Pregnant skin is already stretched and tired but the summer heat can add to this discomfort by making it more dry and itchy. As well as making sure you are wearing SPF whilst out and about in the sun, we recommend using our Colief® Mum To Be Moisturising Cream at night to gently moisturise and soothe your skin (with the added bonus of preventing the appearance of stretch marks too!). The unique blend of rich plants oils and essential vitamins offer the perfect solution to your skin complaints.

The heat may also cause chafing, but there are loads of suitable easy-to-wear and stylish maternity clothing options that allow you to dress for both your bump and the heat. Whether you are working your last shifts before maternity leave, attending a summer party, or just relaxing in the park on a hot weekend afternoon, brands ranging from Mothercare to ASOS offer lightweight clothes that you can easily layer to suit temperamental British summers.

Finally, UK Government advice states all pregnant and breastfeeding women are at greater risk of having vitamin D deficiency. The summer months are perfect to help to combat this with increased sunshine and hopefully more time spent enjoying the outdoors! However, when the days inevitably begin to get shorter and when your baby has arrived, investing in daily vitamin D supplements can ensure you receive sufficient vitamin D in winter. Our Colief® Vitamin D3 Drops are specially designed to provide the correct amount of vitamin D, ensuring both you and your baby maintain a healthy level of the vitamin.

Misconceptions as mum’s think vitamin D can be found in chocolate, wine and orange juice and some Health Care Professionals think vitamin D improves your hearing
Seven out of 10 mums and mums-to-be are not aware of government advice on the benefits of taking vitamin D – with one in 10 saying they are not planning to give the ‘essential sunshine vitamin’ to their children, according to new research from baby experts Colief.

The new research on vitamin D awareness among mums, mums-to-be and Health Care Professionals (HCPs) reveals confusion on both the benefits vitamin D can provide AND the advice given by HCPs and GPs.

The research shows that over a third of mums (38%) did not know the importance of vitamin D for their children – maintaining healthy bones and teeth – and are equally unsure of where it is found and how to get it. The study found that nearly half (43%) are not aware that vitamin D is made in the skin during the summer months and many were mistaken in thinking that vitamin D could be found in the following foods:

• Chocolate 5%
• Wine 2%
• Cheese 13%
• Orange Juice 15%
• Wheat 6%

Health Professionals

The Health Care Professionals taking part in the study were asked who seeks advice from them about taking vitamin D. It revealed that parents of newborn babies (42%), breastfeeding mums (36%) and parents of children aged 1-5 years old (40%) are the most common groups who are seeking advice on vitamin D supplements, which shows a thirst for knowledge from UK parents. However, when HCPs were asked to identify the key benefits of vitamin D, 28% said it improves hearing and less than half (48%) said that the vitamin boosts the immune system.

And some HCPs are equally as mistaken as mums when it comes to the knowledge of what foods vitamin D could be found in, with large numbers thinking vitamin D could be found in the following:

• Oranges 22%
• Nuts 16%
• Meat 28%
• Apples 16%
• Bananas 28%

HCPs were also asked to name common symptoms of vitamin D deficiency but less than a quarter (24%) identified bowed legs as a common deficiency indicator – while over a third (34%) were unable to identify the difference between vitamin D2 and D3.

Nutritionist and Colief Baby Panel expert Judy More said: “Health professionals should be recommending vitamin D3 supplements. Vitamin D3 is the form that is produced in our skin when we are exposed to sunlight. Giving vitamin D3 rather than D2 keeps higher levels of vitamin D in the blood over a period longer time.

“It’s vital that mums-to-be and parents are aware of the health benefits of vitamin D and give their children a supplement,. Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should also take one.” Judy continues. “Not all of us get enough vitamin D from sunlight on our skin when we are outside because in the UK we can only make it in the months from April to September.”

With only 19% of mums feeling they had been clearly advised by their HCPs about taking vitamin D, Sharon Skelton from Colief said: “We shouldn’t be seeing cases of rickets rise in 2015. Vitamin D is so important for under 5s, pregnant and breastfeeding women as well as the elderly but our research shows a real issue with the education around why vitamin D is so important both in parents and health professionals. We are really keen to highlight this and support further awareness into its benefits. If parents are concerned about their child’s diet, a simple D3 supplement can make a real difference.”

Children need vitamin D for developing strong teeth and bones and a healthy immune system, yet in 2015, it has recently been reported in the media that vitamin D deficiency-related diseases are still on the rise in UK children despite simple ways of getting the vitamin into their diets. The dangers of not getting the required levels of vitamin D are bone-deformity diseases like rickets, which causes bones to become soft and weak, bowed legs, muscle weakness and cases of diabetes.

The guidelines outlined by the Government say that all babies and young children aged six months to five years should take a daily supplement of vitamin drops containing 7.5 micrograms of vitamin D , to help them meet their requirements.

Colief Vitamin D3 Drops

Developed by Colief, experts in baby health, Colief Vitamin D3 Drops is a natural supplement giving you the reassurance that both you and your baby are getting the right amount of vitamin D, vital for developing strong teeth and bones and a healthy immune system. Topping up your baby’s vitamin D levels also protects them from the more serious effects of deficiency, such as the childhood bone disorder rickets.

Offered in the preferred form of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), in a pure coconut oil base with no added ingredients, each 20ml bottle of Colief Vitamin D3 Drops provides a five-month supply for infants and children and a four-month supply for pregnant or breastfeeding women. These vitamin D3 Drops can be mixed with food or a drink, or given/taken directly by mouth.

Find out more at www.colief.com andwww.facebook.com/ColiefCare

SHE Healthcare today announced that as a first product they have now qualified Colief Infant Drops under the Colief Emulsifier brand name for marketing and sales in China.

With about 17-19 million births in P.R.China. each year, excessive crying, associated with colic, affects approximately two in every five infants and may be due to a number of causes including transient lactose intolerance (causing bloating and gas) (TLI). Colief® Emulsifier, an all-natural dietary supplement, is supported by published research demonstrating the ability to reduce colic-related crying caused by TLI. The active ingredient in Colief® Emulsifier is lactase, a naturally occurring enzyme produced within the small intestine.

“The availability of Colief ® Emulsifier in the P.R.China represents a milestone for the treatment and alleviation of infant discomfort related to colic The Colief ® line of products ideally fit into our company philosophy and strategy focusing around specialized mother and infant products” says Reto Rietmann, Chairman of SHE Healthcare Co. Ltd.

Jonathan Tierney, CEO of Crosscare Limited, “We wanted a P.R.China partner that understands the pediatric natural supplement market and has the experience, necessary to make Colief® as big of a success in the P.R.China as it is elsewhere in the world. SHE Healthcare is such a partner, and we are thrilled to work with them to help market and sell the Colief® product range to its potential in the P.R.China.”

2016年3月24日，上海—–爱尔兰都柏林CROSSCARE有限公司与中国的时颐健康科技（上海）有限公司签署了一项长年的许可协议，独家授权其Colief®系列产品在中华人民共和国的的营销和分销。 时颐宣布，作为公司引进的爱尔兰CROSSCARE的第一个产品，“Colief® Infant Drops”将在中国以“康丽赋TM复配乳化剂”的产品名称销售。 在中国，每年约有1,700-1,900万名婴儿出生，其中约有40%的婴儿有过度哭闹且伴有肠绞痛的现象发生，原因包括阶段性乳糖不耐受(TLI)（引起胃肠胀气）。康丽赋TM复配乳化剂是全天然的食品添加剂，已公布的研究表明，康丽赋TM复配乳化剂能有效改善因阶段性乳糖不耐受(TLI)引起的婴儿肠绞痛，减少婴儿因此引起的长时间无法安慰的哭闹。康丽赋TM复配乳化剂的活性成分是乳糖酶，乳糖酶在人体小肠内可自然生成、分泌。 时颐健康科技（中国）有限公司的董事长Reto Rietmann表示，“ 康丽赋TM复配乳化剂在中国的上市，可以视为治疗和缓解婴儿肠绞痛的一个里程碑，Colief®产品线非常符合时颐健康科技专注于母婴领域的经营理念和战略重点。” CROSSCARE集团的首席执行官 Jonathan Tierney称，“我们一直在寻找一家合作公司，这家公司必须对儿科领域有充分的经验和足够的覆盖，以确保Colief®这个品牌在中国得以像在世界其他市场上一样成功。时颐就是这样一位合作伙伴，我们非常渴望与时颐的合作在中国这个潜力市场上获得成功。”

About SHE Healcare Co. Ltd. SHE Healthcare Co. Ltd, is a P.R.China based , wholly owned private company, dedicated to the introduction, marketing, sales and distribution of specialized mother and infant products in P.R.China. As a service provider the company offers amongst others regulatory affairs, sales and promotion, after sales, e commerce, digital marketing, business development, logistics and distribution services. Further information can be obtained at www.shehealthcare.com

Stretch marks are extremely common during pregnancy. They are caused by collagen tearing below the skin and the skin stretching as baby grows during pregnancy. Massaging Colief’s Mum To Be Cream into the breasts, tummy, thighs, hips and bottom twice a day will help keep your skin strong, smooth and supple throughout.

Not only does Colief Mum To Be Cream fight the appearance of stretch marks, it also protects against uncomfortably itchy dry skin frequently experienced by pregnant women. Then, after birth, its unique properties boost the skin’s natural healing process in those important first few months.

Its gentle hypoallergenic formula is packed full of pro-vitamin B5 – a powerful natural skin healer and protector – as well as almond, avocado and grape seed oils. Colief Mum To Be Cream also contains vitamin E and soothing calendula to ensure that the skin is kept constantly moisturised.

Dawn Kelly, health visitor and member of the Colief Expert Panel, says: “Whether it’s your first or your fourth pregnancy, it’s essential to take care of the skin during those precious nine months and beyond. Remember, the skin has to stretch significantly and then return back to normal in just a few months so keep it constantly nourished and moisturised for comfort and stretch mark prevention”

Colief Mum To Be Cream is now available in Boots and pharmacies nationwide and online at Ocado and Colief.com for RRP £9.99.

Find out more at www.colief.com andwww.facebook.com/ColiefCare

We’ve long been fans of Irish designer and illustrator Chris Haughton so we were particularly intrigued by his latest offering, Goodnight Everyone. A gorgeous bedtime read about going to sleep, we’re hearing great things about its magical influence on encouraging little ones to nod off quickly.

Jamie Oliver’s Ultimate Flapjacks

We’re pretty partial to flapjacks at Colief HQ and were taken by Jamie Oliver’s versionwhich copes well with any tweaks to the recipe, a godsend for fussier folk. Opt for mixed seeds if you’re less keen on nuts or substitute raisins for figs – it’s all good in our book.

Wild and Grizzly

Billed as a place ‘where Mama meets cool’, we are besotted with the gorgeous images on Lori’s Wild and Grizzly blog. With covetable interiors pics, style tips and recipes, it’s a glossy escape that’s perfect for a rainy day.

Introduce a soothing and calming routine around the time of the day when your baby’s colic is usually at its worst, which is typically in the evenings.
Keep a log of the times when your baby has colic. You may notice a pattern or a trigger for the colicky episode, which will give you a better understanding of how to ease the symptoms.
Even though it can be distressing when your baby is crying, it’s important to stay calm, as your baby can quickly pick up on how you are feeling.

Take a look at our library of videos with expert advice from Dawn.