Born Oct/Nov 2015

Hi again

Regarding the probiotics, I did a quick search to try remind myself what the problem is because all I could remember that it was to do with antibiotic resistance. When I replied last night it was quickly on my cell phone and I didn't double check. It's not about too much good bacteria being bad, it's about the potential for that good bacteria to transfer antibiotic resistant genes to other bacteria that might find its way into the gut (in small amounts, the disease causing bacteria in your gut is controlled by your good flora). Then what happens is that when you take antibiotics to treat an infection, your complement of good bacteria might be compromised, allowing bad bacteria (which has received antibiotic resistant genes from your supplement) to overpower the good bacteria and cause an infection which is difficult to treat. I've tried to explain it simply because microbiology can be quite confusing!

Here's an abstract from a published article which describes what I have mentioned:

Probiotics are live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host. The main probiotic bacteria are strains belonging to the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, although other representatives, such as Bacillus or Escherichia coli strains, have also been used. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are two common inhabitants of the human intestinal microbiota. Also, some species are used in food fermentation processes as starters, or as adjunct cultures in the food industry. With some exceptions, antibiotic resistance in these beneficial microbes does not constitute a safety concern in itself, when mutations or intrinsic resistance mechanisms are responsible for the resistance phenotype. In fact, some probiotic strains with intrinsic antibiotic resistance could be useful for restoring the gut microbiota after antibiotic treatment. However, specific antibiotic resistance determinants carried on mobile genetic elements, such as tetracycline resistance genes, are often detected in the typical probiotic genera, and constitute a reservoir of resistance for potential food or gut pathogens, thus representing a serious safety issue.

So the bottom line isn't that it's necessarily going to cause harm, but there is the risk and that's why I don't suggest using them unless you need to.

good to hear from you again HVDB i dont know too much about pro biotics other than my personal experience and i am definitely a believer!!! we use it very often in our house. even Leandi knows where her "maag pilletjies" are and will ask for them when her tummy is hard or a bit upset. especially because shes very prone to thrush i give them to her quite often. As for it preventing colic, i think it makes alot of sense! when Leandi was born she struggled alot with winds and cramps until one day i started giving her the probiotic liquid spray. (even though i breastfed and thats suppose to be like a magic cure??) it worked wonders!! this time ive already bought my spray for baby and its already packed in the hospital bag.
not too sure about if too much good can be bad? suppose its worth reading up about.

I haven't had any confirmation from my hospital, I did the booking 4 weeks ago. They had a problem with their scanner so asked me to bring a copy of my ID and medical aid card when I was around again. Then when I did that they said they needed to scan it in from the originals and told me to ask reception to scan them. Then reception also had a scanner problem, but they kept the photocopy. So I don't know what to expect.

@hvdb - good to hear from you. As far as probiotics go, the research is still sketchy. I think they can be helpful when they are needed (counteracting gut effects of antibiotics, improve gut flora where there may be imbalance or problems like certain colon diseases), but I don't recommend just taking them because I attended a talk where it was said that it can result in imbalances and possibly result in bad effects from too much "good" flora.

Ladies, what happens in terms of booking a bed
I booked my bed last week already, however i have not received anything from the hospital acknowledging my booking or even feedback that the documents have been received(i believe that has to be done) the lady that i have been dealing with at Parklane can be really frustrating, you have to send more that 1 email to get an answer, how do they work?
Ive never expirienced this with genesis

HI All,

Apologies for being so quite the last couple of weeks, they have been painting our house on in the inside and I was capped on my data! But it seems that everything is coming to an end now, just cleaning left.

I have been following all the post on email, and here is my input of what I can remember I have read!

Weight gain, my gynae says not to ready anything in weight gain, as long as baby is weighing in more or less they weight expected with growth, it is all that matters. Our little one is going to be tall and slender and we can expect a 3.2kg baby, I have not picked up any weight though. I am on the pregnancy shake just to add a little more to baby's diet. Every expecting mom is different with every pregnancy! There are no real rules regarding weight gain as long as both mom and baby are healthy.

Comments from other people! I ignore people quickly when it comes to certain comments. It is my life, my body, my baby... it has nothing to do with anybody and that is all I say to myself. I could not care less what other people think, if they find it so important to try and mingle in my life and decisions (like sleeping arrangements for baby) I just say, wow thank you that you find my life and decisions more important than your own. That usually shuts them up very quickly! I also try and not ready any meaning in tones... Remember WE ARE VERY sensitive at the moment and that things will bother us more than usual, but the tones other people use are most probably they way they always sound, and they are not in our shoes and they probably do not mean anything bad by it. Just take it all with a pinch of salt, and ignore tones. NO BODY understand what we are going through except us, even if they have been there before (they have forgotten what it feels like). We can not expect them to understand!

AFM: We had our pre-natal class this weekend. It was very informative and exciting. The nurse told us that she read some research regarding pro-biotics. I drank it some time ago (the 9 strain) for my IBS and it worked wonders for me then AND it kept fungal infections at bay. The nurse said that it has been proven now that should we drink it while pregnant and continue with it during breast feeding, it can help baby and prevent colic (can't remember all the terms she used). All I know is that when I drank it, it took away a lot of cramps caused by flatulence ect.. so I can just imagine what it can do for that tiny little stomach that needs to start working all of the sudden. PP maybe you can give some input on this?

My hospital bag is packed and ready to go, I just need to add the disposable panties... I bought some comfy PJ's at Woolies, but only 2 sets, I am not a person for such nighties, I usually sleep in a lot less clothing, so not going to buy more than that. I have a robe that has DH initials on it, it was given to him as a present, but he does not wear such things, and I love that robe for summer, AND whether it is a boy or girl the initials are the same as daddy's (which is CR) so I am happy using that one.

32 Weeks today, this Friday coming I have 6 weeks to go! Time is really really really close but it feels like it is going by soooooo slowly!

@Juanita - I'm also hoping for the time to fly now... I'm so looking forward to maternity leave! 32 weeks today so also 8 weeks (or less if she stays breech)!

I think you only realise how rude and judgemental some people can be when you're pregnant. It's your choice what to do as a parent if you think what you're doing is best. I have friends that didn't want their daughter sleeping at other people's houses so if they went for an evening out, they would go home if their daughter started dozing off where other parents might just ask if they can let their lo sleep on an available bed. It's their prerogative. I have other friends that do self soothing with their daughter and although I've decided that it's not something I want to do, I won't say to her that she's doing the "wrong" thing.

I used to joke with my SIL about how, because I didn't have children I could still pretend to know everything about parenting. Because it's easy to judge when you haven't been there, but sadly the converse is also true when people are even more opinionated because they have been there and apparently there's only one way to do things *rolls eyes*

Oh, will this be Leandi's first visit from the tooth fairy (or tooth mouse)? Congrats.

i know Kimmy, it really is unbelievable. hope these last couple of weeks fly by!!