kirsti <celyn@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in
news:Pine.LNX.4.44.0404250029240.11847-100000@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> On 18 Apr 2004, Xina wrote:
>
>> As all of you have noted, having a child can bring about
>> quite the identity crisis. Oh, and child care- Oi! Right
>> now I'm figuring maternity leave and birthing cl*****, so
>> any help there would be muchly appreciated.
>
> Take as much maternity leave as you possibly can. I've
> seen co-workers in the past who came back after 6 weeks and
> could barely cope. I went back at 3 months and by then
> taking care of a baby wasn't quite as stressful anymore, so
> it was easier to cope with work. A suggestion that I ran
> across that worked well for me was to go back part time for
> the first two weeks, and to go back to work mid-week,
> rather than on a Monday. Makes the transition a bit
> easier.
the first 6 weeks are the hardest. you have to adjust to
having a very needy little person about, the little person
needs to learn there's a difference between daytime & night
time (expect to be feeding every 2-3 hours if you breastfeed),
plus there's a *big* growth spurt right around 6 weeks, just
when you thought you had things settled :)
if you can wait to go back to work until *after* that growth
spurt it will be easier, especially if breastfeeding.
>
> If you can, try to get some family and friends to stay with
> you after the birth, to take care of you. You'll have your
> hands full taking care of an infant. You need someone to
> take care of you.
oh yeah! you really do need to have help lined up... but if
you can't, get a sling (MayaWrap makes a solid black if you
don't like thier crunchy granola Ikat stripes) or a Baby Bjorn
frontpack carrier. make sure you have a bouncinette or a baby
bucket car seat to put the sprout in in the bathroom while you
shower. you *can* do it without help, but it will majorly suck
(especially if you have a high-needs baby. i have no
experience with the so-called 'normal' ones that actually
allow you to put them down<g>)
>
> I actually never took any birthing cl*****. I did a lot of
> reading, and read a lot of birth stories (good and bad). I
> did take prenatal yoga. In some ways, I think prenatal
> yoga was better than any childbirth class at teaching
> effective breathing and focusing techniques. As with
> anything, YMMV.
>
i also agree with this. i read the LaMaze stuff online &
bought a book on the Bradley method. there wasn't any prenatal
yoga offered here, but that sounds like an excellent idea.
Bradley has some breathing & focusing ideas too.
you also might want to check out babycenter.com (or
babycentre.uk) for thier birthing plans so you can have them
all set when you go into the hospital. you have the right to
tell them what interventions you will or won't allow. this is
especially useful if you don't have a birth partner or doula
to advocate for you. you don't exactly think straight in the
midst of labor ;)
lee
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