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Posted by admin in Babies 0-6 months, General, Pregnancy on March 25th, 2015
Gone on maternity leave and need something to fill in the afternoons while you wait for your baby to arrive? We’ve rounded up our 10 favorite movies to watch during pregnancy. There’s some funnies, some that’ll bring a tear and lots of happy endings.
Posted by admin in Attachment Parenting, Babies 0-6 months, Pregnancy on March 18th, 2015
There’s a lot of product out there in the parenting world and a great deal of it you just. don’t. need. But some things are essential, here’s our list of 10 things you really do need for baby:
Posted by admin in Babies 0-6 months, General, How to, Pregnancy on March 18th, 2015
Having a new baby in the house is a real joy, all those “firsts” we look forward to, the peaceful times of cuddles on the couch and quiet walks before bed. But having a new baby also makes you surprisingly busy with all the care they require. Doing a little preparing and planning ahead can mean the difference between chaos and serenity. Some quick simple tips to help you save time and get some “me time” in are set out below.
Posted by admin in Babies 0-6 months, Explore Sydney, Pregnancy, Safety, Travelling with kids on March 15th, 2015
Considering the wide range of baby capsules and carseats available for sale or hire can make it difficult to choose – do you go for a baby capsule or is a carseat a better option?
Although convertible carseats are just as safe as a baby capsule and you get more use out of them we’d suggest that a baby capsule has many benefits over a carseat that are worth considering before you make your final decision. Many parents find baby capsules a practical and easy alternative for the safe transport of their baby for the first 6 months or so.
We see many parents who come in and have a baby seat already installed in their car but have found that taking their baby in and out of the seat when they arrive at their destination often disturbs the baby’s sleep and unsettles them. Having a baby capsule means you can take your sleeping baby straight from the car without having to wake them to move them to the pram.
Of course, the most important reason to choose a baby capsule is to ensure the safety of your baby when travelling in the car. Baby capsules are suitable from newborn until six or twelve months depending on the product and the capsule you choose. They are engineered to cocoon your baby with their high side walls, ensuring your child is secured safely within the capsule using a five point harness that is easy to adjust.
All our capsules for hire carry the Australia and New Zealand Standards AS/NZS 1754 sticker so you can feel confident the capsule meets Australia and New Zealand standards. Likewise, it is also important to make sure your capsule is properly fitted to your vehicle to maximise the safety benefits and minimise the risk of serious injury or death in the event of an accident. That’s why we offer free professional installation with all of our hire baby capsules.
Another major benefit of hiring your baby capsule is the ability to move the capsule in and out of the car while the baby is safely tucked inside. A base is installed into your car that the capsule clicks into, so you can quickly and easily move a sleeping child in and out of the car without disturbing the baby or playing around with straps. Baby capsules are generally quite light and fitted with a handle for easy manoeuvring. You can also hire pram adaptors so that you can drop your hire baby capsule straight onto your pram with just one click giving you a great deal of flexibility and freedom.
This freedom to effortlessly move a sleeping baby is particularly precious in these first months together with your baby. So, here at Rock-A-Bye Baby Hire we have a range of compatible prams and adaptors for hire that our capsules for hire can click into, allowing you to move your sleeping baby from car to pram and back again without disturbing their sleep.
Click here for our baby capsules for hire in Sydney range.
Click here to view our prams for hire in Sydney.
Our travel system (capsule and pram hire) range is here.
Hiring a TENS for your baby’s birth you can achieve an easier, less painful labour.
TENS is short for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. A TENS machine is generally a battery powered unit that emits little pulses of electrical energy via electrodes or sticky pads that are placed on the skin of the person using the machine.
TENS works bysending light electrical pulses of electricity into the body through the skin. Your body reacts to the impulses by releasing its own pain killing chemicals (endorphins).
The level of pain relief obtained depends on the individual. Some clients have reported that they required no other pain relief during their labours.
Unlike many TENS machines, our Obstar Obstetric TENS machine is designed specifically for use in childbirth. Its hugely popular and has a range of easy features:
We recommend you arrange to have the hire TENS machine delivered at least 2 weeks before your baby is set to arrive.
We suggest you start using your obstetric TENS unit as early as you can once labour begins, to allow time for your body’s endorphins to rise and counteract the pain.
For effective management of labour pain, place 2 electrodes just below your bra line; the other 2 electrodes should be placed just above the top of your underpants on either side of the spine. See image below.
Yes, you can try it before labour on your forearm to feel the different pulses. See the instruction book included in your hire pack for more details.
Yes, you can still use heat packs, massage, gas or pethidine. You can not use TENS if you are in the shower or bath.
We also sell brand new Obstar Obstetric TENS units and spare electrode pads, just have a look at our Buy page.
To book your hire unit you can pop one in your hire cart here: https://www.rockabyebabyhire.com.au/shop/tens-machines/
Or just email Danni at jess@rockabyebabyhire.com.au or call 02 9589 4942 and we can reserve one for you and send it to you ready for your baby’s birth.
Your first antenatal (pregnancy) appointment is exciting and is probably the longest time-wise of your appointments while you’re pregnant. The appointment is an opportunity for your caregiver to take your history and set up a schedule of ongoing appointments for the rest of your pregnancy. Its also the perfect time for you to get answers to any questions you might have. Some women are apprehensive about this appointment thinking that there may be uncomfortable, embarassing or invasive tests done but that’s generally not the case at all.
The date of your last period and the length of your cycles. This will help work out your baby’s expected due date (EDD). Don’t be surprised to find that the estimated due date that you are given is different to the one you might have found online: this is because there are more variables than just the date of your last period. Your OB or midwife may also offer you a dating scan, even if you’re certain of the date of your past period. Research has shown that when an EDD is calculated with the help of an early pregnancy scan, there tend to be fewer inductions for pregnancies that have progressed beyond 41 weeks, compared to dating using the last menstrual period alone.
You will be asked about any previous miscarriages, terminations or births.
A history of your health will be developed which may include some questions about close relatives’ health (ie. questions around diabetes, blood pressure etc). This is so that any health issues that may cause a problem in your pregnancy are identified early and certain screening tests are available for genetic conditions and you may wish to avail yourself of these.
There will be a couple of quite personal questions also. Your care provider needs to care for you holistically, for all of you, so questions around your emotional and psychological health as well as asking you if there is any domestic violence in your home or behaviours you are concerned about.
You will be asked where you want to have your baby. OBs and private midwives generally offer a choice of birth place (usually a choice of one or two hospitals they have visiting rights at) as well as homebirth options where they are available. It’s perfectly ok to be undecided at this first appointment and to ask for some time to do some research and decide later on.
This is the part that some people are concerned about, but you need not be. None of the tests are terribly invasive and you will almost always stay dressed
A urine test — this test is used to check for pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes.
A blood test — you will have a blood test which will include a full blood count and testing for various diseases.
A blood pressure check.
An ultrasound scan may be done if the equipment is present, otherwise you will be referred to an ultrasound clinic. The ultrasound is done to check your baby is doing OK, to see how many babies you are carrying and also to establish your EDD.
Listening to the baby’s heartbeat — this may be the first opportunity you’ve had to hear your baby’s heart. Its a very special moment and its such a shock to hear just how fast their little hearts beat!
Tummy examination — You may have a tummy exam on the outside of your belly just to check baby is growing properly and that your uterus is in the right place.
Once all the talking and testing is done you will have the opportunity to discuss any concerns you might have and ask any questions you would like to. An ongoing schedule of appointments will be set up so that you have regular appointments during your pregnancy that get closer together as your baby’s EDD gets closer, often every 4-6 weeks and eventually weekly till baby arrives.
Remember you don’t have to wait for your next appointment to speak to your care provider if something is bothering you. Most times there will be a number you can call as well as a 24 hour emergency number offered.