1. Autumn/Winter 2014
MIRACLE
PREMATURE BABY
DEFIES THE ODDS TO SURVIVE
NELL McANDREW
FAVOURITE BABY ITEMS
BABY HELMETS
DO THEY REALLY WORK?
Children’s Headaches
CRAFTS FOR KIDS
BECOMING A DAD
A DAD’S GUIDE TO PREGNANCY
Treating Children
with Botox
REAL LIFE STORY
USING STEM CELLS TO
GROW YOUR OWN ORGANS
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3. We know that becoming a parent is
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6. Exquisite casts of your children’s hands
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7.
8. FEATURE
FEATURES
18 Becoming a Dad
20 Top Ten: Lip Balms
22 Health: Urinary Tract Infections
26 Health: Using Stem Cells to
Grow your own Organs
28 Beauty: Add a touch of Sparkle
30 Fashion: The Maternity Blues
34 Health: Solving Teenagers’
Period Problems
38 Children’s Fashion:
Comic Strip Cool
44 Children’s Clubs
48 Health: Baby Helmets
50 Charity: Wellbeing of Women
52 Health: Children’s Headaches
61 Crafts for Kids
64 Fashion: Get Shirty
67 How to access Private out-of-hours
Care for your Child
68 Health: Treating Children
with Botox
76 Toys: A Walk on the Wildside
8 SPRING 2014 |
URINARY TRACT
INFECTIONS
WEEKEND GETAWAYS
AUTUMN
2014
COMIC STRIP COOL
BABY HELMETS
AUTUMN 2014 |
9. AUTUMN
2014
REGULARS
11 News
13 Listings
14 Practical Parenting with Marina Fogle:
| AUTUMN 2014 9
Weekend Getaways
17 My Favourite Baby Things: Nell McAndrews
22 What is Happening at Weeks Pregnancy
37 Parent Talk
40 Real Life Story:
Miracle Baby defies the odds to Survive
55 A Day in the Life of: Dr Adrian Lloyd Thomas,
Consultant Paediatric Anaesthetist
71 Nurture Loves
77 Contributors
SOLVING TEENAGERS
PERIOD PROBLEMS
BECOMING A DAD
TOYS: TAKE A WALK
ON THE WILDSIDE
TOP TEN LIP BALMS
11. NEWS
STRESS CAN
BE ‘CAUGHT’
| AUTUMN 2014 11
LIFESTYLE
REVERSED
DAMAGE CAUSED BY AN UNHEALTHY LIFESTYLE
can be reversed if you kick bad habits by the age
of 50, research claims. The study of 5,000 people,
published in the journal Circulation, found that giving
up smoking, improving diet, maintaining a healthy
weight and taking exercise in your 30s and 40s can
control and potentially even reverse the natural
progression of heart disease. However, scientists
warned that picking up extra bad habits as you get
older, will have a detrimental effect on the arteries.
STRESS CAN BE PASSED FROM PERSON TO
person just like a cold, claim researchers. A study by
American psychologists found that stress can be
‘caught’ from strangers through their tone of voice,
facial expressions, posture and even odour. 'To find
that in some people, some of the time, you can elicit
these responses just by sitting and watching someone
else under stress was somewhat surprising to us,'
said Tony Buchanan, Associate Professor from Saint
Louis University.
READING ALOUD
DOCTORS ARE ADVISING PARENTS TO READ
aloud to their children every day from birth to
help with brain development. The new policy from
the American Academy of Paediatrics is based on
growing evidence that crucial brain development
occurs during the first three years of life and
that reading to children, as well as talking and
singing, enhances vocabulary and other important
communication skills.
LACK OF
SLEEP
LACK OF SLEEP CAN CAUSE THE BRAIN TO
shrink, according to new research. A Singapore
study found the less older adults sleep, the faster
their brain ages and declines. However, other
research concluded that too much sleep in middle
age can be just as bad for you as not having
enough. A study of almost 9,000 people by the
University of Warwick found those aged 50 to 64
who slept for less than six hours a night or more
than eight had worse memories and decision-making
abilities. Seven hours sleep is thought
to be the optimum for adults.
12. THERE’S
A SECRET IN THE FOREST
this christmas
advanced booking essential
0207 434 3111
fatherchristmas@therainforestcafe.co.uk
20 shaftesbury avenue, london w1d 7eu
www.therainforestcafe.co.uk
www.facebook.com/rainforestcafelondon
@rainforestcafe
13. LISTINGS
| AUTUMN 2014 13
TOYS ARE WITHOUT DOUBT ONE OF CHILDREN’S MOST PRIZED
possessions. A new exhibition of portraits by Italian photographer
Gabriele Galimberti tells the story of 21 children and their toys from a
wide range of countries and backgrounds. The exhibition at the VA
Museum of Childhood, Cambridge Heath Road, London, E2 9PA,
runs until Sunday December 14 and is free. www.vam.ac.uk/moc
DELVE INTO THE MIND OF THE
world’s most infamous detective Sherlock
Holmes at a major new exhibition at the
Museum of London. The Man Who Never
Lived And Will Never Die asks searching
questions about who Sherlock Holmes
is and why he still conjures up such
enduring fascination. The exhibition, the
first on the detective since 1951, runs
from October 17 to April 12 2015.
Family tickets available.
www.museumoflondon.org.uk
THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE,
Covent Garden, opens its doors to families to
explore the building, its artists and the world
of opera and ballet. Sessions aimed at children
aged six and over include live make-up and
stage combat demonstrations, costume dressing
up and creative activities led by set designers,
and informal performances from Royal Ballet
dancers. Tickets, costing £5 for
adults, £3 for children, go on sale
roughly three months in advance.
www.roh.org.uk
TREAT YOUR CHILDREN TO A PERFORMANCE
of Hansel and Gretel at the Lyric Hammersmith
Theatre. With sumptuous music, film, puppets and
masks, this is a treat of a show as delicious as a
gingerbread house. The 75 minute performance by
the Horse + Bamboo Theatre is aimed at children
aged five to 11, with daytime shows on
February 6 and 7 2015. Tickets £8.
www.lyric.co.uk
14. WEEKEND FAMILY GETAWAYS
AS EVERY PARENT WILL ATTEST
to, travel with children often ends
up being more stressful and tiring
than a weekend at home. Packing
can take a week of planning and still
you manage to forget something
crucial, the journey quickly turns into
a cacophony of squabbling and, once
you finally get there, the children are
out of their comfort zone – the bed is
too small, the room too dark, the food
not right or the pool too cold. So for
a hotel to get it right for children is
extremely hard.
Ben and I had planned an indulgent
week without the children in South
Africa, something we try to do every
year. But, at the eleventh hour, this
had to be cancelled; Ben was needed
on a fishing trawler in the North Sea
before a month in Sochi for the Winter
Olympics. Before he went, he really
wanted to spend some quality time
with all of us so we decided to go
away for the weekend.
Chewton Glen lies at the edge of the
New Forest. It’s a convenient ninety
minute drive from London but actually
14 AUTUMN 2014 |
feels like a
destination.
I had been
obsessed
with this
folkloric
forest where wild ponies roam when
I was a child, and I knew it would
appeal to my little ones. We had
the added bonus of staying in a tree
house and, within days of announcing
this, our children had convinced
themselves we would be surrounded
by elves and pixies, and that baby
wild ponies would be sleeping in
their beds.
Using natural materials where possible
and glass, the treehouse embraces
its magnificent setting. Even on a
wet spring weekend, our treehouse
was our little cocoon from which we
could watch the rain drip off the trees,
water trickle by in the brook and, as
night fell, the owls hoot. While our
room was indulgent with 180 degree
windows, heated floors and a huge
bath, the children had a little attic
room, accessed by a ladder built into a
bookcase. Two little beds were tucked
into the eaves, and boxes of toys
awaited their arrival. That night
bedtime was a dream; no coercion
just two happy children, leaping
into their beds, excited for the
day ahead.
The next morning was one of pure
indulgence. The children joined us
in bed for cuddles and very soon
we heard the ‘elves’ delivering our
breakfast. We opened a little hatch
and there was a wicker hamper, full of
delicious breakfast goodies. We set
up a little picnic on our balcony and
talked about the magical creatures
that lived in the forest while devouring
warm croissants.
That day’s mission was to explore the
forest. Your imagination can run wild
with you here, so two hours passed
quickly as the children searched for
elves, pixies and baby ponies who
needed rescuing. We then went on
to the technicolour gardens at Exbury
which never fail to astound.
We returned just in time for
a swim before tea. An hour
splashing, jumping and swimming
in the light and airy indoor pool
finished the children off and they
practically fell into bed, allowing
me a rare, indulgent bath before
dinner at Vetivier, the hotel’s
renowned restaurant.
On Sunday morning, we explored
the grounds, the outdoor swimming
pool, play area and tree house before
the ‘elves’ delivered our picnic and
we headed off to the beach. In spite
of the winter storms, the beaches
remained spectacular and provided
plenty of flotsam and jetsam for
hours of exploring.
Salty, sandy, wind burnt and tired
we returned to our tree house with
heavy hearts for the children’s final
bath. The only protestations we had
that weekend came at the end when
they realised we had to leave our
forest utopia. But we promised we’d
return and, within five minutes of
leaving, they could no longer fight
sleep and we drove home listening to
the contented snores of two happy,
exhausted children.
Chewton Glen, New Milton,
Hampshire, BH25 6QS
www.chewtonglen.com
Room from £325 a night.
Our treehouse was our
little cocoon from which
we could watch the rain
drip off the trees, water
trickle by in the brook and,
as night fell, the owls hoot
15. | AUTUMN 2014 15
MARINA’S TIPS FOR PLANNING A
WEEKEND BREAK WITH YOUR CHILDREN
Be realistic about the journey. Around two hours is easy, any
more has the potential to become a nightmare. Also think
about the timing of your journey. Children sleep beautifully
in the car so try to tie it in with a good sleep. You might even
avoid rush hour this way.
Speak to the hotel beforehand to ask them what equipment
they can provide. If you can borrow a cot and high chair
you’ll have to pack less. Otherwise, I love the Phil and Teds
MeToo Clip on high chair that folds flat. philandteds.com
Check with the hotel about curtains in the room. If light
pours in through thin curtains at 5am waking your child,
your weekend will not be particularly restful. If you want to
play it safe, it’s worth investing in the Gro Anywhere Blackout
blind that attaches to any window. gro.co.uk
You never know when your child might develop a
temperature. Get into the habit of taking a small medical kit
with you when you travel including a thermometer, Calpol
and Nurofen.
With little children, ask the hotel about food. Some provide
puree menus or equipment to puree. Failing that, pack
plenty of pre-made pouches such as Ella’s Kitchen or Plum
Baby. If you’re storing food in your mini bar, remember
often those fridges are cool enough to cool drinks but not
for storing food or milk.
Depending on the age of your children, remember to pack
some toys. Think about what can entertain them for a long
time but isn’t too cumbersome.
If you’re heading to the country and have a small child,
consider leaving your buggy behind. Country walks tend to
be difficult even with ‘off road’ buggies. Instead take a baby
carrier – Baby Bjorn is great for small babies and the Ergo
baby is great for when they get older. babybjorn.co.uk
FEATURE
Practical Parenting WITH MARINA FOGLE
OTHER FUN
WEEKENDS
FOR CHILDREN
Rent a house by a lake in the
Cotswolds. The Lakes by
Yoo offers 3-6 bedroom houses
to rent with a concierge service so it’s not
dissimilar to staying in a hotel. There are
plenty of activities to keep energetic children
entertained including fishing, canoeing, cycling
and even zip wiring across one of the lakes.
If the weather’s bad, there’s a great spa and
indoor pool. www.thelakesbyyoo.com/rentals
Head to the beach. The Pig on the Beach is the
newest of the hugely popular and reasonably
priced Pig hotels and its location on Studland
Beach makes it a perfect family getaway.
Overlooking Poole Harbour, the miles of sandy
beach are the perfect exploration ground for
adventurous families. www.thepighotel.com
Immerse yourself in Nature. For animal or
tractor-mad children, a stay on Kate Humble’s
working farm in South Wales is an experience
few will forget. Stay at the Piggery, a two
bedroom cottage at the heart of the farm.
Collect your vegetables and eggs from your
own garden each morning and days are spent
mucking around with Farmer Tim. Lambing
season is particularly magical.
www.humblebynature.com
Further afield. If the British weather has taken
a turn for the worse, there’s nothing like a
quick hop over to the Algarve for some early
spring or late autumn sunshine. The Martinhal
is a family friendly resort which is chic and
luxurious enough to give the most discerning
of parents a well-earned break too.
www.martinhal.com
16.
17. LIFESTYLE
| AUTUMN 2014 17
MY FAVOURITE BABY THINGS
Nell McAndrew
Nell McAndrew, 40, is a model, author,
television personality and accomplished
athlete (she has a marathon personal
best of 2:54:39). She is also a full-time
mother to son Devon, eight, and
daughter Anya, one, her children with
husband of 10 years, Paul Hardcastle.
The family live in Surrey.
2. MAM products, various, mamonlineshop.com
I have tried out various products from this brand
and have been pleased with all of them, especially
the curved cutlery (£5.99) and first drinking cup
(£2.99). I am now using the toothbrushes (from
£3.50). How time flies!
1. Oysterbaby sling, £75,
oysterbaby.co.uk
Made from bamboo which is
gentle on baby's skin, this sling
kept my baby close to me and I
found that she slept more soundly.
The sling position promotes
correct hip joint development,
prevents flat head syndrome and is
great for breastfeeding discreetly.
5. BOB running pushchair, around £400, bobgear.co.uk
Without this I would not be able to get out for a run as often as I do.
This pushchair has helped keep me fitter and happier as well as both
baby and me getting lots of fresh air.
3. Green People products,
from £3.50, greenpeople.co.uk
Again, I have tried out various products
and like that both baby and I can share
them. My favourite is the soothing baby
oil (£10.95) which I have used for baby
massage and even on my hair to tame
my dry frizzy ends.
4. Familia organic baby muesli, £2.80,
health food stores nationwide
I can't stop eating this! I always carry a
tub with some of this muesli in then just
add either water or milk when needed.
I add extra oats and chia seeds and add
either oat, soya or rice milk to make it
extra nutritious and delicious.
18. FEATURE
Dad
By Sophie Goodchild
A dad in the delivery room was once
a taboo. However, today, the journey
from the first scan to childbirth is a
more inclusive experience for men.
But many still end up daunted by the
prospect of impending fatherhood.
So what’s it really like having a baby if
you’re the daddy?
John Adams is a stay-at-home father
to five-year-old Helen and Elizabeth,
aged 19 months, while his wife works
full time. He is also one of the UK’s
ten most influential dad bloggers.
His site Dadbloguk.com chronicles
his experiences and is read by several
thousand people a month.
John says: ‘It makes sense for dad to
attend ante-natal classes, read up on
childbirth and visit the delivery suite
prior to the birth (a visit is standard
practice at most hospitals).
‘In my opinion, dad needs to know
about the experience and his partner’s
wishes so he can act as an advocate
for her. It is, after all, difficult to tell a
midwife whether you are comfortable
or not mid contraction while puffing
on gas and air.
‘Many people will tell you a birth plan is
pointless. I strongly disagree. You should
write a birth plan with your partner and
get to know it inside and out.
‘It’s true, things can move very quickly
in the delivery room and the medical
team might not be able to adhere
to every single wish your partner
has stated. If, however, you have a
birth plan then people will know
your attitude towards pain relief, for
example, and whether dad is to cut
the umbilical cord.’
John sees the greater involvement of
dads in their children’s upbringing as
wholly positive.
‘If you hear men of older generations
talking about their children, they often
didn’t know them,’ he says.
‘Everything was left to the mum and
womenfolk of the family, and society
had very low expectations of fathers.
Thankfully that has changed.
‘I was at home for several days while a
builder was doing some construction
work on our house. The man was
in his sixties so I thought I’d better
explain why I was always at home
with my daughter.
‘Expecting to get a rough-ride, I was
very surprised when he said, ‘I wish I
could have done what you’re doing. I
didn’t see my kids growing up, I was
always working’.
After the birth, John advises letting
standards slip for a while.
‘Concentrate on your family and let
the small things go. When my wife
returned from hospital following the
birth of our second baby, we went for
nine days before putting a full set of
sheets on the bed.
‘We were so tired and so wrapped
up in our expanded family we just
kept forgetting to do it. It sounds very
slovenly but so what? Did anyone get
hurt? No, we just spent those valuable
few minutes with each other instead
of doing mundane housework.’
Becoming a
John with Helen and Elizabeth
A dad’s guide
to pregnancy,
childbirth
and beyond
18 AUTUMN 2014 |
19. FEATURE
| SPRING 2014 19
Here Mr Emeka Okaro, Consultant Obstetrician and
Gynaecologist at The Portland Hospital, answers
10 questions every dad should ask about pregnancy and childbirth.
1. What can I do to help during pregnancy?
This can be an exciting and confusing time for dads-to-be
and some end up feeling like a bystander. Prepare yourself
by talking to other dads or reading parenting guides. And if
you smoke, this is a good time to quit: second-hand smoke is
bad for pregnant women and babies.
2. Can we continue to have sex?
Your partner may want to have more or less sex than before
- let her guide you on what she feels comfortable with.
Try different positions that avoid deep penetration. Do
remember that sex won’t hurt your baby.
3. Should I go to all the antenatal checks and classes?
These will help you and your partner share the experience.
She’ll appreciate you being there and you’ll benefit from
knowing what’s going on. Your job during labour is to
provide a calm presence, so it’s essential to be informed
about what to expect.
4. Why are her moods so up and down?
Mood swings are common during pregnancy. Your partner
is facing all sorts of hormonal changes, may be anxious
about the future and is carrying a growing life inside her,
while also coping with work and domestic demands. So, if
she’s tired a lot of the time, teary or irritable, don’t take this
personally - she needs your support.
5. What do I need to know about pain relief?
Your support is the foundation for effective pain relief.
The options include use of the birthing pool, gas and air,
medication or an epidural. Your midwife/obstetrician will
guide and support you to make the right choices as labour
progresses.
6. How can I prepare for the birth itself?
Make sure you’ve planned the route, know where her hospital
bag is stored and have a relative/childminder on standby (if
you’ve already got children). Discuss your partner’s birth plan
so you both know what she wants - one of your key roles is to
be her advocate during your child’s birth.
7. Should I attend the birth especially if it’s a Caesarean?
This is a matter for you and your partner to discuss. These
days, most dads are there even with a C-section and you can
help support her during labour which can last anything from
two to 20 hours.
8. How can I be of assistance with breastfeeding?
Your support and encouragement is vital. Patience with
helping the baby to latch on to the breast is important.
Encourage her to drink plenty of fluid as the true milk
production starts after 48 hours. Help her persevere with
feeding as the colostrum fizzles out. Her nipples may
become cracked and sore so do take care.
9. What happens if I don’t bond with my child?
You may be more concerned about supporting your family
rather than excited about the birth. This is perfectly normal.
Don’t panic if you don’t feel an instant rush of love when
baby arrives. Instead, find quality time to bond with your
newborn.
10. How soon is it ok to begin having sex again
after childbirth?
Every woman is different - for some it may take weeks,
others months. It’s best to wait until the post-birth bleeding
has stopped and she’s had her six week postnatal check-up.
If you have sex before this, there’s a risk of infection because
her uterus is still healing.
| AUTUMN
20. BEAUTY
10 LIP
BALMS
1. Eos Smooth Sphere Lip Balm in Strawberry Sorbet, £5.99, victoriahealth.com
2. Lanolips 101 Ointment Strawberry, £7, waitrose.com 3. By Terry baume de Rose 10 Year Anniversary Edition, £38, spacenk.com
4. Dr Lipp, Original Nipple Balm for Lips, £11.50, cultbeauty.co.uk 5. Dr Hauschka Lip Balm, £10, selfridges.com
6. Eve Lom Kiss Mix, £18, evelom.com 7. Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturising Lip Colour Balm, £16, johnlewis.com
8. Rodin blush lip balm, £23, liberty.co.uk 9. Hourglass No. 28 Lip Treatment Oil, £32, net-a-porter.com
10. Aromatherapy Associates Moisturising Lip Balm, £15.50, aromatherapyassociates.com
1
2
3
5
4
7
8
6
9
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20 AUTUMN 2014 |
22. FFEEAATTUURREE
22 SPRING 2014 |
INFECTIONS
By Sophie Goodchild
URINARY
TRACT
A BURNING OR STINGING
sensation when peeing is a common
problem for mums and children.
The most likely cause is an infection
in the urinary tract, the system for
making and getting rid of urine.
This part of your body includes the
bladder lining and kidneys, and
you’re more likely to develop a
bug or urinary tract infection (UTI)
during and after pregnancy.
There are three reasons for
this, according to Professor Ellis
Downes, a Consultant Obstetrician
and Gynaecologist at The Portland
Hospital.
Firstly, it’s more common in
pregnancy to have more glucose in
the urine which can ‘act as a focus
for infection.’
The bladder not emptying
completely and hormone
changes which continue during
breastfeeding are other factors.
‘The bladder may not empty fully
in pregnancy due to the weight
of the baby and fluid in the
uterus pressing on it, and also
compressing the tubes (ureters)
coming from the kidneys to the
bladder. This may leave a pool of
urine in the bladder, which can act
as a focus of infection,’ explains
Professor Downes.
‘Hormonal changes, chiefly
progesterone from the placenta,
cause the tubes going from the
kidneys to the bladder to dilate,
again making urine collect.’
Although UTIs are painful and
uncomfortable, they are treated
effectively with antibiotics which
are completely safe for pregnant
women to take.
To prevent a recurrence, Professor
Downes recommends drinking
plenty of fluids to keep urine
diluted so bacteria are flushed out.
Cranberry juice is also a popular
‘cure’ for cystitis, the most
common type of UTI.
Studies have shown special
compounds in the berries can
reduce the likelihood of UTIs
but the evidence is ‘less robust’
WHAT IS
HAPPENING
32
AT 32 WEEKS
OF PREGNANCY?
AUTUMN 2014 |
23. FEATURE
| SPRING 2014 23
| AUTUMN in pregnant women, according to
Professor Downes. In children, UTIs
are more likely to affect girls than
boys.
It’s just the way girls’ bodies are
designed - the tube (known as the
urethra) that allows urine to pass out
of the body is shorter.
Feilim Murphy, a Consultant
Paediatric Urologist at the Portland,
says children in general are prone
to these infections because they
don’t realise the importance of
emptying the bladder.
‘Having residual urine is like a
stagnant pond. You’re increasingly
likely to get infection unless you
allow the bladder to fill and empty
fully,’ he says.
‘Boys are just as likely to be
dysfunctional (as girls). They’ll say:
‘I don’t need to go, I’m busy on the
Xbox’. That maturity comes later on.’
Any child with a suspected UTI will
need a thorough investigation, and
antibiotics if they test positive, says
Mr Murphy. His advice is to make sure
your GP sends off the urine sample to
be analysed by a laboratory.
Some children may have an
underlying issue such as their kidneys
not functioning effectively.
So an ultrasound scan is important in
boys under a year and girls under six
months even if they’ve had only one
infection, says Mr Murphy.
To prevent recurrent problems,
parents may need to re-educate little
ones on how to empty their bladder
and also ensure their child isn’t
constipated as this can also prevent
the bladder from emptying normally.
Another tip from Mr Murphy is to
make sure your daughter can sit on
the toilet seat with her feet touching
the ground.
The urologist says: ‘If a child is trying
to pee with her feet in the air, this
contracts the pelvic floor muscles. So
have toddler steps up to the toilet
until her feet can reach the floor.’
YOUR BABY IS ALMOST FULL TERM
now and he or she will be a fully-formed
little human being, weighing
almost four pounds and measuring
just about 19 inches.
All the organs and body structures
such as the ribs will be formed at
this stage, and more and more fat is
accumulating under your baby’s skin
so they are becoming less transparent
in appearance.
Their fingerprints and nails will be
forming along with the nervous
system which allows humans to send
messages back and forth from
the brain. However, there is still
progress to be made.
In the last few weeks of pregnancy,
development is really about fine
tuning. The muscles and lenses of the
eyes won’t be fully mature yet - that’s
why babies take a few days to focus
after they’re born. Also their lungs
are still developing.
Babies will be practising for life in
the outside world by breathing,
swallowing and using their own
kidneys to urinate.
As your baby is getting bigger, it’s
harder for them to move around.
However, this doesn’t necessarily
mean a breech birth if they’re
feet down.
Around 60 to 70 per cent of babies at
this stage will be in the head down
position and the others will be feet
down (in the breech position). But
there’s still plenty of time for the baby
to move into the head down position.
Professor Ellis Downes
Consultant Obstetrician and
Gynaecologist at The Portland Hospital
Drink lots of fluids:
women need the
equivalent of around
eight glasses of water
(1.6 litres) and children
six glasses (1.2 litres)
a day.
Try cranberry juice
or cranberry tablets to
fight bacteria.
Probiotic yoghurts can
increase levels of ‘good’
bacteria in the gut.
Tips
for
Preventing
UTIs
Make sure your daughter’s
feet can reach the floor
when she’s on the toilet.
Ensure your child
eats enough fibre to reduce
risk of constipation.
o
w
ea
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27. FFEEAATTUURREE
| AUTUMN 2014 27
made Chair of Paediatric Surgery at
the Institute of Child Health and Great
Ormond Street Hospital.
‘We stripped off all the donor’s cells
leaving only a three dimensional web
grow a new trachea on the structure.
transplant tissue but this would have
brought with it the the risk of organ
scaffolds difficult it’s Professor ‘We are such as our stem cells found fluid
surrounding the good
potential for tissue engineering. The
cells could one day used to grow
more complex organs which are made
up of different types of tissue.
‘At the moment this work is being done
on children partly because their organs
are smaller but also because they can
potentially benefit the most in terms
of extra years of life – each stem cell
transplant costs round £250,000. In the
future, they will be done on adults too.’
Professor De Coppi has recently
received over £3 million from the Oak
Foundation, the Catapult Cell Therapy,
Cell Foundation to
oesophagus (gullet) using
for babies
oesophagus, he has
prestigious
Research
‘‘We hope eventually to be able to
harvest stem cells from the amniotic
fluid of an unborn baby and grow
organs for them which will be ready
by the time they are born to be
transplanted into them.
‘We hope this will happen in clinical
practice within the next five years.
‘The next stage will then be performing
the transplant in utero before the
baby is born so they are born with
everything in place.’
His team have also made progress
towards engineering donated
intestines so they can be implanted
without rejection, but this is a more
complex and challenging organ to
replicate.
Other organs being studied for stem
cell transplant purposes include
bladder and skeletal muscle to repair
congenital defects of the bladder and
diaphragm.
‘We are also investigating using 3D
printers to help replicate an organ and
then use stem cells, polymers and gels to
grow to the scaffold structure,’ he adds.
Professor De Coppi currently performs
general paediatric surgery at the
including hernia repairs,
removal and treatments for
gastroesophageal reflux disease and
problems, but says one day he
stem cell organ transplants
available at the Portland too.
We are continuing to make advances
recent discovery that stem
in amniotic fluid surrounding
foetus show good potential for tissue
engineering.
Professor Paolo De Coppi
A Consultant Paediatric Surgeon at
The Portland Hospital, led the Stem Cells
and Regenerative Medicine team at the
UCL Institute of Child Health.
of collagen and then used stem cells
taken from Ciaran’s bone marrow to
‘In the past, we would have used donor
rejection. Alternatives such as synthetic
scaffffolds are diffiffiffifficult to integrate with
the native tissue and do not grow with
the child.’
Two years after the transplant,
research published in the medical
journal The Lancet revealed the
graft had not triggered any immune
rejection response and had formed an
adequate lining.
However, most importantly, it’’’s helping
Ciaran, now 16, to live a normal life
after so many years of health problems.
‘Although the trachea is a simple organ,
we hope that in the future we will be
able to engineer more complex organs
using stem cells including hearts,
intestines, kidneys and livers,’ explains
rofessor De Coppi.
e continuing to make advances
ur recent discovery that
und in amniotic flui
e foetus show
e engin
be
and the UK Stem
develop an oesoph
stem cells.
For developing this project
born without their oesophagu
been awarded this year a prestig
National Institute for Health Resear
(NIHR) professorship.
He is also part of a consortium awarded
£10 million of funding from the
Wellcome Trust to develop stem cell
therapies in the foetuses.
‘‘Congenital organ defects are usually
detected in babies at the 20 week
developmental scan,’ says Professor
De Coppi.
Pro
gener
Portland
appendix re
gastroesophag
bowel problems
hopes that ste
will be avail
continuin
such as our rec
cells found i
the foetu
engin
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AUTUMN 2014 |
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34. FEATURE
HEALTH
teenagers’ period problems
PERIODS ARE JUST ANOTHER PART OF PUBERTY FOR
TEENAGE GIRLS.
But some suffer more than others with pain and heavy
bleeding or experience irregular cycles, particularly in the
first three years of menstruation.
Australian research, published in 2010, suggests as many as
one in four adolescent girls suffer significant problems with
their periods which affect life activities and result in time
off school.
‘Around 95 per cent of problems in the first couple of years
after a girl starts her period can be attributed to the body
‘settling down’ and developing a regular hormone cycle.
Rarely will it be due to an underlying pathological problem,’
says Professor Sarah Creighton , a Consultant Gynaecologist
at The Portland Hospital and Honorary Clinical Professor at
University College London Hospitals.
‘But that’s not to say we can’t give treatments to ease their
symptoms while we wait for nature to settle down.
‘If girls and young women are experiencing heavy bleeding,
clotting and flooding, pain or their cycle isn’t improving
and they are missing school for instance or, in rarer
cases, developing anaemia and tiredness, then it is
worth considering treatments that can help.’
Sometimes, all that’s needed is reassurance that what they
are experiencing is normal and in most cases will settle
down, she says.
‘I advise them not to wait for period pain to start but to take
painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol as soon as the
period starts as a preventative treatment.
‘It’s also important they get enough sleep, avoid
constipation, take enough exercise and eat healthily,’
explains Professor Creighton.
‘I find not all young girls have had access to this type of
information – they may have touched on it in a biology
lesson, but that will just be the biological facts and not
the useful stuff about how to cope with period problems,
and some are too embarrassed to ask friends or family
members.’
Apart from painkillers to treat menstrual pain, there are also
drugs available to make problem symptoms more bearable.
‘One of the commonest treatments for heavy periods is an
oral progestogen pill such as norethisterone (NET). This has
to be taken for 3 out of 4 weeks each cycle and can make
periods regular, less painful and lighter. One study on NET
showed it reduced blood loss by 83 per cent,’ explains
Professor Creighton.
‘For older girls, the contraceptive pill can be a very effective
treatment. Some studies have shown it reduces blood loss
by 43 per cent and cramping by more than 50 per cent.’ Girls
can also be prescribed iron tablets for anaemia, medication
called tranexamic acid for very heavy bleeding and non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to relieve pain.
Solving
34 AUTUMN 2014 |
35. Teenagers suffer gynaecological problems just
like older women but they can get overlooked or
not taken seriously. Jo Waters reports.
POLYCYSTIC OVARIES
This term describes ovaries that contain many small
cysts (about twice as many as in normal overies). The
condition affects one in five adult women. Symptoms
include irregular, less frequent periods or a complete lack of
periods, oily skin and acne, weight problems, depression or
mood changes and unwanted facial or body hair. ‘We don’t
know how many teenage girls may have Polycystic ovary
syndrome (PCOS) as there is very little research on this
condition in teenagers,’ says Professor Creighton. ‘But it’s
important to stress that acne, mood changes and irregular
periods are common in the teenage years and that doesn’t
always mean you have PCOS.
‘Blood tests and scans can confirm a diagnosis and
then the condition can be managed – there is no
cure. A combination of diet and lifestyle advice and
sometimes prescription of the contraceptive pill can
improve symptoms.’
ENDOMETRIOSIS
This is a condition where endometrial cells
lining the womb migrate to other parts of the
body, causing painful heavy periods. Each month
these cells react to the menstrual cycle and also
bleed. However, the blood cannot escape and
causes inflammation, pain and the formation of
adhesions (scar tissue).
‘We used to believe that teenage girls didn’t
get endometriosis but now we know they can.
At The Portland I would refer suspected cases
for laparoscopic (keyhole) investigation and
treatment to remove endometrosis,’ says
Professor Creighton.
CONGENITAL
ABNORMALITIES
‘Very rarely girls can be born with
gynaceological abnormalities such
as a blocked or absent uterus or
vagina. This may not become
apparent until puberty and some
of these conditions may require
surgery,’ says Professor Creighton.
HEALTH
OTHER CAUSES
OF PERIOD
PROBLEMS
When girls don’t respond to these
treatments, there may be an underlying
cause which requires specialist
investigation. These conditions include:
| AUTUMN 2014 35
BLEEDING
DISORDERS
Blood clotting disorders such
as von Willebrand’s disorder,
where individuals have either
low levels or a complete
absence of von Willebrand’s
factor (a protein needed for
healthy blood clotting), platelet
disorders and haemophilia
carriers, are rare, but can cause
heavy periods. They may need
treatment by a haematologist.
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37. Q. My daughter has just started primary school and I’ve found nits in her hair.
How do I get rid of them and prevent her from getting them again?
A. Nits are the bane of most primary
school parents’ lives. No matter
how clean you keep your children’s
hair, there seems to be no escaping
an infestation of nits or headlice at
some point. Headlice are extremely
common: girls are more likely to be
affected than boys, and children tend
to get them between the ages of three
and 11. The good news is that they
don’t transmit any other diseases.
They also like clean hair so, if your
child does catch them, at least you
have the consolation that their hair
was clean!
However, it is important to treat these
annoying but essentially harmless
creatures because they irritate the skin
and spread very easily - crawling from
one head to another (they are only
rarely passed on through bedding and
clothing). If you don’t treat them, your
son or daughter will be passing them
on to other children and maybe even
to you too!
The first sign of your child having nits
is often when they start itching their
head – but some children have no
symptoms at all so it is worth checking
their hair every now and again.
‘Diagnosis is by finding live lice or
nymphs (early phase lice) or nits
(eggs),’ explains Dr Gill MacLeod,
a GP at Rood Lane Surgery.
‘Eggs persist after successful treatment
as they stick to the hair shaft and if
they are more than a quarter of an
37 SPRING 2014 |
inch from the scalp they are unlikely to
be active.
‘The eggs (or nits) may remain glued
to the shaft even when dead but will
grow out with the hair.
‘You may want to remove them for
aesthetic reasons. Combing can help
achieve this but they can be resistant
as they are literally cemented to the
hair shaft.
‘Rinsing the hair with vinegar will
weaken the cement and loosen them
making it easier to comb them out.’
If your child has nits, anyone who is
in close contact with them including
parents and nannies may be infected
and can reinfect the child if they
are not treated too. So it is very
important to check everyone’s hair
with fine tooth combing and then
treat all infected household members
at the same time.
‘To be thorough, bedclothes should
also be hot washed and hot air dried
to ensure any lice are killed because
lice and eggs are killed by exposure
for five minutes to temperatures
greater than 53.5°C (128.3°F). The
same applies to scarves and hats,’
says Dr MacLeod.
There are several different ways of
treating nits – chemical treatments, wet
combing and homeopathic remedies.
Whilst careful combing can be very
effective, Dr MacLeod recommends
PARENT
TALK
chemical treatments for severe
infestation. However, these are not
100 per cent effective and headlice do
become resistant to them so could be
used in conjunction with combing.
Before using medicated head lice lotions
on young babies (under six months
old), pregnant women and people with
asthma or allergies, always seek the
advice of a healthcare professional and
read the instructions carefully.
A quick search on the Internet will
throw up a wide range of none-chemical
products too.
Meticulous wet combing using a
special nit comb will inevitably be
at least part of your treatment of an
infestation. It’s a pretty miserable,
time-consuming task but if you lather
the hair in cheap conditioner and then
go through it with a fine tooth comb,
it really does work.
You need to repeat every couple of
days until you are well and truly sure
all the eggs and lice have gone.
In short, it seems there is no avoiding
getting nits among primary school
children and there’s really very little
you can do about it other than to
be vigilant and regularly check your
children’s hair. If your daughter has
long hair it might also be worth
tying it back.
However, it’s not a reflection on you
and your hygiene habits, and you are
certainly not alone. Happy combing!
PARENT TALK
| AUTUMN 2014 37
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Marv
40. When Laura Capstick-Dale and her
husband Nick brought their tiny son
Grey home for the first time this
summer, the couple were in no doubt
about one thing.
‘The staff at the Portland Hospital saved
our son’s life – it was their attention to
detail and caring attitude that means
Grey is here with us today,’ says Laura, a
jewellery designer, who lives with Nick,
a property developer, and their son
Nate, two, in London.
‘We had the best specialists on call to
speak to any time, modern technology
and the nurses were just amazingly kind
and caring. They were our friends, our
family, we cried with them, we laughed
with them and they made a horrendous
experience vaguely bearable.’
Grey was born premature at just
31 weeks in March this year after
Laura started bleeding and having
contractions.
He was delivered by emergency
Caesarean section weighing 4lbs and,
initially, seemed healthy.
However, later that day, he was
put on a ventilator after he started
having breathing problems, and heart
problems were also detected including
a hole in the heart and valves that
hadn’t closed.
Worse was to follow when Grey
developed sepsis and lost all the
weight he had gained since birth.
Doctors suspected he was developing
a disease that affects premature babies
called necrotising enterocolitis, where
parts of the bowel start to die. Only
one in five who have a confirmed
diagnosis survive.
Luckily, Grey’s infection was caught
early and treated with antibiotics
and intra-venous nutrition,
avoiding surgery.
However, he still ended up spending
eight weeks in hospital – five and a
half of them in the Portland’s Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
‘It was horrendous,’ recalls Laura.‘ I
would sit by his cot for 10 to 12 hours
a day, he had over 60 cannulas
inserted in the first six weeks, and
sometimes it would take five or six
attempts to get them in as his tiny
veins had collapsed and he would be
crying and screaming. It was like a slice
of heaven and hell – a beautiful new
baby but one who was desperately ill
and having to fight for his life.’
Grey was cared for by a team of
top medical specialists including
neonatologists and paediatricians.
‘I always felt we were in the best
place and Grey would be safe at the
Portland,’ says Laura. ‘There was one
point where there was a possibility he
might need a heart operation at Great
Ormond Street. In the event, he didn’t
need the operation but, if he had, he
would have come back to the Portland
within two days – that was very
important to us.’
It was Laura’s second premature birth
at the Portland - her elder son Nate was
born at 34 weeks and spent one day in
intensive care, five days in special care
and a further eight days in transitional
care in 2012.
REAL LIFE
STORY
MIRACLE
BABY
defies the odds
to survive
Special care from the Portland’s
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
saves baby Grey born at 31 weeks.
By Jo Waters
40 AUTUMN 2014 |
41. REAL LIFE
STORY
| AUTUMN 2014 41
The Portland’s three-cot Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and four-cot
Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU)
are both equipped with the latest
equipment to monitor and care
for babies with complex medical
needs or post-surgical problems.
This includes ventilators and brain
function monitors.
Dr Simon Bignall, a Consultant
Paediatrician and Neonatologist and
Director of the Unit, says: ‘We have a
team of six neonatologists on a rota
to give 24 hour care, all of whom
have practised at a very high level in
leading NHS hospitals.
The team has a daily ward round and
conference at which we’ll decide if a
baby needs input from a sub-specialist
as a cardiologists or a dietitian.
baby is very sick, this happens
twice a day. Babies can become very
ill extremely fast and also recover
very quickly, so we are always on the
lookout for signs of infection.’
‘The environment of NICU is designed
to reduce stress to babies – there
is low level lighting and we try to
reduce any sharp abrupt noises.
We also involve patients in care as
much as possible and encourage
skin-to-skin contact. Parents get a
very personalised service from the
consultants and nursing staff.’
The unit has just taken delivery of a
special brain function monitor which
can measure brain activity.
‘This is particularly useful where a
baby has had a difficult birth - for
instance, if they are born with no
heart beat and have to be resuscitated
- as we know the 6 to 12 hours after
the birth, the brain can produce toxic
chemicals which can cause secondary
damage to the brain,’ explains Dr
Bignall.
‘Low levels or abnormal brain activity
can be detected by the monitor and
we can transfer the baby to a nearby
centre for brain cooling treatment,
which can help prevent secondary
brain damage.’
For Laura, the level of care Grey
received was something she’ll
never forget.
‘Grey is really thriving now - he’s
feeding well and is such a chilled
baby, taking everything in his
stride. He is seeing a developmental
therapist to check he is meeting his
developmental milestones, but all the
signs are that he’s healthy. We are
thankful everyday to have him home.
He is a true miracle.’
The staff at The
Portland Hospital
saved our son’s
life – it was their
attention to detail
and caring attitude
that means Grey is
here with us today
l
‘T
co
bab
such
If a b
42.
43. ADVERTISING FEATURE
Ruched Midi
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PREGNANCY
STYLE
INSIDER
Hutton Maternity Top
Ardley Tote
We caught up with
Baukjen De Swaan
Arons, founder
of the leading
maternity wear
brand Isabella
Oliver and mum
of three, for a
bump-friendly
tips and style
advice chat.
Before the design process starts, what do you always
keep in mind?
It’s really important that every piece is effortless, comfortable,
relevant and great quality – if any of these elements are
missing, it doesn’t make the cut. Women buy fewer pieces
and wear them more frequently during pregnancy so it’s
important to get it right.
Maternity wardrobes can be quite the investment. What
advice can you give?
We like to talk about the ‘bump-o-nomics’ of the collection at
Isabella Oliver, highlighting the number of wears something
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mark them as such so you know they’ve been designed for post-pregnancy
too.
And if you had to whittle it down to three key pieces?
A great pair of jeans, a dress that will take you from day-to-night
and a wear-with-everything tee.
Tell us something that might surprise us.
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It’s fits and flatters a bump like no other fabric and has become
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Right now, I’m loving the boyfriend jean and with the weather
feeling distinctly more wintery I’d definitely pair them with
our maternity turtleneck.
And finally, what celebrity pregnancies have you
admired for their fashion choices?
I really like it when mums manage to ‘keep-it-real’ while
staying true to their style. With day-to-day dressing I think
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Gwen Stefani styles herself too.
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Jean
44. Children’s Clubs Increasing numbers of parents in London are turning to private members’
clubs to provide daycare for their children. So what can you expect?
By Rachel Ellis
FINDING DYNAMIC AND
stimulating childcare in pleasant
surroundings can be a challenge
for parents.
It sounds like it should be easy, but
it can be surprisingly difficult to find
classes or daycare that tick all the
boxes. The location may not be ideal
or the activities not quite what you
had in mind for your young son or
daughter.
However, a rapidly growing new breed
of childcare in London is designed to
plug these gaps.
With enviable locations in Kensington,
Chiswick and Parsons Green among
others, smart interiors, cafes and a
wide-range of classes,
private members’
clubs for toddlers are
the answer for many
parents.
The first private
members’ club to
open its doors
to children in
London was
Maggie Rose.
‘Being at home with
children all day can
be very difficult
and sometimes you
need someone else
to do the thinking
for you’
Its founder Maggie
Bolger, 37, originally
from New Zealand,
decided to set up the
business eight years ago
after finding herself at
home with three young
children and nowhere
to go.
‘Being at home with
children all day can
be very difficult and
sometimes you need
someone else to do the
thinking for you,’ she says.
‘When I was at home with three young
children, there was nowhere that
offered relatively decent and stylish
childcare and classes that weren’t
plastic fantastic. So I decided to set
somewhere up myself in Kensington.’
Today Maggie Rose offers many
different types of classes including
dress up and dance, cooking, art and
make believe.
‘The idea is that you come to the club
and do activities with your children in
a friendly environment. It might be the
mum or dad, nanny or grandparents
who come with the child,’ says
Maggie, who is now a mother of four.
‘The club also allows you and your child
to get messy but without it being in
your living room. For example, we ran
a Jackson Pollock workshop recently
where children and parents had a great
time throwing paint around.
‘Working parents can drop their
children off for a couple of hours too.
We try to cover every option.’
Over the last eight years, the club,
which is open every day except
Christmas Day and Boxing Day, has
gone from strength to strength and
a second branch in Chiswick opened
in 2013 which includes a full nursery,
roof terrace and a double decker bus
which serves as a great class location.
Maggie and Rose
co-founders of London’s
first family members club
FEATURE
44 AUTUMN 2014 |
45. Maggie Rose, Chiswick Enjoying Soft Play at
The Kensington branch of Maggie
Rose has recently been refurbished
and now includes a pre-nursery and
fully licensed brasserie. Membership
fees have also changed from yearly to
monthly starting at £190 a month to
give parents more flexibility.
The clubs are aimed at children aged
one to five but they also run holiday
camps for older children (ages 5-10) at
their Chiswick branch.
‘Many parents find there are not great
options that are inspiring for their
children. We try to plug that gap and
offer spacious, inspiring and flexible
surroundings with everything under
one roof. You can do a class with your
children in the morning and then
meet up with friends for lunch. It’s a
great place to get together with your
baby network,’ says Maggie.
‘We also do birthday parties and
courses for parents on things like First
Aid and cookery. The great thing about
it being a members’ club is that users
have the ability to shape how they
want to use the club.
‘We have had people from all over the
world coming to look at what we are
doing. My hope is that we have set a
precedent and standard for childcare
and family clubs for others to compete
with. Raising the bar has got to be a
good thing for parents and children.’
Cupcake Family Club is a newer
addition to the children’s club market
and is situated in Parson’s Green.
Soft Play Area
Maggie Rose, Chiswick
It is aimed at children aged 0 to 5
and runs over 90 age-appropriate
classes a week which children
attend with their adult carer. Family
membership starts at £79 a month.
‘Our classes support every stage of
baby’s development helping them
to discover, imagine, explore and
grow healthily,’ says Suzanne Warner,
general manager at the club.
‘We offer a broad curriculum
including classes in cookery, crafts,
drama, music, dance, gymnastics,
ballet, football and tennis. Once you
are a member you are free to pick and
choose your daily activities to suit your
little ones changing developmental
needs or the ‘mood’ of the day.’
The club, which opened two years
ago, has an on-site crèche, a café with
children’s play areas and a soft play
room. The crèche is also available to
non-members and is a big draw for
members of its sister club Slice Fitness.
‘The idea is that you can spend the
whole day with us if you want,’ says
Suzanne. ‘For parents who have
nannies, it means you know exactly
where your child is being taken and
parents can ensure their children are
gaining access to a safe, sociable, fun,
learning environment.
The club also offers after school
activities for children aged 3 to 7 years.
For more information go to:
www.maggieandrose.com
www.cupcakefamilyclub.com
‘Our classes support
every stage of baby’s
development helping
them to discover, imagine,
explore and grow
healthily,’
Play Area
Cupcake Family Club, Parson’s Green
46.
47.
48. HEALTH
BABY HELMETS ARE DESIGNED
to address something called
plagiocephaly - more commonly
known as flathead syndrome.
‘A child may have a flathead for
various reasons,’ explains Mr Owase
Jeelani, a Consultant Paediatric and
Craniofacial Neurosurgeon at The
Portland Hospital, Great Ormond
Street Hospital and The London
Craniofacial Unit.
‘Sometimes it may be because of the
way it was lying in the uterus, or if
it was delivered using forceps, but
we also know that babies who are
described as ‘good sleepers’ can be
prone to it.’
Part of the reason for this is because,
by necessity, a child’s skull is quite
malleable or plastic when they’re born.
‘Plates of bone are connected by what
are called sutures,’ explains Mr Jeelani.
‘Because a baby’s brain grows a lot
in the first two years, these spaces
allow the skull to expand. In general,
they have closed by the time the child
reaches two.’
Mr Jeelani believes the incidence
of flathead syndrome has increased
BABY
HELMETS They’re not available on the
in recent decades, primarily due to
the Back To Sleep campaign, which
began in the mid 1990s and advocates
putting babies to sleep on their backs
to avoid Sudden Infant
Death Syndrome.
‘Before then, around one in twenty
babies suffered from flathead
syndrome, now estimates have it as
closer to one in two,’ he says.
But he is at pains to point out that
flathead syndrome is primarily an
aesthetic concern with no implications
for brain function or brain growth.
‘There’s a very rare condition called
cranial synostosis, which causes these
growth lines to close early resulting in
an abnormally shaped skull which can
put pressure on the brain, but that’s
not what we’re talking about in most
cases,’ he says.
NHS, and can cost upwards
of £2,000 a time, but infant
helmets to correct misshapen
heads are increasingly popular.
So do they really work? And
are there other alternatives?
Flatness that is the result of
positioning in utero or at birth
should have resolved itself on its own
by about six weeks. But if it’s caused
by the way the baby sleeps, parents
tend to notice it around the three-month
mark.
‘Babies who sleep on their backs
looking upwards may have a flatter
skull at the back, whereas children
who favour one side over the other
can get flattening at the side,’ says
Mr Jeelani.
Sometimes this preference is down
to the way a baby’s head has been
positioned in the womb, which can
result in a tightness in the neck,
making it more comfortable to lie on
one side. A doctor can easily identify
this by checking the baby’s range of
motion, and while this can improve
with age, a referral to a physio might
be appropriate.
‘Any flatness tends to get worse up to
the six month point when babies start
to sit up more, lie on their tummies
and spend less time sleeping or on
their backs,’ says Mr Jeelani.
While he believes helmets - which
have to be worn 23 hours a day and
One in two babies
are estimated to
suffer from
flathead syndrome
By Claire Coleman
48 AUTUMN 2014 |
49. HEALTH
HOW TO ENCOURAGE A FLATHEAD TO BECOME ROUNDER
Rotate the position of the cot and which end you lay the baby in when you put him/her down
to sleep. This gives them different focal points which may encourage a different position for
the head.
Similarly when changing your baby, lay them so that in order to see you they have to turn
their head onto the non-flat side.
Don’t rely too heavily on devices that mean your baby’s head is resting against something for
long periods of time. Ideally children shouldn’t be in car seats or baby rockers for more than
a couple of hours at a time.
Make sure your child gets ‘tummy time’ - supervised periods of play where they’re on their
stomach, which will strengthen their neck and shoulders.
work by restricting growth in certain
areas, but not the flat area - can be
helpful in severe cases, for most
mild to moderate cases, it’s simply
not necessary.
Indeed, a study in the Netherlands,
published in the British Medical Journal
earlier this year, which compared
babies wearing helmets with those
who hadn’t, saw no significant
differences. Furthermore, parents of
the babies wearing helmets reported
downsides including skin
irritation and sweating.
‘A helmet is a major
commitment. You can’t take
weeks off, or not do it for a
few nights,’ says Mr Jeelani.
‘In the UK, where the weather
is relatively mild, that’s not
a problem, but I’m not sure
you’d want to take a child on
holiday to a warm climate
and have them in a helmet.’
So how can parents know whether
their child’s deformity is mild,
moderate or severe?
‘I would always advise anyone who is
worried to see a specialist who sees
this sort of thing all the time. And, as
helmets are most effective when used
under a year, if someone is undecided
at the six-month point, I think it’s worth
waiting until the child is nine months
as you can usually see then if the
situation is starting to improve its own.’
It’s worth bearing in mind that such
deformities are more apparent in
babies because they have so little hair.
As their hair grows, any asymmetry will
be far better camouflaged. There are
an awful lot of adults walking around
with less than perfect heads, but most
of us will never even notice.
1
2
3
4
Make sure your child
gets ‘tummy time’ -
supervised periods of
play where they’re on
their stomach
on
50. WOMEN’S HEALTH PROBLEMS
NEED MORE INVESTMENT
NOT ENOUGH IS KNOWN ABOUT
many of the health issues that affect
women and babies.
Millions of women across the UK suffer
from health problems related to the
menopause and urinary incontinence,
for example, and 4,000 babies are
stillborn each year. Yet, despite
affecting large numbers of women and
babies, medical research into these
areas is chronically underfunded.
As Professor Peter Brocklehurst,
Director of the Institute for Women’s
Health at University College London,
explains: ‘Research is limited by
funding, not by ideas and enthusiasm.’
According to the charity Wellbeing
of Women, there is an urgent need
to fund more medical research into
these problems.
Since 1964, the charity has funded
ground-breaking medical research into
a wide range of health issues that have
an effect on all babies, and all women
at every stage of life.
The results of this research have led to
significant steps forward in the medical
treatment of women and babies.
The first revolutionary result of their
research was a significant contribution
to the creation of ultrasound
technology in the 1960s.
The development of in vitro
fertilisation (IVF)
50 SPRING 2014 |
treatment to help women with fertility
issues was another.
Researchers have discovered that
women experiencing severe hot flushes
during the menopause may have an
abnormality in the function of blood
vessels, and there has been a major
breakthrough in understanding the
irregular cell activity which causes
endometriosis.
More recently, research into the
link between the Human Papilloma
Virus (HPV) and cervical cancer has
been instrumental in the creation
and implementation of a vaccination
programme across the UK and beyond.
These results are vital in continuing to
understand women’s health problems
and have become a standard part of
medicine today.
Equally impressive have been the
breakthroughs in infants’ health.
For example, in recent years,
researchers funded by Wellbeing of
Women have discovered that brain
damage in babies deprived of oxygen
at birth can be reduced by more than
half if they are given melatonin.
However, we still do not know
enough. While
research is
progressing, it is not progressing
quickly enough, says Wellbeing
of Women.
In 2011, around 12 women died of
ovarian cancer every day in the UK.
Around 4,000 mothers had stillborn
babies and countless women had
miscarriages, suffered menopausal
symptoms or faced dealing with
incontinence.
Liz Campbell, Director of Wellbeing
of Women, says: ‘If the same money
spent on heart disease or breast
cancer was spent on women’s health,
these numbers would simply be
much smaller.’
‘Greater investment into medical
research would make a huge difference
to the lives of women and babies.
We do not know enough,
but we will.’
CHARITY
AUTUMN 2014 |
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52. HEALTH
What’s headache?
causing your child’s Headache is a
ALTHOUGH MOST HEADACHES
in children are not due to a serious
common complaint
underlying condition, they can affect
in children with up to
their lives by interfering with school
and other daily activities.
75 per cent reporting
‘Common triggers for such headaches
at least one notable
can include skipping meals,
headache by the age of
dehydration following sporting
activities or not taking enough fluids,
15. Here The Portland
emotional stress and anxiety, allergy
to certain foods or food additives
Hospital experts offer
and beverages and irregular sleep
their tips for getting
patterns,’ says Dr Dion Alexandrou,
Consultant Paediatrician at The
to the root cause of
Portland Hospital.
headaches.
By Jo Waters
‘Infections such as the common cold
and flu, ear and throat infections are
also possible causes. These can be
treated by addressing simple lifestyle
issues, using painkillers, tackling stress
and treating infections accordingly.’
TYPES OF HEADACHE
There are two broad categories of
headache: primary headache - a
headache without a significant
underlying cause - and secondary
headache, which is a symptom of
an underlying serious problem.
Migraine and tension headaches fall
into the primary headache category.
TENSION HEADACHES
‘Tension-type headaches tend to be
featureless and milder, and the child
can continue normal activities, in
contrast to migraine,’ says
Dr Alexandrou.
‘Tension headaches tend to occur
during times of stress. They involve
the neck and the back of the head,
there is no sickness, vomiting or
abdominal pain, and no family
history of headaches.
‘Children are under a lot of pressure to
succeed at school these days and
52 AUTUMN 2014 |
53. HEALTH
| AUTUMN 2014 53
exam season can be particularly
stressful. Bullying at school may be
another cause. They also pick up on
relationship problems within the
family, loss of a loved one and
financial worries.’
If the headaches are not severe enough
to affect the child’s daily activities, Dr
Alexandrou usually talks to the family
about what is going on in their child’s
life and suggests making adjustments
if necessary.
If the child’s headaches are more
severe and stopping them from going
to school or socialising, a referral to a
psychologist may be advised.
MIGRAINE
‘Migraine is a very bad headache.
It is unpleasant but not dangerous and
we don’t know why some people get
them,’ says Dr Alexandrou.
The main difference from an ordinary
headache is that migraine can last a
long time and it might only go when
you sleep.
You may also feel worse if you try to
do anything, sick, light or sound may
hurt your head and you may need to lie
down in a dark room.
Different people have different triggers
and some people have warning signs
before they get a migraine.
‘Triggers can include light, noise, sleep
disruption, changes in routine and
even some foods including cheese and
chocolate. Addressing these triggers
can help prevent or reduce frequency
of attacks in many cases,’ explains
Dr Alexandrou.
If you get migraines
as a child, there’s
more than a %
chance they will stop
when you reach puberty.
If you get migraines as a child, there’s
more than a 50 per cent chance they
will stop when you reach puberty.
However, if you start getting migraines
as a teenager, they will probably
continue into adulthood (although
migraines tend to be not as bad as
people get older).
EYESIGHT PROBLEMS
Headaches can sometimes be related to
eye strain from staring at a screen too
long – and computer screens, tablets
and phones can all have this effect.
‘This is caused by the eye blinking less
so the muscle gets tired and the surface
of the eye gets dry,’ says Consultant
Ophthalmologist Jane Leitch, who
practises at the Portland and the
Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust.
‘Some children will also develop
headaches when they try to see the
blackboard – they may be short-sighted
and need to wear glasses to correct
their vision.
‘Most children are given a routine eye
test between the ages of 4 and 5 and
some of these problems can be picked
up then.
‘Distorted vision can be associated
with migraines. Sudden onset double
vision is rare, it can be an indication of
pressure in the brain causing changes
at the back of the eye which need
urgent investigation.’
Red Flag Symptoms
If a child’s headache gets worse when they bend forward or when coughing and
straining, or it wakes the child (as opposed to the headache being present on
awakening) it could be a sign of a more serious underlying problem.
Other red flag symptoms include morning or persistent sickness and vomiting, recent
change in personality or behaviour, gait and balance problems and visual disturbances
(double vision).
‘Acute onset of severe headache associated with high temperature and neck stiffness
and fear of lights (photophobia), is particularly worrying and most likely due to severe
infection, most notably meningitis, and the child should go to Accident and Emergency
immediately,’ says Dr Alexandrou.
‘Most of the children I see as a paediatrician suffer from tension-type headaches,
followed by occasional migraine headaches and extremely rarely headaches
accompanied by neurological symptoms and signs due to brain tumours or bleeds.’
‘All parents fear the worst when their child complains of a headache but thankfully
serious conditions such as brain tumours and meningitis are rare.’
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55. adayFEATURE
A DAY IN
THE LIFE OF in the life of
| AUTUMN 2014 55
DR ADRIAN LLOYD THOMAS is a
Consultant Paediatric Anaesthetist
at The Portland Hospital and Great
Ormond Street Hospital. Here he
tells Claire Coleman about his typical
working day.
‘I arrive at the hospital at 6.30am and
take all the paperwork for that day’s
theatre list down to the operating
theatre so that when the staff arrive
they’ll know what medications need
to be prepared and any special
requirements for specific patients.
There are three theatre sessions -
morning, afternoon and evening - and,
if they’re not already in one of the
hospital wards, the patients for the first
session start arriving from 7am, and
I spend the next three quarters of an
hour talking to them and their parents.
My patients range from newborns
to eighteen-year-olds and so you’re
dealing with all sorts of different
questions. With the very tiny babies,
it’s about reassuring the parents that
the approach and the medications
we use are adapted to deal with their
immature bodies. With the older
children, it’s about talking through
their fears that they might wake up
in the middle of the operation or be
in pain afterwards. These are quite
normal concerns - after all you’re
relinquishing control so you’re no
longer a sentient being, you’re putting
someone else in charge of your destiny.
By 7.45am I’m down in theatre,
checking the equipment. It’s like the
pre-flight checks that a pilot will do
to make sure everything works and
the staff are clear with what’s going
to happen. Then, at 8am, the first
patient - and their parents too - are in
the anaesthetic room. The parents are
there to support and reassure the child
while they go off to sleep. Sometimes
we’ll play games with them, have them
blow up balloons, or sing nursery
rhymes. I’ve had to learn the Greek
version of Old Macdonald Had A Farm
as one little girl whose family is from
Cyprus, comes in quite regularly for
operations and likes to hear that as she
goes to sleep.
Handing over responsibility for your
child to someone else at such a
stressful time can be very upsetting; I
hope that I manage to communicate to
parents, at the pre-operative visit, my
ability to manage the situation.
There’s a bit of a misconception that
anaesthetists just put you to sleep and
that’s their job done. But we’re there
throughout the operation constantly
monitoring the patient, administering
fluids and blood if necessary, as
well as administering various types
of pain relief, such as nerve blocks
and epidurals, which will keep them
comfortable after the operation.
While they’re in the recovery room,
coming round, the next patient is in the
anaesthetic room. It really is non-stop.
The numbers vary but I can see up to
20 patients in a single day and, when
one session is done, I go to talk to the
patients for the next session. There’s
not much time to eat or drink, but the
theatre staff are very kind and I’ll often
find a cup of tea - or a banana - waiting
in the anaesthetic room for me.
When surgery has finished for the day,
I’ll do a final ward round to check on
the patients that I’ve seen that day,
and have a look at the schedule for the
following day, telephoning parents if
we need to discuss anything before the
operation. I never usually leave before
7, and I’m often there until 9, but it’s
very rewarding work.
The biggest compliment I’m paid is
when a child comes back for further
surgery, or I see a sibling, and the
parents say, ‘oh I’m so glad it’s you, we
were hoping it would be’. That’s very
humbling.’
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60 SPRING 2014 |
pregnancy
Setting up your nursery
Feeding and lactation
What the books don’t tell you?
The important role of the Daddy
Top tips for you and your baby
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61. TOYS
by Nicole Mowbray
THE WEATHER’S LOUSY, THEIR
beloved toys have fallen out of favour and
both the children – and you - are reaching
the end of your proverbial tethers.
If this scenario sounds as familiar to you,
perhaps you should consider a good old-fashioned
craft session.
“Making stuff with kids is brilliant,
especially when they don’t have to follow
strict instructions,” says Perri Lewis, author
of Material World, the Modern Craft Bible.
“Give children a box of paper, felt and a
tube of glue and you’re giving them a
chance to flex their creativity and stretch
their imagination.”
Indeed, making things helps children
develop key skills that they will go on
to use later in life.
For example, art-based activities
(those that involve few rules such as
painting, drawing etc) teach children
the benefits of free expression and
using their imagination. Craft, on the
other hand, is more geared towards
following rules, order and structure.
As Perri explains: “Give a child a specific
project - to create an origami plane,
for example - and they’ll discover how
satisfying it can be to set goals, complete
something themselves and be proud of
what they’ve done.
“And when they get stuck - they can’t work
out why the glue isn’t sticking or the paper
mache won’t dry - it gives them a chance to
hone their problem-solving skills.”
One of Perri’s favourite activities - for
boys or girls - is creating origami – the
Japanese art of folding paper into
decorative shapes or figures.
Another activity which is fun for any child
is making papier mache – although this
one is a bit on the messy side so have
some sheets or spare newspaper to hand.
All you need is a bucket, some newspaper,
wallpaper paste, flour or white glue
and a paintbrush (instructions are freely
available on the internet). “You can make
dinosaurs, money boxes... A favourite is
the papier mache pig money box. Simply
cover a balloon in your paper solution
(you pop it after) and use a cut up egg
box for feet, ears and a nose.”
You never know, it may bring out the
artist in you too.
Other crafty ways to keep your kids
entertained:
1. Make-at-home finger puppet kits.
Straightforward fun for all the family,
from Not On The High Street, £11, for
ages 7 and up.
2. Want to put a spring in your girly-girl’s
step? Invest in one of these glitter-tastic
fairydomes from Galt Toys. £7.99. Suitable
for children over the age of three.
3. Both arts and crafts are involved in
creating this space mobile. First decorate
the planets then hang together. Suitable
for children aged over 3. £5.00, from
HobbyCraft
4. Kids love Hama beads which can
be pressed onto a special pegboard to
create patterns, images and even models.
Get started with this £16.99 starter kit
from Argos (suitable for children aged
3 and up).
5. The Cra-Z-Loom Collectors Case is the
ultimate storage item for looming fans.
Including 1800 multi-coloured rubber
bands neatly divided into compartments
for different colours, £9.99, John Lewis,
for ages 6 and up.
crafts for kids
TO
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