tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972829489520606382024-03-14T17:45:25.296+00:00Women's News UKNews and views by women for womenUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger243125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797282948952060638.post-69033964750651827602015-01-07T13:30:00.001+00:002015-01-07T13:30:17.608+00:00Home monitors for babies?<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtWJWs1fvavG6eJs5bc9Nc2ttf_NoeeNu2ovc22-SXCUZyhj1Bfs1xfyFkuqPnpNxw9sLmEjxfQJZ6X6Qmm5Lqu8aMxWzuwIUL7h6p4oocl_B0CP0WgFATkn_Q2CysiGcj_r_0beuKR8/s1600/baby_newborn_shutterstock_33576853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtWJWs1fvavG6eJs5bc9Nc2ttf_NoeeNu2ovc22-SXCUZyhj1Bfs1xfyFkuqPnpNxw9sLmEjxfQJZ6X6Qmm5Lqu8aMxWzuwIUL7h6p4oocl_B0CP0WgFATkn_Q2CysiGcj_r_0beuKR8/s1600/baby_newborn_shutterstock_33576853.jpg" height="288" width="400" /></a>An expert has spoken out about wearable baby monitors - designed to track a baby's vital signs.</div>
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These are now being sold in the US, but have not yet reached
the UK. They come in different forms, such as a sock that the baby wears which
measures heart rate, oxygen concentrations, and skin temperature, or a babygrow
that measures breathing rate and temperature.</div>
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Many companies are "aiming to capitalise on this
market", says Dr David King of Sheffield University, UK.<br />
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He writes in the
British Medical Journal that similar products were on sale in the 1980s and
1990s aimed at preventing sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). But "unfortunately
epidemiological studies showed that such devices had no effect on the incidence
of SIDS in healthy infants". He adds that home monitoring may be
justified in some situations, such as for preterm infants or infants who need
oxygen, in which case training should also be given.</div>
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Dr King points out that the companies that sell the new
monitors have adapted their products to avoid the need for regulatory approval
from the US Food and Drug Administration. "No published data support any
of their claims," he warns, and until they are, "medical
professionals and consumers need to be aware that such devices have no proved
use in safeguarding infants or detecting health problems, and they certainly
have no role in preventing SIDS".</div>
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Otherwise, "the substantial amounts of money that
parents pay for such devices might lull them into a false sense of
security".</div>
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<i><b>I certainly hope that health care professionals would not
start recommending these products to parents, with such an appalling lack of
evidence.</b></i><br />
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In terms of SIDS, information is routinely given out on proven
methods to reduce the risk, such as putting the baby to sleep on its back, and avoiding
<br />
overheating.</div>
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King, D. Marketing wearable home baby monitors: real peace of
mind?<a href="http://www.bmj.com/cgi/doi/10.1136/bmj.g6639"> BMJ</a> 18 November 2014 doi: 10.1136/bmj.g6639</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01446540567747891659noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797282948952060638.post-87139704007420441942014-12-08T22:43:00.002+00:002014-12-08T22:43:23.974+00:00Lifestyle support vital in pregnancy<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0U0ysTfqwb_q89LmTdQRXvlCN3o_bi8FaXQa6t8IBOasHN_3x0uTdmkD5U1l2RyN9IVAgqTOJEXDZx8WT0LJS2aDEQbgQU0OKX9T6Y83a5QZJJFDetEb5OgEoG7S0gnFZw_OP_V1pRE/s1600/shutterstock_66875_baby_womb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0U0ysTfqwb_q89LmTdQRXvlCN3o_bi8FaXQa6t8IBOasHN_3x0uTdmkD5U1l2RyN9IVAgqTOJEXDZx8WT0LJS2aDEQbgQU0OKX9T6Y83a5QZJJFDetEb5OgEoG7S0gnFZw_OP_V1pRE/s1600/shutterstock_66875_baby_womb.jpg" /></a></div>
Pregnant women must be some of the most heavily-leafleted
people in the country! I've kept most of mine - well over a dozen each time -
for interest and posterity. I actually did find them useful and think they're
a central part of maternity care.<br />
<br />
However, they made me nervous on
occasion, such as the run-up to my 20 week anomaly scan. At least afterwards it
was a relief to look at the list, and think "He probably hasn't
got z, y, or z".</div>
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But if I'd been obese, or a smoker, or didn't want to
breastfeed, it might have been a different story. </div>
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New patient information has just been released by the Royal College
of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists on the risk of having a small baby, that
is, in the lightest 10% of babies.<br />
<br />
Sometimes this size is perfectly healthy, but other
babies may have experienced growth restriction in the womb and be at risk of stillbirth,
death as a newborn, or serious illness.</div>
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Many of the causes are unavoidable, but as is usually the
case, lifestyle factors are thought to play a role: smoking, drug use, eating
badly, and in this case over-exercising rather than under-exercising.</div>
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<i>"The guidance emphasises the importance of leading a
healthy lifestyle during pregnancy in order to help reduce the risk of having a
growth restricted baby,"</i> say the leaflet's authors.</div>
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In my experience midwives do their very best to support this sort
of lifestyle change, but often the services they can provide are limited by
lack of time and funding. The new information states that women who are at an
increased risk of having a growth restricted baby will be offered extra monitoring
throughout pregnancy.<br />
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I just hope the resources are available so midwives are
able to follow these guidelines in practice.</div>
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<b>by Kate Richards</b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01446540567747891659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797282948952060638.post-68904162142541685012014-11-04T10:00:00.000+00:002014-11-04T10:00:08.017+00:00Eating in pregnancy - experts release summary leaflet<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DB2S5PeLVMwUzkzev4qJzwiBWMdG-UhyphenhyphenuZhyphenhyphenlXuCyNSFdM4D54z6dLLH5AI2NNpaV-vEURCiXHxy2gmT59PYx7LYoadRPLJR7K8wp4HOE6cMsgV9zTk5-gNq7MuAtZGkeql25x033FI/s1600/shutterstock_26348951+meal+with+chips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Eating advice for pregnant women" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DB2S5PeLVMwUzkzev4qJzwiBWMdG-UhyphenhyphenuZhyphenhyphenlXuCyNSFdM4D54z6dLLH5AI2NNpaV-vEURCiXHxy2gmT59PYx7LYoadRPLJR7K8wp4HOE6cMsgV9zTk5-gNq7MuAtZGkeql25x033FI/s1600/shutterstock_26348951+meal+with+chips.jpg" height="272" title="Eating advice for pregnant women" width="400" /></a></div>
I read with interest the new advice for pregnant women released
by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. It covers healthy
eating, supplements, and how to avoid contaminated food in pregnancy.</div>
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The leaflet repeats all the usual standard dietary advice -
low fat, high grain - some of which is being questioned in recent studies, and
also recommends limiting caffeine to 200 milligrams a day, about two mugs of
instant coffee.</div>
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It also states that "most women do not need any extra
calories during the first six months of pregnancy".<br />
<br />
<i>Well I'm sure that's
true but when faced with an urgent craving for smoky bacon crisps (as in my
case), the official advice can get slightly sidelined!</i></div>
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Eating fish is good, but too much oily fish can risk a high
intake of mercury which may affect the baby's development. Shark, swordfish and
marlin are out altogether, for this reason. No great loss there then.</div>
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Liver and liver pate are also ruled out, which I think is a
little extreme. However, they are rich in vitamin A, which in high doses can
harm the baby's nervous system.<br />
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Peanuts can be eaten freely, as the earlier
advice to avoid them in order to prevent an allergy has been discredited.</div>
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On the unpleasant topic of food poisoning, the advice is to drink
only pasteurised milk, avoid ripened soft cheese -<br />
such as brie, raw eggs and raw
shellfish, and cook food thoroughly. The normal food hygiene rules such as hand
washing are obviously important. </div>
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Folic acid tablets (400 micrograms a day) are recommended to
cut the risk of spina bifida, and vitamin D (10 micrograms) is now recommended
for all pregnant and breastfeeding women.</div>
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The leaflet is a good summary of the current official advice,
and may put some of the many myths in this area to rest.</div>
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by Kate Richards</div>
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<a href="https://www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/patients/patient-information-leaflets/pregnancy/pi-healthy-eating-and-vitamin-supplements-in-pregnancy.pdf">RCOG advice leaflet</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01446540567747891659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797282948952060638.post-86601922866989666152014-10-15T21:53:00.003+01:002014-10-15T21:57:16.860+01:00#theapprentice is back<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJrGWvjxWFxoNkFQX0Ba2uD34AG_d5UBoyhpaL-BCWskVW28L9_PUxo0mnlHOPDCCL4YXdfHX08SI8DND3-4uf0vMRN1-o3PNfdAZon4rtU3WZBY-W3HHy-qJeAqZWTj1xeCHVdA5iw4/s1600/Karren,+Lord+Sugar+&+Nick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJrGWvjxWFxoNkFQX0Ba2uD34AG_d5UBoyhpaL-BCWskVW28L9_PUxo0mnlHOPDCCL4YXdfHX08SI8DND3-4uf0vMRN1-o3PNfdAZon4rtU3WZBY-W3HHy-qJeAqZWTj1xeCHVdA5iw4/s1600/Karren,+Lord+Sugar+&+Nick.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
The Apprentice is back on British TV - and it's been given a long overdue shake-up.<br />
<br />
We've always liked the show because it shows women achieving in real life situations. It shows the future world in which women and men compete equally in business.<br />
<br />
This year there's more contestants and there's more firing. Tonight Lord Sugar wasted no time in firing one of the blokes - and the lad didn't even get a chance to return to the boardroom.<br />
<br />
There's also more imaginative tasks. Combining fashion with technology was a stroke of genius. The ideas that emerged were uninspiring and failed to inspire any retailers. That's enough to make you wonder if there are any business geniuses amongst the hordes of entrants. A wasted opportunity.<br />
<br />
For two nights, the women's team has won. There's no obvious stars emerging yet. Both Sarah and Nurun stumbled through the task of leadership - and Sarah's over-controlling leadership on the first night was in stark contrast to Felipe's highly-praised management of the men's team. But the women won. Individually they were focused on getting the job done.<br />
<br />
In "You're Fired" Ruth Badger was invited back on and named as the most successful Apprentice yet.<br />
<br />
This year we're now predicting another woman to win. A couple of years ago the women were disastrous - but the women this time clearly have some backbone somewhere.<br />
<br />
Let's see if we're right.Englemed Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08070998003790390019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797282948952060638.post-11053334648367088942014-10-06T21:12:00.003+01:002014-10-06T21:12:52.158+01:00Award for brave woman at the heart of conflict over rights<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.rawinwar.org/images/stories/winner-%20vian%20dakhil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.rawinwar.org/images/stories/winner-%20vian%20dakhil.jpg" height="320" width="287" /></a></div>
Today, Monday 6th October, RAW in WAR (Reach All Women in WAR) celebrates the courage of <i><u><b>Vian Dakhil</b></u>,</i> a Yazidi member of the Iraqi Parliament, who has courageously spoken out and tirelessly campaigned to protect the Yazidi people from the terror of Islamic State.<br /><br />Ahead of the anniversary of Anna Politkovskaya’s murder on Tuesday 7th October, RAW in WAR honours Vian Dakhil with the 2014 Anna Politkovskaya Award for her courage to speak out and to give a voice to <br />the many Yazidi and Iraqi women and girls whose voices cannot be heard. <br />
<br />
<br />Vian Dakhil, the only ethnic Yazidi in the Iraqi Parliament, has bravely drawn attention to the fate of the Yazidi people and, despite being injured in a helicopter crash while delivering aid to survivors on Mt Sinjar, she continues to advocate and to mobilize support for her people, for the refugees and for those trapped in towns and villages under the regime of Islamic State. <br /><br />On accepting the award Vian Dakhil said: “It is a pleasure for anyone to be honored with an award, but it is rare to see a Yazidi person who can feel happy from the bottom of their heart, due to the fact that our girls, women and children are in captivity as hostages of the most dangerous organization in the world. I make no <br />secret of the fact that I’m proud to be honored with your esteemed award, but the real way to honor someone is by protecting their freedom and rights. It is by bringing our prisoners back.”<br /><br />A spokewoman said: "The RAW in WAR Nominations Committee for the 2014 Anna Politkovskaya Award is deeply humbled by Vian Dakhil's courage to become the voice of the Yazidi community and by her determination to campaign for the protection of all Yazidi and other Iraqi women under Islamic State, despite the danger she is facing as a Yazidi woman politician opposed to Islamic State. "<br /><br />According to some reports, among those held hostage by Islamic State there are more than 5,000 Yazidis, about 3,000 of them women and girls. Those who managed to flee report about women and girls being raped and abused, forced to convert to Islam and traded for cash or weapons for the further expansion of Islamic State. <br /><br />In her passionate call to the Iraqi Parliament in August 2014 to act and save the Yazidis, Vian Dakhil said: <br />“My family is being butchered, just like all Iraqis are being killed....And today, the Yazidis are being slaughtered. Brothers, away from all the political disputes, we want humanitarian solidarity. I am speaking here in the name of humanity. Save us! Save us! ....For 48 hours, 30,000 families have been besieged in the Sinjar Mountains. Without water. Without food. They are dying. Seventy babies have died so far from thirst and suffocation. Fifty elderly people have died from the deteriorating conditions. Our women are being taken as slaves and sold in the slave markets. Mr Speaker, we demand that the Iraqi parliament intervenes <br />immediately to stop this massacre!” <br /><br />Several courageous women lawyers, politicians and journalists in Iraq have been detained, disappeared or killed by Islamic State just because they were women who refused to be silenced or who dared to criticize the regime of terror. Vian Dakhil continues to use her status and influence as a politician to support and protect those women and girls who lack the means to reach out to the outside world. <br /><br />By presenting Vian Dakhil with this year’s Anna Politkovskaya Award, RAW in WAR honors all women in Iraq, those detained in Mosul or elsewhere in the North, as well as the many unknown Iraqi women who are <br />resisting Islamic State by recording life under its rule and by collecting money and humanitarian aid for those in need. Today RAW in WAR calls on the international community to do all in its power to protect the people <br />of Iraq from the genocidal warfare that has been unleashed against the Yazidis and other minorities; to protect the women targeted by Islamic State; to end the regime of terror; and to bring stability and peace to the region. <br /><br />On receiving the Anna Politkovskaya Award, Vian Dakhil will join a group of remarkable women human rights defenders who received the Anna Politkovskaya Award in the past, including Malala Yousafzai (2013), Marie Colvin (2012), Razan Zaitouneh (2011), Dr. Halima Bashir (2010), Leila Alikarami on behalf of the One Million Signatures Campaign for Equality in Iran (2009), Malalai Joya (2008) and Natalia Estemirova (2007). <br /><br />On the Anna Politkovskaya Awards, Azar Nafisi, author, “Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books”, said: “It’s quite extraordinary, as well as natural, that we should celebrate the work of Anna through celebrating other courageous women who come from such different nations, backgrounds, and speak different languages but all share a common language in their desire for freedom. Not just for <br />themselves but for all victims of oppression.”Englemed Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08070998003790390019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797282948952060638.post-14027857155609174472014-09-09T16:33:00.001+01:002014-09-09T16:33:32.791+01:00Additives and my child's behaviour<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYfOlRzqe5Jpqig8BlEQGbMjlX_clv7KNM_c5ieKYeQkYmxBiGV4SBSE57o7n7t722D2F8D9y8DX67lUkNo-XvBvQ0R2uH-dJS-s63DpoxtY7Ih-aPgNGV53nBcV_GkwdAK8LKQkcgOI/s1600/shutterstock_42330913_toddler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Child with attitude - photo is of a model" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYfOlRzqe5Jpqig8BlEQGbMjlX_clv7KNM_c5ieKYeQkYmxBiGV4SBSE57o7n7t722D2F8D9y8DX67lUkNo-XvBvQ0R2uH-dJS-s63DpoxtY7Ih-aPgNGV53nBcV_GkwdAK8LKQkcgOI/s1600/shutterstock_42330913_toddler.jpg" height="200" title="Child with attitude - photo is of a model" width="172" /></a></div>
Could food additives be affecting my son's state of mind and
behaviour? It's a frightening thought, but having read up a little, I'm concerned
about the impact of junk food even beyond its hopeless nutritional value.</div>
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It began last weekend when Ben spent an hour or so acting
very out of character. Unlike a temper tantrum, he didn't seem angry, but was pretty
much out of control. Almost like being drunk, but with a three year old's
energy! After a while it transpired that he'd been given (by my husband) a
shop-bought cupcake with "very fake looking" icing.<br />
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Now I know from my own experience that shop-bought children's
cakes can leave a weird taste in my mouth and sometimes weird feelings in my
chest. My mental state and behaviour aren't affected, but then children's
brains are younger and more vulnerable.</div>
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It turns out that quite a range of additives have been
linked to behaviour changes in children. The ones tested in a famous 2007 study
at Southampton University were the colours Tartrazine (E102), Ponceau 4R
(E124), Sunset Yellow (E110), Camoisine (E122), Quinoline Yellow (E104) and
Allura Red (E129) and the preservative Sodium Benzoate (E211).</div>
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A mixture of these additives "resulted in increased
hyperactivity in three-year-old and eight/nine-year-old children", say the
researchers. They believe that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) would
fall by 30% if additives were banned.</div>
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Since then, the colours used in the study have mostly been
replaced by more natural alternatives, and the preservative has largely been
replaced by potassium sorbate.</div>
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Luckily, the law requires the full
ingredients to be listed on food products, with manufacturers allowed to use
either the name or the number of the additive. But this doesn't always apply -
Ben's cupcake came in a paper bag, and who's ever been given the ingredient list
for fairground candyfloss?</div>
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by Kate Richards</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01446540567747891659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797282948952060638.post-50027907331161364072014-08-04T13:40:00.000+01:002014-08-04T13:40:25.938+01:00Screen time<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZbxQcWv2nJ9d-Jce3T6j-lIrt_8iGuGvrPj4PprP03v2K1pVnm6M0huO5oecdvIgvgGqQff1YO-aJzHu1prE3EDh1mKfxFrAi-F_FV4USq0VXsx7Ll5liIbjmdpWNPdKdupz4EnEPew/s1600/tv_by_graur_razvan_ionut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZbxQcWv2nJ9d-Jce3T6j-lIrt_8iGuGvrPj4PprP03v2K1pVnm6M0huO5oecdvIgvgGqQff1YO-aJzHu1prE3EDh1mKfxFrAi-F_FV4USq0VXsx7Ll5liIbjmdpWNPdKdupz4EnEPew/s1600/tv_by_graur_razvan_ionut.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
I've been thinking lately about the issue of screen time for
the boys, as I've noticed Ben trying to process everything he sees by asking
endless questions or acting out different characters.</div>
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Worryingly, studies of brain scans suggest that 'Too Much
Screen Time Damages the Brain'. So-called 'screen addicted' brains show several
changes in the regions involving emotions, attention and decision making.</div>
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I don't really think my boys qualify for 'addicted',
but might the screen time they have - not just the tv, but games on my laptop
and phone - be creating subtle damage?</div>
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A 2010 study claims that the average child clocks up more
than seven hours of screen time a day (far more than my boys), and may experience sensory overload, lack of sleep, and
a hyperaroused nervous system. <br />
<a name='more'></a>Researchers say these children are impulsive,
moody, and can't pay attention, which links into the brain scan results.</div>
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Much of the damage, they report, occurs in the frontal lobe,
the most recently-developed part of the brain. This structure undergoes massive
changes throughout childhood and into the mid-twenties. If development is
impaired, the consequences can be severe: from a reduced sense of wellbeing to academic
or relationship problems.</div>
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From my perspective, the boys seem pretty well-balanced at
the moment. I try to give Ben plenty of opportunity to talk about what he's
seen, and some days he has no screen time at all. James can't really process
what he's watching beyond naming objects 'Piggle', 'Ninkynonk', ‘Daisy', etc. (yes
he adores In the Night Garden).</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Luckily I rate Cbeebies highly, and neither of the boys yet
knows of the existence of commercial channels. In fact I credit it with teaching
Ben all his numbers while I was busy with the baby. <i>Plus it keeps them happy
while I'm organising the day's nappy bags and lunch boxes, to the benefit of
everyone!</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>by Kate Richards</b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01446540567747891659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797282948952060638.post-24755135415878741932014-06-28T10:04:00.000+01:002014-06-28T10:04:00.099+01:00Family holidays 'not worth it'?<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDP_Jpm1WbpFWy0n-qTMMQZjcJmKI5ZsBIlnnnkCQ9BCPTsIWL_rUNfUWgWl-ZFlEMGf2OgJR91gryCGjfdtPvttH3KOZqRck4XeXfofzADbZV5cKjhhR4CJwUX5jUcj6FUytxL8Z5Ec/s1600/shutterstock_52781206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDP_Jpm1WbpFWy0n-qTMMQZjcJmKI5ZsBIlnnnkCQ9BCPTsIWL_rUNfUWgWl-ZFlEMGf2OgJR91gryCGjfdtPvttH3KOZqRck4XeXfofzADbZV5cKjhhR4CJwUX5jUcj6FUytxL8Z5Ec/s1600/shutterstock_52781206.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I'm not in the least bit surprised by recent survey results showing
that most parents find holidays too stressful to bother with.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The survey, by bottle sterilising company Milton, shows that
the majority (81%) of parents have not had a holiday on their own since their
first baby. Of the remaining 19% who have been on a holiday as a couple, 62%
have only done so once.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We actually had our first ever night away from the boys
recently, nearly four years in. Even then we were away from them less than 24
hours, and no further than five miles away. Though now we know they're happy at
Granny's we'll certainly take advantage!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our one and only holiday with the boys since James arrived
(19 months ago) was a challenge. It reminded me of the saying <i>"You know
you're a parent when holidays feel like work, and a trip to the supermarket
alone feels like a holiday".</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I'm actually a bit surprised that only 38% of parents try to
keep to their baby or child's sleep and mealtime routine while on holiday, because
all hell can break loose if they're overtired or hungry. We planned that trip specifically to stay close to family
who could babysit. I'd be nervous to use holiday kids' clubs or childminders,
especially as the boys are so young. In the survey, three-quarters of parents said
they'd refuse to use a babysitting service in the evening. Only 10% use creche
facilities, and even then, 30% say they feel guilty about doing so.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some parents decided to come home early because of the stress
of being with their baby and/or children. How devastating, after looking forward to it. <b>For
the next few years, I think we'll stay part of the 25% of parents who decided
not to have a family holiday at all.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
by Kate Richards</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01446540567747891659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797282948952060638.post-85858981990429191722014-06-01T09:22:00.000+01:002014-06-01T09:22:00.307+01:00Measuring up to Preschool expectations<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDwHYBaFUxBS8TAfQdZV6UP6Jr0tdttys5N7stNQbXP2n4GRTxMmnm-Q49Mjyb_OJ_gpf85rbJv3jcN_LufmH_aChrm16LD6yDUzopDB6G6CNX0tIrs9IBSuHOukQwP2X6qC-5oXiuBY/s1600/shutterstock_42330913_boy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDwHYBaFUxBS8TAfQdZV6UP6Jr0tdttys5N7stNQbXP2n4GRTxMmnm-Q49Mjyb_OJ_gpf85rbJv3jcN_LufmH_aChrm16LD6yDUzopDB6G6CNX0tIrs9IBSuHOukQwP2X6qC-5oXiuBY/s1600/shutterstock_42330913_boy.jpg" height="320" width="317" /></a></div>
Ben has now been at preschool for 12 hours a week since
September, and overall has made huge progress. I don't have any concerns about him (all his
little "quirks" turn out just to be phases) but he's a different little
boy when there are expectations placed on him and he doesn't have constant
one-to-one attention from an adult.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Under the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, it is
hoped that children will become ready to start school. Luckily Ben's going to be old
for his school year and has well over a year left before starting reception.<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I say luckily because, um, Ben's not quite what you'd call a
"joiner-inner" yet. He's not naughty at all, but just likes to do his
own thing so is often very resistant to changing activities when the times
comes for playing outside, storytime, or what have you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So according to the EYFS, he's doing well on their "prime
areas" of communication and language, physical development, and to some
extent personal, social and emotional development. He's keen to play with the
other children, happily joining in or initiating games. But less keen to do what
he's told. Oh dear.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In terms of the remaining EYFS areas, he's great at "understanding
the world", and knows his numbers and some letters, but is very reluctant
to draw, paint or try writing. The problem is that he's too aware of how it
ought to look, so won't just muck in and have a go because he knows he can't do
it perfectly. I may start encouraging him to practise at home when no-one's
looking, and see if that works.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ben's preschool is great and the teachers have been so
patient with him. I feel confident that together we'll manage to iron out these
issues in time. How lucky that he was a September baby!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
by Kate Richards</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.gov.uk/schools-colleges/early-learning-childcare">www.gov.uk/schools-colleges/early-learning-childcare</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01446540567747891659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797282948952060638.post-86326548664937320662014-05-30T23:20:00.002+01:002014-05-30T23:24:09.844+01:00Baby blog - Toilet training success<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SJe6vgyaPKpyIbEYymI7Kf0GMglAdyMzYQvk99Hp7ZPXbE1a592dvRYXR-PHB33aNAefV9RlYSgH4b13mHYFtwv2YlbPos808vmZeizC51l8fJ_HCDBDj4yGxLyrMCoO-mCkh3mEQuc/s1600/shutterstock_42330913_toddler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SJe6vgyaPKpyIbEYymI7Kf0GMglAdyMzYQvk99Hp7ZPXbE1a592dvRYXR-PHB33aNAefV9RlYSgH4b13mHYFtwv2YlbPos808vmZeizC51l8fJ_HCDBDj4yGxLyrMCoO-mCkh3mEQuc/s1600/shutterstock_42330913_toddler.jpg" height="320" width="276" /></a></div>
Finally Ben has conquered the toilet! We attempted potty training
a good six months ago, when he'd just turned three, but he wasn't keen (to say
the least). We tried everything we could think of, including special Thomas the
Tank Engine pants, various potty training books, bribery, etc.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On several occasions we decided "this is it now, no
more nappies" then the sheer number of accidents drove us back. It also
had a negative effect on Ben, as was aware he was doing something wrong, and it
became the main focus.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But amazingly, he's just decided that using the toilet is
what he wants to do, and hasn't had an accident for nearly a week! I'm over the
moon, as all of his friends had been in pants for months and I was getting
concerned there was something wrong.<br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One thing that preschool suggested as a possible cause for
the delay was "sensory processing disorder". This is an umbrella term
for a range of problems taking in, integrating, or making use of information
from the senses. The form that Ben might have had was difficulty noticing or
processing, and acting on, signals from his own body - including the need to use the
toilet. This was a worry, because he also rarely tells me he's hungry or
hot/cold.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Other forms of sensory processing disorder affect the usual
five senses, either just one, for example being under or over responsive to
touch or light, or multiple senses. Sometimes it impacts the processing of
messages from muscles and joints, leading to issues with posture and motor
skills.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Treatments are available for the condition, and are usually based
on occupational therapy, but I'm very relieved that Ben is now "tuned
in", and it was probably just him being too preoccupied or not motivated
to act on the signals until now.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
by Kate Richards</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.webmd.boots.com/children/guide/sensory-processing-disorder">www.webmd.boots.com/children/guide/sensory-processing-disorder</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01446540567747891659noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797282948952060638.post-5823091915963751472014-04-16T15:54:00.001+01:002014-05-30T23:23:33.403+01:00An accidental emergency<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9v-2YbIueSgRf08kVXKszoUOp57Q6keQRsrYp0gRQ3vLasmiMmUG9DwgEjsPW-XfBr6kBYdPZJNqS0X2ibWmR9Vqbo-kxF-6xMp0bIa2fPv0iAggTnrv2rN0g7NkAkLykwFJIIejljQ/s1600/ambulance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9v-2YbIueSgRf08kVXKszoUOp57Q6keQRsrYp0gRQ3vLasmiMmUG9DwgEjsPW-XfBr6kBYdPZJNqS0X2ibWmR9Vqbo-kxF-6xMp0bIa2fPv0iAggTnrv2rN0g7NkAkLykwFJIIejljQ/s1600/ambulance.jpg" height="158" width="200" /></a></div>
We've had many a near-miss in our household over the last
three years, but a fortnight ago, one year old James treated us to a real medical emergency.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He was playing in the garden when he tumbled
forwards down a step onto concrete. I was just a metre away putting Ben's shoes
on, but couldn't grab him in time.<br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Expecting a bad bump on his head, I was shocked to see it
was pouring with blood! He must have landed on a very sharp stone. There was a
terrifying moment before I was able to assess the extent of the damage. It was
a clean, straight cut of about a centimetre, but very deep. I pressed it with
a clean cloth and surprisingly it didn't bleed for all that long. James then
wanted to carry on playing and got quite cross that I wouldn't let him back in
the garden!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I felt a bit too shaky to drive so for the first time ever,
I called 999. Luckily there was an ambulance close by which arrived in under
five minutes. The paramedics were friendly and calm, and took us to the local
children's A&E, where James was over the moon at all the toys and the
fishtank. I had some reviving chocolate, and after about two hours we were
taken for him to have skin glue applied. He was very brave (I sang to him to
keep him still), and once the doctors were sure he hadn't suffered concussion,
we were sent home. If James was concussed, he wouldn't have been running round
so happily, and would have seemed confused, dizzy, and nauseous or sick within the first
four hours.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The wound needed to be kept dry for a few days, and is doing
fine. It's near his hairline, and may leave a scar, but I wouldn't be surprised
if it disappears completely, as they seem to have remarkable skin-healing
powers at his age.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
by Kate Richards</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01446540567747891659noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797282948952060638.post-39962379404821037202014-03-18T21:10:00.000+00:002014-04-16T15:56:19.172+01:00Ben has his preschool shots<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXk3w0DJqYi0av5SKhxiBaasSV1L7DwtTzn6AEAgolHVuc4u_xzLxBRU2nOqtvAQWSCBu-QoCBGVVkqfmArnsnidpLk6Z_Jr9BEnlifTHLqXVCWvTwNJqRHCD8ESbVLBpDhR08JKTkb4/s1600/child_inject.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXk3w0DJqYi0av5SKhxiBaasSV1L7DwtTzn6AEAgolHVuc4u_xzLxBRU2nOqtvAQWSCBu-QoCBGVVkqfmArnsnidpLk6Z_Jr9BEnlifTHLqXVCWvTwNJqRHCD8ESbVLBpDhR08JKTkb4/s1600/child_inject.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
Being nearly three and a half, Ben was recently subjected to
his second, and final, dose of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine,
along with another injection combining diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and
polio. It was not a fun morning!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The last time he had an injection of any kind was ages ago,
when he was 12 months old. He's since had a flu vaccine, but that was a spray
up the nose, which he was fine with.<br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This time, two nurses had to hold him down and stick the needles in
simultaneously in both upper arms. Although distressing for him, it was at
least over quickly, then he was plied with chocolate biscuits for the shock.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I feel very grateful to have access to preventative medicine
like this. Measles, mumps and rubella are all highly infectious and can have
serious, even fatal, complications. I didn't receive the MMR vaccine as it was introduced
in 1988. But since then, it's become rare for children in the UK to catch these diseases. Although outbreaks can happen, sometimes at random and sometimes after side-effect
"scares" such as the link to autism made in the 1998 paper by Dr
Andrew Wakefield, whose claims have now been fully discredited.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, the vaccine does contain weakened versions of live
measles, mumps and rubella viruses, so the nurse reeled off a list of possible
short term side-effects, including mild forms of measles or mumps, or small
rashes. Due to the three separate vaccines in the injection, side-effects can
occur at different times up to three weeks afterwards. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ben seems to have escaped all of these symptoms, not even
needing Calpol (child paracetamol) for a raised temperature. That's not to say
he's given me an easy ride lately - details to follow next time!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
by Kate Richards</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vaccinations/Pages/mmr-vaccine.aspx">http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vaccinations/Pages/mmr-vaccine.aspx</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01446540567747891659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797282948952060638.post-87312670122848080702014-02-11T13:40:00.000+00:002014-04-16T15:57:20.124+01:00Our fussy eater<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ha7nf2budCnkW6-Z57YUt_eB-6eKn6_nN0DvGGnGR625md8R0O_hxZjmhnmRfifPvoePvblfx9VWTRB_LJH9hnUsotnWXT9j5ygMvrPwRdcSLOBVB8241ExVoTXgBEEFs_p3jclwF8o/s1600/shutterstock_85017241_toddler_eating+sqr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ha7nf2budCnkW6-Z57YUt_eB-6eKn6_nN0DvGGnGR625md8R0O_hxZjmhnmRfifPvoePvblfx9VWTRB_LJH9hnUsotnWXT9j5ygMvrPwRdcSLOBVB8241ExVoTXgBEEFs_p3jclwF8o/s1600/shutterstock_85017241_toddler_eating+sqr.jpg" height="320" title="Ben's almost a vegetarian!" width="288" /></a></div>
Although Ben appears perfectly healthy and very full of
beans, the truth is that he's living on a pretty restricted diet, especially
when it comes to protein. Fortunately he's great at eating fruit, fairly good at
vegetables, and excellent when it comes to anything "treaty" like
biscuits, cake and ice-cream. But he's almost entirely a self-imposed
vegetarian (not that he'd understand the concept yet!) and will only eat
protein in the form of cheese, yoghurt or nuts.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Putting it like that, things don't seem too bad. Except it's
a bit inconvenient and embarrassing when the other children are eating normal meals
like sandwiches, pasta, sausages, fish fingers, baked beans, scrambled egg...
you get the idea!<br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The NHS Choices webpage on fussy eaters tells parents like
me that: "As long as your child is active and gaining weight, and it's obvious
they're not ill, then they're getting enough to eat, even if it may not seem
like it to you.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
"It's perfectly normal for toddlers to refuse to eat or
even taste new foods," it adds. The advice on widening their repertoire is
to gradually introduce new or previously-rejected foods, and eat a wide range
of foods yourself so they (hopefully) want to copy you. It also advises to eat with your fussy toddler as often as possible
and make mealtimes fun, which we try to do.<br />
<br />
We've previously had some success
using bribery - funnily enough he may accept a bite of meat or fish if we
promise a trip to the toy shop, but then forgets all about the toy shop in the
midst of all the praise he receives! Though that's not going to keep working forever. Strangely he'll often try new things when Granny is here and
I'm not. Hmmm, maybe there is a bit of a power struggle going on behind the fish
finger refusal!</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
by Kate Richards</div>
<a href="http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/fussy-eaters.aspx">NHS Choices advice on fussy eaters</a><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01446540567747891659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797282948952060638.post-79171067090728420132013-12-24T20:10:00.002+00:002013-12-24T20:10:31.171+00:00Call a midwife service for new mums<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ulhyFLjH4R2pMHUpsoNJPAKueajmei4XWeMbs9Wz4onunukS2h1CBFzInMpR6XOie779GjpCEkmNOy6S129kC39397YVGuQGDk4pfuPIvWwjyN3ZmnwOB_-XpePvX-w1dwF1PHHbU6Y/s1600/midwife.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ulhyFLjH4R2pMHUpsoNJPAKueajmei4XWeMbs9Wz4onunukS2h1CBFzInMpR6XOie779GjpCEkmNOy6S129kC39397YVGuQGDk4pfuPIvWwjyN3ZmnwOB_-XpePvX-w1dwF1PHHbU6Y/s1600/midwife.gif" height="200" width="89" /></a><b><span style="color: magenta;">By Kate Richards
</span></b><br />
The midwives I encountered during both my pregnancies were almost without exception kind, professional and helpful. If a little abrupt. But this was due to an obvious shortage of staff both in hospital and in the port-natal team. It was quite impressive how they managed to cope when overwhelmed by the sheer number of us!<br />
<br />
The midwives who visited me afterwards mentioned they were concerned that their "next day" home visits might be scrapped due to lack of cash, and mums would have to go to them instead. Well quite honestly if you factor in stitches, siblings, and exhaustion, I can't see many of us making it out of the house the very next day after giving birth. Yet this is the crucial time for needing help with breastfeeding, among other issues.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
A survey was carried out recently to see what other mums thought of their midwife service. The promotions company Bounty, which also runs a parenting club, carried out the online survey of 2,301 new mums in May this year. Nearly half (43%) said they would have liked more visits from their midwife after arriving home, and nearly a quarter (23%) felt under pressure to leave the house in the early days to visit a midwife.<br />
<br />
Most (76%) were happy with the overall length and quality of their midwife's visit, but a third (33%) felt their midwife did not have the time to provide enough breastfeeding support and over half (59%) were visited after the birth of their baby by a midwife they did not know.<br />
<br />
Following the survey, Bounty has begun to include in their "Bounty packs" details of a free helpline that parents can call to speak to a midwife from the charity Tommy's.<br />
<br />
Bounty has a mixed reputation for their occasional "hard sell" techniques, but I'm very glad to hear about this decision, which could have a wide benefit.
<br />
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/goog_1008530303"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.tommys.org/page.aspx?pid=308">Helpline details</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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Englemed Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08070998003790390019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797282948952060638.post-66845429202108866512013-09-25T13:00:00.000+01:002014-02-11T13:38:18.531+00:00The impact of babies on my sleep<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObaJ_uy_fARYjQ89uUi7dHYQBZzEcJlzz3SVRXoG7h07q7RB8FCLPrUDu7vokVrib4ldFqQ8PgQmkuzniNQoJPlpfGDQnR4vb16ou9bH7mM7lPgYZf_9HHyH9cp3pMjniI_iZdNe_Im8/s1600/woman_sleeping_by_danilo_rizzuti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Sometimes Kate gets to do this. Photo: Danilo Rizzuit"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObaJ_uy_fARYjQ89uUi7dHYQBZzEcJlzz3SVRXoG7h07q7RB8FCLPrUDu7vokVrib4ldFqQ8PgQmkuzniNQoJPlpfGDQnR4vb16ou9bH7mM7lPgYZf_9HHyH9cp3pMjniI_iZdNe_Im8/s400/woman_sleeping_by_danilo_rizzuti.jpg" height="166" width="200" /></a></div>
<b style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #656565; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;" title="Kate reflects on trying to get sleep">By Baby Blogger Kate Richards</span></b><br />
Before having babies I was aware that my sleep would definitely be interrupted for the first few months, and then occasionally when the baby/child was ill or had a bad dream. It was a daunting thought but I assumed I'd get through it like other parents do.
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I'm glad I didn't know what the reality was going to be for me. I actually think it would've scared me off parenthood altogether.
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Things were fine for the first six weeks of Ben's life. He slept in a cot next to me and woke often for a feed, as expected from a newborn, especially a breastfed one. I fed him and fell asleep easily. But things gradually began to change. The rare occasions I couldn't drop off became more frequent until it happened every night. Sometimes I would only get two or three hours' sleep, and stumbled around the baby groups like a zombie, forgetting everyone's names.
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We moved Ben to his own room and eventually he started sleeping through the night, but things didn't improve for me. I tried everything, including hypnotherapy. After a lot of soul searching I decided it was due to anxiety and tried to relax more, but to no avail.
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However, after nearly three years, things are definitely looking up. I discovered a fantastic book by a woman who suffered insomnia for 15 years. That made me trust her immediately! She recovered after realising there was nothing intrinsically wrong with her, but crucially, that sleeping problem are perpetuated mainly by a fear of not sleeping.
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Following her suggestions I've changed my attitude - from feeling panicky at bedtime to feeling much calmer. I'm sleeping better, and staying calm on the rare nights when I do lie there awake. I've been recommending the book as much as possible ever since!
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Sasha Stephens (2011) <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004UC4ZNM/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B004UC4ZNM&linkCode=as2&tag=englemed-21">The Effortless Sleep Method:The Incredible New Cure for Insomnia and Chronic Sleep Problems</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=englemed-21&l=as2&o=2&a=B004UC4ZNM" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (Link to Amazon)<br />
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<br />Englemed Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08070998003790390019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797282948952060638.post-5583951249638921132013-09-24T16:06:00.002+01:002014-02-11T13:39:03.251+00:00Pondering about Time Out<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDP_Jpm1WbpFWy0n-qTMMQZjcJmKI5ZsBIlnnnkCQ9BCPTsIWL_rUNfUWgWl-ZFlEMGf2OgJR91gryCGjfdtPvttH3KOZqRck4XeXfofzADbZV5cKjhhR4CJwUX5jUcj6FUytxL8Z5Ec/s1600/shutterstock_52781206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDP_Jpm1WbpFWy0n-qTMMQZjcJmKI5ZsBIlnnnkCQ9BCPTsIWL_rUNfUWgWl-ZFlEMGf2OgJR91gryCGjfdtPvttH3KOZqRck4XeXfofzADbZV5cKjhhR4CJwUX5jUcj6FUytxL8Z5Ec/s400/shutterstock_52781206.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<b style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #656565; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;" title="Kate tells it like it is for young mothers">By Baby Blogger Kate Richards</span></b></div>
Time out for me that is, not the new-fangled punishment technique!<br />
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Time away from being with the children is a bit of a tricky subject, as I and many other parents struggle with admitting we need a bit of child-free time. Even when they've gone to bed in the evenings, there's a sense of still being "on call" if they need you.<br />
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Ben currently goes to a childminder two mornings a week, and even though it's quality time for me and baby James, I still feel that somehow I shouldn't need help from someone else, particularly as I'm not earning money during that time.
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This reluctance to hand them over to someone else isn't something I would have predicted before becoming a parent. But it seems to be widespread, according to a recent survey of 309 parents on the website <a href="http://findababysitter.com/">Findababysitter.com</a>.
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They found that 40% of UK parents take less than half of the healthy amount of time out from their children each week. And 37% don't have informal childcare to rely on such as friends, family or neighbours.
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This is a public health concern, says child psychologist and parenting expert, Dr Claire Halsey.<br />
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She says: <b>"Taking time out to recharge the batteries should be a necessity, rather than a luxury for parents, so we really need to see a mindshift from parents feeling guilty about using childcare to take time out.</b><br />
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"I recommend all parents to think of time out as a vital parenting skill, and advise them to take a minimum of 30 minutes every day, or 3.5 hours per week."<br />
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Fortunately I get a couple of hours to myself once a week when my partner takes the boys out, though that does mean no regular time out as a couple. Might have to set up an evening-swapping plan with some friends in the same boat!Englemed Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08070998003790390019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797282948952060638.post-87397728339201404562013-07-26T12:44:00.000+01:002014-02-11T13:39:34.512+00:00App that aids young parents<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-OTlQlQGPolysU0qj_TkysssHD93UsjyZsoGBvIX8DD-6t-XinJfCrwO5ZLO0-HAbZduMgvjwWZSUCM7Jn3cxJPaKsB3QaqzqETjjAcryHU_9StC2Z8Up6lzbmpb4JH_6_2qT0fqAGwo/s1600/phone_by_andy_newson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="The phone can be a lifesaver in all sorts of ways. Photo: Andy Newson"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-OTlQlQGPolysU0qj_TkysssHD93UsjyZsoGBvIX8DD-6t-XinJfCrwO5ZLO0-HAbZduMgvjwWZSUCM7Jn3cxJPaKsB3QaqzqETjjAcryHU_9StC2Z8Up6lzbmpb4JH_6_2qT0fqAGwo/s400/phone_by_andy_newson.jpg" height="200" width="139" /></a></div>
<b style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #656565; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;" title="Kate has some more tips for young parents">By Baby Blogger Kate Richards</span></b><br />
Recently I wrote about the low proportion of parents who have attended a first aid course, and how many parents feel they would struggle to cope in a medical crisis (me included).
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Since then I've found out about a new app that has lifesaving advice for children and babies - the Baby and Child First Aid app - from the charity British Red Cross. It has a range of useful videos, clear advice, a 'test yourself' quiz section, and is compatible with the Apple iPhone, iPad, Apple iPod Touch and Android tablets.
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As well as teaching first aid skills so users can be prepared in advance, it offers instant help if a child is choking, suffers an injury, or is knocked unconscious. There's also a local hospital finder covering all of the UK. It can also record a child's medication needs, allergies, and family contact details.
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The app is available free at Apple's iTunes store and the Google Play marketplace. Luckily most of the information and videos are stored on the app, so no internet connection is needed.
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I'm finding it easy to use and I'm learning a lot, although it is a bit frightening to think of a medical emergency happening to one of my boys. Nevertheless, I know, like many parents in a recent British Red Cross survey, I would feel more capable with the support of first aid advice.
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Joe Mulligan, of the British Red Cross, says: "Our studies show that 70% of parents have taken their baby or child to an A&E unit at some point. We want to raise parents' confidence in first aid scenarios. <b>I think most people appreciate the value of having such potentially life-saving knowledge at their fingertips."
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The charity previously made a similar app for adults, also free, which has been downloaded over half a million times. What a great use of technology!Englemed Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08070998003790390019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797282948952060638.post-70837865441880191202013-07-25T12:41:00.001+01:002013-07-25T12:47:19.742+01:00Recovering from baby! - Kate to Kate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxBXmWtX3Fkkb1uQUsSNbqzPBCtcwvK_sEUfrCen3k7DzgsKQt7xBS13BC4cFCcjYTUjP1jR5jewEEftp7P2n7XJV9ZZ-oxHqRzEX2XWw5F_VSTL-rxicP-NYKUFU369R17NohV0EC2E/s1600/shutterstock_william_and_kate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxBXmWtX3Fkkb1uQUsSNbqzPBCtcwvK_sEUfrCen3k7DzgsKQt7xBS13BC4cFCcjYTUjP1jR5jewEEftp7P2n7XJV9ZZ-oxHqRzEX2XWw5F_VSTL-rxicP-NYKUFU369R17NohV0EC2E/s400/shutterstock_william_and_kate.jpg" title="Kate Middleton's a proud Royal mum but she's still an ordinary woman" width="266" /></a></div>
<b style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #656565; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;" title="Kate tells it like it is for young mothers">By Baby Blogger Kate Richards</span></b><br />
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<b><i>Our baby blogger Kate Richards had her second baby six months ago. She was spared hours of labour but instead had to submit to a C-section. While the world focuses on Prince George, Kate shares her real experience of living with the after-effects of birth.</i></b><br />
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It's now six months since I had my caesarean section and for a good while I've felt completely normal. On balance I'd say it was more comfortable overall than my first birth, though it was quite frustrating having to take it easy for the first few weeks (I'm a natural fidgeter!)<br />
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The midwives told me not to lift anything heavier than the baby - about 8lbs - for six weeks. Well that would've been fine if I had a full-time maid! I did my best though, limiting the number of times I climbed the stairs, and being careful to turn over in bed slowly. Very fortunately I healed with no problems whatsoever.<br />
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The hospital provided me with regular painkillers while I was there, and some to take home when I left just over 24 hours after the operation. My memory's a bit hazy but I don't think I needed them for more than a couple of days. I certainly expected more pain than I had.<br />
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What saved me I think was the fact that my c-section was planned rather than emergency. Many women say it takes much longer to recover when it's done in a rush, and they've often spent a long time (sometimes several days) in labour beforehand.
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I was also fortunate in that I didn't have any problem breastfeeding. It wasn't difficult to keep James' weight from pressing on the scar, though he did have slight tongue-tie which was corrected at five days old. Some women do find breastfeeding trickier after a c-section, and often lying on your side or the "the rugby ball" position can make it easier.
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I began light exercise after about eight weeks and now I'm allowed to do any sort of vigorous aerobic exercise. Though I think I'll wait a bit longer just to be sure!<br />
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<br />Englemed Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08070998003790390019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797282948952060638.post-52153882387419464172013-05-28T13:46:00.002+01:002013-07-25T12:42:04.504+01:00Could I cope in a medical crisis? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZ2Fhf_YO1YmVenlltFdnFN-WRX9hRX5cfuBrv1wyxilD8IwZ-Dt3Pzs-QC32tiIMlbQHzNf8BsfU2IKQs2H7RoeodRAfBEZrNS7cIs63pf6CMOEshsQPsa3QtXnWHV3QGmR3pGnVpAM/s1600/shutterstock_11312944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZ2Fhf_YO1YmVenlltFdnFN-WRX9hRX5cfuBrv1wyxilD8IwZ-Dt3Pzs-QC32tiIMlbQHzNf8BsfU2IKQs2H7RoeodRAfBEZrNS7cIs63pf6CMOEshsQPsa3QtXnWHV3QGmR3pGnVpAM/s400/shutterstock_11312944.jpg" title="a family day out - but are they ready for emergencies?" width="266" /></a></div>
<b style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #656565; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;" title="Kate's observing toddler speech">By Baby Blogger Kate Richards</span></b><br />
We've been very lucky with the boys' health - no major crises so far. The worst medical "emergency" we've had was an overreaction to what was a standard tummy bug (hindsight is a wonderful thing!)<br />
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When Ben was still very small I did attend a paediatric first aid course, however, that was a couple of years ago and I don't have much confidence that I could remember what to do in an emergency.<br />
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And it seems I'm far from alone. A recent nationwide survey by the childcare website <a href="http://findababysitter.com/">Findababysitter.com</a> found that 72% of UK parents "wouldn't know how to assist an unconscious child, administer CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) or attend to burns and scalds".<br />
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Just 28% of the 1,000 parents surveyed had been on a first aid course, which is essential for all registered childminders and nannies. This "brings to light the shocking lack of first aid knowledge amongst the UK's parents" say the researchers.<br />
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Those with children aged six to nine years have the worst record, with 80% reporting they wouldn't know what to do in a medical emergency. Nevertheless, the same survey showed that parents rank safety as the second most important factor (after cost) when choosing childcare.<br />
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"Leaving your children with a childcare professional is one of the hardest things a parent has to do," says Tom Harrow, CEO of Findababysitter.com, "but when you look at it from this angle, it really puts things into perspective - are our kids safer with a nanny or childminder than they are with us?"<br />
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Personally I don't recall child safety being mentioned in our, otherwise great, NHS antenatal course. Perhaps it should be. A quick online search shows there is an abundance of courses being run regularly all around the UK.<br />
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Right then, it seems it's time to pack myself off to a refresher course asap!Englemed Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08070998003790390019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797282948952060638.post-84752514630757521442013-05-24T18:57:00.000+01:002013-07-25T12:40:22.386+01:00The Apprentice - Someone should be fired<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGaIzCGDB3LE9ISSZjqL0q8piWLdGdKcPLZGxQje00AwvUAWSBbmb2XGRLY5wa5fp7WIB9i68gZjB_JyGjgLY-0qFXRDIJCGZd23fyQOnPE7r5_lieDseEQTt9aCcRXnHjQDQa1luppycT/s1600/Karren,+Lord+Sugar+&+Nickedit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGaIzCGDB3LE9ISSZjqL0q8piWLdGdKcPLZGxQje00AwvUAWSBbmb2XGRLY5wa5fp7WIB9i68gZjB_JyGjgLY-0qFXRDIJCGZd23fyQOnPE7r5_lieDseEQTt9aCcRXnHjQDQa1luppycT/s400/Karren,+Lord+Sugar+&+Nickedit.jpg" width="372" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: magenta;"><u> By Laura Johnson</u></span></b><br />
Yes someone should be fired - for making <i>The Apprentice</i> a sham of a programme, the ghost of its original idea.<br />
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As you know, we've followed it closely on Women's News UK, over the years and the new idea should have worked. This was that the winner would be backed by Sir Alan Sugar to set up their own business. It should be like <i>Dragon's Den</i>, which has become a programme which picks real winners and losers.<br />
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Well that hasn't worked, has it! Where are the programmes showing these young entrepreneurs roaring to success? Nowhere! Whatever happened to Tom the inventor?<br />
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Even worse bright youngsters who do win through on the programme - take Stella English - find that success is in fact the kiss of death to a serious business career.<br />
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But all this is nothing compared with the shambles of a soap opera that the actual programme has become. You know what? I watch <i>The Apprentice - You're Fired</i> to find out what's actually been happening.<br />
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Because <i>The Apprentice - The Main Programme</i> is now so over-edited and so manipulated it is impossible to follow the true story of what has happened. It is no longer reality TV but the other kind, scripted reality, like <i>Made in Chelsea.</i><br />
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Think about the scenario every week. Two teams compete. One loses - usually the women's team (that in itself should tell you there's something wrong with the concept).<br />
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We don't know who's lost until they get to the boardroom. We're kept in suspense - totally artificial suspense. Because the clips and the story are edited to make it look as if the teams are even stevens. Look someone's got a big order! - but they've neglected to tell us about the massive, mega-order obtained by the other team. It's a false story.<br />
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Yes, it's true we all knew Uzma Yakoob would be fired this week. That was no surprise. But in reality winning and losing has become the luck of the draw. Teams win by a tiny margin - like this week- and then the losers are picked apart as though everything they did was wrong. That's not entrepreneurialism. Entrepreneurialism is learning from your mistakes.<br />
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Besides, if you take this week's episode about farm shops, you have a clear example of nobody getting it right. The teams were told to set up farm shops - instead they set up take-aways selling milkshakes and baked potatoes. They were all clueless, not just Uzma. The best farm shop I know is located just next to a remote commuter station. That's canny.<br />
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They should all have been fired, along with the programme makers. And Dara O'Brien should switch to Dragon's Den to tell us what happens to the winners and losers there.Englemed Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08070998003790390019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797282948952060638.post-87563412657312955572013-02-24T21:31:00.001+00:002013-05-24T19:02:56.425+01:00Talking about talking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SJe6vgyaPKpyIbEYymI7Kf0GMglAdyMzYQvk99Hp7ZPXbE1a592dvRYXR-PHB33aNAefV9RlYSgH4b13mHYFtwv2YlbPos808vmZeizC51l8fJ_HCDBDj4yGxLyrMCoO-mCkh3mEQuc/s1600/shutterstock_42330913_toddler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SJe6vgyaPKpyIbEYymI7Kf0GMglAdyMzYQvk99Hp7ZPXbE1a592dvRYXR-PHB33aNAefV9RlYSgH4b13mHYFtwv2YlbPos808vmZeizC51l8fJ_HCDBDj4yGxLyrMCoO-mCkh3mEQuc/s200/shutterstock_42330913_toddler.jpg" title="children like to express themselves!" width="171" /></a> <b style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #656565; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;" title="Kate's observing toddler speech">By Baby Blogger Kate Richards</span></b><br />
Fortunately, and possibly because I natter on constantly to him, Ben's speech seems pretty advanced for his age, or at least nothing to worry about. There are a few words his mispronounces - such as "wadigal" for triangle - which I find endearing.<br />
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But a couple of my friends have had concerns about their little ones' language skills. As with any other area of development, there is a wide range of what's considered normal for each age group.
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However, work is currently being done to create an up-to-date tool for assessing babies' and toddlers' progress in communicating. Dr Katie Alcock of Lancaster University is collaborating with other language development specialists on the "first ever UK based language tool to decode baby talk".
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Their project, funded by a 358,000 UK pound grant, sets out to create a tool that compares children aged eight months to 18 months against national averages for similarly-aged children.
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This "could radically improve the diagnosis of language delays", say the psychologists, who believe there is currently no similar, easy to use tool for UK health professionals. It will also take into account various English dialects, explains Dr Alcock.
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She says: "It is crucial to know what a 'typical' child can do in order to ensure that teachers, doctors, speech and language therapists, and policy makers are properly informed. Most language milestones occur in the first few years of life, so it is vital that we find out what these typical levels are for very young children.
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"When complete, this new research will directly improve the UK research on child speech and language development and make a substantial contribution to the wellbeing of children and families in the UK."
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Parents with a child under 18 months, who might want to take part in the study, can email uk-cdi@lancaster.ac.uk.<br />
<br />Englemed Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08070998003790390019noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797282948952060638.post-83202989088775863712013-02-05T14:38:00.000+00:002013-02-24T21:31:46.921+00:00Holidays benefit our health!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCUnJC1tzwQ-BX-QviNLInN6F3p7vse97XNKaIc6tD-2wZEsp9TKBx09b1hM04vyMnelgIA248w2QG4y0V_oZI6fVeTxJ9rBo7SjmiGw4nroWiY2Q1zicEFnqn-WpGtn0Oz7arn9qv9Np/s1600/seaside+at+night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCUnJC1tzwQ-BX-QviNLInN6F3p7vse97XNKaIc6tD-2wZEsp9TKBx09b1hM04vyMnelgIA248w2QG4y0V_oZI6fVeTxJ9rBo7SjmiGw4nroWiY2Q1zicEFnqn-WpGtn0Oz7arn9qv9Np/s400/seaside+at+night.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #656565; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;" title="Tara Wilkins struggles with resolutions"><u>Tara Wilkins</u></span></b><br />
We all love a good holiday, whether that be lying on a warm beach for a week or hiking up a mountain. Getting away from everyday normality, forgetting about work and the stresses in our lives for a much needed break always leaves us feeling refreshed.<br />
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In a first of its kind experiment, tour operator Kuoni and Nuffield Health have teamed together to see if the "feel good factor" as they call it, that we get from holidays is based on physical and psychological fact.<br />
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The experiment took place between summer and autumn 2012, with two different groups. The first group getting to go on holiday and the second group staying at home. (I know which group I would rather have been in!) Both groups all had stress-resilience testing and a 360+ health assessment. They also had psychotherepeutic tests conducted by psychiatrist Christine Webber.<br />
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The findings of the experiment proved that the group who were sent on holiday for two weeks in either Peru, Thailand or the Maldives were in a better position, healthwise, than those who had stayed at home. On average the blood pressure of the travelling group went down by 6% whilst the non-travelling<br />
group went up by 2%, also the holidaymakers saw a 17% improvement on their sleep quality whilst non-holidaymakers reduced by 14%.<br />
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It was also found that the ability to recover from stress saw an average improvement of 29% amongst the holidaymakers!<br />
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Dr Lucy Goundry from Nuffield Health said: "These results clearly demonstrate that on holiday our resilience to stress (our ability to physically cope with stress) improves. Becoming more resilient to stress is hugely important as most of us will return back to stress when our holiday ends but being more resilient to it helps lay the foundations for improved productivity at work, better energy levels and ultimately happiness."<br />
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What's also important is that the effects of a holiday don't just last when we are there.<br />
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Psychiatrist Christine Webber said: "I have discovered that these benefits continue well past the vacation – in fact, for months afterwards.I have seen some of our participants make real changes to their everyday lives as a result of their holidays.<br />
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"I have noticed how couples grow closer together. I have witnessed how going somewhere exotic and different can not only alter people’s perspectives on the world, but can also help to increase levels of confidence and happiness in their own individual lives."<br />
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Even though we probably already knew that having a holiday is good for us, it is important that we have the facts and figures to prove just that. We are only human, work, work, work is not beneficial to our health, we need time to recuperate!<br />
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<i><b> If a holiday helps us to decrease our blood pressure (which decreases our chance of a stroke, heart attacks etc), sleep better and build up a better resilience to stress then I say get booking your summer hols! </b></i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797282948952060638.post-5129793411227862232013-02-04T16:10:00.002+00:002013-02-24T21:31:56.203+00:00I become a Mum of two<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-003Km7YtDuf067T2q2iylixvbP6yGrHKznxMouUzTIvfy9R8UO3pEmG82OAhsipl3iG3-NR7SpbIqiGE8HiklC9TnzlCpKGH2zzGLcp6BUMPqyUPd3gIyaQsEV-5K5Gm3Y7tAueN746/s1600/shutterstock_42330913_mother_baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="the joy of babies. Photo: models"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-003Km7YtDuf067T2q2iylixvbP6yGrHKznxMouUzTIvfy9R8UO3pEmG82OAhsipl3iG3-NR7SpbIqiGE8HiklC9TnzlCpKGH2zzGLcp6BUMPqyUPd3gIyaQsEV-5K5Gm3Y7tAueN746/s320/shutterstock_42330913_mother_baby.jpg" width="309" /></a></div>
<b style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #656565; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;" title="Kate returns to blogging and announces she's a mother of two">By Baby Blogger Kate Richards</span></b><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #656565; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><br />
Life has been pretty crazy this past 12 weeks! Having two small children certainly doesn't leave much chance for reflection. I could write pages and pages, if I only had the time (and energy). But for now, I'll just concentrate on the birth.<br />
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As I mentioned before, baby James was breech (head up) towards the end of pregnancy, so a caesarean was booked. This had the advantage that we could plan childcare for Ben, and the even bigger advantage of no contractions! It's not what I would have chosen, but I'm not disappointed.<br />
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We had to arrive at the hospital very early, but then waited for seven hours - I was put at the bottom of the list for having the fewest risk factors. I fluctuated between bored and scared, until finally we were called to theatre. What a strange experience! The room was brightly lit and full of people. I took my position centre stage and had to keep perfectly still for the spinal block to be placed in exactly the right place.
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Within seconds (according to my hazy memory) I became unable to move from the waist down, so needed help to lie flat. The curtain was raised, and one of the various medical staff sprayed my body with freezing air from a can to check I couldn't feel it. Very odd. Although I couldn't feel what they were doing, or even tell what position my legs were in, I had a heavy, warm sensation (which lasted several hours).
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Within about five minutes the baby was out! He looked ready to be born, fairly large at 8lb 6oz, much bigger than Ben had been. After the routine checks, he was handed to my husband and I managed a little kiss on his nose.
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The hard bit was the post-natal recovery, which I'll describe next time.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797282948952060638.post-61829034365554252052013-01-24T10:50:00.000+00:002013-02-04T16:14:54.532+00:00Women urged to seek birth rights<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A new organisation launching today is set to campaign for "human rights" for women giving birth.<br />
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Campaigners say pregnant women are often left in misery because they do not know that they are entitled to demand treatments such as pain relief.<br />
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Organisations such as the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Physicians are set to attend the launch of Birthrights tonight.<br />
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<a href="http://birthrights.org.uk/" target="_blank">Birthrights</a> says women are entitled to "respectful" maternity care that protects rights to dignity, autonomy, privacy and equality.<br />
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The group has been founded by a human rights barrister Elizabeth Prochaska.<br />
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She said: "My own experience of pregnancy and birth made me aware that our rights in childbirth are often forgotten, particularly when women are from vulnerable groups.<br />
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"Birthrights will seek to tackle this, forging close relationships with midwives, doctors and their professional bodies to promote and protect these rights."<br />
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Rebecca Schiller, a co-chair of the group, said: "Our launch is timely. With so much focus on the rising birth-rate and the strain on maternity services, the negative impact this can have on women has never been clearer."<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-797282948952060638.post-69530335595094429882013-01-15T16:23:00.003+00:002013-01-18T15:26:18.095+00:00Women only bike ride!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvLMvdosoSM8Ic-5_G_aUUtckqHgkny2_BjV4xdW2hmUAmeIIJ1gDEQ6pbCxQa5cnvvl2uU1p8kVIoEbMQnD7VFSdkE9t7cwwu6Mx01eqLDEbqaZT-UhEJKWnYzFe4UG6B8AIX_8QclQB/s1600/birchill+on+cycle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvLMvdosoSM8Ic-5_G_aUUtckqHgkny2_BjV4xdW2hmUAmeIIJ1gDEQ6pbCxQa5cnvvl2uU1p8kVIoEbMQnD7VFSdkE9t7cwwu6Mx01eqLDEbqaZT-UhEJKWnYzFe4UG6B8AIX_8QclQB/s400/birchill+on+cycle.jpg" title="Davina McCall in training" width="321" /></a></div>
<b style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #656565; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;" title="Tara Wilkins is inspired to cycle"><u>Tara Wilkins</u></span></b><br />
Your chance to be a DIVA!<br />
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After having a few falls off of a bike when I was in my late teens, I decided that cycling probably wasn’t the sport for me!<br />
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However, being married to a cycle enthusiast I have slowly been re-introduced into the activity, with a new bike (hooray) and I am pleased to write, only a few falls (even bigger hooray!) . The thing I like about cycling is it can be enjoyed with others or if you need a little personal head space, then what better place than in the park on your bike?
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The other thing is that it can be for everyone!<br />
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Davina McCall will once again don her cycling shorts and helmet for the third women-only Action DIVA Sussex bike ride, which sets out from the East Sussex National in Uckfield, on Saturday 11th May.<br />
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Davina says “What better way to motivate yourself to get and stay fit than to sign up for this brilliant bike ride. By doing so, you lovely ladies will be able to raise some dosh for the most amazing charity – thank you.”<br />
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The children’s charity, Action Medical Research, uses the money from these event days to fund work around Down syndrome, epilepsy, sickle cell disease, diabetes and some rare conditions that severely effect children.<br />
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The ride is being sponsored by leading bike brand, Trek and cyclists get to ride a “beautiful route through some of the most amazing parts of Sussex countryside” says Davina.<br />
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Riders will be provided with plenty of rest stops, a fully-serviced lunch along with staff riders, first aiders and even massage therapists! If that’s not incentive enough, I don’t know what is!
It will cost you £28 to sign up for the event and you will also need to raise a minimum of £50 in sponsorships.<br />
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For more information and to sign up then go to <a href="http://www.action.org.uk/diva.">www.action.org.uk/diva.</a><br />
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You may not be able to make the ride this year, but getting out and exercising is still important and it may even spur you on to get involved next year for this great cause.<br />
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In the words of Davina “don’t be scared ladies, it’s amazing what you can do on a bike!”
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Uckfield, East Sussex TN22, UK50.966414 0.09591299999999591850.9264155 0.015231999999995915 51.0064125 0.17659399999999592