North Cheshire Branch In Touch – Spring/Summer 2014

Inside this issue of the In Touch newsletter:

▪ Potty training lessons learned ▪ Local birth experiences ▪ Exploring Sure Start services ▪ What’s on in your area

For education, local event details and more visit us at

www.facebook.com/

NCTNorthCheshire

Spring/Summer

Edition

2014

2

3

Contents

Disclaimer The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of NCT or the Editor. The information in this newsletter is for the use of NCT members only, in connection with NCT activities, and may not be used for any commercial purpose. The conditions of the Data Protection Act may apply.

© NCT North Cheshire Branch 2014

Contents 3

Introduction from the Editor 4

Hello from the Branch Chairperson 5

What’s on in our branch? 7

NCT antenatal courses 7

North Cheshire Events 8

Little Bundles 2014 9

Thank you to our sponsors 10

Local Birth Experiences – the induction! 12

Potty Training 15

Advertorial 18

Local sure start centres – a valuable resource! 19

Planned Closure of Cadishead and Irlam Sure Start centre 24

Local breastfeeding support 26

Local birth experiences – Baby Harley 31

About NCT 35

Advertising 37

Advertorial – Puddleducks 39

Thanks to our cover star Róisín. If you would like to see your child on the cover in a future issue then please get in touch by emailing northcheshirenewsletter@gmail.com.

4

Introduction from the Editor

Welcome to the Spring/ Summer edition of In Touch – the local newsletter for the NCT North Cheshire branch.

We hope you enjoy it, whether you’re an existing NCT member or a first-time reader.

As usual the issue includes an insight into what the branch’s volunteers have been up to in recent months and hopefully many of you will have grabbed a bargain at the recent Nearly New Sale. Many thanks to all the volunteers who helped out before and on the day to make the sale another great success. Our ‘Little Bundles’ project is up and running (see page 9) and again we thank you for your support.

You’ll find details of our weekly social groups on the ‘where to join in’ guide on page 8. If you have never been along to one of our groups but would like to get to know more parents or parents-to-be in the area, we would really encourage you to pop along to one of the friendly groups. They are a wonderful way of meeting new friends and sharing parenting experiences and are open to both NCT members and non-members.

This issue includes some insights into the services offered by the local Sure Start centres – with cuts to services still ongoing under the current government we are keen to support our local centres as much as possible. You may be surprised to learn of the variety of groups and classes on offer at these centres, all of which are free.

Pages 20 to 23 include reviews by some of our members of some of the classes offered at the local centres. The campaign to save the Cadishead and Irlam centre from closure is detailed in page 24.

We are always delighted to receive any contributions for the newsletter of the experiences of local parents on any parenting issue. In this issue we’re proud to include a very insightful article from local member Gillian Smith on the dreaded topic of potty training! Jo Frost watch out, you’ve got competition! Gillian’s article brought back some funny (though not all quite so funny at the time!) memories for me of my potty training adventure with my eldest little girl last summer and I’ll never forget that feeling of pride when it finally ‘clicked’ with her! Good luck to any parents taking on the challenge this summer.

If you enjoy reading this newsletter, please pass it on to a friend or neighbour who may not be aware of what the NCT offers. If you’re not already a member, please consider joining NCT or consider volunteering at one of our groups or events – it’s fun, rewarding and a great way to make new friends and help the charity.

Best Regards for a fun summer,

Mary-Rose maryroseahern@yahoo.com

5

Hello from the Branch Chairperson What a lovely time of year to be an expectant or new mum with all the other new life around us. Since becoming a parent, all points in the year have a new significance, but I have to admit that Spring is becoming a really special time and

this edition of the newsletter adds to my enthusiasm! We've got lots going on (as always) including our weekly bumps and babies, and babies and beyond events, and the promise of Prams in the Park coming back in the summer holidays. Our little bundles project is blooming nicely and with another Nearly New Sale ticked off we are hoping to expand our team. We are always looking for new volunteers and so please do get in touch if you would like to join in - as little as once a year or as much as once a week! Enjoy and we hope that this issue puts a Spring into your step!

Helen helennctmail@gmail.com

**************************************************************************

Big Yellow storage further supporting NCT Nearly New Sales

NCT North Cheshire was given free storage at their local Big Yellow Liverpool store last year. Stock for our Nearly New Sales is totally secure and pin code entry gives us easy access whenever we need. Big Yellow Self Storage is the UK’s leading self-storage brand and provides secure, affordable, do-it-yourself storage rooms for domestic and business customers for as long or as short a period as required, plus NCT members can save an extra 10% off their storage when they quote NCT either in store or at www.bigyellow.co.uk.

Call Jan on 01925 860459 or e-mail

jan.ratcliffe@caterpillarmusic.com

www.caterpillarmusic.com

7

What’s on in our branch? We have a range of regular social events in the branch and are keen to add more, so if you have any suggestions for future events then please feel free to get in touch – or better still, volunteer to organise it! We are always on the lookout for new volunteers, as they are the life blood of the branch, and it’s a great way to make new friends in the local area and keep your brain functioning as well.

All our events are open to members and non-members alike, and there’s a voluntary suggested donation of £1 per family attending.

Our Bumps & Babes events are for pregnant mums and their partners and those with babies up to a year old and are a great way to meet people and start building a support network. We also run

Babes & Beyond groups, for those whose children are outgrowing Bumps & Babes. The Warrington group meets at Fun2B soft play in Warrington on Monday mornings (discounted entrance fee payable).

We have a Facebook page which is a great place to keep abreast of NCT events and local news and a Yahoo! group open to both members and non-members which is a great place to buy and sell second-hand nursery goods, or share tips with and ask for advice from other local parents.

You can also find information on all our courses and other services on our website.

Please see overleaf for a handy summary of our events and contacts – perfect to cut out and keep on your fridge or pass to a friend!

NCT antenatal courses

NCT antenatal courses are open to all parents and parents-to-be, including young parents, women without a partner, same-sex couples and surrogacy couples.

Our informal, friendly courses let parents-to-be learn together. Each course covers pregnancy, labour, birth, relaxation techniques, breastfeeding, and the needs of a new baby, providing parents with the knowledge to make informed choices. They are also a fantastic way to meet other parents-to-be from your local area who are due at the same time as you and to start building that all important support network.

The courses run several times per year and are currently held at Winwick Leisure Centre. Places are limited and so early booking is advisable.

8

North Cheshire Events

9

Little Bundles 2014 Out Little Bundles project continues to go from strength to strength. The storage unit is starting to fill up nicely with donations of cots, buggies, toys, clothes and every other baby and toddler essential you can name. We have a small team of volunteers ready to collect donations and deliver bundle to local families in need. We've had our first referral and our first bundle has made its way via a local sure start centre to help a family in our local area. We are also applying for grants to help with publicity and storage at the unit to keep our donations organised and ready to go! How you can help: We need donations of baby and toddler equipment. Our volunteers will collect your donation and deliver it for sorting and cataloguing. Spotted a 2 for 1 on nappies, wipes or breast pads? Why not put one aside for little bundles? Volunteer- could you help deliver bundles, collect donations or help spread the word about our project? Spread the word- little by bundles works on a referral basis. Families can be referred by schools, sure start, foodbank, health visitors, churches and other charities or support services, so let everyone know about our fantastic project and help us reach more families in need.

www.babysensory.com

For more details or to book a taster session contact: Laura BannisterTel: 07946672035 E-mail: warrington@babysensory.co.uk

Award Winning Baby Development Classes for babies from Birth to 13 Months

Classes running in Croft, Lymm and Warrington

The first visit is a FREE trial session so come along and see what we do!

Rich and varied sensory experience to encourage learning

Fun activities for the development of language

Therapeutic exercises to enhance the bonding process

Great techniques to stimulate and soothe your baby

10

Thank you to our sponsors We would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to the venues which continue to support and host our Bumps & Babes and Babes & Beyond events, as well as providing much-appreciated complimentary refreshments!

Jenny Wren’s is a ceramic arts studio and coffee house in Stockton Heath which hosts our South Warrington Bumps & Babes event on Monday mornings. There is a play area for little ones and they also do children’s parties and sell a range of gifts. Visit www.jennywrensceramics.co.uk for more information.

Fun2B in Warrington is an adventurous activity centre which combines fantastic play facilities with a healthy cafe. It has dedicated baby and toddler areas and offers free activity sessions every day included in the entrance fee. Fun2B hosts our Babes & Beyond group on Monday mornings.

The Sanctuary Café in Lymm is staffed by volunteers from local churches. They have an extensive and well-priced menu, including children’s options, a play area and a small Christian bookshop. They host our Lymm Bumps & Babes group on Tuesday mornings.

The Swedish furniture store needs little introduction! The Warrington store was the first shop which IKEA opened in the UK and it’s been supplying cheap, stylish furniture and homewares ever since. IKEA is the venue for our Bumps & Babes group on Thursdays.

Pizza Express in Stockton Heath hosts the South Warrington B&B event on the second Monday of each month. They pride themselves on being a truly family friendly restaurant, with a dedicated healthy children’s menu and highchairs available.

Our groups are a great way to start to meet other parents in your local area and are open to all, so please do come along

and meet us and tell your friends about our groups.

11

12

Local Birth Experiences – the induction!

Alexander is my only baby so when I got pregnant, I didn't know what to expect. The pregnancy was fairly normal without any complications or hardships so I started hoping for a water birth.

As I passed week 41 without any sign of Alexander making an appearance, I got booked to be induced. That week I tried everything to get my contractions started. They finally did start on the day I was due to be induced but when I got to the hospital, they were still very irregular so they did the sweep, then the pessary, then I was transferred to labour ward where they tried breaking my waters and at last I got put on the hormone drip.

Any illusion of a water birth had dissipated by this point as I needed to be monitored constantly. From then on, I remembered my friend's advice to let go of any expectations and just go with the flow.

It was a long time before Alexander decided to make an appearance. I was in hospital since 11am on Wednesday and he was born at 4:55 am the next day. My husband Paul was great and stayed with me the entire time keeping me hydrated and distracting me from the pain. I used the breathing techniques to stay relaxed and was managing fairly well until I got checked by the midwife and she told me I was 7cm dilated and that the next check would be in 5 hours time. 5 hours! I lost my Zen focus and demanded some pain killers then.

The midwife and the doctor were struggling to get Alexander out so I had to have an episiotomy and he was born by ventouse. Both things frightened me at ante natal classes but when it happened, it wasn't that bad as there was a lot happening and I was focused on getting him out.

Once he was born, Alexander became my whole world and I was completely oblivious to the fact that I was bleeding quite heavily. It all got sorted out and soon I was beyond happy with him in my arms.

Thanks to mum Raquel for sharing her story

14

15

Potty Training By Gillian Smith, North Cheshire Branch Potty training: two small words which strike fear and dread into the hearts of parents of small children everywhere. You’ve survived the newborn months, weaning and endless sleepless nights; you have a coping strategy for tantrums and tears and you may even have another baby either here or on the way but this last milestone of toddlerhood can seem like a whole extra challenge you could really do without. Added to the fact that there’s “advice” and opinion at every turn from well-meaning grannies and all those library books, it can make the whole thing seem a LOT more stressful than it really ought to be. So, how do you get your toddler out of those nappies and into pants without a lot of stress and mess? Well, there’s no real right answer but I’ve survived this process twice now in the space of 15 months so I’ll happily share my experience and tips with you. Prepare in advance. There are plenty of books that promise “potty training success in just one week” but don’t believe all you read. All of their strategies rely on advance preparation. You probably do this already as a damage limitation strategy but encourage your child to accompany you to the bathroom on a regular basis. Children naturally want to imitate their parents’ behaviour. If they see you using the loo, flushing and hand washing, eventually they’ll want to try it too. It’s true that having a loud discussion with your two-year-old on the mechanics of having a poo is not a very dignified way to spend a few minutes but it’s all about their learning, honest! You can also find some toddler friendly books in your local library or discount bookshop which will encourage your child to want to ditch the nappies. Pirate Pete’s Potty was a hit in our house (they do a Princess Polly version if you prefer) but there are plenty alternatives out there. Slowly, slowly… Introduce the idea of the potty in small stages. We had a potty in the bathroom from the time my eldest was about 16 months. He was encouraged to sit on it every evening while the bath was running – just to get used to the concept. If, by chance, he ever “produced” anything then there were big cheers and applause all round but I never battled him over using it. If he wanted to sit on it fine, and if he didn’t then he didn’t but it gave him the general idea. Try to wait until your child is ready. Somewhere in your circle of family and friends there’ll be a legendary story of the child who was dry before they could walk. Ignore it. I’ve watched friends try to potty train a very young toddler and it becomes extremely stressful for both parents and child with continued accidents for months on end. I’ve left it a bit later with each of mine (eldest was 2yrs 11m) and it’s been a much quicker process. They were both able to stay dry for a reasonable time by day 2 or 3 and accidents were pretty much over with by the

16

end of the first week or so. It means you’re not cooped inside for weeks on end or carting six changes of clothes with you every time you want to pop to the shops. I will admit to trying too early with my first child (at 2yrs 6m) in a desire to get it over with before a big house move but after three days of non-stop puddles and no successes I put him back in nappies and decided to wait. Plus, it’s not easy to sell your house with damp patches all over the carpet (even if they are where you’ve just cleaned up). Your child may give signs of readiness such as telling you when they are doing a wee in their nappy or asking for a clean nappy after they have soiled theirs. Use their signals as a guide as to when to start. But on the other hand… sometimes you have to just go for it! My eldest was adamant he was not using a potty or wearing pants for months after that first attempt. Eventually, the need to have him dry before starting pre-school took over and I decided to go for it. He got it in no time. A childminder friend once advised me that if they can get 50% of wees on the potty by the end of day three then it’s worth persevering. If not, then admit defeat and try later when your child might be more ready. It’s a rule I’ve passed on to friends and family and it’s worked for everyone so far… Give plenty of praise. Using the potty is a difficult skill to master and both children and parents can find it frustrating. Children can get very upset at being wet as they know that staying dry is what really pleases you (and, although it doesn’t always seem like it, pleasing you is important to them). During the early days with my two I gave plenty of praise for “dry pants” (we even had a dry pants dance!). Every 10 or 20 minutes I would make a show of checking their pants and making a fuss if they were still dry. It helped my children to understand what was expected of them in a positive way rather than having focus on learning from the accidents. As an aside, neither of my boys were interested in incentives to use the potty (such as stickers or chocolate buttons). When they were ready, they did it because they wanted to for themselves, and were not interested in rewards. Be prepared for set backs. It’s very common for children to be dry for a few weeks, or even months, then go through a period of regular wetting again. Changes in family circumstances such as a house move or new baby are common triggers for this but other times there’s no obvious reason. Even older children are prone to getting absorbed in an activity and forgetting to stop to use the loo. Be patient – like most other frustrating parts of parenting, it’s a phase that will pass. And then there’s night time…there’s no hard and fast rules for night time dryness. As a guide, you can expect it to take at least four months after your child is dry during the day before they are consistently dry at night. I used pyjama pants with both of mine as they have a picture on the front that fades if the pants get wet. It’s a clear visual clue for your child of whether they’ve been dry through the night. Most children will become dry at night between

17

the ages of three and five but don’t worry if it takes yours a little longer. It’s estimated that one-in-six 5 year olds wet the bed, with bed-wetting being more common in boys than girls. So, keep calm and give it a go. Just think – when it’s done you can save all the money you spent on disposable nappies (or can get from selling on your cloth ones) and buy a lovely new handbag that doesn’t need room for nappies or three changes of pants and trousers! It’s a win all round!

18

Advertorial Award-winning TinyTalk Baby Signing Classes go hands-on,

with interactive sensory activities to help babies to talk. Whether learning a new language or about the world around us, we rely on our sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste. From the moment we’re born we take in the light, listen for reassuring voices, recognise the smell of Mum, savour some warm milk and enjoy a good cuddle. Even at this very basic level, all our needs are met. The same applies with language. We learn to speak by listening and watching first. Even before we can speak we can use our hands to communicate: to point, wave or clap. In fact we understand so much before we can speak, surely it’s worth teaching our babies how to extend this simple repertoire? Not only does baby signing allow pre-verbal children to express their needs and thoughts, it cuts out so much of the guesswork for parents. Babies who sign are thrilled when they realise that they’re understood. This can be from 6 months of age - rather than waiting until the usual 18 months for their first spoken words. Baby signing empowers babies and allows them to get their message out. It also supports their spoken language, giving them the confidence to begin babbling and trying initial sounds, such as ‘b,b,b’ when signing ‘bird’. Now in its 12th year, TinyTalk is delighted to be taking its classes to the next level, with new hands-on, sensory activities. Using a range of bright and beautiful sensory toys, such as voile scarves, tactile shapes, flashing balls, bubbles, Lycra, mirrors and quality music, the babies are able to develop their communication skills and have a lot of fun at the same time! Local teacher, Thérèse Markham, TinyTalk Teacher for Warrington, Newton le Willows, Lowton and Lymm, adds, “I am very excited about introducing these new classes to the families in my community. We are all going to have so much fun but at the same time teaching our children how to talk”. It certainly makes sense to sign up to TinyTalk baby signing classes to help your little one learn how to talk: as TinyTalk says, “because chatter matters”. With over 500 classes being taught each week, just visit the website, www.tinytalk.co.uk to find your nearest class.

19

Local sure start centres – a valuable resource!

Sure Start Children's Centres support families with young children from pregnancy up to age five. They aim to be a one stop shop bringing advice, support and activities to families in the local community. Children's centres are usually on the same site as primary schools, nurseries, leisure centres, or health centres. To find your local centre phone the Family Services Directory on 01925 443322 or follow the web link below - http://www.warrington.gov.uk/directory/14/directory_of_children_s_centres

Children centre's are subject to Ofsted Inspection's ensuring performance is measured and accountable to government.

Health visitors aim to ensure all new mums are registered with their local centre but it is always worth a call to ensure you haven’t been missed off the list! The centres offer a variety of groups and classes from newborn up to pre-school children and some parent specific courses (creche facilities may be available). The courses generally run in term time only and the course schedule is available in a booklet form (the centres will generally post these on request if you are not already on their mailing list.) Some courses are by invitation only, some require advance booking and many are open to all.

20

We invited our members to share their stories of their experiences at their local groups. Many thanks to local mums Helen, Gilly & Elaine for sharing their experiences.

All Kinds of Play - Callands (now at Great Sankey) Fridays 9.30-10.30 This is a great little group, I have a two year old and was heavily pregnant when going along to the group regularly. A lady called Judy was running it who is lovely. Activities include outdoor play (when the weather is nice) with mini motorbikes, water play (sometimes), trikes, fire-engine ride ons etc. and then inside it is different every week - there are several different things to do. Usually there is at least one craft activity, a messier activity (glitter, shaving foam, glue) and then tunnels/other toys to play with like plastic phones or wooden jigsaws. There used to be a separate little area of baby things to play with but I haven't seen whether they do the same thing now that it is held at Great Sankey Sure Start Centre. There is no need to book and it isn't a set course as it runs all year round (except during some school holidays). It was a busy and social group - it averaged about 10 mums and their little ones each week. Best bit for us was the outdoor play. My little boy was totally taken by the water play during the summer months. Only downside is that now it has moved to Sankey, the outdoor play space is much smaller. First Aid - Dallam Tiny Stars Centre Mondays 9-11 The Tiny Stars Centre hired in a private first aid training company to run these sessions. I think there were 6 weeks of classes (with a week off for half term). You did need to book to be on the class and there were about 8 of us attending. Little ones can't come along with you but there is a free creche available which was great. I found the course really helpful. We covered burns, minor cuts, head injuries, CPR amongst other topics. It heightened my awareness of hazards and has given me more confidence in dealing with first aid situations. Rhyme Time - Sunshine Children's Centre Wednesdays 10.30-11.30 Both my little ones have loved this session. The course is run by a really lovely, enthusiastic sure start member of staff called Lucie. She makes the whole session great fun and relaxed. Mums and babies sit around in a circle and sing along to a set routine of songs (you get given a sheet to use for the words but you soon get to know the words of the less common ones). There is no need to book but the spots are limited and priority is given to those in the immediate catchment area of the Centre due to high demand. There are probably a maximum of 12 mums and babies. Most babies are around 6 months old. My older child's favourite part of the session (when he went between the ages of 6 and 12 months) was when Lucie gets out a parachute for everyone to hold on to and we bounce puppets and toys up

21

and down to songs and my younger baby prefers the "hello" song at the beginning of the group and looking around at everyone else! At the end of the session when everyone sits down with a few toys and books and has a chat. It's a social group but sadly, I tend to have to run off as my little one is well over due her sleep at the end of the session so often goes a bit nutty when everyone else is chatting! Tiny Stars After the birth of my second child, I was keen to meet others with babies of around the same age and so I attended the Tiny Stars group at Lymm Children’s Centre. This is a group run by the health visiting team and I was invited directly by them (as all parents should be) when my baby was about 4 months old. I received a letter in the post with the dates of the course and you just need to call to confirm your place. It’s a 6 week course that runs on Thursday afternoons with each session lasting an hour and a half. Each session has a specific topic with areas covered including weaning, health and safety, sleep, illnesses and baby massage. The sessions started with the health visiting team giving out some information about the relevant topic and as it’s an informal setting, there were plenty of opportunities to ask questions as you go along and to discuss any concerns with the other mums in the group. Each session finished with some playtime and singing for baby. We both loved the baby massage session and play sections of the group. Some of the information received in the sessions was more useful than others (but then I was attending as a second time mum) but I liked the informal setting – sitting on the floor with plenty of cushions and toys for the babies and especially that all the mums attending had babies of a very similar age so it’s a good way of making new friends. I’d definitely recommend the group to all new parents.

Baby Massage

Messy play fun at Lymm Tiny Stars

22

Myself and Abbie attended the baby massage course at the orchards sure start centre in Padgate. We started the course when she was 10 weeks old and this seemed like a good time, as she was often awake long enough to enjoy the session. There was a waiting list for the course but we seemed to get a place quite quickly. The course instructor was very friendly and welcoming and also used the opportunity to promote the other activities within the centre. To begin with we had 6 babies but we had a few drop out along the way. The course was six weeks long and each week a different part of the body was massaged eg. Legs one week, body the next. This meant that over the six weeks we gradually built up the length of the massage to a full body massage. The sessions were one hour long, which was good as if baby wasn’t ready for massage at the start of the session the teacher would repeat parts at the end, so you could always join in at some point. The course was very enjoyable for both myself and Abbie and it felt like real quality time with her. She always found it very difficult to settle to sleep during the day but after baby massage she would always have a good hour and a half nap, which was fantastic! As the sessions lasted an hour there was always time after the massage for a chat with the other mums and to discuss any problems we had. I would recommend baby massage as it is a great way to bond with baby and the course had a nice, calm, relaxed atmosphere. There is also a sensory room available at the orchards for families. It is available Mon 9.30-12, Tues 9.30-12 and Wed-Fri 1.00pm-3.30pm and is pre-bookable on the day. The first time you go you need an induction to show you how to switch on all the lights and where things are kept but after that you are free to go to the room yourself. It has a good selection of lights, fibre optics and other sensory materials. Explore & Discover I attended the Explore & Discover sessions at Little Stars surestart (Dallam) with my little girl from when she 4 months until my maternity leave ended when she was 10 months and it was a really special part of my maternity leave experience and wonderful quality time with my baby. The session was available for babies up to one year old and didn’t need to be booked up to January when I left, but it was becoming increasingly popular so a booking system may since have been introduced. The session is run by a lady called Joanne who put lots of effort into planning the sessions each week. Each week revolved around a different element of the Early Years strategy and there was a large variety of toys and equipment each week – particular highlights for us were messy play where my not yet weaned baby was tucking into cooked spaghetti with gusto and she also enjoyed experimenting with the texture of cold porridge in another session (thankfully a bath was provided!). Joanne also made a great effort for seasonal event s – the babies were suitably attired for Halloween and Xmas festivities and the mums shared lots of laughs in a very relaxed and friendly environment. Joanne took pictures of the babies throughout each session and print outs were available the

23

following week to put in a memory book where mums were encouraged to record the experiences and progress of their child in each particular activity and Joanne also added to the book from time to time to track the development of each child in line with the Early Years strategy – the book is now a treasured souvenir of my baby’s first year.

Fun at Explore & Discover

24

Planned Closure of Cadishead and Irlam Sure Start centre

By Sue Campayne, co-ordinator of the campaign to keep the centre open Sure Start centres offer a life line to families in the local area. In Cadishead and Irlam the two sure start centers offer parenting classes, midwifery clinics, stay and play, baby massage, weaning advice, weighing clinics and breastfeeding support as well adult literacy and numeracy classes and other support services. All of these services are offered at low cost in an area with pockets of deprivation and an increasing population. The sure start centre also offers an opportunity for isolated new mums to get together and begin to build their support network. The proposed plan to move towards a central centre would involve parents travelling across Salford on a journey that would take at least 30 minutes and cost. This may seem like small inconvenience but would mean most families would miss the start of sessions and the cost would impact many parents who attend multiple sessions per week and for whom money is very tight. However the Mums and Dads of Cadishead and Irlam are not taking these proposals lying down- there is an active campaign to stop the closure of the centers and proposals to create community led hubs hosting sessions for families and parents. Sure start is an essential part of the community and I would call on all local families whether resident in this area or not to get behind the campaign to save an important local resource

25

26

Local breastfeeding support There are lots of ways you can find support in the North Cheshire area if you are breastfeeding, whether you are looking for information and support regarding a particular breastfeeding issue or you just want to meet up with other breastfeeding mothers.

The branch has a qualified Breastfeeding Counsellor whom you can telephone for information and support on any aspect of infant feeding. Please contact us on northcheshirenct@yahoo.co.uk for information on how to contact her.

There are also a number of local breastfeeding support groups you can access, usually run by local midwives, health visitors or other breastfeeding supporters. These are very relaxed and informal drop-in groups where breastfeeding mums meet and chat about breastfeeding and other issues and can be an invaluable resource for new mums who are having difficulty in establishing a breastfeeding routine as well as a great way of making new friends.

We try to keep an up to date list on our website (see www.nct.org.uk/branches/north-cheshire/breastfeeding-support-warrington-and-around). Current details are given below, but please ring before visiting as dates and times do change, often without much notice.

Monday 10.00-11.30 Sankey Valley Children’s Centre, Dorchester Road, Great Sankey, WA5 1XE, 01925 572153

Tuesday 10.00-11.30 Sandy Lane Children Centre, Sandy Lane, Orford. Tel: 01925 425580 or 01925 852910

Tuesday 13.00-14.30 Golborne Sure Start Children’s Centre, Talbot Street, Golborne, Wigan WA3 3NN. Tel: 01942 777620

Tuesday 13.00-14.30 Our Lady’s Children Centre, Clinton View, Widnes WA8 8JW. Tel: 0151 495 5079

Wednesday 10.00-12.00 Orchard Children’s Centre, Hilden Road, Padgate, WA2 0JP

Wednesday 13.00-15.00 The Woodlands Children’s Centre, Admiral Road. Tel: 01925 852910

Wednesday 12.30-14.30 Kingsway Children’s Centre, Victoria Square, Widnes WA8 7GD. Tel: 0151 495 5079

Wednesday 12.00-14.00 Halton Women’s Centre, Pendennis Court. Castlefields., Runcorn WA7 2SW. Tel: 0151 495 5079

Thursday 10.00-12.00 Westy Children’s Centre, Tinsley Street, Latchford. Tel: 01925 570870

Thursday 10.00-12.00 Warrington Road Children’s Centre. Naylor Road, Widnes WA8 OBS. Tel: 0151 495 5079

Friday 10.00-11.30 Westbrook Medical Centre, Westbrook Way. Tel: 01925 654152

Friday 9.30-11.00 Breast Friends, Newton-le-Willows Children’s Centre, Patterson Street, Newton-Le-Willows WA12 9PZ. Tel: 01744 672 036

27

28

29

30

31

Local birth experiences – Baby Harley

During my 24 week antenatal routine check with the midwife, she sent me to the nearest hospital to get checked by the ANDU (Ante-Natal Day Unit) nurses. My BP (blood pressure) was reading something between 150/90, I then spent the whole afternoon there until they decided to prescribe me with blood pressure tablets to control it since it was not stabilising. There had been creeping signs of pre-eclampsia, including extreme water retention, high blood pressure, I had put on a massive 3 stone during the 24 weeks and my whole body had puffed up, with swollen legs and ankles, hands and even fingers, the only thing missing was the protein in my urine and for this reason I was not diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. I had to go to hospital every other day for a BP check to make sure it wasn't as high as before, but it just kept going up and up and so did my medication. By the time I was 29 weeks and 5 days, at one of my routine BP check-ups, the nurses noticed that there was some inconsistencies with the baby's heartbeat - this resulted in me being admitted into the labour ward and also being given steroid injections. Not only had my condition started to deteriorate but my baby started being at risk too. My blood pressure had risen further to 180/103. I was kept in hospital for almost one week but things stabilised and I was sent home on a Friday and needed to be back on the Monday to check my BP again. Monday came and I attended ANDU once again, not good, I was again in trouble with high blood pressure. The doctor advised that I was already on very high dosages of medication to control the BP and that increasing the dosage was not ideal. They sent me to do a doppler scan to assess my baby's health and it came back with irregularities. (A Doppler measures blood flow in different parts of your baby's body, such as his umbilical cord, brain, kidneys and heart.) Once again I was immediately admitted to Labour ward, if that didn't improve it meant that the baby was no longer safe inside me and they would have to deliver the baby. Wednesday I did another doppler to see if the condition of the baby improved as I was now in hospital on bed rest, but unfortunately it didn't and the scan showed that the baby was distressed and her growth and oxygen flow was restricted, I was taken for an emergency C-Section Thursday morning It was the safest option for me and my baby. My beautiful baby girl Harley Sofia was born at 31 weeks weighing 3lbs, October 10th 2013. I was unable to see her for another 3 days (which was heart-breaking), my health took a turn for the worse, all I could remember was my in laws came to the hospital to visit me and to meet their granddaughter in NICU but whilst visiting me all I can remember was the doctors coming into the room and asking them politely to leave. After that I was surrounded by

32

doctors and nurses, hooked up to every possible machine I could see in the room and given a Magnesium sulfate injection to prevent the occurrence of seizures. The protein in urine finally appeared after the birth and only then i was diagnosed with severe pre-eclampsia. I had to stay in Labour ward for 3 days until i stabilised, I couldn’t see my daughter or have any visitors apart from my partner, I was then transferred to a private room in the ante and post natal ward which I then stayed a further 5 days. My darling daughter stayed in the care of the highly competent and lovely NICU nurses for a further 6 weeks ( I will be forever grateful to the Warrington NICU and SCBU nurses for the care and support they provided to my little family, always reassuring us and guiding us

through this journey day by day). She was released end of November and came home for Christmas. Everything was a blur and I am only able to tell the story as I remember and the bits I remember. When in conversation with my partner about the events, he just laughs and tells me I can only remember a fraction of what really happened after the C-Section, he was there always! With thanks to mum Betania for sharing her story.

- Beautiful baby Harley with her proud parents

33

I

34

35

About NCT NCT wants all parents to have an experience of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood that enriches their lives and gives them confidence in being a parent.

Mission statement of NCT

NCT is a charity which exists to provide new and expectant parents with information, services and support. We are the only UK charity to provide new parents and parents-to-be with a place to meet others in the same situation, share experiences and help them settle into their new life as a parent.

Every year, NCT antenatal teachers, breastfeeding, counsellors, and postnatal leaders support over 100,000 parents directly. We reach many more – in fact over a million people each year – through our website, books, Bumps & Babies magazine, information leaflets and locally organised

branch events like informal get-togethers.

Network and support

NCT’s network of local branches exists to reach and support all parents and parents-to-be during a time of change in their lives via a wide range of social activities and events to enable local parents to meet other parents and access valuable support. Local branches also fundraise to train specialist workers and fund projects.

Support services

NCT offers a range of support services for parents. We are most known for our antenatal education and breastfeeding counselling, but we also run courses for new parents to help them adjust in their new role as parents.

Our services are open to all parents. We charge for services like our antenatal and postnatal courses in order to cover the cost of organising courses and training our teachers and facilitators to an exceptionally high standard, but we also offer discounted rates to parents on low incomes (see www.nct.org.uk/branches/north-cheshire/parents-low-income for more information).

Campaigning

NCT are also involved in campaigning on behalf of parents throughout the UK. Campaigns which are currently running include campaigning to improve postnatal care, to make sure all

36

women in the UK have the choice of where to have their babies and to save independent midwifery.

NCT is also a member of the Campaign to End Child Poverty.

You can find out more about these and other campaigns and get involved at www.nct.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns.

Research and evaluation

NCT works on a wide range of collaborative research projects which enable services and information for parents to draw upon high quality evidence from both quantitative and qualitative research.

For more information on any aspect of NCT’s work, please see www.nct.org.uk/about-us.

A few NCT facts that you may not know:

NCT has been helping new parents since 1956

We have 100,000 members with more than 1.9m visits to our website every year

NCT has branches right across the UK - 317 in total

Our website is a comprehensive, easy-to-use source of information on every aspect of

pregnancy, birth and beyond

We support parents through a vast network of 10,000 volunteers

Healthcare professionals see us as a valuable source of impartial, evidence-based

information

NCT Shared Experiences Helpline supports parents who are experiencing specific

difficulties, problems, worries or other issues during pregnancy, birth and early parenthood

by putting them in touch with someone who personally understands.

If you or someone you know needs the support of the Shared Experiences Helpline, call 0300

330 0700 on Monday - Friday from 9am – 7pm. You can leave a message outside of these

hours and someone will call you back.

37

Advertising

In Touch is published three times a year (roughly April, July and December) and is distributed widely throughout the North Cheshire area, to children’s centres, libraries, doctors’ waiting rooms and other family specific distribution centres, with a readership of approximately 900. If you wish to advertise in future issues, please contact us at nctadvertising@yahoo.co.uk.

Our current rates (excl VAT) are as follows:

Full page – £37.50 (b/w)/£50 (colour) one issue, £102 (b/w)/£135 (colour) three issues (one year)

Half page – £25 (b/w)/£35 (colour) one issue, £68 (b/w)/£95 (colour) three issues (one year)

Quarter page – £15 (b/w) one issue, £41 three issues (one year)

Back cover – £60 (colour) one issue, £162 three issues (one year)

Inside cover– £50 (b/w)/£55 (colour) one issue, £135 (b/w)/£148 (colour) three issues (one year)

Feature in our next issue..............

38

39

Advertorial – Puddleducks

40