Westside MamaMag March 2015

WESTSIDE

March 2015

WIN 1 of 75 double passes to the essential baby & toddler show Sleep school Sunspots Are you CPR ready?

Fighting PND Receive to conceive

free Local fun for the Westside mum 1

Welcome!

Welcome to the first issue of Westside MamaMag! MamaMag have been bringing local fun to the mums in Bayside and Port Phillip since mid last year and ‘hooray’ now it’s our turn! I’m the local face of WestsideMamaMag and moved to Footscray with my husband Steve not long before we had our first child 9 years ago. We’ve got two daughters, aged 4 and 9 and if it’s in the west they’ve probably been there, done it, or have it on their wish lists.

Each month we’ll bring you regular articles about places to go and things to do in your area—a review of a park, the low down on a local street, and more. There will be book reviews from a local bookshop and recipes to try with your family. Each issue we’ll feature a local mama who has her own business. This month we’ve also got local school holiday ideas, some tips for sleepless bubs and help with breastfeeding issues. And if you are past all that (lucky you!) check out our great fashion spread on page 24 featuring some awesome pieces from some great local shops. We love locals!

I love uncovering cool things to do as a family and I’m looking forward to sharing them with you.

I also love the sense of community here in the west and at MamaMag we’re keen to add to it. Connect with us by liking us on Facebook and by letting us know if there is something we should know about in your neighbourhood.

Of course local businesses are a vital part of our community and we’re here to support you. If mums are interested in your business (and that covers almost everything) then this is the perfect place for you to spread the word about your products or services.

Mums of the west, we’re very excited to be bringing you this first issue and hope you love it as much as we do. Remember to shop locally and support MamaMag’s local advertisers so we can bring you our free magazine every month. Enjoy!

@localmamamag

Contents Sleeping your way to a healthy bub 4 Advice from a sleep consultant Love your locals 7 We chat to Upchunk Furniture Holiday Heroes 8 We’ve got school holidays covered It’s party time 10 Party ideas from The Party Shack Welcome to sunspots 12 Skin care tips from endota Lovely Locals 14 We visit Victoria Street Seddon A healthy body after baby is born 16 5 tips to keep you feeling your best Turn the page 18 Top reads from JP Books Mama of the month 20 We meet the Mamma Knows West mums Eating to fight off PND 22 Dietician Melanie McGrice’s tips Mama’s wild about west 24 Fashion for mum from the West’s best Are you CPR ready?

27 Kidzaid CPR Challenge Mama can cook 28 Easter BBQ salmon and choc muffins Receive to conceive 30 Egg donation in Australia Breastfeeding problems 32 Introducing low level laser therapy Do you feel financially secure?

34 Is your insurance adequate?

Parklife 37 Edwards Reserve South Kingsville Apps for under $3 38 Cheaper than a take-away coffee!

Play is our business 40 Toy libraries in the west Scratching for answers 42 The real truth about headlice Fun for the kids 44 Kid’s crafts and our colouring comp Should I use a travel agent?

46 Top reasons why

MamaMag March 2015

WIN 1 of 75 double passes to the essential baby & toddler SHOW worth up to $44 each.

10 - 12 April 2015 Royal Exhibition Building

THE ESSENTIAL BABY & TODDLER SHOW

Entries open March 1st 12.01am and close March 31st 2015 at 11.59pm.

Passes valid for single day entry to The Essential Baby & Toddler Show Melbourne 2015. For further details and full terms & conditions visit mamamag.com.au

Visit our Facebook page to enter

www.facebook.com/localmamamag MamaMag is published monthly for the mums of Melbourne’s west by Grizzle Design Pty Ltd. ABN: 26 042 138 550. PO Box 8018 Brighton East VIC 3187 Phone: 1300 771 446 Email: info@mamamag.com.au www.mamamag.com.au

5,000 copies are distributed monthly.

Westside Editor: Rebecca Gelsi Creative Director: Sarah Cavalier Like to contribute an article or products for review or giveaway? submissions@mamamag.com.au Like to advertise in our next month’s issue? info@mamamag.com.au or download our media kit from www.mamamag.com.au The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publishing staff. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without permission of the publishers.

Health related articles are designed to be informative and educational. They are not intended to provide specific medical advice or replace one-on-one advice from your health practitioner.

Mamamag is printed locally in Melbourne (of course)

by Fishprint, using 100% Waterless Printing.

Fishprint is a ISO 14024 ‘Whole of Life Cycle’ certified printer. fishprint.com.au

Sleeping Your Way To A Sleep consulting is never dull. The hours, families, babies’ ages and of course personalities are always varied. What remains consistent in every family I assist is parents who are exhausted and desperate for a full night’s sleep.

It never ceases to amaze me no matter what level of exhaustion the parents face (and believe me the sleeping situation that is some families’ reality would shock even the most hardened of parents), none are willing to put their own exhausted needs before what they feel is doing the right thing for their child.

In their first year babies spend most of their time sleeping, about half of their sleep is spent in active and half in quiet sleep. This is proportionally more time spent in active sleep (or REM as it’s called later in life) than adults. There is good reason for them having so much of this active or light sleep, it is when their brains are busy developing at a tremendous rate. For this reason it is important to help your baby develop regular, healthy sleep patterns (of both active and quiet stages).

Sound familiar?

“I’m exhausted and I have tried absolutely everything. She just seems to need constant attention, more than other babies do. I don’t know what I am doing wrong. I want her to be happier during the day and sleep through the night. We tried leaving her to cry-it-out once, it was awful and I stopped it after 20 minutes. Is this the only technique that you use? Does anything else work?”

Cry-it-out Probably the most common question I get asked is whether my method is to leave a baby to cry-itout, also known as controlled crying. The simple answer is no. The more complex answer is, I don’t have one method, the method I use depends on the baby (their age, diet, health etc) and their parents. Gauging the parent’s comfort levels and ability to follow through with a given technique is crucial. Parents simply won’t remain consistent with a new routine if it is something they don’t feel comfortable with, and rightfully so. This means that some families will decide that controlled crying is an option for them, for most however this is not the case and a baby’s cries are responded to promptly.

What else is there?

A good sleep consultant will adapt the method they use for each family. This means there are countless methods used, none necessarily more or less successful than the other. The key to all of them is calmness and consistency. What I do is not magic, it is simply a matter of having the knowledge to understand babies’ patterns and needs. Then applying this knowledge to gently guide them in the direction of independent sleep.

Written by Hannah McDaide.

Hannah is a paediatric sleep and routine consultant with a background in psychology.

She is the Director at Healthy Baby Hub. www.healthybabyhub.com.au

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Healthier, Happier Baby Is my baby old enough?

Sleep training, a term I dislike, is generally frowned upon in the early months of a baby’s life. Some experts will say not before 6 months, others will say not before 4 months. Some will even advise not to expect a baby to sleep through until after the first year. I don’t like the term sleep training because it implies that if for the first 4, 6 or 12 months (depending on which advice you are following) you are struggling with an unsettled baby, there is nothing you can do until they are the right age. This is simply not the case.

How a baby falls to sleep comes down to habit, that is how it has been taught from the beginning (whether intentionally or not) to go to sleep. I believe my job is to educate parents on how to develop healthy sleep habits for their baby, which in my opinion can begin from day one. By gently developing healthy sleep habits from the beginning, parents can prevent bad habits from forming and thus avoid having to do any form of sleep training down the track. So although sleep training may come with age restrictions, equipping yourself with knowledge on babies’ sleep habits and gently guiding your baby towards independent sleep can start from day one. The earlier the better.

How long does it take?

Developing new sleep habits can take anywhere from 24 hours to a couple of months. It will depend on the method being used, the age of your baby or toddler and the consistency of the parents. If using the advice of a sleep consultant, you should at the very least be able see improvements within the first couple of days of implementing a new routine.

What kind of help is available?

If you decide to enlist the help of a sleep consultant it is important to find someone you feel comfortable with and who adapts their methods to meet your family’s specific needs. Sleep guidance services can range from informative group workshops, phone consultations, individual home consultations or overnight support.

And finally...

For many families the first year of parenthood is determined primarily by sleep, or a lack thereof.

Many new parents expect it to be something their baby just does instinctively. Yet sleeping independently is a learned habit, and like everything else we teach our children eg tying shoe laces, brushing teeth and using manners, takes time, a gentle approach and consistency. The method to use fundamentally comes down to what the parents are comfortable with for their family. As a parent, increasing your knowledge on your baby’s sleep needs and habits can save the whole family many unnecessary sleepless nights. Healthy sleep habits will developmentally give your baby the best possible head start.

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Love your locals Bang bang bang what’s that noise? Curiosity got the better of Mama on a recent trip to Yarraville, when I came across this ‘front yard’ workshop. The busy makers Pappa Eddie and his four year daughter Tallulah were working hard when I interrupted them.....

Excuse me! What are you doing there?

Right now, I am making a custom cabinet out of reclaimed wood for my business Upchunk Furniture.

Fantastic. Where did you get the idea for that? My dad was in the furniture making business so I grew up with a hammer in my hand pretty much. I’ve always been interested in creating and with a young family sturdy pieces of furniture are essential - I made an industrial style coffee table then got requests to make other pieces and before I knew it, Upchunk happened.

From coffee tables and day beds to bird houses and skateboard racks, Upchunk furniture is made with passion, style and practicality in mind. I went back a few weeks later to see what had become of that green ‘throw away’ cabinet. It’s now a beautiful hardwood, hand crafted stunning sideboard.

You can find Upchunk Furniture online here:

etsy.com/au/shop/upchunkfurniture

facebook.com/Upchunk.furniture Written by mammaknowswest.com.au

Where do you get your timber? I have a couple of good sources from the factories around the West, packing cases and old shelving etc. I just keep an eye out for material I can reclaim and up-cycle - good quality timber plus other bits and pieces.

What keeps you motivated and inspired?

Each piece of furniture is unique depending on the wood and materials, always giving me scope to be creative. There is plenty of variety in the work.

How do you juggle the ‘stay at home’ Dad factor? Owning my own business gives me flexibility for the family. My Little One is handy with a hammer and makes wooden animals with off cuts, so we ‘work’ together, she can hammer in nails better than some Big People.

(Mamma can vouch for that!)

What are the family’s favourite places in the West? We love Willy Beach and often head to the foreshore with the bikes and skateboards.

For coffee, Cobb Lane in the Village is the best.

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HOLIDAY HEROES Just as we get back into the swing of a new school year, it is almost school holiday time again! If you are stuck for ideas to entertain the kidlets these Easter holidays, here are our top 10 ideas...

Lego Education Learning Centre

Open Gym at Footscray Gymnastics

Get your child’s imagination going with an educational Lego session. Each session goes for 45 minutes and you can leave your child for up to three consecutive sessions. There are sessions using the various types of Lego including DUPLO Tech Machines and Lego Mindstorms Robots.

Supervised play in a fully set up gymnastics area complete with in-ground trampolines, foam pits, climbing ropes, balancing beams, bars and plenty of soft shapes and climbing equipment. 1 hour sessions cost just $7.50 per participant. Children under school age are also welcome if they are actively supervised by an adult.

Sessions cost $12 each and are available for 4–6 year olds, and 7–10 year olds.

Sessions at 10am and 11am Monday 30 March– Thursday 2 April, and Tuesday 7 April–Friday 10 April. No need to book.

For bookings call 9602 1116 or email docklandslec@gmail.com Shop 5, 439 Docklands Drive, Waterfront City Docklands www.mooreed.com.au

Little Creatures Collective Each School Holidays, Little Creatures Collective offers an exciting new range of programs which are both engaging and unique in every way!

Students learn basic drawing and painting techniques, which have been adopted by the masters, to produce artwork with a difference.

No matter what the subject matter the results are always rewarding.

Holiday workshops are for children in Prep to Grade 6 and you can choose between a half or full day.

Level 1, 99 Buckley St, Seddon www.littlecreaturescollective.com

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10 Mitford Parade, West Footscray www.footscraycity.gymnastics.org.au

Dance Habit A workshop at Dance Habit is a fun place for kids to get active during the holidays.

It’s a great way to experience the classes and teachers without committing to a full term.

The workshops are for boys and girls with any level of experience.

77-79 Ashley Street Braybrook www.dancehabit.com.au

Lifestyle for Kids Singing, acting, dancing, cheerleading and even trampolining… something is bound to appeal to your little performer. The activities for this one sound absolutely jam packed with fun.

Ages 5–12. 10am–3:30pm 193 Champion Road, Williamstown. www.lifestyleforkids.com.au

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Westgate Indoor Sports

100 Story Building

A long day program offering a wide range of sports, arts and crafts, science, music, drama and cooking as well as excursions and incursions.

The 100 Story Building is a centre for young writers right in the heart of Footscray, Their school holiday writing workshops are for kids aged 7–12 years who love to write and tell stories.

Running 30 March–10 April 7:30am–6pm. As they are a registered provider you can claim the Child Care Rebate for this one.

Cnr Grieve Pde & Doherty’s Rd, Altona North Book online or call 9369 6888. www.westgateindoorsports.com.au

Artz Collective Each day features performing arts workshops and a showcase. With singing, drama, acrobatics and dance among the offerings these workshops really do cover all the artistic bases.

The program is for 5–12 year olds and runs 9am–3:30pm with before and after care available.

1/37 Chalmers Road, Altona North www.artzcollective.com.au

There is a very creative vibe going on here.

Plus, the 100 Story Building is a social enterprise so when you use their paid holiday programs you are supporting them to run free programs for marginalised children and young people.

92 Nicholson St, Footscray www.100storybuilding.org.au

Extreme Arts at Footscray Community Arts Centre This one definitely has the wow factor with workshops such as paste ups, junk puppetry, circus, stop motion animation, projection art and more.

Sessions are led by artists and separate workshops are available for 6–9 year olds and 10–12 year olds. The sessions are 10am–3pm and before and after care are available.

45 Moreland Street, Footscray footscrayarts.com

Other long day programs Lots of local primary schools also run programs and you can usually send your children even if they attend another school. Providers include Camp Australia, Team Holiday and OSH Club.

Recwest YMCA in West Footscray also run a program for the whole holiday period.

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It’s party time!

Family, Friends, Food and FUN come to mind when planning a children’s party. We’ve got some great ideas to help bring all that together!

Parties can get a little stressful & expensive to plan when the invitation list keeps growing, so keep your guest list to a minimum.

Lists are the key to planning a party starting with your invites, food, games, piñata, cake, balloons, lolly bags & decorations.

Piñatas are a popular party game. To avoid overloading the kids with too many lollies, get them to put all the lollies from the bashed piñata into a big bowl where you can divide them into their take home lolly bag.

If you are limited for space at home you can usually get a list of local town halls or community centres to hire from your local council.

Theme parties are fun: pirate, jungle, rainbow, under the sea, disco, funny hat, favourite colour & so many more. There are so many great ideas for theme parties online for both decorating & food ideas.

Parties in the park are great – Yarraville Gardens and Cherry Lake are popular locally. A little further afield, Buckingham Reserve Sunshine and Riverside Park Aberfeldie tick all the boxes. For smaller children a fully fenced park such as the playground at Kevin Shorten Reserve West Footscray (toilets at the nearby YMCA) may be better. Play some good old fashioned egg & spoon races, sack races, a treasure hunt or pass the parcel. Make sure you have a back up plan just in case the weather turns.

It is such a great time to stop and spend time with your child and get them to help with ideas.

We as parents have to remember a child counts down the days to their birthday and you are creating beautiful memories for them to treasure. Don’t make the mistake of getting caught up in creating the party of the century when your child will remember simple pleasures like licking the beater after making their cake.

Written by The Party Shack, 152 Victoria St Seddon. Visit them on facebook page or at www.thepartyshack.com.au - They are more than happy to help you with ideas for your next party.

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Are your kids brushing well?

Interest free payment plans We bulk-bill Medicare for the Childs Dental Scheme $1000 of dental care for kids aged 2 – 18 for families that qualify for the CDBS Health fund extras?

No out of pocket on Check & Cleans for health fund members with benefits available

Dr Casey Edgar, Dr Alex Stojcev, Dr Ben Scully, Dr Russell McDonald, Dr Sam El-Haddad. Oral Health Therapists Mark, Cathy & Joseph.

6 /44 Hampstead Road, Maidstone 3012 Call for appointments 9317 3144 SmartChoiceDental.com.au

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welcome to sunSpots Did you enjoy summer? Loved the beautiful weather? Spent lots of time outdoors? Well now you may be noticing brown or red flat spots on your face? A little scaly?

A little stingy when you are in the sun? Welcome to sunspots!

Where there is one, there is more - sorry they come with friends, visible and invisible.

Sunspots that are invisible are said to be 10-times more frequent under the skin than the ones that are able to be seen. Unfortunately if you are seeing sunspots now, the damage was done some 10 years ago.

The good news is that sunspots, or solar keratoses are NOT a skin cancer. But they are an early and serious warning sign to protect your skin from the sun. They are most commonly due to over-exposure to the sun. You will often also hear them being referred to as hyperpigmentation and put in the same bucket as age spots, dark spots and brown marks.

If you are not 100% sure that what you are seeing is a sunspot please go and see your doctor to get it checked out. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, especially considering the beautiful sun-drenched country in which we live has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. According to the Cancer Council Queensland, ‘occasionally, sunspots may develop into a skin cancer, however the probability is low…..(but) skin cancers are more common with people with sunspots’.

Once you are sure that what you are seeing is in fact sunspots, the good news is that are generally harmless and there is a way to get rid of them. To treat the sunspots you need to remove the damaged skin, so that the new skin can come to the surface. There are a variety of options including–natural therapies, creams, in-spa treatments and the knife or similar invasive therapies.

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Natural therapies said to have a lightening effect on sunspots are applying lemon juice, juice from a red onion, Vitamin E capsules, green tea bags and/or buttermilk regularly on your damaged skin. Those choosing this option will need to be particularly vigilant in applying sunscreen, as these treatments will leave your skin more prone to sun damage.

You may also experience some dryness, so extra moisturiser will also be the go, as well as some deep breathing–you will need it as you practice some patience. Going natural is a beautiful thing, but results take time.

Creams can work on both visible and invisible sunspots, the view is that you really need to keep at it if you are using a cream, no giving up or expecting results for at least 4 weeks.

Zoe Foster Blake on her Australian ZoTheySay beauty blog recommends trying Dermalogica’s Tri-active Cleanse which exfoliates skin and helps treat discolouration, and if you are going down the natural path, Vitamin C is ‘a stupendously good skin brightener’ according to Zoe. In-spa treatments such as microdermabrasion and chemical peels are great for removing the top layer of damaged skin, and treating your skin with the right mix of super charged active ingredients to help the fresh skin surface. You should see results quickly after 3-4 treatments.

ZoTheySay recommends an in-spa peel every 2-3 weeks for stunning results, coupled with a complimentary at home routine. Peels have come a long way and are a far cry from the peels that left you red faced and in-hiding for a week. Our Facebook page competition this month is offering one lucky MamaMag reader a tailored peel.

Alternatively if you are game you can go under the knife or try even more aggressive options.

These include: Cryotherapy which involves freezing off the spot with liquid nitrogen, the damaged skin will peel off after 10-20 days, thicker spots may leave a scar. Curettage, which is scrapping it off. Cautery, burning it off, also

leaves a scab after a few weeks and may scar. Excision, which is basically cutting it out, most likely to be used if there is suspected skin cancer.

Any treatment is not permanent, sunspots are likely to keep surfacing, so you will need to keep working at them with your new routine.

The damage was done 10-20 years ago when education wasn’t as good as it is now, and unfortunately it can’t be reversed. So while we can maintain regimes and treatments going forward, the ultimate fighter is prevention.

Which of course we are responsible for instilling in our children and saving them from seeing the spots later in life! For us, sunspots are an early warning sign to take extra care of your skin against the sun. Wear a good SPF sunscreen every day. Find one that doesn’t make you break out and apply it. It’s much easier than treating sun damage.

Written by Jovita Gartlan from Endota Spa. Endota stocks dermalogica and provides in-spa microdermabrasion and peels.

Sources - Cancer Council Queensland, http://www.knowyourownskin.com.au/sundamage/the-effects-of-sun-damage/#sunspots, (http://naturalbeautytips.co/how-to-get-ridof-sunspots-on-face-and-skin/), http://www. zotheysay.com/how-to-properly-treat-andprevent-hyperpigmentation

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lovely locals Werner

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Pilgrim

Austin St

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victoria street seddon

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Each month MamaMag will visit one of the West’s shopping precincts to bring you new ideas for things like coffee, lunch, shopping, fashion, kid’s clothes and more. Drop us an email at submissions@mamamag.com.au if you’d like us to visit your favourite spot.

1. Fresh Australian produce – Pompello A small, family run grocer, Pompello specialises in local produce, organic produce and anything ethically sourced and delicious. They also have fresh flowers and fresh juice pressed to order plus local eggs, honey, milk, jams and olive oils.

164 Victoria Street Seddon 2. Home and body – LoveLuvo This shop smells gorgeous and is full of eco friendly cleaning products, homewares and body products. Many are sourced locally and some of the cleaning products are refillable. There are plenty of lovely things you could give as gifts, including soy wax candles and locally produced cards and gift wrap.

LoveLuvo is a social enterprise providing employment to people living with mental illness. 174 Victoria Street Seddon and online at www.loveluvo.com.au 3. Party goods – The Party Shack Jemma has run The Party Shack for over 10 years and can help you with all the party goods you need to host a great party. The amazing variety of items includes the usual balloons, tableware, piñatas, lolly bags (and all the things to go in them), as well as some incredible costume and novelty items. They also do fantastic looking balloon arrangements to order for any occasion.

152 Victoria Street Seddon. www.thepartyshack.com.au 4. Out for dinner – African Taste A family run Ethiopian restaurant that leaves diners raving about the wonderful food and hospitality. The fufu, which is the African version of gnocchi, is pretty much famous in these parts! 124 Victoria Street Seddon, phone 9687 0560.

5. Nurture yourself – Seddon Therapies Specialising in massage and osteopathy, Seddon Therapies has a lovely calm, nurturing feel. They have evening and weekend appointments so there will be a time to suit you. They have a very loyal following so book well in advance.

87 Victoria Street Seddon. www.seddontherapies.com 6. Gourmet groceries – A Bongiovanni & Son A vast array of specialty products here including a huge range of gluten free products —we even spotted gluten free party pies and sausage rolls. Their product range reads like a gourmet health food blog—coconut yoghurt, sauerkraut, cocoa nibs, rapadura sugar, freekeh, kombucha—the list goes on.

176-178 Victoria Street Seddon 14

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fernwoodfitness.com.au facebook.com/fernwoodfitness

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5 Tips to a healthy body after your baby is born Having the opportunity to help expectant mothers and their babies during and after pregnancy is one of the favourite areas of my work as an Osteopath.

Pregnancy is a natural process, which shouldn’t be seen as an illness, and Osteopathy can help to support the changes in the mother’s body as pregnancy progresses and after bub is born.

After having a baby 11 months ago myself, I realise how important having a healthy pain free body is, especially as it’s now not just you relying on it.

It is estimated that virtually all women experience some degree of musculoskeletal discomfort during pregnancy, and 25% have at least temporarily disabling symptoms. These ailments may continue on after the labour, or change to a different area of the spine due to the new demands that come with motherhood.

Here are 5 tips to help you in maintaining a healthy body once your precious little bundle arrives: 1. Straight after baby is born your body can feel as though it has run a marathon.

You and your body have worked hard to get where you’ve gotten so pat yourself on the back and get as much sleep in that first week as you can. Drink lots of water and when you’re not resting you might like to try and gently move your legs up and down in the bed or, if able, go for small walks down the hospital hallway to help with any swelling that you may have.

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2. Your pelvic floor may feel strangely disconnected after giving birth so start thinking about gently contracting it to get the brain-pelvic floor pathway going again.

Visualise a muscular sling as the floor of your pelvis, running from your tailbone to your pubic bone. Focusing on your back passage, lift and squeeze upwards and inwards as though you are trying to avoid passing wind, then bring that pelvic floor lift through to the front as though you are trying to stop the flow of urine. Aim to hold this lift for 3 seconds initially, building up to 10 seconds over time.

(Download the fantastic app ‘Pelvic Floor First’ by the Continence Association of Australia for further information and exercises).

3. You will spend a gazillion hours on a couch feeding a baby. Sometimes you will feel as though you live here, spending only short periods away from the trusty recliner.

It’s therefore important to maintain good posture. Find a small cushion or roll up a towel and pop it between the couch and your lower back. Experiment with where it best helps in stopping you from slouching forward & feels comfortable. Lean your upper back into the chair and allow your shoulders to relax down the back. Lengthen the back of you neck and roll your chin toward your chest. Rather than leaning down to bub, use pillows under one arm to support baby, and prevent overuse of your shoulder muscles.

Get in the habit of spending a few moments to stretch after every feed. Sit up straight and interlock your fingers behind your head. Your elbows will be pointing to the sides. Now move your elbows back as far as you comfortably can.

Hold this stretch for 30 seconds and release.

(Discontinue if it causes pain and see your local Osteopath for advice)

4. It would be a ludicrous idea to carry a 4kg sack of potatoes around the supermarket on our hips, however we seem to spend hours with a child on one.

Ensure that you don’t favour sides & give both hips a go. Or even better, hold bub out in front and where possible use the pram or give them floor time.

5. Pregnancy can do some crazy things to your body and one effect you might not think much about is loose joints.

Your body needs time to recover, as your ligaments may still be loose for a few months after bub is born. Exercise is good for you but don’t over do it in the first six months. Choose low impact exercise and avoid anything that causes you to bounce or jump. Clinical Pilates is a great way of combining pelvic floor exercises with overall toning and strength.

And finally, there are many changes to the mother’s body that occur in a healthy pregnancy and many bodies can support these changes without problem, however if there is any underlying tension from past injuries, surgeries, illnesses or stress, the body may not be as “giving”. Make sure that prior to falling pregnant, you try and address ‘problem areas’ so as they don’t become a problem when you’re pregnant.

At The Osteopathic Clinic Altona we regularly help women prior to conception, during their pregnancy and afterwards to enjoy musculoskeletal health. The clinic also has Clinical Pilates catering especially for pregnancy and post pregnancy health.

By Dr. Natalie Cross (Osteopath) B.App Sc(clinical science)/B.Osteopathy/Grad Cert Paed MT.

The Osteopathic Clinic Altona 65 Millers Rd. Altona. Ph 9315 9007

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turn the page THE GIANT JAM SANDWICH, John Vernon Lord, First published 1972 Available in Paperback - $16.95 Board Book - $16.95 Book & CD $19.95 An absolute classic tale of how a little village in ‘Itching Down’ cope with a swarm of wasps. What better way than to bake a giant loaf of bread in the local old brick mill with 50 cookers, spread it with jam with help from the local farmer’s tractor, and then ‘trap’ those wasps. Written with a rollicking rhyme, this story stretches the imagination and its detailed illustrations are a delight to pore over. Also available with CD reading in which the sound of buzzing wasps indicates when to turn the page. Age 2+ THE LITTLE GIRL and the TINY DOLL, a father and daughter combination of EDWARD and AINGELDA ARDIZZONE, First published 1966 $12.95 This story has captured my imagination for all my child and adulthood life, it is a great story to have in ones head. Whilst shopping, a little girl spots a lonely doll living amongst the frozen peas and fish fingers in the freezer compartment of the local supermarket.

The girl takes pity upon the doll and each week makes an item of clothing to slip into the freezer so that the doll might not suffer from the cold so. I still look for this doll when I go shopping. Presented as an early readers novel, broken up with pictures. Story to be enjoyed by 3-10 years CAPS FOR SALE, ESPHYR SLOBODKINA First Published 1938, $14.95 This story needs little introduction, I would just like to remind those parents who grew up with this story of how wonderful it is. A pedlar, selling hats, has his wares stolen by a tree of cheeky monkeys. He comes up with a great plan to retrieve his hats back. This book incorporates mathematical themes of counting, sorting and grouping. It is certainly a story that has stood the test of time. Age 3+ also available, the sequel Circus Caps for Sale

OWL AT HOME, ARNOLD LOBEL First published 1975, $14.95 This chapter book is aimed at early readers age 7+ however the story content and illustrations suited for ages 3-103. From the same author of the Frog and Toad series, Mouse Tales and Mouse Soup, Owl invites us into his life where he shows us how to make ‘tear water tea’, introduces his concerns for the ‘bumps’ at the end of his bed, and how his good nature is abused by the bad manners of ‘Winter’. Clever & Humorous stories told with great spirit. Age 3+

JP JUNIOR EVERLASTING BOOKS is the children’s branch from the educational bookseller JP BOOKS. This family based bookshop offers a wide range of Educational Texts and VCE Reference for the older kids (Secondary & Primary) and an extensive carefully selected range of children’s classic picture books and novels for the young and young at heart.

Storytimes are held every Thursday and the 1st Friday of the month at 11.00am including book readings, children’s folk songs and a theme based activity.

JP BOOKS & JP JUNIOR EVERLASTING BOOKS - 355 Somerville Rd Yarraville PH 03 9314 0529 18

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MAMA of the month The journey of creating MamaMag has allowed us to meet so many amazing local mums who have managed to start their own businesses or start something new and exciting whilst juggling their other full time job, motherhood! It is both inspiring and fun to find out about each of their journeys and so each month we will share with you their stories with our ‘mama of the month’!

Perhaps their story might inspire you to take the leap into something new too!

This month we met with three “Westie” mums who have made it their mission to share their passion for uncovering the best of what Melbourne’s West has to offer for local families with their fun website, mammaknowswest.com.au Sammi Dobinson, mum of 4 year old Tilly and 2 year old Minnie, Claire Cornfield, mum of 2 year old Zoe and 3 year old Hannah, and Mandy Couzens mum to Austin, 3 and Evie, 4, took a rare opportunity to sit down and tell us all about Mamma Knows West.

How was the idea of Mamma Knows West conceived?

Tell us about what Mamma Knows West has to offer?

We love living in Melbourne’s west and get a buzz when we find a great park, activity or eatery and we wanted to inspire other parents to discover family friendly places on their doorsteps that they might not know exist.

The hope was to create our website with a local village community feel where people could visit to draw inspiration from to get out and about to meet other families and enjoy local places, activities and businesses.

Every day of the week the three of us are dedicated to inspiring parents to get out there and mix it up without having to travel too far.

Mamma Knows West has everything from tips on great parks to family friendly cafes, events and markets, and much more.

What were you all doing before Mamma Knows West began?

We were all working in the corporate world, Sammi in corporate communications, Mandy in advertising, and Claire in financial services.

How has the website evolved?

Before we launched we ran focus groups and listened to what people wanted to know about, which helped shape the categories for our site.

It was almost a year of research and writing before we launched.

We never anticipated the huge response we would get and how much of a role social media would play. We currently have 6,700 Facebook friends and there were 25,000 visitors to our site last month.

Photos by Lecinda Ward Photography

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People love to see the places that Mamma does a Facebook “check in” from. It’s one of the things that really personalises our site and gives us immediate feedback of the community we’re creating.

You give daily tips and advice to local parents, how does it operate day to day?

We share the load and support each other, juggling our families means that some days we’ll be available more than others. We are all very flexible and bring different complementary strengths, which makes us a good team.

Do you get much feedback from local parents?

Yes! That is the most satisfying part of our job.

Parents can feel isolated and it can be easy to go to the same places all the time. Lots of people tell us what a difference we’ve made in inspiring them to explore new places and experiences. The best bit is hearing about people discovering new places all the time thanks to us. Sometimes all you need is a little help to get out that front door!

What’s the best part of running the site?

The feedback we get from local parents. One dad struck up a conversation in a local park recently and said he was there because he’d found it on mammaknowswest.com.au. It was so great to meet him because that’s exactly what we’re about, inspiring our neighbours to check stuff out.

They say never go into business with friends! Was it hard to make that work?

Two of us (Sammi and Claire) have been close friends for more than 15 years and we’ve only had one or two heated moments! Mandy came on board late last year and we’re all in sync with our values and joke that we operate as “one brain” and easily agree on things. We have different skill sets which really complement each other and it’s great having honest friends who will tell you whether an idea is good or bad without the risk of offending. We bounce off each other’s energy and that keeps us all highly motivated. Ask us again in another 15 years but we’re certain Mamma Knows West will be rocking along!

Finally where can we find you? www.mammaknowswest.com.au

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eating to fight off Post Dietitian Melanie McGrice discusses omega-3 fatty acids, their role in post-natal depression and what you can do to make sure you’re getting enough.

For most women, having a baby is the most significant life changing event they will ever experience. It is usually a happy time, however with all the changes that new mums have to adjust to in combination with a hurricane of hormonal fluctuations and less sleep than studying for a medical exam, it is common to experience changes in your emotions and mood. When emotional distress is persistent and disabling it can reach the level of clinical depression otherwise known as post-natal depression, PND. Unfortunately PND is not a rarity; studies estimate that approximately 10-15% of all new mothers will be affected in some way.

If you’re planning for a baby it is recommended that you start increasing your Omega-3 intake 6 months prior to conception to allow time to build up stores.

DHA, are important for the development of the brain, eyes and central nervous system of your growing baby. Omega-3s are passed during pregnancy to your baby via your placenta as well as through breast milk once your bub is born. The amount of Omega-3 passed onto your baby is dependent on your dietary intake therefore it is essential for you to ensure you are having adequate Omega-3 intake, particularly during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Regretfully, many Australian women don’t have enough Omega-3 in their diet and so their own stores are drawn upon, leaving you depleted which may increase the risk of PND. Although there is still debate as to its mechanisms, it is believed that Omega-3 fatty acids assist in carrying mood chemicals such as serotonin in the brain. International guidelines recommend that pregnant women consume at least 200mg of DHA each day.

PND is serious, but don’t give up! It’s encouraging to know that there are really simple strategies that you can incorporate in your daily diet to minimise your risk of developing PND.

In fact, in the year after childbirth a woman is more likely to need psychological help than at any other time in her life. PND is a serious condition not only affecting the new mum, but it can also be debilitating to close relationships and can even affect the level of mother-infant interaction. There is good news though…

Studies suggest that women who have sufficient long chain Omega-3 fatty acid intake during and after pregnancy reduce their risk of developing PND.

What are Omega-3s?

Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of ‘good’ polyunsaturated fat and are found in three different forms; eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and a-linolenic acid (ALA). Our body cannot make Omega-3 fats by itself therefore we need to consume them from our diet. Omega-3s, in particular

Melanie McGrice is one of Australia’s best known dietitians. She is a highly respected author and health presenter on nutrition and dietary issues - and a lover of great food! Join her free nutrition and wellbeing network at www.melaniemcgrice.com.au.

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natal Depression

Written by Melanie McGrice, AdvAPD.

Don’t be scared to eat fish

Try some flaxseed oil

Eating fish whilst pregnant can generate fear in many women because of the threat of listeria or mercury poisoning. The truth is that fish should be on the top of your shopping list! Marine animals are the main source of Omega-3 fatty acids in the diet with oily fish having the richest Omega- 3 content.

Plant based Omega-3 fatty acids come in the form of ALA from foods such as flaxseed, chia seeds, walnuts, soybeans and canola oil. Our body must convert ALA into EPA and DHA but this conversion rate is slow and inefficient (less than 10% when compared to what is obtained from fish). Of all the plant based sources, flaxseeds are the best source as they contain ~50-60% ALA. Although whole flaxseeds are poorly digested and can only provide ~3g ALA, 1 tbsp flaxseed oil can provide up to 10g of ALA, which equates to approximately 400mg DHA. Flaxseed oil is too delicate to cook with so a handy tip is to use it as a salad dressing.

A serve of salmon, sardines or trout provides over 1000mg DHA while white fish including snapper, tuna or barramundi, and other seafood provide approximately 600mg of DHA per serve. Just be sure to limit your intake of predatory fish and flake (shark) and to cook your fish well and there is no reason to shy away from seafood!

Recommended intake: aim for 2-3 150g serves of low mercury fish per week

Recommended intake: Aim for 1 tablespoon flaxseed oil per day

Have more eggs Even though eggs provide less Omega-3 than marine or meat based products, they are still a good source of Omega-3. A standard 60g egg provides approximately 40mg DHA. Some companies are now fortifying their eggs to boost their Omega-3 content. Always check the label of fortified products to confirm Omega-3 quantities, but as a general guide an enriched 60g egg may provide 70mg DHA. Incorporate them into sandwiches or stir-fries or serve them as the hero of the dish either boiled or scrambled or the humble omelette.

Recommended intake: Aim for 6 60g Omega 3 enriched eggs per week

Increasing your Omega-3 intake can be as easy as adding more fish, eggs and/or flaxseed into your diet. If you or someone you love has post-natal depression it is important to also seek professional help from your health care providers.

Post natal depression is a serious condition and can affect mothers with mild, moderate or severe symptoms such as sadness and hopelessness, severe mood swings, confusion, guilt, sleeping and appetite changes and even thoughts of suicide.

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Necklace $20 Angelica, 30 Anderson Street, Yarraville Etiko ‘Thongs for good’ recycled thongs $27.50 Green Collective, 71 Anderson Street, Yarraville

Rag Rug $25 Precious Myrtle, 84 Charles Street, Seddon

Teapot $44.95, Cup $15, T2 Tea $12 Village Idiom, 34 Anderson Street, Yarraville

Heart + Barnes map cushion $80 Green Collective, 71 Anderson Street, Yarraville

Andy table lamp $200 Enrich Interiors, Shop 2 130-136 Victoria Street, Seddon

Milk & Sugar Frankie wash bags $24.95 Sedonia, 41 Gamon Street, Seddon

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Emily Green necklaces $82 each Sedonia, 41 Gamon Street, Seddon

Molly Leather Wallet $55 each Poppi & Pippa, 28A Ferguson Street Williamstown

Alchamy Produx Soy beaker candles $55 & $45, Bloom&Co, 51 Ferguson Street, Williamstown

Scarf $45 Elle & Stuart, 89 Pier Street, Altona Mr & Mrs Clynk canvas toilet bag. $39.95 Inviteme, 66 Anderson Street, Yarraville

Sunnygirl top $39.95 Angelica, 30 Anderson Street, Yarraville

Watermelon door mat $65 Inviteme, 66 Anderson Street, Yarraville

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Williamstown Psychology consists of a team of highly experienced psychologists who each offer specialised skills in counselling, psychotherapy and psychological approaches to addressing a range of issues.

We offer specialised care in: • child & adolescent issues • pregnancy • fertility issues & IVF • parenting • relationships • grief & loss • depression & anxiety • sexuality & gender • adults dealing with childhood trauma.

Please contact us on 03 9397 1698 for a confidential conversation about your needs.

98A Ferguson Street Williamstown

Suzanne Saunders 0448 480 108

Prams Welcome We'll even open the door for you!

20 Hall Street Newport 3015 Phone (03)9392 1878 Fax (03)9399 2888

80 Charles Street Seddon 3011 Phone (03)8398 7800 Fax (03)8398 7888

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Williamstown - 9397 8292 Fitzroy North - 9486 2822 Present this offer for a FREE trial class! www.healthyfit.com.au Live Fit - Live Life!

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Live Local - Shop Local - and don’t forget to mention MamaMag!

are you crp ready?

In Australia each year 260 children die and 58,000 children are hospitalised from accidental injuries. Would you know how to help your child if one of these incidences left them unconscious and not breathing?

For every minute that CPR is not performed when needed, the chance of the child’s survival decreases by 10%. After 4 minutes without oxygen, you child will suffer irreversible brain damage.

260 Australian children die & 58,000 are hospitalised every year.

What happens in the first five minutes holds the key to saving their life. It is not realistic to expect professional help to arrive within this short amount of time. We therefore need more people of all ages who are trained and willing to provide immediate CPR to our kids, while waiting for help to arrive.

KidzAid founder Brionhy Westbrook had a terrifying experience with her own baby, which motivated her to help provide training for parents. “My 5 month old daughter, Poppy, suddenly became pale, floppy and unconscious in my arms,” Brionhy recalls. “Fortunately, being an experienced emergency nurse, I managed to get myself through, but it left me thinking what would another parent do?” As a result KidzAid Paediatric First Aid Training was born and each year provides comprehensive courses for parents all over Australia.

To make it even easier for parents to gain this vital knowledge, Brionhy and her team will convert the Palladium at Crown Melbourne into a large training centre on Good Friday this year.

Nurses, paramedics, and medical practitioners will all volunteer their time to teach Melbourne families the life saving skill of paediatric CPR and set a world record.

All the proceeds from the day will support the Good Friday Appeal for the Royal Children’s

Hospital. Entry is only $5 per person or $15 per family, with 100% of this fee being donated directly to the appeal. The event will also host family fun day activities, such as celebrity CPR challenges, jumping castles, roving princesses and superheroes, activity stations, play equipment, parenting experts and fundraising shop. Don’t forget to bring along gold coins to participate in all the fundraising funds (of course notes will be accepted as well!)

Families are encouraged to attend together, with the training sessions also providing parents with the opportunity to teach their children from a young age the importance of always having up-to-date CPR knowledge. Children are invited to come dressed as their favourite hero (many of whom will be available onsite during the day to meet and have a photo with) and participate in the junior CPR hero training program.

For every minute that CPR is not performed when needed, the chance of the child’s survival decreases by 10%.

Registrations are now open, however there will be limited places, so get in early to take advantage of this great opportunity. Don’t forget to encourage grandparents, carers, babysitters and next door neighbours to participate as well. You want to ensure there are as many people as possible in your network who can save your child’s life.

The CPR Challenge is powered by KidzAid, proudly presented by Priceline, and supported

by Crown Melbourne, Australian First Aid Training, Melbourne’s Child, Dorevitch and Zoll.

Friday 3rd April at Palladium Room, Crown.

Paediatric CPR training for only $5.00 per person or $15 for a family of 4.

Register at www.cprchallenge.com.au.

As seen in

mama can Cook!

Barbecue Salmon with Orange and Fennel Salad Serves: 4 | Prep: 10min | Cook: 4-6min Ingredients: 4 salmon fillets, skin on Zest of 1 lemon 1 tablespoon baby capers, chopped 1 fennel bulb, finely sliced (keep the leafy fronds) 2 tablespoons olive oil Salt and pepper 4 handfuls mixed lettuce leaves 2 oranges, peeled and sliced ½ red onion, finely sliced 1 handful coriander, chopped Dressing: 3 tablespoons orange juice 6 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar 1 tablespoon wholegrain mustard

Method: On a board, chop lemon zest, capers and leafy fennel fronds together. Rinse and pat the salmon dry. On the top side of each salmon fillet, cut three or four shallow slits in the flesh.

Oil and cover with lemon zest mixture, trying to get it into the slits. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

On a medium–high barbecue, cook for 2–3 minutes each side. Start with the skin side down and when you turn it over remove the skin and place skin on the hotplate to continue cooking until crisp. If the fillets have a thick and a thin end, you may want to cut them in half, as the thin piece will need much less time to cook.

Combine lettuce, orange, sliced fennel and onion in a large salad bowl.

To make dressing, shake ingredients in a jar until combined. Taste and adjust to your liking. Pour over salad and toss together then sprinkle with coriander leaves and serve with salmon.

Find this and more Summer Table, by Melbourne mum Jodie Blight.

Find out more at www.hellotable.com.au

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It’s always a good time for chocolate, isn’t it? PLUS these have hidden fruit and vegies!

Nourish Me Choc Zucchini Muffins Makes: 12 | Prep Time: 5min | Cook time: 15min Ingredients: 300g organic wholemeal spelt flour 2 ripe bananas 30g organic raw cocoa 130g organic rapadura sugar 8 medjool dates 1 grated zucchini 120g coconut oil 2 organic eggs dash vanilla extract 1 tsp bicarb 1 tsp baking powder 200ml milk (almond or coconut are nice) 1/2 cup desiccated coconut 1 tsp apple cider vinegar

Find more nourishing ideas at www.123nourishme.com.au

These gorgeous muffins are filled with the most beautiful ingredients.

There are sweet without being too sweet and incredibly nourishing.

This recipe makes a brilliant cake, muffins or mini muffins.

Method: Grate zucchini and squeeze out excess moisture, then set aside.

Blend dates and banana until it forms a paste.

In a bowl hand mix banana and date paste with all other ingredients to a smooth consistency.

Place mixture in a 12 pan muffin tin and cook at 180 degrees for around 15-20 or until firm. Test with a skewer!

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receIve to conceIve Wouldn’t it be nice if conception were as easy as the stork dropping off a gorgeous bundle of joy on your doorstep.

Unfortunately for so many it isn’t easy at all and sometimes even IVF doesn’t bring any success. In some cases people have literally left it too late. Dr Burmeister, the clinical director at Monash IVF says some women believe they can have their career and then use IVF at 40 to start a family. For many others, meeting a partner later in life has delayed motherhood. But, Dr Burmeister says, only 4 per cent of a woman’s eggs are left at the age of 40.

The older the woman is the greater the risk at each stage that things won’t go to plan. In 2011 the chance of a live birth per started treatment cycle was 25.3% for women aged 30-34 but only 6.6% for women aged 40-44 and a dismal 1.2% for women aged 45 or older. So, while fertility doesn’t “drop off a cliff” at 35, the chance of conceiving (spontaneously and with IVF) and having a complication-free pregnancy and a healthy baby steadily declines after age 35 and after age 40 chances are slim.

But for some, letting the biological clock tick a bit too long is NOT the problem. Women of any age can have trouble with IVF using their own eggs and only have the option of an egg donor to help them conceive.

So how do you find a suitable egg donor?

We discovered one local Melbourne couple this month facing just this question, with their only option to have a second child being through an egg donor. You can read more about their story in the pink box.

Finding an egg donor can seem an impossible task. Many wonder, where do I begin? Who could I possibly ask? But the fact is many women in Victoria ARE willing and happy to help others to become parents via egg donation, you just need to find them.

In the past year, over 220 women donated eggs in Victoria. Finding a local donor rather than travelling overseas for treatment can also

30 30

have enormous advantages. A local donor has the benefit of legal protections that ensure that she can be known to the potential child, and parents, and is perhaps more likely to have a similar value set, appearance and language to their own. Apart from the obvious lower cost factor, it is also much easier to travel to a local clinic than heading abroad.

Who makes an ideal egg donor?

People often wonder what sort of woman donates her eggs and what qualities are looked for in a potential donor.

Donors are preferably: • Aged between 25-36 years. Women younger than this may not be able to fully appreciate the implications of donating. Older women are likely to have decreased fertility and therefore chance of success but may still be able to donate if they are fertile.

• Already mothers themselves. Women who are mothers have proven fertility and can perhaps better understand the consequences of donating. It is also preferable, although not essential, if they have completed their family.

• Healthy - physically, mentally and in terms of lifestyle.

• Motivated by a desire to help others. It is not legal to pay donors; however they can of course be reimbursed for travel and medical expenses.

• Sensible and settled. It is advisable that their life is fairly stable and that they have a good support network. If someone is recovering from a recent break up or has started a new job, it may be difficult for them to cope with medical appointments and procedures.

• Prepared to be identified to the child, as Victorian legislation requires this.

If egg donation sounds like something you would like to consider you can find more information at www.varta.org.au

A tiny donation is a HUGE gift We consider ourselves very lucky to have one miracle baby who came into this world after many years of trying and a rocky ride through many IVF cycles. We tried unsuccessfully for a second child, and after 5 more IVF cycles I was told that a donor egg is our only option to conceive.

Our daughter is a cheeky character with big blue eyes, a beautiful caring nature, and the cutest laugh – she will be a great big sister and it makes us sad that she may never have a sibling.

About us – we are a happy family of 3, with the desire to be 4. We are in our late 30’s and have been together for 8 years and married for 5. We love watching our daughter grow, learn and develop her unique personality. We are regular, healthy and genuine people who enjoy spending time with friends and family, traveling and music.

Of course there are a few boxes for our donor to tick, like being under 35, in excellent health, willing and able, and ideally completed their family, but for us it also about the “vibe” – we want to click with our donor. It is important for the match to be right for our family, but also for our donor and their family, plus the potential child that may result from this gift who we intend to be open about their magical beginnings.

Your tiny donation will be a huge generous gift. Actual expenditure incurred on medical and associate travel costs will be reimbursed.

If you are interested in having an initial chat, please contact us via email - onemorebabybear@gmail.com The text of this advertisement has been approved by the Victorian Minister for Health, as required by s.40 of the Human Tissue Act 1982 (Vic) (December 2014) (e3673665)

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Breastfeeding problems?

Introducing Low Level Laser Therapy The joy of a new baby can be quickly forgotten with the onset of breastfeeding problems.

We’ve all heard the stories of mums battling the pain of damaged nipples, blocked ducts or mastitis while breastfeeding a baby.

To date, the treatment options for mums experiencing such painful problems have been thin on the ground. The good news is that with the arrival of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) in maternity here in Australia, all that is changing.

LLLT is a new treatment designed to accelerate the healing of our body’s tissues. Including mums life giving nipples! So, we wanted to share a little with you about how LLLT works, when it’s best used and what a typical treatment with mumsmilk looks like.

What’s Low Level Laser Therapy?

LLLT has been used successfully in almost every area of human and veterinary medicine where accelerated wound healing, pain relief, anti-inflammatory and anti-swelling effect is required.

In Maternity, midwives and lactation consultants in Germany, Austria, South Africa and Brazil have been using LLLT with great results for some time. They all value its natural healing power as an effective therapy with no side effects, low cost and ease of application. mumsmilk founder, Gabi Eckereder (midwife and lactation consultant) now offers LLLT in her Melbourne practice with outstanding results.

In the medical world LLLT is referred to as a ‘regulation and photo therapy’. This means it reactivates the metabolism of destroyed or damaged cells by naturally stimulating the cells own powerful healing mechanism. This photochemical reaction is a little like the way skin absorbs sunlight to produce Vitamin D. Laser therapy is a very gentle and painless treatment with no known side-effects when applied by a trained practitioner. Mums sometimes report a very minor tingling on application - a sign that the tissue is responding to the stimulation in real time. LLLT (in contrast to the hard laser used in surgery or hair removal) does not destroy precious tissues.

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When is it used?

- Sore, damaged nipples - Blocked ducts - Mastitis - Healing problems after birth injuries (eg. tear, episiotomy, caesarean scar) - Haemorrhoids For breastfeeding mums, LLLT is highly effective where accelerated wound healing and speedy pain relief is required. The majority of mums with nipple trauma report accelerated healing of the nipple and pain relief following their first treatment.

The anti-inflammatory and anti-swelling effect of LLLT is also hugely beneficial in clearing blocked ducts and supporting the healing process in mums experiencing mastitis. Here LLLT becomes a powerful alternative treatment when antibiotics need to be avoided.

LLLT also comes into it’s own with any wound healing issues post birth. When used for painful or slow healing injuries on mum’s perineum or caesarian scar, LLLT provides quick relief and marked improvement. LLLT is also helpful in the treatment of painful haemorrhoids.

What does a mumsmilk treatment look like?

LLLT is completely painless and can be applied in the clinic or in your own home. The duration and frequency of treatment depends on the severity of the trauma and the individual’s healing response. In the case of nipple trauma, a progression in the wound healing can often be observed directly after the initial treatment.

While LLLT can be a highly effective alternative treatment, it’s vital that we get a full picture of mum’s individual situation prior to treatment.

This typically involves a thorough assessment of mum and baby and an observation of a breastfeed. Only then can we identify and address the underlying cause of mum’s breastfeeding challenges.

Now, there’s no need to endure the stress of breastfeeding problems caused by nipple trauma. The healing powers of LLLT are here.

It might be just the treatment the midwife ordered! And the solution that returns mum and baby to the bliss of joyful breastfeeding.

Written by Gabi Eckereder (Midwife, Lactation Consultant & Founder of mumsmilk.com.au - care for mum & baby)

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Do You Feel Financially Secure?

When you have a child it changes everything. Not only do your Saturday nights now consist of folding endless piles of laundry and trying to force feed your child broccoli, but financially your priorities need to change too.

During your young and carefree years you may have gotten away with having limited or no insurance (you can always fall back on mum and dad right?) However, now that you have a family to care for and protect, there are some things you need to consider.

Think about your role in the family. Are you the primary carer? Part time worker? Sole income earner? Whatever it may be, insurance is an important consideration in order to cover your contribution to the family if the unexpected was to occur.

Most of us are aware that if something were to happen to the main income earner (e.g. death, illness, loss of a job) the loss of income would cause major issues, not to mention the probable increased child care costs (if the main carer had to go back to work or increase their hours).

An issue that is less talked about – is what if something happens to the homemaker? Many are under the impression of “I’m not employed so I don’t need insurance”. However in this situation there is still going to be a range of new or increased costs, including childcare, house cleaning and meals. Recent research looking into the worth of “stay-at-home-mums” has suggested that the total cost of paying someone to do the work many mums do for free would be $75,000 per year1!

When we’re young and healthy with a good career, or perhaps a young family (or one on the way), it’s easy to forget that life is fragile and can change in an instant. Should the unthinkable occur, financial support in the form of life insurance can take care of ongoing financial obligations such as the mortgage, day-to-day living expenses, school fees and so on. While it can never compensate for the injury or loss of a loved one, it can provide some peace of mind knowing that your finances are covered.

It’s a stark reality that in Australia most households are underinsured; exposing the family to the risk of financial hardship in the event of a fatality, or permanent disability that renders the primary income earner unable to work. For this reason, I recommend an appropriate level of life insurance to all my clients. It’s a small price to pay for peace of mind during a difficult time.

1 Paula Bourke, claims manager for Life Insurance at BT. 2 TNS Research, ‘Investigating the Issue of Underinsurance in Australia’, August 2005 3 Investment and Financial Services Association of Australia (IFSA), 2005 4 Australian Institute of Health & Welfare

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60% of Australian families with dependants will run out of money within 12 months if the main income earner dies

So let’s take a look at some of the different types of insurance available:

Still not convinced? Here are a few sobering facts (these aren’t pretty, but need to be told):

Life Cover: Provides a lump sum of money to cover dependants if the family’s main income earner passes away.

- 60% of Australian families with dependants will run out of money within 12 months if the main income earner dies2.

TPD Cover: Provides a lump sum payout in the event of an accident or illness leaving a person totally and permanently disabled and unable to work.

Income Protection Cover: Provides a regular cash flow for a certain period of time should you be unable to work because of a temporary injury or illness.

Trauma Cover Pays a lump sum upon diagnosis of a specified injury or illness. Cover is specific to a range of injuries and ailments such as heart attack, stroke, cancer (according to policy definitions).

Depending on your specific situation, different covers will be more or less appropriate.

However, an example may be that Income Protection is the most relevant for the main income earner, while Life Cover and TPD could be important for the homemaker.

- Australians with dependants were underinsured by $1.37 trillion. Simply put, only 4% of our population that has children have a sufficient amount of insurance3.

- More than three in four Australians will be diagnosed with a serious illness during their working life4.

Significant changes in life, such as starting a family, provide a great reason to review your finances and insurance options. We all want the best future for our children and being prepared can provide the peace of mind that comes from knowing that they will be looked after, whatever challenges may arise.

Written by Nicole Heales Dip F.A (Sec Inst) MComm Dist (F.P) Cert IV

Nicole Heales Financial www.creatingprosperity.com.au

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mamma knows west Inspiring families to uncover amazing stuff nearby.

mammaknowswest.com.au

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Live Local - Shop Local - and don’t forget to mention MamaMag!

Parklife edwards reserve south kingsville Each month the Mamma Knows West team bring us a new park idea to explore. This month they visited Edwards Reserve, Brunel Street, South Kingsville.

Overhauled in late 2013, this park has something for all ages. With soft fall for babes to crawl on, a dizzy wizzy, a huge hammock swing and an easy-to-explore wooden play structure, you’ll find all kinds of adventure. The BBQ area is terrific and adjacent to the park is a large oval perfect for flying a kite, kicking a ball or watching a local sports match being played. Oh and if you have a train enthusiast - it’s a great park to spot a cargo train or two whizzing and tooting by.

Mamma’s special mentions: factor in a little extra time to explore Vernon St round the corner, the chemist and deli are handy and Famous Blue Raincoat cafe makes a mean babycino.

The nitty gritty: bbq - park benches - picnic tables - pram access - little shade - lots of free parking - shelter - sports oval - water fountain - no public toilets nearby.

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apps for under $3 CHEAPER THAN A TAKE-AWAY COFFEE! Why don’t we think twice about buying a coffee but sometimes baulk at paying money for an app? It doesn’t have to cost much to get an app that can provide hours, days or even years of entertainment and education for your child.

Here are some of Mamma Raj’s recommended apps for different age groups to enhance their learning without breaking the bank:

TODDLER APPS Playschool Art Maker (FREE) iPAD compatible Why we love it?

A fun way for kids to freely create pictures, animated movies and story slideshows using their favourite Play School toys and craft items. If you child loves Playschool they will love this app!

What you should know about it?

Only that this will keep your child entertained – it is just as good as giving them a pen and pencil!

Peekaboo Barn – (FREE/ $2.49) iPhone and iPAD compatible Why we love it?

Sit down with your child to learn the names of animals and hear the sounds they make. Younger children will love opening the barn doors to find a new animal animation, as they learn about cause and effect and become familiar with animal names and sounds. Older children will enjoy guessing animals by sound, then seeing the animal names, which helps develop early literacy skills.

What you should know about it?

One of the first apps to be released for toddlers, since 2008 Peekaboo Barn has been downloaded over half a million times, and played over 70 million times worldwide.

Pay for the app ($2.49) as it is MUCH better than the lite version that is free.

Written by Mamma Raj Mamma Raj is a mother of two daughters who lives in Melbourne and like most of us, is just trying to navigate the mummy minefield every day. Her blog Mamma Raj Says reviews products for kids and babies including apps. Check out her site: https://mammarajsays.com

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PRESCHOOL/ INFANTS SCHOOL APPS Doodle Critter Math – Shapes ($2.99) iPhone and iPAD compatible Why we love it?

This is a learning game designed for young kids 3-5 years (but you introduce this to younger kids too) to help them learn basic concepts of shapes and forms with 6 interactive games.

What you should know about it?

Voted Parent’s Choice Award 2014 Recommended Award Winner – it isn’t only us that love this app!

Tap the Cat ($2.99) iPAD compatible Why we love it: A great way to start your child on their reading journey with a fun and highly interactive app. This app teaches key early literacy skills through touch, listening and speaking through 9 playful activities with 2 levels of difficulty.

What you should know about it: Suitable for 4-6 years this app was created by the makers of Reading Eggs – a team of educators with more than 25 years of experience in early childhood education.

PRIMARY/ EARLY HIGH SCHOOL APPS Maths Shake – (FREE/$1.29) iPAD compatible Why we love it?

A great educational app to help kids improve and extend their mathematical skills tailored to their specific age groups for children aged 6-13 years.

What you should know about it?

This app is free to start with for 6 and 7 year old mathematicians. However once your child grows older and required more complex questions you will need to upgrade ($1.29) from the easy (7-8 years to Genius 11-13 years packages). There is also a Whiteboard service ($2.49) that teaches math strategies and problem solving – your own teacher on hand!

Free Chess App – (FREE) iPAD compatible Why we love it?

This makes a great introduction to the game of chess, giving the player options on moves at each stage to teach them chess strategies they can use in years to come. Plus it is free and simple to use.

What you should know about it?

There are lots of chess apps available on iTunes but we have recommended this one as it is one we have used and loved.

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play is our business How many times have you looked around your house and sighed at the toys strewn everywhere? Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a way you could borrow toys and then get rid of them when inevitably (usually after a few weeks) your child stops playing with them?

There is an answer!

“Try before you buy” is another advantage.

Before you go and spend money on things such as scooters and balance bikes, you can borrow these items to see if your child actually likes them as much as you think they will. We tend to find this is popular in the lead up to Christmas as well!

Toy Libraries exist all over Australia and work in a similar way to a book library - you borrow toys to take home and keep for a set period of time before returning them and taking new ones. For a small annual fee you become a member of the Library and can borrow toys ranging from baby walkers to puzzles to big climbing frames and ride-ons.

What sort of toys are available? Well pretty much everything! The general categories tend to be: • Puzzles • Games • Outdoor toys, such as scooters, ride-ons and climbing frames • Toys for creative play, such as kitchens, dress ups, cars, trucks, dolls, Fisher Price Little People sets and animal sets • Baby toys, such as rattles, play gyms and activity centres • Musical instruments • Toys for fine motor development, such as blocks, shape sorters and ring stackers • Sporting equipment • Educational toys, such as clocks, globes and magna tabs.

Toy Library membership is the perfect way to keep refreshing the toys your child has access to without forking out a whole lot of cash and accumulating boxes and boxes of unused toys.

Puzzles and games are a great example of this.

As your child goes through different developmental stages they will obviously require different challenges - simple pin puzzles are great for an 18 month old but once they have mastered them you will quickly find the puzzles collecting dust. The next stage of simple jigsaws targets 2-2.5 year olds, and older children like the more complex puzzles and games. It’s great to be able to easily supply fresh material to keep them challenged.

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Some Toy Libraries offer toys for children with special needs, which can be a great resource.

If you are unsure what toys to get or if you are slightly overwhelmed with the choice, then just ask the Toy Library staff as they know the toys really well and can have some great recommendations for you!

Each Toy Library operates in a slightly different way, so it’s best to head down to your local one for information such as borrowing limits, loan times, membership fees and volunteering commitments. Toy Libraries Australia has a great search engine on their website to help you find the one closest to you.

Toy Libraries in the West: Maribyrnong Toy Library: West Footscray Neighbourhood House 539 Barkly Street WEST FOOTSCRAY Maidstone Community Centre Toy Library: 21 Yardley Street MAIDSTONE Hobsons Bay Toy Library: 15 Crown Street, LAVERTON Hobsons Bay Toy Library: 51 Maddox Street NEWPORT Little Buddies Toy Library: Point Cook Community Centre, 1-21 Cheetham Street POINT COOK Little Buddies Toy Library: Wyndham Park Community Centre, 57 Kookaburra Avenue WERRIBEE

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Scratching for Answers?

The real truth about Head Lice My son’s school perform a lice check once a term and publish the classes affected in the school newsletter so Mums know to keep an eye out if needed. That’s great and touch wood neither of my two kids have been affected before, but it was scary to see that these little critters had managed to infiltrate 17 classes between prep and grade 6.

Head lice have been around for thousands of years and unfortunately we are never going to be completely rid of them. There so many myths about how to manage them so we are here to set them straight. The real truth about head lice and treating them.

Do head lice fly or jump between kids?

Head lice do not have wings so they can’t fly.

They can’t jump because they do not have ‘knees’. Head lice crawl very fast and require head-to-head contact for transmission.

Children are more inclined to get head lice than adults because they engage in more head-tohead contact - over secrets, games, sports. That is why head lice are seen more widely amongst kinder/primary school children than adolescents or adults.

Do head lice live in carpets, clothes, hats or sheets?

No. Head lice very rarely fall from the head.

They require blood to survive. Head lice feed three to four times a day and without blood, will dehydrate in six hours in a dry climate and 24 hours in a humid climate.

An egg requires warmth to hatch. This the reason why they are laid close to the scalp.

The further away from the scalp, the less likely they are to survive.

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Do head lice only like clean hair?

No. Head lice are not selective. They don’t care if hair is long, short, blonde, brown, washed this morning or last week. As long as they are warm, and have blood to drink, then they are content.

What treatment kills 100% of head lice or eggs?

There is no single treatment that kills 100% of head lice or eggs. Whichever treatment you choose it can take time and persistence to get rid of head lice. Use a method that will not risk the health of your child.

Is there a way to prevent head lice?

No. It’s important to check your child’s head regularly with conditioner and comb even when you don’t think your child has head lice.

There is no research to prove that chemical or herbal therapies can prevent head lice.

How does the conditioner and comb method work?

It’s a very cheap and effective way of finding head lice. Hair conditioner does not kill lice, but it does stun them for about 20 minutes, meaning they do not move around, and it is difficult for them to hang on. This gives you time to comb through the hair with a fine tooth (head lice) comb. Repeat this every second day until there have been no live lice found for ten days.

How does a chemical head lice treatment work?

Only use products that are licensed or registered for head lice. There are four different active chemicals that target head lice, each works differently and aims to kill lice and/or eggs.

Do some products work better than others?

Why does my child keep getting re-infected?

Over time, head lice may develop resistance to some chemicals. It is important to check if a treatment you used has worked, and if not, treat again with another product that has a different chemical in it.

Re-infection is the least likely reason for head lice returning in a week’s time. If eggs do not die, or were not removed during the original treatment they may hatch and the life cycle starts all over again. To break this life cycle you must re-treat (regardless of treatment method) seven days after the first treatment and continue with weekly checking.

Why do you have to treat again in seven days time?

Head lice eggs take six to seven days to hatch.

And when you treat, it’s easy to miss an egg or two. By treating again in seven days, you are aiming to kill and comb out any head lice that have since hatched from eggs, which were missed.

Should I treat everyone in the family?

What should I wash or treat at home?

Does my child have to miss school?

As head lice only live for a short time off the head, the only extra cleaning needed is to wash the pillowslip on the hot cycle or place in the clothes dryer. Head lice combs can be cleaned in hot soapy water.

According to the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2009, children with head lice can be readmitted to school after head lice treatment has commenced. A certificate from a doctor or council is not required before your child goes back to school. Head lice are not the fault of schools, other families or children.

It is important to check each family member, using conditioner and comb, for head lice but only treat those with live lice.

For more information visit health.vic.gov.au/headlice 43

fun for the kids

the bunny pop With Easter just around the corner here is a great little Easter gift you can make with the kids to give to their friends. The Bunny Pop by lizzyann.com.au!

How to make it

You will need

Scissors Glue

Coloured paper or pencils Your MamaMag bunny template Lolly pops (yummo) Black pen Blue tack

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Trace around your template. If using pencils colour in your bunny, don’t forget to add some teeth and whiskers.

If using coloured paper trace each shape separately onto colour paper and carefully cut around. Glue all the parts onto the bunny face, don’t forget to add teeth and whiskers with your black pen.

Cut around the bunny shape and fold in half.

Push the top of the lolly pop stick through the spot in the middle Add glue to the back of the ears, press ears together, to hold the face onto the lolly pop.

Trace and cut out your bunny feet then using a bit of blue tack, stick to the bottom of the lolly pop.

WIN one of three tessi creative magnet sets!

Simply post your entry by March 31st to: MamaMag - PO Box 8018 North Road LPO, Brighton East VIC 3187

Name: Address:

Age: Postcode: 45

Should I use a Travel agent?

Many people believe that using a travel agent is old school; it’s so much quicker and cheaper to get online and do it yourself.

But that is not always the case!

Here are 10 reasons to ALWAYS book your travel with a travel agency.

1. They have probably been to where you want to go.

The extensive knowledge of a travel consultant helps you plan your trip. We have been to where you want to go so we can recommend the best hotels, restaurants, day trips and insurance etc. We also know our way around airports and can help with little tips on travelling with children or solo travel.

2. You’re in safe hands Travel consultants know which booking sites are legitimate and which are NOT. Booking online is a risk, so don’t risk your hard earned money and your holiday dreams.

3. They can save you money Save your own time searching sites online and let a travel consultant do the searching for you. It is time consuming to search each site for the best possible price and then compare to different days and airlines etc. It is a travel agents job to search for the best price to save you money. We can use the same online sites that are available to everyone BUT we can access even more travel booking sites that are only available to consultants.

4. They take care of the red tape If you need to cancel or re-schedule flights a travel agent can take care of the red tape for you.

5. They know people on the inside Travel consultants know the best seats on the flight and know people on the inside to get you seated for the most enjoyable flight possible.

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6. They are only a phone call away Travel agencies have 24 hour help lines.

So if you do need help while in a far off land, it is literally only a phone call or email away. Any problems and a consultant can sort out any flight cancellations, change of accommodation etc, very easily for you, which saves a lot of queuing, frustration and a waste of your valuable time.

7. The know the entry requirements of your destination Travel agents can help with all travel visas and paperwork for your trip. Sometimes the entry requirements can change without notice, so you can be assured that if you have booked with a travel agency you will have the correct paperwork to allow you to enter when you arrive at your destination.

8. They know the best rooms Travel consultants can book the best rooms in hotels with their suppliers. Hotels usually place the rooms online that the travel consultants do NOT want. If they don’t want it, there is usually a reason.

9. They can deliver the whole package Travel consultants can work with the travel wholesalers and come up with fabulous travel packages. Everything is taken into consideration to deliver the best package available that can include: flights, accommodation, transfers and meals etc.

10. They become part of your team When booking with a travel consultant, you get a team working for you to deliver the best trip possible at the best price.

So there you have it, booking travel online is NOT the best option if you want your family holiday to be the best it can.

Live Local - Shop Local - and don’t forget to mention MamaMag!

live local – shop local MamaMag is a FREE magazine for the mums Melbourne’s West!

And we keep it free with the support of our wonderful local advertisers. So make sure you support them too and let them know you saw them in MamaMag!

Live Local + Shop Local! Then you will be a true Local Mama!

advertise local Advertise in Westside MamaMag and target over 5,000 local mums and families every month!

MamaMag is distributed in over 200 locations including local maternal health centres, kindergartens, childcare centres, play centres, libraries, toy libraries, popular cafes, health centres, gyms and many other local hot spots where you find mums.

So it’s an awesomely targeting local publication and perfect for gaining exposure locally. Plus we have excellent advertising rates too!

For advertising enquiries visit www.mamamag.com.au or call 1300 771 328

like mamamag on facebook TO win great prizes

We give away all sorts of great stuff to our ‘likers’! /localmamamag Live Local - Shop Local - and don’t forget to mention MamaMag!

Baby Hampers and Baby Gifts The perfect gift for colleagues, friends and family

Celebrate a new arrival with a beautiful Baby Hamper or Gift from Little Turtle Baby

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Chris Humfrey’s

ZOOKEEPER EXPERIENCE!

Spend a whole day with zoologist Chris Humfrey from ABC’s hit series “Chris Humfrey’s Wild Life!”

Work as his very own private zoo, and learn from Chris himself! Get up close and personal with over 2000 animals!

Discover what drives Chris to work with animals.

Who knows your child could follow in his footsteps!

This is an exceptional hands-on experience, which is offered nowhere else.

Chris has personally designed this exclusive program.

Stricly limited numbers of children will ensure that your child will get the WILD experience which they CRAVE! Chris’ zoo is nestled in the foothills of Mount Macedon.

It’s an easy 50 minute drive from Melbourne’s CBD.

GREAT GIFT IDEA!

Bookings and Enquiries www.wildaction.com.au Phone 0419 385 245