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! 

Share your ideas on my face book page!

Good to know...

When I used to go to the schools to do the sex education I would talk to young girls about periods and reproduction, and I used a pear to show them the size and shape of the womb. Cut a pear in half with the stalk pointing downwards, and the rounded top end looks like the body of the womb with the cervix represented as the lower, longer end of the pear. A pip in the middle demonstrated perfectly where the baby starts to grow. The thick pulp represented the three layers of muscles that thin out over the nine months of pregnancy when the growing baby stretches the womb.

‘Avocados and pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female – and they look just like these organs. Today’s research shows that when a woman eats 1 avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight and prevents cervical cancers.’ 

What’s more …. it’s avocado season now, so tuck into those avo’s ladies …. they’re good for you!   

Afraid of labour pain? Here's some comforting information...

More recently men have been experimenting with ‘labour stimulators’ to feel what giving birth is all about. From 100 Chinese men in a hospital in Shandong, to Kim Dean in the US who was recently viewed over 1,7 million times on YouTube ‘writhing and screaming in pain’ (according to a Daily Telegraph report) when connected to a device that made his recti and abdominal muscles contract the way the womb does during labour. 

But doing this is a distorted replay of labour and can make pregnant women frightened. Women need to know that her body has been designed – muscles, hormones, ligaments and joints – for labour and giving birth.

Here’s how:

•  Pre-labour contractions begin slowly and gently (called Braxton-Higgs) a few weeks before labour begins

•  During active labour, contractions begin at the top of the womb (called the fundus) and ripple towards the cervix (mouth of the womb) gradually changing the shape of the womb to ‘thin out’ and open the cervix. This is called dilation

•  Contractions come and go – they begin, peak then end

•  There is no pain between contractions

•  During labour the body produces endorphins (a natural morphine) to help woman cope with the pain

•  The hormone called relaxin allows the pelvic ligaments and joints to stretch and widen the birth canal

•  When women feel comfortable and unhurried (at home or in hospital with the help of sensitive midwives) she can choose which position is comfortable for her – and change it according to her needs

•  The practice of leaving women to lie on their backs in the ‘stranded beetle position’ during labour is obsolete.

Childbirth (Lamaze) classes, aim to take the FEAR out of giving birth. Fear enhances pain by increasing stress levels. Massage, gentle music, dim lights, warm water, soothing words of comfort and encouragement all help a woman to work with her body during labour contractions. In this way, survival hormones are released. Women have coped with this incredible event called giving birth since the dawn of time – and will continue to do so and do cope surprisingly well with support rather than interference. 

Chat to your midwife or doctor about this. 

Factoring personal ambition into the mom equation...

While every woman’s circumstances are different, she needs to ask herself ‘where to from here?’ If you’re going back to your same job after maternity leave, is there an opportunity for promotion? If you’re lucky enough to stay at home, what will you do? Is it possible to work mornings or part-time from home? How can you work towards these preferences? Can you study part-time, take a sabbatical or wait for the next intake of students if your studies have been interrupted by pregnancy? Is it possible for your career to take a whole new direction so you can follow your dreams – buy a sewing machine and learn dressmaking, learn cake-decorating and catering, become an entrepreneur, buy yourself a camera and take up photography, pick up your paint brushes and finish your art degree, buy a keyboard and teach music appreciation at the nursery schools, take up pole dancing for fun and exercise, register for a correspondence course in writing, study part-time for a BCom or a BA or a MA in Creative Brand Leadership for example. The possibilities are endless but the opportunities and practicalities of reaching these goal posts may seem insurmountable!

Have you heard the expression: You can eat an elephant – but only one spoonful at a time? Projects take time, effort and commitment -  but if you persist and persevere with patience, you will succeed!

List your goals:

•  What would you like to do?
•  How can you make this happen?
•  Is this affordable?
•  Where do you start?

Looking back on my life, between having babies and bringing them up, I kept up with my nursing by going to workshops, conferences and seminars whenever I could – and ran Childbirth Education classes from the local community centre. I did a sewing course and made track-suits when they were trendy, a toy-making course, calligraphy classes, Bible Study, writing and public-speaking courses, computer classes, mother-baby exercise classes. I met amazing people who encouraged and motivated me. I made new friends. This boosted my confidence and renewed my energy and zest for life.. 

Can you cut costs and put that extra money into a special savings account so you can pay for what you want to do? Will your man support your project and be prepared to share the responsibilities of looking after the baby? How many years will it take – and what will you achieve in the end?

If anybody would like to share their success story, please get in touch with me on the face book page! I would love to hear from you.