Hooter Hiders, enormous tent-like accessories used to cover up breastfeeding are suddenly much in demand. Are they a brilliant idea, or a huge step backwards?

Now I must admit I find the phrase “Hooter Hiders” a little bit American and crude however it is an interesting article.  I think that anything that supports breastfeeding mums should be encouraged.  New mums don’t want to be stuck at home all day and many feel very self conscious breastfeeding in public.  If it gives a new mum more confidence to continue then it can only be a good thing.

At More 4 mums we sell the Mamascarf as mentioned in the article.  We also stock the Baby BuBu Nursing covers, pictured in cow print. There is also the Baby BuBu Poncho’s which were very popular last winter as they cover up mum and keep baby warm.  Poncho’s are going to be in fashion this winter so it will have a dual purpose, buy one now before they sell out !.

If you prefer not to use a cover you may want to take a look at our Breastvest Nursing Tummy Cover that allows you to cover your post-birth tummy and nurse in your own clothes.

What ever you decide is best for you please do your best to support other mums – we need to look after each other !

You can read the full article here Breastfeeding under Wraps

Do you have any helpful tips?  Please leave a comment and share with us.

Ways that may help to ease colic in some cases, and some tips on how to cope, are given below:

What causes colic?

The cause is not clear. The term ‘colic’ is used as it is thought the baby has pain in the abdomen. Research suggests this may be related to a change in the level of hormones that control the movement of gut muscles. Smoking during pregnancy and being in a smokey atmosphere (passive smoking) seem to increase the risk; these risks seem to have less effect however in breastfed babies. Some parents feel that they have done something wrong in some way. This is not the case.

Helping colicky babies and their parents

There is no treatment that cures colic. Every parent has their own way of coping and may find different things helpful. Try not to despair. You have to remember that there is nothing that you have done to cause the colic. Also, that colic usually goes away by 3-4 months of age, often much sooner.

One or more of the following may help.

• Check for causes of discomfort
  Make sure the baby is not cold, is not hungry, and is changed often enough.
• Reducing anxiety
  Even new-born babies may sense anxiety. This can make things worse. Try to create a relaxed atmosphere. If possible, have a rest and meal before the colic begins (usually in the evening). The more rested and relaxed you are, the better you will be able to cope.  Colic happens more frequently when the mother has post-nasal depression or feels very down after the baby was born. If this is the case, see your doctor for some help.
• Soothing
  It is natural to try and soothe a crying baby. Holding a baby through the crying episode may help to soothe. However, a colicky baby may simply not be comforted or soothed. At such times it is acceptable to leave a baby to cry for short periods if you are satisfied that he or she is not hungry, too cold, too hot, wet, or unwell. Remember – never shake a baby. If you need a break from the crying, or if you feel at the end of your tether, gently place the baby in his or her cot and leave the room for around 10 minutes. You could then do something which will help you – perhaps have a cup of tea, a snack or phone a friend.
• Time-out
  Friends or other family members may be willing to help. However, try to avoid several people fussing at once as this may cause anxiety. It may be sensible to leave the coping to one person at a time. Take it in turns if you have help. If possible, it is good to have ‘time-out’ and leave someone else to look after your baby for a few hours.  If you have a partner it can be worth taking it in turns to do the ‘night shift’. Many mums, even with partners, always try to do the nights themselves. This can be exhausting. It may be sensible to take it in turns to get a good night’s sleep. If you are breastfeeding, you may be able to express enough milk in the day for a feed to be given in the night by your partner.
• Lactose intolerance
  Research suggests that some babies with colic may be intolerant to lactose. Changing from cow’s milk to mIlk which is free or low in lactose can be tried (for example, soya milk or casein hydrolysate milk). These milks are sometimes called hypoallergenic. Another method which can be tried is to add lactase drops to the milk which breaks down lactose. Once things settle down you should try the baby with ordinary milk again, as lactose may play a part in keeping the bowel healthy in the long term.
• The diet of breastfeeding mothers
  If you breastfeed, there’s some evidence that it may help if you do not have cow’s milk, dairy products, eggs, wheat, nuts and caffeine (which can also be found in some painkillers). Some women find cutting out spices or garlic is also helpful, although there’s little scientific support for this. If there’s no improvement after you’ve made changes for a week, go back to your normal diet.
• What about medicines?
  If simple things don’t work, you could try a medicine called simeticone. Probiotics may be helpful. Dicycloverine used to be used but is now considered unsafe. Some people find gripe water helpful, but its use is not supported by research.

Popular but non-proven advice

The following tips are often given. However, the advice is based on individual experiences and no research studies have proved that they help. So, they may or may not help.

• Noise
  Some people say that ‘white noise’ helps to soothe colicky babies. White noise is background, non-specific noise such as that made by vacuum cleaners, washing machines, etc. You can even buy CDs of white noise which claim to soothe crying babies. There is a lack of research that proves that this works in most babies, but it may be worth a try.
• Rides and carrying
  Crying babies may settle on car journeys. It is possibly the white noise of the car engine and the gentle movements of the car that do the trick. Pram rides seem good too – it may be the movement that helps to soothe some babies. Or, simply walking with the baby in a sling or baby carrier may help to soothe.
• Complementary and alternative remedies
  Many alternative therapies are promoted and advertised for colic. Apart from a technique called minimal acupuncture (which involves very light pressure on the backs of the child’s hands) none have been proved to be effective with research studies, and they may be expensive. Note: not all alternative therapies are without risk. For example, some herbal products such as star anise have caused serious reactions in some babies, and are not recommended.

Do you have any helpful tips?  Please leave a comment and share with us.

What do you think, I would love to know your thoughts?

Every year almost 9 million children under the age of five die. We can all help change that. Passionate about Save the Children, the bloggers will be tweeting, creating video and photogalleries and writing about their experiences live and direct.

How can you help?

Nick Clegg will be at the UN Summit in New York at the end of September with a crucial opportunity to ensure world leaders re-commit to the Millennium Development Goals – which are currently way off track.

Make as much noise as possible.  Follow the bloggers on their journey, watch their videos and re-tweet their story with #blogladesh hashtag.  You can follow one of the blogs over at Sleep is for the weak.

Sign the petition. They are aiming to collect 100,000 signatures. Together, we can stop needless child deaths.

(picture credit: GMB Akash/Panos)

Kingdom FM are presenting leading specialist baby companies, on hand to show you their latest products and services. With over 40 exhibitors bringing you the latest baby clothing and fashions, baby essentials and equipment as well as health professionals and advisors, Fife’s Baby Show has every aspect of being a parent covered.

We will be at the show with a selection of our Maternity and Nursing Goods on display.  If there is a particular item you would like to see please let us know.

Fife’s Baby Show, in association with Kingdom FM, Babyland Kirkcaldy and Fife Constabulary Road Safety Unit at the Rothes Halls in Glenrothes on Sunday the twenty second of August. Doors open at eleven and entry is free!

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Available in sizes XS to XXL these are very generously sized and will cover the largest bump.  Wear for your holidays as a cover up or with jeans and leggings as a tunic top.  They are Brand New with tags.

They retail at around $30 but are all priced at only £12.00 at More 4 Mums.  Remember we have great postage costs at only £1.50 flat rate per order.

If you would like to win your choice of dress just leave a comment below and we will pick a winner at random at 8pm on the 12th of August.

I have written a guest post over at Baby Budgeting on the subject if you would like to find out more about it all.  You can find the article here – Do you fancy being a Mystery Shopper.

This is a lovely little animated story I found on the Cbeebies Website.  Perfect for explaining all about your pregnancy to your 1st born child.

This is an animated story about pregnancy. The story is divided into chapters and the pregnancy is explained by a little boy called Sammy, whose mummy is expecting her second child. This is intended as a child-friendly tool to help parents explain pregnancy to their children.
You can find it at http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/grownups/familytime/mummyspregnant/

The health watchdog NICE has issued new guidelines encouraging women in England to attain a healthy weight before they get pregnant.  It also advises them against eating for two once they conceive.  It says almost half of women of childbearing age are overweight or obese, which could harm their child.  Many women feel they are offered confusing and conflicting advice about their health during pregnancy.

The guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence are aimed at cutting through that. They discuss weight and exercise before, during and after pregnancy.

If a woman is obese during pregnancy, she has an increased risk of developing serious complications like pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, miscarriage and stillbirth. She is also more likely to have a Caesarean section.
NICE says women with a body mass index of more than 30 should be encouraged to lose weight before they become pregnant. During pregnancy, losing weight can be harmful to the unborn child, so women are advised to eat healthily and to do gentle exercise.

Celebrity Role Models ?

After they have given birth, women are told they should lose their baby weight gradually. Experts from NICE say celebrities who regain their pre-baby figures very fast can put unrealistic pressure on ordinary mothers.

“Women should understand that weight loss after birth takes time, and physical activity and gradual weight loss will not affect their ability to breastfeed,” said Professor Mike Kelly, NICE public health director.

“Losing weight gradually can actually help women maintain a healthy weight in the long term.”

NICE also wants local authorities to offer women more opportunities to exercise, at an affordable price, and with creches for their children.

“There’s been an exponential increase in obesity among pregnant women,” said Professor Lucilla Poston, from King’s College, London, who helped develop the guidance. “It’s very worrying, as there are so many potential risks for the mother and her baby.”

The National Childbirth Trust welcomed the move to bring clarity to the issue. Chief executive Belinda Phipps said women were presented with a lot of conflicting advice about exercise.  It can set a worrying example, by encouraging new mums to embark on drastic weight lost programmes, which are not only unrealistic, but can also be very unhealthy,” she said.

You can read more information here and watch a video of some new mums views on the subject.

photo credit

For those who don’t have the time nor patience to get covered in paper glue and glitter, there are great sites which offer the possibility to create truly unique birth announcement cards – you can upload pictures of your new pride and joy, and create a gorgeous memorabilia, which some people (your mum) will probably end up framing!

When to send them
As soon after your baby’s birth as possible – although they do make a lovely keepsake, your birth announcement cards serve first and foremost to spread your exciting news far and wide…the longest you should wait is really 6 months or so.

What to write
This is completely up to you – you can write something creative and poetic, or simple and straightforward.  Typically, it’s best to include a short introductory phrase such as “We are delighted to announce the birth of’, the baby’s first and middle names, followed by the baby’s birth date, weight and length. Sign the card with the parents’ names, and any siblings’ names.

Do I have to put a photo on them?
This is entirely up to you but it does make for a much nicer keepsake should you include a photo. You can either use one large photo or lots of small ones; a photo of your baby the day they are born, or several showing the first few weeks/months of their life. Everyone loves to see baby pictures. It gives your family a chance to see your new bundle of joy, and will be appreciated by all – especially your loved ones who live far away, and can’t be there in person.

Remember, these birth announcement cards will be the first impression that your little one makes to the world around them so make it a lasting one.