Home > 2009 > February

Support Services

Sometimes being a parent can feel isolating and overwhelming. Sheila Kitzinger made this quote about what it is like to be a mother “to take on one of the most emotionally and intellectually demanding, exasperating, strenuous, anxiety-arousing and deeply satisfying tasks that any human being can undertake” this applies also to fathers.
There may be times when you need some support or know of someone else who dose, the following is a list of some of the services available.

Barnardos
Family support for families under stress. Family counselling for families coping with grief or crisis. Services for children who are distressed or disadvantaged.

http://www.barnardos.org.nz

Child Abuse Prevention Services NZ Inc
CAPS New Zealand members believe that the wellbeing of the child is linked to the wellbeing of the family and members will cooperate nationally to prevent the abuse of children. CAPS NZ agencies work nationally to protect children through support and services to parents, caregivers and children.
National Co-ordinator (04) 801 2704
24 hour 0800 helpline 0800 228737

Child, Youth and Family
This site is a focus for promoting the well-being and safety of children and supporting positive parenting. Child, Youth and Family is part of a network of agencies aiming to build an environment where child abuse is not tolerated.
phone 0508 FAMILY (0508 326 459)
www.cyf.govt.nz

Family and Community Services
Family and Community Services is a new service of the Ministry of Social Development. Its role is to lead government and non-government organisations to work collaboratively to strengthen family support services and make them more effective for families.
www.familyservices.govt.nz

Family Assistance
Working for Families is a package that is designed to make it easier to work and raise a family. It pays extra money to many thousands of New Zealand families.
Call: Work and Income on 0800 774 004
to find out more about the Accommodation and Childcare Assistance.
Monday – Friday, 7am – 8pm, Saturday 8am – 1pm.
www.workingforfamilies.govt.nz

Mothers Network (NZ) Inc
Mothers Network (NZ) Inc is a National Network of enthusiastic, dedicated women working together to provide a stimulating environment for mothers to communicate and express themselves. Motherhood can be a very isolating experience and our aim is to bring new mothers together to share these and other experiences – and kill the myths!
Mothers Network (NZ) Incorporated
Incorporating New Mother Support Groups
PO Box 6142 Wellington 6030
Phone: 0800 80 MUMS (0800 80 6867)
www.mothersnetwork.co.nz

New Zealand Multiple Birth Association
In New Zealand more than 700 sets of twins, 15 sets of triplets and on average one set of quadruplets are born each year.
If you are expecting, or raising multiples, the New Zealand Multiple Birth Association can help you.

New Zealand Multiple Birth Association
PO Box 1258 Wellington
Phone: 0800 4 TWINS ETC
www.nzmba.info

Parent Help Wellington
24-hour confidential telephone support service for parents and care givers ph 499-9994
Face-to-face-counselling (Wgtn, Lower Hutt and Porirua)
Information and referral
0800 number (0800 56 88 56) nationwide.

Parenting with Confidence
We’re a community organisation dedicated to making life better for parents and their kids. Try our hot tips search if you are looking for a creative parenting or relationship tip.
Phone: (64 9) 524 0025 Fax: (64 9) 524 0029
Postal PO Box 37-708
Parnell, Auckland
Email zn.gr1328347384o.gni1328347384tnera1328347384p@cwp1328347384

Pregnancy Help
Pregnancy Help supports the well being of Pregnant and recently pregnant women, New mothers and their families/whanau, With care, concern and confidentiality.
Email: zn.oc1328347384.artx1328347384@pleh1328347384ycnan1328347384gerp1328347384

Presbyterian Support Central
For almost a century, Presbyterian Support Central has been offering quality care to young and old alike throughout the region. We are best known for our elderly care services, and for our family and counselling services.
Our mission is:
“In response to the teachings of Christ we will provide social services that effectively meet the needs of those we help”.
44 Wigan Street, Wellington
Postal Address PO Box 9246, Wellington 6031
Phone 04 801 6284

Samaritans
24 hour telephone supportive listening service.
0800 726 666

TABS
Becoming a mother can put women under considerable psychological pressure. Post-natal (or post-partum) depression (PND or PPD) is a well-known and very common experience. Potentially much longer lasting and insidious, however, is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) arising from events before, during, after or throughout the whole of the birth experience.
P O Box 18002, Glen Innes, Auckland
Email: zn.gr1328347384o.sba1328347384t@eus1328347384

Send information on web sites that you find helpful to gro.z1328347384nbewy1328347384bab@n1328347384eleH1328347384
Or see www.babywebnz.org
By Helen Pulford

Safety

As a Midwife and Nurse I have seen many children admitted to Hospital from accidents that could have been prevented. Most of them happen in a second like a cup of hot coffee being knocked off a table or a baby falling from a bed. It is hard to protect our children from every potential injury but there are some precautions we can take.
I have listed some of the injury data from the Safe Kids, Water Safety and ACC web sites.

Drowning
Around 130 New Zealander’s die in the water every year.

Poisoning
” On average, in New Zealand, one child a day is hospitalised after being accidentally poisoned.
” Poisoning is the second most common cause of injury-related hospital admission for children aged 0 – 4 years.
” Eighty percent (80%) of children poisoned are aged under five years.
” Medications and drugs are the most common agents involved in childhood poisoning, followed by household chemicals and cleaners.
Childhood Falls
” Falls are the leading cause of preventable injury to New Zealand’s children.
” Every year, on average, 4800 children are injured severely enough from a fall that they need to be hospitalised.
” Playground equipment related injuries account for 32% of all fall-related hospital admissions for children.
” On average, two children will die from a fall-related injury every year.
Child Pedestrian Injury
” Pedestrian injury is a leading cause of death and injury to New Zealand children.
” An average 14 child pedestrians die each year and more than 200 are hospitalised with injuries.
” Some children injured require ongoing rehabilitation and treatment.
Childhood Burn Injury
Around 330 children are hospitalised every year with burns from hot water, food, drinks, fire and electrical appliances.

Child Passenger Injury
From 1998 – 2002 96 children were killed on New Zealand roads while riding in motor vehicles – some of them unrestrained by child car restraints or safety belts.

For information please see the below web sites:

Fire safety
This extensive site provides information about the NZ Fire Service, their role, equipment, latest news, recruitment, building requirements, latest fire safety campaigns and publications.
www.fire.org.nz

Flying with Kids
Advice from parents, for parents about flying with a baby or small child in tow. The essential ‘how-to’ infant flying guide.
www.flyingwithkids.com/
Injury Prevention
The goal of the Injury Prevention Research Unit is to contribute to reducing the incidence, severity and consequences of injury in New Zealand. The IPRU is based in the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine in the Dunedin School of Medicine within the Health Sciences Division of the University of Otago.

http://www.otago.ac.nz/ipru

Land Transport Authority
Land Transport NZ’s objective is to contribute to an integrated, safe, responsive and sustainable land transport system.
www.ltsa.govt.nz
The Young New Zealanders’ Foundation
Safer Streets is dedicated to creating safer communities for young people in a society where they are valued, nurtured and helped to reach their goals.
www.youngnz.org.nz/goal.php
Watersafety
Water Safety New Zealand Inc (WSNZ) ensures that water education safety needs of the community are met.

http://www.watersafety.org.nz

Pool Safety
This website is a component of the ACC Pool Safe programme, developed by Water Safety New Zealand and ACC.
www.poolsafe.org.nz
ACC
The ACC web site has a page on injury prevention. The goal of injury prevention is to reduce the incidence of injuries, their severity and costs and to develop a safety culture.

http://www.acc.co.nz

Plunket
Plunket is New Zealand’s leading provider of well child and family health services in New Zealand.
www.plunket.org.nz
Safe Kids
Safekids New Zealand is the child safety service of Starship Children’s Health, and was established by the hospital’s Trauma Services in the early 1990s. The aim of the service was, and still is to reduce the numbers of children who are admitted to hospitals, or killed by preventable injuries. Since its inception the injury death rate for New Zealand children has fallen by 12%.

Safekids will be running 19 half-day workshops throughout the country in April and May. The workshops introduce the themes of the 2007/08 Campaign – Drowning Prevention and Cycle Safety.
www.safekids.org.nz

Send information on web sites that you find helpful to gro.z1328347384nbewy1328347384bab@n1328347384eleH1328347384
Or see www.babywebnz.org
By Helen Pulford

Babies

I have had it said to me that babies are all the same. I disagree with this they are all individual human beings with their own unique appearance and personality. They do generally have similar physical needs and development which is good to have some knowledge about.

Newborns sleep a lot; on average 16.5 hrs per day and the rest of the time is mainly spent feeding and getting cuddles. This little person is taking in a lot about their environment and is learning about him or herself, for example they have to learn that their hand is actually attached to them and all the things they can do with it. Their eyesight isn’t that great at birth, they can only see about 20-30cm and see things in black and white. So it will take awhile before they appreciate it if you have painted up a nursery room in bright colours. Observe to see that they are following objects that are close to them. They have adult vision at three months and their eye colour can change. Their hair colour can also change, so your grey/blue-eyed baby with blonde hair may become a burette with brown eyes.
Hearing is often better than yours; as it hasn’t been damaged by loud noise. Signs that they can hear are turning their heads towards noise and getting a fright with a loud bang.
Babies are putting weight on, doubling their weight at 6 months and tripling by a year, consider an adult trying to do that! They have little stomachs; an average size baby’s stomach (3.5kg) at birth only holds 20-30mls. Thus they need to feed often, including during the night.
Some babies will sleep through the night by 6 weeks (for 6-8hrs) but not many!

With breastfeeding it will take time to feel confident, it is a skill and it takes you and the baby time to learn how to do this. If you are having problems Plunket Karitane centres, La Leche League or a Lactation consultant’s ph 0800 4 Lactation, can help.

Babies normally cry on average 1-4 hrs in total each day. At the start it can feel like quess work working out why they are crying. This is how babies communicate that they want something. It is hard for parents to listen to their baby cry. With time you get to know your baby and start to work out what they may want. If unsure work down a list, could they be hungry, tired, wet/dirty, bored or want a cuddle. If they cry a lot it may be due to colic, if you are concerned always have them checked by a health professional in case it is related to a health problem. From 2-3 months they will start responding to you more with smiles and baby noises (coos, squeals and laughs).

In the first month three months they are learning to hold their head up, this is an important part in the process of learning to walk. They may even start doing baby push-ups from 3 months onwards. This is why it is important to have an awake tummy time on the floor. From around 5 months of age they learn to roll over, but sometimes they can do this from 3 months of age, so never think it is safe to leave your baby on a high surface, because you never know when they may learn to roll. A mayor reason for admissions of children to hospital is falls. A baby falling off a table is like you falling off the roof of your house.

There are a hundred and one books written on babies. I try to avoid any books that read like instruction manuals. There is helpful information in the Well Child Tamariki Ora Health book, and this is free from your LMC (Lead Maternity Carer) or Plunket nurse.
Also www.babycentre.com has a lot of information. BabyCenter is an online resource for expectant and new parents, filled with parenting information. You can have emails sent to you from this site each week with guidelines re your child development.

There will be conflicting advice re the care of your baby but remember to trust yourself you are their parent and you know this baby better than anyone else. The health professional may know more about health concerns, but you know more about your own baby if you look after them more than anyone else. Everyone has an opinion on parenting, your opinion is more important than anyone else’s when it comes to your child.

Let your child also teach you, you will learn from them and talk to other new parents about any helpful hints they have.

Ecologically Friendly Web Sites

I think back to my childhood on a farm in Southland and realise how things have changed in such a short time. I was raised to know that carrots grew in all shapes and sizes. Today when I was shopping at the local supermarket I brought carrots that seemed too perfectly straight. I hope I haven’t become a consumer who wants looks over taste, fast over better and throw away over fix it.
As a parent I want my children to grow up in a healthy environment, I recycle and try to use organic products but I know I can do better. If you are also interested in respecting nature, organics, recycling and using natural materials some of these web sites will help you. I wish to thank Lianne Earles who set up Organic Baby for this information. For more information please see www.organicbaby.co.nz which also has eco sample packs that you can order via their web site.

Consumer Build Online:
Consumer Build Online is NZ’s Independent Resource for Building. Renovating and Maintaining Homes.
The ‘Green’ homes page has some useful information and links for building or renovating in an environmentally friendly way. http://www.consumerbuild.org.nz/publish/materials/materials-green.php

Consumer Online: NZ Consumer magazine is published monthly, providing independent consumer information on products in the marketplace.
They review all types of products (rarely organic or eco friendly) but
they do review baby food, baby equipment and the like, so it’s a good magazine to keep on eye on. Check out Consumer online. http://www.consumer.org.nz
(search on Kids and Family) Note: to view the articles you must be a subscriber or you can order a single report online.

Ecobob:
Ecobob is a web site that provides users with an easy way of accessing information on environmentally friendly living such as profiles of eco houses, a listing of businesses providing eco living products and services, a range of information articles on eco living and an online community for people to share ideas and connect on eco living topics. http://www.ecobob.co.nz

Embrace:
Embrace is a web site set up by Anitra Carr. Anitra has a Ph.D. in Clinical Biochemistry, ten years biomedical research experience both in N.Z. and the U.S., and has published in numerous international peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Anitra set up Embrace primarily to share information and products that she felt important and of potential benefit to women and their families. Check out the Articles section which includes many useful articles on Home Birth, Natural Parenting, Health & Nutrition and Herbal Medicine. http://www.embrace.net.nz/articles.htm

Natural Health Review: Natural Health Review is a New Zealand natural health publication, which gives independent information on natural healthcare issues.
Issue one includes: “Calcium for Pregnancy” and “Yoga and Back Pain”. http://www.naturalhealthreview.co.nz

NZ Earth Building Association: NZ Earth Building Association is a group run on a voluntary basis to promote the art and science of Earth Building http://www.earthbuilding.org.nz

Nourish.net.nz: Nourish is a NZ shopping site selling everything eco friendly from body care products to household cleaners.
On the Nourish web site, select Health Services to check out their series of health articles. http://www.nourish.net.nz

Organic Explorer: Organic Explorer is the green travel guide to New Zealand. It is a guide/directory of eco-accommodation, organic cafes, food supplies and environmental tourism activities for the free independent traveller. http://www.organicexplorer.co.nz

Organic Pathways: Organic Pathways are an online directory of organics in NZ.
Check out the Garden and Household sections. http://www.organicpathways.co.nz

Soil & Health Association of NZ: Soil & Health publish a monthly magazine ‘Organic NZ’ available through booksellers (or second hand on Trade Me). Check out the past issues on the Organic NZ web site (two articles per issue can be viewed online). Past issues can be ordered online. http://www.organicnz.org

The Safefood Campaign: The Safe Food Campaign is a nationwide organisation which campaigns for safer, healthier food.
They provide consumers with information so that they can make up their own minds about what is safe to eat and lobby government to make our food safer.
Check out Organics, Pesticides, Irradiation, Additives and Genetic Modification. http://www.safefood.org.nz

NZ Green Party: The Green Party of Aotearoa (NZ) are a political party committed to ecological sustainability. Read their charter. Their web site library contains many interesting articles and press releases.
Check out the Safefood section. http://www.greens.org.nz/campaigns/safe-food

Recycling
Freecycle is a worldwide movement that aims to connect people in communities, so they can get rid of (or collect) stuff that would otherwise end up at the landfill.
You can join online but you need to set up (or use an existing) Yahoo account. http://www.freecycle.org

The Waste Exchange is a web site where you can list your surplus business waste or waste “wanted”. Great for recycling if you need bulk bubble wrap, packaging materials etc. www.nothrow.co.nz.
E-Day is a community initiative designed to raise awareness of the hazardous nature of electronic waste. It is an annual event (throughout NZ) which offers an easy way for households to dispose of old computers and mobile phones in an environmentally sustainable manner. Visit the E-Day web site http://www.eday.org.nz

Information and Links provided with permission from www.organicbaby.co.nz
Helen Pulford at www.babywebnz.org ©

http://babywebnz.org.nz/Disclaimer.php

Family Budgets

Today I was looking at my front lawn and thought if the price of food continues to increase I am going to have to dig it up and start planting vegetables. In what seems a very short time the price of basic things, such as food, seems to have risen without a corresponding increase in wages. At the moment we are living on one wage as I am staying at home to look after our children, but it seems that I may have to return to work to help with the bills. A return to arriving home from night duty handing the car keys to Mark as we pass in the hallway. This is not what I want for my children, my relationship with Mark or myself. Before I look at returning to work I have decided to do a budget and see if there are ways we could reduce our living costs. The following is a list of handy websites that can help with budgets.
Sorted web site has calculators that help make budget plans and set goals with saving or paying off debt. http://www.sorted.org.nz/calculators/budget/
The Federation is a national, non-government organisation (NGO) and is the umbrella body for family budgeting in Aotearoa-New Zealand. The Federation national office provides training, support, and resources to its members and offers advocacy and advice.

http://www.familybudgeting.org.nz/advice/advice.htm

I like the title of this web site http://www.whostolemymoney.com/
They have created this section of Who Stole My Money with the aim to help people understand some basics of budgeting. The following topics explain how to create and balance a budget, the importance and how of setting goals, and how to find money to save by cutting expenses and ways of increasing your income.
The web site for Work and Income is http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/

http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/documents/brochures/managing-your-money.pdf

This booklet tells you what budgeting is about, and the types of help you may be able to get. They have written this booklet together with the New Zealand Federation of Family Budgeting Services to help you manage your
money better.
You’ll find a budget advisor at your local budget service – see the white pages of your phone book under Budget Advice Services.
You could also ask your local Work and Income

Childcare and OSCAR Subsidy
The Childcare Subsidy programme makes quality childcare more affordable for families with dependent children, especially if you need a bit of extra help so that you can work or prepare for a working future. Generally, the children need to be under 5 years old and attending an early childhood programme for three or more hours a week (or under 6 years if you get a Child Disability Allowance for them).
The OSCAR Subsidy (Out of School Care and recreation Subsidy) is financial assistance for families for children aged 5 to 13 (or up to 18 years if they receive a Child Disability Allowance). It helps towards the costs of before and after school programmes of up to 20 hours a week and school holiday programmes of up to 50 hours a week.
Free Early Childhood Education
From 1 July 2007 the Government will fund the cost of children aged three and four attending early childhood education for up to 20 hours a week. This will be up to six hours a day at any teacher-led ECE service offering Free ECE, which has a place available for the child.
The Childcare Subsidy may still be available to support people who need extra hours on top of Free ECE.
Income support payments (include benefit payments and any extra help such as Accommodation Supplement, Child Support, etc) -
Call free on 0800 559 009 if you don’t know what your payments are

Web site for Inland Revenue is http://www.ird.govt.nz/wff-tax-credits/
Working for Families Tax Credits
Formerly family assistance. The online calculator Estimate your Working for Families Tax Credits in the “Work it out” section helps you estimate your entitlement. Simply enter the required information in the boxes, and the calculator will estimate your weekly payment.
0800 227 773 to find out your correct entitlement.
Helen Pulford at www.babywebnz.org
BabyWebNZ is a web site linking you to other web sites related to pregnancy, childbirth, babycare and parenting. These are web sites found of interest by a New Zealand Midwife. BabyWebNZ has no control over the content or accuracy of these web sites http://babywebnz.org/Disclaimer.php

Warning Signs

There are times when there can be concerns about the health of the mother, baby or both. It is always important to inform the person responsible for your maternity care (LMC) or Hospital if you are worried. I have listed some of the things that need to be reviewed if they happen during pregnancy.

” Vaginal bleeding
” Preterm (<37 weeks) contractions or ruptured membranes (waters break).
” Severe abdominal pain
” Urinary tract infection (going to toilet more frequently, pain or burning when you urinate, urine may be smelly)
” Smelly vaginal discharge
” Generalized (all over, not just ankles) swelling, headaches or visual disturbances
” Unwell with vomiting, diarrhoea or high temperature
” Constant severe itching
” Persistent leg cramp or calf pain
” Accident involving injury to abdomen
” If your baby isn’t moving, or movements have decreased noticeably

Possible reasons for interventions such as monitoring, induction of labour, assisted birth or caesarean section can be when the birth process is not following what is considered normal.
Normal is always a hard word to use, as labours and births can be different and do not need to fit a textbook definition but LMC’s will usually want to observe or refer to an Obstetrician if there are unexpected concerns such as the following:

” Preterm Labour or induction of labour for post- term (there can be debate of when is post term)
” Bleeding
” Labour is not progressing; this may be due to the baby not fitting through the pelvis.
” Mother unwell eg high temperature or high blood pressure
” Fetal Distress (babies heart rate is faster or slower than what is normal or baby stops moving over a period of time. Also the baby may pass a bowel motion/poo creating meconium liquor (fluid around baby green in colour)
” Malpresentation (baby lying in a different position other than head down in the pelvis)
” Placenta praevia (Placenta over the opening to the birth canal)
” Cord comes first (cord prolapse) this is rare but if happens it is an emergency because if the cord is compressed the baby will lack in oxygen.

You will be asked for your consent for any form of intervention. Some interventions include:

Induction of labour (to cause labour to begin) or augmentation (speed labour up). This may be needed if:
” You have gone overdue and haven’t gone into labour yourself.
” The waters break and you don’t start labouring especially if there is a risk of infection eg Group B Strep bacterium (GBS)
” The mother or baby is unwell and needs to be born early.
Natural methods of induction when 40 weeks plus. This is looking at ways to increase the hormones oxytocin (causes contractions) and prostaglandin (helps soften the cervix).
” Sex: There is prostaglandins in semen.
” Nipple Stimulation. This encourages oxytocin release.
” Use of acupuncture, or homeopathy.
Medical induction in the hospital:
” Prostins. Prostaglandin gel inserted onto the cervix at the top of the vagina.
” Artifical Rupture of Membranes (ARM) Breaking the waters with a small plastic hook.
Syntocinon (artifical oxytocin) which goes via a vein into your body to cause contractions.

Forceps are metal blades that fit around the baby’s head. They look a bit like salad servers. You will need to be fully dilated (cervix open) and usually have an episiotomy (a cut to make the opening bigger).

Ventouse is a suction cap that goes on top of the baby’s head. With forceps and ventouse you will need pain relief and sometimes a urinary catheter which is a tube into your bladder to empty it. An Obstetric Doctor will pull on them as the woman pushes. They may be used if the baby needs to be born fast due to signs of distress; the mother is exhausted or can’t push.

Caesarean Section is usually done while the mother is awake under an epidural or spinal anaesthetic so she can see her baby. General Anaesthetics (asleep) is usually only done in an emergency when the baby needs to be born very quickly.
Most Caesarean Sections are done via a horizontal incision low on the abdomen about 15cm in length just above the pubic hairline. Possible reasons for needing one are distress in the baby, failure to progress in labour, malpresentation, placenta bleeding, placenta previa. More than two previous caesareans. Stay in the Hospital is approximately 4-5 days.

If there is excessive bleeding after the birth hormone injections may be used to make the uterus contract and slow bleeding and in rare cases a blood transfusion. If the placenta (after birth) doesn’t separate and come away completely from the uterus then you may need to go to theatre to have it removed vaginally.

©www.BabyWebNZ.org

Pregnancy Health Practices

In the childbirth education classes we cover some of the different health practices
that are available. Instead of having me tell people about these I decided to put together a pregnancy health day in Wellington and invite different health practices to come and talk. There are other health practices that are available but we were only able to accommodate seven speakers, which included the following:

Kate O’Connor (Acupuncture)
Mukti Legerska (Yoga in Daily Life Centre)
Joanna Clouden (Pilates)
Jennifer Cox (Lactation Consultant)
Kath Sinclair (Pregnancy massage and shiatsu)
Catherine Falconer (Naturopath/Herbalist)
Pip Heard (Physiotherapy)

The following is a summary from the speakers of the information, which was provided.

Kate O’Connor (Acupuncture)
Acupuncture treats illness, prevents disease and promotes health and well-being. It is safe, effective and drug-free and compatible with conventional medicine. It can successfully treat many of the ailments relating to pregnancy and is effective in preparing the body to work at its optimum functioning for birth.
Treatment with acupuncture is achieved by the use of very fine needles inserted into particular points in the body and thereby altering the flow of Qi, or energy, which flows through channels along the limbs to the internal organs.
Mukti Legerska (Yoga in Daily Life Centre)
Yoga will improve your fitness and facilitate labour. It balances the
body, emotions, mind and soothes the spirit. It will help you to access
deep resources of energy, through relaxation, postures and breathing.

Joanna Clouden (Pilates)
During pregnancy our bodies adapt to changes in spinal curves and hormonal effects. Today, we recognise that pregnancy makes physical and emotional demands on you, and exercise is one way to help you stay as healthy as possible. A well-balanced exercise programme can minimize the discomforts typically associated with pregnancy and may allow for an easier delivery of the baby with a faster post-natal recovery.
There is a growing body of research that demonstrates that moderate physical exercise during pregnancy is not only safe but also beneficial for both the baby and the mother-to-be.
One option for improving your well being during pregnancy is a “core”, “stability” or “pilates” programme. With an emphasis on good core control, muscle balance and postural alignment.
Jennifer Cox (Lactation Consultant)
An International board certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) is a breastfeeding specialist qualified to prevent, recognize and resolve breastfeeding problems. For a private consultation there will be a charge otherwise there are often Lactation Consultants who you can see for free at Plunket Family Centres.

Kath Sinclair (Pregnancy massage and shiatsu)
Massage and Shiatsu are both great ways to help reduce stress, alleviate some of the discomforts of pregnancy and promote general well-being. They are very relaxing which is important when many pregnant women work for most of their pregnancy or have other children to care for. It helps prepare both the expectant mother and baby for birth and the postnatal period.
Benefits of Massage during Pregnancy
” Relieves many normal discomforts of pregnancy, such as back pain, leg cramps, headaches, nausea and sore swollen ankles and feet.
” Aids circulation which eases the load on the heart, helps to check blood pressure, and brings more oxygen and nutrients to body cells (yours and your baby).
” Relaxes tense muscles, especially in the back, shoulders and legs.
” Helps relieve depression or anxiety caused by normal hormonal changes.
” Soothes and relaxes nervous tension, letting you sleep more easily and deeply.
” Maintains the body in good condition, enabling a faster return to normal after birth of your baby (or babies).
” Helps relieve the tension that often occurs when coping with the major changes and adjustments of parenthood.
Shiatsu – Works by balancing the energy in the body. It is done fully clothed and is deeply relaxing
Catherine Falconer (Naturopath/Herbalist)
Keeping well energised and in good health during pregnancy will have a profound effect on your stamina for birth, nutrients for breastfeeding and your recovery after birth.
As a Naturopath and Herbalist I will be able to advise you about diet. During a consultation health issues are addressed and a maintenance plan is formulated. My focus is on optimum health for you and your baby and preventing any foreseeable problems.
I treat:
” Complete preconception care
” Anxiety/depression
” Constipation/Haemorrhoids
” Nausea/Fatigue /Insomnia
” Poor immunity
” Recovery after birth

Pip Heard (Physiotherapy)

Physiotherapy services are available both privately and publicly in New Zealand
and cover a wide range of musculoskeletal complaints that occur during and immediately after pregnancy. Common pregnancy conditions helped by physiotherapists can include Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Low Back Pain, Pelvic Pain, Incontinence issues, and TENS machine use to name a few. The Hospitals also provide loan of specialised braces and provide some hydrotherapy and stretch class services. Pre or Postnatal women are encouraged to seek assessment from a physiotherapist with a referral from their LMC.

For more information from these Wellington Health practices:
Kate O’Connor (NZCompN, Reg Midwife, NZDip Acup., MNZRA) City Osteopaths, Level 4, 166 Featherston St, Wellington Ph (04) 499 1439 www.cityosteopaths.com
Mukti Legerska www.yogaindailylife.org.nz or call us at 801 7012.Yoga in Daily Life, 21 Jessie St, Wellington
Joanna Clouden is a musculoskeletal physiotherapist, who currently runs Pilates for Pregnancy and Post-natal Pilates classes on Saturday mornings at Revitalize Health Practice. Contact Jo: 0210651101 or moc.l1328347384iamg@1328347384znpmu1328347384b1328347384
Kath Sinclair Phone: (04) 499-0334
e-mail: zn.te1328347384n.ezi1328347384lativ1328347384er@no1328347384itpec1328347384er1328347384
Level 4, Hallenstein House
276 Lambton Quay, Wellington.
Kath Sinclair and Allison Bell also hold Active Birth Workshops. Kath teaches Baby Massage
Catherine Falconer. ND, DipHerbMed, BHSc, MNZAMH
Registered Naturopath & Medical Herbalist
Ph: 977-9435
ua.mo1328347384c.ooh1328347384ay@40132834738402eat1328347384ivrob1328347384ra1328347384

Daytime service providing contact details of an IBCLC Lactation Consultant ring
0800 4 lactation. Websites www.lactcon.org.nz and www.ilca.org
Plunket Family Centres in Wellington:
Johnsonville Mon- Tue 478 4900
Rongotai Wed- Thu 387 7594

Helen Pulford at www.babywebnz.org ©

http://babywebnz.org.nz/Disclaimer.php

Another Baby

I have another baby due soon. I look at my three year old son Jack who is going to become a big brother and wonder how this is going to affect him. I also think about how this is going to affect my partner, me and our family as a whole.
I have found this pregnancy has gone faster than with Jack. I think this is because I have been looking after a busy little boy and already have most things I need for a baby so I haven’t been hanging out in baby shops.

I decided to give up work as a Midwife earlier than I did before, being a bit older, having another child at home and being pregnant over a hot summer has made me tired.
I also wanted to start Jack in morning pre-school before the baby arrived and the hours for that did not suit work.

In preparing Jack for the arrival of the baby I was told to try putting myself in Jack’s shoes: Imagine that you are madly in love with your partner, you do everything together, they help you out and do a lot of things for you.
One day your partner says “I’ve found another partner and I’m bringing them home to live with us. It is going to be great the three of us are all going to live together.”
This new person arrives and they start wearing your clothes, using your stuff, sleeping in your room and they take up a lot of attention from your partner.

How would you feel towards your partner? (i.e. how your child may feel towards you)

How would you feel towards the new person? (i.e. how your child may feel towards the new baby)

There is an article re sibling rivalry on this link http://www.parentscentre.org.nz/parenting_family/sibling_rivalry.asp

Talk to friends about what they did. The best parenting advice you can often get is from people who have “been there, done, that”. Like any advice use what works for you. Comments from two of my friends:

Jack and Charlie’s Mum:

“Well before Charlie’s arrival we made sure that we had moved Jack into his
‘big boy bed’. We made a big song and dance about buying the bed and the
cover. Jack also enjoyed getting out the toolbox to put the cot away
ready for the new baby.

As Jack was sure that he was getting a new puppy and not infact a brother we
had a lot of groundwork to cover.
I made lots of books about Jack as a baby so that he learned what
babies did (they were short books). We spent hours reading them before
Charlie’s arrival and once Charlie came he got out the books and showed me
the pictures of Jack having a bath when I was bathing Charlie. The more
that you include them the more important they feel I suppose.
Other things I did was buy a gift Jack could give to the baby and one that the baby could give
to him. Also gently suggest that friends buy something small for the eldest so they get
a gift too, not just the baby.
When Jack came to the hospital to visit I made sure I wasn’t holding
the baby so he got lots of cuddles from me. Also if in hospital order the chocolate milk for breakfast and save it to give to your older child Jack was greatly impressed!”

Jade and Deren’s Mum:

“Well I guess with me it was lot easier than some… Jade was too small to feel any jealousy however we did prep her up for a baby in the house. She knew what a baby was and we spent time playing with a plastic baby and looking after it. We also spent time with friends who had newborns. At her age we taught her how to be gentle, how to pat nicely and made her part of the routines, like bring nappy to mummy etc. She watched every move I made with Deren and knew what was going to happen next.
e.g. when Deren woke up and it was time for feeding she would bring mummy’s breastfeeding pillow and give it to me. Praising is huge for toddlers and every time we did so she was gleaming!
Now, they are best of friends and look forward to the other waking up so they can play. We taught them how to play together and enjoy each others company, it’s such a relief.”

I have been talking to my Jack about the baby and slowing preparing him. I did not want him to have a lot of changes to cope with all at the same time. Also we have been trying to encourage his independence, as I know I will not be able to do as much for him when the baby arrives. He likes to dress himself and carry his own backpack now. He is also helping me with tiding up toys and passing me washing to put on the line. I have a few friends with babies so we talk about babies and what they can and can’t do. Jack has a toy dog, which he calls his baby and puts it into the cot and tells me to be quiet because the baby is sleeping.
I remember a teacher telling me that when she was pregnant one of the children in her primary class told the rest of the children to be quiet because the baby was asleep in the teacher’s tummy. It is interesting the comments children come out with re babies, I told Jack the other day that I could feel the baby kicking me, “he said that is a naughty baby for kicking you”.
I made Jack up a little book with pictures of babies and their basic needs. This is what I included in it:
There is a baby in my Mummy’s tummy.
One day soon it is going to come out.
When it comes out it is going to need
A bath
Help to get dressed
Lots of drinks
Its nappies changed
Walks in the pram
Sleep
Playtime
To learn new things
And cuddles

We do not have any family where we live but we have some neighbours and friends who have said they would look after Jack while I am in labour. We have decided not to have him present. This is a personal decision and a lot of people do have their children present for the birth. There is a good video called “Sister for Hugo” which is a homebirth of a second child where the sibling is there. Hugo seems happy about being present though does make the comment at one stage “how much longer”.
If you are going to have young children present it is a good idea to have someone who can look after them also so you don’t have to take them to the toilet in the middle of a contraction.

“How can I love another child as much as the first?”. your heart expands.

By Helen Pulford gro.z1328347384nbewy1328347384bab@n1328347384eleH1328347384
www.babywebnz.org

Parental Leave

There are many things you think of when you have a new baby and one of these can are the costs involved. I have collated some web sites, which provide information on entitlements, assistance and budgeting.

Parental Leave

For information on parental leave entitlements you can talk to your employer or find out information via the Department of Labour their web site is: www.ers.dol.govt.nz go through to the parental leave page which is: www.infoline.govt.nz/parentalleave/
To make the process of receiving parental leave as easy as possible, they have created online question and answer calculators. At the end of the exercise, entitlement details are provided, together with an explanation of the process for applying for parental leave and the statutory parental leave payment.
For more detailed information or guidance contact the Department of Labour on 0800 209020.

The following is a list of handy websites that can help with budgets.
Sorted web site has calculators that help make budget plans and set goals with saving or paying off debt. http://www.sorted.org.nz/calculators/budget/
The Federation is a national, non-government organisation (NGO) and is the umbrella body for family budgeting in Aotearoa-New Zealand. The Federation national office provides training, support, and resources to its members and offers advocacy and advice.

http://www.familybudgeting.org.nz/advice/advice.htm

The web site for Work and Income is http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/

http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/documents/brochures/managing-your-money.pdf

Learning and Development

The Internet is now the biggest worldwide information resource. There is so much information on it, the problem is how do you find what is relative to you as a parent in New Zealand.
The Internet can be used to find out about child development, education classes and also act as a tool for learning. You can see it as a worldwide library in your own house.

The Ministry of Education
The Ministry of Education assists families through comprehensive parenting initiatives, such as the Parents as First Teachers (PAFT) Programme and Awhina Maatua and through information and advice.
www.ecd.govt.nz/parenting.html
Ed Centre edCentre is your online gateway to information about New Zealand education. It provides access to educational services and advice for organisations and people at all stages of their lives. www.edcentre.govt.nz/education/sector.portal

About School
Printable worksheets www.aboutschool.com

Baby Talk
Baby Sign Language. Baby Sign Language is all about using simple gestures with your hearing child to allow you to communicate long before they have mastered the intricacies of speech. www.baby-talk.co.nz

Brainwave Trust
Infant Brain Development. The trusts aim is to raise public awareness about the amazing new findings in brain research, which emphasise the importance of early experiences on infant brain development; and to educate about the important implications of this knowledge. www.brainwave.org.nz

CDRL
Child Development Resources provide parents and caregivers with the important new information now available about how to promote the healthy development of children. www.cdrl.co.nz

Child Development Info
Site for information on child development, psychology, parenting, learning, health and safety as well as childhood disorders such as attention deficit disorder, dyslexia and autism. www.childdevelopmentinfo.com (American web site)
Library
NZ libraries also have web sites, which provide you with education resources.

Kindy Online
Specialise in Quality Pre School Early Learning Programmes http://www.kindyonline.co.nz

Kindergartens Kindergartens believe every child has a right to participate in high quality early childhood education. Kindergartens are seen as centres of excellence and innovation for early childhood education. www.nzkindergarten.org.nz

Montessori Montessori offers a learning environment where the child or student can feel ”at home”. The learner is offered the freedom to work with interest at his or her own tempo and level. The classroom is a thriving community where everyone is treated with respect and dignity. www.montessori.org.nz

Playcentres Playcentres are a family concept which recognises that children reach their full potential when parents and whanau understand their development and take part in the learning process. Playcentres are unique within early childhood in that they are co-operatively managed and supervised by parents with support from experienced association personnel.
Playcentre has three purposes: Early Childhood Education Centres, Adult Education and Educational Publications. www.playcentre.org.nz

Send information on web sites that you find helpful to gro.z1328347384nbewy1328347384bab@n1328347384eleH1328347384

http://babywebnz.org.nz/Disclaimer.php

Support Services

Safety

Babies

Ecologically Friendly Web Sites

Family Budgets

Warning Signs

Pregnancy Health Practices

Another Baby

Parental Leave

Learning and Development

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