Category Archives: Parenting by Instinct
April 12, 2012 Please support Birthing Mothers in Australia
Whether you would Homebirth yourself or not, Homebirth in Australia is a cause worth supporting. When we speak of Homebirth, we are not saying to put babies lives at risk. What we are worried about is that the rules they are proposing go too far and are being made without research or evidence. So instead of being based around protecting the safety and health of birthing mothers and their babies, they are taking away the rights of women without good reason.
Of particular concern is that on 27 April 2012, all State and Territory Health Ministers will meet at the Standing Council on Health to discuss the future of Homebirth in Australia. An options paper has been prepared by Western Australia for consideration by other States/Territories. They are considering to disallow Private Midwives to attend Homebirths that they consider high risk. Although that may sound reasonable, what they consider high risk is not reasonable.
One of the situations that they consider high risk, is VBAC (vaginal birth after Caesarean). As a mother who has had two successful natural deliveries at home after a Caesarean in Hospital, and who has researched the risks, I consider VBAC to be relatively low risk in comparison to other options, this scares me. If I was not allowed to birth safely at home with my Private Midwife, I would be faced with two options. The first would be to birth in hospital, which may not sound bad, but it took enormous strength to birth naturally after a Caesarean and to be forced to battle hospital protocol and pressures I feel would have undone that strength. The second would be to birth alone, and that is equally as scary to not have that educated support at hand should it be needed.
This discussion, and decision making forum seems to be filled with unfounded opinions. Yet again, there has been no consultation with private midwives, women, or consumer groups. This discussion could take away my right to birth at home, where I have safely done so in the past, just because 2 births ago I was convinced to have an unnecessary Caesarean.
As a woman who cares, as a woman who sees a on a daily basis the impact that it can have on health, both mentally and physically, on women as they come into our store, I urge everybody to support the drive to keep the right of a woman to choose where she births.
Midwives must be able to provide care for women wherever they choose to birth.
Please take the short 2 minutes it would take to email your Health Minister and elected State and Federal representatives and ask for proper consultation.
Here is a link for more information, and a simple online format to make it easy for you to put in your opinion – click here
Tags: Australia, Australian, birth, caesarean, doctor, home, home birth, homebirth, homebirth midwife, hospital, independant, midwife, midwives, natural, organic, waterbirth
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March 2, 2012 Should little girls be allowed to wear Makeup?
It is my daughter’s 8th birthday today, and I have given her a makeup set! Are you shocked? Or is that what you would give?
I must point out that this isn’t just any make up set; they are all natural, locally owned, and Made in Australia. A set of bright colours, that can be used to brighten a little one’s face, or be used as face paint, just for the fun of it.
Had you told me a few years ago that I would be giving my 8yo a makeup set for her birthday, I might have scoffed at you. It is not something I planned or considered previously. However, it has turned out to be such a fun gift for a little girl.
Being the owner of an Organic Store, wearing makeup is not something I frequently do, and when I do wear it I use natural organic products only. However, I am a woman; it is nice to have the opportunity to play with makeup and ‘put on a bit of pretty’ from time to time. Of course, children watch what we do, and over time my little girl has wanted to spread blush all, and I mean ALL, over her cheeks, or put a bit of my lip balm on her lips. Really I wear lip balm to keep my lips protected and conditioned, but she sees it as adding her own bit of gloss for the fun of it.
Do I feel that letting her use make up, and letting her see me use make up, is conditioning her to believe that she must paint her face in order to look pretty? No way! She sees me on many a day without make up, whether I go into store or not. As I wear and use organic products, she sees that my skin is beautiful with or without the cover up. And she sees that I just do it for the fun of it when I do wear it. I love being a woman, I love being able to wear a pretty frock, I love being able to glam up my face, in a nice natural way of course. That is the message I give to her. I also make sure that I tell her how even more beautiful her skin is, and it really is!
My daughter knows how important it is to look after her body from the food you put into it, to the products you use on it. In fact, she would never want to wear products that weren’t natural, as she wouldn’t want to do that to her skin. She will just as happily climb trees and run around in old dirty clothes with the neighbourhood children at the park, as she would sit in her room playing make-up. So play make up little girl, spread glitter on your cheeks, colour on your eyes, blue, purple, you look beautiful already and now you look like you are having an extra bit of fun.
Tags: Australia, Australian, Australian made, childrens makeup, colour, colours, cradle, face, face paint, goodwood, made in Australia, make, makeup, makeup for children, mineral, mineral makeup, natural, natural face paint, natures, natures cradle, organic, organic makeup, pain, South Australia, up
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February 12, 2012 What is Co Sleeping?
Recently on our Facebook Page, after posting this photo of my beautiful little girl in a knitted cocoon, the subject of Co Sleeping somehow was brought up. We had Tizzie Hall in there declaring her views on safe sleeping, and there started ‘that’ discussion.
Which leads me to the question – What is Co Sleeping?
According to Wiki ‘Co-sleeping is a practice in which babies and young children sleep close to one or both parents, as opposed to in a separate room. It is standard practice in many parts of the world, and is practiced by a significant minority in countries where cribs are also used.’
While Co Sleeping can simply mean sleeping near to baby, such as having the baby’s Cot or Bassinet in the same room as the parent’s bed, it also includes Bed Sharing with parents. Co Sleeping seems to be yet another label we have given to a practice which has always and naturally been done by many, but since the 19th Century, numbers of ‘Co Sleepers’ in certain areas of the world have reduced because of the introduction of the Crib.
But have numbers of Co Sleepers really reduced, or has the admittance of Co Sleeping reduced?
In Australia, if you speak to many families they will be all too quick to say ‘Oh no we would never Co Sleep!’. But when we enquire further, we find out that they do at times end up falling asleep on the couch with their children, in the rocking chair while feeding, or the children end up in their parent’s bed at some stage during the night. Isn’t that Co Sleeping?
If we were to compare the two scenario’s, the parents who readily admit to Co Sleeping, and therefore take measures to make sure that the sleeping environment is safe in which to do so, and the parents who won’t admit to Co Sleeping and inevitably end up doing so in some way or another, which sounds more dangerous? What would happen if we didn’t use the label of Co Sleeping so that parents could remove their focus from denying doing so, and instead discuss sleeping safely?
I am not afraid to say that I Co Sleep! I am not afraid to openly state so. Why? Because by openly stating so, I take the responsibility to make sure that our sleeping environment is safe. I will shout it from the rooftops in the hopes that by me saying so and sharing how I do it safely, it pulls some other parents out of denial so that they will also take the measures needed to sleep with baby safely. There is a huge difference between making a purposefully safe sleeping environment for baby, and having an environment that is not safe that baby or child sometimes shares.
I don’t however feel that I need to explain why I co sleep, after all we all have our own reasons.
I do want to share how I make sure that our Bed Sharing sleeping environment is safe.
- When a baby is small too small to move him/herself out if a bigger person were to roll on or smother them, the baby shares with mum alone. Or if sleeping alone with mum is not possible the baby should be placed between mum and the wall or bed rail, and dad/partner/older children next to mum on the other side. Why? Mum is usually the one who is more in tune with the baby, other family members can more easily roll onto baby while remaining oblivious to doing so.
- In that same vein of not wanting to put the baby at risk of somebody rolling on them, never ever sleep in the same bed or surface as a baby if you have been drinking or taking drugs. An intoxicated state makes you less aware, and more likely to roll onto baby.
- It is better to have a firm mattress so that when an adult is lying next to baby, the baby does not roll into the adult. A product such as a Snuggle Bed can help keep baby on a safe flat surface.
- Baby should have his/her own safe bedding, never share your bedding with your baby. Why? Your bedding could easily be pulled up over baby when you are heavily sleeping. Therefore, your bedding should be kept well away from baby, including pillows, so much so that when you are wriggling around during the night you could not accidentally move your bedding over to baby.
- The perfect bedding for baby is simply something that baby wears, no cushions or pillows, loose blankets, or anything that is able to be pulled up over baby’s face. This type of bedding is a bit different to what you would use if baby is in a cot where sheets/blankets can be tucked underneath. Suitable products for Bed Sharing include Baby Zippered Sleeping Bags, Wraps that cannot unravel, and Zippered Swaddle Wraps, they all good safe options. If baby needs to be warmer, layering clothing is a good idea, however many of these products come in weighted options to allow you to put them in a warm enough Bag or Wrap for them not to need further bedding.
- No smoking! This isn’t a safety issue specific to Bed Sharing, however important to note here because a baby sleeping next to a smoker is subjected to breathing in more toxins. Smoking poses a health risk to babies in terms of SIDS and other ongoing health conditions such as Asthma.
- Have a specific, set, safe spot for Co Sleeping. Being open to Co Sleeping does not mean letting go of all safety rules to fall asleep on the couch. It means having a specific space set up, such as a spot in the family bed, so that you can ensure it is safe at all times.
- Be realistic! Are you a very heavy sleeper? Is your weight heavy enough to cause a dip even in your firmer mattress? Do you have hair that needs to be tied back? Do you wear nightwear with long straps or items that can become wrapped around baby? Remove all of your risks, even if you are the risk, it is important to take notice of what you have that could harm baby during sleep when you are not awake to be taking notice.
- If ever you need to leave baby alone, for example to get up earlier in the morning than when baby wakes, make sure you thoroughly inspect the environment to remove any dangers. If your baby is on the move, be aware that they can roll around the whole bed, so even removing your sheets and bedding when you leave may be important, as they can become tangled up. Be open to getting baby up with you, even into a sling, when you need to get up in the morning, just to ensure their safety.
- Do not EVER Co Sleep unless you and those with you are fully committed to taking all measures to ensure it is done safely.
When done safely, there is plenty of evidence to show that Co Sleeping actually helps promote a safer sleeping environment than when a baby is left alone in another room.
I personally follow all of the rules above. My currently little baby is put into a snug baby wrap when I get up in the morning to get the older children ready for school. We sleep restfully, and safely, and I don’t have to wake up bleary eyed in the morning from trying to stay awake in a chair feeding my baby during the night. It suits us perfectly.
So if you do Co Sleep or Bed Share, somehow, somewhere, please do be open about it so that others can feel they can also, and do it safely!
Tags: babies, baby, Babyboowrap, babywrap, babywraps, bed, bed sharing, bedding, CC, CIO, co sleep, co sleeping, Cocoon, Ergo Cocoon, Hall, hug a bub, Mckay, natural, organic, Pinky, Pinky Mckay, safe, safe sleeping, safety, share, sharing, sleep, sleeping, sleepy, Sleepy Wrap, Sleepywrap, snuggle, snuggle bed, tetra, Tizzie, Tizzie Hall, wrap, Wrap Me Up, wrapmeup, wrapping, wrapping baby, wraps
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