What's On - Local Events: July 2013

Wednesday 3 July

Ickworth House: A world of wings display, 1.30-2.30pm

One of the most unique bird displays & experiences in the UK. A world of wings join us for a display of some of their birds. With parrots, kingfishers, birds of prey, crows, and more this is a real treat to see these magnificent creatures in action.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ickworth/things-to-see-and-do/events/#iframeEvents

Friday 5 July

Museum of Cambridge: Fab Family Fridays! 10.30am-12.30pm

Join us in the Folk Museum attic every Friday for fun and interactive volunteer-led workshops designed for young children and their parents or carers. Workshops are FREE with the cost of admission. No need to book in advance but space is limited. Theme this week: Mad Hatters! Try on different hats belonging to people in history – whose hat will you wear?

http://www.folkmuseum.org.uk/page.php?id=278

Saturday 6 July

Wimpole Estate: Minibeast Magic, 10.30am-12.00noon

Take a closer look at the creepy crawlies that live at Wimpole. Come and help identify the beasties that call Wimpole their home. Ages 5-12. Booking essential.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wimpole-estate/things-to-see-and-do/events/

Cambridge Botanic Garden: Dragonfly day, 11.00am-3.00pm

Join us for dragonfly spotting in the Garden and then make your own dragonfly to take home. Drop-in. No booking required.

http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Botanic/Event.aspx?p=27&ix=337&pid=2718&prcid=0&ppid=2718

Fitzwilliam Museum: Family First Saturdays, 2.00-4.00pm

On the first Saturday of each month visit our Fitz Family Welcome Point in the Courtyard and collect drawing materials, activities and trails to use throughout the museum.

http://www.visitcambridge.org/whats-on/family-first-saturdays-p534451

Cambridge Big Weekend (Parker’s Piece), 12.00noon-10.00pm

Saturday at The Big Weekend opens with a Bang! At 12 noon we are thrilled to welcome UK Centre for Carnival Arts National Olympic project ‘Carnival Crossroads’ to the event. A massive Carnival progression of over a hundred local Carnival artists and musicians in stunning costumes will take place across Parkers Piece with a Samba accompaniment from the Main Stage! A circus extravaganza follows, giving us a breath-taking, jam-packed hour of the UK’s most skilled circus artists, including headline act, Doug & Ed, as seen on this year’s Britain’s Got Talent! Saturday is the day the Olympic Torch comes to Cambridge and we wanted to celebrate this by packing the main stage with a plethora of community talent and showcase. Come and see some of the amazing activity that makes our City such a very special place.

http://www.cambridgesummerinthecity.co.uk/saturday/

Sunday 7 July

Ely Aquafest (Jubilee Gardens), 11.00am-5.30pm

Riverside gala for all the family with fun fair, stalls, beer tent, burger bar, crafts and entertainment arenas etc. A major crowd pleaser is the annual raft race with numerous decorate rafts, from buses to tanks, simple rafts to luxury liners. Meanwhile the two arenas provide varied entertainment through the day, often featuring local talent. There is music, dancing, interesting demonstration and audience participation.

http://www.elyaquafest.org.uk/

Kettles Yard: Studio Sundays, 1.00-4.00pm

Drop in practical art workshops for all ages. Join us to make your own artwork inspired by our exhibitions and collection. A chance to explore, chat, sketch, make and play.

http://www.kettlesyard.co.uk/education/kids_families/index.php

Cambridge Big Weekend: Cambridge Mela (Parker’s Piece)

A vibrant day of international culture and music. There will be three Mela marquees with arts & crafts, delicious food  to sample & Indian cooking demos, henna design, fashion including how to wear a saree demo, and lots to see and do. Also on Sunday – storytelling tent, the fun lab, an
d more.

http://www.cambridgesummerinthecity.co.uk/sunday/

Wednesday 10 July

Ickworth House: A world of wings display, 1.30-2.30pm

For information, see 3 July

Thursday 11 July

Wicken Fen: Mucky Pups...Summer Safari, 10.15-11.45am

Seasonal fun, craft and adventure for under 5s. Explore the fen in the summertime, looking out for all the bugs and creepy crawlies. Scuttle like a beetle, and flutter like a butterfly in the minibeast races, messy painting to create some beautiful beasts, and much much more. Booking essential. Selling out fast.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wicken-fen/things-to-see-and-do/events/

Friday 12 July

The 28th Ely Folk Festival

Ely Folk Festival is a bijou weekend folk and roots music festival that takes place in the wonderful cathedral city of Ely. The festival provides an opportunity to listen to some of the best folk acts around in an intimate and friendly environment. With on-site camping facilities, a re
al ale bar, lots of kids activities, morris dancing displays, ceilidhs, workshops and music sessions, the festival is a wonderful and great value weekend or day out.

http://www.elyfolkfestival.co.uk/default.asp

Museum of Cambridge: Fab Family Fridays! 10.30am-12.30pm

For information, see 5 July. Theme this week: Summer Make and Take: Make a simple paper-based project to take home.

Saturday 13 July

Wicken Fen Bioblitz, all day

A race to record as much wildlife as possible! We need your help to find as much wildlife as possible in a 24 hour period. Come with your notepad, camera, magnifiers, binoculars, friends and family. Meet up with our experts who will help you identify what you have seen, and lead expeditions to find a whole host of species. Booking not needed.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wicken-fen/things-to-see-and-do/events/

Handmade at Haddenham: Haddenham Galleries, 10.00am-6.00pm

Over two weekends in July more than 50 artists, makers and artisans have signed up. They include glass makers, wood turners, jewellers, blacksmith, toy makers, painters and other many other artisans who will be gathered together in gazebos, marquees and tents. Flags will be flying, music playing and food cooking. There will be a children’s activity pit, big draw and competitions.

http://www.adec.org.uk/index.php?adec/eventdetail/handmade_at_haddenham_haddenham_galleries

Amey Cespa Recycling Open Day, 10.00am-4.00pm

You can find out more about what happens to your waste at the annual Recycling Open Day on Saturday 13 July at AmeyCespa's Waterbeach site. This is your chance to take a guided coach tour of the site, join a walking tour of the new Materials Recycling Facility, enjoy displays of plant and vehicles, and take part in activities aimed at all the family. The day will be full of fun and interactive activities aimed at all the family. These will include games and activities on recycling and reuse, Cambridge Science Centre demonstrations, guided coach tours of the site, walking tours of the new Materials Recycling Facility and vehicle displays. You can also find out how to recycle and re-use even more of your waste and get the answers to your rubbish-related questions from experts in the field such as council staff, recycling companies and charities. FREE.

http://www.ameycespa.com/east/index.php?c=page&id=2454&s=more&id_pages_content=1043

kidsunlimited Ely Garden Party, 10.00am-1.00pm

Come and enjoy a fun day out with free entry, aimed at children from 3 months to 5 years. The party will be held in our large, all-weather garden and there will be plenty of activities for all the family to enjoy!

http://www.netmums.com/south-cambridgeshire/whats-on/view/kidsunlimited-ely-garden-party

The 28th Ely Folk Festival

For information, see 12 July

Sunday 14 July

Kettles Yard: Studio Sundays, 1.00-4.00pm

For information, see 7 July

The 28th Ely Folk Festival

For information, see 12 July

Handmade at Haddenham: Haddenham Galleries, 10.00am-6.00pm

For information, see 13 July

Wednesday 17 July

Ickworth House: A world of wings display, 1.30-2.30pm

For information, see 3 July

Friday 19 July

Museum of Cambridge: Fab Family Fridays! 10.30am-12.30pm

For information, see 5 July. Theme this week – Summer Suitcase Stories: look in the suitcase for ideas and make your own family summer adventure.

Saturday 20 July

Handmade at Haddenham: Haddenham Galleries, 10.00am-6.00pm

For information, see 13 July

Sunday 21 July

Handmade at Haddenham: Haddenham Galleries, 10.00am-6.00pm

For information, see 13 July

Monday 22 July

Holiday Workshops: Milton Community Centre, 10.00am-12.00noon

Our exciting holiday workshops involve dance, movement, storytelling andartwork to take home. Today’s workshop is ‘The Gruffalo’ (2-4 years). Booking essential.

http://www.netmums.com/south-cambridgeshire/whats-on/view/milton-community-centre

Wednesday 24 July

Wicken Fen: Pond dipping and minibeast hunt, 10.30-11.15 am, 11.15am-12.00noon, 12.00noon-12.45pm, 1.45-2.30pm, 2.30-3.15pm

Come and discover the minibeasts that live at Wicken Fen. 30 minute pond dipping session, followed by minibeast hunt. Booking essential. Age 3+.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wicken-fen/things-to-see-and-do/events/

Anglesey Abbey: Summer Holiday Wild Wednesdays - Bugs and Butterflies Galore, 11.00am-1.00pm and 2.00-4.00pm

Spend the day helping us survey as many bugs and butterflies around Anglesey Abbey as we can. Staff will help you identify your finds, with id guides, microscopes, bug pots and sweep nets in abundance. Find out all about the best techniques for bug hunting and how to bring up a butterfly back home, maybe even hold a scary beast.........

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/anglesey-abbey/things-to-see-and-do/events/

Holiday Workshops: Milton Community Centre, 10.00am-12.00noon

Our exciting holiday workshops involve dance, movement, storytelling and artwork to take home. Today’s workshop is ‘Sleeping Beauty’ (3-6 years). Booking essential.

http://www.netmums.com/south-cambridgeshire/whats-on/view/milton-community-centre

Ickworth House: A world of wings display, 1.30-2.30pm

For information, see 3 July

Friday 26 July

Wicken Fen: Mud Glorious Mud, 10.30am-12.30pm and 2.00-4.00pm

Your chance to get really dirty! Explore the finer qualities of mud, for throwing, painting and building. Booking essential.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wicken-fen/things-to-see-and-do/events/

Park Challenge, 10.30am-12noon

How many parks can you visit in the summer holidays? Come and meet us in the park for our exciting challenge! This week, meet at Sutton Play Park (Sterling Way, Sutton). Run by the Growing Places Children’s Centre (Sutton).

Wood Green Family Fun Drop-In Session, 10.00am-12.00noon

Join our Hands-On team in the Leaning Centre at our Godmanchester site for drop-in pet toy making activities suitable for all ages from toddlers upwards. Plus have fun with animal story time and meet some of our small animals looking for new homes. Drop-in, no need to book.
http://www.netmums.com/south-northamptonshire/whats-on/view/wood-green-family-fun-drop-in-session

Saturday 27 July

Ely Cathedral Summer Craft Fair, 10.00am-4.00pm

Handmade toys, gifts, cards, jewellery, clothes, ceramics, art, bags and much more. Delicious tea and cakes available from our cafe plus facepainting!

http://visitely.eastcambs.gov.uk/events/summer-craft-fair

Wimpole Estate: Open Air Theatre - Alice in Wonderland, 7.30-10.30pm

Heartbreak Theatre Company perform this classic family story, ideal entertainment for a Summer's evening. Bring a chair or rug to sit on. Barbecue and refreshments from 6.30pm, or bring your own picnic. Booking essential.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wimpole-estate/things-to-see-and-do/events/

Sunday 28 July

Grafton Centre Kids’ Club, 11.00am-400pm

Cowboys (Lone Ranger Movie release 9 August). Make Cowboy and Indian (native American!) masks and headdresses. All craft activities are FREE for members of The Grafton Kids' Club – and there is no fee to join. If you would like your child to join The Grafton Kid's Club come along to one of our events, they're on the last Sunday of every month. As a member you will receive a membership card and a free gift every time you attend. Join Gordon The Grafton Gorilla and his gang on the last Sunday of every month, where he will be hosting a 'get-together' between 11am and 4pm.

https://www.graftoncentre.co.uk/childrens_club.aspx

Monday 29 July

Wicken Fen: Fairies and Pixies, 10.30am-12.30pm and 2.00-4.00pm

Come and meet the Fenland Fairies. Meet all the fenland fairies, help Nanny Sparkles with a little magic, plus fairy crafts. Suitable for ages 3-7. Booking essential.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wicken-fen/things-to-see-and-do/events/

Church Farm: Summer Holiday Fun, 10.00am-5.00pm

Themed animals weeks, crafts, games, animal encounters and more....Games and animal encounters every day. w/c 29th July - Sheep Week (with sheep racing).

http://www.churchfarmstowbardolph.co.uk/eventind.asp?EventID=65

Tuesday 30 July

Houghton Mill: Windows in Colour, 1.00-4.30pm

Just one of many children's activities held every Tuesday at Houghton Mill over the summer holidays...Create a colourful design to decorate a window.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/houghton-mill/things-to-see-and-do/events/

Wood Green Behind the Scenes Tours, 10.00am-12.00noon or 1.00-3.00pm

Join our Hands-On Team for a behind the scenes tour at our Godmanchester Centre. Find out more about dog, cat, small animal and field animal care. Get hands on making fun pet toys and feed some of our animals tasty treats. £5 per person and suitable for 5 year olds and over. All children must be accompanied by a paying adult. Booking essential as places are limited.

Wicken Fen: Pond dipping and minibeast hunt, 10.30-11.15 am, 11.15am-12.00noon, 12.00noon-12.45pm, 1.45-2.30pm, 2.30-3.15pm

For information, see 24 July

Church Farm: Summer Holiday Fun, 10.00am-5.00pm
For information, see 29 July

Wednesday 31 July

Wicken Fen: Summertime Arts and crafts, 10.30am-12.30pm and 2.00-4.00pm

Arts and Crafts inspired by nature and the season. Suitable for ages 3-10. Booking essential.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wicken-fen/things-to-see-and-do/events/

Anglesey Abbey: Summer Holiday Wild Wednesdays - Pond dipping, 11.00am-1.00pm and 2.00-4.00pm

Come and discover what's in our pond! We'll have pond dip sessions throughout the day - just pick up a timed ticket from the Visitor Centre when you arrive. Find out about frogspawn, catch a fish and spot dragonflies from the bird hide while you're here.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/anglesey-abbey/things-to-see-and-do/events/

Ickworth House: A world of wings display, 1.30-2.30pm

For information, see 3 July

Church Farm: Summer Holiday Fun, 10.00am-5.00pm
For information, see 29 July

Research supports link between exclusive breastfeeding and children's IQ

Does breastfeeding alter early brain development?

The prevailing consensus from large epidemiological studies suggests that early exclusive breastfeeding is associated with improved measures of IQ and cognitive functioning in later childhood and adolescence.

Brain imaging studies support these findings, revealing increased white matter and sub-cortical gray matter volume, and parietal lobe cortical thickness (associated with IQ) in adolescents who were breastfed as infants compared to those who were exclusively formula-fed.

However, it remains unknown when these structural differences first manifest and when developmental differences that predict later performance improvements can be detected.

In a recent study ( Breastfeeding and early white matter development: a cross-sectional study. Deoni SC, Dean DC, Piryatinsky I, et al.), MRI scans were used to compare measures of white matter microstructure  in 133 healthy children from 10months through 4years of age, who were either exclusively breastfed a minimum of 3months; exclusively formula-fed; or received a mixture of breast milk and formula.

The study also examined the relationship between breastfeeding duration and white matter microstructure.

Breastfed children exhibited increased white matter development in later maturing frontal and association brain regions. Positive relationships between white matter microstructure and breastfeeding duration are also exhibited in several brain regions, that are anatomically consistent with observed improvements in cognitive and behavioral performance measures.

While the mechanisms underlying these structural differences remains unclear, our findings provide new insight into the earliest developmental advantages associated with breastfeeding, and support the hypothesis that breast milk constituents promote healthy neural growth and white matter development.

Red Cross First Aid Training in Association with the NCT

Today 12 parents and parents to be from Ely and beyond gathered at St Mary's Church Hall, Ely for a two hour Red Cross First Aid Course,

The two hour session catered specifically for parents of 0-6 year olds and covered what to do in the case of:

• Unconsciousness (breathing)
• Unconsciousness (not breathing)
• Choking
• Bleeding
• Burns
• Raised Temperatures

The course was concise and informative and gave participants a chance to practice what they were being taught by instructor Rosanna. Having attended first aid courses before, I went along to this as a refresher, but it was also the first time attending such a course with a toddler in mind. I learnt a few new things too, such as the fact that it is better to treat a burn using tepid water rather than cold (can hold the burn under it for longer whilst still cooling it).

Rosanne also informed us that the Red Cross have two FREE Apps available for both iPhone and Android, one for Adults, and another specifically for Baby and Child. Just do a search for Red Cross in your App Store.

If you are interested in attending a First Aid Course, search for a course near you using the NCT Website.

Many thanks to Rosanne from The Red Cross, and to Isle of Ely NCT volunteers Maxine and Nancy for making today possible

Difficult Birth - a Dad's Perspective

by Mark Bullows, Birmingham West NCT

I have had seven babies in total, only one of them was a normal birth. My eldest was diagnosed with a heart condition during pregnancy. Of the five I’ve had with Claire we lost our first due to prematurity and then went on to have four more premature births with Claire spending much of her pregnancies threatening to go into labour.

There are three that really stand out on the subject of a dad's perspective, my eldest son with his heart condition, my eldest surviving baby with Claire, and our youngest daughter who was Claire’s VBA2C (that’s vaginal birth after two sections).

When my first wife was 20 weeks pregnant with our first baby we went along for the scan - excited expectant parents like everyone else. Then we had that classic silent moment, where you know something is wrong. We went round to see my wife’s consultant and he explained that they thought they had found something wrong with the heart. He told us that there wasn’t anything we could do until the birth but they would run tests to investigate the extent of the problem. 

Throughout the remainder of the pregnancy, the hospitals looking after my wife and baby couldn’t do enough to make sure we were fully informed, answered every question we had. At 38 weeks they induced my wife, scheduled a theatre and had an ambulance on standby. When our son was born she had enough time to look at him before he was rushed off. I followed behind and got to the hospital with enough time to have some paperwork thrust at me to sign before he was taken into theatre. When they brought my son out of theatre and I got to see him properly for the first time I couldn’t believe what I was seeing: he was covered in tubes and wires. Despite how awful it all was, we felt prepared and were able to cope with it. I really have nothing but praise for the hospitals. 

Three babies later and despite what we’ve been through, me with my son and losing our first daughter, Claire and I were happy expecting another daughter. She had an easy pregnancy and we had no reason to think anything would go wrong. As she got to the late 20s Claire had started to track her Braxton Hicks. She didn’t get them often but they were quite strong and regular when she did. She even had an overnight stay because of them. So at 31 weeks when Claire went off to B&Q with her dad and a notebook and pen to write her Braxton Hicks in, we didn’t really think much of it. After an hour I got a call saying to get myself ready and be waiting with her green notes. 

Claire had had a scan that morning and had been having contractions during the scan which they’d said weren’t anything worrying, so we didn’t think they’d be too worried. They sent us around to the waiting room and gave her a sample pot. After Claire cried out during a contraction, one of the midwives came around and said “was that your pain?” and she got us straight into a delivery room. Even strapped onto the monitor, with a drip set up to stop the contractions and steroids already administered we didn’t think anything would come of it. We were laughing together, I’ve never been forgiven for coming back from the shop with a coat full of chocolate and drink and opening it as (Claire describes) like a dodgy watch salesman and asking if she wanted anything followed by “Oh you can’t can you? You’re nil-by-mouth!” 

After an hour the doctor came back to examine Claire to see if anything had changed. He just calmly said “we need to get this baby out now” and suddenly the room was full of people. Claire had her nail varnish cleaned, her jewellery removed, her drip capped off, three consent forms explained to her which she had to sign and her clothes changed for theatre, all at the same time. Neither of us really knew what was going on and, as it was a crash and she was having a general anaesthetic, all I could do was sit outside with her mum. I saw our daughter in passing as she was wheeled past on her way to the neonatal unit. They took a long time to do the operation and Claire took a long time to come round but no one explained what was happening or why things had gone like they did. Really my son’s birth should have been the hardest of the two, but the lack of information in this one made it the hardest. 

Claire went on to have another section under similar circumstances but slower and things felt better having already been there. 

Then Claire got pregnant again and she decided as it would be her last she was going to get a Doula and she would try VBAC. The team that Claire was under were brilliant, they were very supportive and came up with a plan that we were all happy with. We met some lovely people along the way who agreed with our decision and Claire felt confident going into the birth. Sadly on the day we had a team who were determined she wasn’t going to get the birth she wanted. There was a lot of shouting, they forced her into stirrups which she knew was bad for her because she has pelvis issues. The midwife and doula tried to stop them but they were yelling at me to hold my wife still. It’s very difficult as a man when you see the woman you love in distress but being told by medical staff that you need to do something that is going to make her worse. I wish I had understood better before the birth why she kept saying “Mark, remember, stirrups bad” because for a long time it has been a source of guilt for me, even though Claire says it’s unnecessary. Our daughter was born APGAR 9, pink and screaming after 6 minutes of unaided pushing. 

I know I could have done things differently to support Claire better and I think that would have helped how I felt afterwards, so here is my advice to expectant dads:

1. Take an interest, there’s a good chance she knows why she is saying what she’s wants.
2. Memorise her birth plan, get her to tell you what is non-negotiable, what you need to know about any health issues.
3. If you can, get a doula, as they’re an extra brain to remember these things and it’s their speciality anyway so it comes naturally to them. If you do get a doula, attend antenatal sessions with her too, you can work as an amazing team to support your partner if you do.
4. Don’t be scared to question the staff, if there genuinely is no time you will know it, but make sure they explain to you both afterwards. Don’t be scared to tell them no either, practice your best authoritative voice saying "She said no. She does not consent to that!" It is always the mother’s word that goes, even in birth and if she doesn’t want something done to her that’s her decision. 

I learnt a little acronym that helps: TBRAINS, it means:

• Time/ Talk: do we have time/ can we talk?
• Benefits: why do you want to do this?
• Risks: what could happen if you do that?
• Alternatives: what else can you do?
• Instinct: what does my instinct tell me (or hers, she even has the say over you, sorry)?
• Nothing: what if we do nothing and just wait to see what happens?
• Smile! It’ll help keep you calm, the staff are more likely to listen to you and calmness is good for a birthing mother as adrenaline can complicate the labour.

I highly recommend antenatal classes too. Claire dragged me to one when she was expecting our youngest. I’ve had 6 babies before, what can I learn from an antenatal class? Actually I found it really useful.

The last thing to remember, debrief afterwards, especially if the birth was particularly difficult. Whether that’s down the pub with your mates, your Doula, or you make an appointment to see a Supervisor of Midwives (amazing people, if doc says no, ask the SoM!) Don’t try to hide it from your partner either, you are in it together not separately, you don’t have to be strong for her, you need to be with her.

NCT’s Chief Executive Belinda Phipps said:
“NCT has campaigned for dads to have the choice to be with their partners at their babies’ birth. Of course they don’t have to be there – but it’s important that that they and their partners discuss this and decide what’s the best approach for them. 

“If fathers do decide to be present at the birth, they need to be prepared for it. What children learn about childbirth when growing up is inadequate at school and often misleading from the media so that it’s not surprising some men are shocked. Attending NCT classes with their partners can help dads be well informed ahead of the due date. 

“There is of course no need for birth to be shocking if parents are kept informed and well supported. But where parents are not prepared – either when not supported or as a result of today’s much increased medical intervention - there may be some trauma. Having a midwife you already know and trust is important - the NHS needs to ensure a familiar face is available to mother and father, and organise itself in a way that gives midwives time to care.”

C-section scars banished with welding torch

A plasma device, developed by an Israeli firm, IonMed, could benefit mothers-to-be this autumn, and could also be used to close wounds for burns victims and cosmetic surgery patients. The BioWeld gadget, which will cost hospitals around £2,500, uses plasma – a charged form of gas normally produced by welding torches – to weld wounds together. The 40C plasma welds a thin film of specially-designed material - based on a naturally occurring sugar - over the wound, closing it without causing pain. In three clinical trials on women undergoing c-sections, in which an eight-inch incision is made along the bikini line, the wounds healed better than the stitches and staples currently in use.

C-section-scars-banished-with-welding-torch The Telegraph 17/6/13

Co-Sleeping in the News

By Jo Turner, Crowthorne & Sandhurst NCT Branch

In May 2013 the BMJ (British Medical Journal) published a report that found bed sharing with parents increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) fivefold in babies younger than three months, even if the parents are non-smokers.

"The current messages saying that bed sharing is dangerous only if you or your partner are smokers, have been drinking alcohol or taking drugs that make you drowsy, are very tired or the baby is premature or of low birth-weight are not effective because many of the bed sharing deaths involve these factors"

BMJ Open study by R Carpenter

This report has resulted in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) examining its current guidance.

"Putting babies to bed in a safe way reduces the chances of them getting hurt. We know that for the first six months of life, the safest place for a baby to sleep is in a cot, lying on his or her back, in the parents' room. Sleeping alongside a baby increases the risks to the child – including death. We currently recommend that doctors, midwives and nurses should warn parents of the risks of sleeping alongside a baby in a bed"

NICE Spokesman

NCT has responded to this study and the NCT’s Senior Policy Adviser, Rosemary Dobbs has said:

“Around half of all parents in the UK sleep with their baby in bed some of the time, either in a planned or accidental way. It is important that parents are fully informed and given information that is tailored to their individual circumstances. This includes the risks associated with sharing a bed with a very young or premature baby, as well as the increased risks to a young baby sleeping in a room alone. However, NCT does not support a universal instruction not to bed share as it could lead to an increased likelihood that a parent or carer inadvertently falls asleep while holding the baby, in a chair or on a sofa, which is much less safe for the infant. 

“More than 300 babies a year die in the UK as a result of SIDS. These deaths are concentrated among more disadvantaged families and in environments where there is smoking, alcohol or substance abuse. It is important that effort is focused where it will have most effect.  NCT would like to see the government do more to reduce poverty and disadvantage among parents of babies and young children, and strengthen its efforts to support smoking cessation and avoidance of alcohol during pregnancy and at the early stages of a child’s life.”

NCT’s Senior Policy Adviser, Rosemary Dobbs

Many other organisations have also published their own comments regarding the study.  One that discusses the points to consider when reading the study is by Unicef UK.  

“The stated objective of the paper is to resolve uncertainty about the risk of SIDS and bed-sharing, but this is not possible if essential data has not been collected. A more recent study (Blair et al, BMJ 2009) has demonstrated a significant interaction between co-sleeping and recent parental consumption of alcohol and drugs. None of these five case-control studies collected data on recent drug consumption and only two collected data on alcohol consumption. The over-arching argument is thus whether bed-sharing in itself poses a risk to infants or whether the risk is within the hazardous circumstances in which we bed-share. These older studies simply do not have the data to resolve this argument.”

UNICEF UK Response

Becoming a new parent, you are bombarded with information, rules and ‘do nots’.  This is at a time when you have so little time of your own to investigate the facts behind these headlines.  So how do you know what rules to follow?  When our parents had us they were given far fewer ‘rules’ and we are okay so can we ignore the new rules?  But knowledge of our bodies and understanding has moved on so why shouldn’t we expect more rules?  When cars were first on our roads they did not have seat belts and even on a slow journey I would not consider leaving mine off. New information and technology has assisted us with the continual ‘human development’. 

Let me talk you through my personal thoughts on this study, using some articles that I have read to assist my writings.

Firstly, I will state Abi did co-sleep with me and my husband, so you have to understand my perhaps-biased viewpoint.  Abi was born four weeks early and weighed less than 5lbs.  I was told by health professionals that skin-to-skin contact was very important.  During the day, a naked Abi would often sleep tucked in my nighty—I spent a lot of time sitting down in the early days as I had had a C-section.  When we got home from hospital it was easier for me if Abi slept in the bed (I was still suffering a lot from my C-section).  Also, it seemed natural to me for Abi to sleep immediately next to me.  Abi was tiny and slept on a pillow between us.  I do not fidget (particularly with a painful tummy) and felt comfortable like this.  Night-time feeds were easier and I needed to inconvenience my husband less to help me.  Until Abi moved into her own room at six months she still spent part of the night co-sleeping with us.  This is all clearly against the current guidelines as she had a low birth weight and I was very tired (which new parent isn’t?!).  But it felt right to me to be able to feel her breathe throughout the night.

So, what are the ‘facts’?

In the recent bed-sharing research, Professor Carpenter reviewed home sleeping arrangements of infants in 19 studies (split into five datasets) across the UK, Europe and Australasia to resolve the uncertainty as to the risk of SIDS associated with sleeping in bed with your baby if neither parent smokes and the baby is breastfed. 

Among the 1,472 babies who died of SIDS, 22.2% were bed-sharing with parents; of the 4,679 babies who did not die 9.6% were sharing a bed on the day the interview took place.

But, in the report’s own words, the data is lacking certain detail:  three of the datasets do not collect data on the mother’s alcohol consumption in the prior 24 hours, and only two datasets contain information on the mother’s drug use.  And in all data smoking is only considered post birth with no data regarding the mother smoking during pregnancy.  As all three of these factors are agreed as key SIDS risks, this does seem to let the results down considerably.

The report also uses the lowest risk group as the baseline to generate the ‘five-fold risk’ increase.  Breastfed baby girls, placed on their backs to sleep with no other risk factors present have the lowest risk of SIDS.  Using the general population, the risk of co-sleeping is smaller than 2.7.

The headlines do not mention that the greatest risk increase for co-sleeping is where the mother smokes (a 15 fold increased risk).  Some odd patterns also arise, like the similar co-sleeping risk if both parents smoke and if only the mother smokes – but if you don't co-sleep, only having the mother smoke is half as risky.  The biggest risk remains when both parents smoke and consume alcohol—if you co-sleep here the risk is 151 times greater than the baseline.  My takeaway from reviewing this is that perhaps the data pool is too small and other factors are at play here. 

None of the five datasets that the report is based on asked the interviewees if they had intended to co-sleep, only if the baby was in their bed.  This subtle distinction could have dramatic consequences in reviewing the conclusions.  Unintended falling asleep by parent and baby would mean that no actions were taken to address the risks of co-sleeping. 

From talking to some of my friends, they would never have considered co-sleeping.  They were terrified of accidently rolling onto their baby or throwing the quilt over them.

My sister purchased the Bednest as an alternative to co-sleeping as both her and her husband fidget a lot at night (is it wrong that I now know this about my brother-in-law?!).  This is a crib with a drop-down side that attaches to your bed.  If you are interested, the NCT Shop sell this. It can also be rented from the NCT for six months. (See below for Bednest reviews.)

What I have taken from all the articles I have read is that unintentional co-sleeping is dangerous, wherever that may be.  Always ensure that you put your baby to sleep in a place you consider safe, be that their cot or your bed. 

All parents need sleep.  And, yes, risks of co-sleeping exist but could we not focus on safe sleeping techniques for parents, providing safety guidance if we chose to sleep together (covers, pillows, falling out of bed being risk factors)?  Cars kill far more children than co-sleeping does but we do not steer away from using them; instead we use in a perceived safe manner.  Saying no to co-sleeping could cause more harm by causing the mother to fall asleep somewhere unsafe for both.

I will give you one word of warning on co-sleeping though.  If you start you might not be able to stop!  Abi is now 4 1/2 years and rarely do we have a night when she does not come into our bed.  We will encourage her to stop soon I am sure!

Sources

http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/3/5/e002299.full

http://www.nct.org.uk/press-release/nct-response-increased-risks-sids-when-bed-sharing

http://www.isisonline.org.uk/news/?itemno=17810

http://sarahockwell-smith.com/2013/05/21/bedsharing-sids-why-we-have-it-all-wrong/

http://www.unicef.org.uk/BabyFriendly/News-and-Research/News/UNICEF-UK-Baby-Friendly-Initiative-statement-on-new-bed-sharing-research/

Information on sleeping safely with your baby can be found on the NCT's website.

Bednest Reviews

Lou Everatt-Fletcher, a 39-year-old probation team manager from Oxford, is mum to eight-month-old Juno
"Juno is my first child and I knew from the start that I wanted to co-sleep, but I was worried about the risks. Sadly, we had a tragic cot death in our family and it is something we have always worried about. But the Bednest allowed me to sleep easy as I could see at any point in the night that she was safe and happy. I do not do well without sleep, but it allowed us to sleep in the same room without going mad. I could feed and resettle Juno without having to get up, which in the early days after quite a difficult birth was a huge help. My husband even managed to sleep through feeds as I would wake when she began to stir and could comfort her before she started screaming. I am also a huge fan of well-designed, stylish yet practical objects. The Bednest delivers on all fronts. It looked great in our bedroom and performed brilliantly. There is no comparison."

Ericka Waller, 30, is a stay at home mum from Brighton and mum to 10-month-old Bliss
"A friend had a cot which had an adjustable side which she swore by, so I took to Google, found an image of the Bednest and fell in love. It's easy to use, is stylish and comfortable and makes life so much easier. I was very sore after I gave birth and the Bednest meant I did not need to keep getting up and down to feed. I also had to go back to work after six months so I needed to make sure I had enough rest. Having the baby so close meant that my husband did not get woken up in the night – two sleep-deprived parents is never a good thing. My baby was close to me at all times, but as she was not actually in my bed I could roll around freely without worrying I was going to squash her. I could check on her with ease, which as an anxious parent was a great comfort. And when she was unsettled I could rest my hand on her to soothe her without having to lean awkwardly over a cot or Moses basket. I could breastfeed while she was in the Bednest and if I did pick her up for a cuddle, it was also easy to slip her back in without waking her. Bednest was the first sleep space I've tried and I never needed to look anywhere else."

Raman Glazier, a 33-year-old HR Recruiter, from Acton Vale in Ealing, London, has a five-month-old boy called Willem
"The Bednest is revolutionary. We tried for four weeks to get Willem to sleep in the Moses basket and every time it creaked he would cry, but he was a different baby when we introduced the Bednest. And I truly believe that it has really helped him become a good sleeper and as a consequence we are very happy parents. Sleep is priceless, so the Bednest was an investment for all of our family. It doubles as a travel cot, which really helps when you're trying to establish a routine but still want to go away. We've taken it on holiday and bedtimes have been a smooth transition because of that."

Maxine Fletcher, 39, from Luddenden, near Halifax, is mum to Matilda, 16-months-old
"I was interested in co-sleeping and the Bednest seemed like the perfect compromise for what we were after. We wanted Matilda to be close to us, to make breastfeeding at night easy and to provide lots of nurture and close contact right from the start. We wanted her to have a very nurtured start to life and we did everything we could to build a secure, strong bond with her. I think the Bednest played a big part in helping us to achieve that. Our main concerns were not about safety and sleep, although important, but to provide that emotional care and closeness from the start. The fact that there was only a short move to pick Matilda up and feed her, often allowing me to go back to sleep again quickly afterwards was such a relief. Now she sleeps in her own cot and she appears secure and content at bedtimes. These early positive experiences must have really helped establish a good pattern for the future."

What are your views on co-sleeping? Let us know by commenting below...