maternity & infant Autumn 2016 by Ashville Media Group

maternity & infant

AUTUMN 2016 €3.75/£3.30 AUTUMN2016 ISSUE 57

BE INSPIRED

MEET THE FOOD MUMPRENEURS

BEAUTY & THE BUMP

WE’VE GOT THE WHOLE FAMILY COVERED!

24 MAMMY GUILT

KILL IT FOR GOOD!

Baby Teeth

ALL ABOUT EARLY DENTAL CARE

TIPS FOR TAKING CARE OF YOU

Autumn Health YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE

STARTING SCHOOL IN STYLE

9 772009 193014

www.maternityandinfant.ie

Happy Days

PLUS ANNABEL KARMEL * EXPERT ADVICE * SUPPLEMENT GUIDE

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Win!

LUXURY BREAK FOR TWO IN CASTLEKNOCK HOTEL & COUNTRY CLUB PAGE 86

1 AUTUMN 2016

Contents

On The Cover

48 50 56 70

BEAUTY & THE BUMP Pregnancy brings with it plenty of beauty challenges – and don’t think that once you give birth everything is hunky dory again! But with a few clever products you can feel well pampered for throughout the nine months and beyond. THE ULTIMATE SUPPLEMENT GUIDE What do you really need to take to maximise your health during conception and pregnancy? And should your baby have a supplement too? This is your ultimate guide to what you really need to know EARLY DENTAL CARE How to help your baby navigate the teething period with minimum fuss. Plus, how to care for those baby teeth once they eventually appear! MAMMY GUILT Does every decision you make as a mum come with a whopping helping of guilt? STOP RIGHT NOW! BACK TO SCHOOL September is just about upon us. Never mind the kids, how the heck are us parents going to navigate the first day at big school?! Here’s our survival guide… FOOD MUMPRENEURS Got an idea and need a push to actually do it? Let our two sets of successful mumpreneurs in the food business inspire you to give it a go.

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Features

20 Style

26 30 76

MATERNITY From new season picks to stealing model Candice Swanepoel’s pregnancy style, we have all the best maternity pieces here. BABY & CHILD Great picks for pre-school and stealing Princess Charlotte’s cute style, this is your guide to dressing your little ones this season! YOU We’re going back to Victorian days this season, but this time with some added feminine details.

32 39

BURNING TOPIC: BIG BABIES Are doctors too quick to tell you you’re carrying a big baby? And what exactly does that mean? We take a look and ask our readers for their opinions ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT… PREGNANCY FLU VACCINE Yes, you need it once autumn comes – here’s why every pregnant woman should get the seasonal flu vaccine this season. ECTOPIC PREGNANCY What exactly is an ectopic pregnancy? How is it treated? And what does it mean for future fertility? We investigate, and discover there’s great support out there for those going through such a traumatic event.

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2 AUTUMN 2016

Contents

34 Regulars 6

8 9

67 52

HEALTHY EATING FOR KIDS Sometimes it feels like our efforts to get our kids to eat more healthily are thwarted at every turn – here’s how to navigate some of the most common barriers to our attempts! EARLY EDUCATION With two free pre-school years now on offer, we look at how to choose the right pre-school for your child – and ask if the government is doing enough to support our early learners. EIGHT WAYS TO RELAX Stress needn’t be your middle name when you become a parent. We take a look at eight great ways to relax TODAY.

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85 86

Opinion

19 23 24 38 88

A DOCTOR’S PERSPECTIVE Our GP columnist, Dr Sinead Beirne, explains why vaccinations are so important MUMMY MY WAY One reader tells us her experience of coming pre-cancerous cells to have a third baby. DAD’S DIARY Nick Wilkinson’s kids are growing up fast – is he getting nostalgic for the baby days? THE BREAST ADVICE NUK breastfeeding advisor Cliodna Gilroy on why feeding choice is not necessarily a black or white issue. BLOG WE LOG What made us laugh or cry in blogland this season.

TOP TEN What’s on our shopping list this season. M&I ONLINE NEWS All the latest news, reviews and products. BOOTS MATERNITY & INFANT AWARDS 2016 The latest news from the 2016 Boots maternity & infant Awards! ANNABEL KARMEL Pimp up your kids’ packed lunches with these yummy recipes. AUTUMN HEALTH SPECIAL All your autumn health advice in one place. STORE DIRECTORY Where to buy everything in this issue. WIN A TWO-NIGHT BREAK AWAY Win a luxurious two-night stay in Castleknock Hotel & Country Club - this fabulous prize is the perfect back-to-school treat! DIRECTORY OF USEFUL CONTACTS

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The product most recommended by pharmacists for scars and stretch marks. 3Gem, 2015

Ireland’s No.1 selling scar & stretch mark product. Nielsen, 2015

“My weight has always fluctuated so I expected to pick up a few extra kilograms during pregnancy and was very conscious of getting stretch marks. But Bio-Oil just worked so well for me! It kept me completely stretch mark free, as well as leaving my skin feeling soft and supple – it’s like a little indulgence product! I wouldn’t let any of my friends embark on pregnancy without a big bottle of Bio-Oil by their side!” Stella with Jenna

Bio-Oil® helps reduce the possibility of pregnancy stretch marks forming by increasing the skin’s elasticity. It should be applied twice daily from the first trimester. For comprehensive product information, and details of clinical trials, please visit bio-oil.com. Bio-Oil is available at pharmacies and selected retailers at the recommended selling price of 111.95 (60ml). Individual results will vary. Distributed in the UK and the Republic of Ireland by Godrej Consumer Products (UK) Ltd.

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4 EDITOR’S LETTER

Welcome Working in the media can be a bit surreal at times. For one thing, we’re always working a bit ahead of ourselves, so before the poor kids had even practiced their end-of-year songs, we were attending Back to School previews. And I won’t tell you how many Christmas press releases are currently sitting in my inbox… But sometimes being a little ahead of yourself can be a good thing – especially when you’re talking about schools. My eldest child, Danny, has just finished Junior Infants, but I can remember all too well the preparations for starting big school. One of the few good things coming out of the government in recent years has been an acknowledgement of the importance of pre-school education, and the introduction of a second ECCE year. So no matter how young your child is, you’re probably looking at some form of schooling this year. With this in mind, much of our issue is dedicated to schooling – on p54 we look at pre-schools and what to look out for, and on p56 we tackle the subject of

THE TEAM Editor: Penny Gray Editorial Assistant: Rachel Murray Editorial Manager: Mary Connaughton

big school and that allimportant first day. If you’re currently expecting, we have lots of great maternity looks, plus our beauty special (p34) ensures you look and feel your best throughout the nine months and beyond. Look out too for our supplement guide on p40. There’s all you need to know about baby dental care on p48, and our top tips for banishing the mammy guilt once and for all on p50. Plus there’s our Autumn Health Guide on p77. Finally, turn to p62 for our special on this year’s Boots maternity & infant Awards. If you’re reading this issue at the Awards, come up and say hello – we’d love to hear what you think of the mag.

Creative Director: Jane Matthews Design: Antoinette Sinclair, Jennifer Reid Photography & Illustrations: Getty Images, Thinkstock Production Manager: Mary Connaughton Sales Director: Paul Clemenson Email editorialdesk@ashville.com or write to maternity & infant, Ashville Media, Old Stone Building, Blackhall Green, Dublin 7; Tel: (01) 432 2200; Web: www.maternityandinfant.ie All rights reserved. Every care has been taken to ensure that the information contained in this magazine is accurate. The publishers cannot, however, accept responsibility for errors or omissions. Reproduction by any means in whole or in part without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. © Ashville Media Group 2014. All discounts, promotions and competitions contained in this magazine are run independently of maternity & infant. The promoter/advertiser is responsible for honouring the prize. ISSN 2009 1931

Have a great autumn!

Penny Gray Find us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter

Editor

MY PICKS THIS ISSUE 16

BUILDING DREAM

SPORTY LUXE

BAG HEAVEN

Danny’s sixth birthday is in November and I’m already making plans. I predict that this LEGO City Volcano, €119.99, will be taking over our kitchen table before the year is out…

My three year old, Ellie, is deep in princess mode right now, but she also likes to rival her big brother in the climbing stakes too. So I am investing in this cutesy tracksuit (€44, Littlewoods) for when I can get her out of her Elsa gown.

Sometimes you just gotta treat yourself, and this croc bag from Accessorize, €38, fits the bill perfectly. It’s also large enoughv to carry the myriad of stuff you need when you’ve got small kids hanging out of you!

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BT Digital Baby Monitor 350 Lightshow ✳ Digital Hi Definition sound ✳ Lightshow projection ✳ 18 Lullabies ✳ LCD display ✳ Adjustable nightlight

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✳ Temperature display and alerts ✳ Sound level LEDs ✳ Vibration alerts ✳ Torch

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10 TOP PRODUCTS

M&I

d e t n a Mo s t W

What’s on our shopping list this autumn…

GOING OFF TRACK Anybody else out there a bit of a

CLEVER TOY Looking for an inspiring present for a growing baby? Suitable

buggy addict? Well, the iCandy

GOOD BACTERIA

Peach All-Terrain is quite simply the

We’re hearing more and more about the

Pop Giraffe from ELC, €39.95,

best bit of buggy porn we’ve seen in

importance of taking probiotics to keep your

that plays music when balls are

gut healthy – and that goes for your kids as well

popped into his head. The balls

as yourself. But for those of us with kids who are

then pop out at random out of

a while. Perfect if you’re looking to get fit with baby, this three-wheeler is designed to go off-road with adventurous parents. We also love the compact one-hand folding and the quick-release front wheel, the modern easy lie-flat carrycot and the one-hand folding chassis. For stockists and to buy online, log on to www.icandyworld.com

from 12 months, this Drop and

immediately suspicious of anything that isn’t a

the giraffe’s feet, which light

sweet, getting a probiotic into a kid can be tricky.

up as they emerge. The toy’s

Which is why we’re intrigued by Alflorex Straws, a

actions inspire imagination and

drinking straw containing a small oil droplet that

encourage reasoning – most

houses the brand’s 35624™ PrecisionBiotic® culture.

importantly though, it gives

The child simply drinks her drink and takes the

toddlers hours of fun!

medicine without even knowing! Suitable for children over three years of age, Alflorex Straws cost €32.95 for four weeks’ supply.

SMOKEY LOOKS We are loving Clarins’ new collection for Autumn, a timeless, glamorous look that centres on a gorgeous smokey eye. Our pick of the products? The four-colour eyeshadow palette, €43, available in three different colour ways so there’s something to suit everyone.

GRIP RIGHT

The latest product from Irish baby brand COGNIKIDS is taking the world by storm. GRIP is a universal baby bottle holder that supports infant development, particularly fine and gross motor skills as well as helping to ease the transition from breast to bottle feeding. This clever product also helps to develop babies’ pincer grip, which is essential for mastering skills like gripping a pencil. Available in six gorgeous bright colours, GRIP is priced at €14.99 from Mothercare and other childcare retailers and online at http://cognikids.com.

7 TOP PRODUCTS BUMPS ‘N’ BRIDESMAIDS Being asked to be a bridesmaid is a real privilege at any time, but what if you have a bump? This needn’t be an issue with the new bridal and eveningwear collection from online maternity specialist Tiffany Rose. We love this gorgeous Amelia style, which is available in a number of colours and priced at €240 – but there are loads of different styles to choose from. Log on to www.tiffanyrose.com for the full collection.

ICE HOUSE BABY Fancy a little autumnal break? The stunning Ice House Hotel & Spa in Ballina offers a number of luxurious spa packages this season,

BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS

whether you’re expecting or just in need of some time out.

On our must-have list is quite literally

The Mum-To-Be Treat offers

everything in the Penneys’ Back to

overnight accommodation

School collection, which is perfect

for two with breakfast, along

for little ones who don’t have a

with a 60-minute pregnancy

specific traditional uniform. Full of

massage from just €249

fun separates that allow plenty of

per room. Or when the kids

movement at seriously good prices,

are back in school, enjoy a

this collection is perfect for both

morning off with coffee and

pre- and big school.

home-made scones, followed by any 60-minute face or body treatment from the Chill Spa Menu and complimentary use of outdoor hot tubs, barrel sauna and steam room. Then finish with some tasty bites from the Spa Lunch

Menu. All for only €75 Sunday

PAMPER TIME

to Thursday. See www.

Taking time out as a couple before your baby is born is

theicehouse.ie for more

one of the most pleasant rituals during the long nine months. Killashee House Hotel in Naas, Co Kildare, has launched a full range of Mama Mio pregnancy

VOTE NOW! Iconic Irish baby brand Sudocrem is celebrating its 85th birthday in 2016, and to celebrate, the brand has launched the Sudocrem Baby Changing Awards to commend venues for providing warm, clean, safe changing facilities. There are seven categories for entry: Best Hotel, Best Restaurant, Best Coffee Shop, Best

treatments in its luxury award-winning spa. The range of

Big Shop, Best Shopping Centre, Best

treatments are suitable from the 12th week of pregnancy

Changing Facilities in a Male Bathroom

and use products containing pregnancy-approved

and Best Service Station. Visit www.

ingredients. Enjoy afternoon tea and/or dinner before

sudocrem.ie to register your vote today.

falling into a luxurious bed in one of the hotel’s beautiful

Each vote received will be entered into a prize draw of a family

rooms. For details on babymoon packages, log on to

break. The closing date for entries is Friday, 30th September 2016,

www.killasheehotel.com/spa.html

and the prize winner will be announced after the voting closes.

8 ONLINE

maternityandinfant.ie BACK TO SCHOOL BUYS

We’ll be posting all the latest back to school money-savers, and watch out for our €100 Marks & Spencer’s voucher competition and a school bag giveaway. We’ve also got some great backto-school tips, things to do before the school term starts and how to deal with separation anxiety. Search ‘back to school’ on maternityandinfant.ie

WHAT’S TRENDING? @maternityinfant

M&I LIFESTYLE

Parents worldwide have us laughing out loud on Twitter as they share their hilarious parenting moments. Just some of the highlights include:

Go to maternityandinfant.ie’s lifestyle section for everything from the top beauty buys, relationship woes, healthy recipes (some not so healthy too), family events, fashion and all the trending stories from the pregnancy and parenting world wide web! ww.maternityandinfant.ie/lifestyle

@HousewifeOfHell Kids’ complaints on vacation: No wifi on beach Sand is sandy Ocean has salt in it Lobsters? I want pizza. Too outdoorsy outside @mompsychologist 5yo and her friend just ended an argument by deciding they would “have a piece of cheese and calm down” So, yeah, she’s mine.

WIN €300

Argos voucher Turn to page 14 to find out the details of how you can win a €300 Argos voucher just in time for Christmas by voting in the Boots maternity & infant awards 2016. www.maternityandinfant. secure-platform.com

CONNECT

CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF US? WRITE OR EMAIL MATERNITY & INFANT, OLD STONE BUILDING, BLACKHALL GREEN, DUBLIN 7. EDITORIALDESK@ASHVILLE.COM FACEBOOK.COM/MATERNITYANDINFANT TWITTER.COM/MATERNITYINFANT

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M&I’S HEALTH CENTRE Go to maternityandinfant.ie’s lifestyle section for everything from the top beauty buys, relationship woes, healthy recipes (some not so healthy too), family events, fashion and all the trending stories from the pregnancy and parenting world wide web! www.maternityandinfant. ie/lifestyle

@abhorrent_wife *looks up from phone* “Kids!! we’re leaving the playground in 22 per cent.” @DadandBuried Just saw a cement mixer truck on the street and got excited. THIS IS WHAT FATHERHOOD HAS DONE TO ME! For more go to www.maternityandinfant.ie/ lifestyle/fashion-beauty/trending

MUM QUERIES

If you have a query you would like other mums or dads’ opinions on, go to www.maternityandinfant.ie/ask-m-i. All questions are posted anonymously and we always get a great response and helpful suggestions from all of our lovely Facebook followers.

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M&I

ESSENTIALS: 9 THINGS

9 REASONS WHY WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT AUTUMN

BACK TO SCHOOL Finally the end of the “I’m bored” moans – and some much-needed me time

INDIAN SUMMERS

Because you know that we’re in for a good spell when the kids are stuck back in school

3 WOODLAND WALKS Is there anything more beautiful than crunching through falling golden leaves?

COSY NIGHTS The days are getting shorter but

we’re relishing the excuse to cuddle up in front of a box set

BETTER TV Strictly, X Factor and all our favourites are finally back on the box

HALLOWE’EN Yes, we’re embracing our inner child this year and having a big ol’ fancy dress party

CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN Dare we mention Santa just yet?

8 SOCIAL EDUCATION We are copying our kids and signing up for a fun evening class this year

9 BOOTS AND COATS We just love our new Autumn/ Winter fashion!

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Both Jen and Violet look pleased to be back at school!

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10 ESSENTIALS: BABY

6 1

Thermometer

Pain relief

MEDICAL ESSENTIALS ALL NEW PARENTS SHOULD HAVE Babies don’t need much in terms of medical supplies - in fact, very small babies should always be referred to your GP if you have any medical issues - but these six items are worth investing in ASAP

We cannot stress it enough – a good thermometer is worth its weight in gold. Thermometers are available for anything from a few euro up to €40, €50 or more, and while budget is an obvious concern, we can promise you that investing in a decent model and make will really pay off in peace of mind for all the family. If you can, go for a infrared forehead or ear thermometer, which are quick, safe and easy to use.

A word of warning here: if a very new baby is running a temperature, you should always seek medical help. However, once your baby moves past a few months old, a temperature can be treated with some over-the-counter pain relief, such as a paracetamol or ibuprofen syrup. It’s well worth having a small bottle in the house just in case you need it; remember to always follow the instructions and administer age-appropriate doses.

Syringe or medicine dropper

Another essential that you might not have thought of! Hopefully you won’t be in a position where you have to administer medicine to a small baby, but if you are (and we include older babies in here too), a specially made medicine syringe or dropper is essential to make sure a wiggling baby takes the right dose. A standard syringe from the pharmacy will do, or some manufacturers of infant pain relief offer versions containing a branded dosing syringe – save these for using with all medicine.

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BEST FINGER FOODS FOR BABY

From about seven months old, you can introduce certain finger foods to your baby. Stick to these as snacks at first, as you might find that plenty lands on the floor and you might worry that your baby isn’t eating enough as a result! Finger foods are important, however, as they’re fun for your baby, introduce new textures, encourage chewing, boost self-feeding and develop hand-eye coordination. Just make sure that finger foods are very soft and small in size, and stay with your baby in case he has issues with chewing and swallowing. Try some of these:

Nasal aspirator

A soft rubber aspirator is a rather old-fashioned device for helping to clear a baby’s nasal passages. It can also be used to clear milk from the nose of a very small baby who can choke when learning how to feed. It’s easy to use, but some babies hate it. Have a wide shallow bowl on standby so you can add steam into your baby’s room instead, and for babies above three months, add a little Snufflebabe into the water.

Nappy rash cream

All babies get nappy rash at some point – fact. So having a cream to treat and hopefully prevent it from getting worse is pretty

essential in every house with a baby. A good treatment barrier cream like Sudocrem is ideal, or even try the brand’s new Care & Protect cream, which helps to prevent nappy rash from occurring in the first place.

Nail clippers

Stop laughing in the back there – a pair of baby nail clippers is actually a great buy, and we’re talking from birth here! Babies’ nails grow ridiculously quickly, and you’ll find yourself reaching for these surprisingly soon after birth. If your baby objects to her nails being cut (this is more likely as she gets older), try cutting them when she is asleep.

✹ Melted cheese on small finger of soft toast ✹ Couple of well-cooked soft pasta shapes ✹ Small piece of pitta bread with hummus ✹ Soft pieces of banana ✹ Soft cooked sticks of vegetables, eg carrot, potato or sweet potato ✹ Soft cooked florets of broccoli or cauliflower ✹ Strip of chicken breast ✹ Small strip of cheese

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our

newborn clothing range est.1961

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12 ESSENTIALS: KIDS

CAR SAFETY RULES YOU NEED TO KNOW

CAR SEATS ON OUR SHOPPING LIST

We can’t stress this enough – if you’re transporting your children around in a car, you must pay attention to certain safety rules. They’re not that difficult…

For growing babies: MaxiCosi AxissFix i-Size, €399, Mothercare Suitable from 61cm to 105cm (approx. four months to four years), this advanced car seat offers rearfacing travel up to 87cm (approx. two years). It can also be easily rotated from a rearward to forward-facing position.

According to the Road Safety Authority (RSA), EU child safety protection laws make it compulsory for all children to travel in the correct child seat, booster seat or booster cushion. But as well as using a child seat, it must be fitted properly and age appropriate. Here are some safety rules that you must follow.

Be age appropriate There are guidelines issued by the RSA about what seats are suitable for what age groups. These are: Rear-facing baby seat – up to 13kg (29lbs) (approx. 12-15 months) Forward-facing child seat (with fivepoint harness) - 9-18kgs (20-40lbs) (approx. 9 months to four years) Booster seat with sides - 15-25kgs (33-55lbs) (approx. 4-6 years) Booster cushion - 22-36kgs (4879lbs) (approx. 6-11/12 years)

Rear facing is best Studies have shown that ensuring that a child is properly restrained

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in a rear-facing seat can reduce injuries by 90-95 per cent – this is far better than the figure of 60 per cent for forward-facing seats. There is now a bigger selection of rear-facing child seats on the market if you want to postpone moving your child to forwardfacing until about the age of four. NEVER use a rear-facing seat on a front seat unless the airbag has been disabled.

Never buy secondhand We’re all for saving money, but a secondhand car seat is not a good idea. You can’t tell if the car seat has been in an accident (and therefore its safety may be compromised), and its seatbelts may be worn or frayed, so might not be as effective or as tight as they once were.

Use ISOFIX

Keep the five-point harness

According to Mothercare, it’s estimated that up to 80 per cent of child seats are incorrectly fitted, so we cannot emphasise enough how important it is that you know how to fit and move your seat. To make things easier, if you have a choice, get a car with built in ISOFIX – this is an anchorage system in cars that help keep your child seat in place. It’s far more secure and safe than holding the child seat by the adult seatbelt.

A five-point harness is used until your child weighs 15kg or 40lbs (around the age of four). Don’t be tempted to move your child before this, as a five-point harness offers much better fit and protection than an adult seatbelt. When you fit the seat, check that the harness is firm; as a general rule, you should only be able to get two fingers between the straps and your child’s body.

For toddlers: Cosatto Group 1+ Moova seats, €199.99 Cosatto’s Group 1+ seats are now fitted with a five-point-plus antiescape harness fitted as standard to stop children wriggling out of their seats – an all-too-common problem…

For bigger kids: Britax Romer Advansafix II Seat, €285 This adjustable seat can be made to fit children from age nine months up to 12. It offers a five-point harness until 25kg, and features side impact protection and SICT technology.

19/07/2016 11:48

13 ESSENTIALS: FAMILY

HOW TO GET ‘FIVE A DAY’ INTO YOUR CHILD!

EASY WAYS TO GET YOUR FIVE A DAY

The kids are heading back to school, and so the packed lunch battle commences! So how, in among the ham sandwich battles, do you ensure your kids get their five a day?

Breakfast Fresh fruit juice and berries on cereal or porridge

Snack Pepper and cucumber sticks with hummus, cream cheese, salsa or peanut butter It’s a question we’re constantly asked at maternity & infant HQ – how to get your kids to eat more fruit and veg. The task gets even harder as their schedules get busier, and of course as our schedules get busier too! One of our fail-safe options is Keelings Snack Pots, which this year are available as a multipack, making packed lunches easier than ever. “A common battle in many households surrounds the eating of fruits and vegetables,” Keelings nutritionist Aveen Bannon told us. “Some children can be extremely stubborn over what they will and will not eat and it can be frustrating for a parent. Firstly, try not to worry. If your child sees that you are concerned about their eating habits, it might make mealtimes more stressful and make your child less likely to eat.” Try one of Aveen’s top tips to encourage your kids to get their five a day: ✹ REMEMBER THAT KIDS LIVE BY EXAMPLE. Ensure that you and any other grownups in the house are eating a balanced diet and let your child see you enjoying a variety of fruits and vegetables. ✹ EAT TOGETHER. One faltering trend in Irish homes is the act of eating together. Family meals

MI Autumn 2016_News Family.indd 13

should be a fun and sociable occasion. It is an important time for interaction as a family and also an important time for children to learn and see their parents eating a variety of healthy foods. ✹ GET THEM INVOLVED. Getting a child involved in meal preparation and cooking is important. Teach them to pick something from each of these four groups: carbohydrates, protein, vitamins and minerals and calcium. This will force them to pick something in the form of fruit or vegetables. ✹ CREATE A RAINBOW CHART. For younger kids, try using a rainbow chart. Each day they need to pick a colour from a rainbow to eat at each meal. Then get them to fill in each colour of the rainbow that they ate. Ideally, encourage them to eat one colour at breakfast, include two colours in their lunchbox and one or two colours at dinnertime as well as a colourful snack. ✹ HEALTHY SNACKING. Agree a healthy snack list with your kids and stick it on the fridge, involve your child in food shopping, encouraging them to weigh fruits and vegetables and any foods you want them to take notice of.

✹ “DISGUISE” VEG IN HOT DISHES. Another way to increase a child’s veggie intake is to add vegetables to hot dishes, such as casseroles and curries. Add peas and chopped or grated carrot to shepherd’s pie, include pieces of vegetable in lasagne, or add slices of pepper, onion or sweetcorn and other veg to pizza toppings. You could mix in some mashed carrot, cauliflower, parsnip or swede with your usual mashed potato. ✹ TRY RAW VEG. You might be surprised to find that sometimes children prefer raw vegetables, so try giving them sticks of raw carrot, cherry tomatoes, cucumber or pepper to nibble on. ✹ BLEND. Often, children are put off by the texture of fruit and vegetables, rather than the taste. So try making your own milkshakes and smoothies by blending puréed fruit and vegetables with milk or yoghurt. ✹ FINALLY, and importantly, don’t forget that children might need to be exposed to a food 8-10 times before they’ll eat it, so if they refuse the first time, just keep trying!

Lunch Tomatoes & salad in sandwiches; yoghurt with fruit; baked apple, raisins & cinnamon for cold days

Afternoon snack Smoothie ice pops (for our Indian summer); fruit bowl visible and in easy reach

Dinner Hidden vegetable sauces; bolognaise with fresh tomato sauce; sweet potato chips; roasted vegetables

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M &I F

er oE S

IL Y H M A

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20/07/2016 11:30

, E T A N I N OM N I W & SHAR E

HAVE YOU GOT A HERO? SOMEONE YOU COULDN’T SURVIVE PARENTHOOD WITHOUT?

Whether it’s your midwife who has helped you every step of the way, your mum who is one in a million or a grandad who’s support is invaluable, tell us your stories!

N I W

€300

ARGOS VOUCHER

VISIT WWW.MATERNITYANDINFANT.IE AND SHARE YOUR STORY AND BE IN WITH A CHANCE TO WIN! Since its first three shops opened in Ireland in 1996, Argos has become the go-to retailer for Irish parents for everything from buggies and car seats to nursery furniture and essentials, plus of course its extensive and great-value toy section. To celebrate its 20th birthday in the Republic of Ireland, Argos is running a number of special offers over the coming months - keep up to date by picking up the special catalogue instore or logging on to www.argos.ie

100% Magenta

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100% Cyan 95% Magenta

20/07/2016 11:30

ESSENTIALS: TOYS

TOYS THAT ARE UTTERLY TIMELESS The list of best-selling toys predicted by Argos for this Christmas proves that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Here are five toys that remain popular, no matter how old they are…

It’s kinda heartening that when you have kids, you find that they are playing with the sorts of toys you played with when you were little. Yes, eventually they’ll move on the X Boxes and the like (and there are plenty of parents who enjoy these too), but the nostalgic among us enjoy a few years of revisiting their youth with familiar toys like Lego, Sylvanian Families, Barbie and Monopoly. Here are some of the toys predicted by Argos to be bestsellers this Christmas that we’re more than a little familiar with…

1 ages 8-12

ONLINE LEARNING FOR TODDLERS

LEGO City Volcano, €119.99

According to a survey by Argos, Lego was the toy that parents most wanted to play again (37 per cent of respondents), so we’re wondering if this City Volcano is for the little or the big kids? Either way, this kit containing volcano site, drone, excavator, six mini figures and accessories is predicted to be big this year.

Want to satisfy your toddler’s natural thirst for learning? Here are three of our favourite pre-school websites:

www.fisher-price.com

2ages 3-6

4ages 8+

Fisher Price Codeapillar, Mattel, €74.99

SelfieMic, Worlds Apart, €29.99

Remember those caterpillars that toddlers had to drag behind them when learning to walk? Well, now there’s one to suit the computerised generation – this motorised caterpillar (a “codeapillar” geddit?) can be programmed to move through obstacles, accompanied by colourful lights, music and fun sounds effects.

3 ages 3+ BB-8,

Hasbro, €89.99

Remember those old karaoke machines on which we all murdered Madonna songs back in the day? Well, now our kids can enjoy the wonder that is karaoke, but now with a modern twist – the selfie sticks with karaoke microphones allow our budding Taylor Swifts and Justin Biebers record their own music videos. We’re tempted to have a go ourselves.

5ages 3+

Tiny Treasures Baby Doll, Chad Valley, €59.99

Maybe this feature should be about super heroes that never die – or movie franchises that never go away – because just like us Seventies and Eighties kids, toys inspired by and based on Star Wars are yet again hot this Christmas. They have evolved somewhat though – this BB8 droid operates via remote control. We can see this one being a hit long after the kids go to bed on Christmas Day…

There are few toddler girls (and few boys too) who don’t like playing with baby dolls, and the ones these days pay more than a passing resemblance to the Tiny Tears-type dolls of our childhood. This 18-inch version is weighted like a real newborn and is available as a boy or as a girl. It’s also said to have the “authentic baby scent”. We’re hoping that’s not poo...

The online site of the popular toy manufacturer is a treasure trove of flashcardstyle educational games, online educational videos, links to free apps that can be downloaded to your tablet or phone and lots of ideas and resources for arts and crafts.

www.education.com/ games/preschool It’s a little American, but these quick-loading sorting, number and early literacy games will help your little ones get used to using a computer as well as learn a bit about words and numbers.

www.disneyjunior.com If your little one is a dedicated Sofia or Miles fan, then the Disney Junior website should be your go-to site on rainy days. It’s constantly updated with fun games, colouring, crafts and videos starring all your favourite Disney characters.

3 1

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20/07/2016 10:30

17 ESSENTIALS: BOOKS

TELLING TALES Reviewed by maternity & infant editor Penny (mum), Danny (5) & Ellie (3) PICK OF THE PILE Beep Beep Beep Time For Sleep! By Claire Freedman; illustrated by Richard Smythe (Simon & Schuster)) This colourful book tells the day- and bedtime routine of a group of road-building machines – by day they’re busy building a new motorway, but when night falls, they make their way back to the building site and get ready for a good night’s sleep. This has to be the pick of this issue’s pile because both Danny and Ellie LOVED this. The colourful illustrations kept them glued to every page (and made it difficult for me to keep moving with the story). They even fought over who got the right to take it to bed afterwards! We like … The idea of a good bedtime routine! They’ll love … The big, bright, colourful illustrations

NEW FAVOURITES

+ 3Blue years & Bertie

3I +Went yearsto the

+ 4Irish years Legends:

+ 3Stanley yearsthe Amazing

By Kristyna Litten (Simon & Schuster Bertie the giraffe has a very defined and well-documented daily schedule. He eats the same breakfast every day, he walks along the same path and he sleeps under the same tree. But one day Bertie oversleeps and his herd leaves without him. When he meets Blue, his day begins to take a very unexpected turn. But isn’t change and difference good? This is a sweet story with beautiful dream-like illustrations. Ellie was taken with all the gorgeous details in the illustrations. We like ... The sweet story about inclusion. They’ll love ... The big, bright, colourful illustrations.

By Paul Howard (Bloomsbury) Familiar with the memory game ‘I Went to the Shop’? Well, this is a clever version in a story, where the two children (a brother and a sister – so worth reading to siblings to prove how they can have fun together!) get more and more imaginative about what they can get in the supermarket – aliens and flamingoes anyone? This is a laugh-out-loud imaginative read that got my kids playing their own version afterwards! Maybe not one for getting them sleepy though… We like ... The fact that it’s two siblings getting on together! They’ll love ... Recreating the fun game in the story

By Eithne Massey; illustrated by Lisa Jackson (O’Brien) One for the older kids, this is the latest volume of Eithne Massey’s sumptuous Irish legends for children, in which she tells popular ageless legends in an engaging and child-friendly way. Lisa Jackson’s colourful pictures bring the ancient Irish legends to life. These tales really captivated Danny, who was able to relax and listen to the magical stories without feeling like he needed to try reading the words. We like ... Revisiting the ancient tales of our childhood. They’ll love ... The timeless tales and evocative pictures.

By Emily MacKenzie (Bloomsbury) Stanley the cat loves nothing more than knitting for his friends – hats, pompoms, whatever takes his fancy. When he hears about the Woolly Wonders competition, he’s thrilled, surely he must be a favourite to win! But he gets a bit carried away and must make an important choice between his knitting and his friends. This was probably my favourite because of the stunning artwork; Ellie was captivated too, and wanted a woolly scarf immediately! We like... The good friendship message. They’ll love ... Stanley’s tangly wool that goes on and on and on!

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Supermarket

Newgrange, Tara & The Boyne Valley

Knitting Cat

19/07/2016 11:39

X E L P U B

Y A ! W A ND A s e h c A , r e Leave Fev d n i h e b s n i & Pa

RINGE SY

BUPLEX Junior

DOSING

NEW

IN CLU

100 mg/5 ml ORAL SUSPENSION.

Sugar Free and Colour Free! CHILDREN 3 MONTHS TO 12 YEARS (>5KG)

Untitled-2 1 238845_1C_Buplex_MALS_MI.indd 1

Ask your pharmacist for advice. Buplex Junior contains Ibuprofen. Read the leaflet carefully. Date of Preparation: December 2015. FADGP-144-01.

19/07/2016 18/07/2016 14:19 16:00

19 PRESCRIBING ADVICE

Vaccinations are imperative to keep potentially devastating illnesses out of the general population, but why are there always changes made to the childhood vaccination schedule? Our GP columnist DR SINEAD BEIRNE takes us through some of those changes and answers some common questions

A spoonful of sugar…

s a doctor I’ve vaccinated a lot of kids. It’s not something I enjoy. The older the child, the more likely they are to remember who stuck them with a needle last time! Vaccinations are by far the biggest breakthrough in medicine ever. Have you ever heard of epiglottitis? It’s a potentially lethal bacterial illness in young children, and you can thank vaccinations if you’ve never heard of it. Many other illnesses such as bacterial meningitis, diphtheria and polio are now extremely rare because of childhood immunisation programmes. It’s easy to take the benefits of vaccination for granted particularly when you may not even know anyone who has ever suffered with these life-threatening illnesses. Public health doctors are generally very provaccination, which can make recent changes here in Ireland look confusing. New mums will have heard that the BCG vaccine is in short supply. Most countries in Europe have ended universal BCG vaccination. Since December 2015, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) have recommended that Ireland switch to vaccinating specific high-risk groups instead of offering it to all babies. Thankfully the risk of TB meningitis in newborn babies in Ireland is extremely low and there hasn’t been a case in years. Vaccinations against meningitis B, chicken pox and rotavirus (the bug that causes diarrhoea and vomiting) are not currently part of the childhood immunisation schedule in Ireland. The meningitis B and rotavirus vaccine will be offered to all babies in Ireland from December 2016. However, there’s no plan for a catchup programme for children born before October 2016. Normally, the meningitis B vaccine can be ordered privately from your GP surgery and given from two

months of age. Two or three shots are needed as well as a booster if your child is under two. It’s expensive: costing approximately 170 per shot if you have to buy it. Even if you’re happy to pay for the vaccine, it’s out of stock everywhere in Ireland at the moment. There is some talk that the chicken pox vaccine will be included in the childhood vaccination schedule in a year or so. But for the moment there’s nothing definite. Two shots of this vaccine are needed to fully immunise your child. The first dose is usually given from 12 months onwards. Today, it costs around 70 for each vaccine if you order it privately. I often discuss the topic of childhood vaccinations on Ireland AM. I remember once being asked “Can we categorically say that vaccinations are completely safe?” At the time it would have been great to be able to say yes but like many things in life there are no guarantees. Most of the time nothing happens after vaccinations. Some kids get redness or swelling at the injection site. Others may get a temperature. Only if the temperature goes over 39 degrees should you give some paracetamol or ibuprofen. (The exception is meningitis B where it’s recommended to always give pain relief after the shot.) It’s also best to avoid giving pain relief to your child before their vaccination. The reason for this advice is to ensure that your child’s antibody levels will go high enough so that the vaccine protects them in the future. If you do want to give something to ease the pain, new research has shown that giving a sugary drink immediately prior to vaccination in infants aged between 1 and 12 months is effective in relieving the pain. So it turns out Mary Poppins was correct when she sang “Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down!”

Dr. Sinead Beirne is a GP in Irishtown in Dublin and the resident doctor on TV3’s Ireland AM and Newstalk Breakfast. She is a presenter of TV3 series Doctor In The House. Follow her on Twitter: @DrSineadBeirne All content in this column is for general information only and should not be treated as a substitute for the advice of your own doctor. Always consult your own GP if you are concerned about health matters.

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20/07/2016 10:33

20 THE BURNING ISSUE

ARE DOCTORS

TOO QUICK TO TELL WOMEN THEY’RE HAVING

A BIG BABY?

regnancy is a time of great joy and expectation, but it can also be a stressful time as you worry about the health of your unborn baby. Every mum-to-be’s fear is that they will be told at an antenatal appointment that there’s a problem with her baby, or potentially something that might make labour and birth difficult. A study published by the Maternal and Child Health Journal concluded that too often doctors are telling mums-to-be they’re carrying big babies. One third of the women involved in the study were told their baby was getting “quite large”, but in reality, only 9.9 per cent of the 2,400 women surveyed delivered a baby who was considered medically large. This begs the question: are doctors too quick to tell women their babies are big and are they causing undue stress and worry? And what exactly does having a “big” baby mean? The average newborn weighs about 7.7lbs (3.5kg). Babies weighing more than 9.9lbs (4.5kg) at birth, are considered larger than average, or macrosomic. Dr Rhona Mahony, Master of the National Maternity Hospital, explains further: “We consider a baby who is born weighing more than 9.9lbs (4.5kg) a large baby. The term we use is fetal macrosomia. However, in some countries any baby weighing more than 8.8lbs (4kgs) is regarded as macrosomic.” Your doctor or midwife may suspect you are expecting a large baby because you are measuring a large size for your due date; however, it is very difficult for doctors to determine whether a baby is most definitely mac-

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When you’re told there’s potentially an issue with your pregnancy, it can trigger immense worry and concern. We ask: are doctors causing undue stress by telling women they are carrying “big” babies? And what exactly does this mean? OUR SURVEY We asked our readers: are doctors too quick to tell women they’re having a big baby?

of women who answered have 1-2 children.

Were you ever told by a medical professional you were expecting a big baby?

said YES

rosomic while he is in the womb. A large baby may be caused by gestational or pre-existing diabetes, but other causes can include high body mass index (BMI) at the start of pregnancy, high weight gain during pregnancy, previous macrosomic birth, increased weight gain between pregnancies or lack of weight loss from a previous pregnancy, or if you are two weeks over your due date. It’s important to remember that even if any of these apply to you, you are still more likely to have a baby of average size. Most macrosomic newborns are born to women with a low risk of having a big baby. Your midwife or doctor will consider you low risk if you are not diabetic. An ultrasound scan usually gives a good indication of how big your baby is, but in later pregnancy an ultrasound estimate cannot be relied upon. “We use an ultrasound scan to estimate fetal weight antenatally,” Dr Mahony explains. “In this scan, we measure a range of fetal biometric measurements. These include the head circumference, the bi-parietal diameter of the head, the abdominal circumference and the length of the femur or thigh bone. We use these measurements along with a variety of formulas to predict an estimated fetal weight. “This is obviously an approximation and it is well recognised that fetal weight can be inaccurate, particularly in the case of very small babies or very large babies. A series of studies have shown that the estimated fetal weight can be out by up to 20 per cent. Other factors that make weight estimation more difficult include high maternal BMI, difficult fetal position and multiple pregnancy.”

20/07/2016 11:05

21 THE BURNING ISSUE

Would you agree with the statement ‘doctors are too quick to tell women they’re having a big baby?’

MI AUtumn 2016_Burning Topic.indd 21

said YES

Would being told you were going to have a big baby influence your decision to ask for an epidural during the birthing process?

said YES

Would you opt for an induced pregnancy or a scheduled Caesarean section because you felt you weren’t capable of delivering your child naturally due to its size?

said YES

20/07/2016 11:05

22 THE BURNING ISSUE

FACEBOOK COMMENTS ✱ “I was told my first baby was big, she was 10 days late and weighed 6.14lbs. My third is due any day now, and doctors are saying he/she is big too. I don’t believe them.” CATHY JACKSON ✱ “Early on and all the way through my pregnancy doctors said my baby would be very big, between nine and ten pounds. He was born 7.12lbs, which was a huge relief.” TRACEY HAYDEN ✱ “I know being told you’re having a big baby doesn’t necessarily mean the baby is actually going to be big, but after having a big baby, I’d definitely be more likely to believe the doctors the next time and would even opt for a C-section because of it.” CAROLINE REID ✱ “When I was four months’ pregnant my doctor told me I was going to have a big baby. From that moment on, I was so nervous about the birth. I felt I had to watch everything I ate. I got so paranoid about whether I would be able to have my baby naturally.” NICOLA SKELTON ✱ “I refused an induction on both pregnancies because I felt my baby was the perfect size for my body. I birthed my two babies perfectly, without drugs and no complications. Just because my baby was conventionally big compared to others, that doesn’t mean that my body couldn’t do what it was meant to do and birth my babies! Women are scared about having big babies, when they don’t have to be. Some are forced into induction when their baby and body are not ready, which leads to far more interventions and a higher risk of C-section.” AIMEE WELLER ✱ “As a midwife I hear this line constantly as a reason for section/ induction.” JOANNE HYNES

MI AUtumn 2016_Burning Topic.indd 22

WHAT IS GESTATIONAL DIABETES? Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy because the mother’s body is not producing enough insulin. If the body is not producing enough insulin the amount of blood sugar rises. This sometimes develops in pregnancy when some hormones begin to work against how insulin usually operates. High blood sugar levels in the mother’s body that are passed through the placenta to the developing baby can affect the baby’s health. Gestational diabetes occurs in the second half of pregnancy, usually in weeks 22-24. Pregnant women over the age of 35 are more prone to gestational diabetes. Those with a family history of Type 2 Diabetes or are overweight or obese are also more prone to gestational diabetes during pregnancy. If you have previously given birth to a baby over 9lbs 15oz there is also a higher chance of developing gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes can be hard to detect as the main symptoms are fatigue and frequent urination, which are common in perfectly healthy pregnancies. Blood and glucose tolerance tests can confirm if high blood sugar is present. Although most women diagnosed go on to have perfectly healthy babies, some babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes have an increased risk of high blood pressure, Type 2 Diabetes in adulthood and also obesity in adulthood. Gestational diabetes can cause problems during labour if gestational diabetes went undetected during pregnancy. Dietary changes and exercise may be enough to keep your blood sugar levels under control, though sometimes medication is needed too.

Raising issues The problem is that a lot of women may opt for an induced pregnancy or a scheduled Csection when they are told they are having a big baby because they feel they aren’t capable of delivering their child naturally. Women may also be more likely to ask for an epidural for pain relief during the birthing process. But while sometimes methods such as a C-section are medically required to ensure a safe delivery for both mother and child, giving birth to a big baby vaginally is more than possible, and almost two thirds of babies who are 9.9lbs (4.5kg) are born vaginally. There can be issues that women should be aware of, however. “If a baby is macrosomic and is delivering vaginally, there is an increased incidence of slow or dystocic labour,” Dr Mahony says. “This is when the uterus is contracting normally, but the baby does not exit the pelvis during childbirth due to being physically blocked. Dystocic labour requires instrumental delivery. “Vaginal delivery of a macrosomic baby also has an increased risk of significant perineal injury (the part of the body between the anus and the genitals), including injury to the anal canal. There is also a risk of shoulder dystocia. Shoulder dystocia is a specific case of obstructed labour whereby after the delivery of the head, the anterior shoulder of the baby cannot pass below, or requires significant manipulation to pass below.” While mums-to-be should be aware of such issues, it’s important to remember that every labour is different and these might not apply

to you. “The majority of women delivering a baby weighing more than 8.8lbs (4kgs) will not have these complications,” says Dr Mahony. “We know that women who have larger babies can labour very well and deliver their baby without any incident. Equally, women delivering smaller babies can experience slow or dystocic labour, shoulder dystocia and perineal injury. Nonetheless, most maternity hospitals will recommend an elective C-section for very large babies who are more than 11lbs (5kgs).” However, it’s inevitable that sometimes a C-section might be performed on babies who are not too big on arrival. “Operative delivery can be more challenging in the context of a large baby because it is very difficult to estimate fetal weight accurately antenatally,” says Dr Mahony. “Studies have shown that if we use estimated fetal weight to determine mode of delivery, we will perform a C-section on a significant number of babies who will not be macrosomic despite an antenatal scan indicating macrosomia. Conversely, we will plan vaginal delivery in women in whom the baby is macrosomic but their estimated fetal weight says otherwise.” Babies who are born more than 9.9lbs (4.5kg) are usually perfectly healthy and happy. Babies who have shoulder dystocia during birth, may have a few problems with nerve damage in their shoulders and arms after the birth, but this only occurs in between two to 16 per cent of babies who have shoulder dystocia, and in most cases babies with nerve damage make a full recover with no lasting damage.

19/07/2016 10:35

23 MUMMY MY WAY

Holistic therapist BELINDA MURPHY tells us her inspiring story of overcoming pre-cancerous cells in her cervix – and how she’s now expecting baby No. 3 with her soulmate.

“H

ysterectomy” … that cold word ringed in my ears that fateful day as the consultant said it was the only way forward for me. I could feel the finality and severity of my womanhood being stripped from me in one word at age 37 and all the while knowing the word didn’t register with my heart. It just didn’t feel like me. For the previous three years I was in and out of a public colposcopy clinic with pre-cancer in my cervix. I became accustomed to smears and biopsies every six to eight weeks in those three years. I heard of my first cervical smear abnormality when my boys were three and four years old and it struck me like a bolt out of the blue. In the three years between that first abnormality and the suggestion that I should have a hysterectomy, I had separated, and after two years of being single I met my soulmate just one month before this news. Something deep inside me screamed NO, do not let them decide your future. I wanted the option of another baby and I wanted control of my womb, my cervix and my womanhood. In a daze of clinical hospital smells, cold harsh words, steely robot people, I made my mind up emphatically there and then that I was going to step up and do whatever I had to do to own the destiny of my cervix. I booked an appointment with a wonderful private doctor who gave me a very holistic view of what was going on and spoke to me as a person, as a woman, as a human being with feelings and emotions. I improved my diet reading up on acid- and alkaline-based foods. I became more proactive in receiving regular energy treatments and started practicing mindfulness on a daily basis. I surrounded myself with positive loving people and eliminated in as best as I could the toxic energy of others. Then the day came to have a procedure in a private hospital to remove the negative cells in my cervix. The relationship with my partner was always pure from the moment we set eyes on each other and in that moment I believed in lasting love and happy endings. It was with that spirit and love that I waited eight hours in a hospital bed fasting from the previous evening to be seen by a private consultant. I focused all day on my soul, on connecting with the divine energy that surrounds us all and did Reiki self treatments all day on myself. By the time I was wheeled into surgery the consultant took one look at me and said ‘oh you are in your happy place, stay there’ and I did. I felt so much light and love emanate from every part of my being and even though I had an anaesthetist on standby, I didn’t need it. The consultant paused as he worked. He looked at my face and said ‘my dear, your cervix looks perfect’. There were no offending negative cells! All was completely clear and somehow I actually knew it before he ever even told me. The relief but also the light that I felt was amazing. On hindsight, this time was the beginning of me blossoming by taking back my personal power, standing up for something my heart believed in and wanting to create options for my future. As I look back now, as my 30-week-old baby dances for joy in my womb, I am filled with light from the inside out. Always listed to your heart regardless of what the head says and know that life changes once you truly believe.

“ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOUR HEART REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE HEAD SAYS AND KNOW THAT LIFE CHANGES ONCE YOU TRULY BELIEVE”

Belinda Murphy owns her own business B’inspire as a wellness coach and works with organisations delivering wellbeing and mindfulness talks and workshops and is also based on-site as a complementary therapist. Belinda also has a private clinic based in Co Limerick and uses holistic coaching and energy healing with clients both adults and children. Contact Belinda@belindamurphy.com, Tel 087 9584430, www.belindamurphy.com.

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19/07/2016 16:21

24 DAD’S DIARY

GROWING

PAINS

NICK WILKINSON‘s kids getting older is a blessing – but do they grow up too fast?

e are told that our kids grow up fast. I used to dismiss this as just another piece of small talk – usually as I chased a toddler while trying to hold an adult conversation. I’d think, yes, bring it on. But that all changed this summer. Together with a bunch of friends, we rented a farmhouse in Bordeaux. Our bedroom window looked out on rolling hills covered in vineyards. Every day, we walked to the market in a medieval village and bought incredible ingredients for poolside suppers. However, on the first morning, I was woken by a noise I hadn’t heard in a while. It wasn’t a duck being force fed in preparation for my next meal. It was the persistent wail of a baby. Somewhere amid the planning of this adventure, someone thought it would a good idea to bring everyone’s children. All eight of them. Was it a disaster? It was fantastic. Seriously. For anyone who believes that taking children on holiday is anything but a holiday, I have good news. It gets easier. For starters, it wasn’t my child who was crying. I didn’t care that every morning, instead of being woken by a French cockerel summoning another hot and hazy day, a baby roused the household in time for croissants. Unfortunately, the boulangerie wasn’t always open at four am. But I didn’t care. If my son and daughter were up, we’d open the shutters and watch the dawn wake fields of sunflowers. They are like real people now and we can share moments like that with them – our children, not the flowers. It was while observing my friend, a once light-footed wing forward, now hampered by a gammy knee, trying to chase his toddler around a winery, that I realised how relaxed I was. I didn’t care that my kids were stuffing themselves with bread or staying up until midnight. At least they were being fed, and after a certain age, late nights really do mean later mornings. My wife and I relaxed in our sun loungers while other parents spent their holiday fretting about meal or bed

times, or trying to surreptitiously fish foreign objects out of the pool. (Two of our toddlers were being potty trained this week.) I didn’t object – we potty trained our kids whilst on holiday. It’s a fantastic idea. It’s warm, they can run around with no nappy on. But they may become confused and think that the swimming pool is where to poop to win praise. Our daughter finally learned to swim a width of that pool. Our son swam a whole length underwater, despite meeting an unidentified floating object mid-way across. To reward him for his bravery, I let him stay up late and watch what happens when sunburnt parents with over-tired, pooping two year olds finally get to unwind at the end of the day by drinking too much rosé. He even managed to get some adult conversation out of them. I have an image of him patiently helping a four year old put his goggles on. And of my daughter and her friend sitting outside a cafe eating ice cream like sophisticated little French girls. Several times during the trip, friends commented on how grown-up my kids were and how they couldn’t wait for that day to come. I took it as praise and basked in more sunshine. Flying home tanned and happy, I reflected again on what a wonderful time we had had. I was even smug. I had holidayed without having to worry because my kids were old enough to behave in a way that didn’t exhaust or embarrass me. I should be delighted, but my smugness is dissolving into unease. School is approaching again – even though it feels like the holidays just began. The uniforms are out. My son’s trousers from last term are about five inches too short. My daughter’s little pinafore looks like it would fit a doll. The realisation hit as I watched a friend wipe baby puke off his shoulder. ‘I can’t wait until this stage is over,’ he sighed. I looked at the baby, dozing peacefully in his dad’s arms. ‘Be careful what you wish for,’ I replied. ‘They grow up really fast’.

“I had holidayed without having to worry because my kids were old enough to behave in a way that didn’t exhaust or embarrass me.”

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19/07/2016 10:39

25 TREND

MATERNITY

Style

Image: Mothercare

Autumn is by far our favourite season. The high street is packed to the brim with comfy knits and cover-ups, tights are back in and we can revert back to our love affair with wearing black. A little black dress is a wardrobe necessity, and whether you prefer long sleeves, short sleeves or no sleeves at all, we’ve got the LBD for you in Trimester Trends on page 26. Denim features on our maternity trend page – we’re doubling up on denim this autumn and adding some shine in the form of velvet, a big trend in autumn/winter. Our Steal Her Style star is the gorgeous Victoria Secret model, Candice Swanepoel, who is surprisingly casual when she’s not strutting down the catwalk in her underwear!

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18/07/2016 11:28

26 TREND

Trimester Trends

A little black dress is a staple piece in every woman’s wardrobe, especially in pregnancy - black brightens up any complexion and makes for a streamlined bump

NO SLEEVES

SHORT SLEEVES

LONG SLEEVES

2 2

3 3

5 6 7 6

1 Art Deco inspired clip earrings, €19.99, Conscious exclusive @ H&M 2 Jacquard coat, €179, Conscious exclusive @ H&M 3 N° 204 Armani sheers lipstick, €32, stockists nationwide 4 Black babydoll dress, €56, Next 5 Jacquard texture reversible shopper, €39.99, Conscious exclusive @ H&M 6 Open-toe slingback high heels with decorative stone, €99, Conscious exclusive @ H&M

MI Autumn 2016_Trimester Trends.indd 26

1 Black choker, €3, Penneys 2 Black pleated midi dress, €24.99, New Look 3 Black stud shoulder bag, €35, Marks & Spencer 4 Satin pyjama style jacket, €89, Topshop 5 Diamanté oval pave ring €35, Marks & Spencer 6 Pale pink over-the-knee faux suede boots, €160, River Island 7 Mon Paris, from €60, Yves Saint Laurent @ Brown Thomas

1 Matte velvet lip colour in plum, €12, Autograph @ Marks & Spencer 2 Burgundy puffa bomber, €89, Miss Selfridge 3 Black longsleeved dress, €69, JoJo Maman Bébé 4 Floral print leather bag, €60, River Island 5 Burgundy belted fedora, €35, Accessorize 6 Black ankle boots, €155, Dune

18/07/2016 12:10

27 TREND 1

Double DENIM

While denim is always in, how you style it changes from season to season – this season double it up!

5 9 8

Main: Blue denim shirt, €31; under-the-bump skinny jeans, €36; tan leather point court shoes, from €38, tan suede bucket bag, €74, all Next 1 Chambray mixed scarf, €20, ASOS 2 Dusted blue maternity top, €69, Isabella Oliver 3 Dark wash skinny jeans with seam-free bump band, €43.99, Mothercare 4 Blue heart hat, €31, Alice Hannah @ Arnotts 5 Denim shirt dress, €55, Topshop 6 Blue heart gloves, €36, Alice Hannah @ Arnotts 7 Dark blue suede block heel ankle boot, €39.99, New Look 8 Ripped bleach Jamie jeans, €57, Topshop 9 Blue denim shirt, €31, Next 10 Floral print shoulder bag, €40, River Island 11 Blue wool coat, €750, Cacharel @ Arnotts 12 Sparkle ear crawler, €8, Accessorize

MI Autumn 2016_Maternity Trend.indd 27

19/07/2016 13:04

28 TREND

M&I

Gold 13 leaves in the forest necklace, €129, Chupi

L’Oreal liss control plus tecniart, €23, salons nationwide – If you want to beat the frizz and achieve Candice’s naturally straight and tamed locks, this product is definitely worth investing in.

STEAL HER

STYLE South African beauty and Victoria’s Secret model Candice Swanepoel has really embraced flowing maxi dresses during her pregnancy. Here’s one of our favourite looks

Floral maxi dress, €64, Topshop

Model Candice Swanepoel has been spotted in lots of flowing maxi dresses since first announcing her pregnancy, but this one really caught our eye. The supermodel’s off-the-shoulder dress is teamed perfectly with low heel ankle boots and Miu Miu’s noir sunglasses. It’s stylish and comfortable, a winning combination for mums-to-be. Candice has modelled for Victoria’s Secret since 2007. The world-famous Victoria’s Secret annual show takes place in early December, and Candice says she is determined to get back in shape in time for this year’s show. How she will manage it is anyone’s guess, but we’re sure the huge pay cheque is worth all that hard work! Black leather look belted biker jacket, €44.99, New Look

GETTY IMAGES

White shoulder bag, €227, Love Moschino

Tan arizona ankle boots, €118, Buffalo @ Arnotts

Miu Miu, €352, Sunglasses Shop

MI Autumn 2016_StyleSteal.indd 28

19/07/2016 16:23

Home is the place where memories are made. There are 5,000 people homeless in Ireland. One in seven people accessing homeless services is a child. By remembering Focus Ireland in your Will, you can provide more people with a place to call home, a place to create their own happy memories. We understand that when making your Will, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll want to care for those closest to you first, but once you have, any contribution to Focus Ireland can make such a big difference. Please contact Pauline Costello in Focus Ireland, in complete confidence, on 01 881 5900. Thank you.

1850 204 205 www.focusireland.ie

Untitled-3 1 FOCUS_1C_JR_M&I.indd 1 1 FILLER_FOCUS_1C_JR.indd

20/07/2016 25/09/2015 11:00 27/05/2015 11:08 10:43

30 TREND

Autumn knits Now that the colder months are beginning to set in, keep your precious baby wrapped up in super-soft wool. AUTUMNAL COLOURS

NEWBORN CLASSICS

UNISEX FAVOURITES 1

1 1

2 2 2 3 3

4 5

1 Mustard yellow jacquard knit blanket, €19.99, H&M 2 Red boboli knitwear jacket (0-3yrs), €44.50, Arnotts 3 Light beige trousers in a textured knit (0-24mths), €14.99, H&M 4 Mustard yellow jacquard-knit cardigan (0-24mths), €17.99, H&M 5 Natural lambskin booties (0-2yrs), €30, Natural Baby Shower 6 Mustard yellow knitted cotton waistcoat (0-24mths), €14.99, H&M

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1 Ivory beige organic cotton knitted cardigan (06mths), €36, Naturapura @ Childrensalon 2 Ivory beige organic cotton knit baby trousers (0-6mths), €32, Naturapura @ Childrensalon 3 Beige striped cotton knitted hat (0-24mths), €20, Mary Berries @ Childrensalon 4 Stripe organic cotton wrap around body (0-6mths), €22.90, Polarn O’Pyret 5 Baby Erin UGG boots (0-18mths) €60.95, UGG @ Brown Thomas

1 Pink striped all in one (0-6mths), €28, Natural Baby Shower 2 Pale blue basic star sweater (0-9mths), €14.95, Zara 3 Pale blue little bow basic leg warmers (0-9mths), €9.95, Zara 4 Pale pink knit cardigan (012mths), €14.99, Mothercare 5 Cream, mink and blue super soft striped blanket, €33, Natural Baby Shower

18/07/2016 12:26

31 TREND

White all star II canvas hi-top, (sizes 4-9), €38, Converse

Baby girls jog suit, (3mths-3yrs), €44, Converse @ Littlewoods

Yellow essential zip through hoody (3mths6yrs), from €12, Next

Blue digger appliqué cap (3mths-6yrs), from €9, Next

SOFT LAYERS

NAUTICAL STRIPES

Navy/white stripe crew neck top (3mths-6yrs), from €12.50, Next

Pre-school

Red boys red mesh slip on trainers (0-5yrs), €5, River Island

READY

There are lots of tots starting playschool this September - dress your little one in comfy clothes that allow for movement and plenty of mess!

Baby boys jog suit, (3mths-3yrs), €44, Converse @ Littlewoods

Navy joggers three pack (3mths-6yrs), from €20.50, Next

Grey hoody (3-18mths), €70, Catamini @ Arnotts

Floral basic waistcoat (6mths-3yrs), €17.95, Zara

MONOCHROME MAGIC SOFT BRIGHTS MAIN: Grey marl sweat top (3mths-3yrs), €8.99, all Mothercare

Coral love heart jumper (3mths3yrs), €8.99, Mothercare

Coral brushback jogger (3mths3yrs), €8.99, Mothercare

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DGrey drop rise joggers (3mths6yrs), €6, Penneys Spotted ivory and navy tracksuit (3-18mths), €33, Losan @ Arnotts Two pack navy/ neon stripe tee (3mths-3yrs), €8.99, Mothercare

Pink/purple Stan Smith shift shoes (sizes 3-9.5), €54.95, Adidas

18/07/2016 12:08

32 TREND

Pastel pink bow hair clip, €4.50, Claire’s

CHARLOTTE

Pink soft baby girl shoes (618mths), €34, Amaia Kids

STEAL THIS

TRENDY TOT’S

STYLE We couldn’t get over the cuteness of Prince George and Princess Charlotte when they made a royal appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday.

Baby girls pink cotton dress with lace (3mths2yrs), €44, Childrensalon

Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday was baby Charlotte’s first appearance on the iconic balcony and the one year old looked a little overwhelmed with the noise as she put her hands over her ears. On the other hand, her big brother George was loving the sights and could be seen saluting to the planes above him. Of course, both made their appearance in royal style. Charlotte wearing a pale pink dress and matching bow, proving to be really as pretty as a princess, and George dressed in what has become his signature cotton shirt. Those chubby little cheeks, we’d run away with him!

Pink broderie anglaise socks (0-5yrs), €4.50, M&Co

GETTY IMAGES

Blue piping cotton shirt (3-3yrs), €31, Amaia Kids

GEORGE Grey/navy socks two pack, €3.50, Next

Navy moby fisherman sandal (sizes 3-9), €44, Dr Marten @ Littlewoods

Navy chino shorts (0-2yrs), from €9, Next

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18/07/2016 12:09

33 ADVERTORIAL

PROTECTING YOUR LITTLE ONE Sudocrem Care & Protect is a kind and gentle cream that can be used daily in your baby’s skincare routine.

M &I H

e ro Pr

c odu t

❤ ★ ★★

hen it comes to skincare, it’s true that you need to care for your baby’s skin. Nothing feels better than baby-soft skin, but unfortunately your new baby’s skin is as sensitive as it is soft, and you really need to take good care of it until it gets used to dealing with the nasties in our natural environment – like dirt, bacteria, sun rays, chemicals and chafing material. Cleansing can be as simple as warm water and cotton wool and simple, non-processed olive oil can be great for treating dry skin or issues like cradlecap. However, there are some products you should invest in. As your baby’s skin is so sensitive, the general advice is to look for products that are suitable for sensitive skin. Sudocrem

Care & Protect is a kind and gentle cream that can be used daily to help prevent nappy rash, guard against infection, condition the skin, and it’s gentle but effective for use at every nappy change. Nappy rash needn’t be an inevitable part of your baby’s life with Sudocrem Care & Protect. Developed especially for a baby’s delicate skin, Sudocrem Care & Protect is so gentle that it can be used from birth to defend against nappy rash. Its triple-action, hypoallergenic formula provides a protective barrier, conditions the skin and guards against infection, helping to keep the skin on your baby’s bottom healthy and supple. Skin-friendly ingredients like pro-vitamin B5 and vitamin E promote soft and smooth skin. Plus, its clever flip-top design means that the tube can be used single-handedly – perfect for when you’re juggling baby, nappy and cream!

Sudocrem has been caring for babies’ bottoms since 1931 and we believe in creating products that really work for your precious baby.

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19/07/2016 14:34

34 BEAUTY

BEAUTY

BUMP beyond

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19/07/2016 12:45

35 BEAUTY

Pregnancy can play havoc with your skin and hair, not to mention your whole beauty regime. And it doesn’t stop once baby arrives! Here’s what you can expect while expecting – and beyond!

hile being pregnant is undoubtedly a wonderful time for many women, all those hormones rushing around your body can have an unexpected and sometimes unwanted effect on your skin too. Skin (and hair) can behave very differently when you’re pregnant, resulting in anything from dryness and sensitivity to oiliness and the dreaded stretch marks. In fact, you might need to rethink your skincare regime entirely while you’re expecting. Conditions can often go hand in hand (dehydrated and breakouts, for example) so if you’re finding it very hard going, it helps to book a skin consult with a skin therapist. And if you’re unsure about using any products or beauty treatment while pregnant, have a chat with your doctor. Remember, too, that the fun doesn’t stop at the delivery room. You can expect your body to be recovering for up to a year after giving birth, and within that, it will take time for your skin, body and hair to go back to its pre-pregnancy self.

Hormones and your skin “During pregnancy we are essentially at the mercy of our hormones!” explains

Certified Rosehip Oil, €19.95, Trilogy

Blissful Daily Moisturiser, €12.99, Organic Surge

Ultra Calming Mist, €36.35, Dermalogica

Anita Murray of Edvard & Pink (www. pinkbeautyemporium.ie). “Increased activity can stimulate the sebaceous glands and you might find your skin a little more oily than usual. This in turn can then lead to breakouts.” Another common issue is dehydration, leaving skin feeling uncomfortable and tight. “Dehydration, not to be confused with dry skin, can also show up while your body is busy nurturing a new life.” Murray says, “and you might start seeing dry patches and flaky skin. I always recommend moisturisers that are paired with humectants and skin conditioners like shea butter and hyaluronic acid.” Boost your skincare with nourishing and hydrating creams – or add a serum to your regime. Face spritzes and cooling thermal spa water sprays are really good to have on standby to sooth uncomfortable skin. (You can spritz them on tired, heavy legs too!) Hyperpigmentation can often be a major concern for mums-to-be. Known as chloasma or the ‘mask of pregnancy’, it can affect a lot of women while they’re pregnant. The good new is it usually fades after you’ve given birth but there are some steps you can take to minimise it. “Surging

Toleriane Ultra Night, €18.50, La Roche Posay

Essential-C Day Moisture SPF30, €69.50, Murad

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WHAT NOT TO USE WHEN PREGNANT

Thermal Spring Water, from €4, Eau Thermale Avène

Pure Hyaluronic Serum, €43, Pestle & Mortar

hormones can make you susceptible to these dark patches,” Murray explains. Sun exposure, or rather exposure to UV can exacerbate the problem so sun care is very important (as it is all year round, pregnant or not!). “Look for an SPF that says broad spectrum, this is your best defence against both UVA & UVB,” says Murray. “I love the Essential C range from Murad. It’s packed full of valuable antioxidants to protect your skin throughout your pregnancy.” There are some very good products out there that help reduce pigmentation but it’s best to wait until after you’ve given birth before you start using them – and the advice to use a good SPF every day applies here too. UV exposure will just undo any of your efforts to reduce dark patches. If you find yourself struggling with badly behaved skin, pare back your regime if you find your skin quite sensitised (brands like Eau Thermale Avene, Vichy and La Roche Posay are all good options). Do keep in mind that these conditions often clear in the second or third trimester and should go completely after you’ve given birth – and the increased blood flow is also responsible fro that ‘pregnancy glow’ many women get, so it’s not all bad news!

“The skin is our largest organ so the ingredients we put on our hair, skin and nails should always be a consideration for your developing baby,” advises Murray. “The few to watch include salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, two very common ingredients found in most over the counter cosmetics for breakouts. Particularly watch out for salicylic, I am noticing it more often in cleansers and general exfoliating product. “Formaldehyde is another scary sounding chemical widely found in lash glue remover, nail polish and gels. If you’re concerned, celebrity chiropodist Margaret Dabbs has just developed a fabulous new treatment polish line without any of the nasties. Healthy, polished nails are a beautiful accessory pre or post pregnancy!”

M&I

19/07/2016 12:46

36 BEAUTY

ALL ABOUT

THE BUMP Stretch marks are actually small tears that form in the tissue that supports the skin and helps it to stretch. As this occurs in the underlying tissue it can be hard to avoid them entirely but a health diet helps – lots of fish oils and lots of hydration so drink plenty of water. Sally Penford, Education Manager, International Dermal Institute, says, “One of the main concerns for most pregnant women is the appearance of stretch marks that appear mostly on the stomach, breasts and thighs. This occurs when collagen and elastin are stretched and tear, forming a type of scar tissue. To keep skin at its most supple and hydrated try the following:

1 2 3

Lavish your body with moisturiser after every shower or bath. Use ultrarich nourishing creams and plant oils. Avoid products containing essential oils unless directed by your practitioner.

YOU LITTLE BEAUTY

It’s a busy, tiring life being a new mum and your beauty regime may be the last thing you’re thinking of. Elaborate skincare and makeup routines are a thing of the past, temporarily at least, but undoubtedly when you’re sleep deprived and bewildered, a little bit of beauty magic can make you feel a little more like yourself. We asked celebrity makeup artist Derrick Carberry (www. derrickcarberry.com) for his hero products and top tips for faking lots of rest and sleep! He says, “My best piece of advice for any woman trying to achieve perfect makeup with the minimum amount of time is to get unbiased advice from a professional makeup artist. It’s worth the time. Most artists are available for booked-in lessons so you'll get a non brand affiliated consultation and not a hard sell approach.” Colour Chameleon, €25, Charlotte Tilbury @ Brown Thomas

What products are good for busy new mums? ✱ Nars All Day Luminous lightweight

foundation is a beautiful fluid foundation that can be applied quickly with the tips of your fingers if you're in rush. ✱ For eyes, Charlotte Tilbury’s Color Chameleon is really good. It’s a pencillike product that is quick and easy to apply, making it perfect for any busy mum. It also comes in lots of different colours but I love Amber Haze. ✱ Flormar Triple Action Mascara is like having three mascara wands in one. This makes it great for quick application and it gives the effect of full lashes. ✱ Another great Charlotte Tilbury product is her Filmstar Bronze & Glow. It’s a bronzer and highlighter in one palette with the perfect tones to achieve that sculpted cheekbones and dewy skin look.

Triple Action Mascara, €9.95, Flormar

Ultra HD Concealer, €25, Make Up For Ever

Avoid soap and sodium lauryl sulphate – these will strip the skin’s barrier and leave your skin tight and flaky.

Skin that is essentially stretching can feel dry and itchy, especially around the belly. Try bathing in oatmeal, it’s an old remedy for conditions like Psoriasis and really will help soothe the itch.

Japanese Camellia Body Oil, €44 Elemis

Multi-use oil, €12.49, Bio Oil

Mama Bee Belly Butter, €16.95, Burt’s Bees

Tonic Body Treatment Oil, €47, Clarins

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Filmstar Bronze & Glow, €65, Charlotte Tilbury @ Brown Thomas

All Day Luminous Foundation, €44, Nars

TO TAN OR NOT TO TAN? A common question is, should fake tan be used during pregnancy? “Everything in moderation,” says Anita Murray. “As with the topical application of any cosmetic product, the consideration is that over time it can cross the placenta. I would advise to choose a premium and recognised brand; my hero sunless tan is Au Courant, a US brand that is hypoallergenic for sensitive skins during pregnancy.”

19/07/2016 12:47

37 BEAUTY

DERRICK’S TIP FOR HIDING TIREDNESS “The best way to mask tiredness is with an eye cream like Fast Response Eye Cream from MAC and a good concealer.” Fast Response Eye Cream, €31, MAC

WHAT SHOULD A GOOD MAKEUP BAG CONTAIN? “I think if you were to pare back your makeup bag, key essentials would be a really good mascara and lash curler, foundation, powder and contour products (such as bronzers, highlighters) and a lip gloss. Keep it simple but you also want maximum impact, so choosing the correct products that suit you is vital.”

HAIR DOS AND HAIR DON’TS Ciara Hession, stylist in Hession Hair (www. hessionhairdressing.com), who’s currently expecting a baby herself, has some advice for taking care of hair while you’re pregnant. "During pregnancy women often find their hair is in great condition, really full and glossy thanks to pregnancy hormones but after baby arrives is when many of us suffer the negative effects of hair thinning or hair loss due to the depletion of hormones. Although this can be tough to deal with at the time, don't stress about it too much as your hair does go back to its normal thickness, colour etc within eight months. “Vitamins and supplements are amazing for new mums for extra nutrients to nourish their hair and skin. I'd also recommend regular treatments to

MI Autumn 2016_Beauty_V2.indd 37

condition the hair and encourage healthy growth. “When you’re pregnant there are a few things I would be mindful of. For example, I would never Beautifying recommend that a woman goes for too drastic a Oil-inhair style when pregnant. You want to make sure Conditioner, €27, Kérastase you stick with a look that's easy to maintain once baby arrives and you don't have much time to style your hair! I like to keep a little bit of length so that it can be easily thrown back into a ponytail on those hectic mornings after a sleepless night. “As for colour, I've coloured my hair while pregnant and plenty of our pregnant clients regularly get their colour done in the salon. It's up to each individual woman. While I'm happy to do it and have no concerns it's down to personal preference.”

Repair Me Wash, €26, Kevin. Murphy

Hydrate Shampoo, €17.55, Pureology

Nodé Fluide shampoo, €10.50, Bioderma

19/07/2016 12:46

38 THE BREAST ADVICE

MAKE ROOM FOR

THE GREY Mum of three and NUK breastfeeding advisor CLIODNA GILROY refuses to let mums be categorised – especially based on the method they choose to feed their baby…

ne of the joys of breastfeeding is the time it gives me to browse articles on my phone while my little one dreamily feeds herself off to sleep. The other day I was reading about Amanda Byram’s recent nuptials and what type of mother she planned to be. There were a few crazy things about this article, the main one in my mind being that at no point in the article did Amanda mention that she was expecting. I am sure she will make a wonderful mother but I couldn’t help but think ‘her husband isn’t being interviewed about what type of father he plans to be’. The other thing about this article that should be considered odd is the term ‘Type of Mother,’ as though when you give birth you have a lobotomy and slot into one of four or five pre-set personalities. I’m going to turn into my mother here and blame the internet! A while ago I put a post on social media about breastfeeding in celebration of National Breastfeeding Week. I received two complaints about this post. The first was from a woman who was very angry that I would undermine breastfeeding and my agenda was to remind breastfeeding mothers that they can choose to bottle feed. I scoffed and thought, I’m pretty sure most women and men in the country know there is an option to bottle feed. The other was from an equally angry woman who had chosen not to breastfeed and felt that I was trying to make her feel like a failure as a mother for her choice. It was all I could do not to send the email from the first lady and let them fight it out!! These were

examples of two types of mum: The Breast Feeder and the Bottle Feeder (and never the twain shall meet). Now don’t get me wrong, I am a big fan of the internet and it brought me to a great group of friends and a wonderful support network when I had my first baby. The problem is that everything is black and white on the internet, and in real life, this is rarely the case. Going back to the complaints, I thought two things: if I had met either of these women in person I don’t think they would have been so angry and, while they have chosen to feed their babies differently, in reality they have something in common, they felt incensed enough to contact me about my post. I suspect they would get on if they met (and just avoided the breastfeeding topic). Yes, I breastfeed, if you’ve read any of my past articles you’ll understand I do so for very lazy reasons, but on my first baby I also had to use a bottle. My sister just had her second baby and she is thriving on a combination of breast and formula. If I look at all of my friends who have children I don’t think I could show you two who have exactly the same experiences or styles when it comes to parenting. It’s important to remember that you don’t need to nail your colours to the mast and state what type of mother you’re going to be. I am a breast feeder, I’m a referee, I’m a cook (not a very good one), I’m a working mother, and I am a girl who loves her high heels and fancy dresses. But most of all I’m a mother, no specific type – I’m just Mammy.

”It’s important to remember that you don’t need to nail your colours to the mast and state what type of mother you’re going to be.”

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19/07/2016 10:29

39 HEALTH

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT…

THE FLU VACCINE All women pregnant during the flu season (October to April) should get the seasonal flu vaccine – here’s all you need to know...

What is seasonal flu? We’re so

used to people saying they have the flu when they have a cold that it can be hard to realise exactly how serious the flu really is. But the flu (influenza) is a lot more serious than a cold, especially for high-risk groups like pregnant women, older people, and those with certain chronic medical conditions. A cold usually starts gradually with symptoms like a sore throat and a blocked or runny nose, while the flu can come on quickly with typical symptoms including fevers and muscle aches. It’s usually self-limiting, but in some cases, serious respiratory conditions can develop, such as pneumonia and bronchitis.

Why should pregnant women get the seasonal flu vaccine? According to the HSE,

pregnant women are more likely to get complications from the flu due to changes in their heart and lung function. Getting flu in pregnancy may lead to premature birth and smaller birth weight. Getting the vaccine during pregnancy can prevent you from passing the flu on to your baby, and the vaccine can also protect your baby from the flu for the first six months of his life.

What is the seasonal flu vaccine? Our flu season lasts from October to the end of April. Women who are pregnant at any stage during the season are advised to get the vaccine – in other words, if you are already pregnant come October, you should get the vaccine, or if you find out you’re pregnant at any stage between October and April, again, you should get the vaccine administered. The seasonal flu vaccine works by helping your immune system produce antibodies to the flu virus. If you come into contact with the virus, these antibodies attack it and prevent it from developing in your body. The vaccine contains killed or inactivated viruses and cannot cause you to get the flu.

How safe is the seasonal flu vaccine? The vaccine is considered very safe. The HSE says that it has been given to millions of pregnant women in the last ten years, and any reactions are generally mild, while serious side effects are very rare. There are very few people who should not get the vaccine – these could include those with a history of severe allergic (anaphylaxis) reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine or any of its constituents – but if you have any worries, always talk to your doctor first. The vaccine is available from GPs and some pharmacists, and is free for those in the recommended groups; however, if you don’t have a medical card or doctor’s visit card, you may be charged a consultation fee.

MI Autumn 2016_All You Need to Know.indd 39

Are there any side effects?

According to the HSE, the most common side effects are mild and include soreness, redness or swelling where the injection was given. Headache, fever, aches and tiredness may occur. Some people may have mild sweating and shivering as their immune system responds to the vaccine but this is not flu and will pass in a day or so. If you have a temperature after your vaccination, the HSE recommends that you take paracetamol, as it is safe in pregnancy and it is important for you and your baby to avoid fever. Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen (unless advised by your obstetrician). If you are unwell after a vaccine, it could be for some other reason – seek medical advice if needed.

19/07/2016 10:18

40 HEALTH

THE

ULTIMATE SUPPLEMENTS GUIDE

There are certain times in your life when you may need supplements to make sure your body has all the nutrients it needs – and many of these times revolve around parenting. Here’s what to look out for – and a few things to avoid...

n an ideal world, you should be getting every nutrient you need from the food you eat, but the reality is that the vast majority of us need a little added boost in the form of a supplement every now and again – whether it’s due to a special diet we’re on, getting over sickness or to energise you in times of stress. There are also certain times of your life when your body naturally needs extra nutrients, and sometimes these are not available completely through your food – and many of these times occur when you’re trying for a baby, already pregnant or breastfeeding. Plus there are times when your baby or toddler might need a supplement. Knowing what nutrients are needed during these times helps you choose the right supplement for you. So without further ado, here is maternity & infant’s guide to the nutrients prospective, expectant and new parents may need in supplement form.

Folic acid

When you’re trying for a baby

Vitamin C

While it’s best to try and get your nutrients from food at most times during your life, when you are trying for a baby it’s essential that you take at least a folic acid supplement, but there are some other nutrients that you should be mindful of, at least in terms of getting enough through your diet and possibly supplementing if your levels are low.

MI Autumn 2016_Ultimate Supplements_V2.indd 40

The B vitamin folate can help prevent neural tube defects like spina bifida, but unfortunately it is difficult to get enough folate through diet alone. For this reason, it’s essential to take a folic acid supplement for three months before conceiving to protect against neural tube defects, and to continue to take this supplement for the first few months of your pregnancy. Your baby’s spine develops fully in the first 28 days of pregnancy, and as most people don’t realise they’re pregnant until a few weeks after conception, it’s vital that your levels of folate are prepared in advance for pregnancy. Plus, as about half of pregnancies are unplanned, it’s recommended that every woman of childbearing age should take a folic acid supplement whether they’re trying for a baby or not. Look for a supplement containing 400ug of folic acid, and top up your natural levels with folate-rich foods like broccoli, spinach and asparagus.

Fruits and vegetables are essential for good health, but in particular, the variety of vitamins and minerals in fruit and veg is useful during conception. Eating citrus fruit provides your body with Vitamin C, which is needed to help your body absorb iron. The advice generally is to eat a rainbow of fruit and veg, to ensure you get as many different vita-

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41 HEALTH

MI Autumn 2016_Ultimate Supplements_V2.indd 41

19/07/2016 12:04

42 HEALTH

mins and minerals, all of which are essential in keeping your body healthy.

Omega-3 Research suggests that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids may help regulate ovulation and improve egg quality; oily fish like salmon is the best source of omega-3 fatty acids. Some types of fish contain mercury, so if you’re trying for a baby, experts suggest that you stick to just two servings of fish like canned tuna, salmon and cod, and avoiding swordfish, tilefish, king mackerel, and shark because these have the highest mercury levels.

Iron Iron is essential when you are pregnant, as your increased blood volume and a growing baby quickly deplete your levels of iron, but too little iron at conception can not only affect your baby’s early development but also put you at risk of iron-deficiency anemia during pregnancy and after birth. Eat iron-rich foods like lean red meat and dark leafy green veg regularly if you are trying for a baby, especially if you tend to have heavy periods.

When you’re pregnant

Strictly speaking, apart from folic acid, if you have a healthy and balanced diet, you don’t need a vitamin. However, it is true that when pregnant you and your baby need more of certain nutrients, so if your diet is lacking in any way, or if your doctor indicates that your vitamin or mineral levels are low, a supplement may be recommended. If you are suffering from bad morning sickness and not eating much as a result, a general pregnancy vitamin can be a handy way to make sure you are getting all your nutrients.

Folic acid As outlined above, women should continue to take a folic acid supplement for the first three months of pregnancy. If a mother has previ-

DON’T FORGET THE MEN! Folic acid is not just for women who are trying to conceive. According to a study at the University of California in Berkeley, men with lower levels of folic acid in their diet had a higher rate of abnormal chromosomes in their sperm. Take a good multivitamin or eat foods high in folate, like beans, leafy green vegetables, wholegrains, citrus fruits, and folate-enriched cereals, breads, and pastas.

MI Autumn 2016_Ultimate Supplements_V2.indd 42

ously had an infant with a NTD, a supplement containing 4,000ug of folic acid is required per day to help prevent recurrence. As well as taking a folic acid supplement during pregnancy, women should also try to eat foods that are high in folate, such as green leafy vegetables, fortified breakfast cereals and fortified milk.

WHAT NOT TO TAKE!

Iron & Vitamin C Iron is important to make extra blood for you and your baby throughout the pregnancy and prevent you becoming anaemic. You need 15mg of iron from your meals every day and Vitamin C helps absorb iron from the food you eat so try to include a source of Vitamin C with your meal, such as a glass of orange juice, strawberries and vegetables like broccoli and peppers. Limit tea or coffee with meals as these may inhibit the absorption of iron. If you are vegetarian or vegan, talk to your dietitian to make sure you are getting enough iron.

Calcium Calcium is important for healthy teeth and bones. Your baby’s teeth will start to form as early as the sixth week of pregnancy. If you are not getting enough calcium, it is taken from your bones for the baby. Pregnant women need 1000mg of calcium every day and pregnant teenage girls need 1300mg calcium daily. Include at least three portions every day of calcium such as milk or milk-based products. There are some foods that contain less calcium like spinach, sweet potatoes, rhubarb, beans, seeds and nuts, but you shouldn’t rely on these to supply all the calcium you need. If you are lactose intolerant then soy-based products fortified with calcium are a good source. If you have a low calcium intake, a calcium supplement may be needed.

Vitamin D Vitamin D helps you use the calcium you eat and so is an essential component for bone health. Vitamin D is made from the sun’s rays and because of the poor UV light in Ireland from October to March, Vitamin D3 cannot be made in the skin then. Pregnant women need 10ug (400IU) of Vitamin D every day. It is only found naturally in a few foods such as oily fish, some fortified cereals and fortified milks. If you don’t have these foods in your diet, it is advised to take a low dose supplement containing 5ug of Vitamin D3.

Omega-3 Oily fish are high in DHA, important for developing your baby’s brain, nervous system and eyes. You can include them in the diet by eating one portion of oily fish per week while you are pregnant. If you are vegetarian or vegan, you are advised to take a pregnancy specific omega-3 supplement.

It’s really important that if you’re going for a general supplement when pregnant that you opt for a specific prenatal product. This will contain all the nutrients discussed above, as well as general vitamins such as B and C. A specific prenatal vitamin will not contain retinol, the animal form of Vitamin A, which is toxic to your unborn baby in large doses. Vitamin A in the plant form (beta-carotene) is okay, although many prenatal vitamins don’t contain Vitamin A at all. Don’t ever be tempted to take a multivitamin not intended for prenatal use unless cleared by your doctor, and never take more than the recommended dose.

DOES MY TODDLER NEED A SUPPLEMENT? Strictly speaking, no. It’s entirely normal for every toddler to go through a fussy eating period but if you suspect your child is not getting the nutrients he needs because of a long period of fussy eating, a supplement may be useful. Key nutrients include Vitamins A, C and D, all of which are important for your toddler’s immune system. The important point is to opt for an age-appropriate supplement, as the levels of vitamins in adult supplements aren’t safe for toddlers. Omega-3 fatty acids are also useful in supplement form if your child isn’t eating enough oily fish as these are essential for brain health – again, go for an age-appropriate product. Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist before giving your toddler a supplement. If your child is drinking follow-on milk (which is filled with added vitamins), there’s no need for a separate supplement.

20/07/2016 10:37

NUK is a registered trademark of MAPA GmbH, Germany * For optimally combining bottle and breastfeeding. Moral et al. BMC Pediatrics 2010, 10:6. For further information go to http://nuk.com/research

Fully satisfied without the tummy pains. Inspired by

NATURE

Helps to prevent colic thanks to improved vent:

the NUK First Choice+ Baby Bottle. Inspired by nature: the NUK First Choice+ Teat is modelled on a mother’s nipple as she breastfeeds and therefore optimal for everyone who wants to both bottle and breastfeed naturally. It has an extra-soft baglet which adapts perfectly to the palate and is particularly well accepted by infants – that is even clinically proven*. Its improved vent helps to ensure a natural flow of liquid, along with satisfied babies with no tummy pains. Find out more at nuk.com

NUK. Understanding Life. www.nuk.com

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18/07/2016 17:29

CERVICALCHECK OFFERS FREE CERVICAL SCREENING TESTS TO WOMEN AGED 25 TO 60 YEARS You may wonder if pregnancy affects your cervical screening needs. Well it depends…

If your next test is due while you are pregnant, you can choose to have it three months after giving birth by contacting CervicalCheck’s Freephone information line. It is best to wait that time to allow the cells in your cervix to go back to normal after the pregnancy. Some women wish to proceed with having the test during their pregnancy. A smear test can be taken safely during pregnancy and is usually taken in the second trimester (1326 weeks).

If your last test was not normal and you have been referred to a colposcopy clinic while pregnant, you should keep your appointment. Colposcopy can be done safely during pregnancy and clinic staff can help with any questions you have. There is a myth around cervical screening and pregnancy. The truth is pregnancy does not change your need for cervical screening. You only need to have a test if it is due. You do not need a smear test because you have had a baby.

To check when your next cervical screening is due or where to have free screening tests log on to www.cervicalcheck.ie or call the Freephone number 1800 45 45 55

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19/07/2016 14:36

FLU VACCINE INFORMATION FOR PREGNANT WOMEN

BE SURE. BE SAFE. VACCINATE. Now that you are pregnant it is important that you protect yourself and your baby from influenza (flu). Vaccination is the only way to protect you and your baby from flu and its complications. Why do pregnant women need to get seasonal flu vaccine? Seasonal flu is a highly infectious viral illness of the respiratory tract that can be life threatening for those in at risk groups including pregnant women. Pregnant women need to get seasonal flu vaccine as they are at higher risk of serious complications from flu. Flu vaccine protects pregnant women during pregnancy and provides ongoing protection to their newborn baby during the first few months of life. THE VACCINE CAN BE GIVEN AT ANY STAGE OF PREGNANCY. What is the seasonal (annual) flu vaccine? Each year the seasonal (annual) flu vaccine contains three common flu virus strains. The flu virus changes each year this is why a new flu vaccine has to be given each year. How does seasonal flu vaccine work? Seasonal flu vaccine helps your immune system to produce antibodies to the flu virus. When someone who has been vaccinated comes into contact with the virus these antibodies attack the virus. Is it safe for pregnant women to be vaccinated? Yes. The vaccine is safe for pregnant women. Seasonal flu vaccines have been given for more than 60 years. Reactions are generally mild and serious side effects are very rare. Seasonal flu vaccine has been recommended for several years for all pregnant women in the USA. Will my baby be protected if I am vaccinated? Yes. Vaccination during pregnancy will protect your baby and also helps prevent you getting flu and passing it on to your baby. Who should NOT get seasonal flu vaccine? The vaccine should not be given to • those with a history of severe allergic (anaphylaxis) reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine or any of its constituents. What about pregnant women with egg allergy? Pregnant women with egg allergy can get seasonal flu vaccine. This may be given by your GP or you may need referral to a hospital specialist. When should vaccination be postponed? There are very few reasons why vaccination should be postponed. Vaccination should be re-scheduled if you have an acute illness with a temperature greater than 38°C.

FLU IS ONE THING YOU DON’T WANT TO SHARE WITH YOUR BABY. Can the flu vaccine give me the flu? No. The flu vaccine cannot give you the flu because it does not contain any live viruses. How long does it take the vaccine to work? The vaccine starts to work within two weeks. What can I expect after vaccination? The most common side effects will be mild and may include soreness, redness or swelling where the injection was given. Headache, fever, aches and tiredness may occur. Some people may have mild sweating and shivering as their immune system responds to the vaccine, but this is not flu and will pass after a day or so. What if I don’t feel well after vaccination? If you have a temperature after the vaccine, take paracetamol, as it is safe in pregnancy, and it’s important for you and your baby to avoid fever. Do not take ibuprofen or aspirin (unless advised by your obstetrician). Remember if you are unwell after getting a vaccine, it could be for some other reasons - don’t assume it’s the flu vaccine and seek medical advice if needed. When should I get the flu vaccine? You should get the flu vaccine as early as possible in your pregnancy. The flu season usually occurs between September and April so if you become pregnant during this time you should get the vaccine. How do I get vaccinated? Flu vaccination is available from your GP or Pharmacist. If you have a ‘Medical Card’ or ‘Doctor Only Card’ the vaccine and consultation are free. If you do not have a ‘Medical Card’ or ‘Doctor Only Card’ you will be charged a consultation fee for seasonal flu vaccine.

PLEASE MAKE AN APPOINTMENT NOW. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.IMMUNISATION.IE

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19/07/2016 14/07/2016 14:36 16:57

What is whooping cough? Whooping cough (also known as pertussis) is a highly contagious illness. The disease is most serious in babies under 6 months of age who are too young to be fully vaccinated.

Whooping Cough Vaccine for Pregnant Women What are the symptoms of whooping cough?

How often should pregnant women get the vaccine?

What can I expect following vaccination?

Whooping cough causes long bouts of coughing and choking making it hard to breathe. Not all children get the ‘whoop’ and often older children and adults just have a cough. The disease can last up to three months. Infection with whooping cough does not give long lasting protection so reinfections can happen.

The antibodies you develop after vaccination decline over time so you need to get the vaccine again in your next pregnancy. You should get whooping cough vaccine during every pregnancy so these antibodies are passed to each of your babies in the womb.

You may get soreness or redness around the injection site or a mild generalised reaction of fever and fatigue for up to 48 hours afterwards.

How does whooping cough spread?

What vaccine should pregnant women get?

Whooping cough is spread from person to person by coughing, sneezing or close contact. Someone with whooping cough can spread the disease for up to three weeks after the start of the cough.

You should get a Tdap vaccine. This protects against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough.

How can whooping cough be prevented?

The best time to get the whooping cough vaccine is between 27-36 weeks of your pregnancy. Giving the vaccine at this time will give your baby the best protection.

Vaccination can prevent whooping cough. This is offered to all children • as part of the 6 in 1 vaccine at 2, 4 and 6 months of age • at 4-5 years of age (4 in 1 vaccine) • in 1st year of second level school (Tdap vaccine) All children should get these vaccines on time to protect them and babies too young to be vaccinated.

How does the whooping cough vaccine protect you and your baby? The vaccine stimulates your immune system to produce antibodies. These antibodies pass to your baby in the womb and protect them during the first few months of life. The antibodies decline rapidly in the first six months of life so it is important your baby gets the routine childhood vaccines (which include whooping cough vaccine) on time at 2, 4 and 6 months.

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When should I get the whooping cough vaccine?

Is there anyone who cannot get the vaccine? The vaccine should not be given to • those with a history of a severe allergic (anaphylaxis) reaction to a previous dose of whooping cough vaccine or any part of the vaccine. It is not recommended: • if there is a history of a severe local reaction to a previous dose. You should not get a tetanus or diphtheria containing vaccine more often than every 10 years if you have a severe local reaction.

When should vaccination be postponed?

What if I don’t feel well after vaccination? If you have a temperature after the vaccine, take paracetamol, as it is safe in pregnancy, and it’s important for you and your baby to avoid fever. Do not take ibuprofen or aspirin (unless advised by your obstetrician). Remember if you are unwell after getting a vaccine, it could be for some other reasons – don’t assume it’s the vaccine and seek medical advice if needed.

Is it safe for pregnant women to be vaccinated? Yes. The vaccine is safe for pregnant women. This whooping cough vaccine has been studied in pregnant women in the US and no risk has been found. Reactions are generally mild and serious side effects are very rare.

How do I get vaccinated? Contact your GP or maternity hospital to arrange for vaccination. The vaccine is free but you will be charged for the administration (even if you have a medical or doctor only card). You should also talk to your doctor about getting the flu vaccine. For more information please see www.immunisation.ie

Vaccination should be rescheduled if you have an acute illness with a temperature greater than 38°C.

19/07/2016 14/07/2016 16:56 18/03/2015 14:36 12:17

46 PREGNANCY

go wrong

When things

An ectopic pregnancy is a traumatic event for any woman, but there is help out there and plenty of hope for the future. maternity & infant meets one ectopic survivor who tells us her story.

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20/07/2016 10:41

47 PREGNANCY

othing can match the feeling of getting that much-wanted positive pregnancy test – and thankfully for most people, nine months later, that test becomes a beautiful baby. But unfortunately things can go wrong: miscarriage ends approximately one in five pregnancies, and about 14,000 Irish women lose a baby each year. A less common occurrence is ectopic pregnancy, which affects 1 in 80 pregnancies, but it can be life threatening if not treated and could impact your fertility. So while no one likes to think about a pregnancy ending in heartbreak, it’s very important to be aware of the symptoms of ectopic pregnancy and to seek help if you suspect something could be wrong. So what is an ectopic pregnancy? Sam Coulter-Smith, former Master of the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin, explains: “An ectopic pregnancy is one that implants outside the womb. The most common site is the fallopian tube. The reason we worry about these pregnancies is because as the pregnancy grows, the tube can rupture causing extensive and sometimes life-threatening blood loss. Sometimes the ectopic is caused by previous damage to the tube as a result of infection or inflammation and the fertilised egg cannot get back into the womb before it implants.” Ectopic pregnancies are diagnosed in a number of different ways, but most commonly by measuring the level of the pregnancy hormone hCG in the blood – in a healthy pregnancy, hCG levels double usually every two days, but in an ectopic pregnancy, the level rises much more slowly. A vaginal ultrasound scan can also establish if the egg has implanted in the uterus. About five to six weeks after the last period, a healthy pregnancy can be seen in the uterus, but in an ectopic pregnancy, the uterus looks empty. Another way to diagnose an ectopic pregnancy is through a laparoscopy, which is performed under anaesthetic. According to Ectopic Pregnancy Ireland, the symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy can include abdominal pain, shoulder-tip pain, vaginal bleeding, late or missed period, pain or diarrhoea during a bowel movement, pain when passing urine, feeling faint or collapsing, and nausea. The key is to seek help if you experience any of these symptoms, especially if you have recently had a positive pregnancy test. Remember, too, that a pregnancy test may be negative if the hCG levels are not rising fast enough. Fran Paradisi, suffered two ectopic pregnancies after undergoing IVF. Here she explains how her first ectopic pregnancy progressed and was treated. “In August 2008 I started my first IVF with ICSI cycle. Ev-

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erything went brilliantly, and 13 days after the transfer I tested positive. The hCG number was low but the doctors at the clinic said it could be normal and to repeat the blood test a few days later. The number rose as expected, still a bit on the low side of normal, but I was definitely pregnant. Then, at five weeks I started spotting. I did not feel well and I had the strong feeling that something was wrong. The spotting was very light and it stopped by increasing the progesterone I was on as part of the protocol. At six weeks I spotted again. My blood test revealed that hCG levels were on the low side but still rising. However, the doctor at the clinic was concerned it could have been a non-viable pregnancy and booked me in for a scan a couple of days later. The night before the scan I was very unwell. I had pain in my left side, I slept very little and could not find a comfortable position. In the morning, while having a shower, I felt so dizzy I almost passed out. The scan revealed nothing in the uterus. When blood tests revealed the hCG level was still rising, the doctor suspected an ectopic pregnancy and told me to go straight to the hospital. My world just fell apart. I could have dealt with a miscarriage, as I knew so many pregnancies end early – but an ectopic? I had surgery just one day short of seven weeks, the ectopic had not ruptured but they removed my left tube.”

Ectopic pregnancy & fertility If an ectopic pregnancy ruptures, it can be life threatening, so intervention is imperative. Dr Coulter-Smith explains further: “The treat-

ment can involve either medical or surgical intervention; in either case, the tube will be either damaged further by the ectopic or removed in some cases.” As a result of the tube being damaged or removed, your fertility may be affected but this doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to have a successful pregnancy in the future – and in worst-case scenarios, IVF is a possibility. “It is still possible to have a successful pregnancy after an ectopic but you are at increased risk of a similar problem in a future pregnancy,” says Dr Coulter-Smith. “When you do find out you are pregnant next time, make an early appointment at about 6-7 weeks and have an early scan to establish the site of the pregnancy.” For Fran, her two ectopic pregnancies happened through IVF, but thankfully there was a happy ending. “I suffered a second ectopic pregnancy, followed by an unsuccessful transfer, when a thick layer of scar tissue was found in my uterus, which likely would have affected implantation. It was removed and six week later I had my little frozen embryo transferred back. Ten days later I had a positive pregnancy test. As you can imagine, the joy and excitement was not there. Too many doubts, too many fears. At 5w1d I had a very early scan that showed a beautiful sack in my uterus. Although I cannot say I ever relaxed during the pregnancy, it was very uneventful. Every week, every scan (I had plenty!), every milestone settled an anxiety but brought up other ones. My beautiful son was born on New Year’s Day 2011 and we were finally a family. All we have been through now looks so, so worth it.”

HELP AND SUPPORT About Ectopic Pregnancy Ireland Fran is now active in Ectopic Pregnancy Ireland, a group that gives information about and support to women and couples who have gone through ectopic pregnancies. “After my second ectopic pregnancy, I was given a leaflet on miscarriages in the hospital, and the information didn’t fit with me because ectopic was very different. It was important for me to get something positive from the experience and when I was feeling a bit better, I contacted the bereavement midwife in Holles Street and asked if I could volunteer or help other women going through the same experience. She told me about a very new group about ectopic pregnancies that was being set up, and so I got involved.” Fran’s role in the organisation is to help raise awareness among women and among medical professionals, and even delivers a lecture to fourth-year midwifery students in UCD. The voluntary group’s other role is to provide help and support to those people affected by ectopic pregnancy, and bearing in mind that ectopic pregnancy is a relatively rare occurrence, many sufferers might not know anyone who had gone through the same experiences. “Everybody deals with an ectopic differently,” says Fran. “My advice is to know that you’re not on your own; there is help available. It’s very normal to feel up and down for a few weeks, but if it lingers, seek help. It’s a very Irish thing to think you’ll be grand after a while, but it’s okay to seek help if you’re not.” Ectopic Pregnancy Ireland: www.ectopicireland.ie, Tel 089 4365742 or email info@ectopicireland.ie

19/07/2016 10:53

48 HEALTH

THE

tooth OF THE MATTER It’s never too early to start taking care of your baby’s teeth. In fact, good dental hygiene should start with the arrival of your tot’s first tooth, says SIMONE KENNY GLENNON.

our baby’s first tooth is a big milestone and a great source of joy for parents, but it is also the beginning of a sometimes painful journey – in the physical sense for your child (teething, toothache, etc.) and metaphorically for you (trying to get your child to brush their teeth can be like… well, pulling teeth). “Anecdotal evidence suggests that cavities in children are on the increase,” says Dr Rose-Marie Daly, a consultant paediatric dentist at the Bon Secours Hospital Tralee, Co Kerry. “According to a number of regional surveys, approximately one third of children have experienced decay by the age of three.” The last available published research is from the North South Survey of Children’s Oral Health in Ireland 2002. It showed that 55 per cent of five year olds in non-fluoridated water areas, and 37 per cent of five year olds in fluoridated

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EARLY ORAL CARE So what age should you start brushing your baby’s teeth? From when their first little white jagged tooth emerges. And according to Dr Tuite there are three essential issues to consider when it comes to brushing baby’s teeth: position of baby; support of baby’s head; and access to baby’s teeth.

Position “Parents need full vision of the area the toothbrush is working on,” says Dr Tuite, who advises either cradling baby in your lap or lying baby in bed with you kneeling beside them.

Support Adequately supporting your baby’s head steady is important. If the toothbrush slips it could harm baby’s gums or cheeks. Dr Tuite advises cradling baby’s head between your arm and rib cage.

Access After washing your hands, use your fingers to pull back baby’s lips and cheeks so you can fully see all the teeth being brushed.

Dr Tuite recommends brushing baby’s teeth for two minutes, using an age-appropriate toothbrush and a rice grain amount of age appropriate fluoridated toothpaste, and wiping baby’s mouth out with a towel or face cloth after brushing. She also stresses that toothpaste should never be ingested and that it should be kept out of children’s reach.

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49 HEALTH

water areas had tooth decay. “It’s our most common chronic childhood illness,” says Dr Daly, “more common than asthma.” So why, in 21st-century Ireland, is tooth decay in kids on the rise? Fluoride avoidance – using filtered water, or low-fluoride toothpaste – may be contributing to this increase, along with the consumption of “no added sugar” drinks, which parents assume are a safe option. There’s also a lack of awareness about how early children should have a check-up. “The majority of parents think children don’t need to see a dentist until they’re in primary school,” explains Dr Daly. “This is probably a hang-up from the screening provided by the HSE dental service. Unfortunately the evidence shows that by second class, a lot of damage is already done. It’s important to emphasise that state-funded dental services for children are school-based. Other than an entitlement to emergency care, the service for preschool children is completely under-developed. It could be argued that this vulnerable cohort are being discriminated against.” But it doesn’t have to be that way. Good early dental hygiene habits and positive dental experiences can take the fear and pain out of looking after your baby’s milky whites. According to paediatric dental expert Dr Margaret Tuite, parents should be “informed, proactive and get a healthy eating routine going from day one”. “Excellent oral hygiene is essential,” she says. “These factors are part of overall good health. Teeth are just another part of this beautiful new little body which is developing under the care and guidance of their parents.” Here, we provide you with your essential need-to-know guide on everything from teething to teethcare….

Teething

Before that first tooth arrives your baby must unfortunately endure the painful process of teething. This can be difficult for parents, not only to watch their little one in pain but to also navigate through the myths that often accompany this stage. According to Dr Tuite, teething is a physiological entity involving the body’s response to the teeth erupting through both bone and gum – ouch! “There is an immune response during this process and, like all immune mediated responses; it varies in intensity from one individual to another. Hence the reason why some babies teethe badly and others with little discomfort,” says Dr Tuite, who runs her own specialised dental practice for children and adolescents at her website www. childrensdentistry.ie. The teething process can start at anytime

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– some babies will experience it within the first six months, while others might not start until after six months. However all 20 teeth should be through by the time your child is 30 months old. “There are 20 teeth to erupt and the last molars arrive on average between 20 and 30 months,” says Dr Tuite. There is not a huge amount parents can do other than to be aware of the symptoms – “pain, irritability, temperature increases, flushed cheeks, tender gums and general malaise” – and be on hand with cooled teething rings or chilled vegetable sticks to ease baby’s gum discomfort, and provide ageappropriate pain relief.

Brushing up on early oral care Forming good dental hygiene – and eating – habits, in your child’s first year really does set your child up for a life. “Decay prevention starts by thorough cleansing of both gums and teeth which controls the amount of bacteria attached to teeth and gum surfaces,” says Dr Tuite. “Our mouths are populated by different species and strains of bacteria, which we acquire at different stages of our lives. Some can be extremely aggressive and actively produce decay before the young immune system has had a chance to deal with them. We acquire these bacteria from our close human contacts especially parents and caregivers.”

Visiting the dentist Most people’s memories of visiting the dentist aren’t pleasant ones, mainly because visits usually occurred when there was a (painful) issue, so there is an automatic association of fear, pain and discomfort. However, it’s a good idea to introduce baby as early as possible for regular check-ups. This will not only familiarise your little one with the dental environment, and its sounds and smells, but will also create a normal and positive association early on. Dr Tuite advises scheduling your baby’s first dental appointment around their first birthday. A paediatric dentist will not only help you to establish correct cleaning protocol, but also provide information on toothfriendly eating and drinking habits. You can also discuss any habits that may have an impact on the formation of your child’s teeth, like soother and thumb cessation (see more on this below).

Treating milk teeth issues You won’t have to worry about your baby shedding their milk teeth until they are around age six (when four upper and four lower teeth are shed) and around aged 10 (when they shed another 12 teeth over a

“The majority of parents think children don’t need to see a dentist until they’re in primary school. This is probably a hang-up from the screening provided by the HSE dental service. Unfortunately the evidence shows that by second class, a lot of damage is already done.”

two-year period), however these teeth are subject to decay just as adult teeth are. In fact, even more so as decay travels more quickly through milk teeth, warns Dr Tuite. Tooth decay occurs when sugary foods and drinks are broken down by bacteria in the mouth to form acids that destroy the tooth. It is also the most common ongoing childhood disease, according to the HSE. “Milk teeth are the same as adult teeth in all respects other than that they are housed in a younger mouth. They need to be treated with fillings and sometimes root canal treatments and crowns when the damage is considerable. The use of fissure sealants for both primary and secondary teeth allows teeth mature with less risk of developing cavities.”

Thumb and soother sucking Thumbs and soothers can be a great comfort for new babies finding their bearings in a big new world. But can these comfort habits cause long-term damage to your child’s teeth? “Soother and sucky blankies cause the shape of the upper and lower jaws to change during the growth phases,” says Dr Tuite, who adds that thumb sucking also causes damage. She advises that soother habits should be discouraged during the second year and phased out completely before age three. “Appliances and anti-thumb sucking aids work for this habit too. Ask your paediatric dentist for suggestions on how to stop this habit,” says Dr Tuite who assures parents that any damage from thumb or soother sucking is reversible. “Early interceptive orthodontic care can reverse the damage from both these habits.” So when it comes to your child’s oral health, prevention really is better than cure.

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50 PARENTING

THE CURSE OF

MAMMY GUILT

Why is it that when you become a mother often your dominant feeling is one of guilt? And is that guilt justified? ANN-MARIE O’DOHERTY looks at some of the most common triggers of “mammy guilt” and what you can do to help them.

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19/07/2016 11:08

51 PARENTING

ou may have been a fairly chilled-out person before motherhood but afterwards, it seems everything changes and guilt shadows every decision you make. Am I doing the best thing for my child, is she eating well enough, am I paying her enough attention etc. This guilt begins long before birth in the crazy, exhilarating days of early pregnancy when you struggle to make healthy eating choices and ditch the five-a-day coffee habit. One slight miscalculation and you spend the night convinced you’ve hurt your child in some way. It can be overwhelming and time consuming but how can we put a put a stop to it? “It would seem that there in an overemphasis on the opinions of others – family, friends or complete strangers,” says Vera Wegner, counsellor and psychotherapist. Instead of judging our decisions by our own standards we look to the outside world for validation. There are many choices we make every day as parents, but some of the following seem to be the biggest culprits for the dreaded mammy guilt.

BREASTFEEDING

QUICK-FIX SOLUTIONS

“Most of us are now very aware of the benefits of breastfeeding to both mother and baby. However sometimes, for whatever reason, breastfeeding doesn’t work out. The guilt many women feel around this subject is heartbreaking. “Breastfeeding is an area that is often perceived as the ‘natural’ option for mothers,” says Vera. “When this doesn’t work out it can seriously undermine a woman’s sense of self, she may feel a failure as if she has let her baby down.” Vera emphasises support over pressure in this situation. Surround yourself with supportive people and close the door (mentally and physically) to those who would seek to make you feel bad. Breastfeeding doesn’t work for everybody and we are really lucky to have an alternative option if it doesn’t.

We have all had those days when the baby won’t stop crying, the toddler is in permanent meltdown mode and you feel you might just cry yourself. On days like these many parents reach for the remote control and soothers just to get five minutes of peace. But these come with a hefty price tag. That’s right a great big dollop of guilt. “The reality is that once we don’t rely on them all the time, every once in a while won’t do your child any harm,” says Vera.

GOING BACK TO WORK All too soon maternity leave ends and you find yourself dropping your child into a crèche/childminder/relative. No matter how comfortable you feel about your choice of childcare, this will be a big step to take. Quite often the guilt surrounding leaving your baby makes it all the more harder to focus on your career. Vera explains that it is natural to feel a loss at leaving your child in the care of someone else. However, she emphasises that “guilt is the emotion we feel when we tell ourselves we have done something wrong” and so it’s important that we “understand who determines what is right and wrong.” We might enjoy getting back to work but feel guilty for not staying home like our sister or friend. To combat this type of guilt we need to step back and realise that all parenting styles differ. What works for your friend or sister may very well be the wrong choice for you and your family.

ME TIME I know that since I became a mother I find it incredibly difficult to justify taking time for myself to just read a book or go for a coffee. When I do have free time I either work or end up doing chores! Yet we all know the benefits for both yourself and your family when you do take some time to recharge. “Focusing on the idea that helping yourself will ultimately help your family might just make it that bit easier to take some time out,” suggests Vera.

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ASKING FOR HELP New mothers as well as more seasoned pros find this one really tough. I spoke with Amy from Waterford, the mother of two small children, who confessed it would be very rare for her to ask for help, even from close family members. Later I visited a friend whose seven month old baby was teething badly. I could see she was tired and offered to sit with him while she went up to lie down. She thanked me but felt she wouldn’t be able to relax if she heard him crying. She would feel too guilty. “Tempting as it is to do everything yourself, this is no good for you or your baby,” says Vera. Take up those offers of help; you would be surprised by how much better you feel (trust me on this one).

DISCIPLINE You know the scene. Toddler has found the stash of crayons and is busy decorating your bedroom wall yet again. But that little face begins to scrunch up when you gently remind him this isn’t on. The tiny body begins to shake with emotion and you are so close to caving and just giving him a hug. If yu do, you know it’ll be the same story tomorrow. It is important to remain consistent when it comes to correcting your toddler and consistency is key to helping a child get a sense of what is right and wrong in his world. However, this doesn’t help mammy feel any less guilty when confronted with an upset toddler. Vera says that this is where a strong partnership between you and a family member or partner can help. You can support each other and remind each other that it’s for the greater good!

HOW TO HANDLE MAMMY GUILT

Go for a walk. It doesn’t have to be a long one but even a quick stroll around the neighbourhood can help clear your head when you are in danger of heading into a guilt spiral. Exercise boosts endorphins and can help you see things more clearly. Better yet it might even soothe that tantruming toddler. Talk things through with a close friend or family member. Often this helps to shed light on the fact that what you are feeling has no basis in reality. You are not a bad mother for going back to work or taking some time for yourself. Have confidence in your own choices. This is easier said than done but at the end of the day you have made those choices with your family’s needs (and your own) in mind. That is what matters. Make a list of all the things you do really well as a mother. This could be anything from reading a bedtime story every night to making sure teeth are brushed on a daily basis. There are dozens of things you do every day as a mother to ensure your child feels safe and loved. This list will help you focus on all the things you do well rather than obsessing over areas where you feel you are going wrong. Switch off social media when guilt comes calling. There is nothing worse than scrolling through images of perfection when you are having a bad day. Remember what you see on screen is only half the reality. We all have tough days we just generally don’t put them up on Facebook. Lastly, as a dear friend once told me, children are all different with different needs and we all bring our own unique style of parenting to the table. Different does not mean wrong and need not come with a side of guilt!

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5252 NUTRITION NUTRITION

Nutritional

Pitfalls Most of us are aware of the importance of healthy eating for kids, but sometimes it feels like we’re fighting a losing battle. ANDREA MARA looks at some of the common pitfalls out there that might thwart our very best efforts to keep our kids eating healthy foods.

s parents, we try to do the best for our kids, and of course that includes feeding them healthy meals. But despite best efforts to stick to nutritious food, we are sometimes thwarted in our efforts – by confusing food labelling, misleading marketing, and even by those who hold our children’s best interests at heart – our schools and grandparents. So how do we spot these nutrition pitfalls, and how do we avoid them?

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53 NUTRITION

The labels that put you to sleep Have you ever found yourself glazing over when reading the ingredients on the back of a package – because the writing is so tiny and the list is so long? Indeed, if the ingredients sound like they’re more at home in a science lab than in your kitchen cupboard, it may not be the most nutritious food for your child. But busy parents don’t always have time to read the label, and even when they do, it can be really confusing. “Most people simply do not understand food labels, but they are a lot more complicated than one might think,” says Consultant Dietitian and Nutritionist Niamh O’Connor (Cork Nutrition). “Safefood carried out fascinating research into the public’s perceptions and understanding of food labels. The qualitative study revealed that consumers are least likely to consult labels on everyday products such as milk, pasta, juices, and pre-packaged fruit and vegetables.” One of the reasons people don’t look at food labels is because they’re confused by the huge amount of information. O’Connor has some advice. “If you want to compare labels using the ‘per 100g’ columns, here’s a top tip – use ‘The 365 Rule’: less than 3g fat per 100g, more than 6g fibre per 100g, less than 5g sugar per 100g. And use front of pack labelling as a guide – research shows this to be far better understood than back-of-pack nutritional information.”

All yoghurts are not created equal The concept of a treat is reasonably clear – crisps and chocolate are treats, and not everyday staples. But what about “healthy” food – like yoghurts, juices and breakfast cereals surely if a product is in the yoghurt aisle, it’s OK for our kids? That’s the problem – sometimes it’s not. Some yoghurts, juices, smoothies and breakfast cereals can have significant amounts of sugar, but because of how they’re marketed, we tend to think they’re healthy. So what do parents need to know? O’Connor says we should be aware of key words and what they really mean. “Manufacturers know from research that conscientious parents will pay more money for products that they perceive to be healthier, even if they’re not. Using general terms on food labels such as ‘healthy’, ‘wholesome’, ‘nutritious’ or ‘full of goodness’ carries no legal definition, so these could be put on any kind of food.” Ultimately, it’s back to reading the label – if the yoghurt is full of sugar, it’s not a healthy snack.

An apple for the teacher but sweets for the kids Most schools today have healthy eating policies, many of which preclude lunchbox treats for most of the week. This is a huge help to

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HEALTHIER SNACK IDEAS FOR KIDS

✹ Homemade popcorn ✹ Apple slices with peanut butter ✹ Pitta pocket “pizzas” – grilled pitta pockets with tomatoes and cheese ✹ Homemade frozen yogurt pops ✹ Wholegrain cereal with berries and chopped apple ✹ Baked sweet potato fries – like chips, only sweeter ✹ Crackers with a chunk of cheddar cheese or hummus ✹ Natural yogurt with strawberries and blueberries

parents who are under pressure from their children, and helps create a wider acceptance that healthy food is the norm. However, within those same school settings, sweets are often given as rewards, sending majorly mixed messages to kids. This is a difficult one – how do you handle it if your child is being given sweets at school? Parent coach Aoife Lee (parentsupport.ie) says open communication with teachers and the principal is key. “The principal of Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua in Ballyogan, where my kids go to school, tells us that parents should never be afraid to approach staff, particularly when it’s to do with a child’s health and wellbeing. He suggests that if you do need to address an issue, be prepared – know what you want to say beforehand. If there’s a healthy eating policy but it’s not being practiced, they’re effectively violating their own policy.” Lee also recommends trying your Parents’ Association. “Suggesting ways for the parents as a group to work alongside the school is an opportunity to build positive relationships. For example, suggest ‘Fruit Friday’ – with permission from the principal, each child brings in a different piece of fruit each week to be chopped up and shared with their classmates.” If things still don’t feel right, Lee says to contact the National Parents Council (NPC. ie). “There is a confidential helpline, and their

officers support parents through listening and giving information to help you make the best possible decisions for your child.”

Spare the treats or spoil the child It seems that grandparents who raised their own children in more austere days are now making up for lost time, showering their grandchildren in treats. Research shows that children who are minded by grandparents are more likely to be obese, but that grandparents tend not to recognise obesity in their own grandchildren, and that it’s not something discussed between parents and grandparents. Niamh O’Connor elaborates. “A very interesting study was carried in the US and published in the British Medical Journal in 2014 regarding the issue of grandparents being an independent risk factor and contributor to childhood obesity, and I would have to say, from experience, I would concur with the findings. While parents and grandparents were aware of their preschoolers’ growth chart percentiles, these measures did not translate into recognition of children’s overweight or obesity. The participants spoke of obesity as a problem that may affect the children in the future, but not at present. Parents and grandparents avoided discussing the children’s weights with each other and with the children themselves.” The facts are clear, but broaching the subject is an altogether muddier prospect. Joana da Silva, Chief Specialist in Nutrition at Safefood has some tips. “With grandparents and carers the best approach is to empower them with the same information that we use to empower parents. We’re not trying to ban treats, but considering the amount of time children spend with grandparents and carers, they all need to be part of the plan. So talk to them about giving healthy snacks like chopped fruit and vegetables, and talk about non-food treats – we tend to associate treats with food but they don’t have to be. Try activities like telling stories, putting on plays or doing sports.” Da Silva suggests agreeing a concrete frequency for treats to remove ambiguity and slippage. “Say something like ‘Look, I’m trying to cut down to three times a week and I’d love you to work with me on this’. Agree specific days, and ask grandparents that they don’t buy big packs of treats – if they’re not in the house at all, it’s easier.” Or perhaps say you’ve read an article about children eating too many treats and you’re trying to cut back yourself? “Yes, create some empathy – show that you’re at the same starting point, realising that you need to cut down. It’s not about blaming – we know grandparents like to spoil their grandchildren every now and then, and it’s not about banning; treats just need to be part of a healthy diet and active life.”

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54 EDUCATION

Positive

Starts Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just our four- and five year olds starting big school, pre-school is also kicking off for another year in September. We talked to ANGELA CANAVAN, from childcare specialists Canavan Byrne, about the current start of Irelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pre-school sector, the addition of a second preschool year and what to look for when choosing a facility.

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55 EDUCATION

he more we learn about children and education, the more we come to the conclusion that getting the early years right is key to our children’s success, both educationally and socially. In particular, children with special needs benefit from help as early as possible, maximising the chances of every child getting the most out of formal education. So much as we have to criticise the government and its policies over recent years – particularly in regard to our early intervention services and the ongoing failure to provide affordable childcare for all, a real advance in the last budget was the introduction of the second pre-school year. “It’s a positive move,” says Angela Canavan, director with childcare and pre-school specialists Canavan Byrne. “I think in general children having more access to pre-school is a good thing. In other countries like Germany, children don’t go into formal school until a later age and the research shows that children who don’t start formal school until later do better. They benefit from more play-based education in the early years before things like reading and writing come in. Also, because it is free, it means that no matter your income you have access to two years of pre-school, which will put every child on a positive footing before beginning school.” The move is part of an ongoing realisation that good quality pre-school education has a huge benefit on people all though their lives. “A lot of research has gone into what’s good for children before they start school, and they’ve taken findings from other countries too,” Angela explains. “A study done here a few years ago looked at the transition from pre-school to national school, and what children need in order to blossom and perform well. This was mainly around self-confidence, self-esteem, communication, being able to express your feelings, being able to follow basic rules, and certain independent things like being able to hang up your coat and manage your books - not necessarily being able to read and write. They’re also the skills needed to transition well from primary into secondary school, so these are lifelong skills that can be learnt in pre-school.”

Different philosophies, one goal There are various different types of preschools out there: standalone facilities and those that are part of a crèche. They can also be community-based or private, but remember that the ECCE free pre-school years are open to everyone, which means you can apply to a private facility for a place and expect not to pay anything.

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“Different centres might also have different philosophies and approaches to education too,” Angela explains. “However, all of them are now required to follow the National Curriculum Framework, which is called Aistear. So pre-schools can follow their own philosophy, for example High Scope, Steiner or Montessori, but the expectation is that this philosophy fits into the Aistear framework, so children reach certain goals before they start school. There’s also Naíonraí, which are Irish-speaking, and they’re really popular and quite hard to get into, as they often act as feeders into gaelscoil.” This has the benefit of ensuring that all children are at the same level before they start school. There has also been a great advancement for children with special needs, as Angela explains, which hopefully will ensure that they are as well set up for primary school as their classmates. “A whole new programme was announced last budget, where funds were being put into pre-schools in relation to children with special needs. This money is for training people in pre-schools, who want to be trained, in inclusion. So if you have a child with special needs, one of the questions you should be asking a facility is if someone in there is going to participate in this programme. At the moment it’s optional, but over time I’m sure it will become fairly mainstream. A national database will also be set up in relation to inclusion, aimed at both parents and providers, and they’re hiring more therapists to work with providers to create that infrastructure to help children with special needs as early as possible.” All of this is very positive, but Angela warns that the sector does need support from the government. “There’s a lot of positive change but there could be more, particularly from the providers’ point of view. The capitation is very low, and it’s very hard to provide quality care when they don’t have the money for it. For instance, the free pre-school year doesn’t pay providers for non-contact time – so they might need to go on the dole during the summer. It’s not treated like teachers in a national school. I’d like to see pre-school facilitators get the same status and same benefits as schoolteachers. It’s a very low-paid sector, and lots of teachers have been known to leave to work in shops because of the pay. It’s also highly regulated now, and they

can be inspected by five different agencies, including Tusla, Pobail and the Department of Education. It’s very challenging running a service, and the sector needs to continue to be supported.”

What to look for It’s clear then, that the pre-school sector is improving all the time – so will it get to the point where we’re leaving maternity hospitals and putting our child’s name down for the most popular pre-school straight away? Don’t rule it out, warns Angela. “You didn’t have to before, but I think that’s going to be the way of the future. There are some areas that suffer from saturation, but there are some other rural areas that don’t have enough. I was talking to one provider who says she’s booked up now until 2018. So if you’re in a busy area, where a lot of children are being born, it might be a good idea to look for a pre-school sooner rather than later. So what should parents looks for when choosing a pre-school? The first consideration is staff qualifications. “By December 2016, the minimum qualification to work with pre-school children is FETAC level 5 in early childhood care and education,” says Angela. “For the free pre-school year, you need to have someone with a minimum of Level 6 to work in that room. A lot of services now are requiring Level 7 now, which is a degree up. Services that have Levels 7 or 8 get better funding. “You can check the last inspection too. Any good provider will give this to you – you shouldn’t have to go looking for it. Ask for the last Tusla inspection, and if they’ve had an inspection by the Department of Education, ask for that too. They’re also available online too. “Also look at the atmosphere of the place when you visit – are the kids happy? Are they registered with Tusla? Do you have access to their report? What opening hours do they have? Do they offer the free scheme? Do they offer extra hours for an extra cost? Or extra-curricular activities like Gymboree or playball? Class numbers are important too. The maximum number in a pre-school room is 22, with a ratio of one to 11, but you as a parent might decide you want a smaller class size.” Remember, too, the different philosophies – do your research early and decide what’s best for your child. After all, you know your child the best.

FIND OUT MORE: Angela Canavan is a director in Canavan Byrne, a one-stop advisory shop, including HR and training, for pre-school and nursery providers. Log on to www.canavanbyrnechildcare.ie

19/07/2016 10:47

56 EDUCATION

THE FIRST DAY:

A PARENTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SURVIVAL GUIDE!

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57 EDUCATION

It’s a familiar sight – children skipping happily into the first day of Junior Infants, while a line of parents stand outside wiping away the tears. We reckon the first day of big school is harder on the parents! Here’s how to survive...

here are certain milestones in a child’s life that are hugely emotional all round. These can differ from parent to parent – some parents get choked up at the first professional haircut, while there’s at least one maternity & infant staff member who got a big choked up the minute the last nappy left the house (yes, really). However, on event that is emotional for everyone is the very first day in school. Thanks to free preschool for all, the first day at “big” school is not so daunting for the kids, but we think that every parent feels that stepping into that Junior Infants classroom for the first time is the equivalent of stepping onto the rollercoaster at Tayto Park – it might feel slow at first but all too soon you’re hurdling towards the finish line and your baby is heading off to college. Sniff. With all this in mind, we’ve decided to dedicate at least part of our Back to School special to the parents - the kids might be alright, but what about you? Here’s our top tips for parents on surviving the first day of school - as much as possible, anyway!

Be prepared This is as much for you as it is for your child. Create a bit of excitement about big school by pointing out the building to your child long before it’s time to start. If you can, bring your child to the gates when classes are on to see the kids going in and out of classrooms and having fun on their breaks. Most classes have some sort of introductory session for you and your little one – make sure you go to these, meet the teacher and get familiar with where you’re going and the set-up. Hopefully by getting familiar with the school and teachers, it’ll be one less thing to worry about when that first day arrives.

Meet the parents Again, many schools have a session where you can meet other parents, and some introduce you to the Parents’ Association reps before long before the first day arrives. If possible, get talking to some parents who live near you and arrange some playdates between your little ones. This will mean that your child will know some kids when they start – and you will have a familiar face to nod to on the first day (as you hide the tears behind the sunglasses).

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WHAT IF .... ...MY CHILD DOESN’T LIKE SCHOOL?

No fussing or nerves You may have to step outside of yourself for this one. Remember that it’s a massive step for your little one and nerves and emotions might be high. You need to be the calm and collected one here. Prepare everything the night before and get up in plenty of time. If you’re feeling upset or nervous, hide it well in front of your child. Be excited for her, but calm too. You can fall apart once your child is safely in school!

Rehearse your exit Talk to your child about what will happen when you go into the classroom. Explain that you will go in and find their place, hang up their coat and help them settle in, but then it’ll be time to go. You’ll have a hug and a kiss and then you must go and come back when it’s time for school. If you’re clear about what your child can expect, hopefully you can minimise any chance of tears.

Don’t stay too long Usually the teacher will have guided you already about how long to stay in the classroom. It’s good to stay and make sure your child knows where she is sitting, where everything is and has found someone to play with and talk to, but it’s a good idea to leave as soon as you can. Staying too long may unsettle your child and possibly upset other children there.

Treat yourself... It’s perfectly normal to feel emotional, nostalgic, perhaps even a little down after you drop your child to school for the first time. Treat yourself to coffee with a friend or a haircut or just even with some time out. This is a massive day for your family and you need to acknowledge such a momentous event – and be proud of yourself for getting your child to this stage.

...And treat your little Junior Infant Be on time to collect your little one after school and do something fun to mark the first day. Don’t worried if your child isn’t full of stories about their first day – that’ll come – just be full of excitement for them and talk to them about the fun stuff that will happen over the coming weeks. Be happy and enthusiastic about school and what lies ahead, and soon your child will be too.

It’s every parent’s nightmare – what if my child comes home from the first day of school and flatly refuses to go back the next day? First, don’t panic. This is more common than you might imagine. A lot may have to do with all the excitement and build-up to the first day – quite often the child might not have realised that this is the new routine from now on – it’s not just about one day. If your child has said she doesn’t like school after just one day, try to give her a little space. She could be feeling tired and overwhelmed by it all, and simply doesn’t want that sort of pressure day after day. Let her have a quiet afternoon and spend a little time with her that evening, perhaps reading a story or playing a quiet game. Talk again, then, about school – explain how it’s the new routine and talk about the positives, such as friends, the teacher etc. Arrange something fun for the weekend and let her focus on that. Chances are, your child just needs time to get used to the new routine. If the drop-off is an issue, perhaps see if you can go in at the same time as a parent with a child your little one gets on well with. If the friends are walking in together, they might forget about feeling sad when you need to leave. Finally, if this continues to be an issue, talk to the teacher – your child is not the first one to say she doesn’t like school, or to find the transition difficult, so don’t hesitate to bring the matter up with the teacher, who will be able to help your child settle in and enjoy school – and probably reassure you that your child is actually enjoying school once you leave the building!

19/07/2016 10:27

58 EDUCATION

RULES OF UNIFORM SHOPPING About to embark on uniform shopping for the first time? Follow our five rules and you won’t go too far wrong…

LUNCH RULES Most schools have a healthy eating policy in place – but what does that mean for your kids’ packed lunches? It’s a fine line to keep your kids’ lunches tasty yet healthy. To make sure you’re giving your kids a balanced lunch every day, SafeFood advises you to choose ingredients from each food group: BREAD AND CEREALS: two portions ✱ 2 slices of bread ✱ 1 small bread roll ✱ 1 tortilla wrap ✱ 1 pitta bread ✱ 4–6 crackers or breadsticks ✱ 4 tablespoons or 6 dessertspoons cooked rice, pasta or couscous ✱ 1 small bagel MEAT/ALTERNATIVE: one portion ✱ 2 slices cooked meat ✱ 1–2 eggs (hard-boiled, sliced or mashed) ✱ A small can (100g or 4oz) of tuna, salmon, mackerel or sardines ✱ 4 tablespoons hummus, try as a dip with carrots or pepper strips Note: Fish such as tinned tuna or salmon should be included in the lunchbox at least once a week – remove any bones

Be informed

Talk to other parents, or the parents’ association if all else fails, about tips and tricks when it comes to uniforms. Are some items more important than others? Can you get away without certain items? Is it worth getting anything second hand? Are there cheaper ways of buying uniform basics?

Shop around

Thankfully the days of only getting your uniform in one place are gone. Yes, certain crested items might only be available from one supplier (but ask if the crest can be sewn onto a generic item, eg a blazer), but things like jumpers, trousers and shirts can usually be bought from a chainstore. Tesco, Dunnes, M&S, Debenhams, Next, Aldi and Lidl are just a few of the mainstream shops with great uniform offerings.

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Look for special features

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Buy on the big side…

Remember that the school uniform has to last a long time, so look for little features that might help you get the most out of each piece, eg good-sized hems on trousers and skirts, waists that can be let out, and shoes that feature a scuff-resistant coating.

…but not that it’s swimming on your child. There’s a happy medium, folks!

Look for year-round stock

Hopefully you won’t have buy a whole new uniform mid-year, but the reality is you may find yourself in February with trousers that just won’t button up! Look for stores and styles that keep a stock all year round. Another option is to buy another size up of certain items, such as trousers or skirts, just to have them there. Items like shirts you should be fairly safe to leave until you need them.

FRUIT & VEG: at least one portion ✱ 1 medium apple, orange, banana, pear or similar size fruit ✱ 2 small fruits – plums, kiwis or similar size fruit ✱ A small glass (100ml) of unsweetened fruit juice juice ✱ 1 heaped dessertspoon of dried fruit ✱ 1 small bunch of grapes (10–12 grapes ✱ 1 small salad ✱ Small bowl of vegetable soup DAIRY PRODUCTS: one portion ✱ 1 glass or mini-carton of milk (200ml) ✱ A pot of natural or low fat yoghurt (125ml) or similar quantity of custard ✱ 2 processed cheese triangles ✱ Matchbox-sized piece of cheese

19/07/2016 10:27

59 EDUCATION

PIMP UP YOUR LUNCH

Make that healthy lunch look even more alluring with a great lunch box! 10

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Main image: Shopkins lunch bag and bottle set, €15, Littlewoods Ireland 1 Minions lunchbox & flask, €16.99, Argos 2 My Little Owl lunch bag, €8.99, Argos 3 Round fruit lunchbox, €5, Tiger stores 4 Yay Lunch Happy Jackson range, €7.99, Eason 5 My Little Pony lunch bag and bottle, €19, Littlewoods Ireland 6 Crocodile lunch bag with Thinsulate, €19, M&S 7 Hungry Jungle Tiger lunch bag & bottle, €24.99, Argos 8 Avengers Marvel Comics lunch bag and bottle, €15, Littlewoods Ireland 9 Lunch box, €4, Tiger stores 10 Spiderman lunch bag, €13.50, M&S

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19/07/2016 10:27

60 ADVERTORIAL

STOPPING MALNUTRITION IN ITS TRACKS As most parents appreciate, having a sick child is a real worry. In Ireland, we can access the right help and support for our growing babies close by but in the developing world, it’s not always easy.

s most parents appreciate, having a sick child is a real worry. In Ireland, we can access the right help and support for our growing babies close by but in the developing world, it’s not always easy. In the places where Concern works, many parents don’t have access to sufficient food or clean water and despite their best efforts, their children become malnourished. Research shows that if a child does not have adequate nutrition before its second birthday, the damage is irreversible and the effect lasts a lifetime. Concern’s programmes seek to treat malnutrition by providing quality nutrition services locally and address the root causes by improving food security and access to clean water, as well as providing solid advice on breastfeeding and complimentary feeding. Thanks to donations from the Irish public, the aid agency has managed to change the way malnutrition is treated across the world. For years, children suffering from severe acute malnutrition were treated by doctors and nurses with therapeutic milk in Therapeutic Feeding Centres. These feeding centres incurred high costs, struggled to manage sizeable caseloads and forced mothers to leave the rest of their children and their livelihoods behind, often for weeks on end, which often pushed the family deeper into poverty. And despite all this investment, cure rates were low. In 2000, Concern, in partnership with Valid International, successfully piloted Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) model in Ethiopia, which decentralises treatment and enables most mal-

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nutrition cases to be treated and recover at home. Not only was this approach cheaper, but it led to higher recovery rates. Furthermore, it meant that mothers could look after their other children and their farms, while their malnourished child recovered. CMAM reaches more people than the traditional centrebased schemes and is a groundbreaking success. Today, CMAM is implemented across the world in diverse settings, including humanitarian emergencies, urban environments and long term development settings. It has been adopted by the UN as the malnutrition treatment approach and has been taken on by governments and NGOs across the globe. Concern is supporting its adoption and ensuring quality control by providing formal and on-the-job training to government health workers to increase the quality of healthcare available in remote rural areas. Belynesh Hail is one of the health workers supported by Concern in Ethiopia. She manages a health post; this is the first port of call for medical care for people living in rural areas. She has been trained in a wide range of areas, including postnatal advice, family planning, immunisations and outpatient therapeutic care for malnourished mothers and children. She also is trained on how to diagnose and treat acute malnutrition. Concern also supports the health post by keeping it fully stocked with therapeutic food and medicine for malnourished children and mothers. “My week typically involves doing outreach work by visiting peo-

Azanu Tekle and her two year old son. Photo: Kieran McConville

ple’s houses to check how they are getting on. I work six days a week, and as there are two health workers at this post, it is never closed”, she said. Belynesh enjoys her work and feels she is making a lasting impact on Ethiopian mothers who want to help feed their vulnerable young children. Among them is 25-year-old Azanu Takle, a married mother of three children – daughter Adis (3) and sons Meseret (4) and Ambagiorgis (2) who are all moderately malnourished. Azanu and her family live on a small piece of land on which they try to grow enough wheat to survive, but last year’s failed rains have all but wiped out their harvest and future food supplies. “The drought has affected us very badly. We eat once a day, sometimes we get two meals”. Concern has been providing supplementary food for Azanu’s children and their condition has improved. “We are doing the best we can for our children and are grateful for the help,” she said.

Belynesh Haile, a government health extension worker. Photo David Hunn

Concern’s work in Ethiopia preventing moderate malnutrition from sliding into severe acute malnutrition has been hugely successful. By providing supplementary food to women and children, it has significantly reduced the caseloads of severe malnutrition. Despite three consecutive harvests failing from the worst drought in recorded history in Ethiopia, Concern has stopped severe acute malnutrition in its tracks and will continue to do so for as long as it takes.

19/07/2016 14:37

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19/07/2016 14:38 09:13

62 BOOTS MATERNITY & INFANT AWARDS 2016

Have Your Say! When it comes to buying baby products for your little ones, parents can be inundated with choices, and it can be hard choosing the right product for your family. The Boots maternity & infant Awards have taken out all the hard work and can recommend products that have been voted for, tested and approved by parents, for parents. We tested our products in two ways – at home testing (for smaller items) and on a special Academy Day (for bigger items).

THE NUMBERS T EST IN G

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THE ACADEMY DAY Over 70 parents got together to test approximately 80 baby and family products. Everything from travel systems to baby monitors to family cars were put under the telescope and analysed. It’s safe to say it was a rigorous day of testing and discussing! This year, the Academy Day took place in the Royal Marine Hotel, Dún Laoghaire on July 19th.

products tested

HOME TESTING Smaller products like baby wipes, baby food and nappies from top industry brands are sent to over 90 homes all over the country. These parents thoroughly test and rate products over a five-week period, giving brands the equivalent of a 50-week testing period.

S IGN UP FO R NEXT YEAR!

171 parent testers

WANT TO TAKE PART IN 2017? It couldn’t be easier to sign up via maternityandinfant. ie/awards. Be part of one of Ireland’s biggest and most prestigious awards that are voted, tested and approved by parents, for parents.

weeks of testing

www.maternityandinfant.ie/awards

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63 BOOTS MATERNITY & INFANT AWARDS 2016

People Awards Sometimes we just want to say ‘thank you’ to the people who have been there for us through thick and thin, the people who have motivated us through the hardest of times and the people who quite simply keep us smiling.

NOMINATE NOW!

The Boots maternity & infant Awards want to help you recognise these special people in your life. Did you have an exceptional midwife whose support got you through your labour? A dad who goes above and beyond to keep his family happy and healthy? Or maybe a child who has shown remarkable strength at such a young age? Join us in rewarding these inspirational people by nominating them today!

We have 17 People Award categories and nominating couldn’t be easier via maternityandinfant.ie

✺ Boots Outstanding Achievement Award ✺ BT Child Hero of the Year SUPER SIBLIN G OF THE YEAR

DAD OF THE YEAR

✺ Lidl Mum of the Year ✺ Maxi Cosi Dad of the Year ✺ Mothercare Midwife of the Year ✺ Sudocrem Miracle Baby of the Year ✺ Canavan Byrne Early Educator of the Year ✺ eumom Business Parent of the Year ✺ Irish Daily Mail Grandparent of the Year ✺ Nurse of the Year ✺ Obstetrician of the Year ✺ Paediatrician of the Year ✺ Pharmacist of the Year ✺ Public Health Nurse of the Year

PUBLIC HEALTH NUR SE OF THE YEAR

SPE CIAL MERIT AWARD

✺ Super Sibling of the Year ✺ Young Achiever of the Year

For more information email Hazel at hazel.johnston@ashvillemediagroup.com

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64 BOOTS MATERNITY & INFANT AWARDS 2016

Meet Our Sponsors! BOOTS IRELAND are thrilled to sponsor the 2016 Boots maternity and infant awards. The awards commend the best products available on the market as well as recognising some of the most inspirational people in Ireland. It’s also about commending the hard work and dedication of parents, siblings, nurses and service providers and without these awards, their work would go unrecognised and we’re delighted to be part of that. This year is very exciting as we are celebrating our 20thyear in Ireland. Our first store opened in Jervis in 1996 and from there we have grown. Our purpose is to help customer’s look and feel better than they ever thought possible and we are committed to providing exceptional customer and patient care throughout all our stores nationwide. For 2016 we are continuing to improve our omni-channel offering in order to bring a seamless shopping experience to our customers, whatever way they choose to shop. We are also continuing to bring great value to our customers, not just through our product offerings but with fantastic promotions throughout the year and expert health and beauty advice. Boots Ireland have 85 stores and over 2,000 employees.

MOTHERCARE has been a long-standing sponsor of the awards, a supporter since 2009. This year the company is sponsoring the Mothercare Midwife of the Year People Award, which recognises a midwife who has gone beyond the call of duty to care for new parents and infants. Mothercare Ireland is an Irish family-owned company that has been in business since 1992, and is the largest retailer of nursery and childcare products in the country. Mothercare’s aim is to meet the needs and aspirations of parents for their children. Mothercare has stores nationwide, employing over 270 people.

BT has been operating in Ireland for over eight years and aims to become the No.1 baby monitor vendor in Ireland. BT monitors are stocked in over 10 individual retailers, selected DID and Harvey Norman stores, and directly through Boots, Mamas and Papas, Mothercare, Argos and Tesco. BT monitors consistently win awards including the prestigious Best Baby Monitor at the 2015 Boots maternity and infant Awards, Which? Best Buy, Mother & Baby Gold and Prima Baby & Pregnancy Platinum. BT has been the bestselling digital audio baby monitor brand every year since 2010 (Source: NPD 2013). The brand prides itself on working with real mums and dads throughout product development to make sure the product is perfect for their needs.

LIDL became a sponsor of the Mum of the Year Award in 2016, telling us “It is a great opportunity for Lidl to engage with one of our most important target markets and to acknowledge those incredible people voted for in the awards.” Lidl has been providing Irish consumers with great quality products at excellent prices since 2000. It has grown to over 146 stores across Ireland, employing over 3,700 people. Lidl invests over €300 million per annum in Irish produce and is proud to support over 180 local suppliers, making a positive contribution to the local economy and community. In 2016 Lidl launched its own baby range and is extending it in the coming months, with 20 additional lines being added. Lidl is increasingly becoming a real destination for families to shop for all their baby needs.

SUDOCREM was founded in 1931 by Thomas Smith, a professor of pharmacy and a pharmacist in Dublin who developed his unique cream in the back of his humble shop. Sudocrem is still manufactured in Dublin and its formula has withstood the tests of time and remains unchanged from its humble origins. Sudocrem is available from independent pharmacies, major pharmacy chains and supermarkets. This year, Sudocrem turns 85. The brand is the sponsor of the Sudocrem Miracle Baby People Award category. This award recognises a baby who ultimately overcame all challenges against the odds, and is now a thriving, healthy little boy or girl.

MAXI- COSI has been operating in Ireland for over 12 years and the brand’s products can be bought in all major nursery stores nationwide. Maxi-Cosi is proud to always be first to market with groundbreaking safety technology, and early next year they will introduce the first car seat to have built in air bags and sensors that will alert parents if the baby is too hot or too cold, activate instantly on impact and even call the emergency services in the event of a collision. MaxiCosi has won Best Car Seat for a number of years previously and is proud of its record to be consistent at keeping Irish babies safe. “Maxi-Cosi loves to sponsor the maternity & infant awards as we recognise that our end users, Mums, Dads and most of all their most precious cargo, Baby, love and trust our brand. We also like to recognise how tough and challenging it can be for some families, and we like to support the community in some small way. The individual stories always touch our hearts.” Pauline Harmon, Maxi-Cosi.

www.maternityandinfant.ie/awards

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65 BOOTS MATERNITY & INFANT AWARDS 2016

D LAUR A WAR S & F R AN CE BUR KE AR E MOTHERC MID WIFE OF THE YEAR

MARY & TE ANT OINET & E AN O’K URPHY HE LE N M M - SUDOCR E Y AB B LE AC MIR AR YE E H OF T

GILLIAN , HE NNESSY URCHAN HE LE N M & BRIAN D - BOOT S ON M OR ANDIN G ST T OU E NT VE ACHIE M A WARD

MILY GILLIAN, E & MAR K HYLAND & ERT JOHN CALV D - BT CHIL T HE HERO OF YEAR

PAULINE OF HARMON MAX I-CO SI & MAUR A DERR ANE SEAT BEST CAR

N OF JAY WILSO RA LIDL & MAU DERR ANE PY BEST NAP R AN GE

We’d like to take this opportunity to also recognise and say a HUGE THANKS to our award partners. They have supported us throughout the years and we would encourage all to support them back.

www.maternityandinfant.ie/awards

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20/07/2016 12:07

The must-have family Cooking app Filled with delicious recipes for the whole family to enjoy and a fun interactive cookery course for children, Annabelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s app is the ultimate kitchen staple. Download from the app store www.annabelkarmel.com

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67 ANNABEL KARMEL RECIPES

REFUEL AT

SCHOOL

Calling all those in need of lunchbox inspo! It’s time to bin the soggy sandwiches and make way for these super tasty and nutritious recipes from Annabel Karmel. Lunchbox prep has never been easier.

See Over

➽

TEDDY BEAR PIZZAS

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68 ANNABEL KARMEL RECIPES

➽

From page 67

Teddy Bear Pizzas Cooking: 15 minutes Makes: Eight teddy bears ✹ ✹ ✹ ✹ ✹ ✹ ✹ ✹ ✹

300g strong bread flour 1 tsp dried yeast A dash of salt 150-200ml warm water 100g passata 1 tsp tomato purée 2 balls mozzarella 4 slices ham, diced Black olives

Measure the flour, yeast, salt and water into a bowl. Stir until the dough is formed. Knead for 5 to 10 minutes until you have a shiny dough. Put the dough in an oiled bowl, cover with cling film and leave to rise for one hour or until doubled in size. Preheat the oven to 200°C Fan. Roll out dough until very thin. Cut out eight teddy bear faces and place on a baking sheet. Mix the passata and tomato purée together and spread over the dough. Put the ham in the middle of the face in a pile. Slice eight rounds from the mozzarella to make the noses. Grate the remaining cheese and sprinkle over the bear. Bake for 10 minutes, then put the round slice of mozzarella on top of the ham, add some extra ham for the ears and bake for another 4-5 minutes. Make the eyes and nose out of the olives and use these to make the teddy bear’s face. Can be eaten fresh, or chilled for lunchboxes.

QUINOA AND EDAMAME SALAD

Pastrami, Dill Pickle and Tomato Wrap Preparation: 5 minutes Makes: Two wraps ✹ 2 large flour tortillas ✹ 2 tablespoons light mayonnaise ✹ 4 thin slices of pastrami ✹ 1 dill pickle or gherkin, thinly sliced ✹ 1 tomato, washed, deseeded and sliced ✹ a handful of shredded green lettuce, washed ✹ salt and pepper

PASTRAMI, DILL PICKLE AND TOMATO WRAP

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Spread 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise over one half of each tortilla. On top of the mayonnaise, put 2 slices of pastrami, half the dill pickle or gherkin slices, half the tomato slices and half the lettuce. Add some seasoning, then roll up the tortillas. Diagonally slice each wrap into two.

Quinoa and Edamame Salad Preparation: 10 minutes Makes: Two portions ✹ ✹ ✹ ✹ ✹ ✹

250g quinoa 1 carrot, peeled and grated 1 large tomato, deseeded and diced 1 bunch spring onions, sliced 4 tbsp sweet corn 100g Edamame, cooked, refreshed in cold water and shelled

Dressing: ✹ 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar ✹ 4 tbsp olive oil ✹ 1 tsp honey ✹ ½ tsp grated ginger

Put the quinoa and 300ml of water into a small saucepan. Cover with a lid then bring up to the boil. Stir and turn off the heat and leave until all of the water has been absorbed. Season and leave to cool. Spoon into a bowl, then add the carrot, tomato, onion, sweetcorn and edamame beans. Mix all of the ingredients together in a small bowl, then add to the salad and mix well.

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69 ANNABEL KARMEL RECIPES

Perfect for Treat Friday! FLOWER COOKIES

Flower Cookies Preparation: 40 minutes Makes: 12 cookies ✹ ✹ ✹ ✹ ✹ ✹ ✹

110g butter, softened 55g caster sugar 1 egg yolk 1 tbsp vanilla extract 170g plain flour 1 tbsp large pinch salt 110g strawberry or seedless raspberry jam (or 40g each strawberry and apricot jams and lemon curd)

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Cream the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla then add the flour and salt and stir until the mixture comes together as soft dough. Turn the dough onto a piece of cling film and form into a disc around 1/2 cm thick. Wrap and refrigerate until firm (30 mins-1 hour). Preheat the oven to 170°C/325°F/Gas 3/150°C Fan. Unwrap the dough and roll out between two sheets baking parchment to 3mm thickness. Cut out 24 flower shapes using a 7cm diameter flower shaped cookie cutter. You will need to gather up the trimmings and re-roll, refrigerating again if the dough gets too soft. Transfer the cookies to baking sheets,

spaced about 3cm apart and use a 2 1/2 cm round cutter to cut holes in the centre of 12 of the flowers. Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes for the ones with the holes in the centre and 12-14 minutes for the whole flowers. The cookies should be pale gold underneath and set on top. Cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack and cool completely. Warm the jam slightly and remove any large lumps of fruit then spread a little in the centre of the bases of the 12 whole flower cookies. Leave a border around the edges otherwise the jam will squidgy out when you sandwich the cookies. Sandwich with the cut-out centre cookies and leave to set for 10-15 minutes.

Need more lunchbox help? Annabel’s Family Cooking app is packed with over 100 recipes guaranteed to satisfy hungry tums. Available via the App Store. Visit www.annabelkarmel.com for more info.

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70 PARENTS & BUSINESS

MEET THE FOOD

MUMPRENEURS Ireland has a proud reputation as being one of the best foodie nations in the world, so it’s no surprise that when it comes to starting your own business, food is a popular choice. We meet three mums who saw gaps in the market for their food products – but went about their enterprise in completely different ways. Prepare to be inspired…

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71 PARENTS & BUSINESS

ecoming a mum is a massive change in lifestyle for every woman – all of a sudden a whole new world of nappies, feeding, weaning and playing is opened up. It’s no surprise, then, that parents often objectively look at the world into which they’ve been thrust and see ways and ideas to make their lives easier. And with many mums taking a break from the workforce to care for very small babies, we see more and more of these ideas being turned into businesses. Food, naturally, is a common area for these brave entrepreneurs. Us Irish love our food, and when babies come along, we spend a large portion of our lives, feeding, weaning and worrying about healthy food – so it’s no wonder that so many people are coming up with clever ideas to help fellow parents out. Waterford mum of two Irene Queally came up with the idea for Pip & Pear Chilled Baby Food, a range of fresh, refrigerated weaning meals, when she had children of her own but couldn’t find convenience options comparable to her own freshly cooked meals. Meanwhile, Clare Holman and Joanna Lovegrove got the idea for their frozen yoghurt business Chilly Moo when they were looking for a healthy snack option for their kids (both mums have three kids). They wanted a healthy alternative to ice cream, settled on frozen yoghurt but couldn’t find any brands in stores that didn’t have sugar added to it. Both were good ideas, but each mumpreneur approached their business in completely different ways – Pip & Pear evolved from a restaurant idea, while Chilly Moo was developed with the help of an innovation voucher from Enterprise Ireland. Both, however, prove that you can have a good idea and turn it into a business, even if you’re juggling babies, family commitments and maybe even another job.

GAP IN THE MARKET Frozen yoghurt brand Chilly Moo was developed four years ago when Dublin mums Claire Holman and Joanna Lovegrove went looking for healthy frozen yoghurt for their children but came home empty handed. Their aim was to create a frozen yoghurt with no added sugar that appealed to both adults and kids; Chilly Moo is a creamy frozen yoghurt that is glutenfree, has a low GI and is sweetened only with fruit juice. Not having a food business background meant that they approached their idea in a very business-like way. “We researched online and stumbled across an article about another food company that had applied for and received an innovation voucher,” Joanna explains. “These are given by Enterprise Ireland, and are worth 5,000. This can only be spent in universities or government agencies to develop your product. It’s the only funding that we know about that you

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don’t have to match yourself or give away equity in the company.” “You’re supposed to have an innovative product that solves a problem,” added Clare. “With our product, we didn’t want to add sugar – that was our selling point. We didn’t know of any other frozen yoghurt product, to the best of our and their knowledge, that didn’t add sugar, and it’s quite hard to make. We employed a man called Ed O’Neill, who is an expert in dairy products and worked with him to develop the product.” The challenge then was packaging; the two mums applied for and got a grant to help with this, but a third of the money had to be paid back. “We wanted to have really good branding and packaging from the start, so there was a certain leap of faith with that,” said Joanna. “The minimum order was 25,000 for one size and 30,000 for the other size – so we had 55,000 pots and lids to fill!” The timeframe for developing the product amazingly was only six months, but with five

“I think the biggest high last year and this year was getting into Sodexo in the UK... At the moment they are rolling us out to go onto the menus in schools. We’re selling it in big volumes, which brings down our costs.”

kids at that stage between them (Joanna has since added baby Ted to her family), juggling a fledgling business and family life was tough. “Having small kids, we were forced to move along the projects quite fast,” said Joanna. “We didn’t have the luxury of lots of time because of all the children hanging out of us. We were very reliant on parents helping out with childcare at the very beginning, and we’d do things like both drive to a meeting, and one of us go in, while the other stays in the car with all the kids.” Once the product and branding was complete, the challenge was to launch it onto the market. “It was quite easy to get the product into shops as they are looking for something new all the time,” said Clare, “and it’s a unique product as it’s sugar-free, gluten-free and so on. I think we were in about 25 shops before we even had a product.” “The real effort is getting consumers to know about the product,” added Joanna, “because the freezer section can be a lonely place – you don’t tend to browse as much in the freezer section. And we had absolutely no marketing budget.” But Joanna and Claire persevered, first getting into major supermarkets Super Valu and then Tesco (“that was a good day,” smiled Clare”) and now having considerable success in the export market. Chilly Moo sells well in the Middle East, where, of course, the demand for frozen yoghurt is year-round. Now the focus is on food services – Chilly Moo is already stocked in Itsa cafes in IMMA and elsewhere. “I think the biggest high last year and this year was getting into Sodexo in the UK,” said Joanna. “At the moment they are rolling us out to go onto the menus in schools. We’re selling it in big volumes, which brings down our costs.

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72 PARENTS & BUSINESS

And it’s predictable – if you sell 10,000 pots into a supermarket, you don’t know when your next order will be, but with this sort of deal you know how many you are supplying.” Joanna and Claire researched and utilised a lot of the supports out there for entrepreneurs and new businesses – so what do they think of the support available? “I think it’s good,” says Joanna. “We’ve never not got anything we went for – loans, grants, the innovation voucher, also Enterprise Ireland owns 10 per cent of our company. There’s a lot of mentoring, I might prefer more money, but on the whole we really can’t complain. Bord Bia are great, you can ring up and ask them anything. You need to take things seriously yourself – we’ve never turned up to anything without a full set of accounts, a business plan and so on – if you take it seriously, others will take it seriously. “You can get mentoring hours fairly easily, and you should take them. We had a mentor right at the beginning from Dublin City Enterprise Board, and he used to work for Superquinn and so on. Everything that came out of his mouth was like news to us. It was amazing. It would have costs thousands to get someone like that as a consultant. It also gave us targets and kept things moving along.”

FROM THE GROUND UP “Baby food never really came into my mind before I had my son, my first child,” says Pip & Pear founder Irene Queally. “I was very careful with what I was eating when pregnant and feeding him, so it was natural I would cook him healthy meals when he was going onto solids. I was a real purist on him, but when I had my daughter Tilda a few years later, the realities of life began to take over. “In the meantime, we had opened a restaurant, No.9 Barronstrand St and had tried to make it family friendly, with a playroom and a special kids menu that wasn’t just the usual sausage and chips. We had an amazing response to this. We had thought about baby food, and just from my own experience with Tilda, I didn’t see anything really out there that could give me a convenient option apart from making something myself. No.9 gave me the vehicle to trial something, and we found it was something that other parents appreciated and wanted.” Irene began developing the Pip & Pear range, which now offers products for all stages of weaning and contains no added salt, sugar, flavours, colours, or preservatives. “We started offering it as a takeaway too, and parents were coming in and buying ten at a time. I was doing all the cooking myself at night time when the restaurant had closed.” The Pip & Pear menu in the restaurant won Gold, Silver & Bronze at the 2014 Blas na hÉireann food awards, which encouraged Irene to scale up and start offering the product as a

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“I was very careful with what I was eating when pregnant and feeding him, so it was natural I would cook him healthy meals when he was going onto solids.” retail range. She found manufacturing partners and began then to build the brand. “The big challenge was shelf life – how long could something last in someone’s fridge? That’s hugely important. When I started out, I thought 14 days would be loads, but it’s not at all. We’re now at 28 days. It’s really vital for both the retailers and the customers that the products have a good shelf life.” Taking a product from a restaurant into retail was a big learning curve for Irene. “I didn’t want anything to change with the products when they were mass-produced,” she says. “But in fact, it’s probably even better because in that environment, they are more precise that I would have been. And essentially it’s gone from me in a kitchen with pots to a bigger kitchen with bigger pots!” There were many other challenges, such as forecasting your production schedule when using natural organic produce – for instance,

what if it’s a wet summer like last summer? – and getting your packaging right. The key, Irene says, is to know what you want, stick to your guns and always ask for advice. “Looking back, I cringe at my naivety in some areas,” laughs Irene. “I didn’t really know how supermarkets worked, thinks like wastage and specials – distribution has been a challenge. But you make mistakes and you don’t make them again. I’ve constantly asked people for help and advice. I had an idea for a pot of food, but you don’t realise everything that goes with it – storage, costings, design and so on. I didn’t know about that stuff at the start; but I’ve found that people are so helpful if you just ask for advice.” The hard work has been worth it. Pip & Pear is now stocked in all the multiple retailers in Ireland, and is looking likely to be stocked in the UK too by the end of the year – not bad for a business not even two years old!

FIND OUT MORE: For more on Chilly Moo and Pip & Pear, see their websites, www.chillymoo.ie and www.pipandpear.ie

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73 ADVERTORIAL

WEDDINGS IN STYLE WITH ŠKODA IRELAND! ŠKODA Ireland injected some serious style into the recent weddings of nine lucky winners with a pair of luxurious ŠKODA Superb Laurin & Klement edition cars! Michael Walshe & Sarah Moran on their wedding day on 28th May in Powerscourt Hotel

Congratulations to all of the lucky winners, who recently won the chance to arrive at their wedding in style, thanks to ŠKODA Ireland’s wedding car competition. The happy couples made an extra special entrance on their big day in a pair of luxurious ŠKODA Superb Laurin & Klement (L&K) edition cars worth a combined value of €90,000. The competition was launched by ŠKODA Ambassador and model Roz Purcell last February, and consisted of a nationwide search to find nine soon-to-be-married couples who deserved to arrive to their weddings in complimentary chauffeur-driven ŠKODA wedding cars. Speaking about the cars, Ray Leddy, Head of Marketing and Product at ŠKODA Ireland, said: “The Laurin & Klement edition of the ŠKODA Superb is extremely luxurious, so perfectly suited to special occasions – and what occasion could be more

special than a wedding? The two cars are decked out in beautiful interiors – ivory leather to contrast with the exterior of the black car; and dark brown leather interior to set off the white exterior of the second car. The Superb is one of the most spacious cars on the road so the winning couples and their guests will have the utmost comfort as they sip champagne en route to their chosen venue.” For more information on the ŠKODA range please visit www.skoda.ie

ABOUT ŠKODA ŠKODA is one of the longest-established vehicle production companies in the world. In 1895, the Czech headquarters in Mladá Boleslav began producing bicycles, followed by the production of motorbikes and cars. ŠKODA currently has six passenger car models; Citigo, Fabia, Rapid, Octavia, Yeti and Superb. In Ireland ŠKODA sold 7,816 passenger vehicles in 2015 (an increase of 24% on 2014) through a network of 26 dealers with a market share of 6.3%. ŠKODA has been part of the Volkswagen Group since 1993.

FURTHER INFORMATION ON ŠKODA IRELAND CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.SKODA.IE

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74 LIFE AS A PARENT

WAYS TO

REALLY RELAX! Feeling tense and twitchy? Stop right there! Make it a new season resolution to learn how to de-stress and relax, even if you’ve got just a few minutes a day. Try our top strategies…

ight, who’s laughing out there at the mere notion of relaxing? Don’t you know that once kids come into the world, any real efforts at relaxation are postponed for at least 18 years? But just because long, luxurious lie-ins are a thing of the past, it doesn’t mean that you now have to spend the next few decades of your life a walking ball of stress. Relaxation is important for everyone, and even if the thoughts of finding those few minutes a day to relax is stressing you out (oh the irony), it’s vital that you work out what you like to do to relax, and make the effort to actually do it. Trust us, it’ll pay off in spades.

GET YOUR CRAFT ON

Studies show that creative crafts like knitting, baking, sewing, painting and music can help you relax, with some suggesting that the creative crafts use parts of your brain that release dopamine, the feelgood hormone. Having to concentrate on a repetitive task can also help you “switch off” from our tech-heavy world. You don’t need to be amazingly good, just the actual act of creating will give you the benefits. Try out different crafts before finding the one that suits you – even a spot of colouring will give you all the benefits with no talent required. Even better, find something that you really like,

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turn it into your hobby (maybe even look for local classes in your area so you can meet like-minded people) and make time for it regularly.

TURN OFF THE SOCIAL MEDIA

Hands up who’s surgically attached to their phones? Modern technology is great in that we can work from anywhere, at any time, but it also means that we tend not to switch off. Even worse, many of us are conducting our social lives through platforms like What’s App and Facebook. Social media definitely has its benefits but it can make you feel stressed if your life doesn’t quite feel as fabulous as the lives portrayed online. Our advice? Use your social media, but turn it off at a certain time and step back into real life for a bit. Trust us, you’ll feel happier and healthier as a result.

HAVE FUN WITH FRIENDS

The importance of play for children is well documented, but did you know that it’s important for adults too? Play can be an important source of relaxation and stimulation, fuelling your imagination, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and emotional wellbeing. You can, of course, play on your own, but for greater

benefits, involve at least one other person. So get some friends together and go for a bike ride or a walk through the woods. Throw a Frisbee on the beach or play a friendly game of rounders, catch, football or tennis. There doesn’t need to be a point to the activity, except perhaps to laugh. A lot!

BE ORGANISED

Thinking of getting organised can be more stressful that actually doing it. How many times have you read a feature about taking ten minutes to let your mind empty and relax, and all you can think about is how many tasks you need to achieve before bedtime? It’s nigh-on impossible to relax when your mind is spinning with lists of things to do. Start treating your home life like a business. Write down a list of things you need to do the next day before going to bed, and tick them off as you achieve them. Then, when you do get your ten minutes (yes, that should be on the list too), you can really let your mind empty, knowing that every task is listed on the scrap of paper on the fridge.

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75 LIFE AS A PARENT

BE IN THE MOMENT

We all juggle so many jobs and roles these days that we’re constantly thinking about the next thing to do, or catching up on emails when we’re cooking the dinner etc etc. So much so that we’re not recognising prime opportunities for relaxing even in our day. For instance, eating your lunch should be relaxing – so why are you typing emails or catching up on social media? Similarly, playing with your kids can be the ultimate in relaxation so put your phone away! Try to “be” in the moment a little more, and you’ll find yourself far less stressed and more relaxed than ever before.

STOP BEING A MARTYR

We’re all guilty of it – staring resentfully at our partner because he/she has stayed on in bed while you get up with the kids. Yes, you might have said ‘stay in bed for a few minutes longer’ but you didn’t really mean it – and you definitely didn’t mean an hour later!

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Two pieces of advice here: firstly, don’t offer something if you don’t mean it, and secondly, remember that you deserve a break too. Instead of sniffing loudly and talking about how tired you are, tell your partner that you need a break and make sure you take it. Even better, make it a rule that you both get regular breaks and time to yourselves. Remember, your partner is not a mind reader.

TAKE A BATH

A psychological study on the effect of regular baths in the UK found that those who bathed daily for a fortnight experienced a significant drop in feelings of pessimism about the future and increases in the internal feeling of pleasure. The study’s authors concluded that the warm bath physically eased the organs, but psychologically, it allows you to stop the day for a few minutes, thanks to a bath’s combination of isolation, quiet and comfort. Don’t feel as though you need to take a bath every day to

get its benefits – a soak even just once a week with candles and perhaps even a glass of wine can really help you relax and enhance a good night’s sleep.

LAUGH UNTIL YOU CRY

They weren’t lying when they said “laughter is the best medicine”. Laughing has many really positive effects on the body: stimulating circulation and aiding muscle relaxation, while increasing the endorphins released by your brain. Over the long term, regular laughter can improve your immune system, relieve pain, increase personal satisfaction and improve your mood. In fact, laughter is such a powerful act that laughter therapy is a recognised and highly regarded form of therapy, both for groups and for individuals. Don’t want to go that far? Find reasons in your day to laugh, whether it’s a favourite sitcom, messing with friends or family, telling a few jokes or booking a night out at a comedy club.

19/07/2016 10:15

Maroon tie waist wide leg trousers, €47, Wallis

TREND LOOK 2 Floral dress, €67, Limited Edition @ Marks & Spencer

Croc tassle handheld bag, €38, Accessorize

LOOK 1

Tassel earrings, €120, Rosantica Atena @ Brown Thomas

Black long military coat, €91, Littlewoods

Pink ruffle blouse, €35, Dorothy Perkins

M&I

Black Ohio boots, €120, Dune

MUM

STYLE

Burgundy faux fur clutch, €33, Wallis Burgundy collar heels, €595, Gianvito Rossi @ Brown Thomas White Victorian frill high neck long sleeve blouse, €13, Penneys

Victorian romance continues to reign the catwalks but this time with a feminine twist - high necklines, delicate ruffles, vintage-style florals and romantic lace.

Straw brim fedora, €34, Topshop

Lace insert and embroidered midi dress, €111, ASOS Fabric lace choker necklace, €10, Diva @ Miss Selfridge

LOOK 3

LOOK 4 Black block heel pump, €150, Vince Camuto Shaytel @ Brown Thomas

Bangles, €17, River Island

Black leather slides with bow, €59.95, Zara

Grey quilted leather crossbody bag, €29.95, Zara

MI Autumn 2016_MumStyle.indd 76

Floral print silk midi skirt, €1330, Peter Pilotto @ Brown Thomas

18/07/2016 12:21

77 EXPERT HEALTH ADVICE

Autumn Health The leaves are turning, the days are getting shorter… Yep, we’re a hop, skip and a jump away from Santa coming down the chimney. Our Autumn Health Section contains lots of useful advice and tips for the season ahead. We look at the inevitable round of illnesses that the Back to School season brings, and present some of the best ways to stay healthy this season. We also have another batch of your questions answered by our panel of experts, all leaders in the pregnancy and parenting sectors

Got a question or need some expert advice in a hurry? Our website, www.maternityandinfant.ie, is packed full of great features and advice, while our community of mums and experts are available 24/7 through our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/maternityandinfant) if you have a particular question that you can’t find an answer for through our website. So get reading, get clicking and most importantly, get talking!

MI Autumn 2016_Health.indd 77

19/07/2016 12:41

78 EXPERT HEALTH ADVICE

KEEPING SCHOOL-GOING KIDS WELL M&I KNOWS ...

HEALTHY KIDS Keeping preschool and school-going kids healthy after classes resume in September is easier said than done. While you can’t avoid your kids getting sick completely, there are a number of ways to boost their immunity ahead of the upcoming school term.

To school or not to school? It’s the ultimate dilemma for every working parent – when is it okay for a child to go to school and when should she stay at home?

Stay at home: ✱ Fever along with irritability,

crying, refusing to eat and having a stuffy nose that produces green mucus.

Handwashing habits Your child is never too young to be taught the value of handwashing, as this is probably the best way to help protect against viruses. When they are very young, get into the habit of washing their hands before any meal and after getting their hands dirty, using the toilet or petting any animals. When they are old enough, show them how to use soap on both sides of their hands, and washing for the recommended 20 seconds. A good trick is to get them to sing ‘Row, row, row your boat’ as they wash.

Touching faces As soon as they know what they are doing, discourage your child from picking her nose, rubbing

✱ Respiratory illness like flu,

especially if she has a fever.

her eyes or touching her face too much. Viruses like colds and flus are spread through contact and then from contact with the eyes or nose.

Cover your sneeze Contagious viral infections and diseases are spread rapidly through the air. Teach your child to cover her nose and mouth when she sneezes and to blow her nose in a disposable tissue that is thrown away immediately. Wash hands straight after sneezing or blowing your nose. If no handwashing facilities are present, teach your child to sneeze into the crook of her elbow instead.

Go for the fruit and veg Vitamins and minerals are essential for a great immune system, and the best way to get this is through eating plenty of fresh fruit and veg. Try fun ways of getting fruit and veg into your children by offering them tasty in-season fruit, vegetable crudites with dips and clever cooking ideas like hidden vegetable sauces, vegetable-topped pizzas and fruit and yoghurt smoothies.

Probiotics If your child is prone to upset tummies or has been on a lot of antibiotics and has been having digestive issues as a result, a special probiotic for children could be a good idea. Just as adults have a balance of bacteria in our bodies, so too have children, and when this is upset, the immune system can be affected. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for more.

Sleep Ensuring that your child gets enough sleep not only means she can concentrate more the next day, but her immune system will also be stronger and more efficient. Depending on age, between 10 and 12 hours is usually best for small children.

MI Autumn 2016_Health.indd 78

✱ Whooping cough: Keep at

home for several days after she has started antibiotics. ✱ Diarrhoea and vomiting: Stay

at home until 24/48 hours after last episode. ✱ Contagious skin disease

such as impetigo: Return 24/48 hours after treatment has started. ✱ Chicken pox/Measles: Stay

at home until five days after the rash has appeared. ✱ Rash with fever: stay at

home until the child feels better or you know what the illness is, eg chicken pox

Go to school ✱ Common cold: unless your

child has a fever, a cold is usually okay for school or crèche ✱ Rash without a fever or other

signs of illness: Probably okay, but ask the teacher/ minder to keep an eye on it. ✱ Conjunctivitis: a mild case

may be alright for school, but talk to your crèche/ school as if it’s more than just a watery eye as it can be highly contagious.

19/07/2016 12:38

79 EXPERT HEALTH ADVICE

HEALTHY HEADS M&I KNOWS ...

ALL ABOUT HEAD LICE

Head lice myths

It’s enough to send shudders up and down every parent’s spine. Head lice are common, however, and most parents have to deal with it at some stage. Don’t panic – we have all you need to know…

MYTH! Head lice only affect dirty people Head lice infestation is not the result of dirty hair or poor hygiene; they can affect all types of hair irrespective of its condition or length.

MYTH! Head lice is more common in households with pets

What is head lice? Head lice are tiny wingless insects that are grey-brown in colour. They are the size of a pinhead when they hatch and 3mm long when fully grown. They are spread by head-tohead contact and feed by sucking blood from the scalp. They are most common among small children due to their way of playing, which usually involves close contact.

Head lice only affect humans and cannot be passed on to animals or be caught from them.

How are head lice diagnosed? Contrary to beliefs, head lice doesn’t cause the scalp to itch, unless you have an allergy to head lice. They are difficult to detect on the head; unhatched eggs or nits (empty eggshells) alone are not enough to diagnose an active head lice infestation. This is because it can be difficult to distinguish between eggs and nits that are dead or alive. To confirm an active infestation, a louse must be found through a reliable method, such as detection combing.

What is detection combing? Detection combing can be carried out on dry or wet hair; wet hair is more accurate as lice remain motionless when they are wet. Use a special fine-toothed head lice comb (not a nit comb) with a tooth spacing of less than 0.3mm to trap the smallest lice. For wet detection combing, first wash and condition the hair. Do not rinse out the conditioner. Comb through until all tangles

MI Autumn 2016_Health.indd 79

are gone. Then, using the head lice comb, slowly comb the hair and check the comb for lice after each stroke. Remove lice by wiping or rinsing the comb. When you are finished, rinse out the conditioner and repeat the process. For dry detection combing, first use an ordinary comb to untangle the hair. Then switch to a head lice comb, and slowly comb from scalp to the end of the hair, combing each section of hair three to four times before moving on to the next section. If you see a louse, trap it against the face of the comb with your thumb. Continue combing the hair, section by section, until the whole head of hair has been combed through.

How can I treat head lice? Wet detection combing can successfully treat head lice; however, a special lotion or spray to remove lice may be more effective. There are several pesticide-based solutions

available, or a treatment like Hedrin, which is pesticide free and can be used on everyone from six months old to adult. Ask your pharmacist for guidance especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or if you or your child have a special medical condition. Medicated treatments should only be used if a living head louse is found. Crème rinses and shampoos are not thought to be effective and are therefore not recommended.

MYTH! You must wash the entire house if lice are found in a person’s hair Head lice die after a day or two of being away from the human scalp so there is no need to wash or fumigate clothing or bedding that comes into contact with head lice.

Can head lice be prevented? Head lice are not easily prevented. Early treatment is best, so regular detection combing is the most effective way of diagnosing head lice and treating them quickly. There are some natural sprays that use ingredients like Tea Tree to help prevent head lice, such as Puressential Lice Repellent Spray. Always follow the instructions if you are planning on using such products.

MYTH! Head lice make your head itch Not necessarily. Itching is not caused by the lice biting the scalp but by an allergy to the lice.

19/07/2016 12:38

80 EXPERT HEALTH ADVICE

ASK THE FERTILITY EXPERT

BMI & FERTILITY I have been trying to get pregnant for a year and my doctor has told me that I should try to reduce my BMI. Why is this important for helping me successfully achieve a pregnancy? For both the male and female, the BMI can play a major role in general health, but it is pertinent to your chances of achieving a pregnancy. The ‘extra few pounds’ can be the straw that breaks the camel’s back! While we all know someone who is obese and still managed to get pregnant, we know from research that fertility is adversely affected by obesity. The role and effect of sex hormones can be affected by your body fat. So keeping trim gives you a better chance of getting pregnant. We advise all our patients to review their lifestyle and diet to include nutritional intake. Regular vigorous exercise, calorie controlled intake and general healthy lifestyle changes will reduce your BMI and increase your chances of a successful pregnancy outcome.

DONOR SPERM IDENTITY I am a female in a same sex relationship and we both would love to have a baby. If we use donor sperm will the child be able to contact his/her biological parent in the future? There are a number of factors to consider when choosing donor sperm but one of the most important is whether you would like an “open” donor or an anonymous donor. The difference between the two is that the anonymous donor’s details will not be disclosed by the sperm bank, while an open donor has agreed that should the donor conceived child want to contact them or know more about them when he/she is older then this can

be facilitated. There are no sperm banks in Ireland so any clinics using donor sperm for IUI or IVF treatments will import it for you. We give the patients access to a database where they can chose their donor based on different criteria – for example, education, physical appearance, occupation, and of course whether the donor is open or anonymous. It is an important decision to make and we ask couples to attend our fertil-

ity counsellor to speak about the process, implications and about the questions that may arise in the future. For example like how, when or if to tell the child that he or she is donor conceived. I would highly recommend that you discuss the process with an experienced fertility counsellor who will help you to get comfortable with choosing your donor and the treatment itself before you take the first steps.

M&I KNOWS ...

Will I have another premature baby?

Dr Declan Keane is a senior clinical embryologist with 20 years’ experience. He is director of ReproMed fertility clinics in Kilkenny and Dublin, with a third clinic opening in Limerick this year. For more information, call Declan on (01) 685 6755 or visit www.repromed.ie

MI Autumn 2016_Health.indd 80

Having your baby earlier than expected can lead to fears that if you get pregnant again, the same situation might happen. But while a previous premature birth may make it more likely that you have another premature baby, this isn’t always the case, and many women go on to carry their baby to full term (between 37 and 41 weeks). The risk of having another premature baby is reduced if your first baby was born between 32 and 36 weeks, compared with mothers who gave birth 31 weeks and earlier. There are a number of things you can do to increase your chances of carrying your baby to full term: Book your prenatal care as soon as you know you’re pregnant. If you are booking in with a hospital, try to get your first appointment as early as possible. At your first appointment, voice your concerns with your caregiver. You may benefit from a stitch in the cervix or hormonal treatment. If not, your caregiver may put in place a programme of care to ensure your pregnancy is well monitored throughout and that any worries you have are addressed. Don’t smoke, drink alcohol or take illegal drugs. These are all associated with an increased risk of premature birth. Talk to your care team if you need help to come off drugs or cigarettes. Try to maintain a healthy weight. Being underweight or overweight can increase your risk of complications and premature birth. Be aware of the early signs of premature labour as your pregnancy progresses. Always ask for medical advice if you have any worries. Seek medical help immediately if you suspect you may be going into premature labour.

19/07/2016 12:38

81 EXPERT HEALTH ADVICE

ASK THE OBSTETRICIAN M&I KNOWS ...

BLEEDING IN PREGNANCY

Dealing with constipation when pregnant

What, exactly, are the rules regarding bleeding in pregnancy? When should I seek help, and from whom? One of the major concerns and one of the most common reasons for women to attend the hospital’s emergency room for reassurance is bleeding during pregnancy. Bleeding can occur at any time in pregnancy for a variety of reasons. Early pregnancy bleeding can be associated with threatened miscarriage or sometimes an ectopic pregnancy, while bleeding later on in pregnancy can be associated with premature labour or placental separation. In the weeks or days coming up to delivery many women pass some blood-stained mucous (a show), which is very normal. A small number of women will have a placenta that implants low in the uterus and stays low, this is called placenta praevia and can cause painless bleeding. As a general guide, fresh blood tends to be bright red in colour and old blood a much darker colour. If you have a large amount fresh bleeding or if the bleeding is associated with pain you should attend the hospital straight away and seek assistance. It is important to note that some women can have bleeding and go on to have perfectly normal healthy pregnancies. The guiding principle is if there is bleeding always get advice from your doctor or midwife. Some women will carry a blood group that is Rhesus Negative; if you know you are this blood group you may be asked to have an anti-D injection to prevent antibodies forming in your blood, which might affect your next pregnancy.

MI Autumn 2016_Health.indd 81

Iron, increased progesterone, iron supplements and less mobility can lead to bad constipation in pregnancy. The glamour never ends, eh?

Eat fibre-rich foods

PRENATAL DEPRESSION I’m three months’ pregnant and feel strange about it. I should be delighted – this baby is planned – but instead I feel flat, panicky and stressed. Is there something wrong with me? Firstly, congratulations on your pregnancy! At this stage you are beginning to realise that pregnancy brings major changes both physically and psychologically. It really is a rollercoaster of ups and downs. It is normal to be affected by all these changes and in your first pregnancy there is always a certain amount of anxiety and fear of the unknown, so what you are describing may well be normal. Having said that it’s really great that you have identified these changes and that you are able to talk about them. Issues around mental health are very important to all of us but especially for women in pregnancy. About 10 per cent of all women will have some issues around anxiety and or depression during or after pregnancy. You don’t have to have had issues with this before to be affected. In fact, mental health issues are the most common complication of pregnancy and it’s only recently that this has been recognised. At three months’ gestation (12 weeks) you will be having your booking visit with your doctor or midwife, be sure to mention the way you are feeling when you visit them. Most obstetric services should have access to a mental health team who can support you and advise on how to manage your worries. It is really important to know that there is nothing wrong with you, you’re not going crazy and with advice and assistance this can all be managed easily. Well done for raising the issue, so many people don’t and suffer in silence worrying that people will judge them. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

A diet rich in fibre helps prevent constipation in everyone; with this in mind, pregnant women should look to eat even more fibre to prevent and ease constipation. Good choices include fresh fruits, vegetables, beans, peas, lentils, bran cereals, and wholegrain bread.

Prune juice Prunes or prune juice can be a great aid in the fight against constipation both as prevention and as treatment. If you find the juice too strong, try watering it down, or warming it up. Make sure you don’t overdose on this, it’s strong stuff!

Eat little and often Large meals can overload your digestive system and make it difficult for your body to deal with the amount of food being eaten, especially as your bump grows. Try eating five or six small meals a day; this will allow your stomach digest food easily and smoothly.

Drink water Hydration is important throughout your pregnancy for a number of reasons, and is especially important to help and prevent constipation. Aim to drink between 1.5 and 2 litres of water a day, increasing your water intake as your pregnancy develops.

Natural solutions Dr Sam Coulter-Smith is a consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology, former master of the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin, and a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the Royal College of Surgeons. Visit www.rotunda.ie

If you’ve done everything you can naturally and your constipation is still bad, talk to your pharmacist or GP about a safe stool softener for use during pregnancy, such as a lactulose solution.

19/07/2016 12:38

82 EXPERT HEALTH ADVICE

ASK THE PHYSIOTHERAPIST

LOWER BACK SPASMS

M&I KNOWS ...

I am 38 weeks’ pregnant and had been feeling great. Five days ago I felt a pop in my spine, and my lower back went into spasm. It’s very sore and keeps going into spasm with any sudden movement. HELP!

How to help a choking infant It’s every parent’s nightmare – your baby is choking on a piece of food or worse, a toy that she has swallowed. Follow this advice from the Red Cross:

A muscle spam is the involuntary shortening of a muscle, and can happen when your muscles are under stress. This type of injury is common at this stage, with your body coping with enlarged breasts preparing to feed, and your bump at almost maximum size. Get into your physio ASAP for some safe mobilisations of the affected area to ease out stiff joints and reduce the muscle spasm. In the meantime, applying heat to the area (never over your bump) will give great relief. Your physio will give you some gentle stretching exercises to fully resolve the problem.

RIB PAIN DURING PREGNANCY I am 34 weeks’ pregnant and my ribs on the right side have been hurting for a week, especially when I’m sitting at my desk. Is there anything I can do to ease this? Your ribcage expands as your pregnancy progresses to make room for your growing baby and to maintain your lung capacity.

This puts pressure on the ribs causing pain. It can be further compounded if your baby likes to kick into the already aching area.

Try these tips to ease rib pain! ✱ Practice deep breathing exercises while sitting comfortably. ✱ Inhale deeply through the nose, hold for three seconds and exhale out of the mouth. ✱ Repeat five times every few hours. ✱ Stretch by getting onto your hands and knees and rolling your hips towards your right heel and then towards your left heel in a circular motion. ✱ Do five circles slowly in each direction. ✱ Discontinue if your wrists get sore in this position.

Jenny Branigan is a chartered physiotherapist and partner at Total Physio in Sandyford, Co Dublin, and sees many women during and after pregnancy, treating issues like pelvic girdle pain. She is also mum to Jamie and Holly. Jenny runs pregnancy pilates courses through Total Physio. For more information see www. totalphysio.ie These answers are not a substitute for a full assessment by your chartered physiotherapist. If you are suffering with any pain or injury, please contact your local chartered physiotherapist who specialises in treating pregnant and postnatal women. It is vital to deal promptly with these aches and pains and they will only get worse as your bump and baby get bigger and heavier.

MI Autumn 2016_Health.indd 82

If an infant is unable to breathe, cough or cry and you suspect they have a severe obstruction in their throat: ✱ Lay them face down on your forearm, with head low and supporting the body and head. ✱ Give up to five back blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. ✱ If the obstruction is still present, turn the infant around give up to five chest thrusts, with two fingers in the middle of the chest. ✱ Continue this cycle of five back blows and five chest thrusts and if the obstruction still doesn’t clear, call an ambulance – but don’t leave the infant unattended. ✱ Continue the sequence until help arrives. ✱ Anyone who has been treated for choking in this way should be advised to see their doctor after the incident.

19/07/2016 12:39

83 EXPERT HEALTH ADVICE

ASK THE SLEEP EXPERT

SLEEP & STARTING SCHOOL How much sleep does my 4.5 year old need now that he is starting school? Consistently, evidence outlines that lack of sleep in school-going children has a direct impact on their academic performance and overall mood and behaviour. One particular study demonstrated that the loss of just one hour of sleep overnight significantly reduces the child’s ability to learn and retain information. Healthy sleep is defined as uninterrupted, consolidated sleep. Sleep is measured in both quality and quantity. Quality of sleep is defined by the fact that it is unbroken by awakenings outside of typical transitions through natural sleep phases and shouldn’t require an adult’s intervention or a change in location throughout the night. Quality of sleep is also defined by the time that it happens, so in sync with the natural body clock. From age four onwards most children will have dropped their daytime sleep requirement and now rely on their sleep quota being filled solely at night. Recently the American Association of Sleep Medicine confirmed that children from age 3-5 years require 10-13 hours sleep and aged 6-12 years 9-12 hours for optimum health and wellbeing.

SLEEP ROUTINE How can I help my child go to sleep easily? He is so active and distracted but now he is in school I am worried about sleep deprivation affecting his concentration levels. To help a child go to sleep with ease they will need to be tired, quiet and relaxed and they ideally need to be able to go to sleep without a parent. Get your child involved in their bedtime. Make it an enjoyable, predictable process. Introduce this gradually if you don’t have a routine already. Chat to your child about your plans to help wind them down ahead of sleep. It can be helpful to “put the house to sleep” or quiet the home environment, maybe an hour preceding bedtime. This means

turning off televisions, computers, video games, phones and pulling the blinds and curtains to create a dim, peaceful environment. Ensure that the environment is sleep friendly; dark, cool, quiet and comfortable. If your child finds it hard to switch off ; try doing some muscle stretching exercises that are proven to help to prepare their bodies for sleep. Avoid stimulating activities and generally keep the routine exclusively to the child’s bedroom to ensure positive associations with the sleep process.

Lucy is a paediatric sleep consultant and mum of four. She runs a private sleep consulting practice where she provides knowledge, expertise and valuable support to families across the country. Visit www.sleepmatters.ie.

M&I KNOWS ...

Perfect evening snacks There’s a happy medium when it comes to eating in the evening – going to bed hungry might prevent you from falling asleep (or wake you up mid-snooze), while too much food can give you indigestion and acid reflux. Here are the best foods to eat should you feel peckish before bedtime.

MI Autumn 2016_Health.indd 83

Glass of milk

Cereal

Bananas

Chamomile tea

Hummus

Milk contains the amino acid tryptophan, a precursor to the brain chemical serotonin. It is thought that tryptophan and serotonin might make it easier to sleep. At the very least, it’s a comforting reminder of childhood.

Carbs in general are good for promoting sleep – go for a wholegrained cereal like Weetabix or Shredded Wheat and top with milk (see left).

Bananas contain the natural muscle-relaxants magnesium and potassium, therefore promoting sleep. They’re also carbohydrates and are generally good for making you feel sleepy.

Peter Rabbit was onto something - According to researchers, chamomile tea is associated with an increase of glycine, a chemical that relaxes muscles and acts like a mild sedative.

Chickpeas are also a good source of tryptophan; combine with a carbohydrate such as wholegrain crackers.

19/07/2016 12:39

84 EXPERT HEALTH ADVICE

ASK THE PHYSIOTHERAPIST M&I KNOWS ...

JUNIOR INFANT’S PACKED LUNCH My little boy is starting school in September. He needs to bring a school lunch each day – how much food should I be giving him? The short answer is that the longer a child spends in school or childcare the more food they need to bring and eat. School lunch should provide the nutritional equivalent of a child-sized meal but time can be a big limiting factor. The actual time allocated to eating in school can be very different from what a child is used at home: 5-15 minutes is usual. Wrappers, lids and packaging that need adult help are best avoided, as are “spillable” foods like yogurt drinks. Give enough food that you know your child can easily manage to eat in 10-15 minutes and take it from there. Lunchbox foods need to be filling and sustaining with slow release of energy over the school day. This ensures that your child has the ability to be able to concentration, work and play like they should. Drinking plenty of water is really important. Not drinking enough can cause headaches and dehydration, which can affect concentration and energy levels.

Does my baby have reflux? A baby’s digestive system is immature so posseting (a little spit-up) after a feed is normal, and eventually they outgrow it. Reflux occurs when the swallowed milk comes back up into the oesophagus or mouth and causes distress and irritation.

TODDLERS AND MEAT I’m a vegetarian, but is it okay for my toddler to avoid meat too? The reason behind recommending meat as part of a toddler’s diet is to provide them with a good source of easily absorbed iron, which is essential for healthy blood, brain and cognitive development. However, there are many other foods that contain iron that don’t come from animals. They may contain less iron and in a less easily absorbed form but provided that you follow this advice, your toddler should get enough to fuel normal growth and

development and no supplement will be needed. Be sure to include alternative sources of iron every day. The portion needed is the size and thickness of the toddlers palm: all types of beans and peas, lentils, fortified breakfast cereals, dark green leafy vegetables, egg yolk and dried fruit are good options. To help you absorb iron form these foods, have vitamin C-rich foods such as potatoes, strawberries, citrus fruits (or juices), tomatoes, cabbage and broccoli at the same time.

Ruth Charles is a dietitian with the Early Feeding Clinic, which offers advice on becoming pregnant, nutrition during pregnancy and feeding your growing baby. For more information, visit www.earlyfeedingcentre.ie

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Babies have a ring of muscle where the oesophagus joins the stomach. This muscular valve opens to let through milk the baby has swallowed, and closes to keep milk in the stomach. Babies usually get reflux because the ring of muscle hasn’t developed fully yet so milk and stomach acid can come back up the oesophagus, causing discomfort akin to heartburn in adults. Reflux can be difficult to diagnose in newborns. It usually presents itself from about three weeks of age onwards. If you suspect your baby suffers from reflux bring him to the GP where an antacid may be suggested. Often babies with suspected reflux are treated with antacids and if their condition improves after a week the treatment is continued until they start solids or the stomach muscles strengthen.

19/07/2016 12:40

85 STORE DIRECTORY

Image: Polarn O’Pyret

STORE DIRECTORY

Dune London Stores nationwide; www. dunelondon.com

E F H

Accessorize Stores nationwide; www.accessorize.com Amaia Kids www.amaiakids.co.uk Arnotts Henry Street, Dublin 1; www.arnotts.ie ASOS www.asos.com Argos www.argos.ie

Boots Stores nationwide; www. boots.ie Brown Thomas www. brownthomas.com

Chupi Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, 59 William Southt St, Dublin 2; www.chupi.com Cos 6-8 Wicklow St, Dublin 2; www.cosstores. com Childrensalon www.childrensalon. com Claire’s Stores nationwide; www. claires.com

Debenhams Stores nationwide; www.debenhams.ie Dorothy Perkins Stores nationwide; www.dorothyperkins.com

MI Autumn 2016_ Store Directory.indd 85

Easons Stores nationwide; www. easons.com

Frugi Available at Arnotts www.welovefrugi.com

Harvey Nichols 16 Sandyford Road, Dublin 16; www.harveynichols. com Hatley Stockists nationwide; www. hatley.com Heatons Stores nationwide; www.heatonsstores.com H&M Stores nationwide; www.hm.com

I L

Isabella Oliver www.isabellaoliver. com

Littlewoods Ireland www. littlewoods.ie L’Oréal Stockists nationwide; www.loreal.com

Marks & Spencer Stores nationwide; www. marksandspencer.ie Miss Selfridge Stores nationwide; www.missselfridge. com Monsoon Stores nationwide; www. monsoon.co.uk Mothercare Stores nationwide; www.mothercare.ie

Name it Stores nationwide; www. nameit.com Natural Baby Shower www.naturalbabyshower.co.uk New Look Stores nationwide; www.newlook. com Next Stores nationwide; www. nextdirectory.ie

Seraphine www.seraphine.com Sunglasses Shop www.sunglassesshop.co.uk

T W

Topshop Stores nationwide; www.topshop.com

Wallis Stores nationwide; www. wallis.co.uk Warehouse Stores nationwide; www.warehouse.co.uk

Zara Stores nationwide; www.zara.com/ie

Penneys Stores nationwide; www. primark co.uk Polarn O’Pyret www.polarnopyret.co.uk

River Island Stores nationwide; www.riverisland.com

18/07/2016 10:54

86 COMPETITION

WIN!

Congratulations to Louise Rawson, the winner of last issue’s competition!

WIN A LUXURY BREAK AT

CASTLEKNOCK HOTEL & COUNTRY CLUB

astleknock Hotel & Country Club is an awardwinning four-star hotel set in lush grounds with its own golf course, right on the doorstep of Dublin city. The hotel is just 15 minutes from Dublin city centre but feels like a world away from the bustle of the city with its tranquil countryside setting. With an 18-hole golf course, a deluxe day spa, a wellequipped leisure centre, award-winning restaurants and welcoming bars, Castleknock Hotel is everything you could want from a great resort hotel, all under one roof and within easy reach of everything that Dublin has to offer. We have a fantastic prize on offer for this beautiful hotel – a two-night break for two people including breakfast on both mornings and an evening meal for two in the awardwinning Park Restaurant. You can also enjoy full use of the hotel’s leisure facilities throughout your stay. Castleknock Hotel & Country Club is located close to the Phoenix Park beside the beautiful Strawberry Beds and the River Liffey. So despite being right on the doorstep of Dublin city, you can still enjoy the tranquil countryside surroundings. This is truly a relaxed and welcoming hotel with chic style and professional service to match.

HOW TO WIN To win, simply log on to www.maternityandinfant.ie/ckhotelcomp and answer the following question: How many minutes away from Dublin city centre is Castleknock Hotel & Country Club located? a) 15 minutes b) 45 minutes

Terms and Conditions: Prize includes two night’s B&B for two adults with dinner on one night, non-transferable, subject to availability. Closing date for all entries is 25th October 2016. Prize is non-transferable. Competition is not open to employees of Ashville Media Group or Castleknock Hotel & Country Club. No cash or gift card will be awarded in lieu of stated prize. If any of the items offered are unavailable or out of stock, a suitable alternative will be provided. Winner will be selected at random from a draw and will be contacted by phone. Competition entrants must be resident in the island of Ireland. One entry per person. Competition is also subject to all usual terms and conditions.

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Porterstown Road, Castleknock, Dublin 15 T: +353 (0)1 640 6300 W: www.castleknockhotel.com

19/07/2016 10:36

87 PROFESSIONAL HELP

Support & Advice Need some expert help and advice? Our directory of useful contacts will make sure you locate the right resource.

CHILDBIRTH, BREASTFEEDING & NEW MUM SUPPORT

Childminding Ireland,

HSE, Oak House, Millennium Park,

Email: info@childminding.ie

Naas, Co. Kildare. Tel: (045) 880400

Web: www.childminding.ie

9 Bullford Business Campus, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow. Tel: (01) 287 8466

LONE PARENTS

Miscarriage Association of Ireland,

Doras Buí – A Parents Alone Resource Centre ,

Carmichael Centre, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7.

Bunratty Drive, Coolock, Dublin 17. Tel: (01) 848 4811

Tel: (01) 873 5702

Email: info@dorasbui.ie

LoCall: 1850 24 1850 Email: infoline1@hse.ie

Early Childhood Ireland,

Web: www.hse.ie

Hainault House, Belgard Square,

Web: www.dorasbui.ie

Tallaght, Dublin 24.

One Family, Cherish House,

Cuidiú – Irish Childbirth Trust,

Tel: (01) 405 7100

2 Lower Pembroke Street,

Carmichael House, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7.

Email: info@earlychildhoodireland.ie

Dublin 2. Tel: 01 662 9212

Web: www.earlychildhoodireland.ie

LoCall Info Line: 1890 662 212

Tel: (01) 872 4501

Email: info@onefamily.ie

Web: www.cuidiu-ict.ie

Web: www.onefamily.ie

Home Birth Association of Ireland, Tel: 087 164 0847, (0906) 405267

DEPRESSION AND MENTAL HEALTH

Email: enquiries@ homebirth.ie

Aware, 72 Lower Leeson Street,

Web: www.homebirth.ie

Dublin 2. Tel: (01) 661 7211 LoCall Helpline: 1890 303 302

La Leche League of Ireland, Please refer to your local telephone directory. Email: leader@ lalecheleagueireland.com Web: www.lalecheleagueireland.com Maternity Benefit Section, Department of Social Protection, McCarter’s Road, Ardarvan, Bincrana, Co Donegal.

Email: info@aware.ie Web: www.aware.ie Aware conducts support group meetings across the country. Manned by trained volunteers, their Depression Helpline is a listening service that operates Monday to Friday, 10am to 10pm. Aware also provide an email support service. Please visit their website for more information.

LoCall 1890 690 690

Treoir 14 Gandon House, Custom House Square, International Financial Services Centre, IFSC, Dublin 1. Tel: (01) 670 0120 LoCall Info Line: 1890 252 084

Web: www.imba.ie

SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND PARENTS UNDER STRESS

Email: info@barnardos.ie

A Little Lifetime Foundation,

Childline, 24-hour Freephone

18 Orion Business Campus, Rosemount Business Park, Ballycoolin, Blanchardstown,

CHILDCARE SERVICES

Support Line: (021) 492 2083

MI Autumn 2016_Contacts.indd 87

Email: info@imba.ie

MISCARRIAGE AND CHILD LOSS SUPPORT

Email: info@alittlelifetime.ie

Web: www.childcare.ie

Tel: (01) 874 9056

Tel: (01) 453 0355

Dublin 15. Tel: (01) 882 9030

Email: info@childcare.ie

Carmichael Centre, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7.

Callsave: 1850 222 300

Administration Building, Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Co. Cork.

Tel: (01) 201 6000

Irish Multiple Births Association,

Web: www.treoir.ie

Post Natal Depression Ireland,

98 Foxrock Avenue, Foxrock, Dublin 18.

MULTIPLE BIRTHS

Barnardos, Christchurch Square, Dublin 8.

Web: www.welfare.ie

The Childcare Directory Ltd,

Web: www.miscarriage.ie

Email: info@treoir.ie

Email: maternityben@welfare.ie

(Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10am to 2pm)

Email: info@miscarriage.ie

Web: www.alittlelifetime.ie

Email: support@pnd.ie

First Light- Irish Sudden Death Syndrome Association, Carmichael House, North Brunswick Street,

Web: www.pnd.ie

Dublin 7. Tel: (01) 873 2711

Monthly support meetings are held on the last Tuesday of every month at Cork Maternity Hospital, Wilton, Cork.

LoCall Helpline: 1850 391 391 Email: support@firstlight.ie Web: www.firstlight.ie

Web: www.barnardos.ie

Helpline: 1800 666 666 Text: ‘TALK’ to 50101 (2pm-10pm daily) Web: www.childline.ie Parentline, Carmichael House, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7. Tel: (01) 873 3500 LoCall: 1890 927 277 Email: info@parentline.ie Web: www.parentline.ie

19/07/2016 10:38

88 BLOG WE LOG

SECRETS OF

‘S’ MUM

Hi, I’m MARIA and I’m a mum-of-two blogging about parenting over on Secrets of S Mum. The S stands for something different each day. Today I’m Stand By Your Bed Mum…

o say that parenthood is an emotional rollercoaster is a HUGE understatement. It’s like someone has put every emotion you could possibly feel into a bottle, topped it up with explosives, given it a good shake and popped the cork. MiniMe recently went through a rough patch. Actually, I’m wrong. WE recently went through a rough patch. She was throwing tantrums like one of those tennis ball launcher machines…constantly and violently. After one particularly shitty day, where we’d had some epic meltdowns, I stood by her bedside, watching her sleeping. And I sobbed my heart out. I was looking at her perfect, pretty little face, content and soft in the dark. I was wondering how someone so small and innocent could really be making me feel so much anger and frustration. Not 30 minutes earlier, she had been screaming and crying because she didn’t want her teeth brushed. I was irritated and exhausted and ended up shouting at her. She completely fell apart then and sobbed her way to sleep. My beautiful girl, who I adore and for whom I would die, fell asleep with my angry words ringing in her ears. And it broke my heart. I read article after article on “Positive Parenting”? And while in theory, it’s just lovely, when she’s hitting me, it’s not OK to say “I understand you’re angry but this is making Mammy sad.” Because my four year old can throw a bloody punch. What it did help with, however, was getting me to behave myself. Instead of automatically scolding every time she “started”, I found myself anticipating the little triggers and choosing my battles. I tried hugging, distraction,

affirmative language. I even started dancing like a lunatic to whatever pop song was on the radio if she started whining. (This is worth it on so many levels. She ends up laughing and then joining in. I end up looking like an absolute eejit but burning off some of the frustration I’m feeling. And yes, it diverts the tantrum or row or whatever is about to kick off.) I’ve started having “chats” with her at bedtime. I ask her what her favourite thing was about today, what made her happy, what made her sad, what she wants to dream about…things like that. And it’s helping. She really surprised me after a few nights, when she said “Mammy, what makes you love me?” I listed off all the things I love about her. She was delighted with herself. I’ve also made an effort to do some stuff with her on our own. I’m pretty sure that some of the behaviour was stemmed from a little bit of jealousy of the baby. So while we have a looooooong way to go, we’re getting there, slowly. Being a mum isn’t easy. Yes it’s amazing, and fulfilling and wonderful and hilarious, and it’s my favourite job in the world. But it’s also terrifying, difficult, exhausting, testing and brutal. You stand by her bedside, watching her sleep… sometimes smiling, sometimes crying, but always loving and knowing that tomorrow is a new day. The rough patch is gradually passing (until the next one). Why? Because I relaxed a bit and you know what, it probably was just “a phase she’s going through.” And while this phase is currently calm and better, I’ll enjoy it. I am Stand By Your Bed Mum.

FOLLOW MARIA’S PARENTING ADVENTURES ON

secretsofsmum.wordpress.com If you’re a parenting blogger, we want to hear from you! Email us at editorialdesk@ashville.com

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19/07/2016 10:29

YOUR ŠKODA DEALER HAS MIRACULOUS OFFERS JUST FOR YOU

Barry Sheridan, ŠKODA Sales Specialist.

In addition to Interest FREE Finance we also have… FREE SmartLink* which enables you to access the Apps and Navigation on your Smartphone through our Colour Touch Screen Sound Systems. UPGRADE PACKAGES. We also have some exceptional interest free upgrade packages such as: Fabia Tech pack for less than €6 per month. Yeti Full leather package from just €17 per month. Octavia Sportline package with Bi-Xenon Lights and a whole host of extra kit from only €42 per month. For more details on these great packs visit www.skoda.ie

Typical Finance Example: Octavia 1.2TSI 86bhp Active on the road price excluding metallic paint €19,595. Deposit / Part Exchange €6,056.64. 36 monthly payments of €179 (including service plan of €13.99 per month). Optional ﬁnal Payment €7,598. Total cost of credit €0. Total hire purchase price €19,595. Minimum deposit is 10%. Subject to lending criteria. This offer is made under a hire purchase agreement. ŠKODA Finance is a trading style of Volkswagen Bank GmbH Branch Ireland, authorised by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority in Germany and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for conduct of business rules. 0% APR is offered on Fabia, Rapid, Yeti and Octavia models ordered between the 23rd May and the 31st July 2016 & registered before 31st August 2016. *Excludes Citigo models & Active trim lines across all models. Smartlink may already be standard equipment on selected models or may not be offered on certain stock models. Please check with your authorised ŠKODA dealer in advance of placing your order.

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05/07/2016 11:44 19/07/2016 05/07/2016 14:41 15:34

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Julianne Buckley (mum of three)

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