The post Medication for pregnant women: what’s safe to take? appeared first on All4Baby.
]]>But when discomfort progresses to aches and pains, what medications can expectant mothers use for relief?
Moms-to-be can use selected painkiller options available, but as with everything else during pregnancy, diligence is necessary and medication should be used with caution and guidance from a doctor or gynaecologist.
Acetaminophen or paracetamol, is considered safe to use during pregnancy primarily for headaches, fever, aches, pains and sore throat. It can be used during all three trimesters of pregnancy.
Aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication should not be taken during pregnancy as it can cause problems for both the mother and the fetus. It can also be linked to complications during labour.
According to Rodale’s Balancing Pregnancy & Work, the good news is that migraines and other severe headaches may in fact be less frequent or disappear completely during pregnancy, due to the hormonal changes involved.
(Self-Medication Manufacturers Association of South Africa)
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]]>The post What is the cost of having a baby? appeared first on All4Baby.
]]>There will be more expenses to deal with and more pressure on a budget that will now have to accommodate three and not two people, but there is hope. There are a number of financial plans you can put into place before the baby arrives to ease the pressure on your bank account.
Eunice Sibiya, head of Consumer Education at FNB says, “Having a baby in today’s age requires careful financial planning. Everyone wants the best for their child, and first-time parents are very conscious about getting everything right whether it’s the pram they buy, or the school they send their children to. Of course everything won’t be perfect, but you can put financial plans in place before and after the baby is born to give your child the best start in life.”
A lot of financial preparation can be done before a baby arrives to ease the transition of a two-person household to that of three people. Ideally, it makes more financial sense to start saving as soon as you start planning to have a baby. Sibiya suggests the following:
Your current budget might not have a lot of wiggle room for extra expenses, so see where you can cut down. “Identify the luxuries and cut them out.. Pay off your credit card and clothing accounts and try and start your maternity leave with as little debt as possible,” says Sibiya
Now that you’ve freed up some room in your current budget, shop, shop, shop!
You can use the extra money while you’re pregnant to stock up on nappies, creams, wet wipes and anything else that is not perishable.
When the baby arrives, you might find it difficult to run out to the shops every day or two for supplies. Sibiya says that it’s also a good idea to stock up on non-perishable food, easy to cook meals and cleaning products while you’re expecting. And keep an eye out for sales and bargains!
There will be a few once-off and large expenses you’ll have to take care of before baby arrives, such as travel systems, sterilizers, cots, compactums, baby baths etc. These will set you back in the region of R10 000 to R15 000.
“The best thing you can do for yourself is to make lists and tackle a few items each month before the baby arrives so that the financial load isn’t too much. There are a number of websites, magazines and apps that will help you compile your lists. First time parents are sometimes skittish of looking at second hand baby goods, but if you have family or friends who want to offload a cot or pram, consider taking them up on their offer,” says Sibiya.
Go through all your loyalty programmes and rewards and “cash them in”. Use them before they expire and investigate how best to use them before and after baby arrives.
FNB’s eBucks rewards programme is rated the best loyalty programme in South Africa and is affiliated with a number of retail partners such as Dischem and Makro, where you can earn or spend eBucks when buying products for baby.
Contact your medical aid to make sure what they pay for and what not. Some medical aids have a baby programme that will help you with this. There will be a number of doctors visits, blood tests and scans. There are also a number of birthing options like natural versus C-Section, which carry different costs. Your medical aid will be able to confirm whether there will be co-payments that you are responsible for. It all depends what kind of plan you’re on and what rates your doctors charge.
Sibiya says, “You will also have to add the baby to your medical aid as soon as he or she is born and evaluate your current plan. Some plans are better than others when you have dependents, so do your homework.”
“Most importantly, know whether you will be on paid or unpaid maternity leave. When you inform your employer of your pregnancy, make sure you’re well versed on their maternity policy. Understand what your income will be and plan accordingly,” says Sibiya.
If you’re going to be on unpaid maternity leave, you’re entitled to UIF benefits.* Sibiya says it’s important to start the UIF process as early as possible, whether you tackle the process yourself or decide to make use of an agency.
“There are a number of forms that you’ll need to complete, and your plate will be quite full preparing for the baby, so do what you can before the baby arrives,” she says.
If you’re sending your child to a crèche or hiring a nanny to help out when the baby arrives, do your homework. Some employers have on-site crèches that offer discounts to employees. You’ll have the advantage of not having to drive out of the way to drop your little one off and you’ll have him or her close by if you want to visit during the day.
“Deciding to have a child is one of the biggest life decisions you can make, and the costs start way before baby arrives. The best thing you can do is plan ahead and be prepared,” concludes Sibiya.
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]]>The post Congenital heart defects: What every mom and mom-to-be should know appeared first on All4Baby.
]]>If you were to ask expectant mothers what a CHD is, not many would know the answer and this is because you only really become affected by these defects if you are lucky enough to have them identified early on.
CHD deaths can be avoided through education and knowledge. If moms are armed with the information they need to protect their babies from CHD related issues, death could potentially be avoided. All moms need to do is ask.
“Hudson was born on January 14th, 2013. Two days later, the hospital appointed paediatrician identified what he thought to be a heart murmur and immediately called the resident cardiologist to check it out. It turned out, Hudson had a congenital heart defect (CHD) called Truncus Arteriosus.
He underwent surgery at six weeks of age and everything looked so positive that we’d all but stopped worrying about his heart; so it was completely unexpected when he passed away in the early hours of the morning of May 17th.
In a sad way, we were lucky. Hudson’s CHD was identified early on and we could do everything possible to try and save him. While we weren’t successful and are struggling through the grief of losing our child, we believe that Hudson’s story can help to make a difference in saving the lives of future CHD kids”, says Hudson’s mom, Andrea Slater.
There aren’t many OB Gyns who routinely perform the necessary scans for CHDs during pregnancy. Most scan routinely for Down’s Syndrome and various other genetic disorders, but the dangers that face unborn children go further than just these.
If heart related disorders are identified, expectant mothers can, for instance, opt for caesarean sections rather than natural birth, thereby relieving the stress on the infant’s heart and body.
Pulse Ox is a simple screening test that measures how much oxygen is in a baby’s blood. When performed after the baby is 24 hours old (or before discharge), the test can help identify babies who may have serious heart problems before they go home.
Join pages like The Hudson Initiative on Facebook, where we bring focus to CHDs, what’s being done about them in South Africa, what mothers can do to protect their kids going forward and raise funds to help raise awareness around CHDs. Talk to us, we can help you save a heart.
About the Author: Andrea Slater is mother to a CHD angel and all she wants is to help other tiny people get a fighting chance in this life. Readers are welcome to visit her blog for more on Hudson’s journey.
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]]>The post Buying for baby on a budget appeared first on All4Baby.
]]>“Buying new items for your baby is often like shopping for a wedding – it’s exciting, but ultimately not very practical or eco-friendly in the long run. Buying secondhand can knock 50% off the retail price, and in most cases, the items found on online classifieds are in pristine condition,” says Claire Cobbledick, Head of Marketing, Gumtree, South Africa.
The site has over 10 000 items aimed at children of all ages. “Most parents know that their kids’ clothing and furniture will barely be used before they’ve outgrown it, which means that there is a great market for items taking up space in someone else’s house and ready for a second life.”
But there is a definite list of dos and don’ts parents should take into consideration when buying secondhand items. “Buying gently used clothing is fine, but avoid anything with zips, hoods, or drawstrings that could lose their elasticity quickly or start to unravel. Anything that gets really grubby – like diaper bags – should rather be purchased new,” says Cobbledick.
“But baby shoes are usually hardly worn before they are discarded, which makes it a great secondhand buy. When buying furniture secondhand, be sure to check the item for flaking paint or splinters that could cause injury.”
“Most cribs and cots made over the last five years are perfectly safe to be purchased, but do your research to ensure that the product you are considering hasn’t been recalled by quality controllers,” Cobbledick advises. “Strong mattress support is important, so replace this if necessary. Also consider portable cots – they are not only less expensive, but take up less space and offer a great alternate.”
“A stroller can be the most expensive item a parent invests in, which makes it a great secondhand buy,” says Cobbledick. “Avoid any with broken, loose or missing parts, when looking at used strollers. It’s perfectly fine to ask the owner if you can take it for a spin to make sure it’s sturdy and handles well. We also often have customers selling off demo models, that are almost half the retail price and unused.”
Baby bathtubs are a good purchase, providing the owner has stored them correctly. “If the bathtub is clean and doesn’t smell of mildew or harsh chemicals, it’s fine. Bath seats, or inflatable tubs are not advisable secondhand purchases – if damaged, they could be dangerous.”
“Classifieds are a great way of sourcing furniture, because a lot of carpenters use the site to sell their handmade furniture – there are really innovative creations up for grabs, and many of the sellers are willing to customise the colour and design according to your preferences,” says Cobbledick. “Just make sure that there are safeguards to ensure that your baby doesn’t fall out of the seat. High chairs with removable trays or arms that lift above the head can also be hazardous.”
“There are tons of unwanted baby monitors and electronics that can be picked up online. Replace the batteries and it’s good to go.”
You would be surprised at how many baby shower items can be bought online. “Classifieds can be a great way of sourcing items for a baby shower or party,” says Cobbledick. “You can search for different suppliers of birth announcement cakes, party favours and even entertainment, and source dozens of quotes in your neighbourhood on a single site. Most of the suppliers offer online photo portfolios or have their own sites that can be visited to get a clearer picture of what they provide.”
For more information, visit the Baby and Kids Section on Gumtree.co.za.
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]]>The post 5 Points to consider when choosing a name for your baby appeared first on All4Baby.
]]>While the final decision lies with you (yes, not the traditional grandparents and over-excited aunts) there’s always a chance that you will one day suffer from naming regret.
Here are five points to consider when naming your little bundle of joy.
Some parents, whether intentional or by fluke, give their baby a name that can very easily be turned into a pun. Before you think that Justin Tyme (just-in time) is cute, think about what poor Penny (penny for your thoughts) will have to endure for the rest of her life. If the name you choose has an obvious pun or idiom, scratch it off your list. There’s enough pun in the world in the form of North West (Kim K and Kanye West’s little one).
You guessed it. I didn’t even need to spell it out for you. Boozy Suzy, fatty Matty and prissy Chrissy join Billy in the list of names that rhyme. Now, this may be cute to you and your significant other but it won’t be cute to the grade one bully who realises that your child’s name has a built-in teasing mechanism.
Why spell Michael, Mykel? While it may seem unusual (and yes I know, special) to give your child a common name that is spelt differently, all you are actually doing is setting your child up to correct people for the rest of his life. When you choose a name, spell it like you say it. If you mispronounce the name when first reading it, chances are others will too.
The length of your surname should have some effect on how long your baby’s first name will be. Life is hard enough as it is. You don’t want to give your child a tongue twister that they are only able to spell in grade four.
One word: no. Celebs are great at inspiring fashion trends, but baby names… not so much. Blue Ivy, Cricket Pearl and Bear Blu may roll smoothly off the tongue in celeb-ville but will not go down well in a South African classroom. Just because Beyonce’s child can pull it off, doesn’t mean your child can.
If you are at a loss as to what to name your baby, an old fashioned baby name book will probably set you off in the right direction. For those who prefer to turn to the internet, here are the top ten boy and girl names for 2013:
Boys:
Girls:
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