Some news...

[feral chile]

It's very hard to make a choice when you are told by someone with Dr/Mr in front of their name that "you are not going to be able birth this baby yourself" - it takes some real stones to stand up in the face of that and ask them to reconsider their recommendation. There is often not a discussion, just a direction. It happened to me! Waters broke, was booked in for induction on the following Saturday without once being asked if I wanted to be induced (I didn't, and my birth plan explicitly stated so). Fortunately it wasn't an issue as I went into spontaneous labour that night, but others may have ended up with an induction they neither wanted nor needed.

Yes, I did, and I so regret not being firm enough to ask more questions. Or insist on being transferred to a hospital where they didn't just do their checks when they knew the consultant was due, and where your urine samples for the tests weren't stored in open plastic cups with bits of ripped cardboard thrown over the top. On the windowsill inside the ladies' loo. I can't work that one out, they couldn't have got any meaningful results from them, so why not dispose of them immediately, if they were just going through the motions, like they did with the scans they were supposed to do?

If only we had mobile phones back then.

Edited October 1, 2014 by feral chile

[midnight]

C-Sections vs Virginal birth, Breastfeeding vs formula, Putting your kid in day care vs staying at home....

Sorry. Just couldn't resist the Virginal birth.

Well, I think it is save to assume that none of us had/will be having one of those, and it is all our own fault!

[bunique]

Speak for yourself!

[bunique]

[/goodcatholicgirl]

[midnight]

Wow! You got to teach me that trick - I promise I won't tell! And I thought only wasps and lizards, and perhaps the odd slug.......

[Katster]

Feral Chile your experience sounds horrendous but thankfully not the norm, I'd hope? Our hospital has so far been pretty much spot on, I know I've a long way to go yet but my few days in at least gave me an insight into what it was going to be like in there and whilst no hospital experience is pleasant at least the staff were good.

I'm hoping to use our sling much more than I do a pram. I like the idea of the closeness to the baby especially when (if) breastfeeding. I think you are supposed to lie babies flat as much as possible when they are sleeping though? No?

[bunique]

Not particularly - although it's one of those "good habits" you're supposed to get them into we went path of least resistance and she napped in sling or on me pretty much exclusively for first 9 months. I miss it - now she doesn't nap and doesn't stop talking

[bunique]

Babies with reflux (mine wasn't but it seems more common than it used to be) will be very uncomfortable lying flat anyway, so sling and elevated sleep spaces can be a useful alternative

[bunique]

Although if being put down to sleep baby should absolutely be laid on their back until they can confidently roll both ways

[bunique]

You realise the info on Rospa is exactly the same as the image I posted on previous page re: TICKS?

[bunique]

Not at all Barry - baby can sleep safely in a sling using TICKS guidance in exactly the same way as it can sleep safely in a cot using SIDS guidance. One doesn't exclude the other.

[bunique]

Have we read kat's question in different ways? I read it as she would move baby from upright in a sling (I don't think Babasling allows upright positioning, but would have to check - I've only used wraps and buckle carriers) if asleep into a flat position. There's not a "need" to do that - much in the same way babies sleep safely and comfortably on a person's shoulder, chest or in arms

[bunique]

Ah, you can but with caution - so this

would be TICKS compliant but this

Wouldn't (not close enough to kiss)

The best thing to do is hop along to a local sling meet and have someone demo it so you know how it feels to be on securely and safely

[bunique]

TICKS guidance originated, I think, following a spate of deaths involving so-called "bag slings" which look like this:

You can see how they're inherently more dangerous - baby is out of view, curled in on itself and far too far away from parent. I think they are mostly banned from sale now.

The fact it's manufacturers who have drawn up the guidance doesn't render it useless - it's hardly in their interest to flog an unsafe product.

Anyway, much like the co-sleeping debacle, you're not likely to be swayed and neither do I intend to try and sway you. I hope feral has some welsh shawl anecdotes for us though!

Edited October 1, 2014 by bunique

[bunique]

Someone who followed anything I posted without doing their own research (as I think I've always provided a range of references for just that purpose) would be a wally

Incidentally, the World Health Organisation recommends the use of slings/bindings for prem babies receiving kangaroo care

[bunique]

Although there is one picture in their guide to it of a mother sleeping in a bed with baby in binding that made my eyes pop out as it doesn't look safe at all!

[bunique]

And again, the article references TICKS as I have. SIDS still happens in cots every day despite the back to sleep campaign. It's tragic, but it should only remind us all to be vigilant. We don't say stop putting babies in cots!

[bunique]

Speaking from personal experience, my cousin's daughter stopped breathing in her pram (flat on back, no blankets) on two occasions, and was roused the first time by a firm pinch on the ear by an old lady who happened to be standing by when mum realised and panicked. Babies are one never ending heart attack!

[bunique]

Yeah, I found that a little contradictory given to CoD was asphyxia - I remember the story and I remember struggling to understand how it could happen if baby was positioned correctly and monitored closely but I am sure the mother asks herself the same questions every day, so am in no way critical of her. It's a horrible thing to happen.

[bunique]

It's interesting that - I wonder what it is about prams vs cots - the movement, the proximity of a caregiver? - that eliminates the risk.

[bunique]

I bet it was on everything Tony! Bathing, weaning, teething. My mum and MIL very wisely declined to offer us advice on anything because it keeps changing! Even in 4 years the changes this time have been: told to take vitamin D supplement throughout pregnancy; offered whooping cough vaccine: not offered any flu vaccine. Am waiting to see how the rest of the advice has changed once baby arrives!

Edited October 1, 2014 by bunique

[bunique]

or the fact is conforms totally to SIDS (well if you follow the advice) ?

Which isn't a set of standards produced by a bunch of people wanting to make money from you

But SIDS occurs in a rooming-in situation as well (though less often that sleeping alone) - so is there something particular to pram sleeping that is protective? It's completely irrelevant to a discussion about slings, it's just a curious statistic!

[bunique]

I can't quite work out if you're trying to say the safety guidelines should be disregarded because of who wrote them? "Feck it, wear the baby round yer knees, it's all the same"

[bunique]

I think the opposite is true for the first point given there's the potential for less movement of air (enclosed sides? Though modern prams probably accommodate for that?) ? And definitely agree to the second. I never blooming used one anyway, so no idea what it's piqued my interest!

Edited October 1, 2014 by bunique

[bunique]

Anyway, it's something I hope none of us will ever have to contemplate. I think I'm far more morbid second time around.

Sorry Kat!