When you facilitate childbirth classes, there is a lot of information that is shared over the course of the class time together. Families are excited to learn all they can about the process and for many this is the first peek into this subject matter. They are amazed and excited at how the body works and curious about how things will unfold.

There are some fantastic facts about pregnancy, childbirth and their new baby, that when shared, always gets a lot of "oohs" and "ahs" from everyone. Here are my top ten amazing facts about the childbearing year.

We would love to hear your birth stories

Let us know who your birth heroes/zeros are and how these people influenced your birthing experience

email Lynne@babytalk.co.za

What is birth trauma?

'Birth trauma' is distress experienced by a mother during or after childbirth. While trauma can be physical, it is often emotional and psychological.

Birth trauma is not just about what happened during labour and the birth. It can also refer to how you, as the mother, are left feeling afterwards. Sometimes the effects of birth trauma can emerge and continue for some time after you've given birth.

Skin-to-skin contact is a key of the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative standards. It helps babies adjust to life outside the womb and supports mothers to initiate breastfeeding and develop close, loving relationships with their baby.

Have you ever been told you need to stop breastfeeding because you need medical testing or a medication? Or told that you cannot receive treatment until you are done breastfeeding? The good news is that most medications are compatible with breastfeeding, and for those few medications that are a safety issue there are usually acceptable substitutions. Although mothers are frequently told they need to stop breastfeeding (temporarily or permanently) to take a medication, this is rarely necessary.

Is your body sending you signals that you might have an unhealthy gut? If you struggle with abdominal discomfort, bloating, constipation, or diarrhoea

The LEGO Group has highlighted the importance of play and its value for children and the whole family. While toys may change with trends, LEGO® sets stand the test of time, tapping into the power of play to nurture a child’s imagination, build their confidence, and have remained constant for 90 years.

This was highlighted in the latest 2022 LEGO® Play Well Study*, which aims at providing a clearer understanding of what the simple, instinctive act of playing means in 2022 and to study both its evolution and its benefits to children and parents. Areas prioritized in the study include the power of play, sustainability, digital safety, and DEI (diversity, equity & inclusion). The survey polled over 55,000 parents and children in over 30 countries including South Africa and found that almost all parents think play helps children develop lifelong skills like creativity, communication, problem solving, and confidence.