Where do you get your play and activity ideas?

Something which has been on my mind over the past few weeks has been play.

Am I playing with my child enough? Does he have enough good things to play with? Should our play be more structured? Or less structured? How do I encourage creative play? What activities would be good for the stage he is at right now?

I started my research.

I found a couple of good books, which I bought, but the best resources that I found were online, and free!

There are some great Mummy Blogs on play.

One that I have known of for a while is NurtureStore. This is a well organised blog which allows you to search for activities in different categories using the search bar at the top including a section for Babies and Younger Toddlers, which is the area I found hardest to get ideas for. They also have a Weekly Kids Play Planner which you can subscribe to.

Rainy Day Mum is a new favourite of mine, and here you can search either by age or idea. This site also offers a weekly Prompts to Play Newsletter.

The Imagination Tree is another blog with hundreds of great ideas. In addition to it's own content, this blog also has the linky feature which allows other bloggers to link up their post on a similar topic, so that there are even more brilliant ideas in one place. Check out this recent Science Experiment Post to see what I mean if you are not familiar with this.

Another great new discovery for me is Pinterest. Now this is something I have seen before, but just didn't get the point of. Take a glimpse at Rainy Day Mum's Pinterest Page to see what I mean here. This one from Jamie at Hands on as We Grow is also brilliant.

So, where do you get your play and activity ideas? Do you have any great books? Are there websites that you visit? Blogs you read? Are you on Pinterest? 

Please share your ideas by commenting here... or if your ideas are too big for a comment, guest posters are always welcome!

Pregnant women to receive whooping cough vaccinations

Widely reported today - All pregnant women are to be offered vaccination against whooping cough when they are 28-38 weeks pregnant, the government has announced. The recommendation follows a sharp rise in the number of whooping cough cases in the UK. The scheme will begin on Monday 1st October 2012.

There is a large outbreak of whooping cough in the UK at the moment, with three times more cases in the general population than there were last year. In the first seven months of this year, 235 babies under 12 weeks old had whooping cough. Sadly, at the time of writing 10 of these babies have died. Babies are not vaccinated against whooping cough until they are two months old, so those who are too young to be vaccinated are at greatest risk.

You should be offered the whooping cough vaccination at a routine antenatal appointment when you are between 28 and 38 weeks pregnant. Getting vaccinated while you’re pregnant could help to protect your baby from developing whooping cough in its first few weeks of life.

28/9/12 NHS Behind the Headlines

NCT press release

What's On - NCT Events in October 2012

Bumps, Babies and Beyond
http://elynct.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/bumps-babies-and-beyond.html

Friday 5th 10-11.30am
Methodist Church Hall,
Chapel Street
Ely
FREE ENTRY
Tel: 0844 2436175 for more info


Open Houses
http://elynct.blogspot.co.uk/p/about-us.html

Tuesday 9th 10-12 noon
At Lorraine's house in Ely

Friday 19th 10-12 noon
At Mags' house in Ely

Tuesday 23rd 10-12 noon
At Nancy's house in Littleport

for more info about open house locations see our facebook page or join our facebook group

Review: The Essential Baby Care Guide

The Essential Baby Care Guide is a fabulous new DVD set that has been created by the Essential Parent Company. The 8 hours of content provide comprehensive information on 1. Feeding, 2. Care & Development, 3. Sleeping, and 4. First Aid and Accident Prevention.

The resource has been created with new parents in mind and is designed to provide information on everything you need to know from birth to 12 months, though as the parent of a 14 month old I can confirm that it contains some very valuable information which extends beyond it's target audience.

I have to say that having agreed to review this item I was a tad surprised when it arrived and was over 8 hours long! Not only did I think that sounded very long, I also thought it would need 'expert' reviewers to do it justice. As soon as I sat down to watch, I was hooked. Robert Winston is a great presenter. His gentle voice is easy to listen to and informative. At the beginning of each disc, he describes this resource as a parenting course which you can attend from your living room. That's just what it is: it covers everything, from the very basics, yet without being condescending. The advantage of being on disc rather than a course is that you can watch it again, whenever you wish, or when the information is needed.

If I was expecting my first baby now, I would definitely be buying this. I remember that feeling of getting home with Arthur and thinking, "right, we have a baby - what on earth do we do now?"  Of course I had books, but, well, when you're just had a baby there's not a great deal of time to read books! Watching a DVD is much more manageable. I could have sat in the nursing chair and watched this quite easily. It's also better than a book because you can see what they are talking about, they show you how, instead of just telling you.

Although my son is now 14 months, I still found the resource valuable. For example, after watching the section on sleep I realised that actually we could have a sleep problem. I hadn't noticed because Arthur sleeps well at night and always has, but having seen the DVD I decided that we would tweak his nap times slightly, and rearrange our schedule on a Friday to make sure he got his afternoon nap. He now sleeps even better.

As I mentioned, I am not an expert on any of the topics, but as the resource is advised and narrated by Professor Robert Winston and includes expert advice from The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative, St John Ambulance, Midwives and Sleep Experts, Meningitis Research Foundation, The National Literacy Trust, and the Child Accident Prevention Trust, I think we can be sure that it offers sound advice.

I certainly makes sense to me. A great resource.

If anyone else would like to borrow these DVD's and write a review that would be great. We already have an expectant first time mum lined up to take a peek, but if there are any new parents out there (who have the time) who would like to view please let me know.

We are hoping that once the review process is over the resource will be held by the antenatal teachers so that more parents to be get the chance to preview the resource.

There are several  official videos to be found on YouTube, and you may also want to like the Essential Parent Facebook Page to get updates, tips and competitions

If you would like your own copy, it is available nationwide from John Lewis, Amazon and www.essentialparent.com.  This website also has more information about the resource, plus some videos, tips and previews. You can buy the whole set for £35 or individual DVD's for £10 each.

If you wish to buy the full set, you can get £5 off  and purchase at reduced price of £30 by purchasing direct from www.essentialparent.com and entering the code ElyNCT at checkout. For each DVD set sold The Essential Parent Company will donate £5 to the branch.

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Congratulations!

CONGRATULATIONS to Fiona and Gareth Ashman on the birth of Matthew Richard Eddie Ashman!

Matthew was born on Tuesday 18th September at 7.01am weighing 8lb 6oz.  He is a new brother for Ruby and Dylan.

If you'd like to announce the birth of your baby, please send us your details and a photo if liked via our Facebook page www.facebook.com/NCTIsleofEly or by email at hannahlazarus at hotmail dot co dot uk. We'd love to hear from you!

What's On - Local Events in October 2012

Every Day

Ickworth - 50 Things to do before you're 11 and three quarters, 9am-5pm

Come to Ickworth to try out some activities every child should do before they're 11 and three quarters. Join us for a series of activities and try out some new things; eat some wild blackberries, find a geocache, build a den or climb a tree. You can also look inside a tree, make a mud pie and enjoy a wide variety of activities with friends and family. See how many things you can do at Ickworth and other National Trust properties.

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

Saturday 6 October

Ickworth – Magical Crystal Garden, 11.30am-4pm

We will be running a series of workshops relating to crystals, dowsing and ley lines alongside getting creative with wand making and breaking open geodes for children. There be dragons, singing bowls and storytelling in our yurt, crystal card readings and guidance of how crystals can help with people experiencing challenges in their lives.

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

Cambridge Botanic Gardens – Autumn Colours, 11am-3pm

Have fun collecting fallen treasures in the Garden and use these as inspiration to create colourful autumn artworks. Part of our drop-in ‘Family Saturdays’ series which take place on the first Saturday of every month.

http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/Botanic/Event.aspx?p=27&ix=246&pid=2718&prcid=0&ppid=2718

Fitzwilliam Museum – Family First Saturdays, 2-4pm

On the first Saturday of each month visit our Fitz Family Welcome Point, where families can collected drawing materials, activities and trails to use throughout the Museum.

http://www.visitcambridge.org/whats-on/family-first-saturdays-p519611

Wysing Arts Centre (Bourn) – Family Workshop, 2-4.30pm

Drop-in family workshop as part of the Big Draw. Join us to make a collective artwork. Free admission.

http://www.wysingartscentre.org/whats_on/events

Sunday 7 October

Ickworth – Magical Crystal Garden, 11.30am-4pm

For information, see 6 October

Ely Cinema – Brave (PG), 3pm

Pixar is back with a computer-animated story that evokes the classic fairy-tale formula of Disney’s early hand-drawn gems. Set in the rugged, emerald wilds of the ancient Scottish Highlands, BRAVE follows a young princess named Merida (Macdonald) as she challenges tradition and faces her destiny head on.

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

One for Mums Mini Business Expo, Menzie Hotel (Bar Hill), 1-5pm

Cambridgeshire Mums Business Club will be hosting a Mini Business Expo in support of Business Mums Week. The aim of the event will be to encourage mums along to find out what opportunities, help and advice there is available if wanting to set up a business from home. We will have established mum-owned businesses as well as service providers who can offer practical help and support in the early days and throughout. The event will be FREE for visitors.

http://cambridge.mumsbusinessclub.com/mini-business-expo-sunday-7th-october-2012

Wednesday 10 October

Wicken Fen – Mucky Pups Do...Autumn Activities, 10.30am-12midday

Pre-school fun and games with an autumnal twist. Wear clothes prepared to go outside, and possibly to get mucky. Booking essential. Meet at the Visitor Centre.

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

Saturday 13 October

Ickworth House – Living History, 11am-5pm

You've seen Downton Abbey. Now come and experience Ickworth Lives, the real stories of the people who lived and worked at Ickworth in the thirties. Join us for a special historic day and follow in the footsteps of Mr Collins, the Butler, who liked the odd tipple or two, Mrs Sangster the Cook, who managed the kitchens for over 50 years, the hall boys, kitchen maids and the gardeners. Experience what life was like for servants and estate workers on this grand estate.

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

Balsham Craft and Gifts Fair, 10.30am-4pm

Annual Craft & Gifts Fair with over 40 stalls, plus delicious cakes & refreshments, face painting, tombola, raffles. Ample free parking.

http://www.netmums.com/south-cambridgeshire/local/view/whats-on/october/craft-gifts-fair-balsham-2

Sunday 14 October

East of England Showground – East of England Autumn Show, 9am-4.30pm

Visitors to the show can expect to see thousands of animals of all shapes and sizes, from small livestock exhibits to special displays of rare and endangered livestock breeds. The East of England Giant Vegetable Competition will show the fruits of a season of hard work by the region’s vegetable growers. There will be many displays of traditional country life as well as large animal exhibits. Discover the ideal opportunity to make an early start on some Christmas shopping with a wide variety almost 200 trade stands to choose from. There will also be plenty of attractions to keep children amused including a traditional Victorian funfair.

http://www.eastofengland.org.uk/Autumn_Show/index.html

Balsham Craft and Gifts Fair, 10.30am-4pm

For information, see 13 October

Saturday 20 October

Ely Apple Festival, 10am-4pm

The annual Apple Festival held on Ely´s Palace Green has become East Anglia´s biggest celebration of the great British Apple : Apple and Spoon racing, longest apple peel competition, apple activities and goodies including apple sausages, juices, ciders and cookery demonstrations. Free event.

http://visitely.eastcambs.gov.uk/events/ely-apple-festival-20th-october-2012

Saturday 27 October

Houghton Mill – Halloween at the Mill, 5.30-7.30pm

Enjoy a Halloween supper of jacket spuds, bangers and beans in the tea room. Then make your own lantern to light your way around the spooky Halloween trail in the mill. Booking essential.

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

Wicken Fen – Family Fun Walking Trail, 10am-4.30pm

Get outdoors and closer to nature on our family trail. Your chance to tick off some more of the ‘50 Things to Do before you're 11’.

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

Ickworth – Family Fun Challenge Trail

Join our fun family trail in the woods around Ickworth with clues to solve, treasures to collect and fun challenges for all the family. Great views and great fun for the whole family including your four legged friends. Walk is approximately 3 miles long.

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

Welney Widlfowl and Wetlands Trust – Half Term Family Activities

Enjoy the start of the winter wildlife spectacle as thousands of birds migrate to the UK to stay at wetlands like WWT Welney.  Have a go at the activity stations in the pond room or take an activity clipboard (recommended donation 50p) and explore the reserve.  With discovery trail and swan feed at 3.30pm there are plenty of ways to enjoy the great outdoors at WWT Welney this half term.

http://www.wwt.org.uk/visit/welney/whats-on/2012/10/27/half-term-family-activities/

Sunday 28 October

Denny Abbey – Farmyard Halloween Fun, 10am-4pm

Pumpkin carving, face painting, apple bobbing, witches and wizards broomstick racing, willow weaving, family trail and much much more…!

http://www.dennyfarmlandmuseum.org.uk/content/events/farmyard-halloween-fun

Wicken Fen – Family Fun Walking Trail, 10am-4.30pm

For information, see 27 October

Ickworth – Family Fun Challenge Trail

For information, see 27 October

Welney Widlfowl and Wetlands Trust – Half Term Family Activities

For information, see 27 October

Monday 29 October

Wicken Fen – Pram Push, 10.30-11.30am

Step out with your babies and toddlers for a buggy-friendly countryside walk (approx 2.5 miles). Meet at Wicken Fen car park.

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

Wicken Fen – Family Fun Walking Trail, 10am-4.30pm 

For information, see 27 October

Ickworth – Family Fun Challenge Trail

For information, see 27 October

Welney Widlfowl and Wetlands Trust – Half Term Family Activities

For information, see 27 October

Cambridge Corn Exchange – Tinga Tinga Tales, 11.30am and 2.30pm

How Lion became King of Tinga Tinga Land is an interactive show for the whole family, combining famous nursery rhymes with tales from the animals of the Masaii Mara, and with a traditional East African welcome! Expect to join in with the Cheeky Monkey, Kindly Giraffe, Wise Bird, Groovy Zebra, and Proud Lion, in an all singing, dancing, and drawing children’s production with a host of surprises. Msuri Sana! Based on African artwork from the Tinga Tinga family this show is similar to that seen on CBeebies but this is not a Tiger Aspects production or story.

http://www.cornex.co.uk/ccm/cornex/2012/tinga-tinga-tales.en

Tuesday 30 October

Denny Abbey – Children’s Activity Day: Ghostly Chandeliers, 12-4pm

In preparation for Halloween celebrations. Drop-in session. No need to book. Suitable for children aged 4+. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

http://www.dennyfarmlandmuseum.org.uk/content/events/children%e2%80%99s-activity-day-ghostly-chandeliers

Wicken Fen – Batty Halloween, 10.30am-12.30pm and 2-4pm

Get ready for Halloween with some spooky fun! Come along in costume - if you want to - for some naturally scary goings on. Games and craft. Booking essential. Meet at the Visitor Centre.

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

Wicken Fen – Family Fun Walking Trail, 10am-4.30pm

For information, see 27 October

Ickworth House – Living History, 11am-5pm

For information, see 13 October

Ickworth – Family Fun Challenge Trail

For information, see 27 October

Welney Widlfowl and Wetlands Trust – Half Term Family Activities

For information, see 27 October

Cambridge Arts Theatre – Horrible Histories: Terrible Tudors, 2pm

From the horrible Henries to the end of evil Elizabeth, hear the legends (and the lies!) about the torturing Tudors. Find out the fate of Henry’s headless wives and his punch up with the Pope. Survive the Spanish Armada as it sails into the audience! Using actors and ground-breaking 3D special effects, this show is guaranteed to thrill you and your children. Historical figures and events will come alive on stage and hover at your fingertips.

https://cambridgeartstheatre.purchase-tickets-online.co.uk/public/show.asp

Cambridge Arts Theatre – Horrible Histories: Vile Victorians, 7pm

Could you be a Victorian historian? What exactly did a baby farmer do? Can you escape the misery of the mines or the filth of the factories? Do your best to dodge to escape the rotten railway and prepare for the Charge of the Light Brigade? Using actors and ground-breaking 3D special effects, this show is guaranteed to thrill you and your children. Historical figures and events will come alive on stage and hover at your fingertips.

https://cambridgeartstheatre.purchase-tickets-online.co.uk/public/show.asp

Mumford Theatre (Anglia Ruskin University) – Rapunzel, 2.30pm

With fantastic music from Chris Mellor, beautiful movement from TC Howard and magical design by Catherine Chapman, Rapunzel is a delightful new production for children about the curiosity and joys of growing up, risk taking and discovering who you are.

http://www.anglia.ac.uk/ruskin/en/home/microsites/mumford_theatre/events/rapunzel.html

Wednesday 31 October

Anglesey Abbey – Children's Garden Discovery Walk, 11am-12.30pm and 2-3.30pm

What will you discover on this wonderful walk around the Anglesey Abbey gardens? Guided by our experienced volunteers, children can discover new and exciting ways of engaging with the nature that surrounds them. Maximum of 15 children per group. Booking essential. Appropriate for age 3-7.

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

Wicken Fen – Family Fun Walking Trail, 10am-4.30pm

For information, see 27 October

Ickworth – Family Fun Challenge Trail

For information, see 27 October

Welney Widlfowl and Wetlands Trust – Half Term Family Activities

For information, see 27 October

Cambridge Arts Theatre – Horrible Histories: Terrible Tudors, 2pm

For information, see 30 October

Cambridge Arts Theatre – Horrible Histories: Vile Victorians, 7pm

For information, see 30 October

Ely Cinema – ParaNorman (PG), 3pm and 7.30pm

For our family Halloween half term treat we have breathtaking and innovative animation, ParaNorman, the story of a town besieged by zombies. The only hope of salvation is young Norman, a character voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Boy in THE ROAD) who can talk to the living dead. But soon even his supernatural powers are entertainingly stretched to their limits. Special prizes if you come in fancy dress!

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

It's Here!

Childhood obesity linked to sense of taste

A study reported in The Independent found that obese children have a less sensitive sense of taste than children of normal weight. The research, published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, found the obese children were significantly less likely to identify the individual taste sensations correctly, particularly salty, umami, and bitter tastes. They also classed sweet tastes as a much lower intensity than other children.
The Independent 20/09/2012

Claudia's Birth

by Claire Lloyd

Week 28 of my second pregnancy seemed a good time to take a holiday.  No worries about labour starting, and still small enough that I could enjoy walking and playing with my very active two year old.  We booked a cottage in Yorkshire, planning to stop off at my Mum’s in Lincolnshire on the way back.  We had a great week and were winding down on the night before we had to leave when I realised I couldn’t feel much movement in my womb.  Usually babe kicked like crazy between 8 and 11 in the evening, but that night – nothing.  On the Friday, packing the car and organising my daughter took most of my attention, along with driving to my mum’s.  But that evening I felt the same – no movements.  Now I was getting worried. 

Early on Saturday my husband and I went to A&E at the local district general hospital in North Lincolnshire.  I was taken to be monitored at antenatal assessment, where I could tell by the monitor screen and the midwife’s face that something was not right.  Up to the ward, where more and more people gathered around the bedside – they tried their best to be calm and positive but it was clear they were worried and this situation, for such a small local hospital, was not one they were used to.  Then came the consultant – because it was Easter Saturday, I knew it had to be serious for him to be called.  I was told that the baby had to be delivered as the heart rate trace was dangerously flat, and was given a hefty steroid injection to help boost its little lungs. 

So Claudia Jasmine Lloyd was delivered at 5.20pm by emergency C-section, on 7 April,11 weeks early.  She had bled into my body – a foetal-maternal haemorrhage.  The level of haemoglobin in her blood at birth was 2 (normally I believe 18) and she had lost 2/3 of the blood in her body and her brain and organs may have been starved of blood.  Before the C-section the hospital had contacted the regional neonatal transport team to assist after the birth as the hospital did not have the expertise in neonatal intensive care.  Claudia was to be rushed to the nearest level 3 NICU as soon as she was stabilised – the stabilisation took six hours.  The first time I saw my daughter was at midnight, for five minutes, before she was taken in the ambulance to the other hospital.  Just before then, the ambulance team and the local midwives had asked me and my husband about baptism arrangements if Claudia didn’t make it. 

We were left in shock.  My husband stayed with me for a while on the postnatal ward and then left for my mum’s to get some rest – he wasn’t allowed to stay with me.  I lay awake most of the night, constantly worrying for Claudia and hormones raging to cuddle and feed her, while others’ babies cried around me.  The morning after my op I was presented with a breast pump.  I have to say that expressing milk was the last thing I wanted to do – I tried, failed, cried and slept.

The following day I was transferred to the hospital to be with Claudia, and to continue my recovery.  The first time I saw my precious baby there was in an incubator, on total oxygen.  Her face was completely covered with a mask, hat and wires.  It would be five days before we saw her hair for the first time.  Steve and I were shell-shocked.  

Claudia, 1 day old

The midwives there gave me more realistic advice about hand expressing using a syringe.  I expressed 2ml of milk in total over 8 attempts – but Claudia was not yet on milk feeds, rather on fluid TPN, so the precious colostrum was yet to be given to her. 

Claudia’s day to day condition, amazingly to us, improved quite rapidly.  The breathing support she was on was lowered day by day.  On her tenth day she was out of intensive care status and officially high dependency (still sounds scary but it was a real landmark for us).  She transferred from TPN fluid feeds to my milk – 0.5ml per hour at first but ramped up really quite quickly – and we were soon able to help feed her using a syringe of milk which was administered through a mouth or nose tube.  We also helped with her “cares” – changing her tiny nappy, wiping her mouth and nose.  We weren’t able to pick her up until day three.

We spent as much time by her bedside as possible, while trying to preserve some semblance of normality for our two year old.  For me, this normally meant mornings with Claudia, lunchtime and early afternoon with Beth, and late afternoons/evenings back at the ward, interspersed with eight expressings of milk per day.  When medically appropriate, the hospital encouraged lots of skin to skin contact (kangaroo care – basically slipping baby down our tops) – I spent many a long evening into the small hours with Claudia close to me, as did my husband when childcare permitted.

Kangaroo care with our tiny 3lb baby

The longer term prognosis for Claudia was set out for us.  Due to her haemorrhage, she had been starved of oxygen to the brain.  Ultrasounds had indicated “bright spots” on the brain which could develop into cystic brain damage.  In Claudia’s case this could lead to physical or learning disability, including conditions such as cerebral palsy.  But only time would tell.

The hospital was very keen to have us transferred closer to home, so it was on day 14 when, at three hours notice, we were transferred.  Claudia travelled in the ANTS (Anglian Neonatal Transport Service) ambulance, and Steve, Beth and I followed down the A1 with a car full of holiday packing and two freezer bags of expressed milk.

Beth got a “ride” in the neonatal ambulance!

We got to the hospital on Friday evening and were introduced to Claudia’s new home, cot space 9 in the special care baby unit (SCBU), where she would be for the next six weeks.  It was to be quiet for us in that space – this hospital had a restricted visiting policy in place, which meant that Beth couldn’t visit her little sister at all.  Adult visits were less restricted than in our previous hospital, however, so grandma got to have her first cuddle with Claudia.  Again, we all spent many a day and late night with Claudia, sitting by her cot, giving her kangaroo care, changing, washing, feeding.

I stayed at the hospital in hostel accommodation for five out of the six weeks, as I wanted to be close to Claudia and spend as much time with her as possible, but also because I could not drive after the c-section.  I wanted to see my other daughter Beth every day too; this involved two taxis, a train journey and around £45 a day when my husband or mum couldn’t ferry me around.  The hostel rooms and flats were distinctly ordinary.  Communal spaces like the kitchens were not particularly clean, and cleaning and sterilising breast pump parts was a particular challenge.  One week, the flat had no working toilet as it overflowed into the flat’s corridor. 

Feeding Claudia, as for any premature baby, was to be a challenge.  I expressed my milk for her 6-8 times a day for eight weeks.  Most of her feeds were via naso gastric tube with some trials at breastfeeding from week 32.  The expressing was soul destroying but in the expressing room in the Neonatal Unit, I did at least get to talk with other mums and share experiences.  I made some pretty good friends in that tiny room.  A couple of the mums had babies born at 23 or 24 weeks.  If you thought 29 weeks was scary…just imagine.

I had always wanted to breastfeed and was determined to increase the BFs as soon as I could.  I often had to “top up” her feeds according to what I thought she took but she was soon feeding two or three times a day from me.  However, breast feeds coincided with increased episodes of sleep apnoea (halting breathing with monitors beeping and nurses rushing over to help) so I started to get a bit of a complex about breast feeding which took a while to shake.

We started to see the light at the end of the tunnel at week 36.  Her weight gain improved, having been poor at first, and apnoea incidents became far less common.  We were transferred into the transition ward and after five days, Steve and I ‘roomed in’ with Claudia with arm’s length support from the nurses.

Home time – leaving SCBU, June 2012

We were discharged in early June, and coming home engendered a mixture of delight and fear.  Having had a baby already, we thought we knew what to expect, but every child is unique, and our darling, fragile, prem baby was very different to care for from our first beautiful girl.  It was like learning to care for a newborn all over again.  Claudia liked being held and worn, and would not sleep by herself for a good eight weeks, even in a pram or car seat.  We got through the early days though, with the love and support of friends and family and lots of (non-alcoholic) beer and ice cream.

When at home, we were under the care of the neonatal community team until Claudia’s feeding tube came out.  I expected to be able to increase the breastfeeds and decrease the tubes as Claudia had more energy.  However, as soon as she came home Claudia seemed to ‘forget’ how to feed from me.  This was mortifying – I cried through many an attempted feed before I gave her a bottle of my expressed milk and saw her gulp it down.  We thought at first that we might have to feed her this way permanently but with advice and support we re-established feeding at around three weeks adjusted, and Claudia is now fully breastfed.  Apparently if babies don’t feed well from mums at birth there is a ‘window’ between four and eight weeks where they get the feel for it again.  I would recommend that anyone who has problems feeding their babies at birth tries again at this stage.

Claudia’s journey is really only just beginning.  We won’t know whether she will have any disabilities until later on in her life.  We need to be particularly watchful coming up to her developmental milestones such as walking and crawling.  So far, she has smiled, kicked, batted and held her head up as we might expect, but her MRI scan indicated, as we feared, cysts on her brain which may cause long term problems.  We are being supported medically by our local hospital, but all we can do is care, love, hope and pray from here.

 Claudia August 2012