Baby's and Beyond™ - April to June 2018

babys beyond TM

and

a family lifestyle magazine

When there are rocks but they’re not rolling

Baby-prep your body

The world through my child’s eyes

April – June 2018 ISSN 2311-5467

9 772311 546706 www.babysandbeyond.co.za

What is divorce mediation?

Study habits

for a lifetime of success

INSIDE: Features Competitions Kicks for kids Recipes

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ED’S NOTE Time flies but cars shouldn’t…

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here have the months gone since the December holidays? It’s said that time flies when you’re having fun but gauging by what most people seem to be saying, many of us just feel like we’re on a hamster wheel. The months are whizzing by and the schools are about to close for another end-of-term break. To slow my own hamster wheel, I’m taking a break over Easter. But, like the December holidays, this comes with its own stresses. Driving anywhere in South Africa over the holidays, or in fact at any time as our roads become ever-more congested, requires extra vigilance.

Here are some road safety tips from the Automobile Association of South Africa: • Wear a seatbelt, and ensure all passengers are also buckled up. The law requires children under three to be secured in proper child restraint seats.

• Check your tyres (including the spare) to ensure they are in good condition and safe. Worn tyres are potentially fatal.

• Prepare for a long trip by getting enough rest before leaving. Rest every 200km or every two hours to stretch your legs and get some fresh air.

• Don’t speed, and drive to the conditions of the road you are travelling on.

• Drive sober. Alcohol, drugs and driving are a deadly combination.

• If you are a pedestrian, make yourself visible and walk in properly lit areas. Also cross busy roads at the designated crossing lanes, and never walk on, or cross over a highway.

• Distracted driving is extremely dangerous. Pay attention, put your cell phone away, but keep it in the car for emergencies.

• Be courteous to other drivers.

If you didn’t get a break over the holidays, another way to slow your hamster wheel is to grab a cuppa and find a quiet spot with this edition of Baby’s and Beyond™!

While I believe that this magazine is one that you’ll want to read from cover to cover, if your hamster wheel doesn’t allow that, then begin with ophthalmologist, Dr Claire Cullen’s insight into what babies see and how they experience the crazy world around them. Baby-prep your body by Karen Swanepoel is another enlightening read, as is Dr Caroline Zabiegaj-Zwick’s article about constipation. A paediatric surgeon, Caroline dispels some myths and offers her advice about dealing with children who have difficulty stooling (pooping).

As always, I love the articles under our education banner, which include study habits for a lifetime of success and extending classroom habits to the home. Our contributors have once again pulled out all the stops to bring you a great read.

Happy reading!

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Baby’s and Beyond

CREDITS babys beyond TM

April – June 2018

and

a family lifestyle magazine

Publishing Director: Elroy van Heerden elroy@babysandbeyond.co.za Editor: Emma Dawson editor@babysandbeyond.co.za

When there are rocks but they’re not rolling

Baby-prep your body

The world through my child’s eyes

www.babysandbeyond.co.za

ISSN 2311-5467

9 772311 546706

What is divorce mediation?

Content Manager: Melanie Taylor artwork@mediaxpose.co.za

Study habits

April – June 2018

www.babysandbeyond.co.za

Editorial Contributors Adele du Toit Barbara Eaton Carla Kuhlmey Dr Caroline Zabiegaj-Zwick Dr Claire Cullen Ina Paarman Karen Swanepoel Melissa Dolphin-Rowland Nazeer Hoosen

Design and Layout: CDC Design carla@cdcdesign.co.za

for a lifetime of success

INSIDE: FEATurES CoMpETITIoNS KICKS For KIDS rECIpES

Pictures:

Advertising Sales: Allison Davids allison@babysandbeyond.co.za Lorraine Beneke lorraine@babysandbeyond.co.za Chief Financial Officer: Shaun Mays shaun@mediaxpose.co.za

babysandbeyond

Marketing & Communications Manager: Sarina Afonso sarina@mediaxpose.co.za

@babysandbeyond

Distribution and Subscriptions: Maurisha Niewenhuysen distribution@mediaxpose.co.za Printing Novus Print Solutions www.novus.holdings

Published By:

babys beyond TM

and

a family lifestyle magazine

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404 Commerce House, 55 Short Market Street, Cape Town, 8001 PO. Box 15165, Vlaeberg, 8018 Tel: 021 424 3625 Fax: 086 544 5217 E-mail: info@babysandbeyond.co.za Disclaimer: The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher or its agents. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information published, the publisher does not accept responsibility for any error or omission contained herein. Consequently, no person connected with the publication of this journal will be liable for any loss or damage sustained by any reader as a result of action following statements or opinions expressed herein.

The publisher will give consideration to all material submitted, but does not take responsibility for damage or its safe return.

www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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babys beyond TM

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and

a family lifestyle magazine

CONTENTS FEATURES

The world through my child’s eyes............................................. 8 Baby-prep your body................................................................ 10 When to introduce assistive motor development devices?...................................................................................... 12 Yes or no to the five-second rule?........................................... 14

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What is divorce mediation?...................................................... 16 Helping parents develop their children’s EQs........................ 18 Infertility: the common issues and how to treat them........... 20 Pregnancy and anaesthesia: what every mum should know................................................................................ 22 When there are rocks but they’re not rolling.......................... 26

HEALTH Burns: they happen frequently so be prepared..................... 28 Autism and your child................................................................ 30 Reducing the risk of cancer...................................................... 32 Advertorial: Healthy baby, happy mom................................. 33 Bugwise app to curb antibiotic resistance............................. 34

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Debunking the myths about flu and flu vaccines.................. 36 Healthy skin, happy baby......................................................... 38

EDUCATION Extend classroom habits to the home..................................... 40 The architect of the brain......................................................... 42 Study habits for a lifetime of success....................................... 44 How to raise a resilient child in an over protective world..... 46

REGULARS Grab Some Grub: Pork chops with cheese............................ 48 Butternut fritters.......................................................................... 49 Kicks for Kids: Fun puzzles and activities.................................. 51

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Promising Products: Baby travel gear; Sip on homemade sensations.................................................. 54 Bettamed Care Cream; Dr Soldan’s sugar-free Em-eukal sweet range............................................................... 55 New calming balm for baby; A flu-free winter; Where beautiful baby showers are born................................ 56 Even more Oh My Goodness!; Happy Snack! and My Sports Bag! lunch boxes.............................................. 57 Book Review: This edition’s recommended reading............. 62 www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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FEATURE

The world through my child’s eyes

By Dr Claire Cullen, ophthalmologist

It would be pretty amazing to know what babies see and how they experience this crazy world around them, right?

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iewing the world through a baby’s eyes makes me think of the movie, INSIDE OUT. How incredibly lucky those emotions were to see Riley’s world from baby to teenager! If you haven’t seen this movie yet, brace yourself because you’ll be watching it very soon. Over and over, and over again!

The amazing truth about children is that they’re not born seeing like we do. Just like your baby will reach certain milestones at certain times of their development, such as rolling over, crawling, walking and talking, their eye development goes through various milestones before it reaches maturity.

To enable you to recognise when there is a possible problem with your child’s vision, we’ll discuss these stages of growth.

As children grow, so does their ability to see objects clearly at varying distances and follow them when they move. Babies show rapid development in the first few months of life in nearly all visual functions and capacities.

At birth For example, at birth, the distance at which a baby tries to focus is about 20 to 25cm – yes about the same distance from your baby’s face to yours. But, they cannot tell the difference between two different

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objects very easily and they can’t yet move their eyes from one target to another. Therefore, don’t get despondent when you’re oohing and aahing and your baby only responds by looking anywhere but at you.

It is estimated that a newborn baby’s vision is about 10 to 30 times lower than that of an adult, which means things are very blurry.

Six to 12 weeks By six to 12 weeks, your baby’s vision develops in leaps and bounds. They’ll be able to focus and follow the light from a torch much more accurately.

At this stage, they can visualise their parent’s facial expressions and smile in response. This is also the stage when their depth perception begins to develop.

First eight weeks For the first eight weeks of life, babies’ eyes may appear to look in different directions or seem to look around the room aimlessly. This is not a cause for concern, unless it occurs frequently and persists beyond two to three months.

Also, at this stage their colour vision is not as clear as that of an adult’s yet. www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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FEATURE By two months At last, by two months a baby can now see her parents’ faces clearly because she’s now able to focus well on objects within a 20 to 25cm distance.

The two eyes now work together as a ‘team’ so they can move their focus easily from one object to another. Your baby will also close her eyes if objects are suddenly placed in front of her.

This is usually a very emotional time for any mum.

That moment when your baby’s eyes lock on yours.

Nothing can describe that feeling of wonder.

It is estimated that a newborn baby’s vision is about 10 to 30 times lower than that of an adult, which means things are very blurry.

By three months By three months babies should follow slow moving objects with ease. If parents hold a toy at around 25cm from their child and then slowly move the toy towards their child’s nose, they will notice that their child’s eyes slowly turn in towards the nose. This means that the child can now converge (their eyes turn inwards together). This ensures that the image of the toy the parent is holding is placed at the same place at the back of each eye. This is vital for the development of three-dimensional vision or depth perception.

Babies at this age should start reaching for objects as their hand-eye-coordination continues to develop.

Playtime with your baby becomes an absolute delight. Encouraging sensory activities, like peek-aboo, grasp-and-hold, and tummy time is a great way to aid development but also enhance bonding.

A point of concern at the age of three months is that if a baby doesn’t like having one of their eyes covered, an ophthalmologist’s advice should be sought.

By six months By six months the eyes should be working together as an efficient team. This is the stage where depth perception is established. This means that your baby can now tell how far away an object is from her, relative to another object. That means that she can see in three-dimensions. Her vision has now improved remarkably, in fact it has almost doubled

in development. Babies’ ability to see colour should also now be fully developed.

At eight months At eight months, when a child should begin to crawl, this motor skill further helps to integrate the baby’s eye-hand-foot coordination.

By three to three-and-a-half years By three to three-and-a-half years, children can match a picture shown to them with an identical image on a card in front of them. At this stage a child’s vision should be equal to that of an adult’s.

All parents enjoy seeing their babies respond to them pulling funny faces, smiling and realising an object has been omitted and suddenly reappears.

This is the world in which children learn through their vision.

Early testing and treatment Unfortunately, vision problems do start at an early age. If you notice anything unusual during your child’s vision development, it’s always a good idea to see an ophthalmologist. The earlier the problem is screened, examined, diagnosed, and/or treated, the earlier it can be corrected.

Otherwise, enjoy your child’s explorations and giggles as the world around them unfolds from a grand mystery into a beautiful visual paradise of possibility.

Dr Claire Cullen is an ophthalmologist specialising in paediatric eye conditions and adult strabismus (squints). She qualified in 2010 as a specialist and went on to do a further two years of training in advanced microsurgical techniques including non-penetrating glaucoma surgery and paediatric cataracts while working as an honorary consultant.

Her practice, KiDS EYES, is located at the Netcare Linkwood Hospital in Johannesburg, where they provide services for children of all ages from routine eye examinations, to major ophthalmic surgery. They see and manage conditions that include but are not limited to refractive errors (short and far sightedness, astigmatism), ocular allergies, cataracts, low vision, glaucoma, blocked tear ducts and squints. For more information, visit www.kidseyes.co.za.

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Photo credit: KiDS EYES

She has a passion for children and strabismus and was awarded an international fellowship in paediatric ophthalmology after a year of highly-specialised training at the IWK Children’s Hospital in Canada.

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FEATURE

Baby-prep your body

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he prospect of becoming a mom makes even the most disorganised person plan. Moms spend hours dreaming about the perfect nursery, buying baby outfits and planning every detail. But all too often, one of the most important physical aspects of motherhood is overlooked – have you planned and prepared your own body for this journey? Have you planned how you will recover from building and birthing a baby?

Training for two Our bodies transform radically during pregnancy, and many mothers are not well prepared for the physical demands this can bring. Just getting your body back is not always that simple – it’s a journey that begins before pregnancy.

Exercise increases your chance of a healthier pregnancy. Think of pregnancy and birth as a race you need to be prepared and fit for. You need more muscle strength to carry your growing bump and prevent aches and pains. A strong body that is prepared for the demands of a pregnancy can make a big difference to your experience. Stamina, strength and suppleness will make the journey more enjoyable, and it’s worth sweating it out to get the benefits.

The good news is that clinical research and current guidelines support the continuation of training throughout pregnancy to ensure maximal benefit for both mother and baby. Exercise during pregnancy has many benefits: less weight gain, shorter labour, improved placenta growth, decreased risk for pregnancy diabetes or hypertension, and a quicker recovery time after birth. There is even research that explains how the benefit of exercising during pregnancy continues into the first 12 months of your

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Karen Swanepoel, a physiotherapist and member of the Women’s Health Special Interest Group of the South African Society of Physiotherapy, offers some advice to women planning a new addition to the family.

child’s life. Exercise also combats fatigue and can help prevent depression. A healthy body leads to a healthy mind!

Many mothers think that they must train excessively hard to gain benefit, but the opposite is true.

A session of at thirty minutes at least two to three times per week is sufficient. The intensity must be enough to make you breathe a little faster and get your heart pumping, but you must always still be able to hold a conversation comfortably. This is referred to as the Borg scale of perceived exertion. On a scale of 0 to 20, you must train to a level where you experience it as only ‘somewhat hard’, which is more or less in the vicinity of 14/20, when 0/20 is rest and 20/20 is maximal effort.

So, there is no pressure to perform. The guidelines advocate moderate intensity exercise – in other words, movement that is fun. There is no need to measure heart rate during the exercise, unless your gynaecologist deems it necessary, as your resting heart rate is already higher than before pregnancy, making it unreliable as a measurement of intensity during pregnancy.

Avoid activities that increase your chances of falling, such as horse-riding or contact sports. Stick to activities such as walking, swimming, stationary cycling and weight training. Drink at least 250ml of water for every 30 minutes you train and avoid training in excessive heat to prevent dehydration.

Why your core matters most Early in your pregnancy, a hormone called relaxin is released in the body. This hormone softens the ligaments and structures in the pelvis and spine, enabling your body to accommodate an evergrowing baby. The downside of this hormone is www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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FEATURE that some joints may have more laxity than normal, because the ligaments surrounding the joints allow more motion. That is the source of many aches in the lower back, buttock and pelvis area. A women’s health physiotherapist is trained to evaluate your pelvis stability and to suggest treatment options and exercises to improve the stability of the pelvic girdle.

The two most important muscle groups that are affected by the pregnancy are the abdominal muscles and pelvic floor muscles. These two muscle groups play an important role in the stability of the female pelvis and prevent conditions such as urinary leakage and sagging of pelvic organs, including the bladder and rectum.

The splits and stretch Stretching of the abdominal area is visible externally (and very obviously) as your tummy grows, but we should not forget that stretching also occurs to the muscles under the skin. During pregnancy, your ‘six pack’ muscles go through a big physical transformation. The Rectus Abdominus muscles slowly draw apart to accommodate the growing uterus.

These muscles are located on both sides of your belly button and run from your ribcage all the way down to the pubic bone. When these muscles have split, mothers see a ‘doming’ of their bellies when they try to get up from bed. It is a normal part of every pregnancy. The medical term for this condition is Diastasis recti. And even though all pregnant mothers develop this, it can persist after pregnancy and can affect the way your core handles pressure during activities.

How does this impact mothers? These muscles need to be retrained to help control the pressure in the belly during activities. A mother needs to understand which activities push these muscles further apart. A physiotherapist is trained to teach modifications for activities and to demonstrate how to control the pressure in the abdomen. In the event of a caesarean section where the abdominal muscles are affected, this is even more essential so that mothers move more effectively without exerting unnecessary strain on tissues that have been through a tough time.

these muscles correctly during and after birth to ensure no future problems with the bladder or rectum.

Bouncing back after your baby’s born Six weeks after birth (irrespective of mode of delivery), we suggest you go to a women’s health physiotherapist for an evaluation. A suitable programme can be designed to incorporate all the current problems you might be experiencing. Your physiotherapist will also be able to get you back onto your normal training programme, considering any conditions that are present and modifying activities for them.

As a rule, we advise mothers not to go back to gym for at least six weeks after delivery. The only exercises permissible in the six-week period after birth are walking and swimming. Nothing heavier than the baby should be handled until the six weeks have passed. In this time moms may continue pelvic floor exercises but must avoid abdominal training or gym exercises until after the six-week check up with the physiotherapist.

Karen Swanepoel is a physiotherapist in private practice in Bloemfontein. She completed her BSc Physiotherapy Degree in 2002 at the University of the Free State.

She works in the field of women’s health physiotherapy and musculo-skeletal conditions. She enjoys blogging on her website www.regain.co.za. Your women’s health physiotherapist is trained to assist you in this unique period of your life. To find a physiotherapist with a special interest in women’s health, go to www.saphysio.co.za or call +27 (0)11 615 3170.

The pelvic floor muscles are muscles located between the pubic bone at the front and the tail bone at the back. Their strength plays an important role in supporting your pelvic organs (including that expanding uterus). They not only play a crucial role in cradling the baby inside the body but also need to be flexible enough to guide the baby out during birth. They need to respond to increases in pressure in the pelvis, for example when you sneeze, cough or jump. A lack of pelvic floor strength can lead to embarrassing symptoms such as urine leakage or uncontrollable passing of wind during activities. These problems are not just prevalent after birth but can in some instances begin during pregnancy. This is even more reason to get those pelvic floor muscles stronger as soon as possible.

Your women’s health physiotherapist can teach you how to locate your pelvic floor and how to strengthen www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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Photo credit: Go Urban Photography

The foundation of staying dry

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FEATURE

When to introduce

assistive motor development devices?

During the first year, babies’ muscles and bones strengthen. They learn how to use their bodies to move and manipulate their environments.

If babies are constantly held and carried, they will lose valuable opportunities to gain and fine-tune skills. Lesego Mashishi-Matlala, Huggies® expert in occupational therapy sheds some light on assistive devices for babies’ motor development.

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Photo credit: Huggies

ach stage of motor development offers a new dimension of exploration and propels your baby to the next stage of motor development. The natural progression of gross motor developmental phase is neck control, rolling, sitting, standing with support, standing without support and, from 12 to 18 months, walking independently.

It is important to ensure that your little one’s environment offers stimulation of all senses and encourages exploration. You may ask if it’s a bad thing to introduce toy mobility aids or assistive devices such as a supported baby chair to help achieve their developmental phase of walking. The answer is that it’s important to strike a balance and to introduce these devices at the correct time.

Babies should naturally lead their way through their motor developmental phases. This allows brain development, language development, and spatial awareness to develop naturally. It also helps babies learn how to interact with their environments to get their desired outcome through movement.

A lot of brain development and information processing occurs between the development phase of sitting and walking. This is when a baby begins to learn how to crawl and pull themselves up into a standing position. During this transition, there are more benefits in allowing your baby to master their movements on their own rather than introducing assistive devices or toys.

First, you need to allow your baby to develop adequate upper body control, and to achieve some controlled body movements. Do not deprive your baby of opportunities for self-initiated or selfproduced mobility. Assistive devices, such as sitting aids and walkers, should be introduced once baby has shown the initiative and attempted to get into the desired motor position. This ensures the information has been processed and your baby is working out bilateral symmetry, crossing of the midline, and is mastering controlled purposeful movements that are ultimately followed by the alternating coordinated movements needed for walking and running.

Introducing assistive devices for baby’s motor development

What is imperative during this stage is to ensure babies’ levels of comfort. This is achieved by ensuring your baby is adequately fed and is fitted with a good quality nappy such as Huggies® Pants or Huggies® Gold. Huggies® Pants has an all-round soft and stretchy waistband and double leg elastics that gently surround and hug babies’ legs to prevent leaks. Huggies® Gold nappies have a stretchy waistband and fasteners to provide a snug and comfy fit. It also has a DryTouch TM liner that absorbs wetness in seconds for ultimate skin protection. For more information, visit www.huggies.co.za. www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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FEATURE

Yes or no to the

five-second rule?

By Emma Dawson

It’s a given that toddlers and teething babies put everything in their mouths, and often things that make parents cringe. Does the fivesecond rule apply in your home, or is dropped food or a dummy immediately discarded or disinfected? Just how worried do you need to be about germs and how clean should you keep your child’s environment?

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here’s growing acceptance that exposure to germs helps to develop the body’s immune system.

However, there are two schools of thought. The first relates to what’s known as the hygiene hypothesis, which suggests a young child’s environment can be too clean to effectively stimulate or challenge the

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child’s immune system to ward off threats during the maturation of the immune system.

On the other hand, another faction of scientists dispels this hypothesis, believing instead that the poor state of our immune health, in general, has nothing to do with hygiene. They maintain that early exposure

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FEATURE

A small number of microbes cause infectious diseases by entering the body, overcoming your immune system’s defences and spreading. to a diverse range of friendly microbes (not infectious pathogens) is what teaches the immune system to react appropriately to stimuli. If this is true, then reducing personal hygiene will not decrease allergic disorders and may increase infections.

Most of the germs that live on our bodies or in our environments are harmless. But as our lifestyles change, some of the healthy microbes that live in our gut are disappearing, which has an impact on our health.

So how clean should your child’s environment be?

Like all things in life, finding a balance is key.

Microbes and pathogens Microbes are like bacteria and viruses that are too small to see with the naked eye. They exist on every surface and in every environment, including in your body. While most can’t harm you, and are in fact beneficial, some microbes known as pathogens cause disease.

A small number of microbes cause infectious diseases by entering the body, overcoming your immune system’s defences and spreading.

Therefore, it’s important to protect your family from diseases caused by bacteria, which can live on surfaces for up to 24 hours. Germs pass from person to person and from person to surface.

High-risk areas in your home When it comes to harbouring bacterial germs, there are a number of high-risk areas in your home.

Household germs that can make you sick include Staphylococcus aureus, or staph; yeast and mould; Salmonella; Escherichia coli, or E. coli, and faecal matter.

According to the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) in the US, areas where food is stored or prepared has more bacteria and faecal contamination than other places in the home. More than 75% of dish sponges and rags tested showed Salmonella, E. coli, and faecal matter compared to 9% on bathroom taps.

Cleaning tips Disinfect sink and taps, cleaning clothes and sponges, chopping boards, your bin, the inside of the fridge and especially areas where you keep uncooked, unwashed food.

Once a week, disinfect countertops, handles and knobs for appliances and cupboards, and light www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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switches, as well as surfaces touched by your pets.

In the bathroom, mould needs to be kept in check, particularly damp areas where mould and mildew will grow. Daily cleaning should include the shower tub, drains, taps, and the floor around the toilet, while a more thorough disinfecting clean once a week is good practice. Bathroom towels should be replaced weekly and toothbrushes ever three to four months.

Don’t forget to clean remote controls, computer keyboards, phones, and tablets, which are often shared by the whole family.

Pets also contribute to household germs and bacteria. According to the NSF, pet bowls are fourth on the list of home hotspots for the most germs. Pet toys also carry staph, yeast, and mould. Wash pet bowls every day with warm, soapy water, and soak in bleach once a week. Clean hard toys regularly with hot, soapy water, and wash soft toys monthly.

More than 75% of dish sponges and rags tested showed Salmonella, E. coli, and faecal matter compared to 9% on bathroom taps.

In the nursery, keep changing mats and surrounding surfaces clean. The same goes for floors (when you have a crawling baby) and your children’s toys.

It’s inevitable that you’ll bring germs into your home from outside so keep things like your cell phone, keys and wallet clean. To be safe, you can use specific cleaning products for electronic goods, otherwise soap and water, bleach and water, disinfecting wipes, and hand sanitisers will do the job.

To help stop the spread of germs, ensure your family masters good hand cleaning habits, particularly after using the bathroom or touching raw food. It’s recommend that regular handwashing with soap and water for 20 to 30 seconds removes germs and helps avoid illnesses.

To help stop the spread of germs, ensure your family masters good hand cleaning habits.

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FEATURE

What is divorce mediation?

By Melissa Dolphin-Rowland MBPsS, accredited family and divorce mediator

Separation and divorce are among the most distressing and disruptive events that individuals and families can go through, and they are extremely emotional processes that involve making decisions and reaching agreements on sensitive issues that have a direct, long-term impact on families.

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aking decisions regarding your children’s upbringing, calculating maintenance costs or dividing assets and liabilities justly can be very difficult during a separation or divorce. Objectivity and problemsolving are often dominated by emotion and, as a result, couples resort to litigation. Litigation can be expensive, emotionally draining, time consuming and have a longlasting negative impact on family relationships.

Divorce mediation is an alternative to litigation.

It is a form of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) designed to resolve disputes pre, during or post separation or divorce. The process empowers participants to shape their own agreements

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regarding parenting plans, maintenance calculations and division of assets and liabilities. Because they are shaped by the parents themselves, they are typically more fair, practical and sustainable. These agreements are suited to meet the needs of each family’s unique circumstances. When children are involved they are developed around the children’s best interests.

As an accredited family and divorce mediator, apart from where there is substance abuse, domestic violence or major power imbalances in the relationship, I am convinced that mediation is a better option than litigation to solve disagreements. www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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FEATURE

The process is voluntary. Both parties need to agree to enter into mediation. Either party can also stop the process at any time.

Family Matters Mediation is based in Rivonia, Johannesburg and specialise in family and divorce mediation. We employ a holistic approach to divorce mediation, working closely with a network of psychologists, social workers, financial advisors and attorneys who share our philosophy. For more information, visit www.fmmediation.co.za, or call Melissa on 072 590 9517 or email melissa@ fmmediation.com.

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The mediator’s role is to help both parties identify, negotiate and come to a mutually-acceptable agreement on the various issues highlighted by the parties themselves.

• Thirdly, the process is empowering. Why? Because empowerment is synonymous with taking responsibility and this is what the mediation process encourages and allows parties to do. It recognises that nobody is better placed to create a family’s future than the family itself.

• The fourth principle is objectivity. A mediator is an independent, neutral third-party who conducts the mediation. The mediator’s role is to help both parties identify, negotiate and come to a mutually-acceptable agreement on the various issues highlighted by the parties themselves.

• Lastly, the mediation process is unique. You determine what issues need to be addressed, you decide on the solution, you control the outcome and as a result, you are the decision makers for your family’s future.

As Nelson Mandela so eloquently said: ‘One effect of sustained conflict is to narrow our vision of what is possible. Time and time again, conflicts are resolved through shifts that were unimaginable at the start’.

Photo credit: Family Matters Mediation

Mediation saves time and money, reduces emotional turmoil, and significantly improves the chances of effective co-parenting. Mediation achieves these outcomes by increasing awareness, improving communication and empowering the parties to take control of their own future.

In my experience, a holistic approach to managing the separation or divorce process is ideal. The reason for this is that the focus of mediation is not solely the termination of the marriage or relationship.

Mediation focuses on the entire family, the continued relationship of the parties and how to best prepare the parties to anticipate and mange future scenarios.

Therefore, in some instances the process may include the brief involvement of psychologists or socialworkers and, to formalise agreements, an attorney.

Divorce mediation has five underlying principles that will help you better understand the mediation process.

• Firstly, the process is voluntary. Both parties need to agree to enter into an agreement to mediate.

Either party can also stop the process at any time.

• Secondly, mediation is confidential, providing a safe space for parties to communicate. What is discussed in mediation is without prejudice therefore cannot be used in court. This fosters more open dialogue which, in turn, can lead to a clearer understanding of the issues and result in more creative and flexible solutions.

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FEATURE

Helping parents develop their children’s EQs Research within the field of psychology suggests that fewer children can cope with the complex range of emotions that confront them these days. Globally, experts report a decline in emotional intelligence (EQ) among children, which is detrimental to their capacity to work harder, resolve conflict, explore new activities, and achieve more in life.

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Through the power of projection, the game teaches children to identify and express their emotions.

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Photo credit: iFeel

hildren’s inability to express their feelings results in a general lack of communication, poor discipline, and frustration that manifests low selfesteem within both children and parents.

Cape Town-based child therapist and social worker, Shontell Fiet, applied her extensive knowledge and experience of child play therapy to develop a support tool for parents and therapists.

Introducing iFeel, Shontell developed a unique card game that facilitates an environment in which children are encouraged to identify, express and regulate their feelings more effectively.

‘We live in a fast-paced, technology-driven, hyper-connected society, yet our children struggle to express their thoughts and feelings. Globally, there is a growing concern that children are not able to effectively understand and manage their feelings – let alone identify and sympathise with the feelings of others,’ says Shontelle.

The game includes a deck of 14 animal-themed cards that promotes a fun and non-threatening context in which children – from the age of three – can safely explore and express their feelings.

Through the power of projection, the game teaches children to identify and express their emotions. The facial expressions and visual clues on the cards are intended to encourage the child to project their own interpretations, which means that there are no right or wrong answers. This enables parents, teachers and therapists to gain an in-depth understanding of their experiences – both positive and negative – to address problem areas, improve their social skills, memory, cognitive skills and vocabulary.

‘Our ability to develop and maintain emotional intelligence is paramount to the early childhood

development stages. An emotionally intelligent individual is more likely to achieve confidence and success than a person who simply has a high IQ, supporting the argument that we need to teach our children to identify, acknowledge and regulate their feelings from a young age,’ she adds.

Shontelle developed this game to provide an easy-to-use, affordable tool for parents, teachers and anyone actively involved with childhood development. Commenting on the ultimate benefits to parents, she adds: ‘I believe that when our children are confident, and their feelings are heard in a safe, stimulating environment, they will learn to communicate them effectively.’

For more information about the game visit iFeel’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ iFeelGAMES and YouTube video www.youtube.com/ watch?v=QdavPQS6bak&sns=fb. For purchases or further information, email info@ifeelgames.co.za.

Each game cost R250. www.babysandbeyond.co.za

2018/04/03 1:51 PM

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2018/04/03 1:51 PM

FEATURE

Infertility:

the common issues and how to treat them These days, just getting pregnant is a challenge. According to Meggan Zunckel from the Infertility Association of South Africa, one in six couples in South Africa struggle with fertility. Stats from Leon Swartz and IndexMundi prove that this is a growing trend, with the total number of children born per South African woman decreasing from six to seven in the baby boomer era, to 2.47 in 2000, and 2.29 in 2017.

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hat can you do if you experience infertility?

Here’s a summary of some of the most common fertility concerns in South Africa and the treatment options available.

Fertility in men According to the Infertility Awareness Association of South Africa, men have an equal chance of suffering from infertility as women do, the most common issues being low sperm count and poor sperm health.

Dalene Barton-Schuster of Natural Fertility Info

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says that a sperm count of 20 million+ per millilitre is healthy. Poor sperm health, she explains, relates to sperm motility (movement/tail whip) and morphology (form/DNA), which can result from: • Genetics • Cancer and chemotherapy • Damage to the reproductive organs • Anti-sperm antibodies, where sperm is attacked by the immune system • Poor lifestyle habits, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, poor diet, and stress • Environmental factors such as pollution www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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FEATURE Blocked vas deferens

Other ovulation disorders

Tim Taylor at innerbody.com says the vas deferens is a tiny muscular tube in the male reproductive system that carries sperm … to the ejaculatory duct.

Dalene elaborates that a blockage of this tube can result from a sexually transmitted disease (STD), or varicocele (varicose veins in the testes). The latter can be treated with surgery.

Dalene explains that not ovulating is usually caused by a hormonal imbalance that can be aggravated by: • Genetics • Endocrine problems • Diet, stress or poor lifestyle • Obesity or low body weight • Long-term use of hormonal medications, such as the contraceptive pill • Xenohormones (chemicals found in substances such as plastic and soy that act like hormones in the body).

Babycentre.co.uk points out that ovulationstimulating drugs and in-vitro fertilisation can be used to help induce a pregnancy in PCOS sufferers.

For a natural approach, Hethir recommends fertility cleansing, herbs, and a fertility diet.

Treating male infertility According to Hethir Rodriguez, founder and president of Natural Fertility Info, male infertility treatments include: • Improving diet, including nutrients such as zinc, selenium, folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin C, L-carnitine, and antioxidants • Reducing exposure to hormones in meat and milk, as well as oestrogen-mimicking toxins in pesticides, plastics, and soy products • Taking herbal supplements such as American ginseng, ashwagandha root, horny goat weed, ginkgo biloba, goji berries, maca root, and saw palmetto berries.

Fertility in women Hethir notes that while men may only need a couple of tests to determine the cause of their infertility, women often need several. This is because there are many factors that could contribute to infertility in women. Some of the most common include:

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) According to the USA’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, PCOS is the leading cause of infertility in women. In fact, Stephanie Watson, a writer at healthline.com, says that up to 26.7% of women of childbearing age could have PCOS, and up to 70% of them may not even know about it.

PCOS isn’t a straightforward condition either, says Stephanie. It’s called a syndrome because it usually consists of at least two of the following symptoms: • Ovarian cysts • Excessive male hormones • Irregular or skipped periods This often presents with symptoms that include: • Acne • Weight gain • Insulin resistance/diabetes • Male-pattern hair growth/loss Stephanie adds that the most common treatments include the contraceptive pill and diabetes medication, but natural treatments include: • Weight loss • Regular exercise • Diet and herbal supplements

Endometriosis Mayo Clinic explains that endometriosis is an oftenpainful disorder in which tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus – the endometrium – grows outside your uterus. Just like the lining of the uterus, this tissue thickens and sheds with every menstrual cycle. But, with nowhere to go, it gets trapped and can develop scar tissue and adhesions.

Common symptoms include: • Painful periods • Pain during intercourse • Pain with bowel movements or urination • Excessive or unusual bleeding • Other symptoms, such as fatigue, diarrhoea, constipation, bloating or nausea The Mayo Clinic lists treatments that range from pain medication to hormone-related drugs and surgery. Hethir suggests natural treatment options that include lifestyle changes and diet.

Blocked fallopian tubes Dalene explains that the fallopian tubes are the pathways in which the ova travel from the ovaries … into the uterus, and blockages affect as many as 25% of female infertility cases.

Hethir adds that blocked tubes can be caused by sexually transmitted diseases, endometriosis, a history of abdominal surgery, or a previous ectopic pregnancy. Fertility treatments include minimally invasive surgery to unblock the tubes, in-vitro fertilisation, or natural approaches such as diet, herbal supplementation, and alternative therapies.

Fertility is a growing international concern. While some of the best medicine boils down to diet and exercise, the more complex cases should always be discussed with a medical professional.

The Self-Medication Manufacturers Association of South Africa (SMASA) aims to promote self-care and to enable consumers to responsibly and appropriately self-medicate and self-treat primary ailments where possible. SMASA represents companies involved in the provision, distribution and sale of healthcare products. SMASA also engages actively in legislative, regulatory and policy development.

For more information, visit http://smasa.za.com.

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2018/04/03 1:51 PM

FEATURE

Pregnancy

and anaesthesia:

what every mum should know Does having an anaesthetic while pregnant pose risks to mum and baby?

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our pregnancy test has come back positive and the countdown to your baby’s birth has begun.

There’s nervousness, excitement, joy and a range of expectations. Most mums-to-be dream of a healthy, challenge-free pregnancy and labour. But, life seldom charts a smooth course and mums may require surgery while pregnant – for reasons unrelated to the pregnancy – or at birth. What should mums know about the risks of surgery and anaesthesia while pregnant?

Anaesthetist, Dr Daniel Shmukler, has vast experience in anaesthetising pregnant mums. His rule of thumb – ‘put off any surgical procedures that aren’t necessary until your pregnancy is over – especially in the first trimester when we want to avoid all disruption to the embryonic development

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taking place. If there’s a procedure we really can’t postpone – such as appendicitis – then we have to weigh up the risks.’

Dr Shmukler will be one of many doctors attending the April 2018 South African Society of Anaesthesiologists National Congress, exploring the latest local and international research in anaesthesia, and its application to all patients – including pregnant women and foetuses.

Anaesthetists’ integral role in keeping mum and baby safe during surgery In a European review of complications in obstetric anaesthesia published early 2018, it was noted that obstetric anaesthesia is an often-litigious area www.babysandbeyond.co.za

2018/04/03 1:51 PM

FEATURE of medical practice as many of the interventions undertaken by anaesthetists are performed in emergencies, frequently out of working hours. Mum’s pregnancy-related physiological and anatomical changes affect the frequency with which obstetric complications occur. Add the increasing levels of obesity in pregnant women, and complications become more likely during obstetric anaesthesia.

‘Patients take for granted the behind-the-scenes planning we do pre-surgery,’ explains Dr Shmukler.

‘We compute many elements to formulate the right anaesthesia recipe for a mum. Keeping a mum’s vital signs normal means the baby is, by default, looked after too.’

Father to three young sons, Dr Shmukler is passionate about helping mums to bring healthy babies into the world. ‘Even when we’re rushing to theatre in an emergency we still have five minutes to say hello, I’m your anaesthetist, this is what we’re going to do, and you need not worry. In the event of a Caesarean section (C-section) we play a crucial role in creating a relaxed environment for mum. We calm any nerves, play mum’s choice of music in theatre and keep her abreast of our progress, explain everything we do, and check to see how she feels.

We want mum to enjoy the process of delivering her baby, especially in an emergency C-section,’ says Dr Shmukler

What does an anaesthetist need to know about mum, pre-surgery?

‘We want a comprehensive medical history,’ says Dr Shmukler. ‘Most things are easily manageable, but we need to know if she has high blood pressure, diabetes or complex issues like cardiac problems, which might affect which drugs administer or how mum tolerates the anaesthetic. We meet most patients on the day of surgery. But, in the case of complex or overweight patients, we would ideally like time to prepare for any potential surgery, from 34 weeks of pregnancy onwards.’

Put off any surgical procedures that aren’t necessary until pregnancy is over – especially in the first trimester when we want to avoid all disruption to the embryonic development taking place. www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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Specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Natalie Odell adds: ‘I always explain any surgical procedure to my patients and then hand over to my anaesthetist colleague to handle anaesthesiarelated informed consent and major counselling – they play a crucial role in a surgical delivery.’ Clearly collaboration between the surgeon, anaesthetist, gynaecologist, paediatrician and the patient are key to good medical outcomes. Electronic Health Records like those provided though Discovery HealthID can give excellent insight into a patient’s medical history for doctors like Odell and Dr Shmukler to use in mitigating medical risks.

What types of anaesthesia are offered to pregnant women?

Anaesthesia is common in vaginal deliveries and integral to all C-section births.

Epidural anaesthesia and natural labour ‘Local anaesthesia is first injected to numb the skin of the lower back. ‘The epidural itself is a small tube inserted into the epidural space. This space lies next to the spinal cord and allows us to block the pain signals being sent to the brain,’ says Dr Shmukler. It takes 10 to 20 minutes for the epidural – the most common pain relief for natural birth – to take full effect, but this can be sped up when combined with a spinal injection so that pain relief is achieved within five minutes. Patients remain awake, might feel the pressure of contractions but not the pain, and can push and even walk around. Possible side-effects of epidural anaesthesia include transient low blood pressure, heart rate slowing, and changes in body temperature. ‘It is not possible to do epidurals in certain cases, such as when the mum is on blood thinning drugs, there’s an infection in the epidural area, or if there’s a severely deformed spine. Epidural anaesthesia is safe and has minimal and usually shortlived effects on the baby. The age-old myth that labour epidurals will cause chronic back pain in a normal pregnant patient is not true,’ he adds.

Spinal anaesthesia and C-section delivery Where it’s clear that a vaginal delivery is dangerous (because of factors such as an abnormally implanted placenta, previous caesarean sections, extremely big babies and congenital anomalies in the baby), an elective C-section is planned for week 39 of pregnancy. ‘We try to avoid mum going into spontaneous labour and necessitating an emergency C-section where operative risks tend to be higher,’ says Dr Shmukler. ‘A spinal block is performed for a C-section. This is similar to a lumbar puncture, but instead we are injecting drugs in rather than taking any fluid out.’

Emergency C-sections are also performed when the attending doctor assesses that labour or pregnancy could endanger the health of mum or baby for reasons including a compromised umbilical cord and a baby in distress, labour that’s prolonged, cervix failing to dilate, abnormal bleeding, and so on. Dr Shmukler adds: ‘Many mums see being sent for an emergency C-section as a failure. I reassure them that they are there for a good reason if we’ve made the decision to bring them to theatre.’

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FEATURE Some women tell Dr Shmukler, ‘I hate needles, just knock me out’. He explains: ‘C-sections should ideally be performed under spinal anaesthesia or spinal block. Besides offering the advantages of being awake, being able to communicate with doctors, and to bond with the baby immediately after birth, this is the safest mode of surgical anaesthesia for a pregnant woman. Mum gets a fast-acting injection into her spinal fluid that will numb her from the breasts down – what we call a dense block.’ He closely monitors the mother’s blood pressure and heart rate as the spinal block commonly causes a drop in the blood pressure. ‘I am very active about pre-empting changes as low blood pressure for mom means the same for the baby,’ he adds.

General (full) anaesthesia Physiological changes that pregnant women undergo make general anaesthesia risky: • The airway becomes swollen (oedematous) during pregnancy. This can make it difficult to gain a view of the vocal cords to pass a tracheal tube.

• Breast size increases during pregnancy and this too can obstruct a tracheal tube handle during insertion into the mouth. Risks of a failed intubation rate in an obstetric patient are considerably higher than that of the general population: 1:300 versus 1:1000–2000.

• Cardiovascular changes make administering drugs more complex – mums also show increased sensitivity to anaesthesia so their requirements for medication decrease or change.

• Anaesthetists consider women who have passed 16 weeks of pregnancy to always be a so-called ‘full stomach’ patient – as food clears far more slowly from the stomach during pregnancy.

Anaesthetic drugs increase the chance of vomiting up food, which can cause aspiration of gastric contents, a patient to choke, and severe lung complications. Spinal anaesthesia limits this risk.

• There is also a low risk of bleeding around the spinal cord after a spinal injection – around 1 in 150 000 to 200 000 mums experience this. Blood thinning drugs increase this risk to between about 1 in 10000 up to 1 in 50000.

What are the effects of anaesthesia on baby?

Anaesthesia drugs used on pregnant women are the same as those generally used. ‘We base our drug dosages on a mum’s weight – somewhere between pre-pregnancy and current weight,’ says Dr Shmukler.

‘Pregnancy weight change doesn’t always reflect a mum’s true weight. Around 3kg is attributed to a baby, 0.5kg to the placenta, 1kg to amniotic fluid and there will be some normal weight gain.’

It’s unavoidable that all drugs pass through the placenta and reach baby – not in the same quantities or concentrations given to mums because the baby depends on mom to metabolise the drugs first.

General anaesthesia is given through a drip and so passes immediately into the mum’s and therefore the baby’s circulation. ‘The drugs used in this sort of situation can make babies lethargic and the attending paediatrician might administer antagonist drugs to reverse the effect of the medication on a baby. This can take place quite soon after delivery,’ explains Dr Shmukler.

A spinal block takes time to pass from a mum’s spinal fluid into her bloodstream and then to the baby. ‘This is another reason why we say spinal is safer than general anaesthesia for a mum,’ adds Dr Shmukler. ‘Spinal anaesthesia is extremely unlikely to affect baby, as long as we look after the mum.’

Sedative drugs administered for C-section delivery may make the baby sedated. ‘And, mum might also have been given pain relief medication while in labour. We warn the paediatrician, as the baby might come out a little sleepy as a result,’ he adds.

What are the risks of anaesthesia for mum and baby?

We compute many, varied elements that are needed to formulate the right anaesthesia recipe for mum. We do all we can to keep mum’s vital signs normal and baby is, by default, looked after too.

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‘Anaesthetic risks to mum and baby are low,’ explains Dr Shmukler. Risks of minor and short-lived nerve injury from epidural or spinal anaesthesia injections are also relatively low at 1 in 4000 mums.

Nerve injury linked to pregnancy or to labour is more common, at 1 in 100 women.

Accidental puncturing of the dura – the membrane around the spinal cord occurs in around 1:100 epidurals sited during labour, and most mums develop a post-dural puncture headache.

How does mum’s health and fitness affect her pregnancy and baby?

Pregnancy-related airway swelling is far worse in overweight and obese mums making intubation during general anaesthesia risker. Excess weight in a mum will also make it harder to administer an epidural or spinal anaesthesia. ‘In the case of morbidly obese patients, it can be difficult to do a spinal injection,’ says Dr Shmukler. ‘We need gynaecologists to warn us if patients are around 140 to 150kg as these patients www.babysandbeyond.co.za

2018/04/03 1:51 PM

FEATURE

Many mums see being sent for an emergency C-section as a failure. I reassure them that they are there for a good reason if we’ve made the decision to bring them to theatre. will be harder to anaesthetise, have higher risks in surgery, and often have multiple co-morbid conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart issues and more. All this makes the surgery and anaesthetic potentially more complex and early preparation and planning is key.’

Dr Shmukler is passionate about programmes that encourage health and fitness throughout pregnancy. For example, mums registered on Vitality Baby earn double fitness points for selected fitness activities. These include park runs, using partner gyms, and training with a fitness device. They also earn double Vitality points for HealthyFood purchases during pregnancy and until baby is six months old.

Vitality Baby moms also access Discovery Vitality’s partnership with Disney, set up to get expectant parents of little children thinking about inspiring ideas for healthy living.

‘The incidence of obesity in pregnancy is increasing worldwide,’ adds Discovery Health’s chief medical officer, Dr Maurice Goodman. ‘A large proportion of women gain more weight than is recommended during pregnancy. In addition to the inherent risks associated with pregnancy, obesity carries its own risks for anaesthesia and surgery. And, excessive weight gain in pregnancy is associated with complications such as diabetes, high blood pressure, caesarean section, and large babies.’

Moderate-intensity exercise appears to be an important part of weight-control strategies in pregnancy. Published evidence indicates that diet or exercise, or both, reduce the risk of excess

pregnancy weight gain and that healthier, fitter women have shorter labour and better natural delivery.

Dr Odell adds: ‘Patients who have a healthy, active pregnancy tend to have less post-natal depression and cope a lot better generally, post-delivery.

Overweight in pregnancy is associated with more chronic complications such as gestational diabetes and hypertension, prolonged labour because of bigger babies at delivery, and more birth trauma.

We see a higher rate of C-sections, still birth and miscarriages in these mums – especially in obese patients. Post-delivery, overweight is associated with a higher rate of sepsis, pulmonary embolism (clots in the lung), deep-vein thrombosis and infections. The more overweight a mum is, the higher her rate of complications.’

‘Fitter women also tend to have stronger pelvic muscles and are able to push better during labour.

The evidence even shows that a baby’s neurological development is better in a heathier mum. Anecdotal evidence and studies show that healthier mums also recover faster after natural and C-section births,’ adds Dr Goodman.

Advice for pregnant women in a nutshell?

Pregnant women should delay any surgical procedure that’s not vital to allow for baby’s undisturbed and maximal development and maturation. And, where surgery is necessary, whether during pregnancy or at delivery, good communication and collaboration with the anaesthetist goes a long way towards a healthy outcome for mum and baby.

To find out more about this year’s SAS congress, visit www.sasaweb.com/.

How do I activate Discovery Vitality Baby?

Activate Vitality Baby and get the best care and rewards during the first 1 000 days – from pregnancy until your child turns two. This includes a gift pack filled with useful information and exciting gifts, a R100 Toys R Us gift card and 10% off selected baby essentials at Toys R Us stores. You can also get up to 25% cash back on nappies and other baby essentials with the HealthyCare benefit. Plus, engage in exclusive Disney-inspired content and stand the chance to win Disney Baby hampers for your little one. For more information, visit www.discovery.co.za/ vitality/rewards-partners.

TO ADVERTISE IN

babys beyond TM

and

a family lifestyle magazine

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CONTACT:

021 424 3625 info@babysandbeyond.co.za

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HEALTH

When there are rocks but they’re not rolling What is constipation and when should you worry? Dr Caroline Zabiegaj-Zwick, a paediatric surgeon, dispel some myths and offers her guidance about dealing with a child who has difficulty stooling.

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hen you become a parent, it is amazing how the dinner table discussion shifts from parliamentary shuffles to the bodily emissions of your baby. No conversation is safe from a discussion about baby’s pooping habits, eating and burping routines, and funny projectile emission stories. However, there is much mystery and a fair amount of assumption about what is normal stooling (pooping) and what is abnormal. Added to this, there are often many wellmeaning aunties, grannies and mothers who have ‘been there, done that, and got covered in poo’ who will offer advice regarding ‘constipation’.

The definition of constipation is a decrease in frequency of stools, or passage of hard, dry stools.

You can appreciate that this is rather vague as the ‘normal’ frequency for one child is not necessarily the norm for another. Rather than giving a definition of what constipation is, I would like to dispel some myths and give some guidance about dealing with a child who has difficulty stooling, as well as highlighting some of the red flags that should prompt seeking medical attention at various ages.

New-borns and infants (up to two years) I often have moms worried that their babies do not pass adequate amounts of stool. When breastfeeding, the good news is that there is a wide range that is considered normal: some babies will pass stools with every feed, whereas some babies will only pass stools once a week, which is because the baby’s body absorbs almost all the breastmilk and leaves nothing more to be excreted. The following are considered red flags in this age group and should prompt seeking medical advice: • Not passing meconium (the sticky black stool) within the first 24 hours of birth • Constipation that is associated with a very distended tummy • An abnormal looking anus (bum) • A sore, red looking tummy

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• Any vomiting, especially if green in colour • If stooling habits change dramatically after introducing solids

Toddler group (two to five years) This is the age group that is most difficult to contend with. Toddlers are wonderful angels, that can sometimes be devious little devils. During the pottytraining ages, children make the connection between their behinds and their brains (which is the point of potty training). This ultimately means that children realise that they can control their stools, and because such a fuss is made about them going to the potty, it www.babysandbeyond.co.za

2018/04/03 2:18 PM

HEALTH

Childhood (age six and up) This group of children poses a new set of challenges, sometimes for which there are not many answers from a medical point of view. Children go to school, meet new people, have new expectations and

learning structures, which means that going to the toilet when the need arises is not always a feasible option. Added to that the toilet facilities may not be inviting for the child to feel relaxed enough to go to the toilet, leading to a withholding behaviour even if they did not have the tendency to withhold before. If there is a child who already had previous issues with constipation, this may then be exacerbated by the various changes that occur.

Additionally, in the digital age there are now new issues that are sadly affecting our children – less play time outside for multiple reasons: children’s safety, increased demands from increased school work, more time in front of the television, and greater time spent playing on devices. Our diets leave a lot to be desired too. People have less time to cook hearty wholesome meals, which means they resort to food that is quick and easy to cook, including take outs, foods low in fibre, or junk food. There is also the aggravation of children who have a sugar addiction – they don’t drink enough water and resort to drinking fizzy drinks.

Together, these factors lead to both weight issues and constipation.

Red flags: • Encopresis – this is faecal incontinence when the child was continent before • Constipation that is difficult to manage • Vomiting (yes, especially if it is green) Ultimately, this is a vast topic with many nuances.

If it were a minor issue there would not be more than 12 million sites online about how to treat it. However, I can say that often the cause for the constipation is not related to anatomical abnormalities but rather to a combination of various environmental factors. Having said that, children who have severe constipation can become severely affected – abdominal pain and cramps, decreased concentration at school, encopresis, anxiety, and even multiple absences from school (and from work for the parents) because of repeated admissions to hospital. If there is any doubt or concern, parents should rather seek medical attention to help treat a very real but treatable condition, and if there are any red flags, please seek medical attention for your child.

After graduating from UCT in 2007 and completing her internship training in Johannesburg, Caroline Zabiegaj-Zwick returned to the Western Cape in 2010 and began working at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital as a medical officer in the trauma front room before accepting a position at Tygerberg Hospital in paediatric surgery. After six years of training, Caroline attained her Fellowship in the College of Paediatric Surgery in South Africa in 2016, as well as a Masters’ in Medicine in Paediatric Surgery from Stellenbosch University in the same year.

After completing her studies, Caroline took some time off to have a baby, and has since been working in private practice, mainly at N1 City Hospital, but also offering a paediatric surgical service to several hospitals in Cape Town. She also helps with theatre lists, clinical duties and teaching at both Tygerberg Children’s Hospital and Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. Caroline’s special interests in paediatric surgery include neonatal surgery, hepatobiliary and oncology surgery. For more information, call 021 000 2353 or email reception@capepaediatricsurgery.co.za.

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Photo credit: Cape Paediatric Surgery

becomes quite the bargaining tool, with some back firing (or a lack thereof). The idea behind potty training is to form a connection between the rectum (the large intestine that stores the stool) and the brain. Once the rectum is distended, a message is sent to the brain to ask if there is the green light to go ahead to the toilet.

In the brain, this message will then be analysed and if it is appropriate, the muscles relax, and stool is passed.

If the timing is inappropriate, the muscles contract, keeping the stool in and allowing the person/child to buy some time to find the appropriate place or time to go and pass a stool.

In toddlerhood, there are often far more amazing things to discover (in the sandpit, in the tree or under the rock) and people to play with, so going to the toilet is not a priority. The children then withhold the stool until they are reminded that they should go to the toilet, or in slightly more dramatic circumstances until they are unable to hold the stool back anymore, in which case an ‘accident’ happens.

The withholding behaviour can have some rather negative consequences though, as passage of hard stools then leads to tearing of the sensitive tissue around the bum, which leads to anal fissures. The child then starts associating going to the toilet with pain, and therefore withholds stool more often and then we get into a cycle of withholding, passage of hard stools leading to tearing and fissures, and painful stooling, more withholding, and so on. The aim in this group of children is to make going to the toilet fun, to get into a routine, and to avoid the withholdingfissure-pain cycle. By teaching good habits at a young age, you can avoid many problems with chronic constipation and the sequelae thereof.

Red flags: • Constipation that is only relieved by enemas or associated with prolapse or bleeding • Children who are vomiting (especially if green)

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HEALTH

Burns:

they happen frequently

so be prepared

Burns are devastating injuries that cause both physical scarring and mental anguish. It is estimated that over a million patients are burned annually on the African continent – 18% of hospital admissions are because of burns and the mortality rate is 6 to 10%.

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ry heat (such as fire), wet heat (such as steam or hot liquids), radiation, friction, heated objects, the sun, electricity, or chemicals can all cause burns.

Thermal burns are the most common kind of burn and occurs when some or all the cells in the skin or other tissues are destroyed by: • hot liquids or steam (scalds) • hot solids (contact burns), or • flames (flame burns).

The symptoms associated with a burn often depend on the cause and type of burn. There are three primary types of burns: first, second, and third degree, and each degree is based on the severity of damage to the skin, including blisters, pain, peeling, red skin, swelling, white or charred skin, as well as symptoms of shock that can include pale skin and bluish lips and fingernails. The degree of pain is not related to the severity of the burn, as the most serious burns can be painless. Burns are very common especially with children. As soon as they can move, their will to explore can put their safety at risk. A South African survey showed thermal injuries to be the most common external cause of death of children under the age of four years, and the third most common cause of fatal injuries of children under the age of 18.

As most burns occur in and around the home, it is important to be alert to potential burn hazards here.

Be careful while cooking, check your appliances and make sure there are no loose cords. Be safe when you smoke or use candles. Proceed with caution while using fire gels or paraffin because they stick to your hands. Lastly, ensure that you educate your children about the potential danger by teaching them about the hazards of fires and how to avoid foreseeable dangers.

Injuries happen very quickly and can be painful, so be prepared in case of emergency. Most minor burns will heal on their own, and home treatment (cooling the burn for at least 10 minutes with cool or tepid running water and using an over-the-counter pain reliever for pain) is usually all that is needed to relieve your symptoms and promote healing. But if you suspect you or your child may have a more severe

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injury, arrange an appointment with your doctor immediately.

It’s also important to remember that when the skin is damaged, there is a higher risk of infection, so it is very important to keep the wound clean and dry. Do not apply paste, oil, haldi (turmeric), butter, or raw cotton to the burn. When it is a minor burn over a small area that doesn’t require medical attention, BETADINE® can be used to prevent and treat infections from burns. It will kill bacteria, viruses and fungi that could cause your wound to become infected. You can either use BETADINE® Antiseptic Solution, BETADINE® Antiseptic Ointment or BETADINE® First Aid Cream as long as you apply liberally on the burn site and cover with a bandage or dressing.

To learn more about wound care, and what you should have stocked at home for your little emergencies, visit http://betadine.co.za/woundcare/. www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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HEALTH

Autism

and your child

With over a million people in South Africa currently diagnosed with autism – often late in life – it’s important for parents to understand what to look out for and what help is available to them and their children. Sandy Usswald, national director at Autism South Africa (a NPO dedicated to assisting those living with the disability), shares some helpful advice.

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f your child has undiagnosed autism it can make your parenting journey difficult and frustrating. The symptoms, which often manifest between 18 and 24 months, make it important to know what to look for and how to help your child.

‘Because autism is a neuro-development disorder, it affects the growth and structure of the brain,’ Sandy explains. ‘Autistic people communicate, interact, behave and learn differently – depending on the autism’s severity. For example, a child may manifest delayed, abnormal or absent speech and/or language at an age when he should be communicating. Your child may also seem deaf or unable to hear clearly as he doesn’t react when spoken to. An attachment to peculiar objects or playing with toys in an inappropriate manner are other signs.’

While we don’t understand its underlying cause, science has linked autism to a combination of both genes and environment. Symptoms can be displayed early on, but in South Africa most children are only diagnosed around the age of six when applying for primary school.

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‘As a parent, you’re best placed to spot the early signs of autism in your child,’ Sandy notes. ‘Because you spend the most time with your children, you’re better placed to notice behaviours and ‘quirks’ that a paediatrician wouldn’t recognise during a consultation. While it’s important to rely on your child’s paediatrician for expert advice, never discount your own instincts, observation and parental experience.’

However, most important is not to blame yourself or believe that this is something you have directly contributed to. ‘Many parents believe autism is a result of something they have done incorrectly in terms of parenting. This is not the case at all. The key is to empower yourself with knowledge about the disability and to seek the help you need.’ Sandy notes that it’s also not something your family needs to face alone. ‘There are many well-equipped schools and centres that can help you and your child on your journey – ensuring they’re able to lead healthy, happy lives.’ For more information, visit http:// aut2know.co.za. www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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HEALTH

Reducing the risk of cancer The Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) advocates living a balanced, healthy lifestyle by making smart food choices, doing regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding tobacco and alcohol.

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recent study by the World Cancer Research Fund International confirms the link between obesity and 11 cancers, emphasising the huge role that obesity plays in increasing cancer risk. Nutrition, physical activity and body composition all play a central part in cancer risk reduction.

Eat Smart ‘Maintaining a healthy weight and watching your food (sugar, salt, alcohol, and red meat) intake, is so important to your health. It is proven that obesity can cause cancer,’ says CANSA’s clinical health specialist, prof Michael Herbst.

Reading food labels can help ensure a healthier lifestyle because they make you aware of portion sizes and kilojoules. It is important to note that low-fat or non-fat does not necessarily mean low-kilojoule.

‘Limiting red meat and processed meat is also important for a balanced lifestyle. Choose fish, poultry, beans, legumes and pulses, eat at least five portions of seasonal fruits and vegetables daily, and drink plenty of clean, safe water,’ he adds.

Sugar intake should not include more than 10% of a person’s daily energy requirements.

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The use of tobacco products (including hubbly bubbly) is harmful to your health and can lead to cancer and other health-related diseases.

CANSA and the Sugar Tax CANSA encourages reduced sugar intake. High sugar consumption elevates insulin levels, it increases kilojoule intake without any nutrient value, and indirectly increases cancer risk by promoting obesity.

Major sources of added sugars (sugars and syrups that are added to food during processing and preparation) include soft drinks, cakes, biscuits, pies, fruit punch, dairy desserts, sweets and chocolates, and also some sports drinks. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), sugar intake should not include more than 10% of a person’s daily energy requirements.

CANSA supports the indirect taxation on sugar sweetened beverages.

Be Pro-active It is helpful to know your family history and cancer risk. ‘Knowing your body means you are able to recognise changes and unusual symptoms. This will help you to know when something strange is occurring in your body and when to seek professional medical help,’ says prof Herbst.

It is important to do regular self-examination for breast or testicular cancers, and go for regular check-ups and cancer screening tests at a medical practitioner.

CANSA offers integrated services to the public and to all people affected by cancer. To find out more information or about the many health programmes CANSA offers, visit www.cansa.org.za. www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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HEALTH: ADVERTORIAL

Healthy baby, happy mom Calcium supports your bones and teeth, and your baby’s too.

While whole foods are the best source of calcium, you may need a supplement. Let us help…

Healthy bones As a breastfeeding mom you may be worried that your diet is not supplying the calcium you and your baby need – even the hardiest of us cannot eat a tin of sardines every day! So, a supplement may be advised. But which do you choose? Cheaper options generally contain calcium carbonate (an alkalinebased compound that is not easily absorbed by the stomach or assimilated into the bloodstream).

The more expensive supplements contain calcium citrate, which is easier to absorb. But both forms are often linked with uncomfortable (and awkward) gas, constipation and bloating.

For a calcium supplement that’s both easy to absorb and kind to your digestion, try Flora Force DensiMAX. This plant-based formula is made from Aquamin®, a product created from the ground skeletal remains of a single, mineral-rich marine alga.

Sustainably harvested Aquamin® contains 74 healthpromoting minerals and trace elements. DensiMAX directs calcium to the bones, where it’s needed, and doesn’t cause constipation. Added vitamin D3 further improves bioavailability.

Breastfeeding blues Another worry for new moms is milk supply. If illness and stress affect your milk flow, stimulate production with a healthy diet (including oats, barley, salmon, fruit, leafy greens, carrots, basil and garlic). Feed your baby more often to trigger the letdown response and consider the age-old supplements such as fenugreek and fennel. Fenugreek has been used since biblical times to increase breast-milk production, although scientists have yet to confirm its effectiveness. No harmful side-effects have been noted but use it with caution if you’re a diabetic as it may lower blood sugar. Fennel has been used for centuries to prompt the letdown reflex, which is useful info for working moms struggling to respond to the breast pump.

Always speak to your healthcare provider before taking natural remedies. For more information, visit www.floraforce.co.za. www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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HEALTH

Bugwise app to curb antibiotic resistance Image credit: Pharma Dynamics

Antibiotic resistance (ABR) has increased worldwide largely because of the overuse and misuse of antibiotic medications that, if left unchecked, experts fear it could claim up to 10 million lives per annum at a cumulative cost of USD100 trillion by 2050.

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he threat of antibiotic resistant superbugs is becoming increasingly common in South Africa too and it is estimated that up to 80% of all antibiotic scripts in the country are predominantly for acute respiratory tract infections like sinusitis, bronchitis and pharyngitis. These infections are mostly of viral origin and shouldn’t be treated with an antibiotic. It is estimated that 60% of these antibiotic prescriptions are inappropriate.

Our worst nightmare Misuse of antibiotics has resulted in multidrugresistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR) and pan-drug-resistant (PDR) bacteria, which are being reported more often in South Africa. The threat of this potentially becoming our worst nightmare was already highlighted in a 2008 publication in the South African Medical Journal (SAMJ).

According to Annemarie Blackmore, antimicrobial portfolio manager at Pharma Dynamics, the window of opportunity to control ABR is rapidly closing, hence the urgency to launch interventions that will reduce excessive antibiotic prescribing.

Interventions One such intervention is the new BugWise app developed by Pharma Dynamics with input from a broad range of medical and IT experts to support antibiotic stewardship programmes. The Bugwise app aims to reduce the emergence of resistant bacteria caused by inappropriate use of antibiotics by making relevant and updated information readily available.

A one-stop app Annemarie describes BugWise as a one-stop app for doctors and patients alike. ‘The app is designed with the busy physician in mind and helps healthcare practitioners in private and public healthcare settings to optimise treatment while minimising antibiotic resistance. For example, doctors can input a

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patient’s information, such as diagnosis and chronic medications that they’re on, directly into the app and receive treatment recommendations specific to that individual. The app also allows doctors access to ABR surveillance data, which keeps them up to date on resistant strains that are prevalent in the area,’ she explains.

‘Patients are able to research information on their diagnosis, together with the medication they have been prescribed. The app informs them about antibiotics and the dangers associated with incorrect use, as well as some useful tips on how to prevent infections. They are also able to set reminders to take their medication at the correct times.

Effective communication Annemarie further highlights that health topics, such as ABR, tend to be ineffectively communicated to the public. ‘Since most people have access to smartphones, we see huge value in the use of alternative and sustainable education resources such

The window of opportunity to control ABR is rapidly closing, hence the urgency to launch interventions that will reduce excessive antibiotic prescribing. www.babysandbeyond.co.za

2018/04/03 1:51 PM

HEALTH Annemarie says the reasons driving excessive prescription of antibiotics are multifactorial, but perhaps most importantly, is the overlapping clinical features of viral and bacterial infections making it difficult for GPs to distinguish between patients that would benefit from an antibiotic and those who won’t.

If ABR isn’t tackled effectively in the next few years, we are at threat of a postantibiotic era in which minor infections and surgeries could prove fatal.

Avoiding endemicity ‘Typically, doctors would err on the side of caution by prescribing an antibiotic, but with the growing threat of ABR – already being described as the modern plague – it is critical that doctors limit prescribing antibiotics to only those who most need it. Once these strains develop in an intensive care unit, ward or hospital, endemicity is inevitable. Reported cases of ABR have already reached well beyond tuberculosis, which affects an estimated 450 000 South Africans per annum,’ Annemarie insists.

Professor Guy Richards, a specialist in ABR at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and who formed part of Pharma Dynamics’ R&D team, says BugWise can help doctors to optimise patient outcomes while minimising antibiotic resistance at the click of a button. ‘We’re very excited about the app, specifically because it can be customised to include statistics for specific locations to incorporate local sensitivity patterns.

BugWise makes this kind of information available to doctors in a much more efficient and accessible manner, which is ideal for busy doctors who have limited time.’

as BugWise. Educating the public is an extremely important factor in tackling ABR, as patients often put pressure on doctors to prescribe antibiotics and may not understand that their illness is likely caused by a virus that cannot be treated with an antibiotic.’

The benefits of Bugwise Annemarie says that although there are various apps that provide antibiotic information, the benefit of BugWise is in providing a single source where doctors can find the relevant information they require on one platform, as well as an educational platform to assist with keeping patients informed. ‘We have consolidated this requirement through the app, which makes it easily accessible to doctors, no matter where they are based,’ she explains.

Key features of the app include: • general alerts around updated drug monographs • access to the latest medical and scientific publications and articles related to ABR • detailed microbe and medication information • drug interaction checker • antibiotic duplication checker • dosing calculators • surveillance data.

The BugWise app can be accessed via android and iOS phones, and downloaded from any app store. Patients can register immediately to access the app, while doctors can request a code via the app by providing their healthcare practice number.

Other complications He adds that in addition to drug resistance, overuse of antibiotics can also lead to other health issues such as drug toxicity or complications such as C. difficile colitis. ‘Microbes are smart, and they evolve to get around things that kill them. If ABR isn’t tackled effectively in the next few years, we are at threat of a post-antibiotic era in which minor infections and surgeries could prove fatal,’ Prof Richards emphasises.

As a socially responsible pharmaceutical organisation, Pharma Dynamics continues to push the boundaries by finding solutions to critical health challenges that face our country.

To Advertise in the next edition of

babys beyond TM

and

a family lifestyle magazine

please contact 021 424 5625 or e-mail us at info@babysandbeyond.co.za www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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HEALTH

Debunking myths about flu and the flu vaccine Winter is on its way and with it come the inevitable and dreaded bouts of influenza (flu). There are many misconceptions surrounding influenza flu and the flu vaccine.

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ere are a few myths about flu and the flu vaccine that have been discredited.

Myth: Flu is not that serious.

Fact: Flu is a severe and possibly life-threatening disease that kills more than 500 000 people every year around the globe.

Myth: It is natural and almost expected to get the flu every year as it does its rounds.

Fact: Incorrect – flu can be avoided by having the flu vaccine.

Myth: The flu shot causes flu.

Fact: Impossible. The viruses contained in flu shots have been killed, which means they can’t cause infection. Getting a flu shot stimulates the immune system, which may cause mild flu-like symptoms.

Myth: The flu vaccine is only for the elderly and highrisk patients.

Fact: Flu affects people of all ages and anyone who would rather not contract flu should be vaccinated.

Myth: I was vaccinated last year so I am good to go.

Fact: During every flu season there are different flu viruses circulating. Viruses regularly change because of different factors, including mutation. Therefore, a new vaccine is manufactured each year in response to that year’s prevalent flu strains. To be up to date, you need to be vaccinated every year.

When to get vaccinated ‘The sooner you get vaccinated the better, and certainly before the winter flu season hits us,’ says Jackie Maimin, CEO of the Independent Community Pharmacy Association (ICPA). ‘We urge people to get vaccinated at their nearest community pharmacy clinic to protect their health and to curb

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the spread of influenza. The 2018 influenza vaccine has been released and should be readily available.

Most medical schemes now cover flu shots, so if you are on a medical scheme check with your pharmacy whether yours covers them,’ Jackie adds.

‘Many people die every year from flu-related complications, with most deaths occurring in people that are considered high risk – pregnant women, children between the ages of six months and five years, people older than 65, those with HIV/AIDS, chronic disease sufferers, and those who work and live in densely populated areas and high traffic sites – teachers, students and cashiers in busy retail outlets are examples.’

The ICPA advises that being vaccinated not only protects you from the flu but also protects others you’re in contact with in your community.

How do flu vaccines work?

Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies provide protection against infection from the viruses that are contained in the vaccine.

The vaccine increases your defence against the influenza virus. It works by introducing very small amounts of viral components into the body. These components are enough to stimulate the production of antibodies (cells designed to attack that particular virus), which will remain in the body ready to attack that same virus in the future. To get the most out of your vaccination ensure you are feeling well when you have your shot – this will ensure you have the best immune response to the killed virus. For more information, visit www.icpa.co.za. www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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HEALTH

Healthy skin, happy baby One of the inevitable issues faced by moms before toddlers are properly potty-trained is dealing with nappy rash – which is very common and usually appears as red inflamed skin or small bumps around your baby’s nappy area.

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appy rash is usually caused by prolonged contact with urine and feces on the sensitive skin around the nappy area. While common, a nappy rash can leave your baby in severe discomfort, resulting in crying, irritability and in some cases a loss of appetite.

The development and refinement of superabsorbent nappy technology has helped to reduce the severity and frequency of nappy rash.

Using disposable nappies can help minimise exposure to moisture and irritants but cannot completely prevent the rash from occurring. Apart from making sure you use the best nappies for your baby, baby care and parenting expert Sister Lilian notes some of the major causes of nappy rash and how to avoid it.

‘Don’t leave a soiled nappy on for extended periods, babies faeces and urine are irritants, and sometimes medication such as antibiotics can contribute to nappy rash. Most babies get nappy rash occasionally, especially if they have sensitive skin or get diarrhoea. Also, when they begin eating solids. You’ll need to treat it so that it doesn’t develop into something more serious, but it shouldn’t require a trip to the doctor – unless it doesn’t

disappear after a few days of home treatment and diet.’

Sister Lilian also provides the following helpful tips for keeping your baby’s bottom rash-free: • Change a nappy as soon as possible.

• Ensure your baby’s bottom is completely dry before putting on another nappy.

• Apply a thin layer of ointment or petroleum jelly to your baby’s bottom.

• Make sure you leave enough room for your baby’s bottom to ‘breathe’ after putting on a new nappy.

Not too tight but not too loose.

• Let your baby have some nappy free time.

If your baby’s bottom continues to be plagued by a nasty nappy rash, consult your medical practitioner.

Pampers Premium Care nappies are designed to absorb and retain your baby’s urine and faeces, which helps to maintain skin health. Constructed from soft breathable materials, the Premium Care nappy assists in preventing over-hydration of the skin by urine, protecting your baby against wetness and reducing the risk of nappy rash. For more information, visit www.pg.com.

Photo credit: Pampers

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EDUCATION

Extend classroom habits

to the home

By Carla Kuhlmey, teacher at Crawford Preparatory North Coast

Finding time in busy schedules to assist with homework, pack school bags, prepare meals and lunchboxes, and make time to read correspondence from the school is not easy. Being organised is key and sets an example for children, which assists them with their own busy days.

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EDUCATION

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eing organised can be exhausting after a long day, so it’s key that you begin influencing your children from a young age to be independent and organised.

Teaching them to tidy up after playing with their toys is a great method of introducing organisational skills. In the process of tidying, children learn to sort, categorise and order, all of which supports maths concepts. Have marked containers, preferably with labels and pictures to assist your children. While the easy option is to tidy up for your children, this becomes expected and children are conditioned that someone else will tidy up after them.

Repetition and consistency are vital in this learning process. Children will eventually adopt this new habit and continue without an instruction. Routine from a young age is extremely important; this behaviour should begin at home, be developed at school, and then extend back home.

Picture charts From the age of two, children attending playgroup can unpack their lunch at school, put their teacherparent notebooks in the correct place, and place their own bags in their lockers if initially guided. They are just as capable of unpacking their bags at home and putting their dirty clothes in the correct place, but only if you let them, praise them and encourage them. A picture chart with children’s weekly school timetables and extracurricular activities is a great way to prepare them for each day. Knowing what each day entails is very reassuring to anxious children and will ensure they are more focused on learning than on what lesson they are going to next. Look at the chart together the night before and assist your child to gather their necessary belongings, constantly referring to the pictures on the chart. In the morning before school, your children can put their own lunchboxes in their schoolbags and together you can re-check that they have everything they need for the day, reminding them of their daily responsibilities. This early independence is very important for their selfconfidence and will make life easier in the future.

Start young While they are still young, you will have to make their lunches and ensure their uniforms are clean and ready for the next day, but they can take on these duties from Grade 1. Never wait for the morning to organise uniforms because it’s already a rush and no matter what time you get up, you never seem to escape the mad hurry.

A picture chart with children’s weekly school timetables and extracurricular activities is a great way to prepare them for each day. www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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Organise a suitable time and space for your children to do their homework consistently each day.

Before the age of three, children love to help with chores and quickly learn about washing hands, cleaning teeth, and folding pyjamas. Once they turn four, reluctance and negotiation set in so teach well during the window period. From five they should be making their own beds and, even if the results don’t not meet your standards, don’t do it again as this will make them reluctant to try again. Praise what they did correctly and coach the rest.

Keep things predictable Make sure you allow enough time for unexpected traffic and of course the infamous, ‘Mom, I need to go to the toilet’ as soon as you have finally buckled the children in the car on time. Change the time on your clock at home to assist with time management.

Children who arrive late are anxious and will struggle to focus on anything their teachers are saying, until they are in a calmer state. Life is unpredictable but where possible try to keep your child’s emotional well-being as balanced as possible.

Homework schedules As your children get older, homework starts. This can be painful and time consuming, especially when you know you have 102 emails you didn’t manage to read at work. Organise a suitable time and space for your children to do their homework consistently each day. Stick to your homework routine and be patient.

Eventually there will be no debate, procrastination techniques and endless hunger because of avoidance. You will triumph!

If you are finding getting your child to be independent and co-operative is proving to be an endless screaming match, consider a picture behaviour modification chart to reinforce what you are trying to teach them. These charts can be adapted to suit your specific needs. Again, consistency, encouragement and perseverance are key to the success of modifying your children’s behaviour.

Remain consistent Being a parent is like having a second job that requires your constant attention. You never know if what you are doing is working, and no child seems to respond the same way to a method. Just when you start figuring out what is working for your children they change, and you are back to square one. Hang in there and remain consistent. Independence, responsibility and organisation are life skills that need to be taught at home. Don’t leave it up to the teachers, start early and you will reap the rewards of your consistency. For more information, visit www.advtech.co.za.

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EDUCATION

The architect of the brain Certain toys and games play an integral part in a child’s cognitive development and one of the best ways to nurture a young brain is through play because it challenges thinking and the ability to process information.

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oy Kingdom’s parenting expert, Nikki Bush, explains that the body is an ‘architect of the brain’ during childhood and to best understand the world around them, children need to be exposed to a range of scenarios to ensure their brains remain stimulated. She says that school, home and outdoor environments are important, as are toys and games with educational value such as Lego, and arts and crafts. Engaging in conversation with both adults and children is also a big advantage and encourages interaction and open communication.

Different stages, different needs ‘Children go through different stages of development that all play a role in their ultimate cognitive development. Different environments, different people and different toys help to stimulate young minds and assist children to interpret new information accurately,’ Nikki explains.

And, a young brain learns easily. She explains that during childhood the brain is extremely elastic, which means that learning is much easier for young

children than older people. ‘Ever hear the saying that a child’s brain is like a sponge? That’s because when they’re young, much learning happens because they’re able to absorb so much information and understand things quite easily,’ she adds.

Phases of learning include concrete, semi-concrete and abstract. The concrete learning phase is most important. Nikki says that no on-screen image or book can substitute the real thing – ‘real trumps everything in early learning’.

The Child Development Team at Toy Kingdom South Africa says stocking toys that are good for cognitive development is high on its priority list.

The range of Hape products and Lego are just few developmental toys on the store’s shelves.

‘Children thrive on three-dimensional learning and the concrete phase allows a child to interact with a real object and with their bodies. They are able to feel that an apple is round, see its colour, taste and smell it,’ Nikki points out. She adds that children should be able to internalise and experience with their bodies for an ultimate memorable learning experience.

Photo credit: Toy Kingdom

Toy Kingdom is Africa’s most loved toy store with 24 retail stores offering the latest and most recognised toy brands to families. Toy Kingdom brings together unrivalled quality toys, beautifully designed stores and friendly and knowledgeable staff who encourage children and parents to interact and play with the toys. For more information, visit www.toykingdom.co.za.

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EDUCATION

Study habits for a lifetime of success Senior high school learners from Grade 9 to 12 should not only spend energy on mastering their academic work, but also on mastering study habits that will set them up for a lifetime of effective learning – from varsity to the workplace.

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astering the mechanics of learning is just as important as the learning itself and is a crucial component of handling the demands of higher education once learners become students,’ says Dr Gillian Mooney, dean: academic development and support at The Independent Institute of Education, SA’s largest private higher education provider.

‘When learners enter their final years of school, it is no longer just about the amount of time they spend in front of their books, but also about the quality of that time. These years are optimal for developing the skills that will help them manage the increasing workloads they will face in future,’ she adds.

Productivity is vastly improved both at uni and in the workplace when the effort and thinking about typing is removed.

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EDUCATION Gillian notes that there are a few basics that senior learners can start putting into place as part of their regular routines. These will clear the administrative clutter on their desks and in their minds, allowing them to learn faster and focus purely on the subject at hand:

Learn to touch type Productivity is vastly improved both at uni and in the workplace when the effort and thinking about typing is removed. ‘Note-taking is more accurate, assignments can be completed faster, and admin can be handled more effectively. In 2018, being a keyboard maestro should be a skill everyone gets under their belt sooner rather than later,’ Gillian insists.

Develop good organisational habits ‘One of the main challenges we see in first years is their struggle to keep all balls in the air. The workload increases dramatically between Matric and first year and being organised demonstrably improves your chances of keeping your head above water.’ Gillian says that learners should start getting into the habit

of filing their notes every day as well as spending a few minutes each day on administrative and organisational tasks. ‘Very importantly, they need to start developing a logical folder structure and filing system to ensure that confusion doesn’t catch up with them, and that they do not spend unnecessary time searching for things that are either lost or hidden in plain sight. ‘Create different folders for different subjects, make sure your sub-folders make logical sense, and stick to effective naming conventions that make document searches easier.’ And, very importantly, a habit of backing up regularly should become second nature.

Learning to multi-task Using your time effectively and creatively can generate a lot of additional time that will come in handy when the pressure really sets in. ‘For instance, when going for a run, don’t just listen to music. You can use this time to listen to an audio book or discussion on the subject you are studying or revising. Find opportunities such as these, where you can claim two birds with one stone. Another example of creative time-management is to not play random computer games during your downtime but to download one of the very entertaining typing challenges that will improve your keyboard game as well as serve as relaxation.’

Cultivating a growth mindset and committing to lifelong learning Some learners and students can’t wait for the end – the end of school, the end of exams, the end of uni. But always looking forward to when your studies will be over turns each subject, test and exam into a chore that needs to be completed. ‘However, switching this attitude around and relishing the reality that your learning is a lifelong project rather than something that needs to be crossed off your to-do list will instil a mindset that will open a never-ending world of opportunity and discovery,’ Gillian explains.

She adds that this is particularly necessary within the context of the looming fourth industrial revolution, where employees need to be multi-skilled creative thinkers. ‘We are no longer in a world where it is about what you know. What counts today and what will count in the future is how you get to know things, and how you are able to cope with change. That is all dependent on your knowledge management habits, which young adults need to start cultivating as soon as possible,’ she points out.

‘When we look at those students who successfully navigate their first year in higher education, they are the ones who bring the habits that enable effective learning combined with a resilient mindset,’ says Gillian.

‘Many students don’t enter higher education with these skills, which is why good institutions have the support structures in place to assist and guide them.

But those who heed the warning to start cultivating these skills in senior high school and arrive at the doors of higher learning with those behaviours already entrenched, are undoubtedly at an advantage.’ www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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EDUCATION

How to raise a resilient child in an over protective world

By Barbra Eaton, academic advisor for ADvTECH Schools

Children raised 30 years ago had access to wide-open spaces, they played without constant supervision and generally amused themselves.

Even if only in the garden, they weren’t constantly watched and so learned to handle peer conflict and tumbles on their own. This resulted in children who entered school, university and the workplace with resilience.

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adly, today’s young workers are so used to constant parental praise, supervision and protection that they have not developed resilience and problem-solving skills.

To raise your children with resilience is not difficult, but parents need to agree on the strategies and stick to them through their offspring’s childhood.

Provide 75% of what your child needs, but only 25% of what they want. An excess of material goods leads to discontentment, an inability to appreciate what they have, or the will to take care of it. Saving, doing chores and generally contributing to the smooth running of the home should be part of earning their ‘wants’.

Don’t eliminate all risk. Children won’t get pneumonia if they forget their jerseys and perhaps they will remember it next time. Don’t turn your home into a padded cell because your baby is learning to walk. Remove real dangers such as open plug points and things that could fall on them but let them learn to avoid things and get the occasional bump. Don’t talk in catastrophic terms about things that could happen. ‘If you climb there you will fall and break your neck.’ Rather say, ‘make sure you hold on and watch where you put your feet.’

Teach children from the age of two that mistakes are okay. ‘How will we solve the problem?’ Highly successful people have a trail of mistakes behind them, but they learned from them and tried again.

Model recovering from mistakes. Drop the toast on the floor and talk aloud about how you will try again and remember to hold the plate straight.

Acknowledge when you do something wrong and discuss solutions.

By being a good role model when handling your own emotions, you can also help your children to handle theirs. Acknowledge your child’s feelings before offering a solution. ‘I can see you are upset because you were not invited to the party, it must be hard for you. What do you think will help you feel better?’ Whether a cuddle, punching the punch-bag or whacking the bed with an empty plastic bottle, allow your child an outlet and then talk calmly about reasons and solutions. Don’t offer solutions, however tempting. Life has knocks, and we must experience a few to develop resilience.

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Be calm and consistent so your children experience peace and safety at home but expect them to play their part from two years old. Praise effort and keep praise in proportion. Not every sludgy artwork is magnificent, but you can notice the use of colour and the time it must have taken. Celebrate achievements, however small, with praise at the dinner table and perhaps a special pudding. Help the child who struggles academically or on the sport’s field to build skill at other activities and to keep trying.

Resilient children will bless you when they leave home and experience the world’s knocks, so be persistent in your parenting for their future success.

For more information, visit www.advtech.co.za. www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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Grab some grub

Pork Chops with Cheese

Serves 4

These chops are absolutely delicious and definitely not dry. This ‘cook on one side’ method is a winner.

Butterflied chicken breasts can also be used in place of the pork chops.

Ingredients

4 to 6 pork loin chops Ina Paarman’s Rosemary & Olive Seasoning Olive oil 4-5T (60-75ml) Ina Paarman’s Olive Pesto ¾ cup (180ml) grated cheddar cheese ¼ cup (60ml) soft breadcrumbs

Method

Cut through the fat layer of each chop twice to prevent curling.

Lightly season and oil both sides of the chops with Rosemary & Olive Seasoning and olive oil.

Preheat the grill for later.

Sear the oiled chops briefly on one side only in a heavy cast iron griddle pan or an ovenproof frying pan.

Turn chops over. Remove pan from the heat.

Spread Olive Pesto over the uncooked side.

Mix the cheese with breadcrumbs. Sprinkle over the chops.

Flash under the grill until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly.

Serve.

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www.babysandbeyond.co.za

2018/04/03 1:52 PM

Grab some grub

Butternut Fritters

Serves 6

You will need

2 cups (500ml) cooked and mashed butternut ½ cup (125ml) flour 1t (5ml) Ina Paarman’s Masala Spice 1t (5 ml) baking powder 1 extra large egg canola oil for frying 2T (30ml) white sugar ½t (2.5ml) cinnamon 1 lemon slices

Method

Mix the butternut, flour, Masala Spice and baking powder. Stir in the egg to form a thick batter. Pan fry spoonfuls in moderately hot oil (about ½cm deep) until golden brown. Drain on kitchen or brown paper.

Mix the sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over the fritters. Serve hot with lemon slices.

Ina’s tip

Depending on the moisture content of the butternut, you may have to add a little more flour (15-30ml).

Recipes and pictures courtesy of

www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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babys beyond

KICKS FOR KIDS

and

a family lifestyle magazine

Fun facts about Antarctica • • • • • •

Antarctica is an ice-covered continent covering the southernmost part of the world.

The South Pole is in Antarctica, and the continent is surrounded by the Southern Ocean.

At the South Pole the sun only rises once a year and sets once a year!

Antarctica is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent on Earth.

Antarctica is a desert – it has very little snow or rain.

Antarctica is inhospitable and not many species live here.

www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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KICKS FOR KIDS

Link the numbers to their objects.

Word game

a

b Join

the dots Draw a line from dot number 1 to dot number 2, then from dot number 2 to dot number 3, and so on. Keep going until you’ve joined all the dots, then colour in the picture.

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2018/04/03 1:52 PM

KICKS FOR KIDS

c

Find

d

Spot

Help the monkey to find the banana.

the differences

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the route

Can you find the 10 differences between these two pictures?

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promising products

Baby travel gear

P

rima Baby has announced another revolutionary approach to baby travel gear from Italian masters of their craft, CAM, in the form of the stunning new Combi Tris travel set.

Available in beautiful dusty pink, light green, neutral beige or a striking navy blue, the three-piece combination is the perfect travel companion for newborns to toddlers.

The Combi Tris set consists of everything a parent could need, including a foldable and interchangeable chassis, carrycot, pushchair seat, interchangeable hood, a 0-13kg Group O car seat and a diaper bag. This is one stroller that will make the life of any parent a complete walk in the park.

The Combi Tris travel set is one of a kind and is available at www.takealot.com, www.loot.co.za, www. thebabyzoneco. za, www.simplicity. co.za, Me, Mom & Dad (Greenstone) and Hamleys at a suggested retail price of R13 999.00.

Photo credit: Prima Baby

Sip on homemade sensations

W

hile we’re still enjoying sizzling hot sunny days, enjoy something cold and refreshing from the Iced Tea Recipe Collection – a collaboration between South Africa’s favourite tea brands, Freshpak Rooibos and Five Roses. This collection pulls out all the stops and throws convention to the wind.

Here’s one delectable recipe using Five Roses Green Tea, ginger, mint and honey. Served in an ample glass and garnished with mint leaves, it will leave your guests asking for top-ups, no doubt. Best of all, it’s affordable and simple to create.

Five Roses Green Iced Tea with ginger, mint and honey Ingredients 6 Five Roses Green Tea tea bags 1.5 litres boiling water 100g fresh ginger, unpeeled and sliced 1C mint leaves 50 to 80ml honey 2T lemon juice Lots of ice

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Photo credit: Five Roses

Method Bring the water and ginger to the boil in a large saucepan over high heat As soon as it starts to boil, remove the saucepan from the heat, add the tea bags and mint Cover and let the tea steep for 15 minutes Strain the tea into a jug Stir in the honey and lemon juice and let the tea cool before refrigerating for two hours.

Serve over lots of ice and garnish with more mint leaves Find recipes on pack, in-store or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Freshpak.Rooibos and www.facebook.com/FiveRosesTea/.

www.babysandbeyond.co.za

2018/04/03 1:52 PM

promising products

Bettamed™ Care Cream

Photo credit: Bettamed

M

ums and babies can benefit from using Bettamed™ Care Cream, which is excellent for treating painful nipples, nappy rash and thrush. Thrush is fairly common in pregnant women as hormonal changes occur during pregnancy. It often affects the mouth of babies and can also cause nappy rash.

Sometimes during or post pregnancy, new mothers may also suffer from candida if their pH balance is out of kilter. Candida fungus are present in the mouth, digestive tract and skin of most healthy people and are normally kept in check by other bacteria and microorganisms in the body. However, certain changes such as pregnancy, illnesses, stress, or medications can disturb the body’s delicate balance, causing the fungus candida to grow out of control. Thrush also often occurs in babies, toddlers, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.

Bettamed™ products contain CHD-FA. This active ingredient was discovered when a researcher observed that some plants are super resistant to viral, fungal and bacterial infections. Bettamed™ harnesses the plants’ own disease resistance and studies carried out in Europe have shown that CHD-FA has a broader antimicrobial spectrum than most conventional treatments prescribed today.

Bettamed™ products are available for R78 from select pharmacies without a prescription and are covered by most medical aids. Bettamed™ products can be used safely by the whole family, including babies and the elderly. For stockists, visit www.bettamed.com.

Dr Soldan’s sugar-free Em-eukal sweet range

Photo credit: Dr Soldan

M

oms can treat themselves to a new taste sensation with a packet of Em-eukal bonbons. These mouth-watering, sugar-free range of high-quality sweets are aimed at the health and weight conscious markets.

Em-eukal sweets come in four delicious flavours: Eucalyptus (fresh minty), Ginger-Orange (spicy citrus), Lemon (refreshingly tangy) and Salvia (zesty sage). Each flavour is a taste sensation and as the sweets slowly melt in the mouth, their distinctive flavours can be slowly savoured.

Each Em-eukal premium quality sweet is individually wrapped with a hallmark flag of quality. This unique white and red flag helps to preserve hygiene during the unwrapping process of the sweet.

Dr Soldan’s is a family business founded by Dr Carl Soldan over a 115 years ago. The high-quality confectionery is manufactured using the finest natural ingredients and extracts of the highest-quality fruit juices and oils. Em-eukal sweets contain no artificial colourants or flavourants and are suitable for diabetics and vegetarians. Em-eukal confectionery is available from Dis-Chem and independent pharmacies in 50g packets for around R29.

[Ed: Delicious! These are the first sugar-free sweets that I’ve truly enjoyed, and the kids loved them too.]

To find out more about getting your product listed in this Promising Products section.

contact: Elroy van Heerden on 021 424 3625 or elroy@babysandbeyond.co.za www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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promising products

New calming balm for baby

N

Photo credit: Soylites

ew Calming Baby Balm is a soft, gentle and effective natural balm for your baby’s delicate skin and is part of a new natural balm line from SoyLites.

Calming Baby Balm has a soothing blend of calendula and chamomile combined with the nourishing properties of sweet almond oil and shea butter, ensuring your baby’s skin is in good hands. Free of chemicals and synthetic additives, because your baby deserves a loving touch from nature.

Apply Calming Baby Balm after each nappy change, or use to prevent or treat nappy rash and sooth other skin irritations, dry skin and cradle cap.

Recommended Retail Price: R145 for 125ml. To purchase online or to locate your nearest supplier, visit www.soylites.co.za.

A flu-free winter

F

Photo credit: Vitabiotics

ollow these practical tips from Vitabiotics to minimise your risk of getting sick this winter: Wash your hands: Flu germs can linger on surfaces for up to eight hours. Get into the habit of washing your hands after touching any surfaces in public or use a hand sanitizer if you can’t get to a bathroom.

Don’t touch your face: Not only will constantly touching your face increase your likelihood of breakouts, but it’ll bring you into direct contact with germs from your hands.

Ditch the ciggies: Smoking decreases the body’s ability to fight off cold and flu viruses, so if you haven’t given it up yet, now is the time to do so.

Get sufficient sleep: Our bodies need seven to nine hours of sleep to function optimally and fight off the germs we’re exposed to.

Stock up on supplements: A healthy diet is essential for a healthy immune system, but busy lifestyles are the major contributor preventing us from eating a balanced diet. To increase the body’s immunity against flus and colds, we recommend Vitabiotics Ultra Vitamin C and Vitabiotics Immunace supplements.

Ultra Vitamin C provides slow-release vitamin C formulated with 25mg of citrus bioflavonoids for maximum absorption and effectiveness. It provides antioxidant support and contributes to normal immune function. Price: R75.00.

Immunace is a specialist food supplement that provides advanced nutritional support for all-round health and vitality, as well as specific nutrients for the normal function of your immune system. It provides a comprehensive range of vitamins and minerals and there’s no need to take an additional multivitamin.

Price: R145.00. For more information, visit www.vitabiotics.co.za.

To Advertise in the next edition of

babys beyond TM

and

a family lifestyle magazine

please contact 021 424 5625 or e-mail us at info@babysandbeyond.co.za 56

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2018/04/03 1:52 PM

promising products

Even more Oh My Goodness!

Photo credit: Oh My Goodness!

C

heckers has expanded its range of Oh My Goodness! kiddies’ convenience meals, which were voted best in South Africa by the SUNDAY TIMES Tried & Tested Food Awards last year.

The three delicious new additions include: • Beefy Lasagne – free-range beefy Bolognese layered with durum wheat pasta and cheese sauce, and topped with cheddar • Beef Stew and Butternut Mash – free-range beef in gravy with creamy butternut and sweet potato mash • Chicken Drummets and Mash – roasted free range chicken with sweet potato, vegetables and cheese sauce Finding time to prepare wholesome tasty meals for children is often a serious challenge for time-pressed parents. That’s why the healthy and great tasting Oh My Goodness! range exclusive to Checkers is the ideal meal solution for kids.

Oh My Goodness! comes with a no-junk promise: all meals are free from MSG, added sugar and salt, and contain no added artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. Bursting with flavour, the meals consist of locally-sourced vegetables and certified free-range beef and chicken. There are now eight Oh My Goodness! meals, each retailing at R29.99.

Happy Snack! and My Sports Bag! lunch boxes.

Photo credit: Prima Baby

O

ops, a global leader in developmental and recreational toys, now offers parents the perfect bags and boxes to send little ones off to school with.

Sticking with the two much-loved themes of My City and My Forest, the gorgeous friends from the Oops range will take your child confidently into the classroom and onto the sports field.

Happy Snack! is the Oops soft 3D lunchbox, perfect for snack time at school or even when out and about. The bag is suitable for food contact and its thermal lining ensures snacks stay fresh and delicious for hours to come.

My Sport-Bag! is one of few specifically designed sports bags for young children. Very spacious and practical, the bag has a zipper opening that makes change-overs as smooth as possible. The double handle and shoulder strap also means it is easy for children and adults to carry. Being water resistant, it is perfect for the swimming pool. Oops is available at Hamley’s Baby Divisions and selected Kids Emporium stores, Me Mom and Dad (Greenstone) and www.takealot.com, www.loot.co.za and www.thebabyzone.co.za.

To find out more about getting your product listed in this Promising Products section.

contact: Elroy van Heerden on 021 424 3625 or elroy@babysandbeyond.co.za www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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competition Stand a chance to win 1 of 10 Bionase Products SMS the word

Bionase

along with your name and surname

to 33903

sms charged at R1.50

Closing date for the competition is 30 June 2018

Instant relief from nasal congestion Suitable for children from 3 years old and safe to use during pregnancy

CONTACT US: 083 357 8940 for more information www.facebook.com/biorange

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www.biorange.co.za

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2018/04/03 1:52 PM

Nannies Au Pairs Domestic www.facebook.com/Nannyrecruitme www.recruitmenannyandaupair.co.za 081 759 6967 / 071 242 1918

“We place fantastic candidates within all South African provinces�

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BOOK REVIEW

I See an Elephant Elaine MacDonald Penguin Random House South Africa | R80.00 I See an Elephant tells the tale of a gentle elephant who wishes he was a bird. He begins to build a nest, but when the birds laugh at his attempts and try to chase him away, Elephant takes a stand, declaring that he should be able to live as he chooses. Realising that he is right, the birds accept him as one of them, and help him transform into an ‘ele-bird’.

The Girl Who Saw Lions Berlie Doherty Penguin Random House South Africa | R160.00 Two girls, from very different places, are brought together in a tale of loss, courage and family. Abela has lost everything, and now she must leave her home in Tanzania and flee to Britain. Rosa’s struggling to cope with her mum’s wish to adopt a child.

When they are brought together, will Abela and Rosa ever be able to love one another like sisters? From the Carnegie Medal-winning author Berlie Doherty, The Girl Who Saw Lions is a powerful and moving story, inspired by the author’s visit to Africa.

Hellbent (Orphan X Book 3) Photo credits: Penguin Random House South Africa

Gregg Hurwitz Penguin Random House South Africa | R290.00 To some he was Orphan X. Others knew him as the Nowhere Man. But to Jack Johns he was a boy named Evan Smoak.

Taken from an orphanage, Evan was raised inside a top-secret government programme and trained to become a lethal weapon. By Jack. And yet for all the dangerous skill he instilled in his young charge, Jack Jones cared for Evan like a son.

But Jack knew too much about a programme that had gone rotten – he was a loose end that needed to be dealt with.

But if you go after the only person who ever treated him like a human being, you can guarantee that the Nowhere Man will be coming for you. Hellbent on making things right... With Hellbent, Gregg Hurwitz raises the bar again with a masterclass in hi-octane thriller writing.

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2018/04/03 1:52 PM

COMPETITION

WIN

Hamper

How to enter: SMS the word ‘SunstarGUM’

your name and surname to

33903

sms charged at R1.50, no free minutes apply

Family kit includes 2x Sunstar GUM Adult Toothbrushes 2x Sunstar GUM Kids Toothbrushes Sunstar GUM Original White Toothpaste Sunstar GUM Original White Floss Sunstar GUM Original White Mouthrinse Sunstar GUM Easy Flossers Sunstar GUM Disclosing Tablets Sunstar GUM Expanding Floss Sunstar GUM Soft-picks Advanced

valued at R650 Competition closes 30 June 2018 Winner will be announced on our babysandbeyond Facebook page.

To Advertise in the next edition of

babys beyond TM

and

a family lifestyle magazine

please contact 021 424 5625 or e-mail us at info@babysandbeyond.co.za

www.babysandbeyond.co.za

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Why it’s smart to

take a Probiotic

As many as 60% of diseases begin in the gastrointestinal tract – Imbalances lead to a number of unpleasant conditions like diarrhea, constipation, bloating, IBS, allergies, poor digestion and poor nutrient absorption.

The bacteria in our digestive system manufacture substances that can either raise or lower our risk of disease, impact the effectiveness of medication, influence our immune response, or nutritional status and our rate of ageing. Clearly, intestinal bacteria are worth paying attention to.

A total of 100 trillion bacteria live in our digestive system, in either a symbiotic or antagonistic relationship. That is ten times more intestinal bacteria than there are cells in the body.

Bacteria in the gut are known to: • Prevent and stop diarrhea or constipation in adults and children • Aid digestion and break down toxins • Produce vitamins B12 and K • Stimulate the immune system Probiotics may act through: • Competitive exclusion of pathogens (bad bacteria) causing diarrhea • Formation of antimicrobial substances • Inhibition of adherence or translocation of pathogens by colonization • Enhancement of mucosal barrier function • Immune modulation

Choose a probiotic with strains which have well documented effect on restoring bacterial balance in theAintestine and thereby enhancing gastrointestinal Some groups of bacteria can cause acute or l in the A good good probiotic probiotic can be can beneficial be beneficial in the in the One One of theofgreatest the greatest challenges challenges for human for human wellbeing. chronic illness, but another group of bacteria offers following following ailments: ailments: wellbeing wellbeing in thein21st the 21st century century will be willtobe focus to focus protective and nutritive properties. These friendly • Diarrhoea or constipation or constipation on the onadvantage the advantage of having of having a healthy a healthy coloncolon and and • Diarrhoea A high level of documentation gives a product the bacteria are called intestinal flora or probiotics.

• Bad breath, breath, gas and gasout bloating andbybloating therefore therefore a good a good immune immune system system – this– isthis where is where • Bad opportunity to stand showing that the product e • Irritable bowel bowel and in lactose and lactose intolerance intolerance probiotics probiotics can play can play significant a significant role. role. is • Irritable well researched terms of having a positive Probiotics are a live micro-organisms that, when es in • Gastroenteritis • Gastroenteritis and playschool and playschool diseases diseases in in effect on intestinal health. consumed in adequate amounts, confer a health Probiotics Probiotics critical are critical for normal for normal digestion digestion young young children children benefitare to the host. and and for defence for defence against against infection. infection.

There is therefore no reason to suffer from chronic Theintwo most Bacteria Bacteria the in gut theimportant are gutknown are groups known to: ofto:intestinal flora are diarrhea or other stomach upsets caused by E Coli or rotavirus as regular supplementation with a good Lactobacilli – found mainly in the small intestine, • Stimulate • Stimulate the immune the immune system system A good probiotic can be beneficial in the human probiotic could colonize the gastrointestinal tract and Bifidobacteria – found mainly in the colon. following ailments: e to focus • Enhance • Enhance the mucosal the mucosal barrier barrier thus making it much less likely for pathogens to hy colon and • Aid • Aid • Diarrhoea constipation digestion digestion andorbreak and break downdown toxinstoxins cause ill effect.

These bacteria are critical for normal development – this is where• Inhibit • Bad breath,ofgas and bloating • Inhibit adherence adherence pathogens of pathogens of the intestine and for defense against infections, e.

• Irritable bowel and lactose intolerance “The use of probiotics can protect the body against and are vital for our health.

• Gastroenteritis and playschool diseases in flu’s and gastrointestinal infections, therefore, young children al digestion eating a gut friendly, probiotic-rich diet is highly on. recommended. It is important to take a high quality probiotic supplement that protects both the small and large intestine.”

ins

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One of the greatest challenges for human Onewellbeing of the greatest challenges in the 21st centuryfor willhuman be to focus wellbeing in the 21st century will be to focus on the advantage of having a healthy colon and on the advantage of having a healthy therefore a good immune system –colon this isand where therefore a good immune system – this is where probiotics can play a significant role. probiotics can play a significant role.

Probiotics are critical for normal digestion Probiotics are critical for normal digestion and for defence against infection. andBacteria for defence against infection. in the gut are known to: Bacteria in thethe gut are known to: • Stimulate immune system • Stimulate the immune system • Enhance the mucosal barrier • Enhance the mucosal barrier • Aid digestion and break down toxins • Aid• Inhibit digestion and break down toxins adherence of pathogens • Inhibit adherence of pathogens

65 beta.indd17_BABApril2018.indd 1

A good probiotic can be beneficial in the Afollowing good probiotic can be beneficial in the ailments: following ailments: • Diarrhoea or constipation • Diarrhoea or constipation • Bad breath, gas and bloating • Bad breath, gas and lactose bloatingintolerance • Irritable bowel and • Irritable bowel and lactose intolerance • Gastroenteritis and playschool diseases in • Gastroenteritis and playschool diseases in young children young children

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