Guest author: James G. Henderson, Ph.D., Carolina Friends School, Durham, NC, USA
Why Love Matters (Routledge, 2004) gets my vote as the most important book of the twenty-first century. Not only does author Sue Gerhardt make a compelling case for the importance of nurture in the first year of life; she also writes in a style crafted carefully to appeal to professional and lay readers alike.
Much has been learned about brain function in the last twenty years, and Gerhardt thoroughly examines this body of knowledge to identify vital information for parents, pediatric specialists, and policymakers to absorb. Nobody doubts that babies are precious, but Gerhardt persuasively demonstrates just how much individuals, families, and societies depend on successful early parenting.
“Babies come into the world with a need for social interaction to help develop and organize their brains. If they don’t get enough empathic, attuned attention—in other words, if they don’t have a parent who is interested in them and reacting positively to them—than important parts of their brain simply will not develop as well.”
Devoted, consistent attention is what babies need to thrive. Love is communicated to a baby who is tenderly held, smiled at, talked to, and played with attentively. Babies who do not benefit from such loving attention are at high risk for emotional, educational, and health challenges in the years that follow. Societies that do not support early parenting do so at their own peril. As Gerhardt suggests, improving “the relationship between parents and their babies is a much more cost effective (and less painful) way of improving mental health than any number of adult therapeutic treatments.”
The United States faces a crisis in the parenting of babies and young children. Due to changes in the proximity of extended family and greater demands on adults of both genders to prioritize work life, today’s babies are at risk. Too many parents are too busy and too poorly informed about how to parent a baby. Common but critical problems related to eating, sleeping, and crying, and to parent-child attachment, can derail a family already under stress. If not properly addressed, such problems can alter the developmental trajectories of children. Moreover, as greater and greater economic pressure is placed on healthcare and early childhood education dollars, professionals who serve these families practice under the weight of ever-increasing responsibilities.
Why Love Matters makes a strong case for the importance of helping new moms and dads understand and respond effectively to their babies. Programs such as Gerhardt’s own OXPIP program in the UK, and Jan Tedder’s HUG Your Baby program in the US, are able to offer parents precisely this kind of guidance. Why Love Matters boldly suggests that the future of the next generation may depend on the success of such programs.
Read other articles on understanding and care of babies.
Discover The HUG DVD and Newsletters for new parents.
© HUG Your Baby 2009
Why Love Matters
U.S. Earns a "D" on 2009 Preterm Birth Report Card
"U.S. Earns a Disappointing "D" on 2009 Preterm Birth Report Card
For the second year in a row, the United States has received a "D" on the March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card, reflecting the fact that more than half a million American newborns did not get a healthy start in 2009. This year seven states improved their status by one letter grade on the March of Dimes annual report, while two states fell in performance. As in 2008, no state earned an "A," and Vermont earned the lone "B." The good news? Criteria affecting preterm birth did improve in many states. For example, 27 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico lowered their late preterm birth rates. A significant number of states also reduced their percentages of women of childbearing age who smoke and the percentage of women of childbearing age who are uninsured. Grades for the report are determined by comparing preterm birth rates to the national Healthy People 2010 preterm birth objective, which is 7.6 percent of all live births. Read more..."
Published in:
Preemie Matters Newsletter Nov. 2009
A resource from the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition
Read other articles on understanding and care of babies.
Discover The HUG DVD and Newsletters for new parents.
© HUG Your Baby 2009
Overfeeding Your Baby
The young mother is frantic. Her baby never seems quite satisfied. Louise has been committed to breastfeeding, but things just haven’t gone well. Little Becky has lots of those mustard-seed poops and wet diapers, but Louise thinks she doesn't seem very happy. Becky spends a lot of time wiggling and squirming. After eating, her legs and arms shake and bicycle around, she makes one odd face after another, and then she grunts and squeaks. Louise figures all this must mean that Becky is unsettled, unhappy, or discontent. Where are those quiet, cuddly times Louise has always imagined would be a part of being a new mom?
So now Louise is bottle feeding. Every time Becky squirms, Louise gives her the bottle. When the baby sucks the bottle her body seems to get still for the time being. Louise thinks that must mean Becky is at peace. But, all this feeding! Now Becky seems to be spitting up more often and having more painful, gas bubbles. Confused and upset, Louise finally goes off to meet with Angela, the WIC nurse at the health department.
Fortunately, Angela has just completed a special course on preventing overfeeding by reading a baby’s body language. It is very common, Angela learns, for moms to be confused by a baby’s body language and “just give the bottle.” A breastfeeding baby can suckle when she is not hungry and be comforted without getting extra calories. However, a bottle-fed baby who sucks a bottle too often will take in unneeded calories and become another statistic--an overfed infant destined to become an overweight toddler, child, and adult.
But Angela helps Louise “read her baby’s body language.” Angela describes Becky's wiggles and squirms as normal movements for some children who exhibit greater motor activity than others. Those grunts, too, are normal vocalizations as a baby plays with the feel and sound of noise making. Those tiny tremors when she is excited or over-stimulated are normal as well. [See video clips of reading a baby's SOS (Sign of Over-stimulation)] Angela also shows Louise that holding Becky’s hands against her chest, or swaddling her, makes all the difference. Now Becky is thriving.
Louise knows that she will be a successful breastfeeding mother with her next child. And for now, she will feed Becky when she needs to eat, and pay attention to her baby’s amazing ability to say, “Hey, Mom, I’m not hungry! Let’s just play right now!”
Read other articles on understanding and care of babies.
Discover The HUG DVD and Newsletters for new parents.
© HUG Your Baby 2009
Baby may not be Einstein, but Mom's a Genius!
It is Molly's first baby after years of infertility. To say she and the family are excited is a BIG understatement! From the first prenatal visit to choosing the wallpaper for the nursery, Molly's husband and both grandparents-to-be are available to help, support, and encourage this mom and new baby. So it's no surprise when Molly receives three copies of the newest Baby Einstein DVD at her first baby shower.
But Molly isn't your average woman. She worked as an Outward Bound instructor before this pregnancy. She has always marveled at the power of interacting personally with nature, and she figures that she is better equipped to educate her baby than the newest video being marketed nationwide.
And, as we know now, Molly is exactly right. Disney, who made $200 million selling this product, is offering refunds to thousands of families after being threatened with a class-action lawsuit for “unfair and deceptive practices.” Parents seem surprised. Those tiny DVD watchers did not become geniuses!
This article describes several studies about kids and TV. A study from Seattle found that for every hour of television watched between the ages of 1 and 3, the risk of attention problems at age 7 increases nearly 10 percent. (Journal of Pediatrics, 2004) This Journal's 2007 article shows a delay in speech for children 8 - 16 months who were exposed to the baby DVD. "For each hour a day spent watching baby DVDs, infants understood on average six to eight fewer words than those who did not watch them." (The big picture is even more startling. By the time the average person reaches age 70, he or she will have spent the equivalent of 7 to 10 years watching television! AAP)
In addition to finding that watching TV does not enhance a baby's intelligence, more recent research shows that kiddie TV watchers become fatter kids. Is it the fast food commercials, the habit of sitting, or the family value of passive entertainment that creates a perfect storm? The answer is still unclear. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises NO screen time for children less than two.
Ironically, it may be that Baby Einstein will actually make Molly's baby smarter! When the baby shower is over, Molly returns the three Baby Einstein DVDs and has enough money to buy herself a new pair of walking boots that fit her pregnancy-sized feet just right. This baby will derive true benefit from exploring the world with Mom and sharing its wonder together. Mom's the real genius here!
Read other articles on understanding and care of babies.
Discover The HUG DVD and Newsletters for new parents.
© HUG Your Baby 2009
"My premie's not bonding with me," the nurse hears during "Prematurity Awareness Month."
The anxious mother stands quietly beside the isolette. Her premie is making progress, and the nurse reminds her that the doctor and nurse practitioner both said that she and her baby, Sarah, will be going home in another few weeks. Nevertheless, Mom continues to look glum – a deep kind of sadness this nurse has seen often in young NICU parents.
“I know you say that Sarah is getting stronger. I can see that her weight is going up, and all those machines say that that her breathing and heartbeat are improving. But I can tell we aren't bonding. Little Sarah just doesn’t feel close to me."
The nurse is surprised by this mother’s comment. She has seen this first-time mother attend to every detail of her daughter’s care. She ask questions when she is confused. She takes notes when the nurse practitioner or doctor explain the baby’s condition. She encourages her husband to hold the baby, and she pumps her breast to provide the breast milk this struggling baby needs.
“But Sarah doesn't look at me. When I talk to her for more than a minute she closes her eyes and turns away,” the young mom explains as she tears up.
A common misunderstanding has just occurred. The young baby is exhibiting a normal newborn response to over-stimulation. She is “Switching Off,” a common behavioral SOS [Sign of Over-Stimulation]. Babies, and especially those born early or with physical challenges, often cannot yet handle energetic interaction. They may turn away from such stimulation in order to conserve energy for healing and growing. This action can actually be a good sign that the baby is beginning to manage her environment.
Sarah’s mom watches The HUG DVD about a newborn’s SOSs. The nurse helps the mother observe the SOSs described in the DVD. This young parent learns to hold her baby’s hands against her chest, swaddle her, or encourage her to suck when Sarah sends out an SOS. Mom also learns how to decrease the intensity of her interactions with the baby if the little one is over-stimulated. The nurse encourages Sarah's mom to hold the newborn skin-to-skin, both to calm the baby and to promote the bonding process.
Sarah’s mom looks more confident and sounds proud as she describes these SOSs to her husband when he comes by after work. They both have a new way of reading their baby’s body language, and they smile as they discuss the life they are starting to share as a family. The bonding process is underway, and the nurse is satisfied to know that her teaching will reap rewards for years to come--both for these parents and for Sarah!
See the March of Dimes's information about premature babies. (Here is another story about a premie.)
Read other articles on understanding and care of babies.
Discover The HUG DVD and Newsletters for new parents.
© HUG Your Baby 2009
Childbirth Educator completes HUG Your Baby ONLINE Course
CLICK HERE to hear what a Lamaze instructor says about this course!
Click here to preview or register for this course.
HUG Online Training for Professionals - Watch this Preview
Click to begin the HUG Your Baby preview.
Hear what happens when a new mom misunderstands the normal behavior of her newborn! Discover the power of helping parents understand what "Zone" their baby is in and noticing when their baby "sends out an SOS" (Sign of Over-Stimulation).
The HUG Your Baby course is approved for 2 hours of continuing education credit by DONA, CAPPA, ACNM, NAPNAP, ICEA, and Lamaze.
"Create a new account" to register for course here. Course fee is $35.
I don't think my baby can see!
The young father has come to all the childbirth classes and is determined to help his baby grow and develop as best he can. "But, he won't look at his rattle," the dad reports, as he quickly moves the toy back and forth in front of the baby's eyes. "On that film you showed us I saw a baby look at his rattle. So what's wrong with Eric?" Dad asks.
The doula is delighted by the new father's interest and attention to his little one. She reminds Dad that though a baby can see up close almost as well as an adult, infant eyes move more slowly. So she steadies Dad's hand as he holds the rattle. Together they move the rattle slowly as Eric attends to the toy. When the baby's eyes hesitate and drop off the rattle, she and Dad stop the movement. Then Eric's eyes seem to catch on again. Now Dad and the doula inch the ball over a second time as Eric looks on.
The doula also shows Dad how to vary the sound of the rattle to keep Eric's attention. Since baby's have the ability to ignore repeating, overwhelming stimulation (the "Shutting Down" SOS), varying the cadence of the rattle keeps a baby interested. Eric likes what Dad is doing now.
In another few seconds Dad notices Eric start to get a bit red in the face; he also sees his son's breathing pick up. "That's one of those SOSs!," Dad exclaims. "I think he's done showing off right now." Dad cuddles Eric closely and speaks quietly into his ear. The baby's color returns to normal and his breathing slows down as he melts into his dad's arms.
Babies do have remarkable abilities to see. However, there is a normal hesitancy with most babies as they engage with and follow an object. They are especially attracted by the human face. They seem programmed to respond to the contrasting colors, curves, and movement of a parent's face. Research shows that a four-hour-old baby can even pick her mother out of a lineup of women's photos!
Babies who are born early, or who are more fragile, may have normal vision but not yet be able to orient as fully to a toy or to Dad's face as Eric can. The doula may notice that such a baby only gets still and quiet when a rattle is shaken. But she know that this, too, is normal. Watching for those SOSs and giving extra support with swaddling or letting the baby suck a finger will help some babies orient easier. Surprisingly, some babies who are not yet able to look at a toy may simply lift their chin toward the object as proof that "I get it! I just can't do it right now!"
Eric's dad is reassured to see how attending to the rate and rhythm of this play, responding to his son's SOSs, and offering a little extra support when needed helps Eric attend and respond to the wonderful world around him--and Dad feel more connected to the newest member of his family.
Read other articles on understanding and care of babies.
Discover The HUG DVD and Newsletters for new parents.
© HUG Your Baby 2009
Depression in Dad will impact a new family.
Fred works at a local insurance company. He is a good employee: shows up on time, is punctual with his reports, courteous to his customers, and kind to the staff. Lately, however, he "keeps to himself," and likes his door closed when he has a stack of forms to complete. Recently there have been a few lay-offs at his company; Fred is determined to "stay below the radar."
Fred's wife, Jessie, is expecting their first child, and the pregnancy is going well.
But midway into his wife's pregnancy, life has gotten tense around the house. Fred is a bit hyper. He is quick to criticize Jessie if dinner isn't ready by the time he gets home, he spends more time in front of the TV with an extra beer, and he reports that he is too tired to make his customary morning trip to the gym. Instead, Fred has made an uncharacteristic number of trips to the doctor these past few month for an ache or pain here, indigestion, and headaches. While he seems exhausted in the evening, he tosses and turns at night. Jessie often finds him dozing on the couch when she gets up in the morning.
Like 7% of men in the United States, Fred is suffering from depression. However, he doesn't "look depressed." He has no crying spells and his mood is not slowed down. On the contrary, he is revved up a notch or two. Fred remembers being "kinda blue" for a semester or two in college and reports that his mother was treated for depression years ago.
Fred needs help...for the sake of his well being...for the sake of his marriage...and, ultimately, for the sake of his baby.
A recent study by the American Psychiatric Association confirms the increasing incidence and importance of postpartum depression in dads. APA President says, "The life changes for a new dad are enormous. Just thinking about the costs of raising the kid to 21, maybe for life, can be terrifying. And all the unspoken fears: Will my wife still be as interested in me? Will my baby be as cute as my brother's baby?" "Moreover, male postpartum depression may have more negative effects on some aspects of a child's development than its female counterpart," says James F. Paulson, PhD. A dad's depression during his wife's pregnancy is a significant risk factor for her postpartum depression.
Furthermore, a new study in Pediatrics confirms that depression in dads is linked to increased crying in their newborns. Does dad's depression cause more tension in the home and less responsiveness to the baby, or is it the other way around? No one yet knows.
Fred's brother notices that Fred is "just not right." After considerable support and encouragement, Fred finds a doctor who has experience treating depression in men. A few weeks after treatment begins, Fred finds his was back to the gym, opens his office door at work, and is back to patting his wife's growing tummy. Fred thankfully feels like hemself again and is ready now to be the dad he wants to be.
2009 ICEA Convention
It's like Thanksgiving dinner. You love EVERY bite, but are a little "too full" by the third dessert! That was the 2009 ICEA convention! Truly amazing speakers covered material ranging from postpartum doula-ing, support during childbirth, how to grow your birth business, how to grow a childbirth education organization, baby friendly hospitals, birth doula..ing, fathering, etc., etc.
The best part for me is always the conversations between, around, and even (a whispered word or two) during the presentations. On my shuttle ride to the hotel I spoke with Shirin Strauss and Jackie Cameron who work with teens. In twenty minutes we had discussed key challenges and opportunities for supporting teen moms...before our convention experience even started! Over lunch I landed right beside Sandy Jones and got a private summary of her recent presentation - the one I missed while waiting for my plane to be fixed in Chicago. Marilyn Hildreth updates me on the power of a Baby-Friendly hospitalDuring the now-famous "President's Pajama Party" I learned of Jeanne Green's remarkable journey as a childbirth educator, mom and grandma, and she and I pondered together the wants and needs of today's new parents. Connie Livingston and I were sharing ideas non-stop on how to use the world of social marketing to get the word out about our services and resources. Candy Mueller was bubbling with ideas about how to give new parents the resources they need. David Field and I explore options for incorporating HUG Your Baby into ICEA.
The convention went smoothly, the food was great, and the spirit was enthusiastic! I went to ICEA to "Give The HUG" but came home appreciating all the many hugs I received in Oklahoma City!
"Great Expectations: The Essential Guide to Breastfeeding"
Do we need one more book on breastfeeding? We know "breast is best" (for baby, mommy, and the community), "use it or lose it" (meaning use the breast to feed or lose the ability to make milk), and "it takes two to tango" (breastfeeding is a dance between the behavior and activities of the mom and the behaviors and actions of the baby).
We all know these important truths, but Dr. Marianne Neifert has raised the bar again by offering a new, comprehensive book on the magic, mystery, and might of breastfeeding. As a pediatrician and practitioner of breastfeeding medicine, she has surely seen it all. (See Amazon to order book.)
Dr. Neifert reveiws why breastfeeding matters and lists five hospital policies that enhance a woman's success with breastfeeding:
1. Baby is breastfed during the first hour after birth.
2. Baby is fed only breastmilk in the hospital.
3. Baby stays in the room with the mother.
4. Baby does not use a pacifier in the hospital.
5. The hospital gives the mother a phone number to call for help once she is discharged home.
Dr. Neifert goes on to describe how to solve common breastfeeding problems, what help to seek, and how to manage breastfeeding once mother and baby are out in the "real world" again.
Though strong evidence to support breastfeeding has been with us for decades now, those of us who advocate for it know that we and the women we serve still frequently find ourselves swimming upstream. We need professinals in the field to keep telling the truth about breastfeeding in a style and in a venue that a typical mother can access. We must continue to empower new moms to request (or is it "demand"?) from the medical world the facts--and the help--they want, need and deserve. In this age of healthcare "reform," the burden to promote breastfeeding is shared by successful new moms and the tireless breastfeeding activists who move forward one breast (or two!) at a time!
Read other articles on understanding and care of babies.
Discover The HUG DVD and Newsletters for new parents.
© HUG Your Baby 2009
