Tag: baby

Babywearing, motherhood, postpartum, reviews

How and why I wore my babies

Roshnii Rose

Before you read about my experiences of babywearing, take a look at these amazing images depicting Portuguese women in the earlier 20th Century carrying their babies.

portugal-babywearing

I loved using baby carriers to hold my babies close while on the move or at home, when they were little and needed cuddles while enabling me to keep my hands free.

By carrying my children I felt connected to women all over the world, through the ages and in different cultures who have done the same. It seemed the most natural way to move from place to place with a young baby as I was able to smell him, feel his body against mine, listen to his sounds, talk to him. He could see what I could see and be involved in my interactions with the world. I knew straight away when he was hungry and could also feed him while in the carrier if necessary. He didn’t need to cry to get my attention and he could sleep cuddled up against my body, where he felt safe and relaxed, not to mention soothed by my movements and heartbeat, which resembled what he felt in the womb. Continue reading “How and why I wore my babies” →

baby, birth, breastfeeding, motherhood, postpartum

The amazing benefits of Skin-to-skin: Investing in your long-term wellbeing

Roshnii Rose

There is nothing more beautiful than holding your bare baby against your skin in the magical moments after birth.

For some years now, the practice skin-to-skin contact, immediately or as soon as possible after birth, has been found to be beneficial to both mum and baby.

Newborn skin to skin

However, here in Portugal, it is still common practice for the pediatrician to take the baby away for medical checks in the first crucial minutes  or hours after birth. Here, I am going to explain why asserting your right to spend the first hour of life skin-to-skin with your baby is an investment in the long-term health and wellbeing of both of you.

You may want to discuss your preferences with your caregivers during your prenatal appointments so that they know how important it is to you that you have an uninterrupted hour of skin-to-skin time immediately after birth. Your partner, doula or birth companion will need to assert your wish to have this skin-to-skin period at the birth when you, the mother, may not feel like speaking up.

Skin-to-skin, or Kangaroo Care (KC) as it is known specifically when the baby is in an upright chest-to-chest position with the parent, is not just something nice to do with your newborn. There are many important and tangible health benefits for both mother and baby.

Continue reading “The amazing benefits of Skin-to-skin: Investing in your long-term wellbeing” →

breastfeeding

7 steps to successful breastfeeding

Roshnii Rose

As any breastfeeding mother will tell you, breastfeeding is one of the cornerstones of early motherhood. It is not only a way to feed your baby with one of nature’s most nourishing and miraculous foods, it also helps you and your baby to bond physically and emotionally and to continue the symbiotic relationship that began during your pregnancy.

FeliZidad_0109158

Although we humans have been breastfeeding our babies since the dawn of humankind, it is a skill that we learn and relearn along with each baby that we give birth to.

Here are some ideas that may help you and your baby get off to a successful start in your breastfeeding relationship:

Read the whole post on umamaenasceu.org

Qualquer mãe a amamentar ir-lhe-á dizer que a amamentação é uma das pedras angulares da recém-maternidade. Não se trata apenas de uma forma de alimentar o seu bebé com um dos alimentos mais nutritivos e milagrosos da natureza, também ajuda a si e ao seu bebé a se unir fisica e emocionalmente e a continuar a relação simbiótica que começou durante a sua gravidez.

Embora nós, seres humanos, amamentemos os nossos bebés desde o início da humanidade, é uma habilidade que aprendemos e reaprendemos com cada bebé a que damos à luz.

Aqui estão algumas ideias que podem auxiliá-la e ao seu bebé a iniciar com sucesso o seu relacionamento de amamentação:

Continua a ler no umamaenasceu.org