THE PREGNANCY ISSUE
FREE!
AUGUST 2013
True story - “I dIdn’t know I was pregnant untIl I gave bIrth”
How important is Your birth to you?
All about baby showers Photography know how - taking pictures of your bump Your Free Parenting magazine in the hawkesbury
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August 2013
Contents Regulars 5 Letter from the Editor 11 Monthly Recipe - Lemon Meringue Pie 13 Ask a nurse - questions from readers 16 Your Story - I didn’t know I was pregnant until I gave birth 19 Make a change 28 Business Directory 30 Kid’s fun 32 Community Noticeboard
Articles
Special Features
8 Making Dad feel special during pregnancy 12 How important is your birth? 14 Business ideas for Stay at Home Mum’s (or Dad’s) 23 What to expect when every pregnancy is a different story
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Coping with Loss Hospital packing list Games for Dad Taking beautiful photos of your baby bump 26 For a Laugh 27 How to throw the perfect baby shower
* Cover photo and photo page 4 and 9 is by Louise Blake Photography 4
Letter from the Editors Dear Reader, Although this magazine is new, we excitedly look forward to the creation of each month, the fun putting it together and the input from all the amazing people in our community who want to have a say. This month we are doing a pregnancy special. Pregnancy can take on many forms for many people‌ it can a surprise, a much yearned for miracle, a time of pain and heartache for those who have lost or a reminder of what may never be. We hope that this issue can meet you where you are at, sensitively and gently. As mother’s ourselves we can share the joy, the heartache, the excitement and the pain that can come with this season in life. Pregnancy can also bring with it a huge change in our lives regarding work decisions, finances and even living arrangements. In this issue we have tried to bring a variety of articles to cover some of the areas that might interest you during this season. We would also like to welcome Oliver Cadet to the world. Oliver was born to our Promotional Manager Lauren on the 11th July. Congratulations to Lauren and her husband James for your perfect little miracle! Once again we would love to hear from you. We appreciate your kind words, comments and ideas.
Julie-Anne England Small Steps Parenting Magazine www.smallstepsparenting.com www.facebook.com/smallstepsparenting
Bears Of Hope Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support provides leading support and exceptional care for families who experience the loss of their baby. We seek to provide crucial information and embrace families during their difficult time of loss, and beyond. There are two key elements to our program that guide families through their choices when saying Hello and Goodbye to their much loved baby. Families receive a Bear Of Hope donated by another bereaved family. This allows the donating family to give their child’s brief life a purpose and lasting legacy, whilst filling the empty arms of another family as they walk out of the hospital without their baby. It reinforces the understanding that they are not alone, and that there is an existing community of support. Families also receive extensive information, either in printed or online format, to help them make decisions and memories in hospital, during the memorial and beyond. Our Beyond the Bear support is unequalled by any other organisation. We provide exclusive and invaluable support packages that include; a credible foundation of parent led and psychologist facilitated support groups, private online groups, phone and email counselling and annual community events that remember individual baby’s and recognize their parents love. Additionally we have a Hope and Healing Resource Library and issue a quarterly newsletter where parents have the opportunity to contribute. Bears Of Hope comfort, acknowledge, inform, empower, and guide families during their time of loss. As a registered non-profit organisation we are dedicated to the care of others and reinvesting our finances and resources to ensure Bears of Hope is the leading support for pregnancy and infant loss in Australia. With hope, Amanda Bowles President/Co-Founder P: 1300 11 BEAR W: bearsofhope.org.au A: PO Box 352 Stanhope Gardens NSW 2768
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Making Dad feel special during pregnancy Pregnancy is an exciting part of becoming a parent but often leaves Dad feeling a bit left out. While you deal with morning sickness, heartburn, frequent bathroom trips and experience the joy of feeling your baby move, he is wondering where he fits into it all. With that in mind here are some ways that you can help Dad to feel special and included during this season. Keep a special diary with your partner that allows him to express his thoughts and feelings about this stage in life too. It might be helpful to encourage him to open up by asking him what he is struggling with or his hopes for the unborn baby. Use this as a special time for just you and him, tell him how you are feeling and let him know that you are grateful that he is there for you during this time.
Show your partner that you value his opinion when you go shopping for the nursery or to pick out baby clothes. This task is often left for the mum-to-be, but these days dad’s are taking a more hands on approach and enjoy choosing nursery furniture or cute little baby clothes. The day will soon approach when you can feel your baby’s movements. Try to help dad share the excitement as often as you can by placing his hands on your belly so he can feel too. Often his voice will make the baby move so encourage him to speak to your tummy and feel the baby’s response.
Try to book all of your antenatal appointments so that he can come too. Being able to participate in the appointments, listen to the baby’s heartbeat and watch the ultrasound will help dad to feel like he is involved. Allow him to ask questions during your appointments and try to accommodate his wishes wherever possible. Men in general are “fixers”. They don’t like to feel helpless when we are sad or sick, instead they like to be able to “fix” the situation. Allow him this role by telling him about your cravings so he pop out for that caramel ice cream you can’t stop thinking about or ask him to run you a bath after an especially tiring day. Use this time to allow him to feel useful and show him how thankful you are. Remember not to be too demanding.
Have some quality couple time and decorate the nursery together. Plan where you want the furniture and get his help moving everything into place. Make sure you don’t do any heavy lifting.
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Talk about the birth together. Many men are anxious about the birth because they don’t know how to deal with the thought of you being in pain. Talking about this and your plans allows him to share his thoughts and prepare himself mentally for what may or may not happen. If you know that you will be booking in for an induction or a caesarean, get as much
information on the subject as you can in advance to give him a head’s up. Have a couple’s shower. Long gone are the days where everything baby is for the woman. The new trend these day’s is a couples shower where he can invite his friends as well as you inviting yours. Have some games planned to interest the guys and maybe allow a couple of beers. (See our baby shower article on page 27) Do childbirth classes together. These classes will allow you to discuss questions as a couple and allow you to learn a bit more about the birth process. Practicing breathing techniques and teaching your partner some massage to use during labour will allow him to feel a little more in control when the time comes. Lastly, plan some couple only dates or
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even a weekend away before the baby arrives. Life will change a lot once the baby arrives and couple only time will be harder to plan for. During this amazing time of pregnancy remember to acknowledge that this time is just as much about your partner, show him that he is just as big a part of this and be sympathetic to his feelings too.
Coping with Loss Pregnancy can be an extremely joyful event in a woman’s life but it can also be a time of pain and loss. For any woman who has lost a child through pregnancy or given birth to a stillborn, the pain can be indescribable. Many woman who lose children through miscarriage often feel isolated and unable to talk through their pain as it is often dismissed by the people closest to them for various reasons. Firstly people who have not experienced the pain of losing a child during pregnancy often do not understand the extent of the grief or they may not know how to act towards you after the loss. It is important to realise that your feelings need to be acknowledged. Feeling various emotions such as anger, loss, sadness, disbelief and guilt are completely normal. but still painful and a person experiencing grief needs support. If grief is not recognised and acknowledged, it can fester and have a detrimental effect on a person’s health and well-being. With the loss of a baby comes the pain of losing all of that expectation of the future of the child. It is often compounded by the fact that there is often a nursery already organised, clothes and toys they had been given or bought and excitement looking forward to the milestones as the child grew. Prepare yourself and be more gentle with yourself during times when this pain may be exacerbated. These times may include the actual due date of your baby, the baby’s birthday, holiday seasons such as Christmas and Easter when family is likely to be around or even watching close friends become pregnant or have their own children.
There are many things you can do to help yourself deal with the pain of your loss: Stay connected to family and friends and use support groups if you can. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Stay healthy - a good nights sleep, some exercise and some good healthy food will all make a difference to your general well being. Manage your stress - get help where you can to lighten your workload. Also take time for yourself for some relaxation. Make time for some enjoyable activities. Taking your mind off your pain now and then can make it seem more manageable. If you know someone who is struggling with loss you can help by letting them know that you are there for them. Listen to them and what they are going through and encourage them to get help if they feel stuck. If you or a loved one is dealing with this kind of pain it is important to allow for the normal grief period but be aware of the situation turning into depression. If you or a close friend or family member are struggling don’t be afraid to seek help. For more information contact Beyond Blue at www.beyondblue.org.au or 1300 224 636
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Monthly Recipe
Lemon Meringue Pie Ingredients: 1 ½ cups plain flour 125g butter, chopped 2 tablespoons icing mixture 2 ½ tablespoons iced water Filling 1/3 cup cornflour ½ cup water 60g butter, chopped 4 eggs, separated 2 cups castor sugar 1 cup fresh lemon juice 1. Sift flour and icing sugar into large bowl. Rub the butter into the flour mixture with your fingertips until it looks like fine breadcrumbs. 2. Add water and use a knife to stir until a dough forms. Bring the dough together with your hands. Turn onto non-stick baking paper and roll out to 5mm thickness. Use pastry to line a 23cm pie dish. Cover pastry with baking paper. Rest in fridge for thirty minutes. 3. Preheat oven to 180°C. Fill the lined dish with pastry weights. Bake in oven for fifteen minutes. Remove paper and pastry weights and bake for a further 15-20 minutes or until golden. Cool completely. 4. For lemon filling, combine the corn flour, water, lemon juice and half the sugar in a saucepan. Stir over medium heat with a whisk for 4 minutes or until mixture boils and thickens. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, for another minute. Remove from heat. Whisk in butter and egg yolk. Transfer to a bowl and cover with cling wrap. Place in fridge for three hours or until completely cool. 5. Preheat oven to 190°C. Beat egg whites in a clean bowl with an electric beater until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining sugar until the mixture is thick and glossy. 6. Spread the filling onto the pastry base. Spoon over the meringue mixture and spread to the edge of the pastry. Use a spoon to create peaks. Bake in oven for 5 minutes or until meringue is slightly golden. Set aside to cool. Serve and enjoy. Would you like to see your recipe featured here? Go to our webpage or facebook and share your favourite recipe with us. 11
How important is your birth? You look down at the white stick in your hand and stare disbelievingly at the two little pink lines—yes, you are indeed pregnant! Now begins the next nine months of your life where you begin to count in weeks, photograph your growing belly and succumb to unusual cravings. As your bump begins to show, people begin to ask questions - normal ones such as “is it a boy or a girl”, “have you chosen a name”, or “how long till your due date”? Or more personal questions such as “What kind of birth are you planning?” That brings me to the huge focus these days that is the birth. No longer is it just the arrival of a new baby but it is a whole planned event. Water or home birth? Pain killers or natural? Planned caesarean? Essential oils…. Relaxing music… birthing pools… doulas…. Birth support people…. And yes, even social networking! I mean really! These days you know about every contraction almost as soon as the mother does with smart phones and social accounts
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such as Facebook and Twitter. So how important is the birth to you? Growing up as the daughter of a midwife, labour and birth was not a new topic to me. I had always wanted to be a mum and the whole pregnancy, labour and birth were all part of the package for me. I wanted to experience every moment. I actually looked forward to giving birth one day, in fact I often daydreamed about the moment when my baby emerged and I got to see it for the first time. Then comes my actual pregnancy and I had a perfect birth plan. Go into labour naturally around my due date, go to my Mum’s house and labour there, making use of the hot tub, until I needed to go to the hospital, then simply turn up at the hospital and push for a bit and I would have my baby in my arms. Could I have possibly had a more different birth experience than what I had planned! Nothing went the way I expected and after the whole experience I struggled for months afterward, feeling ripped off at not getting the birth I had planned for. Now fast forward another two years. I am pregnant again and this time around I vow to get the birth I dreamed of. Never mind the fact that birth is one of those things that no one can control. After nine (extremely long) months of waiting I finally start contracting…. Long story short my birth once again goes very different from what I had planned. I once again struggle with the fact that I didn’t get to do it the way I had wanted. I start to wonder how many women feel the way I do about their births. After asking many women about their experiences I come to the conclusion that regardless of the birth they ended up having, women seemed more
dissatisfied with their births when they felt disempowered or out of control with the way it proceeded. Birth could not be planned and it was often completely unpredictable. Many women also felt a pressure regarding their births from people around them. Women felt pressured from partners, mother’s, mother’s in law, sisters, friends and even themselves to birth in a certain way. If their mother’s gave birth with no problems it was assumed they would have no problems. Friends would convince them to get epidurals straight away, sister’s would tell them about the danger of pain relief for the baby, mother’s in law would recommend a caesarean section to avoid bladder problems down the track. There is also the pain tolerance factor… women who gave birth without pain relief often pride themselves on their victory and
may look down on others who didn’t or couldn’t do the same. Where did birth become so much more than the arrival of a new life? It isn’t important how our children get here and it isn’t a competition about who was in labour longer. It is simply the process of bringing a special new miracle into this earth. I now look back on my births not with regret but with a sense of contentment. I was told that my babies would not survive pregnancy yet here they are healthy and safe. I don’t doubt that, for some women, natural childbirth provides an emotional boost that is powerful and gratifying. But for me, giving birth was the fulfillment of a lifelong wish to have a baby. I found that the real adventure began when I became a parent.
Ask a Nurse... QUESTION: If my mother had a particular type of birth, am I likely to have the same? Pregnant women are often concerned that if their mother had a difficult birth that they may also. While a woman can inherit a certain shaped pelvis which can cause a problem when she births her baby, every person is an individual and does not necessarily follow in the footsteps of her mother or other close relatives. If you are worried about any aspect of your pregnancy or birth, talk it over with your midwife or health care professional. This answer has been supplied by Ruth Bosanquet who is a registered midwife. If you would like one of your questions answered please send us an email or contact us on our facebook page.
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Business Ideas for Stay-at-Home Mum’s (or Dad’s) Don’t want to go back to work after having a baby? Ever thought of running your own business? Here are 15 business ideas that you can run from your own home. Kids Birthday Parties Love entertaining children? How about running a children’s party business? You could provide characters for children’s birthday parties such as fairies, pirates or clowns or provide complete packages for birthday parties including entertainment, snacks, drinks and games. Gift Baskets Gift baskets are a highly popular choice these days for baby showers, weddings, birthdays and corporate events. You could package chocolates, baby stuff, body products or even wines and cheese. Then sell your goodies at local markets or online.
Laundry/Ironing Service With many families now having both parents working, everyday chores like laundry often go overlooked. Offering a service that washes clothes and delivers them back clean and folded can have huge appeal. Babysitting Babysitting isn't just for teenager's
anymore. This kind of business may enable you to bring in some extra income while still looking after your own littlies. Start by spreading the word at mother’s groups, playgroup and with your neighbours. Cleaning services: For those of you who enjoy making things shiny and new, a cleaning business could be the thing for you. Technically you can’t work from home but you can plan your time around your partner’s schedule or when your kids are at grandma’s house. Errands: This would be a good business for those who love to help people and who enjoy variety on the job. You could offer to do things such as going to the post office, picking up groceries, taking things to the dry cleaning or even simple tidying up. Personalized stationery Who doesn’t love stationery? And what’s better than regular stationery? How about stationery with your name on it! Try starting with a few products and finding yourself a printer. Make some samples, approach a few schools or local businesses and you can be in business in a few short weeks. Virtual assistant: If you have a computer and a good internet connection, why not try being a virtual assistant. Market yourself to small businesses who are time poor and offer to organize emails, type up letters, post to social media and even take phone messages. Consultant: If you have knowledge and experience in a
specific field why not consider becoming a consultant? You could market yourself to individuals who wish to enter the industry themselves or to businesses as a trainer to their employees. Tutoring: If you excel at a certain subject, you could use that skill as a private tutor for students of all ages. Advertise on university notice boards, or in school newsletters. (Don’t forget you will be required to pass a Working with Children check if your students are under 18 years of age) Pet sitting and walking: If you love animals and enjoy being outside, this could be the perfect job for you. Pets are usually left home all day alone while people are at work but they are often happy to pay someone to check up on them and take them for a walk. Starting a job in this area could be as simple as speaking to some of your neighbours who have dogs or putting a notice on a community notice board. Delivery service: All you need is a vehicle and an ABN and you are ready to get started as a courier. Market yourself to businesses and provide them with a schedule of what days you will be available for pickup or delivery (probably not the best business idea if you have to stuff three kids into the car and drive all over the country). Event Planner As long as there are people, there will be events. Events take a lot of planning and most of the time people don’t have the time (or know-how) to organize these events. You could work as a personal event planner such as wedding planner or you could advertise to businesses to plan corporate events such as conferences. Translator: In a country as diverse as Australia, there are many languages spoken. If you can speak more than one language, interpreting 15
could be the job for you. This can allow you some work variety by offering work in areas such as hospitals or schools. Elder caregiver: If you are a people person why not consider being an elder caregiver. This position can be targeted at the elderly who are still able to live on their own but require some day to day assistance. You may offer your services in driving them to appointments, picking up groceries, walking their pets or cooking simple meals. If you run your own home business we would love to hear about it for one of our upcoming issues. One lucky business will be chosen for a feature article where you can talk about why you love your business, the pro’s and con’s of running a home business and what is special about what your do. Email us on info@smallstepsparenting.com
Your Story Rose’s Story - “I didn’t know I was pregnant until I gave birth” In October 2009, my husband and I decided that it was time to stop birth control. I started taking prenatal vitamins. My body really struggled to regulate and would ovulate two to three times each cycle. In October 2010, I had some pregnancy symptoms. I took a test it seemed like a faint positive but my period came a couple of weeks later. This happened again in December but without a period, however, an ultrasound revealed I still wasn’t pregnant. After that time I decided I needed to lose some weight, so for a few months I focused on that. We began trying again but with the same thing happening over and over, I went to a fertility clinic. They confirmed that I had PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). I was pretty much told that my weight was causing the issues and if I lost some more weight then we might be able to have a baby. My last proper cycle had been in May and when my cycle didn't come in June, I thought nothing of it. I was told that it might disappear for a while till my weight was under control. The weight loss was going really well and now I had lost 25 kilos. I was very happy with the results and felt the best I had in a long time and I was sure my cycles would return soon. As months passed I still felt great and had so much energy. I was doing weights and heavy exercise every day. Around November I started to experience what I thought were gas pains. I went to the doctor and was told it was probably IBS, which is quite common with PCOS. So life continued as normal and the move-
ments had seemed to settle down. I thought maybe my IBS was improving and maybe it was a sign my cycle would arrive soon. Around 2 am on Sunday the 10th March, I felt some mild cramping. Around 8 am I started getting pains, they were pretty mild and mainly in my back. Then I realised I was bleeding and was all wet. The pains continued through the day anywhere from 10-20 mins apart. I assumed it was my period arriving, as I was told it would be quite bad when it did arrive due to not having a cycle for so long. By afternoon I had to breathe through the pain, and by Sunday night, I couldn't get comfortable while lying down and had to switch positions constantly. At 5am Monday morning, they were getting pretty unbearable and I couldn't quite understand why pain relief wasn't working. I had no sleep whatsoever, and the pains seemed to be getting closer together. I couldn't comprehend why it was so bad. I was supposed to take the kids to school that morning, but by 7 am I realised there was no way I would be able to. Thankfully my husband was home and organised the kids. I forced myself to get up to say ‘bye’ to them. At that point I could barely walk, and was breathing very heavily with the pain. My husband told me he would go by the chemist and get something stronger for the pain. I dragged myself off to bed where I began crying from the pain. While I was counting down the minutes for my husband to get back home with some pain relief, I contemplated grabbing a heat pack, but I just couldn't get up and 16
kept questioning why things were so bad. When my husband came home he gave me some pain relief and I begged him to get me the heat pack. The heat pack helped the most, and the pain relief helped a little. My husband mentioned going to the doctor. I was considering it and said if I was still like this by the next day I would. Things changed and I felt like I needed to go to the toilet. I tried to push and nothing was coming. The pushing feeling was so intense and would not let up. I tried to go back to bed, still with the intense pushing feeling, I had to push along with it, it was that strong. The pushing was very on/off and I felt very confused with what was going on. I was crying quite a bit at that point, and questioning why it was so bad and wishing it would just stop. Then all of a sudden I felt something in my underwear then another uncontrollable push
happened on its own and I felt something else. I went to stand up and as I looked down I saw something in the leg hole of my underwear. The room was dark and I didn't have my glasses on but what I saw was not what I thought it would be. I heard a muffled cry (it sounded like a cat crying). I yelled out to my husband (he was in another room) that I think I just had a baby. He came in and saw the head. He told me to go to my knees quickly. I did and he caught the baby. I heard him say “It's a baby boy just like you thought” (I had always said the next child we had would be a boy). I remember saying, “Oh my god, I'm going to be on the news!” He had tears in his eyes and I was in disbelief but also glad that the pain had eased. I told him to call the ambulance, and they talked him through with what to do to keep the baby warm etc..
I tried to get him to take photo lol but he didn't want to leave the baby. The baby looked really good and was nice and pink and was sucking his fingers happily. The ambulance arrived about 20 minutes later. They checked the baby over and organised for my husband to cut the cord and keep him warm. He weighed in at 3280 grams and 51 cm long, with a head circumference of 35.5 cm We got to keep the scissors and the wrap they used as a momento. We walked out of the house to the ambulance while I held my gorgeous boy. I can't even tell you the feelings I had at that time, holding this baby that I had longed for and he was just here in my arms. Looking back there was a time when some of the movements I felt did resemble the early movements of a baby moving but I constantly reminded myself that it was hormonal. There were never any big kicks
or anything like that. My belly never really grew especially with all the weight I was losing. I did have what we thought was bloating, which is very common with PCOS. But with barely any symptoms at all, I was very sure I was not pregnant. Especially with what the doctors had told me. I think to myself about what an absolute miracle this baby is, and even though He is now almost 3 weeks old, we are still in some disbelief. He is truly amazing and is the perfect addition to our family. Your Story is a true story submitted by someone in our community. If you would like to share your story please send us an email at info@smallstepsparenting.com Submitted stories can be kept anonymous if you prefer.
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Change
Make a
Here at Small Steps Parenting Magazine we believe that each one of us has the power to make a difference in our world. Make a change is about that. It is about doing one thing each month to make a difference in someone else’s life and create a change in the atmosphere in our own community. This month we want to be aware of people who struggle with the cold this winter. With rising costs of electricity many people are unable to afford heating. So what can we do to help? Here are some of ideas: Buy a warm blanket and give it to your nearest homeless shelter, elderly neighbour or struggling family Go through your wardrobe and take out your warm clothes that you haven't worn in a while and give them to a charity like the Salvation Army Pitch in with some other neighbours or friends to buy some warm clothes for the children of a family who is in need Make up a grocery hamper and give it to someone in need
Last month we asked you to write in and tell us about someone in your life who was doing it tough. We are in awe of the responses from our community who wanted to make a change.
Congratulations to Alicia A $50 Coles gift card from Angel Babes (see ad p. 3) and A beautiful floral bouquet from McGraths Hill Florist is on its way to you You were kindly nominated by Amy Nash who believes that you are a truly amazing person and wants you to be acknowledged. Amy, for your selfless nomination Jo.Co’s Hair Design have very generously donated a FREE Shampoo, Cut & Blow-dry to pamper you.
We would love to hear how you have helped someone in your community or hear how someone has made a difference to you. Please write to us and share your story. 19
Hospital Packing List You’re beginning to show with that gorgeous baby bump and thoughts are now turning to the delivery. Are you prepared for the hospital? Here is a convenient packing list to help you get ready for your precious arrival. It’s an exciting time counting down to the arrival of your new baby, however, babies tend to come on their own schedule. Apparently less than 5% of babies arrive on their due date so it is best to be prepared and have your hospital bags packed and ready to go from around 34 weeks. Whether you are planning for a natural birth or booking in for an elective caesarean it pays to be prepared for whatever may occur. Small Steps have put together this packing list for you to help you get ready for the arrival of your precious child. You will need three bags for your stay a labour/delivery bag, a hospital bag for your stay after the baby is born and a baby bag with everything you will need to care for your newborn. It’s also a good idea to have a bag packed for your birthing partner, so we included a list for that too. Good luck on this amazing journey! Labour Bag Birth plan Antenatal card Camera An old shirt or robe to birth in Slippers Socks Massage Oil A book, iPod or laptop to pass time Birthing ball Hair bands Chap stick Snacks and drinks Swimmers for birth pool or shower
Hospital Bag Pyjamas or nighty Lots of underwear Breast pads Sanitary pads Socks Feeding bras Pillow (if you want your own) Some comfortable clothes - choose pants with a soft waist band if you are having a caesarean section Toiletries Slippers or shoes you can slip on without bending over Eye mask Baby Bag Nappies (at least 30) 3 or 4 outfits Muslin wraps Warm bunny rug Nappy cream Wet wipes Singlets Mittens Socks Hat
Partner’s bag A book A change of clothes Swimmers if planning to hop into birthing pool with you Some snacks List of people to call after the birth
Your baby mugging photos‌. In our July issue of Small Steps we showed you some of our own photos of the internet baby mugging craze and invited you to share some of your own. Here are some of our favourites: A big thank you to ...
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Danielle Dillo
Karla Kirch
And Bubba Woof (for your dog mugging)
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happy Father’s day dad! We decided that as it is Father’s Day coming up soon we would do a page specially for the Dad’s out there. So grab yourself a soft couch and a pen and get thinking... True or False—test your knowledge with these interesting facts (answers are at the bottom of page 31) 1. The average age that children begin to use a microwave is seven. 2. A three year old boy’s voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant 3. Children tend to have their weight determined by their father 4. On average, a four year old child asks 200 questions every day 5. Watching television can act as a natural painkiller for children 6. In ancient Greece, children of wealthy families were dipped in olive oil to increase prosperity throughout their lives 7. The great pharaoh Ramses II fathered over 160 children 8. Children’s kneecaps only start to turn bony at 3 years of age, until that they are made of cartilage. 9. Children under the age of three are at the greatest risk for crushing or burning injuries of the hand. Sudoku - we know that everyone knows how to play Sudoku these days but just in case… You need to get the numbers 1-9 in each row and column and also square. No numbers can be in the same line more than once.
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What to expect when...
Every pregnancy is a different story As I was growing up all I would hear were stories about how mothers loved being pregnant! Or how they would do it all again because it was an amazing journey. I always wanted to be pregnant and be able to feel what these ladies had been saying they felt, so at the age of 22 my husband and I decided we would start trying for a baby. After 6 long emotional months of countless pregnancy tests I gave up. I figured it was not going to happen, but then one day I felt the need to take another test, so I did my wee on the little stick for what seemed the thousandth time and there it was, the little faint line. Immediately I was relieved and felt on top of the world. “This is finally happening!” after a trip to the doctor to confirm that I was 6 weeks pregnant, I went out and bought a little pair of socks, My first baby things. And then it all started, I was so excited to be pregnant, but was so worried to lose this little miracle baby. Thoughts were over taking me and it was playing on my anxiety and depression. With all the worry of getting to 12 weeks pregnant (the safe zone) and getting through what seemed to be "all day” sickness I was struggling to enjoy pregnancy for what it was. It wasn’t until 16weeks that I was able to make the beautiful connection of what I was creating, when my little monkey moved and my husband and I felt it together. It was the most romantic thing that has ever happened to me and I have loved every little movement since. As my body was changing in ways I never thought would even be possible I realised how amazing this journey is, every part of my insides was moving to accommodate this little being. Although I must admit I don’t like
the thought of my stomach needing to be moved so that there is room, as this caused me a lot of heart burn. But the constant movements of my child made everything worthwhile, and the reassurance of seeing my baby grow and improve on the scheduled ultrasounds made each month amazing. If there is one piece of advice that I could give anyone who is expecting or trying to conceive, just take each day as it comes. Every pregnancy is different, I had more lows than highs and I will never know if it was because I was expecting too much from this journey or that is just my pregnancy. Some days you will feel so amazing and on top of the world, I supposed that’s the glow! And there are some days where it’s hard to even look at your changing body in the mirror and you’re wondering where is the ‘’supposed glow’’ you’re meant to be feeling….
Written by Lauren Cadet
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Taking beautiful pictures of your baby bump Once upon a time, (and I’m showing my age as I remember this well), pregnancy was viewed as `not the best time to be taking a picture of a woman’. I even remember the days when maternity photography was a fairly new concept and some of the older generations talked of how distasteful it all was. Well, thank goodness those days are over. Pregnancy is a miracle of life and as a photographer and mother (currently pregnant with my second), I believe it is a beautiful season where images of your changing body and growth are a must to record and these pictures not only document but evoke memories of the whole experience – priceless, cherished moments. These days it’s easy to photograph and share our special moments, I myself am obsessed with my iphone camera and love using it in
unique experience to you at this time. Photographing the natural beauty of a woman who’s ready to bring new life into the world and placing her in the majesty of the great outdoors can be simply breathtaking, but equally images at the home place offer a delicate insight into the beautiful private moments that have brought this baby into existence. Some of my favorite examples are near a huge window with light streaming in. This type of shot can also be captured on the beach or at a park but a good tip is to go at sunrise or sunset when the sun is lower in the sky, that way you get a beautiful silhouetted shot. A beach scape can be stunning with the waves receding and advancing, or a set of footprints etched into the sand with you standing at the end of them: a great tip for this shot is to get your photographer to shoot from down low. A rugged bush type setting can be a great earthy feel and allow you to make the most of the textures, natural colours and tones available. Shaded areas are also a great spot for photography if it is a particularly sunny/ glary day. In front of a mirror can add another dynamic to your image and why not add a simple prop…..which leads me onto my next tip! Props conjunction with good ole instagram and Adding a few props, a family heirloom, facebook along with some of the great arty baby’s bassinette, something to do with filters you can apply. With that in mind I baby’s gender/name etc can add a tender want to give you some tips toward capturing personal touch but remember to keep the your own creative maternity pics. props to a minimum. The focus is on your belly and pregnancy. Settings Think of places that are special to you Some of my favourite prop shots are shots maybe they have a story to tell or offer a with the bassinette, in the baby’s nursery or 24
holding baby’s 1st blanket. Flowers circling your tummy have an ethereal feel or holding a posie of flowers for a little girl. A simple shot of baby booties on the belly is a lovely classic shot, the booty colour can be according to the sex of the baby. If this is your 2nd or so pregnancy you can use people as props! Siblings hands on tummy, or a simple kiss on the belly is really special. Father holding you from behind is a tender nurturing type shot. Keep it personal There are many more tips I could pass on to you but having looked at locations and props I think the next main point I need to make is that you don’t have to stick to the tried and tested methods of maternity photography, in fact better if you don’t! The key is to experiment, don’t be scared to be openly creative. This is your story of pregnancy and only you are going to draw on it for those memories of the experience itself, so allow yourself to think outside the box. Use documentary style
photography to capture what might seem like the mundane but will evoke memories. The pee test result, the foods you couldn’t eat or that you craved, the tiredness etc. It’s an exciting time and deserves to be cherished, I hope I have inspired you in capturing those treasure moments of the journey. Written by Helen Wildman Grapevine Photography
Calling all Creative Mum’s! We are giving one lucky reader the opportunity to win a gorgeous New Mum pack. This fantastic prize pack includes everything you need to pamper yourself after the birth of your baby. All you have to do is take a creative photo of your new child. Use your imagination and create something fun. To go into the draw simply post your photo on our facebook page. Winner will be announced in next month’s September issue.
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For a Laugh! Definitions by children ~ NaĂŻve person: Anyone who thinks you saying it. are interested when you ask how he is. Water Polo: What horses play in the Cannibal: Someone who is fed up with swimming pool people.
Friend: Someone who knows you well
Endless: The time it takes for others
and still likes you
to find out how wonderful you are.
Goblet: A small turkey.
Neighbour: A person who is out of
Window Shopping: Buying new win-
something.
dows for your house
Adult: A person who has stopped
Headlights: What the car driver uses
growing at both ends and is now grow- to blind oncoming drivers. ing in the middle.
Raisin: Grape with a sunburn
Efficiency: Getting someone to do the
Secret: Something you tell to one per-
job you hate.
son at a time.
Grandparent: One who knows that
Tailor: A person who does sew-sew
spanking is unnecessary.
work.
Egg: A day’s work for a hen.
Unabridged: A river you have to swim
Father : A banker provided by nature.
across
Helpless: The feeling you have when
Woe: The opposite of giddy-up
your goldfish is sick. Wrinkles: Something other people have. Etc.: A sign you use in writing to make people believe you know more than you do. Nurse : A person who wakes u up to give you sleeping pills. Etiquette: To know which finger to put in your mouth when you whistle for the waiter. Silence: Having nothing to say and
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o t w o H throw the perfect baby shower A baby shower is one of the things a women looks forward to during her pregnancy. It is her chance to get together with her friends, show off her bump and receive some gorgeous gifts for the new arrival. Here are some steps to creating and throwing the perfect baby shower. 1. Set the date - after speaking with the mum-to-be choose an appropriate date for the baby shower. Don’t leave it too late in the pregnancy just in case she has the baby early. Usually 4-6 weeks before the due date is perfect. 2. Set the budget - work out approximately how much you can spend and who will be helping you to plan. Work out areas where you can save such as making the cake yourself and hand made invitations. 3. Write a guest list - sit down with the Mum-to-be and discuss who she would like to be invited to the shower. Find out whether she prefers the traditional “girl only” event or if she would like the Dad-tobe and his friends included too. Don’t forget family member’s too. 4. Choose a theme - this is one of the most fun parts of planning a baby shower. There are so many fun themes you can choose from for the perfect shower. You may like to theme it based on the theme for the nursery, a specific colour (blue for boy or pink for girl), an animal, something fun like a high tea shower or even a pamper shower where the girls can have their nails done and do facials. Small Steps has put together an ebook on baby shower themes if you want some more inspiration. Simply like us on Facebook to receive your free copy. Themes include menu plans and decoration ideas. 5. Choose a venue - this will depend on the number of guests you wish to invite and your budget. You may decide to host the event in your own house or may even decide to hire a hall or book a restaurant.
6. Make (or buy) invitations - use the chosen theme as a starting point and buy invitations that match or if you are feeling creative, try making your own. 7. Create a menu plan - also working with your theme, plan food that works with the décor. Try easy to make foods such as sandwiches, cakes and slices or maybe indulge a bit and get it catered. 8. Decide on decorations - once again think theme. Balloons, coloured napkins, a cake to match… use your creativity (or get some inspiration from our ebook). 9. Plan games (and prizes) - What baby shower doesn’t have a few fun games? Try games such as ‘Guess the belly measurement’ or ‘Pin the sperm on the egg’. Angel Babes offers a free ebook titled “101 Baby Shower Games” which you can get for free simply by liking their Facebook page if you need ideas. (See ad page 3) Then choose some party favours such as scented candles, chocolate bars or sweets for the winners of the games. Don’t forget to have a little ‘Thank you’ for the guests as they leave such as a cupcake or small chocolate. Happy planning!
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Kids Fun! Here are some funny jokes to share with your friends -
Q. How do you make seven an even number? A. Take the “s” out Q. What dog can jump higher than a house? A. Any dog - a house can’t jump! Q. What’s black and white and makes a lot of noice? A. A zebra with a drum kit Q. What has four legs but can’t walk? A. A chair! Q. Why did the kid sleep with a ruler A. To measure how long he slept Q. Why did the grasshopper go to the doctor? A. Because he felt jumpy
Spot the difference… There are 7 differences between these two pictures, can you find them.
Colouring in...
Father’s day true or false answers 1. True 2. True 3. False - Fathers tend to determine the height of their child, mother’s their weight 4. False - it is actually as high as 437 questions per day 5. True 6. False - this olive oil dipping ritual was actually to keep them hairless 7. True 8. True 9. False - it is actually children under the age of 6.
Community Free Parenting Groups phone: 4560 5714 for details Walk & Talk: a pram walking group for Hawkesbury’s Parents & Grandparents Meet & Greet: an information and support group for first time parents with babies 0-12 weeks Sleep & Settling: sessions for babies 0-6 months Approaching Toddlerhood: including sleep, nutrition, behaviour, development, play, learning
Early Childhood Health Services for the Hawkesbury Community Free early childhood services are available throughout the district for families living in the Hawkesbury LGA & Londonderry.
(02) 4560 5714 www.hdhs.com.au
Our playgroup is open to all mums, dads and carers. Join us during the school term from 10am-12pm Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Lots of variety for parents and kids with some fun day trips now and then. Call us on 0414 377 266
Scribbles Playgroup is held at the Church Vineyard in the Sunbeams Room. Cnr Windsor and Brenan Dams Road, Vineyard. Check out our webpage: www.scribblesplaygroup.com
Noticeboard
Feeding, Immunisation and Early Childhood Development Clinics phone: 4560 5714 for details
(02) 4560 5714 www.hdhs.com.au
Rhyme Time @ Central Library Windsor Every Monday 10am (except during school holidays) Rhymes, songs and craft for 18 months to 3 years. Session runs for about 45 minutes, siblings welcome. FREE - No bookings required
2 Day St Windsor (02) 4560 5714 www.hdhs.com.au
Preschool Storytime Windsor every Tuesday @ 11am Richmond every Thursday @ 11am (except School Holidays) Themed stories, rhymes and craft for 3 to 5 years. Session runs for about 60 minutes, siblings welcome. FREE - No bookings required Central Library Windsor Richmond Branch Library
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