Birth from a baby’s perspective What are the newborns first experiences as it exits his mother’s womb? The welcome the newborn receives at birth will colour his perceptions of life and will determine whether he perceives life as Difficult or easy Hostile or safe Painful or comforting ...
By Anchen Verster – Registered nurse and midwife, SA certified perinatal educator The practice of consuming your baby’s placenta after birth or in the months to follow is known as placentophagy. It would appear that this practice dates back to ancient Chinese practices around the...
By Anchen Verster – registered nurse and midwife, SA certified perinatal educator, Mother of 4 including twins Christina had been waiting 4 years for her precious baby. She miscarried two pregnancies and eventually gave birth to a beautiful boy. During the pregnancy she was continually worried...
Our amazing birthing body working in total synchronicity! “The hormones that make birth happen, also prepare us for breastfeeding and mother-infant attachment” – Dr Sarah Buckley Our birthing hormones are critical to actually making labour and birth happen! In addition, our hormone systems prepare us in the...
Women are bombarded with conflicting information about what they can and cannot eat during their pregnancy. Never mind your mother-in-law trying to give you that extra bit of maybe not so wanted advice. It can all get a bit overwhelming and confusing. So we’re speaking to...
Now that you’re bringing a new set of DNA into the world you’re probably thinking more about what you’re putting into your body. You should be as your diet can have a major impact on your baby’s health. And perhaps we don’t realise the extent...
One of the most exciting areas of research at the moment is on the microbiome! The human body consists of trillions of human cells as well as trillions of microorganisms. These microorganisms living in and on us include bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa, archaea as well as...
By Anchen Verster – registered nurse and midwife, SA certified perinatal educator, mother of 4, including twins A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) stay might be furthest from your mind when you’re pregnant but it’s a reality that faces many new parents. Roughly 15 million babies...
Challenging your mindset for better coping By Anchen Verster – BNursing, nursing sister and midwife, SA certified perinatal educator, mother of 4 including twins Labour pain is probably one of the most feared forms of pain and yet so many women at some point in their life...
By Barbara Hanrahan – Registered nurse and midwife, DnEd, MCur There are well known milestones for development from birth to 2 years. New parents need to be aware that these milestones are a guide to an infant’s development, rather than a rigid checklist. When new mothers...