I didn’t always intend to breastfeed. The mere thought used to freak me out completely. When I fell pregnant I decided that I would try it for the following reasons: the nutritional and health advantages associated with breastfeeding; it’s cost effective – much cheaper than formula; I liked the thought of the bonding experience that breastfeeding is said to elicit; breastfeeding stimulates the release of the hormone oxytocin, which causes the uterus to contract.
The World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months of age. I thought that I’d try 3 months: a happy compromise. Well, 8 months later I am still breastfeeding. When I hit the 3 month mark I was so enjoying the bonding experience that I decided that I would like do another 3 months and then stop at 6 months. And at 6 months I decided to just carry on in spite of my growing fear of the little tooth that was pushing its way through the gum of my baby girl’s mouth. Read the rest of this entry »
What to do? What to do? My daughter is due for her first vaccine imminently … this week actually. At two months old my baby is to be vaccinated against Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) Pneumococcal infection. It is common knowledge that in order to make someone immune to a disease, doctors have to inject the actual disease into a person’s body so that antibodies to fight the illness can develop. My husband and I have a problem with injecting a healthy baby, who is only two months old and very little, with diseases – even if it is to build antibodies. 
Are you a user? Dummies not drugs. Pose this question to a drug addict or a sleep deprived new mom and you are likely to receive an equally violent, opinionated and emotionally charged response. Before I was a mom, if someone had told me what a big deal the whole dummy debate is amongst parents (and even those who aren’t parents) I would have retorted with “um … ever heard of AIDS, world hunger, violent deaths, war and drug addiction?”. Ashamedly, after seven short weeks as a parent, I have succumbed to the great dummy debate and formed an opinion. My philosophy as a mom is to trust my instinct – translation: if your gut tells you that using a dummy is the best option for your baby, then do it and visa versa. My own fear is that if I give my baba a dummy, it will become a crutch: an easy way for me to keep her pacified when it suits me. Basically, a gag. So I guess my stance is based on self-doubt. Irrespective, my baba is learning to self-soothe without the use of a dummy and that has made my decision not to use a dummy pretty easy. 
After three weeks of an almost ‘too good to be true’ baba, we sadly discovered that our little Amelia-bug is as stubborn as her mother. She, one day, just decided that sleeping alone was not the cool thing to do; snuggling up in someone’s arms is much more fun – day and night. Naughty baba! So whilst we tried to figure out whether Amelia-bug, at the age of 4 weeks, was manipulating us; or feeling separation anxiety after being attached to mommy for nine months; or frustrated because of her stuffy nose; or just plain needy; or all of the above, my baba happily consumed all of my attention – every second of every day. Making tea became a pain in my ass because as soon as Amelia-bug was put down the waa-ing would begin. So after spending an afternoon with my faithful friend Mr Google, who advised me on the many theories relating to babies and sleep, I was no clearer on what course of action I should take. I wanted to find a happy medium that would ensure that my Amelia-bug would feel okay to sleep alone but also indulge in some lovely mommy and daddy snuggles. So I sent out a message on facebook and got mixed responses that launched into a fabulous debate which I would like to share with other parents addressing the same sleep issue. 
