There are a number of factors to consider when purchasing a pram for the first time and below is a comprehensive checklist to help you choose your baby’s new set of wheels!

Safety

The main priority for all parent’s-to-be is the safety of their child. When purchasing a pram, make sure of the following:

• Has the pram been awarded safety certification from a recognised International body?
• Does the pram have a solid brake and wheel locking system that will ensure that it remains stationary if necessary
• Does the pram have a bumper bar – a key safety feature for the younger child
• Are the materials non-toxic
• Is there a 5 point safety harness

Longevity

You don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you purchase a pram that is perfect for a baby, but way too small for a toddler.

Look for a pram that is versatile and comfortable  for your child from newborn up to four years of age. One that is compatible with both the infant car seat and toddler stroller seat will ensure that you only have to buy once.

Quality

You need to remember that the pram you choose now will probably be used for a second and maybe even third child. The initial investment that you make in purchasing a top quality pram will be worth it when you are using it over the duration of five or more years.

Look out for the following:

• Puncture free rubberised wheels
• The fabric on the pram is so important – it needs to be durable and easy to clean
• A corrosion resistant material used for the construction of the pram frame

Practicality

At the end of the day, you need to purchase a pram that makes your life easier when out and about with your baby – not harder!

These are key points to think about:

• Is the pram lightweight and easy to carry?
• Does it fit into your car boot?
• How easy is it to collapse and unfold?
• Does the pram free-stand when folded
• Is it easy to push and manoeuvre?
• Does the pram canopy offer adequate sun shade?
• Does the stroller seat offer rearward and forward facing seat modes?
• What are the recline positions like?
• Is there a decent sized shopping basket and is it easy to access?
• Is the pram comfortable for your baby or toddler?
• If you are not always going to be travelling on a completely smooth surface, are the wheels a decent size to accommodate bumpier terrain and is there any suspension?

It is a good idea to have a few ‘non-negotiable’ requirements that you have listed prior to comparing the different pram options, as this will help you eliminate certain models straight away and hopefully make your choice easier.

Last tip – never buy a pram without physically putting it into the car boot! You may be doing this a few times a day (sometimes with a screaming baby on your hip!) and you want to be 100% sure it fits.

About the Author: Double Trouble is a Cape Town based company that specialises in baby products for Twins and Singletons. For more information, visit www.double-trouble.co.za.

The post Follow this checklist when buying your baby’s first set of wheels appeared first on All4Baby.

Here, we go back to basics and re-examine natural birth, getting answers from Jude Polack of the active birthing hospital, Genesis Clinic, Gauteng’s only private hospital to be designated a Mother-and-Baby-Friendly maternity facility by the World Health Organisation and UNICEF.

What is natural birth?

“It might sound obvious, but I don’t think many moms-to-be understand what a natural birth really is,” says Jude Polack, natural birth activist and the founder and director of Genesis Clinic.

“If you’re confined to your bed and strapped up to monitors for your entire labour, that’s not ‘natural’.

”Many hospitals also won’t let you eat or drink during labour, they restrict your movement, don’t let you adopt the position that feels right for you, and limit the number of friends and family you can have in the room for support. This kind of environment breeds fear and feelings of isolation, which tends to make labour slower and more painful, with more medical intervention needed.

“The best natural birth, however, is an active one, where the mom follows her own instinctive responses and works with her body. She needs a secure, relaxing environment with good support and the freedom to move around. In an active birth, moms are encouraged to remain mobile and upright and to adopt whichever position they choose. They also eat and drink to strengthen themselves through labour.

“An active birth also lets mom labour at her own pace. Remember that the one centimetre-per-hour dilation average is exactly that – an average; at least half of all women may progress more slowly.”

Who can opt for natural birth?

Polack points out that the World Health Organisation estimates that only 20 per cent of women require C-sections to ensure the safe delivery of their babies. “If you’re healthy and are having an uncomplicated pregnancy, you are most likely a candidate for successful natural labour,” she says.

Reasons to choose a natural birth

Pros for moms:

• No surgical recovery time, immediate mobility after the birth, and a shorter hospital stay.
• No risk of wound infection, injury to internal organs, or complications from the anaesthetic or epidural.
• A lower incidence of postnatal depression.
• Labour in future pregnancies may be shorter.
• Moms feel capable and empowered.

Pros for babes:

• Four to six times less likely to suffer from respiratory distress syndrome or fluid in the lungs.
• Better and quicker control of body temperature, breathing and heart rate, so there is less call for incubators and oxygen.
• Quicker and more effective latching and feeding. Breastfeeding has a 75per cent higher success rate among babies born naturally than among those delivered by C-section.
• Oxytocin released during a natural birth facilitates bonding.
• Less colic in the early months.

The flip side of natural birth

Cons for moms:

• Possible perineal damage or tearing, which could require a stitch, or in severe cases, surgical repair. Daily perineal massaging from week 34 can help prevent this.
• Loss of vaginal and pelvic floor muscle tone can lead to urine leaks. Regular Kegel exercises after birth help restore these muscles.

Cons for babes:

• Risk of oxygen deprivation if the umbilical cord is constricted, or if there are other problems during labour and delivery. It is essential that someone trained in delivering babies is on hand during a natural birth, to ensure that nothing goes wrong.
• Possibility of physical trauma, such as bruising, from passing through the birth canal.

For more information, visit www.genesisclinic.co.za.

The post Naturally does it when it comes to giving birth appeared first on All4Baby.

Downs syndrome, also known as trisomy 21 is a genetic disorder caused by a third copy of chromosome 21. The syndrome presents characteristic facial features, intellectual disability and is also associated with delays in physical growth.

Downs syndrome is often diagnosed at a pre-natal screening that is carried out at 12 weeks gestation, but can be diagnosed at an anatomy scan typically conducted at 20 weeks gestation or at birth by direct observation or genetic testing.

In the touching tribute, 15 people with Downs syndrome share powerful messages with a future mom of Downs syndrome. Their spirit reminds us that Downs syndrome doesn’t need to define you and that children and adults with the syndrome also have something special to offer to the world.

Watching the touching video above is bound to put a smile on your face.

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