Relive from colic (Week 5 -7)

The crying and consoling continued.  I decided to change my pediatrician. The signs of colic elevated very high. Added to this, Fatima caught cold and got more fussy. Many a times, we both were able to sleep only early in morning after a big tiring night. We used to almost faint and retire after fully getting tired (she out of crying and me due to consoling). The new doctor wrote a complete body scan and blood and urine test. Thankfully, everything was normal, it was just cold and colic. He was able to give good medication which cured her cold very well. But what really cured her colic was a magic powder....just kidding. It was Bay berry powder which worked so well with her colic. We just rubbed it lightly over her tummy. Indians always use it for cold and flu but I was unaware that it is good for gastritis too. This was a suggestion from our neighbor. You must check out the amazing benefits of this powder here and here. I am hoping to write a post on colic in my health section, very soon.
Somewhere during 5th week, I happen to notice that Fatima was talking to the wall hanging. Until this time, I was not aware that babies connect to black and white stuff (pictures may be) and that black and white hangings for babies were common in Montessori system. That wall hanging was not intentional, it was always there. She connects to it so much that I started calling it her friend. Even when she cries due to colic, the moment she saw the wall hanging, she would pause, talk to it for a while and then resumes crying. I wish, I could have captured it (is it easy with a colicky baby?).

I am posting the picture of the wall hanging - the Fatima's first friend.
By the end of 7th week, after enough reading, I decided to follow principles and ways of Montessori System. See, my next post, on same page, How I began working on them.

Other Acitivities:

When colic is away she is all smiles - more and more smiles.

loves rhymes. 

Eyes started following. 

trying to reach to objects (just movement of hands).

responds to voice.

more awake and playing quietly.

reacts with eyes wide open to when lights off.

calls out when lonely for long time.

makes sounds as though she was talking.

The beginning of colic (Week 3 & 4)

This week Fatima started showing signs of colic - crying inconsolably, clenching fists, bloated tummy, tightening stomach muscles etc. According to her doctor it was common with some babies. Tough week! In spite of all medication, burping and consoling, most of the nights she cries and was restless till morning.
other activities:
Started smiling at me
There is something she likes about my mother's voice which kind of soothes her.
Knows my smell, touch and reads mood. (panics when i panic due to her crying, happy when i am so)

Settling and Accepting (Week 1& 2)

Week 1:

Day0 Fatima was at peace. She slept whole night and hardly cried once or twice for feed. She was fed with about 5-10 ML of formula provided by the hospital. As days passed on she proved to be a calm baby who cries only when she is hungry. I feel this was mainly because she was healthy and was fed properly. 

Week 2:

By this time we had already moved to home (after 4 days of stay at hospital) and Fatima continued to be a good baby. I had pretty much time for my self and was recovering well.

Fatima was always, like usual babies in India, covered in soft full clothes and a traditional head scarf. All that she did these two weeks was sleeping, feeding, toileting and sleeping again.

We spend these two weeks settling and accepting each other. Cherish able moments!

Dealing with newborns

The first week of a baby is a very important part of mother's and baby's life. I call this a settle down and accept week. As you have gone through a tough part of your life you need good time to recover yourself. Soon after delivery you will be in pain, need a lot of rest, not very mobile and will have a baby to deal with. This is the time you must accept all help offered. This is the time where more than anything you want a clam baby so that you can have enough time to rest and recover. At this very stage all that a baby needs is proper feed and good protection. 

Things to do to have clam and happy baby:

• Feed baby at regular intervals (mostly every two hrs)
• Try keeping the baby dry (nappy check)
• Create a womb like environment (clam, not so bright, soft and warm coverings)
• While you talk to your baby keep a soothing tone.
• Do Cuddle your baby to ensure she satisfies her need for love and feels protected. (this helps in building a confident baby)
• Consider sleeping while your baby sleeps, as most babies are restless during night time. (Save your energy)
• Have good nutrition to ensure good health. (do not neglect your well-being)

Independence from changing and managing diapers

Toilet learning is a natural human need. We unlike animal do not like sitting comfortably in our own wastage. So are our children. Its natural that all babies cry when they wet themselves. This is often taken as a diaper change signal. But this signal has more information than just diaper change. If these signal do not get lost with time, at a particular stage, a child is able to communicate that she needs to go to bathroom. That is the time to get a diaper free life, both for you and your child. How to achieve this dream(am i funny!)? In my later posts i will speak about toilet learning and things to do to have a very soon  diaper free life. Till then keep changing!

In this page.....

....you are going to find health related posts for pregnant you, you the mommy and your dear child. Becoming and Being a mommy is big deal. The whole process can become tiring, frustrating and painful if you ignore your and or your child's health. Healthy life style will not only help you get through all of this but also to enjoy every bit of it. I am planning to help you and help myself by getting all the right information that will make pregnancy/parenting phase a happy and a healthy period.
I would encourage questions and comments related to the subject. Feel free to suggest what else you expect on this page. 

When is the right time to weaning

Traditionally in India weaning begins with the end of fourth month of child. My mother in law said "traditionally, when a child turns 4 months old a rice pudding is made and a teaspoon is offered to her". Not sure if people still follow this but usually weaning begins this early in India.

As a Muslim, I can say that weaning starts right from the birth. This is the practice of the Prophet, upon him be peace, recorded in the collections of his sayings and reports about him, of which the most revered are the two Sahih collections of Abu Buradah reported from Abu Musa, who said: I had a new-born baby; I took him to the Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, who called him Ibrahim. The Prophet chewed a date then he took it and rubbed the inside of the baby’s mouth with it. (See Source).

Weaning at this stage is more about health and well being of a child. But in later stages of child development weaning takes a new meaning. Lets see what that is.....

Weaning is not just introducing baby to foods other than milk (mother's or formula) it is helping child to feed herself. It is to help the child develop the conscious sense of connection between digestive system and brain. It is to make child independent and confident. It is to help developing the sensory skills of child. Soon I will be posting proper method of weaning and much more on the subject.

I'll close this post with a quote from Dr maria Montessori:

" Little children, from the time there are weaned,

are making their way towards independence" 

                                                       - Dr. Maria Montessori

Education before brith

A child starts learning right from the womb as early as a 12 week old fetus. It is the mother's voice which is the source of information. Research also states that the brain patterns of the fetus are effected by the mother's voice. So speak as much good as possible. It is also found that the placenta carries the mother's mood to baby. Yeah! it carries the hormones that the mother's body produces. So be Happy and confident and patient and all good. Your baby also hears your heart beat. Once your baby is born hold her near and she will have soothing effect listing to your heart beat.

Quick tips on positive pregnancy:

1. Be Happy 
2. Involve yourself in at least one educational/reading activity. Some options are joining a course, reading good books on various subjects, learning an art etc.
3. Do not talk/think bad or abusive about anyone. I remember visiting one of my aunt when I was 2 months pregnant. she gave me an advice which I can never forget. She said "I have 3 children and you can look at each one of them and find out how I behave while I was expecting. Look at the attitude of anyone of them and you can tell what i used to think and behave while I was carrying that child" she added "I advice you to do as much as good you can. do not keep any grudges or ill about others." 
4. Learn to become more Patient.
5. Listen to good and peaceful audio.
6. Try helping others.

That's it for now.
Have a peaceful pregnancy!
See

1. How Speaking lies affects your health
2. http://www.world-science.net/othernews/111117_depression.htm

How to Parenting?

Do you often hear that parenting is a tiring and difficult task? Do you find yourself running behind your children, worrying and caring about there everything? Do you still hear that you are wrong parenting your children after all the effort you have put in? Do you desperately want to learn the secrets of effective parenting? if yes you are on the right page. The posts here will discuss on parenting right way as according to popular systems.  

What to Expect

Today, as I sit down to write My daughter, Fatima, has already turned 13 weeks old. Until this time I have been recording stuff about her which you see in my future posts. In this page you will find posts speaking about Fatima's development, activities and what she is going through at what stage. Much of this might not be new for mothers out there but you will see all this with a new perspective. I wrote in my first post about taking tips from Montessori. In my every post you will see how I want Fatima to live Montessori. More than applying Montessori I will be focusing on living Montessori. Yes! there is a difference between applying and living Montessori. Applying Montessori is to use specific materials and tools designed by Montessori but living Montessori is to follow the principles of this system. Though I do not question on importance of the materials and tools of the system, I surely argue that they are not the real Montessori. The soul of Montessori is its principles. There are people out there who do not opt for Montessori just because its expensive. Its materials are expensive but its principles are natural. Anything which is from nature is feasible for everyone. Here it is the principles of the system which are so easy to follow and apply and live.
Soon ill write a comprehensive post, for a good easy start, on principles of the system. Till then happy parenting.