Bag yourself a bargain on Sunday – baby clothes, equipment and toys – and enjoy a cuppa and some delicious cake. We are raising money for the Children’s Heart Unit at The Freenman Hospital so please spread the word…
beautiful, calm birth
I think this is one of my favourite birth videos
There’s no panic, no pressure, no intervention and no fear. I wasn’t quite as calm as this but it makes me want to do it all again!
She’s a crazy gal…
The Birth & Baby Network will be featuring a regular diary from local mum Frankie, as she trains for the wonderfully mad challenge she has set herself to raise much needed awareness and funds for SANDS, the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death charity.
Here’s the challenge:
A half Ironman Triathlon over three days in September:
- Swim a mile on the Friday
- Cycle 56 miles on the Saturday
- Do the Great North Run on the Sunday
In Frankie’s words:
Please bear in mind that I am overweight, stupidly unfit and currently feel like I have the bones of an 80 year old! I am fully committed to the craziest plan I’ve ever had and I’m staring at a 7 month old turning his nose up at the lumpy banana porridge I’m trying to feed him thinking how on earth am I ever going to manage to do this. I don’t even have time to brush my hair most mornings let alone fit in mental athlete style training and I seem to have already hurt my knee by walking through the park!
Watch this space, it’s going to be an interesting journey…
Pregnancy Diary – Rae
I’m Rae, 36 years old and married to Peter. I am a mum to two sons, Henry aged 4 and Zachary aged 18 months, and step-mum to two girls aged 15 and 12.
I’m also pregnant with my third child.
14th March 2012
Today I found out we are expected our third child. This is great news and gives me a due date of around mid-late November. I’m very lucky as I’ve never had too much trouble conceiving, and (so far!) have had trouble free pregnancies and births – I hope this continues to be the case.
At the moment, only Peter and I know – I’m cautious of telling people too early, and certainly won’t make it public until after we’ve had our 12 week scan. I find the first trimester quite an anxious time. I’m well aware that sadly, one in four pregnancies end in miscarriage, usually in the first 12 weeks.
5th April 2012
Booking in appointment with the midwife today. In Whitley Bay, there are ‘case load’ midwives, which means you see the same midwife for every appointment – I like this as it means you get to build up a relationship with your midwife. Julie has been my midwife for my previous two pregnancies, so she knows me and my wishes well. This being my third pregnancy we raced through the masse of paperwork and then spent the last 20 minutes of the appointment putting the world to rights. I’ve had two previous home water births – one with a hospital transfer and one very straightforward – so am planning a third.
We’ve started telling a few people – family and close friends – and it’s lovely to have people to share our news with. I’m very lucky in that I find pregnancy straightforward. I don’t really get any sickness or dizziness although I have been very tired. But then I do have two small children and work full time!
8th May 2012
Dating scan today! Peter takes time off work to come with me. I’m anxious to know that all is well and am very relieved to see a good, strong heartbeat and to be told that all is developing as it should be at this stage. We are given an estimated date of delivery of 17th November – in as much as babies listen to such things! As well as dating, we are having nuchal translucency testing: the sonographer measures the thickness of the neck, and this measurement, along with the results of a blood test gives a risk factor for Down’s Syndrome. If it comes back high risk, we would be offered the opportunity to go for a diagnostic test that gives a definite yes/no answer. We would almost certainly decline this test as it carries a small risk of miscarriage.
We now start telling people our news. Generally people are very happy for us, but one or two do ask if the pregnancy was accidently or if we are ‘trying for a girl’. Really, we just want a healthy baby thanks! Someone even asks how we will manage the inevitable left out’ child….
Now we’ve seen a healthy baby I relax a little (although, unfortunately the worry never goes away – ever. It continues once they are born and forever onwards in one way or another!). Unfortunately, I’m a bit of a worrier, so I just find other things to occupy my mind. I worry about how we will cope practically and financially…realistically, I know we’ll manage and that actually, when I get to 40, or 50 or 60, I will happily accept my 3rd child over and above a bigger and tidier!) house, a better car and foreign holidays.
Safe co-sleeping
Did you know that about half of all babies co-sleep with their parents by the time they are 3 months old? And on any given night a fifth of all UK babies spend at least part of the night sleeping with one or both of their parents. (www.isisonline.org.uk)
This is despite co-sleeping being a frowned upon and considered a ‘dangerous’ practice in western society.
Some babies will happily sleep and settle in their Moses Basket or cot but if your baby doesn’t, you can be left feeling frustrated and exhausted and, if you know your baby will settle next to you in bed, chances are this is what is going to happen just so you can get some peace and some well deserved sleep.
According to the Infant Sleep Information Source (ISIS), the most common reason for co-sleeping is breastfeeding. 70-80% of breastfed babies will sleep next to their mother at some point during those early months.
Co-sleeping is a very personal issue – and almost a bit of a taboo subject! It is something that has to be right for you and safe for your baby. If you are bringing your baby into bed with you, you need to make sure that where they sleep is safe, so make sure:
- Your mattress is firm – if it’s saggy it’s not safe
- Your baby can’t fall out of bed or get trapped
- You keep your baby away from pillows
- Your baby doesn’t go underneath your quilt
- your bedding cannot cover your baby’s head
- you don’t leave your baby alone in your bed
- you or your partner do not smoke, are not drunk or under the influence of drugs
A 2009 study found that in 99% of cases, there was at least one risk factor present – in 75% of cases it was cigarette use by the mother and in 42% of cases either mum or dad had been drinking alcohol.
The benefits
- It can be much easier to breastfeed your baby – as your baby snuggles up next to you; he has greater access to his food, which means he thrives.
- It means less disturbed nights for you and your baby – your baby may not properly wake up so he is easier to settle, which means you aren’t pacing the floor either!
- It makes up for any lost touch between mum and baby during the day, especially if mum returns to work. Just because this connection happens during sleep, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t count! This extra touch can also be needed when your baby is teething, not well, experiencing a growth spurt or a developmental change because they often need more comfort and reassurance during these times.
- You are meeting the needs of you and your baby if it is what you both want and need to feel settled and easier to sleep
Biological Factors
- A baby who is snuggled up to his mum is the basic way of keeping babies warm and safe.
- Studies show that infants who sleep near to parents have more stable temperatures, regular heart rhythms, and fewer long pauses in breathing compared to babies who sleep alone.
- Babies who sleep either in or next to their parents’ bed have a fourfold decrease in the chance of SIDS.
- Co-sleeping babies grow up with a higher self-esteem, less anxiety, become independent sooner
Resource: www.askdrsears.com/topics/sleep-problems/scientific-benefits-co-sleeping
Sofa-sharing
Due to all the confusion and negative messages about the safety of co-sleeping, many new parents ask about and end up sleeping on the sofa or in an armchair. They may do this deliberately or fall asleep there when feeding their baby.
The research tells us that sleeping on a sofa or in a chair with your baby is hazardous because babies are at a greater risk of being suffocated. According to ISIS: “The sofa is the only sleep environment in which SIDS deaths have increased in recent years, up from 6% in 1993-9 to 16% in 2003-6. This represents an increase from 24-42 deaths per year.”
For more information:
www.askdrsears.com/topics/sleep-problems/co-sleeping-yes-no-sometimes
www.askdrsears.com/topics/sleep-problems/scientific-benefits-co-sleeping
For practical help: www.birthandbabybasics.com/postnatal-doula/ or you can email janine@birthandbabybasics.com for more information
