When you’re creating your birth plan, you should consider adding a clause that states you want skin-to-skin contact with your newborn baby. The benefits of skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth are numerous, and more hospitals are accommodating this wish.
Skin-to-skin contact (which is also called “kangaroo care” or “kangaroo mother care”) doesn’t just benefit premature babies. It’s beneficial for full-term infants too. A multitude of research studies have looked the benefits of placing a newborn on his or her mother’s skin immediately after birth. [continue reading…]
Maternity leave is one of the most precious periods of our lives. It’s the beginning of another life, a foundation for our future parenting, and as such, we want to make the most of every moment. Here are just a few ways that you can get the most out of your leave before the inevitable return to work:
As a new mom, you don’t have the time to get sick. Babies need to be fed, burped, and put to bed; diapers need to be changed; and clothes need to be washed. Aches and pains are overlooked and ignored – after all, there is some discomfort in the postpartum period following childbirth.
When I was pregnant with my first child, I was surrounded by information regarding postpartum depression or PPD. There were posters at my OB/GYN’s office and articles in magazines alerting me to the signs and symptoms of PPD. After I had my son, I watched myself carefully for any of the typical symptoms. But because I didnʼt notice any, I considered myself to be one of the lucky ones who would not experience postpartum depression.
