Tag: mamaway
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5 Newborn Cues – the Baby Translator
Did you ever see that Simpson’s episode where Homer’s brother invents a baby translator? It goes on to make sense of Maggie’s baby talk. ‘Lavish attention on me and entertain me’ she’s translated to say. It would be nice if one of these was on the market. I know our family would have done whatever…
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Labour hormones… happy, hippy and horrid
Labour is called labor for a reason, it’s tough to work and there’s no getting around it. However, if someone claimed that you could have comfortable and swift labor… you’d want to hear about it, right?The first place to start is to understand some of the crazy, wicked, Yoda-smart hormones that your clever little system…
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Confessions of a Doula: What Your Birth Taught Me
The word ‘doula’ originates from Greek and signifies ‘mothering the mother’, making it a fitting job description. As a doula, I am not medically trained like a midwife, nor do I possess the expertise to deliver a baby. However, I offer invaluable support throughout the journey of a pregnant woman. My role involves providing various…
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For the class of 2017 – a quick lesson on labor drugs
To the class of 2017, You’ve heard it all before… there are no university medals, just a cute bundle to behold. So, let’s be smart and understand all there is to know, so we can make informed, educated decisions about our bodies and our babies. This is not a shame game, mums. We need to…
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Bonding – the way to her heart and yours
As a mum to both biological children (of the womb) and foster children (of the heart), the issue of ‘bonding’ with each baby/child has been a topic I’ve held close. There was never a question as to whether I loved each baby. Of course, I did. They were each longed for and anticipated and they…
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10 Steps to a Safe Sleeping For Babies
As a first-time mum, motherhood can be a labyrinth of well-meaning advice and anecdote. There is so much information out there and much of it is simply picking and choosing what resonates and what is personal preference. However, when it comes to safe sleeping, we need to be well-informed. The lines here are not blurry…
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How to Breastfeed? Mastering Essential Techniques and Positions
As a post-natal doula, I’ve encountered numerous breastfeeding challenges and witnessed the frustration experienced by both mothers and babies when breastfeeding doesn’t go smoothly. One of the most common issues is the lack of a good latch. If you’re aiming to prevent sore, cracked nipples and ensure a comfortable breastfeeding experience for both you and…
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When is it too late to wear a postpartum belly band?
I don’t know if you’ve ever watched the Olympic weightlifting. Some gigantic eastern European beef-cake performing feats of super-human strength. If you pay attention and look past the facial impersonation of a birthing mother, one thing you’ll notice is that regardless of the weight range – from Man Mountain through to Mr. Chicken-Mc-Nugget, they all…
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What to expect in the first week
You would not be the first woman in history to spend more time prepping for childbirth than the parenting itself. But, don’t forget the gig that follows, mums. Below is what to expect… when you’ve finished expecting 🙂 1. Poop Her first poop will look like she’s done ‘a vegemite’. It will then change the…
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Abdominals Heading for the Coast (East and West)
Me at 30 plus weeks and looking not a day shy of it. I carried BIG, basket-ball-like and low low low low. Do you know this pregnancy caricature? I looked more like a cartoon than a human. Abdominal pain & stretch marks I had abdominal pain and stretch marks appearing about the 20-week mark. Pelvic pain…