Page 3 - Motherhood

photo courtesy of Lindsey Shipley/Lactation Link

Your body is your baby's first home, and this relationship doesn’t need to end just because he’s out of the womb. Now out in the world, your babe wants to spend all of his time on top of your body. This is where he first learns about scent, touch, sight, hearing, taste and trust, along with many other things. Skin to skin, also known as Kangaroo Care, is a way to maintain that unique closeness you and baby shared when he was in your womb. Kangaroo care refers to the practice of holding your diapered babe—be he premature, full term or anytime during infancy—against your bare chest, with either a shirt or a blanket around the baby’s back to keep him warm. This snuggling of the infant against the body makes like a kangaroo’s pouch—hence the name, Kangaroo Care. Kangaroo Care can begin in most cases immediately after birth and can continue as long as you want to practice. There is no age at which skin to skin is no longer recommended. Skin

This is part of a series where Elizabeth Bachner, Midwife and owner of the Gracefull Birth Center, answers questions from parents and parents-to-be. You can learn more about Elizabeth here. And to submit a question, see the email address provided at the bottom of this post. Dear Elizabeth, Hi! I’m 38 weeks and 4 days and my doctor has told me that it is his hospital policy for me to be induced at 40 weeks. I’m in a panic, because I had NO idea that this was the policy. I don’t want to put my baby at risk, but I was born at 41 weeks, my sister was born at 41 weeks and 4 days and my mother says that all the babies come late in our family. I’m so scared that the baby will not come until after 40 weeks and I will have to be induced. Any suggestions? -Sacred2BLate Hello Scared2BLate, Your question is one of the most common questions I hear these days. Let’s break down the layers. Firstly, did you know that on average, first time mamas give birth at 40 weeks and 5 days? A due date is

While some women never experience nipple pain when breastfeeding, for many new mothers nipple soreness in the first few days is very common.  In fact, sore nipples are the number one reason most women give up on breastfeeding.  It’s really a shameful statistic, since, for most women, the pain and tenderness is only temporary and usually lessens after a matter of days. In the first few days of breastfeeding, tender and sore nipples are to be expected.  However, cracked and bleeding nipple conditions that last longer than a week should send a signal to new mothers that something more is going on, and it may be time to seek professional help. When a baby first latches on, there may be some level of pain. I always tell my clients to count to 30 and see if the pain level abates.  If her pain doesn’t lessen up, it probably means they baby has not latched on or positioned properly.  The solution is simple:  try to take her off and latch her back on again.  Your nipple should look

What happens when we find out we are going to be a mother? Is that the moment we receive the implanted “mommy chip” and become equipped with mother’s intuition? Are we born with it? I remember being pregnant with my first and asking my sisters “What if…?” too many times to count. After working with thousands of Moms and being a mother of 2 myself, I’m a firm believer in “Mama knows best”. Still, so many women ask me, “How can I feel more confident in my choices as a Mom?” Today I’m sharing three ways to tap into your mother’s intuition.

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It’s a great idea to take prenatal classes, read books, and start making some parenting choices before baby even gets here. This gives you a chance to “practice” being a Mom and envision yourself in that role. That doesn’t mean that your views won’t change later! Motherhood takes a lot of adapting to the different stages and what’s working in the moment. Prenatal education gives you a better idea of the many