Written by Christina Bosemark, founder of Multilingual Children's Association. If you google Christina you will find lots of other useful articles.
"After we talked, I've spoken nothing but French to my one year old for close to seven weeks
now. All of his new words are French, and from what I can tell he understands me completely." Not even two months into her campaign to raise her two children speaking French as well as English, Sheilagh Margot Riordan in Forida has noticed a dramatic difference in the progress between her two children: "My three and a half year old is much trickier. Even though I speak only French to her, she replies in English, but I guess that she understands about 70 of everything I say." Frankly, Sheilagh worries that it's already too late for her over-the-hill three year-old to become a fluent bilingual.
In our culture it sometimes feels that if you didn't spring for ballet lessons at two or violin at three, it's all over. While there's no doubt that the optimal moment to start learning languages is at birth, it's not at all impossible to achieve fluency later in life. The more language interaction you provide, the more dramatic the progress, and the easier for the child. Even older children are still kids, and they'll remain chatty and unhampered by self-consciousness. Still, transitioning into multilingualism will require motivation; here are several tried-and-true tips.
You know how when you announce that it's bedtime, your kid says, "Why?" You'll get the same
reaction to your new language program. "Why do I have to say it in Korean if I know how say it
in English already?" This is a fair question, and the answer needs to be either one of necessity, fun, or flattery. Not much else will fly. Here are some possible answers: "Because I/granny/everyone else here only speak Korean." "This book/this game/this song is in Korean." "Because you did it sooo well yesterday." "So you can teach it to baby Ethan when he is a big boy like you." "So you and Kim can have your own secret language."
After the explanation your next step will be to speak only in the minority language yourself (or nanny, or whoever is your child's primary language source). When you get confusion and glazed looks, translate. And, be reasonable; accept replies in the primary language when you first start out.
When your child answers back in the community language, say "Yes," and then repeat the sentence in the minority language. If you know your child is able to say a particular word, but is struggling to remember it, jog her memory by providing the first syllable. Be careful not to dampen her enthusiasm. Don't make speaking the second language an inflexible rule or something that becomes onerous. You'll just inspire revolution in the ranks. You might require adherence to the language rules you've set up if you know she has the vocabulary - just as you demand 'pleases' and 'thank yous.' For example, when you're child is asking for a glass of milk, you can require that she ask for it in the minority language. But if she's excited about telling you what happened at the circus, just listen, and then repeat it back in the second language. That way, you provide her the missing vocabulary in a positive way.
And, as always, praise endlessly. Even when you are providing translations or the child has just issued sixteen grammatical errors in a four-word sentence. In fact, a child simply doesn't understand if you try to correct her before the age of three. Instead, just repeat the words correctly (a process known as modeling). Alternatively, you can make a joke and say, "Oops, that came out wrong!" Laugh and provide the right way of saying it, so you keep it playful rather than corrective.
Countless parents have asked me: "So now, how do we stay firm with our language use?" Once the child has the vocabulary to understand the second language, sticking to the family language system is essential -- if you don't, you're back to square one! Just think of the things you could never let your child do, even if she begs, whines, and tantrums: things such as riding in a car without a seatbelt, not brushing her teeth, or crossing the street by herself. Don't negotiate about using the language any more than you do about these things, and she will get the picture eventually -- despite the occasional earful. Give it at least six months, and your persistence will be richly rewarded.
Sheilagh says that she realizes her trouble is well worth it and has stopped worrying about beginning too late: "Instead of looking at the things I should have done (speak French since birth), I am looking at the great achievements we have made so far."
Read more!
Friday, 3 April 2009
Using Insect Repellant during Pregnancy
The short answer to this question is that it is probably better to use natural products (usually containing citronella oil) that are certainly safe for use in pregnancy. The insect repellents that contain chemicals do absorb into your bloodstream, and therefore, will cross the placenta and reach your baby. The most commonly used (and effective) insect repellent contains a chemical known as DEET (diethyl-3-methylbenzamide).
There have been some concerns raised about the safety of using this repellent in pregnancy or on young children, but it seems that if the concentration of DEET is no more than 10% of any product, (repellents are available with DEET concentrations of 5% to 100%) the likelihood of adverse toxic effects are extremely unlikely. In high doses DEET is toxic and ingestion of the chemical has been associated with seizures and death.
If you are travelling to a malarial area, it would be better to use DEET than not, as citronella only lasts for a short period of time, and malaria is potentially fatal. It's best to get advice from your midwife or GP before planning to go overseas.
Read more!
There have been some concerns raised about the safety of using this repellent in pregnancy or on young children, but it seems that if the concentration of DEET is no more than 10% of any product, (repellents are available with DEET concentrations of 5% to 100%) the likelihood of adverse toxic effects are extremely unlikely. In high doses DEET is toxic and ingestion of the chemical has been associated with seizures and death.
If you are travelling to a malarial area, it would be better to use DEET than not, as citronella only lasts for a short period of time, and malaria is potentially fatal. It's best to get advice from your midwife or GP before planning to go overseas.
Read more!
Monday, 30 March 2009
A Spanish Homebirth Story
I came across this birth story written by Dunja Jane and thought it might make interesting reading for other mums in Spain:
I am Australian but have lived in Spain for the last 16 years. I had my 2 daughters here in hospital and the emotional trauma has stayed with me since. They are now 12 and 14 years old.
In August 2005 I found to my partner's and my delight that we were expecting a baby. It was not an easy pregnancy - I don't really know why - maybe the years are taking their toll (I'm now 36) or maybe I was just over stressed with work and so on but at 21 weeks I was having an awful lot of contractions and was put to bedrest. Basically I stayed that way until the end which was very draining on everybody in the family but at least proved worth it in the long-run.
I need to explain breifly how difficult it is to have a home birth here in Spain. It was not that I originally set out to do this but it turned out to be the best option. I quite simply did not want to end up in the hospital again, with the drip, the monitor tying me to the bed, the interference from all the medical staff, the hospital environment and worst of all the obstetric chair (lithotomy position). I tried to see if things had changed since my 2nd daughter was born, but the answers I kept getting were not at all encouraging. There is no state health service here for home births. I started to look around - there were a couple of private "alternative" type clinics that did water birthing etc. but both rather far away from where we live. My 2nd daughter had been born in 1.5hrs so we were concerned that my 3rd would be even faster. No time to travel 2-3 hours to a clinic during labour.
After much searching and discussion between my partner and I - he seemed to be coming round to the idea of having our baby at home if we could just find someone qualified to attend us - I came across an association for home births on the net and got in touch with the closest midwife, who was only 40 minutes away. By this stage I was 32 weeks pregnant - baby was doing ok.....everything had pretty much settled down and now we had a viable option at last for having him at home. I spent hours and hours on the net researching and reading all I could lay hands on - that's how I found your site - and getting to know all the possible complications and arguments for and against. I was not getting any encouragement from my gynaecologist or from the state midwife who was monitoring my pregnancy. Any little thing and they would say - "oh you shouldn't have a home birth if you have this (streptococo)...or that (breech presentation)..." or any little thing. It was really hard on my confidence level even though I was feeling more and more sure about it all. In the end I had none of the things that could possibly cause any complications - baby was LOT-LOA most of the time, no infections of any kind, only some nasty pelvic symphysis pain throughout the latter weeks of the pregancy. I wanted our baby to be born at home in our space, with our atmosphere around him without all the unavoidable hospital interventions. Because it's not that you can go to the hospital here and they respect your wishes - no - you can waste your time arguing with them but in the end they are in control and are running the show.
Anyway....less grumbling about the failings of the public health system. I had found a great private midwife (and her small team) and even though they seemed to cater for a slightly - lets say - "hippy" clientele, I felt I could trust her and that everything would be ok. It did of course mean coming up with the necessary 1500 euros to pay for it all. So we decided to sell my old car. We didn't really need it anymore, and put the money to something we both considered really worthwhile. The midwife and her team went onto guard duty for me at 37 weeks and we started the count down. They brought the kit of emergency equipment to the house and made sure we had everything else they needed prepared.
Then the drama started. I started having very regular but painless contractions one afternoon which continued into the evening, so we called the midwife (Helena) and she decided to come with her doula (Pilar) that night. We were pretty concerned about the birth being so fast that they wouldn't get here on time. My partner and my best girl friend were a bit jittery about having to deliver the baby themselves in the rush. We started timing and walking and breathing.....went on for hours....everyone went to bed in the end and in the morning everything had stopped. Oh well - just a false alarm. Helena was so nice about it despite having had to sleep on the fold-out sofa bed which is not that comfortable. "I'd rather come and it be a false alarm, than not make it on time", she said. This was at 38 and a half weeks.
Four days later the contractions started again, this time significantly more noticeable but still not the pain I remembered from my previous 2 births. So we walked and breathed and they gave me some acupressure massages to help stimulate the contractions....and then nothing happened AGAIN ! The next morning before leaving to go home Helena gave me a VE and at least this seemed promising - my cervix was effaced and 1cm dilated and the baby was enganged although not very low. She thought it was likely that labour would start that evening again. But it didn't. And the days went by.....some odd contractions - maybe 4-5 every day, but nothing to say that labour was starting.
Wednesday all day they started to hurt a bit more seriously but now I wasn't going to be fooled - I'd given everyone enough sleepless nights already. Breathed through them...took it pretty easy all day, went for a nice walk in the countryside with Gabi my partner..... Then soon after getting to bed that night my waters suddenly broke. I'd been expecting this for weeks since baby was so incredibly active and almost violent in his kicking. So much water !......Call Helena again. She and Pilar came over in the middle of the night convinced that now it would all pick up. That's what we all thought - that's how it goes isn't it? You break waters and labour starts. That's what had happened in my previous births - once spontaneously and once artificially. Helena didn't want to check again if there was any more progress for fear of infections....but now surely it was just a matter of hours? The next morning - you guessed it - still not in labour.
Helena said in the hospital they will only wait a maximum of 24 hours before inducing labour once the membranes have broken. She knew that for many home birth midwives up to 72 hours was still ok but that I had to make the choice. It was my decision. This was pretty hard. She had left us a monitoring device - a doppler I think - and I had to take my temperature on the hour and listen to the baby just to check nothing was going wrong. He sounded really good all the time and there were no other signs of infection. But time was running out. All day Thursday and nothing, the night passed and still nothing. Helena called to know how long we were prepared to wait before going to the hospital. She was not in a position to induce me at home, unfortunately. We'd decided Saturday morning which still gave us until midnight Saturday to complete 72 hours.
Friday afternoon I was having some stronger contractions but only every hour or so. I was getting desperate.....it was not fair, after all we had done to be able to have our baby at home to have to end up in the hospital to be induced ! I started to breakdown....burst into tears and felt so defeated by it all. It seemed ironic that after half a pregnancy of panicking that the baby would be born premature in the end he would be forced to come out. I was 40 weeks now. But what was wrong? Why didn't I go into labour? After having a big cry about it all, Gabi and I went for a night time walk and came home to shower and go to bed and face the inevitable the next day. I was having more contractions but nothing really regular and with so many false alarms I didn't know how to interpret what I was feeling anymore but Gabi decided it was time to call Helena again. By this stage it was past midnight.....she wasn't really keen on coming out again unless we were really sure it was starting but quite frankly, I wasn't sure of anything anymore. The contractions started to be longer and more painful - lasting about 1.5 minutes each....just maybe, maybe things were starting to move. I lay down to wait for Helena to arrive and the contractions continued, getting more regular and stronger all the time. This was a good sign, at last.
An hour later Helena was here and she checked me this time to find I was 7cms dilated - so thank goodness, baby was coming ! The last 3cms were much more painful and harder to deal with than I had expected. I don't know if the drips they'd put on me in the hospital for my daughter's births had something to do with it or my age or what but this was getting excrutiating. One contraction would run into another with waves of pain in my pelvic bones.....I kept waiting for them to end like they had with my daughters....but this time was different.They didn't end. I went from severe transition contractions to pushing, something that hadn't happened to me with my other births. But I was so sore I couldn't move to get into a better position and lying on my side I was getting nowhere. I managed to find the words to let everyone know that I couldn't push like this and they immediately pulled me up into a sort of squat with Gabi supporting me from behind. This was better, but boy, did it hurt to feel the baby's head coming down.
I was feeling half conscious of what was going on. I knew I would feel the "ring of fire" like I never had before because they'd given me aneasthetics and an episiotomy in the hospital but this time I sure felt it. But somehow amid all my panting and sweating and feeling pretty delirious I managed to control the pushing so that I didn't tear and soon I could see his little (not so little ! ) head sticking out and then his shoulders and then he was screaming his little lungs out even before the rest of him was born. It was so incredible. We had so longed to see him finally and here he was, all red and slippery and very cross ! He wouldn't feed at first but did settle after a minute or 2 - then he covered me in meconium.
Helena clamped the cord and Gabi cut it so I could get into a better position to push the placenta out. On my hands and knees - as I would have liked to have given birth - I got the placenta out really easily despite it being pretty huge too. Then Baby was happy to feed at last and latched on beautifully and totally relaxed. It was so so so much better than the hospital - no bright lights, no noise (other than mine) no injections or drips or interference and just the 4 of us to welcome him into our world. My daughters had not wanted to witness the birth so we woke them just after - they hadn't even realised it was happening ! I'm sure I made a hell of a lot of noise but Gabi said I really only moaned through the contractions. Anyway - a warm shower, change of sheets and everything was cleaned up and we all cuddled into bed. Lyorel was born at 4.30 in the morning on the 22nd of April. I was a bit in shock from the pain still all that day but by the next I was so elated and so happy that we had done what we really felt was right. I'll do it again any day.
Lyorel's temper hasn't improved much I must say even though he's now almost a month old. His insides bother him a lot - makes a terrible fuss just to get a burp out but all this will go away, we know.....
I would recommend to anyone thinking about home birth to make the effort and do it....I was emotionally scarred from my experiences in hospital and they didn't help in my relationship with my daughters - especially the first. I was so detached, didn't even feel like that baby over there being examined by the nurse was anything to do with me. I now look back and feel so sad about it - so angry at having been manipulated and treated just like another body instead of like a whole person going through one of the most important moments of my life - giving birth to my first child.
I am Australian but have lived in Spain for the last 16 years. I had my 2 daughters here in hospital and the emotional trauma has stayed with me since. They are now 12 and 14 years old.
In August 2005 I found to my partner's and my delight that we were expecting a baby. It was not an easy pregnancy - I don't really know why - maybe the years are taking their toll (I'm now 36) or maybe I was just over stressed with work and so on but at 21 weeks I was having an awful lot of contractions and was put to bedrest. Basically I stayed that way until the end which was very draining on everybody in the family but at least proved worth it in the long-run.
I need to explain breifly how difficult it is to have a home birth here in Spain. It was not that I originally set out to do this but it turned out to be the best option. I quite simply did not want to end up in the hospital again, with the drip, the monitor tying me to the bed, the interference from all the medical staff, the hospital environment and worst of all the obstetric chair (lithotomy position). I tried to see if things had changed since my 2nd daughter was born, but the answers I kept getting were not at all encouraging. There is no state health service here for home births. I started to look around - there were a couple of private "alternative" type clinics that did water birthing etc. but both rather far away from where we live. My 2nd daughter had been born in 1.5hrs so we were concerned that my 3rd would be even faster. No time to travel 2-3 hours to a clinic during labour.
After much searching and discussion between my partner and I - he seemed to be coming round to the idea of having our baby at home if we could just find someone qualified to attend us - I came across an association for home births on the net and got in touch with the closest midwife, who was only 40 minutes away. By this stage I was 32 weeks pregnant - baby was doing ok.....everything had pretty much settled down and now we had a viable option at last for having him at home. I spent hours and hours on the net researching and reading all I could lay hands on - that's how I found your site - and getting to know all the possible complications and arguments for and against. I was not getting any encouragement from my gynaecologist or from the state midwife who was monitoring my pregnancy. Any little thing and they would say - "oh you shouldn't have a home birth if you have this (streptococo)...or that (breech presentation)..." or any little thing. It was really hard on my confidence level even though I was feeling more and more sure about it all. In the end I had none of the things that could possibly cause any complications - baby was LOT-LOA most of the time, no infections of any kind, only some nasty pelvic symphysis pain throughout the latter weeks of the pregancy. I wanted our baby to be born at home in our space, with our atmosphere around him without all the unavoidable hospital interventions. Because it's not that you can go to the hospital here and they respect your wishes - no - you can waste your time arguing with them but in the end they are in control and are running the show.
Anyway....less grumbling about the failings of the public health system. I had found a great private midwife (and her small team) and even though they seemed to cater for a slightly - lets say - "hippy" clientele, I felt I could trust her and that everything would be ok. It did of course mean coming up with the necessary 1500 euros to pay for it all. So we decided to sell my old car. We didn't really need it anymore, and put the money to something we both considered really worthwhile. The midwife and her team went onto guard duty for me at 37 weeks and we started the count down. They brought the kit of emergency equipment to the house and made sure we had everything else they needed prepared.
Then the drama started. I started having very regular but painless contractions one afternoon which continued into the evening, so we called the midwife (Helena) and she decided to come with her doula (Pilar) that night. We were pretty concerned about the birth being so fast that they wouldn't get here on time. My partner and my best girl friend were a bit jittery about having to deliver the baby themselves in the rush. We started timing and walking and breathing.....went on for hours....everyone went to bed in the end and in the morning everything had stopped. Oh well - just a false alarm. Helena was so nice about it despite having had to sleep on the fold-out sofa bed which is not that comfortable. "I'd rather come and it be a false alarm, than not make it on time", she said. This was at 38 and a half weeks.
Four days later the contractions started again, this time significantly more noticeable but still not the pain I remembered from my previous 2 births. So we walked and breathed and they gave me some acupressure massages to help stimulate the contractions....and then nothing happened AGAIN ! The next morning before leaving to go home Helena gave me a VE and at least this seemed promising - my cervix was effaced and 1cm dilated and the baby was enganged although not very low. She thought it was likely that labour would start that evening again. But it didn't. And the days went by.....some odd contractions - maybe 4-5 every day, but nothing to say that labour was starting.
Wednesday all day they started to hurt a bit more seriously but now I wasn't going to be fooled - I'd given everyone enough sleepless nights already. Breathed through them...took it pretty easy all day, went for a nice walk in the countryside with Gabi my partner..... Then soon after getting to bed that night my waters suddenly broke. I'd been expecting this for weeks since baby was so incredibly active and almost violent in his kicking. So much water !......Call Helena again. She and Pilar came over in the middle of the night convinced that now it would all pick up. That's what we all thought - that's how it goes isn't it? You break waters and labour starts. That's what had happened in my previous births - once spontaneously and once artificially. Helena didn't want to check again if there was any more progress for fear of infections....but now surely it was just a matter of hours? The next morning - you guessed it - still not in labour.
Helena said in the hospital they will only wait a maximum of 24 hours before inducing labour once the membranes have broken. She knew that for many home birth midwives up to 72 hours was still ok but that I had to make the choice. It was my decision. This was pretty hard. She had left us a monitoring device - a doppler I think - and I had to take my temperature on the hour and listen to the baby just to check nothing was going wrong. He sounded really good all the time and there were no other signs of infection. But time was running out. All day Thursday and nothing, the night passed and still nothing. Helena called to know how long we were prepared to wait before going to the hospital. She was not in a position to induce me at home, unfortunately. We'd decided Saturday morning which still gave us until midnight Saturday to complete 72 hours.
Friday afternoon I was having some stronger contractions but only every hour or so. I was getting desperate.....it was not fair, after all we had done to be able to have our baby at home to have to end up in the hospital to be induced ! I started to breakdown....burst into tears and felt so defeated by it all. It seemed ironic that after half a pregnancy of panicking that the baby would be born premature in the end he would be forced to come out. I was 40 weeks now. But what was wrong? Why didn't I go into labour? After having a big cry about it all, Gabi and I went for a night time walk and came home to shower and go to bed and face the inevitable the next day. I was having more contractions but nothing really regular and with so many false alarms I didn't know how to interpret what I was feeling anymore but Gabi decided it was time to call Helena again. By this stage it was past midnight.....she wasn't really keen on coming out again unless we were really sure it was starting but quite frankly, I wasn't sure of anything anymore. The contractions started to be longer and more painful - lasting about 1.5 minutes each....just maybe, maybe things were starting to move. I lay down to wait for Helena to arrive and the contractions continued, getting more regular and stronger all the time. This was a good sign, at last.
An hour later Helena was here and she checked me this time to find I was 7cms dilated - so thank goodness, baby was coming ! The last 3cms were much more painful and harder to deal with than I had expected. I don't know if the drips they'd put on me in the hospital for my daughter's births had something to do with it or my age or what but this was getting excrutiating. One contraction would run into another with waves of pain in my pelvic bones.....I kept waiting for them to end like they had with my daughters....but this time was different.They didn't end. I went from severe transition contractions to pushing, something that hadn't happened to me with my other births. But I was so sore I couldn't move to get into a better position and lying on my side I was getting nowhere. I managed to find the words to let everyone know that I couldn't push like this and they immediately pulled me up into a sort of squat with Gabi supporting me from behind. This was better, but boy, did it hurt to feel the baby's head coming down.
I was feeling half conscious of what was going on. I knew I would feel the "ring of fire" like I never had before because they'd given me aneasthetics and an episiotomy in the hospital but this time I sure felt it. But somehow amid all my panting and sweating and feeling pretty delirious I managed to control the pushing so that I didn't tear and soon I could see his little (not so little ! ) head sticking out and then his shoulders and then he was screaming his little lungs out even before the rest of him was born. It was so incredible. We had so longed to see him finally and here he was, all red and slippery and very cross ! He wouldn't feed at first but did settle after a minute or 2 - then he covered me in meconium.
Helena clamped the cord and Gabi cut it so I could get into a better position to push the placenta out. On my hands and knees - as I would have liked to have given birth - I got the placenta out really easily despite it being pretty huge too. Then Baby was happy to feed at last and latched on beautifully and totally relaxed. It was so so so much better than the hospital - no bright lights, no noise (other than mine) no injections or drips or interference and just the 4 of us to welcome him into our world. My daughters had not wanted to witness the birth so we woke them just after - they hadn't even realised it was happening ! I'm sure I made a hell of a lot of noise but Gabi said I really only moaned through the contractions. Anyway - a warm shower, change of sheets and everything was cleaned up and we all cuddled into bed. Lyorel was born at 4.30 in the morning on the 22nd of April. I was a bit in shock from the pain still all that day but by the next I was so elated and so happy that we had done what we really felt was right. I'll do it again any day.
Lyorel's temper hasn't improved much I must say even though he's now almost a month old. His insides bother him a lot - makes a terrible fuss just to get a burp out but all this will go away, we know.....
I would recommend to anyone thinking about home birth to make the effort and do it....I was emotionally scarred from my experiences in hospital and they didn't help in my relationship with my daughters - especially the first. I was so detached, didn't even feel like that baby over there being examined by the nurse was anything to do with me. I now look back and feel so sad about it - so angry at having been manipulated and treated just like another body instead of like a whole person going through one of the most important moments of my life - giving birth to my first child.
Read more!
Launch of new look site
www.mumsinspain.com was relaunched earlier this month with a much clearer and sharper "look" for visitors. We have lots of exciting things planned for the development and growth of the site including an online shop. If you happen to be a business owner and would be interested in Mums in Spain promoting your products, whether you be a small home-grown project or a larger business venture, please do contact us for more information. Mums in Spain can offer you a great opportunity to reach a finely targetted audience advertise@mumsinspain.com
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Thursday, 25 September 2008
First Trimester Facts from a Midwife in Spain
Congratulations if you have just found out you are pregnant! Now is the time to start planning ahead. This information is to help you make the early choices, which include personal decisions and some changes to your lifestyle which benefit both you and your developing baby.
You can address the following issues immediately you have a positive test. Start taking Folic Acid 400mcg daily, if not already doing so. This is to reduce the risk of Spina Bifida and related problems (neural tube defects) in your new baby.
It can be bought over the counter in any Farmacia. The most recent research also recommends:- stopping smoking, cutting out alcohol and reducing your caffeine intake – found in chocolate, coca cola & tea, as well as, coffee! Soft cheeses, unpasteurised dairy products, pates and uncooked smoked fish or meat products are not to be eaten by pregnant women. They may carry the risk of an infection, LISTERIA, which can be harmful to your developing baby. If you are a cat lover or avid gardener you need to take precautions against the organism causing TOXOPLASMOSIS. Cat litter and garden soil are the most common sources of infection so leave the litter tray to someone else, wear gloves in the garden and thoroughly wash hands afterwards. This infection also effects the developing baby.
Tiredness is common in the first 12 weeks. You may consider moderating your exercise regimen if you regularly keep fit. You will have more energy after 12-14 weeks but high impact sport eg; aerobics, skiing, horse riding are usually avoided throughout pregnancy. If you are a frequent airline traveller you may think about flying less just now, particularly if you have had problems early on, in a previous pregnancy. It is also advisable to avoid hot baths including thermal pools & jacuzzis found in Spas. This may all sound like quite a change, but in fact these measures will all have a positive impact on your pregnancy.
The next issue to consider is who is going to care for you over the next 8 months or so? You are not sick in the conventional way, but it is advisable to be seen and monitored throughout your pregnancy.Your choices include:-
1. the care in the public social security system (SSS)
2. an independent midwife
3. an Obstetrician covered by a private healthcare plan
4. an Obstetrician whom you pay directly
5. You can also consider a mix of these - being seen both by a midwife and/or private and public Doctors simultaneously.
Many women are unsure of where they will give birth until quite late in pregnancy in Spain. You do not ‘book’ into a public hospital ahead of time, as in other countries. This is accepted practice – as you now have the right to choose which public hospital you will have your baby in.
The role of the midwife in ante-natal care in Spain varies between centro de saluds, (local health centre) but principally it involves the 1st ‘booking’ visit, visits at the later stages in pregnancy and running ante-natal classes. This is quite different to practice in other countries. They then see you when baby is about 5 days old, but in the health centre rather than in your home. They either work in the centro de saluds or in the hospitals but do not inter-change as the ‘systems’ are separate, again, unlike elsewhere There are a few UK & other EU registered Midwives living on the Costa del Sol & throughout Spain. For the most part they work independently although some are employed in the Spanish state system.
You need to be registered with a GP in your centro de salud once paying into the SSS in Spain. This entitles you to avail of services in that centre and this is where you make the first appointment with the midwife or ‘matrona’. If you are not paying into the SSS but have been contributing in the UK, or any other EU country, you may be eligible for full care for up to 1-2years by applying for it through the National Insurance HQ in the UK, or the equivalent office in your EU country. The EU Healthcard (formally the E111) is for emergency care in any EU country and is not the correct way to access the Spanish healthcare system for long term care, such as is required or advisable in pregnancy.
Most private healthcare companies require previous membership to cover care and the birth of your baby. Many foreign or expat women here in Spain will choose a private Obstetrician by hearing about them from a friend or reading about them on-line. You need to be happy and feel confident in your choice. Perhaps write your important issues or questions down before your first appointment to help remember to ask them. Never feel you are unable to get another opinion or meet another Doctor.
Ideally make your 1st appointment for when you are approx 8-10 weeks in order to be in time to have the choice of having 1st trimester screening between 11-13 weeks. Your first visit will include taking a medical/surgical & gynaecological history and usually having blood taken for group, rhesus, haemaglobin, Hepatitis B, Rubella, Toxoplasmosis and HIV – as a general guide. Your weight/height ratio (BMI) will be checked along with your Blood Pressure. Your EDD (expecteded date of delivery or fecha de parto de probabilidad, in Spanish) will be confirmed by doing a ‘dating’ ultrasound scan. It is recommended that your Tetanus cover is updated if required.
Antenatal screening is then offered to women in order to give them the possible risk of their babies having certain abnormalities eg; Downs Syndrome or Spina Bifida. Remember 95% of babies are born healthy and normal. The results are only a possible risk - written down or expressed as 1:1000 or 1:300 for example - and if found to be high you will be offered more accurate and definitive Antenatal diagnostic tests.
NOTE This is a general guide and individual women may have specific needs that require different care or screening. Personalised information can be obtained from your Midwife or Obstetrician.
Anne Halpenny has lived in Spain since 1993 and has worked in St Bernard’s Gibraltar & continues in the Hospital Costa del Sol, Marbella. She organises Antenatal classes in English & provides support for new parents, before & after the birth of their baby.
Contact her www.irishmidwife.com or 630 231 037 or read more about her classes on www.mumsinspain.com/forum
You can address the following issues immediately you have a positive test. Start taking Folic Acid 400mcg daily, if not already doing so. This is to reduce the risk of Spina Bifida and related problems (neural tube defects) in your new baby.
It can be bought over the counter in any Farmacia. The most recent research also recommends:- stopping smoking, cutting out alcohol and reducing your caffeine intake – found in chocolate, coca cola & tea, as well as, coffee! Soft cheeses, unpasteurised dairy products, pates and uncooked smoked fish or meat products are not to be eaten by pregnant women. They may carry the risk of an infection, LISTERIA, which can be harmful to your developing baby. If you are a cat lover or avid gardener you need to take precautions against the organism causing TOXOPLASMOSIS. Cat litter and garden soil are the most common sources of infection so leave the litter tray to someone else, wear gloves in the garden and thoroughly wash hands afterwards. This infection also effects the developing baby.
Tiredness is common in the first 12 weeks. You may consider moderating your exercise regimen if you regularly keep fit. You will have more energy after 12-14 weeks but high impact sport eg; aerobics, skiing, horse riding are usually avoided throughout pregnancy. If you are a frequent airline traveller you may think about flying less just now, particularly if you have had problems early on, in a previous pregnancy. It is also advisable to avoid hot baths including thermal pools & jacuzzis found in Spas. This may all sound like quite a change, but in fact these measures will all have a positive impact on your pregnancy.
The next issue to consider is who is going to care for you over the next 8 months or so? You are not sick in the conventional way, but it is advisable to be seen and monitored throughout your pregnancy.Your choices include:-
1. the care in the public social security system (SSS)
2. an independent midwife
3. an Obstetrician covered by a private healthcare plan
4. an Obstetrician whom you pay directly
5. You can also consider a mix of these - being seen both by a midwife and/or private and public Doctors simultaneously.
Many women are unsure of where they will give birth until quite late in pregnancy in Spain. You do not ‘book’ into a public hospital ahead of time, as in other countries. This is accepted practice – as you now have the right to choose which public hospital you will have your baby in.
The role of the midwife in ante-natal care in Spain varies between centro de saluds, (local health centre) but principally it involves the 1st ‘booking’ visit, visits at the later stages in pregnancy and running ante-natal classes. This is quite different to practice in other countries. They then see you when baby is about 5 days old, but in the health centre rather than in your home. They either work in the centro de saluds or in the hospitals but do not inter-change as the ‘systems’ are separate, again, unlike elsewhere There are a few UK & other EU registered Midwives living on the Costa del Sol & throughout Spain. For the most part they work independently although some are employed in the Spanish state system.
You need to be registered with a GP in your centro de salud once paying into the SSS in Spain. This entitles you to avail of services in that centre and this is where you make the first appointment with the midwife or ‘matrona’. If you are not paying into the SSS but have been contributing in the UK, or any other EU country, you may be eligible for full care for up to 1-2years by applying for it through the National Insurance HQ in the UK, or the equivalent office in your EU country. The EU Healthcard (formally the E111) is for emergency care in any EU country and is not the correct way to access the Spanish healthcare system for long term care, such as is required or advisable in pregnancy.
Most private healthcare companies require previous membership to cover care and the birth of your baby. Many foreign or expat women here in Spain will choose a private Obstetrician by hearing about them from a friend or reading about them on-line. You need to be happy and feel confident in your choice. Perhaps write your important issues or questions down before your first appointment to help remember to ask them. Never feel you are unable to get another opinion or meet another Doctor.
Ideally make your 1st appointment for when you are approx 8-10 weeks in order to be in time to have the choice of having 1st trimester screening between 11-13 weeks. Your first visit will include taking a medical/surgical & gynaecological history and usually having blood taken for group, rhesus, haemaglobin, Hepatitis B, Rubella, Toxoplasmosis and HIV – as a general guide. Your weight/height ratio (BMI) will be checked along with your Blood Pressure. Your EDD (expecteded date of delivery or fecha de parto de probabilidad, in Spanish) will be confirmed by doing a ‘dating’ ultrasound scan. It is recommended that your Tetanus cover is updated if required.
Antenatal screening is then offered to women in order to give them the possible risk of their babies having certain abnormalities eg; Downs Syndrome or Spina Bifida. Remember 95% of babies are born healthy and normal. The results are only a possible risk - written down or expressed as 1:1000 or 1:300 for example - and if found to be high you will be offered more accurate and definitive Antenatal diagnostic tests.
NOTE This is a general guide and individual women may have specific needs that require different care or screening. Personalised information can be obtained from your Midwife or Obstetrician.
Anne Halpenny has lived in Spain since 1993 and has worked in St Bernard’s Gibraltar & continues in the Hospital Costa del Sol, Marbella. She organises Antenatal classes in English & provides support for new parents, before & after the birth of their baby.
Contact her www.irishmidwife.com or 630 231 037 or read more about her classes on www.mumsinspain.com/forum
Read more!
Sunday, 14 September 2008
Moving to Spain with children
Embarking on a new life in a foreign country is a major step for anyone. It takes a good deal of nerve, boundless enthusiasm and an unswerving determination to overcome the inevitable obstacles. If you're making the "big move" with children, you're going to need all these qualities by the bucket load!
Over the last two decades an increasing number of families from northern European countries have set up home in Spain. And for many, the move has turned out to be the best decision they ever made. They left behind an inclement climate, high stress levels, long working hours and streets too unsafe for their kids to play in. .
In their new promised land they found year-round sunshine, a laid back lifestyle and friendly towns untainted by the weekend violence of binge drinking teenagers. But not all families find their Utopia in the Mediterranean sunshine. For many the upheaval of leaving their native land and adjusting to a completely different way of life proves too much to cope with and they return home wiser for the experience (and usually considerably poorer!) If you're considering moving to Spain with children, make sure you're aware of all the common problems and pitfalls which face foreign families trying to start afresh in a new country.
As a rule of thumb, the younger your children are the more likely they are to settle abroad and adjust to all the sudden changes in their lives. Young kids can adapt quickly and easily to almost any change of circumstances as long as they're at the centre of a loving, secure family. Pre-school children pick up a new language in no time, they make new friends quickly and are likely to adapt easily to the new climate and different routine.
The older your children are when you move, the more likely they are to suffer with problems such as homesickness, isolation and feelings of inadequacy at school. No matter how loving and supportive you are as parents, teenagers are likely to find it extremely difficult to settle into a Spanish school especially if they're not fluent in the language from day one. So you'll need to consider whether you can afford private education within an international school. And if you can, you'll obviously need to do some thorough research into where the reputable schools are, what they charge and what they offer.
Getting children a place in a state run Spanish school is normally a straight forward affair for EU citizens - you can get your child in school almost immediately, it's free and you don't need to wait for a resident's permit ("residencia"). Some of the more popular schools have a waiting list but the local authorities have a responsibility to find an alternative school if necessary. In areas with large ex-pat communities, many Spanish schools provide special language coaching for newly arrived foreign children for the first few weeks.
If you plan to send your children to a Spanish school, it's important that you master the language yourself so that you can be fully involved in their education, progress and any problems that may arise. And don't forget that some areas of Spain, such as the Valencian region and Catalonia, have their own local language which is predominant in many state schools.
Brace yourself for minor hiccups and probably a few serious setbacks in the first few months. When anything goes wrong in your child's life during that initial period, he or she is likely to wail: "I want to go home!"
Be patient. It may take a year or two before your child starts thinking of Spain as home.
Read more!
Over the last two decades an increasing number of families from northern European countries have set up home in Spain. And for many, the move has turned out to be the best decision they ever made. They left behind an inclement climate, high stress levels, long working hours and streets too unsafe for their kids to play in. .
In their new promised land they found year-round sunshine, a laid back lifestyle and friendly towns untainted by the weekend violence of binge drinking teenagers. But not all families find their Utopia in the Mediterranean sunshine. For many the upheaval of leaving their native land and adjusting to a completely different way of life proves too much to cope with and they return home wiser for the experience (and usually considerably poorer!) If you're considering moving to Spain with children, make sure you're aware of all the common problems and pitfalls which face foreign families trying to start afresh in a new country.
As a rule of thumb, the younger your children are the more likely they are to settle abroad and adjust to all the sudden changes in their lives. Young kids can adapt quickly and easily to almost any change of circumstances as long as they're at the centre of a loving, secure family. Pre-school children pick up a new language in no time, they make new friends quickly and are likely to adapt easily to the new climate and different routine.
The older your children are when you move, the more likely they are to suffer with problems such as homesickness, isolation and feelings of inadequacy at school. No matter how loving and supportive you are as parents, teenagers are likely to find it extremely difficult to settle into a Spanish school especially if they're not fluent in the language from day one. So you'll need to consider whether you can afford private education within an international school. And if you can, you'll obviously need to do some thorough research into where the reputable schools are, what they charge and what they offer.
Getting children a place in a state run Spanish school is normally a straight forward affair for EU citizens - you can get your child in school almost immediately, it's free and you don't need to wait for a resident's permit ("residencia"). Some of the more popular schools have a waiting list but the local authorities have a responsibility to find an alternative school if necessary. In areas with large ex-pat communities, many Spanish schools provide special language coaching for newly arrived foreign children for the first few weeks.
If you plan to send your children to a Spanish school, it's important that you master the language yourself so that you can be fully involved in their education, progress and any problems that may arise. And don't forget that some areas of Spain, such as the Valencian region and Catalonia, have their own local language which is predominant in many state schools.
Brace yourself for minor hiccups and probably a few serious setbacks in the first few months. When anything goes wrong in your child's life during that initial period, he or she is likely to wail: "I want to go home!"
Be patient. It may take a year or two before your child starts thinking of Spain as home.
Read more!
10 steps to potty training!
My little boy is going to be 2 in a couple of weeks and is constantly ripping off his nappy and randomly weeing all over the place! I have bought him a potty and have gently been encouraging him to use it.......he's getting there! Here are perhaps some good tips for anyone else in the same boat!.
Although there are no hard and fast rules, these tips should help make the journey from nappy to potty more smooth. Remember, however, that accidents are inevitable at first – so don’t be angry or make a fuss. If, however, your toddler shows any signs of distress about potty training, or has lots of accidents, stop for a week or more before trying again.
TOP 10 WAYS TO POTTY TRAIN
1 Make your purchase
From around 18 months onwards, buy a comfortable, broad-based potty. Let him sit on it for fun now and again – before bath time is a good time to try. Tell him what it’s for, and if he does anything in it, praise him. If he’s not happy, wait a few days and try again.
2 Choose a pot spot
Decide on a place to keep the potty so that he gets used to where it’s kept, and when you think he’s ready, increase his number of daily visits. Every time he sits on it, remind him what you hope he’ll do on it from time to time, and always praise him if he does something.
3 Time it right
Continue with these occasional sessions. If your child does a poo at more or less the same time every day, get him to sit on the potty at that time, explaining and reminding him what it’s for. If his habits aren’t regular, watch out for the signs that he is about to ‘go’ (reddening face, concentrated look, standing still) and quickly put him on the potty.
4 Bear his bottom
Leave his nappy off from time to time. Try this one morning or afternoon when you’re at home, and tell him it’s because he is learning how to use the potty. Sit him on the potty now and then. He may wet or dirty lots of pairs of pants without using the potty - if so, go back to steps 2 and 3, and wait a few days before trying again.
5 Ask him nicely
Start asking him if he needs the potty - but don’t nag! He may sometimes refuse and then
promptly wet his pants. If this is the case, don’t criticise. Help to increase his sense of independence by reducing the number of times you decide to put him on the potty - your aim is to help him recognise the signals for himself.
6 Skip to the loo
Once he’s comfortable with the potty and you think he understands what it’s for, you can start to encourage him to use the toilet. To make sure he feels comfortable and safe on the loo, buy him a special trainer seat and explain to him that using the loo is what grown-ups do (he’s probably seen you on it enough times!).
7 Be prepared
Put him on the potty or toilet before you go out. It'll take time for him to learn to urinate at will without having first felt the urge to go, so be patient with him.
8 Make allowances
Gradually leave your child nappy-free for longer, more frequent periods. You might want to use disposable trainer pants instead, especially when you’re away from home or when you don’t know if there’ll be a toilet you can get to quickly. These absorb accidents but can also be pulled up and down like ordinary pants. Accidents are unavoidable: try to be sympathetic rather than irritated!
9 Relinquish the power
Let your child use the loo more often in preference to the potty, and allow him to decide for himself more and more often when he wants to use it. Try to keep your reminders to an absolute minimum.
10 Bye-bye nappies!
When he is clean and dry most days, use nappies only at night. He'll probably still have a few accidents, but keep on persevering. Remember, he'll still need help from you with the more advanced skills of bottom-wiping and dealing with zips and buttons.
Good Luck!
Read more!
Although there are no hard and fast rules, these tips should help make the journey from nappy to potty more smooth. Remember, however, that accidents are inevitable at first – so don’t be angry or make a fuss. If, however, your toddler shows any signs of distress about potty training, or has lots of accidents, stop for a week or more before trying again.
TOP 10 WAYS TO POTTY TRAIN
1 Make your purchase
From around 18 months onwards, buy a comfortable, broad-based potty. Let him sit on it for fun now and again – before bath time is a good time to try. Tell him what it’s for, and if he does anything in it, praise him. If he’s not happy, wait a few days and try again.
2 Choose a pot spot
Decide on a place to keep the potty so that he gets used to where it’s kept, and when you think he’s ready, increase his number of daily visits. Every time he sits on it, remind him what you hope he’ll do on it from time to time, and always praise him if he does something.
3 Time it right
Continue with these occasional sessions. If your child does a poo at more or less the same time every day, get him to sit on the potty at that time, explaining and reminding him what it’s for. If his habits aren’t regular, watch out for the signs that he is about to ‘go’ (reddening face, concentrated look, standing still) and quickly put him on the potty.
4 Bear his bottom
Leave his nappy off from time to time. Try this one morning or afternoon when you’re at home, and tell him it’s because he is learning how to use the potty. Sit him on the potty now and then. He may wet or dirty lots of pairs of pants without using the potty - if so, go back to steps 2 and 3, and wait a few days before trying again.
5 Ask him nicely
Start asking him if he needs the potty - but don’t nag! He may sometimes refuse and then
promptly wet his pants. If this is the case, don’t criticise. Help to increase his sense of independence by reducing the number of times you decide to put him on the potty - your aim is to help him recognise the signals for himself.
6 Skip to the loo
Once he’s comfortable with the potty and you think he understands what it’s for, you can start to encourage him to use the toilet. To make sure he feels comfortable and safe on the loo, buy him a special trainer seat and explain to him that using the loo is what grown-ups do (he’s probably seen you on it enough times!).
7 Be prepared
Put him on the potty or toilet before you go out. It'll take time for him to learn to urinate at will without having first felt the urge to go, so be patient with him.
8 Make allowances
Gradually leave your child nappy-free for longer, more frequent periods. You might want to use disposable trainer pants instead, especially when you’re away from home or when you don’t know if there’ll be a toilet you can get to quickly. These absorb accidents but can also be pulled up and down like ordinary pants. Accidents are unavoidable: try to be sympathetic rather than irritated!
9 Relinquish the power
Let your child use the loo more often in preference to the potty, and allow him to decide for himself more and more often when he wants to use it. Try to keep your reminders to an absolute minimum.
10 Bye-bye nappies!
When he is clean and dry most days, use nappies only at night. He'll probably still have a few accidents, but keep on persevering. Remember, he'll still need help from you with the more advanced skills of bottom-wiping and dealing with zips and buttons.
Good Luck!
Read more!
Postnatal Depression Support Network
Postnatal Depression or PND as it is known, is a very common condition that can occur after childbirth. It affects up to 15% of all new mothers. It is more likely you may suffer from PND if you have a past history of depression, have undergone big life changes during pregnancy, are lacking support at home, if the baby was unplanned or unwanted, the baby has health problems but, sometimes, PND arrives unexpectedly and none of these factors seem to have a bearing.
Ultimately, the stress and responsibility of motherhood may be enough for some women to feel this way. The important thing is to talk to somebody about how you are feeling.
Symptoms of postnatal depression
The symptoms are very similar to other types of depression, i.e apathy or feeling constantly tired and unable to enjoy anything, sleeping too much, lack of interest in anything, overwhelming feelings of sadness or despair, anxiety, compulsions (like constantly cleaning or washing your hands repeatedly), being unable to concentrate, feeling irritable, and excessive crying.
In addition to these feelings, new mothers suffering with PND may experience feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness and feeling completely unable to cope with the demanding task of being a mother to a new baby. The reality of life with a newborn is often a shock to first-time mothers and can create very negative feelings in a woman. Sleep and appetite are often affected in a detrimental fashion, as is learning to take care of another person who is completely reliant upon you; this can be a daunting and overwhelming period of time.
Anxiety is another very common symptom; the fear of something harmful happening to your baby can make the mother feel tense and tearful. Frightening panic attacks, that leave the mother short of breath and feeling as if something terrible is about to happen, are also common.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms or feel you are unable to cope you must seek medical advice. This does NOT mean you are a bad mother.
Don't feel like you're alone. Post a comment on our forums and talk to other mums who may have been through a similar experience. We have a support network for Mums who think they may be suffering from some form of depression with a resident counsellor, Roxanne Claude, on hand to answer any questions.
www.mumsinspain.com/forum
Read more!
Ultimately, the stress and responsibility of motherhood may be enough for some women to feel this way. The important thing is to talk to somebody about how you are feeling.
Symptoms of postnatal depression
The symptoms are very similar to other types of depression, i.e apathy or feeling constantly tired and unable to enjoy anything, sleeping too much, lack of interest in anything, overwhelming feelings of sadness or despair, anxiety, compulsions (like constantly cleaning or washing your hands repeatedly), being unable to concentrate, feeling irritable, and excessive crying.
In addition to these feelings, new mothers suffering with PND may experience feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness and feeling completely unable to cope with the demanding task of being a mother to a new baby. The reality of life with a newborn is often a shock to first-time mothers and can create very negative feelings in a woman. Sleep and appetite are often affected in a detrimental fashion, as is learning to take care of another person who is completely reliant upon you; this can be a daunting and overwhelming period of time.
Anxiety is another very common symptom; the fear of something harmful happening to your baby can make the mother feel tense and tearful. Frightening panic attacks, that leave the mother short of breath and feeling as if something terrible is about to happen, are also common.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms or feel you are unable to cope you must seek medical advice. This does NOT mean you are a bad mother.
Don't feel like you're alone. Post a comment on our forums and talk to other mums who may have been through a similar experience. We have a support network for Mums who think they may be suffering from some form of depression with a resident counsellor, Roxanne Claude, on hand to answer any questions.
www.mumsinspain.com/forum
Read more!
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