NCT East Grinstead Newsletter Summer 2014
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East Grinstead Branch Summer 2014 Out and About Our guide to local, baby-friendly places to visit with friends. Real Life A mother shares her experience of clubfoot. Summer Fun Local events to keep the little ones entertained.
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Transcript of NCT East Grinstead Newsletter Summer 2014
East Grinstead BranchSummer 2014
Out and AboutOur guide to local,
baby-friendly places to visit with friends.
Real LifeA mother shares her experience of
clubfoot.
Summer FunLocal events to
keep the little ones entertained.
WelcomeA word from our editor
p1
Contents PageInside this issue...
In the NewsRelevant stories in the media
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What’s OnLocal summer activies
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Baby Friendly Hangouts Local places to meet with friends
p5
Talipes (Clubfoot)A mother’s perspective
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Bumps and BabesAn important part of our community
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Travelling with a babyA mother’s experience
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Meet the TeamYour local NCT branch members
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WelcomeDear Readers,
Welcome to a new edition of the NCT magazine. This new magazine will soon be available in an online version and please keep an eye out on our Facebook page for interesting articles and offers from local businesses. We hope you enjoy the new bitesized magazine for our busy mums. For those of you wanting to read on, please go to www.nct.org.uk/branches/east-grinstead for local contact details.
You may be aware that our branch has been on the verge of closure due to lack of volunteers and funding, but we now have a new team to carry on our branch. However, we are still short of funding and are still in need of volunteers to help with our Bumps and Babies group and our Nearly New Sale. You do not need to be a member of the NCT to volunteer or to come to our groups. You also do not need to have children to volunteer, any grandmothers out there wanting to help would be welcome. Even offering us an hour of your time on just one Monday in every year would be a great help to us!
We always welcome articles from our readers, if you wish to share a personal experience that may help our other readers please contact us. We appreciate your feedback, positive or negative on the newsletter. If you would like to offer any suggestions, please contact us [email protected].
Enjoy!
The newsletter team,Maya Gunn and Natasha Hans-Barker
In the news...
Bonding benefits of baby brainIt’s official, that time you went to put the cornflakes in the fridge and the milk bottle in the cupboard was for a reason! Research has shown that the phenomenon of ‘baby brain’ happens for a reason. Results showed that pregnant women use the right side of their brain more than women that have already had their babies. The right side of the brain is more associated with emotion, whereas the left is linked to logic. This shift in the way we think is designed to make us more in tune with our baby’s emotions. Hormones activated during pregnancy act to help a woman understand what baby needs from the moment they are born. Source: The New Zealand Herald. 08/05/14
Breastfeeding may cut chance of heart disease more than statinsResearch has found that babies breastfed for at least three months had lower levels of a protein linked to heart disease as adults. It is already widely known that breastfeeding can reduce the risk of allergies, infections and obesity in children, but this new research would suggest benefits of breastfeeding in older age. Levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) were 20% lower in people who had been breastfed for at least three months and 30% lower in those breastfed for at least a year. Currently, Statins have been shown to reduce CRP by only 15%. Increased amounts of CRP are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, strokes and type 2 diabetes.Source: The Telegraph. 23/04/14
Talking to babies boosts their brain powerIt has been shown that reading bedtime stories and talking to babies from birth boosts their brain and sets them up for good achievement at school. Children whose parents talked the least to them lagged behind in language tests and were shown to be up to six months behind their counterparts at two years of age. This handicap often stayed with them over the following six years.
Source: The Guardian 14/02/14
Printed by Mantra Magazines, Crawley
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What’s onLocal summer activities
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with Water Babies,the UK’s leading baby swim school
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In East Grinstead,Crawley and Oxted
First Aid for Babies & Children CourseDate: 10am-12.30pm Sat 21st June 14Location: Oriel High School, Maidenbower Lane, Maidenbower, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 7XW Telephone: 07739370820 Email: [email protected]
Cirque NormandieDate: Sun 6th Jul 14Location: Lingfield Primary School , Vicarage Road, Lingfield , RH7 6HAEmail: [email protected]: www.lingfieldcircus.co.uk
East Grinstead Donkey Derby with stalls and dog show (Free Entry)Date: 12-5pm, Sun 20th July 14Location: King George’s Field, Moat Road, (near Kings Centre).
Oxted and Edenbridge Agricultural Show Date: 24th/25th Aug 14Location: Ardenrun Showground, Tandridge Lane, Lingfield, Surrey RH7 6LLWebsite: www.edenbridge-show.co.uk
Sid’s Deep Sea DiscoveryDate: Thu 28th Aug 14Location: Chequer Mead Theatre, De La Warr Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex,RH19 3BS Telephone: 01342 302000 Email: [email protected]: www.chequermead.org.uk
The Sooty ShowDate: Wed 20th Aug 14Location: Chequer Mead Theatre, De La Warr Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 3BSTelephone: 01342 302000 Email: [email protected]: www.chequermead.org.uk
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Baby Friendly HangoutsLocal places to meet with friends Leaving the house in the first few weeks after having a baby can be a very daunting prospect. What happens if they need a change, what if they are hungry, how will you manage feeding in public, what if you look a twit putting up the pram for the first time etc etc. But sometimes it can be the best thing to do. Sharing your tales of sleepless nights and sore bits with a friend can be a good morale booster. Here are just a few local places to meet that are child friendly.
Lou Lou Jane, 22 Godstone Road, Lingfield. Lovely teashop with yummy cupcakes. Separate room for children and babies with toys to keep them occupied. Toilet set up with permanent baby change table, just like at home. Not a lot of room for multiple prams and steps into cafe, but always someone willing to help you up stairs with a pram. Highchairs available. Breastfeeding friendly.
Tulleys Farm Cafe, Turners Hill RoadGood tea and cake. Several highchairs and a little playground in the cafe garden. They also have some rabbits and goats which the older babies love looking at.
The Gardeners Arms, Selsfield Rd, Ardingly. They have highchairs, a children’s menu which includes a pitta, veg and hummus plate (so good for weaning babies!) and they are fabulously accommodating. Two minute drive from Wakehurst, free parking in their carpark.
Kings Leisure Centre, Moat Road, East Grinstead Cafe and soft play (£1.75). Children’s menu with high chairs available and baby change. Also has outdoor play area and duck pond as well as a creche available.
Standen, West Hoathly road, National Trust.Gardens, house and tea room. Better visited with a sling as mostly ‘off road’. Tea room has highchairs. Breastfeeding friendly.
Trading Boundaries, Sheffield Green (on the Lewes road near Sheffield Park). Interesting little shops and lovely child-friendly cafe with plenty of highchairs and nice outdoor space in the summer. Not the easiest to negotiate with a buggy but the coffee and cake is worth the effort of popping your baby in a carrier! Free parking directly outside.
Maya Gunn
NCT Babychange app now available on the App Store and Google PlayYou’re out for the day. You need to change your baby’s nappy. But where is the nearest
or best changing room? NCT Babychange can point you in the right direction.
If you know of a local baby friendly hangout that you would like to share, email us at [email protected] and we will add it to our online edition.
Chequer Mead Theatre, De la Warr Road, East GrinsteadCafe with lots of space for buggies. Some toys for children and secure outdoor garden area. Baby change and high chairs available. Parking opposite the theatre.
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Facts on Clubfoot:
Its full name is Congenital talipes equinovarus
Club foot is a deformity of the foot and ankle that is present at birth, the foot points down and inwards.
In most cases the cause of clubfoot is unknown.
Club foot affects one in every 1000 babies born in the UK.
Boys are twice as likely to be affected as girls.
Treatment should ideally start within a few weeks of birth and can be 95% effective.
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Talipes (Clubfoot)A mother’s perspectiveArchie arrived pretty quickly into the world. After an uneventful pregnancy we arrived at Crowborough Birth Centre just in time. As he was 11 days early, I hadn’t really expected to be holding my baby at 11am on a Saturday morning.
While checking him over the midwife remarked that one foot was turned in, “a little touch of talipes. Nothing to worry about, it can often be massaged”. In our new baby haze I hardly registered the news.
I couldn’t possibly have comprehended what this would actually mean for Archie, or the extent or longevity of treatment. At the hospital when we he was eventually diagnosed with structural talipes, rather than positional, we were in total shock and scared of the future.
Talipes is often detected at the 20 week scan, but not for us. This would
have meant further tests, as talipes can be linked to other conditions. While we would have been more prepared, I’m now glad we didn’t know as I would have spent half of my pregnancy worrying even more!
Happily, so far Archie has taken it all in his stride. Often the thought of the treatment has been worse than the reality, and we remind ourselves that it will all be worth it in the end. At 2 weeks old Archie had his first plaster cast, from foot to thigh, and these were changed every week for 6 weeks. He then underwent a tenotomy, to stretch the achilles tendon, and then another 2 weeks of casts.
At nearly 3 months old he received his boots and bars, to be worn 23.5 hours a day for 3 months. That was very hard, but necessary, and now at 8 months you forget about it and think of the positives. He now has 8 hours off from his boots a day, and when he
starts to walk this will increase to 12 hours. He’ll be sleeping in his boots until he is 4 or 5, which I find hard to imagine.
Now the boots are just another part of our daily routine, like changing a nappy or getting ready for bed. Archie will be as active as any other child and should walk, run, jump etc at roughly the same age as others. Although there is a small chance of relapse Archie’s feet are just part of our journey, and how he lives with it is another reason for him being special... our little surfer in training!
Emma Hodges
Further information
Charities such as Steps (http://www.steps-charity.org.uk) and support groups such as Happy Feet Talipes on Facebook support families affected. June 3rd is World Clubfoot Day.
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Osteopath for BabiesTracey Cambridge qualified as an Osteopath in 1997 and is registered with the General Osteopathic Council. She has post-graduate training in Paediatric Osteopathy and Cranial Osteopathy and has many years experience in treating a wide range of infant and childhood conditions. Her special interest is babies and her practice is devoted to the treatment of babies and their mums.
What is Cranial Osteopathy?The word “cranium” comes from a Greek word meaning “skull”. The word Osteopathy comes from the Greek words “Osteo” meaning bone, and “path” meaning feeling, and it translates as “bone-feeling”. An osteopath spends many years developing a fine sense of touch which helps them to know what the problem is from how the body part feels.
Cranial Osteopathy is the name of a treatment technique that osteopaths use which addresses not only the bones of the skull but also other parts of the body like the spine, pelvis and abdomen by tuning into the very small rhythmic changes that exists in all the tissues of the body called the cranial rhythm. Osteopaths believe that any disturbance of this rhythm caused by things such as birth, accident, illness or operations can cause problems in the body leading to pain or discomfort. A cranial osteopath is trained to find and then release any such slight disturbances. It is a very gentle technique ideal for babies.
Just had a baby?You need the Valley Cushion!
Perfect for making sitting down more relaxing.
Can also help you to establish breastfeeding more easily because
you’ll be more relaxed.
To hire the cushion, or for more information, contact Helen Scott 01342 811845
(East Grinstead)www.valleycushions.co.uk
The National Childbirth Trust is a Registered Charity, No 801395 (England), Registered Office: Alexandra
House, Oldham Terrace, London, W3 6N
The Medela Symphony Electric Breast Pump
The Symphony is a high quality hospital grade double breast pump which imitates a baby’s sucking motion, giving you the
chance to achieve the best results possible.For more information or to hire, please con-tact: Amanda Broughton on 07818 003 003
www.medela.co.uk
The National Childbirth Trust is a Registered Charity, No 801395 (England), Registered Office: Alexandra
House, Oldham Terrace, London, W3 6N
Bumps and Babies
Our own Bumps and Babes group has been going for over seven years. It has played a vital role in many of our parent’s lives. It is a warm and welcoming place where parents are guaranteed to find support and friendship in a warm and relaxed atmosphere. It is a place where new parents can learn from those who are old hands at parenting. Step into our group on any Monday and you will find a room buzzing with parents, babies and toddlers.
Our Bumps and Babes is a unique group in that we are focused on our parents needs. We are here to provide the help, support and resources parents need in those early stages of parenting. Our group is a place where our parents can come and talk to one another and our volunteers; a place where they can learn about baby specific resources available in our community be it osteopathy, baby yoga or first aid.
As a group we are continually making little changes to accommodate the
needs of all those who seek us out. We try to find the balance of meeting the needs of first time parents and their babies and our more seasoned parents who come with babies and toddlers. For our mums-to-be and those with babes in arms we aim to provide a safe and comfortable atmosphere; one in which they feel able to walk into alone for the first time. Many of these parents may be dealing with issues such as breastfeeding problems, sleep deprivation, loneliness and post-natal depression. As a group we need to ensure we are able to reach out to these parents and help navigate the tricky early stages.
On the other hand, we have our second, third and fourth time parents. These parents are often dealing with the same issues as first time parents but also have older children to cope with as well. As a group we need to ensure these parents are able to access the support they need to navigate the tricky early stages and the issues that come about parenting toddlers.
babies and parents who will fill the void. Thus our cycle begins again!
We are fortunate to have ample free parking directly next to the hall, making it much easier when you have heavy car seats or prams to negotiate. We also welcome non-members of the NCT to the group with open arms.
If you are an expecting parent or one with a baby (and toddler in
tow), and you are interested in Bumps and Babes please come along and try us out. If you are not sure, please get in touch. We are here to support our parents through pregnancy and
on until your babes begin to toddle. Our Bumps and
Babies group is constantly in need of volunteers to help it to
continue to run. It requires two people to set up and look after our parents for only a few hours in the morning. If you wish to help us to keep this group alive, whether you are a parent or grandparent, we always welcome your help. You need not commit to every week, any time you can spare us would be wonderful.
Anne Borkwood
For those parents who fill our hall every Monday, there is a different reason for attending and different expectations of the group. First time parents will be more nervous entering a room with active toddlers. Parents with new babies and toddlers will be looking for a group where they can access the same resources first time parents need but also be able to bring along their toddlers. To accommodate our different age groups, the hall is set out in two sections, allowing our new babies to have a safe, quiet environment whilst our older children can play in the room.
As time passes our group will continue to change. We will support our first time parents through difficult times and encourage new friendships. As our babies grow into toddlers it is with both sadness and joy we will watch them toddle out of our group and into realm of more appropriate toddler groups that will foster the art of messy and energetic play. However, the passing of these little feet out of our group and into the world announces the arrival of new
“Bumps and Babies groups are the cornerstone of NCT’s parent support network geared
to providing a welcoming environment where parents-to-be and new parents can get to know one another, share the ups
and downs of new parenthood, and make new friends. ”
National Childbirth Trust “a warm and welcoming
place where parents are guaranteed to find support and
friendship”
Bumps and Babies
All welcome, you do not need to be an NCT member.
Every Monday 10.30am -12.00pm
Meridian Hall, East Court East Grinstead RH19 3LT
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There are many things to consider when taking a baby swimming for the first time. Don’t be put off by the logistics! Swimming is one of the few things you can do with a tiny baby that you will each get the same amount of pleasure from. Think of it rather like baby yoga or massage, but in the water. Imagine the cuddles, the smiles and the opportunity to focus just on each other.
Here are a few hints and tips on taking your baby swimming:
You can bring your baby as soon as you are both ready, you don’t need to wait until they have had their jabs (we follow current NHS advice).
Choose a clean and well-managed pool, ideally heated to over 30°C.
What should baby wear? In a warm pool just a swim nappy and a neoprene over-nappy. That’s it!
When your baby gets out of the water they will probably be cold, tired and hungry! Have a generously sized hooded bath towel ready and milk or a healthy snack with you.
Bring a changing mat or towel.
Don’t forget to bring your costume and towel!
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If you are able to take your baby swimming at a young age, it can be a really special time. Your little one requires minimal support to float on their back in the water, as you gently sing to them. You can swim with your baby, close up and cheek to cheek, supported by woggles – or with your feet on the floor.
At Puddle Ducks our highly trained teachers help you to teach your baby to swim through play, gentle activities and song as the warm water gently massages them. At all times the emphasis is on allowing you to spend quality time with your baby. Our programme introduces the underwater world and allows freedom of movement that your little one won’t have experienced since being in the womb. We do this safely and without pressure.
As your baby becomes a toddler, so our classes grow with them. We nurture independence, encouraging children to initiate their own little swims and jumps, using floats, woggles and toys. They learn to swim while having fun. Through our attention to you and your little one’s needs they learn to love and respect the water and you both look forward to your time together in the pool.
At Puddle Ducks we offer you the perfect environment to introduce your baby to the joys of being in the water and with both weekday and weekend classes at many different locations our swimming classes can be enjoyed by both Mums and Dads alike.
For further details or to discuss your specific requirements please email Lindsay or Holly at [email protected] or call on 01892 617246
Top Tips:
Take some snacks with you for baby, but also for the adults, you may not get a chance to eat otherwise!
Take a sling, but only if you are practiced using it and baby finds it comfortable.
Take all extra sunshades and other loose fittings off your pram before putting it on the conveyor. A large black out muslin will take its place and fit easily in your luggage. Also, attach your luggage label carefully so it is visible even when the pram collapses.
Take lots of empty plastic bags, they are useful temporary bins and will take any vomit/poo/wee covered clothes until you can deal with them!
Take a change of clothes for baby and you in your hand luggage. Accidents happen!
Take toys and books for baby in a bag you can keep at your feet on the plane.
Take something familiar to their bedtime routine. We took his teddy blanket and sleeping bag, unwashed so they smelt familiar, this way even when he was in a strange cot, he still felt settled.
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Travelling with a babyA mother’s experienceWe recently made the brave decision to take our baby aged six months, to France to visit his great grandmother. This was a time filled with sleepless nights and worry in the run up to flying, but amazingly, as babies generally do, he coped fine with the whole situation.
These days you have to pay for children under three, even if they are sat on your lap. We chose to travel a budget airline and booked a separate seat for baby. This was a great decision as it meant we had a row of three to ourselves and could move baby from lap to lap if needed.
We had to familiarise ourselves with how to strap in the carseat without an ISOFIX as we did a lot of putting baby in and out of cars and the quicker, the better.
The ground and cabin crew were great
and very helpful with baby. Some airports have a special family security gate and others would spy us in the queue and direct us to a clear security line. This may have been more to save tutting from passengers behind us, but actually we became pros at undressing and un packaging and most of the time were waiting for others to hurry up! Baby food and milk are allowed on top of your 100ml allowance although you may be asked to taste things to prove what they are. Thankfully I did not have any expressed milk with me!
Most airlines allow you two items of childrens equipment PLUS hand luggage for baby, even if you haven’t booked any hold luggage. For us this meant a car seat and pram plus another bag, which we were allowed to take up to the plane door in most cases.
I was still breastfeeding and so I
chose to do this at takeoff and landing which really helped with the ear popping for baby and that combined with the engine noises meant that he slept most of the journey. I did try to discreetly cover baby with a muslin, but this was the age when baby had discovered the rest of the world and got very annoyed at being covered. So I fed as discreetly as you can with a baby sat on your lap, belted in, trying to do a yoga position to get to your breast. Unfortunately, he would just ‘pop off’ my breast intermittently for a look around!
We took a sling. When you are getting on and off the plane and walking down the scarily steep stairs down from the plane, having baby in a sling and you hands free is a great help. There is also often a wait to collect your pram from the oversized baggage conveyor. We found that the pram became more of a hindrance than help and would consider not taking it at all next time. The only use was to carry the carseat around.
Our best flights were in the day, as baby was used to being taken in the car and meeting new people etc and just found it interesting. We had one late flight that was a lot harder as he would be trying to sleep and we would keep disturbing him during what he thought was sleep time.
All in all, it was an enjoyable trip and the baby was unphased by it. We would do it again and it certainly makes a trip to the supermarket look like a walk in the park now.
Maya Gunn
Baby Duncan enjoying a cuddle with
his great grandma
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Meet the teamEast Grinstead Branch
The information in this newsletter is for the benefit of NCT (National Childbirth Trust) members and beneficiaries. It may be used only in connection with NCT activities and may not be used for any commercial purposes. The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of NCT. The information contained
in this newsletter should not be reproduced without the editor’s consent in writing. The appearance of an advertisement in this newsletter does not imply endorsement of the company or its products by NCT, nor does it constitute a recommendation. However, it is always worth mentioning when replying to an advertisement that you saw it in an NCT newsletter. NCT cannot be held liable for loss, damage or injury arising out of goods sold through any advertisements in this newsletter. Any discount offered to NCT members by any advertisement is
done so entirely at the discretion of the advertiser.
Our branch is run by volunteers. We are mostly parents with young children working from home which means we are not always available. Please be considerate of meal/bed times if you telephone us, and allow a few days for us to respond to emails. This includes our agents such as bra fitters, valley cushion and pump agents, and
also our breastfeeding counsellors and peer supporters.
Come and visit our homely nursery and meet our caring/friendly staff.
Our dedicated and qualified staff look after babies from 3 – 15 months old.They care for all your baby’s needs whilst providing them with new and stimulating activities.
Tiny Tigers also caters for toddlers and pre-school children providing a full range of activities following the EarlyYears Foundation Stage.
Learning is delivered in a fun way and a homely atmosphere is always maintained.
The day nursery has a large secure garden area with an undercover patio area, and also a front door security camera system.
Open from 7:15am to 18:15pmFull day, morning or afternoon sessions available.
Free Entitlement and Employers vouchers accepted.
Contact Michele or Elaine on01342 303424 to arrange to view our nursery and meet the team.
Tiny Tigers Day Nursery, Gorse Cottage, London Road, East Grinstead, RH19 1QF
www.tinytigers.co.uk email: [email protected]
Joint ChairHelen Edwards/ Helen [email protected] [email protected]
TreasurerEmma Hodges / Katie Ross
[email protected]@gmail.com
Membership SecretaryPriya Shah
Parent Services Co-ordinatorMichelle Taylor
Bumps & Babies Co-ordinatorKate Pullen
Committee memberKathryn Lee
Committee memberChesky Keynton
Newsletter EditorMaya Gunn
Newsletter Design/Web Co-ordinatorNatasha Hans-Barker
NCT Parent Services Administrator for booking classes
Antenatal LeaderHelen Scott
[email protected] 928442
Breast Pump HireAmanda Broughton
[email protected] 003 003
To find out more about volunteering opportunities please contact:
17
Mums-to-be love our Aquanatal classes! Experience the perfect balance of relaxation, laughter and exercise in the soothing comforts of water; the ideal mental and physical preparation for birth.
Nurturing your bump
mental and physical preparation for birth.
puddleducks.com
Come on in,the water’s lovely!
puddleducks.com
