At school it was the butterflies in your tummy when you where going back to school after the holidays.  There was always going to be that essay we had to write about “how I spent my holidays..”

When as parents to be, you make that bold decision to get pregnant and have a baby, the anxiety is with us all the time and society doesn’t let off.  Mothers and pregnant women in particular are blamed for everything.

Firstly, are we eating the right foods; drinking enough water.  Doing enough exercise?  The fears, anticipations and anxiety can sometimes be overwhelming.

Then, we have the labour should it be an Active Birth; physiological birth; assisted delivery with all the pharmacological interventions available; elected caesarean section..  Isn’t it funny how in pregnancy you are not supposed to take any toxic substance into your system, but once it comes to the labour then its open season.

What are the options for place of birth?  Home; in a midwife lead unite; or in a hospital.  (some of these choices maybe taken out of your hands determined by the individuals own medical history).

Women and partners should be asking?  How does that have an effect on our baby system and the woman herself?  What are the repercussions of the pain relief offered in labour.   What are the repercussions of intervention?

Then once the baby has been born, there is anxiety about feeding; breast or bottle.  Evening if things are going swimmingly; questions of when to wean? Vaccinations issues?  When to go to work?  Should the woman go back to work?  How does this affect partners?  Change in family dynamics? Whooow! you just want to step of the anxious treadmill of life.

One of the issues that get discussed with women is sleeping habits. Co-sleeping as it is now called.  Should new parents have a infant sleeping in the bed with them.  This question came up in my clinic with young couple the other day.  One thing that families need to remember, is that close physical contact with your infant helps on many levels: that sense of contact and connection, the release of oxytocin to build the bond between baby and care giver.  Learning cues from mother/father and baby.  Research shows that by holding your baby in kangaroo style helps the baby to develop and grown.  So human contact is vital for our young.

One concern is overheating of the baby and also parents rolling on the baby. There is a reason mothers are hyper vigilant, hearing every sound their babies make.   Its hard wired into mothers.  This is for a crucial reason.  She will hear every sniffle and stirring.  If the baby is not in close proximity the mother doesn’t get theres cues.   In most “third world societies” , communities do not have the luxury of their own room or personal space.  In these societies babies thrive by being near to their mother/parent or another pair of welcoming arms. We have become so anxious that we are afraid to hold our babies and cuddle up to our babies.

Most recent research by the FSID shows SIDS was due to a number of factors.  Taken out of context we forget the instinctive and do not trust what we know to be true for us as mammals when we care for our young.

On a personal note, I have had three children, all of them slept in the bed with us.  We never quite got round to buying that cot.  And some how my 23 , 21 and 17 year olds are no longer in the bed with us and living active and independent lives.  How did that happen?    Take all the kisses and hugs you want.  This is a special time.  Enjoy.

• Lauren : gave birth to a beautiful baby girl called Scarlet on 10th December at 12.08pm.  Congratulations to Lauren and her partner.
• Claire : gave birth to a baby girl called Hannah on 14th December 2011 at 9.34am.  She weighed 8lb 13oz.  Congratulations to Claire and her partner.

• Rachel : gave birth to a baby girl called Eleanor Maud on Saturday 7th January 2012 at 3.3am.  She weighed 9lbs 15oz.  Congratulations to Rachel and her family.
• Helena : gave birth to a son called Anton on Tuesday 24th January at 2.23am.  Congratulations to Helena and her partner.
• Sukhi : gave birth to a daughter called Simran at 10.02am on Monday 30th January.  She weighed 6lbs 20z.  Congratulations to Sukhi and her partner.
• Kia : gave birth to a daughter called Mackenzie on 2nd February at 2.53am.  Congratulations to Kia and her partner.
• Queen : gave birth to a baby girl called Elizabeth on 31st December.  Congratulations to Queen and her family.
• Niamh : gave birth to a boy on thursday 22nd February at 15.22.  No name as yet.  He weighed 2.4kg.  Congratulations to Niamh and Cathal.  Welcome to the wee man.
• Rebecca : gave birth to a boy called Alexander on Saturday 24th March.  Congratulations to Rebecca and her partner.
• Alpa : gave birth to a baby girl.
• Tracy : gave birth to a boy called Jacob, on 24th April 2012.  He weighed 9lbs.  Congratulations to Tracy and her partner.

• Lauren : gave birth to a beautiful baby girl called Scarlet on 10th December at 12.08pm.  Congratulations to Lauren and her partner.
• Claire : gave birth to a baby girl called Hannah on 14th December 2011 at 9.34am.  She weighed 8lb 13oz.  Congratulations to Claire and her partner.

• Rachel : gave birth to a baby girl called Eleanor Maud on Saturday 7th January 2012 at 3.3am.  She weighed 9lbs 15oz.  Congratulations to Rachel and her family.
• Helena : gave birth to a son called Anton on Tuesday 24th January at 2.23am.  Congratulations to Helena and her partner.
• Sukhi : gave birth to a daughter called Simran at 10.02am on Monday 30th January.  She weighed 6lbs 20z.  Congratulations to Sukhi and her partner.
• Kia : gave birth to a daughter called Mackenzie on 2nd February at 2.53am.  Congratulations to Kia and her partner.
• Queen : gave birth to a baby girl called Elizabeth on 31st December.  Congratulations to Queen and her family.
• Niamh : gave birth to a boy on thursday 22nd February at 15.22.  No name as yet.  He weighed 2.4kg.  Congratulations to Niamh and Cathal.  Welcome to the wee man.
• Rebecca : gave birth to a boy called Alexander on Saturday 24th March.  Congratulations to Rebecca and her partner.
• Alpa : gave birth to a baby girl.

September 2011

There will be a number of new classes starting with Y4B

• 10 week Postnatal Yoga for women who have had their babies in the last year.
• 10 week Antenatal Yoga course on Mondays and Saturdays. Pay for 10 weeks in advance & get one class FREE!
• 6 week Baby Massage group in Chingford
• NEW! 4 week Baby Massage group for Dads on Saturdays
• Saturday Yoga class for on going practice – Scaravelli Inspired 6 week workshop
• Antenatal Birth Preparation Workshop

For more information please contact Arlene on 07976903003 or info@yoga4birth.co.uk