Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2021 - January 2022 i Your Pregnancy & Baby

I wonder if I could smuggle a watermelon or a pineapple into Germany? We’re going for Christmas – lockdown levels permitting – and although I’m looking forward to it, the Christmas braai recipes on page 24 of this issue just gave me such a pang for a proper summer holiday. You can almost taste the sunshine and smoke in the photographs. Last year in Cape Town the beaches were closed a day after my first (and therefore only) ocean swim, so I feel like I was robbed of a summer Christmas holiday. Then again, I do love a German Christmas too, and it is good for my children to connect with that half of their heritage. The first time I found out what a typical German Christmas Eve meal is,…

WE LEARN EVERY DAY Being new parents is quite scary and overwhelming, but each new day makes us more confident and teaches us something new. Reading the stories, useful tips and information in Your Pregnancy & Baby magazine helped us through the toughest and most scary times pre- and post-birth of our baby. Most importantly, we learnt to relax and just enjoy every moment of watching him grow. These last nine months have been the most amazing of our lives, and facing challenges has become easier because we draw strength in knowing that we have a precious little one counting on us. SUHANA GOVINDASAMY DURBAN, KWAZULU-NATAL Leanne Williams & her family now! Back: Erroleen and Mike Williams. Middle: Andrew with Ava (2½) and Angus Williams (7 weeks). Front: Ellakai (5½),…

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WORRIED ABOUT MILESTONES? Why not join a Kinderkinetics programme? The programme for 0 to 24 months focuses on the sensory-motor development of your baby from a stimulation point of view. Aimed at improving, this programme is also preventative and rehabilitative. Infants are assessed by Kinderkineticists using the latest version of internationally recognised tests to determine if motor development is on par. If a delay is spotted, the correct intervention can be followed in order to ensure optimal motor development, thus helping your baby reach their full potential. The programme for preschoolers (2 to 7 years old) is a fun-filled, perceptual motor-developmental programme that is specifically taught to meet the various aspects of gross motor development such as balance, body awareness, spatial orientation, coordination, rhythm and timing. Kinderkineticists will carefully plan…

Chicken, kale & cherry salad SERVES 8 PREP 25 MINS COOK 10 MINS INGREDIENTS • 500g chicken breast fillets, quartered lengthwise • 1t flaked sea salt • 1 bunch of curly kale leaves, chopped • 3 cups cooked quinoa • 250g pitted cherries • 2 Granny Smith apples, cored, sliced thinly • ¾ cup roasted hazelnuts, peeled, chopped • 4 spring onions, finely sliced DRESSING • ¼ cup olive oil • ¼ cup lemon juice • 1T Dijon mustard • 1T honey METHOD 1. Get the braai ready. Spray chicken with oil. Season to taste. 2. Braai chicken, 6-8 minutes, turning until cooked through. Rest 5 minutes. Slice thinly. 3. DRESSING In a jug, whisk all ingredients together. Season. 4. In a large bowl, massage salt into the kale. 5.…

This advent calendar cube that you can easily craft yourself makes a big impact with very little work. Switch up your decorations on the inside of the cube every day or week. Start collecting baby food jars soon, so that you have 24 in total. WHAT YOU WILL NEED • a pine cube from a pine shop or hardware store • white paint • 24 glass containers with wide necks and screw lids (baby food jars are perfect) • glitter paint (we chose gold, but you could opt for white, silver, red or green) • double-sided tape • paintbrushes (one big, one small) • Christmas decorations or stickers • sticky tape or Prestik TIP If you don’t have a cube, you could use any wooden box you have, or even consider attaching the bottles to a sturdy mirror…

PRACTICALITIES YOU CAN HANDLE BABY-PROOFING Your baby will be crawling before you know it, and Mom will be happy you had the foresight to get the baby proofing done early. Put on the pool net, secure the plug covers, move cleaning materials and medicines to upper shelves, and get the baby gate ready. Some of these require money, so doing it early will ease the strain on your budget later. STEP UP THE HOUSEHOLD CHORES Your partner’s pregnancy literally gets in her way, and she doesn’t have the energy to clean and tidy like she did before. Offer to wash dishes, cook meals and try your best to at least tidy up after yourself. CHANGE YOUR POLICIES It’s time to alter your wills to include your baby, speak to your…

It’s not only your body that’s going through massive changes over these nine months – your mind is too. What you may not expect is the effect these changes have on your dreams. Vivid, all-too-real scenes of birth, babies and fertility will become regular nighttime visitors, and there are some good reasons for that. IN YOUR WILDEST PREGGIE DREAMS Try to think of your weird dreams as a bridge between the impending birth and your mind’s way of dealing with all the excitement (and anxiety) this brings with it. “Dreams are communications from the subconscious mind, which serves as our collective memory store. This part of the brain is creative and expresses itself symbolically and metaphorically, which is why our dreams are very weird and abstract,” explains counselling psychologist and…

Boost your energy. Pregnancy can rob you of your energy, especially during the first and last trimester. Participating in regular exercise releases the happy hormone known as endorphins, to give you the boost you need. Prepare the body for birth. Giving birth requires energy and stamina, and staying active during pregnancy is good preparation for the hard work that lies ahead. Get a strong core to fight against gravity. With regular core strengthening such as Pilates exercises, the muscles of the torso, in particular the back muscles, can carry the excess weight of the bump more easily, without extra stress on the body. Exercise helps to maintain a healthy weight. By exercising the body and mind regularly, you will maintain a healthy weight, making post pregnancy recovery an easier process.…

1. UNPASTEURISED DAIRY PRODUCTS Say goodbye to all your soft, smelly cheeses, such as brie, camembert and blue cheese – feta, too, if it hasn’t been pasteurised. That’s because unpasteurised cheeses, milk and other dairy products are more likely to grow bacteria such as listeria. Pregnant women, as well as newborns and people with vulnerable immune systems, are more susceptible to getting infected by this nasty little germ. It can cause an illness called listeriosis, which is usually mild for you (causing flu-like symptoms), but it can harm your baby and, in rare cases, even lead to miscarriage or death. Here’s the good news: nowadays, many soft cheeses and feta are made with pasteurised milk, in which case they are perfectly fine to eat. Always check the label to…

“ADEQUATE AMNIOTIC FLUID IS CRITICAL FOR FOETAL LUNG AND LIMB DEVELOPMENT. SO IT CAN LEAD TO SEVERE CONSEQUENCES, SUCH AS PULMONARY HYPOPLASIA (UNDERDEVELOPMENT OF THE BABY LUNGS) OR MALFORMED LIMBS.” I was in my last trimester of an otherwise healthy pregnancy when a routine scan picked up a worrying dip in amniotic fluid. I was told to prepare for a possible induction or even a caesarean, as too little amniotic fluid could be dangerous for the baby. I was a bit scared, but mostly confused, as it wasn’t clear why my baby had suddenly started producing too little amniotic fluid. (For the first four months of pregnancy, the placenta produces amniotic fluid. After that, it’s the baby’s job.) My confusion wasn’t because I had bad doctors. Rather, a decrease –…

PAIN IN THE ABDOMEN Round ligament strain is felt as a sharp pain low on one or both sides of the abdomen or in the groin, lasting fewer than two minutes. It’s extremely painful and can bring you to tears. It’s usually felt in the first and third trimester and is due to spasm of the round ligament holding the uterus in place within the pelvis. QUICK FIX • When pain strikes, be sure to breathe deeply and slowly through your nose and bend towards the pain. • Two tablets of mag phos (tissue salt no. 8) under the tongue three times a day may help alleviate this spasm. • Avoid sudden movements or changes in direction. CRAMPS Cramps usually affect the legs, feet and toes and often strike during…

Although episiotomy is one of the most common surgical procedures carried out on women, its medical value is still open to debate. There is also controversy over whether an episiotomy is preferable to a tear. HISTORY LESSON Episiotomies were first developed in Europe in the 18th century. An Irish doctor first discussed the advantages of episiotomy in 1742 for women experiencing difficult births. Once local analgesia and suturing material became available, episiotomy became very popular. Episiotomy was introduced to the United States in 1851. In the 1920s, Dr Delee was the first person to advocate the practice of routine episiotomy with forceps delivery. Episiotomy then became an extremely popular practice throughout the world, with some authorities even advocating the use of routine (you get it even if you don’t need…

Stress incontinence is a common complaint among pregnant women, and some find that it continues to plague them after they have their baby. The unexpected leaking of urine when you laugh, cough, sneeze or exercise is one of the most common problems among new mothers. This annoying postpartum symptom is usually caused by the pregnancy and delivery that weaken muscles around the bladder and pelvis. This makes it harder for you to control when urinating starts – or when it stops. When you are pregnant, your body produces hormones that make the tissues and muscles supporting your bladder, bowel and uterus stretchier and softer than normal. These tissues and muscles make up your pelvic floor. The hormones combined with the weight of your baby and other abdominal organs means that…

“Whether you breastfeed or formula feed, all mothers need to eat a healthy and balanced diet,” says nutritionist Desi Horsman. Eat small, regular nutritious meals and drink lots of water (a glass with every feed to prevent dehydration and provide adequate supply). “The problem with skipping meals is that you will be low on energy and more likely to suffer from postnatal depression. It would be very beneficial to plan ahead before the birth and stock the freezer with ready-made nutritious meals that are easy to heat up with little preparation.”…

Most premature babies have translucent skin, and you may even see the veins underneath. That’s because the layer of fat below the skin, the “brown fat”, has not had a chance to develop yet. This layer is what keeps us all warm, too, so your prem baby will need help with this. In the Nicu, your baby will be in an incubator that keeps her warm. Your baby is constantly monitored by nurses and by special machines. While your baby is getting medical care, you also have a role to play in nurturing her. She needs the comfort and warmth of her parents’ touch. Research has shown that babies who are cuddled and stroked grow more quickly. Even allowing her to hold your finger while in the incubator may help…

Your baby’s crying may worry you at first, but it helps to know that it’s her only way to communicate with you at this early age. She’s unable to do anything for herself and relies on you to satisfy her needs. According to Barbara Constantinou, a registered nurse and childbirth educator at the Bedfordview Mother & Baby Centre, babies cry to communicate their basic needs to their mothers. She explains that when your baby cries she’s saying, “I’m hungry, or hot, or tired, or need to have my nappy changed, or need a hug.” Babies also cry when they are in pain or aren’t feeling well because of colic, constipation or reflux. Even very young babies use facial expressions and other signals, like pulling their legs up towards their bodies…

8 TO 10 MONTHS BABY CAN • Take a bite of food • Pick up small pieces and feed himself • Use a cup with help FOODS TO INTRODUCE • Mixed baby cereal fortified with iron • Cooked, mashed egg • Cottage cheese and yoghurt • Larger variety of fruits and vegetables • Finger foods: • Toast squares or crackers • Small pieces of cooked vegetables and peeled, soft fruits • Small pieces of cooked, ground meat, chicken or fish with all the bones, fat and tough parts removed 10 TO 12 MONTHS BABY CAN • Chew and swallow soft, mashed food • Use a cup, well • Begin to use a spoon FOODS TO INTRODUCE • Small pieces of cooked or soft foods that the rest of the family…

❯❯ STUTTERING IS A PROBLEM. Not necessarily. It can be a part of normal development, particularly when children are learning communication skills fast, and get excited. If your child stutters for more than six months, is very frustrated about it and even makes faces and tenses up, then chat to a doctor. ❯❯ BABIES WALK BY THEIR FIRST BIRTHDAY. According to physical therapist and paediatric clinical specialist Kati Knudsen, this is nonsense. Average walking age is 13-and-a-half months, while 15 months is perfectly normal. Remember to add two to three months to the average, either side, when assessing your own baby for normal development. ❯❯ NOT TALKING? MUST BE HARD OF HEARING. You know your child better than anyone else. Check for common red flags (see our section on talking),…

• Let your baby lead the way. You supply the food, and your baby gets to decide if he will eat it and how much. When he loses interest, the meal is over. • Let him join you at the table, so that family mealtimes become positive experiences. • Feed him from your plate, especially bites of iron- and zinc-rich foods. • Remind yourself to stay relaxed about this journey. There will be a lot of play and mess. Some days it will be a bonus if he gets anything in. Just roll with it. Also don’t wipe his face and hands after every single bite. • Continue to nurse on demand, even before or after a meal. Breast milk is the main course, and solids are dessert.…

LOCK EYES This is the most important tip of all to ensure that you are really heard. Make and maintain eye contact. How? Crouch down on your haunches to ensure you’re at toddler height, so you can look your little one straight in the eye. Once you’ve locked eyes, keep what you want to say really short. This isn’t the time for a long, involved conversation. Keep your sentences short and the vocabulary accessible. “Stop pulling the dog’s ears. It hurts. The dog might bite you.” And when your child has a great need to share something with you, the same applies. Get down to his height and listen with your full attention. ONE SENTENCE AT A TIME Have you noticed how selectively toddlers can hear? (Some say they get…

I’m worried about my toddler’s social milestones. Because of Covid, we decided not to send him to crèche or school. He was born just before the first lockdown and, looking back, I realise that he probably hasn’t even left our property more than 10 times. It just seems safer and easier to keep him home. So, he only sees me, my husband and his nanny. Visits from grandparents are very occasional, and we’ve only seen friends with children maybe five times in his life. A while ago we booked a family photo shoot, and it was a nightmare. The photographer was great, but my son was freaked out by the whole thing and was clingy and hiding his face the whole time. He settled a bit but looks mildly anxious…

Pictured here, Orboot Earth is part of the PlayShifu range. PlayShifu toys are immersive and educational, and connect the physical and digital worlds. All the product platforms are supported by free-to-download apps that work with a range of devices on iOS and Android. The play experiences are ideal for children from 4 to 12 years and are designed to build science, tech, engineering, art and math skills. Prices start from R899 at iStore, takealot.com and Toys R Us. Find out more at playshifu.com.…

Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder – to give ADHD its formal name – is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder. The term neuro-developmental disorder actually means that something goes awry with how the brain develops. And a complex neuro-developmental disorder means we recognise that genetics as well as the environment in which a child grows up both contribute to the development of the disorder, in a complicated interplay. We know that ADHD is linked to dopamine release and re-uptake in the brain. Dopamine is the brain’s “reward” chemical, and scientists know that a variant on the dopamine receptor DRD4 interferes with how well a child can process dopamine, which leads to the fidgetiness, irritability and lack of focus we traditionally think of with ADHD. But it’s not as simple as just doing…

• Socialise and train your pet. • Create a safe space in your home for when your baby is unattended. • Have your pet regularly dewormed, immunised and checked by a vet. • Wear gloves when cleaning pens, cages or litter boxes, and wash your hands after handling your pet. • Teach your child never to tease or hurt an animal. • Teach your child to recognise warning behaviour, such as a cat swaying its tail or making hissing, growling and snarling noises. • Warn your child never to approach a strange animal or stare at a strange dog.…

“I’m sorry, Ma’am, but you’ve miscarried.” These are the last words you want to hear when you’re 21 weeks pregnant. Still Samantha Nyweba’s doctors had been trying to prepare her for the possibility that she would not carry to term. It hadn’t been an easy pregnancy. “When I found out I was pregnant, I went to Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital for my check-up,” the 39-year-old recalls. “They gave me a referral letter to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto to terminate my pregnancy. They said I had an open uterus. I was always bleeding and constantly in pain.” Samantha sat with that letter in her mother’s home in Westbury, trying to decide what to do. “My mom said God’s will must be honoured. If I miscarry, so be…

YPB142JK WIN ONE OF TWO JEAN KELLY VANILLA BLONDE LEATHER BACKPACKS WORTH R3 199 EACH! A lightweight, original JeanKelly backpack crafted in beautiful natural leather. Made for the active mom or dad. This is the biggest backpack in the range. It comes with a water-resistant lining and includes a padded changing mat for quick nappy changes on the go. The backpack boasts five pockets – a secure zipped back pocket for your cell phone and an inside pocket for your personal items. Support local! The JeanKelly range is made in Cape Town. All the fittings and workmanship are fully guaranteed. www.jeankelly.co.za YPB142SP WIN A SOLENCO AIR PURIFIER WORTH R5 999! Clean the air your baby is breathing. Whether a new parent or veteran, your top priority is most likely the…

My husband, Brendan, and I moved to the Netherlands in November 2019 with our daughter, Gia, who was 1½ years old at the time. We were offered work in Holland and decided that for my daughter’s education and future we had to take advantage of this opportunity. The Netherlands exceeded all our expectations! I walk my daughter to school or take her on the bicycle, which she adores. It’s a bicycle country, so it’s amazing to see how well this mode of transport works. It is very entertaining (and mind boggling) to see a mom of four take her children to school all on one bike (while texting on the phone, using no hands on the handlebars!). In addition, the public transport is so good that there is no real…

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My husband and I were planning on having our first baby. Our first visit to the doctor was in February 2021. It was such an amazing experience getting to see the tiny little embryo growing inside me. In March it was confirmed that we were having a baby girl. I was so excited to know that a mini me was on the way. I couldn’t wait to do her hair, dress her up and make her my best friend. Our baby was due on 8 September. My six months of pregnancy was great and pleasant (no morning sickness or cravings). I thought my body was beautiful to look at because I saw it as a carrier of my little human being – like a kangaroo! “I THOUGHT MY BODY WAS…

WIN A GIFT HAMPER FROM CARRIWELL WORTH R2 200! The Carriwell Adjustable Maternity & Nursing Bra (R455) is the most comfortable bra you will ever wear, as the soft fabric moulds to your changing body shape. The easy one-handed nursing clasps expose the entire breast, maximising skin-to-skin contact with your baby when you nurse. There are no irritating seams or stiff under-wire. Instead, it has a wide under-band for support and lift. Included is a complementary bra extender for extra adjustability. Also available in a new Deluxe version. See Baby City, Babies R Us, Woolworths, Dis-Chem, Clicks Baby and selected Clicks stores. Send a clear, good quality photo to us at sharing@ypbmagazine.com…

Polycystic ovarian syndrome affects millions of women, but diagnosis is tricky. This is because, while the condition has many symptoms, you won’t necessarily have all of them. Also, many of these symptoms – like weight gain, for example – are often attributed to other things. PCOS is a chronic condition that affects us during our fertile years. The ovaries secrete an excess of male hormones, known as androgens. The reason for this isn’t clear. A PCOS-affected ovary produces immature egg follicles. Instead of growing to maturation and being released, these develop into multiple small cysts. The elevated androgen levels can also lead to irregular periods – or no period at all. Other symptoms include oily skin, acne, weight gain, skin discolouration and thinning hair as well as developing hair where…

A miscarriage means losing a pregnancy before 20 weeks’ gestation. Sometimes called a spontaneous abortion, an embryo or foetus is delivered before it has any chance of surviving outside the uterus. It’s believed that 50 percent of pregnancies miscarry after the conceptus (products of conception) have implanted in the wall of the uterus. These episodes are believed to be a “heavy, late period”, and you might not recognise them as a pregnancy that has been lost. Around 15 to 20 percent of recognised pregnancies that make it past six weeks after the last period may miscarry. The highest risk time for miscarriage is between 12 and 14 weeks of pregnancy. WHY DO MISCARRIAGES HAPPEN? A miscarriage can happen for many different reasons. The most common is an abnormality in the…

“Due to the shape of my baby’s head, it always measured a week or two larger than the rest of his body at each of our checkups. All of this led to many dreams of a giant bobblehead baby. The worst was the dream where I was breastfeeding him but his head was twice the size of my torso! First thing I checked when he was born was the size of his head – and I’m happy to report that he was perfect in every single way!” – Surita van Reenen, mom to Ben (13 weeks) HELEN SAYS: This dream was just a way of Surita dealing with the anxieties and responsibilities of becoming a parent. Despite its theme, it has nothing to do with the baby being born with…

“WE’RE BORN WITH ALL OUR EGGS IN TWO BASKETS, THE OVARIES. THESE 2 million + EGGS ARE ALL IMMATURE AND STAY THAT WAY UNTIL PUBERTY.” Doctors work out your due date starting from the first day of your 40-week pregnancy. Here’s what you may not know, though: the first day isn’t the day the lucky swimmer beat millions of others to burrow into your egg – it’s the first day of your last period. That’s because ovulation takes place around two weeks after this, and that’s really the first step in conception – that mind-blowing process that results in the creation of a human being in just 38 weeks (give or take). Here’s how it all happens. OVULATION We’re born with all our eggs in two baskets, the ovaries. These…

The amniotic fluid performs important functions: it cushions and protects the foetus, allowing foetal movement and muscle development; it reduces cord compression, especially in labour; and it’s vital for foetal lung and gut development, among other functions. This is why it’s so important to monitor amniotic fluid regularly throughout pregnancy, to ensure your baby has perfect Goldilocks levels (not too much, not too little). Joburg based gynaecologist/obstetrician Dr Bronwyn Moore explains the basics of monitoring: “Your healthcare worker will use various markers to monitor the progress of your pregnancy. One of the most important is the size of your uterus, measured from pubic bone to the top, known as the height of fundus. How big your uterus is depends on how many babies you’re carrying, the size of your developing…

HEARTBURN Gelusil Plus is indicated for heartburn relief, and is suitable for use during pregnancy. It has a pleasant liquorice taste. The usual dose is 10 to 20 ml after meals and before bedtime. Gelusil Plus has a dual effect; it forms a raft (barrier) over the stomach contents which helps keep stomach acid in its place. It also neutralises stomach acid. Available from R120 at all leading pharmacies. REFERENCES: S0 Proprietary name Gelusil Plus Each 10 ml contains Sodium alginate 500 mg, Sodium bicarbonate 267 mg, Calcium carbonate 160 mg. Reg. No 43/11.10/1124. Applicant iNova Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Ltd. 15E Riley Road, Bedfordview. Tel. No. 011 087 0000. www.inovapharma. co.za. For more information, speak to your healthcare provider. QUICK FIX Heartburn is usually more severe in the second or third…

There are steps you can take to improve your bladder control faster: • Empty your bladder frequently. Train your bladder to behave. Urinate every 30 minutes – before you have the urge and then try to extend the time between ”pees” each day. • Do regular Kegel exercises, and make them a lifelong habit. Squeeze, squeeze, squeeze! You need to do your exercises at least three times a day and make them part of your life forever. If you stop doing the exercises, your muscles can weaken and you may find that your bladder-control problems return. Some moms worry that they may damage themselves by doing pelvic floor exercises too soon after giving birth. Actually, doing the exercises will help your body to heal. Strengthening your pelvic floor will reduce…

Having a premature baby can be a huge shock, and it can be upsetting seeing your tiny, delicate baby hooked up to a respirator or ventilator and intra-venous feeding. Rest assured, though, this high-tech environment with its machines, beeps, low light and strict routines will soon feel like home. It is staffed with angels in the form of highly specialised nurses who will become like family to you. Leaving this safe environment to go home is a day you look forward to, of course, but it can also feel daunting to be “on your own”. Know that you will only be sent home if the doctors are completely comfortable that your baby is ready. You will receive exact information about what to do and who to call. Invest in a…

Preparing for a good milk supply starts even before your baby is born. Arm yourself with information on breastfeeding, and be sure you gather this info from reliable, credible sources. Meet with a lactation consultant or attend a breastfeeding session before your baby is born. Most antenatal classes include this in their course. There are many myths surrounding breastfeeding that continue to be perpetuated today. GET OFF TO A GOOD START How the baby is born and handled in the first hours and days after birth affects the breastfeeding experience profoundly for you and Baby. For decades, many birth practices were not conducive to getting breastfeeding off to a good start. There has been much research done since showing that separating you from your baby at the time of birth…

There are a few things you can do to help calm your crying baby. While going through the process of elimination above, try using these calming strategies from Meg Faure, author of Baby Sense: REGUL ATE THE ENVIRONMENT There could be something in your baby’s immediate environment that’s overstimulating her. It could be something like a mobile, a strong smell or even a bright light. Move your baby into a quiet, dimly lit room to help her calm down. SELF- CALMING Babies self-soothe by sucking on their fingers or touching their faces. It’s an important skill for your baby to learn, so fight the temptation to pick her up at the slightest squeak. Meg says to watch out for signs of self-soothing and allow your baby to use them. TOUCH…

Q I thought children loved the beach, but when we took our son – he is nearly 1 – he truly didn’t have a good time. He screamed when we put him on the sand, didn’t enjoy having his feet put in the water, and by the time we left I could see that he’d had quite enough. I’m not sure we’ll go back. He showed no interest in playing with the bucket and spade either. Does he have a sensory issue? ROXANNE ANSWERS: Right off the bat, I want to explain that there is a big difference between a baby or child disliking an unfamiliar environment (such as their first visit to the beach) and a baby/child having a sensory issue aka being diagnosed with sensory processing disorder (SPD).…

HEAD CONTROL Your newborn has weak neck muscles at birth, and therefore very little control over their head. By about a month old, they’ll probably lift their head and then start holding it up, while in a sitting position, at around 4 months. Expect more firm and strong head control by around 6 months. WHEN TO SEEK ADVICE Is your baby having difficulty lifting their head slightly at around 3 months? Premature babies reach this milestone, and others, later than full-term babies, so bear this in mind. GRASPING At birth, babies instinctively grasp for objects but learn over the course of a year how to pick things up and hold them firmly. By around 3 months, your baby starts to develop hand-eye coordination, although they can’t grasp and hold objects…

“Mommy, I did have a bad dream,” said my child after she had once again climbed into our bed in the middle of the night, and we all did the midnight game of “shuffle-mattress”. “And what did you dream about?” I asked, holding her little body tightly. “I did dream that a big crocodile did eat me. The big crocodile did have big, sharp teeth,” she said. WHY DO PHOBIAS SUDDENLY APPEAR? I have no idea where this crocodile comes from, but she is becoming quite a regular night-time visitor. As far as I know, her only contact with crocodiles has been via a children’s book featuring a very cute cartoon croc some months back – to my mind, not scary at all. But her little mind is growing and…

Q How can I get my toddler back to sleep when she’s had a bad dream or is afraid of things she thinks are lurking in the dark? A Cape Town family counsellor Flicky Gildenhuys, advises: “Toddlers can’t distinguish between fantasy and reality, so it’s unhelpful to say that there’s nothing under the bed. I have always recommended that parents go along with their child’s fantasy, but in a tongue-in-cheek way. For example, you could say, ‘What – has that naughty monster come back in the house? Now didn’t we tell that monster, no monsters in our house! So let’s tell that monster to get right out from under your bed. Let’s open the window and shoo that monster right out the house! Now shoo, shoo, shoo, and don’t come…

Recognise your baby’s sensory personality – knowing how your little one engages with the world will help you to cater the experience to their sensory profile. Settled and social butterflies need more opportunities to socialise. If you can’t socialise due to Covid, try have more sensory experiences like jumping, climbing and rolling. Less screen time is also important for these little ones. Your sensitive and slow-to-warm-up toddler will need a lot of prep time before a new experience. Try to talk through what is coming ahead of time. The photoshoot, for example, probably needed to be prepped beforehand. Also sticking to routines helps these little ones. Midday sleeps help them to recharge and manage whatever new stimulation they are facing. Here are some other tips for improving your little one’s…

Tracto is a new app geared to help parents, doctors and others in charge of children with ADHD take better care of them. The app lets you invite other relevant caregivers to monitor symptoms and side-effects collaboratively, stay on track by setting reminders for medication, activities and assessments, and to keep a digital history of your child’s care journey and response to different stimuli. Tracking is stored so you have a handy history of your child’s journey. Seven symptoms (anxiety, appetite, sleep, hyperactivity, ability to listen, mood and concentration) are tracked. Pharma Dynamics, the driving force behind the app, continues to develop and evolve the app, so it can be configured for each child’s specific needs, from 4 to 13 years of age. There is a QR code on all…

So playing “good guy-bad guy” may have benefits – but we can and should set limits around this type of play: RULE #1 Children shouldn’t hurt each other while playing. Letting children go wild with a toy gun or aggressive play is never okay. RULE #2 Teach your child to ask permission. Explain that some people don’t like playing with guns, and so your child needs to ask a friend’s permission before playing this type of game. RULE #3 Rules such as not pointing or shooting at others’ faces (even if the gun doesn’t shoot bullets) and not shooting pets are important boundaries for safe imaginary play. RULE #4 Limit the amount of playtime and allowed places for pretend-shooting games. For example: the living room is off-limits to water pistols.…

WINNER 1 The winner (a boy) will appear on the cover of Your Pregnancy & Baby February & March 2022 issue. WINNER 2 The winner (a boy) will appear on the cover of Baba & Kleuter February-May 2022. WINNER 3 A newborn will be featured on Your Pregnancy & Baby June & July 2022 cover. WINNER 4 A newborn will be featured on Baba & Kleuter June-September 2022 cover. WINNER 5 The winner (a girl) will be featured on Your Pregnancy & Baby October & November 2022 cover. WINNER 6 The winner (a girl) will be featured on Baba & Kleuter October-January 2023 cover.…

“Do you cry more now that you are pregnant? If yes, what triggers the tears?” AMOGETSWE MPHELE (26) from Vosloorus on the East Rand of Gauteng is 37 weeks and says, “Take it from me, most of the time what triggers my tears is that I get little or no attention from the father of my baby. These insecurities trigger tears, because I feel so big. Most of the time I feel like I’m not good enough for him anymore.” THEMBI MNISI ZULU (33) from Daveyton, Gauteng, is 33 weeks and says she cries from the pure exhaustion of being pregnant, and she also gets teary when she realises how much she misses her pre-pregnancy body. MARYKE CHRISTIANI (26) from Pretoria, Gauteng, is 22 weeks, and says she cries when…

YOU COULD WIN A MUSTELA HAMPER WORTH R800 Seventy years after its creation, Mustela’s ambition remains the same. Mustela offers a range of natural-origin cosmetic products to free children from nappy rashes, red and itchy spots, nasty-looking scrapes and scratches, and their parents from figuring out what sunscreen protection to use. Mustela products are designed to minimise environmental impact. The hamper includes Soothing Berry Cleansing Gel 500ml, Hydra Bebe Lotion 300ml, Sun Lotion 100ml, Mustela diaper bag, Hydra Bebe Lotion 50ml, No Rinse Cleansing Water 50ml, Gentle Cleansing Gel 50ml, and travel mesh bag. To enter, send a hi-res image of your child with a parent, other carer or sibling to sharing@ypbmagazine.com. Send a clear, good-quality photo to us at sharing@ypbmagazine.com…

OVEN-BAKED BACON When you make bacon for breakfast, do it in the oven. Line a baking sheet with tin foil, lay the bacon in a single layer on the foil-lined sheet and bake at 200°C for about 15 minutes. Drain any excess fat on kitchen paper and freeze what you don’t eat for breakfast. It’s great crumbled over soup or scrambled eggs. FREEZE BAKED GOODS Make a batch of bran muffins and freeze in sandwich bags. (If you’re not really the baking kind, buy some at your local bakery.) They’re a great breakfast stand-in or to pop in your tot’s nursery school lunchbox – no need to defrost first, they will thaw out by snack time. MAKE DOUBLE (or triple). When you make pancakes on a rainy day, or waffles…

Multi-inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare complication of Covid-19 in children, most often between 3 and 12 years old. Different body parts can become severely inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes or gastrointestinal organs. If you’ve heard chatter about the syndrome on social media, that’s because there have been isolated cases of the condition in South Africa, says Dr Van der Bijl, but it usually has good outcomes when medical care is promptly given. Dr Ritu Banerjee, an associate professor in paediatric and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University, says in an article in The Conversation: “MIS-C appears to be caused by dysregulation of the immune system, in which the body’s immune response gets out of control and harms the body itself.” It is not yet…

Q I’ve had two miscarriages. Can I fall pregnant after a miscarriage? A For most women who’ve had a single sporadic miscarriage, the chances of another miscarriage in the pregnancy is much the same as anyone else in the general population. There is an 80 percent chance that the next pregnancy will succeed. If you’ve had more than one miscarriage, you still have a very good chance of having a healthy baby. Studies have found that 75 percent of women who get pregnant after two or more miscarriages go on to carry healthy babies to term. If a heartbeat is seen with ultrasound at eight weeks’ gestation, there’s a 98 percent chance of carrying your baby to term. COPING AFTER A MISCARRIAGE There’s no way to know how you feel…

Taichi 1 ARM CIRCLING WITH BIRD POSE  A Start with feet wide, toes out, knees out, and place hips down and back. Sweep right arm out as your body weight shifts right, leading with the elbow. Arms and body must move together. B Then, drawing a circle, sweep left as your body weight shifts left. Draw continuous circles with arms, swopping swiftly from your left side to your right. Movement must be smooth and seamless with a focus on your breathing. C Then sweep your left arm overhead as if to hold something between your fingers, shifting body weight left while right hand sweeps low. BENEFITS It’s the perfect way to ease your body and mind into the workout. Tai chi movements enable you to focus on breath and movement,…

HOW (MORE THAN ONE) BABY IS MADE NON-IDENTICAL TWINS If you’re having non-identical (fraternal) twins, that process began at ovulation when your ovaries over-performed and released two mature eggs instead of only one. These two eggs were then fertilised by two different sperm that both made it up the Fallopian tubes simultaneously. Non-identical twins are also called dizygotic, because they develop from two different zygotes (fertilised eggs). This means they don’t share the exact same mix of genes and can be of the same or different genders (girl-girl, boy-boy or girl-boy). It’s also possible to have non-identical triplets if your ovaries release three mature eggs, but this isn’t common with natural conception and usually only occurs when ovulation is induced with fertility treatment. IDENTICAL TWINS If you’re having identical twins,…

Q I’m 35 years old and 12 weeks pregnant with triplets. Is my pregnancy high risk, and what kinds of complications should I be on the lookout for? A “Every multiple pregnancy is regarded as high risk, especially higher-order multiples like triplets. It’s imperative that you’re seen by a foetal maternal sub-specialist as soon as possible to determine the type of triplets you’re carrying. This will guide future foetal follow-up scans. Depending on the type of triplets, foetal risks are generally much greater than in singleton pregnancy including higher risk of miscarriage, growth restriction and pre-term labour. From the maternal side, all general complaints of pregnancy are generally exaggerated, for example nausea and vomiting. Pre-eclampsia is more common in multiple pregnancies, as is gestational diabetes. Your healthcare provider will check…

1. The increase in size, weight and volume of the uterus during pregnancy is phenomenal. It grows from non-pregnant to pregnant at term like this: SIZE: 7.5cm x 5cm x 2.5cm to 30cm x 23cm x 20cm WEIGHT: 50g–60g to 900g–1 000g VOLUME: 6ml to 5 000ml (holding capacity of the cavity) 2. The uterus has an extremely rich blood supply in order to nourish the foetus during pregnancy. During late pregnancy, up to one litre of blood per minute passes through the uterus. 3. The uterine muscle is the only muscle in the body that has the ability to contract and retract. This means that during a contraction, when the muscle shortens, it won’t lengthen to the same degree once the contraction has passed. This will continue until the…

WILL MISCARRIAGE AFFECT THIS PREGNANCY? Q I am 17 weeks pregnant with my first baby. Before this pregnancy, I had a miscarriage when I was only a month pregnant. After two months of periods, I fell pregnant again. I never went to see a doctor after the miscarriage, and I’m planning to go for my first ultrasound now but I am worried that I will get bad news. Could the miscarriage have affected my baby in any way? A TINA SAYS: Believe it or not, many women miscarry their first pregnancy – most of us don’t even realise this! You lost the pregnancy very early on the first time, and this time, according to you, you are already 17 weeks along. If you have had no bleeding, and have experienced…

Q My baby has a favourite breast! Since the very beginning, the little scamp has preferred the left breast, to the point where I don’t even offer the right anymore. Is this okay, and what could be the reason for it? I also worry that as he gets older, one breast won’t be enough to satisfy his needs, but the right one doesn’t seem to produce much. Please give some advice? I’m not even sure this is a problem, but I’d like to avoid future problems if possible. A SISTER LINDA ANSWERS: Congratulations on your new baby! Breastfeeding is the gold standard of infant feeding, and as long as your baby is getting enough breast milk, gaining weight and growing at a consistent pace, it makes no difference if he…

In hospital, new moms are surrounded by sisters and nurses who help with bathing, latching and nappies. But after about two days, most healthy newborns go home, and for the first time, you and your partner have to navigate these uncharted waters alone! Nothing can ever completely prepare you, but eventually you’ll get settled with your new roles and routine. BE PREPARED Make sure you get all the newborn essentials ready during your third trimester. Often midwives, hospitals and baby stores have lists of what you’ll need. These include cotton wool and a baby bath of some sort, says Inga Sebata, mom of 5-month-old Qhawelethu. Be practical, and think of what will work best in your home and family. BABY AT HOME New babies eat (between eight and 12 times…

Your baby’s growth chart is an important tool, but you must know how to “read” it. The chart reflects the weights of 100 hypothetical babies, with babies at the 50th percentile being exactly average. But because babies come in so many shapes and sizes, there are other factors to take into account. Bear in mind that boys and girls grow and develop at different rates, so tracking the correct gender is important. Genes also play a big role. “If the parents are tall, the baby will be on the taller end,” says nurse and midwife Heather Wood. “Shorter people may also be on the lighter end of the weight scale. And a child who’s at the 50th percentile for weight but only the 10th percentile for height is likely to…

As a new parent, it can be a challenge to regain your sex life. Even when you’ve been given the green light (usually at six weeks post partum), many factors can interfere, such as tiredness and hormones. GM Pharmaceuticals has two water-based products that could help. Dr. Long’s Pure Desire Lube (from R139) is a water-based lube that is safe to use with condoms. Dr. Long’s Cannabis Lube (from R159) contains hemp seed oil and has a slight warming effect – also safe with condoms. Available from takealot.com.…

Does this sound familiar? “My baby boy is 10-and-a-half months old and still wakes up two to four times a night, and only settles down if he has had something to drink. I am still breastfeeding him at night. Do you think he wakes up because of the breastfeeding? I would like to stop breastfeeding, but I’m afraid that I will struggle with my baby at night if I do so. What should I do?” THE PAED SAYS... Congratulations for breastfeeding until 10 months. I see two issues arising from your question. The first is about whether breastfeeding is still necessary and if it’s okay to stop. The second is around the sleeping habits of a 10-month-old and what you can expect. Breastfeeding is definitely the best for infants until…

Milestones are a double-edged sword for parents. If your child isn’t lifting their head or rolling over when their little friends are, should you panic or just be patient? How accurate are developmental milestone charts, and are they the definitive guide to normal growth? Paediatricians Jennifer Shu and Laura Jana, authors of Heading Home with Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2005), say that average milestone indicators are just that – indicators. The normal age range at which your baby is likely to master a milestone may fall two to three months either side of the average. Many babies and toddlers take their time reaching milestones, but you may be concerned about potential problems and want to know when it’s best to consult a medical professional.…

The NUK Kiddy Cup with Chameleon Effect changes colour and makes drinking water fun! The design on the cup is temperature sensitive. The colour changes whenever the cup is warmed up or cooled down. When a cup is so exciting, a child’s interest in drinking also grows in a very natural and cheerful way. The Kiddy Cup has a leak-proof spout made of a resilient synthetic material (polypropylene) that can withstand little teeth and is particularly durable. It holds 300ml, and the contoured shape makes it easy for little hands to hold. About R242,99, Baby City, Babies R Us, Dis-Chem, takealot.com and nuk.co.za.…

• Keep evenings peaceful, with a routine that leaves time for dinner, a bath, a story and a bit of cuddling before you put the light out. • Try not to expose your toddler to scary TV shows, movies, or books, as these may increase bedtime fears. • Make her room as cosy and comfortable as possible, with a night light to illuminate dark corners. • Don’t close the bedroom door if she asks for it to stay open. • Make sure she has her comfort object at night, whether it’s a blankie, soft toy or even a bottle of milk. • If she’s frightened at night, go with your instincts. Cuddle her, console her, and if you think she needs to come into your bed, let her. You know…

You spent the last year working hard at letters and numbers, so for the holidays, focus on soft skills. Your child won’t even know you’re putting the finishing touches in place for a successful school year. EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT To hold his own in a group setting, your child much feel confident. If his emotional development is on track, he should be able to take age-appropriate decisions, for instance telling you what he’d like on his sandwich. He shouldn’t cry about little things or be unusually shy. He should be able to act independently, be keen to try new things and not be scared of new situations. He should be able to handle frustration and failure. HOW YOU CAN HELP Your child needs your love. A loved child will always thrive.…

Our pets are often our first “babies”. Then, when our first real baby is on the way, we suddenly realise that we may have a conflict of interests. Will we still have time to devote to our beloved pet? Is it healthy to have pets around babies? “These are the kinds of questions that are regularly asked by pet-owning parents-to-be,” says Dr Quixi Sonntag from Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital in Pretoria. A pet can provide balance to a family and give your child a wonderful opportunity to learn about caring, responsibility, patience and trust, so here’s what to do to keep everything harmonious when you bring your baby home. PREPARING YOUR PET Although some experts recommend waiting until a child is between 5 and 8 years old before introducing a…

DREAMS CAN COME TRUE Geronimo the baby penguin has dreamt about flying for his entire life, but everyone knows that penguins can’t fly…or so we thought. With the help of other penguins, Geronimo’s biggest wish may come true. David Walliams’ Geronimo teaches children that, with enough perseverance and encouragement, even their wildest dreams can come true. R180, HarperCollins. THE MOST UNLIKELY FRIENDS A cute, rhyming bedtime story that will leave you in stitches. Bear is plagued with a mouse that just won’t leave his house. Mouse is not welcome until there is a strange knock on Bear’s door, and he decides that maybe having Mouse around isn’t as bad as he thought. This lovely story shows children that, often, people aren’t as bad as they seem, in a unique, humorous…