12 Pairs of Legs

I was at the Princes Trust North West Regional Vounteers Conference a couple of weeks ago and one of the speakers introduced us to the story of an amazing lady called Aimee Mullins.

For those of you who have never heard of her before, she was born without fibular bones and both of her legs were amputated when she was a small child. Having learnt to walk on prosthetic legs she then started to run, and run and run, in fact she went on to become a record breaker in the 1996 Paralympics. She's since gone on to build a career as a model, actor, activist for women & sports and an advocate for advanced thinking about prosthetics.

Inspired to learn more, I did a quick internet search and came across a website which had a video of a talk by Aimee from February 2009 in which she talked about her 12 pairs of amazing legs. One of the first things she tells us about is going on a school visit and asking to be allowed to talk to the kids without adults present for a couple of minutes before the main event. I was thrilled to hear about how, in just a few minutes, without censorship of their natural curiosity they came to see Aimee not as "disabled" but as somebody with potential to do things that their bodies couldn't. Super-abled rather than dis-abled!

How did she get them to do this so quickly? She engaged their imaginations. I suggest you watch the video yourself for her explanation of this - it's excellent.

Another thing that stuck in my mind was her experience of being approached by people who would comment on how attractive she is and then add "you don't look disabled". So the question is raised, what is the nature of beauty? What does a beautiful woman look like? What is a sexy body? And furthermore, what does it mean to have a disability? If it's a question of prosthetics then are people who have had boob jobs and comestic surgery to be thought of as disabled?

Hold that thought and also consider another anecdote that she shares. One of her 12 pairs of legs elevates her height from 5'8" to a statuesque 6'1" and on their first outing together she met a girl friend who hadn't seen her for a few years. When she saw Aimee her jaw dropped and she exclaimed that it's "not fair", meaning that it wasn't fair that Aimee could change her height as and when she wanted to!

So society is changing is it? Are we now thinking about augmentation rather than overcoming deficiency. Are we now looking at potential rather than loss? I do hope so. Aimee's talk certainly made me feel like that's the case. So I'll end with a quote from Aimee and a strong recommendation that you take 10 minutes to watch this inspiring video.

"People that society once considered to be disabled can now become the architects of their own identities and indeed continue to change those identities by designing their bodies from a place of empowerment". Aimee Mullins

Tracy x

First day at school

Yesterday was my daughter's first day at big school. When I say big school, I mean nursery, the year before reception, which may not seem very big to you, but to my 3 year old it's enormous.

We did all of the usual stuff: taking loads of pictures of her in her uniform and sending them to all and sundry to ooh and aah over, tears (mine) as we left her, trying to peep through the window to see how she was getting on, sitting clock watching as the morning slowly crept by (yes, it was only a 2.5 hour session but it felt like a week!).

We had been doing lots of preparation for the big day on account of the fact that she'd been going to playgroup for 18 months and almost every day she still cried and said that she didn't want to go (even on the very last day when there was a lovely leaving party for them all!). We waited with baited breath to see how she would take to this. Things looked promising when I picked her up and she came out smiling clutching the drawing of a red hoover that she had done for Mummy & Daddy. "I enjoyed school" she said. Phew!

So we thought day two would be a breeze. Not quite so simple. Her first words this morning were "I don't want to go to school". Drat! But we glossed over that and by the time she got to school with her Daddy she was already saying "I can't wait to go to school". However, never underestimate the power of a zip.....

Daddy dropped her off in the school yard where they lined up to go in and then off they trotted with the lovely Miss Crumpton. But Daddy couldn't resist a little peep through the window - to his horror he saw her tiny little face start to crumple as she realised she couldn't undo the zip on her coat. As she started to panic she looked up and saw her Daddy looking through the window at which point she started to cry. Poor baby. Poor Daddy. Thankfully, the teachers, who must be very well practised in this sort of thing, stepped in and helped her out. Daddy left and Rhian continued with her day.

I'm not actually sure who was most upset, Rhian or Daddy for whom the memories of his first day at school had apparently come flooding back.

Now I'm sitting here, supposedly doing work, and it's the afternoon. No, I haven't forgotten her and left at school. She's doing a full day today courtesy of Incy Wincy's (nursery plus). And I'm hoping that she's having a lovely time, that she managed to put on her indoor shoes (yes, they have indoor and outdoor shoes), that she ate her lunch and managed to open her banana ok, that she asked to go to the toilet.... oh so many things are whizzing through my mind (and not so much work getting done).

So I decided to get a cup of tea and a biscuit and Google "first day at school" and I came across this poem by Roger McGough which I found amusing:

First Day at School by Roger McGough

A millionbillionwillion miles from home
Waiting for the bell to go. (To go where?)
Why are they all so big, other children?
So noisy? So much at home they
Must have been born in uniform
Lived all their lives in playgrounds
Spent the years inventing games
That don't let me in. Games
That are rough, that swallow you up.

And the railings.
All around, the railings.
Are they to keep out the wolves and monsters?
Things that carry off and eat children?
Things you don't take sweets from?
Perhaps they are to stop us getting out
Runnning away from the lessins. Lessin.
What does a lessin look like?
Sounds small and slimy.
They keep them in the glassrooms.
Whole rooms made out of glass. Imagine.

I wish I could remember my name
Mummy said it would come in useful.
Like wellies. When there's puddles.
Yellowwellies. I wish she was here.
I think my name is sewn on somewhere
Perhaps the teacher will read it for me.
Tea-cher. The one who makes the tea.

Tracy x

Breastfeeding

And so I find that we are in the middle of World Breastfeeding Awareness Week and the theme for this year is "Breastfeeding: A Vital Emergency Repsonse". The aim of the week is to highlight the importance of breastfeeding especially in emergency situations around the world in developing countries. The rationale for this is that children are more vulnerable in emergency situations and that child mortality can increase dramatically from 2 to 70 times higher than average on account of diarrhoea, respiratory illness and malnutrition. In these situations, breastfeeding is a life saving intervention.

Back on home turf, the issues surrounding breastfeeding are, on the face of it, far more mundane but no less contentious for it. A recent survey carried out by Mother & Baby magazine asked 1200 breastfeeding mothers how breastfeeding friendly the UK is. I'm saddened but, unfortunately, not shocked to hear that 60% of mothers thought that the UK is not breastfeeding friendly. The full story makes interesting reading and I urge you to take a look by clicking on this link.

If you want more information on breastfeeding take a look at:
The Breastfeeding Network
The NCT Information Centre

In North Wales there are also the following breastfeeding support groups:
Bangor - Sackville Clinic (01248 362735)
Broughton - Broughton Clinic (Fiona Lee: 07913 658511)
Buckley - Westwood Centre (Fiona Lee: as above)
Caergwrle - Caergwrle Clinic (Fiona Lee: as above)
Conwy - St Mary's Church Hall (Susan Jones: 01492 593402)
Deeside - Sure Start Centre (Fiona Lee: as above)
Wrexham - Ma's Bar, Llay Resource Centre (01978 859020)
Wrexham - Ma's Bar, Chirk Clinic (01691 773581)
Wrexham - 24 hours helpline at Wrexham Maelor Hospital (01978 291100)

And, for support groups in and around the Chester area take at look at this page on the NCT website.

Finally, any clients who are considering breastfeeding their baby can ask me for a free sample of Lansinoh Lanolin.

Tracy x

Dr Miriam's Choice

I was pleased to read in The Mirror today that Dr Miriam Stoppard would choose HypnoBirthing if she were having another baby. Hurrah!

In a nice article, which is usefully called "Why pain is NOT a vital part of having a baby", she describes the various options available to you to help beat the "fear factor" including natural birth, water birth, TENS, pain killing drugs, epidural, gas and air and HypnoBirthing.

If you want to read the article you can click on this link.

Having read that article I went online and found that Dr Miriam makes lots of references to Hypnotherapy in her blog in relation to emotional problems, stopping blushing, anxiety, weight loss, IBS and phobias. You can read them all by clicking on this link.

Thanks for the endorsement Miriam.

Namaste,

Tracy

Musical Inspiration

Sometimes I find that inspiration can come from the strangest and most unexpected of sources. A recent example of such inspiration is from a couple of weeks ago when I took my 3 year old daughter to see a play/puppet show at The Lowry.

It was a production by Long Nose Puppets called "Flyaway Katie" based on the book of the same name by Polly Dunbar. It's a fabulous flight of fancy about a girl who's feeling grey and a bit bored at home one day when she takes inspiration from a bright and colourful picture on her wall. The lovely imagery from the book is reflected in the puppets but to make the production EVEN better there's music too. I assume that the music was written specifically for the production - but apologies if I have this wrong.

The whole thing was captivating for both me and my daughter and I was only too pleased to buy the CD of the music that was available in the foyer afterwards, which I thought would make good listening in the car for my daughter. However, a few weeks later guess who is listening to it - me, of course! I even have it on my ipod.

Unfortunately, I don't think that the cd is on general release, but I think you can get it from the company's website.

It's the combination of words and music (a bit folky) that have appealed to me and I have put the words below - perhaps they lose some of their power without the music but I thought I'd share it with you anyway. Perhaps you will be inspired to go and see one of their shows or buy the CD for yourself (BTW I have no financial interest in these products, I just like them!).

Flyaway Katie (by Long Nose Puppets - sorry if this is incorrectly credited)

You may need some black and white
Shades of grey when things aren’t right
Imagine though if that was all we see

Love and life
Fun and friends
Blues and greens, yellows and reds
The mutli-coloured hopes that fill our dreams

Fly, fly away Katie
Don’t let yourself be dull and grey
The world’s as bright as day Katie
So wonderful
A place to play

You may need some black and white
Shades of grey when things aren’t right
Imagine though if that was all we see

Love and life
Fun and friends
Blues and green, yellows and reds
The mutli-coloured hopes that fill our dreams

Fly, fly away Katie
Don’t let yourself be dull and grey
The world’s as bright as day Katie
So wonderful
A place to play

Fly away, Fly away, Fly away, Fly away

5 Minute Labour

I thought you might be interested to read this amazing birth story. No HypnoBirthing involved, just an incredibly quick and, in her own words, "enjoyable" birth.....

"I gave birth alone...in five minutes flat", Mail Online, 14 March 2009.

Great story!

Tracy x

Baby Gallery

At the suggestion of one of my HypnoBirthing clients, I will shortly be setting up a gallery of babies born the Hypno way.

I'm asking any former, present & prospective clients to send photos and information (such as birth details, birth stories etc) that they want posted on the website.

June and July is a busy month for births and I am waiting excitedly to hear about the new arrivals - I want you to know how very exciting it is for me to get news, photos etc of the little ones! Even though we talk about not fixating on your "due date" in the class, I'm afraid I myself am always aware of your expected dates and even keep a note of them in my diary, happily ticking them off when I get your news.

Tracy x

Have a Giggle

Laughter is a wonderful tonic isn't it. I was just feeling a little tired and miserable this afternoon when I stumbled across the audio recording of Evan Davis having a giggle on the Today Programme and his laughter proved to be contagious. After joining him in his giggling I decided to have a look around for some other giggly moments to share with you - call it a Bank Holiday weekend gift!

Here's the link to Evan as he tried to suppress his amusement at the story of the MP claiming on expenses for a duck house. DUCK HOUSE.

Here's the one of Charlotte Green, newsreader from Radio 4, from a few years ago - I heard it live and it was a lovely treat to hear it again this afternoon. CHARLOTTE.

And finally, Brian Johnston on Test Match Special way back in 19991 when Jonathan Agnew suggested that Ian Botham had "failed to get his leg over". JOHNSTON.

Classic entertainment. Enjoy!

Tracy x

Kids Being Kids

I've just recently heard about a photography service that might appeal to those of you who are expecting a baby.

Yvette and Marie run "Kids Being Kids", a Cheshire based photographers that has developed a specialist package for mums-to-be called "Bumps, Babies & Beyond". The idea is that they start by taking a picture of your bump followed by a picture of your new born baby and then into childhood.

I have some of their leaflets and the photography in them is lovely, I especially love the one of the baby girl lying on her back in the grass amongst the daisies. Absolutely beautiful!

For more information about their packages and prices I suggest you look at their website www.kidsbeingkids.co.uk or give them a call: Yvette 07707 830286 or Marie 07883 317113.

By the way, I have no financial interest in this company and am just recommending on the basis that I like the idea and the quality of the photography that I have seen.

Have a good bank holiday weekend - fingers crossed for fine weather!

Tracy xx

Plant!

Yesterday I received an interesting letter and certificate in the post. It was from the Welsh Assembly Government in Partnership with the Woodland Trust.

Apparently, a tree has been planted for Iolo, my new arrival, as part of the Welsh Assembly's commitment to creating a national forest. "Plant! A Tree for Every Child in Wales" is an initiative that aims to plant a tree for every child born or adopted in Wales from 1st January 2008.

I'd never heard of this before and was pleasantly surprised by it all. Using their words it 'marks the beginning of their new life with a positive step towards caring for and improving our environment' - a sentiment that I can embrace wholeheartedly.

I now know that Iolo's tree has been planted at Coed Ysgubor Wen, near Tywyn, Gwynedd. Although they can't specify the exact tree I have been given a grid reference and we are welcome to visit the site to appreciate the importance of trees in the environment. Nice. As it's a part of the country that the family is fond of I think that we may take a trip there one day (perhaps combining it with a trip to the Centre for Alternative Technology, now there's a thought).

Isn't it lovely to have a nice surprise every so often.

Tracy x

For Owen

A copy of the following poem was given to me two years ago by a very dear friend. I'm afraid I don't know the author, but whoever it is Thank You.

"The tiniest things in life are only noticed by those few who were looking. The baby in the poem will never be missed by most people but, for his parents he will be missed and remembered for the rest of their lives."

Little Snowdrop

The world may never notice
If a Snowdrop doesn't bloom,
Or even pause to wonder
If the petals fall too soon.
But every life that ever forms,
Or ever comes to be,
Touches the world in some small way
For all eternity.
The little one we longed for
Was swiftly here and gone.
But the love that was then planted
Is a light that still shines on.
And though our arms are empty,
Our hearts know what to do.
Every beating of our hearts
Says that we love you.

With love,
Tracy xx

Something for Dads

When I was in the ante-natal department of the local hospital on Monday (on business rather than personal) I picked up a card for an interesting website that I thought you might be interested in.

www.dad.info is an information service re parenting specifically aimed at Dads.

This is the blurb from their "About Us" page:

"We're here to get information to dads, so that they can get the best for their kids.

The information and services available for 'parents' are usually aimed at mums and, as we’ve found ourselves, it’s all too easy for dads and dads-to-be to end up feeling sidelined.

We're a new company set up to change that – to give dads a free and permanent source of the information they're likely to need - from pregnancy, birth and babies to financial, legal and education info - from a dad's perspective. A new home for dads on the web.

We do it through getting the information on our website and making sure that all new dads know it's there, by giving out free Dad cards through maternity hospitals and other outlets."

I've only had chance for a quick look round so far but it looks well presented, professional and packed full of interesting and useful information. Take a look!

Just a quickie today.

Bye for now,

Tracy x

Recommendations

I wanted to highlight a new page that I've just added to the website giving details of products that I don't sell but which I think you would be interested in. You can find it in the Links section (which is available at the bottom of each page), not very inventively called "Recommended Products".

The sort of products that I have listed so far include, Childbirth Without Fear by Grantly Dick-Read the controversial book which was first published in 1942 which champions natural childbirth and one of the key references for Marie Mongan when she was researching natural childbirth for herself in the 1950s.

I've also listed a couple of CDs by Steve Halpern. Comfort Zone is the one that I play in the background during HypnoBirthing classes and incidentally is what I had playing on my ipod when I gave birth to Iolo in December.

I isn't my intention to list products willy nilly. I intend only to list products that I can personally recommend or that I have had recommended to me by a reliable source.

Namaste

Tracyx

Hypnotherapy & HypnoBirthing in the news

I got a nice surprise this morning when I heard that The Mirror had run a feature on hypnotherapy and furthermore that HypnoBirthing had been given a special mention. I do like it when someone else does marketing for me...LOL!

That reminds me, on 19th Dec last year Jeremy Vine also featured hypnotherapy on his Radio 2 lunchtime programme. I heard it by chance as I was driving home from Chester having been to discuss a possible new venue for my HypnoBirthing classes. I was a little anxious when the phone-in started in case someone with an axe to grind rang in to say something damning about it but I was more than pleased to say that the feedback was almost 100% positive. And another lovely thing was that a midwife phoned in specially to sing the praises of HypnoBirthing. A nice early Christmas present for me.

If you want to read the article (written by Miriam Stoppard) in The Mirror you can click here to read the online version.

Unfortunately, all mention of the Radio 2 programme has now left the BBC website, but it was good, honest!

Namaste,

Tracy x

Twitter or Just Twit?

Well I must admit I'm sure about this but thought I would give it a go. I have signed up for a Twitter account.

I actually did it the night before Stephen Fry extolled its virtues on Jonathan Ross's show, an event which I understand increased Twitter sign ups enormously.

Well so far it seems like fun and, given that I am dead against signing myself up for a Facebook account or any such like things, that's saying something. I like reading the posting of the people I'm following - so far they are pretty limited in number but give me chance I'm new to all of this. I also like posting the little snippets about myself and my life - and when I say little I really mean it, only 140 characters allowed, or something like that, so you have to get your point across pretty succinctly.

If you want to dip your toe into the world of Twitter you can follow this link. You might send me a message to let me know you've joined in - my Twitter id is tracyej.

I'll keep you posted as to how I get on with it.

Tracy x

Women's Health Seminar

I mentioned this event a couple of blogs ago but now I have all of the details.....

The date is Thursday 29th January 2009
The time is 7-9pm
The venue is The Chiropractic Clinic, 160 Chester Road, Garden Village, Wrexham

"This is your opportunity to prioritise your health! This seminar is designed for women of all ages."

"Every day millions of women in the UK suffer from gender related health problems. Yet, with a little information and the right help, a lot of this suffering could be easily be avoided."

Registered practitioners in chiropractic, acupuncture, massage and hypnotherapy who operate from The Chiropractic Clinic, will be talking about complementary medicine and how it can help you with a health problem.

"You can listen, watch a demonstration or have a chat. Refreshments included."

Admission is FREE and open to all.

Places are limited. To book or find out more call 01978 264531 or email tccwrexham@tiscali.co.uk

I, of course, am the hypnotherapist who will be there on the night. So if you have any questions about HypnoBirthing, HypnoFertility or hypnotherapy in general come along to find out more!

Namaste,

Tracy x

Radio appearance

Happy New Year everyone!

I have interrupted my maternity leave a little, but it's all in a good cause. I am being interviewed by fellow hypnotherapist and radio presenter Mark Darlington for his Wrexham FM programme, Positive Habits. The programme is aired on Sunday 25th Jan at 7pm and repeated the following Wednesday afternoon.

We'll be talking about HypnoFertility and HypnoBirthing and furhermore, you may even get to hear from the new addition the Jones family because Iolo is coming with me to the studio. Hopefully a good breastfeed will keep him quiet.......

I will provide a link to the podcast and transcription of the show as soon as it is available.

Bye for now,

Tracy x

Birth announcement - some more details

Our lovely baby born is called Iolo Lloyd Jones
Weight: 8lb 11oz
Length: 61cm
Head: 38cm

The length of labour was a mere 3.5 hours and he was born with the help of HypnoBirthing and gas & air at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

Many thanks to the birth professionals who helped with the birth and post-natally.

Namaste,
Tracy x