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Dear Anne, I don't know if you are aware of
the 'Grannies" program initiated by Moruya Hospital on the NSW South Coast. The
hospital advertised and interviewed women who were willing to offer support to
mums with new babes, for up to 6 months post birth. After a training program, I
think some 11 grannies took part. They were not allowed to be asked to do
housework etc. but primarily saw themselves as being available to give Mum a
break by looking after the baby and any other children- so Mum could have
time out, a sleep, catch up with the nappies etc. I know it has been
spectacularly successful, especially for first time mums without a car who were
really struggling to access other support services. The women on both sides
seemed to have benefitted greatly. I guess it's one answer to re-creating
extended family support in these modern times. A practical solution to support
for mums that doesn't involve drugs! cheers, allison.
Dear Mary and Colleagues,
I will not understand those who believe that
'pushing mother's out too early' from hospital explains the reason for sleep
deprivation during early motherhood. Going home from hospital early is
definately not the reason and keeping mothers in hospital longer is definately
not the answer.
Support for mothers IN THE HOME is the
answer. I believe that it is our present society and the pressures
involved, including unrealistic expectations placed on new mothers and fathers
that is the cause. We need to get our mothers out of hospital as soon as
possible, not keep them in longer.
Indeed, we as a group should lobby educators
to include parent education and its reality of family life (including sleep
deprivation) into our high schools, hopefully well before most men and women
start a family, not to scare our future parents but enable them to cope with
becoming parents.
It is indeed frustrating to involve politicians
who do not consider motherhood worthy of the financial backing that it would
take to include postnatal care ideally a similar model as in Holland,
that is, a doula for a week or so at no cost to the mother. She
would visit mother's in their home not only to help them with their
new baby, breastfeeding etc but with the household as well if
needed.
Of course prolonged sleep deprivation is a co
factor in postnatal depression. It is well known that sleep deprivation
is very effective during torture of course its going to depress
you!
However, keeping mothers in hospital is not going
to help this. We as carers should encourage pregnant women and their
families to recognise and put in place early, well before the birth,
strategies that will enable a new familiy overcome or at least reduce the
stressors that accompany a new and demanding baby.
As a childbirth educator, it still amazes me when speaking to pregnant
and new mothers that they ask when will their baby be in some sort of routine,
will it be by one or two weeks after birth? Becoming a new parent is
always a bit of a shock to the system, but it saddens me how little prepared
most new parents are.
I do hope that Dr Anderson in 'realising' that sleep deprivation is
prevalent in new parents (he only had to ask a new mother for that
enlightenment surely) that he has also put in place a plan to support these
mothers rather than 'manipulating' in some way the bahaviour of the infant
that is so prevalent in doctors and in partcularly in men as how they 'solve
problems' relating to mothers and women in general.
Regards,
Anne Clarke
Brisbane
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