The womb - the perfect incubator

During pregnancy, your baby needs protection from germs, trauma and malnutrition. Also toxins like nicotine, alcohol and chemicals. 

Your body takes care on infections in three ways:

•  The vagina is acidic and this helps to kill most germs and stops them from getting into the womb

•  The cervix (mouth of the womb) is closed and filled with a ‘plug’ that protects your womb.  This becomes your ‘show’ in early, established labour

•  The placenta filters toxins and most bacteria – unfortunately some like alcohol, nicotine and viruses can slip through.

Trauma:

•  Amniotic fluid (your ‘waters’) act as an ‘airbag’ 

•  The bony structure of the pelvis protects the baby in early pregnancy and again during the last few weeks of pregnancy when the baby’s head ‘engages’

Malnutrition:

•  Your baby will draw its nutritional needs from your body. That’s why it’s important to eat healthy. 

•  Thyroid hormones step-up your metabolism, improve your appetite (once you are over morning sickness) and helps with the absorption of nutrients from your diet

•  Progesterone relaxes smooth muscle – this means that your gut takes longer to digest meals and improves the absorption of nutrients. (The down-side is that this change can cause constipation – so you need to drink extra water and eat more roughage!)

If you’re struggling through the last few uncomfortable weeks or days of pregnancy, try and treasure this time because never again will your precious baby be so close to your heart 24/7!

Toilet training tips for toddlers

Toilet training can begin from 18 – 30 months depending on baby’s personality and development. By this I mean that while some toddlers are able to understand what’s happening to them and communicate how they are feeling, others (e.g. very premature babies and those with mild neurological difficulties and who may have delayed speech) need more time. 

A toddler needs to be physically and emotionally ready to ‘let go’ before toilet training can begin.

Signs that your toddler is ready:

•  S/he will communicate when the nappy is uncomfortable e.g. patting bottom and saying something like: ‘bum, bum’

•  Stays dry for longer

•  Predictably makes a wee in the bath

•  Insists on watching when you go to the toilet

•  Is able to stay focused or interested for a short while

•  Starting to show an interest in dressing or undress themselves i.e. can pull pants up and down.

Do’s and don’ts of toilet training:

•  Do start when your toddler is ready

•  Don’t miss readiness clues

•  Do share their excitement and enthusiasm

•  Don’t show disgust - your toddler may take offence or feel guilty!

•  Do praise every success!

•  Don’t smack when there are accidents

•  Do co-operate with the nursery school toilet routine – especially over week-ends

•  Do keep panties/undies on during the day  

•  Don’t confuse your toddler by putting a nappy on when it suits you

•  Do keep a night-nappy on until your toddler is dry during the day

•  Don’t keep a ‘reward chart’ – toddlers are too young to understand.

Remember toilet training is not a race to show how clever your toddler is (which of course s/he absolutely is) or to cut costs. Most toddlers (and parents) get through this milestone with ease! If there are obvious communication problems and developmental delays, please have your toddler assessed by a paediatrician. 

Vital foundation for women and children...

Professor Rachel Jewkes, Director of the Gender & Health Research Unit of the South African Medical and Research Council (MRC) says women and children who are abused are still overlooked by the law. This is because they often feel too ashamed to report the incident. They also feel guilty, victimised, trapped and unable to help themselves. Their self-image becomes distorted; they lose confidence and feel worthless.  The MRC has ascertained that 40% of men have hit their partner, three women in SA are killed by their intimate partner every day, 25% of women will be raped in their lifetime. Only 4% of these cases will be reported – of these, only a fraction will lead to conviction!

If these statistics make you angry and wish that you could do something to help, the Vital Foundation, a local funding and information body that supports non-profit organisations against women and child abuse, are inviting the public to get involved. The Vital Foundation is helping by: 

•  Providing a platform for non-profit organisations in their quest to eradicate women and child abuse in South Africa via its website and sponsored media channels.
•  Helping victims to access these services.
•  Funding these organisations.

Craig Dummett, PR for Vital Foundation, confirms that 161 organisations are currently registered on vitalfoundation.co.za. Managing director of Vital Health Foods, George Grieve says that the public (that’s you and me) can get involved by supporting Vital products ‘R1 Makes a Difference’ campaign. This means that while we are investing in our family’s health, we are also helping to build healthier and happier homes in South Africa.  

For more information visit http://www.vitalfoundation.co.za

Our precious planet

This Friday is World Environment Day and while you may think that there’s not much you can do about global warming and mounting rubble, the reality is that every little bit helps! We can all do something to minimize unnecessary waste by recycling and learning to be satisfied with less.

•  Use water sparingly – it’s precious!

•  Don’t waste electricity (don’t we know that one!)

•  Recycle: Put glass, plastic, tins and paper into separate bags in the refuse bin – this helps those trying to make a living by recycling our rubbish easier and safer!

•  Kitchen peels make good compost – plastic composters are clean, safe and convenient – they’re available at hardware or garden outlets

•  It’s healthier to walk if you haven’t got far to go

•  Plan your driving routes and use less petrol

•  Install solar panels if you have the budget

•  Teach your children not to waste or litter

•  Minimize unnecessary printing and use paper sparingly

•  Plant something indigenous

•  Clean up your neighbourhood parks

•  Fix instead of throwing out and buying new

•  Store in glass rather than disposable plastic or polystyrene

•  Re-use plastic and shopping bags

•  Grow your own vegetables and minimize tinned food

If Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, can set the example by cycling to work to do his bit for the environment, so can we! 

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