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How a woman gives birth provokes strong views, with impassioned arguments for normal births, and for Caesareans.

But in this week’s Scrubbing Up health column, Cathy Warwick of the RCM says the most important thing is for women to be able to choose.

The use of technology in birth – such as the development of epidurals for pain relief and Caesarean sections – has long been a cauldron into which divisive and conflicting issues and opinions have been poured.

This is particularly relevant at the moment.

A recent UK study which looked at how and why women chose the birth they did found mothers-to-be preferred to keep an open mind and, as their pregnancy progressed, became increasingly confident in the advice they received from health professionals.

They tended to be more open-minded regarding choice of type of birth at the end of pregnancy.

It seems important to remember that since the 1970s, there has always been a vocal and active lobby against home birth.

Thirty years ago it was virtually impossible to have one in this country, and women and many midwives and doctors have fought actively and hard to challenge this and give women choice.

When the National Institute for health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) was considering guidance on giving birth in the NHS, the large number of midwives who sent in comments were only too aware of how the home birth option was once again nearly lost.

They had to challenge the appropriateness and interpretation of the evidence being considered on the safety of place of birth.

There is a fundamental question needing to be asked here; why do some doctors and midwives devalue the choice of home birth, despite the lack of evidence against it?

The continued polemic around it also remains uncomfortable.

‘Macho bullying?’

It has been suggested that many midwives see childbirth as an essential “rite of passage”.

The implication is that this is an illogical position in a technological age.

We know however that childbirth is a life-changing experience for all women however it happens, and midwives’ and women’s groups have worked hard to support the joy of this from every viewpoint.

We also know that women can be left deeply scarred by a birth which may have been physically safe but has ignored the emotional aspect of it.

The charge that there is a “macho bullying group” directing women towards a less interventionist birth is simply not based on evidence.

What there are though, are midwives fighting for real and informed choice for women.

Labelling midwives and women as members of two groups – either “pro” or “anti” technology – is also not helpful.

Women often change their views on birth during pregnancy, and there are many factors that influence that change.

Bottom line

What we do know is what women want at all times, is good and unbiased information from the health professionals caring for them, so that they can make the appropriate choice about how technology can help them.

One high-profile obstetrician recently relating the birth experience to the advances in agriculture, transport and energy production reminded us alarmingly of the language previously used in the “active management of labour”, when women’s bodies were viewed as machines that were frequently “inefficient” and in need of acceleration.

It has seemed that the health professionals that care for women today had largely moved on from this strange and controlling discourse, and it’s disappointing this may not be the case.

The bottom line here is that what women want is to be able to make a real choice, for the health service to offer them that choice, and for that choice to be based on having all the information needed to make an informed decision. news.bbc.co.uk

Travelling with a child can stressful, tiring, and very very hard work. Here are a few idea’s to help you along the way and make your journey that little bit easier.

Tips for travelling by car

Collapsible plastic boxes are useful to keep in the car. When staying away from home, try and keep your stuff in them so precious things won’t be lost or forgotten.

Make it a rule that “what goes in, must come out.” Encourage your children to take out all their belongings – otherwise it’ll go in the bin.

Keep a plastic bag for rubbish in the car so that it can be thrown away immediately.

If you have boys, take a plastic bottle in the car on long journeys. If your children are desperate to go to the loo and you can’t stop easily – problem solved.

Similarly, if you have a toddler newly out of nappies, you may be able to get away with putting on a pull-up every now and then for those times when they’re absolutely desperate and you can’t stop.

Things to take in the car: kitchen towel; wipes; plastic bag; first aid kit; hand sanitizer…….

Estimate your journey then add enough time to allow for stops for being sick, going to the loo, dealing with tantrums, boredom, restless legs etc.

Entertaining the children

What To Take.

Paper pads and crayons
Music player
Books (including puzzle books)
Small toys
Electronic interactive games : annoying for the adults but keeps children entertained for ages.
Travel games – connect, draughts, mastermind
Puppet (very useful for the long suffering adults to keep young children entertained from the front, in extremis!)
Play dough – great on train journeys

Games To Play

I Spy: The classic.

Guess the Animal: Someone thinks of an animal, others ask questions about that animal – can it fly? is it wild? To which the person can only answer yes or no. Or the person describes the animal and everyone else has to guess what it is.

Spotter’s Badge: Everybody has to look out for a certain list of objects. The most common ones (blue signs on a motorway, silver cars) get 2 points, then the more infrequent (caravans, pylons) get 5 points etc..

The Alphabet Game: Think of an easy category (like names, or places or animals) and then find a word for every letter of the alphabet. For example, if it was names, the first person might say Anna, the second Bill, and so on.

Word Association: Be as free as you like. The first person says apple, second person says banana, third person says monkey, etc. You can also play a version where you have to try and work back to the first word.

Just A Minute: Just like the Radio 4 quiz game. Talk for one minute with no hesitation, deviation or repetition. Children are surprisingly good at this.

Sausages: One person has to answer people’s questions answering only with the word ‘sausages’. Everyone has to think of the silliest questions they can ask to try and make that person laugh or smile when they say it. If they do, they are no longer it, and the person who asked the question takes over.

The Pub Game: look for pub signs and see how long it takes you to collect 5 heads, 10 arms and 20 legs. To do this, you simply count the number of legs and arms depicted on the pub sign, or in the name: ie, the Queen’s Head; the Phoenix and Falcon (4 legs) etc.

The Number Plate Game: look at the nearest number plate for the first group of three letters. The first letter is the initial of the person’s name; the second is where they come from, and the third is the job they do.

The No ‘yeses’ or ‘nos’ Game: You ask one person questions to which they can answer anything except yes or no. If they say yes or no they are out and it’s someone else’s turn. (What’s your name? Anna. Are you sure?)

Going abroad

When you book your seats, ask for ones at the front where there’ll be more leg room.

If possible choose night flights; it might make life easier with the children.

Before you go on holiday, check not only your outward bound, but also your return flight times. They may have changed.

There are bound to be delays at the airport, so make sure you pack enough supplies of everything to see you through this – nappies, food, etc.

Take something for your baby to suck on; it could help them if the air pressure affects their ears. Take chewing gum for older children.

Teetha can also be useful for calming older children. Apparently you shouldn’t put homeopathic products in the hold luggage because the x-rays destroy the healing properties…

If you’re on a long flight, take some new toys or books. Will keep the children entertained for longer.

Take bottled water, a water spray and moisturiser with you on the plane. Keeps everyone hydrated and the children will enjoy it.
HOWEVER, its best to buy these at the airport AFTER you’ve been through the security checks as you are only allowed to take (up to 10) liquids of no more than 100ml each in a resealable plastic bag.

Make sure you pack toiletries in a zip-up bag; the lids can pop off with the cabin pressure. Put your toiletries, perfume and bulk of your make-up in your suitcase as it may be confiscated if you put it in your hand baggage.

Check with the airline beforehand about the children’s food if necessary. Take a small amount with you if possible, especially drinks (bought at the airport AFTER the security checks), because they can be expensive.

Allow for cool temperatures when on the plane, even if you’re going to a hot climate, especially for your children.

Check your hand baggage size before you go. Each passenger can take on one piece of hand baggage but it mustn’t be any bigger than length of 56 cm, width of 45 cm and depth of 25 cm.

Write your name and address on a sheet of paper and put it in your luggage. If the label comes off, it’s a fail safe.

Put all sharp objects (like tweezers) in your main luggage. If you don’t, they will be confiscated.

Staying in Hotels

Check if the hotel has any baby equipment on site.

If your hotel has facilities for children and adults separately, book your sessions well in advance to coincide with each other. If you leave it until the last minute you might find that it’s impossible to book them at the same time.

And if you want babysitting, book well in advance as well.

General travelling tips

For going absolutely anywhere, even on a short trip, you could keep a small bag (not a big changing bag) with essential bits at all times: a calpol sachet, a couple of wipes, a nappy, some kitchen towel and savlon and a plastic bag. Wrapped up tight in a plastic bag so it wouldn’t get wet when out.

When you’re going on holiday, encourage your children to find out about where you’re going. Let everyone choose one activity or visit on the holiday

If you’re worried about losing your photos, take a photo of your address on the first photo. That way you stand more chance of getting them back.

Hang on to bits and pieces from the holiday as keepsakes: tickets, brochures, a couple of postcards etc. Might be good for your children to make something out of when they get home. Or for Show and Tell.

Take a security device for keeping your bag and money etc safe when you’re sleeping on a train.

Some families swear by travelling on the train to go on holiday; and as long as you take enough in-train entertainment, it sounds like a good idea. One family noticed that it limited their choices, but they preferred this because it meant far fewer arguments about what they’d do every day. If you’re going to do this, it’s probably worth investing in a family rail card.

If you’re strapped for cash or time, you could try taking a Monday and a Friday off, and going away for a long weekend – it can almost feel like a week’s holiday.

We hope this helps and good luck when travelling with your little one this year!

Women who exercise in pregnancy could strengthen their babies’ lungs and nervous system,research suggests.

Experts from the United States carried out a small study into the impact of exercise and found potential benefits for unborn babies. They also suggested exercise might be able to help prevent cot death, but said far more research was needed.

Dr Linda May, an assistant professor of anatomy at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, said her study had yielded “exciting” results.

She said: “We tested foetal breathing movement and the way the baby’s nervous system was developing.

“When we compared babies whose mothers exercised with babies whose mothers had not exercised, we found wonderful differences.

“Foetal breathing movement and the nervous system were more mature in babies exposed to exercise.”

All the women involved in the study were 36 to 38 weeks pregnant and aged 20-35.

The mothers-to-be were classified as exercisers if they exercised for at least 30 minutes three times a week.

To find out what exercises you can & can’t do when you’re pregnanct click here

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Pregnant women and parents with babies will be advised to avoid crowds and unnecessary journeys on public transport in an attempt to limit the effects of the swine flu virus on the most vulnerable.

The Department of Health have published new guidelines on the National Health Service website that emphasise the risk to pregnant women and young children.

The Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists are recommending changes in lifestyle, including staying indoors when practical. Expectant mothers should also limit the movements of their other children so they do not bring the virus home.

Pregnant women are advised to avoid crowds where possible: “If they normally travel on the Tube or on crowded trains in rush hour they might want to leave later or earlier,” Sue Macdonald from the Royal College of Midwives said. “This is about being sensible and being aware of the risks.”

The government will not advise women to delay pregnancy until the swine flu pandemic has passed, as is recommended by the National Childbirth Trust. The latter was accused of scaremongering by the Royal College of General Practitioners.

More than 700 people have been taken to hospital with the virus and, of the 29 who have died, four were young children and two were mothers who had recently given birth. It also emerged this weekend that:

- Hospitals face a potential crisis over the limited number of intensive-care beds. In the worst-case scenario, seriously ill patients could have to make way for swine flu victims.

- The manufacturers of the new swine flu vaccine are to be given legal indemnity amid concerns over any side effects. Regulators are due to fast-track its approval.

- Some patients, whatever their illness, face waits of up to 11 hours before getting a call back from weekend and evening GPs’ services. Calls are running at double the normal rate.

- Security guards are to protect NHS supplies of Tamiflu when the drug is handed out at temporary distribution centres, such as community buildings.

British holidaymakers suspected of suffering from swine flu are being prevented from boarding flights. Check-in staff at Heathrow and other main British airports are vetting passengers for possible infection and turning away those suspected of being having the disease.

Some countries, including Thailand, Egypt, Turkey and China, have installed thermal body scanners to identify passengers with fever.

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic confirmed this weekend that its staff were not allowing suspected sufferers to travel. A BA spokesman said some passengers had been turned away at check-in because they had flu symptoms.

Passengers who are suffering from swine flu but are not spotted at check-in may find themselves quarantined on their arrival overseas. A group of 52 British children and teachers is being held in quarantine in a hotel in China after four pupils were diagnosed with swine flu on arrival in the country on Tuesday and sent to hospital. The trip was organised by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust and involves schoolchildren from around the country.

Among pupils affected are some from Cheltenham ladies college, Gloucestershire. “The Chinese authorities are taking a very cautious approach to the flu and have quarantined the group and hospitalised some eight children who are showing symptoms,” the headmistress, Vicky Tuck, said

Swine Flu Information Line – 0800 1 513 513

NHS Direct: 0845 4647

NHS Online symptom checker

Directgov for government information on swine flu, including latest advice on travel, schools and other public services.

Baby Care have teamed up with one very special magical fairy, and together we have released our magical name generator. Simply enter the first name of both parents and let the fairy do her magic! The name’s our fairy create’s are magically sprinkled onto your screen and are generated to include the letters from both parents names. Along with creating the perfect name for you, the baby name fairy informs you of the meaning of the name, as well as letting you select your origin of choice for names it generates, sex of baby, & you can also type in your surname to see exactly how the name will look including the family surname! One thing you will notice under the Meaning of the Name is: Baby Name Letter Score = (Number). The number displayed is the amount of letters included in the generated name, from both parents names! As an example is the Fathers Name was David, and the Mothers Natalie, and the generated name was Bradley, the letters taken from David is (d) & (a), and the letters taken form Natalie are (l) & (e), therefore the baby name score would read, Baby Name Letter Score = 4. Anyway guys we really hope you like this idea and put it to good use! The magical fairy is now in town, so click the below link to see what names she chooses for you! Let the magic begin!
Click Here for the Magical Fairy Name Generator!