Did you know it was World Doula Week?

According to the official website, the purpose of World Doula Week ("WDW") is to "empower doulas all over the world to improve the physiological, social, emotional, and psychological health of women, newborns and families in birth and in the postpartum period".

One of the many benefits of having a doula present can be that can help breastfeeding initiation and continuation. Feeding is particularly topical for me this week, having heard it reported that babies who are fed on demand have a higher IQ than those who are put into a "Gina Ford" style routine. I admit that I read Gina Ford and personally felt that her techniques were very regimented and I didnt want to shut my baby into a dark room on her own. However I did use the Contented Little Baby Book as a reference guide for a  basic routine to our day.

Now thats what pregnant and new mums tend to do, they read, they research and listen to advice given, so when it is reported that if you didnt demand feed your baby, it is likely to have a lower IQ, I can just imagine mums across the country worrying that they have made the right or wrong choices for their child.

Joanne Dewberry commented on our facebook page by saying "its a great way to make tired, emotional, hard working mums feel poo!! all those mums out there not feeding on demand will now be worrying about whether they have caused their child low IQ .. a few weeks ago it was babies who feed themselves against those being spoonfeed. My suggestion bog off let us mums do what we think is best"

Whereas Laura Rigney stated "I was all about routines where possible, by the time I got to number three most of the routines were out the window "

Rebekah Harriman agreed with Joanne by commenting "Everything is contradictory and designed to make us feel rubbish about whatever choices we may have made. Mothers are judged enough as it is without being made to worry about choices they have already made and can't undo"

So having a Doula can help to increase parents confidence during birth and with their new baby and whether you employ a trained Doula or have a trusted birthing partner, I think you also need to prepare for the guilt that experts, reports and the national press give to mums.

I am sure that ALL mums try and do their best for their children, so if my daughter suffers a few IQ points from having a routine in her life, I hope she will forgive me ..... although with a consistent routine at least she knows what time dinner will be!!

There was an article in the Daily Mail yesterday about Homeopathy and how one expert considered it "worthless".

This is obviously one mans opinion, which from some of the comments on the article is echoed by some of the general public but when the NHS spent £4 million pounds last year on Homeopathy remedies last year, there are calls from the British Medical Association for this funding to end.

Homeopathy works for some people and I believe in the freedom of choice and the ability to make an informed decision. I am certainly no expert about Homeopathy but surely the NHS cant fund something that doesnt have results?

When I had my second baby, I used hypnobirthing, which is something that wasnt funded by the NHS and again is something that some people consider to be poppycock but I have no doubt that this was better for me, my baby and ultimately saved the NHS a bed!! So who is to say what is right or wrong, surely people are allowed the choice??

Daily Mail article

As it was Mothers Day yesterday, I sat here wondering what makes a good mum? In the same way that fathering a child doesnt make you a "Daddy", what makes a mum good?

• Is it being cool or controlling?
• Is it being happy or harsh?
• Is it working to provide or staying at home?

Growing up, I would tell anyone that listened that my parents were quite strict, I wasnt allowed to "hang out", I had chores to do and my homework was checked daily! I wasnt rewarded everytime I did anything well or got 10/10 on my spellings but I knew my parents were proud of me when I did.

So was my mum "good", if you had asked me at 14, you may have a different answer but ask me now as a thirty something (ahem) mum to two girls, absolutely, she was brilliant and still is.

She worked part time, so although she was there for my brother and I, she taught us a good work ethic too. She was kind and loving, firm but fair. We may not have had designer clothes but they went out of style, family isnt about a fashion statement.

I love my girls and only hope that I can emulate the same kind of upbringing for my daughters, that my mum did for me. Its not about being their best friend but wanting to be the best mum I can be.

One of the most important thing to parents, aside from their children (obviously) is getting enough sleep. So a crying baby can drive parents to distraction and in extreme cases, seperation, so we are delighted to have this guest post from Jemima Lopez on ways to understand the crying.

Everyone knows that babies cry — a lot.  While it can be taxing at times, it's just their way ofcommunicating with the people around them. Quite often cries are a clear indicator that something is wrong. But until your child develops his or her verbal skills, it can become quite frustrating trying to figure out the source of the issue. What's even more frustrating is that if you don't quickly pacify your child's cries by tending to his or her wants/needs, it can put a heavy strain on the entire family. That said, you need to learn what your child's cries could mean so you can quickly fix the problem. Below is a list of cry-triggers as well as some soothing mechanisms to try whenever traditional techniques like rocking and lullabies don't work.

Hungry Hippo: Let's get the most obvious one out of the way first. Babies need to eat around the clock. But sometimes when hunger strikes, they suffer from so much distress that when they do finally get to feed they simultaneously gulp in air and milk—which ironically can make him or her cry even harder. To prevent your child from reaching a crying state of no return, respond quickly to early stages of hunger. Change your child's diaper just as often since babies cry when they're wet and uncomfortable.

Too Tired: Ok, here's the second most obvious. Babies need tons of sleep. In fact, most newborns need more than 16 hours of sleep a day. But for some reason, some babies don't know that it's fine (and encouraged) to sleep all day. So they fight it. Put your fussy baby to ease by getting him or her to take frequent naps.

Overly Stimulated: People always gravitate to newborns and try to give them as much love and attention as possible. But sometimes babies can get overwhelmed, especially if they're used to only being around two/three people on a daily basis.  If you think your child's cries are the result of over stimulation, take him or her to a much quieter/calmer environment—either to a separate room or walk outside for a moment. To soothe your baby even faster, you could try these pacifying techniques:

• Play White Noise—In a nutshell, white noise is a monotonous constant "humming" sound that quite frankly hypnotizes babies.  While there are white noise CDs available for purchase, there are some clips available on YouTube for free. Other appliances that have the same effect on babies include hair dryers, vacuum cleaners, fans, and drying machines.
• Let the Wind Chimes Blow—Many mothers claim that taking their child outside briefly to catch some fresh air with the wind chimes blowing instantly soothes their babies.
• Whisper Ever so Slightly—Another way to comfort your child is by whispering in his or her ear. Babies aren't familiar with this low-tone and sometimes stop crying just to tune-in to what is being said.

Has a Belly Ache: Babies get belly aches more often than one may think, especially those that are breast fed. This is because your diet may change the chemistry in your milk which may have a negative effect on your child's gastrointestinal system. If you've been eating something new, this may be the key to your child's abnormal fussiness.

Wants to be Held: Lastly, your little love bug might just want to be held. Wrap him or her up snuggly and cradle them close to your heart—a constant beating heart reminds babies of the time they spent in your nice, comfy womb and can bring them back to a tranquil state.

By-line:

Jemima Lopez is a freelance blogger and writer who writes for Zen College Life, the directory of higher education, distance learning, and best online schools. She welcomes your comments at her email:  [email protected].