PALMY PARENT PALMERSTON NORTH PARENTS CENTRE MAGAZINE
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2014
MIRACLES DO HAPPEN
A fertility journey with a happy surprise!
Being gluten free Living with coeliac disease Keeping hydrated Why drinking water is even more important for mums and mums-to-be
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Palmerston North Parents Centre, in partnership with Barnardos, is proud to host:
Sharlene Poole: Baby Whispering Thursday 30 and Friday 31 October 2014 Sharlene Poole – NZ’s ‘Baby Whisperer’ – is a postnatal advisor who has a unique and innate gift with babies. With over 12 years’ combined experience working in postnatal care and as a nanny, she is able to confidently take the stress and uncertainty out of the first few weeks and months with newborns – from feeding and sleeping routines, through to sibling adjustment and helping parents get some muchneeded rest. To find out more about Sharlene, visit www.sharlenepoole.com.
Seminars
In the Newborn and Infant seminars, Sharlene will focus on techniques for feeding, winding and settling your baby / infant appropriate to their developmental stage.
Newborns (0-3 months) – Thursday 30 October, 1.30pm – 3.30pm Infants (4-12 months) – Thursday 30 October, 10am – 12 noon COST: $35 for Palmerston North Parents Centre members; $50 for non-members. $20 extra for partners. Maximum 20 attendees.
Private Consultations Private consultations provide an opportunity to discuss and address any questions or concerns related to your baby, infant or toddler with Sharlene. A limited number of 1-1 consultations are available on Thursday and Friday. These usually book out quickly, so email us today to reserve your space. Please advise your preferred consultation day / time when enquiring. COST: $110 members; $125 non-members. Prepayment required for seminars and consultations.
Registrations essential! To register, email palmnthpc@gmail.com or phone 06 358 4289.
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PALMY PARENT: PALMERSTON NORTH PARENTS CENTRE MAGAZINE
Editor’s Note By Rachel O’Connor
Spring has sprung and with it comes longer days, BBQs and trips to the beach. Daylight savings has just kicked in and while I love having more daylight, it has affected our eight-month-old’s routine somewhat - fingers crossed it’s only short-lived! The older boys tend to adjust pretty quickly, although as it gets lighter and lighter, they find more excuses to stay up late! At the end of October, Halloween is celebrated. ‘Trick or treating’ is relatively new in New Zealand, and it can be a lot of fun to get dressed up as a family and head off round your neighbourhood. If you’re not planning to head out on 31 October, then remember to stock up on some lollies and perhaps healthy options like fruit and nuts in case you get ‘trick or treaters’ knocking on your door.
In this issue of Palmy Parent we have a birth story from the Dad’s perspective. It’s great to hear what Dads think about throughout the pregnancy, labour and then birth of their children. Remember, if you would like to share your birth story, please contact us at palmyparenteditor@gmail.com. Also in this issue we have an article about being gluten-free. Many people are choosing this diet for health benefits, but for some, like Niki, they don’t have a choice and must be quite vigilant in their efforts to avoid gluten. Happy reading!
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Advertise in Palmy Parent Palmerston North Parents Centre has a circulation of over 250 newsletters per issue. These are sent to all current members as well as Plunket, midwives and other community groups. Our rates are extremely reasonable and we would love your support by way of an advertisement. Also, in addition to our outstanding rates, we offer you a FREE advertorial on your business if you commit to either four or six adverts per annum.
One-off price
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Half page
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For more information contact our Business Relations Officer by email at: palmyparent@hotmail.com
Mission statement Positive birth experiences and informed parenting in a community where parents are supported and highly valued in their role. Disclaimer: Opinions and articles in this magazine do not necessarily reflect Parents Centre NZ policy. Advertising in this magazine does not imply endorsement by Parents Centre.
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Contents cover story 24
OUR MIRACLE FAMILy Finding out you have fertility problems can be devastating but there is hope, and for this family they also got a bit of a surprise!
features 16
PARENTS CENTRE LIBRARY If you’re looking for helpful parenting books, then consider joining the Parents Centre library.
17 product review In this issue, we review three more kinds of cloth nappies.
21 being gluten free For some, following a gluten free diet is simply because they want to eat more healthily, however for people with coeliac disease, being gluten free isn’t a choice.
24 fertility: OUR MIRACLE FAMILy Finding out you have fertility problems can be devastating but there is hope, and for this family they also got a bit of a surprise!
29 EXPRESSING COLOSTRUM DURING PREGNANCY This important liquid contains antibodies to protect newborns against disease, and is lower in fat and higher in protein than ordinary milk. In this article, we provide some tips on how to expressing colostrum before giving birth.
32 SOOTHING THE SOBS A baby cries for many reasons, expressing discomfort, hunger, exhaustion and loneliness. Here are some tips on how you can help soothe the sobs.
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PARENTING: TO BUILD (OR BREAK) A CHILD’S SPIRIT This article aims to provide some guidance on how you can inspire your children through encouragement.
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PALMY PARENT: PALMERSTON NORTH PARENTS CENTRE MAGAZINE
in every issue
3 6 7 8 9 10 14 18 19 20 26 28 30 34 38 39 40 43 44 45 46 47
Editor’s note From your President Centre happenings Welcome to the world! Crafts: Craft ideas with buttons Birth story: A dad’s perspective Volunteers needed What’s on in our region Pregnancy and postnatal yoga Kids book review: Meet the parents Family friendly outings Health & wellness: The importance of hydration Coffee groups in action Book review: Helping young children flourish Mummy matters: Off to kindy Family recipe: Halloween pumpkin cupcakes Developmental play: For the love of learning Move to music Community support groups Member discounts Playgroups in your area Membership form
contributors
Thank you to all our contributors for this issue: Rachel O’Connor (Editor), Jess Howard (President), Robyn Mason (Vice President), Niki Murray, Frith Dods, John Davidson, Hannah Robb, Kate Robinson, Jo-Anne Wilson, Clare Scott, Tammy Bayley, Pinky McKay, Rachel Andersen, Jo Cowan, and Renee Murphy.
got something to share?
Want to share some helpful advice or a great book you’ve read? Let us know and we’ll share it with our members. Or, if you would like to have your baby’s photos printed, write about your birth experience, review a book or somewhere family-friendly you’ve been recently, we’d love to hear from you! Email the Editor at palmyparenteditor@gmail.com
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From Your President By Jess Howard
More exciting times ahead! Palmerston North Parents Centre is in the process of building a new website that we expect to be up and running very soon. This will mean all our enrolments, seminars, parenting courses and events will all be online, simple and easy to use, and we can make sure you all have access to the best resources relating to pregnancy, childbirth and parenting. In the last month we have welcomed more fantastic volunteers to our committee team, meaning we can keep working to improve our processes and offering to the membership. A big thank you to Robyn Mason for working tirelessly on this recruitment drive and all the hard work she puts in behind the scenes in so many areas. I’d like to welcome Brooke Hopkins, Genevieve Tyler, Kate Scrase, Kelly Stratford, Anna Walshe, Renee Barbour, Yunene Bishop, Corrina Roe, Greer Berry and Emma Lochore to our ever expanding team! It’s very exciting to have new faces with new ideas join our motivated team. Some roles have not had someone dedicated to developing them for some time. Thank you all for giving up your time to help us. We have one position we are still needing to fill quite urgently, and that is the role of Treasurer. Ideally we need someone with an accountancy or banking background so that the processes are relatively familiar. If you have knowledge in this area, and think you can help, please send me an email to richie.jess@xtra.co.nz
in your daily family life very worthwhile. Due to our partnership with Kidstart, we have been able to offer this programme at a fantastic low rate for all to attend. In August, my third wee babe was born. Hudson Alec Howard arrived at home in the water, this time with midwives and support people there which was lovely! In my baby brain faze I had forgotten how vigilant you need to be with toddlers and new babies together, and one morning while making breakfast for the two older kids, Cooper decided he’d stick a plaster on the side of his head (in his hair) which I had to cut out, and Bree thought she’d do a Da Vinci and draw over his face in blue pen. He seemed relatively unfazed by it all, and while I cleaned pen from his face and plaster from his head, Cooper and Bree disappeared around the corner into the kitchen and filled up the ocean (sink) and half a bottle of dishwashing liquid and created a lake on the floor. A day in the life of the Howard family...I tell you this to assure you that life in every home is a little bit crazy! I leave you with a quote from one of my favourite parenting gurus who is currently battling cancer. If you want to read some fantastic parenting books, she is definitely an author to put on your list. Jess It’s not our job to toughen our children up to a cruel and heartless world. It’s our job to raise children who make the world a little less cruel and heartless. - L.R Knost
It was World Milksharing Week during the last week of September and at that time we shared a post on our Facebook page from a local mum asking for support to continue feeding her baby breastmilk through donation of milk while undergoing chemotherapy. Thank you so much to those who shared the post and made offers to help. If you wish to support milksharing, would like to offer milk or to pump, or need milk yourself for any number of reasons, please join the Manawatu Milksharing facebook page. The dates are set for Responsive Parenting - Series 1 in November. Please see page 27 for further information. A huge amount of time and effort has gone into developing this programme, and I’m sure you will find the information and strategies for dealing with challenges
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PALMY PARENT: PALMERSTON NORTH PARENTS CENTRE MAGAZINE
Cooper and Hudson
PNPC Seminars and Events October Photo Fundraiser with Kim Sargent Photography Saturday 11 October @ 9am-4.30pm Perfect for Christmas presents!
Seminar: Developmental Activities for Children 0-3 years Wednesday 22 October @ 10am SORRY, DUE TO HIGH DEMAND THIS IS ALREADY FULL.
Seminar: Sharlene Poole—Baby Whispering Seminars & Private consultations Thursday 30 and Friday 31 October • Newborns (0-3 months), Thursday @ 1.30pm •
Infants (4-12 months) Thursday @ 10am.
Cost: $35 Parents Centre members, $50 non-members. $20 extra for partners. A limited number of private 1-1 consultations available on Thursday 30th and Friday 31st. Please enquire for available times. Cost: $110 members, $125 non-members.
November Seminar: Baby Talk for Beginners Friday 21 November @ 10am An introduction to sign language for hearing babies. Cost to be confirmed.
Newborn Breastfeeding Tuesday 25 November @ 7pm This seminar is designed for ALL expectant or new Mums who are intending on or have recently begun breastfeeding. In this seminar, Cheryl discusses tips for preparing for and beginning breastfeeding, and strategies for an effective and sustainable breastfeeding journey. Presented by Cheryl Benn, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, selfemployed Midwife, and Regional Midwifery Advisor to MidCentral and Whanganui District Health Boards.
Introductory Water Skills for Infants Thursday 27 November @ 9.30am Freyberg Community Pool. Come along and learn some skills for introducing your child to the water whether at home or at the pool. FREE for all to attend. For infants 5 months+. BONUS: Attendees receive a discount voucher for swimming lessons at CLM Swim Magic.
January Newborn Breastfeeding Thursday 29 January @ 10 am This seminar is designed for ALL expectant or new Mums who are intending on or have recently begun breastfeeding. In this seminar, Cheryl discusses tips for preparing for and beginning breastfeeding,
and strategies for an effective and sustainable breastfeeding journey. Presented by Cheryl Benn, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, self-employed Midwife, and Regional Midwifery Advisor to MidCentral and Whanganui District Health Boards.
Coming up in 2015 Seminar: Developmental Activities for Children 0-3 years Date to be confirmed One of our most popular seminars that always books out in advance. Presented by Andrea Hayes & Yvonne Pincott from PAFT/Plunket. FREE for all.
Registrations essential as spaces are limited. To register, email Parents Centre at palmnthpc@gmail.com, phone 358-4289, or click “going” to this event on our Facebook page: facebook.com/PNorthPC/events
Our Parent Education seminars are proudly brought to you in Our Parent Education seminars are partnership with Barnardos KidStart proudly brought to you in partnership with childcare.barnardos.org.nz Barnardos KidStart www.childcare.barnardos.org.nz
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BABIES
Welcome to the World! Welcome to all the new babies born to our wonderful Parents Centre members! If there are any corrections to the lists below, please email palmyparenteditor@gmail.com
Class: 14 May 2014 g 2 au 4 201
ug 11 A 14 20
ug 14 a 14 0 2
ug 15 a 14 0 2
2 sep4 201
6 sep4 201
Heidi Olive Toulmin PARENTS: Amber & Brad Toulmin
Joel Philip Herron PARENTS: Sharon Cook & Sam Herron
Roczen Dylan Hargreaves PARENTS: Kelly & Dylan Hargreaves
Willem Andries Johannes van der Vlerk
PARENTS: Nicola & Peter van der Vlerk
Lachlan John Frankie Davidson PARENTS: Monique & John Davidson
Isla Elizabeth Anne Burton PARENTS: Rachel and Craig Burton
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CBE: Nicky Warren, Hostess: Jess Howard
g 5 au 4 201
Tyler Scott How
UG 13 A 14 20
Roman Thomas Ansley
ug 14 a 14 0 2
ug 15 a 14 0 2
2 sep4 201
10 sep 2014
PARENTS: Cara & Kyle How
PARENTS: Genevieve Murphy & Ryan Ansley
Lucy Evelyn Horne PARENTS: Tara & William Horne
Maxwell Christopher Hopkins PARENTS: Andrea & Ben Hopkins
Isabel Rose Bennett PARENTS: Ashley Graham & Michael Bennett
Nathan Peter Paul Tippett PARENTS: Sarah and Jonathan Tippett
PALMY PARENT: PALMERSTON NORTH PARENTS CENTRE MAGAZINE
CRAFTS
Craft Ideas With Buttons By Fritha Dods
Buttons can be great things for all ages to play with. They encourage use of fine motor skills (Pincer grip which is how children hold a pencil), entertaining with sounds, fun for older children to make things with and fabulous for us adults to create some beautiful art for our children with.
Instructions:
Below are some Button activities that you can do with kids specific to their age and development.
3. Once all buttons are on, check sound, as you may need to rearrange some buttons, eg small ones next to larger ones to make different sounds. Now you can tie a knot about 1cm away from the last button, so that your buttons have room to move a bit and create interesting noises.
A little warning though…buttons are small and can be a choking hazard for babies and small children, so please monitor any children that put things in their mouths and always check homemade toys before giving them to your baby/child to play with.
Baby rattle For adults to make with an older child for a baby. Resources: • 30 cm String or ribbon. • 10+ buttons (check size of holes that the string can thread through) • Scissors
1. About 1/3 along the piece of string tie a knot; make sure this cannot come apart. 2. Thread on buttons. You can tie a knot in between a few, and keep threading until all buttons are on. It is up to you how many. remember you don’t want to make it too heavy for your baby to hold.
4. Take the two ends of the string, join together, and see how much room you need to create a handle for your little one to hold. Then you can cut off excess and tie a knot, one that is very strong. Tada!!! You have a baby rattle that your baby can rattle play with and fiddle with the little buttons.
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BIRTH STORY
A Dad’s Perspective By John Davidson Monique and I met nearly seven years ago, and married in April 2011. Despite our career aspirations, the goal of one day having children was something we were both looking forward to. We discovered just before Christmas 2013 that “Baby Davidson” was on its way. Keeping it a secret over Christmas and New Years’, and the other summer festivities was difficult, but Monique soon developed the art of making it look like she was enjoying gin and tonic in the sun. We were thrilled to finally announce the fabulous news to our family and friends late January... and so the countdown began. What followed was a long nine months of morning sickness – despite this Monique was pretty relaxed and positive about the
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whole thing.
I soon mastered the art of back rubbing, supplying cold flannels and pulling the car over. It would be fair to say there were some near misses and some not so near misses. At week eight we met our midwife Jayne Waite. Jayne supported Monique and I through the whole journey, providing sound and logical advice and information at all times. Jayne had come recommended and after our experiences we would only ever recommend Jayne. Jayne
empowered us to make informed decisions, and proved to be a very caring midwife. Blood tests, antenatal appointments and the 20-week scan now seem like a distant memory but were all key milestones of the pregnancy journey. Monique and I both agreed that a natural birth was how we wanted our child to enter the world, but the plan was to have “no plan”. Monique’s “no plan” approach surprised me; normally a control freak she was happy just to go with the flow. Our pregnancy journey was a positive one. Monique looked after herself swimming regularly and visited the chiropractor on a fortnightly basis. She followed all the rules by the book, and complained often about not being able to eat sushi. Monique finished work three weeks
PALMY PARENT: PALMERSTON NORTH PARENTS CENTRE MAGAZINE
before her due date – a self confessed workaholic she was convinced that Baby Davidson would arrive early. It turns out the world was teaching her a life lesson in patience. Due date came round and despite a show earlier the previous week, Baby Davidson was pretty comfortable in its current surroundings. By this stage Monique was pretty over it. Both morning sickness and heartburn were at their worst. Every natural remedy that she could find on Google had been tried – whether it was raspberry leaf tea, evening primrose oil, pineapples, hot curry, or acupuncture. I even got some satisfaction out of the whole exercise. Baby was due on the 26th, six days overdue we went in for monitoring. Baby Davidson was happy as, in a good position and surely we wouldn’t have to wait too much longer. Following a stretch and sweep, and pre-birth acupuncture that day we were feeling hopeful that things would happen soon but weren’t holding our breath. The following morning, here I was enjoying my beautiful sleep when I was woken by Monique. I quickly jumped out of bed, and after hearing that it was all stations go, I went to ring work to tell them I wouldn’t be in, only for Monique to tell me it was 4.30am. Things progressed quite quickly, and before we knew it contractions were one minute long and two minutes apart. Monique sat on the toilet vomiting, and here I was feeling slightly helpless, unfortunately the toilet wasn’t big enough for the two of us. I listened to her requests and waited after her with fans, cold flannels and crackers.
In between her requests, I even got to watch the replay of the Turbos win over Wellington! At 5.30am, Monique gave me the stare, and despite my phobia of talking on the phone, I took one for the team and rang our midwife Jayne. Jayne gave us the thumbs up to head to hospital, and said she would meet us there. We arrived at the hospital and were given a friendly welcome and escorted to a large spacious room, which would turn out to be the place that our baby would be born. I felt a real sense of assurance that we were at the
hospital surrounded by a large team of professionals. Jayne arrived soon after and put a drip into Monique as she had been vomiting and was dehydrated. After this, things seemed to take an age. Monique was in pain but all I could do was remind her to breathe and be at her beck and call. Monique was six centimetres dilated so Jayne broke her waters. Following this, Monique decided she might like a bath. After spending what felt like an eternity filling up the gigantic bath, she spent a total of two minutes in it before deciding she didn’t want a bath anymore. Before I knew it – Monique was proclaiming that she needed to push. She got up onto the bed and Jayne assessed where things were at. At this moment in time, all I could do was continue to encourage her, hold her hand and help her focus on her breathing. Monique started pushing at 9.00am, three hours after arriving at the hospital. Throughout pregnancy, Monique had said I would be by her head, holding her hand but instead I found myself at the business end. Monique had one leg on my hip and her other on Jayne’s, while my mother-in-law got the easy job of stroking her forehead and holding her hand. I struggled seeing how much pain Monique was in, while sill trying to give positive words of encouragement and telling her to push. I wanted to take her pain away from her but there was a limit to what I could do. As the pushing continued there were times when I had to be firm with Monique to tell her to push for longer periods, and to use her energy on pushing rather than telling me her requests for another diamond ring. I knew things weren’t far away, when Jayne showed me the mop of hair our child to be had. What followed were some intense periods of pushing. I expected the head to come out and then slowly the rest of the body, but not this baby. The head appeared and before I knew it so did the rest of the body – I had intended to catch the baby but turns out this one was too fast. Monique and I had kept the sex of our baby a surprise, as soon as the baby came out I looked to discover and then announced, “It’s a Boy”. I cut the umbilical cord. My focus immediately turned from Monique to our new Baby Boy. He was placed on Monique, and I had the realisation that we were now a family of three. It was like a warzone had occurred in the room but this
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had gone unnoticed due to the gift that was placed before us. Monique and I sat there cuddling our precious baby boy. Lachlan John Frankie Davidson was born at 10:08 am on the second of September 2014. While a fairly quick labour over all, and a bit of gas here and there, Lachlan had been born posterior resulting in Monique having to go into surgery for some repair work. Fortunately, there was a slight delay in her having to go for surgery so Monique and Lachlan has some quality bonding time. Monique was gone for just over three hours, leaving Lachlan and I plenty of time to have some father and son bonding time. This was a really special moment we had together. Antenatal class prepared me by giving me tips on how to support Monique during labour but it’s true that you fully need to experience it to comprehend the rollercoaster of emotions that that the birth of a baby brings. It has been an incredible journey so far and look forward to journey of being a father takes me.
7 Lombard Street, Palmerston North
06 358 2400
Photo courtesy of Kim Sargent 12
PALMY PARENT: PALMERSTON NORTH PARENTS CENTRE MAGAZINE
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Volunteers Needed Did you know that Parents Centre is a not-for-profit, volunteer-run organisation? Membership fees help with the costs of our childbirth education classes and other activities, however the running of our Centre is ALL done by a team of fantastic Mums and Dads who generously volunteer their time for a good cause. If you have a few hours to spare each month and would like to join our great team, we would LOVE to hear from you! Business Relations Officer
and agenda prior to each meeting,
Our Business Relations Officer is the key contact for advertisers, donators and discount providers in the Palmy Parent. The Business Relations Officer is responsible for:
•
Taking the minutes at monthly committee meetings, and
•
Collating and circulating minutes following the meeting
•
Managing relationships with new and existing advertisers
CBE Resources Coordinator
and donators,
Our CBE Resources Coordinator is responsible for ordering resources and collating member packs for each of our Childbirth Education (antenatal) classes (approximately 15 per year). Time required: approx 2-4 hours per month.
•
Invoicing advertisers,
•
Requesting and obtaining goods and/or services for giveaways for our members and items for fundraising events.
Minutes Secretary Is responsible for the administration of our committee meetings and minutes including: •
To find out more, please contact Jess on 06 327 6666 or Robyn on 027 4848 521 or email palmnthpc@gmail.com.
Coordinating, collating and circulating committee reports
Treasurer Responsible for: • Managing our Centre finances, • Paying invoices, • Monthly financial reporting, and • Budgeting. Approximately two hours a week. Would suit someone with finance, banking or financial administration experience.
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PALMY PARENT: PALMERSTON NORTH PARENTS CENTRE MAGAZINE
School Holiday Programme 29 Sept -10 Oct 6-12 yrs - $18pp Book now!
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Parents Centre Library Looking for helpful parenting books? Join the Palmerston North Parents Centre library and read to your heart’s content! Our library is stocked with a wide selection of books on pregnancy, childbirth, and a host of parenting topics. Join for only $10 (a refundable bond), and borrow for only $2 per book for two weeks or $5 for DVDs for one week. Check out some of the topics and resources available:
Pregnancy and Childbirth • • • •
“Up the Duff” by Kaz Cooke - an insightful, informative and humourous look at the journey of pregnancy “The Best Friend’s Guide to Pregnancy” by Vicki Iovine - warning, this may make you laugh! “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” by Murkoff, Eisenberg and Hathaway “The New Zealand Pregnancy Book” by Sue Pullon & Cheryl Benn
Newborns and Babies • • • • •
“Baby Whispering” by Sharlene Poole - highly recommended for all new parents! (Book and DVD) “The Happiest Baby on the Block” by Dr Harvey Karp (Book and DVD) “Oh Baby!” by Kathy Frey - a comprehensive book in everything ‘baby’ “Babies!” by Dr Christopher Green - an informative and humourous book on babies “What to Expect: The First Year” by Eisenberg, Murkoff and Hathaway
Toddlers •
• •
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“Discipline Without Distress” by Judy Arnall - practical tools for raising caring, responsible children without timeout, spanking, punishment or bribery “Oh Grow Up!” by Kathy Frey - covers a wide range of toddler-related topics by popular New Zealand author and midwife “Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids” by Dr Laura Markham
PALMY PARENT: PALMERSTON NORTH PARENTS CENTRE MAGAZINE
PRODUCT REVIEW
Nappy Review By Hannah Robb
Pop ins ‘Pop in’ Nappies are a two part, one size fits all reusable nappy. The absorbent, specially shaped, bamboo inner ‘pops in’ to the cover using four domes and a liner attaches to that with one more dome. They come in a great range of colours and cool prints. These nappies will appeal to the crowd who love highly engineered products and styley prints. I certainly bought my first one because of the cute Monkey print! Unfortunately, I find doming the liners annoying and un-doming them when dirty is a bit messy at times. I also find, whilst bamboo liners maybe more absorbent, they take a long time to dry compared with my other liners which is frustrating. But they certainly win on the style factor and I have not yet had one leak.
GREEN BEGINNINGS Green Beginnings have an anchored pocket in the waterproof lining which holds a folded prefold nappy liner. These nappies appealed to me due to the secure looking leak guards around the legs. These nappies also boast that if the liner is wet you can just change that part and put a new prefold nappy liner in the pocket and re-use the nappy. I have not yet ever done that as I find for my son the prefold nappy insert does not ‘hold much’ and there are always leaks on to the cover and on a few occasions leaks out of that also! So much for the great looking leak guards. One bonus of this nappy is that it is a ‘slim fit’ and I often will use it if dressing my baby boy in jeans or other slim fitting pants that would not normally fit over a reusable nappy.
BUM RARPZ Bum Rarpz are a New Zealand made pocket style nappy. The one I have has a lovely minky cover which is soft and cuddly and a cute glow in the dark ghost print. These nappies have a pocket in them which you slip in a prefold bamboo nappy liner/soaker. I like pocket nappies the most out of all of the different modern cloth nappy designs; they are easy to use, quick to dry and effective. The Bum Rarpz nappy has dome closures, compared to velcro like most others. This is ok, but my partner finds what dome to connect it to difficult and can result in a loose, and then poor fit. Bum Rarpz dry fast as the liner pulls out and is unfolded to a flat cloth which can dry fast, even though it is bamboo which typically dries slower than cotton. The minky cover is lovely and soft on baby’s skin. If you are interested in learning more about MCN (Modem Cloth Nappies) and the tips and tricks for using them, The Nappy Lady is coming to Palmerston North on the 25 November. Tickets are $20 and includes two cloth nappies to take home valued at $60. Also, to those who have already been to The Nappy Lady, she is introducing advanced workshops – check out her website www.thenappylady.co.nz for more details. If you can’t attend a workshop and are looking for support, you can find this in the Manawatu MCN cloth nappy group on Facebook. The group is passionate about MCN and happy to help where the can. Happy Nappying everyone!
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What’s On In Our Region Fun for the Family Thursday 9 October
Family G.I.G – Palmerston North Central Library, 2-4pm. Giant Indoor Games. Bring your own along too! Plus - opportunity to make and create your own game too. Held in Sound and Vision (ground floor)
Friday 10 October
Tuesday 21 - Thursday 23 October
Black Sticks Women vs USA – 6:30pm - 8pm at Endeavour Trust Twin Turfs, Palmerston North.
Saturday 8 November
Manawatu A & P Show – 9am - 4pm at Manfeild.
Friday 14 November
Rural Day – Manchester Square, Feilding. Starts 9am. Animals, competitions, displays a fun day out for all the family.
The Man Show – at Arena Manawatu.
Monday 15 - Wednesday 15 October
Cross Hills Gardens Country Fair – 9am 4pm at Cross Hills Gardens, Kimbolton.
NZ Secondary Schools Mini Moto – 12:00pm - 5pm at Manfeild.
Saturday 18 October
National Young Performer Awards – at Regent on Broadway from 8.30am. Inclusion Netball Family Fun Day – 10am 3pm at Arena Manawatu.
Sunday 19 October
Colour Dash – 2pm - 5pm starting at Massey University Turitea Campus. A 5km fun run, walk with different coloured ‘dust’ showered over you along the way. 50% of profits go to Ronald McDonald House Auckland.
Tuesday 21 October
The Napier Escape Heritage Steam Rail Excursion – Starts 12.15pm at the Palmerston North Railway Station.
Saturday 15 November
Plunket Seminars 7 October
4 November
Junk Free Lunchboxes. Learn how to pack snacks with nutritional goodness instead of fatty, salty and sugary baddies!
11 November
Water Safety. Keep safe at the beach and the pool Create enjoyable experiences this summer while keeping babies and toddlers safe in the water.
18 November
First Aid for Babies and Toddlers.
25 November
Play Ideas for Different Ages and Stages. Join Pauline Allen from Brainwave Trust for a great discussion on brain development through your little ones ages and stages. .
A Peaceful Night’s Sleep? Tips for Sleeping and Settling.
14 October
First Aid for Babies and Toddlers. Learn vital Baby & Toddler CPR, including emergency advice on cuts, choking, burns and drowning.
21 October
Shoes for Children. The importance of having correct shoes.
Seminars are FREE to all and held at the Plunket Family Centre, Albert Street from 10am-12 noon unless otherwise advised. To register for a Seminar, email helen.sneddon@plunket.org.nz or phone 357 4844.
28 October
Safety in the Home. Making your home a safe and healthy environment for you and your child.
H & B Stanbra
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PALMY PARENT: PALMERSTON NORTH PARENTS CENTRE MAGAZINE
Pregnancy and Postnatal Yoga Classes Are you pregnant or have recently had a baby? Come along to Palmerston North Parents Centre’s pregnancy and Mum-and-baby yoga classes with instructor Inez Schmidt. Yoga Instructor: Inez Schmidt Photo by Vanesa Lei-Broad
Pregnancy Yoga
Mum-and-Baby Postnatal Yoga
Date:
Thursdays at 5.15pm during term time
Date:
Fridays at 11am during term time
Venue:
Parents Centre, 30 Waldegrave St
Venue:
Parents Centre, 30 Waldegrave St
Instructor: Inez Schmidt
Instructor: Inez Schmidt
Term cost: PNPC Members $48 (6 week term) Non-Members $60
Term cost: PNPC Members $48 (6 week term) Non-Members $60
Please bring cash.
Please bring cash. Children welcome!
Plunket Car Seat Services now offer Retail as well as Hireage Services. Free advice and installation of your car seat by a qualified Car Seat Technician.
As an infant is usually only in a capsule for 6 months or more, it may be a better option to hire an infant seat than to spend money purchasing one. The money may be better invested in the next size seat which will be used for a longer. https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Plunket-Manawatu-Wanganui-Car-Seat-Service/259773444100945
PALMERSTON NORTH PLUNKET 229 Cuba St, Phone: 06 358 6862 Monday to Friday 10.00am – 2.00pm Saturday 10.00am – 12.00pm FEILDING PLUNKET 32 Stafford Street Phone 06 323 4518 Tuesday 4.30pm – 5.30pm CAUTION: NOT ALL CHILD RESTRAINTS FIT ALL VEHICLES. TRY FITTING THE RESTRAINT IN YOUR VEHICLE BEFORE YOU BUY OR HIRE IT TO SEE IF IT FITS CORRECTLY. ISSUE 262: OC TOBER/NOVEMBER 2014
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KIDS BOOK REVIEW
Meet the Parents By Kate Robinson
It starts out with the common things Authors Peter Bently and Sara Ogilvie parents nag at their children to do ‘Brush your teeth! Get a move on! Say thank you! Say please!’... but quickly dives into why parents are so fabulous ‘Parents are handy as mending machines for teddies and train tracks and kneecaps and jeans...’
‘Parents are targets for ketchup. And hoses. And hunters for toys you left in the roses...’ What a great book to show kids how cool parents actually are! I love how this book explains we don’t just nag! We can also be fun and handy for lots of things!
‘Parents are sofas for putting your feet up, and dustbins for bits you don’t want to eat up.’
use of rhyming text makes it fun for older children (and parents) to read. It’s a quirky story that flows well and gives parents a bit of credit for all they do in a way that kids will find entertaining! If you’re wanting a read that makes you and your kids giggle this book will do just that! Meet the Parents is available from Bruce McKenzie Booksellers on George St for $17.00.
Ogilvie has done a great job creating busy, bright illustrations to keep younger kids attention and Bently’s
Book Giveaway Be in to win this issue’s reviewed book! The children’s book reviewed above has been generously donated by Bruce McKenzie Booksellers on George Street, Palmerston North to give away to a lucky Parents Centre Member. To enter the draw to win this issue’s book email your name, membership number and the title of the book to palmnthpc@gmail.com. Entries for the next draw must be received by Friday 7 November 2014. The winner’s name will be printed in the next issue of the Palmy Parent and the book will be posted to you.
CONGRATULATIONS Karyn Gordon You have won last issue’s book: The Pigeon Needs a Bath by Mo Williams
Bruce McKenzie’s Booksellers is situated in George Street beside the entrance to the Palmerston North Library. Bruce McKenzie’s carries an enormous range of books from children’s to specialist non-fiction and is definitely worth a visit. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask the staff who are always willing to help.
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PALMY PARENT: PALMERSTON NORTH PARENTS CENTRE MAGAZINE
Being Gluten Free By Niki Murray
I found out I had coeliac disease about six months after I gave birth to my first daughter. I had been really tired during the pregnancy, sleeping two-three hours every day and then I was in bed for 12 hours every night by 6.30-7pm. At the time, I thought it was just what happened when I was pregnant, but after my daughter was born and sleeping through the night and I still couldn’t keep my eyes open in the early afternoon, I knew something was up. I had other symptoms which I will spare you the details of (think gastroenteritis-like symptoms) so I went to my doctor once, twice, three times and each time they told me that everything was fine, wait a while and maybe it will get better. Eventually, after finding out an immediate family member had been recently diagnosed with coeliac, and because of that I had a higher risk of getting it, I asked my doctor to test me for me. After being grilled by her as to whether I really needed
the blood screening test or not, I finally walked out with the blood test form. Lo and behold, it came back positive for antibodies suggestive of coeliac disease and I was referred to a gastroenterologist for an intestinal biopsy (the only way to definitively diagnose coeliac disease). A gastroscopy is usually done under light sedation, but I elected to be knocked out completely for it.
When I came to, the specialist met with me and told me that I did indeed have coeliac disease. Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disorder. It is rare in that only 1% of the population is believed to have it (however, it is thought that many cases are undiagnosed). In coeliac disease, the immune system identifies gluten (which is a type of protein found in wheat, barley, rye and oats) as a foreign body and seeks to eradicate it. It does this by attacking parts of the intestine called villi which are like long fingers that trap
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vitamins, minerals and other nutrients from food as it moves through the intestine so the body can use them. When a person with coeliac eats gluten, the immune system attacks the villi, blunting them and making them inefficient or unable to remove nutrients from food.
Untreated, lack of nutrients and therefore malnutrition over a long period of time can lead to a variety of problems.
The lengths I need to go to seem a bit ridiculous sometimes but they are necessary. For instance, I can’t combine gluten-free food in a container with gluten food because of the risk of cross-contamination, I can’t eat technically gluten-free chips that have been cooked in a deep fryer because of the risk that gluten containing foods such as batters or breadcrumbs have been cooked in the same oil prior, I can’t cook with flour because the dust in the air being inhaled is enough to cause a reaction, and I can’t risk eating food that is technically gluten-free in its ingredients but has been processed in a factory that also processes gluten (goodbye Cadbury Dairy Milk L, hello Whittakers J).
Gluten intolerance or gluten allergies are different to coeliac disease. Gluten intolerance is generally diagnosed when someone is not coeliac but thrives on a gluten-free diet when they were having usually gastro issues before. Some people with gluten intolerance are 100% glutenfree; others strive to have the majority of their diet from gluten-free sources. Still others are gluten-free by choice because they feel healthier for it. I figure if it makes you feel good, physically and/or emotionally, go for it, but make sure you talk with a doctor, nutritionist and/or dietician because you don’t want to remove anything from your diet that is good for you if you don’t absolutely have to. Living gluten-free has its challenges, especially when you’re living in a house where others eat gluten. I have to be very careful to ensure that all my food is prepared separately as even one crumb is enough to set off a gluten reaction. In the first year following the gastroscopy, the specialist warned me that I would be incredibly sensitive to gluten once I stopped eating it; he wasn’t lying. I had been eating gluten-free for a couple of months when I ate out at a café (always a risk!). Unfortunately, something in the food wasn’t gluten-free and/or it had been cross-contaminated in its preparation, but I ended up very sick for two days with tummy and bowel issues. Nowadays, nearly two years on from my diagnosis, I have had the odd occasion when I suspect I’ve eaten gluten, but I haven’t had a bad vomiting reaction, only a bit of tiredness a few hours after eating. However, I know that any gluten I eat, while it may not cause the reaction it used to, is still wrecking my intestines so I have to be vigilant.
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I worry that my kids will be coeliacs as well given there is a genetic linkage in families of people with coeliac. We’ve had our oldest daughter tested and so far it is normal. However, coeliac disease can essentially lie dormant until it is triggered by some environmental stressor, in my case, pregnancy. Luckily for me, by the time I was pregnant with my second daughter, I had been diagnosed and gluten-free for a while. That pregnancy was so different from the first. I had so much more energy and my mood was so much happier for it. I thought travelling or going out to eat would be a big issue, but there are lots of places that have gluten-free items on the menu or will make something special for me. I love going to cafés with friends and family so never doing that again was not going to be an option for me.
PALMY PARENT: PALMERSTON NORTH PARENTS CENTRE MAGAZINE
Some cafés that I love and are very gluten-free friendly are Moxies Café on George Street who have a full gluten-free (and a dairy-free) menu as well as a lot of gluten-free food in their cabinet; Columbus Café at Mitre 10 has a good gluten-free selection in their cabinet alongside a playground for the kids; Petit Four on Cuba Street make the best gluten-free cupcakes; Rumour Has It on Rangitikei Street do a great gluten-free Eggs Benedict which unfortunately has to come without the hollandaise sauce but is still nice, and they have a children’s play area; Bookmark Café in Feilding has a great selection; Double Eight Nine on Napier Road has an entire gluten-free menu and even a separate kitchen for cooking it in; and Bellas Café on the Square have a menu where the chef is willing to make substitutions to ensure a gluten-free dining experience – plus their cabinet
which has the best lemon meringue pie! If you want to know more about gluten-free living, the Coeliac Society are great to get in touch with. They have an informative website and a quarterly members magazine. Anyone who is gluten-free (by choice or otherwise) is able to join and there are regional support groups. Their website is http://www.coeliac.org.nz Finally, a friend sent me a recipe the other day that I’m going to try this weekend. It looks scrummy so I’ve included a link to it here in case you would like to give it a go too: http://chelseawinter.co.nz/gluten-free-chocolate-cake
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COVER STORY
Our Miracle Family By Robyn Mason
We started our fertility journey in 2004 – three years after we got married when I was 31 and hubby was 36. Six months later and no missed period, I went to the GP to get some blood tests to make sure everything was okay. Her analysis was that everything looked fine and we should keep trying. Another six months passed and we thought it was time to seek the advice of a specialist, just in case. We were referred to a local fertility specialist who, on our first appointment, conducted an internal scan and found that my ovaries were inactive when they should have been a hive of activity. The immediate course of action was to start a series of clomid (clomiphene) to kick-start my ovaries into action. I had to get a blood test every month, but only met with him for the results of those after three months of treatment.
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Of nine treatment cycles of increasing doses over a period of 14 months, I had successfully ovulated once. The next step was more testing including more blood tests, and a dye test (x-ray) to check that my fallopian tubes weren’t blocked. Everything looked fine, so I was diagnosed as having poor ovarian response. We completed the application for public funding of IVF and were successful. The clinic recommended we use our first round of funding for four ‘stimulated’ cycles (or IUI without the turkey baster!). This process used a lower dose of IVF drugs to artificially stimulate follicle development and ovulation, but with ‘natural’ methods of conception. We had about two follicles (the sacks in which the
PALMY PARENT: PALMERSTON NORTH PARENTS CENTRE MAGAZINE
eggs develop) develop sufficiently each cycle, but four cycles and about nine months later, still no success of pregnancy. They then advised that we should move to a full IVF cycle – that is, egg retrieval and fertilisation in the lab. However, I responded poorly to the drugs and only three follicles developed, so they abandoned the cycle. More testing revealed that I had low AMH – that is, low ovarian reserves. On a scale of 0-5 (0 being no eggs, 5 being gazillions), my level was 0.3. Officially in the ‘red’ zone and very bad given my age. They asked us to think seriously about donor eggs, but I just couldn’t. I needed to know and feel that we had given it the best go we possibly could using our own genetic material before thinking about at other options, if at all. They changed the IVF protocol and, long story short, three cycles later (including about seven embryos transferred in total), we successfully conceived our first daughter. Our joy was shared with the many people who had supported and prayed for us over what seemed a very long five years of struggling with infertility. Nine months after she was born, we started trying again for a sibling; so straight back to IVF. Success! We were pregnant (another daughter, 19 months younger) with a blastocyst (a 5-day developed embryo) in the freezer. I found the first year of life as a mum with two (and working part-time amongst other things) challenging, and I was not that keen on transferring the frozen embryo to try for a third. I took a deep breath and we decided to transfer it in February this year. It was a negative. I grieved briefly, and then felt the freedom to embrace the two miracles we had been given.
There was no way we could be pregnant. However, my husband felt some obscure moral duty to the blastocyst (his words!). So to rule it out I did an at-home pregnancy test. A second faint pink line appeared. What the? I texted my midwife who dropped off a blood test form the same day. Three days later when I finally got to the blood clinic, my HCG levels came back at 57,000 (you are officially pregnant if they are >25 on the first day of your missed period.) She laughed (kindly) and said I was probably six-seven weeks pregnant. An ultrasound 10 days later confirmed that I was, by then, eight weeks and five days pregnant. Wow! Talk about a shock to the system. I probably haven’t ovulated in over 10 years, let alone having all the stars align at the same time (when you are 40, have two kids, work part-time, and a hubby who works six days a week, try finding the time, energy or inclination!). Anyway, we recently had our 20-week scan and ... it’s a boy! Hubby is of course delighted... and in the new year will be off to see a surgeon. Three is enough for us. One thing I have learnt on this journey: remember be kind to yourself and to your friends, both those who have children and those who don’t. You never know what people are going through, or how they feel about it. Fertility issues aren’t simply solved by ‘relaxing’ as some of my helpful friends suggested (seriously, if someone can medically explain to me how relaxing helps eggs or stuffed fallopian tubes grow back, I’m keen to know!). If you know friends who are having fertility issues, ask them how they would like to be supported. And if you are at any stage of a fertility journey, I wish you all the very best, xx.
And that’s where we thought our story ended. Three months later... I realised one week I had gone off coffee and wine (both alarming in themselves!), and felt yuck brushing my teeth.
Uh oh. I knew these symptoms, but surely they had to be psychosomatic.
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OUT AND ABOUT
Family Friendly Outings
THE WOOLSHED CAFE KIDS REPUBLIC by Jo-Anne Wilson
This is worth the drive! Great coffee and food, a safe outside play area and cute sheep! Located just south of Sanson, The Woolshed is one of my regulars. There are not many cafes in the area with play areas plus good food! You can choose from sandwiches and food from the cabinet, or hot food from the menu; they have great coffee and a fridge full of Kapiti ice creams. The inside area is large, with plenty of room for a coffee group or extended family (best to book on weekends), plus a few couches and nooks for a relaxing drink. Outside there are a few picnic tables and a play area; including a sandpit, playhouse, maze, ‘log walk’ plus plenty of sheep to see. When we go, it’s generally Dad’s job to head out to play with Mr Two, while Mummy can have a sit down and a drink. But when the weather is fine, everyone can sit outside at the tables. There’s plenty of free parking right outside, they are open seven days and have great, friendly service. I highly recommend you make this your next destination with the family or coffee group, I can’t think of anything negative to say about it!
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by Rachel O’Connor
Palmerston North’s newest kids indoor playground, Kids Republic, opened earlier this year and boasts racing slides, mazes, giant trampolines, rock climbing walls, party lounges and a café. It is centrally located in the old Fresh Central Supermarket building next to The Speights Ale House and Central Vets & Pets and there’s plenty of parking. As soon as we arrived, Mr Nine and Mr Six whipped off their shoes, put them in the box provided and raced off to play in the playground. Hubby and I took Mr Eight Months into the middle area designed for the little ones. When it was time for a break, I went to order a coffee but unfortunately they’d run out of beans and couldn’t offer any hot drinks. The food offered is pretty standard for these sorts of places - hot chips, nuggets, sandwiches, etc. A little concerning was the fencing for the little kids area was very wobbly and we spotted at least a couple of bolts missing. Also the first high chair we grabbed was missing part of the harness. However, the kids loved it and are already pleading to go back!
PALMY PARENT: PALMERSTON NORTH PARENTS CENTRE MAGAZINE
Palmerston North Parents Centre In partnership with Barnardos KidStart Childcare proudly presents
Responsive Parenting Workshops Equipping families for the parenting journey Facilitated by Rachel Andersen, Consciously Parenting NZ (BA Ed/Psych, MA Psych).
About the Workshops Palmerston North Parents Centre’s Responsive Parenting Workshops are designed to encourage, support and equip families with positive, ‘responsive’ and non-punitive approaches and strategies for the parenting journey. There are nine (9) workshops in total, run as three (3) sets of three (3) workshops. The workshops are designed as part of the overall responsive parenting course, and each workshop builds on previous workshops in that series and previous series’.
Series 1 – Introduction to Responsive Parenting
Workshop 1: Introduction to Responsive Parenting - parenting in today’s society, parenting styles, values & goals Workshop 2: Behaviour and Discipline - understanding what drives behaviour, the differences between boundaries, discipline & punishment Workshop 3: Implementing Effective Boundaries - understanding and setting loving limits, Using “I” statements, problem solving
Series 2 – Connecting with your Child
Workshop 8: Optimising Learning - Encouraging enquiry and independence in young learners Workshop 9: Effective Communication - An interactive session focused on effective communication and responsive problem solving
Dates Each series of three workshops runs for 3 consecutive weeks. Classes are held at Parents Centre, 30 Waldegrave Street, Palmerston North. Series 1: November 4, 11 & 18 (Tuesday nights), 7.15pm to 9.45pm Series 2: February / March 2015 – dates to be confirmed
Prices These workshops are open to all members of the public to attend. We strongly encourage couples or individuals parenting together (including grandparents if relevant) to both attend the workshops. $60 / couple per series (all 3 workshops in a series) $50 / single per series (all 3 workshops in a series)
Workshop 4: Understanding Individual Differences - Understanding your child’s personality, learning styles, and ‘Love Language’
To Register
Workshop 5: Attachment, Resilience & Self-Esteem - Understanding ‘Attachment Theory’, Strategies for raising securely attached children
Spaces are limited and registrations are essential. register, please proudly brought to you inTopartnership with email palmnthpc@gmail.com or phone 358 4289. Please Barnardos KidStart include your name/s and contact phonewww.childcare.barnardos.org.nz number. To find out more about Responsive Parenting or our workshops, send us an email.
Our Parent Education seminars are
Workshop 6: Meaningful Connection - connecting with your child in a meaningful and responsive way through active listening and empathy
Series 3 – Communicating with your Child
Workshop 7: Appropriate Expectations - exploring and understanding expectations for your child that are developmentally and age appropriate
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
The Importance of Hydration By Clare Scott Most of us don’t drink anywhere near enough water. We drink lots of other things—coffee, juice, fizzy drinks and alcohol—but not a whole lot of plain water. It’s easy to go about your day and end up not drinking enough water. Have a think about your daily routine. After waking up in the morning, do you have a glass of water or herbal tea or do you go straight for a cup of caffeinated tea or coffee? We normally drink something at morning tea, afternoon tea and maybe a cuppa in the evening, but not much in between. However, pregnant and breastfeeding women should drink around 8 – 10 glasses of non-caffeinated fluid per day, although the amount needed varies depending on your level of physical activity, your weight and how hot it is outside. According to the US National Institute of Health, a good guideline for pregnant and not pregnant women alike is to aim to have clear urine and to not let yourself feel thirsty. Did you know that by time you feel thirsty, you’re already dehydrated? Staying well-hydrated during pregnancy and while breastfeeding will give you more energy, help you sleep better (if you don’t drink it all right before you go to bed!), help prevent constipation and haemorrhoids, as well as being vitally important for the health of your baby and maintaining a good supply of milk afterwards. Luckily, there are lots of easy ways to help you stay hydrated that are more appealing than just plain H20. Give some of these tips a go and see if you end up drinking more water during the day.
HOW TO GET YOUR DAILY 8-10 GLASSES: • •
• •
Start the day with a hot water with a squeeze of lemon and ½ a teaspoon of honey. Great way to hydrate first thing in the morning. Keep a pretty glass bottle of water with a sprig of thyme and some lemon slices in the fridge or on the bench for a tasty, elegant drink. A few berries, or even some slices of cucumber make water taste just that little bit more interesting. If you like herbal tea, brew a teapot instead of just a cup and drink the whole lot over the course of the afternoon. Make refreshing berry smoothies with a banana, ½ cup of frozen berries and milk. A great boost of energy and lots of liquid!
DRINKS TO AVOID DURING PREGNANCY •
Caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, soda and energy drinks. It’s not recommended that pregnant women have more than 200 mg of caffeine per day (about the amount in one coffee from a café). In addition to other issues such as raising blood pressure, caffeine also dehydrates you.
•
Alcohol. There are lots of important reason to avoid alcohol during pregnancy and breastfeeding, but even one glass of wine can make you quite dehydrated as well. Better to avoid it altogether.
•
Fizzy and sugary drinks. Soda, juice and other sugary beverages not only give you a lot of unnecessary calories and spike your insulin levels but they also fill you up and make you less likely to drink better options.
Clare Scott is a REPS registered personal trainer who has been living in New Zealand with her husband and 2 active kids, Jacob (3) and Chiara (1), for 3 years. Clare is passionate about helping pre- and post-natal Mums feel healthy, active and fit. She runs a regular walking group on a Friday at 10:00am at the Esplanade, all welcome! She also runs Mum and Baby fitness programmes on Mondays and Wednesdays. To find out more about Clare or sign up for fitness programmes see clarescottfitness.com or on Facebook ‘Clare Scott Fitness’.
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PALMY PARENT: PALMERSTON NORTH PARENTS CENTRE MAGAZINE
Expressing Colostrum During Pregnancy Colostrum, the yellowish ‘first milk’ produced from the second trimester of pregnancy is an antibody rich immune booster and has often been called ‘baby’s first immunisation’. Colostrum helps to activate early immunological responses in your baby’s gut, promoting the development of normal gut flora and preventing the growth of harmful bacteria. It also increases peristalsis, helping the newborn to pass meconium. This reduces the reabsorption of bilirubin and the potential to develop jaundice if bilirubin levels become elevated. In perfect circumstances, colostrum should be every newborn’s first feed, however there are medical conditions and issues for some mothers and babies that may mean infant formula is offered to newborns. For instance, babies of mothers with diabetes are particularly at risk of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) in the first few hours after birth so although colostrum can be useful in this period to stabilise your baby’s blood sugar levels, these babies are often given formula. One way to see that your baby is less likely to be offered formula in this important newborn period, is to express and store colostrum during the last weeks of pregnancy. Discuss this with your health-care providers and write a post birth plan (see below) so that everyone caring for you knows your wishes – before your baby is offered formula as his first feed.
To express colostrum •
•
•
You will need – 1 and 3ml syringes ( from a pharmacy) and plastic ziplock bags to store your syringes in the freezer Start hand expressing once daily at 36 weeks (unless otherwise advised by your health carer. For instance if you are being induced earlier for medical reasons or if you are in premature labor and are expected to birth your baby). You can build up to expressing 2 to 3 times a day. It’s best to express after your shower when your
• •
•
•
•
•
breasts are warm and your hands are clean. Otherwise wash your hands and warm your breasts with a heat pack before expressing. Gently massage your breasts towards the nipple to stimulate the ‘let down’ reflex. Compress your breasts with thumb and fingers above and below the areola (the dark skin around the nipple), pressing back towards the chest wall, not squeezing towards the nipple. Try to mimic the rhythm of a baby sucking – the action is ‘press, compress, release’. As the flow slows, move your fingers around to express different ducts. Express for about 3 to 5 minutes each side – as flow stops on one side, swap to the other breast, repeat so each breast is expressed twice in a session. As colostrum drops appear, collect these in a syringe. If you have a good flow, you can express into a clean medicine glass or spoon (wash in hot soapy water, rinse and dry) and draw the colostrum up into a syringe. Store the expressed colostrum in the fridge between each expressing if you are using the same syringe next time. Use a new syringe each day, store syringes in a ziplock bag in the freezer and label with your name and the date. Colostrum can be stored in the freezer for 3 months and in a deep freeze for up to 6 months. Stop expressing if cramps occur
Most importantly, write a post birth plan that includes uninterrupted skin-to-skin cuddles as soon after birth as possible, delayed weighing, delayed bathing so baby keeps his amniotic smell longer (and don’t wash your own chest the first day so baby follows this amniotic smell back to the breast and latches more easily), and advise (pop a notice on your baby’s cot if he is in a nursery) “Colostrum in freezer for baby if needed.” Sourced from http://www.pinkymckay.com/expressing-colostrumduring-pregnancy-your-newborns-first-immune-boost/
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Coffee Groups in Action by Tammy Bayley I joined Palmerston North Parents Centre antenatal group in 2009 when I was pregnant with my first child. At the start of July all our babies had finally been born and we started to have our weekly coffee group catch ups where we would take turns hosting these at our homes. These coffee groups were great to attend as it gave us all the opportunity to get out of the house with the babies at least once a week and we were able to bounce ideas off of each other when our babies weren’t sleeping or we needed a friendly ear and even just having somebody to talk to who understood and were going through with the same non sleeping motions as you were at the time. As time went on and more and more of us started returning to work, our coffee groups became less frequent as life became busier but we knew that when we needed a friendly ear or someone to talk to about the different ages and stages of the babies that we
always had the support of each other even if it was just to get advice or tips from each other. As a coffee group we still strive to catch up altogether at least once every few months and some of the ladies in the group still meet up during the week with their other younger children, so not only has coffee group been good for our first babies but also subsequent children also. Being a part of a coffee group has helped us and our children to form some really strong friendships even five years down the track and some of the children are even in the same classes at school. I really recommend first time parents to join Palmerston North Parents Centre so that they are able to join the coffee groups as I found them to be the highlight of my week, especially when Dad heads back to work and suddenly you are left alone with a little human to care for all by yourself. These coffee groups are with genuine people who know exactly what you were going through and can identify with you and the challenges that you are facing as first time parents.
r
nd Spence
Sienna a
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Kidicorp for happy, confident learners! 4 Safe, caring learning environments,
with quality equipment 4 Qualified teachers who help children reach milestones 4 Enrol early, limited spaces at some centres 4 Part time and full time places available 4 Affordable fees and 20 ECE hours 4 WINZ subsidies available Visit one of our centres ABC Palmerston North 14 Russell Street, Ph: 354 0941 ABC Hokowhitu 224-226 Park Road, Hokowhitu, Ph: 354 9994 First Steps Palmerston North 21 Ngata Street, Ph: 354 7907 First Steps Railway Road 1 El Prado Drive, Milson, (behind Leisureplex Centre) Ph: 356 2516 ABC Foxton Beach 12 Carthew Terrace, Ph: 363 6626 For more information phone 0800 KIDICORP or visit www.kidicorp.co.nz
discovery
maths
literacy
friendship
creativity
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Soothing the Sobs by Pinky McKay
Crying is your baby’s language. At first, it is pretty much the only way an infant can communicate his needs and express feelings like discomfort, hunger, exhaustion and loneliness. It is also the only way he can release pent up stress. As your baby grows he will learn other ways to communicate— through facial expressions, body language and, eventually, by telling you how he feels and what he needs. For now, though, here are some tips to help you soothe the sobs: 1.
Learn your baby’s language: by learning your baby’s pre-cry signals – wriggling, anxious facial expressions, little grimaces, flailing arms, ‘rooting’ at the breast, changes in breathing, and little noises that say” I am working up to a cry”, you will be able to see when she is bored, frightened, hungry, tired or overwhelmed, and by responding accordingly, you may be able to avert full-blown crying.
2.
Offer Womb Service: Ease the transition from womb to room by snuggling your newborn against your bare skin and heartbeat – carrying your baby in a sling next to your body is a perfect way to help him feel secure and snug, just as he was in your womb ( see tip number 5). In the early weeks, protect your little one’s senses by avoiding sudden movements, changes in temperature, loud noises, bright lights and lots of handling by ‘strangers’.
3.
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Feed her: Tiny tummies don’t hold enough food to
go long between feeds – day or night. Babies also have appetite increases to match growth spurts. If you are breastfeeding, remember, the more your baby sucks, the more milk you will produce. He needs to suck long enough to get the more satisfying hind-milk, which is higher in calories. The best way to do this is to watch your baby, not the clock, and allow your baby to decide when he is finished the first breast, before you switch sides. 4.
Respond quickly: You can’t spoil a little baby, but if you leave her to cry, she will become more upset as her crying picks up momentum. Soon she won’t even know why she was crying in the first place – she will just be crying because she can’t stop and will be much harder to settle. If you are breastfeeding, it is particularly important to respond quickly to hunger cues: a baby who is left to work up to a full-blown cry will have a more disorganised suck and may have difficulty latching
PALMY PARENT: PALMERSTON NORTH PARENTS CENTRE MAGAZINE
on correctly (when babies cry, their tongues are pointed towards the roof of their mouths), or she may only suck for a short time before she falls asleep with exhaustion 5. Wear your baby: Studies show that carrying your baby may prevent crying – carrying her in a sling against your own warm body will reduce your baby’s stress levels and help relieve symptoms of colic and reflux. It is also reputed to help babies adapt more quickly to a day/night sleep cycle. Best of all, you will have two hands free! 6. Try the ‘colic carry’: Lie baby face-down across your arm, her cheek at your elbow, or carry her with her backbone against you, pressing her knees against her stomach. Alternatively, lie baby tummy-down across your knees, perhaps with a warm wheat pack on your lap. If baby is restless, don’t hold him in a cradle (feeding) position. Instead, try holding him up against your shoulder and walking or gently rocking backwards and forwards. 7.
Give him your finger: Sucking is comforting to babies and helps them relax. However the different sucking action between breast and dummy may cause ‘nipple confusion’ in the early weeks, so offer a clean finger to suck on if it is inconvenient to offer a breast, or baby isn’t hungry.
8. All wrapped up: Primitive survival reflexes, such as the startle reflex, which produces spontaneous, jerky movements, even in sleep, can be disturbing (literally). Provide a sense of security by swaddling your baby – wrapping him firmly in a gauze or muslin sheet (in summer) or a soft shawl in winter. 9. Soak away the sobs: A bath will often soothe a tense, crying baby. Try a deep, warm relaxation bath (in an adult bath tub). If baby is over three months you can add a few drops of lavender or chamomile oil for added calming effects. 10. Kick Butt: Studies show that the risk of colic is increased whichever parent smokes. As well as increasing the risk of SIDS, smoking also affects levels of prolactin, the hormone that aids relaxation and milk flow. So at least cut down and smoke outside, away from baby.
11. Food intolerance: If you are breastfeeding and crying spells seem to be related to your diet, write down baby’s crying times and what you have eaten. If there appears to be a link, eliminate the suspect food for at least a week. Common culprits are, caffeine, dairy produce (milk, cheese, yoghurt), citrus, chocolate and peanuts. Some babies may also react to food additives (in soft drinks or processed foods) or chemicals such as salicylates which are present in a range of otherwise healthy foods such as grapes, citrus, berries and tomatoes – for more information on food intolerance see the book or DVD ‘Fed up’ by Sue Dengate 12. A gentle touch: With warm hands and warm oil, massage baby when he is calm at first, so he associates your gentle touch with relaxation. Tummy massage can move wind, encourage digestion and help ease constipation: massage in a clockwise direction –the direction the food will travel. If you alternately massage your baby’s tummy and bend his knees, you may release trapped wind (see Pinky’s baby massage DVD for detailed instructions on how to massage gently, safely and respectfully) . 13. Beat the blues: If baby has a regular crying time or suffers from colic, try to pre-empt the wails with a combination of massage, followed by a relaxation bath about an hour before his usual crying time. 14. Soothing sounds: Sing a lullaby, including your baby’s name (humming will help calm you as well as baby), or play gentle classical music –try the baby ‘b’s –Bach, Beethoven, Brahms or Baroque music. 15. Take care of yourself: Eat well, especially at breakfast, to maintain energy levels, take a good multi vitamin, exercise to stimulate endorphins (‘feel good’ hormones) and snuggle up with your baby during the afternoon – a siesta can have a marked effect on your milk supply as well as your stamina, and may help ease your baby’s (and your own) stress levels. Article sourced from http://www.pinkymckay.com/ soothing-the-sobs-15-tips-to-calm-your-crying-baby/
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BOOK REVIEW
Helping Young Children Flourish Review by Rachel Andersen Author: Aletha Solter, PhD Following on from ‘The Aware Baby’, ‘Helping Young Children Flourish’ focuses on gentle parenting (different from permissive parenting) children aged 2-8 years old. This is a user friendly read, with easy to navigate chapters, headings, and self-reflection questions. It’s an easy book to keep in your purse or read in the bath. You don’t need to have read ‘The Aware Baby’ before reading ‘Helping Young Children Flourish’. I found that once I’d read the first chapter and come to grips with her philosophy, I could easily pop in and out of this book as needed. The later chapters are organised as a series of questions and answers with practical ways to use the ideas. So, for instance, when my kids’ grandfather died I could read the two pages headed “How Can I Answer My Child’s Questions About Death?”. Throughout the book she uses (sometimes amusing) anecdotes from her own child-raising and that of her clients, to help illustrate how her strategies work. Solutions are offered to many common parenting dilemmas, including (but not limited to) dealing with childhood fears, alternatives to punishments
and rewards, sibling rivalry, toilet training, bed time problems, lying or stealing, aggression, eating problems, temper tantrums, sexual abuse, a new baby, good learning environments, dentist and physician visits, and hospital stays. The only criticism of the book (not the style of parenting) I could find is that the research is now dated (there are over 200 academic references). Even though the book was published in 1989, the research she cites still holds up as relevant and valid. In fact, research published since this book was first released, further confirms her work – she was a trailblazer. I found this a very readable book which has opened my eyes to the benefits of crying. The practical tips helped me to see how to reduce the conflict that comes with punishments and rewards. “Parents who follow this approach raise children who are bright, compassionate, nonviolent, and drug free” p. 237 The book is available from her website, along with her other books (The Aware Baby, Tears and Tantrums, Raising Drug-Free Kids, and Attachment Play), and is offered in a variety of languages. There are also lots of handouts and summaries on her website. www.awareparenting.com You can also order this book from the Book Depository: RRP $18.65.
Nicole Willams & Ma’afu Fia
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PALMY PARENT: PALMERSTON NORTH PARENTS CENTRE MAGAZINE
PARENTING
To Build (or Break) a Child’s Spirit By Jo Cowan
This article hopes to inspire thought about the way we guide our children —and not just with our children, but also with our spouse, our friends, our relatives, and our colleagues. Encouragement can build and heal. Learn to love yourself and your family “as is.” If you needed to lose weight, what would be most motivating? You are fat. I’m not buying you any more clothes until you lose weight! Or: Let’s take a walk after dinner. I’ll let you make the salad. I love you just the way you are, exactly as you are. If you needed to learn how to swim, what would be most motivating? I don’t want to hear your crying. Get in the water and swim! Don’t be a baby! Or: I’ll be right by your side. You can do this. If not today, we’ll try again tomorrow. I love you just the way you are, exactly as you are. If you needed to practice better hygiene, what would be most motivating? What is that awful smell? It’s a wonder you have any friends. Or: Let’s go to the store and pick out some deodorant. Your hair smells so good when you wash it. I think you should wash it every day. I love you just the way you are, exactly as you are. If your table manners needed improvement, what would be most motivating? You eat like a pig. I cannot stand to watch you eat. You are disgusting. Or: I am trying to put down my fork after each bite; I’d like you to join me. Thank you for chewing with your mouth closed. I love you just the way you are, exactly as you are. If you are a bit clumsy and disorganised, what would motivate you to be more responsible? Can’t you do anything right? You are either losing things or making a
mess! Or: Everyone makes mistakes. That’s how we learn. It’s no big deal—just get a rag and clean it up. I love you just the way you are, exactly as you are. At times in my life I have been overweight, scared to swim, smelly, ill-mannered, and disorganised. During those times, I could have used some encouragement. So when I saw the young boy ordered to get out of the pool because he was scared to swim, I cried with him from behind my sunglasses. I saw the disappointment in the man’s eyes as he looked at his shivering son hugging his knees to his chest. The man really wanted his boy to learn to swim. He thought reprimanding him and ignoring the boy’s cries would motivate him to try harder next time. At times in my life, I thought this too. About a little girl and her ukulele. About a little girl and her frequent messes. About a little girl and her perpetually slow self. About a little girl and her inability to ride a bike. “Play the song again; you’re not trying hard enough.” “Another spill? Are you serious?” “How many times do I have to tell you to hurry up?” “All the other kids have learned to ride their bike. It’s high time you did too.” With every sharply delivered word, with each disapproving glare, with every disappointed shake of
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the head, that girl got smaller. Less confident. Less capable. Less shiny. And one day she spoke the words of a defeated soul. “I just want to be good, Mama,” cried the little girl who once loved to strum her beloved instrument. And now she was placing the instrument at her feet, wondering if she should even be strumming at all. Over time, my constant critiques and exasperated breaths led her to believe she was no good. Over time, I’d broken her beautiful spirit—the one that gave her a unique and radiant light. Motivating? Not so much. There was a fine line between helpful adult guidance and using my authority to shame and belittle (under the guise of good intentions). As I crossed that line again and again, my child experienced a harsh reality: No matter what she did, it would never be good enough for me; I could never be pleased. Motivating? Not so much. The thought of my child growing up with a parent whose love was based on what she did rather than who she was caused an immediate change in me.
I stopped being her rigid taskmaster and instead became her loving encourager.
she fails, it’s not the end of the world because she knows she can try again. She knows I will love her regardless of what she does or doesn’t do. She confides in me when she does something wrong. She loves herself “as is” even though she does things a little differently than most.
I wish I’d abandoned the role of demanding taskmaster sooner, but I will not dwell on yesterday. Today matters more. My hope is that by sharing my own painful regrets and life-changing discoveries, I can help someone else see what I see: Shame abandons, encouragement believes. Condemnation paralyses, compassion frees. Exasperation quits, patience prevails. Yelling silences, communication opens up. Blame hurts, grace heals. Fault finding destroys, praise builds. Rejection loses, unconditional love wins. If you were a child trying to get through life the best way you know how, what would be most motivating? I don’t think you’ll ever measure up. Or: I love you just the way you are, exactly as you are.
Rather than harping on every single thing my child did wrong, I saved my guidance for serious issues—issues that could be potentially dangerous or life-altering. Rather than forcing her to master a skill at the same rate as her peers, I assured myself that she would be ready in her own time. I stopped overreacting to kid mishaps and minor incidents and realized she was better at cleaning up after herself without someone breathing down her neck. If there was a bad habit that needed changing, I led by example. I invited her to join me in healthy habits. I provided tools (like timers and check-off lists) to empower her to become more prompt and responsible without my assistance. I celebrated her efforts rather than the outcome and strived to speak three times as many positive words than negative ones. Under the wing of Loving Encourager for the past several years, I’ve watched my child blossom. Her confidence and self-assurance have grown. She takes risks and when
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To read more inspirational stories from Rachel Macy Stafford go online to http://www.handsfreemama.com Adapted from http://www.handsfreemama.com/2014/05/20/ to-build-or-break-a-childs-spirit/
PALMY PARENT: PALMERSTON NORTH PARENTS CENTRE MAGAZINE
NEWBORNS AND CHIROPRACTIC CARE Our goal at Chiropractic House is to enable newborns, children, adults and the elderly to reach their optimal health and well being, by providing the highest possible standard and quality of Chiropractic health care. We believe the best time to see a Chiropractor is as a newborn baby, as the earliest challenge a growing spine faces is the position it is forced to adopt in utero. Many women will have heard of foetal positions which can cause problems with the labour (brow, breech, transverse, posterior etc), but what is less well known is that these can also cause problems in the baby’s spine. Spinal bones can be pushed out of place (subluxated) or jammed by the position of the baby in the womb. The second challenge many babies face is the road down the birth canal and out into the world can be a trying one, particularly in the case of medical intervention. Even the “normal” birth process with the pushing stage of labour may cause misalignments (subluxations) in the newborn’s spine, as the baby is compressed and pushed down the birth canal. A subluxation (a.k.a. Vertebral Subluxation) is when one or more of the bones of the spine (vertebrae) move out of position and create pressure on, or irritate delicate spinal nerves. Spinal nerves travel out from the spinal cord to the rest of the body, relaying vital information from the brain to every cell, tissue, organ, muscle, and gland of the body via the nervous system. Every function in the body and all the body’s senses are totally dependant on the nervous system. When the nerve energy flows without any blockages (subluxations), the body and brain are in tune and able to function at 100% of their innate abilities. In simple terms, subluxation means the body is unable to work properly, normally leading to poor health. The cause of many newborn health complaints such as colic, reflux, breastfeeding difficulties, sleep disturbances, allergic reactions and chronic infections can often be traced to irritation to the nervous system caused by these spinal and cranial misalignments (subluxations). Chiropractors are the only professionals who undergo years of training to be the experts at correcting subluxations. It is the responsibility of the Doctor of Chiropractic to locate subluxations, and reduce or correct them. The first thing that most parents feel when they think of chiropractic for babies is— fear: “Can Chiropractic be dangerous for my baby?” Chiropractic is a safe, non-invasive, natural health care that has been used on newborns for more than a 100 years. Chiropractic treatment is ‘tailored’ to every individual and their particular spine, and newborns are no exception. Spinal adjustments for newborns and young children involve very light fingertip pressure, pressure comparable to the amount of pressure you could press on your closed eyelid without any discomfort. All babies deserve the best chance at a healthy, happy, subluxation-free life. All babies deserve Chiropractic health.
32 Victoria Ave, Palmerston North
Ph: 359 4888
www.energyforlife.co.nz
Chiropractic Exam and Consultation (Normally a $45 charge)
Phone: 3594 888 www.energyforlife.co.nz 32 Victoria Ave, Palmerston Nth
Chiropractic Exam and Consultation (Normally a $45 charge)
Phone: 3594 888 www.energyforlife.co.nz 32 Victoria Ave, Palmerston Nth
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MUMMY MATTERS
Off to Kindy by Renee Murphy
Initially, it all went smoothly and he happily said goodbye at drop off time. Then, a few weeks in he got the wobbles and the morning dramas began. On kindy mornings he says things like “I don’t want to go to kindy” “Can we stay home all day?” and the tears start flowing. It all reaches a climax when I go to leave and he says repeatedly through floods of tears “Mummy I’m really really sad”. As a result, drop offs are kept very brief. A quick cuddle and kiss, hand him over (in tears) to one of the teachers and head for the door. His performance tugs firmly at my heartstrings and it’s an unpleasant experience for me as a mum to leave him in such a state but I know it’s the only way to get him settled. The teachers are great and have seen it all before and I know they will look after him.
At the beginning of this term, Connor started kindy. After nearly three years at home with me, it was time to broaden his horizons. With a new baby to look after, I was no longer able to give him the attention he was used to and felt he was ready for a bit more stimulation. It was an exciting prospect for Connor, made even better by the fact that he got to pick out a new lunch box to take along. I felt a bit apprehensive knowing I would no longer be there to cuddle him if he hurt himself or generally make sure he was okay, but was also looking forward to a bit of a break two mornings a week.
A phone call to check up on him a little while later puts me at ease as the teachers inform me that he is happily playing. Once he is there and taking part in activities, he is fine and I know this stage will pass. I love seeing his artwork and hearing about what he has been up to. He’s learnt a lot in the few weeks he has been there – from what to do in an earthquake, to songs, dances and games. They are all great life experiences for him and I know that he will have fond memories of kindy to look back on. We just have to persevere and get him through this stage so that he realises what a great place it is.
On the first day, we took photos to record another important milestone, and then off we went with a bit of a nervous anticipation.
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PALMY PARENT: PALMERSTON NORTH PARENTS CENTRE MAGAZINE
FAMILY RECIPE
Halloween Pumpkin Cupcakes Ingredients
Directions
• • • • • • • • • •
Preheat oven to 180 degrees C. Place large cupcake papers in a 12-hole muffin tray. In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, soda, cinnamon, mixed spice and sugar. In a glass jug, measure the milk (to ½ cup) and oil (up to 1 cup) and add eggs. Whisk to combine and stir in the pumpkin puree. Stir the liquid mixture into the dry ingredients until just combined.
2 cups plain flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon mixed spice 1 cup caster sugar 2 eggs ½ cup (125mL) milk ½ cup (125mL) oil 150g pumpkin puree
Icing • • •
1 cup icing sugar 2-3 tablespoons water 12 snakes to decorate
Fill cupcake papers ¾ full (an icecream scoop is perfect for this). Bake for 20 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the middle of a cupcake comes out clean. Transfer to wire racks and allow to cool completely. For the icing, mix icing sugar with enough water to make a spreadable paste. Spread cold cupcakes with about a tablespoon of icing and top with a slithering snake.
Notes •
•
To make the pumpkin puree, steam some pumpkin until tender, puree with a stab mixer or in a blender. Weigh out 150g (about ½ cup) for the cupcakes. Any leftover can be used for baby mush or to thicken soups or casseroles. If you can find some Halloween-type lollies that won’t scare your kids—ghosts, skeletons, little pumpkins or spiders, use these instead of the snakes.
Trick or Treat Halloween is a holiday celebrated on the night of October 31. The word Halloween is a shortening of All Hallows’ Evening also known as Hallowe’en or All Hallows’ Eve.
ancient pagans to take stock of supplies and prepare for winter. The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31, the boundaries between the worlds of the living and the dead overlapped and the deceased would come back to life and cause havoc such as sickness or damaged crops.
Traditional activities include trick-or-treating, bonfires, costume parties, visiting “haunted houses” and carving jack-o-lanterns. Irish and Scottish immigrants carried versions of the tradition to North America in the nineteenth century. Other countries embraced the holiday in the late twentieth century including Ireland, the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom as well as of Australia and New Zealand.
Masks and costumes were worn in an attempt to mimic the evil spirits or appease them.
Halloween has its origins in the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain (pronounced “sah-win”). The festival of Samhain is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture. Samhain was a time used by the
Trick-or-treating, is an activity for children on or around Halloween in which they proceed from house to house in costumes, asking for treats such as confectionery with the question, “Trick or treat?” The “trick” part of “trick or treat” is a threat to play a trick on the homeowner or his property if no treat is given. Trick-or-treating is one of the main traditions of Halloween. It has become socially expected that if one lives in a neighborhood with children one should purchase treats in preparation for trick-or-treaters.
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www.childcare.barnardos.org.nz
PRE-SCHOOLERS
For the Love of Learning by Barnardos KidStart Childcare If there’s one thing pre-schoolers love, it’s letting their imaginations really run wild. They’re always developing new fascinations, and being responsive to this can lead to some great learning opportunities. Here, three local Barnardos KidStart Childcare educators share experiences they’ve enjoyed recently with the children they care for. Maree’s story Maree Groves has been a Barnardos KidStart Childcare educator in Whanganui for 15 years. She started when her own children were small – they’re now grown, but she still loves looking after other little ones. Maree’s philosophy is that young children should feel safe, secure and free to try things. “Pre-school learning is about being creative, making friends and getting along. The children learn to respect each other, and that’s so important,” she says.
Ship ahoy!
“Kowhai Park in Whanganui has a big pirate ship for children to play on, with ladders, firemen’s poles and all sorts of exciting features. So it’s not surprising that the children I care for developed a fascination with pirates! I saw that this interest could be a great learning opportunity, so I took the idea and ran with it. “The boys were enjoying pretending to be pirates, so we really got into it. We learned lots about pirate ships, and created a treasure box with jewels, coins and other treasures in it. We also made a pirate flag and strung it up, and used outdoor resources like wood to make our very own pirate ship. “The park is the perfect place for a treasure hunt, so we set one up,
and the children searched for treasure that the ‘real’ pirates had left behind. It was such a fun learning experience, and it still continues, as the boys still play pirate dress-up and put on their hats and their eye patches. “We play outside a lot. The children love riding their bikes, playing on the jungle gym and climbing trees. We also do plenty of walking, and meet up with another local educator and her children, so all the children have got to know each other well.“ she could do a great job looking after other people’s too! Karen encourages the children in her care to be independent and to explore their world. “I think it’s important for them to think for themselves and be independent learners,” she says.
Matariki magic
“Matariki is a great opportunity for cultural learning – even for very young children. We took a trip to the library for a Matariki event, and it really inspired the four-year-olds I care for. The primary school’s kapa haka group was there doing a performance, and one of my boys was very interested in the older boys and what they wore. He loved how the piupiu made sounds as the boys moved. So we got home and decided to make our own! The boys loved helping to create their piupiu, and enjoyed wearing them to do their own haka. It was all lots of fun, and the children got a lot out of it.
Karen’s story Karen Morley has been a Barnardos KidStart Childcare educator in Levin for 11 years. She was drawn to caring for children because she wanted to be at home with her own small children, and thought
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“I love building strong relationships with the children in my care and their families. Seeing the children grow up and gain independence is so rewarding, and I always feel proud when they move on to school, as I’ve looked after them from babies.”
PALMY PARENT: PALMERSTON NORTH PARENTS CENTRE MAGAZINE
Jenny’s story Jenny has been a Barnardos KidStart Childcare educator for 25 years. She also fosters children, but found she had space in her life for more children while her foster children were at school. “I really enjoy the pre-schoolers, and they seem to really enjoy me too,” she says. Jenny’s philosophy is that early childhood education is about the relationships between the children and their relationship with their educator. “It’s important to get down to their level and give them an ear,” she adds.
Building great foundations
“The boys I care for have a particular interest in construction work. They all want to be Bob the Builder! So we’ve got helmets and plastic tools, and they go around pretending to screw and unscrew things. I’ve also set up hammering activities, and included larger tacks so the little ones can get involved too. I’m working on a woodwork area outside – I’ve bought tools, a saw and a mitre box, and I’m waiting to get a saw bench made. “The older boys and I were talking about the wind recently, and realised we could blow and make our own wind. We got straws and
ping pong balls, and blew them all over the kitchen floor, and next door’s kitten came along to join in the fun! We then put holes into plastic bottles, filled them with water and a bit of washing up liquid, blew into them and watched the bubbles cascading from the holes. I captured the boys’ experience in their own words afterwards – it was great to hear them describe what they’d learned and the fun they’d had doing it.”
With over 40 years’ experience in providing childcare for New Zealand families, Barnardos KidStart Childcare are experts in helping foster development. If you would like to learn more about Barnardos KidStart Childcare options, give us a call on 0800 KIDSTART or visit our website at kidstart.co.nz
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Toddler Puzzles A quick and easy toddler activity with very little preparation. Materials Needed: • markers • coloured cards • scissors • toys/objects from around the house Directions: 1. Cut each piece of cards in half. 2. Trace some of your child’s favourite objects onto the cards using a marker. You can have your child choose the objects and you can trace them. If your child is older, have them choose more challenging objects and let them trace their own “puzzle” pieces. 3. Lay out the completed “puzzles” and have your child try and match the objects with their outline. 4. If your child struggles the first time, model how to complete the puzzles and then have him try again 5. When finished, store the objects and cards in a basket in your child’s room so that he can try out his puzzles again and again when he is playing. Sourced from http://www.toddlerapproved.com/2010/01/matching-objects. html?m=1
HIRE A TENS MACHINE Hire a Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) machine to help reduce your pain during labour and childbirth.
Palmerston North Parents Centre (PNPC) has three TENS machines available for hire by our members for ONLY $10 for up to four weeks’ hireage (plus a $50.00 refundable bond). Machines can be booked for the two weeks prior to your due date until two weeks post due date. Watch a video interview with a TENS machine expert at youtube.com/watch?v=4gUEtYAqPw8
Book your TENS Machine from: BABY BEGINNINGS, George St, Phone 06 355 5773 (Lending Coordinator), Shop hours: Mon-Fri, 10.00am-5.00pm; Saturday, 10.00am-4.00pm. Please pay by cash and bring your PNPC Membership card. Full terms and conditions on our Facebook page: facebook.com/PNorthPC
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PALMY PARENT: PALMERSTON NORTH PARENTS CENTRE MAGAZINE
MOVE TO MUSIC with Lynsey Taylor, Occupational Therapist BSc (Hons)
Encourage purposeful movement in a fun, creative way Wonkee Donkees (Toddlers 18 months +) Tuesday, 9.30 am—10 am Creepy Crawlies (8 months +) Tuesday, 10.30 am—11 am Slippery Slugs (0-8 months) Tuesday, 11.30 am—12 pm
Parents Centre Members: Casual rate $3; Term rate $20 ($2 per class) paid in advance Non-members: Casual rate $4; Term rate $30 ($3 per class) paid in advance Venue: Palmerston North Parents Centre, 30 Waldegrave Street
TERM 4: 14 October — 16 December
For more information or enrolments, contact Lynsey Taylor on 027 4873678 or e-mail palmnthpc@gmail.com or contact Parents Centre on facebook.com/PNorthPC
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Community Support Groups Across Te Kotahitanga O Te Wairua We can provide a range of social services which include: Counselling • Family support (including respite care for children) • Parenting advice/information and programmes • Advice on other services available for parents and families. Contact: Graeme on (06) 356 7486 or visit across.org.nz Allergy New Zealand Support groups are a great way to meet others in a similar situation to you. They are very relaxed, informal sessions to share ideas, discuss your concerns and get information and resources. Our regional support group is there to help put you in contact with others, to provide you with information such as those all important recipes and to listen when you need someone to talk to. They are not medically qualified but can refer your queries on and seek information on your behalf. For further information phone 0800 34 0800 or visit allergy.org.nz Brain Injury Association Central Districts We provide advocacy information and support for people with brain injury, their families, whanau and carers. For more information call (06) 354 3540. Breastfeeding Help An IBCLC (often called lactation consultant) is a breastfeeding specialist qualified to prevent, recognise and resolve breastfeeding problems. All members of NZCLA hold the professional qualification of International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Any mother, family member or health professional interested in obtaining the contact details of an IBCLC can phone 0800 4 LACTATION (0800 452 282) during daytime hours. Breastfeeding Drop In Centre Do you have problems with breastfeeding or have questions about feeding your baby? Our Qualified Lactation Consultant is here to help you on your breastfeeding journey and offer information and support. We are open on Mondays 1pm — 3pm, at Community Birth Services, Level 2, Westside Chambers, 151 The Square. Phone: 06 354-6455. A warm welcome awaits you. HOPE An opportunity for parents of premature babies to meet and chat and to offer hope and support to those who currently have babies in the Neo-Natal Unit. Graduates welcome. Held at: Plunket Family Centre, 42 Albert Street, Palmerston North. Monday 1pm – 2.30pm. Contact: Karlyn Sullivan-Jones (06) 353 0663 or karlynandmark@xnet.co.nz Itchy Kids A national support group for parents and whanau who care for children with eczema and allergies. For more information contact Sarah Hartley 027 333 7385 or email hartleyfamilynz@gmail.com or visit itchykids.org.nz La Leche League If you are wanting to meet some other great Mums for breastfeeding, parenting support and information, the La Leche League can help. We are located at St. David’s Church Presbyterian Church on the corner of Main and Rainsforth Streets. For more information please phone (06) 356 7990 or visit lalecheleague.org.nz Manawatu Toy Library This fabulous toy library lends out toys to families. There is a wide variety of toys for both indoor and outdoor play. Membership costs $85 per annum or $55 per half year for families. For more information please phone (06) 356 7383. Manawatu Down Syndrome Association Regional contact is Andrea Wales (06) 356 1767.
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Manawatu Home Birth Association Offering information, advice and support to women and their families seeking to birth their babies at home. Birth pools and other equipment available for hire. Library, sibling kits and bimonthly newsletters also available. Call (06) 356 BABY (06 356 2229) for more information. Manline Men’s support group (06) 358 1211. Manawatu Father and Child Trust Subscribe to Father & Child magazine for $10 per annum (that’s a 33% discount to PNPC members). Cheques should be payable to ‘Father and Child Trust’, Freepost 106040, PO Box 26040, Christchurch. Visit fatherandchild.org.nz/farchives/subs.html for more information. Miscarriage Support Miscarriage can be a very lonely experience and is often not talked about. Miscarriage support groups have produced quality information and pamphlets for women/couples who may need information and support. These invaluable resources can be downloaded from miscarriage.org.nz Methodist Social Services Offering free programmes for primary/intermediate aged children and their parents/caregivers, around the areas of anger management, grief loss and change, and confidence building. We also offer family, couple, and individual counselling, and have both male and female counsellors available. Advocacy and social work support services are provided along with an emergency food service. For all enquiries, please call 06 350 0307, 663 Main Street, Palmerston North. Parent to Parent Supporting families of children with a special need, health impairment or disability. For more information please phone (06) 355 0787or email manawatu@parent2parent.org.nz Parentline 24 Hour Crisis Line Offering help and support for parents 24 hours a day. Phone 0800 4 FAMILY. Plunket Education Services For parent education classes please contact the Plunket family centre in Albert Street, Palmerston North, (06) 356 7248 for more information regarding classes in 2014. Relationship Services We offer resources and programmes related to ‘Parenting through Separation’ and ‘It’s not Okay’ (children affected by violence). For information please phone (06) 357 6486 or visit relate.org.nz Reflux Support — Contact: Sharon 354 7280 Sands A voluntary group who have lost babies before, during or after birth. They can provide first hand support, guidance and information on miscarriage, stillbirth or newborn death. Further information and support can be found by contacting Shaun and Gaylene Vivian (06) 356 9715 or visiting sands.org.nz Supergrans Manawatu Charitable Trust Supergrans Manawatu is all about helping people help themselves. A service to all to brush up on the basic skills needed to provide for oneself or for a family. Our motto is not a ‘do it for you today’ it is a ‘help you to do it tomorrow’ concept. This is a free service. It is concerned with encouraging better skills in those everyday tasks around the home that sustain life. We work with you in your own home. Phone (06) 354 3804 or 021 0669 442 for further information.
PALMY PARENT: PALMERSTON NORTH PARENTS CENTRE MAGAZINE
Member Discounts Use your Parents Centre Membership Card at these shops and show them your support as well as getting a wonderful discount.
10% OFF
YOUR BUSINESS HERE For more details email palmyparenteditor@gmail.com
Coleman Mall, Palmerston North Ph: 06 357 1976
GRANT IRVINE PHARMACY
10% OFF
168 Albert Street, Palmerston North Ph: 06 357 8782
STORK TO CHALK
10% OFF
www.stork-to-chalk.co.nz
NOTHING NEGATIVE PHOTO PACKAGES
15% OFF
Email: NothingNegativePhotography@gmail.com for more information
TV aerial/satellite installer
10% OFF
All current PNPC members receive 10% off labour only Call Now for a FREE Quote Robert Torok Ph: 06 354 5664 or 027 294 3972
YOUR BUSINESS HERE For more details email palmyparenteditor@gmail.com
15% OFF 32A The Square, Palmerston North P 351 6322 F 351 6323 bethanys@inspire.net.nz www.bethanys.co.nz
Kim Sargent Photography
10% OFF
Photography packages only The Photography Studio, 155 The Square, Level 1, Palmerston North Ph: 021 408 838
HAIR TRANSFORMER
15% OFF
Link Arcade, Broadway Avenue Palmerston North Ph: 06 358 1309
$10 OFF
All current PNPC members receive $10 off, offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Sharlene Adkins (t) 06 355 4939 (e) sharlene@smallp.com (m) 021 185 2064. www.smallp.com
PRECIOUS MEMORIES
$10 OFF
Present this coupon and receive $10 off a framed sculpture. Ph: Katte 06 329 3262 or visit www.preciousmemories.co.nz
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Playgroups In Your Area Play Groups Address Phone Hours Plunket Karitane Family Centre Plunket Over 30s Coffee Group
42 Albert Street 42 Albert Street
356 7248 356 7428
Fri 9:30am to 11:30am 10.30am to 12pm
Ashhurst Playcentre Awapuni/Westend Kingston St Chapel
118 Standford Street
326 9270
Mon to Thurs 9am to 12pm
Kingston St
358 0716
Tues & Thurs 9am to 11:30am
Crossroads Early Childhood Salvation Army Rudolf Steiner Seventh Day Adventist Church
220 Church St cnr Church & Princess Sts 187 Ruahine St 257 Ferguson St
358 0669 358 7455 354 4514
Mon to Fri 9am to 12noon Thurs 9:30am to 11am Tues 9:30am to 12noon, Thurs 2pm to 3:30pm Wed 9:30 to 11:00am
Plunket Feilding Playcentre Northend Playcentre Doodlebugs SPACE Bright Sparks Preschool Programme
116 Derby St (Lifepoint Church) 254A Kimbolton Rd 42 North St Knox Hall, North St 22 Bowen St Feilding Library
323 4518 323 6100 323 7439 323 7240 323 7221 323 5373
Thurs 9:30am to 11am Mon, Tues, Wed & Fri 9am to 12noon Mon, Tues & Thurs 9am to 12noon Thurs 9am to 11:30am Contact for more details Wed 10:30am to 11:30am
Te Aroha Noa Community Services
12-32 Brentwood Ave
358 2255
Fri 8:30am to 12noon
Mums & Bubs (0-18 months) St Albans Church Park Road Playcentre
27 Franklin Ave 339 Albert St Huia St extn
358 8351 357 9411 357 0791
Mon 10:30am to 12 noon Wed 9:30am to 10:30am Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri 9am to 12noon
Kairanga Playgroup
Kairanga Community Hall
Wed 9:00am to 11am
Linton Playgroup
Linton Camp (Community Centre)
3519970
Mon & Wed 9am to 11:30am
Milson Playcentre
1a Seaforth Ave
356 9824
Mon, Wed & Fri 9am-12noon
Opiki Playgroup
St Andrews Church, Main Road
Tues 10am to 12noon
Kelvin Grove Salvation Army Church on Vogel
99-103 Kaimanawa St 127 Vogel St
Wed 9:30am to 11:30am Wed 9:30am to 12noon
Ashhurst
Central
Feilding
Highbury Hokowhitu
Kairanga Linton
Milson
Opiki
Roslyn/Kelvin Grove
Rongotea
353 0917 357 7336
Te Kawau Playcentre Medway St 324 8246
Mon to Thurs 9:15am to 12:15pm, Fri 11:45am to 2:45pm
Sanson Playcentre
2 Philipps St
329 3503
Tues and Fri 9am to 12noon
St David‘s Presbyterian Church Terrace End Playcentre
Cnr Main & Rainforth 77 Ruamahanga Cres
358 3246 356 9341
Tues 10:00am to 11:30am Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri 9am to 12noon
355 3104 357 9773 355 0787 355 0787 0800 693 724
Contact for more details Every 2nd Wed,10am 1st and 3rd Tues each month, 1-3pm 1st & 3rd Wed each month, 9:30-11:30am Once a month on Thurs 10am to 12noon
Sanson
Terrace End
Specialist Groups La Leche League Manawatu Multiple Birth Club Kingston St Church Parent 2 Parent Special Needs Matipo St ASD/Development Delay Plunket Centre, 42 Albert St ABCD early intervention group 9 Woburn Place - Down Syndrome French for Preschoolers 1st floor, 47 the Square Spanish Class – 2 yrs and up Contact for further details Plunket Bhutanese Playgroup 25 Franklin Ave Nurtured Babies: Naturally Matariki Rudolf Steiner Kindergarten
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021 207 0114 Fri 3.30pm to 4.30pm 355 8257 3574844 Mon 12.30 – 2.30pm See Facebook for details
PALMY PARENT: PALMERSTON NORTH PARENTS CENTRE MAGAZINE
Membership Form Join for one year and you’ll receive...
Membership Incentives (see the discount page for more details)
•
Studio 31 – 10%
•
Stork to Chalk – 10%
•
Grant Irvine Pharmacy – 10%
•
The Baby Factory – 25% (discount Saturdays as advised only)
and you.
•
Nothing Negative –15% off packages
•
A variety of retail discounts.
•
•
Six issues a year of ‘Palmy Parent’, our local magazine.
Kim Sargent Photography – 10% off photography package
•
Six issues a year of Kiwi Parent magazine.
•
Precious Memories – $10 off a framed sculpture
•
The chance to be involved with the running of the centre.
•
Smallprint – $10 off any purchase
•
Reduced rate to attend Move to Music
•
Hair Transformer – 15%
•
Bethany’s Restaurant and Café—15%
Membership with Palmerston North Parents Centre offers you:
•
Coffee groups that help you and your family build
friendships that will offer support for years ahead. •
Free/discounted entry to seminars that focus on baby
Discounts on presentation of membership card
Please complete the details below, enclose your payment (cheques should be made out to PN Parents Centre) or for internet banking: Westpac Bank 03 0726 0486708 00 using the word ‘MEM’ and your full name as the reference. Mail the form to: ‘Membership’, PN Parents Centre, PO Box 1753, Palmerston North. Any queries please contact: (06) 358 4289.
Your details
Partner’s details
_________________________________________________________ First name
Surname
_________________________________________________________ First name
Surname
Date of birth: ____/____/____
Date of birth: ____/____/____
Occupation:_______________________________________________
Occupation:_______________________________________________
Ethnicity:_________________________________________________
Ethnicity:_________________________________________________
Baby’s due date: ____/____/____ Lead Maternity Carer:_______________________________________
Child(ren)’s details First name
Surname
M/F
Birth date
________________________________
_______________________________
________
_____/____/____
________________________________
_______________________________
________
_____/____/____
________________________________
_______________________________
________
_____/____/____
Your contact details Mailing address: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Street address (if different from above):___________________________________________________________________________________ Telephone: Home: __________________________
Work: __________________________ Mobile:_____________________________
Home email address:__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Please note, email address will be added to the PNPC directory for email notices and offers. You can be removed from the mailing list at any time, so if you don’t want to hear from us in the future, simply reply to the email with ‘unsubscribe’ in the subject line.
How did you hear about Parents Centre?___________________________________________________________________________________ If you have any special needs or learning requirements please make yourself known so we can endeavour to assist
Membership/Subscription I’d like to start / renew a membership to Palmerston North Parents Centre (please circle)
1 year membership and Childbirth Course (includes copy of Tummy Talk magazine) $210.00 1 year membership and Childbirth Course with Community Services Card $170.00. Card number:__________________ 1 year membership only $80.00 1 year membership with Community Services Card $55.00. Card number:__________________ 2 year membership $145.00 1 year Kiwi Parent only $30.00 2 year Kiwi Parent only $60.00
ISSUE 262: OC TOBER/NOVEMBER 2014
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Please return any undelivered magazines to: Palmerston North Parents Centre, PO Box 1753, Palmerston North, 4440 Ph 06 358 4289 PALMY PARENT: PALMERSTON NORTH PARENTS CENTRE MAGAZINE