babble winter 2010 1 draft
TRANSCRIPT
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44 South Dorset NCT: Winter 2010
Winter 2010
South Dorset
Inside:
NCT, Alexandra House, Oldham Terrace London W3 6NH, Registered charity no. 801395
Things I wish I Knew When I Left The Hospital
Are You Feeling SAD?
Book Reviews
Best Toys
Egg-cellent Eggs!
Breastfeeding
Babble
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42 South Dorset NCT: Winter 2010
The Last WordI absolutely love the Christmas Holi-
day. The magic always gets me. And
yes, I lied to my kids and told them
that Santa was totally real... Until they
came to me, one by one, and made it
clear that they were too old for that
nonsense.
Okay, I would sigh, But dont spoil
it for the little ones, alright?
It brought tears to my eyes to hear my
eldest whisper to my youngest, Of
COURSE Santa is real! But youngest
children are too wise for that, and
learn early on that any information
your big brother gives you is likely tobe seriously flawed.
They probably kept the Santa Myth
going for as long as they did just to
humour their parents: Sean and I
would be creeping about with heavily
disguised packages; large boxes
would appear on the tops of cup-
boards; wed cry, Dont go in there!
Um, Dads... Gluing something, andthe, you know, smell... isnt good for
kids!
The three boys would go off, sighing,
Oh, let them have their fun... Theyre
so sweet at Christmas time, arent
they? They would look on fondly as
their ninja-parents walked noncha-
lantly by with a bicycle-shaped bin
bag.
It will probably mean years of therapy
later on, with an earnest doctor ex-plaining to me that my lying to the
children has damaged their fragile
sense of reality.
But it was worth it!
Nan Sheppard
Email your comments or articles to [email protected]
NCT Charity Registered Offices
National Childbirth TrustAlexandra House
Oldham TerraceLondon W3 6NH
NCT Enquiries Line: [email protected]
Cover photo: Aine Calgaro
Its that time of year again... Puddles, boots covered in mud,
the Holiday Shopping and baking (Aaargh!) and a general feel-
ing of Will The Sun Ever Shine Again. But have no fear! Your
Winter Babble is here, to help you get the best out of the sea-
son. (Except for the baking. Youre on your own there, Im
afraid!) Theres a handy
pull-out section in the
middle of this issue, so
that you can keep impor-
tant NCT dates, courses
and contacts nearby.
Its that time for the All
Members Meeting, too!
Members, volunteers and
supporters and their
families are invited to attend our meeting and enjoy Cheeky
Monkey Fun on Saturday 8th. November at 8 Tower Road,
Poole, BH13 6HY. More details and directions on page 17.
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4 South Dorset NCT: Winter 2010
Welcome! 3
Volunteering for the NCT 5
Things I Wish I Knew When I Left The Hospital 8
About the NCT 12
Are You Feeling SAD? 14
Depression Got you Down? 16
Pull Out Info Pages 17-27
Breastfeeding: Little-Known Facts 28
Book Reviews 30
Recipes: Egg-cellent Eggs 32
Toy Story 33
Its Good to Talk 35
Getting Back in Shape 39
Advertisers Information 41
The Last Word 42
Email your comments or articles to [email protected]
Advertisers Information
By Advertising in South Dorsets Babble Newsletter, you will be sup-porting the great work of the NCT, and your ad will be seen by our read-ers in Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, Ferndown, West Moors, Ver-wood, Wimborne Minster, Corfe Mullen, Wareham and Swanage.
We have a circulation of 400, with copies going to NCT members, healthprofessionals, public libraries, antenatal clinics, doctors surgeries andcommunity organizations.
South Dorsets Babble is produced four times a year. The next issue
will be released for Spring, in mid-February.
RATES AND SIZES:
Inside Front, whole page: 78 + VAT (280 for 4 issues) -130x190mm
Outside Back, whole page: 78 + VAT (280 for 4 issues) -130x190mm
Inside Back, whole page: 72 + VAT (260 for 4 issues) -130x190mm
Full Page, inside: 65 + VAT (250 for 4 issues) -130x190mm
Half Page, inside: 50 + VAT (185 for 4 issues) -130x95mm
Quarter Page, inside: 35 + VAT (125 for 4 issues) -65x95mm
NEW Black & White Quarter Page, centre pages : 25 + VAT
Insert Flyer (Advertiser Supplied): 45 + VAT
For further information please get in touch: [email protected]
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40 South Dorset NCT: Winter 2010
Thank You!Wed like to thank everyone
who supports the Babble
Newsletter. Your advertising,
articles, poems, photos andvolunteers precious time have
made this publication and its
distribution possible.
Special thanks to Midas Digital
Printing :
www.midasdigital.co.uk for
their generosity, time and for
answering the million printing
and publishing questions from
the clueless Editor!
We are also grateful to Saskie,
whose great suggestions, arti-
cle and many brainstorming
mornings have been crucial to
making this issue a success.
Babble could never happen
without all your support.
Sincerely, Nan and Miira
Email your comments or articles to [email protected]
Were going from strength tostrength in South Dorset! Manythanks to all those who volun-
teered to fill positions and helpout.
Welcome, Lorna and Poppy. Andthank you to the many helpers at
our sales and events.
We Need Volunteers!
Newsletter Team Member:
Our newsletter team is fun!
Were creative! We bake great
cakes! But were not so good
with the computer stuff. Do you
have publishing experience? Do
you enjoy making pretty lay-
outs? Have you got a couple of
hours a month to spare? Do you
want free cakes and babysitting?
Join us, and save us from our-
selves!
Nearly New Sale Team
members:
Our October Nearly New Sale
was a HUGE success. We would
like to hold another in early De-
cember, but we need volunteers
to help. Please get in touch if
you can.
Branch Social Coordina-
tor
Are you outgoing and enjoy
planning events? This post
might be perfect for you!
Volunteering ...
...is a great way to make friends,
keep active, improve your skillsand keep your rsum current if
you are taking a long leave to be
with your baby. If you can spare
a few hours a month, we would
love to hear from you.
To Find Out More aboutthese and other exciting possi-
bilities, please contact Kathryn:
South DorsetSouth DorsetSouth DorsetVolunteersVolunteersVolunteers
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6 South Dorset NCT: Winter 2010
Baby, Whats Wrong?
(For Joe, aged 8 weeks)
Are you hungry, are you thirsty?
Is your nappy wet or dirty?
All that milk that youve been slurpin,
Do you need to have a burpin?
Are you hot or are you cold?
Do you want someone to hold?
Are you bored, miss your toys?
Are you tired, too much noise?
Are you upset, are you sad?
Do you want your mum or dad?
Are you ill or in pain?
Shall we have a cuddle again?
Written at 5am by a first time mum,
still learning!
Email your comments or articles to [email protected]
It is completely normal andhealthy during pregnancy to gainsome extra weight to ensure thebaby is healthy and develops
normally.
After the birth many Mums arekeen to get back in to their prepregnancy clothes and lose theweight gained over the past 9months. It is important not tocrash diet this is not healthy foranyone but especially if you arebreastfeeding as reducing calo-
rie intake can affect milk supply.
The best way to get back in toshape is to eat healthily and ex-ercise but finding the time ishard for new mums. There aremany post natal classes that al-low mums to bring their baby ina buggy so there is no need for
crche or baby sitting.
The instructor taking the classshould have a specific qualifica-tion in pre and post natal exer-
cise prescription as a womansbody changes during pregnancyand it is important that the in-structor adapts the exercise ac-
cordingly.
These classes consist of cardiovascular fitness to shift the
weight and toning exercises toget the body back in to shape.Exercise also helps to beat thoseWinter blues and makes us feel
more positive. Why not look for aclass in your area, its a greatway to meet other new mumsand get an hour of fresh air for
you and your baby.
By Jo Walder Brown
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38 South Dorset NCT: Winter 2010
Puddle ducks full page ad
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DISCLAIMER
The views expressed in this news-
letter are not necessarily those of
the NCT or the Editor. Inclusion of
an advertisement or article does not
imply endorsement of a product or
service, or agreement with the au-
thors views. The information in thisnewsletter is for the use of NCT
members only, in connection with
NCT activities, and may not be used
for any commercial purpose. The
conditions of the data protection act
apply.
Please email the Editor if you have
any concerns about the contents of
this newsletter:
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Things I Wish Id
Known When I Leftthe Hospital
Surviving the First
Few Weeks...
Its a steep learning curve. I re-
member coming home from hos-
pital when Joe was 36 hours old.
He had been very placid in hospi-
tal and seemed very content. We
were delighted to be bringing
him home. But as soon as he
woke up he became distressed,
shook his head from side to side,
vomited, and cried and cried. He
seemed to settle a bit when held
close to us but started crying the
minute we put him in his Moses
basket and continued to do so
when we brought him into ourbedroom. I think that was the
longest and most challenging
night for us we were both ex-
hausted too and desperately
wanted to sleep. In the end I took
him into his room and finally fell
asleep with him in the armchair
at about 2am.
Smells
In retrospect it should have
come as no surprise that Joe felt
his new environment home
was so alien, with so many differ-
ent smells from those hed been
used to in hospital. Making sure
that his sheets and blankets had
our familiar smell would have
perhaps helped him to feel more
at home straightaway.
The Beauty
of Swaddling
I used to think swaddling was an
old-fashioned and restrictive way
to look after a baby, but this
would have been a really useful
skill to have learnt before leaving
hospital. When he was upset in
the first few days or weeks of his
life, being wrapped up tightly in a
blanket could settle him in-
stantly. It also made it much eas-
ier for us to hold and lift him
when we were feeling all fingers
and thumbs.
Feeding
If in doubt, offer a feed! Some
people say that babies should be
able to manage for four hours
between feeds, but Joe feeds
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cation. For my recovery I knew I also
needed some social activities to get
me out of the house, even though in
the depths of depression the last
thing I felt like doing was mixing
with other mums who were probably
coping much better than me.
I started Water Babies lessons with
Archie when he was six months old.
Right from the start he loved it, be-
ing a very active little boy. We soon
began really enjoying the sessions
together and it helped me to get to
know him much better as we were
both relaxed. The learning curve for
both parent and baby is gentle with-
out any of us feeling bored with the
rate of progress. What also helped
me to keep coming along in theearly days was sharing a car with
another mum and her little daughter,
so there were no excuses to opt out
at the last minute.
Dont hesitate in seeking help if you
think this is what youre going
through. If you think you might be
suffering from postnatal depression
then you should get in touch with
your doctor. The NCT also recom-
mends the Association for Postnatal
Illness (APNI) website:
www.apni.org. This has lots of very
clear information, including two ex-
cellent downloadable booklets out-
lining both the baby blues and PND.
Jo Tolley is the owner of Water Ba-
bies locally. Classes are available
across the region. For more infor-
mation ring 01202 692 485 or visit
www.waterbabies.co.uk.
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36 South Dorset NCT: Winter 2010
lem. I found myself thinking darker
and darker thoughts about my abil-
ity as a mother and became con-
vinced that my son and husband
would be better off without me.
The good news is that research pub-
lished in February this year shows
that targeted help for mums at risk
of developing post natal depression
can have really positive results. The
studies, from Huddersfield and
Sheffield University and the Univer-
sity of Toronto looked at the impor-
tance of providing support from
specially trained health visitors or
mentors who themselves have pre-
viously suffered from the condition.
Whilst we at Water Babies are cer-
tainly not experts on the subject, the
importance of peer support is some-
thing for which weve seen plenty of
evidence. We know that the social
aspect of our lessons is of key im-
portance to parents. In fact, parents
often tell us that they rate the ability
to meet others as being far more
important than all the physical and
mental benefits were always telling
everyone swimming provides!
One of the problems with postnatal
depression is that often the condi-
tion is undiagnosed and untreated,
especially as new mums are reluc-
tant to discuss how they feel. They
might think that what theyre
experiencing is completely
normal, or feel ungrateful or
embarrassed about not en-
joying what is so often talked
about as being this happiest
of times.
Mixing with other new mums
is certainly one source of
help. As Dr Cindy-Lee Dennis,
author of a Toronto study,
comments: Programmes like Water
Babies can potentially prevent post
natal depression among mothers
who are socially isolated or lonely.
However, one of the problems with
depression is that it prevents many
mothers going out in the first place.
Ali was one of the lucky ones and
knew that it was a treatable illness.
Eventually I took the plunge, went
to my GP and was prescribed medi-
Email your comments or articles to [email protected]
much more frequently than this. I
dont think theres any benefit in
encouraging him to hold on
while hes hungry or thirsty if
he seems distressed or restless
despite a cuddle, Ill offer him a
feed.
In the early days it could take us
half an hour to get started with afeed, but with plenty of practice
he can now get going in no time.
Winding
Im still not sure what colic is ex-
actly, but when Joe was about
three weeks old he started to be-
come distressed after each feed,
particularly in the evenings. He
seemed in pain and was incon-
solable. We tried lots of things
including over the counter reme-
dies, which didnt work the
thing which helped most was
holding him upright, close to my
chest, and giving his back a
good rub to let the wind come
up. Amazing how satisfying a
good burp can be.
Changing nappies...Joe often enjoys his nappy being
changed now a good opportu-
nity for plenty of wriggles and
kicking his legs in the air. We of-
ten get a cheeky smile. But early
on, nappy changing was often a
cause of distress and it took us a
while to figure out the most pain-
free approach.
Feed First
Even if his nappy is very wet or
dirty, its probably not the main
cause of his distress: he seems
to be quite content even with a
huge soggy nappy! If hes upset,
I now offer a feed first, and
change him afterwards. If hes a
bit hungry or thirsty, he becomes
even more upset all the time his
nappy is being changed. And if
he has a feed hell probably need
his nappy changing afterwards
anyway.
Keep Cosy!Joe doesnt much like getting
cold. Especially if his nappy
needs changing at night, he
seems to find it much more com-
fortable to have a towel or muslin
on the changing mat even if
that then needs washing as well
(lets face it, the washing ma-
chine gets used most days any-
way these days).Baby lotion
Within the first week or so Joes
skin started to become a bit red
in the nappy area and a health
visitor advised using a dab of
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10 South Dorset NCT: Winter 2010
Metanium (titanium) cream. This
worked a treat the redness set-
tled within hours. I thought I
would have to use it repeatedly.
But switching from baby wipes
to cotton wool with baby lotion
has meant no more sign of
nappy rash. The redness only
recurs if Ive changed him sev-eral times while out and have
used baby wipes.
Sleeping matters
Moses basket
A good friend kindly lent us her
Moses basket in preparation for
Joes birth. It looked lovely and
so inviting... but Joe didnt like it
at all! Whether it was the unfamil-
iar smell, the feel of the mattress
or simply not being able to see
and feel our presence (despite
our every effort) he never
seemed to settle in the Moses
basket. The quality of our sleepwas transformed when we got a
cot alongside our bed so our
mattresses are adjacent. Joe
wakes just a couple of times a
night for a feed, but then we can
all get straight back to sleep af-
terwards.
Sleep when your
baby sleeps
Lots of people told me to sleep
when the baby sleeps. It really is
true... thats the one chance you
get to have some rest and it is
important to look after yourself.
Not that we dont enjoy watching
him as he sleeps of course.
Early signs of distress
Hiccups are in themselves harm-
less, but weve come to recog-nise that they are an early warn-
ing sign of distress often be-
cause he is tired. If hes been
playing happily on the floor he
might now need a cuddle. If left
to play, the hiccups may well es-
Email your comments or articles to [email protected]
ADVERTORIAL
One of the
best things
about teach-
ing babies to
swim is that
were privi-
leged to be
present at such a very special time
in a familys life. Theres very little
that beats seeing the elation on a
parents face as they watch their
tiny babies develop. Or being able to
witness the obvious pride they feel
as their children achieve such amaz-
ing things from so early on.
Following birth, about half of all new
mums will suffer a period of mild
depression, commonly known as
the baby blues. This may last a few
hours, at most a few days and usu-
ally it then disappears. PND may
emerge slowly, and not become no-
ticeable until several weeks after the
birth. Symptoms include you feeling
very emotional and upset and you
might cry for no apparent reason.
You may feel anxious, tense, ex-
hausted and unable to sleep. Should
these postnatal blues become
worse or more distressing as time
passes, it might be that theyre de-
veloping into postnatal depression.
One Water Babies client, Ali Blake-
more, knows only too well the an-
guish caused by PND. I found hav-
ing a baby a complete shock to the
system, and most of all felt overbur-
dened by the 24-7 nature of mother-
hood. No 'days off' were one thing,
but functioning with only a few
hours' sleep was an escalating prob-
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34 South Dorset NCT: Winter 2010
shows that the toy has passed all
European Standards. Toys from
the NCT Shop -
www.nctshop.co.uk are great
quality, and will usually be deliv-
ered to you within 5 working
days. This makes Christmas
shopping a breeze!
Dont
Get
Carried
Away...
Its easy to want to buy every-
thing in the shop! But really, lessis more. Investing in few good
quality toys will sound like very
good sense if you happen to step
on a broken piece of plastic in
the night. A recent poll found
that children only play with five
percent of their toys... Think of
all that money spent on flashy
stuff that will lurk at the bottom
of the toybox, unused.Usually,the latest toy will be played with
once or twice and the ones that
have been around for genera-
tions will entertain your kids for
years to come. Good quality toys
are recyclable too: Our blocks
and trains have been handed
down to happy cousins, even af-
ter being crashed, bashed and
loved to death by my three boys!
Our All Time
Favourites:
Lego and Duplo building sets
and wooden blocks
Dress-up clothes
Sets of animals and people:
farms, fire stations and houses
Matchbox and Hot Wheels Cars
Cardboard boxes, glue, crayons
and bits of paper
Musical and percussion instru-
ments
Bath toys
Books
Board games
A Teddy!
Photos of toys courtesy NCT
Shop
www.nctshop.co.uk
Email your comments or articles to [email protected]
calate within a few minutes to
whimpering or crying but a
cuddle can nip it in the bud.
Other early signs of distress are
said to include posseting (which
he rarely does).
Having fun
Its hard work but can be so en-
joyable. Joe loves lying on the
floor (on his playmat or just a
blanket) and waving his arms
and legs about energetically. He
seems to get a full workout from
this and its one of the highlights
of his day and therefore ours.
Finding your own way
There is no shortage of advice
from family, friends and healthprofessionals, much of it con-
flicting. The most helpful advice I
got before Joe was born was
from a mother of three children
who have now grown up: I did-
nt always change their nappies
at night. This was the most
helpful thing not just because its
sensible in itself (changing his
nappy in the middle of the nightsometimes wakes Joe up so
much that he decides its play-
time again). More importantly, it
showed me that you dont always
need to do everything by the
book a bit of flexibility in ap-
proach is fine.
Now our first baby is 12 weeks
old and as we are starting to get
to know each other better we can
understand a bit better what he
needs. Of course he still be-
comes distressed at times, but
those times are minimised be-cause we can guess more easily
whats bothering him. Its often
challenging but getting to know
him and spending time with him
is great fun.
By Saskie and Desmond Duffy
One of our Breastfeeding Counsel-
lors says, "Life with a new baby canbe exhausting and bewildering as
Saskie & Desmond found. Conflict-
ing advice in the early weeks can
make things harder at times. It may
be worth giving a breastfeeding
counsellor a call. She can help you
to pick through all the information
you get and find the way that works
best for you.
Four hourly feeding is a hangover
from the 1960s and 70s when babieswere left in nurseries and it was
convenient for the carers to feed
four hourly. A healthy, term baby
will want to teed at least every 2-3
hours for the first few days (and
maybe weeks :-))
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12 South Dorset NCT: Winter 2010
The NCT is the UK's leading independent charity for par-ents. We reach over two million mums and dads each yearthrough our website, publications, courses and events.
For over 50 years we have provided information to new
parents based on evidence and research. Our antenatal andpostnatal courses prepare parents for the incredible lifechanging experience of pregnancy, birth and early parent-hood.
We influence and lobby governments across the UK, con-tributing to national policy to achieve positive change at alocal level.
We provide a valuable support community of local parentsthrough our branch volunteernetwork across every postcode inthe UK. With over 300 localbranches, run by parents for par-ents, you can get in touch withyour local group, wherever in theUK you live.
Charity Reg. No 801395
About the NCT
Email your comments or articles to [email protected]
One of the
best things
about having
my babies
was getting
to play with
TOYS all over
again! I spent many a happy
morning, building block towers
so that my sons could knock
them over again; creating towns
with train tracks, fields and herds
of domestic dinosaurs. In De-
cember we would build a crche.
By Christmas Eve night, the
crche had become O SprawlingMetropolis of Bethlehem with
many villages, fields and animals
galore.
Umm, maybe not the dino-
saurs, I would say. But
MUMMY, Baby Jesus loves ALL
the animals.
Oh! I see...
So much for my tasteful nativity
scene!
Creative play is important. We
know this. Given a heap of
blocks and a few wooden or
plastic animals, kids will make
an imaginary world come to life.
Add a cardboard box or two for
hours of entertainment. You can
join in the fun, if youre feeling
extra-creative!
Home made cardboard box house,
photo courtesy Theresa Suvi.
Wood vs. Plastic
Wooden toys far surpass plastic
for sheer toughness. Ourwooden toys have all been
handed down... The plastic toys
ended up in the bin. Environmen-
tally and financially, wooden toys
get an A+. When buying toys,
check for the CE mark which
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32 South Dorset NCT: Winter 2010
Eggs are packed with Vitamins, Iron and Omega 3 nutrients. One egg
provides over six grams of protein. Add veggies and cheese andyouve got a nutritional winner for kids! They are truly an egg-cellent
choice as a warm and wonderful breakfast.
Confetti EggsUsing a really small frying pan, gently saut
in olive oil a little bit of:
Grated Carrot
Chopped Green Sweet Pepper
Sweet Corn
Remove them from the pan and pour your beaten egg in. Add the vege-
tables on top of the egg, and top with grated cheese.
Be sure the egg mixture is cooked right through, then carefully fold the
omelette over to make a half-circle. Cook a moment longer till the
cheese is good and melty. Serve!
If your child has an aversion to all things green, forget the sweet pep-
per. Introduce different veggies as they get more adventurous. Popularfillings in our house: Mushrooms, diced leftover potato, chopped spin-
ach. To save time, I cook one large omelette and cut it into three pieces
for my kids. Then while the pan is still hot I make one with the fillings
of MY choice - Starting my day right AND setting a good example.
Nan Sheppard
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14 South Dorset NCT: Winter 2010
Are you feeling
SAD?
Do you find yourself dreading
the winter months? As winter
approaches and especially after
the clocks change, have you no-
ticed how it becomes more andmore difficult to get up in the
mornings? Do you feel continu-
ally exhausted and sleep a lot?
Does your other half think you
are being moody and do you put
on weight from stuffing your face
with comfort foods? That will
sound familiar for a lot of us but
if you, in addition, find yourself
feeling blue, anxious and antiso-
cial, you could be actually suffer-
ing from SAD or Seasonal Affec-
tive Disorder.
SAD is a recognised medical
condition, a seasonal depression
which varies from mild to severe.
Estimates of the number of peo-
ple who suffer with the condition
range from over half a million
(according to SADA, SeasonalAffective Disorder Association,
www.sada.org.uk) to two million
people in the UK
(www.sad.org.uk). Although the
symptoms can start as early as
September and last until April,
most acute depression is often
during December, January and
February.
The key symptoms of SAD are:
Depression
Lethargy
Sleep problems
Overeating
Loss of concentration
Social problems
Anxiety
Loss of libido
Mood changes
It is thought that SAD is caused
by the effects our modern life-
style has on the amount of
sunlight we receive each day. Inthe past, most people would
work outside whereas now, the
majority of people work indoors
during most of the daylight
hours. This can affect the way
your body works, causing what
is called circadian rhythm imbal-
anceyour body produces the
wrong kinds of hormones for the
wrong time of day (sleepy hor-mones for middle of the day, for
example), making you feel slug-
gish, causing changes in appe-
tite, mood and sleep patterns. In
addition, SAD sufferers often
have a reduced immune system
Email your comments or articles to [email protected]
Mothering your nursing toddler
by Norma Jane Bumgarner.La
Leche League International Inc.
Illinois. 1980. 206pp.
Although thirty years old this
year, Bumgarners book on ex-
tended breastfeeding is as rele-
vant today as it ever was. Written
with wit and great insight, the
most important aspects of nurs-
ing a toddler are covered .
Bumgarner writes warmly and
matter-of-factly starting with why
to breastfeed and carry on breast-
feeding in the first section ending
it with a history of breastfeeding.
In the following sections she cov-
ers subjects such as how to man-
age the needs of your child and
the needs of the rest of your fam-
ily, what to expect during the dif-
ferent years of nursing as well as
when your toddler is ready to
wean. Although advocating natu-ral weaning, she also lists other
weaning techniques, when you
are ready to stop but your toddler
isnt. Wonderful book, warmly
recommended.
By Miira Dawson
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Why love matters... How af-
fection shapes a babys
brain
by Sue Gerhardt. 2004.
Routledge Taylor & Francis
Group, London. 246pp.
Sue Gerhardts book was an
eye-opener. I cannot say an-
other book has had such an im-
pact on me upon reading. This
book has phenomenal implica-
tions to childrens development
but it also explains why people
have low self-esteem, depres-
sion, addictions, anti-social be-
haviour and even how there is
such a thing as cancer person-
ality.
Beautifully written, Gerhardt
takes the hard route -perhaps
the only sensible one to take,and explains in very scientific
terms the impact poor parent-
ing (i.e. emotional unavailabil-
ity) orlack of lovehas on the
childs developing brain. She is
also not only talking about drug
users or alcoholics, but your
average parent and how their
actions have life-long conse-
quences to childrens ability to
cope with stress.
Although the text is very scien-
tific in places, this information
paves the way to more socio-
logical, emotional and behav-
ioural explanations which are
very easy to follow, even to the
non-scientific reader. The effort
is very much worth it as themessage is loud and clear:
above all, love your children
and be there for them as this is
the most important thing you
can do for them!
Email your comments or articles to [email protected]
during the winter months. Al-
though many of the symptoms
are very similar to several forms
of depression, including post-
natal depression, the difference
is that the symptoms recur every
year to the extent that most peo-
ple are aware of their condition,
at least on some level.
Luckily modern technology can
provide relief to the effects of
SAD. The most successful formof therapy is light therapy. Lights
built specifically for the condi-
tion are becoming very afford-
able and only a single treatment
of 10,000 luxes for an hour is suf-
ficient in most cases to deter the
depression. Ordinary lights in
offices are only 500 luxes or so
whereas a sunny day is 10,000-
100,000lx, so not just any light
will do; also the minimum lux re-
quirement for a SAD lamp is
10,000lx as anything less is
unlikely to treat the condition.
Different types of SAD lights ex-ist (traditional vs. LED) and a
comprehensive guide to choos-
ing the right light can be found
on www.sad.org.uk.
If you are reluctant to invest in a
lightbox, an easy alternative is to
make sure you eat healthily and
exercise. Most importantly, al-
ways try and spend at least
30min-1hr a day outside when
its light, preferably in the middle
of the day when the light levels
are at their highest. The perfect
thing to do is go for a nice walk
at lunch time and eat your lunch
outside. If, however, you feel that
even with light therapy you are
still suffering, you should con-
tact your doctor. In the cases
where these suggestions fail,anti-depressants can help. Either
way, it is good to get diagnosed
as the symptoms can fit several
different conditions.
By Miira Dawson
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Depression Got YouDown?
The weather, our hormones, the
way our lives change when we
become mums and dads, finan-
cial woes, broken sleep, so
many responsibilities, things
not working out the way you
had dreamed... There are many
reasons for parents to feel
overwhelmed, exhausted or de-
pressed.
The first step in dealing with
depression is often simply ad-
mitting defeat: I AM SO DE-
PRESSED! We are used to car-
rying on as normal, saying Imfine thank you, and not making
changes for our health. Often
we are so very busy we feel that
we cannot stop and give our-
selves the time and love that we
need. But a parent who is tired
and unhappy is not the best
parent, partner or friend they
can be.
There is no doubt that
depressed mothers can
also have a big negative
impact on their babies
brains. Sue Gerhardt, psy-chotherapist.
If making ourselves happier is
going to help our kids to thrive,
then bring it on I say!
Getting Better
Old wives used to say Fresh
air and Exercise, thats what
you need! and there is cer-
tainly something in that. Walk-ing in the sunshine is proven to
beat some types of depression,
and exercise releases endor-
phins which act like a shot of
happiness.
Talking to others about it can
help, if you have a spouse,
friend, mum, fellow volunteer,
or doctor you feel comfortable
opening your heart to. Other
people can often see a practical
solution to a problem when we
are just too miserable to think
clearly.
Cleaning! When my house gets
too cluttered and chaotic, I get
crabby. Its time to put on the
cleaning music, grab a bag and
go from room to room throwingstuff out. By the time Ive got all
of the dirty socks in the laundry
bin and wiped everywhere with
nice-smelling stuff, I definitely
feel better. Ive even had
...continued on pg 29
Email your comments or articles to [email protected]
...continued from pg 16
friends come over and fold laun-
dry while I tidied around them,
which is TRUE friendship. (Okay,
so they couldnt find a chair to
sit on unless they moved the
laundry heap... but its the ac-
tions that count!)
Vitamins and a healthy diet:
Omega 3, B Vitamins and several
others are found to aid recovery.
Our modern lifestyles are stress-
ful and much of the food we eat
is not of the best quality. I know
that when I feel blue I dont feel
like cooking, and go for easy
snacks.
Hydration: Drinking enough wa-ter is a simple way to detox and
feel more energetic. Drink your
eight glasses a day!
Meditation can be useful in learn-
ing to quiet the mind and deal
with stress.
Helping others can be uplifting.
Volunteering your skills with
your local NCT group, for exam-ple, will win you many enthusias-
tic friends!
Get Help: call NCTs Shared Ex-
periences Helpline on 0300 330
0774 to talk to a parent who has
been through the same experi-
ence as you.
And if That Doesnt
Work...
We all have bad days, but ongo-
ing depression can be your mind
telling you that something has tochange. Unresolved issues from
our own childhood can affect the
way we feel about ourselves as
parents, and talking about it can
help. Ask your GP for advice:
they can often help you by listen-
ing and may have excellent sug-
gestions. Your doctor can refer
you to a counsellor or psycholo-
gist if you need further assis-tance, and these specialists are a
wonderful free resource. The ear-
lier you can deal with the issues
that cause you stress, the faster
you can get on with your life and
be the best parent possible.
Depression can be a symptom of
a medical condition, such as
some viral infections or hypothy-
roidism, and your GP may wantto check that you arent suffering
from any treatable condition. So
do see your doctor if you cant
seem to beat the blues.
By Nan Sheppard
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Breastfeeding: Little Known FactsBreastfeeding: Little Known Facts
Breastfeeding lowers your risk of Breast Cancer. For women with
an immediate relative who had breast cancer, those who breast
fed had a 59 percent lower risk of premenopausal breast cancer.
Its Slimming! Nursing causes the uterus to contract and return
to its original size. You can feel a cramping sensation the first
few times you breastfeed, and youll know its your uterus doing
sit-ups! Breastfeeding also burns calories!
Breastfed baby poop doesnt smell as stinky, seriously.
Think about the night feeds: On the one hand, getting up out of a
warm bed, mixing a bottle while your baby bawls, waking the en-
tire family. On the other, the roll-over-and-pop-in-a-boob method.
With a little practice, you can feed baby in your sleep!
Many women dont get their period for AGES when breastfeed-
ing. Bonus!
Breastmilk has NEVER been re-
called by its manufacturers be-
cause of Ammonia Contamina-
tion, Beetle Larvae Bits, Mela-
mine or Perchlorate.
Studies indicate that formula-fed
infants have a higher risk of
SIDS.
Feed with ease when travelling.
Planning a trip to foreign parts?
With breastfeeding, you never
have to worry about tainted wa-
ter supplies, electricity cuts, and
long waits at airports. And, its
already packed!
Email your comments or articles to [email protected]
All Members
AGM
All members, vol-
unteers and supporters of the
South Dorset NCT and their
families are warmly invited to
attend the Annual All Members
Meeting which will be held at :
8 Tower Rd, Poole BH13 6HY
Saturday 20th November at 12Noon. If you are thinking of
joining us, please come along.
There will be entertainment for
the kids, and after the formal
meeting well have Cheeky
Monkey Festive Fun and Jo Jin-
gles.
Please bring something to
share for lunch after the meet-ing.
We look forward to seeing you
there!
Lost? Call 01202 765 105
Directions to meeting:
Head South down The Avenue from
Poole County Gates/Liverpool Victoria
Headquarters. Take the THIRD left,
then immediately Left into Tower
Road. (If you take the 2nd Left into
Tower Rd, you will get lost!)
From Canford Cliffs: into The Ave-
nue. Third Right then immediately
Left.
By bus: 150 bus to Swanage
The Middle Pages: Useful Numbers, Ap-
proved NCT Courses, Events, Meetings
and Other Really Important Stuff
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26 South Dorset NCT: Winter 2010 Email your comments or articles to [email protected]
SOUTH DORSET BRANCH GROUPS
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20 South Dorset NCT: Winter 2010
SOUTH DORSET BRANCH GROUPS
AND COFFEE MORNINGS
Socialise and make new friends!
Bumps and Babies:
Talbot Woods
10:00 12:00 Every Friday
at Talbot Woods Day Nursery, Talbot House, Bournemouth University,
Gillet Road, Poole BH12 5BB
Info: [email protected]
PLEASE NOTE: If you are driving a visitors pass is required to parkon campus, please attain a pass from the University Guard in the
white hut on the roundabout.
Corfe Mullen
10:00 12:00 2nd and 4th Monday of the month
at Corfe Mullen Childrens Centre
The Childrens Centre is attached to the library and there is parkingbehind the library. The entrance to the Childrens Centre is at the far
end of the car park.
Info: [email protected]
Swanage
1 pm to 3pm every Wednesday (term time only)
At Swanage Childrens Centre, Chapel Lane, Swanage BH19 2PW
Info: [email protected]
Swanage Dads Football Team: Tuesday night! Email swana-
[email protected] for more information.
Email your comments or articles to [email protected]
Chair:
Kathryn Henderson [email protected] 07821 656 501
Treasurer:
Zoe Mowlem [email protected] 01202 582 991
Membership Secretary:
Anita Burden Branch Phone 0844 243 6267, option 4
Antenatal Teachers:
Marion Alborough [email protected] 01202 842 403
Chrissy Hustler [email protected] 01202 886 654
Antenatal Class Booking:
Fiona Makin [email protected] 0844 243 6949
Parent Support Coordinators:
Natasha Sage 07709447627
Lorna Johnson 01202485998
Babble Newsletter Editors:
Nan Sheppard [email protected] 01202 309 230
Dr. Miira Dawson [email protected] 07939 004 752
Previous page photo: James OConnor, www.jtography.com
NCT Under Fives:
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24 South Dorset NCT: Winter 2010
South Dorset Contacts
Branch Phone Number: 0844 243 6267
Breastfeeding Counsellors:
Angie Bull 01202 877 693
Julie Dyball 01202 630 181
Marion Alborough 01202 842 403
Piata Wormald 01929 425 365
Breast Pump and Valley Cushion Agent:
Julie Dyball [email protected] 01202 630 181
Bra Fitter:
Becky Barnes 07947 010 872
Email your comments or articles to [email protected]
NCT Under Fives:
Esporta, Poole: 1 pm to 3 pm Wednesdays
Join us in a soft play area at Esporta Health Club, Poole. For babies
and kids aged 0-5.
Info: [email protected]
Coffee Meetings:
Christchurch
2.00-4.00 pm, 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month: Lornas House
Info: [email protected], 01202 485 998
Bournemouth (also our Newsletter Group Meeting)
10.00-12.00 2nd and 4thMonday of the month: Nans House
Phone 07872 517 434
Branksome
10.00-12.00, 1st and 3rd Monday of the month: Miiras House
Phone: 07939 004 752
Bumps and Babies, Under Fives and Coffee Meetings are all free, buta donation of 1 is much appreciated. Feel free to bring yummy
snacks to share!
For more information and other groups in your area go to:www.nct.org/in-your-area/event-finder OR keep in touch on our Face-
book NCT South Dorset page.
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22 South Dorset NCT: Winter 2010
There are many ways to stay in touch with your SouthDorset BranchWebsite: http://www.nct.org.uk/southdorset
Keep up with events and join discussionsYahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NCT-South-Dorset-Branch
Become a fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?
gid=27267632510
NCT Update Online - NCT Members have their own website, where youcan access useful information and learn more: http://
www.update.nct.org.uk
Other useful and informative websites for parents:Networking Mummies, for all kinds of useful information and sharing for
working and at home mums: www.networkingmummiesdorset.co.uk
UK Association for Milk Banking: www.ukamb.org
Dr. Sears: www.askdrsears.com
NCT Online
Email your comments or articles to [email protected]