Innholdsfortegnelse for October - November 2020 i Your Pregnancy & Baby

Do you feel it too? That sense of lightness in the air and in life when the sun starts rising earlier and you can begin to leave your jacket at home and pack away all the extra blankies that have been piling up on the couch? Boots and slippers get shoved to the back of the cupboard, and you can get your favourite sandals and sunnies out again. Lovely! If you’re sporting a bump this summer, turn to page 46 immediately to see the cute cossies that are in the shops now. If this is baby’s first summer, we’ve got the best sun care advice. Wonderful as it is to spend time outdoors, you really need to care for that precious skin. Start by reading our newborn skin care special…

HERE’S YOUR 9-STEP PLAN The arrival of a new baby in the house can be stressful for your toddler. Here are some ways to avoid friction. 1 WAIT BEFORE TELLING Wait till you start showing to tell her there’s a baby growing in your “tummy”. 2 BE HONEST Don’t promise things will be the same, but reassure her that you’ll love her just as much. 3 INVOLVE HER IN PLANNING FOR BABY Let her shop with you for baby items. 4 AVOID BIG CHANGES Make any changes like toilet training well before your new baby arrives, or delay them until everyone is settled. 5 EXPECT SOME REGRESSION It’s normal for a potty-trained toddler to start acting like a baby again after a new baby arrives. Give her the attention she…

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It is important that key nutrients like calcium, omega 3, choline and folic acid are included in your diet. To get these nutrients, a healthy diet should include wholegrain carbohydrates, fresh fruit and vegetables, low fat or fat free dairy products, lean proteins and unsaturated fats, says dietitian Claire Julsing Strydom. “The more variety, the better the nutrient intake of the diet will be,” she says. WHAT IS A HEALTHY DIET? If you are unsure how to change your diet for the better, start by substituting your everyday foods with healthier ones. Make the swop from white bread to low GI seed bread. Swop white rice for brown. Change from full cream to skim milk for the adults in the house, but stick to full cream for the toddlers. Start…

When we’re young, we all have a rough idea of what we want when we grow up: maybe a wedding, possibly a baby or two, and perhaps even a big house on the hill. It all seems pretty simple, and most people manage to achieve most of these young dreams with relatively little effort. Just as effortlessly though, you can find yourself being served divorce papers and packing all your worldly possessions, including those two babies, into your car and moving back into your parents’ home. Far from your childhood dreams of familial independence, with divorce on the increase and the constantly rising costs of living, the only option available to many is to move back home to Mom and Dad. Even if you are welcomed home with open arms,…

HANDS ON HIPS Stand in front of the mirror with your hands on your hips, and take a good look at your breasts. Note the size and shape. Look for changes in the skin and texture. Look at your nipples and areola. HANDS ABOVE THE HEAD Do your breasts move in the same way when you lift your arms? Look at the size and shape again, and if your breasts are symmetrical. Are there any pits or bumps on the areola or nipples? Have a look at your armpits too to see if there is any swelling at the lymph glands. NIPPLE CHECK Pinch your nipple gently and pull it forward. Does it pull back into the breast? Is there a discharge? Repeat on the other side. LIE AND STROKE…

■ Acknowledge that all babies cry, and some cry more than others. ■ Crying is your baby’s natural way of communicating with you. Have your baby examined by a doctor if you think the crying is excessive, as it may be as a result of illness, colic, reflux or teething. ■ It’s okay to put your baby down in a safe place, like their cot, and just walk away for a while to calm yourself down. ■ Sleep deprivation accounts for some cases of shaken baby syndrome. If you’re up all night with a crying baby, try to catch up on sleep during the day if possible. Ask family and friends to help out with the baby, so you can get some rest. ■ Learn how to comfort your crying…

Summer means playing outside, swimming and going to the beach – some of the best things under the sun! But oh dear, it’s precisely the sun rays that can cause us so much damage if we don’t protect ourselves properly against them. The UVB rays from the sun are much harsher in summer, which means your baby and young child’s delicate skin is more at risk during the warmer season. Take care of their skin this summer. This is how: THE RIGHT HAT WHAT KIND? One made from densely woven or special fabric that has abroad rim, says the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA). It must look like those floppy cricket hats. CLOTHES THAT REALLY COVER UP WHAT KIND? CANSA recommends loose-fitting clothing made from densely woven fabric. If…

30 Money Mistakes Women Make & Ways to Get Back on Track by Kim Potgieter This quick read – it’s only 48 pages long – will inspire you to take control of your money. Kim Potgieter, the author, is a registered financial life planner and coach from Johannesburg who admits to struggling with money herself for more than 30 years. Kim says that many of the women she consults only start to take ownership of their money way after midlife. The mistakes she lists are based on thousands of real-life examples. So get the book and learn from your sisters about how to use your money as an enabler to achieve your life goals. The book doesn’t only harp on about the mistakes we make, it also contains 31 challenges…

Q “My granny says that you lose atooth with every pregnancy. Is this true? I really want to keep my teeth!” A DR ZANA BEZUIDENHOUT, INTERCARE DENTIST, ANSWERS Pregnant women are particularly at risk of developing plaque and gingivitis. The gums may become red, inflamed and may bleed. They may also become very sensitive. This tenderness can lead to reduced cleaning, with the result that tooth decay gets worse. SOME TIPS FOR GOOD ORAL HEALTH ■ See the dentist before you get pregnant. This may anticipate any dental problems and infections that may arise during pregnancy. It may also eliminate the need of medication to be taken for any infection during pregnancy. ■ Also keep up with three- to six-monthly check-ups and oral hygienist visits. ■ Home care is also…

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■ CALC FLUOR – tissue elasticity restorer. “This is good for stretch marks, lax ligaments, broken or varicose veins, and prolapse of the womb or other organs,” Alison says. “It reduces flabbiness and helps the body to return more easily to a normal condition after the birth.” ■ CALC PHOS – cell builder and restorer. “It’s really important for you to have enough of this one; I think this is where osteoporosis has its roots if Mother Nature has to raid your bones or teeth reserves to service the pregnancy,” Alison says. ■ CALC SULPH – blood purifier, purulent agent. This is also good for cold sores, bladder infections, and insect or spider bites. ■ FERR PHOS – anti-inflammatory. “This is good for the onset of any ‘itis’ during pregnancy,…

■ Tell your baby what you are going to eat, and ask him what he would like to eat. This forms a fun bond. ■ When you feel his first movements, let him know that you love to feel them. Talk to him whenever he moves. ■ Rub your tummy softly before bedtime, and wish your baby good night. Your partner can do this too. Play soft, peaceful music. This way your baby can already learn to wind down before bedtime. ■ Play special music just for your baby during the day. Choose something upbeat or slow, depending on what you want to achieve. ■ Put your feet up and grow silent. Place your hands on your belly and think about how much you love your baby. Instead of stressing…

Q I am almost 33 weeks pregnant. Ihave read so much on the stages of birth and what to expect at each stage. But I would like to know more about epidurals and how and at what stage they are given. Will it be better for me and Baby to give birth naturally without any anaesthetics, or does it not have an effect on Baby? Must Idecide beforehand if I want an epidural? Can you please tell me more about this. DR PETER KOLL ANSWERS A Epidurals are generally regarded as a safe and very effective form of pain relief in labour if administered by an experienced anaesthetist in the appropriate setting and with the proper emergency equipment available. An epidural can be administered at any stage of the labour,…

If you’ve had a vaginal birth, with or without an episiotomy, you’ll be feeling a little tender ”down there”. This may last for a few days to a few weeks after the birth. This is understandable if you think about what’s happened to the vaginal and perineal tissues as they stretched over your baby’s head. If you tore slightly or if you were cut, then the stitches can sometimes prove to be more uncomfortable than the actual birth! Remember, the vagina is a muscle, and muscles stretch and can bounce back. Continue to do your Kegel exercises. If you have acaesarean, don’t think you’ll get off lightly. The caesar scar will most likely be tender, and when body gases move around under the wound, it could be really painful. It’s…

You don’t have to bath your baby every day, especially if she doesn’t enjoy it. However, her head and bottom need to be cleaned properly twice a day. ■ Prepare a small bowl of cool boiled water and some cotton wool. ■ Start with your baby’s face. ■ Use a damp cotton wool ball for each eye, and wipe from the inner corner to the outside. ■ Wipe the rest of the face. Pay special attention to the area under the chin and the neck, and also behind the ears, as milk can collect in these folds. Wipe behind the neck too. Next up is the bottom. ■ Remove the nappy. Wipe your baby’s genital area, being thorough in all the groin folds. ■ If you have a baby girl,…

Bonding is instinctive sometimes, but often one does not immediately feel intense love for your baby. Rest assured, this is normal. Bonding is often a process that can take several months. It works like this: most babies are ready to bond with Mom almost the second they leave the uterus. The same can be said of many mothers. Scientists have long believed that there’s awindow period shortly after birth during which Mom and Baby are very finely attuned to each other, and that avery strong bond could be forged between them during this time. Scientists have fortunately also proved in the meantime that bonding is not anowor-never affair. Bonding between parents and their baby – the fostering of that deep, emotional bond between you – is a process that takes…

■ Always store potential poisons out of sight and reach of children, like in a locked cupboard or in a wire cage with a padlock, high up where children can’t reach. Check all rooms – kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, garden shed – for potential poisonous substances. These would include anything, from household detergents and medications to cosmetics and mercury batteries as well as vitamins rich in iron, lead-based paint, kerosene, lighter fluid, weed killer and insecticides. ■ Always put medicines away immediately after use. Be careful with heart and blood pressure medications, antidepressants, sleeping pills, diabetes medications, pain medication and time-release medications, especially the ones you take regularly, as the routine of it all makes it easy for you to forget and leave them lying around. Vitamins also need to be…

My one year old has a nasty cough. It sounds like a bark and gets worse during the night. What causes this? Is it serious, and how can I help him? A DR JACO STRAUSS ANSWERS: This is acondition we generally see in young children in the autumn as well as in the early winter months. You will know it as croup – or, as your doctor will call it, laryngotracheitis (or the more severe form, laryngotracheobronchitis). It is an acute inflammatory disease that results in the swelling of the voice box (larynx), windpipe (trachea) and bronchial tubes (bronchi). It is mostly caused by the parainfluenza virus but can also be caused by respiratory syncytial virus, human metapneumovirus, influenza virus, rubella virus/measles and mycoplasma pneumonia. It spreads by airborne respiratory…

❯❯ DON’T TRY TO FORCE YOUR CHILD to be funny all the time. Humour has to be spontaneous. ❯❯ JOKE WITH EACH OTHER, but don’t be hurtful and tease. Name-calling is not humour. ❯❯ BE A ROLE MODEL, and let your child see how you can laugh at yourself sometimes. Let them see you spot a funny situation, and let them see you joke around with other adults. ❯❯ DON’T CRITICISE or try to correct your child’s joke if the punchline didn’t have much punch. Laugh and go along with it – remember, the intention was to entertain you! ❯❯ CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE OF LIGHT-HEARTEDNESS with funny books and movies as part of your everyday life. Keep tension in the home under control. It is impossible to learn to laugh…

Giving your toddler the nutrition she needs is not as hard as it might sound. Food gives us the energy needed to carry out daily tasks, and, for toddlers, the energy needed to grow. This growing process requires a lot of fuel, so you may be surprised how much food your toddler consumes. The best measure of how much food your toddler needs is her appetite. She may appear very hungry one day and less so the next; her appetite is variable at this stage. Provided you offer a well-balanced, healthy diet, and pay attention to your child’s response of ”hungry” and “full” cues, you can be pretty sure she is eating enough. WHAT IS A BALANCED DIET? A variety of foods, eaten in moderation, best describes a balanced diet.…

VUYOKAZI Vuyokazi Balelo is from Langa in Cape Town. She and Comfort Malope have three children together: 10-year-old Asenathi; Mbalentle, a girl, who is 5; and Baby Mellow Kelebogile. Vuyokazi works as a security guard near Century City. In December, she gave birth to her youngest – little Kelebogile. She was taken to the ICU because she was struggling to breathe and was diagnosed with a heart condition – caused by Down syndrome. “I was confused. I didn’t know what that is,” Vuyokazi recalls. “I thought they were joking. It was only when I went to attend groups at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital that I started to accept this thing.” Vuyokazi says her baby is a beautiful girl, who can sit but not crawl yet at 8 months old.…

When rules are broken, there should be consequences. Also discuss these upfront, and not at the point when the rule has been broken and everyone is feeling emotional. Your child should know exactly what to expect when breaking a rule. Make the punishments small and easy enough to carry out. It is acommon parenting mistake to threaten really dire consequences, for example no television for a month for leaving a towel on the floor. This becomes impossible to carry out, and after a few days you cave and let your child watch television. To your child this signals that the boundaries are very fluid, and he will keep testing them to find out where your limits are – exhausting all round. So keep the punishments quick and small and easy…

1 YOUR SISTER IS GETTING MARRIED, AND YOUR LITTLE ONE IS THE RING BEARER, BUT HE REFUSES TO TAKE OFF HIS SPIDER-MAN SUIT. YOU… A Tell him that he can stay in his Spider-Man gear all the way to the church, but then he has to get changed. B Force him into the wedding outfit. C Allow him to walk down the aisle in his Spider-Man suit. 2 YOUR TODDLER SAYS HE FEELS LIKE A MCDONALD’S BURGER. YOU… A Decide to get one – just for tonight. It’s the weekend, and you haven’t had takeout in awhile. B Refuse. Your child won’t ever be allowed to have junk food. C Say you feel like Kentucky instead. This is the fourth McDonald’s night in a row, after all. 3…

Zola Nene’s 5-minute chocolate-coffee mug cake is about to make your day. All you need is a good microwave, like the LG NeoChef, and a fool-proof recipe. Here goes: INGREDIENTS • 60 ml cake flour • 2.5 ml baking powder • 30 ml cocoa powder • 15 ml instant espresso coffee powder • 60 ml icing sugar • 1 egg • 45 ml milk • 45 ml vegetable oil • 5 ml vanilla extract • 45 ml chocolate chips METHOD 1. Whisk all the ingredients together in a 300-ml microwaveable mug or bowl until smooth and blended. 2. Microwave on high power for 90 seconds. 3. Top with a scoop of ice cream or custard (or both...) to serve.…

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BUY SEASONAL fresh fruit and vegetables – they cost less and have a higher concentration of vitamins and minerals. PLAN YOUR WEEKLY EVENING MEALS in advance, and create a shopping list that can be updated on a weekly basis. An organised shopping list will stop you from buying things you don’t need. BUY IN BULK, and prepare meals that can be frozen and eaten later. Not only is this budget friendly, it will also come in handy when you are in the last trimester and feel too tired to prepare a meal. AVOID READYMADE MEALS. They seem a good idea at the time, but the cost adds up very quickly. BULK UP MEAT DISHES with legumes. They cost less than meat but add a lot of volume and extra nutrients,…

Before the only safe place you know turns into abattleground, try to define the boundaries and set the ground rules, so that everyone in the family knows where they stand. SET CLEAR BOUNDARIES Sit down together with your parents, and set the boundaries when it comes to parenting roles. Important questions to ask include: when can the granny step in, can the grandparents punish the kids themselves, what rooms or spaces in the house are off limits to the kids? Basic things that may not seem like big issues can lead to problems if not addressed immediately. Once you have set the rules, communicate them with the children. It is important for them to understand the changing roles of their grandparents. “The parent and grandparents should do this very early…

WHO IS MOSA MKHIZE? I am a 33-year-old public policy advisor, married to Mzwandile, with two children, Nizenande and Alakhe, who are four and two, respectively. ORIGINS PUBLISHERS (ORIGINSPUBLISHERS.CO.ZA) IS THE COMPANY YOU FOUNDED TO SELL YOUR BILINGUAL BOOK SERIES, FARM ANIMALS. HAVE YOU ALWAYS HAD A PASSION FOR BOOKS AND READING? Yes, I grew up in a home that was filled with books. My parents would tell my two sisters, my brother and me, ”We brought you a surprise!“ and it would be a book, not a toy or a sweet. My parents had apassion for reading and made a concerted effort to instil a love for reading and storytelling in us. Those books were often written in English. I would cop to that fact when they would read…

As soon as you announce you are pregnant, the stories and discussions will start rolling in. Stories about the gynaecologists who schedule caesarean sections according to golf tee-off times, who coerce women into c-sections, epidurals and episiotomies; hospitals that tell you to labour faster to fit into their procedures and timetables; and midwives who push so hard for you to birth naturally that they refuse to call the gynae and cause long-term damage to you and baby: whatever the truth behind each story, the mother is always painted as a hapless victim forced into abirth she does not want, and is then judged for it by friends and family, and by herself. According to Dr Peter Koll, a specialist obstetrician, “Recent research shows that postnatal issues such as breastfeeding difficulties,…

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Q Since having my pregnancy confirmed a few weeks ago, I’ve been plagued by sinusitis. It is so bad that I struggle to sleep as I’m so bunged up. Ifeel as though my immune system is under permanent strain. Is there anything I can take that can protect me? I’ve read a lot about vitamin C and zinc over the years, but now I’m hearing that vitamin D is also essential to supplement with, especially with COVID-19 doing the rounds. What advice do you have for me? A MARIA ASCENCAO ANSWERS Sinusitis or sinus infection is an inflammation or swelling of the tissue lining the sinuses, triggered by a cold or allergies. Healthy sinuses are usually filled with air. But when they become blocked and filled with fluid, germs can…

Obstetricians today are adamant that a pregnant woman should put on neither too little nor too much weight. Previous practices such as strict weight control or uncontrolled weight gain are taboo today. Both result in increased infant mortality at worst and other unhealthy outcomes at best. An increase of approximately 11kg to 16kg, depending on your body build and height and your weight when you became pregnant, is regarded as ideal. The rate of gain is not uniform, and most women put on more weight between the 17th and 20th weeks than at any other period in pregnancy. SO WHAT’S NORMAL? At an event for pregnant women hosted by the baby brand NUK earlier this year, Johannesburg-based registered dietitian Lila Bruk shared some advice. To calculate how much weight you…

■ Raise your legs and hips on pillows as often as you can during the day, and hold this position for about 15 to 20 minutes, so gravity can do its job. ■ Lie on your left side when sleeping or resting, because this will relieve the weight of the uterus off the large blood vessels that return blood to the heart. ■ Exercise – brisk walking, swimming (excellent for swollen limbs) or riding a stationary bike three to four times aweek will improve sluggish circulation. ■ When watching TV or reading, keep your feet raised to hip level, and never let them dangle. ■ Don’t cross your knees. ■ Avoid tight shoes – wear open sandals or mules. ■ Avoid tight socks –this can restrict your blood flow. ■…

You know about the morning sickness, swollen ankles and the bizarre food cravings, but there are loads of other – slightly grosser and more embarrassing – things that take place during your pregnancy. Remember, in most cases it’s perfectly normal and no cause for concern, but if certain ailments persist, you should speak to your gynae. BLOATING, GAS AND BURPS If you suddenly find yourself burping like a champion, bloating indiscriminately and passing gas regularly, it’s normal, and it happens because your body is producing a higher percentage of progesterone. This is the hormone that relaxes smooth muscle tissue in your body, which means your gastrointestinal tract is more relaxed, hence the flatulence and burping. When your body is in this relaxed state, your digestive system is also relaxed. Flatulence…

ANY PUS, PAIN AND BAD SMELL may indicate that you have an infection – be it an episiotomy, tear or caesarean wound. This happens more frequently than you may think, so any unusual, consistent pain in these areas need to be addressed and brought to your caregiver’s attention. Urinary tract infections can also plague you, so report any burning to your doctor. WHILE BLOOD LOSS IS TO BE EXPECTED, bright red blood escaping from the vagina, and a uterus that is ”boggy” and bloated after a week is not normal. If bleeding does not subside, and there is a feeling of a swollen uterus, you may have bits of placenta that have been retained or the placental site that is not healing. This may be accompanied by fever, but not…

Skin is skin, right? And if your baby was born at full term, you probably thought that her skin was pretty much like the rest of most of her organs: fully formed, and ready to take on the outside world. In fact, while it does act as your baby’s first line of defence (protecting her from harsh temperatures, microbes and infections), your baby’s skin is different from your adult skin. Dermatologists now know that ababy’s skin as a whole actually continues to develop outside the womb, and specifically the skin’s ability to act as a water barrier continues to develop after birth for the first year of life. FROM A WET WORLD… The world inside the womb is awet one. When in utero, your baby was surrounded by amniotic fluid,…

The umbilical cord connected your baby to you in the womb. Shortly after birth, it is cut. Baby is an independent little being now who can breathe by himself and receive nutrition through breastfeeding. In a way, you can think of his belly button as the last part of him that changes him from a baby in the womb, to ababe in arms. This is what you need to know about taking care of the stump… After birth, the cord is clamped and cut. Don’t worry – cutting the cord does not cause you or your baby any pain, because like your hair or nails, it doesn’t have nerve endings. The other end of the cord is connected to your placenta, which is expelled after birth. After this is all…

Your baby needs to spend time on terra firma to develop important muscles to soon be able to sit, crawl and then walk. Get one of these to set the wheels in motion.…

If you suspect your child has been poisoned, find the container. Identify the exact name of the substance, the amount taken, and the time since exposure, and note how the child is doing. Do this first, then consider calling the 24/7 Poisons Information Helpline, 0861 555 777. Signs of poisoning are: ■ Burns or redness around the mouth ■ Empty or half-empty containers ■ Pieces of plants or berries in your child’s mouth ■ Drowsiness or unconsciousness Symptoms can develop within minutes, hours or days.…

Saying goodbye to a beloved family pet, and breaking the news to your little one can be a heartbreaking and agonising experience for everyone involved. Because whether it be a budgie, a goldfish, a snake or a dog, “Most children just love animals and are very close to their pets,” says Jodi Lord, a Cape Town based registered counsellor specialising in play therapy. To complicate matters further, children who are 3 years and under often aren’t properly able to grasp the concept of death, and they usually don’t have the skills to cope with it, as it often hasn’t happened to them before. “This is why it’s so important that you help your children to deal with death tentatively the first time it happens, and get it right,” Jodi says.…

Q My 4-year-old has a lisp. Can this be fixed? Is it too late to do something about it? Why does this happen? A NATALIEN VAN DALEN ANSWERS The now seemingly “cute” lisp can soon turn into teasing and bullying, resulting in decreased self-confidence and personal frustration, which is enough to cause concern for any parent. But what exactly causes a lisp, can it be fixed, and when exactly is it too late? Let me start by saying the good news is that it is estimated that about one in five people have been affected by a lisp at some point in their life; yet, you do not frequently meet adults who lisp. This is great, as it just goes show you that it is not too late! Having an…

We ❤ this CELEBRATE UBUNTU We are One by author Refiloe Moahloli and illustrated by Zinelda McDonald is also available in isiZulu and Afrikaans. Like all Moahloli’s books, this one is a story about bringing out the best in the human spirit. Children and the inner child in adults will be able to identify and celebrate themselves. Support local talent and get this uplifting book to read to your children, over and over! R140, Pan Macmillan Children’s Books. YOU HEARD RIGHT! This time it isn’t the wheels on the bus going round and round, it’s the whales! And that’s not all... How about cranes on trains? Goats on boats? Dragons on wagons? This robust hardcover book called The Whales on the Bus is packed with things on wheels and a…

ZOE WALKED IN AND OWNED THE ROOM! WHERE DOES THE CONFIDENCE COME FROM? Zoe has always been a wonderful, delightful and happy child. She lights up every room she walks into. She never cried much and has always been independent. She is friendly and super extroverted – she gets that from her dad. She’s always willing to talk to anybody who gives her attention. She sings a lot, and we think she might become a singer when she grows up. ZOE, TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT YOUR FAMILY. ”My mom and dad are Buhle and Bongani Mangwane. I have five siblings whom I love a lot. We’re from the south of Johannesburg. My mom works in human resources in one of South Africa’s large financial institutions, and my dad…

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Spot the superhero feature –the cake had a whole bunch of them.…

PILCHARD FISHCAKES INGREDIENTS • 4 potatoes, peeled, washed and cut into chunks • 2 tins pilchards in brine, drained (you could also used pilchards in tomato sauce) • 3 tbsp parsley, chopped • ½ lemon, keep the zest and juice • 1 tbsp cake flour • 4 tbsp sunflower oil METHOD 1. Cook the potatoes in boiling salted water until tender (about 20 minutes). Meanwhile, fork mash the pilchards in a bowl. No need to remove the calcium-rich bones, as they are soft enough to eat. Mix in three tablespoons of chopped parsley and half the lemon zest and juice. 2. Drain the potatoes and mash. Gently mix into the pilchard mixture, and season with salt and pepper. Shape into 8 fat fish cakes using floured hands, then dust lightly…

Midwife and childbirth educator Tina Otte teaches the acronym ”BRAND” to parents in her childbirth classes. It is a handy ”tool” for you and your partner to use during labour when presented with a choice for intervention. Each letter is a question about the intervention to ask your caregiver, like this: ■ B stands for benefits – what are the benefits of the procedure? ■ R stands for risks – what are the risks of the procedure to my baby, and to me? ■ A stands for alternatives – what other options do we have, is there anything else we can we do first or instead of the procedure? ■ N stands for wait, do nothing and see the progress. Ask your caregiver to give you a realistic timeline to…

1 CORE BREATHING This breathing exercise is the foundation for all other techniques. It helps to increase lung capacity and brings more oxygen to the body. It can increase vital energy – refreshing, nourishing and restoring the physical body. Remember, during pregnancy, you are breathing for two. ❯❯ Sit in a comfortable position. Place one hand on your belly, the other on your chest. Close your eyes. ❯❯ Let your breath come and go, in and out through your nose. Notice which hand is moving – is it on your chest or belly? Now breathe in through your bottom hand (through your belly). ❯❯ Inhale for a count of four, allowing your belly to expand. Exhale for a count of four. You should feel your belly sink back towards your…

■ Claim from UIF ■ Whether you are claiming for maternity benefits or unemployment benefits, make it the first thing you do when you leave your job –if you take maternity leave, you can claim up to four months, and the Fund pays up to 58 percent of what you earned per day. ■ Sell unwanted goods and clothing to second-hand shops. ■ Read the fine print on your cell phone contract. You might be able to take a payment holiday while you’re on maternity leave or if you’ve lost your job. The same goes for your car payment.…

Your levels of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone skyrocket when you’re pregnant, and this storm of hormones leads to many physical changes in your body, which include the oral cavity. So, visiting your dentist should be on your to-do list. Your saliva changes in pregnancy, which makes you more likely to get cavities. “The main salivary changes in pregnancy involve its flow (there’s more of it), composition, and pH and hormone levels,” explains Dr Eshaam Abdurahman from Paarl in the Western Cape. Progesterone decreases the pH of saliva, and the increased acidity speeds up the dissolving of the (already compromised) tooth. Other changes alter the natural defence mechanisms of the teeth and create conditions that allow bacteria to flourish. Plaque control is crucial in pregnancy. Plaque formation can lead to…

Tissue salts, also known as cell salts or biochemic salts, are found naturally in rocks and soil, plants and animals (including humans). Without these mineral builders and activators of the cells and tissues in the body, the basic functions can’t happen – even food, water and oxygen can’t be absorbed and used effectively if certain of these mineral salts are lacking. Modern lifestyles drain even the most health-conscious of us, stripping minerals through stress, poor nutrition, industrially tainted foodstuffs, pollution andenvironmental toxins. For this reason, we need to supplement our mineral reserves. Tissue salts are inexpensive, and are safe to use for everyone, from babies to diabetics and even animals. They generally come in tablet form. You should chew them well or let them dissolve in your mouth, as the…

Many factors will influence your weight gain during pregnancy, for example, your level of activity, eating preferences and overall size at the start of your pregnancy. The general feeling is that provided you begin your pregnancy at or near your ideal weight your should gain somewhere between 11kg and 16kg during the pregnancy. The end goal of nutritional planning during pregnancy is to have a healthy mother giving birth to a healthy baby. This is very important to keep in mind and should be your guiding principle when you think about what you eat. First trimester: There is a small weight gain of between 0.7 to 1.4kg. Second and third trimesters: A weight gain of 350 to 450g per week is acceptable. The weight of pregnancy is made up of…

So much has been written about the niggles of pregnancy, why they happen and how to deal with them. So you were prepared. Many of you have indeed told us that you fully understood the changes that pregnancy brought and were prepared for the pain of labour or surgery. But, you said, you were in no way expecting the time after birth to be so uncomfortable and challenging. In reality, it can seem that you’ve exchanged one set of discomforts for another. Can anything be worse than a swollen body that groans each time it tries to move off an uncomfortable chair? Or swallowing yet another pill to ease the heartburn or nausea you feel? Not being able to sleep will make any bad situation worse and your joints seem…

■ Eat regular nutritious meals. ■ Sleep as often as you can. ■ Prioritise. ■ Soak your tender perineum in shallow warm water with coarse salt dissolved in it. Or make up a solution of witch hazel and afew drops of lavender or tea tree oil, and pour into aspray bottle. Spray your perineum, and pat dry after every trip to the loo! Even after caesarean. ■ Do your Kegels, no matter what kind of delivery you had. This will also work your deep core muscles. ■ Keep your vaginal area clean, and change your pads often. ■ Take whatever pain medication that has been prescribed. ■ Get help if you’re struggling with breastfeeding. Don’t wait until your breasts are so sore that you’re ready to give up. ■ When…

Preparation is key: first prepare the changing space with a clean babygro and vest, a clean nappy and soft, warm towels. Make sure you gather together everything else you need beforehand, such as the baby bath, non-slip mat, changing mat, facecloth, rinsing jug, towels, shampoo, soaps and creams. Choose a room in the house for the bath where there are no draughts, and ensure that the room is comfortably warm. The bath and changing mat should be close together. Now you’re ready… 1 Fill the baby bath halfway with water. It should be warm – not lukewarm, but not hot either. Check with your wrist or elbow, and swirl the water around, so there are no hot patches. If you’re unsure, you could use abath thermometer. Undress your baby, wrap…

Q I’ve heard breastfeeding hurts. Does it? A If your baby is positioned correctly and latched deeply onto the breast, breastfeeding shouldn’t hurt. Expect some discomfort in the first week or two, though, especially at the beginning of feeds. Try using the 30-second rule to determine if this is “normal”. If you need to grit your teeth when latching baby, slowly count to 30. If the pain improves considerably, or disappears completely, you’re probably experiencing normal sensitivity. If it is as bad or worse after half a minute, baby probably isn’t latched well. Break the suction with your little finger, and try again. If your nipples remain sore or if they look pinched, squashed or damaged, get professional help. Q I’d love to start exercising again. Will this affect breastfeeding?…

1 STICK TO A BEDTIME ROUTINE Make sure your baby always goes to bed at roughly the same time, with a predictable routine building up to sleep. Babies and toddlers should go to bed between six and seven at night. Start the evening routine with a warm soothing bath followed by acalming massage. (Colic babies benefit from a morning massage though). Dim the lights in Baby’s room after bathtime. Stay put in this dusky space –so don’t go back into the bright lights. Limit interaction, and keep it calm. No stimulation advised. 2 PUT YOUR BABY TO BED WHILE HE’S STILL AWAKE Wake your baby after the last feed, so that he doesn’t have to fall asleep with the help of a bottle or on the breast. The way your…

In South Africa, just under half of the calls to the Poisons Information Helpline relate to accidental poisoning in children under the age of 5 years. Although it is fortunately seldom fatal, you should still do everything you can to avoid poisoning. Accidental poisoning peaks at 2 years of age, according to Childsafe South Africa, which provided information for this article in conjunction with the Poisons Information Centre at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital. At 2 years, children are becoming more mobile, they like to explore, and copy older children and adults, but they do not yet recognise danger. And danger lurks in some unexpected places in our homes. CHEMICAL POISONING There are plenty of household products, such as bleach and cleaning detergents, that pose potential poison hazards to your…

When was the last time you howled with laughter? And your child? Laughing and playing are essential ingredients for a well-functioning family. Fortunately, we’re born with a sense of humour – all that is needed is a little encouragement to get the giggles going. Children will develop a sense of humour if their parents are sympathetic people who care and make time for fun and laughter, if their parents can laugh at themselves, see the humour in a situation and don’t mind sometimes being the butt of a joke. While humour isn’t on the list of school-readiness skills, it will most certainly help your child develop essential skills for later in life. A child who can laugh at himself and see the light side of life will be popular among…

Most people know the term “Down syndrome”, but if your child were diagnosed with it, would you really know what it is? And more importantly, would you know what to expect from the future? IN A NUTSHELL Down syndrome is the most common chromosomal disorder in newborns in the world. In South Africa, up to two babies per every thousand born have Down syndrome. It occurs when a baby is born with an extra, full or partial, copy of chromosome 21 in their DNA. It leads to intellectual delay or disability, as well as heart problems and gastrointestinal problems in many children. Physical signs can be upward slanting eyes, small ears, protruding tongue, short stature, flattened face, short neck, small hands with a single crease in the palm, and tiny…