The July 2017 issue for Chester NCT branch. We look at Mental Health in pregnancy and in the postnatal period.
Your quarterly magazine for
Chester
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* Editor’s Letter *
I can’t believe it’s finally summer! I don’t
know about you but it almost feels like it came
and went already…?
However, between this edition and the last
one we have had a couple of new groups start
up, we have lot of exciting things coming up
and we have been though maternal mental
health week.
Globally, maternal mental health issues are
said to affect 10% of pregnant women and
13% of women postnatally. However, due to
the stigma of admitting it, especially in
Britain, this number may be even higher.
In this issue we will be focusing on some of
the realities of maternal mental health, including
myths and facts, how to recognise it and
how to help.
Lastly, if you are finding yourself struggling
with mental health, we encourage you to
talk to your midwife, health visitor or GP and
find the support you need.
Lucy.
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* In This Edition *
Page 6—Welcome to the Team
Page 10—Let’s Introduce…
Page 15—Bumps, Babies and Beyond…
Page 16—#hiddenhalf
Page 20—Lone Parent Article
Page 30—Post Natal Depression
Page 33—Mental Health Myths
Page 38—Craft Idea
Page 39—Family Meal Idea
Page 40—Baby First Aid
Page 42—Afterbirth Poem
Page 44—Breastfeeding Friendly Chester
Page 46—Photography Fundraiser
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* Welcome to the Team *
Jen Whittle – Mum to a toddler and very
excited to be joint branch co-ordinator with
Ffion Dempster-Jones.
Ffion Dempster-Jones – Mum of 2 year old
girl and looking forward to being joint branch
co-ordinator with Jen Whittle
Liza Ebeck – Works part time as a veterinary
nurse, adjudicates between her two daughters
age 6 and 2, and enjoys reading the 2 pages of
her book before falling asleep. She is also our
First Aid Coordinator.
Lynne O'Neill – Ex-London accountant, now a
New to Chester mum taking on the Treasurer
role.
Lisa Palfreman – A face most of you will
know already! Kiwi mum to two cheeky
tearaways and professional chatterbox is now
taking up PSC Link role and concentrating on
her new Uni course done with the NCT.
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Vicky Brand – Mum to a lovely two year old
and recently started my own business for
toddlers. NCT were a great support to me in
the early days and I look forward to helping
keep the branch active.
Charlotte Curtis – Lucky Mum of three
energetic rascals taking on the joint
membership coordinator role.
Daniela Ida ZANDONÀ – Mom, of Italian
and Spanish origin, to little Clara. Recently
moved to the UK and fallen in love with
Chester. I enjoy reading and watching a good
series but I've discovered sleeping is more
valuable! I look forward to volunteering.
Rasa Ryoto – Mum to a nearly 4 year old
budding camera virtuoso. When passing by
hops in to help with nearly new sales.
Antonia Jones – Antonia is excited to be starting
the Lone Patent Group and hopes to find &
provide support to Lone Parent families.
Lucy McClean – Slightly hippy mum to an
21 month old preemie. In addition to the
newsletter editor role, I also co-host bumps
and babies and actively contribute.
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* The Regional Team *
Hi, I'm Helen.
I'm the newsletter reader for the North West NCT Regional
Team. I have 3 kids, two daughters in high school and a son at
primary school. I've volunteered locally for NCT since
moving to Cheshire in 2004. I was Branch Coordinator of
Mid-Cheshire branch for 7 years before moving to the
regional team.
The regional team consists of Cath Auty - Regional
Coordinator, Nikki Leech and Helen Barrance - Area Links,
Kate Hodgkiss - Regional Fundraising Support and Helen
Lilley - Newsletter Reader.
The regional team work with branches to support them and
celebrate their successes. The team are the people who liaise
between branches and UK Office. We try to help branches
resolve any issues they have, and the newsletter reader
proofreads all the newsletters from all over the North West.
All of us have volunteered at Branch level, so we understand
the issues branches can face. We also have UKO staff support
from our Regional Teams Facilitator, Catherine Bartlett.
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* Let’s Introduce... *
Cindy Dubussy-
Durgan!
What drew you to NCT in
the first place?
I started to get involved with
the NCT through the Nearly
New sales. I used to volunteer
some of my time for set
up or clear out. All volunteers
have access to the presale
shop (before the sales
opens to the public) and so
get the opportunity to snatch
a bargain before anyone
else.
Give us a bit of background
on yourself.
I'm the Nearly New Sale coordinator
for Chester and I've
been volunteering for the
NCT for the last 5 years. My
role consists of organising and
running the nearly new sales
for the branch (the largest
fundraising events to support
new parents) twice a year. I
moved to Chester 14 years
ago from France. I work full
time as well as being a mum
to 2 beautiful girls, Scarlett, 5,
and Celeste, 2.
What made you decide to
become a volunteer?
The first time I signed up as a
volunteer it was to benefit
from the advantages of the
nearly new sales. I think nearly
new sales are such a great
idea. They really allows parents
to kit themselves out for
a fraction of the price. They
also help save all these baby
items going to landfill by giving
them a second life.
What has been your
experience of volunteering?
I got hooked straight away!
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The atmosphere at the sale is
buzzing. I met some great
people, some fellow compatriots
from France and I loved
getting all these bargains.
What would you say to
someone thinking of
volunteering?
People always think that volunteering
will take over their
life or interfere with their
family time, but volunteering
doesn’t have to. You can get
involved as much or as little
as you want. You'll meet great
people and create some long
lasting relationships. It's also
very rewarding to give a helping
hand to new parents and
parents-to-be. I remember
how daunting it was to be a
new mum, and the strongest
network of support I had were
the friends I met through
NCT.
What is the one thing you
want people to know about
NCT?
People tend to associate NCT
with their antenatal classes
only. But seldom realise the
fantastic work the NCT does
for parents in the first 1000
days of their baby's life!
NCT is the reason you're entitled
to have a birth partner or
father present in the labour
room. NCT has also done a
lot of work to support mums
in Styal prison, refugees and
asylum seekers. And, more
closely to our hearts, NCT is
the number one reason new
mums are given the chance to
meet each other and build a
strong support network and
lasting friendships.
I'm looking to step down from
my role next year and it
would be great to see the
nearly new sales continue to
thrive with a new coordinator.
So if anyone is interested or
wants to find out about what it
involves please email
nns.chester@nct.org.uk - I'd
love to hear from you!
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Bumps,
Babies...
and Beyond!
Karen and Shema, both second
time mums, decided to set
up a new NCT group because
they both know how valuable
support and opportunities to
meet others are for new
mums.
After her son was
born, Shema started an online
group and organised some
baby charity events to give
something back and meet
other mums and dads.
Through this, she has made
lots of amazing friends.
Karen started attending
the Caffè Nero Bumps and
Babies when her first son was
still a bump, and continued
when he was born. She really
enjoyed the weekly meet-ups,
making some great friends
and helping out occasionally.
Shema introduced
Karen to the Russian Style
Crepe café, and together they
thought an Upton-based
Bumps and Babies group
would be welcomed by those
unable to get to the city
centre, as well as supporting
an independent business.
Oksana, who runs
the café, did a great job making
it baby and toddler friendly.
As well as the usual tea
and coffee, she provides great
soups, a selection of pancakes
and cakes, and does a special
children’s menu. She also
caters for most dietary
requirements such as dairyfree
and gluten-free, and if
she hasn't got anything
suitable, just ask and she will
make it!
The group takes place
every Monday throughout the
year, except Bank Holidays,
between 1-3pm. Feel free to
pop in and say hello - we look
forward to welcoming you!
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It’s time to get postnatal mental illness out
of hiding
It’s common for new mothers to suffer from postnatal mental
illness, but only half receive the treatment they need. This can
be fixed with some simple and low-cost changes to our health
system.
NCT surveyed 1,000 women who had recently had a
baby and found that half had had a mental health or emotional
problem postnatally or during pregnancy.
Of these women, nearly half hadn’t had their problem
identified by a health professional and hadn’t received any
help or treatment.
Many of these new mothers said they were too embarrassed
or afraid of judgement to seek help.
95% of mothers who had a mental health problem said
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that this had an impact on their ability to cope as a mother or
on their family.
We think all new mothers with a mental health problem
should get the treatment or support they need. The first
step is making sure that they get the problem identified and
diagnosed by a health professional.
A simple low-cost solution
We’re demanding better six week postnatal check-ups so that
all new mothers with a mental health problem can access the
treatment available.
82% of new mothers we surveyed who had been treated
for a mental health problem said that the treatment had
helped.
Treatment can include counselling, medication, online
therapy or peer support. Sometimes, family support under the
watchful eye of a GP can be enough to get a woman through.
If you are worried about your emotional wellbeing, you
should talk to your GP, health visitor or midwife about how
you are feeling.
You can help
Please sign up to show your support for the campaign here
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* Little Happy Things *
Since its beginnings in
2014, this little group
has been plodding on.
Almost all of our volunteers
have sat at that
long wooden table.
Many with a coffee or
hot chocolate covered in
whipped cream and sauce! Yum!
Karen and
Shema’s little
endeavor has
got off to a
flying start,
often bringing
in more than
ten parents at
a time. The afternoon group is a real asset to NCT and we are
proud to be a part of it!
We have been so excited to
introduce this new group and
get it off the ground!
Although we are in
need of a regular leader for
this group, it was host to
over ten parents in its first
day... And it was raining...
That is some dedicated rambling!
We love that the
group is rain or shine and we
love the make-do spirit!
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* Becoming a Lone Parent *
By Antonia Jones
An Abusive Relationship
I belong to a minority of
women who become mothers
under abusive circumstances.
Thankfully for me that very
quickly meant I ended up with
no choice but to go it alone.
The birth of my beautiful
daughter, the most wonderful
experience of my life, is also
entangled with one of the
most painful and this is the
hardest thing for me to accept.
The man I called my
partner, who I planned a life
and a family with, who is the
father of my child, and who
was supposed to protect us,
betrayed our love and
trust; lied and gaslighted
his way through my pregnancy;
brought violence
into our home. I have
been left traumatised, angry,
confused, upset and
exhausted. I've learnt to
be strong, I am learning
to accept I can’t change
what has happened to me,
but I honestly don’t believe
I will ever get over
it.
My daughter has three
precious step siblings, with
amazing mothers, who have
also raised their children
alongside him making their
lives more difficult. Who
have been in my shoes and
understood my pain. I am incredibly
grateful to have
women who have been so empathetic
in my life.
Human beings have an
awe-inspiring capacity to survive
and there is nothing on
this earth quite as powerful as
the strength to be found in a
mother who loves her baby
and wants to keep her baby
safe, well and happy.
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The Turning Point
One positive of the
beginning of my journey
as a mother was
that, whilst pregnant, I
managed to turn my
life around. I put effort
in to keeping
healthy, I ate a wellbalanced
and varied
diet, I kept active and
attended a variety of
antenatal classes. I researched
and followed as many ways as
possible to keep my baby
strong and healthy and also
maintained a strong communication
with mental health
services due to historic mental
health issues.
Though I improved
my life in pregnancy, I was
still holding on to a poisonous
relationship. As I improved,
he and his treatment of me
deteriorated. Once I no longer
had his influence in my life I
began to truly recover.
I walked around for a
long time longingly watching
couples with their babies. I
think I held on to him for so
long because I was desperately
wishing he would realise
what he had. He never apologised.
People like him never
do.
How I Live Now
Now my life is so full of love.
The love between my daughter
and I. I am blessed and
privileged to watch my
daughter flourish. I cherish
every step, every cuddle, every
loving glance, every giggle,
every bubble bath. I am so
proud that I live my life doing
my best for her, even though
its not easy alone. I sometimes
feel like I cannot fill the
gap he created. A gap for a
partner and father. I don’t
think that gap will ever be
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I was okay, albeit
sad and stressed. My
daughter crawled in
the middle of the table,
smiling and giggling,
and the manager
of the social
services team pointed
and said to me,
“You see that?
That’s all you.”
Why I’m Starting
the Group
filled but I know now it is for
the best.
All parents will tell
you that having a baby is
challenging yet rewarding.
Well certainly for me, and for
most single parents, that’s
personified.
One of the proudest
moments that stands out for
me as a single mother is a
meeting I attended with social
services:
They knew I had nobody
to help me with her and
that’s why she’s always in the
meetings with me. They had
really started to understand
that he was doing nothing,
nobody could even contact
him by this point. It was clear
So that’s me and my journey
to where I am now. And I’m
telling you this because I set
out to find a group for lone
parents in Chester and discovered
there wasn’t anything
available! So it’s my aim to
create this resource for other
mothers and any fathers out
there who feel they'd benefit
from the support of an NCT
Lone Parent Group.
My life has been
touched by a range of issues,
too many for this one article,
that many single parents will
have also had to face. We all
have our life stories about
how it came to be this way
and our unique journeys to
happiness and building a solid
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home for our children. Going
through this, myself, has given
me the drive and passion to
provide support for lone parents.
I want the main focus
of writing this not to be how
hard it’s been for me, but to
spur on other lone parents to
know you can do it alone.
I'm excited for this
group to begin and as we
grow and get to know each
other, we can tailor each
group depending on the ideas
or choices that parents would
like to input. Perhaps even
extending the group to days
out, nights out, arrange talks
for legal and financial advice
and so on.
Details About the Group
The first group will be held on
Monday 24th July 2017 and
will begin at 10.00 to 12.30.
Wesley Church Centre
has a crèche that runs from 10
until 11.50 for children aged
18 months to 3 years old dependant
on being able to walk
steadily and at a cost of 3.50
per session payable for a term
of sessions and parents attending
the Lone Parent Group
will be offered this choice too.
There is also a small
play area with toys available
to the side of seating area
where the group will be held
should any parents have children
or babies that are too
young for the group or who
they wish to stay with.
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Being a Lone Parent
is twice the work, twice the stress, and twice the tears but
also twice the hugs, twice the love & twice the pride!
The Wesley Centre
Mondays starting 24th July 10:30-12:30
The group is free!
May be a creche available for children over
18m for a small termly fee.
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Exercise with baby……
This unique postnatal exercise & recovery
program is designed specifically for the
needs of new mummies.
What makes this program so special?
Baby is included through the whole program! Not only
do you get a thorough workout (don’t be fooled this
is serious exercise : ) but have fun bonding time with
Baby too!
They ease your body back into exercise initially ,
strengthening weakened areas and soothing aches
and pains– Then get you more fit and toned than
ever before!
With levels to suit both Mummy & Baby’s needs from
7 weeks to 17 months, It’s one of the most beneficial
classes you could attend with your little one.
Classes run throughout Cheshire, Wirral, Shropshire &
North wales, check out the website for more details.
Email: info@exercisewithbaby.co.uk
Web: www.exercisewithbaby.co.uk
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NCT is here to support parents. We give them accurate,
impartial information so that they can decide what’s best
for their family, and we introduce them to a network of local
parents to gain practical and emotional support. We are
the UK’s largest parenting charity, and campaign as the
voice for parents on the issues they care about.
What Does NCT Mean
To Me?
NCT has been enormously
important to
me since becoming
a mum, especially
as I had few friends
in my local area, let
alone ones with
small kids!
-Jo, Facebook
Your
membership
is golden
NCT was/is a valuable
resource for
my husband and I
to meet new parents
that were
about to begin the
journey of childbirth
together.
-Morgan, Facebook
For just £48 a year you
can become part of NCT
members club where you
can save and get
discounts on eating out,
going to the cinema and
cashback on groceries,
gardening supplies and
fashion spends as well as
a tonne of other benefits
within NCT.
In turn, your money
allows us to invest in
events, services and
support for not only you
but others, too.
Keep Calm and Join NCT!
28
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* Post Natal Depression *
By Viki Seed — Maternity Consultant
You have been waiting for
months for the moment to arrive
when you can hold your
baby in your arms. You could
not be happier now that he is
here. Yet you feel like hiding
in a dark room on your own.
You feel guilty feeling this
way. Don’t worry, it is all perfectly
normal.
1 in 10 women are diagnosed
with Postnatal Depression, but
studies suggest the number
may be as high as 1 in 4. The
hormonal changes after childbirth
and the demands of a
new baby are the main causes
of PND.
What to look out for:
· Feeling tearful, low or upset
for no reason
· Loss of appetite
· You can’t enjoy yourself
or your baby
· Sleep problems. Whilst
having a new-born already
means you are not getting
much sleep, if you have
PND you might find you
can’t sleep even when baby
sleeps.
· Anxiety
· There can be many other
symptoms, so if you experience
anything unusual
for you, do talk to your
GP about it.
Is there any way of preventing
it?
Unfortunately no, but having
a good support network and
asking for help (and accepting
help!) when you need it can
help. Don’t try to do everything
alone. You have just had
a baby and your body is exhausted
from pregnancy and
childbirth. You are not expected
to have the perfect
house, a freshly cooked meal
on the table, a peacefully
sleeping baby and look perfect.
As much as everyone has
tried and would love to have it
all, we are not superhuman.
What to do if you suspect
you have PND?
First of all, you need to talk
about it. Talk to your midwife,
health visitor or GP
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about how you are feeling. Don’t worry, you are not a bad
mother and no one will take your baby away from you. Don’t
forget, PND is an illness and it needs to be treated. You need
to talk to your partner too. He might be feeling very insecure
and concerned for you and the baby. Getting him involved
will relieve both of you and strengthen the bond as a family.
As hard as it is, you need to make sure you eat well, drink
plenty of water and catch as much sleep as you can whilst baby
is sleeping. The housework will wait for you.
How is PND treated?
Depending on your needs, you might be offered counselling
and/or antidepressants. Talking to an expert is often enough.
They will arm you with confidence, restore your self-esteem,
listen and not judge. Practical help to build your confidence
and your bond with your baby can also be very beneficial.
You can call upon experts yourself if you prefer, but you must
talk to someone. Talking antidepressant medication is another
form of treatment. You might have to take it for a good few
months, but don’t worry, it is not for the rest of your life.
Medication can give you the strength to get up in the morning,
will allow you more sleep and will help to keep your emotions
more balanced.
What happens if you don’t get help?
PND can last for years after having given birth, or even come
up at any time in the first year. In the most severe cases PND
can turn into Post Natal Psychosis, which can put both you
and your baby at risk.
It is imperative you talk about your feelings. Do tell your
health visitor or GP, talk to your partner and accept help. It is
an illness that will go away with treatment, but you can’t be
expected to do it all alone. Many of us have suffered from
PND: you are not alone. Recognising it and asking for help is
the bravest thing you can do for yourself, your partner and
your wonderful little bundle.
31
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Book online
* Mental Health Myths *
Myth #1: Pregnancy is a
happy time; pregnant women
don’t get depressed
Pregnancy is a happy time but
depression and anxiety are
common mental health issues
during pregnancy and after
birth. Pregnancy is generally
seen as a time of happiness
and excitement. Depression
doesn't always manifest itself
in the emotion of sadness; it
can also present itself through
feeling an utter lack of motivation
or worthless.
Be open about how
you’re feeling with your GP,
partner, friends and/or family;
it’s so important not to hide
your emotions if you are feeling
low or struggling.
Myth #2: It’s just the ‘baby
blues’, I’m fine
It could be the ‘baby blues’,
which can leave some mums
feeling emotional, irritable,
low and/or tearful within the
first few days or weeks after
giving birth but, if symptoms
persist or worsen, begin at a
later stage, or even in pregnancy,
it can be something
more serious, such as antenatal
depression (AND), postnatal
depression (PND) or posttraumatic
stress disorder
(PTSD). There’s a danger this
can be labelled as the ‘baby
blues’, and therefore many
mums don’t seek help.
We are about encouraging
parents to talk more
openly about maternal mental
health, to avoid the mistake of
dismissing potentially serious
mental health issues in themselves,
friends or family, and
to seek help.
Myth #3: If I’m diagnosed
with a mental health issue,
my baby will be taken away
from me
This is a huge misconception
that prevents many new mums
from seeking help sooner.
When diagnosed with a mental
health issue like PND,
your GP will be focussed on
getting you better by offering
medication and/or counselling.
The aim of healthcare
professionals is to keep families
together. Perinatal mental
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health specialists will also often
work with mums to help
with bonding and attachment.
Myth #4: If I tell anyone
about my mental health
worries, they will think I’m
a failure or a bad parent or
that I don’t love my baby
Having a mental health issue
does not make you a bad parent
or a failure. Adjusting to
being a new parent can be an
emotional and difficult time,
especially if you develop depression
or anxiety.
Mums and dads suffering
with mental health worries
often feel a strong bond
and connection with their baby,
despite their low mood or
anxiety. For others, ongoing
untreated depression can
make it hard to emotionally
connect. Taking the step to
seek help is the best and bravest
thing you can do.
Myth #5: Mental health
problems only affect certain
people
Mental health problems can
affect anyone regardless of
age, social background or relationship
status but there are
parents who are at a higher
risk of certain mental health
issues like PND, such as
younger mothers or those with
a history of mental illness. If
you don’t feel ‘right’ within
yourself talk to someone and/
or seek help from a professional.
Myth #6: I will be forced to
take medication
You won’t be forced to take
medication, such as antidepressants,
when diagnosed
with a mental health issue but
it may help you in the short
term while you find long-term
techniques to help boost your
mood. Medication can be useful
in helping you feel that bit
better and then enable you to
do other things to aid your
recovery, such as exercise,
meeting other parents or
counselling.
Most medication is
prescribed for a six-month
period and this may be all that
you need in order to help your
recovery; but you can take
them for longer if you need
to. Always seek advice from
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your GP before stopping or
changing any medication as
it’s important to do this slowly
and in the recommended
way.
Some mums also fear
they may become addicted to
medication or, if they’re
breastfeeding or pregnant,
believe they cannot take anything
because it might harm
their baby. However, certain
anti-depressants are an option
during pregnancy and while
breastfeeding so talk to your
GP to find out more.
Myth #7: I’m the only one
who feels this way
According to our research,
half of new mothers are concerned
about their mental
health and many are suffering
in silence, so you are most
definitely not alone. It can
feel incredibly isolating when
you suffer with a mental
health illness so it’s important
to tell someone how you’re
feeling and seek professional
help as soon as you can. The
sooner you seek help the
quicker you will find a way to
feel better.
Attending a support
group can help alleviate the
isolation that you feel, simply
talking to others who have
been through it or are in a
similar situation will help you
feel less alone and more understood.
It is important
though to check that these
groups are properly safeguarded
with well-trained
staff and volunteers who have
access to clinical supervision
and support for themselves.
Myth #8: Only mums suffer
from mental health issues
like postnatal depression
Men can suffer from mental
health problems such as PND
or PTSD too. Research from
NCT found that more than 1
in 3 new fathers (38%) are
concerned about their mental
health. In general, studies
have shown that one in 10
dads has PND and fathers also
appear to be more likely to
suffer from depression three
to six months after their baby
is born than at any other time.
In addition, following a traumatic
birth, fathers can be
more prone to PTSD than
mothers because they witness
the trauma first-hand and can
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feel so helpless during the experience.
Mental health problems
can affect mums and
dads so talking to each other,
and also friends and family, is
so important.
Myth #9: There’s nothing I
can do to help a parent suffering
with mental health
issues
Often a friend, family member
or colleague is the first to
notice when something isn’t
right. Just being there, listening
and providing nonjudgemental
emotional and
practical support can help.
Gently encouraging them to
speak to their GP, midwife or
health visitor is also important.
You can also access
reliable information about antenatal
and postnatal mental
illness (examples below), as
this might help you understand
how you can help and
make a difference.
Myth #10: I’m never going
to feel better
Recovering from a mental
health problem takes time; it’s
not something you can simply
‘snap out of’. Here are a few
tips that may help you on the
road to recovery:
· Find what works for you
whether it’s exercise,
mindfulness, medication,
attending support groups
or therapy like counselling
or cognitive behavioural
therapy (CBT).
· Practise self-care: it could
be just a few minutes each
day to do something nice
just for you, looking after
yourself is really important.
· Sleep! This can be incredibly
difficult when you
have a baby but sleep is so
important.
· Talk to other parents –
this could be through an
online support group, attending
a peer support
group or local NCT
branch events.
·
It can be difficult to talk about
mental health issues during
pregnancy or in the early
weeks and months of
parenthood but it's so important
to seek help if you
need it. Share how you're feeling
- you are not alone.
36
37
* Crafty Crafts *
It’s a String Fling Thing
Ingredients
· String, Yarn or Wool
· Paint in a Bowl - Acrylic
paint works well
· Paper or Card
· Heavy Book
We experimented after we got
the hang of it - two different
coloured strings and patterns.
We found dark colours work
better then light colours. Glitter
paint sadly didn’t add anything
to the design. It was a
fun, messy morning. The surprise
and excitement with each
revealing, was just magical.
Method
1. Cut a piece of string (between 20
and 40cms) and add it to the bowl
of paint making sure it’s covered.
2. Lift the string out of the paint,
running your thumb and forefinger
along the length of the string to
remove excess paint (very important
step!!).
3. Arrange your paint-covered string
on a sheet of paper or card with
one end of the string reaching off
the edge. Wash and dry your hands
at this point.
4. Cover with a 2 nd sheet of paper
and place the heavy book on top
and slowly pull the string out from
between the two sheets of paper.
5. Remove the weigh and slowly peel
back the top sheet of paper revealing
the design.
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* Family Dinner Recipe *
Creamy “Hidden Vegetables” Sauce
Ingredients
· 200g Assorted Vegetables of
Choice - we picked carrots,
parsnips, mushrooms, swede
and onion
· 100g tinned tomatoes
· Tomato Puree
· A Tablespoon of Mascarpone
Cheese
· Fresh or Dried Pasta
· Cheese for grating on top -
optional
Method
1. Cook vegetables until soft then
blend together until smooth in
texture
2. All the mascarpone, tomato
puree and any seasonings you
like to add like salt/pepper/
basil/rosemary and blend again.
3. Boil the pasta until soft, drain
and add the sauce - serve with a
little grated cheese and a basil
leaf to garnish!
This recipe is very versatile. You can use this same idea in any
tomato-based sauce. As you can see, we used it for our lunches
for a week - yummy hot and cold and will freeze well.
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In Partnership
* Baby First Aid *
Baby first aid is run by the Red
Cross and coordinated by the lovely
Liza Ebeck. Classes are on a first
come first served basis and respond
to demand so you should never have
to wait long for a class.
These classes are brilliant
because, if you’ve ever looked
into first aid courses you’ll still
be sweating from it. First aid
training is expensive. And nobody
should have to shell out
£100 plus to gain lifesaving
information.
Our deal with the Red Cross
means you pay £25 a head,
£45 for a couple, or £10 a head
for low income families. It’s a
priceless investment because
we’ve all had those panic
moments where you’re thinking
those first aid skills you
got back in school are pretty
useless on a baby right now.
So if you’ve been frantically
nodding while reading this, or
even if you’re just mildly
interested, it’s worth giving
some thought.
For more information, or to
sign up for a class, e-mail Liza
on:
firstaid.chester@nct.org.uk
and breathe easy.
What You Will
Learn:
· How to respond
to bangs and
falls
· CPR to save a
choking baby
or child
· The child and
baby recovery
positions
· Advice on
dealing with
burns
· Recognising
Meningitis and
other serious
illnesses.
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* Neonatal Poem *
By Lucy McClean
My son was born at 32+4 weighing 2lb 11oz. I wrote this 7
days postpartum. It was late, I was very emotional and I had
been struggling to come to terms with the experience I'd had
surrounding his birth and my treatment. It is in no way a reflection
of the countess or its staff!
Putting the experience into words helped me cope with
my feelings, and helped me let go of the pain of that first two
days of separation, and subsequently not being able to stay
with him in hospital.
I most likely fit into the category of postpartum
depression and the nurses on the ward did keep an eye on me,
I later found out from my husband, but ultimately the stress
disappeared as soon as we got him home.
He is now 21 months, healthily attached, happy and
breastfeeding… but this poem still brings me to tears.
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Afterbirth
They told me I was faulty
and they took my son away
and they put him in a box with tubes and tape.
I hadn't had a second more
to memorise his face
before all I had were pictures and reports.
Hours whisked away
before they took me to the room
where my son was lying restlessly, alone.
Wires tangled in his limbs
I was told how to touch him
and the space, where he used to live in me, shrunk.
With a mask across his eyes
for the bilirubin light,
with a blanket and a hat that were not his.
And I felt that my first moment
had been well and truly broken
like my body bruised and punctured, beaten in.
"We would let you have a cuddle"
I was told "but we're so busy"
and your bond can surely wait another day.
While I hand expressed colostrum
in a desperate attempt
to feel like the mum I should have been,
I worried that the space I felt,
the absence of a bond I held,
the love that didn't come,
that I had failed.
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National
Breastfeeding
Celebration
Week
26 th -30 th
June 2017
Breastfeeding is amazing but
it's a skill that needs to be
learned, for mother and baby.
Luckily, there are lots of ways
to get help and support in the
Chester area, including the
brilliant free weekly support
groups.
However, feeding out and
about can be a daunting prospect
to some and tricky for
others. We want to help support
breastfeeding whilst out
and about but we’ve also included
details of family
friendly facilities at each location,
such as baby change and
highchairs, so the scheme is
useful to any family with
young children.
Breastfeeding Friendly
Chester is a volunteer run
scheme highlighting businesses
in Chester that are particularly
welcoming to breastfeeding
families. We have a
current list of businesses
signed up and committed to
making breastfeeding in public
a little bit easier.
This week we helped to
organise two fantastic
events in recognition of National
Breastfeeding Celebration
Week.
The first event was held at the
Storyhouse in Chester, where
over 100 mums came out to
support The Big Feed! I think
it’s safe to say we made ourselves
known!
BFFC helped to organise
and support the event by
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership
NHS Foundation Trust
and The Countess of Chester
Hospital infant feeding teams.
The atmosphere was amazing
and we had fantastic support
from local businesses who
donated a whole host of raffle
prizes including tickets to see
Alice in Wonderland. Blissed
out Mama came along to offer
free shoulder massages plus
health professionals and Bosom
Buddies were on hand to
support. The Countess of
Chester also received their
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UNICEF Baby Friendly reaccreditation
award, presented
by special celebrity guest,
After the phenominal success
of the Big Feed, the next
day we hosted The Breastfeeding
Friendly Teaparty at
the Hive, Dale Barracks. Another
fabulous event which
was very well attended!
Around 45 familes joined us
for tea, cake and plenty of fun
for all the family.
There were plenty of fun activities
for including a soft
play area for toddlers, face
painting by Catherine, arts
and crafts with the fantastic
Lou's Arty Party, The Mini
Makery with their fruity
snacks. We had a raffle with
great prizes including an
MOT from Foregate garage,
photography voucher worth
£50, voucher for gel nails
from Jodie's Hair and Beauty,
a mummy MOT worth £65
plus much more! Local classes
Laughter Tots, Exercise
with Baby and Baby Ballet
came along to run free mini
sessions for mums, babies and
toddlers. Plus Leah from
Dollimore Photography was
there with doing free children's
portraits in her pop up
studio.
On the back of such a successful
week, we are aiming
to arrange more future
events – so watch this space!
We are run by volunteers and
were set up with funding from
Chester NCT. (Please note:
NCT does not officially endorse
these businesses and all
opinions are those of volunteers.)
If you’d like to help us run
the scheme we’d love you to
get in touch!
You can like us on
Facebook and follow us on
Twitter here:
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* Photography Fundraising Event *
This fundraiser was in aid of buying a feed and change tent so that we can
attend events like Chester Pride (opposite) and provide a quiet, calm place
for parents to feed and change their babies.
The feed and change tent will be stocked with nappy changing essentials,
some toys and comfy chairs to feed in.
We are happy to say that this fundraiser sold out! It has been a real success,
everybody has been wonderful and the babies and kids were absolute
stars. We hope they all enjoyed it and got some adorable new portraits to
take away with them!
Thank you so much to everyone who volunteered to help make
the day a special one, thank you everyone who came and a
huge thank you to our fantastic photographer, Liam and to
Toucan images who donated the free canvas raffle prize!
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Come along to our feed and
change tent situated by the
main children’s
area!
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* Get In Touch! *
· Are you interested in writing for NCT Chester
Newsletter?
· Do you want to share your birth announcement,
personal journey or breastfeeding journey?
· Do you want to make people aware of a particular
issue or health concern in pregnancy or children
up to two years old?
· Do you have thoughts or comments on today’s
parenting issues and would like to share it?
· Are you are a specialist and have insight into an
aspect of pregnancy, birth or early parenting?
· Do you want to advertise your amazing new baby
or toddler classes?
· Do you want to offer a discount on new parent
essentials to readers of Chester NCT Newsletter?
We would love to hear from you!
Newsletter.Chester@nct.org.uk
49
* Contacts *
General Enquiries: Chester@nct.org.uk
Co-Coordinators: Coordinator.Chester@nct.org.uk
Newsletter Editor: Newsletter.Chester@nct.org.uk
First Aid:
Firstaid.Chester@nct.org.uk
Nearly New Sale: NNS.Chester@nct.org.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NCTChester/
Twitter Tag: @ChesterNCT
NCT Helpline: 0300 330 0700
Our branch is run by volunteers. We are mostly parents with
young children working from home which means we are not
always available. Please allow a few days for us to respond to
emails.
* Disclaimer *
The information in this newsletter is for the benefit of NCT (National
Childbirth Trust) members and beneficiaries. It may be used only in connection
with NCT activities and may not be used for any commercial purposes.
The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily
those of NCT. The information contained in this newsletter should
not be reproduced without the editor's consent in writing. The appearance
of an advertisement in this newsletter does not imply endorsement of the
company or its products by NCT, nor does it constitute a recommendation.
However, it is always worth mentioning when replying to an advertisement
that you saw it in an NCT newsletter. NCT cannot be held liable for
loss, damage or injury arising out of goods sold through any advertisements
in this newsletter. Any discount offered to NCT members by any
advertisement is done so entirely at the discretion of the advertiser.
Registered Charity number (England and Wales) 801395; SC041592 (Scotland).
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