EDITION 05 WINTER 2021
Breastfeeding inspired me to write…
Next Page Please Storytelling with children
Dear Boobs
Tutti Frutti Clothing
Christmas Events
Creating a sustainable wardrobe
Midwife Sparkle Method Interview with Radha Wilson Jeffries
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A private 1-1 zoom session with Ria Oliver, Emotional Health Coach
T H E F R E E M A G A Z I N E F O R N E W A N D E X P E C TA N T PA R E N T S I N N O R T H H E R T S 1
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As always we would like to thank those who have contributed to our magazine, • Teresa Flanagan, local award winning newborn and family photographer, for providing our beautiful cover images for each edition. • Claire Foskett for sharing with us her Dear Boobs book, which is a book of poems about the loves, leaks and letdowns of breastfeeding • The lovely ladies at Next Page Books in Hitchin, for proving their editorial about literacy and engaging children in storytelling Editors: Kerry Fox and Ria Oliver
• Ali Ribchester from Tutti Frutti Clothing for her editorial on sourcing and making ethically sourced clothing, from her wonderful new shop in Letchworth
Welcome to the festive edition of Simply Babies Magazine! We hope to bring you some sparkle, and a little bit of Christmas magic, as well as our usual insightful editorials and an array of wonderful local family classes, clubs and workshops!
• Radha Wilson Jeffries, the Midwife Sparkle Coach, for talking to us about the issues midwives and the maternity care system are facing and how she is supporting midwives through these challenging times.
Inside the winter edition of the magazine you will find a double page spread on local festive events, Christmas shops and family experiences. We are so pleased that we are able to be together as families this festive season and wanted to be able to celebrate all the joy and merriment of the festive season that we were unable to do in 2020.
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So grab a cuppa, a mince pie and sit a relax while you indulge in the festive pages of our winter magazine!
Kerry & Ria CONTENT�
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Breastfeeding Inspired me to write Dear Boobs 8 Next Page Books Storytelling with children 14 Competition 18 Tutti Frutti clothing Creating a sustainable wardrobe 20 Midwife Sparkle Method Interview with Radha Wilson Jeffries 22 Christmas Events 24 Business Directory 27
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My breastfeeding experience By Claire Foskett
How it inspired me to write a book My breastfeeding journey started in June 2017 when I had my first daughter Nora. In hindsight, I had a pretty ordinary breastfeeding experience – though I didn’t know it at the time. However many books I read and however much the antenatal classes told me, in the early days I often found myself thinking ‘Is this normal?!’. Then I’d look online and see that hundreds of other women had been through the same thing. I loved breastfeeding but I wasn’t prepared for all the added extras – the leaking, the restrictions, the sheer relentless monotony of it all. I felt like knowing what to expect might have made those frazzled, foggy times a little clearer.. After a few weeks of breastfeeding I started writing poems about what me and my boobs were going through. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with the poems but I wanted to share my experience somehow. There seemed to be a lot of organisations supporting breastfeeding, lots of serious instruction manuals available, and plenty of online forums with posts from sleep-deprived mums – but very little published on what breastfeeding is really like. The ideas kept coming and, before I knew it, I had written about 20 poems. I decided to embark on publishing them as a book. Life took over and the book took a back seat as I committed myself fully to breastfeeding, despite all the boob admin involved! When Nora was 5 months old I went away to a hen do. I pumped every day for weeks so that my husband Daniel had enough milk to feed Nora while I was away. Throughout the hen do weekend I had to duck away from
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the festivities multiple times to pump and dump. And I thought my boobs were going to explode as I sat waiting for my delayed train to take me home! Despite the discomfort and effort involved, that weekend was so important for my sanity – so I felt like it was worth it! I couldn’t wait to start solids and share the load more with Daniel. We started at 6 months, but it wasn’t the instant fix I’d hoped for. I was surprised and disappointed when, weeks later, Nora was still breastfeeding multiple times a day and once overnight. At 8 months I went back to work and Daniel began shared parental leave. We switched Nora to formula for daytime feeds whilst I continued to breastfeed her morning, bedtime and once overnight. At 9 months she finally started sleeping through and I felt like a real weight was lifted. I was still having to pump in hotel rooms when I
went away with work, and found myself thinking how great it would be when I could wear whatever I wanted and not have to think about outfits that work with breast pads and leaky boobs! By the time Nora was 1 year old she was only having one small feed a day, at bedtime. It felt like the right time to stop breastfeeding but, having wished my breastfeeding time away, I suddenly started to feel sentimental about our journey ending. I set a date for our last feed and cried as she pulled away for the last time. She never again showed any interest in boobs and so that was that! In 2020 we got pregnant again and I was inspired to revisit my book. I set myself the target of publishing it before the baby was born, but a few things delayed the process and the book was still sitting in draft form when Avril was born in March. One of the main delays was, bizarrely, due to Coldplay. I’d crafted a poem entitled ‘Feed You’ – an adaptation of the lyrics from Coldplay’s song ‘Fix You’. I’d contacted them to ask for permission to adapt their lyrics and, after 4 months of chasing, their team eventually replied and declined permission. No reason was given other than that it was the artist’s prerogative. So I had to remove the poem and create an alternative. In the end the delay worked out quite well – by the time Coldplay replied I was 2 months into breastfeeding Avril, and doing it all for a second time had given me some new ideas. Some of the new poems were written as Avril hung off me for the twelfth time that day, and the final poem is The Man’s Perspective, written by my husband. My book, ‘Dear Boobs: A book of poems about the love, leaks and let-downs of breastfeeding’, was published in May and I would love you to read it and hopefully have a giggle! If you’re an expectant mum, I hope the poems give you a head start and an honest insight into what to expect. If you’ve started (or finished) breastfeeding, I hope they reassure you that other women have
been through the same challenges. It isn’t a how-to book and it doesn’t provide any advice or solutions. I’m not a qualified breastfeeding professional, I’m simply a woman who volunteered her boobs for service for a year and wanted to talk about it. ‘Dear Boobs: A book of poems about the love, leaks and let-downs of breastfeeding’ is available on Amazon as a paperback (£6.99; with illustrations by a wonderful illustrator called Paul Hawkins) and as an eBook (£1.79; no illustrations): https://www. amazon.co.uk/dp/152729448X. and in my online store: (£6.99): https:// claire-foskett.sumup.link/
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Next page please As we approach national Storytelling Week 2022 (29th January – 5th February), National Storytelling Week/The Society for Storytelling (sfs.org.uk), we at NEXT PAGE BOOKS have been asked to reflect on storytelling with young children. This is a topic we feel passionately about as we constantly see the powerful impact of stories on our customers and families in our bookshop. We are an independent children’s bookshop, with a particular emphasis on supporting and celebrating diversity, including neurodiversity. We handpick amazing books to be inclusive and reflective of our diverse society which is becoming an easier job with each passing year. For example, in 2020 there was a positive increase in children’s books featuring a minority ethnic character, from 4% in 2017, to 15% (Centre for Literacy ‘Reflecting Realities’ 2021). Diverse and inclusive books are out there and becoming more readily available, but how do we as parents use them? Everyone has a story to tell, so in that sense, storytelling is a universal art and children in particular are open to listening to any and all stories. This innate curiosity and drive to find out about others is how young children make sense of the world and, as they grow up, find out what is possible in the world and in their lives. Within families, we can support this desire to learn about others, and challenge stereotypes as they appear, all through the power of books.
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With very young children, although we know reading together has many benefits – babies love the sound of your voice, you spend close contact time together, you do something special together – we might believe that the content of what we read isn’t as important. And in one sense, it isn’t. Babies can’t understand much to begin with, and complicated concepts take years to develop. So reading anything together – magazines, your books, shopping lists, the news – is great. Babies still get all those amazing benefits. But you, as the family around a baby, can develop your skills through reading those early books – they can help you to choose the language you use with your growing child to reflect your understanding of the world. You can use books to explain topics that you have no direct experience of. As your child grows, you can choose books to support first experiences, or difficult times in your life. And through all of these stories, you are showing your child that everyone is different and that is wonderful. Hearing these diverse stories, your child will develop an innate understanding of this, and if they experience times in their lives when they feel ‘different’, this knowledge of the world will be invaluable. So we’ll finish with a few recommendations of picture books that support different diversities. Remember these can be read by you if these are your experiences, but also, and maybe more importantly, if they are not. This will enable your child to grow in empathy, and truly celebrate difference.
‘Two Homes’ by Claire Masurel An oldie but a goodie, this is the most straightforwardly sensitive story we’ve found to explain what can happen when parents separate.
DISABILITY
NEURODIVERSITY ‘All the Ways to be Smart’ by Davina Bell and Alison Colpoys With stunning illustrations, this rhyming book is a joyous ode to all the qualities that make us unique and wonderful. “Smart isn’t just ticks and crosses, smart is building boats from boxes…”
‘You Can’ by Alexandra Strick Following 14 characters from birth to young adult, this groundbreaking story is based on a unique, direct collaboration with children and young people (including young disabled people) aged 8-18 who were asked what they would say to their younger selves to inspire, reassure and enthuse. This book deserves a place on every bookshelf.
‘Loud’ by Rose Robbins Abigail is loud and find classroom life tricky, but with the help of a thoughtful teacher, everything changes “I don’t wanna be bad, but I just get mad, wanna stand proud and I wanna be loud!” ‘Leo and the Octopus’ by Isabelle Marinov and Chris Nixon Leo struggles to make sense of the world, but when he meets an octopus and learns about her, he starts to think perhaps he isn’t alone. This is a dreamy and thoughtful story about a boy with ASD and the special bond he forms with a rather wonderful octopus.
DIVERSE FAMILIES ‘Forever Star’ by Gareth Peter and Judi Abbot An intergalactic story of same-sex adoption, this is a beautiful and fun look at how adoption works and how forever families are made. ‘We are family’ by Ryan Wheatcroft Every type of family is showcased in this beautifully illustrated compendium. One to come back to time and again when your child first experiences different family types.
‘Can bears ski?’ by Raymond Antrobus and Polly Dunbar A book about the experience of hearing impairment and using a hearing aid, this lovable bear is a little confused about what others are saying, until one day, he can hear everything loud and clear. ‘What happened to you?’ by James Catchpole and Karen George Every time Joe goes out, the questions are the same… what happened to his leg? But is this even a question Joe has to answer? A humourous way to help children understand what it might feel like to be seen as different, with helpful parent tips at the end.
In our bookshop, Next Page Books in Hitchin, we are proud and happy to discuss and recommend books to widen horizons, meet needs or just for fun. If you can’t visit us in person, check out these other ways to explore our books: www.nextpagebooks.co.uk or Next Page Books Bookshop UK
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Dressing for the world
8 Simple Changes to Make a More Sustainable Wardrobe for Your Child Here at Tutti Frutti Clothing, I am passionate about helping you make changes to your shopping habits for your children that will have a positive impact on the world around us. The fashion industry is responsible for around 10% of global carbon emission, it is a major polluter of water and well known for its poor working conditions and lack of rights for garment workers. Even though most of us know that we *should* buy better clothes for our children – where do you start? I know that as parents we have so many decisions to make every day and it can be overwhelming and really hard to know where to start, so I have put together a quick guide with just 5 things you can do today to create a better, more sustainable wardrobe for your child.
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1. Choose Sustainable Fabrics Did you know that synthetic fibres such as polyester and nylon are made with non-renewable fossil fuels? And that conventional cotton uses vast quantities of water? By being aware of the way our fabrics are made, we can buy clothes made from more sustainable fabrics. Where possible, try to choose clothes for your children made from natural fibres. Linen requires less water than most fabrics. If you prefer synthetic fibres then look for clothes made from recycled polyester. Here at Tutti Frutti I focus on using organic cotton. Organic cotton is grown using over 90% less water than conventional cotton. It is also grown without the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides which is much better for the soil and farmland too.
2. Look After Your Clothes Properly Looking after our children’s clothes can increase their longevity. Always read the care label and follow the instructions to get the most from them. Wash on a cool wash to prevent fibres from being damaged by heat and turn brightly coloured garment inside out to stop them fading. Tumble drying might be quick and convenient but it is also the fastest way to damage clothing – plus tumble drying can shrink clothes and make them wear out much faster too!
3. Repair Clothes Globally, an estimated 92 million tonnes of textiles waste is created each year and the equivalent to a rubbish truck full of clothes ends up on landfill sites every second. I wonder how much of that could have been saved by a needle and thread, or even a patch?? Sewing up holes and mending seams is a quick way to make children’s clothes last longer. If you aren’t able to repair popped seams or holes in knees yourself then maybe someone you know can help? At Tutti Frutti I offer a repair programme – if your Tutti Frutti garment is worn and gets a hole in then pop in to see me and I will fix it if I can – for free!
4. Choose Better Made Clothes Fast fashion is often made cheaply and it isn’t made to last. Whilst it saves money in the short term, buying better, more durable clotes can help you save over the long term.
Tutti Frutti started life as a handmade brand. By designing and making in small batches I could make sure that the quality of every single piece was the best it could be. It is made to last – and longevity continues to be at the heart of what I do. If clothes are made with good quality fabrics they can last and be passed on to friends and family too! 5. Buy Less And finally, to make a real difference we all need to buy less. Before you checkout your online basket, or pop a t-shirt in with your supermarket shop, ask yourself “do I really need this?” I know that more often than not the answer for me will be no. It’s not the easiest thing to do but it is the best way to make a real change and make your child’s wardrobe more sustainable. As Vivienne Westwood once said,
“Buy Less, Choose Well, Make it Last”
Ali Ribchester runs Tutti Frutti Clothing, a small, ethical and sustainable clothing brand for children age 0-6 years. Each piece is lovingly designed and handmade in England in soft, colourful, organic jersey. You can find her in her new shop in the Garden Square Shopping Centre in Letchworth Garden City.
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The Midwife Sparkle Method
Interview with Radha Wilson Jeffries Q There was a recent demonstration, March for Midwives, can you tell us a little bit more about what that demonstration was about and why? The march with midwives vigils which took place throughout the UK on 21st November was a collective stance between midwives, parents, doulas and health care professionals to call the UK government to action due to the current crisis in midwifery and maternity services. Midwives and families alike are facing huge challenges which have been hugely exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Government promises are not being kept and it was time to bring this to the attention of everyone for immediate action.
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Q What are the biggest issues that midwives are facing right now, and what do you think the way forward is where sustainable and long term growth can occur? Many midwives and student midwives have been at at physical and emotional breaking point long before the Covid 19 pandemic but things are now at a crisis level. A recent
survey found that 60% of midwives are thinking about leaving the profession. Midwives cannot be recruited fast enough to fill the staffing shortfall and retention of newly qualified midwives is an ongoing problem. Midwives are working long shifts without even a toilet or meal break, with many working well over their contracted hours to provide care and fulfil their role. We are calling for the government to introduce a restorative pay rise that reflects the value society places on the vital work midwives do, provide financial support to students and create posts for newly qualified midwives and support retention of midwives, amongst other things. Q With the pressures being faced, what impact is that having on midwives personally? The levels of stress, anxiety, depression and burn out are increasing and poor work life balance puts a strain on home life, relationships and time to recover between shifts. Many are struggling with self doubt, overwhelm, lack of confidence and low self
esteem. Physical issues such as panic attacks, insomnia, migraines, pain and fatigue are also a daily occurrence for many midwives. I feel the general support offered to midwives who experience these problems is inadequate, often just treating the symptoms or offering a ‘quick fix’, rather then helping them to get to the root cause, resolve these issues and stop them from recurring. Q Recent reports show that for every 30 midwives that train, 29 of them leave. What is it that draws midwives into the profession and what is it that drives them out? Midwifery is not just a job, it is a fundamental part of the identity of many midwives. They are responding to a calling to help others at the most transformative yet potentially vulnerable time in their lives. Students who begin their training are often aware of how challenging it can be but yet so many leave before completing their 3 year training. The eradication of the student bursary in 2017 means many students face financial difficulties, as well as poor work life balance reported by students and midwives alike. Bullying and hierarchical management systems as well as top down pressures including fear of disciplinary or legal action erodes professional autonomy and job satisfaction. Many midwives and students are suffering from vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue and choose to move away from clinical practice such as into education or leave the profession all together. Q What impact is all this unrest having on the care given to families within the maternity system? Many women and families are just not getting the level of care and choice that they deserve, with their experiences during their pregnancy and birth impacting them for the rest of their lives. Midwives strive to provide compassionate and person centred care, however many parents report bullying and coercion from their care providers. Intervention rates are also increasing and many who do raise concerns find that either they are not taken seriously or what is done is too little too late. Around a third of women and birthing people report their birth as traumatic and this has massive implications for bonding
with their baby as well as their overall mental, emotional and physical well being. There are also huge inequalities and inequities for black and Asian women accessing care and also women from deprived areas. This cannot go on and it is time that our collective voices were heard and urgent action taken to safeguard families and midwives alike. Q As the Midwife sparkle coach, what work are you doing to help these midwives and what long term impact does that have on their emotional health, well being and work? I believe if midwives are supported and empowered then they can continue to provide support and empowerment to women and families. My programme “The Midwife Sparkle Method” is a confidential 8 session positive mindset and self empowerment course. It enables midwives and students to get to the root cause of their anxiety and understand how their beliefs and thinking patterns impact on their perceptions, physical health and behaviours. This then allows them to take back control of their life, rebuild their confidence and self esteem to be able to overcome any issues they may face in the future. I also provide support to midwifery teams through a 1 day workshop which creates a safe space for sharing and promotes inclusivity, a sense of belonging and boosts morale. This leads to greater individual job satisfaction, staff retention and a reduction in acute and long term sickness. I feel so fortunate to have helped midwives from all over the world to be able to reclaim their sparkle and rekindle their joy for life
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Winter 2021 The best FESTIVE DAYS OUT in Hertfordshire: Willows Farm, St Albans There’s no better place to bring your children to meet Santa and enjoy a fabulous festive family day out. The Santa Spectacular includes a trip through a magical winter wonderland, a grotto, toy making workshop, cookie decorating, a short festive film, a polar bear show, festive fun fair rides and an ice rink. November 26th-December 24th
The Olde Watermill Shopping Village, Barton Le Clay Krisgar and Tricky Teddy are back for their Christmas Magic Show here at The Olde Watermill Shopping Village! Come and join them for a fun packed 30 minute show full of festive antics and lots of laughter! Krisgar is Bedfordshire’s leading children’s entertainer and we are thrilled to have him back to join us for this special festive show. Wednesday 29th December & Thursday 30th December!
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Skate Letchworth The state of the art ice-rink is back for the festive season, located on the terrace at Letchworth Outdoor pool. www.sll.co.uk/skateletchworth 20th November 2021 – 2nd January 2022
Church Farm Ardeley, Nr Stevenage Have their Festive Farm Day Pass & Free Elf Hunt, which includes a farm trail & winter woodland play where you can spot the cheeky Christmas Elves around the Farm, hunt for Christmas Bears & visit the Fairy Winter Woodland. Starting Saturday 5th December. They also have their Santa’s grotto experience which includes a present. Their cheeky Elf will greet people on arrival, you can make a wish and place it on the Christmas Wish Tree, choose a carrot and bag up Reindeer Food to take home for Rudolph before meeting Father Christmas in his wooden cabin in the winter woodland. Starting December 4th.
Aldenham Country Park, Esltree Festive Farm Pass, where you can meet and feed the animals – Goats, Pigs, Cattle, Sheep, Alpacas, Rabbits, Ferrets, Guinea Pigs, Donkeys and their poultry friends! Enjoy the family favourites: The Dance Tunnel, Play Tractors, Elf Hunting with Prizes & The Santa-Oke. Visit Winnie the Pooh’s Baking Bonanza.
splendour. This is a unique shopping experience, exploding with imaginative, stylish ideas to make your Christmas unforgettable for all the family
Drive-Through Grotto, is where the whole family will safely meet Santa & the Elves from the comfort and warmth of your car, whilst taking part in an interactive and one-of-a-kind show. Children 0-9 will receive a quality present of their choice from the elves! The Drive-Thru Grotto is available as part of the all inclusive Winter-Fest Family Pass; your Family Pass for up to 2 adults and 2 children, includes car-parking, festive farm entry tickets, the adventure playground and 3 bags of feed for the animals as well as visiting the grotto and getting toy gifts. 4th December to 3rd January
Mead Open Farm, Leighton Buzzard The magic of Christmas at Mead Open Farm – come and make magical memories packed full of mayhem, & merriment. As well as FULL DAY entry to the farm there’s so much included: explore the Magical Christmas Walkthrough, Meet Father Christmas, Graduate from Elf Academy, Make A Bear Workshop, Pick a toy from the Magical Workshop, Decorate Gingerbread, Make Reindeer Food, Relax in the Alpine Bar, plus, lots of farm fun! Selected dates from 3 - 24th December
Magic of Christmas, Walkern The Magic Of Christmas, Walkern is a fabulous Christmas Shop where you can transform your home into a Winter Wonderland this Christmas with only the finest products sourced exclusively across Europe: Beautiful baubles – Elegant decorations – Stunning lights – Exquisite table accessories. Come and choose from their huge range of garlands, wreaths, artificial or natural Norwegian Christmas trees and explore our Christmas barn decked in all its seasonal
Hitchin Christmas Market Come down to the Market Place this winter as it hosts its annual 2 weeks Christmas Market. The event will be free of charge to attend and boast an array of Christmas market chalets. Offerings include homeware, crafts, street food, and much more! Perfect for those who like to shop local this Christmas and support our town centre. Come along to experience the magical atmosphere, you won’t want to miss out. For more information visit www. hitchinherts.com/events
British Schools Museum, Hitchin Come and meet Santa in his Grotto and also explore the sparkling Winter Wonderland. Immerse the family in the tale of five Christmases in the Festive Headmaster’s House and discover what Santa’s elves are up to in the classrooms! Festive fun for all the family! Pre-booking is essential. 18th-19th & 22-23rd December
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Directory NEW & EXPECTANT PARENT CLASSES: BABIES
2 & 17
MUMS IN TUNE
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6 WEEK SOCIAL
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MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH & WELLBEING: THE SIMPLE BIRTH COMPANY
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BABY, TODDLER & PRE-SCHOOL CLASSES: MONKEY MUSIC
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JO JINGLES
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SIGNING COMPANY
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MUSIC TRAIN
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SING & SIGN
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HARTBEEPS
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BABY TOYS, GIFTS & KEEPSAKES: BEANIE & MO
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NEWBORN & FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY: TERESA FLANAGAN PHOTOGRAPHY CARLY BEDWELL PHOTOGRAPHY
FRONT COVER & 10 10
SLEEP CONSULTANTS: SLEEP BABY SLEEP
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HAPPY SLEEP COACH
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REFLEXOLOGY: CHERRY TREE REFLEXOLOGY
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PRE AND POSTNATAL FITNESS: THE MOTHERHOOD MOVEMENT
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NANNY AGENCY: ROSEBUD NANNY AGENCY
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RETAIL & CLOTHING: UBERE MAMA TUTTI FRUTTI CLOTHING DEAR BOOBS BOOK NEXT PAGE BOOKS
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