Working over Christmas with
this beautiful baby girl.
No baby bath, no thermometer, no changing table but loving parents who adore her.
Just like Jesus born into nothing but was loved and gave love.
Thank you for the privilege.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Back again!
Here I am again after a time away from blogging.
I have been busy working for three different kraamzorg bureaus as well as for myself.
Lots of breastfeeding problems which could have been avoided by good instruction on the first and second post-natal days in hospital.
As a result of poor or no instruction regarding latching the baby on to breastfeed, the mother often ends up with cut or damaged nipples.
This makes feeding difficult and painful and means an uphill struggle for successful feeding in the first week after birth.
Please, Nurses in hospitals if you do not know how to teach a new mother how to latch her baby properly onto the breast then refer her to a Lactation specialist or to someone who does know!
This would in turn make my job so much easier in the kraam week.
Thank you.
I have been busy working for three different kraamzorg bureaus as well as for myself.
Lots of breastfeeding problems which could have been avoided by good instruction on the first and second post-natal days in hospital.
As a result of poor or no instruction regarding latching the baby on to breastfeed, the mother often ends up with cut or damaged nipples.
This makes feeding difficult and painful and means an uphill struggle for successful feeding in the first week after birth.
Please, Nurses in hospitals if you do not know how to teach a new mother how to latch her baby properly onto the breast then refer her to a Lactation specialist or to someone who does know!
Thank you.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Friday, September 7, 2012
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Friday, August 17, 2012
From Lebanon to Russia with Iran inbetween!
I am back after sitting my Lactation Consultant exam in Utrecht on 30th July and a short holiday in the French Ardenne.
I have worked with a lovely family from Lebanon who were French and Arabic speaking,( tricky for me), a single mother from Iran with 7 children and am now with an Ukranian/Russian family.
My job is definately never boring and I love meeting different people from so many different cultures.
Sometimes cultures clash with the Dutch way of doing things but I have learnt to provide information and accept that people have different ways of doing things.
After all when I leave the parents will decide what to do not me!
I am priviledged to be part of such an amazing event in the first week of a baby's life and to be able to help and support families along the way.
I have worked with a lovely family from Lebanon who were French and Arabic speaking,( tricky for me), a single mother from Iran with 7 children and am now with an Ukranian/Russian family.
My job is definately never boring and I love meeting different people from so many different cultures.
Sometimes cultures clash with the Dutch way of doing things but I have learnt to provide information and accept that people have different ways of doing things.
After all when I leave the parents will decide what to do not me!
Friday, July 13, 2012
HOLA!
I found it difficult to leave and felt so appreciated for the time and help I had invested.
Muchas gracias, ( hope I spelled it correctly!)
Now have to study 30th July is very near!
Adios.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Sunday, June 3, 2012
success
We made it, baby is feeding (with the help of a nipple-shield).
Mother is happy and baby is happy and has put on weight.
Russian grandmother is also happy, (Babouska).
Mother is happy and baby is happy and has put on weight.
Russian grandmother is also happy, (Babouska).
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Have been working with two families at the same time this week, exhausting in this heat but worth it.
The first family were Dutch and after struggling to get the baby onto the breast in the beginning with time and lots of patience from the Mother she is now feeding brilliantly and putting on weight.
She may still have to go through some tests so at least she is getting the best start.
The first family were Dutch and after struggling to get the baby onto the breast in the beginning with time and lots of patience from the Mother she is now feeding brilliantly and putting on weight.
She may still have to go through some tests so at least she is getting the best start.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
straight forward
Have just finished a very nice week working with a family from Slovakia.
Everything went well.
The baby fed well and gained weight.
The family was very hospitable and fed me every day!
Today I worked but enjoyed a nice Mothers day in the evening with my girls.
On to the next family........
Everything went well.
The baby fed well and gained weight.
The family was very hospitable and fed me every day!
Today I worked but enjoyed a nice Mothers day in the evening with my girls.
On to the next family........
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Frustration Friday
Friday was frustrating!
After taking Thursday off from a Kraam to do my Lactation Course I returned to a family to find that instead of the baby breastfeeding beautifully, ( which was the case when I left), the baby was feeding from a bottle.
The midwife had visited when I was away and had informed the mother that giving breast milk from the bottle was the same as feeding from the breast!
This is not true as babies feeding from the breast receive a better transfer of antigens as well as giving the mother protection against cancer.
Other things were said too which were incorrect and left me feeling frustrated.
I now have to build up the mothers confidence in order to try to feed again from the breast.
I will let you know the outcome.............
After taking Thursday off from a Kraam to do my Lactation Course I returned to a family to find that instead of the baby breastfeeding beautifully, ( which was the case when I left), the baby was feeding from a bottle.
The midwife had visited when I was away and had informed the mother that giving breast milk from the bottle was the same as feeding from the breast!
This is not true as babies feeding from the breast receive a better transfer of antigens as well as giving the mother protection against cancer.
Other things were said too which were incorrect and left me feeling frustrated.
I now have to build up the mothers confidence in order to try to feed again from the breast.
I will let you know the outcome.............
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Calm Still Waters
Well it was a better day today.
Calmer and more peaceful.
Baby is feeding well from the breast and not a policeman or ambulance man in sight!
Apparently it was all a mix up as the ambulance men did not understand what was said in Persian!
Calmer and more peaceful.
Baby is feeding well from the breast and not a policeman or ambulance man in sight!
Apparently it was all a mix up as the ambulance men did not understand what was said in Persian!
Monday, April 23, 2012
An ordinary day in the life of a kraamverzorgende....
Today was to be an ordinary day.
I went to work finishing off my last day at a family where the mother only spoke Spanish and a little Dutch.
It had been a relaxed quiet week where the mother had chosen to give bottle feeding due to her hiv status.
After the stillness comes the storm they say!
Later today as I approached my new family I was met by two ambulance men looking like they were trying to resucitate a man on the floor of a bedroom.
It turned out it was the father of the baby who was hyperventilating.
After taking the baby into another room the man became very aggressive and abusive towards the ambulance men.
The police were called for "back-up".
They arrived within minutes and finally calmed the situation down,
( I was still holding the baby and shaking!!).
Finally the police and ambulance men left and things gradually calmed down.
This was no ordinary day!!
More tomorrow................
I went to work finishing off my last day at a family where the mother only spoke Spanish and a little Dutch.
It had been a relaxed quiet week where the mother had chosen to give bottle feeding due to her hiv status.
After the stillness comes the storm they say!
Later today as I approached my new family I was met by two ambulance men looking like they were trying to resucitate a man on the floor of a bedroom.
It turned out it was the father of the baby who was hyperventilating.
After taking the baby into another room the man became very aggressive and abusive towards the ambulance men.
The police were called for "back-up".
They arrived within minutes and finally calmed the situation down,
( I was still holding the baby and shaking!!).
Finally the police and ambulance men left and things gradually calmed down.
This was no ordinary day!!
More tomorrow................
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Borstvoeding.com: kenniscentrum voor borstvoeding - Kraamtijd - Borstvoedingshoudingen
Borstvoeding.com: kenniscentrum voor borstvoeding - Kraamtijd - Borstvoedingshoudingen
Look at these many positions for breast feeding.
There are no rules, anything is possible!
Look at these many positions for breast feeding.
There are no rules, anything is possible!
Monday, April 9, 2012
Mother love
Have just finished working with a single mother of 7 children
It was busy in the house and sometimes a bit crazy
It was not perfect but the most important element was present:-
LOVE.
That mother loved her children and was totally in love with her new baby.
Sometimes we may not have everything that the world thinks is important but when we have love for our children they thrive and grow.
She also breast fed every one of them!
It was busy in the house and sometimes a bit crazy
It was not perfect but the most important element was present:-
LOVE.
That mother loved her children and was totally in love with her new baby.
Sometimes we may not have everything that the world thinks is important but when we have love for our children they thrive and grow.
She also breast fed every one of them!
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Motivation
Haven't blogged for a while due to being busy
Just finished working with a Dutch family who really wanted to breast feed their first baby
The baby was slightly premature and very sleepy
The mother had a painful, swollen episiotomy wound
The odds were against us
After finger feeding for 3 days the baby finally went onto the breast but kept falling asleep!
After 10 days and lots of patience he is feeding and putting on weight
It just needed time and lots of patience
If the motivation is there you will succeed!
Just finished working with a Dutch family who really wanted to breast feed their first baby
The baby was slightly premature and very sleepy
The mother had a painful, swollen episiotomy wound
The odds were against us
After finger feeding for 3 days the baby finally went onto the breast but kept falling asleep!
After 10 days and lots of patience he is feeding and putting on weight
It just needed time and lots of patience
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Familie van Parijs
Cycled to work in the snow today
Lovely French family and nice big baby of 4 kilos
Feeding beautifully at 2 days old stimulating mothers milk to come in and receiving antibodies and protein in colostrum
Au Revoir.
Lovely French family and nice big baby of 4 kilos
Feeding beautifully at 2 days old stimulating mothers milk to come in and receiving antibodies and protein in colostrum
Au Revoir.
Yes we did it!
My last mother had problems feeding as her nipples were inverted
However, if a mother has motivation to breastfeed she will!
By day 7 after trying nipple shields, expressing and finger feeding the baby suckled at the breast
Patience worked
However, if a mother has motivation to breastfeed she will!
By day 7 after trying nipple shields, expressing and finger feeding the baby suckled at the breast
Patience worked
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Support and Encouragement
Today I began working with a mother who is HIV positive and other health problems
Her baby is still in hospital after being born prematurely
With all her problems she is joyful and happy
My role right now is to educate, encourage and support her until her baby can come home
I feel priviledged to be able to help her.
Her baby is still in hospital after being born prematurely
With all her problems she is joyful and happy
My role right now is to educate, encourage and support her until her baby can come home
I feel priviledged to be able to help her.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Update
I haven't been on here for a while due to holidays
It is very quiet right now on the baby front but lots of other exciting things are happening!
I have been invited to speak in February at a Seminar in London for a Charity on:-
"Dutch Kraamzorg"
I am very excited about it as I have always thought it lacking in the UK and would love to start it up there
Also busy with learning how to do Lactation consultations and tomorrow will go for the second time to the Consultatie bureau for the morning to observe how a Lactation Consultant runs a clinic for mothers with breast feeding problems
Lots of challenges for 2012
Happy New Year!
It is very quiet right now on the baby front but lots of other exciting things are happening!
I have been invited to speak in February at a Seminar in London for a Charity on:-
"Dutch Kraamzorg"
I am very excited about it as I have always thought it lacking in the UK and would love to start it up there
Also busy with learning how to do Lactation consultations and tomorrow will go for the second time to the Consultatie bureau for the morning to observe how a Lactation Consultant runs a clinic for mothers with breast feeding problems
Lots of challenges for 2012
Happy New Year!
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