Some women can find themselves ‘stuck’ after hovering or by simply getting up from a chair. This intense pain travels along the leg and therefore some think this could be related to sciatica.

During pregnancy, sometimes as soon as the first semester and until right after giving birth, twinge and pinch like pains can be felt in the back.

The pelvis is painful and the pain can only be felt from one side and from the buttock to the tight or from the hip to the lower abdomen. This very much look like a sciatica except that the pain is not felt all the way to the feet and is not constant as a change of posture can relieve it.

Where is the pain coming from?
Unlike sciatica where only vertebral pinching or inflammation cause the pain, it is a wide range of factors that can affect the sacroiliac region, some are directly attributable to pregnancy, and it is those that are responsible for the pain. The sacroiliac region is located at the junction of the spine and pelvis. In some women, the region is clearly identified externally by two dimples in the lower back. Nerves are very close to the sacroiliac joints and can be trapped in these places which is manifested by a powerful radiating pain.

What are the factors?
The main factor is an hyperlaxity caused by pregnancy hormones (relaxin andestrogen) that will lead to joint instability at the sacroiliac region and the symphysis pubis (which is at the meeting of the front pelvic bones). Another factor may come from a change in the centre of gravity, accompanied by a postural change due to weight gain. This can cause a strain on the sacroiliac joints. Finally, there are natural predispositions (pronounced instep, innate hyperlaxity..) or accidental (fall, public accidents…) which would influence the severity of the pain. Due to these factors, the joints of the pelvis become too mobile and move improperly creating muscle tension around the area and may cause inflammation. Close nerves are then compressed between strains and inflammations manifesting acute radiating pain.

What are the treatments?
Depending on the severity, there are three types of treatments.

In the simplest cases, such as a hyperflexibility, learning how to ‘lock’ the pelvis is key to the treatment. Muscles are used to ‘block’ and strengthen the pelvis. We relearn how to move, how to turn around by ‘block’, how to not pull your back nor pushing in your stomach to avoid wrong movements.

Some easy and straightforward exercises to do at home allow to loosen up and therefore relieve the pain.

A restraining belt of the basin can also help keep the pelvic stability during daily activities.

In the event that the basin remains in a twisted position , through excessive movement or after delivery, and the dimples are then more horizontal, osteopathic techniques can then return the Basin in place and relieve pain. Know that all osteopaths do not work with pregnant women, but some have made it their specialty and will relieve you during pregnancy.

In very rare cases where the pelvic bone is very unstable (often after an accident), strict rest is recommended . After pregnancy, it may sometimes be necessary to resort to surgery to stabilize the pelvis.

If you feel any of these pains, during or after your pregnancy, you can make an appointment with our specialised physiotherapist who will do a complete assessment and a targeted rehabilitation in order to relieve your pain.

The treatment can be done during or after pregnancy.

For more information or to make an appointment, you can call on 07748647355 or visit

www.mummysphysio.com

Marilyne Lopez, Chartered physiotherapist at Mummy’s Physio

Pelvic girdle pain is a post from: Essentials for Baby

Massaging the baby is by far the kind of treatment the most enjoyable for the baby and it is extremely beneficial to his/her well-being and development.

Used instinctively by mothers around the world for hundreds of years, we now know, thanks to several studies, the benefits of massage on infants.

Image: Clare Bloomfield / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The first therapeutic benefit is the action on the digestive system. Many babies during the first months of their life experience suffer digestive problems, constipation, colic or gas. A specific stomach massage can drain the digestive system and help babies to be gently released thereby avoiding pain and facilitating their transit. The massage must meet very strict rules in order to follow the path of the colon and the direction of its content to be released. This massage is extremely effective and quickly soothes the baby when done correctly.

Another benefit of massages is the relaxing effect it has on the baby. The passage of the hands on different parts of the body stimulates the skin receptors which reassures the baby and calms him/her. This massage is even more effective on babies who experience sleep problems as it calms their anxieties and allows a less disturbed and deeper sleep. A baby who sleeps well also means less tired parents.

This massage also stimulates the baby’s circulatory system and improves the elimination of toxins from the lymphatic system which increases the overall vitality.

Babies make their first tactile experiences in the early months of their life. Therefore, the stimulation of the skin receptors also increases their neuro-motor development and allows them to develop faster their gesture and walk. This is an important asset for babies with a slight delay.

A baby massage can be done by an experienced physiotherapist but given that this is a routine activity, it can be taught to the mother who will then be able to do it herself. However, it is important to respect the massage’s technique as some parts of the massage should be done very precisely in order not to go against the digestive system circulation or touch the baby’s sensitive points. At Baby Physio we offer massages performed by a physiotherapist who also offers a specialised course in four sessions to teach parents the essential gestures and those to be avoided.

The fact that the mother and / or dad make the massage themselves, strengthens the bond they have with their child. The relaxing effect increases for parents and children who take time to share a moment of complicity and calm through a gentle cuddle. It also allows the baby to feel the love and attention her mom or dad have for her, which is certainly the most important effect of this massage.

For information on baby massage course, visit www.babyphysio.com or call on 078 2455 3765.

James Turgis
Paediatrics Physiotherapist

Benefits of therapeutic massage on babies is a post from: Essentials for Baby

Different baby shower gift ideas

When you are making a baby shower gift ideas, it is always a good idea to remind your friends what your baby needs. Here are a few ideas:

• Linens - One of the useful baby gifts are linens. Your friends can buy linen gifts such as a blanket, towel, crib sheet, bumper pad, and other beddings. These gifts can be useful since the newborn baby is mostly at sleep. Just make sure that the quality of the bedding sets are made with good fabric materials. This will add comfort and protection to the baby.
  
• Clothing - Next to the list of baby shower gift ideas is baby clothes. Parents often receive baby clothes because it is convenient and practical. Baby clothes are one of the most common gifts even today. When buying baby clothes, just give your friends clear tips about the size of the clothes that will fit. Another thing to consider when buying baby clothes is the color. Traditionally, when you are giving a gift to a baby boy, blue should be the color. When you are giving a gift to a baby girl, on the other hand, pink should be the color. You can also choose versatile and safe colors such as green and yellow.

• Baby gift basket – Adding to the list of baby shower gift ideas are baby gift baskets. If you don’t want to name particular items, then this gift basket might be just perfect. These usually include feeding bottles, baby shampoo, baby soap, baby cream, diapers and more. These are some of the things that a baby needs on a daily basis.

• Baby monitor – This gift is perfect not just for babies but also for parents. This gift will greatly help parents in monitoring the breathing and crying. This way, parents will still be updated even if they are on the other side of the room.

• Baby car seat- This gift is a bit expensive and not normally part of a baby shower, but a good baby car seat will provide safety and protection to a child in case of any car accident. And it is a must for any newborn so it is a good idea to include it.

Things to remember

These are just a few quick baby shower gift ideas, but much more could be added – just check our baby checklist for more ideas. Just remember that when you organize a baby shower, it is always important to provide context and give suggestions that can make our life easier. Ask your friends for gifts that will be valuable to you and the baby. After all, the main reason for parents to organize a baby shower is to share the joy of parenthood and to get some help from the friends.

Looking for Baby Shower Gift Ideas? is a post from: Essentials for Baby

One product that is devised to function for this purpose is the Gro Clock Sleep Trainer. This device is a clock with a glowing screen that helps indicate time with the use of images. Since kids do not yet know how to read time, images of sun and stars are provided in the Gro Clock Sleep Trainer to indicate if it is already morning. The twelve glowing stars representing each hour of the day will go out one by one as time passes by. When morning time arrives, the display will change from blue to yellow. Instead of showing images of stars, the display will change into a sun. Gro clock is a simple but fun solution for helping toddlers understand whether it is still too early to get up or not.

Advantages of a sleep trainer

Purchasing a Gro Clock Sleep trainer has a lot of advantages. Telling time has never been more fun with this device. Kids usually cannot appreciate the function of a clock because they find the numbers in each dial too confusing. Gro Clock sleep trainer simplifies time with the use of images that change and disappear depending on the time of the day. And who knows, by the time your child learns the different numbers, he or she might be able to tell you the correct time because you have already introduced the concept with Gro Clocks.

Another good thing about this device is that it is adjustable to your preferred length of time. If you have set morning to 7 a.m., your toddler need not bother you before this exact time comes. He will now that just when the clock glows yellow and shows a sun on the clock face will he get up to say Good Morning to everyone. Another good feature of this product is the intensity of the glow, that can be adjusted. Finally, this clock can still be used even after your kids grow up because it has the capacity to display digital time as well as an alarm feature.

A bonus

Upon buying a Gro Clock Sleep trainer, customers will be surprised to know that a Sleepy Farm Story book is included. It is an educational book wherein the main character is a pig that grew very tired from lack of adequate sleep. Other items included in the package include a power adaptor and instruction manual. Overall, Gro Clocks are a unique solution so that every household member will have a wonderful sleep.

Gro Clock Sleep Trainer: Putting Your Baby to Sleep is a post from: Essentials for Baby

The cause of colic in babies is unknown although there are several theories and opinions about it. Most people believe that a baby experiences colic when its intestines are working too hard, another is that because the babys bowel movements may be too slow and traps air inside the intestines and make it expand. Some people also believe that when a baby eats too much or takes in food too fast or swallows the food without burping, air might get into the stomach and may cause colic. The diet of the mother is also one of the things that might cause colic on the baby. When a mother consumes food and beverages that produce lots of gas like coffee, chocolate, tea, apples, plums, onions, cabbages, orange juice and spicy foods, the gas could be transferred to the baby through breastfeeding.

Baby colic signs

If a baby is experiencing colic, there are some signs to be watchful about. When the baby is crying loudly for two to three hours and it seems like nothing can comfort the baby, when the baby is crying at certain times of the day on different days, when the baby is having some difficulty in defecating and when the baby pulls up his feet and clenches the fist because of apparent stomachache. The stomach of the baby might also rumble and produce wind. Colic in babies usually starts within two to three weeks after birth and lasts up to three months.

Like the cause of colic in babies, the exact treatment is also unknown. But there are many things that parents can do to make their baby feel better and more comfortable. Rocking the baby on his or her cradle, on the parent’s arms or lap could make the baby feel more secure and calm. Holding the baby close might also help because of the body heat. Gently massaging the tummy area of the baby could also ease the pain; it could be done by massaging the tummy in a circular motion and moving the hand form left to right. Putting on a soothing music or singing songs like lullabies to be the baby might also help in making him or her comfortable and calm.

Infacol: a solution to relieve colic in babies

Another effective cure for colic is the Infacol Colic Relief. It is an oral suspension that has been carefully formulated to relieve colic in babies and to ease the pain and discomforts cause by it. Infacol also assists in bringing up the wind from the stomach of the baby. It has a natural orange flavor so the baby will enjoy its taste. This relief from colic is free from sugar, alcohol and colourant so it is safe to give to newborn babies.

About Infacol:

• To use from birth onwards
• No sugar, alcohol or colourant
• Infacol has been formulated to relieve wind, infant colic and griping pain.
• Pleasant orange flavour
• Each bottle contains enough liquid for up to 100 doses
• Comes with a handy integrated dropper
• Clinically proven to significantly reduce the frequency and severity of crying attacks associated with colic.

Colic in Babies: How to Help Your Child is a post from: Essentials for Baby

A car seat, also known as an infant safety seat or child restraint system, is designed to protect travelling children from injury or even death in an event of a car accident. And of course, car seats are bought and installed in the cars by the parents, because the large majority of new cars do not necessarily come with a car seat when it is purchased. In the United Kingdom, just like in all fifty states in the US, the law requires children under the age of seven to be secured in car seats made for children. As a responsible parent, you should provide your young children with such.

Therefore, buying proper car seats for infants is essential to keep your baby safe when you are going out on car rides. Here are a few tips to find a good one:

• You can choose between car seats for infants or convertible car seats. Infant car seats are small with handles for carrying the baby. On the other hand, convertible car seats are quite bulky,
• Keep in mind your baby’s height, weight, and age when buying the car seat.
• Take note of the features you want in the car seat.
• Make sure that the car seat you choose will fit and can be installed properly in your car.
• To save a few dollars, you can compare the prices of car seats in stores and from online retail websites.

When you look for car seats for infants online, you will encounter a lot of brands. Here are a few you can choose from:

Graco Snugride Infant Car Seat

The Graco Snugride Infant Car Seat features a 5-point harness, EPS energy absorbing foam, and a stay-in-car base. It ensures a comfortable care ride for your baby because of the infant head support and the 180-degree rotating canopy. It also serves as a baby carrier because of the uniquely-designed carrier handle. It also has an easy-to-read level indicator which will tell you if you have installed it properly.

Specifications:

• Top rated for both safety and ease of use by leading consumer magazines
• 5-point harness
• Convenient stay-in-car base
• EPS energy absorbing foam
• Crash tested

Britax B-Safe Infant Car Seat

The Britax B-Safe Infant Car Seat has side impact protection and energy-absorbing foam liner which will protect and shield your baby in a car accident. It also has a 5-point harness, removable seat pad, and extra large canopy to provide safety and comfort. It is also easy to install, remove, and carry because it features an ergonomically-designed handle, a built-in lock-off, and push-button lower LATCH connectors. This car seat is also ideal if you already have a Britax B-series stroller because of the click-and-go adapter system.

 Specifications:

• Side impact protection distributes crash forces, shields from vehicle intrusion and contains the head and body
• Tangle free, five-point harness distributes crash forces across the strongest parts of the body and provides a secure fit
• Energy-absorbing foam liner absorbs and distributes crash forces
• Stroller compatible design-integrated click and go adapter system works with Britax “B” series strollers
• Lightweight and engineered for vehicle and stroller compatibility

Maxi-Cosi Mico Infant Car Seat

Included in your choice of car seats for infants is the Maxi-Cosi Mico Infant Car Seat. It has a lightweight design that features side impact protection, a 5-point harness system for security, and a Cozi-Dozi infant insert for added comfort.

Specifications:

Car Seats for Infants: Security Comes First is a post from: Essentials for Baby

Having a baby does not mean that you have to stay indoors all the time to take care of your baby. As a parent, you still need to make sure that your baby is well exposed to the outside environment, aside from the fact that you will have other responsibilities requiring you to go outside the house (grocery shopping, errands, a cup of tea with friends, family lunch). From the moment your baby is born, you will need quality baby strollers and car seats to meet the mobility and safety needs of your tiny tot.

What to Look for in Baby Strollers and Car Seats

There are a lot of different types and models of baby car seats and strollers available in the market. Given a lot of choices, it is important to narrow down your search by looking for specific features that will help you best.

• Safety belt – The safety and security of your baby is the most important thing that you need to consider especially if it involves movement. Look for strollers and car seats that have durable and secure safety belts. It would also be an advantage to look for one that is adjustable. Make sure that the harness or belt can safely secure or hold your baby in place.

• Washable fabric – Sometimes it is simply unavoidable that your baby will have slips with diaper leakages and other stains from food and drinks. Getting a stroller and a car seat that has a washable fabric will make it easier for you to clean it.

• Height and weight specifications - Get a stroller and a car seat that allows you to have optimum size and weight specifications so that when your baby starts to grow, the stroller and car seat will be able to sustain your baby changing height and weight. This will also allow you to save money on replacements.

• Comfort – Since your baby is still very delicate, choose baby strollers and car seats that would bring the most comfort for your baby. Check the fabric, material, and padding among others. Make sure that even when your baby starts moving around, he or she will still be comfortable.

These are some of the things that you first need to consider in looking for strollers and car seats. If you want to get the best out of the best, try searching for pushchairs from McLaren, Chicco, and Bugaboo. When it comes to car seats, get your hands on products offered by Britax, Masi Cosi, and Graco. These companies offer convenient, comfortable, and high-quality baby strollers and car seats that would meet the needs of your little prince or princess.

Chicco Liteway Stroller: a favourite among parents

In Kiddicare Lite Way is considered a best buy due to good balance between quality and price. Described as “ultra light and compact stroller that combines comfort for the child and functionality for the parents”, positive reviews generally outline its practicability since it is a good match to use in different situations. Take  a look at the specifications:

FEATURES:

• Umbrella folding.
• Back rest has 5 positions and can be adjusted with one hand.
• 2 position leg rest
• Rucksack/storage basket
• Swivel front wheels.
• Rain-cover included.
• Suitable from birth – 3 years
• Open dimensions – 46.5 x 87.5 x 103 cms
• Folded dimensions – 29 x 29 x 105 cms
• Weight – 7 kg

Chicco Liteway Stroller – Garnet Specifications

• Age Range: Birth – 3 Years
• PACKAGE DEAL: NO
• Colour: Red
• Folded Dimensions: 29 x 29 x 105 cms
• Footmuff: Yes
• Open Dimensions: 46.5 x 87.5 x 103 cms
• Reversible Seat: No
• Weight: 7 Kg
• BRAND: Chicco

• CATEGORY: Pushchairs

• PRODUCT REVIEW NAME: Chicco Liteway Stroller – Garnet
• REVIEW RATING: 4.5
• NUMBER OF REVIEWS: 14

Baby Strollers and Car Seats in the UK is a post from: Essentials for Baby

A good baby nasal aspirator or unidoses of physiological serum, two items so difficult to find in London?  Baby Physio has the solution. We just opened an e-shop on www.babyphysio.com:

When baby is ill he needs to get as much oxygen as possible. But when the mucus obstructs the upper airways, it becomes very difficult for the oxygen to arrive to your baby’s lungs.

Baby starts loosing appetite because he can’t breath while eating and he cannot sleep properly because of this discomfort.

Therefore, before feeding your baby, you must clean the upper airways and repeat this operation before sleeping times, to let baby breath better, eat better and sleep better and longer to recover faster.

A good and efficient baby nasal aspirator is not easy to find in London, that’s why we opened an e-shop with french baby products for mothers living in the UK to have access to the best products available for their babies.

After trying many items, we chose the baby nasal aspirator / vacuum/ baby nose pump called  Physiodose
• It has a powerful capacity of aspiration.
• The tip is ergonomically design to protect baby’s nose
• It is easy to clean and sterilise the tips (it comes with three) to re-use them

To blow your baby’s nose, you will need to use physiological serum which will liquefy the mucus so it can be sucked out easily.
Physiological serum can also be found on our e-shop.

You can find those products go on www.babyphysio.com at the bottom left of the menu.
James Turgis, BabyPhysio, Chartered physiotherapist

Presenting BabyPhysio eShop is a post from: Essentials for Baby

Mummy’s Physio is a French home visit physiotherapy practice specialised in ante and post natal treatments. We offer a unique service of home visits in London so you can relax in the comfort of your home.

Giving birth is the most wonderful time in a women’s life, but pregnancy and labour have a big impact on the body and mainly on the pelvic-floor. Baby’s weight, hormone increase and child birth are responsible for muscles stretch and loss of tonus, bringing along serious consequences if untreated such as incontinence, prolapsed womb, back pain, reduced sexual sensation. Perineum is certainly one, if not the most important muscle for a woman. It is the muscle holding the womb, the bladder, its tonus allows continence and it is the base for a good back health. A stretched perineum will not be able to maintain all these functions and will also decrease normal sexual sensation. In France, receiving treatment for pelvic floor rehabilitation after giving birth is the norm, while in the UK, many mothers are not aware of this treatment and think that the consequences of pregnancy are normal and cannot be reversed. We have often heard mothers saying “it is normal, my mother had the same problems” even though today not a single women should suffer these problems.

The aim of pelvic floor rehabilitation:
Pelvic-floor rehabilitation will allow you to regain the strength and the tonus of your muscles to avoid any complications in the future. If you are suffering from any childbirth related symptoms like incontinence (while coughing or while exercising etc.), even after several years, pelvic floor rehabilitation is the solution and will avoid you surgery to fix the problem. The physiotherapist will determine a personalised treatment based on your medical background, the course of your pregnancy and the method of childbirth as well as on your level of awareness of your muscles. The level of awareness is one of the key elements for a successful re-education because a lot of women are not able to feel and control this muscle as they should. This is the first thing that the physiotherapist will teach you through simple exercises.

What are the different kind of pelvic floor rehabilitation:
A different kind of re-education can be offered – depending on which one you are most comfortable with-. It consists of a stimulation using probe, feedback, manual re-education, the contraction of the muscle itself as well as hypopressive gymnastics, which is the most modern and certainly the most efficient technique.

Hypopressive gymnastics is based on different postural exercises which need to be done in specific positions in order to use the internal pressure of your body to tone, your pelvic floor muscles, your abdominal muscles and your lower back muscles at the same time. This new technique, will allow to tone up your pelvic floor, regain a healthy lower back and return to a flatter stomach in a perfectly secure way for your body.

When is the good time to start pelvic floor rehabilitation:
You can start your pelvic floor rehabilitation at different periods. Beginning to exercise before childbirth is beneficial for the mother to be as the awareness of this muscle will facilitate labour.

After childbirth you have to wait at least six to eight weeks before starting any re-education or sports. It is very important not to start any sport with a weak pelvic-floor because it would increase the stretch of the perineum and increase symptoms such as incontinence. After this period of six to eight weeks you may start your pelvic floor re-education whenever you feel ready for it.

Once your pelvic floor is strong you can start abdominal toning by yourself or with the help of our specialist.

We are aware that pelvic floor re-education is a very intimate issue and could feel a little embarrassing for many. This is why our specialist is a woman and we offer home visits only for you to be able to relax and feel good in the comfort of your home. It will save you time and stress, which is very important for new mothers with a busy schedule.

We also offer treatments for: Pelvic floor rehabilitation, Back pain, Manual lymphatic drainage -for swollen legs and feet and against cellulite-, Abdominal toning and we help you getting back into shape.

Because every woman should have a pleasant pregnancy, at Mummys physio we are here to make this possible.

For appointment and information you can contact us on 07748647355 or visit www.mummysphysio.com
James Turgis, BabyPhysio, Chartered physiotherapist

Pelvic floor re-education, the key of well-being after pregnancy is a post from: Essentials for Baby

Baby Physio is a team of physiotherapists specialising in paediatrics and particularly in chest physiotherapy. We offer home visits only to avoid any risks of contamination for your baby.

Winter is back, again, bringing along with it cold, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, runny nose, chesty cough and respiratory problems.
For parents who are not used to this type of illness, it can be a little scary, especially when the baby loses appetite and the sleep pattern is disrupted.

Weak abdominal muscles don’t allow babies to cough strongly enough to get rid of the mucus in their lungs. Depending on the illness, mucus either runs down from the nose to the lungs or it is directly secreted by the lungs. Then, if the mucus stagnates in the lungs and stay untreated, it sometimes leads to chest infection respiratory distress and subsequently to the use of antibiotics. Chest physiotherapy can help to avoid all this discomforts. It is a manual and none intrusive technique which has finally arrived in England, but has widely been used in France, USA and Switzerland for a long time.

Baby Chest Physioterapy Explained
The aim of chest physiotherapy is to clean baby’s lungs and upper airways from the mucus restricting normal breathing, sleep pattern and eating.

The physiotherapist listens to the baby’s lungs with a stethoscope to find the location, the amount and the density of the mucus (thick or fluid). It will tell the physiotherapist which rhythm, frequency and intensity of the massage must be given to the baby.
First, the physiotherapist will clean the congested nose of the baby with some saline and a small pump. While doing this, he will explain you how to do it yourself, as it needs to be repeated several times a day.

For physiotherapist, the movement consists of putting one hand on the baby’s belly – to compensate his abdominal weakness- and the other hand on the chest. The physiotherapist will follow the baby’s respiratory rhythm with the hand on the chest and will accelerate the expiratory flow. This will bring the mucus up to the throat. The physiotherapist will make the baby cough by stimulating the baby’s cough reflex, who will then expel the mucus. Repeating this action will clean baby’s lung from the mucus and will allow a regulated oxygen flow from lungs to blood.

This technique is efficient and painless for the baby. Cleaning the mucus from the lungs is a great relief for the baby, who will then be able to eat, breath, and sleep better. Chest physiotherapy will also reduce the length of the illness by more than half, as it will allow the baby to use his energy to fight the illness instead of using it to get rid of the mucus.

To book an appointment or for more information on any other treatment (feet deformation, torticollis & flattened head or neuromotor disorder), please visit our website: www.babyphysio.com or call on 07824553765

James Turgis, BabyPhysio, Chartered physiotherapist

What is baby chest physiotherapy ? is a post from: Essentials for Baby