Pregnancy Education Week
Pregnancy Education Week emphasizes
Childbirth Education makes a Difference
12th – 20th February 2011
Pregnancy Education Week (PEW) is in its 13th year of creating awareness around the importance of childbirth education during pregnancy. This year the national awareness week runs from the 12th to 20th February 2011.
The theme around PEW 2010 is “Researched options and informed decisions about pregnancy and labour! Do women really know their options?”
Research conducted during 2009 within the private maternity sector in SA showed some startling facts –
• Only 10% of pregnant mother’s / couples researched their options about birth
• 67% had a caesarian birth (the acceptable rate should be 18%)
(Please see attached PEW pamphlet for further statistics)
Lynne Bluff, director of Baby Talk and the Childbirth Educators’ Professional Forum, says, “The message for Pregnancy Education Week is Researched Options and Informed Decisions – Childbirth Education Makes a Difference. We believe with continuous emphasis on childbirth education, mothers-to-be will have a better birthing experience and will have fewer complications during pregnancy and childbirth.”
“Pregnancy is a very special time in a person’s life,” says Lynne. “Educating oneself, knowing ones options, and how to provide oneself with the best possible care is essential to a healthy pregnancy and ultimately a healthy baby.”
There are in the region of one and a half million births in South Africa per year, and what are the pregnant moms’ experiences like? How many moms come out of labour saying, “That was a wonderful experience!” Far too often, the reply is “What a horrendous experience!” and the next generation is frightened even more than the previous one by these comments. Childbirth education can prepare you for labour by explaining what normal labour is all about, what you can expect from labour and how to cope with the pain of labour. All your options with their associated benefits and risks are explained to you, empowering you to make informed decisions about your birthing experience. Lets change the South African perception by preparing well for birth and having positive birth memories for life to pass on to ones children and grandchildren
This year in co-partnership with the Childbirth Educators’ Professional Forum, Baby City have pledged their support for this worthy cause.
Click Here to download PEW pamphlet
Click Here to download PEW Poster 1
Click Here to download PEW Poster 2
Western Cape
MotherBaby Film Festival
In South Africa, we have one of the highest caesarean rates in the world (on average 70% in private hospitals). Women are realising that in a hospital environment their options and freedom to give birth as they wish, are often limited through hospital routine protocol and intervention.
With this festival we hope to explore the various birthing options available. Each evening there will be a film related to a particular birthing option/topic and a speaker. The themes are: Midwifery, Doulas (Birth Companions), Birth, and Breastfeeding/The First Year of Life.
There will be opportunity for discussion, questions and to meet people in each field.
Midwifery (Monday 14th Feb 2011 at 6:15pm)
Guerilla Midwife follows midwife Ibu Robin Lim into the trenches of her work. From Bali, where haemmorage after childbirth is a leading cause of death, into the Tsunami disaster zone of Aceh, where her battle is fought with only one weapon, love. In this culturally mesmirising, heart wrenching documentary you will discover why we must reinvent our protocols for pregnancy and humanity in order to preserve our Planet’s humanity.
For more information on this film and to view the trailer go to: www.skwattacamp.com
Doulas (Tuesday 15th Feb 2011 at 6:15pm)
Doula! The Ultimate Birth Companion is a 65 minute, intimate and emotionally charged documentary about doulas and their part in pregnancy, birth and the first few weeks. Made by UK film-maker Toni Harman (Credo, Real Birth Stories), Doula!launches in June 2010 and screenings are being organised in the UK, Europe, the US, Canada, Australia and Japan.
Through close-up documentary footage of three doula-supported births, Doula! captures the non-medical but highly practical and emotional support given to the mother before, during and after childbirth. This unique look into a doula supported birth is captured through two intimately filmed home water births and accompanied by a video diary shot by the parents of a home birth that ends in a hospital caesarean section.
For more information on this film and to view the trailer go to www.doulafilm.com
Birth (Wednesday 16th Feb 2011 at 6:15pm)
In Laboring Under an Illusion Anthropologist, childbirth educator and humorist Vicki Elson uses over 100 video clips to contrast Hollywood birth with films made by natural childbirth advocates. Think fiction vs. reality. The result is hilarious, engaging, and enlightening. Vicki notes that to understand what it’s really like to have a baby, we have to debunk the silly and scary images served up by the profit-driven media. In reality, birth is hard work, sometimes simple, sometimes complicated, but always miraculous and unforgettable.
For more information on this film and to view the trailer see www.birthmedia.com
Breastfeeding/The First Year of Life (Thursday 17th Feb 2011 at 6:15 pm)
Directed by award-winning filmmaker Thomas Balmès, from an original idea by producer Alain Chabat, Babies simultaneously follows four babies around the world – from birth to first steps. The children are, respectively, in order of on-screen introduction: Ponijao, who lives with her family near Opuwo, Namibia; Bayarjargal, who resides with his family in Mongolia, near Bayanchandmani; Mari, who lives with her family in Tokyo, Japan; and Hattie, who resides with her family in the United States, in San Francisco.
Re-defining the nonfiction art form, Babies joyfully captures on film the earliest stages of the journey of humanity that are at once unique and universal to us all.
See www.babiesthemovie.com to view the trailer and for more info.
This festival is brought to you by Sage Femme (www.sagefemme.com) and www.homebirth.org.za
Venue: Labia on Orange
Date: 14-17 February 2011
Time: 6:15 pm
Price: R35 per person
Contact: Ruth ruth@homebirth.org.za or 078 557 9070
Website: www.homebirth.org.za
Spread the word about this festival! Pass it on!
Miracle Babies
Where: Coffee Shop – Le Petit Paris
We celebrate Pregnancy Education Week by giving information sessions and light snacks.
Who’s invited? All pregnant women and husbands in the Matzikama area.
Topics:
- The importance of pregnancy education
- Do you know your baby’s language
- Presentation on smart brains for babies and toddlers
- Presentation on Sha’zen products for mother and baby
Plettenberg Bay Medi-Clinic
Date: 26 February 2011
Time: 09h00
Venue: Plettenberg Bay Medi-Clinic
Speakers:
- Sr Annelie – Your choices in labour: having a birth plan
- Dr E Odendaal – Baby’s feelings in the womb
- Dr W Cronje – The role of partners in pregnancy
- Dr Seton – Medical/non-medical intervention in pregnancy and labour
- Natasha Pells – Exercise in pregnancy
- Sr Annelie – Your natural hormones as a pain relief in labour
- Louisa – The doula’s role in antenatal and labour
Paarl Medi-Clinic
At Paarl Medi- Clinic we will have an event on the 18th of February for Pregnancy awareness week. We will do some talks on different topics to assist moms in their choices and options about pregnancy and labour. A couple of reps, doula and other people who offer services for child development, will do diplays. Anyone who is interested can contact me at 021-8078129.
Catch-up Antenatal Class
Re preg week: I am offering a one-day “catch-up” antenatal class on 12 February at the clinic, the target group is couples who either cannot make a weekday class or who have missed out on a course due to christmas/ new year/ holidays etc.. The course will run from 08:00 – 16:00, includes tea and lunch cost is R750 for the day for the couple, booking essential. phone Justine on 021-9399720 or 0730271257 Kind regards Justine Geiger
Activities for pregnant moms and dads
Life with your Newborn Workshop
Few parents spend much time preparing for or thinking constructively about what life will be like after their baby arrives. They often plan for the pregnancy, the labor and how much maternity leave they will take, and then they end up feeling totally unprepared and bowled over by their postnatal experience and newborn. The birth of your baby is an exciting time and being unprepared for what lies ahead ensures that you and your partner enter this time knowing that you have the knowledge to cope with all eventualities that surround the birth of your baby. This workshop will illustrate what to expect in the first hours, days, weeks and months after your baby is born giving you real, useful tools to plan for success in advance. Typical things that will surprise most new parents will also be discussed. The workshop will be held on the 5 February 2011 from 9 – 13:30 and will cost R 80 per mom/R 150 per couple. Refreshments will also be served. It will be presented by Sr. Teresa Hayward who is a Registered Midwife with further qualifications in the Intensive care of Newborns as well as being a mom of 2. She has heaps of experience that she would love to share with all new parents. Each mom will receive a “goodie bag” to the value of R250. Booking is essential and to book expectant parents can contact Teresa at 0824009501/claydh@telkomsa.net.
INTRODUCTION
NEWBORN BEHAVIOUR
1) What your baby can do in its:
- 1st hrs
- 1st days
- 1st weeks
- 1st months
2) Newborns appearance
3) How do newborns
- sleep
- eat – breastfeeding and bottlefeeding
- communicate – crying
- function
- development
BASIC CARE
1) Bathing, dressing, diapering, cord care and comforting
TEA
2) Sleep and sleep safety
3) Feeding – breastfeeding / bottlefeeding
4) Health
- Immunization
- choosing a paediatrician
- safety issues – HOME AND CAR SAFETY
- when to call the doctor
5) traveling and packing a nappy bag
6) baby massage
HOW TO MANAGE / SURVIVE THE 1ST 6 WEEKS OF YOUR BABY’S LIFE
In Kwa-Zulu Natal
Mother and Baby Workshop
Please note that the programme comprises of two sessions.
Mums will have the opportunity to book for either one of the sessions. We are intending to accommodate 100 mums per session, 200 in total.
Date: Saturday 19 February 2011
Session One
Registrations Open: 08h30
Exhibitions From: 08h30
Presentations: 09h00 – 12h00
Session Two Registrations Open: 11h00 Exhibitions From: 11h00 Presentations: 13h00 – 15h00 Should you have any further queries please feel free to contact Shirley on 032 946 6838
In Gauteng
Netcare Sunward Park Hospital
Date: Saturday 12 February 2011
Time: 09h30 for 10h00
Gifts and luck draws for everyone Answers about pregnancy concerns will be given by professionals Refreshments will be served
For more information please contact Elmarie Eksteen at 072 243 7099 Limited space available
In the Eastern Cape
Baby Festival
Date: 27 March 2011
Time: 9am – 2pm
Where: 244 Circular Drive We will be having this event to aid charity with the charities being Thundasana Baby Haven, Animal Welfare, Catcare and one more charity to be confirmed.
Entry will be free. The goal will be to educate, inform and inspire our expectant and new parents to know more, choose the best for them and be the best they can be. Michelle vd Westhuizen Tel: 082 940 4200
Parents-to-be
Are you expecting a baby? Life at St. George’s Hospital invites all parents-to-be to share in their annual Pregnancy Open Day, in support of National Pregnancy Education Week.
Date: Saturday 19 February 2011
Time: 9am – 12:30pm
Venue: Elizabeth Place, Newton Street, Newton Park
Discussions are aimed at all expectant moms and dads to make sound and educated decisions for their baby. Snacks and refreshments will be served. An entrance fee of R25 per person is payable in advance.Bookings are essential
For further information and bookings contact Natalie Henman or Yolandi Romer on 041 392 6077 between 9am and 3pm or email natalie.henman@lifehealthcare.co.za