babble winter 2010 1 draft

8/8/2019 Babble Winter 2010 1 Draft

1/22

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


2/22



3/22


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.


4/22


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


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

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NEW Black & White Quarter Page, centre pages : 25 + VAT

Insert Flyer (Advertiser Supplied): 45 + VAT

For further information please get in touch: [email protected]


5/22


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


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:

[email protected]

South DorsetSouth DorsetSouth DorsetVolunteersVolunteersVolunteers


6/22


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!


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


7/22


Puddle ducks full page ad


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:

[email protected]


8/22


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


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.


9/22


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-


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


10/22


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-


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-


11/22


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


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 :-))


12/22


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


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


13/22


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



14/22


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


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


15/22


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!


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


16/22


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


...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


17/22


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!


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


18/22

18 South Dorset NCT: Winter 2010 Email your comments or articles to [email protected]


19/22

26 South Dorset NCT: Winter 2010 Email your comments or articles to [email protected]

SOUTH DORSET BRANCH GROUPS


20/22


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.


Swanage

1 pm to 3pm every Wednesday (term time only)

At Swanage Childrens Centre, Chapel Lane, Swanage BH19 2PW


Swanage Dads Football Team: Tuesday night! Email swana-

[email protected] for more information.


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:


21/22


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


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.


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.


22/22


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


babble winter 2010 1 draft

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