How To Find The Right Egg Donor

Posted on October 20, 2014 by Frostie

Choosing to build a family using egg donation requires careful consideration.

Egg donation can be a wonderful option, but you will need to take the time to explore the many complex issues and feelings involved in selecting a donor. The characteristics you desire in a donor will be unique to you and based on your personal preferences, and while there is no right or wrong way to go about the selection process, you may wish to keep the following factors in mind.

Anonymous Vs Known donors

The first decision you will need to consider is whether you want your egg to come from an anonymous or known donor.

An anonymous egg donor is a donor found through an egg donor database. Such a donor will have chosen not to reveal their identity to you. Using an anonymous donor will enable you to clearly define your relationship with the donor and will grant you the chance to source a donated egg in confidence.

However, if you choose to tell your child that they were the product of an egg donation, they will be able to use the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) register to find out identifying information such as the donor’s name, address and date of birth once they turn 16.  A known egg donor, on the other hand, is a donor who has chosen to reveal their identity to you. For example, she may be a friend or relative, or someone you have found through an online connection service. You may prefer to use a known donor because you will provide your child with the opportunity to form a relationship your egg donor. However, you may find it difficult to define the donor’s role in your child’s life.

  Physical Characteristics

One of the most important considerations to make when choosing a donor is whether your chosen donor’s physical appearance is similar to your own. If you and your partner have brown eyes and dark hair, then finding those qualities in an egg donor may be of the utmost importance to you. This is why in many cases couple’s will contact a family member so that the child will have genetic qualities of the woman.

  Medical History

When reviewing your shortlisted egg donor profiles, it is essential to evaluate their past and present history of physical and mental illnesses.

You will also need to consider whether you wish to match the blood type of your donor with your own. If you chose a donor with the same blood type, you will be able to donate blood to your child should the need ever arise.

Personality  

In addition to providing you with information on donors’ physical traits and medical histories, fertility clinics can also help you to gain an insight into donors’ personalities and backgrounds.

Whilst you should read this information with care and choose a donor based on the traits and characteristics that are important to you, it is essential to remember that the way in which you bring up your child may have a greater influence on their personality than the genes they have inherited from your chosen donor.

Of course, if you use a known donor you have a chance to meet them personally and get a feel for their characteristics up close.

  Location  

Once you have narrowed down your search for a donor, location may become an important consideration. If you intend to involve the donor in your child’s life, you may wish to choose a donor from your locality for ease of travelling to meet with the donor. This will also help throughout the process of trying to get pregnant if your donor is nearby.

  Where To Look For The Right Donor

Egg donations are available on the NHS and through private clinics. The Human Fertilisation Embryology Authority (HFEA), which licenses clinics, recommends that you take into account location and success rates when choosing a suitable clinic.

It is important to realise, however, that the waiting lists for egg donation vary widely, and many opt to use online connection services to meet and get to know an egg donor before beginning the IVF process.  Choosing the right donor is a big decision that requires careful thought and consideration. Whilst it is perfectly acceptable to prioritise the characteristics that are important to you, it is important to trust your intuition, too. Your maternal instincts should play a key role in the process and they will help you to find a donor who will provide you with the child you have always wanted.

Author bio:

This post was written by Franz SOF, Founder at CoParents.co.uk – a service which aims to connect men, women and couples who are looking to have a child through co-parenting, sperm donation and surrogacy.

Kelly’s of Cornwall Banoffee Pie Ice Cream

Posted on October 7, 2014 by Frostie

Ingredients:

100g butter, melted

200g digestive biscuits

4 bananas

Kelly’s of Cornwall Clotted Cream ice cream or Kelly’s Cornish Dairy Vanilla ice cream

Jaffa Cake mini rolls

Kelly’s of Cornwall Clotted Cream and Honeycomb ice cream

Method:

Line a cake tin with cling film.
Bash the biscuits to make crumbs and mix with the melted butter.
Push the crumb mixture into the cake tin to make a base.
Chop the bananas into slices and use to cover the biscuit base.
Cover the bananas with a layer of Kelly’s of Cornwall Clotted Cream Vanilla ice cream.
Chop the Jaffa Cake rolls into slices and cover the ice cream.
Finish off with a layer of Kelly’s Clotted Cream and Honeycomb ice cream.
Place the tin in the freezer for a couple of hours and then serve.

This recipe has been created by Kelly’s of Cornwall with Alison Maclean, blogger of Fairy dust and Dragons as part of Kelly’s Creative Kids in the Kitchen 2014 campaign. To see Alison’s blog please visit http://www.dragonsandfairydust.co.uk

The Benefits of a Vegan Pregnancy

Posted on October 6, 2014 by Frostie

All essential vitamins and minerals can easily be found in a wide variety of vegan foods, including green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, lentils, pulses, beans, soy, whole grains and flax. So there is no need to worry about how to get enough protein, calcium, iron, omega-3 fatty acids or vitamin D. The only exception is vitamin B₁₂, which can be easily supplemented.

Actors Alicia Silverstone and Emily Deschanel have both had vegan pregnancies. Alicia says, “All of the vegan pregnancies I have witnessed have been way smoother than those of my non-vegan friends. … From my point of view, the more vegan you are, the more healthy you are and that makes your pregnancy go more easily and helps your baby to be super duper healthy!”

Ward off morning sickness: Morning sickness is one of the least fun aspects of pregnancy, and interestingly enough, a vegan diet during pregnancy may alleviate some of those symptoms. Some studies have connected a diet high in meat and dairy with more severe symptoms of morning sickness. The science is this: Morning sickness is the body’s natural attempt to protect the fetus from unhealthy substances, physically clearing those substances (and the food that contains them) out of the mother’s body. Many of the chemicals that are cleared out most commonly come from meat and dairy products, because these products are at a higher risk for contamination. Thus, eating a vegan diet (ideally organic) may reduce or totally eliminate the symptoms of morning sickness. Unlike meat and dairy product, plants can help to rid the body of toxins, ultimately providing the fetus with lower amounts of unhealthy chemicals that we consume in our food.
In addition, a vegan diet ensures that the mother is not consuming the foods that are commonly known to be harmful for fetuses, including fish and seafood, deli meats, and unpasteurized dairy products. Each of these can put a fetus at risk for birth defects, and eating a vegan diet guarantees that none will be an issue.

A healthier, happier you: A vegan diet is great for your health! According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, vegans are less likely to develop heart disease, cancer, diabetes, or high blood pressure than meat-eaters are. Vegans get all the nutrients that they need to be healthy, such as plant protein, fiber, and minerals, without all the nasty stuff in meat that slows you down and makes you sick, such as cholesterol and saturated animal fat.

It’s the best way to help animals: Every vegan saves the lives of countless animals each year. There is simply no easier way to help animals and prevent suffering than by choosing vegan foods over meat, eggs, and dairy products.

If you are considering making the switch to a vegan diet- please visit peta.org.uk where you can order a free vegan starter kit and find out more on how to have a healthy and happy vegan pregnancy.

PETA supporter and vegan mum, Kimberley Brewser says:

There was no doubt in my mind that a vegan pregnancy was what was best for me and, more importantly, my precious bundle.

Apart from my initial morning sickness, I thoroughly enjoyed my pregnancy. I’ve never felt better inside and out.

For any food that I craved, there was a vegan alternative, so I never felt that I was missing out. I always made sure that I had my favourite foods in the house if I had a craving. I ate very well.

While some of my pregnant friends suffered with low iron levels and high blood pressure, my iron levels were high and my blood pressure was fantastic throughout.

I’m a dancer and continued to perform at shows and dance throughout my pregnancy. I had so much energy. I was dancing four days before I gave birth.

Hadley was a healthy 7 lbs, 11 ozs when he was born. Now at 15 months, he continues to thrive on a healthy, varied and colourful vegan diet. He’s a happy, healthy, beautiful little boy.

Would I recommend a vegan diet to expectant mothers? Definitely!

11 Top Tips for Looking after Your Children’s Teeth

Posted on October 2, 2014 by Frostie

Our children’s health is extremely important to us and we all want to ensure that their teeth and gums stay healthy. Children’s dental hygiene can be confusing and with children developing new teeth at a rapid rate, it can be a tricky to determine the best hygiene solutions for them. There are lots of simple things you can adopt into your child’s everyday routine that will make a big difference to their oral health, putting them in good stead for the future. Here, Sameer Patel, Clinical Director at award-winning, highly specialist dental and orthodontics practice, elleven (www.ellevendental.com), offers his top tips on how to look after your children’s teeth…

Brushing- Brushing teeth removes stains, plaque and bacteria on the teeth and gums, plus toothpaste that contains fluoride will help keep the enamel in the teeth strong. Make sure your children brush their teeth twice a day and change their toothbrush at least every two to three months. When teaching your children how to brush their teeth, try showing them in front of a mirror so they can see the areas they are brushing and the technique used. Your child should be brushing in a circular motion cleaning the gum and the tooth. Be careful not to use the brush too hard to ensure you don’t wear away the gum.

Flossing- Many parents are unsure as to when a child should start flossing their teeth but the answer is simple. As soon as two of your children’s teeth touch they should begin flossing. Make sure that you practice the flossing technique with them to ensure effective plaque removal, going deep in between the teeth until they reach the gum and moving the floss either side of the tooth several times to dislodge any plaque.

Eat their way to healthy teeth– Dairy products are great for keeping the enamel in teeth strong. Enamel is very similar to bone and can be kept strong with calcium found in dairy so make sure they drink plenty of milk and eat lots of yoghurt to strengthen teeth from a young age.

Regular check-ups– Take your child to the dentist when they’re as young as possible and at least once by the time they’re two. This is so they become familiar with the environment and get to know the dentist. The dentist can help to prevent decay and identify any health problems at an early stage.

Water– This is the best drink possible for your children as it is pure and also helps wash away any bacteria from their mouth. Steer clear of fizzy drinks as these are full of sugar ad are harmful to teeth enamel. Also be aware of fruit juice as although you think it may be a healthy option for your children, it is full of sugar which in the long term will cause tooth decay.

Sugar– Everyone knows that sugar is bad for teeth but did you know that there is lots of hidden sugar in foods that are considered to be healthy? You may be surprised to hear that bread contains a lot of sugar as do yoghurts and ready meals. Always read the label on food packaging and look for alternatives with less sugar.

‘H’ for Hygiene – Regular hygienist appointments will help to maintain healthy teeth and gums. The hygienist will be able to give your children’s teeth a thorough clean, something of which they cannot achieve by brushing and flossing alone.

Healthy Snacks- When considering giving your child a snack you need to ensure that it is healthy and low in sugar. Try giving them plain popcorn as a snack as not only is it naturally low in fat, if eaten after a meal it can be very beneficial. The texture of the popcorn acts as natural toothbrush removing some of the harmful bacteria your child may have eaten during their meal.

Thumb sucking- Thumb sucking is very common habit for children but as their permanent teeth develop, sucking their thumb will cause the teeth to be pushed outwards, resulting in them needing to have orthodontic work. Try to encourage your children to stop as young as possible.

Milk before bed– You may be surprised but drinking milk before bed time is very bad for teeth. Although milk is great for growing bones and teeth, the sugars in milk will cause tooth decay as your child sleeps. The reason behind this is that your saliva glands stop working when you are asleep, resulting in your child saliva not able to break down the bacteria in their mouth.

Straighten up their smile- Did you know that straighter teeth are easier to keep clean reducing the risk of long term gum disease and dental decay? Not only is straighter teeth important for your child’s self-esteem, having straight teeth are also easier to clean and can will reduce the risk of gum disease and tooth decay. With the latest technology, your child now has several different brace options from lingual, invisalign and the traditional Damon braces.

Inspiring Women Awards 2015

Posted on September 29, 2014 by Keeley Watts

This month saw the launch of the 23rd Inspiring Women Awards at the Midland Hotel, Manchester.

The awards celebrate women across the North West in the following categories:

– Business Award

– Community Award

– Entrepreneur Award

– Inspirational Leadership in Arts and Culture

– Inspiring Young Woman Award (18-25)

– Nurturing Female (Company) Talent Award

The launch was hosted by founder Jacqueline Hughes-Lundy who introduced the sponsors for this year (including New Charter Housing Trust, Lancashire Life, Cheshire Life, Deloitte, Selfridges and Manchester Metropolitan University) and thanked them for their support of the event.

Nominations open tomorrow and will stay open until 27th March 2015 when three finalists will be chosen and invited to the Awards Ceremony which will take place at the beautiful Midland Hotel on 15th May 2015 where the winners will be announced. The Awards celebrate the most inspirational women in the North West who go about their daily lives often not realising what a real impact they are making nor how inspirational they are.

Last year saw Lawrence Llewellyn-Bowen present an award with Gregg Wallace attending the event in 2007. Keep an eye on the website for this years speakers, to nominate an inspirational woman you know and to book your tickets. It will be an event you don’t want to miss.

Jude Law Gets Immersed In Johnnie Walker Blue Label ‘Symphony In Blue’ Experience

Posted on September 18, 2014 by Corinne Tuddenham-Finn

Last night saw Johnnie Walker Blue Label, the leading luxury Blended Scotch Whisky, present Symphony In Blue – the world’s first theatrical, experiential, musical and artistic journey for guests to enjoy. This truly immersive experience was crafted by a star-studded team including Hamish Hamilton and Russell Thomas from Done+Dusted as well as culinary geniuses, Sam Bompas and Harry Parr from Bompas & Parr.
Symphony In Blue celebrated the heritage and craftsmanship behind Johnnie Walker Blue Label, as well as the journey that Johnnie Walker started nearly 200 years ago. This educational performance was staged at the magnificent Merchant Taylors’ Hall, home to over 1,000 years of history and located in the heart of London’s square mile.
Hosted by Johnnie Walker Master Blender Jim Beveridge, this one-of-a-kind event saw a special appearance by Jude Law, in addition to a host of VIPs and London influencers including Tamsin Egerton, Luke Treadaway, Donna Air, Morwenna Lytton Cobbold, Natalie Coyle and Alistair Guy.

Guests were welcomed on a 7-room odyssey of the senses inspired by the physical, architectural, social and gastronomic dimensions of Whisky. Among the experiences, guests entered the world’s first Whisky Weather system, a luxurious breathable cloud of JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL and after passing through the Ice Palace where an illuminated block of 10,000 year old ice awaited they witnessed the hand-charring of barrels with the use of Whisky flamethrowers.

Culinary geniuses Bompas & Parr created an exquisite banquet of mouth-watering dishes, each one uniquely crafted to celebrate and highlight the complex flavours found within Johnnie Walker Blue Label. Upon finishing the gourmet masterpiece served to guests seated at elaborately dressed long banquet tables, the duo revealed the hotly anticipated multi-sensory project they have been working on for over a year – the world’s first working Flavour Conductor; a one-of-a-kind musical instrument that brings an inimitable theatrical dimension to whisky tasting. The magnificent church organ built according to centuries of tradition combines a contemporary sound and light spectacular with the rich heritage of whisky blending, whilst each note of the instrument emphasizes the individual flavors that can be discovered in the Blue Label blend.

Following the feast, a unique, performance took place with dancers, musicians and actors, each embodying a chapter of the Johnnie Walker story and celebrating the flavor, history and heritage. The final scene took to the walls as breath-taking projections transported the guests into the center of the glass of a glass of whisky.

Jude Law, star or Johnnie Walker Blue Label’s short film ‘A Gentleman’s Wager’ closed the occasion by thanking guests and raising a glass to all with encouragement to ‘keep on walking’.

The guests were treated to Johnnie Walker Blue Label ‘Sun-Dried Rob Roy’ cocktails, Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve ‘East meets North’ punch, Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve ‘Flower’ cocktails and Johnnie Walker Blue Label perfect serve. The exquisite menu consisted of Stuffed Quails’ Eggs with Sumac, Chipotle and 24 Carat Gold, Foie Gras, Toasted Brioche, Johnnie Walker Blue Label Jelly, Poached Scottish Salmon and Lobster Roulade, sour cream and caviar sauce, Artichoke and Wild Mushroom Gratin, Stichelton, truffles and cream, Johnnie Walker Glazed, Slow Cooked Jacob’s Ladder, served on barley risotto, with a red wine reduction, Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve Marbled Jelly, spiced citrus jelly, candied orange peel, edible flowers and a treacle Tart served with Johnnie Waller Gold Label Reserve cream Chantilly.

Symphony in Blue, presented by Johnnie Walker Blue Label, is the world’s first theatrical, experiential, musical and artistic journey that sets out to celebrate the art and history of whisky. This immersive experience has been crafted by a star-studded team including Hamish Hamilton and Russell Thomas from Done+Dusted as well as culinary geniuses, Sam Bompas and Harry Parr from Bompas&Parr. The Symphony In Blue performance – inspired by the physical, social and gastronomic dimensions of Whisky – features extraordinary JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL-inspired installations, a theatrical meal and climatic spectacular finale. Confronted by a play of light, art, sound, extreme temperatures, gastronomy and performance, guests’ imagination and perception of flavour will be challenged and provoked through a host of experiences including; entering the world’s first Whisky Weather system, a luxurious breathable cloud of JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL and a rare opportunity to meet with Master Blender Jim Beveridge and craft a personalised Signature Blend drawn from the largest reserves of whisky in the world.

James Thompson, Global Managing Director of Diageo Reserve says: “JOHNNIE WALKER has continued to be the world’s best-selling Scotch Whisky and one of the most loved spirits brands in the world. At the heart of our brand is a deep commitment to innovation and a pioneering spirit, made tangible through our signature ‘Big, Bold Flavours’ drawn from the four corners of Scotland. With SYMPHONY IN BLUE, we elevate the understanding of JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL, our search for flavour and how we perfected the art of blending.”

JOHNNIE WALKER® BLUE LABEL™ is one of the pinnacle offerings from JOHNNIE WALKER.

Only sublime, rare whiskies at the pinnacle of perfection are used in the blending of JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL, with only 1 in 10,000 casks containing whisky of sufficient character to deliver its remarkably smooth signature taste. Each is hand selected by the JOHNNIE WALKER Master Blender himself, part of an unbroken lineage of Master Blenders stretching back over 190 years – it is an ultimate expression of whisky making today and an remarkable achievement for the modern era.

Presented in individually numbered bottles, it is reminiscent of the 19th century style of whiskies. The Master Blender uses his decades of experience to select some of the rarest casks from the JOHNNIE WALKER reserves for their quality, character and flavour to create the powerful, complex, smooth character of BLUE LABEL.

BLUE LABEL has a mellow, rounded nose, with a dry smokiness (a JOHNNIE WALKER signature flavour) mixing with raisin sweetness. It is best savoured with the palate cleansed and cooled by iced water. One sip reveals a velvety mouth-feel, then an explosion of flavour. At once you’ll discover hazelnuts, honey, rose petals, sherry and oranges. Subsequent sips reward you with more hidden secrets like kumquats, wispy aromatic smoke, sandalwood, tobacco, and dark chocolate.

DIAGEO is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits, beer and wine categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Buchanan’s, Windsor and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

The JOHNNIE WALKER and BLUE LABEL words, the Striding Figure device and associated logos are trade marks © John Walker & Sons 2014.

Chovgan Twilight Polo Gala – Inaugural Dinner

Posted on September 15, 2014 by Corinne Tuddenham-Finn

Last Wednesday saw 400 international guests from the worlds of fashion, art, music and the City, including The PNN Group’s Nasib Piriyev, Natalia Vodianova, Lindsay Lohan, Benny Higgins and Jack Guinness gather together to celebrate the inaugural Chovgan Twilight Polo Gala Dinner. This exclusive event took place at the renowned Ham Polo Club, only eight miles from Hyde Park Corner and the last remaining polo club in Greater London, in aid of War Child and The Naked Heart Foundation.

The event saw well-known players such as Pancho Marin Moreno and Ruki Baillieu play a high-octane game of polo by twilight (which resulted in a 6-4.5 win to Baku Guardians), before guests were seated for a sumptuous three-course gala dinner which consisted of aged parmesan with truffle honey, artichoke hearts and chargrilled peppers, tagliata of beef with a rocket, watercress and parmesan salad and meringue gelato cake with chocolate sauce and raspberries. Guests and VIPs alike enjoyed entertainment from the incredible magician Dynamo (including model and DJ Jack Guinness who was seen eagerly participating in one of Dynamo’s acts), followed by a live performance from electronic pop duo, The Alpines.

On the night, guests raised much needed funds for War Child and The Naked Heart Foundation through both a live and silent charity auction. Luxury, money-can’t-buy prizes and experiences included an original signed Damien Hirst spin painting, a stay at the Lux Belle Mare resort in Mauritius and a Lev Leviev Diamond bracelet. Throughout the evening guests enjoyed Laurenti Champagne and AIX Rosé, with luxury bars provided by the newly opened Café Kaizen, Hanover Square. VIP attendees included Nasib Piriyev, Princess Tamara Czartoryski, Natalia Vodianova, Lindsay Lohan, Dynamo, Jack Guinness, Amber Atherton, The Alpines, Ben Elliot, Tom Law, Anouska De Georgiou, Abby King, DJ Jakki Degg, Sol Campbell, Camilla Rutherford, Sabine Roemer and Benny Higgins.

Natalia Vodianova dazzled in a beautiful cream suit and trouser combination with snake-skin style Christian Louboutin shoes, whilst My Flash Trash jewellery designer Amber Atherton opted for a floor length Florence Bridge dress.

Nasib Piriyev, Co-Founder of The PNN Group said: “It was such a privilege to host the first Twilight Polo event of its kind, and to have so many wonderful guests join us for this special occasion – including representatives from the extremely worthwhile charities War Child and The Naked Heart Foundation. I hope everyone enjoyed the evening’s entertainment and, of course, the first Twilight Polo match of its kind, whilst also generously supporting these important causes.”

The all-important results:

– Winning Team – Baku Guardians

– Runners Up – PNN Group

– The Lalique Most Valuable Player Award, presented by Sol Campbell – Jack Baillieu (7)

– The Whale Gaming Best Playing Pony Award, presented by Princess Tamara Czartoryski – Poroto, owned and played by Charlie Pidgley

Chovgan Twilight Polo Gala is a private company created in 2014 in London, England, with the goal of integrating the sport of polo and luxury brands to raise money for nominated charities. The Chovgan Twilight Polo Gala is hosted by Princess Tamara Czartoryski, an event that has already attracted some of the UK’s leading polo players, all keen to lend their support to the fundraiser and annual gala. Celebrating the history of Polo, ‘Chovgan’ was one of the first forms of modern-day polo, a sport that was very popular in the Middle East centuries ago.

www.chovganpolo.com

PNN Group is a family business founded in 1993 by Nizami Piriyev and his son Nasib Piriyev. Within two decades it has grown into an international corporation, with business interests in 10 countries. Sectors that the Group operates in include Oil & Gas, Food & Retail, Luxury & Lifestyle, Finance & Consulting, and Arts & Media.

www.pnn-group.com

The Baku Guardians is an Azerbaijani polo team set up in 2014 and based in London, UK. The team is patronised by Nasib Piriyev and supported by the PNN Group. The players continue a tradition that began in Azerbaijan with the Chovgan game, the forerunner of modern polo. In May 2014, Baku Guardians took part in its first tournament – the British Royal Charity Polo Cup.

www.bakuguardians.com

Huntsman is Savile Row’s most established tailoring house, its team of cutters and tailors crafting the finest bespoke, made to measure and ready to wear tailoring by hand. Huntsman has a 160 year history of producing the finest suits, sports jackets, country and formal wear from the heart of Savile Row. The company’s team of cutters and tailors are at the top of their field and are amongst the industry’s finest craftsman. Our elegant and distinctive house style combined with the finest cloths from the UK and Italy ensure that the house produces consistently exceptional and beautiful clothing.

www.h-huntsman.com

“War Child believes no child should be the victim of war, and are the only international charity that focuses its work solely on children suffering the brutal effects of conflict. As the shocking news attests on a daily basis, children are too often hit hardest by conflict. War Child’s unique, challenging work saves the lives of the most vulnerable children offering them a lifeline and hope for the future. War Child’s programmes are focused on protecting children, helping them to gain an education and enabling children and their families to create their own opportunities for the years ahead.” Rob Williams, CEO, War Child.

www.warchild.org.uk

The Naked Heart Foundation is an international charity that was founded by supermodel and philanthropist Natalia Vodianova in 2004. Ten years on, the Foundation is one of the most prominent NGOs working in Russia. The organisation’s main goal is to end Russia’s long-standing tradition of placing children with special needs and learning disabilities in care homes and orphanages. The charity develops family support services across the country and builds inclusive play facilities to provide safe play environments for children of all abilities. To date, it has built more than 120 accessible play parks and playgrounds across Russia, it runs a Family Support Centre in Nizhny Novgorod and play libraries in Tula and Tver. The Naked Heart Foundation supports the projects of dozens of other Russian NGOs and runs a large-scale education project in Nizhny Novgorod. The charity also holds an annual International Forum for childcare professionals and carries out extensive advocacy work aimed at changing attitudes to disability in Russia.

www.nakedheart.org

Chovgan Twilight Polo’s Inaugural Gala was kindly sponsored by The PNN Group, Baku Guardians and Huntsman.

Why Mothers Stop Breastfeeding

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Frostie

It’s not your imagination– all babies go through a difficult period around the same age. Research by Dr. Frans Plooij Ph.D. and Dr. Hetty van de Rijt Ph.D., authors of The Wonder Weeks: How to Stimulate Your Baby’s Mental Development and Help Him Turn His 10 Predictable, Great, Fussy Phases Into Magical, has shown that babies make 10 major, predictable, age-linked changes – or leaps – during their first 20 months of their lives taking place around weeks 5, 8, 12, 19, 26, 37, 46, 55, 64 and 75. During this time, they will learn more than in any other time. With each leap comes a drastic change in your baby’s mental development, which not only affects his mood, his health, sleeping patterns and the “three C’s” (crying, clinging and crankiness) but also… babies drinking and comfort seeking habits. Unfortunately these Wonder Weeks are often a reason for moms who do not know about these wonder weeks, to stop breast-feeding their child.

With every new wonder week a baby gets a totally new perception of the world. Every Wonder Week is like waking up on a strange planet. A baby did not ask for this, did not see it coming, but suddenly this whole new world was there. What would you do? You would retreat to a well-known and safe place. For a baby that is mom. How would you do that? By literally clinging to your mom. Being one with her, holding on tight and the best way to do that would be via literally sucking yourself to your mom. This is where breast-feeding and Wonder Weeks meet. Whilst on the one hand Wonder weeks are in fact something good and signal progress in development, on the other hand, when the Wonder Weeks are misunderstood, they are often the reason moms give up breastfeeding.

“My daughter was crying so much that I was afraid something was terribly wrong. She wanted to breastfeed constantly. I took her to see the pediatrician, but he couldn’t find anything wrong with her. He said he just needed to get used to my milk and that many infants went through a similar crying phase at 5 weeks. I thought that is was a strange thing to say, because she hadn’t had any problems with my milk until then. Her cousin, who was the same age, kept crying, too, but he was being bottle-fed. When I told the doctor that, he pretended he hadn’t heard, I didn’t push the subject though. I found out about wonder weeks later on, but I keep on wondering why nobody told me about these wonder weeks earlier.” – Julitte’s mom, 5th week

Wonder Weeks and the milk doubting moms:

Wonder Weeks: One of the reasons mothers stop breastfeeding? As the baby gets more Clingy, Cries more and is more Cranky during a wonder week, many mothers start doubting themselves. Are they doing something wrong? If a baby wants to drink so often, does this mean they do not have enough milk? Or is their milk not good enough? Moms who know their baby is in a wonder week, don’t doubt themselves or their milk.

“Around the third wonder week my daughter suddenly started nursing less. After 5 minutes, she would start playing around with my nipple. After that had gone on for two weeks, I decided to start supplementing my milk with formula, but she wouldn’t have any of that either. This phase lasted 4 weeks. During that time I worried she would suffer from some kind of nutrition deficiency, especially when I saw my milk supply starting to diminish. But now she is drinking like she used to again, and my milk supply is as plentiful as ever. Now I know this is normal behavior during a wonder week. I never doubted my milk again since I know when these wonder weeks are.”
– Hannah’s mom, 19 th week.

Wonder Weeks and the exhausted moms:
Even the moms not doubting their milk sometimes give up breastfeeding. Simply because the impact of the leap on the behavior of their child is wearing them out. The moms that know about Wonder Weeks tend to be less exhausted as they know what is happening and that Wonder Weeks are actually a good thing.

Wonder Weeks and the mom of a six month old:
One of the most difficult leaps is the one of relationships, around six months after due date. The exact same time breast milk alone is not enough anymore and most parents start to give solid food as well. Mom is exhausted from the leap, doesn’t sleep or sleeps very poorly, while at the same time her child needs food. Just days after giving the first ‘meals’, the baby is in a much better mood. Often moms explain this whole sequence of events wrongly and seem to think their child was in need of other milk than theirs. While in fact the child just went through another leap and finished the leap when he turned six months.

Wonder Weeks and nipple cracks or abrasions:
Pain is, logically, one of the reasons moms want to stop feeding their child. When a child is in a Wonder Week he wants to drink many times more often than is normally the case. As this is one of the only times a baby is quiet, a mom doesn’t really pay as much attention to the feeding process as she normally would. Often resulting in wrong feeding positions, resulting in i.e. cracked nipples.

Making parents aware of Wonder weeks will enable parents to understand their baby’s behavior much better and will help many moms to continue feeding their child and to make sure these Wonder Weeks are not a reason to give up.

Dr. Frans Plooij Ph.D. and Dr. Hetty van de Rijt Ph.D. discovered the leap phenomenon while studying chimpanzee mother infant relationships in the Gombe National Park, Tanzania, East-Africa together with Jane Goodall. They are the authors of the book The Wonder Weeks: How to Stimulate Your Baby’s Mental Development and Help Him Turn His 10 Predictable, Great, Fussy Phases Into Magical

Dr. Frans Plooij Ph.D. is always willing to educate professionals about these Wonder weeks, or answer questions via Skype or email. He regularly has Skype sessions with moms around the world.

Frost Magazine

Books and Lifestyle

Category Archives: People