Down Syndrome

Something many parent's have to think about when tests are being offered during pregnancy.
Should you have a test?
What to do if the result is positive?
Lots of emotional turmoil even thinking about it.

We had a test, unsure what we would do if the result was positive.
How could you know until you are there?
In life, I like to say that we are exactly how we are, to avoid value judgments when I feel them creeping up on me.

Noah was born without Down syndrome. We didn't have to think further.
However, it is still worth thinking about, and I just read a very good article that talks of a new test which makes screening easier and earlier, raising a variety of issues.

I thought this quote from a mother, whose daughter Penny has Down syndrome, really brings those issues down to a basic question:

"Can she live a full life without without ever solving a quadratic equation? Without reading Dostoyevsky? I'm pretty sure she can. Can I live a full life without learning to cherish and welcome those in this world who are different from me? I'm pretty sure I can't."

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2011/11/29/are-kids-with-down-syndrome-on-the-road-to-extinction/#ixzz1fIJa85Ot

What do babies think?

Very interesting TED Talk.
"Babies are the Research and Development team of the human species."

Water Baby

Noah has joined Water Babies and had his first swimming lesson today.

Noah took everything in his stride, even going fully underwater! There were no tears (or leaks), he just enjoyed and lapped the water, chewing his thumb as we swam around the pool.

A good sized group (7 babies), we first learned how to hold our little ones, then carefully splashed their faces, leading up to full immersion. Lots of bouncing and kisses before we started teaching the babies what to do if they fall into water - the serious side of the swim is to make these youngsters safer around water as well as to give them joy and exercise.
The exercise was great - Noah had a huge sleep afterwards. We have been having trouble with day-time naps, so this was an unexpected bonus.

Partners could sit at the pool side to watch the fun (grand-parents can probably do this if they want too...), and of course take a few photos...

Lots of dads in the pool and it was a great thing to share time with Noah having a daddy-time activity. Speaking in the changing room afterwards, it was clear a number of dads were taking this chance - both to bond, but also to give mums a chance for a bit of a break (although all the mums were poolside, and ready for feeding after the swim!).

Here are a few of the snaps Nadine took:

Already looking forward to next week!

Baby Steps

young feet are incredible. 
they are made of cartilage, not bone, which only develops as the child grows through their teens.
gives me serious questions about how to protect my son's feet, and suggests that maybe barefoot is best for babies and children too.

The human foot at birth is not a miniature version of an adult foot. In fact, it contains no bones at all and consists of a mass of cartilage, which, over a period of years, ossifies to become the 28 bones that exist in the adult human foot. This process is not complete until the late teens, so it is crucial that footwear - when worn - is well chosen.
"Most children's shoes ought to come with a government health warning," believes Byrne. "They are like awful little bricks - too stiff, too rigid, with no flexibility at the sole and too much heel raise. This is of particular concern with toddlers learning to walk, because it causes them to bounce and tip forward," she says.
Woodward agrees. "I have in my hand a Nike Air shoe for a three-year-old - quite an expensive item, I would guess. From the heel to the toe there is no 'bend' or 'give' in the sole. Completely rigid, this shoe will restrict movement of the forefoot to zero. Kids this age should be turning cartwheels, skipping, climbing trees, running around. A shoe like this would seriously restrict such playful physicality - make it less fun, less enjoyable."
Full article

Growth spurt

so, why the hell did noone mention growth spurts?!
we have just been through the second spurt so knew what to expect, but the first was a nightmare because we didn't know what was happening.
so what was..?
Seems every 10 - 12 days a newborn has a burst of growth. If you are breastfeeding, the first spurt results in a very hungry and upset baby who will take all the milk you have and still want more. Clearly at that point the crying gets worse and, after you have run through the possible cause again, you will realise that (s)he is still hungry.
This was the first time during the whole pregnancy and birth that I saw my wife show fear. She could not feed our baby. We had been told that the milk would be there, as much as was needed, but now it had run out. What were we doing wrong and how do we feed our increasingly unhappy baby..?
I nipped out for some formula and made some calls for advice. My questions were what is happening? and how much formula without ruining the chance of future breastfeeding?
Expert advice (amazing midwife homebirth team) reassured us that this was completely normal, and enough milk would flow tomorrow. All we had to do was wait and endure the tears, which would be more about communication than actual acute hunger.

So, all good in the end. As soon as we had this information the fear evaporated. But the fear could have been completely avoided if we had known this was coming. We did a good deal of preparation, but missed this. If it happens to you, take heart. It's expected, milk flow was better second time. ...and it will happen again, and again, and again, so you can get used to it ;~)

I'm a dad!

our son Noah Bear was born at 1.52am on Monday, 2nd November.
he is wonderful, and i can't stop gazing at him.
his amazing mum birthed Noah at home, completely naturally, using only focussed pranayama and visualisation.
photos will follow...