Spring issue of Mother and Baby

SPRING 2017 THE No.1 PREGNANCY, BABY AND TODDLER MAGAZINE
WWW.MOTHERANDBABY.CO.UK
www.motherandbaby.co.uk
THE UK’S BEST-SELLING MAGAZINE FOR MUMS
Love the
outdoors
50 new ways to
have fun with your
baby this spring
THE NO-STRESS GUIDE
TO GIVING BIRTH
Everything you need to
know about toddler eye tests
8 FOODS TO BOOST
YOUR MILK SUPPLY
We try, you buy
Combination pushchairs
LITTLE DREAMER
Discover what’s going
through her mind at night
Pregnancy
Reviewed
Advice
www.motherandbaby.co.uk
£3.99 SPRING 2017
Shopping

Contents Spring
COVER ISTOCKPHOTO
p36
p58
p106
p61
p47
Upfront
6 News and views
Our round-up of essential
parenting updates and
key trends
18 Over to you
Letters, photos, emails and
Facebook posts
On the
Cover
p42
p123
86
What your baby can
teach you about love
47
Find out about your
baby’s dreams
Bump&Birth
26 The first thing I bought
for my baby
Readers share happy memories
30 Plus-size pregnancy
sorted
Clever tips and tricks
32 Dress my bump
Fashion for work and play
34 Birth stories
A vaginal birth after a c-section
36 What it really feels like
to give birth
Our no-stress guide to labour
Baby&Toddler
42 Boost your breastmilk!
Simple changes for quick results
47 Sweet dreams
Learn about her night-time musings
52 Encourage her to be a
chatterbox
How to get your baby talking more
58 Keep your eye on it
Preparing your child for an eye test
61 50 ways to have fun
outdoors
Try our fab hands-on activities
80 Line up!
Stripes are on trend for kids
Life&Kids
86 Lessons in love
What your baby can teach you
90 Into the blue
Rochelle Humes on nursery colours
92 What are his animal
instincts?
Our fun quiz about being a dad
95 Free nursery CD!
Music to entertain your baby
Here to help
Our experts answer all your questions
76 Pregnancy
77 Behaviour
78 Eating
79 Sleeping
4 | Spring 2017 | motherandbaby.co.uk

42
Boost your
breastmilk
61
50 ways to have
fun together in the
spring sunshine
Subscribe!
Pay just £15 for seven
issues and get a welcome
gift of NUK Feeding Set
worth £49.99.
See page 72.
96 10 steps to a healthy
spring
Ways to welcome the new season
98 Bunnylicious
Yummy child-friendly Easter treats
Shop!
104 First look
The latest must-have baby toys
106 The big test
Convertible pushchairs reviewed
Join us online at
motherandbaby.co.uk
Digital edition
on sale now!
Get M&B on the move,
direct to your mobile or tablet.
greatmagazines.co.uk
113 Supermarket buys!
What’s new in the aisles
114 Six ways to enjoy
tummy time
Items to aid development
115 Mum’s awards
The best buys for your baby’s needs
120 Giveaways
Worth over £2,559
122 20% off at Polarn
O. Pyret
Exclusive offer for M&B readers
123 Chase the rainbow
Multi-coloured designs to delight
130 10 tips if you’re going to
Center Parcs
Prepare beforehand for a top time
106
Convertible
pushchairs
tested by
mums
motherandbaby.co.uk | Spring 2017 | 5

STRAIGHT TALKING
What it
really feels like to
GIVE BIRTH
It will be something like this, says mum-of-three Milli Hill
CREDIT IN HERE
When it comes to giving
birth, most women’s
bodies don’t conform
exactly to set patterns.
A labour may start slow,
get fast, stall, do a bit
more slow stuff, then get cracking like you’re
riding the runaway horse in the Grand
National. But if you’re pregnant for the
first time, you’ve probably got one burning
question at the forefront of your mind:
‘What will it feel like?’ To try and help give
you the answers, I’ve divided labour up into
14 phases – yes, you heard me right, 14!
Trying to conceptualise one of the most
mind-blowingly unique experiences of your
life by dividing it into sections is a bit like
trying to describe your wedding day in terms
of car journeys, or measuring out your life
in coffee spoons. In reality, all of these phases
will probably blend and blur into each other.
It will be different for you. But it will also be
something like this...
THE NOTHING DOING PHASE
In the days and hours before labour begins,
you might feel the increasing intensity of this
phase. You’ll be bombarded by well-meaning
friends asking, ‘Anything doing?’ You might
feel like the answer is, ‘Nope, nothing to see
here’, but in fact, the dance of hormones is
almost certainly beginning, and there may be
internal changes that you cannot see or feel,
like your baby moving further into position or
your cervix beginning to thin. It feels boring,
frustrating, exciting, heavy, cumbersome
and filled with anticipation. Some women feel
physically really uncomfortable, others are
energised and agile. Many start to feel small
urges to withdraw from day-to-day life.
MEET THE
EXPERT
Milli Hill is a mum of
three, author of The
Positive Birth Book
(£14.99, Pinter &
Martin) and founder
of The Positive Birth
Movement.
Win
Want more
advice from Milli?
We’ve 10 copies
of her new book,
The Positive Birth
Book (£14.99,
Pinter & Martin)
to give away. To
enter (it’s free!),
visit winit.mother
andbaby.co.uk
by 18 April . See
website for terms
and conditions.
THE MAYBE SOMETHING IS
HAPPENING PHASE
This can sometimes be your mind playing
tricks on you due to your desperation to meet
your baby – and be able to put on your
own shoes again – but more often than not,
it’s the beginning of little signs that birth is
more and more imminent. You might
experience an increase in Braxton Hicks,
those tightenings in your bump that are
like practice contractions. You might feel
hormonal, perhaps with rushes of oxytocin
which can make you feel very positive and
loved up, or adrenaline, which can make you
decide that now would be a great time to
launder your curtains. You might also lose
your mucus plug, which is the little blob of
jelly that seals up your uterus. This will
sometimes have a pinkish tinge and is also
known rather romantically as a Bloody Show.
It feels as if you are spiralling inwards,
connected to your baby, and you might
be nervous, excited and emotional.
THE NIGGLING PHASE
Midwives love this word: niggling. They use
it to describe women in the very early part of
labour who are starting to feel those Braxton
Hicks more strongly. The tightenings start
to be harder to ignore and some women’s
waters break. We could also call this the
Yes, Something Is Finally Flipping Happening
Phase, but it can be very ‘stop start’.
THE RAMPING UP PHASE
Slowly but surely, the niggling phase gives way
to something that feels a bit different, as
labour gathers pace and ramps up. You might
find that the tightenings, surges or
contractions demand your full attention, and
that you begin to get into a rhythm or dance
36 | Spring 2017 | motherandbaby.co.uk

Bump&Birth
with them. For example, each time you feel
one approach you might lean on the chest of
drawers, rock back and forward, moan and
work your way through it until you feel it
subside again. Then you might carry on with
what you were doing. Between surges you will
feel completely normal and often very energised,
happy, or even a bit ‘trippy’ from the hormonal
experience. If you’re not giving birth at home,
you will probably travel during this phase.
It feels exciting, dream-like, intensifying,
rhythmical, powerful and like
you are definitely going to have
a baby!
THE CRACKING
ON PHASE
Hold on to your hat, this is
when it really gets interesting!
You are totally, fully and
unmistakably in the thickest, fullest
and most intense part of labour. Your
contractions will probably come more
frequently, be more intense and last
longer. You will probably not feel like
talking or doing anything else. You will
be in the place that some people call
‘Labour Land’, utterly focused on
riding the waves and staying afloat.
Many people do find this part of labour
really hard work and really intense. There
is still some of the golden time between
contractions, but they are closer together,
and the peaks of them can be, well, cracking.
TRANSITION PHASE
I’ve deliberately not talked about dilation up
till now because I really want to discourage you
from worrying about measuring the opening
of your cervix in centimetres and focus
instead on the experience of being in
labour. However, transition means you’ve
reached full dilation, which is roughly
around 10cm, the size of a box of cheese
triangles. Transition is a time when
everything changes. You will feel this,
and it will be happening in your
hormones as oxytocin makes way for
the adrenaline you need to wake you
up from Labour Land, and energise
you enough to give birth. This
hormonal shift may even cause you
to feel ‘fear’ at this moment, but
this doesn’t mean that you
cannot do it. It just means
you are doing it. This
stage can feel hugely
emotional, but
although it’s intense,
it’s usually brief: it is
like a wave of feelings that will wash over you
and then pass away, as all waves do.
THE REST AND BE
THANKFUL PHASE
This doesn’t happen for all women,
but some experience a pause
here. For some it lasts long
enough to cause care
providers concern that
labour has stalled.
More often than not,
it hasn’t, and after
these moments of
gathering in
fortitude and
courage, the
majority of
women make
SHARE
YOUR
STORY
Tell us
about your
experience
of a c-section
facebook.com/
motherandbaby

MAKE MORE MILK!
WORDS LOUISE PYNE PHOTOGRAPHY GETTY, SHUTTERSTOCK
BOOST
Breastmilk!
YOUR
Make some simple changes to what you eat for
near-instant results, says nutritionist Louise Pyne
42 | Spring 2017 | motherandbaby.co.uk

Baby&Toddler
If you’re breastfeeding, filling up on
nutritious food is just as important as
it was during pregnancy. Smartening
up your diet and fine-tuning meals and
snacks to include specific ingredients
will increase the quantity and quality
of your breastmilk supply. So put your diet
plans on hold and focus on making it as easy
as possible for your body to do its next vital
job. Because during the first month or so
post-birth, while your body is getting used
to meeting your baby’s constant nutritional
needs, you may feel hungrier than usual.
And although you might be thinking it would
be good to get out of your maternity clothes
and back into your pre-pregnancy wardrobe,
this isn’t the time to cut back on calories.
Breastfeeding can burn up to 500 calories per
day, so listen to those hunger cues and make
MEET THE
EXPERT
Louise Pyne
is a registered
nutritionist with
a special interest
in the health of
women and children,
louisepyne
nutrition.com
up this deficit by upping your total daily intake
to 2,500 calories to give both you and your
baby the energy you need. Liquids are crucial
too. Your breastmilk is between 80 and 90 per
cent water, so it’s no surprise that drinking
extra H 2 O will help maintain your supply.
In addition to the usual 1.5 litre a day, if
you’re breastfeeding you should be slurping
another 800ml (four large glasses). Your
body will help you remember: the hormone
oxytocin released during feeds makes you
feel thirsty. And watch out for signs of
dehydration: dark-coloured urine, dry lips and
muscle cramps. Liven up a glass of water with
lemon wedges or cucumber slices, and keep
a bottle of water by your bed and in the living
room as a reminder to drink. Now discover
the key ingredients you can add to your diet
to make your milk the cream of the crop.
ADD FLAVOUR
EAT
STRESS-RELIEVING
FOODS
It’s normal to feel a little anxious as you
and your baby both get the hang of
breastfeeding, but feeling stressed
can be counterproductive. Although
the stress hormone cortisol is naturally
found in breastmilk, high concentrations
may lower milk supply. Be proactive,
though, and your diet can help you
manage your stress levels. Foods rich
in the anti-anxiety nutrient magnesium
can help trigger the release of
happiness-inducing neurotransmitters
in the brain, which can quell extra-high
cortisol levels. Dark green leafy veg,
such as spinach, and raw nuts are best
to calm your nerves. Whizz together
200ml coconut water, half an avocado,
50g spinach, 1 tbsp sunflower seeds
and a handful of blueberries to make
the ultimate magnesium-rich no-stress
smoothie. Then sit back and enjoy
a delicious drink that will also help
you relax and feel calmer.
You might be avoiding strong flavours while you’re
breastfeeding, but certain tastes can make your baby feed
longer. When a study compared breastfeeding mothers
taking a garlic pill with another group
taking a placebo, the infants exposed
to garlic-flavoured milk sucked
harder and nursed for longer. So
put garlic bread back on the menu
and see if your baby likes it too!
Try this!
Every time
you refill the
clever Joseph
Joseph Dot
Tracking Water
Bottle,
a dot is
revealed on
the lid, so you
can easily
keep track
of how much
you’re
drinking.
It’s amazing
how dots
can motivate
you to drink
more! £9.99,
lakeland.
co.uk
UP YOUR
CALCIUM INTAKE
There’s no hard and fast rule for when
periods restart after giving birth – for
some women it’s a month afterwards,
for others it can be up to a year.
But when your cycle returns, you may
experience a drop in milk supply prior
to your period and for the first few days
into one. It’s thought that increasing
calcium and magnesium intake from
the time of ovulation through to the
third day of your period may help offset
this. A 200ml glass of skimmed milk
has 34 per cent
of your daily
calcium intake.
See Eat Stress-
Relieving Foods,
left, for tips on
getting enough
magnesium.
motherandbaby.co.uk | Spring 2017 | 43

HAPPY TALK
Encourage her to be a
CHATTERBOX
From the get-go, there’s lots you can do to get your
child talking more and aid her development
52 | Spring 2017 | motherandbaby.co.uk

Baby&Toddler
MEET THE
EXPERT
Kate Freeman
is a speech and
language therapist.
She’s the lead
advisor for children
and families for
I CAN, a children’s
communication
charity, ican.org.uk
As a mum, having a good old
natter is what keeps us feeling
sane. And there are lots of
benefits for your youngster
from chatting too. Early
language skills act as a great
foundation for the development of other skills
later on, and a recent report by Save the
Children revealed that chatter in the formative
years is the most important factor for influencing
literary levels at secondary school. Oh, and
having a little one who’s happy to chat with
you about this, that and everything is great fun
too – and will help your bond stay strong as
she grows and becomes more independent.
Like every other essential life skill, there’s
a huge spectrum when it comes to who starts
chatting when, and how quickly their language
develops. But whether your baby or toddler is
a natural chatterbox or has a little less to say
than most, all children can be encouraged to
communicate more. And whatever your child’s
age, your starting point is making time to chat.
‘Our lives are busy as parents, so it’s important
to focus on face-to-face time talking with your
child,’ says pre-school speech and language
expert Kate Freeman. So ask yourself, do you
really listen to your child when she chats to you,
even if she’s just babbling right now? Do you
stop what you’re doing, give her eye contact, and
take the time to respond? It’s easy to treat your
child’s chatter as background noise while you
focus on doing something else, and this is fine
some of the time: but not all of the time. She
needs to know you value her communication
skills, as much as she values yours.
And you can’t start doing this too soon,
because your child’s chatterbox skills begin
to develop early on in her life. Way before she
learns the language of words and sentences,
your baby understands about, and then starts
to make, sounds. ‘Your baby will pay attention
to the sounds around her and, eventually,
start to not only understand them but
begin to link them with actions, objects
and concepts,’ says Kate. ‘So, for example,
she might realise that the ping of the
microwave means that dinner is ready, or
that the dog barking means that Dad has
arrived home. At the same time, she starts to
use her mouth and tongue in a co-ordinated
way, gradually gaining more control.
Eventually, she reaches the moment when she
realises the sounds she’s making get a response,
and this is how she starts to understand the
art of conversation. And it’s then that you’ll
start to hear magical sounds like “Mama”.’
TIME TO CHAT
Simply getting down on the floor and playing
with your child will encourage her to speak
more. Focus on her favourite toys and let her
take the lead. ‘Take the time to notice what
she’s looking at, and talk about that,’ Kate
advises. ‘So if it’s a teddy bear, for example,
you could chat with her about what he looks
like, or whether you think Ted might be tired
or thirsty. Questioning less, and commenting
more, will mean you avoid quizzing your child
and encourage conversation instead. So you
might say, “Ooh, let’s put Teddy to bed”
rather than asking “What’s Teddy going to do
now?” A good rule of thumb is to aim for four
comments to every question.’ And during your
little in-play chats, let your language be guided
by the level of hers. ‘Talk to your child in
short sentences, one word longer than her
‘Hello!’
motherandbaby.co.uk | Spring 2017 | 53

Bunnylicious
Easter treats for youngsters that
are worth rabbiting about!
MEET THE
EXPERT
Annabel Karmel
is a children’s
food expert,
bestselling author
and mum of three.
Bunny banana porridge
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 5 minutes
Makes: 1 portion
Method
1 Measure the oats and milk
into a saucepan. Stir over
the heat until boiling and
thickened. Add the banana
and maple syrup (if using).
SUITABLE
FROM
9 MONTHS
2 Pour into a bowl and decorate
with mini banana ears, banana
and blueberries for the bunny’s
eyes, strips of apple for the
whiskers and teeth, and a
strawberry for the nose.
Ingredients
● 50g porridge
oats
● 300 ml milk
● 1 banana,
mashed
● 1 tbsp maple
syrup (optional)
Decoration
● Mini bananas
● Blueberries
● Red apple
● Strawberry
98 | Spring 2017 | motherandbaby.co.uk

SUITABLE
FROM
9 MONTHS
Ingredients
● 2 slices brown
bread
● 60g cream
cheese
● 1 baby cucumber,
sliced
● 2 slices from
a small carrot
● A few pea shoots
Bunny
bread
Prep: 10 minutes
Makes: 1 bunny bread
Method
1 Spread the slices of bread
with the cream cheese.
Cut out a large circle using
a round cutter for the body.
Cut out a smaller circle for
the head and stamp out two
small circles for the paws.
2 Arrange the circles to
form a bunny on the plate.
Put two cucumber slices on
top of the paws. Place two
half slices of cucumber for
the back paws. Cut two
lengths of cucumber to
make the ears.
3 Decorate the face with
the slices of carrot for the
eyes and a pea shoot for
the mouth.
Sweet potato
bunnies
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Makes: 4 bunnies
Method
1 Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C/
gas mark 4.
2 Line a baking sheet with non-stick paper.
3 Peel the sweet potato, then slice four
thick slices about 1 cm thick using a metal
bunny cutter. Stamp out one bunny from
each slice. You may need
to bang the cutter with
a mallet if it is hard to push
through the potato.
4 Arrange on a baking sheet,
drizzle with oil and season.
5 Bake for 30 minutes, turning
over half way through until
lightly golden and cooked.
6 Decorate with chives
for whiskers.
SUITABLE
FROM
9 MONTHS
Ingredients
● 1 large sweet
potato
● A little olive oil
● Salt and pepper
Decoration
● Chives
FUN WITH
FOOD
For more
family meal
inspiration and
healthy-eating
guides, head to
motherandbaby.
co.uk/food
motherandbaby.co.uk | Spring 2017 | 99

THE BIG
TEST
CONVERTIBLE
PUSHCHAIRS
Plan for the future with a pushchair
that grows with your family
WORDS HEIDI SCRIMGEOUR
So what’s a convertible pushchair, you ask?
Well, it’s not a mode of luxury open-air
transport for your baby, instead it’s a clever
future-proof option suitable for one child,
two of different ages or twins. It converts from
a single pushchair to a tandem by attaching a
second infant car seat, carrycot or upright seat.
Beforehand, you needed to buy a single pram
for your first baby, then trade it in for a double
if your family grew – but not any more!
Do you need one?
A convertible is a good choice if you’re buying
a single pushchair for one child, but hope
to have another baby in the not-too-distant
future. And if you’re already pregnant with
number two and will need a double pushchair
for carrying two children together, a convertible
is still a great idea as they’re generally lighter
and more manoeuvrable than traditional
side-by-side double buggies. Convertibles
are also more flexible, because they offer
lots of different seating configurations,
from a pushchair seat for a toddler alongside
a carrycot or infant car seat for a younger
baby, to two pushchair seats for siblings –
and even two carrycots for twins. And once
your older child no longer needs a ride,
a convertible also gives you the option to
revert to a streamlined single pushchair
by detaching one of the seat units.
Will it be in and out of your car boot?
Some convertibles fold up with the seat units
attached, making them really straightforward
to move in and out of your car boot. But
others require you to remove the seats from
the pushchair chassis before you fold it.
Depending on the size of your car boot,
This month’s
testers
Kirsty McManus
22, from East Kilbride, is
mum to Harrison, eight
weeks. ‘We’re hoping to
add to our family, so we
need a pushchair that will
convert to a tandem.’
Nicola Ricketts
27, from West Yorkshire,
is mum to Harleigh,
two weeks, Parker,
two, and Paige, four.
‘I need one I can use as
a single or tandem.’
Michelle McCann
37, from Brighton, is mum
to Jude, one, Luke, two,
and Isobel, seven.
‘I need a compact buggy
for both boys that I can
take on a bus easily.’
you might need to store the pushchair seat
or carrycot on the back seat of your car,
leaving less room for other passengers.
How much have you got to spend?
Convertibles vary enormously in price.
Generally speaking, the more expensive
models have a higher specification and a
much more luxurious finish. But don’t rule
out a convertible just because your budget
can’t stretch to the top of the range: a less
expensive option can still provide the
flexibility you need. But do bear in
that a convertible will be used for longer
than the normal life cycle of a standard single
pushchair so, whatever the price, it should
feel sturdy and robust, and up to the task of
carrying two children at once for several years.
How often will you convert it?
Some convertible pushchairs are really easy
to switch from single to tandem mode – it’s
as simple as attaching or detaching a second
seat at the touch of a button. Others have
more complex mechanisms that necessitate
adjusting part of the pushchair chassis.
Think about how often you’ll want to change
the configuration of the pushchair or adjust
the seating positions.
Our
testers
represent a range
of ages that will use
a convertible
pushchair.
Will you still like it
in two years?
It’s important
that you love
the way your
pushchair looks
and feels, because
you’ll be using it
for years to come!
106 | Spring 2017 | motherandbaby.co.uk

CARRYCOT
A carrycot is
suitable from birth and lets
your baby lie completely flat.
Babies outgrow carrycots
quickly, so a pushchair seat with a
lie-flat recline feature might be
better value for money, but
check that it’s suitable
from birth.
SEAT
POSITION
With some
convertibles you can
choose the direction the
seats face. Parent-facing is
best for interaction but
older babies might like
facing forwards.
SUN
CANOPY
This helps protect
your baby from the sun
and wind. Check how far it
extends and whether it
gives full coverage,
especially when the
seat is reclined.
Shop!
HANDLEBAR
A height-adjustable
handlebar is better: check
how easy it is to alter for you,
your partner and any relative
who will use the pushchair
regularly – and can you do
so with one hand
if needed?
HARNESS
AND BUCKLES
Strapping two
children into a pushchair
at once can be tricky.
Check that you can
fasten and undo the
buckles easily.
SUSPENSION
Check the ride feels
smooth enough for
your baby to nap without
being jolted awake.
Think about whether her
cheeks will wobble over
cobblestones?
TRAVEL
SYSTEM
Many convertibles let
you attach your baby’s car
seat to the pushchair chassis,
so you can move your baby from
car to pushchair more easily.
Check which car seats are
compatible and whether
you need adaptors.
ACCESSORIES
Some pushchairs
come with accessories
such as a footmuff or rain
cover. Check which ones
you need, and whether
they’re included.
SHOPPING
BASKET
The basket should
hold everything you need,
including the rain cover and
your change bag. And two
babies equal more stuff!
Is the basket accessible
when a second seat
is in use?
BRAKE
Some are
foot-operated but
others are controlled by
a lever on the handlebar.
Does it feel reliable,
and can you apply
it and release
it easily?
WHEELS
Swivel wheels give
good manoeuvrability
over smooth ground such as
pavements, but lockable wheels
handle country walks. Inflatable
tyres ensure a smooth ride but
may require a puncture repair
kit, whereas hard tyres
are more resilient.
motherandbaby.co.uk | Spring 2017 | 107

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