Simply Babies Magazine

WINTER 2020 DEC - JAN - FEB

North Herts Magazine

What's Inside...

Birthing 4 Blokes

5 reasons to prepare for her birth (the guide for birth partners)

Baby Sleep the Night

Top Christmas sleep survival tips

Cloth Bums

Getting to the bottom of cloth nappies and libraries

Article by Simply Babies Your Baby’s Hip Health

Shop Local

Your guide to local independent businesses in North Herts to fulfill your Christmas gift list

Real Birth Stories

Edition 02

Positive birth stories from those who have birthed in local hospitals during Covid-19

The free magazine for new and expectant parents in North Herts...

COMPETITIONS! WIN A HYPNOBIRTHING BOOK & WIN

A BREASTFEEDING VEST

Ria Oliver

Welcome

Welcome to the Winter edition of the Simply Babies Magazine; dedicated to supporting new and expectant parents and young families in North Herts on their journey.

Our September issue was a roaring success and extensively distributed across North Herts, including some major locations such as supermarkets, stately homes and family centres, with hundreds of additional people accessing the online digital version of the magazine too. Our editorial sections also provided our local parents with some much-needed support, guidance, advice and tips during these difficult times, which we received lots of great feedback on.

For this edition we’ve gone bigger and better and brought you even more local and national experts providing you real life, in-depth and interesting articles on a whole array of different topics.

As life returned to a version of “normal”, so many service providers opened back up and in-person and group sessions re-started across the North Herts area. As we have entered a new period of restriction, we’ve been working hard to ensure our magazine and our Facebook page bring you up to date, relevant and interesting information about what is on in your area.

We would like to thank the following people for contributing to our amazing magazine: • Teresa Flanagan, local award-winning newborn and family photographer, for providing our beautiful cover images (find out more about her on page 24).

• Mark Harris, midwife, hypnotherapist, NLP trainer and founder of Birthing for Blokes for providing our editorial on preparing for birth from the birth partner’s perspective (see pages 10-11).

• Maria Murphy, sleep consultant, for her Christmas sleep survival guide (see pages 16-17).

• Jo O’Grady from Cloth Bums CIC for her piece on using cloth nappies (see pages 26-27) • Becky Reynolds from The Signing Company for allowing us to interview her on her own journey using sign language and the importance of teaching babies and young children to sign (see pages 36-37) • And finally, our wonderful competition prize donors, Dani Diosi from Mamaserene who is offering a copy of her BRAND NEW Hypnobirthing Book “Breathing in Short Pants” (see page 14) and Sarah-Jane Hingorani from Ubere Mama who is offering one lucky winner a breastfeeding vest in their choice of size and colour (see page 28) So grab a cuppa, sit back and indulge in the pages of our magazine....

Kerry & Ria Editors

Kerry Fox

@simplybabiesmagazine

Contents Birth Story

Pg 7

5 Reasons To Get Ready For Her Birth

Pg 10

Win a Hypnobirthing Book

Christmas Sleep Tips

Pg 14

Birth Story

Pg 22

Getting To The Bottom Of Cloth Nappies and Libraries

Pg 26

Win a Breastfeeding Vest

Pg 28

Your Baby’s Hip Health

Pg 30

Shop Local This Season

Pg 32

An Interview With Becky Reynolds The Signing Company

Pg 36

Business Directory

Pg 38

Pg 16

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Pregnancy

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ANNE BUCKLAND 

BIRTH STORY

T

he months since lockdown started had put a very different spin on the pregnancy experience. I’m an older first-time mum, and after years of trying for a child, we knew that this season was going to be memorable.

What we didn’t know at the start, however, was how ‘unprecedented’ (apologies for that overused word) those memories were going to be.When the lockdown kicked in in March, my husband was suddenly shut out of the baby’s process and could only join certain appointments through facetime, and missed moments that we had assumed would be accessible to him. I think really in this season, the people who’ve lost the most have been the partners, as all the moments that are there to help them see the growth, were suddenly taken away. Other things that I had assumed would happen just because they always do, haven’t.Antenatal classes were canceled (we were halfway through the course as lockdown kicked in and so we lost

key information and sessions), family members couldn’t visit when the new arrival arrived. Our available support network became very small, and we’ve had to work out what our ‘new normal’ looks like as a family, amidst the wider and complex new normal that COVID-19 has brought.Added to this, I found out that I needed to be

induced, and so faced 4 days in the hospital with no partner, as partners were only allowed in for active labour.

On 20th June at 10:55 pm we greeted our first child - the wonderful Kelyn Buckland. It has been a truly life-changing journey, and I’m loving the new role of being a mum. In my work life, I’m a content producer, historian, and blogger, and can recognise that it’s a fascinating and historical season to be greeting our first child in, and not in the least slightly daunting.We’ve tried to make the most of things where we can. I must confess that the enforced isolation has actually been a blessing- although Kelyn still hasn’t met key grandparents and close family, it has meant that we have had the first precious weeks to focus on our new nuclear family, which has been lovely. Having fewer people around has also meant that less well-meaning advice has been given, which for one, I’m grateful for as it’s helped us have the space to work out things for ourselves, and what works for us; reaching out to key friends as and when advice is needed. I’ve tried to be proactive so that we have memories for Kelyn too - keeping a diary through the process so we have something to pass onto him to show him the historic time he was born into, and taking photos of the hospital in isolation. It’s certainly not been ideal, but I’ve been so grateful for the ‘Quarantine Mums’ Facebook group for both community and baby necessities.

Our community is certainly more virtual than it would have been, but there certainly is still a sense of collaboration and support from the other new mums out there. It has been a very different birth experience for us, but it’s certainly one we’ll remember!

Pregnancy

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Antenatal Services C l a s s e s a nd support online, o r i n d i v i dually in person, in

BIRTH, BABY CARE & INFANT FEEDING

Antenatally, BABIES provides online group and private classes, as well as in person support: Be Ready for Birth:Â encompassing birth physiology, comfort measures, tips for birth partners, variations within birth and the immediate postnatal period Be Ready for Baby: practical baby care, including handling, washing, dressing and changing, information on topics such as sleep, feeding and crying and detailed discussion within areas such as maternal well-being and infant development Be Ready for Breastfeeding:Â a more in-depth look at breastfeeding, how it works, tips to optimise a successful journey and creating a good understanding of actions and resources if needed Doula services available to help prepare you for labour and to support you during your baby's birth BABIES is proud to provide: INFORMATION to guide you through, EDUCATION to prepare you and tailored SUPPORT as you navigate this new chapter in your life www. b a b i e s . u k . c o m

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Pregnancy

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5 Reason to Get Ready

for her Birth: So your partner is pregnant, and you want be fully prepared for all the demands and challenges during her pregnancy and how to be at your best during the birth. Along with the incredible joy and excitement the news may bring, comes some full on responsibilities. Life is not going to be the same and it’s time for you to get ready. Your role as a parent starts here, not after birth. Suddenly you have a lot of decisions to make, and some of them could be difficult ones. Thankfully you are not on your own, your partner will have plenty of ideas about how she wants the pregnancy and birth to go, and you can bet she will want to know what you think.

She is going through some major physical and hormonal changes right now. Things will be different in your relationship and new understandings and skills will be required to manage this crucial life event. You may find you have many questions like: •Where is the best place for her to give birth?

•Will I hurt the baby while we are having sex?

•How can I manage her changing emotions?

•How will I know when her labour has started?

•When do I call the midwife?

•Is it safe for her to give birth in water?

•How do I bond with the baby if she is breast feeding?

You are not alone and your preparation for the birth of your baby doesn’t have to be hit and miss.

You are an integral part of your family unit and preparing for birth. Here are 5 reasons why you should get ready for her birth written from the perspective of a father and birth professional: I remember it like it was yesterday, hell, even now I’m starting to notice my heart racing a little and

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a tightness in the stomach. Diane, my late wife, is pregnant!

“I’m 25 for god’s sake,” my internal chatter ringing in my ears. I was NOT prepared and I knew it. The months leading up to the birth of Amy are something of a blur, being a student nurse at the time helped, but not much. Knowing what I know now (5 children and 8 grandchildren later) being prepared would have been my PRIME OBJECTIVE . . . not something good to do, not something I desired to do, but the kind of task you set out to achieve

with the smell of burning bridges in your nostrils.

Twenty plus years of experience as a father and a midwife have taught me this; do everything you can to be ready. My life’s work is supporting fathers-to-be, as you prepare for the woman you love giving birth.

Here is an outline of the benefits to her and you as you get prepared.

1. An insight into how human beings have evolved to give birth well, increases your confidence, gives direction to the support you can offer her, and enhances your ability to be resilient if the birth does not go as expected.

2. Being prepared, increases your ability to proactively create the deep connection to her you will need. It’s that connection which will massively facilitate her production of the birthing process

dynamite hormone called oxytocin.

3. Having an experience of building this type of connection with your lover before she gives birth, will produce a deepening in your relationship.

Leading to a strong foundation being built for your emerging family.

4. Preparing via regular massaging, TEN’s machine use, and understanding the (so called) “latent phase” of the birthing process, will increase the amount of time you spend out of the hospital and may reduce the length of her birth experience as a whole.

5. Understanding the importance of having the goal of connecting with her while she births, will produce testosterone in you, reducing your stress response as she gives birth.

So, if you’re expecting a baby and want to be prepared, supportive and ready, the time is now!

Mark Harris BIRTHING 4 BLOKES www.birthing4blokes.com Author of Men, Love & Birth Pregnancy

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Pregnancy

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Baby

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SLEEP

TIPS

Sleep is complex in children, but you can implement healthy sleep habits at any time, it is never too early or late.

Children don’t arrive with a manual for the toughest and most rewarding job in the world so please do not beat yourself up if your child doesn’t sleep as well as you’d like them to.You are not alone and as long as you have the knowledge you need there is light at the end of the tunnel. You can start today and achieve better sleep this Christmas.

Here’s my Top Christmas Sleep Survival Tips:

1. Avoid over scheduling yourself – late nights on top of all the Christmas excitement will make sleep harder for an overtired child. I suggest sticking to routines and bedtimes as much as possible. Even if you are staying away or have guests visiting, be mindful children find it harder to cope when they are tired. An hour of missed sleep here and there all adds up!

2. Be 100% consistent - consistency is key.

Whatever routines you have established I suggest sticking to them. Whatever you do to settle your child to sleep at any time try remain consistent with your usual approach and support. This will avoid doing something different which will create really confusing messages making it harder for them to settle. If family or friends offer to put your little one to bed accept their help, let

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them know what your child is used to, and you can enjoy some time to yourself.

3. Earlier bedtime - If you are going to allow your child to get up extra early on Christmas morning, make bedtime 30 minutes earlier for a couple of nights beforehand to allow them to be extra well rested in preparation. An earlier bedtime won’t mean they will wake earlythe next morning – we are just banking some extra sleep for them to cash in on Christmas morning if you’re usually up earlier.

4. Naps - are super important and can be easily forgotten about in the hustle and bustle of Christmas especially when you’re busy. Daytime sleep is a reflection on night-time sleep and

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS

is a GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP! skipping naps will cause your child to become overtired and difficult to settle. If your child misses out on naps use an earlier bedtime that day to compensate. I love an early bedtime of 6.30pm if needed.

5. Going away - If you’re staying away from home make sure you bring your child’s sleeping bag/ blanket/teddy along with some unwashed sheets from home so that the smell is familiar to them.

If you usually read stories don’t forget to grab a few books too!

6. Sleep space - If your child is old enough and usually sleeps in their own room at home, try not to worry if a separate room is unavailable and you all have to room share. I suggest trying to make some sort of private space/area for your child to sleep if possible. It can help if you’re able to build a temporary divide in the room e.g. drap a sheet over a clothes airer, once this is safe to do. The aim is to prevent over stimulating them if they have a night waking. We want to ensure they don’t get too excited to see you and think its playtime at 3am!

7. Black out - Ensure that your child’s sleep room is as blacked out as you can possibly make it. Use portable black out blinds if needed. Darkness will encourage your child to sleep better and longer, any daylight creeping in around the window edges will wake them up far too early.

8. Sleep time pushes - It is very normal and

common for children to be more unsettled than usual at sleep time when they are in a new environment. They may need more help at bedtime or they may have some night waking’s.The best way to handle this is to offer your child extra reassurance.

I suggest to stay and support them going to sleep.

You can stay by their side or arm’s length away, every minute or two offer them some touch comfort that they like e.g. stroking their brow or their arm, patting them gently. You can talk to them calmly as the sound of your voice will help soothe them.

Whatever you choose to do, repeat these comfort steps as needed and when they are just about to drift off to sleep slowly reduce your interaction staying with them and stay with them until they fall asleep.

Your presence will help them feel safe and secure somewhere new. If they wake overnight support them back to sleep repeating the exact same steps each time.

Finally don’t put too much pressure on yourself if sleep goes off track and try not to panic. When things are back to normal in your household make your child’s sleep a priority and do what you can to get back to your child’s usual sleep routine. Expect it to take a few days to click back into place but with time and practice they will get back on track.

Maria Murphy

BABY SLEEP THE NIGHT www.babysleepthenight.com

maria.murphy@babysleepthenight.com

Baby

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Baby

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RIA OLIVER 

BIRTH STORY

O

n Sunday 13th September I spent the day with my boys and we went on a lovely walk to see if autumn was coming and the trees were changing colours - little did I know how poignant this autumnal walk would be.

At 8pm that evening I had a bloody show. I’ve never had one of these before so I was excited to see if this meant baby would arrive imminently. I told my husband that I thought we would be having a baby that night and put my birth photographer and mum on standby.

I wasn’t experiencing any surges or twinges, but felt what I can only describe as a stretching feeling down below, which was the beginning of dilation and effacement. That night I was restless in bed, expecting labour to start at any moment like it had done with both of my previous babies.

I woke up the next morning on Monday 14th September feeling fine, but each time I went to the toilet there was more and more of my show so I knew my body was readying itself.

My husband left for work as usual and I got my

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boys ready for school and had conversations with them about the fact that the baby might be coming.

As it grew closer to school run time I started to feel worried that labour would start while i was in the queue in the playground. While I could handle surges starting in a public place, I wasn’t so keen on the idea of my waters going in front of a crowd.

But I soldiered on and took the boys to school as normal, wanting to provide them with normality in what I was expecting to be an otherwise somewhat different day.

After the school run I went home and tidied the house at super speed and set my birth space ready for my home birth. My instincts were telling me today was the day, even if my body wasn’t yet showing me the same. By 10:30am I had spoken to my husband and asked him to return home from work. I still had no signs of labour at this point, just a very strong feeling that baby would be with us that day and I felt worried about being at home alone.

Once my husband was home I felt a great sense of relief and my body was able to relax. I put on series one of “Friends” and relaxed on my birthing ball while my husband flittered around the house preparing our pool and last minute bits and pieces that we needed. By 2pm I was starting to feel surges and my body started to show me that labour was coming, just in a more gentle way that I was used to.

Around 2.30pm once both the boys were home I

felt settled and my surges started to come in more rhythmical waves and building slightly in intensity.

It was a gloriously sunny day and I spilt my time by being in my birth space or popping into the garden to see my boys where they played with my parents.

At 3pm full power surges started that I had to now breathe through and stand up for as sitting down felt really uncomfortable. I phoned for my midwife at this point to tell her my labour had now started. Due to the speed at which I labour I was sent two midwives straight away who sat quietly in my kitchen and let myself and my husband get on with labour in our own way.

Between 3pm and 6pm my surges were anywhere between 4-11 minutes apart and getting stronger with each one. I got in the birth pool around 5pm just after my birth photographer had arrived as I felt I needed the extra support, privacy and relaxation. I was now having to breathe through each surge using my visualisations and repeating my birth affirmation to myself over and over again “find the joy in each sensation, to miss the joy is to miss it all”. Everything felt so calm, relaxed and light hearted.

At 6pm I remember saying to my husband “it won’t be long now. If we can have the baby and still get the boys to bed on time I’ll be happy”. At 6:15pm my husband and the boys all got in the birth pool with me for a splash around. At 6:30pm my waters broke and the midwife recorded me as finally being in active labour. Just ten minutes later, at 18:40, I hit transition. My surges still sporadic in frequency and duration but my body very clearly signalling to me it was ready to birth my baby. I called out “it’s coming” and the midwives were in my space immediately. The head was born at 18:45 and I connected my hand to my baby’s head as they paused caught between two worlds. With the head out but the body still in the birth canal, I could feel my baby kicking around inside me which was

the weirdest sensation while their head was in my hands. The birth of the body followed soon after at 18:46.

I reached down and slowly brought my baby up to the surface of the water. Our eyes fixed on each other the whole way. Her short cord almost pulled her back into the water so I held her in my arms and got to know her face. I then moved the cord out of the way and realised I’d had a girl - baby Autumn! The whole world stopped in that moment.

I hadn’t realised how much I’d wanted a girl until I had one in my arms, looking up at me. The utter joy was remarkable.

We spent some time getting to know her and bonding before we took her upstairs to meet our boys. They fell in love instantly...and we were able to get them to bed more or less on time ready for school the next day as planned.

It all worked out so perfectly. For my last baby and my last birth, I couldn’t have asked for a better and more magical experience. I would highly recommend home birth to anyone who is considering it. The difference in the experience was remarkable. My birth plan was respected, my midwives listened to what I said and how I felt without question or hesitation. It was a woman centered experience from start to end and it felt amazing to be so fully supported throughout.

Ria Oliver BIRTH MINDSET COACH The Simple Birth Company Baby

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Getting to the bottom of cloth nappies and libraries

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n a huge market of baby-centred commercialism, one staple “baby must-have” is nappies. Many people will probably have heard the term “cloth nappy”. Old-fashioned images of babies wrapped in terry cloths fastened with safety pins might spring to mind. But cloth nappies have come a long way since our parents and grandparents were in them. Their benefits over single use nappies are many; they’re better for babies as they contain no chemicals, they’re cheaper in the long run (especially when used for siblings or passed to friends and family), and the environmental toll of single use nappies is staggering and unsustainable.

Let’s not forget that they come in super cute prints, too!

Many parents in the North Herts area are conscious consumers and aware of the environmental, especially plastic, impact of family life. Interest in cloth is on the rise. Hooray! But where to start? A very quick snoop online reveals a baffling array of types, shapes and sizes. Each has

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pros and cons according to situation, how you do your laundry and, of course, your baby. Most cloth nappy parents use a range of nappy types to suit different situations. To someone just starting out it can feel a bit overwhelming.

If only there were someone other than YouTube to explain it all. Well, there is! Your local nappy library. Nappy libraries are run by experienced cloth parents (often as non-profit organisations) who want to share their knowledge and love of cloth nappies. They offer the opportunity to see and handle different nappy types along with a hire service so parents can have a test-run before investing in their own. Hiring a kit before investing in cloth nappies can save time and money by allowing parents to discover what works for them and their baby. A newborn kit also saves money as many “birth to potty” nappies are often too big to start off with. Nappy libraries also offer general advice and help if parents have queries at any time in their use of cloth. Don’t be afraid to reach out if you’ve started with cloth and need a little information.

Many parents, upon handling cloth nappies, get a very instinctive feel for what they’ll like using.

Nappy libraries provide exactly this opportunity. I clearly remember when I went to one. The process of going through them and having someone explain how each typed worked felt very calming. It allowed my brain to filter out “yes to this” and “no to that”.

Super appealing in my “nesting” stage! It gave me a much better idea of what might suit us and brought me peace of mind. While cloth is on the rise here, it’s still a bit “niche”. Talking to someone who’d done and it and loved it was the affirmation that

spurred me on to go for it!

It’s estimated that a baby will require more than 4,000 nappy changes. The UK puts a shocking 3 billion single use nappies into landfill per year.

Naturally, I’d love to encourage all Herts parents to switch to cloth, but even swapping two disposables for cloth per day would reduce 730 nappies per year per child going to landfill. Just imagine the difference if 10, 20, 50 or 100 families did this? And what if some of those embraced the switch to full-time? Every family with or expecting a baby has the power to make a big difference. If your baby is already here and you’re interested in trying cloth, nappy libraries are supportive and non-judgmental.

We don’t mind when you turn up to the cloth party.

We’d just love you to join in.

As a brief intro to cloth nappies, here’s a bite-size explanation of the main types, to help you on your way.

And don’t forget: your local nappy library is waiting to help.

• All-in-one (AIO) – direct equivalent to a disposable. Easy to use for anyone without cloth nappy experience.

• All-in-two (AI2) – a nappy with an inner, absorbent material which fixes into a wrap for waterproofing.

During changes they act like an AIO but come apart for quicker drying.

• Birth to Potty (BTP)/One Size (OS) – a highly adjustable nappy style typically fitting from 9-10lbs up to potty training by adjusting the rise and waistband.

• Flat – unshaped Terry, Prefold or Muslin Squares are used by folding and fastening with Nappi Nippas (gone are the days of the safety pin!).They require an outer waterproof wrap.

• Pocket – a waterproof wrap with a fleece layer inside and inserts between the layers. Acts like an AIO.You can customise absorbency with inserts.

• Two Part Shaped Nappy – these are “nappy shaped” so you don’t have to master folding like a flat nappy.

They need to be worn with a wrap, but do not join together like an AI2.

Jo O’Grady I CLOTH BUMS CIC I HTTP://WWW.CLOTHBUMS.CO.UK/ I 01462 262065

Family Baby

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Postnatal Services O n l i n e c l a s s e s a n d i n d i v i d ual c o n s u l t a n c y a n d s u p p o r t w ith

W EANING, SLEEP & COLIC

Postnatally, BABIES provides online group and private workshops as well as tailored, individual consultancy and support online or in person: Be Ready for Weaning:Â be prepared for that next big milestone of introducing solids, with information on signs of readiness, first foods, styles of weaning, safety, allergies and more. Team up with your new parent friends for a group discount Be Ready for Sleep: should you be experiencing sleep struggles with your little one, or you want to be educated on infant sleep before your baby arrives, you can find support in our information sessions, or you can opt for tailored and holistic sleep guidance, focused on your individual circumstances. In-house night nanny services also available Be Ready for Calming Colic:Â a look at the varying causes of colic symptoms (including reflux and intolerances) with strategies that can help reduce the severity using a holistic and tailored approach. Expectant and new parents all welcome BABIES is proud to provide: INFORMATION to guide you through, EDUCATION to prepare you and tailored SUPPORT as you navigate this new chapter in your life www. b a b i e s . u k . c o m

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Family

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YOUR BABY’S H I P H E A LT H

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our newborn baby’s hips may not be the first thing you think to be mindful of, but with much physical activity throughout life being dependent on pelvic stability, the care we provide for our baby’s hips and our knowledge of their development can actually have long lasting implications.

Newborn Hip Check Shortly after birth, during the newborn examination, your baby’s hips will be gently manipulated. This is to check for any clicking or difficulty in movement, which may indicate concerns with your baby’s hip stability or development.

It is estimated that up to 15% of babies are born with some form of hip instability, yet many of these babies won’t need treatment or any further

intervention. This is determined through further tests such as an ultrasound scan to check the formation of the joint. Between 2 & 3 babies per 1,000 births go on to be diagnosed with a condition called Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (or DDH).

What is DDH? Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (also known as Hip Dysplasia) is a condition where the ball (femoral head) and socket (acetabular) that make

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up the hip joint aren’t well developed in the baby.

The socket within the pelvis may be too shallow to securely accommodate the ball at the top of the thigh bone, and this bone itself may be misshapen, making it difficult for it to fit well in the socket.

Pain is not a common symptom in infancy, even in more severe cases where the hips are dislocated, but it is a condition that has the best chance of correction if it is detected early. If left untreated or undiagnosed (as can happen in milder cases where the hips aren’t dislocated) people with DDH can experience pain, limited mobility and possibly even osteoarthritis later in life. Treatment in adulthood involves surgery, with the last resort being a total hip replacement.

So, what can I do as a parent?

Much of a baby’s hip joint is cartilage, which, with appropriate treatment and care, can still form into a more optimally shaped joint before it becomes hardened (and permanently shaped) bone.

If your baby is diagnosed, you will be advised on the appropriate course of treatment, which may involve a harness (a sort of brace to hold the hips in the correct position) or surgery (although this is rare) and given much more detail on how to care for your baby’s hip health during treatment and thereafter.

Some babies don’t require any medical intervention at all, but still present with some hip instability at birth and some cases are so mild they aren’t easily detected, but could still be problematic in later life. Whilst DDH isn’t preventable, there are things you can do to try to look after baby’s hips and to support the continued healthy formation of the hip joint.

How can I do this?

What we can do as parents, grandparents and carers is be mindful that baby’s hips are allowed free range of movement, giving rise to baby’s natural position of thighs against the tummy. This position and the natural movements of the joint allow for deepening of the socket and shaping of the ball.

Caring for baby in a hip healthy way doesn’t mean purchasing anything you otherwise wouldn’t. It’s as simple as just being mindful of how you carry out certain tasks and making adjustments if needed.

• Swaddling Swaddling is the act of wrapping baby in a suitable cloth or blanket so that they feel secure and reminded of the tight womb environment. If you choose to swaddle, in addition to being aware of the safety aspects in terms of overheating and rolling, be mindful not to wrap tightly around the hips. The snug part of the swaddle should only be around the abdomen and upper body. The legs should be free to move, allowing the knees to part fully and the ankles to be brought up to the bottom with no restrictions.

• Slings and Carriers The optimal position when carrying your baby in a carrier or sling is for the material on which baby’s bottom rests to fully cover the area from behind one knee to the behind the other and for baby’s knees to be higher than the hips, creating an “M” like shape if you look at a baby from behind when in a carrier.You can make a simple adaptation using a scarf or length of material and placing it under baby’s bottom so that it cradles baby’s bottom and thighs, right to the knees and tying it around your back. However, this is a temporary measure and may not be entirely comfy for you or baby as your little one becomes heavier, so a carrier with a good size gusset area is best.

So, a baby’s hips are something to be mindful of, even without a diagnosis of DDH, as they are still developing. As long as you are not binding the legs together during swaddling and you are conscious of keeping the knees above the hips when carrying,

you are doing the best by your baby and their hip health.

For more information, visit: www.hipdysplasia.org Or www.steps-charity.org.uk/conditions/hip-dysplasia-ddh/

Kerry Fox I B.A.B.I.E.S. I www.babies.uk.com

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An Interview with. . .

Becky Reynolds

In this edition, we speak to Becky Reynolds from The Signing Company, on her own personal journey using sign language, the benefits of signing and to dispel some common myths. Becky is the Director of The Signing Company, runs the Hitchin & Letchworth branch and is the owner of The Signing Rooms, a studio space for adult, baby and toddler classes, workshops, parties and more, located along Sun Street in Hitchin.

Tell us a bit about your background and your own experiences with sign language?

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I have been signing all my life. Having a twin sister who is profoundly Deaf, meant that visual communication was needed so that we could communicate with her.

We made up a lot of our signs to begin with, these are what we called “Home” signs.We learnt BSL at the age of 11 which opened our signing world.

I completed my BSL Level 1 award at 18 and completed the rest of my BSL qualifications over the years, I now have NVQ BSL Level 4 award. My intention was always to become a BSL Interpreter however, I realised my own Deafness brought its own difficulties.

Before I became a Baby Signing teacher, I used to work as a Support Worker for Deaf people in Camden. A

job that I very much loved, enriching and enabling Deaf people to be more independent when society disables them with “hearing” barriers.

I had baby number two – my adorable daughter Summer, and it was no longer financially viable to work in London. So, in 2011, I then changed my career path and became a Licensee signing teacher, teaching for a company called Signing Babies. I eventually purchased the business and re-launched it as,The Signing Company, incorporating Signing Babies as one of our core programmes for the Early Years.

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What signing system do you use in your classes?

In our classes, we use British Sign Language signs; this signing system is used by over 150,000 people: Deaf and Hearing! BSL grammar isn’t used when teaching as it is a lot for parents to take on board, and so we focus on recognising and producing a basic vocabulary of signs relating to everyday life such as food, colours, the weather etc.

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What are the benefits of teaching babies and young children sign language?

There are so many benefits of signing with babies and children! Here are some of the key ones: • Reducing frustration, not just for babies but for parents too!

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Becky Reynolds

• Encouraging eye to eye contact and face to face communication • Developing finger dexterity and fine motor skills.

• Building confidence and self-esteem for both child and parents together.

• Boosting early communication skills, encouraging speech as well as signing.

• A helpful skill for multilingual families

There are many common, inaccurate, myths about sign language, what are the most common myths you come up against?

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Signing causing speech delays was a common fear when I first started teaching baby signing! Nowadays, people are more reassured that signing with your baby or child actually has many benefits. If a child’s speech is not developing to the expected level for their age range, but is signing, this could indicate another underlying issue. Remember, just as some children are late walkers, some children may be late talkers.

Another myth I have recently encountered is the idea that “Baby Signing” is a signing system of its own! It isn’t! The term “Baby Signing,” is actually a short-hand way of saying, “signing with my baby or child.”

When would you suggest people start sign language with their children, and is it ever too late to start?

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You can start signing with your baby as soon as their vision is clear enough to see! I have known a 10-weekold baby signing “Milk”. Learning to sign whilst handling a baby can be overwhelming and so we suggest that Babies can start classes from around 5 months old.

Nevertheless, we often welcome younger babies, and reassure parents that it is perfectly normal for a baby to fall asleep or need a feed or nappy change during the class.

It is never too late to start signing with children. It is not only beneficial to support speech development, but it is also helpful to explain a word by giving a visual explanation. Moreover, signing is FUN!

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What is your favourite part of helping families to learn sign language?

For me, it is when they tell me all about their “Golden Moment” experiences! For example, say a parent has been teaching their baby to sign “Milk”.They see

their baby starting to understand the sign through expressing various reactions. In time, their baby then clearly signs “Milk” unprompted. Now, here comes the Golden Moment: Baby signs “Milk”; Mum or Dad recognises that they have signed Milk and react back to the baby excitedly.Then the baby realises that Mum/Dad has understood them. It is a truly precious moment!

Is there a particular story or memory you have about how sign language helped a family who attended your classes?

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Ah, there are so many but there is one story that jumps to mind: Firstly, I taught a little girl to sign, who had Speech Dyspraxia right until she started primary school. I received an excited message from her mum saying that the signing has supported her so much that she was signed off from the Doctors! In the same year she also surprised her Mummy with singing and signing our “I love Mummy, I love Daddy,” song. I was truly touched and happy that in giving the gift of signing, it made a positive difference.

CONTACT DETAILS: Becky Reynolds The Signing Company becky@thesigningcompany.co.uk www.becky.thesigningcompany.co.uk Classes available in Herts in Hitchin & Letchworth, Stevenage, Knebworth, WGC, St Albans, Harpenden Redourn, Royston & Baldock.

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Business Directory BABY BABY FAIR: BUSINESS BRAND: North Herts Baby Fair

Pages 20 & 21

BABY GROUPS: Jo Jingles Monkey Music Sing & Sign The Signing Company The Signing Rooms

Page 18 Page 5 Page 25 Page 18 Page 5

BIRTH PREPARATION: B.A.B.I.E.S Sol & Luna NCT PBB Events Chilled Mama

Pages 9 Page 8 Page 6 Page 12 Page 25

BUSINESS BRANDING AND DESIGN: Creative Critters FIRST AID:

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Daisy First Aid HERBAL MEDICINE:

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The Lavender Practice HYPNOBIRTHING: The Simple Birth Company Bold Birthing MATERNITY CLOTHING: Ubere Mama POSTNATAL SERVICES: B.A.B.I.E.S Chilled Mama NCT PBB Events Sol & Luna PHOTOGRAPHY: Teresa Flanagan Photography REFLEXOLOGY:

Page 13 Page 12 Page 6 Page 29 Page 25 Page 6 Page 12 Page 8 Pages 24 & front cover

Tiny Toes SLEEP CONSULTANT:

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B.A.B.I.E.S Family Sleep Consultant THERAPY:

Page 29 Page 19

The Simple Birth Company WEANING:

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B.A.B.I.E.S Chilled Mama NCT WELLBEING:

Page 29 Page 25 Page 6

The Simple Birth Company Chilled Mama SHOP LOCAL

Page 2 Page 25

Support Small Businesses ULTRASOUND Babybond Hertford

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Pages 8 & 15

Pages 32, 33, 34 & 35 Page 4