Pregnancy BUMP&baby issue 9 by BUMP&baby

ISSUE 09

WHAT I V F I S R E ALLY LI KE Do grandparents belong in the D EL IVERY R OO M?

B rea st feeding hacks to make it easier!

earth mama, eco baby Enviro-conscious parenting tips

Mindful living cover mum Abbylee

H e y, D a d !

Make the most of paternit y leave

Ko te ahurei o te whānau arahia ō tātou kitenga ‘‘Let the uniqueness of whānau guide our vision.’’ ~ Māori proverb

PLUNKET WANT S TO BET TER SUPPOR T MĀOR I WHĀNAU AROUND NEW Z EAL AND. Whirihia ("to weave") is an exciting new kaupapa Māori pregnancy, birth, and parenting programme offered in the Waikato area. Whirihia is a two-day wananga integrating Māori birthing methods, such as the use of pounamu (greenstone) and harakeke (flax) to tie off and cut the umbilical cord, along with health promotion messages, such as safe sleep and breastfeeding, in a way that empowers whānau. It is part of a broader wraparound service for Māori which includes the opportunity for whānau to practice Tikanga Ririki (a strengths-based Māori parenting programme). Plunket is planning to deliver approximately 18 wananga each year in the Waikato area, with each wananga being attended by approximately 40 people.

To find out more, visit plunket.org.nz

WE’RE ALSO REDESIGNING OUR SERVICES FOR MĀORI WHĀNAU, STARTING BY: • Engaging with Māori whānau and local iwi to provide better support to local communities. • Running Māori playgroups that focus on developing and embracing Te Reo Māori. • Connecting whānau with other organisations to deliver a wraparound service for whānau. • Implementing the Whānau Awhina Whānau Ora programme to support Māori whānau to improve health equities for Māori tamariki and whānau in a way that is respectful and inclusive of Māori culture and practice.

FIVE STEPS TO TAKE THIS WEEKEND Help protect your family and your home from a damaging earthquake...

Look up at your roof. Can you see a CHIMNEY MADE FROM CONCRETE MASONRY OR BRICK? These are at greater risk of collapse in a quake.

Use an online calculator to check your HOME INSURANCE COVER is enough to rebuild your house if it’s severely damaged, and that you have enough CONTENTS COVER to replace your possessions.

MOVE HEAVY HOUSEHOLD ITEMS to lower cupboards and secure FRAGILE ITEMS with Blu tack or non-slip mats.

1 2 3 4

Use brackets to FASTEN TALL AND HEAVY FURNITURE that might topple in a quake. Think about bookcases, cabinets, TVs, fridges and hot water cylinders.

If it’s safe to do so, grab a torch and take a look at your FOUNDATIONS. Check they’re in good condition and properly secured to your house.

Whether you rent or own, live in a house or apartment, you can take action to prepare your home. Visit our website for detailed information on the steps above and more

www.eqc.govt.nz/prepare

CHANGES TO EQCover

How EQC covers you following damage from a natural disaster is changing this year. To learn more visit www.eqc.govt.nz/act-changes

CONTENTS

PREGNANCY

Issue 09

QUICK FIX

KIA ORA! A few quick words from our editor

SHOW US YOUR BUMP Blooming belly shots

MY PREGNANCY JOURNEY Behind the scenes of our cover shoot

JUST BUMPED INTO… New and noteworthy gear, research, and info for mums and bumps

SUBSCRIBE & WIN Our special subscriber offers for you

BABY’S FIRST BOOKS Start their little library

110

WHAT WE’RE READING Books for parents and parents-to-be

122

BUMPER SHOPPING Shop ‘til you pop

126

THE LAST WORD Wisdom to live by

LOVE YOUR LIFE

26 SUBSCRIBE & WIN plus peekabox offer

SHOW US YOUR BUMP Winners of our beautiful bump photo competition

NEXT BIG THING The latest in beauty trends and products

FRUITS OF THE EARTH Recipes to feed the two of you

GOT TO KEEP ON MOVING All about exercise in the third trimester

120

EARTH MAMA, ECO BABY Planet-friendly products for mums and babies

54 Pregnancy BUMP & baby

CONTENTS

FIRST SIX MONTHS

CONCEPTION & PREGNANCY

102

TINY LITTLE SLEEP SPOTS Bassinets and bedside cots you’ll love

104

WHAT’S IVF REALLY LIKE? Advice from he experts

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116

MUM, BABY, AND BACTERIA: WHAT’S THE CONNECTION? How your gut influences your baby’s health

WHY SHOULD YOU REAR-FACE CAR SEATS? Common sense meets safety

WHAT’S IN A NAME? Read this before you choose your baby’s moniker

TOSSING AND TURNING Coping with insomnia

112

BLOOD TESTS IN PREGNANCY Little tests can tell a lot

NEED TO FEED Useful products for feeding your baby

THE BIG EVENT Amazing birth photos from real Kiwi mums

PROTECTION FROM PERTUSSIS Boost your immunity to help your baby

108

FAQ: IODINE IN PREGNANCY Why you need more of it

NURSERY NECESSITIES Must-have items to make life easier

SHOULD GRANDPARENTS BE IN THE DELIVERY ROOM? A friendly debate between two mums

WHY DO I NEED EXTRA IRON DURING PREGNANCY? Take those tablets

106

WHAT IS GESTATIONAL DIABETES? Find out if you have the risk factors

TIME FOR BED Stylish yet functional nursery décor

BIRTH & NEWBORN

WHAT TO EXPECT (FINANCIALLY!) WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING Taking care of money matters

SUSTAINABLE BABY Tips to reduce your parenting footprint

102

50 HACKS TO MAKE BREASTFEEDING EASIER Tricks to keep up your sleeve and in your bra

MAKING THE MOST OF PATERNITY LEAVE It’s Daddy time!

YOUR FIRST 24 HOURS AT HOME WITH BABY A glimpse into your future

106

we're all about

family We are home of baby’s biggest brands from pregnancy to childhood

you r helpful checklist Pregnancy is an incredible experience, and we aim to help ease your journey when it comes to choosing the right products from pregnancy to parenthood. Our team are ready to listen and offer tailored advice on any decisions you’ll need to make to help you find the right products to suit your lifestyle.

babycity.co.nz

14 Stores Nationwide

KIA ORA!

PREGNANCY

Issue 09

hen you’re up in the wee hours feeding a baby, you can sometimes feel like you’re all alone in the world. Everyone else is asleep except you and your little one – and you’re both half-asleep anyway, in the dim light of the stars or the glow of your phone screen as you scroll through Pinterest to try to keep from nodding off. As a new mum, I always found comfort in the idea that somewhere, probably not too far from me and my baby, there was another mum up in the night feeding her little one. Or changing a nappy, finding a stuffed toy that had fallen to the floor, re-swaddling for the tenth time, soothing a fevered brow, feeling around for a dislodged breast pad. (I used to lose my breast pads in my bed all the time, and find them scattered through the sheets when I was making the bed the next morning.) Although we all long for the time when our babies sleep through the night, there’s something magical about those hushed, darkened nights when it’s just you and your baby. You become attuned to their waking patterns, often surfacing from sleep just as they start to snuffle in your direction looking for food. You learn pretty quickly that the more alert your baby is, the more likely they will think it’s playtime – and the last thing you want to do, really, is entertain a wide-awake baby at 3am. So you learn to operate in near-silence, with slow, gentle movements, with the aim of keeping your baby as sleepy and comfortable as possible. You become expert at latching them to the breast or finding their hungry mouth with the bottle teat, making as little noise as possible as you tend to their midnight needs. You ease them back to sleep with such care that neither of you are certain whether they really woke up – but it doesn’t matter. They’re at peace, and you’re at peace, and you can both rest again.

Available from selected retailers or visit bumpandbaby.co.nz to subscribe. PUBLISHERS Tony and Aana Marinovich tony@bumpandbaby.co.nz aana@bumpandbaby.co.nz EDITOR Katherine Granich editor@bumpandbaby.co.nz ART DIRECTOR Emma Henderson design@bumpandbaby.co.nz ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Tony Marinovich tony@bumpandbaby.co.nz ONLINE ENQUIRIES digital@bumpandbaby.co.nz social@bumpandbaby.co.nz PREGNANCY BUMP&baby PUBLISHED BY TOTS TO TEENS PO Box 70 Level 1, 190 Main Road Kumeu, Auckland 0841 New Zealand The Media Barn 91 Moontide Road Kumeu Auckland 0892 New Zealand T: +64 9 412 5123 F: +64 9 412 5133 ONLINE bumpandbaby.co.nz facebook@bumpandbabynz instagram@bumpandbabynz pinterest@bumpandbabynz tiktok@bumpandbabymagazine PRINTER OVATO Limited Pregnancy BUMP&Baby ISSN 2463-283X is published bi-annually (2 issues per year)

COVER S HOOT:

BEHIND THE SCENES

“I'm so enjoying my body and this precious bump,” says our cover model Abbylee Watson, who was photographed at 37 weeks for this issue’s gorgeous cover. Read more of Abbylee’s story on page 10.

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The opinions expressed and statements made in Pregnancy Bump&baby are those of the contributors and advertisers and do not necessarily represent the views of the publishers. Pregnancy Bump&baby, on behalf of itself and the authors, asserts copyright on all material appearing in Pregnancy Bump&baby and none of it shall be reproduced wholly or in part without the prior written consent of the publishers. The publishers reserve all rights in respect of all material received and accepted for publication. Pregnancy Bump&baby reserves the right to edit or abridge all articles, letters, or other material (solicited or otherwise) accepted for publication. While every care has been taken in the research and compilation of this publication, it is not intended to replace professional or medical advice. To the best knowledge of Pregnancy Bump&baby, all information herein is correct at the time of publication. Please contact your healthcare provider in the first instance for medical assistance and advice.

COVER PHOTO: SOPHIE JANE PHOTO (SOPHIEJANEPHOTOGRAPHER.COM @SOPHIEJANEPHOTO). SEE PAGE 11 FOR COVER STYLING CREDITS • EDITOR'S PHOTO: NIGEL MARPLE • EDITOR'S CLOTHING: BREASTMATES.CO.NZ

Editor's note

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www.earthsmartaquawipes.co.nz *0.2% Soy bean amino acid.

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My pregnancy

JOURNEY

Our cover model, Abbylee Watson (abbyleebonny.co), was 37 weeks pregnant with her second baby when she posed for us. Here, she tells us about her journey to motherhood.

It took us over two years, nearly three, to fall pregnant.

With our son Cassius (who is now five), I got pregnant after two weeks of trying, so it actually took me a while to get my head around the fact that I was pregnant this time. Having spent months wishing for something and then it becoming a reality felt quite bizarre. And now that I’m close to my due date, I don’t feel like I’m ready to not be pregnant – it feels like it’s just flown by, and I’m so enjoying my body and this precious bump.

I’m doing my best every day with what I have where I’m at.

When it comes to living an environmentally conscious life, some days I’m an eco angel, and other days, when my mental and emotional load feels overwhelming, I might

Pregnancy BUMP & baby

not make all of the best decisions. But every day I’m doing my best. I know that I’m voting with where and how I spend my dollars, so I try to be intentional with all of my purchases and really make an effort to buy quality over quantity, and overall consume less. It’s choosing to reuse, repurpose, borrow, and buying secondhand.

things down the disposal, and why is composting a better option?” or “What actually happens when I put things in the recycling bin?” – rather than just accepting this is the way things are and should always be done. It’s thinking about our children and future generations, and having as much passion for caring for Mother Earth as they do.

It’s important to ask questions.

Our children will be here long after we are gone.

Living an environmentally conscious life is to have a connection with Earth as something that holds and grows life, so being inquisitive about the way that we’re living – like, “What happens when I put

Earth is their home, and they are our reason for being, so it’s important they learn environmentally conscious habits because they’re the ones who will be living with the

OUR COVER BUMP

ABBYLEE’S FAVOURITE THINGS

"I’ve only bought a handful of things for this baby, as I had a few hand-me-downs (or hand-me-ups!) from Cas, and I’ve also taken full advantage of friends who have had babies in the last year and borrowed their clothes, blankets, and wraps. But here are three of the products I’ll be using."

NATURE BABY ORGANIC COTTON & BAMBOO NURSING PADS

ECOSTORE LAUNDRY LIQUID

THREE-PACK

1L RRP$9.99

RRP$24.95

“This is a musthave as I don’t want to be putting the harmful chemicals found in lots of laundry products anywhere near my baby’s skin or down the drain.”

“Reusable breast pads are a must for me, and these are fab for leaky breasts! I have three sets, and you just wash them to avoid more rubbish.”

LITTLE & BRAVE ECO NAPPIES RRP$20 FOR PACK

consequences of our actions. In our home, we talk about the importance of -taking care of Papatuanuku – our Earth Mother – our trees, the bees (and other animals), our oceans, and ourselves. We read books, practise gratitude for the things we have, the roof over our head, the food on our table, and each other. Spending time in nature strengthens the relationship with our earth, so that when we speak about the importance of taking care of her, there’s a true relationship with her being and how she is our home.

Start with one thing you’re passionate about.

It might be giving up plastic wrap, or ditching single-use plastic bottles – and when that becomes second nature, add another thing, like composting, or eating more veggies and reducing your meat consumption. And when that is

34 SMALL NAPPIES

“For this baby, I’ll use cloth nappies, but for the first month while I’m getting adjusted, I’ve opted for compostable nappies from a company with a commercial composting system which diverts nappies from landfill.”

easy, add another, like choosing natural cleaning products or a sustainable toilet paper alternative. Also, get the kids involved – they might have something they’re passionate about or an idea that they would love to help to contribute to looking after our earth.

My hopes and dreams for my children's future are that everyone will start doing their bit.

I want to see everyone stepping out of the now, and looking forward to the future of our children, seeing that we need to be making positive changes now. We don’t need a few people doing things perfectly, but we need everyone, every day, doing what they can. I want to do the best by my children so that they look back and say, “Wow, Mama really did her best for us” – not because I bought them the newest toys or fed them fast food, but because I made sacrifices so my children’s children have somewhere to live.

COVER MODEL: ABBYLEE WATSON (ABBYLEEBONNY.CO @ABBYLEEBONNY) • CREATIVE DIRECTOR: ISOBEL BENESCH (BELANDBEAU.COM @ISOBELBENESCH) • PHOTOGRAPHER: SOPHIE JANE PHOTO (SOPHIEJANEPHOTOGRAPHER.COM @SOPHIEJANEPHOTO) • MAKEUP: JS MAKEUP & HAIR (JSMAKEUPANDHAIR.COM) • SWIMWEAR: LONELY LABEL (LONELYLABEL.COM @LONELYLABEL) • TOPS AND DRESSES: MAHSA (MAHSA.CO.NZ @MAHSA.LABEL) • JEWELLERY: CHARLOTTE PENMAN (CHARLOTTEPENMAN. COM @CHARLOTTEPENMAN) • HAT: PARIS GEORGIA (PARISGEORGIASTORE.COM @PARIS__GEORGIA)

Pregnancy BUMP & baby

Just bumped into…

The latest news, info, and gear for stylish mums, bumps, and babies. MUST HAVE IT!

LEAKS BEGONE Say goodbye to embarrassing milkstained tops with the new Leakproof Maternity Bra from Rose & Thorne! Designed with the help of real-life mums and the nursing challenges they faced. With revolutionary Dry Layer technology to absorb moisture, it keeps you feeling dry and stops leaks showing through.

Worried about money? You’re not alone

Rose & Thorne Leakproof Maternity Bra RRP$69. Available in 3 colours: Shadow (Navy), Festival (Red) and Crystal (Cream). roseandthorne.co.nz

Pregnancy BUMP & baby

New research from AMP has revealed parents worry more about money in the lead up to having a baby than any other time. The results from the AMP’s Financial Wellness study revealed planning for a baby causes greater financial stress than having a child, with 71% of those expecting a baby in the next 12 months experiencing financial stress, compared to 45% of those who have had a child. Interestingly, only 28% of people felt financially secure the year before they had a baby, and this improved to 54% the year after. Hang in there, new parents – it gets better!

NOTEWORTHY

WORLD’S FIRST PLAYABLE PHOTO BOOK Kiwi start-up Phable has launched Playbook, which gives users a new way to showcase special memories they’ve captured in both photo and video formats. Users simply need to open the Phable app and hold their iPhone over selected images within the Playbook to watch their favourite moments come to life on screen, making it easy to relive everything from graduations and birthday parties to first steps and cherished every day moments. Perfect for families with growing children, The Playbook makes it easy to create albums of photos and videos, whether that’s yearly, seasonally or for special occasions like birthday parties and celebrations. From RRP$14.99, visit phable.com to find out more

Did you know?

During pregnancy, your uterus can expand up to 500 times its pre-pregnant size.

Do you feel like you’ve been pregnant forever? Here’s how a human pregnancy stacks up compared to some of our friends in the animal kingdom.

GIRAFFE 14-15 MONTHS

ELEPHANT 21-23 MONTHS

GORILLA 8.5 MONTHS

Frilled shark 3.5 years • Black alpine salamander 2-3 years • Sperm whale 19 months • Killer whale 17 months • Walrus 15 months • Rhino 14-15 months • Donkey 14 months • Camel 13-14 months

Pregnancy BUMP & baby

It’s about time

Kiwi women will benefit from Government’s decision to provide greater access to longacting contraceptives Mirena and Jaydess. From November, the “fit and forget” intrauterine devices will be funded, with women who want them only needing to pay for the insertion and removal costs by their GP. Jaydess is used only for contraception, while Mirena is used for contraception as well as heavy menstrual bleeding and endometriosis, and they are 99% effective, last for three to five years, and are reversible. While both devices had been available in NZ for many years, the high cost ($300-500 each) meant a large number of women could not afford them.

GRIN’S NEW BABY SILICONE FINGER BRUSH

Did you know?

RRP$4.99 from grinnatural.co.nz

Joie Pact Travel Stroller, RRP$499 from Farmers

Most babies will start teething between three and nine months of age.

is easy, gentle and safe to use as your baby’s first teeth come through. Thoughtfully designed for baby's first teeth, the double sided finger brush offers a soft brush side to gently clean teeth, with a dimple side on the back to massage sensitive gums. Made from food grade silicone and safe to sterilise, it’s encased in 100% biodegradable packaging. Two-pack

A PACT TO KEEP Meet Pact – a petite parcel designed and engineered to make every day a holiday. Travelling is made easier with an instant one-hand flat fold. The fully flat recline makes this stroller suitable from birth, alternatively pair this stroller with a Joie infant carrier. Travel-ready with a transport bag included.

Pregnancy BUMP & baby

Chicco Baby Hug 4 in 1 RRP$499.95, find out more at chicco.co.nz

NOTEWORTHY

STRETCH MARK SAVER It’s been a fave of expectant mums for 20 years, and here’s why: BioOil Skincare Oil can help prevent stretch marks from appearing. Just apply twice daily, and revel in your changing body!

RRP from $18.99 for 60mL. To find out more visit bio-oil.com

A HUG FOR YOUR BABY Baby Hug is the four-in-one solution designed by Chicco to accompany your baby from the moment of birth up to the age of 36 months. It converts from a daytime napper for newborns to a bouncer that is height-adjustable (a great back-saver!), as well as a high chair and a toddler chair when your little one is able to sit unassisted.

WE LOVE IT!

Where’s Mr Narwhal? by Ingela Arrenhuis (Nosy Crow $14.99)

CARE OF MAGICAL CREATURES Five beautifully illustrated spreads show a series of friendly underwater characters hiding behind bright felt flaps. And there’s a mirror on the final page! Featuring an octopus, turtle, seahorse, and narwhal, it’s a perfect book to share with babies who love peek-a-boo.

Pregnancy BUMP & baby

MUST HAVE IT!

FACT

SPERM CAN SURVIVE IN SPACE! RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT SPERM EXPOSED TO MICROGRAVITY ON THE EDGE OF EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE WAS JUST AS VIABLE AS SPERM SAMPLES THAT WERE KEPT IN GROUND CONDITIONS.

PILLOW PAL Made from repurposed memory foam capsules, this supportive cushion gently lifts your belly into a neutral position while side-sleeping to stop that dragging feeling. It prevents your body from rolling forward and twisting your spine, relieving lower back pain, and the curved design makes it extremely soft yet supportive. The capsules can also be removed as your belly grows, to adjust the height of the pillow. Growbright Belly Support Pillow, RRP$69 from nz.growbright.co

SAFER SLEEP FOR BABY Safe T Sleep Sleepwrap, the world's most lightweight, compact, comfortable way to visit and travel with your baby, is a bed in a bag! It provides a safer, more restful sleep for your baby, allowing natural, flexible movement. Since 1992, hundreds of thousands of babies worldwide have slept safely in a Safe T Sleep Sleepwrap with no reported fatalities or injuries. Now that’s peace of mind! Safe T Sleep Sleepwrap from RRP$59.99, safetsleep.com

COMPOSTABLE SANDWICH BAGS? YES, PLEASE!

Spring and summer fashions have just dropped at Breastmates, with all styles suitable for maternity, breastfeeding, and mumwear! With Afterpay and free delivery for orders over $99, you'll want to go online shopping, like, NOW. Bloom Cherry Dress RRP$62.90 from breastmates.co.nz

Pregnancy BUMP & baby

Here’s an even better way to be eco-friendly – resealable, compostable bags have just been released by Ecopack as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plastic lunch bags. They’re 100% compostable, breaking down much quicker than their plastic equivalent and leaving behind no harmful residues. They are certified for both home and commercial compost, and after use, you can simply throw the whole bag in your home compost bin. RRP$6.99 for box of 15, available from good supermarkets, organic stores, and ecobags.co.nz

oo l

NOTEWORTHY

o Droo

Are chronic stress, hunger, and fertility linked?

MOVING RIGHT ALONG The Oscar Mx by Edwards & Co is one of the only all-terrain, three-wheel strollers with a reversible, parentfacing seat. When your wee one is brand new, click the Avery capsule or Carry Cot Mx directly into the stroller frame to keep your day moving. RRP$899 (stroller only), available to purchase online and from retailers around the country – head to edwardsandco. nz/pages/ stockists for full list of stockists.

Rollin' with your lil homie

Researchers have uncovered a new link between chronic stress and reproductive problems in a pre-clinical study that shines the spotlight on a hungertriggering hormone. The study suggests high levels of the hormone ghrelin, which stimulates appetite and is also released during stress, could be harmful to some aspects of reproductive function. Researcher Dr Luba Sominsky says that further research is needed on the long-term impact of chronic stress on fertility and the role of ghrelin in regulating these effects, but the current findings could have implications for those with underlying fertility issues – and it’s possible that our eating habits may be able to modify the effects of stress on fertility. Watch this space.

Pregnancy BUMP & baby

NOTEWORTHY

If you're thinking about naming your baby Mary Jane...

DOPE NEWS

SOOTHING DELICATE SKIN Little Bodies Skin Relief Cream is formulated with a unique blend of ingredients to provide relief for your child’s mild eczema-prone skin. It’s fortified with calendula officinalis, aloe vera, peppermint oil, and colloidal oatmeal, which is traditionally used in herbal medicine to relieve minor skin irritations and itching due to mild eczema. Designed specifically for babies and young children, it relieves symptoms of redness, itching, and dryness, and also calms and soothes irritated skin, such as mild rashes and mild flare-ups. RRP$19.99 from Babycity

LOOKING FOR LIFE INSURANCE? It’s important to take steps to protect you and your little one should something unexpected happen. Take out Life Cover with AA Life before 30 April 2020 and get a $100 Babycity gift card (use the promo code BABY0100), and you could also win a Reg the Dog toy for your new baby (handmade in NZ by hemmingbird.co.nz)! AA Life is one of New Zealand's most trusted life insurance brands, and it’s quick and easy to apply – no medical checks are needed. For info, visit aalife.co.nz/bump or ring 0800 808 203, or visit your local AA Centre

Pregnancy BUMP & baby

A surprising new study suggests that men who smoke marijuana may have a better chance of conceiving a child with their female partner – but women who smoke marijuana have a higher likelihood of pregnancy loss. The study involved several hundreds of couples undergoing fertility treatment, and researchers found that in couples whose male partner said he currently used marijuana, the couple had a better chance of getting pregnant. This study follows previous research that showed men who smoked marijuana had higher sperm counts than men who had never used the drug. Researchers caution that men shouldn’t take up smoking pot just yet – more research is needed.

CLIQUE

EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT FOR BUMP & BABY READERS

Enter the Discount Code BUMP&BABY at checkout for 15% off your purchase

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SUBSCRIBE & WIN

We have the most amazing magazine subscription offers, including beautiful pregnancy packs and chances to win great prizes.

Yay, you’re pregnant! Choose from the following: Single issue hard copy or digital copy

Digital copy pregnancy bundles

2-issue subscription and PeekaBox combo

Subscribe at

BUMPANDBABY.CO.NZ 20

Pregnancy BUMP & baby

FIND IT ALL AT OUR MALL BATHING BOOKS & MAGS CLOTHING FEEDING & NURSERY PL AY & LE ARN FERTILIT Y HE ALTH & WELLNESS NAPPIES & CHANGING NURSERY OUT AND ABOUT SAFET Y SKINCARE SLEEP TEETHING & DUMMIES

GET EVERYTHING YOU NEED, WITHOUT LEAVING THE HOUSE Home to Kiwi mums’ favourite brands, BUMP&baby Mall (bumpandbabymall.co.nz) is your one-stop baby shop. PREGNANCY

Pregnancy BUMP & baby

Hope in a syringe? The science of IVF is pretty phenomenal.

What’s IVF really like? Considering using IVF to have a baby? Here’s what you need to know.

Pregnancy BUMP & baby

STEP BY STEP

STEP 1 OVARIAN STIMULATION

f it’s not you, perhaps it’s someone you know. You don’t look infertile, you don’t feel infertile, but after many months (or years) of trying to start a family, followed by several months of monitoring your cycle in a fertility clinic, it’s time to discuss IVF. This is a big decision. It will impact your time, your finances, your emotions, your relationships and your dreams of being a parent. Despite the language of “falling pregnant”, inferring absolute simplicity, infertility is a reality for one in six couples.

INFERTILITY ISN’T PICKY, BUT IT IS AGEIST!

A woman’s age is the single best predictor of IVF success. This is because a woman is born with all the eggs she will ever have, somewhere between one and four million. Our eggs are slowly trickling out of the ovary in a steady stream, until at menopause there are no eggs left. Despite the fact that almost 400 eggs will begin to grow each month from puberty to menopause, only one egg will survive each month, bursting out of the ovary at ovulation ready to be fertilised. Sperm are an equally critical component of both IVF and natural fertility. Despite the myth that male fertility is not impacted by age, a growing body of evidence shows men’s age – and lifestyle factors such as excess weight, smoking and heavy drinking – affect fertility. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has been developed so fertilisation in the lab can still be successful even if only one good quality sperm is available.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS AND HOW WILL I FEEL?

IVF artificially increases the number of mature eggs ready for fertilisation. Your treatment very much depends on what your infertility diagnosis is, but for most couples undergoing IVF, the process will look a bit like this.

The hormone which makes eggs grow (FSH or follicle stimulating hormone) is given by very tiny, self-given injections just under the skin, in high but tailored doses. This creates a hormone tsunami, giving many eggs a chance to ride this wave. Using IVF, we can safely increase the number of eggs the woman produces in a cycle without risking multiple births. We take the eggs out of the body, in a process known as egg harvest or oocyte pickup, or OPU. Leaving the eggs in the body for fertilisation incurs an unacceptable risk of having twins, triplets, or more. These hormones can have some side effects, which are usually mild, and may include tenderness at the injection site, hot flashes, blurred vision, nausea, headache, irritability, and restlessness. Your doctor will outline them, and tell you what to monitor.

STEP 2 EGG HARVEST (OOCYTE PICKUP)

STEP 4 EMBRYO CULTURE The day after IVF, the embryologist or nurse will phone you to tell you how many eggs were fertilised. For the next few days, your embryos will live in a dish, in an oven heated to body temperature. Staff will monitor their growth and development and will eventually pick the right one for transfer back into the womb. The embryo is gently transferred back into the womb on day five or six, in a process similar to that of a smear test. If you have many healthy embryos at this stage, they can be frozen for use later.

NOW YOU WAIT

About a week-and-a-half to two weeks after your embryo was transferred, we can test to see if it’s attached to the womb. A simple blood test, or even home pregnancy test, When the eggs are mature (generally will detect levels of human chorionic up to 18mm in size) and your oestrogen levels are consistent with the egg gonadotrophin (HCG), a sign that you numbers and size we need, we plan are finally pregnant. an egg harvest. A trigger injection For some, the test will be tip is given to finalise egg growth and negative. If they have frozen embryos, they can try again development, and approximately 36 Never be without needing to take hours later, we perform the surgical afraid to procedure to collect them, ready to more injections and have ask as many surgical procedure. put them together with the sperm questions as for in vitro fertilisation (IVF). This Others will receive a diagnosis procedure is more like a blood test you want to, after learning something about than open surgery, and in many and to ask for their eggs, sperm, and embryos, units this procedure is done with which can help the IVF team clarity when adjust the cycle plan and pain relief while you are awake. you don’t Other units use a light sedative improve the couple’s anaesthetic, while they insert understand. outcomes in future cycles. a narrow needle and camera For some, it was the last Undertaking (ultrasound) through the time they were going to try IVF, IVF is vagina to collect the eggs for IVF. or fertilisation didn’t occur, a big step. or an embryo transfer could STEP 3 not be done. Disappointment, IN VITRO FERTILISATION (IVF) frustration and grief becomes part of the Over the next few hours, the embryologists experience and couples may need support and counselling. will wash all the viable eggs and prepare them for fertilisation. They are then placed For many, a positive pregnancy test in a dish with thousands of sperm, which is the outcome. But there is still more were collected previously and frozen, or waiting; after all, you are still 38 weeks collected on the same day from your partner. away from delivery. A small number Or, if you’re using intracytoplasmic sperm of pregnancies miscarry or are lost, so support in early pregnancy and injection (ICSI), the embryologists inject one sperm into the cytoplasm of each egg. good obstetric care is vital. Pregnancy BUMP & baby

STEP BY STEP

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE IVF?

My wife and I went through two rounds of IVF to conceive our daughter, who is now two, using sperm donated from one of our friends. We are in a unique position, as we couldn’t conceive “naturally” because we both have uteruses! So we felt very fortunate that a friend was willing to donate sperm so we were able to have a baby together. Originally my wife was hoping to carry our baby, but unfortunately she has endometriosis-related infertility which we discovered during our first round of IVF. I was fortunate to conceive during our second round.

WHAT WAS THE HARDEST PART?

The most challenging part of what I like to call “science-assisted conception” was having to inject myself with hormones in order to stimulate my eggs to grow. I practised in the clinic but when the first time came to give myself the injection on my own, at home, I just couldn’t do it. I asked my wife to do the first one for me since she had experience from injecting herself during the first round of IVF, and while she was squeamish to inject me, she did it. I realised I preferred to be able to do it myself, so the next time I did the injection.

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It took me a few tries but I did get very good (and very fast) at it! Another thing that was hard was how hormonal I felt, which is very normal because of the high levels of hormones I was injecting. I definitely had a few unexpected emotional meltdowns.

DID ANYTHING SURPRISE YOU?

I didn’t expect the clinic staff to be so warm and wonderful. Everyone whom we talked to, from the counsellor to the embryologist to the nurses to the doctors, was so friendly and really made us feel like they cared about our journey and what we were going through. They called to check on me when I was having to inject myself, sent photos of our developing embryo, and kept in regular touch throughout the whole process. I felt very cared for.

WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU RECEIVED DURING THE PROCESS?

To have a support crew, because it really is a rollercoaster. We only told a few people that we were trying IVF because we didn’t want to have to answer lots of nosy questions about it, whether it worked or not. Because we’re both female, people seemed to feel oddly entitled to ask probing

questions about things like whether we used a turkey baster, or whether we used my eggs or my wife’s eggs. How we conceived is nobody’s business but ours and our medical team’s, and it was important to have others around us who could politely shut down the ignoramuses so we didn’t have to keep doing that emotional labour. Public Service Announcement: If your LGBTQIA+ friends want to have a baby, don’t ask them for technical details; it’s rude!

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO OTHERS CONSIDERING IVF?

I think the most important thing I would say is to reiterate how necessary it is for all parent-hopefuls to have supportive friends or relatives around them. It’s important not only for the person going through the invasive procedures, but also for the other partner(s) to be able to have people to confide in and talk to, who understand what they are going through. Our fertility clinic was great at introducing us to support groups of other people going through the process, and helping us to understand how important counselling was. Having a child is a massive undertaking, no matter how you go about doing it, and I wish all people had access to counsellors to help you through the process of deciding to have a baby!

AUTHORS: HANNAH BROWN, CHIEF SCIENCE STORYTELLER, SOUTH AUSTRALIAN HEALTH & MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE, AND LOUISE HULL, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND FERTILITY AND CONCEPTION THEME LEADER, THE ROBINSON RESEARCH INSTITUTE, UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE. REPUBLISHED FROM THECONVERSATION.COM/ CONSIDERING-USING-IVF-TO-HAVE-A-BABY-HERES-WHAT-YOU-NEED-TO-KNOW-108910

Raquel’s story

REAL OR RUMOUR?

CHLOE 39 WEEKS PREGNANT

“This pregnancy was very special as it followed a miscarriage. We found out I was pregnant on my due date from the pregnancy we lost, which we found great comfort in. It was a memorable moment.” PHOTOGRAPHER: CHELSEA HAWORTH CHELSEAHAWORTHPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.NZ

SHOW US YOUR

bump We love seeing the gorgeous baby bump photos you shared with us in our Show Us Your BUMP competition! Here are our five winners and their beautiful baby bumps.

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TANEISHA 37 WEEKS PREGNANT

“I had been told I would never have children, and to feel my baby move for the very first time was the most magical moment for me. That was the validation I needed to believe I really was pregnant.” PHOTOGRAPHER: AMY LOUISE PHOTOGRAPHY BELLYLOVEPHOTOGRAPHY. WIXSITE.COM/BLMP

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LAUREN 35 WEEKS PREGNANT

“After a miscarriage and an ectopic pregnancy, two years in the making, this pregnancy was pretty special, and I wanted to document my journey from start to finish.” PHOTOGRAPHER: NICOLE JOHNSTONE NICOLEGOURLEY.CO.NZ

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PICTURE THIS

CATHERINE 37 WEEKS PREGNANT

“My most magical moment of this pregnancy was finding out my baby was a girl at a gender reveal dinner with family and friends. We popped a balloon and pink confetti filled the entire restaurant!" PHOTOGRAPHER: KIRSTY WHITE FACEBOOK.COM/STALAXYPHOTOGRAPHY

HEAVEN-LEIGH 35 WEEKS PREGNANT

"I think pregnancy on all women is so attractive and beautiful. Our body does amazing things while growing a tiny human, and I love how it adapts, changes, and grows." PHOTOGRAPHER: BILLIE AXON FACEBOOK.COM/ BILLIEAXONPHOTOGRAPHY

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S how us your bump Do you have gorgeous pregnancy photos? Send us a beautiful BUMP photo and you’ll be in to win a stunning out-andabout prize package!

BUMP&baby is running a year-long search for beautiful pregnancy photos! Send in yours and you’ll not only be in to win amazing prizes, we’ll also publish all of the winning photos in BUMP&baby magazine!

ENTER AT bumpandbaby.co.nz 42

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HEALTH MATTERS

What is gestational diabetes? Are you at risk for gestational diabetes? Holistic nutritionist Jessica Giljam-Brown (wellnessbyjessica. com) explains what you need to know about this condition that affects pregnant women.

iabetes is a condition where someone has too much glucose (sugar) in their blood. Gestational diabetes is a variation of this condition that occurs during pregnancy, and accounts for about 90% of diabetes cases in pregnancy. It is a common condition, with 3,000 to 4,000 people being diagnosed with it per year in New Zealand. You may not even know you have it, but it should be picked up and diagnosed during your routine pregnancy screenings. Gestational diabetes can adversely impact pregnancy and the growth and health of your baby, but can be well managed with the right treatment. Gestational diabetes usually develops in the second half of pregnancy, but can occur from anywhere after the 20th week.

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WHAT CAUSES IT?

The exact reason for the development of gestational diabetes isn’t known. However, pregnancy can impact the body’s ability to process sugar, which can lead to high blood glucose and possibly even diabetes. So how does this happen? Usually when we eat carbohydrates, they are broken down into little glucose (sugar) molecules, and absorbed into the blood. Once in the bloodstream, the pancreas is triggered to secrete a hormone called insulin. Insulin is like a key that opens up the cells in our body and to let this glucose move in and be used for energy production. However, in pregnancy, it appears the additional hormones produced by the placenta reduces the body’s ability to respond to insulin, meaning the key won’t fit and unlock the gates to the cell; this is known as insulin resistance. Therefore, glucose stays in the blood, leading to high blood glucose. As your baby grows, the placenta produces more and more of these hormones, which means the pancreas has to make more insulin to compensate this resistance. But if the pancreas can’t keep up with these increased demands, blood glucose levels rise and cause gestational diabetes. The slow rise in placental hormones during pregnancy progressively increases your chance of developing gestational diabetes, and that’s why it’s most commonly diagnosed further into pregnancy, not at the beginning.

ARE YOU AT RISK OF DEVELOPING GESTATIONAL DIABETES?

In New Zealand, rates of gestational diabetes are increasing about 8-9% a year. Those of Maori, Pacific, or Asian descent have a higher risk of developing it compared to NZ Europeans. Other risk factors include: • Age. The older you are, the greater your chance of developing gestational diabetes, especially if you’re older than 35. • Having a family or personal history. • Being pre-diabetic before becoming pregnant. • Excess body weight. • If you’ve have given birth to a large baby previously (more than 4kg).

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE GESTATIONAL DIABETES?

Usually there aren’t any obvious symptoms, but possible ones include extreme thirst; nausea; blurred vision; fatigue; frequent bladder, vagina, or skin infections; frequent need to urinate; and sugar in your urine. Most people get diagnosed during their routine pregnancy screenings. Some women who get diagnosed earlier on in their pregnancy (before 20 weeks) may have had underlying undiagnosed diabetes prior to falling pregnant.

Here wee go again!

HOW IS GESTATIONAL DIABETES DIAGNOSED?

If your healthcare practitioner feels you may have gestational diabetes, they will request a urine sample. If there are high levels of glucose in your urine, they will complete a screening for gestational diabetes. However, in New Zealand, there are routine checks for gestational diabetes between 24 and 28 weeks. These checks are three different tests: HbA1c, the oral glucose challenge test (OGCT), and the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). You can find out more about these tests on page 42.

WHAT DOES GESTATIONAL DIABETES MEAN FOR YOU AND YOUR BABY?

Even though high blood glucose levels may not seem like a big deal, it can have quite an impact on your pregnancy and your baby’s health. For the baby, it can lead to increased growth, blood sugar regulation problems when they’re born, and it can even increase their risk of developing diabetes later in life. Gestational diabetes has also been shown to increase the risk of having a premature birth and a higher birth weight. For the mother, it can cause her to develop high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia (a serious condition that can cause headaches, abdominal pain, nausea, and can threaten the life of both the mother and baby). It can also increase her risk of developing gestational diabetes in later pregnancies. Following pregnancy, gestational diabetes increases the woman's risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.

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HEALTH MATTERS

CAN YOU PREVENT GESTATIONAL DIABETES?

98% WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU ARE DIAGNOSED WITH GESTATIONAL DIABETES?

It may sound all doom and gloom, but there is actually quite a lot you can do to manage your gestational diabetes so it doesn’t impact you or your baby. Once diagnosed, it’s important treatment is initiated as fast as possible. The type of treatment will depend on how well you are able to control your blood glucose. If you have reasonable control of your blood sugar, your treatment may just be based around dietary changes and exercise. Your diet will help to reduce the dips and spikes in blood sugar levels, and exercise will help to increase your body’s sensitivity to insulin. If dietary and exercise changes alone aren’t enough, you may be prescribed insulin or other medications to help your body recognise and respond to insulin. For most people, gestational diabetes goes away once your baby is born. You will get tested after you give birth to see if your blood glucose levels have returned to normal.

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of women will find their blood glucose levels go back to normal after birth.

As the exact cause of gestational diabetes is not known, there is no one way to prevent it from happening. However, if you optimise your health and diet, you’ll have a much lower risk of developing gestational diabetes. It's important to be at a healthy weight, reduce your levels of stress, and exercise regularly. The more healthy habits you adopt before pregnancy, the better, especially if you’ve had gestational diabetes in previous pregnancies. Food-specific tips include: • Choosing whole-grain and real food options over highly processed and refined carbohydrates — this means choosing baked sweet potato over fried, brown rice over white, and whole-grain dark breads over white. • Keep your fruit intake to two serves per day, and only in a whole, fresh form. Avoid dried fruit and fruit juices. • Avoid soft drinks; choose water instead. • Be wary of sweetened foods — check the label and avoid foods which have been sweetened with sugars. Yoghurts, muesli bars, cereals, and drinks are usually the biggest offenders. • Continue to include lots of vegetables, nuts, seeds, oily fish, lean proteins, beans, and lentils. • If you’re planning to get pregnant or have just found out you are, make sure you seek advice to help set you up in your pregnancy. A good diet can go a long way in reducing your risk of pregnancy complications and improving your enjoyment of pregnancy.

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F A Q : Iodine in pregnancy Did you know that if you’re pregnant, you should be taking an iodine supplement? Tiffany Brown explains why.

WHY IS IODINE IMPORTANT?

Iodine is one of the many chemical elements our bodies need but cannot make. Only a small amount of it is required for normal function, but iodine is detected in every organ and tissue in our body. Iodine is essential for thyroid function and efficient metabolism, and there is increasing evidence that links low iodine with numerous diseases, including cancer.

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WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON’T GET ENOUGH IODINE?

The thyroid gland requires iodine to make hormones, but if there is insufficient iodine, the gland must work harder. This can cause an enlarged thyroid gland known as a goitre, evident as a swollen neck. Low thyroid function can also contribute to infertility, causing women to stop ovulating. Iodine deficiency is thought to contribute to thyroid cancer, as well as cancers of the prostate, breast and ovaries.

NEED TO KNOW

SY MPTOMS OF H YPOTH YROIDISM (low levels of iodine)

If you experience fatigue, an increased sensitivity to cold, constipation, dry skin, weight gain, a puffy face, muscle weakness, elevated blood cholesterol levels, pain or stiffness in the muscles and joints, a slowed heart rate, thinning hair, depression, poor memory or a heavierthan-normal period in menstruating women, you may have low levels of iodine, or an under-active thyroid. Left untreated, these symptoms can be serious. Seek medical advice if you are concerned.

SY MPTOMS OF H YPERTH YROIDISM (excessive levels of iodine) WHAT ABOUT IODINE IN PREGNANCY?

The need for iodine increases in pregnancy while we supply our babies with all the nutrition they need as well as keeping ourselves topped up. Sufficient iodine in pregnancy can also increase your baby’s IQ as it is essential for the growth and development of the brain. And deficient iodine status in pregnant mothers is the leading cause of preventable intellectual disability in children.

WHERE CAN WE GET IODINE?

Natural food sources of iodine are mainly found in the sea, where the it's concentrated in marine products like seafood and seaweed. Sushi has been shown to provide reasonable iodine, due mostly to the seaweed (nori) wrapper. The amount we can obtain from other food sources of iodine such as meat and dairy products varies due to the condition of our soils. If a nutrient is not present in the soil then it cannot be present in the food, and New Zealand soils tend to be low in iodine.

Excessive iodine intake can contribute to hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid. Symptoms include unintentional or sudden weight loss and a rapid or irregular heartbeat. You should consult your doctor before increasing your iodine intake if you have these symptoms. Pregnancy BUMP & baby

NEED TO KNOW

AN AMERICAN CONUNDRUM

In 2009, the NZ government developed a strategy to address low iodine levels in the population as a consequence of low-salt diets and non-iodised salt. By fortifying commercial breads with the mandatory inclusion of iodised salt in the ingredients, significant improvements in iodine levels followed, according to the 2016 New Zealand Total Diet Study. It’s worth noting that if you avoid commercial bread products, you may still be low in iodine, if you’re not getting it from other sources. Reliable natural sources of iodine include: • Bread fortified with iodine • Seafood • Seaweeds including kelp • Salts (check the labels carefully as not all salt contains iodine)

CAN YOU KNOW IF YOU’RE IODINE-DEFICIENT?

Research suggests Kiwis may be consuming only around 60% of the recommended intake of iodine, so it’s probably safe to assume an increase in iodine sources in your diet could be beneficial. However, it’s possible to have too little or too much iodine. There are several tests available to check your iodine levels, and you should talk to your doctor if you are concerned.

TYPES OF IODINE TESTS • The least accurate is a urine iodine test, which is quick and simple (you can even order your own test from Labtests for $75.) • A doctor may do an iodine patch test on your skin, by painting a patch of iodine on your skin and checking how it looks 24 hours later. The skin is likely to absorb the iodine quickly if there is deficiency present. You can buy a product to test your own iodine level this way inexpensively (around $15) although experts warn this test is not particularly accurate, pointing out evaporation may also be due to humidity, temperature or other non-related factors. • An iodine loading test measures how much iodine you excrete in your urine over a 24-hour period. This requires you to collect samples of your urine, making it a time-consuming way to test, but a fairly accurate one.

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• The blood iodine test requires a medical professional’s authorisation; it takes more time but is a more accurate method to assess your iodine status.

HOW MUCH IODINE DO PREGNANT WOMEN NEED?

The MOH makes the following specific recommendation for iodine intake during pregnancy and breastfeeding: “During pregnancy and while breastfeeding, choose foods that are high in iodine and take an iodine tablet every day. Foods that are high in iodine are well-cooked seafood, milk, eggs, some cereals, and bread. “Take one 0.150 milligram (mg)/150 micrograms (mcg or μg) iodine-only tablet every day when pregnant and breastfeeding. You can buy iodine tablets at pharmacies (or at a lower cost when prescribed by your midwife, medical practitioner or nurse practitioner – talk to them to find out more.)”

HOW MUCH IODINE DO WE NEED WHEN BREASTFEEDING?

Iodine is also important when breastfeeding, but don’t give up on natural iodine food sources once your baby is born. A 2016 study found no difference in the effect on breast milk when comparing mothers who didn’t take any supplements at all to those who took either potassium iodine or multivitamin supplements.

In the USA, authorities are concerned that only around 15% of women supplement their pregnancy diet with iodine, potentially putting their babies at risk. A 2017 review of data collected from over 2,700 women indicated iodine supplementation may contribute to digestive intolerance, although the authors felt the evidence was of low quality and therefore inconclusive on risks and benefits of supplementation. Many researchers have suggested more rigorous randomised controlled trials need to be completed, although ethics are a consideration, as it could be unfair to knowingly restrict iodine supplementation to a severely deficient mother in order to compare iodine supplementation outcomes with placebo or no treatments. There is also concern many supplements do not contain sufficient amounts of iodine to successfully raise iodine levels for pregnant and lactating women, and perhaps this is because there is no clearly defined safe upper limit for iodine intake during pregnancy due to a lack of clinical data.

HOW MUCH IODINE DO WE NEED WHEN NOT PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING?

The Ministry of Health (MOH) established guidelines in 2006 of iodine balance at intakes over 100 micrograms (mcg) per day but not below 40mcg per day, with an upper limit of 1,100mcg per day for adults. For children, iodine doses should not exceed 200mcg per day for children one to three years old, 300mcg per day for children four to eight years old, 600mcg per day for children nine to 13 years old, and 900mcg per day for adolescents 14 to 18 years old.

As seen in our sister publication Tots to Teens September– November 2019 issue – check out our helpful parenting articles online at totstoteens.co.nz

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BLOOD TESTS

in pregnancy

During pregnancy, you’ll be offered blood tests to check you and your baby are healthy. By having the tests as soon as possible during pregnancy, you can have treatment for any conditions or diseases that could affect your or your baby's health.

hen you see your midwife or specialist doctor for the first time about your pregnancy, they’ll offer you these seven tests. The tests are free and are taken from one blood sample. They are: • Full blood count (including iron, platelet, and white cell count) • Blood group and antibodies (including rhesus factor) • Rubella • Hepatitis B • HIV • Syphilis • Diabetes This blood test checks whether your body has enough iron during pregnancy. If your iron levels are low, you will feel more tired and be less able to manage the blood loss that happens during birth. You will be offered advice about how to increase the iron in your diet and/or given iron tablets. The test also checks your platelet levels and white cells. Platelets help your blood to clot, while a lot of white cells can be an indication of an infection.

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RED ALERT

HEPATITIS B

BLOOD GROUP AND ANTIBODIES

This test checks your blood group and for the presence of antibodies (part of your immune system). Your blood group can be A, B, O, or AB. Some antibodies can be harmful for your baby during pregnancy. If you do have antibodies that could affect your baby, monitoring and treatment are recommended.

RHESUS FACTOR

One of the antibodies that will be checked is your rhesus factor (mainly Rh D). You are either Rh positive (Rh+) or Rh negative (Rh-). If you are Rh- and your blood mixes with your baby’s blood, you can make antibodies which can cause severe anaemia and jaundice in this or your next baby. Your blood can only mix with the baby’s if you bleed during pregnancy, a miscarriage or termination, or during the birth. An injection of "Anti-D" after any of these events can prevent your body from making these potentially harmful antibodies.

RUBELLA (GERMAN MEASLES)

This test checks whether you are immune to (protected against) rubella, also known as German measles. If you catch the rubella virus in pregnancy, it can lead to severe problems for your baby (eg, deafness or brain injury) or miscarriage. If you are not immune, you can have a vaccination called MMR to prevent problems in future pregnancies. This vaccination can only be given when you are not pregnant.

Hepatitis B is a virus that can be passed to a baby during birth. You may have this disease but not know because there are often no symptoms. Hepatitis B can cause significant health problems, including liver damage. About 20% of babies exposed to hepatitis B during birth, and left untreated, become infected. Over 90% of untreated babies become carriers of the virus. If have hepatitis B, you will be offered immunoglobulin and vaccination at birth for your baby to help prevent your baby becoming infected. For more info about hepatitis B, go to the Hepatitis Foundation website (hepatitisfoundation.org.nz).

HIV

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) affects your body’s ability to fight infection and can cause AIDS. HIV is passed on to others by contact with blood or body fluids. If you have HIV, it can be passed on to your baby during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding. New medicines can protect your baby and help you to stay well. Read more about HIV testing in pregnancy on page 43.

SYPHILIS

Syphilis is a rare infection in New Zealand, but it is becoming more common. Most women with syphilis do not know they have the disease because they feel well and have no symptoms. If left untreated, syphilis can cause serious health problems for you and your unborn baby. It can be passed on from mother to baby during pregnancy. A blood test in early pregnancy, and treatment if needed, can help to avoid these problems.

DIABETES

Diabetes is when you have too much sugar in your blood. Many people do not know they have diabetes and have no symptoms. During pregnancy it can make you sick and affect your baby’s growth. If you already have diabetes or you develop diabetes in pregnancy, you will be offered information, treatment and support – including help to eat well and stay active. Diabetes testing is offered twice in pregnancy. The first test checks if you have diabetes or are prone to developing diabetes. The later test tells you whether you are developing diabetes while you are pregnant. Read more about this on page 42.

YOUR RESULTS

Your results will be available from the health practitioner who organised your blood tests. You can also request the result from your doctor, nurse, or midwife.

CONFIDENTIALITY

All of your pregnancy blood test results, including HIV, will be sent in confidence to your GP, midwife, and to your local district health board (DHB) where you will give birth. Your personal details are carefully protected. Details that could be used to identify you are not be used in national reporting.

HAVING TESTING IS YOUR DECISION

Before having any blood tests you will be offered information about the tests. This allows you to make a decision that is right for you and your baby. The decision to have these blood tests is yours and will be respected. If you have any questions, ask your midwife, GP, nurse, or specialist. The Ministry of Health recommends that you have these tests as soon as possible after you know you are pregnant. Knowing whether you have these conditions can help keep you and your baby well.

FURTHER INFO If you would like more information about these or other screening tests/programmes, or need to have information in a different language, please ask your midwife, GP, or specialist. Pregnancy BUMP & baby

PEEK INSIDE

Testing for diabetes

IN PREGNANCY

Diabetes can cause problems for you and your baby during your pregnancy and birth, so it’s important to know if you have or are at risk of diabetes and how to look after yourself and your baby.

Whenever we eat, a hormone called insulin helps move the sugar from our food through our blood and into our muscles, where it is turned into energy to help us move. When you are pregnant, your body produces lots of other hormones to help your baby grow. Some of these hormones can stop insulin working well. This causes sugar to build up in your blood because it can’t get to your muscles. You have diabetes when you have too much sugar in your blood. Pregnancy (gestational) diabetes generally goes away after your baby s born, though it leaves you with more chance of developing diabetes again later in life.

RISKS IF YOU HAVE DIABETES IN PREGNANCY

If you have diabetes when you are pregnant and don’t get treatment: • Your baby can grow too big, and this can cause problems for you and your baby during the birth. • You can develop high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia (a serious condition that can give you headaches, abdominal pain, nausea, and other problems). • Your baby may have problems with their own blood sugar when they are born, and they will have more risk of getting diabetes later in life.

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TESTING FOR DIABETES

ORAL GLUCOSE CHALLENGE TEST (OGCT)

If you are not at high risk of diabetes in pregnancy, your midwife (or specialist doctor) will offer you an oral glucose challenge test (also called a polycose test) when you are between 24 and 28 weeks pregnant. This test measures how well your body can process sugar. You can have this test at any time of the day. For this test, you’ll drink a sugary drink and then wait one hour before giving a blood sample. You will not need to do anything special before or after the test. Most people do not have side effects from the oral glucose challenge test.

ORAL GLUCOSE TOLERANCE TEST (OGTT)

If your HbA1c or oral glucose challenge test results were high, your midwife will offer There are three blood tests that can help you find out if you have or are at risk of you an oral glucose tolerance test. This test getting diabetes during your will confirm if you have pregnancy. The three tests are: pregnancy diabetes or not. KEEP DOING • HbA1c This test is done on an THESE THINGS empty stomach, so your • Oral glucose challenge test (OGCT) appointment for the test TO KEEP • Oral glucose tolerance will be in the morning. YOU AND test (OGTT) You shouldn’t eat or drink YOUR BABY anything for at least eight HBA1C hours before the test. You can HEALTHY: The HbA1c is a simple blood test. eat normally the day before • Attend regular You will be offered it at the same the test, but don’t have check-ups with time as your first antenatal blood anything to eat or drink your midwife. tests. You can eat and drink (except water) after your last normally before the test, and meal the evening before. • Get regular you can leave as soon as the test When you arrive for the exercise. is finished. test, a blood sample is taken • Eat healthy The HbA1c test shows your to measure how much sugar food. average blood sugar level for is in your blood after you’ve the past four to six weeks. been fasting. Next, you’ll • Don’t smoke. It measures what percentage of drink a sugary drink and then • Don’t drink your haemoglobin (the protein in wait two hours before giving alcohol. your red blood cells that carries another blood sample. You • Avoid drugs. oxygen) is coated with sugar will not be able to leave the (glycated). A high HbA1c level lab for two hours. means that more sugar has been circulating Some people feel sick, sweaty, or in your body and you have a higher risk light-headed after they drink the sugary of getting diabetes in your pregnancy. drink, but long-term, serious side effects If the HbA1c test shows that you have from the OGTT are very uncommon. diabetes, you’ll be offered another HbA1c If the tests show that you have diabetes, test three months after your baby is born your midwife will talk to you about ways you can access care to manage it. They will also to check that your blood sugar level is back to normal. refer you to a specialist for advice.

RED ALERT

HIV testing

IN PREGNANCY You will be offered a free HIV blood test when you have your first blood test during pregnancy. HIV screening can also be done at any time during your pregnancy. HIV is a virus that can make you and your baby sick. It is the virus that can cause AIDS. Most women do not have HIV, but if you do, treatment can help to keep you healthy and well, and reduce the chance of HIV passing to your baby during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding. The HIV blood test is recommended by the Ministry of Health. You have the right to choose not to have the test. Talk to your midwife or doctor if you have any concerns or do not understand the information that is given to you. Your midwife or doctor can help you with your decision.

INFORMATION FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH (HEALTH.GOVT.NZ)

GETTING YOUR RESULTS

You should receive your results within two weeks. If the test is positive, a second blood test will be done to find out for sure if you have HIV. It may take up to two weeks for those results to come back to you. Waiting for the result of the second test can be an anxious time. You may find it helpful to talk to your midwife, doctor, or another health professional. If you are found to have HIV, you will receive professional advice, help and support to help you look after your health, and the health of your baby. There is a very small possibility that an HIV test result may come back positive, even though further tests show you do not have HIV. This is because testing is very sensitive and can lead to positive results when you don't have HIV. There is also a very small possibility that an HIV test may be negative, even though

further tests show that you have HIV. This is usually because you have been very recently infected with HIV, and the infection has not yet shown up in a blood test. If you think you are at risk of HIV at any time in your pregnancy, you can ask for another test.

WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR RESULTS

All your pregnancy blood test results, including HIV, will be sent in confidence to your doctor or midwife. The results will be included in your maternity notes. These may be electronic and can be shared with other health professionals involved in your care. Your doctor, nurse, or midwife can give you more information.

TREATMENT

There is no cure for HIV right now, but careful management and long-term treatment can help you stay well and prevent the virus passing to your baby. If you have HIV, the treatment and support you are offered may include: • Medicines during pregnancy and birth to help you stay healthy for longer, and to prevent you from passing the virus on to your baby. • Advice about how to deliver your baby safely. • Medicines for your baby for a few weeks after birth. • Advice about the safest ways to feed your baby. Early treatment is important because it helps you and your baby to remain well.

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT LIVING WITH HIV, GO TO HEALTH.GOVT.NZ/YOUR-HEALTH/ CONDITIONS-AND-TREATMENTS/DISEASESAND-ILLNESSES/HIV-AIDS

MONITORING HIV TESTING

To make sure the testing programme is effective, all first pregnancy blood screening results are collected for monitoring. Your confidentiality is carefully protected. If you choose not to have the HIV test, you will be asked if the DHB can be informed of your choice. Collecting information about all women who have pregnancy blood screening enables us to identify how many women have chosen to have or not to have screening and tells us a little about them (eg, where they come from and which culture they identify with). This information can help us to make sure that all women are getting an equal opportunity to have screening, but does not identify individuals. Details that could be used to identify you will not be used by the national programme unless you specifically consent to this occurring. You can ask that your information is not shared with the programme.

RELATED WEBSITES • HIV Testing in Pregnancy – HealthEd (healthed.govt.nz/resource/hivtesting-pregnancy-part-antenatalblood-tests-0): All pregnant women are offered an antenatal screening test for HIV/AIDS as part of their routine care. This pamphlet explains the test. Also available in simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Maori, Swahili, Samoan, and Tongan. • New Zealand AIDS Foundation (nzaf.org.nz): The NZ AIDS Foundation focus on preventing the transmission of HIV and providing support for people living with HIV. • Just the Facts (justthefacts.co.nz): Information on sexual health and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. • Positive Women (positivewomen. co.nz): Positive Women provide a support network for women and families living with HIV or AIDS. Pregnancy BUMP & baby

Mum, baby, and bacteria: What’s the connection? Holistic nutritionist Jessica Giljam-Brown (wellnessbyjessica.com) explains how a mother’s gut bacteria impacts on her baby’s health before and after birth.

GUT KNOWLEDGE

iving within our guts are over 1,000 different types of bacteria, which are collectively referred to as our gut microbiota or gut flora. These make up about 2kg of our body weight and play a very significant role in our health – so much so that it would be difficult to survive without them. They produce some vitamins (B6, B12, and K), act as an important part of the immune system, produce some hormones, help with digestive function, establish a healthy gut-brain axis, and prevent the growth of harmful organisms. One-third of our gut microbiota are common to most people, while two-thirds are different from person to person. The diversity and number of bacteria within the gut can determine a lot about an individual – from mental health to digestive function. We are slowly beginning to learn more and more about how different types of these bacteria impact our overall health. However, what we are also learning more about is the impact a mother’s bacteria and gut health has on her baby before and after birth and how important this is.

DURING FOETAL DEVELOPMENT

Looking after your gut health is important while you're pregnant.

Initially it was thought that babies were born with a sterile gut (no bacteria within their system) and their first-ever exposure to bacteria was when passing through the vagina at birth. This idea of babies being born sterile was then challenged when bacteria was found in the meconium (the baby’s first poo). So where did this bacteria come from? Later it was discovered that the placenta, an organ that transfers nutrients and oxygen from mother to baby, contained bacteria – suggesting babies are exposed to bacteria even before they enter the outside world. The types of bacteria within the placenta differs from person to person, and can have quite a significant effect on pregnancy outcomes and the baby’s health. Although some bacteria within the placenta have been found non-beneficial, most bacteria are non-pathogenic (non-disease causing) and provide many benefits for both the mother and baby. So where do these beneficial bacteria in the placenta come from? This community

of bacteria is actually very similar to that of the mother’s mouth. This means that the bacteria from the mother’s mouth somehow finds its way into the bloodstream and crosses into the placenta to then reach the baby. These bacteria reach the baby by either crossing into the baby’s blood vessels in the placenta or moving into the amniotic fluid, which the baby then swallows.

DURING BIRTH

At birth, the baby is then provided with another community of bacteria – the mother’s vaginal community. The bacteria within this area reflects that of her gut and, therefore, good gut health is imperative. This introduction of vaginal bacteria may not seem like much of a treat to us, but for the newborn, it’s important this occurs. Specific bacteria from the mother’s vaginal canal has been shown to stimulate the immune system of vaginally born babies. If this bacteria isn’t good quality, or not present at all – such as in a C-section – there is no immune stimulation within the baby. This is believed to partly explain why vaginally born babies have lower rates of allergies, asthma, and chronic inflammatory and metabolic diseases later in life, compared to C-section deliveries. When birthed naturally, the microbes a baby is exposed to move in and colonise their gut. Therefore, the quality and diversity of bacteria within the mother’s gut and vagina helps to determine that of the baby’s gut. As we know, gut health plays a huge role in present and future risk of developing certain diseases in anyone from newborns to adults. So from this it is easy to see why it’s so important the mother has a diverse range of good quality bacteria within her to pass onto her child.

WHAT CAN REDUCE THE QUALITY AND DIVERSITY OF A MOTHER’S GUT?

• A diet high in processed foods • Not having a diverse diet • Inflammation • Stress • Poor consumption of prebiotics (such as onion, garlic, leeks, oats, and bananas) • Eating foods they are intolerant to • Antibiotics • Alcohol Pregnancy BUMP & baby

m es

get beneficia

er ia

GUT KNOWLEDGE

fro m brea st feed i ng

During the birthing process, another factor that impacts a baby’s gut microbiome is whether or not they are born in hospital or at home. Studies have found babies born at home have a much larger diversity. The exact reason for this isn’t quite known, but some speculate it’s due to the sterile environment of the hospital, and the fact babies are exposed to less environmental bacteria when born there.

DURING THE EARLY DAYS

Following the birth, a key factor in determining a baby’s gut bacteria and health is whether they are formula-fed or breastfed. For the first two to four days of feeding, the fluid that comes out of the breast isn’t milk, it’s colostrum. This nutrient-dense, yellow, sticky fluid has a super-high concentration of antibodies (proteins that are part of the immune system), growth hormones, enzymes, immune cells and, of course, beneficial bacteria. At around day five, this colostrum becomes transitional milk, which is high in protein, but also provides the baby with more beneficial bacteria. One study found that 30% of the good bacteria in a baby’s gut comes directly from the mother’s breast milk, with another 10% coming from the mother’s skin on her breast. Furthermore, this study found that babies who were breastfed continued to reap the benefits of breast milk when they began eating solid food. It was thought this was in part due to the beneficial bacteria lining

Pregnancy BUMP & baby

their gut. From this, it’s easy to see how important breastfeeding is for the provision of healthy bacteria to the baby’s gut.

DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE

The first year of life is very important for microbiome development within the baby's gut. If a baby is not exposed to bacteria during the birth or through breast milk, they will still develop their own little ecosystem. This will be in response to their environment, such as exposure to pets, siblings, and geographical location. However, these bacteria don’t seem to have the same health-promoting qualities and, as a result, these children appear to have an increased risk of developing childhood eczema, asthma, allergies, and obesity, as well as further health complications later in life. Although a lot of women want a vaginal birth, this may not always be able to happen due to risks and safety – and that’s okay. After all, we want both mother and baby to be safe. However, when a baby is delivered via C-section, they miss out on being exposed to the bacteria within the vagina. There may be an answer to this problem. Recent research has begun to look into something called vaginal seeding.

VAGINAL SEEDING: WHAT IS IT?

Vaginal seeding occurs after a C-section, and involves the transfer of vaginal fluids (containing beneficial bacteria) from the

mother to the newborn’s face, mouth, eyes, and skin. This is done by swabbing the mother’s vagina soon after birth and wiping these fluids onto the baby to recreate the process of natural transfer during a vaginal delivery. From here, these bacteria line the membranes within the nose and mouth and make their way down to colonise the gut. This sounds like an easy way to provide the benefits of vaginal bacteria exposure during birth to babies who have been delivered via C-section. However, current research is mixed (and limited). One study found that after receiving vaginal seeding, four out of the 11 babies born via C-section had gut bacteria resembling that of a baby born vaginally. Other studies have found no benefits to vaginal seeding at all. There is currently a large study being done at Auckland’s Liggins Institute known as the ECOBABe study (early colonisation with bacteria after birth), which involves 40 sets of twins born by C-section in Auckland over the next 14 months. One of these twins will receive vaginal seeding, and the other won’t. This is a world-first study, so it’s pretty exciting that it’s happening here in NZ. Another consideration with vaginal seeding are the risks associated with it. Vaginal seeding may result in more than just the transfer of good bacteria. If the mother has undiagnosed group A streptococci (a type of bacteria), herpes simplex virus (herpes), human papilloma virus (HPV), gonorrhea, or chlamydia, vaginal seeding could actually result in the newborn developing an infection which may have otherwise been avoided by C-section delivery without seeding.

SO WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN?

Gut health is undeniably important for newborns and their future health. When babies are born vaginally, they are exposed to a community of bacteria. This exposure has been linked to better gut health and lower risks of future health complications and issues. Unfortunately, babies who are born via C-section miss out on the exposure to vaginal bacteria, and research strongly suggests these babies are at higher risk of developing childhood eczema, asthma, allergies, and obesity. Vaginal seeding has appeared in the media promoting benefits synonymous with vaginal birthing. However, given the risks involved and the fact there is very little research, there are no current guidelines and it is not recommended at this time. The reality is that you won’t always have control over the type of birth you have, and yours and baby’s safety is far more important than bacteria exposure.

IRON WOMAN

el i t t l e p i l l s ca

n m

ren ffe

Why do I need extra iron during pregnancy?

Has your LMC prescribed iron tablets or recommended you boost your iron intake during pregnancy? Here’s why it’s important. WHY IS IRON IMPORTANT? Iron is used to prevent and treat anaemia. When the amount of iron in the body gets too low, the haemoglobin level falls below normal. This is known as “iron deficiency anaemia”. Haemoglobin is very important as it carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. If your haemoglobin or iron levels are low this may make you feel tired and not able to carry out your normal routine.

WHY DO I NEED TO TAKE IRON? In pregnancy, your growing baby will need iron from you, its mother, and this depletes your stores. It is important to replenish those stores to prevent fatigue and to have better reserves for delivery, recovery, and breastfeeding. Most women will drop their iron stores during pregnancy, especially in the second half of pregnancy. This happens even in women who eat an iron-rich diet that

contains meat. Women who are already iron deficient or who eat very little or no meat in their diet will almost certainly require iron supplements during pregnancy. Although some vegetables contain a lot of iron, very little of this iron can actually be absorbed.

HOW DO IRON TABLETS WORK? The best way to treat low body iron levels is to take iron supplements, either as a tablet or liquid. Both these are safe in pregnancy and are, an effective and easy way to boost iron stores. Iron in the tablet helps your body make new red blood cells and prevents anaemia. Iron tablets, in the right dose, can make as much difference as adding almost a litre of blood naturally in your body within

a few weeks if you are anaemic. You should start to feel a difference after taking iron tablets for just two weeks.

WHY IS HAVING A RESERVE OF IRON IMPORTANT? Having a good store of iron means that you will have enough iron available to make the red cells your body needs as well as the iron that is needed for your growing baby. It is also good to have a store of iron so that you can quickly replace the blood you will lose when the baby is born and are less likely to need a blood transfusion. You will need all the energy you can get when you are looking after your new baby. Low iron levels can make you feel very tired.

YOU'LL NEED ALL THE ENERGY YOU CAN GET WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AFTER YOUR NEW BABY. LOW IRON LEVELS CAN MAKE YOU FEEL TIRED. Pregnancy BUMP & baby

IRON WOMAN

Taking iron tablets

Iron tablets are often needed for three to six months after your baby is born. This will depend on a lot of different factors including your diet and whether you are breastfeeding. It is important to check how long you should take them with your doctor or midwife. You might need to have blood tests to check how well the iron tablets are working for you.

CAN INCREASING THE IRON IN MY DIET HELP WITH LOW IRON LEVELS? It is pretty much impossible to eat a diet that will supply you with the amount of iron that you need each day during pregnancy. By the end of pregnancy you will have very low iron stores if you don’t take iron supplements. You can certainly help by maximising the amount of iron you eat in your diet. The best sources of iron are from red meat such as lamb and beef. Chicken, pork, and fish are also good sources of iron. Eating foods with Vitamin C in them, such as oranges, lemons, strawberries, blueberries, and capsicum is a good way to boost the amount of iron your body will absorb. You should avoid drinking tea and coffee with your meals as this can slow the absorption of iron from food. Vegetables like spinach and broccoli as well as food like molasses and tofu do have a lot of iron in them, but we can’t get much iron out of non-meat foods.

HOW DO I TAKE IRON TABLETS? • Take as directed by your doctor or midwife (usually one tablet once or twice a day). If a tablet is needed twice a day, then your doctor or midwife may recommend starting with one a day for a few days, then increase to twice a day. • Iron is better absorbed if taken on an empty stomach, one hour before or two hours after a meal, if possible. • Take iron tablets with water or juice. Do not take them with tea, coffee, cola, cocoa or red wine as these reduce the amount of iron absorbed. • Swallow the iron tablets whole; do not crush or chew them. • Iron tablets should be taken two hours or more after some types of medications including antacids, calcium tablets, and some antibiotics. Check with your doctor, midwife, or pharmacist.

What side effects might I get? Not everybody gets side effects from iron tablets. Occasionally they cause tummy upset, nausea, tummy pain, constipation, or diarrhoea. These usually improve as your body gets used to the tablets. It is normal for iron tablets to make your stools/faeces (poo) turn black. If you have other symptoms or if the symptoms above become bad or worrying, contact your doctor or midwife.

Ways to ease side effects • Taking iron tablets with food or at night may help ease tummy upset. • If constipation is a problem, increasing your daily fluid and fibre intake can help. Ask your doctor, midwife, or pharmacist for advice regarding a gentle laxative if needed. • Changing the type of tablet, frequency, or dose may help. You should discuss this with your doctor or midwife before making any changes.

Pregnancy BUMP & baby

FROM WHY IRON TABLETS HAVE BEEN PRESCRIBED FOR YOU (NATIONALWOMENSHEALTH.ADHB.GOVT.NZ)

HOW LONG DO I NEED TO TAKE IRON TABLETS FOR?

A variety of iron tablets and tonics are available without a prescription, but many do not have enough iron in them to make a difference. If you are really low in iron, you will need to take iron tablets with the right amount of iron and will need a prescription from your doctor or midwife. The tablets prescribed by a doctor or midwife have a much higher amount of iron and are cheaper.

“I want to give you

everything you need, little one”

Tired of being tired? When you’re pregnant, you need significantly more iron than you did before you were expecting. Your body uses iron to make extra blood for you and your baby. And yet, many women don’t get enough of this important natural mineral. Floradix is a liquid iron supplement packed with fruit and vegetables extracts which helps pregnant women maintain their iron levels during this time of extra demand, without the unpleasant side-effects of other iron supplements. Floradix is one of the tastiest and most effective ways to top up on iron because, unlike tablets, it’s absorbed immediately.

Tired of being tired? Take Floradix® New Zealand’s No.1* iron supplement AVAILABLE FROM SUPERMARKETS, HEALTH FOOD STORES AND PHARMACIES NATIONWIDE Read the label and use as directed. Pregnant women should consult their doctor prior to taking any supplements or over the counter medicines. Endeavour Consumer Health, Auckland. TAPS NA 10069 *IRI MarketEdge based on data definitions provided by Endeavour Consumer, Total Grocery & Pharmacy combined, Value, MAT to 17/02/2019.

Learn more at Floradix.co.nz

VACCINE UPDATE

Protection from PERTUSSIS The best way to protect both your baby and you against pertussis (whooping cough) is to receive a dose of the whooping cough vaccine (Boostrix) from 16 weeks of pregnancy, explains Mary Nowlan of The Immunisation Advisory Centre (immune.org.nz).

The benefits of having Boostrix in pregnancy: 1. Receiving the vaccine in the second or early in the third trimester gives your immune system time to produce lots of protective antibodies. 2. Temporary protection is safely provided to your baby by antibodies that pass across the placenta before birth. 3. You are protected from getting whooping cough and passing it to your baby.

Pregnancy BUMP & baby

hooping cough is a very serious disease in babies, especially for newborns too young to be given their first immunisations. When babies get whooping cough, they may stop breathing and turn blue repeatedly, their airways become blocked by thick mucous, and their bodies become overwhelmed by the toxins caused by the infection. This toxin severely affects baby’s immune system, can cause swelling in the brain and low blood sugar levels. Almost all babies under six months of age and half of those under 12 months of age need hospital treatment if they catch whooping cough. Some need intensive care, have long-term brain damage, or even die.

UPDATING YOUR WHOOPING COUGH VACCINE IN PREGNANCY When you are vaccinated in pregnancy, your immune system responds by producing lots of protective antibodies that you can share with your unborn baby. This protection reduces the risk that your baby will catch the infection and can quickly block the toxin before it can do any harm if they are infected. Through a unique process that begins early in the second trimester (from around weeks 13-16) right up to birth, these special antibodies pass across the placenta from your blood to your baby. As the placenta and your unborn baby grow, the antibody levels increase so that baby is born with lots of protection.

WHEN TO GET THE VACCINE Recently PHARMAC, who purchase all vaccine for NZ and the Ministry of Health have made some welcome changes to the availability of the whooping cough booster vaccine during pregnancy. After looking at international research, they now recommend that you receive this vaccine as early as you can in the second trimester. Preferably from 16 weeks, so

Concerned about safety?

The whooping cough vaccine is safe in pregnancy. No parts of the vaccine pass across the placenta. Your immune system will respond to the vaccine and eliminate all the parts it doesn’t need. Only natural protective antibodies made by your own immune system pass to your unborn baby. If you have questions about the whooping cough vaccine, talk to your LMC, GP, or get in touch with the Immunisation Advisory Centre (immune.org.nz), which provides independent, factual information about vaccinepreventable diseases and the benefits and risks of immunisation.

that lots of antibodies can be shared with your baby and, if your baby decides to enter the world early, they have some essential protection. If you are already in the third trimester, ask your doctor for this vaccine as soon as possible. Lots of antibodies are shared up to two weeks before birth.

PROTECT YOURSELF TO PROTECT YOUR BABY By being vaccinated, even late in pregnancy or soon after birth, you can reduce the risk of passing the infection to your baby for their first year of life. If you leave it too near the birth, your baby will not have enough antibody to be fully protected. Babies remain at risk of disease even after they have started their vaccinations as their body has not fully learnt to fight the infection – it is very important that they start their immunisations on time (from six weeks). Delaying immunisations will put your baby at risk.

Available at

Selected baby stores and pharmacies nationwide

NEXT big THING IN

T AN D GR EA TE

Y AN D BO DY AUT

WE LOVE IT!

TES LA

Floral Street Electric Rhubarb EDP, RRP$119

Chantecaille Lip Veil in Frangipane, RRP$83 from Mecca

SUN SALUTATION

Easy to pop into your handbag for protection on the go, this sunscreen combines the legendary benefits of Eight Hour Cream with intense sun protection in its sleekest, most targeted form. Eight Hour Cream Targeted Sun Defense Stick SPF 50 RRP$41

Hot right now: ROSE QUARTZ Ingredient hero: AVOCADO

This nutrient-rich fruit is high in antioxidants such as vitamin E and C, which are known to fight wrinkles and environmental aggressors. Glow Recipe Avocado Melt Retinol Eye Sleeping Mask, RRP$72

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GREAT BUY!

This limited edition rose quartz eye mask designed by celebrity facialist Angela Caglia is the first of its kind. Renowned for its calming, soothing, and "self love" energy, these real rose quartz crystals are intricately woven together to create a pampering eye mask for the ultimate luxurious spa experience at home. Angela Caglia Rose Quartz Face Mask RRP$241 from Mecca

BEAUTY

4 TIPS FOR FRESH SKIN

during your pregnancy

It’s natural for our bodies to change during pregnancy, but sometimes pesky skin changes aren’t welcome. Constantly changing hormone levels throughout pregnancy can cause some women to experience a range of skin issues. Makeup artist Georgia Burt (makeupbygeorge.com) shares her top tips for keeping your skin feeling healthy and looking lush.

CLEANSING

HYDRATION

Don't ever underestimate the power of water to keep your skin healthy. Though it may be difficult to keep up the fluids with a small child boxing your bladder, water helps flush toxins from your body which your skin will thank you for. To give your skin extra support, talk to your LMC about whether it's safe to take evening primrose oil capsules.

BRING ME FLOWERS

Go full-on flower child! With the charming and fun-loving in mind, the latest scent bottles the sensation of sipping perfectly chilled prosecco on a balmy summer afternoon. Combining white florals with the aroma of English rhubarb, its unexpected blast of salty sea air instantly lifts the mood. Spritz and let love bloom.

Using a gentle foaming face cleanser morning and night to help control excess oil production will help your face feel invigorated. Everyone’s skin is different, so if you find this dries your skin out too much try a reusable cleansing cloth – just add water.

BREATHABLE MAKEUP

SERUMS

Serums such as Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% by The Ordinary reduce the appearance of pimples and pores while balancing your skin’s natural oil production. Added benefits of this wonder serum include evening out your skin tone, retaining moisture, and plumping any fine lines or wrinkles.

When skin issues arise, many of us feel the urge to cover up with makeup, but this often exacerbates the problem. Your face needn’t go naked, but use a breathable makeup with no added nasties. Blac Cosmetics is a great Kiwi brand that produces paraben-free organic makeup.

LIPPY WITH A CONSCIENCE

Pouts will thrive with this vibrant wash of colour – a hydrating, light and easy formula to reapply on the fly for wherever the season may lead. Plus sales support Elephant Family, an NGO working in India to minimise animal/ human conflict and assist in maintaining centuriesold migratory paths for elephants.

SAFE FOR ANY STAGE

Hello, little one! Mama’s taking good care of you. Bio-Oil’s nourishing Skincare Oil is free from parabens, metals, and food allergens, so it’s safe to use at any stage of pregnancy. RRP from $18.99 for 60mL. To find out more visit bio-oil.com

Pregnancy BUMP & baby

HEALTHY HEALING TURMERIC PORRIDGE

These healthy, easy recipes from Super Green Super Easy will simplify your meal prep.

FRUITS of the EARTH

RECIPES ANTI-INFLAMMATORY GRAPEFRUIT SMOOTHIE

We’ve added codes for each recipe, so you can see at a glance if it suits your dietary requirements. These tags are based on the ingredients list and don’t include the “toppings we’ve used” or elements labelled “optional”. DF dairy-free GF gluten-free RSF refined sugar-free V vegan VG vegetarian

GRAPEFRUIT SMOOTHIE

Serves 2

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Serves 1

GF • RSF • VG 1653kj per serve • 1 ruby red grapefruit, peeled and deseeded • ¼ avocado • 80g (½ cup) chopped pineapple (tinned variety in natural juice is fine, just drain it well) • 25g (½ cup) baby spinach leaves • 130g (½ cup) Greek-style yoghurt • 1 teaspoon coconut oil

1. Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Add toppings to taste. TOPPINGS WE’VE USED: • Grapefruit slices • Granola • Drizzle of honey

tip Peel the grapefruit over a bowl so you don’t lose any of the juice.

HEALTHY HEALING TURMERIC PORRIDGE

DF • RSF • VG 1399kj per serve • 95g (1 cup) rolled (porridge) oats • 500ml (2 cups) unsweetened almond milk • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste • ½ teaspoon ground turmeric • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground • Black pepper (to help activate the turmeric) • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon • ½ banana, mashed • 1 tablespoon honey, plus extra for drizzling TOPPINGS (OPTIONAL): • Blueberries • Raspberries • Sliced banana • Flaked coconut • Nut butter • Seeds of your choice • Edible flowers

1. Combine the oats and almond milk in a saucepan and place over medium-high heat. Bring to the boil, then immediately reduce the heat to medium-low and stir in the vanilla, turmeric, pepper, and cinnamon. Cook, stirring frequently so it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan, for a few minutes until the liquid has been absorbed. 2. Add the banana and honey to the porridge and stir well with a fork, ensuring the banana is evenly distributed. Cook, stirring now and then, for a further minute or two until thickened. Serve at once, topped with your favourite toppings. Drizzle LAMB with the extra honey. Enjoy! MULLIGATAWNY

D i d y o u k no w? Black pepper contains compounds which have been shown to boost the absorption of other compounds during digestion – including curcumin (the most active ingredient of turmeric). Curcumin is known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

Pregnancy BUMP & baby

RECIPES

BLACK RICE AND MANGO SALAD

Serves 4 DF • RSF • V • VG 1234kh per serve • 1 x 250g packet 90-second microwave black rice • 1 bunch of broccolini, ends trimmed • 1 red capsicum, thinly sliced • 2 spring onions, thinly sliced • 50g (2 cups) kale ribbons (stalks removed, leaves sliced and massaged) • 1 large mango (or 2 medium ones), sliced into wedges • Lime wedges, to serve FOR DRESSING: • 125ml (½ cup) coconut milk (tinned variety) • 1 tablespoon lime juice (about ½ lime) • 2 teaspoons soy sauce • 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger • 1 large garlic clove, crushed • 1 long red chilli, deseeded and thinly sliced • 2 teaspoons maple syrup • 3 tablespoons finely chopped coriander leaves

1. Microwave the black rice according to the packet instructions. Once cooked, place in a serving dish and set aside to cool. 2. Next, place all the dressing ingredients in a small jug or jar, stir and set aside to allow all the flavours to combine. 3. Blanch the broccolini (pop it into a heatproof bowl, cover with boiling water and set aside for 3-4 minutes, or until just cooked through). Drain and set aside to cool. 4. Add the capsicum, spring onion, kale and mango to the black rice. Finally, slice the broccolini lengthways and add that too. Serve with the dressing on the side and add as desired. Mix well and serve with lime wedges. Yum!

MIDDLE EASTERN LAMB CUTLETS WITH PEARL COUSCOUS TABOULI

tip If you can’t find the microwave version black rice, just get the normal version and cook it as per packet instructions − still very easy!

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RECIPES

MIDDLE EASTERN LAMB CUTLETS WITH PEARL COUSCOUS TABOULI

Serves 4

DF • RSF 2492kj per serve • 12 lamb cutlets, French trimmed • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil FOR MARINADE • 2 teaspoons Middle Eastern spice mix • 2 teaspoons sumac • 2 teaspoons chilli powder • 2 teaspoons rice malt syrup • 1½ tablespoons lemon juice • 1 tablespoon tomato paste FOR COUSCOUS TABOULI • 250g pearl (big) couscous • Pink salt and freshly ground black pepper • 200g sweet red cherry tomatoes, halved • 2 Lebanese (short) cucumbers, sliced into half moons • 12 prunes, pitted and sliced • 3-4 spring onions, thinly sliced • 30g (1 cup) finely chopped flat-leaf (Italian) parsley leaves • 25g (½ cup) finely chopped mint leaves • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

1. Mix together the marinade ingredients in a bowl. Add the lamb cutlets and turn to coat thoroughly. Set aside while you crack on with the couscous tabouli. 2. Put the pearl couscous in a saucepan and cover with 625ml (2½ cups) of water. Season generously with salt and pepper and place over medium-low heat. Cover with a lid and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes until tender. 3. While that cooks, combine the tomato halves, cucumber, prunes, spring onion and herbs in a bowl. 4. Drain the couscous and add to the salad, along with the olive oil and lemon juice. Toss to combine and season to taste. 5. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat and cook the cutlets in batches for 2-3 minutes on each side for medium-rare, or for longer until cooked to your liking. 6. Divide the salad between serving bowls and top with the cutlets. Serve immediately.

tip Images and recipes from SUPER GREEN SUPER EASY by Sally Obermeder and Maha Corbett (Allen & Unwin RRP $24.99). Photography by Rob Palmer.

If you find your couscous clumps together when you drain it, just give it a little rinse and set aside for a few minutes to drain. You can also mix in a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil if need be. Pregnancy BUMP & baby

Got to

keep on moving

Is vigorous exercise safe during the third trimester of pregnancy? Exercise physiologist Kassia Beetham says yes.

xpectant mothers receive an avalanche of information about potential risks to their baby. There’s a growing list of foods, toxins and environmental threats to avoid. It’s normal for this to lead to an increased level of anxiety. As a result, some women believe it’s safer to avoid any risks in pregnancy, no matter how small. Vigorous exercise may be considered one of these risks. But we’ve recently reviewed the research and found vigorous exercise is safe during pregnancy, including in the third trimester. And not only is it safe; it’s healthy, too.

MODERATE EXERCISE VS VIGOROUS EXERCISE

The safety of moderate intensity exercise during pregnancy has been well established. Walking, swimming, and using an exercise bike are all activities that could be considered moderate intensity. Expectant mothers who do at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity per week, as recommended by the New Zealand Eating and Activity Guidelines (health.govt.nz/our-work/eating-andactivity-guidelines), are healthier, happier, stronger, and develop fewer complications like gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia. When we’re talking about vigorous exercise, this means exercising to an intensity where you struggle to maintain a conversation, but can still manage

Pregnancy BUMP & baby

a sentence. This could include activities such as jogging, circuit-based resistance training, or interval training on a stationary bike. In the broader population, it’s exercise at 70-90% of your maximum heart rate (where maximum heart rate is about 220 beats per minute minus your age). For pregnant women, it may feel a little harder to achieve vigorous intensity exercise because of some normal changes to the heart and blood that occur during pregnancy. And the safety of doing vigorous exercise during pregnancy has been more controversial. For example, past research has suggested that during vigorous exercise, blood flow is re-directed to the muscles and could take away oxygen and nutrients from the growing baby.

GET PHYSICAL

Vigorous exercise is safe while pregnant, even in the final trimester. But if you don’t feel up to it, lighter exercise is beneficial too.

OUR RESEARCH

We collated all studies looking at mothers exercising at a vigorous intensity during the third trimester, to understand how safe this was for mothers and babies. Our review included 15 studies totalling 32,703 pregnant women. What we found should be reassuring for active women with healthy pregnancies: vigorous exercise appears to be safe for both mum and baby, even when continued into the third trimester. The studies looked at a range of outcomes for both mum and baby, and none showed any meaningful increase in risk. There was no difference in birth weight of babies when their mums did vigorous exercise; and in particular no difference in the number of babies born small for gestational age. For women in the healthy weight range, vigorous exercise didn’t affect the amount of weight they gained during pregnancy. That is, they followed the expected trajectory of weight gain as their pregnancy progressed. But, in overweight and obese women, for whom it can be more difficult to adhere to the recommended weight gain during pregnancy, vigorous exercise did appear to reduce maternal weight gain. It was also associated with a slightly lower chance of a baby being born premature, and a few extra days of gestation. Pregnancy BUMP & baby

HIGH-INTENSITY AND HIGH-IMPACT EXERCISE

Exercise at greater than 90% of maximum heart rate is considered “high-intensity exercise”. This is where you can’t even string a sentence together. We don’t yet know if high-intensity training carries any risks, so there’s still a limit to what mums might want to do later in a pregnancy. We’d recommended mums do the “talk test” to make sure they can still speak while exercising. Expectant mothers should also be cautious about doing high-impact exercise in the third trimester, like running, jumping or lifting heavy weights. The findings from our review suggest these types of high-impact activities are not likely to affect the baby, but it’s still not known whether they may weaken the mother’s pelvic floor muscles, which may contribute to incontinence. If expectant mothers want to keep these activities up, we’d recommend they consult an exercise professional and their doctor.

Is it safe to run

WHILE YOU’RE PREGNANT? If you’re a runner, you may be wondering if it’s safe to keep running while you’re pregnant. We asked five experts, and they all said yes – but with some sensible advice.

Vigorous exercise is an efficient strategy for improving a mother’s physical and mental health. The benefits to her heart, lungs, muscles and mood are likely to be the same, if not greater, than for moderate exercise. The main aim of physical activity in pregnancy is to achieve health-enhancing benefits in a way that is safe, enjoyable, and sustainable. Some women may find it difficult to be mobile in the third trimester, let alone exercise vigorously. So, if you’re happily doing lighter exercise, like regular walks, you can feel confident in the benefits you’re providing both you and your baby. Pregnancy specific yoga or pilates may also be a gentler way to improve muscular strength, heart health and mental health. These activities might help you prepare your body for the upcoming challenge of childbirth, and subsequent recovery. If you’re struggling to achieve the recommended 150 minutes per week, particularly in the third trimester, then find ways to increase your breathing rate in shorter bouts. For example, by taking the stairs, parking the car a little further away, or going for brisk walk in your lunch break. Mothers will usually get the most benefit with some extra support from an exercise professional (like an accredited exercise physiologist), a medical practitioner, or both.

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51% OF NZ ADULTS

DID AT LEAST 30 MINUTES OF MODERATE ACTIVITY SPREAD OVER FIVE OR MORE DAYS IN THE LAST WEEK. SOURCE: HEALTH.GOVT.NZ/OUR-WORK/ EATING-AND-ACTIVITY-GUIDELINES

Pregnancy can be a magical time, but also a stressful one. With so many things you can and can’t do, it can get confusing. Guidelines recommend women without complicated pregnancies should be maintaining fitness. But how? Many women love the alone time pounding the pavement for a nice run out in nature, but is this too strenuous? We asked five experts if it’s safe to run while pregnant.

YES: Kassia Beetham, EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGIST

Yes, until the third trimester. Moderate intensity exercise throughout pregnancy has significant benefits for the mother and baby. In the first two trimesters, running can help strengthen the placenta and pelvic floor muscles. However, there is a risk that running in the third trimester may cause postpartum urinary incontinence or reduced infant birthweight. High-impact activities such as running should be limited in the third trimester as the weight of the foetus can weaken the pelvic floor. The greater demands of the foetus in the final stages of pregnancy also mean higher intensity exercise should be avoided in the final trimester.

YES: Krissy Kendall, SPORTS SCIENTIST

To date, there are only a handful of studies specifically looking at running during

WRITTEN BY KASSIA BEETHAM, EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY LECTURER, AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY. REPUBLISHED FROM THECONVERSATION.COM/IS-VIGOROUS-EXERCISE-SAFEDURING-THE-THIRD-TRIMESTER-OF-PREGNANCY-121762

EXERCISE DURING PREGNANCY IS IMPORTANT – BUT IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE VIGOROUS

GET PHYSICAL

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pregnancy, but recent research is promising. A 2018 study examining the running habits of 1,293 female runners during pregnancy found running during pregnancy did not appear to affect gestational age or birthweight, regardless of training volume or stage of pregnancy. It's important to note physical changes associated with pregnancy, like ligaments becoming more loose, and weight gain can negatively impact comfort levels while running. Australian guidelines warn of excessive body heat during exercise. It’s best to take your exercise indoors if outdoor temperatures are hot and humid. Most guidelines also suggested women should seek advice from their health care provider before starting or continuing an exercise program.

YES: Mary Kennedy, EXERCISE MEDICINE

Continuing to run throughout pregnancy is not only safe, it’s beneficial for most women with uncomplicated pregnancies. However, starting a running program during pregnancy is not ideal for someone who is not regularly active. While women are encouraged to embrace

healthier routines during pregnancy, it's important to progress gradually. Vigorous activities, such as running, are something to work toward. This hard work is not advised while also managing the anatomic and physiologic changes that occur throughout pregnancy. And existing runners must be willing to adjust their routines to accommodate their bodies’ changing needs. Pregnancy is not the time to 'push through the pain' or strive for a personal record. Women should listen to their bodies and develop a routine that feels good, recognising there may be a point when running is no longer comfortable. A health care provider should be consulted regularly to ensure activity levels are adjusted appropriately.

YES: Rylee Dionigi, SPORTS LECTURER

Yes, if the pregnant woman enjoys running, wants to run and feels they can run! After seeking medical/health care advice and clearance to run while pregnant, which is reviewed as a pregnancy progresses, pregnant women can run according to their own fitness levels and previous physical activity, sport or exercise experiences.

While the latest guidelines on exercise during pregnancy are useful when deciding if it is safe to run, they also say further research in this area is needed. And these guidelines must be situated within the wider context, because ideas about exercise during pregnancy continually change over time, many factors related to pregnancy are out of women’s control and not all women have the means, ability or desire to exercise during pregnancy. So women should not feel obligated to "run", and women should be provided with the conditions that enable them to make choices about physical activity that address their health needs.

YES: Stephen Cousins, EXERCISE SCIENTIST

Exercise throughout pregnancy of at least 150-300 minutes per week is recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Dynamic, rhythmic, weight-bearing activities that use large muscle groups are largely recommended. However, the type of exercise should be based upon comfort, convenience and experience. So for those with uncomplicated pregnancies and those who were running regularly before pregnancy, it’s fine to keep it up. But if you weren’t a runner before getting pregnant, it can be a challenging time to start and you might want to consider other forms of recommended aerobic exercise such as walking, swimming, or elliptical training. Pregnancy BUMP & baby

Sorry, it'll be a few more months til you can sleep on your stomach again.

Tossing and turning?

Insomnia in pregnancy is common, but it’s not normal. Psychologists Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen and Ivan Sedov explain how to beat it.

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GET SOME SLEEP

COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY

WRITTEN BY LIANNE TOMFOHR-MADSEN, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, PSYCHOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY, AND IVAN SEDOV, DOCTORAL STUDENT IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY. REPUBLISHED FROM THECONVERSATION.COM/INSOMNIA-IN-PREGNANCY-ISCOMMON-BUT-ITS-NOT-NORMAL-HERES-HOW-TO-BEAT-IT-119575

any pregnant women find themselves waking up in the middle of night to go the bathroom (for the third time) or struggling to find a comfortable sleep position. Mildly disrupted sleep is common and bothersome, but should not be confused with the much more serious problem of insomnia – which impacts more than 20% of women during their pregnancy. Likely because mild sleep problems are so common during pregnancy, many healthcare providers dismiss reports of insomnia, leaving women to manage the condition on their own and without resources they desperately need. As clinical health psychologists, we often hear about women resorting to expensive sleep products (think body pillows) or taking herbal remedies which they hope will lull them to sleep. Unfortunately, the benefits of these interventions are often fleeting. Use of pharmacological treatments is increasingly discouraged, and pregnant women in particular report that they are reluctant to take sleeping medication due to concerns about the potential impact on their developing baby. The good news is that there is a highly effective behavioural treatment available.

Exciting new research has demonstrated that cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) can improve sleep during pregnancy. This is a structured program that helps to replace unhelpful thoughts and behaviours that cause insomnia or worsen sleep problems. CBT-I helps to address the underlying causes of sleep problems with habits and thoughts that lead to deeper sleep. CBT-I is delivered either in person, in a group, or over the internet. Within four to five weeks of participating in therapy, most people experience the benefits of treatment. Unlike with medications, sleep problems typically don’t return when the therapy is complete. There are comprehensive books and resources available about using CBT-I, for those who would like to learn more. Many of the sleep practises involved in this therapy are quite simple and you can implement them at home by yourself today. The impacts will last beyond pregnancy. And many of them have the added benefit of equipping you with tools that will also help your children sleep well as they grow older.

KEEP TRACK OF YOUR SLEEP

One of the most common, and effective, sleep hygiene strategies is to set a regular sleep schedule. This suggestion is particularly true for setting a regular wake-up time, as there is no reason to crawl into bed if you don’t feel sleepy. Maintaining your standard wake time can serve as a hard reset of your biological rhythms. Your body will get used to waking up and falling asleep at a certain time – making mornings much easier. Your sleep and wake cycles are controlled by hormones and those particular hormones love a good routine. By setting your wake-up time to be around the same every morning you are helping to your body re-establish better sleep. Another method of improving sleep is tracking it. We know from weight-loss and smoking-cessation research that simply keeping track of a behaviour leads humans to adjust it. Start by keeping a record of your sleep using a paper sleep-journal or an app. The point of tracking is to notice patterns so that you can begin to use what you learn to adjust your behaviours to improve sleep.

OUR BRAINS ARE LEARNING MACHINES. WE CAN TEACH THEM TO SLEEP WHEN WE GET INTO BED, OR WE CAN TEACH THEM TO DO OTHER THINGS — LIKE WORRY. USE YOUR BED ONLY FOR SLEEP

And then brace yourself – one of the key reasons sleep therapy works can be one of the hardest to do. Use your bed only for sleep! Our brains are learning machines. We can teach them to sleep when we get into bed, or we can teach them to do other things – like worry. It all depends on what we actually do when we get into bed. Unfortunately, the bed can become ground zero for a thousand other activities ranging from reading your smartphone, replaying yesterday’s arguments, or worrying about tomorrow’s meetings. So, things not associated with sleep (worrying, phones, tablets) should be scrubbed from your bedroom. Remember, you can just as easily scroll Instagram from your couch. If you’re in your bed and not sleeping for more than 15 minutes at any point in the night, get up and do something boring until you feel sleepy.

INSOMNIA IN PREGNANCY IS TREATABLE

Changing sleep habits can be hard, so draw on your social support. Pregnant women often share their beds with partners, other children and even pets. It’s important to get clear on the strategies you are going to try. Having a plan about who will get your toddler a drink of water in the middle of the night or when the electronics need to be turned off is essential. The time to have these conversations is not at 3am – plan ahead! In the end, insomnia in pregnancy is a treatable condition. Women with more serious insomnia also need access to online or in-person sleep resources as they transition to parenthood – something that researchers are currently trying to solve. Pregnancy BUMP & baby

Should grandparents be in the delivery room? Do you think it’s okay for grandparents to be in the delivery room, or not? Two mums weigh in. Which side are you on?

PRO

“Birth is a miracle that deserves to be shared!” Grace had both her mother and her mother-in-law in the delivery room for the births of her two children, and says it was special for everyone.

When I was pregnant with my first child, I asked my mother if she wanted to be present at the birth – I couldn’t imagine not having her there to support me. I live in Auckland and she lives in Wellington, so we made plans for Mum to fly up and stay with me a week before my due date. But when I was 36 weeks pregnant, a complication meant that I was placed on bed rest and my midwife told me to be prepared that I might go into labour early. Suddenly I was worried that Mum wouldn’t make it in time, even if she got in the car and drove up from Wellington as soon as my labour started. So I discussed things with my husband and decided to ask his mum if she would like to be in the delivery room, in case my mum couldn’t make it. My in-laws live only 10 minutes away from my husband and me. My mother-in-law was really nervous about it, but said she felt honoured to be asked. I was worried my mum would be offended or feel left out, but when I told her I had asked my mother-in-law to come just in

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case, Mum said, “I’m glad you will have someone else there to support you. After all, she’s going to be a grandma too!” I thought that was very kind of Mum. As it happens, I didn’t go into labour until my mum arrived in Auckland. When it was time to go to hospital, my husband called his mum and asked her to meet us there. She said, “I thought you wouldn’t want me since Grace’s mum made it in time!” But I thought it would be nice for my husband to have his mum there for her first grandchild’s birth. Since I was sharing the experience with my mum, I thought it was only fair. My birth was straightforward and I was worried about how I acted, as it was painful and I am sure I was swearing at one point! But after my baby girl was born, my mother-in-law just said, “Grace, you were so brave, and I am so glad I could be here.” She thanked me for including her. As my baby girl arrived in the world, my mother-in-law and my mum were both crying and hugging each other and it was such a beautiful

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moment. It made me think that birth is a miracle that deserves to be shared. A few years later, when I was pregnant with my second child, I again asked my mum and mother-in-law to be there for the birth. This time, my parents almost didn’t make it, as I went into labour while they were on the plane up from Wellington and my father-in-law met them at the airport and brought my mum right to hospital while he and my dad drove back to our house to look after my toddler girl. My second labour was very fast and I didn’t have time for the epidural, and my son was born just an hour after Mum arrived at hospital! I was really glad my mother-in-law was there for the second birth because she could go fetch Mum from the hospital entrance (so my husband didn’t have to leave my side to get her) and she was also very helpful, getting me water, rubbing my back, and even putting socks on my feet when I said they were cold but I couldn’t reach them! Then when my mum arrived, my mother-inlaw didn’t push in at all. I felt she was very respectful of my relationship with my mother and she was there for me and for her son, but she wasn’t obtrusive. I’m pregnant with my third baby and I’m hoping my mother-in-law will be able to come to this birth too. I am also planning to ask my dad and father-in-law if they want to be there too, as I know neither of them were at the births of their children (back then dads weren’t allowed in the delivery room) and I think they might find it special too. But I know it’s not for everyone so I won’t be offended if they say no!

"I FELT MY MOTHER-IN-LAW WAS VERY RESPECTFUL OF MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY MOTHER AND SHE WAS THERE FOR ME"

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CO N

“Birth is a private event, not a spectator sport.” Elizabeth only had her husband and midwife in the room for the birth of her three children, and says that there’s no way she would have had her parents or parents-in-law in the labour room.

When I was pregnant with my first child, we watched a childbirth video in antenatal class. And there was one part that stuck in my brain so clearly – someone who looked like an orderly entered the room where the labouring mother was about to give birth, had a word with the midwife, and wandered out. That was the only time this person appeared in the video, and I kept wondering, “Who the heck was that random guy, and how dare he just walk in!” When my mum asked me who I was having at the birth, I replied, “Only my husband and the midwife.” I could tell she was a bit hurt as one of her good friends had recently been at the birth of her daughter’s child and told my mum how special it was. I talked to my midwife about it as I was feeling so torn, and my midwife said, “Look, tell everyone that it’s my policy that only the other parent is allowed to be in the delivery room, for infection and hygiene reasons.” She went on to say that she didn’t mind being blamed so I could just use her and take the pressure off of myself! She also said that if anyone tried to barge into the room, she would tell them to get the hell out. That made me laugh and I felt relieved to know that my midwife had my back too. I had a long talk with my husband about it because I was worried he would want his mum there or would be offended because I didn’t want her either. I explained that I didn’t even want my own mother in the room, so I wasn’t trying to exclude his mum. He said that I was the one giving birth, so it was my choice, and he would back me up. I read in one of my pregnancy books that women in labour need to feel safe and private, and I knew that the only way I would feel that way was if I didn’t have an audience. To me, birth is a private event, and not a spectator sport. When I was in

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FRIENDLY DEBATE

"THE GRANDPARENTS WEREN'T PRESENT AT THE CONCEPTION, SO WHY SHOULD THEY EXPECT TO BE PRESENT AT THE BIRTH?"

labour and giving birth, I was at my most vulnerable, and the last thing I wanted was someone else in the room to look after or worry about – I didn’t want to be concerned about how I was looking or acting “in the moment”. I agree that birth is a miracle, but I also think it’s meant for the parents of the baby to share. After all, the grandparents weren’t present at the baby’s conception, so why should they expect to be present at the baby’s birth? Birth is messy, and nobody else needs to see someone in pain, possibly vomiting, pooing, screaming, bleeding, swearing… When we went to hospital, my husband called my parents and his parents to let them know what was going on, and reminded them that he would call them when the baby was born to let them know when it was okay to come see their grandbaby. My parents and in-laws were very respectful of my boundaries, and my midwife didn’t need to kick anybody out of the delivery room! After my son was born, I was glad for the chance to clean up and transfer to the ward where I could get comfortable and brush my hair before people came to see the new baby. When I had my second child, I again told my mum and my husband told his mum that we didn’t want anyone else in the delivery room. My parents and my in-laws really wanted to be helpful, and my husband asked them to watch our son in shifts, and to make us some freezer meals while I was in hospital with the new baby. What really helped me was that my husband was the one doing the asking, so I didn’t have one more thing to organise. With my third baby, my parents and in-laws came to our house and looked after our two children and made freezer meals and even baked my oldest child a birthday cake as his birthday was only three days after the new baby arrived, which was the day I was coming home from hospital. It was so wonderful to come home to his little birthday party organised and not having to do a thing. I don’t regret not having my parents or in-laws in the delivery room. I did what was right for me, and I’m glad they didn’t push the issue. Pregnancy BUMP & baby

BIRTH IS AMAZING

Photographer Tamara won Gold in the RISE International Photography Awards for this image – one of only 14 Gold awards given out of 4,000+ entries.

WE WERE IN THE CAR ON THE WAY TO HOSPITAL WHEN JEN'S WATERS BROKE. I had photographed

Jen's previous two births, and I remembered that her waters always broke right before the baby came. We pulled into the hospital carpark and I grabbed my camera. Jen's midwife was waiting with a wheelchair, but when we opened the door of the car, the baby was already crowning! Jen was amazing. She was calm and collected, and birthed her gorgeous baby in that front seat like a pro, all while her toddler was asleep in the back seat. It was an incredible moment to witness, and I'll always remember this birth! ~ Tamara 70

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BIRTH IS AMAZING

The big

event

ALL PHOTOGRAPHS REPRODUCED WITH KIND PERMISSION OF THE FAMILIES PHOTOGRAPHED BY TAMARA MILLDOVE OF MILLDOVE PHOTOGRAPHY AND MEG HOLMES OF LUV MEG.

Birth is an incredible experience, and having a glimpse into that most sacred and special moment of a parent's life is a privilege that professional birth and newborn photographers Tamara Milldove of Milldove Photography (birthandnewborn.co.nz) and Meg Holmes of Luv Meg (luvmeg.com) share here. Take a peek at these amazing births, seen through their eyes.

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BIRTH IS AMAZING

THIS WAS BABY NUMBER FIVE FOR ASHLEIGH.

We walked the corridors of Whanganui Hospital to help encourage her baby to come, before Ashleigh peacefully water-birthed with the support of her wonderful midwife, both grandmothers-to-be, her husband, and her aunt. Little Elenoa was welcomed to the world with love, prayers, and family. ~ Meg 72

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BIRTH IS AMAZING

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BIRTH IS AMAZING

HAVING A DRUG FREE BIRTH WAS SUPER IMPORTANT TO ELLENA .

Her amazingly supportive midwife, mother, and superstar best friend helped Ellena to focus on the end goal of holding her baby in her arms. With encouragement and a few well-timed jokes, her baby boy made his grand entrance. Ellena was elated, and said, through happy tears, 'I did it! I really did it!' ~ Meg 74

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BIRTH IS AMAZING

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FACT OVER 18,000 UNIQUE FIRST NAMES WERE

REGISTERED FOR BABIES IN NEW ZEALAND IN 2018.

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FROM A TO Z

What’s in a name?

Naming your baby should be an enjoyable task – but there are some rules you’ll need to follow, explains Yvonne Walus.

our new baby’s name is a big deal. It’s a reflection of your tastes, your culture, your personality, and any dreams you may have for your child. For better or worse, it’ll forever form a part of their identity, the way in which family and friends will refer to them. Some people even believe that it may influence their future: Joseph sounds like a leader; Joey, perhaps not so much. So hey, no pressure. Because a person's name is so important, our Government reserves the right to get involved. While in some parts of the USA, it’s perfectly legal to call your child Adolf Hitler, we Kiwis wouldn’t let that fly, and the Births, Deaths and Marriages office of our Department of Internal Affairs checks all baby names when they’re registered at birth. New Zealand’s rules are simple: When it comes to names on the birth certificate, you can’t call your baby anything offensive to our diverse culture. Furthermore, the name can’t be rude or insulting, it can’t resemble rank or an official title (no “Prince” or “Doctor”), and it can’t contain weird punctuation marks or numbers. Some of the baby names rejected in New Zealand in the last few years included religious taboos such as Allah and Messiah. Some were disallowed

because of a forbidden character; turns out you can’t call your kid “3rd" or “89” or “V8” or anything with a backslash or a dot in the name. That ban on numerals stretches to Roman numbers too: “III” and “VI” will not slip through. Single letters as first names are a no-no, so yes to “Jay” but no to “J”. Kiing, Royale-Bubz, and Jusdyce also found themselves on the banned list (no, the powers that be don’t allow weird spelling of official titles, either). Of course, simple rules don’t mean parents always get it right. In the TV series The Simpsons, for example, Homer worries what to call their firstborn so that other kids wouldn’t make fun of him. Larry? No, because of Larry Fairy! Louie? No – Screwy Louie! Luke? Puke! Bart? And Homer famously says: “Let's see... Bart, Cart, Dart, Ee-art... Nope, can't see any problem with that!” Over the last few decades, many names stayed consistently in the top 10 of Kiwi baby names, such as Charlotte, Amelia, Olivia, William, Oliver, and Jack. Others, though, float in and out of fashion. Back in the 1950s, John, David, and Peter were the favourite boy names, with Michael, Paul, and Christopher on the periphery. This trend continued in the 1960s, with all six names topping the popularity charts. Michael and David remained with us through the 1970s, this time accompanied by Jason and Daniel. Michael, Daniel, and David stayed in the 1980s, though Jason was displaced by James and Joshua. James and Joshua

persevered to the 1990s, joined by Matthew and Samuel. Jack appeared out of nowhere with the new millennium and stays with us to this day as the most popular boy name. For girls, the 1950s were dominated by Christine, Margaret, Susan, and Judith. Karen appeared mid-decade and stayed around till the 1970s. By then Nicola, Michelle, Rachel, Lisa, and Sarah came onto the scene. Rebecca and Jessica joined the list in the 1980s. Emma, Samantha, and Hannah were the newcomers in 1990, followed shortly by Georgia and Olivia. By the year 2000, only Sarah was left of the pre-1980s names. By 2010, the most popular girl names were totally different: Sophie, Ruby, Chloe, Emily, Lilly, Isabella, and Charlotte. The last few years saw a fresh wave of names again: Harper, Isla, Ava, and Mia. Auckland University linguist Dr Helen Charters suggests that our changing name choices may be a reflection of the growing cultural diversity within New Zealand, as well as the millennial trend towards phonetic spelling. “What we're seeing is a total relaxation of any kind of social rules around naming,” she says. “These days, it seems as likely that people will choose totally new names." Remember old books with characters called Maud, Laura, Edwina, Alfred, Cyril, or Eugene? It looks like their time will not come again in the foreseeable future. Unless you start a new trend...

Legally speaking When a baby is born in New Zealand, the LMC or the hospital will notify the Births, Deaths and Marriages office. By law, parents will have to fill in the paperwork and register the child's name within a “reasonable and practical time”. Those who don't do it will be sent reminders, and if they still delay, they may be charged a fine.

Should you change your mind about your child’s name, you can have it officially altered. It costs $55 to change their name before their second birthday, and you’ll need to fill in an application form. If you wait until they turn two, it costs $170, and you’ll need certified copies of documents that prove the identity of the child's parents or legal guardians. Pregnancy BUMP & baby

SustainableBABY If eco-friendly parenting is your thing, Tiffany Brown has some wonderful tips for raising your baby in a sustainable way, and being kinder to our planet.

"Nappy-free time is the best, Mum! Now put me down and let me play."

very little bit counts. The idea that small changes can and do add up is resonant when it comes to your parenting journey, when the arrival of a little ones brings along a whole set of fresh challenges in terms of treading lightly on our precious earth. If you're thinking about implementing some planet-friendly parenting practices, here are some ideas to get you started.

NAPPIES

Estimates suggest the average child uses between 4,000 and 6,000 nappies before they are toilet-trained, which makes their ecological consideration perhaps the most significant for new parents.

ONE-USE WONDERS It’s claimed a single disposable nappy takes upwards from 200 years to break down in landfill. But the convenience of disposable nappies can’t be underestimated, particularly when you’re on the go. Traditional-style disposables consume energy when produced and contain plastic and chemicals to absorb waste. But newer alternatives are appearing all the time, such as recycled and chemical-free nappies, and we can expect nappy technology to keep on improving.

MODERN CLOTH NAPPIES (MCNS) The old-school type of traditional flat nappies (along with overnaps, pins, liners, and a soaking bucket) are still an option, but most families now prefer to invest in a set of modern reusable nappy designs that mimic the ease of use of the modern disposable. In bright, colourful prints and styles, these two- or three-piece nappies offer fabric manipulation and layered technology with outer covers, all of which snap, pop, or velcro to fit your baby and can be used with an optional liner for further protection. The impact of soaking, washing, and drying these nappies is not to be ignored, but on balance it is usually kinder to the environment to opt for reusable-style nappies.

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THE GOOD LIFE

NAPPY-FREE TIME Babies love nappy-free time, and the more time they spend in their birthday suit, the less impact your use of nappies has on the environment. Experts encourage you to disrobe your wee one and let them kick about unrestricted by nappies or clothing as often as you’re able. Just make sure the space is heated sufficiently to keep baby comfortable, or if you’re outdoors, ensure your baby is under shade and, again, warm enough for the conditions.

ELIMINATION COMMUNICATION Still a little controversial in the Western world, elimination communication helps infants express their need to empty their bladder or bowels even before they develop the ability to communicate these needs through action or speech. On her website “Waste Free with Kate”, waste-free living expert Kate Meads points out, “Half the world’s population still raise their babies without nappies and they don’t all get peed and pooed on constantly. Nappies have only been around for a hundred years or so, and babies were successfully raised without them for thousands of years.” Besides environmental reasons, she says the strategy of assisting infants to indicate their toilet needs can prevent issues with digestion or nappy rash. Just like new parents learn to pick up on babies’ cues in terms of feeding, sleeping, and wind, elimination communication can foster deep communication and trust between caregiver and child as their needs are responded to in real time.

Wipe out • Never flush a baby wipe, no matter which kind you use – even if they say “flushable” on the packet. They don’t break down and could block your toilet, get stuck in pipes, or damage sewerage systems. • Many baby wipes

More green nappy tips • Nappy choice doesn’t have to be absolute. Many parents enjoy the savings to both wallet and earth with a set of reusable nappies, but intersperse their use with disposable nappies when more convenient. Consider your use of wipes, throw in a little nappy-free time, and school up on elimination communication to watch your child for signs of imminent movement. Combining all or just some of these ideas is a great way to help to minimise your family’s environmental nappy burden.

• Keep your reusable nappy set in great condition by using natural laundry strategies such as ecofriendly whiteners, soaking and harnessing the power of sunlight. You should then be able to use the same set for subsequent children, and resell or gift them on when you’re done. • Emptying nappy waste into the toilet and flushing it is the eco-friendly choice over folding the waste into your disposable nappy and sending it off to landfill.

A PACKET OF WIPES MAY FEEL INDISPENSABLE WHEN YOU’RE OUT AND ABOUT, FOR MOUTHS, HANDS, BUMS, AND ANY ONE OF A NUMBER OF RANDOM THINGS THAT GET STICKY AND SOILED THROUGHOUT YOUR DAY – STROLLER, CAR SEAT, HANDBAG, SOMEONE ELSE’S COAT. BUT KEEP IN MIND BABY WIPES CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

are made of a blend of polyester, plastic, or viscose, making rubbish that adds to the ocean’s global plastic burden. • Compostable wipes are a better choice, but unless you are set up for composting human waste, many

are going to end up in landfill anyway. • Many parents before you have tried and tested various homemade baby wipes recipes from paper towels. Find their recipes online and take advantage of their

wisdom to make your own. But be aware the manufacture of paper towels is energy-intensive and usually involves chemicals. • Reusable DIY alternatives involve using repurposed material squares in

a homemade solution. • Another reusable option is to use soft, washable cloths dipped in warm water. Add natural soap to the cloth or pop your baby in a warm, shallow bath to clean up after a poo. Pregnancy BUMP & baby

CLOTHING & LINEN

As we collectively begin to appreciate the impact our daily choices make on the health and future of ourselves and the planet, astute providers of products recognise the desire for natural, green, eco, and earth-friendly choices. Unfortunately, the appetite for these products is growing faster than most countries develop regulation to protect consumers from misleading labelling. Often we may feel good about purchase decisions that may not be so good for the environment after all. Sustainability is not only about the natural environment; it should also include ethical considerations around how products are brought to market and the human chain involved to produce the final product.

BOLTS OF BURDEN Synthetic fibres like polyester and rayon are made from petrochemicals, are nonbiodegradable, and require huge amounts of energy and water to produce. Wood pulp-based fabric like nylon or viscose is often produced by clearing old-growth forest, displacing subsistence farmers, and requiring hazardous chemicals like caustic soda and sulfuric acid by way of treatment. Cotton and wool might seem like better alternatives, but cotton is the most pesticide-intensive crop on earth. It uses up large tracts of otherwise food-producing land, it may be harvested using environmentally hazardous chemicals, and sheep can be raised using chemical dips that have health consequences for workers. The dyeing, bleaching, and manufacturing processes involved in turning these raw materials into a wearable state may also use harmful substances that leach into waterways. Formaldehyde, glues, and plastic coatings may also be used to create easy-care, easy-iron, and waterproof clothes, shoes, and bedding.

EARTH-FRIENDLY FABRICS With environmental concerns around clothing and fabric manufacture now being exposed, technology is likely to move forward quickly with better alternatives. Right now, though, you can follow these guidelines to choose the best fabrics for your family while ensuring the products you buy are environmentally and socially sustainable. • Organic cotton reduces the

Pregnancy BUMP & baby

Organic cotton is soft on skin and kinder on the planet.

environmental and health concerns of high pesticide use, and are likely to be free from chlorine and synthetic dyes. Look for brands that use natural dyes. • Hemp is a highly productive crop requiring minimal pest control and few or no agrochemicals to produce while enriching the soil. Agricultural hemp has no narcotic side effects. • Bamboo is a fast-growing plant requiring little pesticide, but turning the tough stalks into baby-soft fabric can require eco-unfriendly chemical processing. Look for bamboo lyocell (also known as TENCEL) or bamboo linen, as they are produced in a more eco-friendly way. Bamboo rayon, however, is produced in a way that may pollute the air, infect water

systems, or endanger workers, so choose bamboo lyocell or bamboo linen instead.

FINAL FABRIC THOUGHTS • Ethical, sustainable clothing tends to be more expensive, but the garments are more robust and long-lasting, with great hand-me-down, re-sell, or gifting potential. • Toxin-free clothing may reduce the likelihood of skin or respiratory irritation from chemicals and pesticides used to produce traditional fabrics. • Choose manufacturers who offer extra sustainability reassurances such as recyclable or biodegradable packaging. • Look for the official Fair Trade Certified logo to ensure products have been made in a socially sustainable way.

What about the price tag? HERE ARE SOME THRIFTY IDEAS TO STAY SUSTAINABLE WITH YOUR FAMILY’S CLOTHING CHOICES.

• Register with sustainable children’s clothing online retailers and look out for their clearance sales and discount offers. • Recycle garments by looking on

TradeMe or your local grapevine for auctions and sales on pre-loved, conscious clothing. • Upcycle fabrics already in circulation by looking out for

pre-loved cotton, linen, silk, or wool garments at op shops or recycled boutiques, and repurposing them for baby blankets, burp cloths, play mats, or clothing.

THE GOOD LIFE LIGHTEN YOUR LAUNDRY LOAD

WASHING Body beautiful Some of the most prevalent chemicals in personal care products are sadly also some of the most toxic to human health. Phthalates, parabens, triclosan, mineral oil, sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate, polyethylene glycol (PEG), propylene glycol and urea are substances commonly used in soaps, bubble baths, shampoos and conditioners, toothpaste, antibacterial soaps, and sunscreens, and have been linked to a wide variety of health problems including birth defects, organ disruption, respiratory conditions, and cancers. • Less is more for babies, who only need a bath twice a week or so, and a hair wash only a few times a month. Look out for the single ingredient "fragrance" on products, as this may mask a number of other toxic ingredients. Fragrance-free, non-toxic alternatives or handmade, natural soaps are better alternatives. Nature can provide antiseptic, antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal properties in the form of plants, flowers, and herbs.

Our toxic load from household cleaners, washing, and personal care products is slowly but surely adding up. Many of the chemicals used in these products are absorbed and build up inside our bodies with no way to escape. Add to this the environmental impact of tonnes of packaging, the non-renewable resources used in the production of these items, and the human cost to workers exposed to high concentrations of chemicals or poorly compensated for their time and resources, and it seems like a good time to explore alternatives.

CLEAN UP The obvious choice is buying eco-friendly labelled products, but there are other ways, too. • Reusable, washable, non-toxic cleaning cloths require an initial investment that pays off over time in terms of reducing the amount of chemicals used in keeping your home clean. • Use the power of pure essential oils and make your own cleaning products. Ingredients like antibacterial tea tree can give you similar germ-zapping effects to more toxic chemical cleaners. • Keep surfaces sanitised (but not disinfected) with diluted baking soda or vinegar. Recipes for homemade cleaners abound online. • Choose eco-friendly cleaning products and, where possible, refill your own containers rather than buying new.

Some children are able to get through a day without dirtying their clothes, but my guess is these are the minority. Considering clothes sit right on our skin, and our skin is an absorbent organ, you might want to consider chemical-free washing powders, soaps or liquids. • Soap nuts are the berries from the sapindus mukorossi plant, a part of the lychee family. Taking nine years to yield, the berries can then be harvested six months out of 12 for a whopping 90 years. Containing saponin, a surfactant that can be used like soap, the berries are compostable, making soap nuts a zero-waste product. One drawback is the berries work best in hot water. Rather than tarnishing that eco halo by increasing energy consumption with non-cold wash cycles, canny planet-lovers add the berries to a single cup of boiling water before adding to the load. • Eco-friendly laundry cleaners are produced with natural ingredients and minimal impact to the environment. • Boiling water and strong sunlight are both effective germicidal techniques that are no-cost, toxic-free, and recyclable. Direct sunlight can also lift baby-related stains from clothing and bedding. Ensure your washing line is in an optimal sunlight-capturing spot for best results.

DITCH THE DRYER It may be tempting to throw those rounds of washing in for a quick cycle in the tumble dryer, but consider the impact on both energy use and your wallet. Running a 7kg dryer just once a day for a year can cost around $500. Whenever possible, hang wet clothes outside or on an indoor drying rack.

• Check the label. It may surprise you to know a product needs only contain 30% organic ingredients in order to be labelled "organic". Look for the certification of recognised bodies such as the international EcoCert, the governmentendorsed Environmental Choice New Zealand, or BioGro, which demands a minimum of 70% organic ingredients in order to receive their stamp. Pregnancy BUMP & baby

REAL OR RUMOUR? THE GOOD LIFE

Sustainable play ideas • Reduce plastic consumption by choosing wood, metal, or fabric toys. • Innovative toy manufacturers are now turning to recycled materials to produce sustainable toys. • There are plenty of good, unbroken, often barely used toys to be found in op shops or online. Give them a second life in your home rather than buying new. • Make your own natural play doughs, goop, or sensory play activities using household items.

FEEDING

• BREASTFEEDING is the natural choice for infant feeding. It's nutritionally complete, convenient, and has zero environmental impact. Breast pads are now available in washable, reusable form. • FORMULA: Choose recyclable tins. Work to keep bottles, caps, and teats in rotation so you don’t need to buy more. Use a separate container to wash bottles in hot water and natural detergent before rinsing in cold water and leaving to dry. Look for recyclable bottles so they don’t need to head to landfill when you’re done. • BABY FOOD can be made three months ahead of use and frozen in ice trays. It’s safe to use frozen homemade vegetable purees up to six months, but using them within one to three months provides optimal nutrition.

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PLAYTIME

Well-meaning family and friends want to celebrate birthdays and special occasions by giving presents. For older generations, child-free or less sustainably focussed people, the lure of bright plastic toys encased in packaging can be irresistible. But if you have made a commitment to leading a more sustainable life, your loved ones may need a little help to understand. Talk to them about the measures you’re taking to reduce plastic and waste in your home, and the choices you’re making for your babies and children. You might suggest gifts like a toy library membership, gift vouchers, or sustainable toys will be more appreciated than less conscious choices. And gently remind them very young children are much more inclined to want their presence than their presents.

• Nature is the ultimate playground for little ones. Games with leaves, water, rocks, flowers, and sand keep kids entertained for hours.

TOY LIBRARIES

There are more than 180 toy libraries throughout New Zealand, so odds are there will be one accessible for you. Membership options vary from low cost sign-up fees with fortnightly toy hire for a dollar or two, to more expensive packages with hire included. Catering for ages from birth up to eight, most toy libraries focus on providing toys that are not only fun and durable but also appropriately educational for each stage of your child’s development.

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HACKS to make breastfeeding

EASIER

Whether you’re a first-time mum or experienced at nursing, these breastfeeding tips will make feeding your baby more comfortable for both of you.

3 GO WITH THE FLOW

1 SEE THE REAL THING

Do you know another new mum who is breastfeeding? Ask if you can watch her feed her baby, so you can get an idea of what it actually looks like. If you don’t know anyone, ask your midwife to recommend some resources like videos on breastfeeding info websites. You’ll find some useful breastfeeding videos on health.govt.nz and healthnavigator.org.nz.

2 TALK TO A LACTATION CONSULTANT

If you’re in hospital or a birthing unit with your newborn, ask to see a lactation consultant. These health professionals specialise in breastfeeding and can give you lots of good advice and help in the early days. Some hospitals and maternity units also have lactation consultant drop-in sessions you can visit even if you have already gone home with your baby.

Pregnancy BUMP & baby

In the early days, your milk flow will be as unpredictable as your baby’s hunger patterns. This will eventually regulate as your baby grows and learns how to take in enough food to satisfy them, and as your breasts figure out how much milk to produce! For now, go with the flow – literally. Don’t try to tie yourself to any sort of schedule and just let your baby lead you. There’s no rush to feed by the clock.

5 CALL PLUNKETLINE

Did you know that PlunketLine is free, available 24/7, and has a free video conferencing breastfeeding support service? If you’re in need of help, you can ring 0800 933 922 and ask to speak to a breastfeeding specialist – they’ll set up an appointment for one to call you back via a video chat link, where you can actually show them what’s going on and any issues you’re having with feeding, right from the comfort of your own home.

6 INVEST IN A PROPER ❤

Eat for you, too

BREASTFEEDING MAKES OFTEN MUMS VERY HUNGRY – YOU'RE FEEDING NOT ONLY YOURSELF, BUT ALSO YOUR BABY! KEEP HEALTHY SNACKS WITHIN ARM’S REACH SO YOU CAN HAVE A NOSH WHILE YOU FEED.

BREASTFEEDING BRA

Breastfeeding bras give your breasts gentle, unrestrictive support as well as ease of access for feeding your baby. You may need to get different-sized bras for different stages of your breastfeeding journey as your body changes post-birth.

7 KEEP TRACK

OF YOUR BOOBS

Having trouble remembering which breast you finished feeding on last time? Wear a hairband around your wrist and swap it to the opposite wrist when you switch sides with your baby. You can also buy small devices to hook on to your top or bra strap.

SELF-HELP

13 READ UP

Even before your baby is born, prepare for breastfeeding by reading about it and doing a bit of research. Look at videos, check out reputable resources, and ask your midwife for info that might help you to prepare ahead of time. And after your baby is born, keep looking for answers to your questions on breastfeeding and parenting websites, in books, and by asking your midwife or Plunket nurse for resources.

8 SUPPORT CREW

Who can you count on to be there for you if you need advice? Reach out to your midwife or LMC, Plunket nurse, a lactation consultant, mum friends, your coffee group, or a local La Leche League branch. And if you don’t have a breastfeeding support crew, talk to your midwife or Plunket nurse about resources near you.

9 USE A NURSING

COVER (IF YOU WANT TO)

It’s your right to breastfeed wherever and whenever you want to. If you feel like you want a bit more privacy when you’re out and about, invest in a nursing cover. There are beautiful scarves and covers available that are long enough to wrap around you and your baby, or you can try a muslin, poncho, or light baby blanket.

16 RELAX

If you’re feeling stressed, anxious, or tense about breastfeeding, it can colour your experience. Start each breastfeeding session with a deep breath and a conscious effort to relax your body, especially your neck, shoulders, back, and arms. If you find yourself feeling tense while you’re feeding, take a moment to re-centre yourself, take a deep breath, and begin again.

14 SKIN-TO-SKIN

For fussy babies who are having a hard time latching or getting settled to feed, try skin-to-skin contact. Strip off your top and your baby’s clothing (leave their nappy on!) and snuggle together, with their body next to your bare chest. It will help your baby to feel calm and comforted.

17 INSPECT NAPPIES

Many mums are concerned that their babies might not be getting enough to eat. Here’s a tip: If your baby has lots of heavy, wet nappies, they are probably getting enough. Still, if you’re at all concerned, talk to your LMC, GP, or Plunket nurse.

15 LEARN HUNGER SIGNS

Hungry babies may “root” (snuffle around looking for your breast), chew their hands, suck their fingers, turn their heads from side to side, or mouth things. These are hunger signs that indicate your baby wants to eat, and if you can learn these cues, you can feed your baby before things escalate to “hanger” territory, where your baby may be too upset to latch and feed. Keep an eye out for these signals.

18 PRACTISE PUMPING

If you’re heading back to work or you want to pump breast milk, don’t go all-in and expect to get great results from the start. Practise pumping at a time when you’re not busy or stressed out, when you have time to figure out the pump and get comfortable.

10 DO SOMETHING ELSE

er you're do ne af t

lit

k ac

11 SLING IT

Breastfeeding in a baby sling or carrier is actually pretty convenient and easy once you get the hang of it! And gives you more mobility (and more privacy).

12 DOUBLE DUTY

Most maternity clothing doubles as breastfeeding-friendly clothing, too – look for hidden breastfeeding openings, wide sleeves you can move aside, zipped panels, or stretchy necklines you can move aside. You’ll get a lot of wear out of your maternitywear if it double as breastfeeding clothing also.

❤

Try the cabbage trick

it?

If you get bored while you’re breastfeeding, don’t worry – some mums are perfectly happy staring into their baby’s eyes the whole time, while other mums just need to have something else to occupy them while they’re breastfeeding for the tenth time that day. Play a game on your phone, read a magazine, or watch a show on TV.

IF YOUR BREASTS ARE ENGORGED AND SORE, TRY THIS – GET A HEAD OF CABBAGE, AND PLACE A LEAF INSIDE OF YOUR BRA, AROUND YOUR BREAST. COLD CABBAGE LEAVES WORK BEST. KEEP THE LEAVES IN YOUR BRA FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES OR UNTIL THEY WILT, THEN THROW AWAY. MAKE SURE THE LEAVES ARE CLEAN AND DRY BEFORE USE, AND WASH YOUR BREASTS AFTERWARD. Pregnancy BUMP & baby

❤

Get support

CHOOSE A SOFA OR CHAIR WITH PLENTY OF SUPPORT FOR YOUR BACK, ARMS, AND LEGS – A RECLINER OR A ROCKING CHAIR WITH A FOOTSTOOL ARE GREAT PLACES TO BREASTFEED!

21 USE A NURSING PILLOW

Use a supportive nursing pillow so you’re not hunching over your baby and straining your back and neck. Some women find that a tri-pillow isn’t supportive enough; nursing pillows are firmer and will keep their shape, helping you support your baby in the optimal position for feeding.

22 FIND YOUR HOLD

There are a number of different breastfeeding holds you can try, so if the one you’ve been using isn’t working for you, or if your baby (or you) are uncomfortable, try something else! Most mums start with the cradle hold (baby in your arms across your body) but this isn’t always the best position. It’s okay to try another position – whatever works for you and your baby is best.

23 FEED ON DEMAND

Many mums try to get their babies on a feeding schedule before they’re developmentally ready. But experts agree that feeding on demand – whenever your baby shows signs of hunger – is developmentally and nutritionally appropriate. Feeding on demand rather than on a schedule can help to establish breastfeeding and make it second-nature to both you and your baby.

24 TRY THE

FOOTBALL HOLD

For large-breasted women, or for mums who have had C-sections, the football hold (baby tucked under your arm) can be the most comfortable position for breastfeeding. If you’re not sure what this position looks like, Google is your friend – there are some great videos to show you.

Pregnancy BUMP & baby

25 EXPRESS YOURSELF

Pumping breast milk allows other people besides you to feed your baby – Dad, Grandma, or even older siblings. You can also pump breast milk and store it to use later on. Pumping can help you to relieve your breasts if they get engorged, and can help you continue to feed your baby breast milk if for any reason you aren’t able to breastfeed.

26 STAY HYDRATED

Breastfeeding is thirsty work for mums, too! Keep a water bottle or a big glass of water next to your nursing chair, and keep drinking it as you’re breastfeeding. Staying hydrated will also help you to keep up your milk production.

27 GET A PUMPING BRA

There are special bras that you can slip your breast pump into and pump discreetly on the go – while you’re walking around, hands-free, doing things around the house, at work, or even in the garden!

28 ACCEPT HELP

It’s so hard to admit when we need some help, especially when we feel like we should be able to do it all ourselves. But when you’re caring for a baby, and especially when you’re breastfeeding, that is your main job – and it’s okay to accept whatever help is offered that will facilitate you being able to care for and breastfeed your baby. Let guests make their own cups of tea, fold your washing, and run the vacuum if they offer!

29 BURGER HOLD

Babies don’t just suck on the “pointy part” of your nipple – they need a mouthful of breast in order to latch on correctly. One way to ensure they’re getting the right part of your breast is to use the burger hold or C-hold. Cup your breast with the palm of your hand, then lift your thumb so it is above your nipple, opposite your baby’s nose. Hold your breast like it’s a burger, and “feed” it to your baby. It sounds ridiculous, but it works!

Join us online to connect with an empowering community of mums and receive free advice and support.

BreastfeedingNZ

SELF-HELP

31 MULTI-TASK

Pump from one breast when your baby is feeding on the other breast – having your baby there can help stimulate milk let-down. (This is better to try when breastfeeding is well-established and you and your baby are comfortable.)

32 TRY NURSING TEA ❤

EXPRESS IN THE SHOWER WARM WATER FROM THE SHOWER HEAD CAN WORK WONDERS ON SORE BREASTS, AND IF YOU ARE ENGORGED, YOU MIGHT FIND IT EASIER TO EXPRESS A LITTLE BIT OF BREAST MILK WHEN YOU’RE IN THE SHOWER. THE WARMTH AND GENTLE PRESSURE FROM THE SHOWER CAN HELP EASE YOUR DISCOMFORT.

Some herbs are thought to boost milk production, so look for a special breastfeeding tea at a reputable health store, and give it a go.

33 MAKE SPACE

You can breastfeed or pump anywhere, anytime, but it’s nice when you’re at home to have a special, comfortable spot that’s well set up, with your nursing pillow, breast pads, nipple cream, a basket of snacks and magazines, a place for your water bottle, and maybe some fresh flowers in a vase – hey, we can dream, right?

34 FEET FIRST

For some reason, babies seem to feed better when their feet are touching something, like your arm or the side of the chair – or even just put your palms under their feet so they can press against you.

30 88

Pregnancy BUMP & baby

35 DON’T COUNT MINUTES

Let your baby decide when they’re done feeding from your breast, then offer the other one – sometimes your baby will want only one breast at a feed, while other times they’ll want to feed from both breasts. But don’t worry if they spend longer on one than the other. Just start with the breast they spent a shorter time on at the next feed.

36 WAKEY WAKEY

If your baby keeps falling asleep at the breast, try tickling their toes or under their chin, undressing them so they can feel air on their skin, stopping and changing their nappy, stroking their cheek or ears, or gently blowing on their hair.

37 NURSING PADS

Nursing pads are a godsend for helping your breasts to stay more comfortable, as well as preventing embarrassing and uncomfortable leaks. You can get disposable or reusable ones, and wear them inside of your bra. Make sure to change them regularly to prevent bacterial growth and infection.

38 SAVE YOUR MILK

Breast shells are worn inside your bra to protect your nipples from chafing, and to collect breast milk that may leak from your breasts. They have small openings at the top to allow air to flow around your nipples. They are reusable, and you can wash and sterilise them.

39 GET THE RIGHT SIZE

If you’re using a breast pump, the flange – the part that goes over your breast – may come in different sizes, and you might be able to get bigger or smaller flanges as extra parts if you would find them more comfortable. Ask the retailer where you bought your breast pump if they can provide different sized flanges.

40 NIPPLE SHIELDS

Nipple shields are thin, flexible plastic covers that fit over your nipples and have small openings which your baby can suckle through. They can help women who have inverted nipples, and can also help with sore or chafed nipples. They also protect nipples from being irritated by the fabric of your bra or shirt. Many women find them to be incredibly helpful for getting through the early days of breastfeeding.

ELECTRIC BREAST PUMP Natural Feel

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SELF-HELP

47 WEAR TWO TOPS

41 ❤

Use nipple cream NIPPLE CREAM CAN REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO YOUR BREASTFEEDING EXPERIENCE, AS IT KEEPS YOUR NIPPLES FROM GETTING CRACKED AND PAINFUL. LOOK FOR ONE WITH NATURAL, BABY-SAFE INGREDIENTS THAT DOESN’T NEED TO BE WASHED OFF BEFORE YOU FEED.

Pregnancy BUMP & baby

42 TRY LAYING DOWN

Some mums find it easier to breastfeeding while laying on their side, with their baby next to them. It can take the pressure off of your arms and back. Side-lying is also great for women with large breasts, as your breast will rest on the mattress or sofa cushion and not on your baby’s face.

43 SLEEP IN

A NURSING BRA

It’s okay to sleep in a nursing bra, or even a special sleep bra, at night instead of going “commando”. When your breasts are full, they might leak, and a bra will keep your breast pad in shape and prevent you from waking up with a wet bed – most of the time!

44 TRY A TRACKER

You can download an app or just write down on a piece of paper the times your baby nurses, which breast they started and finished on, and for how long they nursed. Over time, you’ll start to see patterns that help you to determine when they might be hungry again. And some mums just love geeking out over the data and seeing just how much of an amazing effort they’ve put into breastfeeding!

45 MAKE A BREAST MILK DUMMY

Do you have a teething baby? Here’s a hack you might not have thought of. If your baby takes a dummy, and the dummy has a cover (those plastic caps that are supposed to help them stay clean when they’re in your handbag or being stored), put a little bit of breast milk in the dummy cover, then put the dummy inside of it and pop into the freezer. Essentially, you’re making a breast milk dummy popsicle, and your teething baby will love it.

46 TRY A NURSING NECKLACE

If your little one won’t stop fidgeting and pulling at your clothes, try wearing a baby-friendly nursing necklace that they can grab on to and even chew on. They’re made of non-toxic materials that are safe for your baby to play with and mouth, and will keep tiny fingers from pulling your hair or pinching your delicate breast tissue.

If your baby loves to pull your top up and down like a window shade while they’re nursing, or if you’re getting a bit too much of a breeze when you lift your top to nurse, try this simple hack: Wear a singlet under your top, and then when you’re feeding, just pull up your outer top – and your singlet can keep everything else covered. Belly bands and boob tubes are also useful!

48 COMPRESSES

If your breasts are sore or engorged, try using a cold or warm compress 15 minutes after you feed in order to help with pain and inflammation. You can use a wheat pack or even special thermal breast pads that can be heated or frozen.

49 BREAST MASSAGE

Some breastfeeding mums find themselves feeling “touched out”, and the last thing you may want is to touch your breasts when your baby seems to have a monopoly on them. But breast massage can help stimulate blood flow, release clogged ducts, and prevent engorgement. It also helps milk flow more easily when you’re feeding. So don’t be afraid to get hands-on.

50 TRY BREASTFEEDING BISCUITS

You can get galactagogue – that’s a fancy word for milk-production-supporting – ingredients in biscuits, either premade or premixed that you can bake at home. Some women swear by these for helping them to boost milk production, and it’s always good to have an excuse to eat a biscuit or two!

BONUS TIP

ZERO SHAME GETTING HELP If something doesn’t feel right, or breastfeeding hurts, or your breasts are sore, red, and inflamed, or you are frustrated or upset or sad – take a moment, put your baby in a safe space like their cot, and breathe. Then call in an expert. PlunketLine, Healthline, your midwife, your GP, La Leche League, a friend who is breastfeeding – reach out and say you’re having a hard time, and get help. Breastfeeding may be natural, but it doesn’t come naturally to everyone, and it’s okay to get help when you need it.

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Dads are important, too: Being home in the early days with your baby is a great way to bond.

Pregnancy BUMP & baby

IT’S DADDY TIME

Making the most of

PATERNITY LEAVE

Dads-to-be, this one is for you – some advice for what you should plan to do while you’re on leave from work after your baby arrives, whether you’ve got a few days or a few months off. Yvonne Walus shares some good ideas.

ow! Your baby will be here soon, and you’re lucky enough to get some time off work to spend with the new little person in your life. Before you start planning, here’s a quick reality check. Being on parental leave is nothing like being on annual leave. There are no leisurely mornings, no iPad with coffee in bed, no candlelit dinners. And if you assume that newborn babies sleep a lot, then… Muahahaha!

WHAT AM I GOING TO FEEL LIKE?

When your baby arrives, expect to feel overwhelmed – with the novelty of the situation, with the shock of being irrevocably grown-up, with the feelings of unconditional love and the sudden need to guard your child from the big, bad world. It’s a time of wonder, but also a time of stress, because how the heck are you supposed to you pick up your newborn from the bassinet without dropping it? (One hand cupping the neck and head, one hand cupping the bum, and up you lift. Hold close to your shoulder and kiss the top of the head. Easy!) So your mood will be all over the place. Your partner will be recovering from the birth, and you will both be exhausted from the lack of sleep. There will be family and friends nagging for photos and updates, the dishes will pile up in the kitchen, the fridge will stand empty, and you might feel tempted to squander your parental leave on sorting it all out.

YEAH, SHOULDN’T I GET STARTED?

Stop. Wait. Even if you only have a few days off work – especially if you only have a few days off work – your most important task will be to bond with the baby. Okay, your second most important task will be to do what your partner needs you to do: Rock the baby while she showers, talk to her relatives while she sleeps, clean the kitchen bench because she’s worried that the dirt will harm the baby… But do let her know that you’re there for nappy duty, you’d like to get up at night to do the bottle feed or to fetch the baby for breastfeeding, you want to be the one shaking the rattle during tummy time. All that involvement is pretty routine. Feed the baby, entertain the baby, change the baby, soothe the baby. Days will stretch long, yet pass quickly, while you’re doing seemingly little being constantly busy. But what about the stuff memories are made of?

a shaded buggy) and listen to the seagulls. On the way back, stop at a coffee shop and read a picture book together while you’re sipping your espresso (you’ll need a lot of those). Don’t forget to take a selfie! Babies love motion, so move around when carrying the baby, be it in a front carrier, a backpack, or a sling. Dance, do the vacuuming (surprisingly, many babies like the noise of the vacuum cleaner), and go grocery shopping. Talk to the baby about things that interest you: Sports, astronomy, fixing car engines, the movie you’d like to see. This is taking the concept of a captive audience to a new level!

BUT THE BABY ONLY WANTS HER MOTHER, RIGHT? The latest research into parenting suggests that both the mother and the father are equally well equipped to bond with the baby, as long as they are emotionally available and respond to the baby’s needs. Michael Lamb, a psychologist at the University of Cambridge, says that mothers typically “bond more through gentle caretaking, while fathers typically bond through play.” Speaking of which, it’s also important for you to reconnect emotionally with the baby’s mother. No matter what your family circumstances may be, you’re in this parenting lark together. Discuss your and your partner’s parenting preferences, particularly if they differ: Breastfeeding, what to do when the baby cries, spiritual ceremonies such as christening, etc. Most of these topics you will have covered already, but you may find that your perception shifts once the baby is born.

YOUR BABY WON'T BE ABLE TO WAVE AN ALL BLACKS FLAG, BUT YOU CAN STILL WATCH A GAME ON TV WHILE WEARING MATCHING JERSEYS. BONDING IS REALLY JUST HANGING OUT

Think of some unusual and fun things to do together, bearing in mind an infant can’t do an awful lot. It’s all a matter of expectations. So your baby won’t be able to wave an All Blacks flag, but the two of you can still watch a game on TV while wearing matching jerseys (if she nods off, even better). It’s too early to build sandcastles together, but you can still take your baby to the beach (in

Pregnancy BUMP & baby

Practise with a friend's baby or a doll so you can be confident that you understand how your car seat works.

IT’S DADDY TIME

WHAT THE LAW SAYS ABOUT PARENTAL LEAVE FOR DADS

THE LAW IS SIMPLE, BUT LONG-WORDED: • If you are not the primary caregiver, and G

fist

– yo

u ' ve

got thi s, Dad!

• Take selfies with the baby – lots! • Get someone to take photos of the two of you together. A shot of the baby And then, before you know it, your sleeping on your chest is a classic. parental leave is over and you have • Give the baby at least one bath. to go back to work. Write • Change at least one nappy down a plan for how to keep in the first 48 hours, then up with the baby’s milestones compare it to the ones you do when you’re away. Schedule when the baby is a week old. LAST YEAR, video chat appointments (It’s for science!) Observe how ONLY 324 during morning tea, the first nappies were black and a weekly lunch date, a weekly sticky. See, bet you didn’t know NEW DADS dad-and-baby one-on-one TOOK PARENTAL that before. outing, a daily video of what • Sing at least one lullaby, LEAVE, Bub and Mum are up to (they even if you can’t sing – the COMPARED TO baby won’t notice. don’t have to be Insta-perfect OVER 30,000 illusions of paradise – a clip • Do a silly rhyme: Itsy Bitsy of the baby screaming or Spider, This Little Piggy, Round NEW MUMS. a nappy exploding will be and Round the Garden. Have funny in a few years’ time). it recorded. Keep a photo of your baby • Read the picture book on your desk, in your wallet, or as Seriously, Go to Sleep, by Adam Mansbach, a background in your phone. Not aloud to your baby. Note: there is also that you need a reminder; the baby a rude version, which is as hilarious as will be forever etched in your heart. it is children-inappropriate. • Write a letter to your newborn about YOUR PATERNITY LEAVE your experience as a dad so far. Describe BUCKET LIST in detail what it was like to meet him or Here are some things you absolutely her for the first time, what it’s like now, and should consider doing with your your hopes for the future. Seal it up and put new baby: it somewhere safe to give to them in future.

ADJUSTING TO GOING BACK TO WORK

FACT

Pregnancy BUMP & baby

• If you have worked as an employee for at least an average of 10 hours a week for the 26 weeks before your child is expected to be born or placed in your care, and • If you have worked for the same employer for at least an average of 10 hours a week for the 52 weeks before your child is expected to be born or placed in your care, • Then you are entitled to take two weeks' partner's leave. • In addition, you can take up to 52 weeks extended leave, but the total amount of leave you and the baby’s mother take can't be more than 54 weeks (her 52 weeks and your two weeks). Furthermore, govt.nz advises that “Your employer might have specific rules or policies around parental leave. Check if you’re eligible for support from your employer.” This would be on top of the legal parental leave rights.

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IMPORTANT NOTICE: Breast milk is best for babies and provides ideal nutrition. Good maternal nutrition is important for preparation and maintenance of breastfeeding. Introducing partial bottle-feeding could negatively affect breastfeeding and reversing a decision not to breastfeed may be difficult. Professional advice should be followed before making a decision on infant feeding.

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GROWING LITTLE READERS

TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE STAR, BY NICOLA SLATER (NOSY CROW $22.99) Join the merry musicians as they journey to the festival, practising their instruments along the way. Then sing along with the band as they all play together! With a light-up star and buttons to press to hear each instrument, this interactive board book is a fun version of the lullaby.

SCARFACE CLAW, HOLD TIGHT! BY LYNLEY DODD (PUFFIN $15.99) The whiskersbristling, highspeed adventure of crotchety cat Scarface Claw is wonderful to read aloud to even the youngest fans of Lynley Dodd's Hairy Maclary and Friends.

HEY GRANDUDE! BY PAUL MCCARTNEY (PUFFIN $30) Meet Grandude, a super-cool, intrepid explorer grandfather with some amazing tricks up his sleeve. He’s a one-of-a-kind adventurer who whisks his four grandkids off on whirlwind adventures around the globe with his magic compass. A magical adventure for all the family from beloved music legend Paul McCartney.

Pregnancy BUMP & baby

FIRST WORDS: JAPANESE AND MANDARIN (LONELY PLANET $14.99 EACH) Encourage little ones to learn their first words in a variety of languages and recognise familiar, everyday objects such as shoes, telephone, cat, and sun. These sturdy board books are great for little ones and also come in Italian, English, French, and Spanish.

BABY’S FIRST BOOKS Stock up your little one’s library with these fun to read, colourful, babyfriendly books.

THE KIWI HOKEY TOKEY, BY LYNETTE EVANS (SCHOLASTIC $14.99) New Zealand animals of all shapes and sizes come together to do the Kiwi Hokey Tokey! With actions for children to perform and a downloadable song you can play as you read along, this book is full of iconic NZ wildlife all moving to the music.

WE LOVE IT!

MY FIRST WORDS IN MĀORI, BY STACEY MORRISON (PUFFIN $19.99) If you’d like to speak Māori with your kids, this book equip your whānau with the first words you need to speak te reo at home together. With lively pictures labelled in Māori and English, each page introduces the concepts and words children use as they begin to talk.

Supporting you through breastfeeding As natural and wonderful as breastfeeding can be, we all know that it can sometimes come with challenges. Lansinoh has been supporting breastfeeding mums for over 30 years and our aim is to help you through the challenges, should any arise, so you can continue breastfeeding for as long as you like. Below we look at some common issues that can crop up and ways of managing them. It is very possible to breastfeed without experiencing any issues, but if you do, it’s good to know help is at hand! ®

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It can be a bit shocking to new mums to learn that the recommended way to administer cold therapy used to be a bag of peas or a frozen nappy in the bra! Thankfully, now there is Lansinoh Thera°Pearl 3-in-1 Breast Therapy.

Cracked nipples are one of the most common challenges of breastfeeding and often indicate a problem with the way the baby has latched onto the breast. Speaking to a lactation consultant or breastfeeding counsellor can help you sort out the issue. In the meantime, Lansinoh HPA Lanolin will soothe the nipple, and is clinically proven to support the healing process. The ultra-pure lanolin penetrates deeply to restore and maintain the moisture content essential for healthy, supple skin. The lanolin is so pure that there is no need to remove before breastfeeding. Lansinoh HPA Lanolin is all natural, contains no additives or preservatives and is hypoallergenic.

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Always read the label. Use only as directed. If symptoms persist, see your healthcare professional. Wilson Consumer Products, Auckland TAPS NA 9925

Lansinoh Thera°Pearl reusable packs can be used either warm or cold, depending on your needs. Engorgement is when the breasts feel hard, swollen and tender. This can be relieved by emptying your breasts by feeding your baby or expressing your milk and using cold therapy. Cold therapy can help to soothe the pain and swelling associated with engorgement. Similarly, cold therapy can help provide soothing relief for the symptoms of mastitis (which is an inflammation of the breast and sometimes even an infection). If you believe you have mastitis, it is important to see your doctor straight away. Lansinoh Thera°Pearl’s unique design conforms to your breast to provide 360° relief. Lansinoh Thera°Pearl can also be used warm on the breast before a feed to encourage let-down (the reflex that makes your milk available to the baby). When used warm with a breast pump, Lansinoh Thera°Pearl can help reduce the time spent expressing.

Lansinoh® is available in pharmacies nationwide

HOMECOMING

Are you wondering what that first day (and night) at home with your little one will be like? Tiffany Brown offers a glimpse into your future…

ou nested. You cleaned. You tidied. You spent those last days flip-flopping from impatient to joyful. Then labour began. And as those contractions grew stronger, you headed out to meet your future, with a tender look behind you at your cosy haven, thinking, Next time I walk through this door I’ll have a tiny bundle in my arms. OUCH! Man, that hurt! And then you return. Like a proud lioness, cradling Bundle, sailing on a cloud of oxytocin, buzzed out in your precious baby bubble, fearful and exhilarated by the knowledge your life has changed forever. You settle onto the couch, gazing admiringly at your precious new charge. “Cup of tea?” New Dad calls from the kitchen. “Oh, yes, please!” you respond. But New Dad, feeling bewildered by these new developments, brings you coffee instead. Sigh. “I can’t drink coffee any more, honey.” The reality of it sets in. I can’t drink coffee anymore!? Quelling your panic, you gaze lovingly at the reason you can’t drink coffee anymore. Ahhh. That’s better. Then the precious little face starts to twitch, the delicate new skin begins to pinch, the little rosebud mouth starts to gape, and a new sound emerges. It’s a sound you’ve never before heard the in the sanctity of your peaceful home. It’s the squalling, mewling cat-cry of the newly-born. Right. No problem. What? Oh, you’re hungry! Oh, dear, what sort of mother am I to be thinking of myself instead of you? (And so begins a lifetime of maternal guilt.) New Dad is jumping to attention, but you swat his hands away as his lumbering giant

YOUR FIRST 24 HOURS AT HOME

with baby Pregnancy BUMP & baby

HOMECOMING

Aren't tiny baby feet cute? Just wait until you have to trim those toenails for the first time. Guarantee you've never done anything so stressful in your life.

FACT

N E W PA R EN T S GE T J U S T F O U R H O U R S A N D 4 4 M I N U T ES O F S L EEP I N A N AV ER AGE N I GH T D U R I N G T H E FI R S T Y E A R O F T H EI R BA BY ' S L I FE, LO S I N G T H E EQ U I VA L EN T O F 5 0 N I GH T S O F S L EEP.

body threatens to upend the hot cup. Amid firm instructions that hot drinks are allowed nowhere near the baby, you fumble with your new maternity get-up as Bundle’s face reddens. Your fingers feel as useful as fat, greasy sausages against the stiff new hooks of your nursing bra. Unhook, damn you! Unhook! Breast laid bare, you bend to lovingly pick up Bundle from beneath the blankets, only to find the capsule’s harness restraints, still clipped up from the drive home, prevent retrieval. Oh, bollocks! “What’s taking so long?” New Dad asks helpfully, as you swear at the straps, every bit as stiff and foreign to your sausage fingers as the aforementioned bra. Finally, the little one is released, but not before Bundle has turned quite puce from the wait. Here we go, little one, here we go. The lactation expert said to stay calm and centred as you latch. Calm and centred.

100 Pregnancy BUMP & baby

“Would you please stop breathing down my neck!” you growl at New Dad, who backs away and trips loudly over your hospital bag, causing Bundle to startle and unlatch. “Why don’t you,” you say, through calm, centred, gritted teeth, “take that bag and get the washing done, please?” New Dad tiptoes to the laundry while you and baby have another go. At last, latch achieved, Bundle is calm, and you return to your state of dreamy watchfulness. But that’s actually feeling a bit sore now, though. Yes, that’s actually quite sore. Ouch! Bundle drops off to sleep, so you lay the baby gently in a new crib under the zoo animal decal-ed wall in the newly decorated room, and creep to the bathroom to take a long, hot shower. Ooh, yes, that’s what I feel like right now. New Dad appears. “Um, what shall I do with these?” He’s holding out a pile of soiled garments you vaguely remember stripping

off after your waters broke. Yuck! You turn off the water with a sigh, wrap your dressing gown around your un-showered body and head to the laundry to sort out some soaking buckets. “Look, hon, see? These you soak in cold, and these you –” You turn around to New Dad, but he isn’t there. New Dad is standing over the cot, having his own star-gazing moment with the sleeping Bundle, while eating potato chips out of a rustling bag. Bundle’s peaceful face begins to squirm and redden again. Soundlessly you jab your finger in the direction of the crisp packet, then slide it across your neck, murder in your eyes. Bundle seems to settle. The reddening lessens. What seems to be a smile plays around the rosebud mouth. You look at New Dad. He looks at you. Ahhhh. Then a pungent scent fills the air. Your smiles fade. Your gaze returns to the crib, where a yellowish-brown stain has begun to creep across the pale blanket that surrounds Bundle’s nether regions. Double yuck! Twenty-four hours later, your nest is in shambles. You can’t move for soaking buckets, washing baskets, and clothes horses. You can’t believe how much soiled linen one tiny Bundle can produce. The dining table is covered in half-eaten plates of food and strewn with half-drunk cups of tea. You look longingly at New Dad’s coffee as you make a mental checklist of full sleeping hours since arriving back home. Three. You sob. You may have sobbed quietly, or it may have been loud. Sleep deprivation means you have no idea anymore. Your ears ring with the sound of Bundle’s cries, and with the monosyllabic, perfunctory conversation you and New Dad have been reduced to. “Nappy.” “Hungry.” “Tired.” “Burp.” You survey the destruction of your home. Your gaze falls on Bundle’s carry capsule. A brilliant idea seizes you. “Walk?” New Dad smiles and nods. “Just one problem, hon...” “Hmmm?” “You’re still in your dressing gown.”

D O O F BABY NO WITH D ADDE R? SUGA

Developed with nutritionists, Countdown’s Own Smiling Tums baby food range is sweetened naturally with fruit and veges. There’s a flavour for every mealtime - perfect for busy parents on the go.

TINY LITTLE SLEEP SPOTS

BABY BASKET Create a special place for your little bundle with this beautiful rattan bassinet and removable stand, handmade in Indonesia. Malawi Rattan Bassinet $399 from ecosprout.co.nz

Bassinets and bedside cots will make caring for your little one even easier.

MOZZIES STAY OUT Safe and sturdy at home, yet light and durable for use on the go, the canopy provides a well-ventilated, bug-free sleep zone and can be removed. Sunbury Cocoon Bassinet RRP$299 from babycity.co.nz

OH SO LIGHT At 2.8kg, this portacot is lighter than your baby! Super compact, the phil&teds traveller unpacks to become a comfy and breathable portacot for home and away, sleep and play, every day. Comes with fitted sheet and travel bag. RRP$199 from Smiths City

102 Pregnancy BUMP & baby

WE LOVE IT!

SHOPPING GUIDE

CLASSIC CHARM With a natural cotton removable carry handle, fitted sheet and liner for easy cleaning, it will complement any nursery (or anywhere else in the house). Bebe Moses Basket RRP$199 from babycity.co.nz

GREAT BUY!

CO-SLEEP SAFELY Sleep next to your baby without being in the same bed. A 3-in-1 solution that can be used as a side-sleeping cot, standalone cot, or travel cot, and can help newborns improve their sleeping patterns and help with bonding. Chicco Next2Me Magic RRP$599.95 from chicco.co.nz

LITTLE NEST The only bassinet that rotates 360˚ , the mesh walls provide maximum breathability and lets you easily see your baby at eye level. The stable, adjustable base fits next to almost any bed. HALO Bassinest Swivel Sleeper RRP$499 from babycity.co.nz

SNÜZ TIME Zip-safe, dual-view breathable mesh sides promote air flow, and a reflux incline feature helps reduce reflux symptoms. Works as a bedside cot, lift-off bassinet, and stand-alone cot for newborn to six months. SnüzPod3 RRP$549 from Edwards & Co

"I LOVED MY BEDSIDE COT. IT WAS SO MUCH EASIER TO LOOK AFTER MY BABY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT!" ~ Katherine Pregnancy BUMP & baby

103

SHOPPING GUIDE

GREAT BUY!

"MY BEST BUY WAS A GOOD QUALITY CHEST OF DRAWERS THAT WILL LAST MY BABY THROUGH CHILDHOOD AND BEYOND." ~ Rachel TWINKLE TWINKLE This musical cot mobile projects images of coloured stars and planets throughout baby's bedroom, and it's activated when your baby cries. Chicco Magic Stars Cot Mobile Projector RRP$119.95 from chicco.co.nz

WIRELESS PEACE OF MIND Rest assured knowing you'll be alerted if no movement is detected from your baby after 20 seconds. Ideal for newborns and little ones starting to reach and explore. Includes a wireless breathing sensor pad. Angelcare 517 Baby Monitor RRP$549.99 from babycity.co.nz

Time for bed

Adorable options for baby-friendly decor that's stylish and functional.

ALWAYS USEFUL Made from 100% cotton, muslin wraps are a must-have for any new parent. Super versatile to use as a feeding cover, cot sheet, tummy time mat, and more. Silly Billyz 2-Pack Muslin Wraps RRP$22.99 from sillybillyz.co.nz

WE LOVE IT!

ROCK ON The perfect place to relax when feeding your baby. Sturdy hardwood runners provide smooth, quiet motion, and the comfortable, plush fabric is soft to sink into. Mother's Choice Rocker Chair RRP$549 from babycity.co.nz

104 Pregnancy BUMP & baby

PUT IT AWAY With heaps of storage to make your nursery even more organised, this contemporary chest of drawers is manufactured from sustainable NZ pine. Touchwood Chateau 5-Drawer Chest RRP$899 from babycity.co.nz

SHOPPING GUIDE

WE LOVE IT!

BAG IT UP Go back to basics with the spacious open interior of the lightweight Kingston Duffel Bag, which allows you to arrange the interior to your liking. RRP$109.95 from isoki.co.nz

"A CHANGE TABLE WAS MY MUST-HAVE NURSERY ITEM. IT SAVED MY BACK AND KEPT NAPPIES AND SUPPLIES TIDY." ~ Aroha

TICKET TO GLIDE A glider chair in the nursery or bedroom is just lovely for gently rocking your little one back to sleep or relaxing while breastfeeding. Glider Chair with Ottoman RRP$399 from babycity.co.nz

Nursery necessities

IT'S A BABY BATH, TOO Make changing and bathing easier with this two-inone change table that has added storage. Included drain hose for emptying. Milano Changer with Bath RRP$249 from babycity.co.nz

No nursery is complete without these must-have items.

GREAT BUY!

BED IN ONE Manufactured and handcrafted from sustainable NZ pine timber, the Touchwood Chateau Panelled Cot transforms from a bassinet to a cot to a bed to a twoseater sofa. RRP$799 from babycity.co.nz

106 Pregnancy BUMP & baby

SAVE YOUR SENSE OF SMELL The innovative Sangenic Tec nappy disposal system from Tommee Tippee offers anti-bacterial protection from germs and odours, individually sealing each nappy away in seconds. RRP$59.99 (plus single cassette RRP$19.99 or six-cassette pack RRP$89.99) from The Baby Factory

SHOPPING GUIDE

LESS MESS This innovative bib attaches to your high chair to catch mess before your baby's clothing or your floor does! Silly Billyz Highchair Hugger Bib RRP$21.95 (towelling) or RRP$13.95 (wipe-clean) from sillybillyz.co.nz

NO MOWING REQUIRED Flexible "grass" holds all your just-washed baby accessories. Boon Lawn Countertop Drying Rack RRP$54.99 from babycity.co.nz

STARTING SOLIDS When you're ready to introduce first foods, these developmental tools are all you need to set your baby up for mealtime milestones. Ezpz Tiny Set RRP$66 from ezpzfun.co.nz

BABY TO TODDLER This multi-functional high chair transforms from a newborn recliner to a high chair to a first chair at the table and more. Chicco Polly Progress 5 RRP$499.95 from chicco.co.nz

WE LOVE IT!

Need to feed

SIMPLE AND STYLISH Designed to grow as your child grows, this ergonomic and adaptable high chair has many adjustments to be suitable from six months to 90kg. Kidsmill Up! High Chair RRP$439 from mummum.co.nz

Useful products to take you from breastfeeding to toddler seating.

SIT SAFELY An easy-clean, sturdy wooden high chair that fully adjusts to suit your child up to age 10. Safety 1st Timba High Chair RRP$239 from babycity.co.nz

GREAT BUY!

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ALL THE ESSENTIALS Set up with all the breastfeeding essentials you'll need for the first six months with this ultimate starter set which includes an electric breast pump, steriliser, bottles, milk storage, breast pads, and more. Philips Avent Essentials Starter Set RRP$399 from babycity.co.nz

More babies accept our soothers first time

Different shield shapes and decoration for every occasion. Traditional shield style with modern but understated designs. Traditional shield style with glow handle, making it easier to find in the dark. With night and sleep themed decorations. Traditional shield style with bright and playful designs.

Available in 2 age stages

Find out more at tommeetippee.co.nz **68% of babies accepted this new style soother first time, compared to just 43% for the old style closer to nature design – in an independent product trial conducted by Swift research, February 2013 with 112 UK mothers and babies.

W HAT WE’RE READING The latest thoughtprovoking and relevant books for expectant mums and new parents.

YOU WILL (PROBABLY) SURVIVE, BY LAUREN DUBOIS (ALLEN & UNWIN $32.99) You walk out of the maternity ward with your new baby, waiting for someone to stop you and tell you you’re not qualified to do this… But they don’t. This hilarious book is not a parenting manual, it’s a guide to motherhood – from the weirdness of pregnancy, to the sleep torture inflicted by babies, to the crapshow that is negotiating with your megalomaniacal toddler.

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TALES FROM A FINANCIAL HOT MESS, BY FRANCES COOK (RANDOM HOUSE $35) Delivering laughs and smarts, proven financial advice, handy how-tos (and pleasedon’ts) and numerous expert insights, this book will guide you along the rocky path to financial freedom. Learn where you can make the most savings that will make a difference, the fastest way to pay off debt, the ins and outs of savings, and more. Great for expectant parents.

THE FIRST BREATH, BY OLIVIA GORDON (MACMILLAN $37.99) What happens when pregnancy and the first few weeks of a baby’s life don’t go as planned? This is a powerful medical memoir about the extraordinary foetal and neonatal medicine bringing today’s babies into the world, and explores motherhood and the female experience of medicine through the author’s own personal story as well as case histories of other mothers’ high-risk births.

CRIBSHEET, BY EMILY OSTER (PROFILE $36.99) Parenting is full of decisions, and some of them feel impossibly difficult. From the first days, parents get the message that they must make certain choices around feeding, sleep, and scheduling, or all will be lost. Armed with the data, the author debunks myths about breastfeeding, sleep training, and more, and offers nonjudgemental ways to consider our options in light of the facts.

HIGH ADVENTURE, BY MIKE ALLSOP (ALLEN & UNWIN $36.99) Mike Allsop is an airline pilot and mountaineer who has run seven peaks in seven days on seven continents. He’s also a husband and dad of three children, whom he’s taken on major one-on-one expeditions in an attempt to strike a balance between thrills and family. This book is perfect for active dads-to-be who think having kids means giving up on adventures.

BEYOND THE BUMP, BY SALLY SHEPHERD (ALLEN & UNWIN $32.99) In the first year after having a baby, mums need to grapple with a whole new existence, going from “me” to “we”. This book focusses on mums, covering rage, relationships, nutrition, identity, and returning to work. It’s a kind, considered, practical guide that aims to help new mums feel confident and equipped to face the physical, emotional, and mental hurdles.

BOOKSHELF

COOKING THE BOOKS

HEAL, BY PETE EVANS (MACMILLAN $37.99) So many of us are looking for practical changes we can make to nourish our body, be more active, and find meaningful connection – ways to be stronger, happier, and healthier in a fastpaced world. Here the author shares some of his favourite ways to live well – simple actions anyone can take to improve their health.

THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO POSTNATAL DEPRESSION, EDITED BY ROBERT DUFFY (EBOOK £5.99, PAPERBACK £9.99, FROM NEED2KNOWBOOKS.CO.UK) What is postnatal depression? How can I overcome it? And how can I help someone I know who is suffering? This authoritative, hopeful book focusses on coping strategies for day-to-day life, how to approach different treatments, and case studies from women who have overcome PND.

FAMILY, FOOD & FEELINGS, BY KATE BERRY (MACMILLAN $39.99) This inspiring, hand-on-heart look at modern families is full of instantly recognisable parenting moments and advice on how to deal with them (be it negotiating blended families, having those difficult conversations, or tackling book week), delicious seasonal recipes for dinners and after-school snacks kids can make themselves, plus some new ideas for using those last black bananas in the fruit bowl. A BASKET BY THE DOOR, BY SOPHIE HANSEN (MURDOCH $45) Nothing says “I love you and I’m here” better than food you’ve taken the time to make, wrap, and deliver! This clever book contains 140 ideas, by season, to cook for loved ones celebrating an exciting milestone, moving house, busy with a newborn, recovering from illness, or just in need of love and comfort. MAGNOLIA KITCHEN, BY BERNADETTE GEE (ALLEN & UNWIN $45) Well known for her artistic cake designs, the author is celebrated for her macarons, doughnuts, brioche, gourmet s'mores, and many more mouthwatering treats. With step-bystep instructions for cake decorating and making macarons, and a full range of allergy-friendly recipes, this is a must-have book for anyone interested in baking (and eating!). THE GLOBAL VEGAN, BY ELLIE BULLEN (MACMILLAN $34.99) If you follow a plant-based eating style, this gorgeous book will be a welcome addition to your kitchen. The author, a qualified nutritionist and dietitian, combines a collection of simple and delicious recipes with extraordinary travel photography. Vibrant smoothie bowls, vegan fried eggs, chai-spiced cookies, pumpkin and pesto tacos… Who knew plants could be so tasty? Pregnancy BUMP & baby

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Hey, Mum and Dad: You need to tighten up those straps and slide that chest clip up a bit!

Why should you

REAR-FACE CAR SEATS? You may have heard that you should rear-face your infant’s car seat, but why, and for how long? Tiffany Brown investigates.

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FAQ

What kind of car seat does my infant need?

he transition from a child-free to parenting life can feel like a shifting landscape with a multitude of mental and physical hurdles to overcome. One of the earliest of these moments comes when you travel with your newborn in the car for the first time. The vehicle that was once little more than a method of transport, taking you from Point A to Point B, can become a source of extreme anxiety when you release your tiny bundle from the security of your own arms, strap them into a harness, and abandon them to the separate-from-you wilderness that is your back seat. But thanks to decades of research and testing, and a screed of global designers and companies dedicated to creating as safe an environment as possible for children in the car, we now know the best ways to restrain children in the most appropriate ways according to their size, height, and age. That said, amid the overwhelm of new experience that is first-time parenting, figuring out the belts, buckles, and locking systems on each available option at the baby store can be a minefield, and you may be left scratching your head over the options. Kerrin Miller is passionate about car seat safety. The Franklin mum of two and PORSE educator has plans to get her car seat technician certification and offer this vital service to local families when her small children are a little older. She says, “Rear-facing is the safest way to ride for our young children, as their skeletons do not start to ossify until four years. Best practice is at least two or until your child reaches the limits on your seat. Risk of injury is much lower when they are rear-facing.”

• Infant Capsule: A rear-facing bucket seat for infants weighing around 2.3kg to a maximum of about 13kg (according to manufacturers’ guidelines). Portable, with a carry handle and a rocking base, a capsule often fits into a frame that converts the seat to a stroller.

Bobble heads You’ve probably seen those toys with tiny bodies and huge, bobbing heads? The truth of a newborn’s dimensions isn’t far away from the toy! Babies are born with proportionally large heads. By nine months old, the head comprises approximately 25% of their total body weight, creating an even greater need to support the spine, neck, and head in the event of a crash.

Collisions No matter how careful a driver you are, accidents can happen. In a frontal collision, inertia means all the occupants of the vehicle continue to move forward while the car stops abruptly. Seatbelts or harnesses hold passengers in place, but this puts tremendous strain on the parts of the body held back by the restraint. Forward-facing infants can suffer severe injuries to their neck, spine, and internal organs from the force of a crash, exacerbated if they’re incorrectly strapped in, or if they’re in the wrong car seat.

How rear-facing protects Not all bones are created equal Newborn babies don’t emerge from the womb with hard little skeletons that gradually stretch out. At birth, a baby’s skeleton is made up of about 300 bones, many of which are made of cartilage. By a process called ossification, these bones change, harden, or fuse together over time to form the 206 bone-count skeleton of an adult by the end of puberty. During the early months of development, infants are at risk of proportionately far greater damage than adults or even older children.

In a rear-facing seat, a baby’s head is cocooned by the padding and shell of the seat, and the brunt of the movement is distributed across their back, which is the strongest part of their little body. The head, neck and spine stay in alignment in a rear-facing seat, minimising the impact of a collision. Supporting the head and back and limiting the movement of the head on the neck, the rear-facing seat also reduces the force on the neck. And not least, the protective shell of a rear-facing seat provides protection from any glass or other debris in the event of a crash.

• Convertible Car Seat: Suitable for use from birth to school age, the convertible car seat can be used both rear and forward-facing. These seats are less portable than capsules and are used belted and/or tethered in to the car. It’s important to note that single strap tethers are not suitable for rear-facing.

Is it costly to rear-face? You might think there would be a premium price tag attached to the safest car seat option, but not necessarily, says Kerrin. “You don’t have to have expensive fancy seats. My favourite, easiest-to-use seat cost $99 on sale. It lasted my eldest rear-facing until almost three years old.”

When should you forward-face? NZ law requires children to rear-face until the age of two, or until they reach the height limits of their seat. But Kerrin says, “My kids aren't minimums, so why follow the minimum guidelines? We will max out the limits on their seats before moving to the next stage as every move up a stage of seat is a step down in safety.”

FOR MORE INFO CHILD RESTRAINTS NZ (childrestraints.co.nz) THE CAR SEAT DUDE (Facebook @thecarseatdude) BUCKLE UP NZ (buckleup.co.nz) CHEEKS IN SEATS (Facebook @cheeksinseats) Pregnancy BUMP & baby

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PRECIOUS CARGO

Buckle up, baby

WE LOVE IT!

You won’t be able to take your baby home from hospital without one of these!

MAXI COSI MAGELLAN MAX

A 5-in-1 car seat that’s ready for 10 years of family adventures, and designed to be the only car seat you’ll ever need. The ClipQuik’s auto-magnetic chest clip allows parents to open it with just one hand. RRP$899 , available at 14 babycity stores nationwide and from babycity.co.nz

JOIE EVERY STAGE FX

Joie (pronounced JOY) is the hot new name in child car seats. Their motto is “Look Back Longer” – encouraging parents to keep their child rear-facing for longer. The Joie Every StageFX car seat is rearfacing for up to four years and forward-facing up to an amazing 12 years. RRP$829 from Farmers

GREAT BUY!

MAXI COSI RIA 85 MAX

Fitting children from birth to 38kg, the design makes it easy to get your little one in and out of the seat. Opens with one hand with the ClipQuik magnetic chest clip, and the magnets slide together and lock on their own. RRP$649 from babycity.co.nz

MOUNTAIN BUGGY SAFE ROTATE

A convertible car seat that is perfect from newborn to 18kg, safe rotate offers extended rear-facing innovation, while seamlessly combining safety, child comfort, and simplicity with a spin – allowing effortless accessibility for you to your child when getting in and out of the car. RRP$499, available from babycity.co.nz

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JOIE I-GEMM CAPSULE

Keeping your baby safe and snuggled, the i-Gemm offers an exclusive Tri-Protect headrest that surrounds your baby's head with three layers of security. Suitable from birth to 12 months/85cm. RRP$399 plus i-Base (not pictured) RRP$249, both from Farmers

OSC A R MX

The Evolution of the 3 Wheel Buggy It’s the combination of a designer’s passion - and a parent’s love - that makes Edwards & Co unique.

EDWARDSANDCO.NZ

What to expect ( financially!) when you’re expecting Amanda Morrall, Head of Communications and Education at Simplicity NZ Ltd (simplicity.kiwi) shares some tips, tools, and considerations to stay solvent and sane through the money mayhem of growing a family.

f statistics are to be believed, 75% of all pregnancies are unplanned. That pours cold water on the idea of having one’s finances in tip-top shape before a baby arrives on the scene. Still, it doesn’t preclude parents from taking some practical measures to help alleviate the pressures. Adjusting to your first child and the sleepless nights is hard enough without the added stress of strained household income. The initial start-up costs, including car seats, cots, highchairs, and prams, may take your breath away but they pale compared to subsequent long-term costs of having a child. Depending on one’s lifestyle choices, from birth to 18, financial planners suggest it can cost between $100,000 and $200,000 to get them through to graduation. Sure, there are plenty of ways to offset some of the expenses including making your own baby food, buying secondhand items, and using toy libraries instead of blowing the budget at Toy World; however, these things only whittle away at the margins. The bigger costs are those hardest to overcome.

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e or n c nt t e a id ev ht w e g th mi de u hi Yo to s? e ed a s t p ch r m Te pu

h et

DOLLAR$ AND $EN$E

START LIVING ON ONE SALARY

For most couples, it starts with household incomes being halved when Mum (or Dad) takes time to stay at home with Baby. Fortunately, paid maternity leave has risen from 14 to 20 weeks in the past few years, and it’ll be increasing to 26 weeks by 2020. Even so, baby expenses can be high, and five months finish faster than many expect. One the best things couples can do to prepare financially is to try to live off one salary, and bank the other, shortly after the pregnancy is confirmed (ideally sooner, if you’re a planner). As well as forcing you to cut back on unnecessary spending and get into a disciplined savings habit, you’ll pad the savings account to cover more than just the anticipated expenditures. Baby boot camp isn’t easy, but it’s ultimately rewarding if it helps parents to avoid the usual debt traps that many first-time parents fall into. As with most things in life, the greater the preparation, the better the reward.

GOOD COMMUNICATION IS KEY

FACT

FINANCIAL PLANNERS SAY IT CAN COST BETWEEN $100,000 AND $200,000 TO RAISE CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO 18.

Money plays a huge role in marital breakups and supposedly rates higher than infidelity as a cause of divorce. The stress of having a baby, plus the stress of money shortages, can exact a high toll both emotionally and financially. Having an open and honest dialogue over your financial plan for this exciting new stage of life will help to reduce conflict and tensions over money pressures. Instagram mamas may depict a picture-perfect world of motherhood with those gorgeous grinning bubs in their happiest moments, but the illusion betrays how arduous this new life can be. That’s especially the case for previously financially independent women who give up jobs to stay home, then find themselves with no income and the usual perks of working. Christchurch financial planner Sheryl Sutherland says expectant parents should think big-picture. “It's not just the first year; there's caregiving and ongoing maintenance. You have to come back to first base, where couples need to be incredibly

A WORD ABOUT… BLENDED FAMILIES

Baby makes three, but blended families are becoming the norm in modern society. Just as the family dynamics are more complicated, so too are the financial needs and requirements. Before moving in together, have “the talk”. Divide up responsibilities so that the bills get paid on time and there’s no confusion about whose doing what. Establish an understanding about education costs if you’re handling finances separately to avoid any potential issues or jealousy or favouritism among the kids. Consider seeing a professional financial planner for estate planning and to help with structuring your finances.

clear about their financial picture and what their joint financial goals are. ‘For richer or for poorer' is all very well, but you need to be very clear about your joint financial goals or you go into a destructive spiral." Raewyn Fox, formerly with the New Zealand Federation of Family Budgeting Services, says in most cases parents leave the money talk until after a crisis strikes. She says many underestimate the financial implications of dropping down to one income and the various costs of raising a child later on. Pregnancy BUMP & baby

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DOLLAR$ AND $EN$E

FAMILY SUPPORT

Many families simply cannot make do on one income alone when baby arrives or sacrifice professional or career aspirations. In certain circumstances, dual-income families earning a certain threshold are eligible for Working for Families tax credit. Eligibility and amounts can be determined online through Inland Revenue: ird.govt.nz/wff-tax-credits

FACE THE FUTURE AND MAKE A PLAN

Saving for tertiary education is not even on the radar for most parents, says Fox, suggesting most average young families struggle to meet day- to-day costs. Anticipating potential costs and writing them into a plan will go a long way to alleviating parental stress later on. Here are some considerations to help.

PARENTAL LEAVE

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES

With only 20 weeks paid parental leave, would-be parents should ideally have a buffer in the bank account to cover expected income gaps. For further information on parental leave entitlements, consult with your employer or Employment New Zealand.

KIWISAVER

If you’re in KiwiSaver and you put your contributions on hold during maternity leave, make sure you contribute at least $1,043 in the KiwiSaver year (1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020) to get the free Government contribution of $521.

BUDGETING

Identifying short-term and long-term costs can help offset parental stress by building them into a plan. For first-year budgeting projections, look for a budget calculator online – there are some which are specific to planning for a new baby.

INSURANCES

Having a baby means being able to provide for the child no matter what, so having appropriate insurance in place is critical. Typical insurances include health, life, and income protection. As rates vary dramatically depending on cover and stand-down periods, an insurance broker is often helpful in securing the best deal. Their services are typically free. Find out the different types of insurance available via sorted.org.nz

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WILLS

As hard as it may be thinking about death in the face of a birth, having a will ought to be a top priority. In the absence of a will, guardianship of one's children can be left to chance. If a party has not been designated, willing parties can apply to the courts for the responsibility. That can lead to conflict if several people are vying for care of the children. If you die without a will, then property at issue will be distributed in accordance with the Administration Act.

EDUCATION

If university is in baby's future, an education savings started early is wise. Based on a four-year university degree costing around $60,000 (tuition and living expenses) per year, it would take savings of $50 a week, invested at 3% per annum from birth to age 18, to foot the bill. A higher returning fund, such as diversified investment fund, could get you there faster. Check out low-cost nonprofit Simplicity, which offers investment funds for kids: simplicity.kiwi/investment-funds/home

Support for families via Work and Income workandincome.govt. nz/eligibility/children/ having-a-baby.html Paid parental leave via MBIE employment.govt.nz/ leave-and-holidays/ parental-leave/ parental-leavepayment/applyingfor-parental-leavepayments Working for Families via Inland Revenue ird.govt.nz/topics/ working-for-families Childcare subsidies Work and Income workandincome.govt. nz/eligibility/children/ childcare.html

TAPSNA8935

The product most recommended by doctors for pregnancy stretch marks. Colmar Brunton, 2018

“I got stretch marks in my teens, so of course when I fell pregnant I wanted to avoid them. I’d hear about Bio-Oil all the time, even before I thought about having children, so it was the obvious choice. I think I was 8 weeks pregnant when I started using it for stretch marks on my tummy, and I got none. So when my sister fell pregnant I also ecommendedit to her to use immediately.”

BGA190301–BB–N&C

Nicky with Chiara

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 start of the second trimester. For comprehensive product information, and details of clinical trials, please visit bio-oil.com. Bio-Oil is available at pharmacies and selected retailers. Individual results will vary. Bio-Oil is distributed in New Zealand by Douglas Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Auckland.

New Packaging. Same Formulation.

Nature’s Sway Organic Baby Hammock RRP$369 from naturessway.co.nz

Nature Baby Organic Baby Bottom Balm 50g RRP$34.95

HAPPY BOTTOM

With ingredients that have been cultivated, harvested, and processed using organic farming methods, this nappy balm lets your baby’s skin heal and breathe while protecting against wetness and healing nappy rash. It contains beeswax with propolis to protect and nourish skin, plus olive oil, St John’s Wort, aloe vera, and calendula. Even better, it’s made in New Zealand.

SWAY MY WAY

Natures Touch Belly Oil RRP$38 from naturestouch.co.nz

Earth mama, ECO BABY

MASSAGE TIME

Let the wonderful aroma of lavender, lemon, and tangerine refresh your senses and uplift your spirit. With certified organic ingredients including evening primrose oil, jojoba oil, and apricot kernel oil, it’s vegan-friendly and nut oil-free.

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Made from organic hemp and cotton grown without the use of herbicides or pesticides, this baby hammock will rock your little one to sleep while surrounded by natural materials and fibres, with no harmful chemicals. It comes with a specially designed wool mattress made from New Zealand wool to naturally regulate your baby’s temperature.

These environmentally conscious products for mums (and babies!) are not only kinder to you, they’re also better for our planet.

9 LIP SERVICE

WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE With natural, quality ingredients and packed full of nutrient rich botanicals, this invigorating face scrub will help banish fatigue and leave your skin feeling fresh, smooth, and vibrant. It’s sulphate and soap free, with walnut shell and coconut husk to gently exfoliate – no microbeads here! Natural Touch Coffee and Coconut Foaming Face Scrub $15

A nourishing blend of New Zealand Manuka honey and beeswax, with blackcurrant oil to help protect and repair dry and damaged lips, this lip balm is perfect to slip into your handbag or nappy bag – in fact, you might as well get one for your bedside table too. The ingredients in the SKIN by ecostore range are suitable for your septic tank and are safer for the environment. SKIN by ecostore Nourishing Manuka Lip Balm RRP$9.99

3 MADE WITH LOVE

In 2011, midwife Carole Wheeler started making flax cocoons for families wishing to take home and bury their placenta – it’s a biodegradable and earth-friendly option rather than the usual plastic tub. Eight years on, all Wairarapa families are still offered one free of charge as a gift thanks to funding from the Maori Health Directorate and handmade by Carole and her daughter Mary, who together run Flax Farewells. Their placenta planting kits are available nationwide for $30 and come with a flax cocoon, two cornstarch bags, instructions for use, and a metal tree tag. Flax Farewells also provide tiny flax cocoons for miscarried babies free of charge. Find out more at facebook. com/flaxfarewells

PLANET LOVE Bambino Mio MioSoft Nappy Cover RRP$14.99, Bambino Mio Reusable Cloth Nappy Insert 4-pack, RRP$21.99

BANISH EYE BAGS NATURALLY If your eyes are feeling a little bit tired these days, check out this scrumptious eye cream that’s loaded with powerful antioxidants and nutrients – starting with organic apple and aloe juice and packed with organic sunflower seed oil, jojoba, evening primrose, carrot seed, cucumber extract, avocado, and more.

NO WRAPPING, NO FUSS A baby carrier that you wear just like a T-shirt, with no clips, buckles, or wrapping, the Baby Dink carrier is designed for the first four months (up to 7kg). The stretch organic cotton ensures a perfect fit that’s comfortable yet supportive for all body types, from size 6 to 18. Perfect for kangaroo care and skin-to-skin contact for your baby while providing the functionality of a durable baby carrier. AU$159 plus shipping from

babydink.com.au

Juice Beauty Green Apple Brightening Eye Cream RRP$72 from meccabeauty.co.nz

SORE NIP SOOTHER

NAPPY DAYS ARE HERE

Did you know you can now buy reusable nappies at the supermarket? The Bambino Mio MioSoft Two-Piece Nappy is available from Countdown nationwide, so you can pop some into your trolley during your weekly shop. Auckland Council found disposable nappies make up around 11-14% of the domestic waste stream, and if every baby had just one reusable nappy change per day, 1 million disposables would be prevented from going to landfill every week – a staggering amount of waste stopped before it reaches the point of no return.

How often do you get a product that has only one ingredient? Made from ultra-pure anhydrous lanolin which is free from additives, preservatives, or pesticides, Lansinoh is safe for your breasts and your baby – no need to wipe off before breastfeeding! ansinoh Nipple Cream 15g RRP$19.99, 50g RRP$34.99

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Talk with a Plunket Nurse

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BUMPER SHOPPING

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Effortless, nutritious baby meals

Available in Supermarkets and Pharmacies Baby food maker range

Distributed in New Zealand by Healthcare Logistics, 58 Richard Pearse Drive, Airport Oaks, Mangere. Phone: 0800 174 104.

www.cetaphil.co.nz

YOU NURTURE

the BABY

NATURAL

Organic Petroleum free No Parabens No chemicals

WE’LL NURTURE

Effortless,

the BUMP

nutritious baby meals

www.medela.co.nz

Available in Pharmacies

CET17-03-0154

www.bellybandit.co.nz

Bump and Baby 16 advert Sept 2018.pdf 1

27/09/2018 5:59:09 PM

15 STYLES OF

YO G A M AT S

ATLANTICSPORTS.CO.NZ

E : EL M AT D E TUR FEA

PHA

Pregnancy BUMP & baby

125

THE LAST WORD

"There is no such thing as day and night. You are here now to cherish and nurture this pure wee soul. When the clock says it's 3.25am and you've been feeding for an hour, remember that someone somewhere is doing the exact same thing, and send them some good vibes." ~ Lauren, mum to Jagger, born 11 May 2019 126

Pregnancy BUMP & baby

PHOTOGRAPHER: NICOLE JOHNSTONE (NICOLEGOURLEY.CO.NZ)

SEE LAUREN'S BUMP PHOTO ON PAGE 29!

Bugaboo Lynx The lightest full size pram The Bugaboo Lynx is our full-size, yet most lightweight pram, and it is ready to go from day one with the bassinet included. Created with high-grade aerospace aluminium, its incredibly durable without the weight so you can easily lift in and out of the car, or up and down stairs.

Available now at Baby City www.babycity.co.nz

grows every way. for every stage. grows every way. for every stage. every stage™ fx every ™ from fx The ultimatestage transporter

teeny tiny to transporter 12 years old from because The ultimate everything should grow adjust to teeny tiny to 12 years oldand because every stage. everything should grow and adjust to every stage. Features • Suitable rearward facing from Features to 18kg (approx. 4 years). • birth Suitable rearward facing from • Suitable forward facing 9kg birth to 18kg (approx. 4 from years). 36kg (approx. 12 years). • to Suitable forward facing from 9kg • ISOFIX and top tether installation to 36kg (approx. 12 years). • when ISOFIXforward and topfacing. tether installation *Pictured in Coal. *Pictured in Coal.

bring the kids™ bring Share the the joy at kids™ nz.joiebaby.com Share the joy at nz.joiebaby.com

when forward facing.

Pregnancy BUMP&baby issue 9

Articles inside

Are you wondering what that first day (and night) at home with your little one will be like? Tiffany Brown offers a glimpse into your future…

Sustainable BABY

My pregnancy JOURNEY