Hospital Bag

What to pack in your hospital bag, also its a good idea to start packing the bag once you hit 30 plus weeks and either put the bag in the car or by the door so you can trip over it every day till its hospital time....

Six Signs that Labor is Within a Few Weeks or Days

-  (email from a Pregnant Muslimah)

1. Lightening: You can breathe again! This is an indication that the baby has dropped, settling deeper into your pelvis and relieving some of the pressure on your diaphragm, so you are not so short of breath. You may feel increased pressure on your bladder, which means more trips to the bathroom. Others may comment on your changed appearance, although you might not be aware of it at all.

How to massage your crying, colic baby

Nazreen Kassam-Bulbulia

For the calming of your baby down when they crying for no reason, use the 6 S's

What to give your newborn for cramps...

1. Diluted gripe water until 3monthes and then plain gripe water (though be careful as gripe water is not always good for all babies) and make sure its the non-alcohol kind.
2. Behoepsmiddel
3.Exercising the babies legs after every nappy change. Press their legs inward on their tummy or do gently do the bicycle.
4. Sister Lillian products
5.Bonnie Care from the TIBB range

The language of babies

- courtesy of Amina via email

I found this to be very useful, courtesy of Great Expectations... How to understand the cries of your baby

Top 5 Myths About Having a Home Birth, by; Tracy Odell

Whenever I'd tell someone I was having a home birth, their reaction would inevitably fall into one of three buckets:

1. "YAY! I wish I'd done that." (Or, "I have done that.")
2. "How? What? Why?" A million questions.
3. "Are you crazy? What if something bad happens?"

3 Tips for a Successful Home Birth

The following is a guest post from Kaitlin Rose, founder of Bring Birth Home, a website dedicated to education and support for home births.

I didn't know birth could be so rewarding until I gave birth at home and became a part of a community of women who had also delivered their babies this way.

10 Reasons to Delay Solids Until at Least 6 Months; By Christie Haskell

Despite some clear messages from many health organizations, old recommendations -- or old wives' tales -- have many babies starting on solids before they reach 6 months old. Reasons range from "Baby is big enough!" to "Baby is too small!" (huh?) and even "I can just tell she's ready."

Naturally Inducing Labour – Natural Induction Methods By: Kelly Winder BellyBelly Creator, Mum & Birth Attendant

Chances are that if you’re reading this article, you’re late in your third trimester, overdue, ‘over’ being pregnant or trying to beat a planned induction date!

Natural methods of induction are a great way to try and stimulate labour or to ripen the cervix, especially if this means beating a medical induction or caesarean (should you not go into spontaneous labour beforehand).

Fasting for Ramadan in pregnancy

Is it safe?

There is no clear answer, even though medical studies have looked at the effects of fasting (Cross 1990, CIA/NHS 2007). At the moment, we don't know if fasting is completely safe for pregnant women and their babies (NHS Choices 2008).

Reflux

www.babycentre.co.uk)

What is reflux?

Reflux is what happens when your baby's stomach contents come back up into his food pipe (gullet or oesophagus) or even into his mouth. The long name for reflux is gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

Getting A Flat Tummy After A C-Section

From - www.pregnancy-info.net

When it comes to losing weight and toning up your stomach after a cesarean section, it's very important not to push your body too hard before you've had a chance to recover. Like most new mothers, you're keen to get back your figure as soon as possible, and you're probably already thinking about what type of diet and exercise program will help you. Don't forget, however, that in addition to bringing a baby into the world, you've also had a major operation - therefore you shouldn't be discouraged if it takes you longer to slim down your stomach area than it does a woman who delivered vaginally.

Constipation in babies

From  (www.babycenter.com)

How can I tell if my baby is constipated?

When it comes to a baby's bowel movements, there's no "normal" number or schedule — only what's normal for your baby. Your baby may pass a stool after every feeding, or wait a day or more between bowel movements. Her individual pattern depends on what she eats and drinks, how active she is, and how quickly she digests her food and then gets rid of waste. With practice, you'll be able to tune in to your baby's unique habits.

Introducing Solids

Introducing solids (Approved by the BabyCentre Medical Advisory Board)

When should I introduce solid foods?

It's a good idea to wait until your baby is six months old before giving her solid food as well as her usual milk. The Department of Health says it's best to exclusively breastfeed your baby until she is six months old. After that, breastmilk on its own doesn't give your baby everything she needs, in particular iron.

Umrah and little ones

Tips given from the Facebook page by mothers on going on Umrah with their little ones;

Castor Oil Induction

(www.gloriamay.com/blog)

Inducing with castor oil isn’t safe. Once swallowed the castor oil is hydrolized by intestinal lipases to recinoleic acid which stimulates intestinal secretion, decreases glucose absorption and increases intestinal motility. Castor oil is used in lipsticks, too. Many women who can tolerate the oil quite well on their lips get a reaction on their mouths if the oil converts to recinoleic acid. My question to a midwife who says castor oil is not absorbed is ‘Would you please provide me with references for that statement’.

Preparing For A Natural Hospital Birth - Be informed. Don't go into hospital and accept everything they do to you.

I took this article from mamabirth.blogspot.com. I love reading her blog as she is so pro natural birth, she always shares these awesome stories that show us that anything is possible. I hope that this article will help you ladies make informed decisions when it comes to having your baby. Too many people go into hospital and end up having a caesarean after artificial interference which destroys the natural labour process. Be wise. Know what is going to happen when you're in labour and make informed decisions!!!

THE CONTRACTION MOTION THAT FACILITATES BIRTH

Well worth a read! Special thanks to sister Fatima Jada for sharing this with us!

The pains of labor drove her to the trunk of a date-palm. She said, 'Oh if only I had died before this time and was something discarded and forgotten!' A voice called out to her from under her, 'Do not grieve! Your Lord has placed a small stream at your feet. Shake the trunk of the palm towards you and fresh, ripe dates will drop down onto you.' (Surah Maryam, 23-25)

The Morning Sickness Diet

(http://www.babynature.co.za/babynature/articles-natural-remedies-and-tips-for-morning-sickness.php)

Morning sickness has long been thought of as an annoying and miserable inconvenience of pregnancy brought on by physical and hormonal changes happening in the body. However, researchers have since discovered that morning sickness is a remarkable safety mechanism pre-programmed to protect the developing fetus from potentially harmful toxins.

Increasing breast milk supply

Comments from the Facebook page to help with increasing breast milk.

1. Putting the baby on the breast more often, with loads of skin to skin contact

2. Black seed its the best thing to take

3.  Fresh coconut .Slice it up and have as a snack.

4. Oats.You can even soak like 2tbsp in a glass of water overnight n strain n drink the water next day.

5. Drinking liquids- water, coke and ginger beer 

6. Herbal tea -  HIPP organic, its herbal tea with aniseed, fennel, caraway etc. and it supports lactation

7. Hoowa Water aides in lactation

8. Warm ginger beer

9. Dates

10. Jungle Juice

11. Patience

Morning Sickness (or all day sickness)

Comments from the Facebook page to help with morning sickness; 
if serious morning sickness persists into the 2nd trimester and you are not picking up weight please see your doctor as you could be loosing vital electrolytes which could lead to dehydration. 

Jungle Juice Recipe

50ml Weleda Schlehen Elixir blackthornberry tonic
1lt apple juice
2lt water
1 Rehydrate
4 Rescue remedy tablets