Group B Streptococcus [GBS] is the most common cause of life-threatening infection in newborn babies in the UK. Although still very rare, it can cause meningitis, blood poisoning and pneumonia and the number of babies being born with this infection has risen 50% in seven years. It can lead to deafness, blindness, cerebral palsy and in severe cases, death. Routine tests are already carried out in some countries and – whilst in opposition – Prime Minister David Cameron tabled three Early Day Motions calling for testing on the NHS. So far his Government has done nothing. As the UK National Screening Committee debates on whether or not pregnant women should be routinely tested for Group B Streptococcus, Jenni discusses the issue with obstetrician Professor Philip Steer and mother Charlotte Cheshire, whose son Adam contracted GBS.

You can get your free test kit from us here…

The data, published by the NHS Information Centre covering 167,300 pregnancies, showed 20% of women in the North East were smokers when they gave birth, compared with 6% in London.

The overall figure for England is 13.4%, down from 15% in 2006-07.

Smoking in pregnancy is linked to low birthweight and premature delivery. Of the pregnant women in England who classed themselves as smokers at the time of giving birth, rates varied from 2.8% in Brent, London, to 30.3% in Blackpool. Smoking rates were higher in every northern strategic health authority, compared with those in the south.

The data was provided by GP practices via 149 primary care trusts.

MumStuff – Bloomin’ Natural Cleanser (Pregnancy Skincare) 100ml Our exclusive, Bloomin’ Natural Cleanser for Pregnancy Skin, has been specifically developed to ensure a lovely deep and revitalising clean with no harsh chemicals.

MumStuff – Bloomin’ Natural Organic Moisturiser (Pregnancy Skincare) 50g Are you worried that chemicals in every day products might have an adverse effect on your pregnancy skin? Try our organic Bloomin’ Natural Moisturiser with ylang ylang and lavender essentials oils for beautifully soft skin.

MumStuff – Bloomin’ Natural Aloe Face Mask (Pregnancy Skincare) 50g Why not try our Bloomin’ Natural Aloe Face Mask, with organic lavender and ylang ylang, to give your face a natural revitalise and refresh? Great for when those hormones are raging!

Mothers and their supporters have come together to raise awareness of the withdrawal of funding from the Baby Cafe and Mum to Mum Breastfeeding Support in Northampton, and collate plans with the aim of saving them.
With your help and support we hope to keep the Baby Cafe open and Mum to Mum Breastfeeding Support running to help even more mothers and their babies to breastfeed.

Northampton’s Baby Cafe opened in 2004 and since then 1600 mothers and their babies have been helped and supported to breastfeed.
As things stand at the moment the Northampton Baby cafe will close on the 30th March. The Mum to Mum Breastfeeding Support Project is a pilot project and is due to end on the 30th April.
The PCT are not planning to continue funding these schemes, and are looking for new ideas to support services for the year 2012/2013 and as any new contract has to go through a lengthy procurement process it is looking very unlikely that anything will be commissioned in time to prevent the closure of the Northampton Baby Cafe and the ending of the Mum to Mum Breastfeeding Support project.
If people are minded to complain to their MP, the press, the PCT the Council etc then they can cover the closure of both services.
The crucial point for people to make is that at the moment the PCT have not commissioned any breastfeeding support services for the coming year.
We collect *short* testimonials about why the Baby Cafe and Mum to Mum support is invaluable. We can present them to the powers that be, possibly with a petition too. Please send to babycafe@lemonpie.ukfsn.org
Does anyone have any comments or suggestions?
www.tinyurl.com/savebabycafe – Link to a petition – also, on Twitter @save_baby_cafe, and facebook group Save Northampton’s Baby Cafe.
Thank you so much for your support.
Breastfeeding Mums xx

We are looking for new articles for our soon to be revamped Reading Room. The articles can be as long or as short as you wish and we’ll publish any that will be relevant to our customers. In return we will add your logo, contact details and link to your website at the end of the article and publicise it through FB, Twitter and our Newsletter. We’d especially like to hear from small businesses and mumtrepeneurs.

How red did I go???

Anyone else have any embarrasing stories to share – I’m sure we can find a prize for the funniest one!

2012 organiser Locog has said every child, including babies carried in their parents’ arms, must have a ticket.

According to the London Evening Standard, a press spokesman said the Olympics helpline had received calls from pregnant women and expectant fathers whose babies will be a few weeks old when the Games start. They have been told they can try to buy an extra ticket for their chosen event otherwise the infant will be excluded.

Locog risks appearing anti-babies compared with other organisations. It is common practice for airlines and train companies to allow babies to travel free of charge as long as they sit on their parents’ lap.

The issue has attracted fury on the Mumsnet website. One woman said: “The whole thing is ridiculous, there are people who bought tickets before their babies were even conceived – how are they supposed to know to buy a ticket for a child that doesn’t exist yet?”

And an expectant mother wrote: “There are no children’s tickets for the horse jumping so I have to pay £95 to have a three-month-old in a sling!!!”

Another woman accused the organisers of discrimination: “It is generally accepted that a new baby is an adjunct of its mother, especially if breastfeeding.”

Just use the code SOCIALMUM at the checkout (valid today, 24 Jan 2012 until 11pm).

So get shopping and don’t forget there is FREE delivery on all orders over £30! Spend under £30 and postage is only £1.95 and many of our small items are postage free.

*The only exclusion to the discount is the Kensington Breastfeeding Chair.

The service – which charges just £2.20 to £3 for each delivery – was set up in 2010 by Fikri Nauval, 40, who runs a cargo and document shipping business. He was inspired by his own wife who used his couriers to send her breast milk when she had to return to work.

Febby Kemala Dewi, 29, is one of the growing band of young mothers who grasped the opportunity to use Mr Nauval’s service.

The IT consultant found it difficult to pump enough milk for the whole day before she left for work in the mornings after she had to return to her central Jakarta office when her three months’ maternity was up.

Now she can pump the milk and send it home at lunchtime, which her mother uses to feed eight-month-old Ashalina Putri when the courier makes his delivery.

“I have to work, but at the same time I can feed my baby,” said Mrs Dewi.

I wonder if that will take off here…?