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| Published: 3rd February 2012 |
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The popular myths and reality surrounding how the sex of babies is determined will be the subject of a fascinating talk by a leading London specialist. Dr Joseph Iskaros will give his talk: “A Boy or a Girl – Can you Choose?” to help celebrate the first birthday of Carmenta Life wellbeing and medical centre in Berkhamsted.
Carmenta Life specialises in pregnancy and parenting services, but offers a whole range of services for general health and wellbeing, combining traditional medical practices with complementary therapies and exercise classes.
It opened in January last year, the joint inspiration of Dr Iskaros, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, and Cathy Johnson, a former midwife, who runs parenting and pregnancy business Womb to Bloom. The talk, on Saturday 10 March at 11.30am, will be part of a special open day at the centre’s premises in Chesham House, Church Lane (behind St Peter’s Church).
Dr Iskaros said: “There are a lot of theories about how to make a baby boy or a baby girl, from eating vanilla and carrots to taking zinc, but not many people know how to separate old wives tales from the truth. I hope to be able to inform people in a light-hearted talk, and let them know the options that are open to them. It promises to be interesting, lively and fun.” |
| Carmenta Life Open Day |
The Open Day, from 10.30am until 3pm will feature:
* Free taster therapies as well as physiotherapy and osteopathy assessments.
* Baby sensory and baby massage demonstrations will be available for those with little ones.
* Complimentary 10-minute paediatric, obstetric, breast feeding and pre-conception consultations will also be available as well as weight, body mass and blood pressure assessments.
* Visitors will receive a free raffle ticket on entry with a chance to win a luxury spa hamper, wine and Carmenta Life gift vouchers.
Cathy Johnson, Carmenta Life co-owner, reflected positively on a year which has seen both the number of services on offer and user numbers expand.
“People love having all the facilities under one roof,” she said. “This is the place to come if you’re pregnant, trying to get pregnant or already have a baby, but you definitely don’t have to be pregnant to come here. There’s something for men and women of every age, whether you need a GP, acupuncture, a speech therapist, a yoga class or help losing weight. Our therapies and classes have proved really popular.”
The centre’s facilities include several therapy and consultancy rooms and a large studio. A new paediatric service, provided by a consultant and a GP will help many parents with their new arrivals. |
 For Jenn Welch, from Cowper Road, Berkhamsted, Carmenta Life has made all the difference to becoming a first-time mum. “I tell everyone I meet it’s an absolute gem,” says Jenn, 37, who moved to Berkhamsted from America four years ago and discovered the centre by chance when she wanted a gender scan.
Throughout her pregnancy, she was a devotee, seeing the resident physiotherapist for hip pain, attending antenatal NCT classes and having massage therapy and reflexology when she went past her due date. Since her daughter Annabel was born in August last year, Jenn has attended a number of baby, parenting and exercise classes and is a regular at the free drop-in breastfeeding café run by Cathy and Joseph’s wife Julie, both lactation consultants.
“They saved me from being induced when my baby was 10 days’ late and held my hand through breastfeeding a tongue-tied baby,” she remembers. “The support and reassurance has been incredible. It’s like family away from family. “In the States, I would have asked for a Caesarean and got it but Carmenta Life has empowered me as a woman and as a mother and given me the confidence to have a natural birth with no intervention. As a resource, it’s invaluable.”
”An Invaluable Resource,” says Jenn Welch (centre) with baby Annabel and (from left) Dr Joseph Iskaros, his wife Julie and Cathy Johnson. Photo courtesy of Cynthia Nolan, Shoot Me Studios. |
| For more information or hiring enquiries visit www.carmenta-life.co.uk or call 01442 872591. |
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