Janet M. Catov, PhD, of the University of Aarthus, Denmark, studied a group of 35,897 women, some of whom took vitamin supplements around the time of conception or during their pregnancy.

Women who took vitamins, compared with those who did not, had a 13% lower risk of delivering low birth-weight babies.

Women who took vitamins and had a normal prepregnancy weight – that is, a body mass index of less than 25 – were 16% less likely to deliver prematurely and 20% less likely to go into premature labour.

Overweight women did not gain these benefits from vitamin suppplements.

Reference: Catov JM, Bosnar LM, OLsen J, et al.  Periconceptional multivitamin use and risk of preterm of sma-for-gestational-age births in the Danish national birht cohort.  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

I have seen the evidence in my baby massage classes of mothers who have successfully breast fed their babies when thay have conciously eaten a well balanced, fresh, nutritious diet supplemented with an appropriate multivitamin/mineral and an appropriate fish oil.  Most good health food shops should be able to advise on suitable supplements for all mothers.  Quality Health Food, West Minster Arcade in Harrogate (HG1 2RN) can offer such advice.

“What have I done?”

It is not uncommon for mums and dads to feel some form of overwhelm after the new little member of the family has arrived.  Mums may be sore and the baby’s needs need to be met.  You are starting a whole new journey together, learning about each other.  Mums, you are learning what each cry of your little one means.  You may feel emotional due to all the changing hormones in your body.

The purpose of this small article, is to help you feel empowered as a mum.  When a new phase comes into my life, I often remember the Barbara Striesden song “I will never give up….never give up…”.

Somewhere there is always help and it is not being afraid to ask.  Baby massage is one of those “helps”.

Within my baby massage class, you can feel safe.  Because the classes are small (maximum of 6 mums), everyone’s needs can be catered for. No matter how silly you think your question is there will be an answer.

Baby massage helps give you confidence in handling your baby.  Baby massage allows you to look at you baby in a different way from the normal day to day washing, changing, feeding cycle.  You have time to give to one another and get to know each other.  That in itself is empowering.

Within the small safe group, you can feel good about sharing any concerns you may have and perhaps realise that many other mums have similar concerns.

The bottom line is that we are ALL doing and being the very best we possibly can as a mum.

Harrogate: Thursday 16th 10am until 11am

Please contact me for further details – jill@massagingbabies.com

A class for November

HARROGATE: 1pm 4th November, please contact me  – jill@massagingbabies.com to book

Even the mums of these three to six-month olds look relaxed, for they’ve been enjoying one of Jill’s classes. The close contact and the obvious pleasure of the child are soothing for mother as well as baby.

My daughter Amy, four months, is making little shouts which shows that she’s happy – yet she’s not usually a very settled baby, having had colic up to three months and still demanding the attention she received during those traumatic times. On hearing of our problem, the health visitor lent me a book on massage, I tried the strokes recommended to ease colic and I believe it eased the pain.

Jill helped me to master the full range of body strokes which I had found difficult to follow in the book, despite many photographs, and it was good to be in the company of other mums. Amy was fascinated by all these other little babies.

It was an easy class to get along to, being at 1.30pm each Wednesday. It lasted about 45 minutes plus another quarter of an hour for tea and a chat, and it was great value. Jill was helpful and relaxed, easing us into the routines, letting us build up a rapport with our babies and only correcting when we were going dramatically wrong.

So does it work? Amy has the answer. She slept for three hours after the first massage – she usually napped for about 45 minutes at most – it was bliss. Since then she has been a great deal more settled, sleeping better at night and falling into some sort of routine during the day. She cries less and laughs more. Some of this would have happened anyway but I believe the massage has helped a great deal. I try to massage her each afternoon when my older daughter, nearly three, is having a rest. Amy enjoys this individual attention which she often doesn’t get when her older sister is around and I find giving the massage is enjoyable and soothing.

The best thing is that we were both happy.

As a mum its good to be able to use massage with both my eleven week old baby son and my five year old daughter, incorporating this into our daily routines and watching them both enjoy the experience.

Overall my awareness of the value and importance of touch in our relationships with our children has again been highlighted. It is this aspect particularly I will be using in my health visiting practice when I return from maternity leave.