You see, Rainbow ice-cream is a mix of vanilla, chocolate, strawberry (all yum) and then lime (not so yum) ice-cream. Dish up a bowl, it’s ice-cream so you’re naturally excited but then you hit the green lime parts and your whole ice-cream experience just seems tainted. You notice the green even more as it starts to melt and mix with the other flavours. As this begins to happen, it seems that all you can taste is the green and suddenly the other flavours don’t taste the same anymore.

This was similar to my first year. It didn’t take long to get used to the three flavours and I already loved chocolate ice-cream. I would try and scrape around the lime so that I wouldn’t get it but that wouldn’t work because then I’d just get upset as I tried so hard to remove the green.Eventually I realised, it’s best just to try another ice-cream flavour. One that you both like! That’s when year two rolled around and it was cookies and cream from then on!

Much like the pre-marriage and the first year were the first six weeks with my little one. The pre-baby stage is all about the birth. How is this bundle going to get out of the oven. We read, search, speak to professionals about the birth. Caesar, natural, natural, epidural? Another pre-birth topic is the baby room. What colour, what fabric? Do I go blue, pink or neutral? The birth is sometimes not how you planned or expected but the bundle arrives.  There’s so much to love about this little bundle- but there’s also a lot of lime!

Even for those to whom motherhood comes terribly naturally, your breasts are tender, you have to worry about whether they are producing enough. Bottle or breast, BOTTLE OR BREAST?  But the antenatal woman says breast and the pediatrician says bottle. AHHHHHH! There’s sleep deprivation which is a blog post on its own: one day feels like several days because you can’t remember when you last changed out of your pj’s. The crying, the pooping, the spewing! But…then the bundle smiles after six long weeks and “ding” I’d like a bowl of cookies and cream please?!

What’s fun to think back on now, is the superwoman complex I seemed to have at the beginning of both marriage and motherhood. I had to try and cook and clean, save the world too just show the world I CAN be a wife/mom. I really hope that “PJ power” doesn’t come back the second baby round.

As I read and hear about those who are nearing the altar or the birth bed, I’m reminded of those times. They really made me stretch myself but I got through it and for those who are nearing or in it, so will you!

Forest Gump was wrong- Life is like a bowl of Rainbow ice-cream.

Central

Cape Town
Birthworks
Karen Clark
Registered nurse & midwife
PR No. 0092444
We hire birth pools, birth stools, Tens machines & birth balls nationwide
(021) 785-5670 / 082 776 3622 / www.birthworks.co.za

Mouille Point
Thula Baby Centre
Heather Wood
Registered nurse & midwife
PR No. 0192031
Antenatal preparation classes, well baby clinic, home visits
(021) 434-2614 / 072 548 8506

Sea Point
Bella-Mia
Tania Wener
Perinatal instructor ICEA
PR No.
Birth preparation, nutrition, postnatal rehab, pelvic floor strengthening, core
083 408 8868
info@bellamiax.co.za

Gardens
Ruth Katzman
BSc Physiotherapy, IBCLC
PR No. 7222742
Physiotherapy for breastfeeding problems, hiring of Tens machine, pelvic floor rehabilitation
082 864 8232

Pinelands
Joann Lugt Childbirth Education
Joann Lugt
Registered nurse & midwife
PR No. 0880000032395
Antenatal classes, baby sign language workshops, postnatal visits
(021) 531-5422 / 084 879 8511

Northern suburbs

Milnerton
Be Prepared For Life
Devorah Gruss
Registered nurse & midwife
PR No. 8804559
Childbirth education classes for couples
(021) 552-5872 / 083 463 8114

Milnerton
Sr Lyns Baby Clinic at Milnerton Medi-Clinic
Lyn Smit
Registered nurse and midwife
PR No. 0016985
Well baby clinic offering immunisations, breastfeeding, weight & observation of newborns
(021) 529-9195 / (021) 552-8126

Milnerton
The Lactation Consultancy
Jean Ridler
RN, RM, international board certified lactation consultant
PR No. 8809068
Breastfeeding classes for parents-to-be, home consultations for breastfeeding problems, breastpump hire
(021) 556-9162 / 082 668 1082

Milnerton
Paula Pedersen
Qualified labour doula
PR No.
Certified childbirth companion for all births (home, hospital, water, vbac), breastfeeding support
083 334 2253 / www.paula.co.za / paula@paula.co.za

Tableview
Tenfold Baby Clinic
Jackie Butler
BCur Hons, registered midwife
PR No. 0880000056170
Antenatal classes, well baby clinic, breastfeeding support, immunisations, postnatal home visits
(021) 557-6066 / 082 297 2742

Table View
Robin Buck Physiotherapy
Angela Buck
BSc Physio
PR No. 0159263
Treatment of engorged breasts, cracked nipples, breastfeeding advice & infant massage
084 981 0232

Sunningdale
Blaauwberg Hospital
Delene Cloete
Registered nurse
PR No. 0880000018082
Antenatal classes
(021) 556-8027 / 072 470 0435

Sunningdale
Storks Nest Netcare Blaauwberg Hospital
Barbara Chambers
Registered nurse & midwife
PR No. 0880000003379
Antenatal classes, breastfeeding advice, well baby clinic, immunisations, milestones & development
(021) 554-9388/9

Melkbos
Marcha Izatt
RN, RM, RPN
PR No. 0880000087580
Postnatal care, breastfeeding counselling, home phototherapy
078 138 2040

Panorama
Panorama Breastfeeding Clinic
Justine Geiger
BSc Nursing, RN, RM, RCHN
PR No. 8853088
Antenatal classes, breastfeeding advisors, all baby & child immunisations till preschool
(021) 939-9720 / (021) 930-8397 / after hours helpline 083 703 7711

Panorama
Panorama Antenatal Classes
Danelia Kok
Reg midwife, comm health, nursing education & admin
PR No. 0880000118532
We offer Afrikaans and English antenatal classes at Panorama Medi-Clinic
(021) 938-2153

Goodwood
Storks Nest Clinic
Ronel Nortje
Registered nurse & midwife
PR No. 0880000161764
Antenatal classes, well baby clinic, breastfeeding support, vaccinations, baby massage
(021) 590-4196/1

Bellville
Jeanne Roux / Tucker Physiotherapy
Jeanne Roux
Registered midwife
PR No. 0880000093416
Antenatal & postnatal education, exercise, delivery & back care
(021) 957-6283 / (021) 948-1553

Bellville
Birth, Baby & Beyond
Rosemary Gauld
Registered nurse & midwife, internationally certified childbirth educator, international board certified lactation consultant
PR No. 8812608
Antenatal classes, breastfeeding private home consultations
(021) 910-0606 / 082 372 3348

Bellville
Sr Jenny’s Pregnancy Centre
Jenny Visser
RN, RM
PR No. 0024252
Antenatal classes, home & hospital births, postnatal & breastfeeding support
(021) 919-9000 / 082 508 5842

Durbanville
Baby and U
Merle Townsend
Registered nurse & midwife, internationally certified childbirth educator
PR No. 0080010078921
Antenatal classes – childbirth education – relaxed and informative classes
(021) 976-5740 / 072 266 8864

Durbanville
Durbanville Family Care Centre Breastfeeding Clinic
Jessica Commaille
RN, RM
PR No. 0880000157139
Fun childbirth education for moms and dads, well baby clinic, immunisations
(021) 975-3634 / 073 235 2869

Durbanville
All About Babies
Darol Wilmot
RN, RM, ICCE, CIMI
PR No. 8809747
Antenatal classes, all follow-up help birth – 6 years including feeding & immunisations
083 335 4653

Durbanville
Magical Mums Clinic
Riana Stander
Registered nurse & midwife
PR No. 8847398
Antenatal classes, well baby clinic, breastfeeding consultant
(021) 976-6477 / 082 771 4253

Durbanville
Proselect Mother & Baby Clinic
Rika Hoffman
Registered nurse & midwife
PR No. 0217743
Infant massage, immunisations, breastfeeding consultant, antenatal classes, family planning
(021) 979-1970 / 082 575 3918

Welgedacht
Welmed Breastfeeding Clinic
Suzette Viljoen & Alma Strever
RN, RM, BACur admin, comm health
PR No. 883870401
Antenatal classes, breastfeeding advice & weighing of baby, immunisations, baby massage, phototherapy
(021) 913-7024 / 082 674 1077

Kuils River
Storks Nest
Christine Swart
RN, RM, RCHN, RPN, CNP
PR No.
Childbirth education, well baby clinic, breastfeeding, diabetes clinic, immunisations
(021) 900-6250

Brackenfell
Susan de Wet
BCur, RN, RM, IAIM
PR No. 0880000226963
Presenting condensed antenatal classes (1 day) & specialising in multiple pregnancies
082 785 7770 / susandw@mweb.co.za

Brackenfell
Clicks Pharmacy Fairbridge
Silke Schmidt-Dumont
BCur
PR No. 8841810
Well baby clinic, breastfeeding advice, immunisations, family planning
(021) 981-1144

Malmesbury
Natalie Hanekom Privaat Baba Kliniek
Natalie Hanekom
Registered nurse and midwife
PR No. 0880000129186
Voorgeboorte klasse, fetalehart monitering, weeg van babas, immunisasies, borsvoedingskliniek, babamassering ens
(022) 487-2567 / 082 714 3276

Malmesbury
Mediese Sentrum
Jeannine Bruwer
GV, GVV, GGV, PGS
PR No. 1582607
Immunisasie kliniek & weeg van babas
(022) 482-4589

Piketberg
Sujalet
Suzanne Burger
Geveg verpleeg in verloskunde, algemene, psigiatrisie en vermeenskapverpleeging
PR No. 880013013
Voorgeborrte klasse en nageboorte hulp, wat bosvoeding insluit en immunisering
076 703 2803

Saldanha
Baby Basics
Julia Slabber
BSocSc Nursing
PR No. 0880008806187
Antenatal exercise & education classes
(022) 714-1427

Southern suburbs

Claremont
Kingsbury Hospital
Pauleen Nelson
Registered nurse & midwife, international board certified lactation consultant
PR No. 0880000066389
Breastfeeding education and support, antenatal & postnatal private home consultations
(021) 696-5791 / 084 082 9104

Claremont
Cindy Homewood
Registered nurse & midwife
PR No. 0880000098302
Breastfeeding counselling, infant & child nutrition advice, home visits
082 960 5940

Claremont
Lady Buxton Clinic
Registered nurse & midwives
PR No.
Mon – Fri: 9am – 12 noon / Tues: 2:30 – 5:30pm
Support and advice to parents on babyhood & childhood, immunisations, family planning
(021) 674-3110

Plumstead
Birth Options
Kate Christie
BSc Nursing
PR No. 8840873
Independent midwives, home & hospital births, antenatal care, antenatal classes, postnatal care, breastfeeding advice
(021) 761-9623 / 082 785 3877

Plumstead
Birth Options
Glynnis Garrod
Prof nurse & midwife
PR No. 8846502
Midwifery practice including home and hospital births, antenatal classes and postnatal care
(021) 761-9623 / 082 894 5934

Plumstead
Incredible Babies Clinic
Ceredwin Thomsen
Registered nurse & midwife & community health science
Well baby clinic, parenting support, breastfeeding weighing, immunisations, nutrition, home visits
083 303 5552 / (021) 761-9623

Rondebosch
Well Mother & Child Clinic
Louise Naude
Registered nurse & midwife
PR No. 8826277
Well baby clinic, breastfeeding care, immunisations, weighing, developmental screening, maternal support
(021) 689-6930 / 082 829 9788

Constantia
Constantia Antenatal & Baby Clinic
Lynne Heydenrych
BSc Nursing & midwifery, internationally certified childbirth educator, international board certified lactation consultant
PR No. 8814422
Internationally certified childbirth educator specialising in antenatal classes, breastfeeding baby clinic
(021) 715-2539w / (021) 715-2262h / 082 425 1151

Constantia
Kathryn Sutton
BSc Nursing, lactation consultant
PR No. 8813779
Breastfeeding consultations & home visits, well baby clinic
082 728 6629

Constantia
Healthwise
Suzanne Leighton
Aromatherapy, reflexology, reiki, yoga
PR No. 1060000216224
Baby & pregnancy massage, postnatal depression & bi-polar disorder
(021) 794-2738

Kenilworth
Perfectly Pregnant
Jill Mathew
Registered nurse & midwife
PR No. 8809224
Preparing for childbirth & parenting courses, paediatric CPR, antenatal & postnatal exercises
(021) 683-1404w / (021) 671-5294h / 072 329 0281

Tokai
McLeod & Orpen-Lyall Physiotherapy
Wendy Orpen-Lyall
BSc Physiotherapy
PR No. 0087483
Women’s health physiotherapy (pregnancy aches and pains and incontinence)
(021) 713-3766

Marina da Gama
Midwives Inc
Sandy Standish
CPN, registered midwife
PR No. 8814368
Antenatal and postnatal care, home and hospital deliveries
083 653 7794 / (021) 788-7199

Fish Hoek
Carol’s Clinic
Carol Martin
Registered nurse, midwife, childbirth educator
PR No.
Antenatal & postnatal education & support, family planning, breastfeeding support
(021) 782-2124

084 989 0055

Fish Hoek
Labours of Love
Jennifer Skillen
BSc D.Phil, NCT childbirth educator
PR No.
Preparing for a natural birth in a high tech society
(021) 788-7867

Noordhoek
Noordhoek Baby Clinic
Sarah Philbrick
RGN,RM, BScHons
PR No. 0880000114561
Antenatal classes, breastfeeding support, baby care & advice, immunisations, postnatal home visits, weighing
083 437 7358

Southern suburbs
Sue Lees
Registered nurse & midwife
PR No. 8818096
Antenatal care, home & hospital births, postnatal care
(021) 788-5997

Southern suburbs
Lalilu Doula Care
Lana Petersen
PR No.
Childbirth companion for home, hospital and vbac, support at home
(021) 703-4291 / 073 514 9754 / lalilu@sybaweb.co.za

Southern suburbs
Tums2Tots
Kerry Pienaar
Doula / Mom
PR No.
Doula – labour, birth, breastfeeding assistance, postnatal care, labour & birth kits
(021) 785-3694 / 082 475 7776

Boland

Stellenbosch
Swanger Familie Konsultasie
Leana Habeck
BCur, RN,RM,RPN,CHN,dip peri ed, UNICEF breastfeeding counsellor
PR No. 0880000026174
Antenatal classes for couples and singles, Afrikaans or English, breastfeeding support
(021) 855-4657 / 083 415 4657

Paarl
Paarl Medi-Clinic
Annelise Nel
BACur
PR No. 0880000087815
Antenatal classes, breastfeeding clinic, well baby clinic, massage consultant
(021) 807-8129 / 807-8130

Paarl
Mariana Symington
BACur
PR No. 8824460
Well baby clinic with immunisations, all midwifery services, antenatal classes
082 807 5887 / (021) 872-5106

Worcester
Worcester Medi-Clinic
Heidi Jonker
Registered nurse & midwife
PR No.
Antenatal & postnatal classes, well baby clinic, immunisations
(023) 348-1500 / (023) 348-1570

Robertson
Multi-Med Kliniek
Karien Orton
BCur Hons midwifery & neonatal
PR No. 8850186
Voorgeboorte klasse, gesonde baba kliniek, tuis bevallings, water geboortes
(023) 626-2022 / 082 334 3474

Vredendal
Miracle Babies Kliniek
Estelle Bornman
BCur, midwife, OHS
PR No. 88000177636
Antenatal classes, postnatal care & support, breastfeeding care & support
084 548 6841 / (027) 213-5323

Helderberg

Somerset West
Irene Bouquin Childbirth Parenting Course
Irene Bourquin
Registered nurse & midwife, ICCE, ICPNE
PR No. 0880008801878
Childbirth & parenting classes for teens, single mums, couples and grandparents
(021) 852-3040

Somerset West
The Cape Midwife
Natasha Stadler
Registered midwife & nursing sister
PR No. 0202584
Qualified personal care for you and your family, pregnancy, birth, early parenting
082 538 7707

Stellenbosch
Swanger Familie Konsultasie
Leana Habeck
BCur, RN,RM,RPN,CHN,dip peri ed, UNICEF breastfeeding counsellor
PR No. 0880000026174
Antenatal classes for couples and singles, Afrikaans or English, breastfeeding support
(021) 855-4657 / 083 415 4657

Stellenberg
Helping Hands at Stellenberg Pharmacy
Elaine van Zyl
RN, midwife, community health
PR No.
Breastfeeding advice, weighing, immunisations, postnatal advice
083 225 8880

Southern Cape

Hermanus – Onrusrivier
Anita’s Mom and Baby Clinic
Anita Rust
Dip general & obstet, BCur, primary health care
PR No. 0880000168394
Prenatal education, lactation consultation, well women clinic, baby vaccination, screening
(028) 316-1717 / 082 929 4460

Hermanus & Standford
Marie’s Antenatal Care
Marie du Plessis
Registered nurse & midwife, psychiatry
PR No.
Antenatal classes
082 821 7144 / (028) 313-8138 / (028) 341-0643

Riversdal
Riversdal Gesonde Baba Kliniek
Rina Kapp
Geredestreerde verpleegkundige
PR No. 8830711
Voorgeboorte klasse
082 921 4415 / (028) 713-2500

George
George Medi-Clinic
Registered nurses of labour ward
PR No.
Antenatal classes Mondays at 18h00, postnatal groups every second Thursday at 10h00 at the baby clinic
(044) 803-2312

George
Elon Clinic
Maureen Barnard
Registered nurse & midwife, community health, operating theatre science, primary clinical care, nursing of patients with diabetes
PR No. 8829357
Well baby clinic, immunisations, lactation consultant, diabetes educator
(044) 874-6769 / 082 494 3447

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we were just pregnant for 3 months, had no morning sickness and absolute no pain during labour? That is how my birth story unfolded when we adopted a beautiful baby boy last October.

After 2 years of struggling to fall pregnant (and all the infertility testing required) and an early miscarriage, my husband and I decided to start the adoption process. It was something we had always planned on doing so it wasn’t too big a thing to get our head around; we just imagined we would be able to have biological children first.

We went to see a private adoption agency at the end of May last year to see what it all entailed. It was quite an emotional day as we were so excited to be on the road to growing our family. The social workers explained all that we had to do, and after lots of forms, interviews and psychological screening tests we were finally “pregnant”!  

Now the wait began. We were told to expect to wait between 9 months to a year-that was fine, it would give us plenty of time to get stuff ready. Then we had a phone call that we would possibly get a baby the beginning of December. Sooner than we had thought but still time to get everything ready.  

Then we got THE phone call-only it was much sooner than expected and a little confusing. The secretary from the adoption agency phoned to say that my maternity leave forms were being e-mailed to me. I assumed that this was a general letter to all parents planning to adopt asking for leave. When opening my inbox I discovered that our son had been born in September and that he would be placed with us the following week. Completely confused (but very excited) we tried to get hold of our social worker but could not get through to her. After what felt like the longest hour of our life she called us back to apologise that she had not phoned us first to tell us the good news before the secretary had e-mailed the forms.

We were a little dazed the week before his arrival, not only were we about to become parents, my sister was getting married on the Saturday before! After a lovely wedding and not much sleep, family came round to help us get things ready, show us how to use a bottle, put on a nappy and anything else they thought might be helpful.

On Wednesday, 8 October at about 2 o’ clock we were on our way to a pregnancy crisis home to fetch our baby boy. I’d been crying all day. We were fortunate enough to meet his birth mother and some of her family (which many people thought wouldn’t be a good idea, but I’m glad we did it as I think it gave us all closure).She had chosen us to be his parents from a portfolio we had sent in. We sat in the lounge talking to her and we both had opportunities to ask each other questions.

I could hear a baby crying in another room. That was our son’s cry and it was just too overwhelming to comprehend. She then went to fetch him, said goodbye and handed him to us. He was the most beautiful baby in the world; he had all his fingers and so much hair. Just beautiful. Only two weeks old. Our family was now three which felt much better than two. And then he hiccupped, sneezed and vomited all over me and I suddenly realised my life would never be the same again-but in a good way!

So, when finding out I was going to have a baby (yes, it wasn’t exactly a planed pregnancy), one of the many thoughts that ran through my mind was: “Ouch! That means I have to give birth?!”

I decided I was going to be prepared for this, and read all I could to learn about what was happening to my body and what was going to happen to me when giving birth. Any first-time-mom’s concern, right? I read all sorts of books; books about breast feeding, sleeping schedules, books about development and especially books about giving birth!  Then I was informed by a relative that ante natal classes helped her to get informed.  I decided to take it a step further and did the classes in my last trimester.

Man, we (the class members) were drilled about how breast milk is the best thing for your child, natural birth is the thing to do, and epidural was going to drug the baby and affect the sucking reflex. We were shown video clips of women who gave birth without any pain relieving drugs and told us that it was a womanly thing to do. She totally downplayed C-sections, scaring the thought from anyone’s mind who considered having a c-section.  After listening to the midwife talking about her view on things, I realised that it sounded like the thing to do.  She was very convincing and I made up my mind that I was going to do a natural birth without any pain relief. I even made a hospital plan on the way I’d like things to go down…

Later in the course of the ante natal class, I began to question a few things the midwife said and developed my own opinions on some of the other topics (but boy! She won me over with the birthing thing), only later sis I realise she didn’t do a very good job of remaining objective.

This is how my planned “natural” birth went down:

When time came and I was induced into labour (baby felt it wasn’t time to leave my “Oven” yet), I had to have an elective C-section (due to complications). You’d think that I’d be disappointed right?  Wouldn’t you?  Well, I was… for about 20 seconds.  Then I thought: “AAAH! Who gives a stuff! GIVE ME THE DRUGS and wheel me off to theatre already!”

So, I had an elective C-section, I enjoyed the drugs (the fact that I couldn’t feel the pain anymore) and loved the surgery even more! I don’t know what I was thinking trying to push my son through my “YOO-HOO”!  Ok, so plenty of women have done it the natural way, even without the pain killers.  I decided that that wasn’t for me!

Don’t get me wrong! Having a C-section is quite a big surgery. But it is defiantly not as bad as some make you think it is.

Moral of the story: don’t let other people convince you that there is a wrong and right way of giving birth. Be open minded to both possibilities, it could go down any way in the end. I learnt a lesson to apply that to anything I do with “Mothering”.

Ante natal classes were educational in many ways and the bonus was that my husband got to come. So he learnt what was happening to me and I guess it was nice for him to feel part of it all and I enjoyed the support.

Oh, and F.Y.I. the epidural didn’t affect my child’s sucking reflex…. It seemed to me that it turned him into a mini-1000 WATT vacuum machine! LOL

It hasn’t been long since my son was born so the day is still fresh in my mind. The images from that day have been looked at so frequently which is probably aiding keeping the memories fresh. Being one of those who tried it all- attempted natural, received oxytocin, eventually went with epidural because my “epidurance” was wavering, received more oxytocin and landed up with my emergency exit having to be used after many hours of labouring. The only thing missing from this birth equation is gas and a pethidine shot (which a friend assures me, I missed out on because the world is wonderful when looked at through the eyes of a pregnant “pethidinist”)

Caesar wound in hand, baby in the other arm, I marched (slowly) out of that hospital after realising I’d just done the most remarkable thing regardless of how he arrived. I know some choose C-sections and some who have given birth naturally don’t regard C-sections as childbirth but rather that the child gets pulled out, regardless I’m glad for modern medicine and its miracles or I, like many before me, may have died in childbirth. Sounds dramatic but true. Thank goodness for emergency exits!