Newborn to Five 2015

Newborn

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Kingdom Kidz

A FUN AND HEALTHY EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUR CHILDREN

• • • •

Huge, beautiful gardens - lots of room to explore 10 minutes from the CBD • Caters for 3 months to 5 year olds.

Top quality nutritional food • Excellence in care and education Full time, part time or 4 hour sessions available

3 to 5 year old 20 ECE Hours Funding FREE for 5 x 4 Hour sessions Monday to Friday

SPECIAL OFFER

*Present this advertisement and receive $100 credit towards care when you enrol your child.

*Conditions apply

22 Ngunguru Road, Whangarei | Just past the Whangarei Falls in Tikipunga | www.kingdomkidz.co.nz 2 | Newborn

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PHONE 459 5552

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21 Plunket’s Services 4 – Enrol with a Primary Health Organisation 6 – Springbank Pre-schoolers Learn to Explore 7 Rheumatic Fever 8 – Sleep and Your Baby 9 – Fun is the Name of the Game 10 – The Importance of Early Learning 11 – Hearing Screening and Flu Vaccinations 12 – Helping Develop Your Child’s Organisational Skills 13 – Caring for Baby’s Teeth 14 – Know When to Call a Doctor 15 – The Perfect Portrait 16 – Safety Around the Home 17 Healthy Relationships and Boundaries 18 – Skin to Skin Contact for Infants 19 – Keeping Babies Safe while they Sleep 20 - Choosing a Midwife 21 - Immunise against Whooping Cough 22 Books and Storytelling 23 Cover Image - Taken by Dawn Dutton Photography

KAITAIA AND DISTRICT KINDERGARTEN ASSOCIATION

GIVE YOUR CHILD A HEAD START AT ONE OF OUR KINDERGARTENS

KIDS PLAYHOUSES Y www.playhouses.co.nz l h

Playhouses built-to-order.

Package deals Timber sheds built Layby Available Ph: 09-438 4660 • Email: sales@playhouses.co.nz • www.playhouses.co.nz Layby, finance available and credit cards accepted

30 hours Free excellent Early Childhood Education Anne West 408 1110

Mission Place 408 2444

Doubtless Bay 406 0138

www.kaitaiakindergartens.co.nz Newborn

Five | 3

Sanity Tips for Mums Mums in training: 3 sanity-saving tips for new mothers From feeding to nappy changing, new mums and dads are flooded with information to learn and decisions to make for their new bundles of joy.

A recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive found that nearly 75 percent of mums plan to return to work post-maternity leave. What many new mums may not yet fully realize is that becoming a mother is a full time job in and of itself. Like any profession, new mums deserve training, breaks and lots of support!

Tammy Gold, parenting expert and author of the new book “Secrets of the Nanny Whisperer,” shares some easy tips mothers can use to help ease the transition into their new parenting role: fill yourself up “No mother can give 100 percent of herself, 100 percent of the time, to her children or her partner,” Gold says. “Mum needs to remember what makes her who she is and what she needs emotionally and physically to live a complete life.”

Filling yourself up can come from work, volunteering, taking classes, joining online groups, being in a book club, reading, hiking, walking or working out. Do whatever it takes to “fill you up” emotionally, mentally and physically - apart from your children and family. Remember: happy mummy equals a happy baby! crack the crying code When your baby cries, it can frustrate you, prevent you from sleeping, or even make you feel like crying yourself. Figuring out why your newborn is crying can ease a lot of stress.

The main causes for infant crying typically include a dirty diaper, hunger, fatigue or being too hot. However, if these are not the issues, your baby could be suffering from gas, colic or reflux. Switching to the right baby formula or modifying your own diet if breastfeeding can fix all these issues.

If you’re formula feeding, try switching your baby’s formula to a “sensitive” or “gentle” type formula. These formulas have less lactose and can help to reduce gas and colic.

Infant Formula are strictly regulated to keep all babies safe. don’t compare “You are the best mother to your children,” Gold says. “It does not matter which mums work full time or which mums stay at home to run the ‘perfect’ home. Your children do not care what ‘other mums’ can manage or complete; they only care about you.”

Believe in yourself and know that you are the best mother to your children. Be aware of the advice of others, but always trust your own gut, because you know what is best for your own children.

NAUMAI, HAERE MAI WELCOME TO in Northland Te Tai Tokerau Services that we offer you and your whanau:

• Visits with a nurse or kaiawhina • Car Seat Rental Schemes • Parent Education • Parent Groups • Parents as First Teachers (PAFT) • Plunketline 24/7 - 0800 933 922 • B 4 school checks We provide Well Child services cross most of Te Tai Tokerau/Northland. All FREE except Car Seat Rentals For more information about Plunket services please speak with your nurse www.plunket.org.nz northland@plunket.org.nz Phone: 09 4382508 Area Office, 22 Commerce Street, Whangarei 4 | Newborn

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Well Child/Tamariki Ora visits are offered at: 2-6 weeks: First physical check for pepe/baby. Sleeping, crying, feeding, safety, hearing and vision, whanau/family well being.

6-9 weeks: Sleeping, crying, feeding, safety, whanau/ family well being, discussion about baby’s development.

10-15 weeks: Sleeping, feeding, baby’s development, safety, playing, whanau/family well being.

4-7 months: Reading, playing, safety and feeding, baby’s development, whanau/family well being.

7-13 months: Movement, safety, feeding, oral health, baby’s development, behavior and whanau/ family well being.

13-20 months: Movement, talking, feeding, sleeping, safety and whanau/family well being.

20-47 months: Talking, safety, oral health, toileting, play feeding, behavior, learning, whanau/family well being and development.

4-5 years (before school check): A free check for your four year old that helps to make sure your child is healthy and can learn well at school.

Caring for yourself in pregnancy is one of the most important things you can do to give your child the best start in life.

At Bush Road Medical Centre our female and male GPs provide early pregnancy care for you and your family. Free pregnancy testing is available from our nurses and medical care assistants, for our patients.

When you discover you are pregnant it is important to have your blood screened and tested for: • Your blood group • Your haemoglobin – to make sure you are not anaemic and that your baby will have enough oxygen • Your immunity to Rubella –as this can cause deafness and heart defects if you have no immunity and get this infection in pregnancy • The presence of any infections like syphilis and HIV This screening should occur as early as possible in your pregnancy – preferably within the first 12 weeks.

For those women with HIV, early testing in pregnancy can ensure that appropriate treatment reduces the risk of baby contracting HIV from 30% down to less than 1%. HIV testing can result in occasional false positive tests – approximately one in one thousand women may have a false positive result and have to have the test repeated.

Folic acid is an important medicine before conception and in early pregnancy. Our doctors can prescribe this for you.

BUSH ROAD MEDICAL CENTRE Our family friendly team genuinely care about our patients. Full range of medical services available, for our patients.

Drs Andrew Miller, Simon Wilkinson, Geoff Cunningham, Alistair Dunn, Denise Limby, Tristan Gardiner, Noriko Noda, Lauren Roche, Jill Rocha & Anna Zender

Enrol Now, Phone 09 435 0692 | New Patients Welcome | Female and Male Doctors Available W: www.bushroad.co.nz | E : admin@bushroad.co.nz

Newborn

Five | 5

Enr�lling with a Primary Health Organisation (P�O) what is a pho?

Primary Health Organisations are the local structures for delivering and co-ordinating primary health care services. Primary health care relates to the professional healthcare provided in the community, usually from a general practitioner (GP), practice nurse, pharmacist or other health professional working within a general practice.

Primary Health Organisations (PHOs) bring together doctors, nurses and other health professionals (such as Maori health workers, health promoters, dietitians, pharmacists, physiotherapists, mental health workers and midwives) in the community to serve the needs of their enrolled populations.

PHOs receive a set amount of funding from the government to ensure the provision of a range of health services, including visits to the doctor.

Funding is based on the people enrolled with the PHO and their characteristics (e.g. age, gender, ethnicity). Funding also pays for services that help people stay healthy and services that reach out to groups in the community who are missing out on health services or who have poor health. The PHOs in Northland are Manaia Health PHO, ph.

09 4381015, www.manaiapho.co.nz, and Te Tai Tokerau PHO, ph. 09 4083142, www.tttpho.co.nz Benefits of enrolling Early enrolment with a GP gives newborns the best start to life. When your baby is enrolled

with a GP they can initiate early contact with the family, particularly when contacting families for babies immunisations, and to ensure they are given on time. how do i enrol?

To enrol, you need to complete an enrolment form at the general practice of your choice. Parents can enrol children under 16 years of age, but children over 16 years need to sign their own form. New-borns should be enrolled at a general practice between four (4) and six (6) weeks of age. It is important for the practice to meet your new baby and to provide the six week health check for you and your baby.This includes baby’s six week immunisations.

Enr�lling with General Practice

General practice provides comprehensive primary, community-based, and continuing patient-centred health care to patients enrolled with them and others who consult. General practice services include the diagnosis, management and treatment of health conditions, continuity of health care throughout the lifespan, health promotion, prevention, screening, and referral to hospital and specialists.

Most general practice providers are affiliated to a PHO. The fund-holding role of PHOs allows an extended range of services to be provided across the collective of providers within a PHO.

Q & A

what happens if i go to another General practice?

You can visit another general practice or change to a new general practice at any time. You can only be enrolled through one general practice in the country at any given time. But if you are enrolled in a PHO through one general practice and visit another practice as a casual patient, you will pay a higher fee for that visit. So, if you have more than one general practice, you should consider enrolling with the practice you visit most often. what happens if i am enrolled in a general practice but don’t see them very often?

If you have not received services from your general practice in a three-year period it is likely that the practice will contact you and ask if you wish to remain with the practice. If you are not able to be contacted or do not respond, your name will be taken off the Practice and PHO Enrolment Registers. You can re-enrol with the same general practice or another general practice and the affiliated PHO at a later time. how do i know if i’m eligible for publiclyfunded health and disability services?

Talk to the practice staff, call 0800 855 151, or visit http://www.health.govt.nz/new-zealand-healthsystem/eligibility-publicly-funded-health-services and work through the Guide to Eligibility Criteria. reMeMBer it is free to enrol at General practice and it is free for your child under 13 years of aGe to see a doctor/ nurse in General practice (conditions apply)

Manaia Health | www.manaiapho.co.nz PH 09 438 1015 Te Tai Tokerau PHO | www.tttpho.co.nz PH 09 408 3142 6 | Newborn

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Springbank Preschool would like to extend a warm welcome to Annie Tikaram (Head Teacher) and Paula Gravatt who join Carrie Carr-Smith and Mal Ruwhiu as part of our vibrant teaching team.

Annie, Paula, Carrie and Mal come with bundles of energy and enthusiasm in their roles as passionate teachers at Springbank Preschool.

We are proud to offer a space for young children, where they can ask questions and explore their own working theories, extend their creativity, connect with the environment and take challenges.

Every week our teachers and children are able to utilise additional facilities within the school property next door, including use of the gym, library and connecting with the older children through activities such as music and buddy reading.

A weekly excursion, which is a real favourite with everyone, is heading out in rain or shine to explore the surrounding 14ha of rural property.

Our children learn about the natural ecosystem; how it works and how to protect it, along with developing great skills such as teamwork, persistence, risk taking, building confidence and having loads of fun!

Springbank Preschool is open Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 5:15pm and we welcome all families to come along and have a visit.

You can contact us on 09 407 5236, email reception@springbank.nz, or follow us on Facebook.

Springbank Preschool is excited to be extending their learning environment to include a new, dedicated facility for under 2 year old children. To register your interest, or for any queries, please email reception@springbank.nz

Newborn

Five | 7

Sore throats can brea� a hea� what is rheumatic fever?

Rheumatic Fever is a serious disease that can cause serious heart problems. It usually starts with a sore throat. who is most at risk?

• Ma¯ori & Pacific Island children between 4-15 years • Families/Wha¯nau with a history of Rheumatic Fever • Families/Wha¯nau who share their homes with lots of others. what can i do to prevent rheumatic fever?

Strep A is a bug that can live in your throat and cause a sore throat. If it is not treated it can lead to Rheumatic Fever. If your child has a sore throat take them to a doctor, nurse or other health professional and ask for a throat swab.

If the swab shows the Strep A bug you will be prescribed a 10 day course of antibiotics.

It is very important to take all the antibiotics to prevent Rheumatic Fever from developing.

Covering your mouth when you cough, and washing and drying your hands often will help stop spreading it to other people.

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Healthy homes ta� t��era� Insulating homes reduces health risks caused by cold, damp housing such as respiratory illnesses and serious diseases like rheumatic fever. to qualify for 100% subsidy you need to fit the following criteria: • The house must have been built prior the 1st January 2000 • Tenants and homeowners are eligible.

• Tenants are also eligible on condition that their landlord approves of the insulation and is prepared to make a one off financial contribution of $575.00 • Children between the ages of 0-16yrs Must have a Community Services Card, or be eligible for a Community Services Care Card • If you are over the age of 16yrs, then you must have a relevant health condition (note that this can include a broad range of health conditions).

To see if you qualify simply call our office on 0800 738 763

S�eep and Your Baby There’s n�hing more frustrating than a baby that �ust won’t s�eep, es�e�ially when they’re ove�ired . Anna Williams offers a ran�e of tips and tricks to help send your baby to the land of nod I’VE HAD many requests for information on sleep resistance in older babies and plenty of discussion around the challenges it poses for parents, so here are some ideas and strategies to try.

It’s a common issue in babies from 8-9 months onwards. They often experience separation anxiety at this age and don’t want to see Mum or Dad disappear from their sight.

Sometimes parents can’t even leave the room for a minute without their baby getting upset.

They are far more aware of your absence than when they were very young, which makes it much harder for them to see you disappear. But be aware that this is a very normal stage and it will pass. Giving extra cuddles and reassurance whenever you can will soften the impact for your baby and enhance that bonding and attachment between you, which is so important, especially in that first year of life. Two day sleeps between one and two hours long is appropriate for this age group. Occasionally, a baby can go all morning without a nap, and then will sleep from around midday for a couple of hours. If they have another nap later in the day, take care to not let them sleep too long, otherwise they’ll be wanting to party until midnight and beyond.

Keep evening routines as consistent as possible — a bath, dinner, then a quiet time with story and cuddles. Your baby will quickly learn that bedtime comes soon after. Around 7pm is a realistic timeframe for settling them into bed, depending what sort of day they’ve had.

Night waking and feeding is very normal at this

age too—some babies still need a night feed, although others will sleep through.

Ways to cope with babies that resist bedtimes are varied. The following strategies (used consistently) may help and you should see improvements within five to seven days. Use these for settling baby during the day if needed, which can often improve the night-time issues.

Put baby into the cot with a kiss and cuddle, • say good night and leave the room. Don’t

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hover like a helicopter. If they start crying straight away, wait a few minutes, then go back in and reassure them and tuck down again. Leave the room. If after 3040 minutes of you going in and out there is no improvement, get baby up, give a cuddle/ drink and try again half an hour later.

Try the ‘‘planned ignoring’’ method. Sit beside the cot with a book, a magazine or your laptop and try not to make eye contact or talk to baby. They may still cry, but will be reassured by you being nearby. Leave a couple of cardboard baby books or a favorite toy in the cot with them too, which may distract them for a while. Again, if baby continues crying, get them up after half an hour or so and try again later. Each time you use this method, place your chair a little further away from the cot, gradually withdrawing from baby’s room.

White noise or a radio on softly in the background can also help the settling process. Household sounds are normal and

What can I hire for baby & when?

S STAGE ONE

STAGE TWO

Infant Car Seats

Portable Swings

STAGE THREE ST

STAGE FOUR

Baby Gyms

Exersaucers

www.babyonthemove.co.nz WHANGAREI 123A Bank Street p 09 459 6234 e whangarei@babyonthemove.co.nz.

Store Hours: Tues-Sat 9am-2pm.

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reassuring for a baby going to sleep and can actually promote a longer nap.

If your baby is an early waker (as in 5am), try to discourage this. Offer a feed, a nappy change if needed, then a quick cuddle and back to their cot. You’re then giving them the message that it’s a bit too early to be starting their day. They may just lie there and play, but it’s such a bonus for everyone if they go back to sleep again. Setting these boundaries early in your baby’s life will help avoid major bedtime battles as they move into toddlerhood and beyond. It can be hard work and take up lots of your time and energy, but treat it like an investment. The pay-off will be worth it.

Anna Williams is a baby consultant offering back-to-basics parenting support. You can contact Anna at anna@ parentingsupport.co.nz or www.facebook. com/ backtobasicsparentingsupport

NORTH CITY OSTEOPATHS Roseanne Shaw & Associates

Effective, Safe Treatment for pain during and after pregnancy, cranial treatment for children and babies

Treating conditions such as back, neck and pelvic pain, colic, sleeping disorders, reflux, wry neck, glue ear and many other childhood ailments Registered Osteopaths and ACC Treatment Providers

75 Whau Valley Road, Whangarei. Phone 437 0238 www.northcityosteopaths.co.nz Newborn

Five | 9

You don’t have to break the budget to plan a memorable birthday party for your child

Fun is the name of the game FUN, NOT FANFARE, is the goal for a great birthday. However, expectations for children’s parties have skyrocketed in the past decade or so.

Once upon a time, fairy bread, cheerios and a couple of backyard games were the key elements to a successful party. The goodie bag partygoers left with just a piece of cake and perhaps a balloon.

Today children’s parties have become an industry in themselves and celebrating a child’s milestone can be a competitive sport, with parties at the zoo, the rollerskating rink or laser tag becoming the norm.

Sorted spokesperson David Kneebone says the pressure can be on parents to ensure their child has the best birthday ever. But if the result is a budget blowout, no one wins. ‘‘Children may be used to parties in extravagant locations with high maintenance themes, but you can still hold a party to be remembered using a back-to-basics approach that doesn’t blow your budget.’’

Sorted has the following suggestions to keep costs down and turn up the fun. location, location,location Having an off-site venue can reduce some of the stress (and clean up) of the day, but it’s also probably your biggest cost. Obstacle courses, slip ’n slides or sack races are all activities you can set up yourself and do in your backyard. If outdoor space is limited, there’s plenty of ways to keep the kids occupied inside. Set up a cupcake decoration station in your kitchen so kids can ice their own specialty cupcake or borrow a friend’s Sing Star game and have a karaoke competition.

the a list Don’t feel guilty about limiting the size of the party. All parents know parties are expensive and they’ll understand you can’t invite everyone in your child’s class. Sit down and talk to your child about who they would like to invite and explain why there needs to be a limit. what’s in a theMe? Themes are great—most children like dressing up as their favourite character. However it can be easy to go overboard and suddenly your house resembles a Disney castle. Buying everything in the party aisle can seriously dent

your bank balance. Instead, find a couple of items for the child’s theme and fill in the rest with matching colours. let theM eat caKe The cake still reigns supreme at any birthday party and you can save money by baking and decorating your own cake. There are lots of examples on the internet and it’s a fun way for a friend or relative to help you.

The focus of your child’s party should be spending time and having fun with friends and family. It doesn’t have to cost a lot to create memories your child will have forever.

PLAY GYM Pre-school Gymnastics for under 5’s

BIRTHDAY PARTIES • Pirate • Princess • Charlie • Glam & Glitz

FANTABULOUS $19.90

PER HEAD

Check in store for party specials.

OPENING HOURS

Mon-Fri 9.30am-6pm Sat & Sun 9.30am-5pm 3 Woods Road, Whg (09) 430 3838 10 | Newborn

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Playland & Café

WHAT WE DO

Our 45 minute class consists of mat time and a circuit taken by our qualified coaches.

Mat time: where the focus is on the development of gross and

fine motor skills using music and imagination.

Circuit Adventure – children explore the different trails m, set up around the gym, rough going on, over and through different pieces of equipment.

This develops their co-ordination, strength, spatial awareness and confidence. Children are challenged in a fun and safe environment.

Studies have shown that a child’s physical and mental development is greatly enhanced from these kinds of activities. This is a great opportunity for parents to work with their child encouraging and learning together.

25 PARK Avenue Kensington ASB Sports Arena

wags.org.nz

Ph 437 6667

The Importance of Early Learning

By Rawiri Brell, head of early learning, parents and whanau at the Ministry of Education Why is it a good idea for children go to kindy, play centre, kohanga, or other early learning education? The reason is that early learning helps children to be confident and curious about the world. It also helps them do better when they start school or kura.

Even before they start going to early learning, your child is learning.

They are learning through everything they do, see, feel, smell, taste and hear; everywhere they go; and through everyone who talks, smiles and plays with them.

Research shows that children who are involved in quality early childhood education (ECE) benefit in many ways, and that their family and wha¯nau and the wider community benefit too.

Early learning services build on the early learning your child is already doing at home with whanau, on the marae or at church, or playing with friends.

Early learning can help your child learn important skills that will help them do well later in life.

Early learning also helps your child learn to get on well with other children and with adults by learning to make friends, to share and take turns, and to co-operate. It also teaches them to listen to others and to communicate their own ideas. And they learn to be independent and to

take responsibility for others’ needs as well as for their own.

Making the transition to school is also easier for kids who have had quality early childhood education.

That’s because children who take part regularly in quality early learning are likely to be confident and curious about the world.

Early learning helps your child to become life-long learners. Talking, singing, and listening to stories build children’s language skills and help them to love books and reading.

Painting, dancing, making music, dressing up, and pretend play help to develop children’s imaginations and creativity. Puzzles, number play, and counting games help children to understand maths concepts. Building or construction activities, helping to prepare food, caring for plants and animals, and playing with water and sand help children to learn about maths and science concepts.

Do you want to .......

• spend those first precious years with your child?

• learn and play together?

• share new experiences?

• increase your education and management skills?

Kindergartens Most kindergartens accept children between 2 and 5 years and can have set morning and afternoon sessions for different age groups. Some also offer all-day education and care or partday sessions.

Kindergartens are managed by a Kindergarten Association and have 100% qualified and registered ECE teachers. They work closely with children’s families and wha¯nau. education and care services Education and care services run all-day sessions, or flexible-hour programmes for children from birth to primary school age.

Education and care services can be privately owned, owned and operated by a community group, or operated in an organisation for employees with young children. home-based education and care Home-based education and care is provided for groups of up to 4 children aged birth to 5 years in either the educator’s home or the child’s home. Each educator must belong to a home-based service, which provides support through a coordinator who is a qualified and registered ECE teacher. te ko- hanga reo Te ko¯hanga reo offers a Ma¯ori immersion environment for tamariki and their wha¯nau, and caters to tamariki from birth to school age. playcentres Playcentres cater for children from birth to school age, and are run cooperatively by parents and member families. playgroups Playgroups are community-based groups run by parent and wha¯nau volunteers. Sessions are held regularly for no more than 4 hours per day and are often set up in community halls. nga- puna Ko- hungahunga These are playgroups that encourage learning in and through te reo Ma¯ori and tikanga.

To learn more, go to education.govt.nz and look at our parents’ website.

No Fees

We can offer you a place for high quality Early Childhood Education!

We have the facilities and resources and training available for you!

We have the place to meet other families and build new friendships.

Come see us at a

types of early childhood education services in new Zealand

near you!

Playcentre is an approved provider for the purposes of the 15hrs ECE benefit requirements

Awanui, Kaitaia, Herekino, Kohukohu, Pamapuria, Peria.

For More Information and Session times please contact Marie on 027 343 2252 Email: farnorth@playcentre.org.nz or visit www.playcentre.org.nz

• Separate centre for under 2’s and 3-5 year-olds.

• Nutritious meals free of charge • 30 free hours per week for 3 to 5 year - olds.

• Centrally located in park-like setting.

Ph: 09 459 4255 | www.brightstars.co.nz 25 Moody Ave, Kensington, Whangarei Newborn

Five | 11

Newborn Hearing S�reening what is newborn hearing screening?

To screen your baby’s hearing, an ear cushion will be placed over your baby’s ear and soft clicking sounds played.

Special sensors are placed on your baby’s head, and the response from your baby’s hearing nerve is picked up by these sensors. This is called an automated auditory brainstem response or an aABR screen. when and where will the newborn hearing screening be done?

Screening is usually done before you and your baby go home from the hospital. If your baby is not born in a hospital or is not screened before you go home, newborn hearing screening will be offered at a community outpatients appointment. It’s best to go earlier than the appointment time so you can feed and settle your baby to sleep beforehand. will it hurt my baby?

Newborn hearing screening does not hurt or harm your baby and you can be with them during screening. It is simple and safe – most babies sleep through it. A screen may

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take 15–20 minutes and is best done when your baby is settled or sleeping. what happens after the newborn hearing screening?

You will be told the results straight away.

Some babies need another screen because the earlier screening did not show a strong enough response in one or both ears.

This may be because: • your baby was unsettled • there was too much noise in the testing room • there was fluid in your baby’s middle ear • your baby may have a hearing loss.

If this happens with your baby’s hearing screen, you will be offered a repeat screen, either before leaving the hospital or as an outpatient appointment.

If required we will refer you to audiology for further assessment.

Fl� Vac�ine for Pre�nant women If you are pregnant it is important to protect yourself and your unborn baby from the flu. Experience from previous influenza outbreaks showed that pregnant women, their unborn babies or their new infants are at greater risk from complications associated with the flu.

There are a range of changes that occur during pregnancy that put expectant mothers at greater risk, including changes to lung capacity, the immune system and heart rate response.

Pregnant women with existing medical conditions are at even greater risk of severe influenza-related illness. when is the best time to immunise?

The flu vaccine can be given at any time during pregnancy. It is preferable to give the vaccine as soon as the vaccine is available (usually from early March) well before the start of the flu season. how many doses do i need?

Just one dose of influenza vaccine, preferably at the beginning of the season. However, the funded vaccine is available through to 31 July. i’ve had a history of miscarriage. is it oK to receive the vaccine?

Yes. The flu vaccine does not increase the risk of miscarriage.

However, influenza infection does. i am pregnant and want the influenza vaccine but i have a cold, should i still get it?

If you don’t have a high fever and are only experiencing a cold, runny nose or sniffles, it’s okay to receive the vaccine. However, if you’re very unwell, wait until you are better. If in doubt, check with your Lead Maternity Carer or doctor. i have just had my baby, can i have the influenza vaccine and will it protect my baby if i am breastfeeding?

Yes, it is safe for you to have the influenza vaccine. Breastfeeding may also offer some protection to your baby.

Help Develop Your Child’s Organisational Skills The brain’s natural organiser does not develop fully until humans reach adulthood—as such , your children will need some serious help when it comes to developing their organisational skills PARENTS, no matter what end of the ‘‘organised’’ spectrum they fall on, are often flummoxed when it comes to teaching their own children how to become more organised. If you are lucky enough to possess a welldeveloped ‘‘executive function’’, it can be very difficult to identify how to teach something that comes so naturally to you. If organisation is something you have long struggled with, it might seem overwhelming, if not downright impossible, to teach another human being how to keep things in order.

In fact, a high school principal recently surveyed the 600-plus parents in her school about educational issues, such as what skills they felt their children lacked, what they wished the schools would teach and what they already did to help their children. One of the biggest surprises: an overwhelming number of parent(about 80 per cent) said they felt their child’s most serious problem was a total lack of organisational skills—how to organise a desk, a backpack, a notebook, a schedule and so on.

Neuroscientists have made considerable advances in the past 20 years in their understanding of how the brain develops and functions. Among the discoveries: the prefrontal cortex, the part of our brain that is otherwise known as the executive function, does not develop fully until age 19 or 20.

Until then, the limbic system (our instinctive ‘‘caveman’’ brain) is driving the bus. So, like it or not, as parents we are responsible for first serving as, and then coaching into maturity, our children’s executive function.

Given the correlation between a well-developed executive function and success, here are four tips for helping children develop this essential skill. start early The development of the prefrontal cortex/executive function comes in fits and starts, with radical advances coming between the ages of 3 and 7. So, as a parent, you should start getting kids used to basic organisational tasks by the third birthday. Routines to consider for all 3- to 7-year-olds include: toy clean-up,morning routines that get them in the habit of getting dressed, brushing their teeth and making their beds. If you’ve missed that window, don’t worry. It is certainly possible to help your children develop and improve their organisational skills as long as they are living with you. start sMall If your children are struggling with organisation in general, don’t try to fix things all at once. Zero in on one area and focus on getting that under control first. For example, if you have a Year 6 child who is falling behind on homework and has a messy room and a messy desk, ignore the messes for now and concentrate on establishing an organisational framework for homework.

Start with a dedicated homework notebook (if the child picks it out, he or she is more likely to use it), establish a dedicated time and place for completing homework and a system for checking the work before organising it in the appropriate folders before bed each evening. If you have a young child, don’t try to establish morning and evening routines at the same time.

Pick one (we’d recommend morning) and work on that until it is cemented. positive reinforceMent Such reinforcement, whether it’s adding a sticker to a prominently displayed chart, an enthusiastic ‘‘Great job!’’ or an actual physical reward, links your child’s behaviour with a positive outcome, making it much more likely the desired behaviour will be repeated.

Positive reinforcement is most effective when it occurs immediately after the behaviour. The guidelines also recommend the reinforcement be presented enthusiastically and frequently. Just be sure the reinforcement you choose is age-appropriate (teenagers tend to sneer at chore charts for example). eMBed routines Fortunately, the human brain is a pattern-recognition machine. Learning how to plan ahead, organise stuff orotherwise ignore the limbic system’s calls for instant gratification is hard ‘‘problem-solving’’ work. But with a little practice and consistency, those things can become routines the brain automatically runs when it encounters a situation requiring organisation and planning. Routines are by definition second nature—effortless. — AAP

North Kidz Homebased Childcare Whangarei N KaiparO N Mid North

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O Literacy Programme and Transition to School Programme O Individual Learning plans O Teacher led playgroups O Flexible hours O Small group sizes, ratio 1-4 O 20hrs Free ECE 3-6yrs O Quality Educators and homes O Professional Development and support for our Educators

by Qualified Teachers O All Educators have 1st Aid Certs, are referenced checked, police checked and homes safety checked.

Childcare spaces available now!

EDUCATORS/CAREGIVERS REQUIRED O New child care homes are continually needed in your area O Can you provide a safe loving environment?

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Ph 09 430 3980

Email info@northkidz.co.nz

ww.northkidz.co.nz Newborn

Five | 13

Caring for baby’s �eeth 6 months – 5 Years As soon as baby’s first tooth appears start brushing using a soft bristled brush and a smear of fluoride toothpaste why brush your teeth?

• helps prevent tooth decay • helps prevent gum disease • removes plaque from teeth and gums • freshens your breath Offer children healthy snacks between meals Healthy snacks top-up energy levels some healthy snack ideas for toddlers and preschool children are: • Fresh fruit • Raw chopped vegetables (optional: hummus dip) • Cheese • Plain crackers (i.e. rice crackers or water crackers) • Yogurt • Hard-boiled eggs • Plain popcorn • Savoury muffins • Water • Cottage Cheese • Unsalted raw nuts (not recommended for children under 3 years due to the risk of choking) • Sandwiches (fillings: peanut butter, tuna fish, cheese, cottage cheese, lean meat slices, baked beans, eggs, vegetables) whole or reduced-fat milk It is recommend that: • Cows milk be introduced after a child is 1 year old

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• Whole milk is given to children between 1 and 2 years • Reduced fat milk can be introduced after a child is 2 years of age avoid Muesli bars, any type of energy bars, biscuits, roll ups, lollipops and other sweets, cordial fizzy and energy drinks that can all cause tooth decay.

Fizzy drinks, cordial, fruit juice, electrolyte replacement drinks (PowerAde) and energy drinks are high in sugar and acids and can cause tooth decay. “Diet Drinks” or “Zero” don’t have sugar, but are high in acid and can cause tooth decay.

water is the best drink make water yummy Water is free, water rinses the mouth after eating, and water helps the body to function well.

Eating and drinking water from an early age will encourage good habits that will last a lifetime. Introduce your baby to cooled boiled water from 6 months.

Keep water in the fridge for the family and serve at snack and mealtimes. it’s free For more information Phone 0800 MY TEETH – 0800 698 3384. (It’s free, It’s easy)

Bumps and bruises are an unavoidable part of childhood. However, there will be certain times during your child’s life when it may be necessary to seek a professional’s opinion

Know when to call a doctor you should see your doctor if your child . . .

• Is difficult to wake, is unusually lethargic, floppy or limp. It is less concerning if he is awake and alert and is just not as active as usual.

• Has been vomiting for more than six hours or has diarrhoea for more than than 24 hours. Vomiting generally accompanies diarrhoea as part of a stomach virus. It is usually not concerning if your child has only vomited a few times and is keeping small amounts of fluids down and is not dehydrated.

• Has a purple-red rash anywhere on the body. This could be a sign of meningitis.

• Has difficulty breathing, is breathing quickly, is grunting when breathing, has a bad cough or wheezes, turns blue or stops breathing.

• If the sound of your child’s cry changes and becomes

•

• •

• •

weaker than normal or more high pitched. If they cry more than normal and can’t be comforted.

Stubbed toes and knocked knees are unavoidable. But a limp becomes a concern when your child can’t put a lot of weight on the leg or if there is bruising or swelling in the affected area.

Has a very high temperature (over 39C), especially if there is a rash.

Has no wet nappies for six hours during the day, or eight hours at night, or goes to the toilet less often than normal.

Has a bulging fontanelle when not crying.

If your child has had a fall and there is the risk of concussion, watch for tiredness, irritability or quietness in the first 12 to 24 hours.

expectant mums, see your midwife if . . .

• Your baby is moving or kicking less than usual (once he’s begun moving regularly).

• You notice bright or dark-red bleeding. Even if you are having no pain you could be experiencing such complications as ectopic pregnancy, placenta previa or placental abruption.

• You suffer any swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes, sudden swelling of your feet or ankles.

• You experience painful or burning urination, or little or no urination. You may have a urinary tract infection. This can also be accompanied by pain in your pelvis, the lower part of your abdomen, your back or your side.

• If you have persistent or severe leg cramp or calf pain that doesn’t ease up when you flex your ankle

and point your toes toward your nose, or when you walk around, or one leg is significantly more swollen than the other.

2Year olds.

Specialising in the care of under

A home away from home for Babies and Parents

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For peace of mind, entrust your baby to our expert care 09 459 1860 | info@babysteps.net.nz 11 Deveron St, Regent, Whangarei www.babysteps.net.nz Newborn

Five | 15

Photographs of kids are always cute but how can you get the shot that makes a great canvas or is the perfect Christmas gift. Here are a few handy tips.

Perfect po�rait 1. Get down to their level: Most of us stand and shoot but with kids you’ll get a much better result if you get down to their level. Sit on the floor or kneel so you are level with the child’s eyes. You’ll get great facial expressions ... no more tops of heads or distorted-looking pictures. You’ll notice an immediate difference in the quality of your photos.

2. Get up close and personal: Get close to your child, either in person or with a zoom lens. That gorgeous little face with the perfect skin and cutest of features needs to fill your shot every now and then. It doesn’t matter if the head and chin are cut off, you’ll notice some professionals do exactly that on purpose. Either way, cropped or in its entirety the subject will look fashion material!

3. turn off the flash: Where ever possible don’t use a flash. Take the kids outside, or stand them by a window, natural light is the best. There’s several reasons for this.

Most obvious is red eye ... how many photos have you got in your family album with red eye?! Turning off your flash will also reduce shadows. And you are more likely to get a natural shot if your child doesn’t see a flash.

4. sMile, But don’t say cheese: Don’t point the camera and say ‘cheese’. Ever wondered why your littlies always seem to be squinting? They’re saying cheese! Try getting them to say monkey instead.You’ll be surprised at the result.

5. don’t looK now: Don’t always make your child look at the camera. It’s comes so naturally when you have

a camera in your hand to say: look at me ...

Give it a go though, you’ll be surprised at the fabulous photos you will capture of your child being just that—a child. If you want to a photo of your child as they are right now, let them be, just push the shutter.

6. taKe lots of photos: With digital cameras you can take as many photos as you like there’s no more paying out to get films developed where only a couple of photos are worth keeping. the more you take the more likely you are to capture that perfect frame.

7. Be aware of the BacKGround: All too often we concentrate on what we are focusing on. It’s important to see what is going on behind your child. Make sure the background isn’t too busy, thus detracting from the subject.

You can also end up with those weird pictures where a power pole or tree is growing out of heads!

8. distract, distract, distract: Try having someone stand behind you. A funny face or trick will instantly attract your child ... they’ll be looking in the right direction, smiling (hopefully) and their reaction will bring some animation to their face.

9. learn aBout your caMera: Read the manual and use it to it’s potential.

One great function if you have it, especially when taking photos of children, is the Sports Mode. Try using that instead of Auto. It is designed to capture clear shots of fast moving subjects—children.

INFO@DAWNDUTTON.CO.NZ

(09) 432 2497 021 623 607

WWW.DAWNDUTTON.CO.NZ 16 | Newborn

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Image taken by Dawn Dutton Photography

10. Get a professional portrait taKen: All Professional photographers have a distinct style, and will have a portfolio of their work for you to look at. Choose the photographer who takes the style of picture you want.

Poipoi Home Child Care Ltd is the only home based service operating solely from the FarNorth area to serve our local people.Care is available for children (from birth to six years) in warm and cheerful homes in the Far North!

We have fluent Te Reo Maori speaking educators who offer a total immersion environment for whanau who are wanting Te Reo Maori home based care. Children explore, play, have fun and quality learning in a safe, respectful, caring home environmentAND we have daily nature walks.

Quality affordable education for pre-school children: • 3,4 and 5-year-old children get 20 hrs free • Negotiable hours • WINZ subsidy available • Licensed by the Ministry of Education.

• Your child gains zest for learning (maximum ratio 1educator: 4 children) in a programme based on his/her interests and the NZ ECE Curriculum,Te Whaariki.

POIPOI Home Childcare Ltd 0800POIKID or 09 406 1056 | Mobile: 0272 88 2240 Email: info@poipoi.co.nz | Web: www.poipoi.co.nz

Safety Around the Home Injuries can be prevented by focusing on safety around the home and making simple changes to your environment. Even with changes, you still need to supervise your baby to prevent injuries occurring car safety Your baby must travel in a car seat every time they go in the car.

The car seat should be on the back seat of the car, especially if there is an airbag in the front dashboard. A rapidly inflating airbag can seriously injure a baby in a rear-facing car seat.

A baby’s car seat is always rearfacing so the baby is looking through the back window. Young children should be kept in a rearfacing seat for as long as possible— until over a year old. This position protects the baby by helping support their head and spine.

Burns A baby’s skin is very thin and burns easily. A single cup of hot water spilt over a baby is equal to a bucket ofboiling water over an adult. Your hot water tap temperature should be a about 50C—if it feels too hot, talk to a plumber about how you can turn the temperature down. Fill your bath with cold water first, then add hot water to increase the temperature.

As your baby starts moving around the floor, cover fires and heaters with a guard. Make sure the guard is attached to the wall. This will mean your baby can’t get around it and there is no risk of it falling onto your baby. Every household needs working smoke alarms and an escape plan in case of fire stranGulation Long cords and clothing ties can be dangerous—they could get caught around baby’s neck and cause choking or strangulation.

Remember, never tie a dummy to your baby’s clothes.

When putting your baby to bed,make sure their clothes have no ribbons or ties at the neck. poisoninG Infants put anything and everything into their mouths. By keeping poisons —including household cleaners and medications—out of reach and out of sight in locked cupboards, you will reduce the chance of poisoning.

Check the paint on older furniture, toys and houses. If the paint is leadbased, it can poison young children and babies.

Check that poisons have childrestraint lids. More infants are poisoned by liquid paracetamol than any other medicine.

Follow the instructions to make sure you’ve given the correct amount of the correct strength to your baby. Keep the 24-hour National Poisons Centre phone number beside your phone: 0800 POISON or 0800 764 766 falls Falls are the biggest cause of injury to babies and young children. Your baby can wriggle, move and push against things and could fall from any surface above ground level— sofas, beds, change tables, stairs.

It is safest to change your baby on the floor. If you do use a change table,always use the safety strap and keep a hand on baby at all times. This means organising everything you need so it’s within easy reach. Stair guards at the top and bottom of stairs should be fitted before your child starts to crawl and move around.

Baby walkers can be dangerous for children. Their wheels allow a child to move quickly and they can easily tip, especially around stairs and uneven surfaces.

Cots should be placed away from windows and blind cords. Not only do these encourage climbing but cords can be a choking and strangulation hazard as well. choKinG Your baby has to learn how to chew, swallow and breathe, all in the right order.

Choking is a real danger for children,especially at a young age. So it’s important to do as much as you can to make sure the environment is safe. Babies will put things in their mouth.It’s the way they ‘‘feel’’ and learn about the world around them.

If you give your baby a bottle, make sure you hold them while they drink.

Once your baby starts eating solids, food needs to be mushy and soft so it is easier to swallow.

Your baby’s bassinet or cot must have a mattress that fits the base, with no gaps around the edges.Any gap bigger than 2cm can trap limbs or your baby’s head and they could suffocate.

The cot bars must be in good condition and no less than 50mm or more than

85mm apart. Make sure there are no missing or broken bars where your baby’s head can get caught. drowninG It only takes 5cm of water for a baby to drown in. It can happen silently and very swiftly. Never leave

your baby alone near water. Keep a hand on your baby during bath time to keep them safe. Electing not to use a bath seat is a good choice.

They can be dangerous as they can tip and trap a baby under the water.

For more information visit www.plunket.org.nz

checKlist Always use the five-point harness in the high chair and buggy. Have stair guards at the top and bottom of the stairs. Change baby on the floor.

Ensure the cot sides are kept up at all times and the cot is away from the windows and blind cords. Never leave baby alone on high surfaces.

Ensure small items and toys baby might choke on are kept out of reach.

Always fill the bath with cold water first and then add hot water to get a safe temperature. Do not nurse baby on your knee when you are having a hot drink. Keep the electric jug away from the edge of the bench and ensure the cord doesn’t hang over the edge. Place a guard around fire and heaters.

Make sure baby’s clothing is snug-fitting to reduce the risk of it catching fire. Install fire alarms in your house and have an escape plan. Don’t leave older brothers and sisters to supervise baby near water—it is an adult’s responsibility. Make sure swimming pools and spa pools are fenced correctly and there is a self-latching gate in good working order Get the right type of car seat and fit it correctly—always facing rear. Make sure poisons, medicines and cleaning products are locked away, up high, out of sight and out of reach.

We are here to help, so feel free to call us any time.

Freephone 0800 66 77 47 www.morrisandmorris.co.nz Newborn

Five | 17

Healthy Relationships

Healthy Boundar�es

Communication is a key part to building a healthy relationship. The first step is making sure you both want and expect the same things - being on the same page is very important. The following tips can help you create and maintain a healthy relationship:

Creating boundaries is a good way to keep your relationship healthy and secure. By setting boundaries together, you can both have a deeper understanding of the type of relationship that you and your partner want. Boundaries are not meant to make you feel trapped or like you’re “walking on eggshells.” Creating boundaries is not a sign of secrecy or distrust - it’s an expression of what makes you feel comfortable and what you would like or not like to happen within the relationship.

• Speak Up. In a healthy relationship, if something is bothering you, it’s best to talk about it instead of holding it in.

• Respect Your Partner. Your partner’s wishes and feelings have value. Let your significant other know you are making an effort to keep their ideas in mind. Mutual respect is essential in maintaining healthy relationships.

• Compromise. Disagreements are a natural part of healthy relationships, but it’s important that you find a way to compromise if you disagree on

something. Try to solve conflicts in a fair and rational way.

• Be Supportive. Offer reassurance and encouragement to your partner. Also, let your partner know when you need their support. Healthy relationships are about building each other up, not putting each other down.

• Respect Each Other’s Privacy.

Just because you’re in a relationship, doesn’t mean you have to share everything and constantly be together. Healthy relationships require space.

Remember, healthy boundaries shouldn’t restrict your ability to: • Go out with your friends without your partner • Participate in activities and hobbies you like

• Not have to share passwords to your email, social media accounts or phone • Respect each other’s individual likes and needs.

0800 456 450 www.areyouok.org.nz

18 | Newborn

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Skin to Skin Contact for Infants Why experts recommend skin-to-skin contact for infants If your family is expecting a child in the near future, there is a good chance you’ve been actively reading about all the latest in care techniques and methods for raising your child in the safest and most loving environment possible.

Mothers and fathers have long known how effective cuddling is to help comfort and calm an infant. But regularly practicing skin-to-skin contact, also referred to as Kangaroo Care, takes this cuddling one step further and offers even greater benefits. It’s been incorporated by hospitals nationwide and is becoming the standard of care for baby immediately after birth and beyond.

Additionally, skin-to-skin is no longer just a hospital practice. The American Academy of Pediatrics and The World Health Organization recommend the practice to be continued throughout the postpartum period. Holding a baby close doesn’t just help warm and stabilize the child, it can advance his overall physical health, psychosocial and developmental growth.

Skin-to-skin contact is a holding technique where you hold your child vertically against your bare chest. The idea is to put your child’s full chest surface, from his belly button to the top of his sternum, in full contact with your skin.

Full chest-to-chest contact without any clothing or underwear is critical when practicing skin-to-skin. Fabric will act as a barrier and the benefits will not be delivered.

Why is it so critical to be bare chest to bare chest? The outer layer of skin over the front of the chest is packed with nerve fibers that can release hormones that eliminate stress responses in the brain and body. These extremely sensitive nerves respond only to pleasing human touch. When the nerves are stimulated, it sends a message of pleasure directly to the brain. In response, the brain produces a hormone called oxytocin, known as the

feel good hormone. This hormone is responsible for the feeling of calmness, contentedness, connectedness, happiness and love. When oxytocin is released, it acts upon several different systems throughout the body, delivering incredible benefits for both parent and child.

The benefits of skin-to-skin contact go way beyond developing a bond with your newborn.

When this contact occurs for an uninterrupted 60 minutes, your child can go through one full sleep cycle. During that sleep cycle, the following benefits occur: Benefits for your child: • Accelerates brain development • Regulates body temperature • Calms, soothes, reduces crying and stress • Improves quality of sleep • Enhances the immune system • Stimulates digestion and weight gain • Synchronizes the heart rate and breathing • Encourages breastfeeding behavior

Timeless Northland Photography

Benefits for you: • • • •

Reduces risk of postpartum depression Increases milk production Speeds delivery recovery time Promotes psychological well being

Once you and baby are home, it can be difficult to find 60 uninterrupted minutes of skin-to-skin contact two to three times times a day throughout those early weeks. This is especially true if there are other children at home who require attention.

To address this challenge, the NüRoo Pocket was designed, a patent-pending baby wearing shirt that allows you and baby to be skin-to-skin, while offering full coverage and the opportunity to be up and on your feet, hands-free. It is an ideal newborn carrier making it easy to carry your child while at the same time taking advantage of the physiologic benefits of skin-to-skin contact.

Want to learn about the science behind skin-to-skin or the NüRoo Pocket? Visit www.nuroobaby.com.

A future and hope Licensed for ages 6 weeks to 5 years 20hrs ECE for 3 and 4 year olds Hours: 7.30am - 5.30pm Monday to Friday P 09 430 3050 M 021 434 609 F 09 430 3051

16 Porowini Avenue, Morningside www.elimchildcare.org.nz

Ph: 0204 037 5786 • steve@madeinpipiwai.com Newborn

Five | 19

Keeping our bab�es safe whi�e they s�eep Every year, seven babies in Northland die from Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI).

Most of these are our M¯aori p¯epi. Ensuring each baby has a safe sleep will dramatically reduce the number of SUDI cases in Northland.

P

Place baby in his/her own bed, face clear of bedding

Where we place our baby to sleep is really important. We need to make sure that baby cannot become wedged under or in between anything and that there is nothing that can block baby’s airway. So it’s important to place baby in his or her own baby bed. Again it’s all about protecting baby’s breathing.

Make sure there are no toys or pillows in the baby bed. Make sure the mattress is firm and there are no gaps between the mattress and the sides of the baby bed as this may trap baby and make it hard for them to breathe.

Make sure that the blankets and sheets do not cover baby’s face. Baby is safest sleeping in the same room as mum and dad, while they are sleeping.

A range of baby beds are available that allow you to sleep next to your moko in your bed, while he or she is in a safe baby bed. For example there is the wahakura, moses basket and pepi-pod.

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E

Eliminate smoking in pregnancy and protect baby with a smokefree whaanau, whare and waka

Babies from smoke free pregnancies have stronger lungs and more drive to breathe than babies who have been exposed to cigarette smoke. So being smoke free is one of the best ways to help baby’s breathing, which will protect baby to sleep safely through the night.

Babies from smoke free pregnancies are healthier and stronger. Being a smoke free whanau helps baby’s breathing and protects him or her to sleep safely. If you smoke and you want to protect your baby to sleep safely through the night, quit smoking. If you want to quit smoking, there are a range of services that can help, so seek the advice of your health professional.

P

Position baby flat on his or her back to sleep, face up towards the heavens

Babies are 14 times safer sleeping on their backs, than sleeping on their tummies. But this can be difficult to do if aunty or nanny insists that sleeping baby on his or her tummy or side is the best thing to do. So stay strong and remember that you have the power to protect your baby. When you place baby to sleep on his or her back, you are helping baby to breathe. It’s important that baby’s head is NOT propped, so avoid pillows, rolled up blankets or anything else that can flex the neck as this can block the airway. If baby is coughing up or spilling often and you have concerns about sleeping baby on his or her back, seek the advice of a health professional.

E

Encourage breast feeding and support mum, so baby is breastfed

Breast milk has been described as the perfect food because it provides many of the nutrients and antibodies your baby needs to protect him or her from illness. These strengthening properties help baby to sleep safely through the night. So it is important to breast feed up to six months.

Breast feeding strengthens baby, which helps him or her to sleep safely through the night. Breast milk is free, always at the right temperature and is readily available.

Breastfeeding strengthens the bond between mother and baby. Babies are healthier and stronger when they are breastfed.

Choosing Your MidwifeRes�ect and care e�ential The right midwife will support you throughout your pregnancy— and after your baby’s birth WHEN YOU first look for a midwife, it can be confusing as midwives are all different. However, there are certain qualities you should look for in a midwife to make you comfortable with your choice. respectful treatMent • Gentle, supportive care that is respectful of you, your family/ whanau, your culture and your beliefs.

• Respect for your informed decisions about tests, recommendations and interventions.

• Willingness to support your plans for your pregnancy and birth, and afterwards.

• Respect for the birth process as it unfolds uniquely each time. Each woman’s experience is different.

• Respectful care regardless of setting. personal attention • Antenatal visits in your own home or at the midwife’s clinic.

These visits will allow plenty of time for questions and discussion.

• Caring attention to develop a trusting and nurturing relationship with you and your whanau that can help you to labour and to give birth naturally and safely, as well as helping you and your partner and whanau with the transition to motherhood and parenting. plenty of inforMation • Plenty of information about pregnancy, birth and the weeks afterwards, including breastfeeding and care of the baby.

• Suggestions about ways you can take good care of yourself and your baby.

• Encouragement and practical suggestions for you to have good nutrition and make healthy lifestyle choices.

• Full information on any recommended tests, procedures

or treatments so you can make informed decisions about your care. professional care • Regular and thorough check-ups for you and your baby throughout your pregnancy, during labour and after the birth.

• Recommendations for diagnostic technology when appropriate.

• Planning with you for the unexpected and rare emergency.

• Consultations with obstetricians if complications arise.

• Expertise in normal and natural childbirth. Because they are experts in normal pregnancy and birth, midwives are experienced in the variations of normal birth and recognise the early signs of conditions that are not ‘‘normal’’.

• Referral when you are ready (usually about four to six weeks) to the Plunket nurse, iwi provider, general practitioner or other provider. confidence • Help with discovering your own body’s ability to grow your baby and give birth in its own way and in its own time • No routine treatments or arbitrary timetables that can interfere with your body’s healthy process of labouring and giving birth • Individualised care, privacy and a belief in natural childbirth • Support for doing the work of giving birth.

• Breastfeeding support. copinG with the pain of laBour • Midwives know that pain is an important part of labour and works to keep you safe.

• There is normal pain in a labour that is progressing normally. The normal pain of labour comes in waves and builds in intensity.

Pain is not continuous but is a pattern of contractions with rest periods in between.

• Midwives support you throughout labour and help you to cope with the pain you will experience in a normal labour.

• For a few women, pain can indicate that labour is no longer

progressing well. Midwives can recognise when pain is no longer normal, as may happen if the baby is not in the usual position.

Midwives can help them access pain relief and additional help if necessary.

• In labour, midwives have found that encouragement, massage, privacy, changing positions and labouring in water are effective ways of working with pain.

• Midwives help you avoid risks (to yourself and your baby) that are associated with the unnecessary use of technology. continuity of care • Midwives offer care right through, from your pregnancy test up to four to six weeks after the birth of your baby.

• Midwives will visit you in your own home or you may visit your midwife or her midwife partner at her clinic for your pregnancy care.

• Midwives will usually come to you at home in early labour and as your labour progresses you can choose to stay at home or the midwife will come with you to the local birthing unit or to the hospital if you need hospital care.

• Midwives visit you and your baby at home after the birth.

• Midwives give you the time you need to ask questions and to plan around you and your family’s needs during pregnancy, birth and the weeks following.

• Midwives work with other midwives you will meet so that you have access to consistent care, 24 hours a day, seven days a week—even when your midwife is having a weekend off, is ill or is on holiday.

For more information visit www.midwife.org.nz

KATE RANKIN MIDWIFE 26 YEARS EXPERIENCE

Keeping Birth Natural • Natural Health • Informed Choice • Natural Active Birth • Gentle Birthing • Waterbirth • Unmedicated Babies • Woman-centred care • Breastfeeding • Baby-led parenting • Attachment parenting For Women living between Ruakaka & Wellsford, Paparoa & Mangawhai. Birthing at home, Wellsford Birthing Unit and Whangarei Hospital Phone or Text Kate

027 671 1011 Building Strong and Healthy Families Newborn

Five | 21

Whooping cou�h “love them, protect them, immunise them”

Why does New Zealand, a first world country, still have higher numbers of whooping cough (pertussis)?

We have higher numbers of whooping cough because not

enough people are immunised against this highly infectious disease. Northland had 38 Whooping Cough cases notified to Public Health in 2014.

I immunise

I immunise to keep my children safe from preventable diseases and to be a part of the community keeping all children safe - Lesa

22 | Newborn

www.immunisationalliance.org.au

Five

Protection after vaccination for Whooping Cough wanes in less than 10 months. Booster immunisations are required for protection just the same as tetanus vaccinations.

Babies less than six months old are the most vulnerable to this sometimes lifethreatening disease and have the highest risk of developing serious complications. Having immunisations on-time at 6 weeks, 3 months and 5 months old will provide them with the best protection against the disease.

Another way that can help protect baby is a whooping cough booster immunisation for women whilst pregnant.

When a pregnant woman has a booster immunisation some of the antibody she develops passes into the unborn baby and may protect them from severe whooping cough for up to six weeks after birth. It also means that should a mother be exposed to whooping cough, she is less likely to catch it herself, and then pass it onto her new born baby.

The whooping cough vaccine is free for women who are between 28 to 38 weeks of pregnancy.

Protecting baby from whooping cough also means checking that other siblings and close relatives are up to date with their immunisations, although it

may not be funded. Its also worth remembering that as winter approaches pregnant women have a higher risk of getting the flu and developing complications that can affect them and their baby than when not pregnant. The flu vaccine is free for pregnant women at any time during their pregnancy.

Immunisation with the whooping cough and influenza vaccines is safe during pregnancy and cannot cause the disease they’re designed to protect against. As vaccines are prescription medicines talk to your doctor or nurse about the benefits and risks of immunisation.

1. Baron S et al. Ped Infect Dis J 1998; 17(5): 412-18.

2. Kowalzik F et al. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2007; 26: 238-42.

3. Crowcroft NS et al. Arch Dis Child 2003; 88: 802-06.

4. Bisgard KM et al. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2004; 23: 985-89.

5. Wendelboe AM et al. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2007; 26: 293-99.

For more information, contact the Immunisation Advisory Centre(IMAC) on 0800 466 863, your family health centre, Manaia Health 0800 466 738 or 09 4381015 or Te Tai Tokerau PHO 09 4083142 for any further information. You can also check out IMAC’s website: immune.org.nz whooping cough (Pertussis) Protect you and your newborn baby against whooping cough.

In over 70% of identified cases, new born babies catch whooping cough from parents or other close family members1-5

Bo�ks and story�elling – reading, writing, listening and speaking

Books and storytelling provide children with opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to use complex symbol systems that make up our society – the written word, visual images and oral communications – for a range of purposes. Reading, writing, listening, and talking form the basis of children’s literacy learning. Children need lots of language together with a wide variety of experiences.

Sharing books and reading is a vital activity for children’s development. Children who experience and enjoy reading books with others develop a positive attitude towards books.This will help them when they learn to read.

Books and storytelling help children to: • learn pre-reading skills such as how to hold a book and to read from left to right • learn new words and meanings • develop imagination • develop their interests • understand different social situations • understand that print carries the meaning of the story • share experiences with other children and adults. adults can support children by: • reading and telling stories to them

• talking about a story and its pictures • helping them choose books • making sure books are accessible • asking them to talk about their day or other experiences • singing songs, chants and rhymes • pointing out letters and words • encouraging them to record their own ideas and responses • using writing to meet specific needs such as writing a letter or copying a recipe to take home • talking about their ideas and responses to books that have been shared • providing a variety of books

• listening to their stories and encouraging them to listen to others’ stories. there are many ways to develop these skills at playgroups: • reading – signs, books, lists, name tags, birthday cards • writing – painting, drawing, using pens and pencils, felt-tips, crayons • listening – stories, games, conversation, music • speaking – music, puppetry, pretend play, conversation, singing • baking and cooking – recipes.

Our products are intended to act as springboards for children’s development, helping them to think and express themselves with confidence and integrity; and reflect on, explore and care for the world around them. So we stock books that are thoughtfully written, designed and illustrated and toys that offer high educational play value. They are lots of fun, they’re designed to last, and above all they are meant to be shared and enjoyed!

ideas for books • nature and science • nursery rhymes • traditional stories • stories from different cultures • poems • photo books • picture books • cardboard books • interactive books such as those that have flaps or make noises • song books • children’s own stories made into books • fantasy stories, and • true stories.

Come in today and see for yourself

The Storytime Building, 34 Porowini Ave, Whangarei Ph 09 438 4406 www.storytime.co.nz Newborn

Five | 23

“And now she kicks the blankets off at night...”

When Bridgitte moved home to Northland to raise daughter Bailey last year, Jill Dickson moved fast to ensure her baby granddaughter would be in a warm, safe and healthy home.

Cosy Nights: Bridgitte and Jill with granddaughter Bailey, who can’t believe the difference Healthy Homes insulation has made.

Before the house was insulated, Bridgitte and baby Bailey always had to put extra blankets on their beds to stay warm through the night. Whenever Bridgitte became sick with the flu she’d often need to take a trip to the doctor for an inhaler. Bridgitte and her mother Jill applied for a Healthy Homes Warm Up NZ subsidy and within weeks their home was insulated. “The whole house feels warm, as soon as you walk in the door” says Jill. “Now it feels like a proper home.”

See facebook or our website for the full story and to find out more about subsidised insulation.

Call us or apply online for a full insulation subsidy today!

Like Us 24 | Newborn Five

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