a private cord blood stem cell bank located in Pretoria, has recognised the plighn t of families who have a child with a blood disorder that can be treated with a stem cell transplant. It provides hope to families affected by leukaemia, other forms of blood cancers, and blood disorders such as sickle cell disease, through its Cost-Free Donation Programme. Three years ago, South Africans Charlene and Ralph Subbarayan’s first-born son, then aged five, was diagnosed with leukaemia. He was frequently hospitalised and only recently completed his treatment. During this time, although unplanned and a wonderful surprise, Charlene fell pregnant with their second child. Both parents became extremely concerned as to whether their unborn child may also develop cancer in future. “My husband and I began frantically researching cancer and it was on a visit to my gynaecologist that I picked up a Cryo-Save pamphlet right there in the waiting room. After reading, I immediately called the Cryo-Save’s Information Hub, who were more than willing to help us out – and for free!” explains Charlene. To give hope to families in need, the Cryo-Save Cost-Free Donation Program is specifically designed to offer families affected by diseases that can be treated with blood stem cells, the opportunity to store the cord blood stem cells of their expected new-born child to potentially treat a sibling who has been diagnosed with a blood disorder To qualify for the Cost-Free Donation Programme, a sibling of the unborn child must have been diagnosed with a disease that is currently treatable with umbilical cord blood stem cells (an FDA approved indication for transplantation) and must be being treated by a medical specialist (oncologist/haematologist), who agrees that the stem cells could be used for treatment. If eligible, Cryo-Save will enrol the family into the Cost-Free Donation Program, provide the cord blood collection kit, and process and store (cryo-preserve) the new-born’s cord blood sample without any cost to the family. “Storing my second child’s stem cells with Cryo-Save was such a phenomenal experience! I’m glad I did it. Stem cells are used to treat and cure several diseases and not just cancer. I would advise any parent who would like to store their child’s stem cells to definitely go for it, it is a must. Use our family as an example. My child, who was diagnosed with leukaemia three years ago, will be turning nine on the 14th of December. I am so grateful to have beautiful healthy children, I love my boys and I wouldn’t give up my stem cell storage experience for anything,” concludes Mrs Subbarayan. Blood-forming stem cells are able to be collected not only from umbilical cord blood but also directly from bone marrow and from circulating blood. These stem cells have been used to treat more than 80 types of diseases ranging from blood cancers, metabolic diseases, bone marrow failure syndromes, to other blood and immune deficiency disorders. Stem cells found in the blood of a baby’s umbilical cord and placenta are usually discarded at the time of birth, as both the cord and placenta are discarded as medical waste. Prospective mothers and fathers should consider the potentially life-saving investment they could make and the benefits of storing cord blood and cord tissue stem cells well in advance of giving birth. Nothing in life is certain, but if we knew we could do something to help our children, why wouldn’t we? It is for this reason that Cryo-Save enables access to umbilical cord blood stem cell storage. Visit www.cryosave.co.za for more information on stem cell collection and storage.

October 12, 2017

Stem Cell Myths – Busted

The term stem cell gleans different reactions from people both in the medical community and the wider public. Still an emerging science, but with immense possibilities, stem cell research is shrouded in many myths and misconceptions. Cryo-Save has taken on the top myths and clarifies facts regarding this fast-growing medical treatment. Myth 1 – Stem cell storage is costly Stem cell storage is available to anyone who would like to store their baby’s umbilical cord stem cells. Cryo-Save has multiple cost options and interest-free payment plans to store cord blood and tissue. Myth 2 – All stem cells are the same When you hear “stem cells”, you may not know exactly what these are or conjure up images of a certain cloned sheep. In reality, stem cells are the body’s internal repair system. It continuously replaces dead or diseased cells with new, healthy cells to ensure normal function of the body. We differentiate between embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are powerful because they are pluripotent and can develop into any type of cell in your body. But they’re often controversial because of their origin and is not part of the stem cell storage services offered by Cryo-Save. Multi-potent or adult stem cells are found throughout the body and they form only certain tissue cells, maintaining your body’s organs as you age, e.g. blood forming stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells. BLOOD FORMING STEM CELLS produce new and healthy red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets continuously, to ensure normal function of the blood and immune system, (like a factory producing new cars every day). RED BLOOD CELLS are responsible to carry oxygen to all parts of the body. WHITE BLOOD CELLS are the soldiers in our blood and fight off all foreign invaders like bacteria etc. PLATELETS form clots to prevent excessive bleeding. Researchers have successfully used umbilical cord stem cells (taken from a new-born’s cord blood), to treat leukaemia and other blood disorders since 1998. Stem cells from a baby’s umbilical cord are considered adult stem cells and these precious cells, if not cryopreserved, are discarded as medical waste in many instances. Therefore, these cells are free of controversy and acceptable to most cultures and religions. Myth 3 – Umbilical cord stem cells can only be used for your baby Your baby’s umbilical cord stem cells are a 100% perfect match for your baby and biological parents’ stem cells will be at least a half match. There is a 25% probability of matching siblings, and unlike bone marrow transplants you don’t have to have a perfect match in transplants when making use of cord blood stem cells. Myth 4 – I didn’t store my first child’s stem cells so there is no point in storing for the second child Just as some people need organ transplants to treat or cure diseases, blood stem cells can be transplanted too. If the blood forming stem cells in our bodies cannot produce healthy cells or stop producing cells completely, we cannot function normally and our stem cells will have to be REPLACED with healthy ones that can be found in the bone marrow or umbilical cord blood. Sometimes these stem cells are your own, and sometimes they will come from a donor. Cord blood contains powerful stem cells, and fact is that if your baby becomes ill in the future you may be able to use these cells as treatment. One of the contributing factors is that partially matched cord blood stem cells can be used for transplantation, increasing the chances of finding a suitable match. Today, umbilical cord blood stem cells are used in more than a third of all blood stem cell transplants in the world. Therefore, storing your second child’s stem cells has the possibility, depending on the degree of matching, to treat your first child should a stem cell transplant be required but also other members of the family. Myth 5 – Stem cell storage is only available overseas Cryo-Save has been storing umbilical cord stem cells for families all over the world since 2000. It is the leading family stem cell bank in Europe and Africa, Cryo-Save has stored more than 310 000 samples. Cryo-Save South Africa offers both local and international storage options in either Pretoria or Europe for both cord blood and cord tissue. This local facility complies with the highest international standards and importantly complies to the coveted AABB accreditation standards. AABB, formerly known as the American Association of Blood Banks, is an international non-profit association, representing individuals and institutions involved in the field of transfusion medicine and cellular therapies. Accreditation by the association follows an intensive on-site assessment by specially trained assessors who established that the level of technical and administrative performance within the facility meets or exceeds the standards set by the Association. AABB’s Accreditation programme (recognised by the International Society for Quality in Healthcare – ISQUA) contributes to quality and safety of collection, processing, testing, distributing and administration of stem cells. Myth 6 – Mixed race parents can’t store stem cells On average, the chances of finding a perfectly matching blood stem cell donor for allogeneic transplant, are only 1 in 100 000. These odds are significantly worse for people from a mixed descent. However, despite its diverse ethnic make-up, South Africa (nor the rest of the continent) has no public cord blood stem cell bank, which makes the likelihood of finding a matching donor even more challenging. Should a child from mixed descent be diagnosed with a blood-related cancer or disorder, the search for a possible stem cell match can be debilitating to a family’s finances and hope for recovery. Therefore, Cryo-Save encourages mixed race families to store their babies’ stem cells. Myth 7 – Stem cell banking is only for families with a history of cancer The myth is deceptive and dangerous. The uses of cord blood stem cells have extended far beyond treatments for cancer. Researchers have invigorated the field of regenerative

September 4, 2017

Smoking causes permanent harm to babies, both before and after they are born

Mothers who smoke during or after pregnancy not only affect their own health, but they can also cause permanent harm to their babies. As we observe Anti-Tobacco Campaign Month, it is our collective responsibility to educate and support mothers to both limit the harm that their smoking may cause to their children and to stop smoking altogether. “There is no doubt that smoking during pregnancy can harm your unborn child. Tobacco use during pregnancy has been conclusively linked to increased chance of miscarriage, premature birth and low birth weight,” says Dr Mhleli Masango, Medical Director of the South African Breastmilk Reserve (SABR). “It also increases the chance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and birth defects like cleft palates,” she continued. * Many mothers stop smoking during pregnancy but then resume once their baby is born. However, dozens of scientific studies have shown that exposure to even small amounts of cigarette smoke or nicotine in your breastmilk can significantly harm your baby. ** “Children of smokers are far more prone to pneumonia, asthma, ear infections, bronchitis, sinus infections, eye irritation, and croup. They are also more likely to suffer from colic, and visit their doctors three times more than children of non-smokers,” explains Masango. “Perhaps worst of all, children whose parents smoke are more likely to become smokers themselves,” she said. ** The only guaranteed way to prevent this harm is to stop smoking, but mothers who are unable to quit can limit the harm by smoking outside, away from their babies, and by ensuring that no one else smokes near their babies. They can also smoke immediately after breastfeeding to cut down on the amount of nicotine in their milk. It takes 95 minutes for half of the nicotine to be eliminated from your body, so mothers should wait as long as possible between smoking and nursing. “Mothers who struggle to quit smoking should not stop breastfeeding. The benefits of breastfeeding outweigh any harm caused by smoking,” says Masango. “Breastfeeding actually counteracts some of the effects of smoking but the best solution is still to quit completely.” ** Unfortunately, even with these preventative measures, smoking makes it harder to breastfeed. Smoking has been conclusively linked to earlier weaning, with the heaviest smokers tending to wean the earliest. It also lowers milk production and interferes with the flow of milk while nursing. South African law recognises the dangers of smoking and is making it increasingly difficult to smoke near other people. For example, it is now illegal to smoke in any car, including your own, if one of the passengers is under 12 years old. It’s also illegal to smoke on the premises (including outside of buildings) of any properties used for commercial childcare activities, schooling or tutoring. *** Smoking is no longer allowed outside of designated areas in any public buildings, including all restaurants, bars and other businesses. This even includes smoking in partially enclosed areas like balconies and parking areas. The fines for both smokers and property owners are steep. “While it’s not currently illegal to smoke while pregnant, we should expect the laws to continue to tighten,” says Masango. “Smoking is increasingly seen as both anti-social and unacceptable. We recognise that quitting can be difficult, but during Anti-Tobacco Campaign Month we urge all parents to make a concerted effort to become smoke free.” For more information about breastfeeding, pregnancy and childhood health please visit www.sabr.org.za or call 011 482 1920 or e-mail: [email protected].

July 18, 2017

Gestational Diabetes: What to Eat?

Gestational Diabetes is a hormone imbalance where the Pancreas starts making not enough insulin for both Mom and baby. It usually dissipates once the infant is born. Maintaining health in the meantime really does depend on Mom’s diet. Being a diabetic myself I want to share with you the strategies I use. This blog is to help you as soon as you get home. It will help you until you can get further medical help. Carbohydrates are the number one issue for diabetics. This is because the pancreas is responsible for keeping the sugar in the bloodstream even. Every carbohydrate becomes sugar in the blood. The key here is to avoid simple carbohydrates. The darker the carb the better. Because simple carbs digest very quickly in the body. For instance, sweet potatoes are better than any other kind of potato, pumpernickel bread is better than white or even wheat. Sprouted bread is great, make sure you get a name brand like Ezekiel or something from a Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s to be sure it is not full of pesticides. Grains Some grains are better than others for slower digestion of the sugars in the food. The key to remember is the closer a grain is when it comes out of the ground when you eat it the better. Therefore, eating steel cut oats is better than packaged oats. Here is an article from the Huff Post of 17 yummy looking recipes. Brown rice is better than white rice. I use the following recipe for brown rice. 1 cup of brown rice 3 cups of water 1 carrot washed not peeled 1/2 onion 1 stalk of celery 1 tsp Salt 1 tsp Pepper Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Put all ingredients in a cassorle dish and cover. Bake on a cookie sheet for 45-55 minutes or until all the water has evaporated. Remove veggies before eating. Or you can cut the vegies into bite sized pieces before cooking makes a great side dish. Sugar is the one thing most folks have issues with replacing. Sugar substitutes can be horrible. Both on the pallet and in the body. Natural ones are better. The two I interchange are stevia and monk fruit. I have developed a taste for both. Some people do prefer monk fruit as it seems to taste less bitter. For stevia I love Sweet Leaf brand. They have so many products available it boggles the mind. They have everything from loose powder, packet, tablets, and liquid water enhancers, to flavored sweeteners for your variety of needs. I love to add the vanilla drops when I make smoothies, or a squirt of chocolate and caramel in my coffee for a treat. Monk fruit mostly comes in powder form I have tried Monk Fruit in the Raw. But, another brand some friends use seems just as good it is called Lakanto Milk I have learned most Diabetics have a hard time with cow’s milk. The lactose carries a lot of sugar. However, if you are going to drink cow’s milk stick with whole milk. In the skim milks they add sugar to replace the fat so it tastes better. You can try drinking other kinds of milk. Almond, coconut, goat, and cashew are the most popular. I drink Califia Farms an almond milk. I have tried most brands this has the feel of cow’s milk in the mouth, which is why I like it. Califia also carries creamers, cold brew coffees and other items. Many of which you will have to order online. I have tried coconut milk, and have used it from time to time. However, like the oil you have to like the strong taste of coconut. Goat’s milk is another which I like but get it in a carton not canned because it picks up the tinny flavor. Consider goat milk is drunk by most of the world. Also, rice milk is an alternative. I have not tried it so I have no hints on it. Protein is a great friend of the diabetic. Because proteins cause carbohydrates to be more steadily absorbed by the body. I suggest if you eat a carb eat protein too. Fish, meat, nut butters, cheese, and eggs are all considered proteins. Then there are beans and legumes which are considered both a carb and a protein. Quinoa is the only grain which is also a whole protein. It is a good alternative to eating rice and oats. I use the same recipe for Quinoa as brown rice (above). Another great thing about protein is that the number of proteins in a product lessens the carb count. If the proteins on a product is at 5 grams (g) or above you can subtract one carb per each gran of protein over 5. So if a product has 15 g of protein and 25 total carbs you can say the food has 10 g of carbs.A serving of protein is about the size of your palm. Fruits and Vegetables generally it is best to stay away from high glycemic fruits such as bananas, and dried fruits. Juice of all kinds are also not recommended. Because if the number of fruits it takes to make one glass of juice. One orange may have 15 carbs, the five oranges in a glass of juice has 45. When eating fruits reach for preferably fresh or frozen berries, oranges, apples, cherries, grapes. kiwi, plums, peaches, nectarines the list is extensive You also want to watch for waxy and starchy vegetables. These include things like beets, peas, corn, and white potatoes. Instead, you want to reach for fresh or frozen peppers, broccoli leafy green vegges, okra, parsnips, radishes, cucumbers, onions, rutabaga, the list goes on and on. Important Rule for eating carbs-There is one basic rule for women eating carbs 15 g of carbs per snack, 30 per meal between 90 and 120 per day. Keep in mind this includes grains and fruits. One piece of fruit is generally

July 4, 2017

HypnoBirthing – Taking the birthing world by calm

The world for the pregnant woman is one filled with excitement, anticipation, anxiety and, in many instances, a very real fear or trepidation, particularly for first timers. HypnoBirthing® is designed to alleviate the factors which cause fear, allowing you to birth your baby using your body’s natural, perfectly designed, and ultra-efficient muscles and pain relief to manage the process calmly and with minimal discomfort. Understanding how pain occurs At the onset of labour, all the senses mentioned above become heightened, and all too often, the fear responses take hold, and begin to govern the progress of the labour. In physiological terms, the body’s response to fear is to release adrenaline, causing muscles to tighten (the flight, fight or freeze response), and blood to divert to the major survival organs (of which the uterus is not one). Thus, the very muscles designed perfectly to birth your baby begin to work against each other and cause pain. The pain causes the body to release more adrenaline, and a cycle of pain-adrenaline-pain is triggered. Added to this, the lack of oxygen in the uterine muscles creates lactic acid, increasing the level of pain even further. The way your body is supposed to work In contrast, when a woman is excited and relaxed about meeting her baby, and she understands and trusts that her body is perfectly designed for the task, she releases endorphins, the body’s natural relaxant, at the onset of labour, which supplement the hormones specifically released to allow her to birth her baby easily. This powerful natural combination of endorphins (which help the muscles relax and are also 200 times more potent than morphine!) and hormones makes the birth an exhilarating and exciting process, rather than one filled with escalating pain and discomfort. How HypnoBirthing® works for you By using a range of simple self-hypnosis, breathing and relaxation techniques, from around 28 weeks of pregnancy, HypnoBirthing® mums are, with regular practice, able to reach a deep state of relaxation, allowing them to switch off the part of the mind which is responsible for triggering the adrenaline release. You’re in full control – the techniques produce an effect no different to the mild state of hypnosis experienced when you become engrossed in a good book, watch TV, daydream, or drive (ever got somewhere and not remembered parts of the journey?). The relaxation makes pregnancy easier and more enjoyable, and HypnoBirthed babies are on average significantly calmer and more relaxed infants. HypnoBirthing® statistics speak for themselves 95% of women are capable of having a ‘comfortable’ birth without medical intervention; 70% of women that have used HypnoBirthing® used no pain relief at all; a further 15% used only something mild such as Entonox (gas and air). HypnoBirthing® was founded by Marie Mongan in the late 1980s in the US and is now taught in 34 countries worldwide. Only practitioners affiliated with the HypnoBirthing® Institute (still run by Marie Mongan) are qualified to teach the course, of which there are now many generic versions.

June 30, 2017

Having a baby? Have you considered birth photography?

That moment when you hear the baby crying for the first time always brings a lump to my throat. Watching the slideshow of a baby’s birth day is an emotional experience no matter how often you see it. And being there to photograph it for the family is one of the most rewarding things I have been doing for the last two and a half years. Birth photography is a new concept in South Africa. And yes, it does mean that a photographer is there and taking photographs at the birth of your baby. There is no posing or direction. It’s not intrusive and interfering. It’s respectful and honest. It’s about the relationships and events as they unfold. Many couples even forget that we are there. But they will never forget the birth of their baby because we’ve been there. Birth photography is about storytelling. The story of a birth told through images from the hour/s before the birth when anxiety levels are high and stress paints the faces of the parents, through the nerves of the birth itself, the relief and excitement following the birth and the sheer love and calm of bonding and getting to know the newest member of the family. Whether it’s a natural or C-Section delivery each birth story is unique and special in it’s own way and a professional birth photographer’s goal is to document YOUR exclusive story in a way that enhances your memories of your baby’s birth. Here are our top 8 reasons for commissioning a birth photographer… There is a lot happening during labour and birth and most labouring Moms are inwardly focused during this time. She has a big job to do. The photographs from the birth help the birthing Mom to see the details, the support offered as well as even her own strength and courage. She will most likely not be aware of her surroundings at the time. Many clients say they treasure seeing how their partner’s emotions change through the birth process and realizing how involved they really were and equally how strong and powerful they themselves were. Births typically take place in an environment with low light. There may only be a few candles to light the room and flash photography may not be allowed or may be too distracting. Your professional birth photographer will have the equipment and experience to take beautiful photos in this tricky lighting situation. It’s no piece of cake being able to take photos in the near dark and it doesn’t make sense for the birth partner to be struggling with this or finding afterwards that the photos didn’t come out well. Speaking of birth partners, when having a baby, you choose a birth partner to be present with you and FOR you. Having a professional birth photographer there allows your partner to do just that, and not be distracted by taking photos. It’s especially wonderful for their involvement to be recorded. Another area where experience really counts is that your birth photographer will have a good idea of how events during a birth are likely to unfold. This means that they are more ready to get those ‘once in a lifetime’ shots that are so special and important to you. A professional birth photographer is also aware of the medical environment that the birth is taking place in and will be able to ensure that they are not in the way of the medical professionals involved and pose not threat to the health and safety of the new baby. Let’s be honest. Birth is visceral. A birth photographer works hard to make sure that your photos are a tasteful reflection of the birth with as much modesty as you require. A difficult birth can be very traumatic. Seeing what happened from a different and perhaps more objective viewpoint has been very helpful in assisting with healing and acceptance after a traumatic birth experiences. After giving birth your primary focus is your little one. There is a lot going on and life as you knew it has changed and become fuller in every way… including your time. It’s definitely more limited. It’s a huge benefit having someone else take care of putting together yourbeautiful birth story for you so that you don’t land up with photos on different devices, which are probably not backed up and will most likely never be compiled into one succinct and easy to access memory for you to revisit again and again. With a box of tissues most likely. But don’t take our word for it. Our clients say it best. “How do I put into words how perfectly Bronwyn encapsulated the birth of our son into a moving birth (photo) story? Our proudest moment yet, so beautifully and modestly portrayed, for us to visit again and again (and again). Bronwyn was so discreet in the delivery room, and picked up on every emotion felt. Besides every one of our brand new baby, my favourite pictures are those where she captured my husband’s emotions. A relaxed composure at first, then he looked a bit stressed (with wild hair) as the delivery got more intense, and then the utter relief once Harvard was born. I am so grateful that she was there to freeze that perfect moment in time for us. Thank you Bronwyn.” – Jodi Next time I’ll go into a bit more detail about what you can expect from your birth photographer and how you can go about finding the right one. In the meantime you can visit www.gabp.co.za or look for Gauteng Association of Birth Photographers on Facebook for more information.

May 4, 2017

Cravings, Cravings, Cravings

‘Cravings’ are often the cause of overindulging and cheating on everyday healthy eating that contributes to weight gain. But…did you know that your ‘craving’ could be the cause of a deficiency in your diet or your body telling you that it needs a certain nutrient. Continue reading, if you want to know which nutrients you really need to nip those ‘cravings’ in the bud. Craving this…. Means you may be missing this… General overeating The science behind overeating, hunger and cravings is vast and can easily fill a book. We overeat for many reasons — hunger (the rumbling in your stomach) and appetite, of course — but also when we are tired or to celebrate, to be social, to soothe and to relieve boredom. However, a lack of silicon (found in nuts and seeds), tryptophan (found in cottage cheese, raisins, sweet potato and spinach) and tyrosine (present in orange, red, green fruits and vegetables, Vitamin C supplement) could also contribute to overeating. If you ‘crave’ the following foods, it could be your body telling you what you really need. Hormones and cravings As many as 70% of women suffer from PMS-related food cravings, bloating, fatigue, sleep disturbances, mood swings and irritability – any of which have the potential to sabotage a healthy diet. First, you have food cravings, usually for sweet, starchy foods with an underlay of fat, like chocolate ice cream. And then, your bad mood makes you say, ‘To hell with it!’ You lose your willpower to exercise and any control over what you are eating. What do we eat when those cravings hit? Chocolate is no. 1 on the hit parade, followed generally by other sweets. Salty foods, particularly chips, are a distant third. The hormonal ebbs and spikes that occur throughout a woman’s cycle are the major culprits in PMS. Cravings during PMS could further be exacerbated by a deficiency in zinc! Cravings, foods and moods Food also influences our mood and mood influences our food choices or could be the cause of you succumbing to that ‘craving’. If you find that your mood changes after meals and snacks, it may be that you’re lacking the nutrients that can help promote good mental health. Anxiety is often due to a deficiency of folic acid and magnesium. Folic acid can be found in foods such as meat, spinach, beetroot and asparagus. Depression could be made worse if your diet is lacking in vitamin B6 and B3 found in lean meat, oily fish (salmon, trout, tuna), whole grains, some fruits and vegetables as well as avocado. If poor concentration & attention is a problem then you need omega-3 fats and Vitamin B1 found in pork, seafood, whole grains, seeds and most vegetables. Insulin: Fuel for cravings Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body produces insulin but the body’s cells do not use the insulin properly. Insulin helps cells use blood glucose for energy. After you eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner, insulin is released into the bloodstream. Insulin’s job is to give muscles and organs permission to access sugar in the bloodstream. When people are insulin resistant, their muscle, fat and liver cells do not respond properly to insulin. As a result, their bodies need more insulin to help glucose enter cells. The pancreas tries to keep up with this increased demand for insulin by producing more. When there is too much insulin present, it contributes to sugar cravings as well as the “mid-afternoon lows.” Eventually, those sugar cravings lead to weight gain if we give in. Insulin resistance increases the risk of developing pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. A person is classified as being insulin resistant if their middle circumference is >88cm (women) and >102cm (men). So get those measuring tapes out……or alternatively your Dietitian would be able to arrange for the necessary blood tests to be performed to determine if you are insulin resistant. Insulin resistance is a major global health concern that proves to be difficult to combat. Are you a victim? Tips on controlling those nasty cravings Have regular meals as well as snacks and DON’T skip meals. This will help maintain healthy blood sugar levels and prevent cravings. Limit starchy carbohydrates intake to meal times only and choose Low Glycemic Index starches. NO Starchy carbohydrate snacks – rather choose lean protein e.g. biltong, a small portion of nuts or yoghurt Exclude refined sugar like jelly, sweets or biscuits – this will only make the cravings worse! Know your metabolic rate: use it as an indication of the total carbohydrates that you need (and are allowed to eat) in a day –Your dietitian would be able to measure this for you. Have yourself checked out! Our dietitian’s take a complete diet history, assess your diet and establish which nutrients you are lacking in. Anél, Caryn or Sanmare can then advise you on how to make the necessary dietary changes to ensure a nutritionally balanced diet. If you are concerned about the nutritional adequacy of your diet, then make use of a good quality, comprehensive multi-vitamin/mineral supplement. Ask your dietitian for advice. Craving sugar and carbohydrates? Then consider using a chromium supplement. Chromium helps to maintain blood-sugar levels, by assisting insulin to do its job and keep the blood-sugar levels even which reduces sugar cravings. You require 200 mcg Chromium, twice a day, for control of cravings. Some forms of chromium may be toxic – so make sure you use the correct supplement. Discuss this with your dietitian, otherwise come and have a look at the practice where we stock the correct brands of chromium. Brushing your teeth is a tactic to help avoid late night snacking, which is mainly something that’s habitual. Many times when we eat late at night, it’s by force of habit, not because we are really ‘craving’ or hungry. Another tactic is to avoid the kitchen after a certain time at night, say 8pm. Many of us go in the kitchen like mindless zombies looking for stuff to munch on, so this “no kitchen re-entry” rule

May 2, 2017

Things you Should NEVER Say to a Pregnant Woman

This is a very serious post! A pregnant woman has more hormones and generally get less sleep than a new mom. So, if you upset her, you might unleash a dragon. All kidding aside, I still very clearly remember my last pregnancy as it was only a couple of weeks ago, Some of the things people said to me actually blew my mind. I was not small in either of my pregnancies and both my kiddies were over 4.2 kg each. I ended up picking up 25 kg and 27 kg, even though, basically all I did was vomit for 5 months. I am that body type that picks up weight easily, an Endomorph the professionals like to call it. The weight is distributed evenly too, so no skinny legs and little bump. So, what were the worst things people said to me during both pregnancies? “WOW, YOU’RE HUGE!” This one is a goodie. It is like people feel the need to tell you how you feel. Well folks, let me explain something here, even when you are pregnant, you still have feelings and it is never nice to hear that you are huge (even when you are). “DON’T SNEEZE, YOU MIGHT JUST HAVE THE BABY NOW” This is fantastic too. Seriously, if sneezing could get my 4kg + babies out, it would save me a huge amount of time and unnecessary pain. Life would be much simpler. “ARE YOU SURE YOU ARE NOT HAVING TWINS?” ah, the inevitable. Yes, I am sure I am not having twins. I have had multiple scans and there is only one baby in there. But I have also had friends that struggled with the opposite problem and my heart went out to them. They were very small and didn’t show very much in the tummy. Again, people said things without thinking. “ARE YOU SURE YOU ARE PREGNANT?” is one of them. “ARE YOU EATING ENOUGH? And even some people go as far as saying that maybe something is wrong and that is why you don’t have a big tummy. These poor moms, just smiled and put on a brave face. So here come my words of wisdom: Think before you speak! Seriously, think about what you are saying. The moms’ medical decisions are her decisions and if she wanted your opinion, she would ask for it. Remember that pregnant woman have feelings too! Keep the horror stories to yourself too. Next time you are faced with a pregnant woman perhaps ask her how she is doing and if you can help with anything. She will really appreciate it. Preggy moms, it is tough being bigger than normal. You go through so much with the aches and pains, heartburn, and nausea. Just remember why you are doing it! The reward it worth it. Some of the best advice I ever received was don’t compare! Everyone is different, so there is no point trying to compare yourself to everyone else. Even each pregnancy is different, so try approach each individually too. Try to have a healthy pregnancy and more importantly do what feels right. A mother’s instinct is strong! The difficulties of pregnancy are one thing but it doesn’t just become super easy once baby arrives either. Your life will never be the same again. You might have a need for things to go back to normal. Striving for a new normal is a more attainable goal. That is where “Balance your lifestyle” comes into play. This is a toolkit for moms that I designed to help you find balance and that new normal, you are looking for. As a Wellness Coach and mom of 2, I had a real need for some sort of structure and balance in my life once I had my kiddies. I quickly saw many other moms were struggling with the same issues and put together this course. So what is it all about? Balance your lifestyle is a 6 module course. Each module is between 30 and 45 mins and they are normally structured on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. The course can be done in person in Johannesburg (Bryanston) or though skype for other areas. What do we cover? Session 1 is all about the end goal. Figuring out what you want and having a game plan on how to get there. This covers your lifestyle and career aspects too. When asking someone what they want out of life, quite often they say, they want to be happy. Yet, cannot define what would actually make them happy. This really helps you define your end goals. Session 2 is all about what makes you tick? Your personality, what fuels your fire? What do you need and what do you need to avoid to get the best out of your relationships. We also chat about the book Love languages, what they mean to you and how to incorporate this technique into you family. Session 3 is all about time. Breaking it down and making it work for you. Aligning your mindset and getting organised. A few small tricks can end up saving you a huge amount of time long term. Session 4 is your personalised stress beating solution. We will establish a solid plan to manage stress, increase your energy levels and boost your immune system. Session 5 is about making peace with your body. Learning to love and appreciate it. How to have a positive self-image and pass that process on to our kids. Session 6 sinks down a bit deeper and looks at how we carry ourselves from posture to etiquette. We also cover your closet detox and coming up with your unique new style. This full course is valued at R4799 for 6 sessions but will be available for a limited time for R1899 payable over 2 months. R949 per month for 2 months . Email [email protected] for a free session. You will also go into the draw to win a free course. This could seriously

April 6, 2017

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