Innholdsfortegnelse for February - March 2024 i Your Pregnancy & Baby

IS ALYX-JENSEN AS FRIENDLY AS HE LOOKS? Yes, he is a ball of energy and a very sociable, friendly boy. He is strong willed and curious. He is obsessed with anything relating to fire fighters and police officers. He loves the outdoors and playing in water. His favourite meals are pizza, yogurt and Oreos! HIS NAME IS DEFINITELY UNIQUE. We were initially going to call him Parker. In fact, this was his name during my whole pregnancy. When he arrived, we were smitten with the name Alyx-Jensen. My late dad was a huge fan of the legendary manager of Manchester United, Alex Ferguson, but we liked the different spelling, so went with Alyx. The second part of his name, Jensen, is of Danish origin, like his dad, Sven. Jensen is…

#sharing ....Send a short letter and photograph to us at sharing@ypbmagazine.com WIN A MOTION BABY MONITOR FROM BEBCARE WORTH R3 799! An award winner in safety, design, and innovation, Bebcare’s baby monitoring system is trusted by millions of parents around the world. Using patented DSR ultra-lowradiation technology, Bebcare boasts 91 percent less electromagnetic emissions, the lowest of any baby monitor on the market. The monitor offers incredible range, excellent battery life, high-resolution video and crystal-clear audio. Available at bebcare.co.za and takealot.com. “Said on social” A few parenting truths that made us giggle My 2-year-old asked me for potato and kept getting mad at me when I gave her potatoes to eat. It took a good 20-minute meltdown before I figured out that she calls play-doh potato. Learning a new language…

Hi, my name is Anzelle Natasha van der Merwe. I was born at Karl Bremer Hospital on 30 August 2023 at 11.37pm, weighed 3,92 kg and measured 35cm. I was born with a cleft lip and palate, but I’m still a little bundle of beauty. I am a busy body but also a very sweet baby. I take long naps and like to stay up for hours during the day to entertain my mommy. I am very spoilt sometimes, because I like to be picked up. I am very friendly when it comes to people, but when I am moody or tired, I just want my mommy. Although I’m usually quiet, I can be a drama queen when I need to. This is me!…

...To enter, send a good quality photo to us at sharing@ypbmagazine.com WIN 1 OF 8 AT LIFE PRODUCTS HAMPERS WORTH R850 EACH! The Mi-Vitamin® range of health supplements from At Life Products has been formulated to maintain good health and support your family’s immune system, elevating lives and health. At Life Products provides health supplements and dietary solutions for babies, children and adults, to support your family’s health in every stage of life. These scientifically developed multi-vitamins and minerals and omega-3 supplements are well loved!…

The correct use of car seats can reduce deaths by over 70 percent and injuries by 67 percent, says Peggie Mars, the founder of the non-government organisation Wheel Well. “Car seats are like shoes, just more important. Parents should try out car seats to ensure they have the right ‘fit’ for their child,” Peggie says. Good-quality car seats will have a manual and stickers showing how to install them correctly. However, seats get dirty and, when they are reassembled after washing, they are often incorrectly assembled. For the same reason, be wary of seats bought second-hand. Wheel Well is always ready to assist parents with advice and instructions, either in person at its Randpark offices or via WhatsApp video calls. “Installing the car seat correctly is vital, as is reassembling…

Conscious Birth: Inner Wisdom for Modern Mothers by Theoni Papoutsis a seasoned Joburg-based doula and hypnobirthing teacher, neurolinguistic programming practitioner and coach - blends the wisdom of mindbody synergy with a no-nonsense approach, providing you with a solid foundation of knowledge to empower you through pregnancy and birth. The book incorporates techniques such as pregnancy yoga classes, mindfulness practices and so much more. By the end of this workbook, you will: ■ Gain an understanding of labour and the birth process. ■ Be fully prepared for what to expect during pregnancy and birth. ■ Know what to do if your birth does not go according to plan. ■ Embrace birth as a natural process rather than a medical event or as an illness. ■ Learn constructive ways to manage the…

Just over half of South Africans over 25 are married or living together in long-term relationships; 4 percent are divorced or separated, and 10 percent are widowed. Many young women get pregnant unexpectedly without being in a stable relationship. We spoke to some single moms to find out how they are coping. HELEN CALITZ “ I BECAME A BETTER PERSON. YOU DON’T SEE THIS WHEN YOU’RE SCARED AND ALONE THOUGH. ” PERSONAL ASSISTANT I had an affair with a married man of which I am not proud. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. It was wrong in every sense. BEING A SINGLE MOM I was deeply shocked by my pregnancy. It scared me so much that I don’t even remember much of my pregnancy or the first few months of…

COMFORTABLE TROUSERS Number one on our list for a reason! Flattering and on-trend, these linen-blend maternity pants suit every body shape, and transition effortlessly from casual to chic. After baby arrives, simply fold the band over for a comfortable and flexible fit, R599, cherrymelon.co.za and Cherry Melon stores. ORAL CARE Your teeth and gums can really take strain during pregnancy. Get the right nourishing care with Zendier’s preggy toothpaste, specifically formulated to help protect you from the oral sideeffects that might occur during pregnancy. R79,99, zendierproducts.com. CRIB OF DREAMS Make sure baby has a comfy spot to sleep. Stokke Sleepi Bed V3 is the crib that grows with the child, making it suitable from newborn to 5 years. It has lockable swivel wheels and a height-adjustable base. R20 498, stokke.africa…

OUR EXPERT Q I’m expecting a “laatlammetjie”. During my first pregnancy 17 years ago, there was a huge emphasis on getting enough omega 3 and folic acid, and I’m pretty clued up about that. This time ‘round, I see lots of talk about protein and collagen during pregnancy. I’ve never been a big meat eater, so how can I get enough of this in my diet? I don’t even know how much is enough. Also, I’m officially a “geriatric” pregnancy - does this have any bearing on my nutritional needs? The gynae didn’t really say much about nutrition. A ELMARIE ANSWERS: What an excellent question, and you are absolutely right! Folic acid and omega 3 are important antenatals, but for a healthier and more comfortable pregnancy, the following antenatals are…

good buy Feel fresh in a new dress from Miladys. They have all the styles and sizes from 32 to 50 and S to 3XL. Pleated trapeze dress in chartreuse, R599, and printed shift dress, R299. See more at your nearest store or at miladys.com. Your body is working extremely hard making another human. You’re busy making a baby, as well as baby’s life-support system: the placenta. Add to this the rush of progesterone flooding your System - progesterone is a hormone that helps regulate your reproductive cycle, and it also makes you drowsy. Your metabolism is changing rapidly, lowering your blood sugar and blood pressure levels, which cause tiredness. Your newly tender breasts may make it hard to find a comfortable sleeping position. Your growing uterus puts pressure on…

OUR EXPERT Ask A Doctor on the #Keready WhatsApp line 24/7 for any health-related queries: 060 019 0000 Keready hosts regular TikTok Love sessions on @keready including women’s health topics such as endometriosis, sexually transmitted infections and breast cancer. Q I’ve been HIV positive for 10 years already, but in relatively good health. When I was diagnosed, I thought for sure that I would not risk having a child. I just decided to never become a mother. But things change, and I met the man of my dreams, and one thing led to another. I’m only five weeks now, but so scared of what my status means for my pregnancy and for my baby. What can I do to maximise our health? Will I have to have a c-section? Will I…

KERRY MORGAN I personally had no problem or shame with breastfeeding my child in public. I always made sure I had a cover or wrap, as it seems to offend others sometimes. The only time I ran into a problem was while visiting friends and one of the women there was horrified that I fed my child in front of her husband, even though I covered up. She made such a scene about it, saying I was flaunting myself in front of him! At the end of it, she was the only one that looked stupid. I will feed my child when she is hungry and will always consider those around me, hence the cover. If someone has a problem with it, then it’s their issue, not mine. CHANNY PATEL…

OUR EXPERT Q My baby has what looks like a large pimple at the site of her BCG injection. It’s very red and inflamed, and it seems as if some pus is coming out of it. Should I try to pop it or rub anything on it to help my baby feel better? A DR PAUL SINCLAIR ANSWERS: The BCG (or Bacillus CalmetteGuérin) vaccine is a live bacterial Vaccine that is given to your baby shortly after birth. It is injected into the upper outer aspect of the right arm. It is an attenuated form of cow tuberculosis, so it does grow and multiply, forming a “cold” abscess. This abscess is the pimple-like spot to which you are referring. It can increase in size and generally looks like a small…

BIRTH TO 6 WEEKS 40 to 60 minutes at a time. 6 TO 12 WEEKS 60 to 80 minutes at a time. 3 TO 6 MONTHS One-and-a-half hours at a time. 6 TO 9 MONTHS Two hours at a time. 9 TO 12 MONTHS Two and a half hours at a time. You’ll notice your baby is overtired when she shows these signs: ■ Irritability. ■ Looking away from you. ■ Squirming with frantic movements. ■ Arching her back and neck. ■ Frowning. ■ Hiccups, and colour changes around the mouth. ■ Gagging and spitting up. ■ Crying. When this happens, you should: ■ Calm her environment and reduce stimulation (noise, light and so on). ■ Hold her firmly and avoid chopping and changing positions. ■ Swaddle her tightly with…

Super smart TO PLAY SMART, YOU NEED TO KEEP YOUR TODDLER’S BODY BUSY, BUT THEIR BRAIN HAPPILY STIMULATED TOO. To play smart, you need to keep your toddler’s body busy, but their brain happily stimulated too. Here are some hand-picked activities that do just this. 12 TO 18 MONTHS PLACE THE HAT DEVELOPS Gross motor, social awareness YOU WILL NEED ■ Familiar people or fluffy toys. ■ Variety of hats. Place the dolls in different areas and at different heights in the room. Let them assume different positions, for example sitting back to back, on all fours, sitting on the floor with knees bent. Encourage your toddler to choose a hat to place on a figure’s head. They will have to collect the hat and then move between the toys…

After using nappies from birth, potty training a toddler can be a daunting task for some parents, as their little one is suddenly faced with a major milestone on the road to bladder and bowel independence. But, mostly, we worry about this step far more than we need to. These 10 tricks and tips will help. POTTY TRAINING DON’TS ★ Don’t let it be a struggle. Be firm but patient. ★ Don’t use time-outs. ★ Don’t reprimand. ★ Don’t set deadlines. ★ Don’t use clothes that are difficult to manage. ★ Don’t discount your child’s fears. ★ Don’t be swayed by people who claim to know better. Follow your gut instinct. 1. GET THE TIMING RIGHT Toddlers, like adults, are individuals. Their personalities, habits and attitudes help determine when they…

Do you break out into a sweat at the mere thought of keeping your preschooler entertained during the long summer days? You are not alone! While toddlers can certainly keep you busy, you don’t have to spend a fortune on their entertainment. They really want to spend time with you. Fortunately, there are plenty of enjoyable ways to till the hours, while also creating wonderful memories. I still remember how my mom made a pink elephant out of detergent boxes for me one afternoon. I was crazy about it, and it only cost her pink paper and a lot of patience. You can do it too! Remember, sometimes you just have to forget about how messy your house will be - your child’s joy will make the cleaning effort worthwhile.…

Many parenting books will have us parents calling out “Good job!”, “I am so proud of you!” and “Well done!” to our children each time they wobble across monkey bars or present us with their scribble-like artistic masterpieces. Why? At a very basic level, positive parenting is aimed at encouraging and developing your child’s sense of selfconfidence or self-esteem, as these two intangible personality traits have been touted as more important indicators for success and contentedness than happiness, talent or IQ. GOT IT OR NOT? If how your child feels about himself and his abilities - his self-esteem - greatly influences how well he will succeed, it makes perfect parenting sense to do and say anything that will ensure that your child does feel good about himself, right? Well, until…

YOUR CHILD MUST KNOW THIS In short, children should be taught to: 1. Never play in the road. 2. Don’t walk along the road alone. 3. Only cross the road in safe places. 4. Always wear a seat belt. 5. Use a safety seat if there is one. 6. Never distract the driver. TIPS FOR PARENTS ■ If your toddler becomes difficult or unhappy in the car, stop at a safe place such as a car port and pay attention to them. ■ As a driver, never try to soothe your child as you drive. Your attention must be on the road. ■ Store your handbag in the trunk of your vehicle so that you cannot use your phone. ■ Children under the age of 12 should never sit in…

IF YOU ARE reading this guide then I am so excited for you! There is nothing as amazing as bringing new life into this world. Each and every birth is unique. You will have a story to tell, whether it went according to plan or not! This is what we’re celebrating in Birth Your Way. Our hope is that you find inspiration in the stories we've shared here, that could be just like yours or not at all like yours. We’re all different, but the one constant is the strength we show when becoming mothers. Do not let fear cloud your judgement. Seek out the right information in order to drive the right attitude, starting with this guide. You’re a woman - a biological marvel who can grow and birth…

“AT MY 38 WEEK check-up, my gynae broke the news that I was already 3cm dilated and in labour! She suggested I stay at the hospital to get ready for Baby,” says Bontle. Instead, Bontle decided to go home to wait it out. “My house wasn’t in order! I still had things to do, so there was no way I was staying at the hospital. I went home on a mission to wash my curtains!” Her husband, Rofhiwa (34), had to convince Bontle to get off the step ladder so that he could help. YPB warning: Readers, please don’t climb up step ladders when pregnant! At 02:00 the next morning, Bontle had backache. “I thought it was because of me trampling my curtains in the bathtub, but once again my…

BEFORE ADMISSION Don’t leave packing to the last minute. From 36 weeks onwards, be ready to go to the hospital. Do things like bulk shopping and filling up the deep freeze with some readymade meals. Preparation is key to a less stressful labour. ■ Pay all accounts ahead of time. ■ Make sure there’s enough money to pay debit orders and rent. ■ Have cash available for emergencies. ■ Make a file with all your important medical documents and make copies of all of them to store elsewhere. ■ Rememberto make arrangements for where older siblings will go when you go to hospital. Make sure their bags are also ready to go. ON ADMISSION Have your documents ready - your medical aid card, hospital card, ID card, booking forms, stem…

TIPS FOR PAIN RELIEF AFTER VAGINAL BIRTH ■ With the go-ahead from the midwife, have a bath or shower as soon as you can. ■ Keep your bladder empty. ■ Ask the midwife for pain tablets. TIPS FOR PAIN RELIEF AFTER AN EPIDURAL ■ Lie flat for four to six hours after. ■ Keep your bladder empty after the catheter has been removed. ■ Ask for pain relief. ■ Tell the midwife if you have a headache. ■ Ask for help the first time you stand up. TIPS FOR PAIN RELIEF AFTER A C-SECTION ■ You’ll given pain injections in the recovery room. These can be repeated every four to six hours depending on your doctor’s instructions. ■ On the second day, you’ll be given pain tablets every four hours.…

IF YOU’RE HAVING A HOME- OR MIDWIFEASSISTED BIRTH The benefit of this birth option is that you can choose where and how you would like to give birth. Experiment with a few positions or change these periodically during the delivery with guidance from your midwife. You can give birth sitting, squatting or leaning forward. Your birthing partner or doula (a person trained to help other women in childbirth) can help you with these. IF YOU’RE HAVING A HOSPITAL BIRTH You may need to conform to what’s routinely practised in the delivery room. You’ll be positioned semi-sitting usually with your legs in stirrups (this is helpful if you’ve had an epidural). It’s important to listen carefully to instructions during the birth. If you would like to try different birth positions, make…

BIRTH BY CAESAREAN means a baby is delivered from the mother’s uterus through an incision of about 15 cm into the abdomen. It may be done electively for personal or medical reasons, or as an emergency when the safety of the mother or baby is questioned before or during labour. In some countries, elective c-sections for non-medical reasons are not allowed. A c-section may be performed under general, epidural or spinal anaesthetic. WHAT IS A CAESAREAN BIRTH? Caesarean birth is a major surgical operation by which the baby is delivered through an incision in the abdominal wall and the uterus. The reasons for having a caesarean birth fall into three general categories: ■ ELECTIVE Planned by choice, not necessarily because of a medical reason ■ PLANNED Not urgent, but for…

NICOLLE’S FIRST BABY, Wade, had been premature, so when the opportunity of expanding the family presented itself, the plan was to have a vaginal birth after c-section and hope for a full-term pregnancy. “In January 2023 we got the good news! I was quite scared that I would have another prem baby, but my gynae reassured us that the likelihood was rare.” Nicolle finally settled, and started to plan how she wanted things to go. She chose a specific gynae and doula to help her with a natural birth as this was her biggest desire. “My doula was terrific. She not only helped with breathing techniques, stretches and right eating, but she was going to be my support as Wayne was in all likelihood going to be on a business…

EMOTIONS The images you see in movies where women are smiling and babies are sleeping after birth are unrealistic. Don’t be surprised if you feel like an emotional and physical wreck. Your hormones are readjusting, your breasts feel like inflated balloons and you may have a sore perineum or c-section cut. You have to get used to new sensations like breastfeeding and surviving on minimal sleep. But with time and baby’s first smile (roughly six weeks later), all will be forgiven and forgotten. BLEEDING There’ll be bright red vaginal bleeding with clots during the first three days after birth. You may experience gushes of blood and clots when standing up, during breastfeeding (this can cause period-like pain) and on exertion. After this, the bleeding will become a pink to brown…

1. BABY’S BIRTH CERTIFICATE Mom and dad must go to the nearest home affairs with their ID books or smart cards to register their baby within the first 30 days. If the hospital offers a service for you to do this there, make use of it. 2. MEDICAL AID Be prepared and apply to your medical aid for registration forms for your baby before you give birth so that these can be filled in (with a black pen) by the doctor and hospital. 3. DOCTOR’S LETTERS Make sure to keep in writing any specific instructions from your doctor. 4. APPOINTMENTS Ensure that these are made before you leave the hospital, and if you’re not able to keep these appointments, phone in to cancel and make another appointment. These are important…

Circle the option that is the closest to how you’ve felt in the past seven days. Q1 I have been anxious or worried for no good reason 1 No, not at all 2 Hardly ever 3 Yes, sometimes 4 Yes, very often Q2 I have felt scared or panicky for no good reason 1 Yes, quite a lot 2 Yes, sometimes 3 No, not much 4 No, not at all Q3 I have been so unhappy that I have been crying 1 Yes, most of the time 2 Yes, quite often 3 Only occasionally 4 No, never Q4 I have looked forward with enjoyment to things 0 As much as I ever did 1 Rather less than I used to 2 Definitely less than I used to 3 Hardly at…

1-9 Indicates the presence of some symptoms of distress that may be short-lived and are less likely to interfere with day-to-day ability to function. However, if these symptoms have persisted for more than a week or two, further enquiry is certainly warranted. 10-12 Indicates the presence of symptoms of distress that may be discomforting. Repeat the questionnaire in two weeks’ time and continue monitoring progress regularly. If the scores increase to above 12, see your doctor. 13+ Scores above 12 require further assessment and appropriate management, as the likelihood of depression is high. See your psychiatrist, psychologist or doctor. *QUESTION 10: If you score one, two or three on Q10 you need help to ensure your own safety and the safety of your baby.…

STEM CELLS ARE the body’s founder cells, which form into all the specialised cells that make up the body (blood, muscle, bones, nerves, connective tissue, organs and skin). Stem cells have these three features: ■ They can divide and renew themselves for long periods of time. ■ They’re unspecialised cells. ■ These cells can turn into or become specialised types of cells. WHAT DO THEY DO? They function as a kind of repair system for the body. Stem cells can divide themselves and replenish other cells. When a stem cell divides it either stays a stem cell or becomes another type of cell with a more distinct function, like a red blood cell or brain cell. Their role is crucial for the development of the human body after fertilisation. In…

I ‘ve been watching a lot of Netflix and Showmax lately - old favourites as well as new shows and movies. Without fail, the old stuff has better plots and more engaging stories, and the new stuff has better CGI and special effects. A quote from The New Yorker staff writer Kyle Chayka really struck me: “Increasingly, what we’re after on social media is not narrative or personality but moments of visual eloquence.” This seems to be the case with TV and movies too: style over substance. One thing that producers/directors still can’t get right, though, and never could, is birth, babies and toddlers. The births always start with dramatic breaking of waters and a few seconds later a 3-month-old is born, with no blood and only a hint of…

Through the eyes of a child, the world is a magical place filled with By wonder and endless possibility. Every experience is an adventure waiting to be explored, and even the simplest things can hold great fascination. But what happens when her world becomes a blurry place? Those adventures turn into fear, and her laughter turns into cries. I’m on my knees picking up toys, turning each opportunity into praying for her to see again. In her early years, only a few months old, Eliza developed congenital cataracts, a condition where the eye lens doesn’t develop properly and becomes cloudy, making it hard to see. She had to have surgery in both eyes - both eye lenses were removed. The first surgery, which she had at 8 months, was a…

.. To enter, send a good quality photo to us at sharing@ypbmagazine.com WIN A GIFT HAMPER FROM CARRIWELL WORTH R2 200! The Carriwell Maternity Support Belt dramatically reduces or completely eliminates lower back pain by gently lifting the abdomen and thereby encouraging a more erect posture. Seventy percent of expectant women complain of back pain; you don’t have to be one of them! Simple: Fully adjustable to your exact needs. Support: The broad, soft belt gently lifts your tummy, relieving downward pressure. Relief: The belt applies counter pressure to any possible area of discomfort in your lower back. Soft: Fabric is gentle on your sensitive skin. Available at Dis-Chem Baby City, Babies R Us @ Toys R Us, takealot.com, loot.co.za, Woolworths and leading baby and maternity stores for R299,99.…

It can’t be emphasised enough: breast milk results in better healthcare outcomes for babies and children. And yet, we have one of the lowest rates of breastfeeding in Africa (32 percent), falling behind Countries like Kenya and Rwanda, where more than 60 percent of babies are exclusively breastfed for their first 6 months of life, and we lag behind our neighbours Botswana and Eswatini, says Stasha Jordan, executive director of the South African Breastmilk Reserve (SABR). Basic antenatal care, along with breastfeeding support are keystones of the organisation’s work. The SABR collaborates with maternity and neonatal wards around the country to supply lifesaving human breast milk for premature and sick babies to more than 80 neonatal ICUs, with a particular focus on the Country’s most vulnerable populations, in under-resourced rural…

pregnant women get the amount of exercise recommended: 30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity most days of the week. Researchers at St Louis University in the United States looked at data of 150 000 women for the study, and found that the pregnant ones were significantly less active than the non-pregnant ones. TRACK IT! We asked which parenting apps you can’t live without. These ones came out tops: 1. Huckleberry. Particularly good for tracking sleep. 2. Baby Care. Keep track of feeds, sleep, poops, growth and more. 3. Baby Manager. Great for tracking breastfeeding. 4. Baby Tracker. Very easy to log everything from feeds to pumping to nappy changes. 5. Feedbaby. Great for all things newborn, especially breastfeeding.…

Apart from confirming your pregnancy, there’s a lot to get through during your first appointment. Your doctor will want to take a full medical history, a complete physical examination and may even take some blood. With all this going on, it can be easy to forget any other questions you may have. Here’s a list of common questions to ask. Remember, no question is too silly... so ask away! YOUR Q LIST ■ Do I have an increased risk of any specific complications or conditions? ■ What screening or diagnostic tests for abnormalities will I need? ■ What kind of diet should I follow? ■ How much weight should I gain, and at what rate? ■ Should I be doing any particular kind of exercise? What is safe? ■ Are…

Iron-deficiency and vitamin-deficiency anaemia - two of the most common kinds of anaemia - can be caused by pregnancy. Anaemia occurs when there’s a shortage of red blood cells (or haemoglobin) in the body and can be caused by a very large number of underlying conditions. Your body needs iron to make haemoglobin, and irondeficiency anaemia is caused by a lack of sufficient iron. Vitamindeficiency anaemia occurs when the vitamins B12 and folate, which are also essential to producing healthy red blood cells, aren’t present in sufficient quantities or aren’t being properly absorbed by the body. Pregnant women have a much higher risk of becoming anaemic - in fact, the World Health Organization says that anaemia affects over 40 percent of pregnant women worldwide. WHY IS ANAEMIA A CONCERN IN…

Did you know you take an average of 23 000 breaths a day? Breathing is something the body knows how to do and is one of the few body functions that can be controlled on “automatic” (such as when we’re sleeping), or that we can take active control of (such as breath holding or breathing with awareness). Breathing also reflects the level of activity in the body. When we work hard, we breathe hard. When we rest, we breathe softly and slowly. When the challenges of life (or labour) seem too hard to handle or things aren’t going as smoothly as planned, we tend to stifle the natural flow of our breathing by unconsciously holding our breath or restricting our normal respiratory movements. fact PREGNANT WOMEN REQUIRE 10%-20% MORE OXYGEN…

At birth, newborns not only look funny, but they sound funny as well. Your newborn’s body is brand new, and it has to learn to function on its own, in other words outside of the womb. As a new parent, you will jump at every pip and squeak your baby makes, which is normal, but most of the sounds that your newborn makes are normal and not an indication of any sickness or discomfort. The truth is that her body is learning to function as a separate entity from mom. So how noisy does a newborn get, really? 1. CRYING Babies cry not because they are in pain, but because it is the only way they know how to communicate with you. As you get used to your baby, you…

SKIN TO SKIN Before your due date, negotiate with your caregiver about skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth - even before the checks that are routinely done on your baby. Ask if these checks can be done while baby is on your chest. It’s not necessary to weigh and measure Baby immediately after birth, as this can be done within the hour. Any medications your baby has to receive can be administered while Baby is with you. His heart rate, blood pressure, sugar levels and breathing will all normalise once he is in his your arms. Baby will be warm and feel loved with you in the environment he knows. AVOID BRIGHT LIGHT Protect your baby’s eyes from the bright lights of a labour ward or theatre. Place a blanket or…

good buy Starting solids is a messy time. You’ll want to keep baby clean with a quality product made especially for sensitive skin. Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Foaming Gel (R600 for 1 litre, R455 for 500ml and R319 for 200ml) at selected Clicks, Dis-Chem and Woolworths stores and from superbalist.com, skinmiles.com, shopbeautyontapp.co.za, skinspot.co.za, dermastore.co.za and cosmetology.co.za. For a first-time parent, knowing what, when and how to feed your baby can be quite a daunting experience. There is a lot of information available for feeding babies, which can also be confusing. Once you start with solids, you may also realise that not all babies are the same, and what works for one child doesn’t work for yours. Here are a few guidelines to help you through the feeding process: 1. GET THE…

Any parent with a 1- or a 2-year-old will tell you that it’s hard work, and you spend most of the time saying, “No” and wondering what you’re doing wrong. How did you land up with such a naughty toddler, and what can you do to fix it? The good (or maybe bad) news is that you’re not alone, and your child is not naughty. In fact, he’s completely normal and a tough first three years are part and parcel of the task of parenting. “A child under the age of 3 is seldom ‘naughty’, which is a word that I don’t even like to use - on purpose,” says Cape Town based social worker in private practice Anne Cawood, who is also the author of Toddlers Need Boundaries. “And…

Your toddler’s brain develops at an amazing rate - up until 2 years, your baby’s brain develops language and motor skills faster than at any other point in their life. Between age 3 and 5, her brain makes connections between its different regions, improving logic, problemsolving skills and more. You can help this development: 1. ONE-ON-ONE TIME Spending special time with their parents, talking and expressing their thoughts and feelings, uses the parent-child connection to encourage language development. 2. PRETEND PLAY Your toddler uses their colourful imagination to role-play when playing dress-up or with puppets. This allows them to experience, and deal with, things they may not come into contact with in real life, preparing them emotionally. Pretend play also helps to develop their language skills. 3. SOCIAL BUTTERFLY A…

Downcast and despondent. That’s how Ansa Marais* from Boksburg described her five-year-old daughter, but beneath the teasing was deep concern. Something was bothering her. It can’t be normal for her little girl to constantly be sad and unhappy. Would she ever smile again? After a lot of thought, Ansa turned to a psychologist who confirmed her suspicions. Her child was suffering from depression. The words “children” and “depressed” don’t often go together. We think of children as joyous beings with a jubilant enthusiasm for the world they’re increasingly discovering. However, childhood depression is prevalent, more so than you might think. It’s often overlooked, says Cape Townbased clinical psychologist Juazel de Villiers. “Childhood is usually seen as a happy and carefree time without worries and responsibilities,” Juazel explains. A common reaction…

“A healthier way to look at selfesteem is to focus on self-acceptance and acceptance of other people in one’s life,” says Johannesburgbased counselling psychologist Sarah van Olst. “It may be helpful to use a three-step approach using age appropriate ways of showing your child that all people are different, unique and special.” 1. TEACH YOUR CHILD TO ACCEPT HIMSELF AND OTHERS UNCONDITIONALLY. You can explain that all people are special because there is no one else in the world like them. To describe to a young child that “I’m the best me there is,” you can say: “It’s impossible for people to be better than other people, because everyone is different.” 2. TEACH THAT WE DON’T HURT OURSELVES OR OTHERS. You can say, “Because you are special, you have to…

LABOUR CAN BEGIN any time from 37 weeks onwards. A baby born before 37 weeks is considered premature, and after 40 weeks is overdue. Appointments with your doctor or midwife may occur every two to three weeks until eight months. After that you'll visit your doctor weekly to detect problems that can happen very quickly (such as pre-eclampsia). In the last tew weeks, hormones are adjusting to prepare your body for labour and your breasts for feeding. Your baby is fully developed, growing and maturing vital organs for survival. Although your baby isn’t breathing, his lungs are already getting ready to do their job and show breathing movements. Your baby is contributing to changes in the amniotic fluid - swallowing it and peeing it back into circulation. His brain has…

WOMEN ARE OFTEN not sure if they’re in true labour or not. While you don’t want to birth your baby in the car, you don't want to walk the hospital corridors for two days either. It's quite safe to say that when contractions are regular, painful and coming every five minutes, then it’s time to go to the hospital. If, however, your contractions are irregular and tend to disappear when you lie down or walk around, then this is probably not true labour. WHAT IS FALSE LABOUR? There’s nothing false about Braxton Hicks (practice contractions) -they can be quite uncomfortable. False labour is “false” in the sense that it doesn’t dilate the cervix or result in the birth of your baby. Being told that you’re in false labour can be…

YOUR MIND IS the greatest tool you have during labour. The powerful hormones surging through your body help you get out of your thinking space and move into an altered state. Giving up control in your mind and letting your body take over is a process with which spoken affirmations can really help. To affirm means to say something positively. Affirmations are statements where you assert that what you want to be true, is true. When you say them or think them or even hear them, they become the thoughts that create your reality. Take these affirmations with you to the hospital. Look at them when you find yourself wavering during labour and gather strength from them. Birth is a normal, natural process. I have grown this baby: I will…

Your first obstacle may be the type of anaesthetic you had. Many babies will only feed about 60 minutes after birth, no matter what kind of delivery you have had. If there has been no labour, and no birth hormones working for you, then your breastfeeding may take a while to get going. You will most likely be given antibiotics and painkillers after your caesarean. There has been an increase in the incidence of thrush in moms and babies because of this, and this can affect baby’s willingness to feed. It’s important that you take these meds as they’ll help you relax and be pain free. How you position your baby at the breast may take a bit more practice as your wound starts to heal. Ask the staff (nurse,…

The closing date for newborns (0-3 months) is 30 April 2024. We need two winners in this category. One winner will appear on our June & July cover and the other on the next cover of our sister magazine, Baba & Kleuter. The newborn can be of any gender. The category for girls up to 48 months old opens later in the year. A huge thank you to our sponsors: Reuterina, Epi-Max, Panado and Safeway Babies. All six winners receive prizes worth more than R5 500 from the sponsors. Turn to pages 8 & 9 to see what you can win and to the back of this magazine for the rules and full terms and conditions. Use #CoverStarSearch on social media, so you stay up to date on competition news.…

My husband, Liebenberg, and I will remember 25 September forever, as this was the day we had to evacuate our home in the very early hours after a flash flood ripped through our little country town of Stanford, Western Cape. There were still (non-alcoholic) champagne glasses on the kitchen counter as the night before, we joyously announced our pregnancy to the family. But this morning there were no celebrations - we went into full survival mode. Adrenaline kicked in. There was no time to think. I just remember talking our little peanut through the whole ordeal: “Let’s work together”, “Just hang in there”, “Just keep swimming”. I had to keep reminding myself not to pick up heavy things and to stay calm. And we did... We kept swimming. We made…

WIN A DIS-CHEM BABY CITY VOUCHER VALUED AT R380 Send a clear, good-quality, high-resolution photo to sharing@ypbmagazine.com. Each photo published receives a R380 Dis-Chem Baby City Voucher.…

Netcare’s Ncelisa human milk banks have been running for more than six years. A premature and medically vulnerable baby who’s eligible and can’t receive their own mother’s breast milk can get free breast milk and colostrum from these banks. There are 35 collection sites (depots) and five milk banks where the milk is stored and distributed to eligible babies in NICUs in both private and public sector hospitals. The breast milk collected from eligible donors is processed in accordance with strict protocols. The entire process is regulated by the relevant South African law and proposed rules set out by the South African Department of Health. It is furthermore guided by international and local milk banking guidelines, including guidelines from the Human Milk Banking Association of South Africa. Netcare Ncelisa human…

PLANT POWER BUCKWHEAT SOBA NOODLE BOWLS PREP + COOK TIME 25 MINUTES (+ STANDING) SERVES 2 INGREDIENTS ■ 125g dried buckwheat soba noodles (or any other noodle of your choice) ■ 100g sugar snap peas ■ 2 green or purple endive (250g) (or replace with cabbage if unavailable) ■ 200g sprout mix ■ 1 large avocado (320g), quartered ■ 1 bunch baby carrots (400g), trimmed ■ 120g red cabbage, shredded finely ■ 4 radishes (140g), sliced thinly ■ 1/2 cup (20g) pea sprouts ■ 1 teaspoon black or white sesame seeds LEMON-CASHEW DRESSING ■ 1/2 cup (75g) raw cashews ■ 1 small clove garlic, crushed ■ ¼ cup (60ml) lemon juice ■ 2t extra virgin olive oil PICKLED SEAWEED ■ 20g dried seaweed ■ 3 cups (750ml) boiling water ■…

Presently, c-sections are recognised as a fairly routine and common procedure with minimal risk to both mother and baby. However, your body has still undergone major abdominal surgery and, as a result, what you do and when you do postnatal exercise is critical to your recovery. The following exercises are safe to do early on, provided you work within your pain or discomfort limits. This means that you stop at a level before you feel any pain and do not push yourself. When to start In your second week post-op, start with Exercise One and Two only. 1. THE ZIP This exercise gently starts activating your pelvic floor muscles again by activating the nerve stimulation to them. This exercise is not designed to be rigorous or painful, so work within…

OUR EXPERT “PRE-TERM BIRTH OCCURS IN ABOUT 10 PERCENT OF PREGNANCIES. ONE OF THE MAIN RISK FACTORS FOR A PRE-TERM BIRTH IS A HISTORY OF A PREVIOUS PRE-TERM BIRTH.” Q I am 22 weeks pregnant with my first child. When I am in the shower or even after intimacy, my womb feels as if it tenses up into a tight ball. Could my baby be disturbed by this? A TINA SAYS: What you are describing sounds like the slight contractions of the uterus known as Braxton Hicks. Your uterus contracts continuously during pregnancy, but you are not usually able to feel them until the second half of your pregnancy. The release of oxytocin during lovemaking can cause these gentle contractions and, in some cases, when you become dehydrated or you’re…

ORGANISE MORE SUPPORT You can still call in the help of a midwife with a caesarean birth. Midwives provide emotional support and talk you and your birth partner through the operation and birth. Sometimes, the whole process happens so fast, and it’s so overwhelming, that partners forget to take pics or provide proper support - it’s at this point that midwives take control and remind you how special these first moments really are. ASK FOR THE LIGHTS TO BE DIMMED Theatre lights are harsh, and you might find them intimidating. Check with your gynae before, and put it on your birth plan that you’d like the lights to be dimmed a bit. It will give the sterile theatre a magic atmosphere. But the most important reason is that it will…

For the next two to three years of your baby’s life, the nappy bag is pretty much going to come along on every trip. So choose one (or two) with the following features: ■ It has to be big enough to fit everything. ■ Dad’s macho ego may just rebel against carrying a bright pink bag with a bird and bee pattern, so opt for something fairly neutral. ■ Choose one with sturdy, adjustable handles that you can sling over your shoulder to free up your hands. You also find lovely backpacks nowadays. ■ The fabric should be washable; you’re going to be washing it quite a bit. Many nappy bags have their own changing mat - make sure this mat is also washable. ■ It’s handy for the bag…

good buy Here’s all you need to know about breastfeeding on the go so that you can survive with baby and boobs intact. ON THE EXPRESS WAY Once you and Baby have settled following those first weeks after birth, have a go at expressing and storing your breast milk. It’s the first little step to not nursing for a good stretch, whether it be for a long journey by car, to go back to work, enjoy the odd glass of wine during a meal - or just be somewhere with Baby where you’d rather give a bottle than whip out the boob. It may take some time to up your milk supply, so that you can pump an extra feed, but with expressing, practice really does make perfect. There’s a…

FOR THE LOVE OF ANIMALS The two latest books by author Roslynne Toerien belong on every little South African’s bookcase. The Forgotten Four celebrates the gentle giraffe, hefty hippo, swift warthog and mesmerising zebra. The Speedy Six Olympics imagines how animal Olympics would go in the African bush, with some unexpected twists thrown in by nature. The race evolves into a celebration of uniqueness and the special abilities each animal possesses. Illustrations by Julie Smith-Belton. R180 each, Struik Children. CAT CAPER! Tumford isn’t really a terrible cat, it’s just that he likes to make very loud noises. However, his parents are not very happy with him - they have friends coming over, and they think Tumford is a bit rude. Tumford’s Rude Noises is a funny cat caper about learning…

We’ve probably all experienced at least one difficult situation at our toddler’s first few playgroups - we go expecting to be able to sit back and relax (finally) and watch our little ones play happily with other children their age. However, this is not often the case, and parents often feel embarrassed as their toddlers either cling to them or ignore all the other children in the playgroup completely. PLAYING, BUT NOT TOGETHER While somewhat embarrassing, this is actually quite normal. Remember that each child’s body and mind develops at a different rate, and your child’s social and emotional development is no different. Toddlers aged 1 to 2 interact with other toddlers in what is called “parallel play”. This means that you may see your toddler having no interaction with…

DIFFICULTY PREPARATION TIME CLEAN UP ACTIVITY TIME 1 hour or more YOU WILL NEED: ■ Paper ■ Scissors ■ A pretty straw or painted stick ■ Pins ■ Prestik or modelling clay ■ Buttons ■ Glue ■ Paint ■ Paintbrush STEPS 1 & 2 Cut the paper into a square. You can do this easily by lifting the one corner of the paper to the opposite side and trimming off the excess. Bring opposite corners together and fold, so you’re left with folds marking four triangles. STEP 3 Make an incision along the fold from each corner to just about the centre of the paper - stop cutting a centimetre away from the centre. STEP 4 You will now have two sides to every corner a right side and a…

Benjamin van der Merwe was a meticulously planned child from the get-go. Unable to fall pregnant naturally, we knew that we would have to try alternative options, but we hadn’t planned on raising him in England. Back in South Africa we had a family home, relatives and a strong network of friends. I’m British but called the country home after living and working there for eight years. My husband, Phillip van der Merwe, was born in Durban. We were both in comfortable career positions when an opportunity in the country of my birth came knocking - and we just couldn’t refuse. The one who hadn’t ever considered leaving his homeland was the one who had received the exciting job offer abroad. Leaving my two stepsons and the rest of our…

1. Exercise every day to feel comfortable with your new body and practise the positions you’l use in labour. 2. Eat well. Your baby's brain needs lots of protein, so get at least one helping of each of the big five every day. This includes proteins, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and polyunsaturated fats. 3. Make lists and write things down. It helps you to remember. 4. Harness the power of music, yoga, reading, swimming, meditation or prayer to help you when you're stressed, tired or in pain. 5. You’e not alone. Delegate tasks to friends and family, especially if you have other small children. Rest and take it easy. Keep your spouse or partner involved and communicate your feelings.…

LEONIE AND HER husband, Eon Schlechter (34), both had medical conditions that made falling pregnant naturally impossible. After removing Leonie’s cysts and with Eon being on hormone meds, the prospect continued to look bleak. They decided to go the IVF route. Little did they know it would be a 2-year journey. After the first attempt there was one good-looking embryo, but sadly the transfer failed. On their second attempt they implanted two embryos and everything looked really good, but both failed. The next two to three months of waiting before the third attempt felt like an eternity, as they were saving money for the task ahead. “This process is expensive, so it's not an easy decision to make,” says Leonie. It was to be their last attempt at IVF, and…

WHETHER YOU CHOOSE needles, drugs, water, hypnotism, massage or acupuncture to make labour and birth easier, be prepared for some degree of pain or discomfort. By tuning your brain to deal with pain through breathing, moving, or using distraction techniques, you can help yourself to feel in control of your labour and pain. You also have a built-in hormonal pain control centre that releases endorphins and relaxins - these are as effective as potent painkillers. However, these hormones can be blocked in a stressful situation (such as your first contraction). For some women it’s just the smell of the hospital, the thought of needles, fear of the unknown or remembering what it was like the last time, that stresses them out. “YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF AND YOUR UNBORN BABY…

IF THE THOUGHT of giving birth is giving you sleepless nights, just remember that when the time comes, you’ll only be too happy to get the birth over and done with. And when it’s over, the pain will (somehow) be forgotten too. Childbirth is no longer thought of as a lifethreatening event. Although there’s still the risk of complications, these are mostly prevented by good antenatal care. Women no longer have to give birth lying on their backs like stranded beetles. You’re free to move about during labour and can choose a position that’s comfortable to birth in. Also, delivery beds at the hospital are more accommodating than before. DURING LABOUR When you have a contraction, focus on a specific object and sway, rock, or use repetitive words that can…

“IN MY FIRST trimester, I had nausea, zero appetite, and could only eat carbs,” says Neerasha. Being an active and fit woman, she however enjoyed her second trimester, as she got back into being active again. But by the time the third trimester came around, she really battled with discomfort, absolutely no clothes fit her, she had heartburn and felt so heavy! Thankfully, with careful planning, she was able to take a month off before the birth. “I didn’t mind if I had natural or a c-section; either way, I was fit and looking forward to the whole experience,” says Neerasha. “My due date was 18 June and I stopped work on 21 May. Kiyana arrived the next day, 4 weeks early! After 9 hours of labour, with lots of…