Birth of your Baby
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Bonding and Attachment
Postpartum Care
The constants throughout world traditions are:
- A set period of time for the mother to fully rest and recuperate
- The emotional and physical support and training provided by a group of trusted women
- Lots of soup! Made with lots of love! Soup made with boiled bones and skin has an unusually high calcium content. Calcium is the one nutrient that the baby takes before the mother when breastfeeding. All other nutrients go to the mother first. Sea vegetables also supply a high amount of all minerals and other important nutrients.
- Often some kind of body healing for mom, such as massage and herbal rubs
If you experience postpartum depression, or suspect someone you know is experiencing it, it is important to find constructive help. A new mother needs emotional support and encouragement. She needs lots of rest and nutritious foods and to feel that she is cared about. She is giving her all to a new being and her well of reserves must be filled by those in a position to help.
If you are pregnant, be proactive in setting up a support system for yourself. Be aware of your own risk factors. Do you have women relatives and friends who can help you? Contact programs that specialize in helping new mothers such as the Life After Birth program at The Family Place in Nelson (250-352-7120).
It would be an amazing thing to see women come together more intentionally around new mothers. Community building initiatives are begun at the grassroots. Mothers are certainly the most neglected members of non-aboriginal society and urban Aboriginal women wind up in the same predicament. Perhaps you would like to volunteer for a program like Life After Birth which tries to address some of the isolation issues that mothers face.
Breastfeeding
Postnatal Public Health Services, Interior Health: Contact your local Public Health Centre for the following services:
- Newborn visitation, support and information
- Breastfeeding support
- Community resource list for prenatal to age 5 and caregivers
- Well Baby Clinics which include growth monitoring, health nutrition, development and parenting information at 2,4,6,12 and 18 months Immunizations
- Developmental screening and referral
- Counselling and support for perinatal loss
La Leche League: La Leche League strives to help mothers worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information, and education, and to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother. www.llli.org
Interior Health Breastfeeding Resources and Support: Breast milk is the perfect food for your baby. Breast milk meets all of your baby's nutritional needs. Breastfeeding is the natural way to feed your baby, but that does not mean that you will automatically know how to do it. Most mothers need advice and support especially during the first month when everything is new. The Canadian Paediatric Society recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life for healthy term infants. Breast milk is the optimal food for infants, and breastfeeding may continue for up to 2 years and beyond (Paediatric & Child Health, 2005; 10(3): 148). Breast milk provides hundreds of antibodies, enzymes, and other factors that protect your baby from infections and disease. Breast milk is always the right temperature, easy to provide, always available, changes as your baby grows, and is free. In addition, breastfeeding saves money as formula is expensive. www.interiorhealth.ca
Postpartum Depression
Quick Links
Postpartum Depression
It is said that up to 80% of women experience the "baby blues" in the period shortly after giving birth, and that between 10-15% of women go on to experience a more severe form of postpartum depression. Western medicine cites hormonal changes in a woman's body as a main cause of postpartum depression as well as a list of risk factors, which includes a family, and/or personal history of depression and mental illness.
While these are certainly factors to consider, it is also important to look at the social and emotional factors that may be contributing to postpartum depression. In traditional cultures, the world of the new mother was/is very different from what many of us now experience. Traditions paid special attention to moms and babes. The community made sure that all support necessary to assure a healthy recovery for the mother and a healthy, strong baby were provided.
In non-aboriginal society, we are often expected to go home and know what to do. If we do not have the wisdom of elders and the physical support of relatives and friends, recovery can be a slow, lonely and painful process. The physical issues that mothers often have to face can be painful and confusing. After-pains in the uterus, engorgement and perhaps healing stitches can each on their own be overwhelming and if they are combined, the mother is going through what can become a desperate time if she is not supported.
This is in addition to the new demands of the baby and the regular chores of life. Cooking, cleaning, caring for other children. A mother with so many new demands on her mind and body can become frustrated and confused if she feels alone.
Traditional societies, because they are interdependent communities see the priceless value of making sure that all goes well. Birth is a rite of passage for the mother as well as the baby. There is also enjoyment in this for all involved. Elders want to pass on their knowledge and spend time with the mother and babe. Community members enjoy visiting and bringing gifts and food. The arrival of life, is a celebration. Who knows what wonderful gift this new being will bring us?
Looking for some more information? Check out these websites:
www.cmha.ca
www.interiorhealth.ca
www.mothering.com
www.lalecheleague.com
Traditional Practices from Around the World
(The following information was taken from the book, Mothering the New Mother, by Sally Placksin, Newmarket Press, 2000) The information here is not necessarily current, but it is recent. As western medical practices and lifestyles enter other cultures, these traditions are lost. The more remote a people are, the more likely they will be able continue their traditions because medical services are often far away and people are still living somewhat traditional lifestyles.
Natives of North America
- Over time this site will try to address more practices specific to individual North American cultures
- Children are a gift from Creator
- Mothers are honoured, receiving special respect and attention, especially in the matrilineal societies
- In some places networks of women relatives and friends still function and take care of the new mother, cooking, cleaning and caring for her other children, they welcome the new members and mothers into the clans
- Welcoming the baby is a happy community event
- Many bands provide gifts for the new family
- If the new mothers mother is not present or has died, another woman will become her surrogate mother
Columbia
- Pregnancy and birth are seen as a sign of health and beauty, the mother is honoured for the life coming through her
- Mothers are encouraged to think good thoughts, to look at beautiful things such as flowers, to hold babies, to take long walks and to watch baby animals playing
- From seven months pregnant another woman always stayed with the new mother, teaching her about what to expect and how to care for herself and the new baby
- Usually an aunt, mother, elder sister or other female family member attends the birth
- The baby is immediately put to breast and mother and baby are wrapped together
- For forty days all of the mothers physical needs are taken care of. She is sponge bathed with aromatic herbs, brought gifts, allowed to rest, she does no work and others care for her children
- The mother is the centre of everything, not the baby, she is told what a wonderful job she did, how abundant and rich her milk is and how well she cares for her baby
- The mother is not allowed "to take on stress of any sort", her only job is to learn to look after her baby
- She is brought all her food, especially nutritious soups to help her recovery and milk supply
Jamaica
- Lower income women still have traditional birth experiences with midwives or "nannies"
- The mother is catered to for nine days and stays in bed nursing
- The nanny visits every day for about a week
- The mother is kept warm once she begins to go outside of the house
- She is fed special soups and herbal teas for her recovery and milk supply
- The baby is fed on demand and sleeps with the mother
Uganda
- The mothers relatives massage her body with boiled banana leaves to bring it back into shape
- The mother is completely taken care of for about a month, her only job is to rest and take care of the baby
- The baby is ritually bathed in oil and herbs
- The mothers drinks special soups
- The whole village comes to greet the new baby and pay respects to the mother
- Often the mothers mother stays with her daughter, sometimes for up to four months
Korea
- The mother has no visitors for 21 days, She is cared for by family and neighbors, she rests and feeds her baby
- After 21 days friends and relatives begin to drop by
- She is fed seaweed soup 3 to 4 times a day in addition to a highly nutritious diet consisting mainly of meats, rice and vegetables
- When the baby is 100 days old, there is a big celebration party
- The traditional gift for the baby is a very long cotton thread, symbolizing long life
Lebanon
- Female relatives assume the household responsibilities for 40 days
- The mother is in semi-seclusion during this time
- A special gift of a rooster would be made by a relative, this was made into soup for the mother
- Many special soups and stews were made for the mother
- After a couple of weeks, guests beging to visit and bring gifts
China
- The first month the mother is supposed to stay in bed, cared for by her women relatives, she does not go out or get up
- Again, soup is a big part of the recovery process
- There is a party after one month to meet the mother and baby
Guatemala
- 40 days rest "la quarantina"
- Lots of chicken soup.
- Herbal back rubs, hot chocolate and herbal drinks
- Lots of attention is paid to the emotional state of the mother, keeping her feeling good is the goal of her support team
- Many hands care for the baby, lots of friends visit
Who to call
- A doctor or midwife
- Public Health Nurse
- B.C. Mental Health
- B.C. Nurseline 1-866-215-4700
Links
Here are some links to postpartum support
Here are some links to articles about postpartum depression
Local Supports for a Healthy Pregnancy
Castlegar:
“Beautiful Beginnings” Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP) supports pregnant and parenting mothers to give birth to healthy babies through meals, food vouchers, vitamin supplements and educational opportunities. Clients can access prenatal, natal, and postnatal up to and including the child’s first birthday. Beautiful Beginnings is a community-based program providing support to pregnant and post-partum women who may be facing conditions of risk that could threaten their health and that of their babies. Email lhastain.kfp@telus.net
Grand Forks:
Pregnancy Outreach for Healthy Babies : Education, free nutrition support and counselling for women who would benefit from extra supports during their pregnancy and post-partum period. For more information call the direct line at 250-442-5355.
Kaslo:
Home to several programs for parents and children including: Parent Support groups; Parent Education programs including Nobody's Perfect parenting program; Family Literacy programs including Parent Child Mother Goose; A Pregnancy and Breastfeeding group; Guest speakers; A toy and book lending library; and Parent and child time helps parents to enhance their child's early learning while connecting with other parents in a supportive environment. Both North Kootenay Lake Community Services Society (NKLCSS) and the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL) Family Literacy Program offer activities at the Centre. Email office@nklcss.org
Nakusp:
Promotes the health and well-being of children from birth to 6 years of age by providing outreach education and intervention including during pregnancy and after early maternity discharge. Programs offered include Mother Goose and parenting courses. Email aslcs@aslcs.com
Nelson:
Pregnancy Outreach Program: Designed to assist pregnant women to have healthier babies. The program offers extra free food and vitamins, individual support and a weekly meeting with a free lunch. www.kootenaykids.ca
Nelson:
Community Action Program for Children (CAPC): CAPC provides long term funding to community coalitions to deliver programs that address the health and development of children (0-6 years) who are living in conditions of risk. It recognizes that communities have the ability to identify and respond to the needs of children and places a strong emphasis on partnerships and community capacity building. CAPC targets children living in low income families; children living in new-to-parenting families; children experiencing developmental delays, social, emotional or behavioral problems; and abused and neglected children. www.kootenaykids.ca
Trail:
“Building Beautiful Babies” Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP) offers support, information and resources for pregnant women, new mothers (with babies up to 12 months) and families. Offers weekly groups with lunch and guest speaker, plus outreach visits. Food vouchers and free prenatal vitamins available. Phone or check the website for group meeting location and schedule. Email bbb@trailfair.ca
Pre Natal Classes, Selkirk College:
Offered through Selkirk College Community Education. Bursaries are available if cost is a problem. Number of classes and format varies from community to community. The Trail program suggests that in order to get the information you need for a healthy pregnancy, you should attend:
- The Pregnancy Class as early in your pregnancy as possible
- The four Childbirth Classes in your seventh or eighth month
If you have a prescription from your doctor, you can pick up 'Baby's Best Chance' free of charge from the Health Centre. For those wanting a refresher, attend 1-2 evenings of the regularly scheduled Childbirth classes. For more information contact Selkirk College Community Education:
- Castlegar: 365-1208
- Grand Forks: 442-2704
- Kaslo: 353-2618
- Nakusp: 265-3640
- Nelson: 352-6601 Ext 206
- Trail: 364-5770