Ladies, I am currently co-sleeping with my 9 week old, we have been co-sleeping since the second night after we got home from hospital. She sleeps in her cot for a couple of hours before I get to bed, and then wakes for a feed and a night time snuggled up to mum. 16 years ago I did the same with my first daughter, then it was a matter of necessity as like Kelly, she was not content unless attached 24/7 and never quite got the idea of sleeping while not having company. This time around, I was planning to have a child who slept entirely on their own, and nearly got my wish, but not the way I had hoped, as my daughter was born with apgars of [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] & [EMAIL PROTECTED] so she spent the first 3 nights and days of her life in Special care, seperated from me entirly, so when we got home, we started to finally bond, and when after almost no sleep the night we got home, I bit the bullet and took her into bed with me the second night, I figured, if we were going to bond properly, we needed contact. I confessed to the MCHN, who responded with, "that's great" and now even though my husband is a little weary of the little body in the bed, and my GP who is quite a reasonable sort has warned me of the dangers, as if i didn't already know, Morgan and I are very happy.
As for the safety aspect, I have a muslin wrap which lay under both me and Morgan, and then bring back over her like a sling which gives me a feeling of security , though to be honest she moves more while sleeping in her cot in her search for the soft comfort of mum's breast. I know it is not something that everyone can get their heads around, and we are taught in society that it is not done, and dangerous, but I am looking forward to the next few years until Morgan wants to sleep in her own bed, just like her big sister did eventually. Melanie ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kelly Zantey" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 8:39 AM Subject: RE: [ozmidwifery] co-sleeping > If it wasn't for Pinky I wouldn't have co-slept with my two! I was very much > a mainstream girl, expecting the system to look after me and tell me what to > do. I met Pinky at a hospital pre-natal class 5 years ago, so it planted the > seed about instinctive parenting there. After my daughter was born, I had a > rough time from everyone around me who thought they knew about where a baby > should be sleeping and for how long etc., and I felt guilty telling even my > mothers group that I was co-sleeping. They all seemed to have it together, > baking cakes, having showers, hosting dinners etc with sleeping babies. Yet > I seemed the only person who had a daughter who was inconsolable unless she > was attached to me 24x7 and sleep was a rare event. One midwife had even > said to me in the hospital, 'I hope you won't be doing that when you get > home.' > > Two weeks in sleep school (which was designed to be three days) that didn't > 'work' so we had to leave anyway, a baby that lost weight and threw up solid > foods every time as a result (even rice cereal) and me PND. So speaking to > Pinky on my return, I was able to surrender and ignore all that rubbish and > get on with it, which isn't as easy as it sounds for someone who felt > clueless about parenting and no family support. She was a lifesaver. Both of > my children have been breastfed past two also, it's a chain of events that > happens with this sort of support - of course with a bub losing weight, what > do you think they all told me I needed to do? :) So I strongly recommend my > clients (and those on my site) read 'Sleeping Like a Baby', because it is > appealing to a wide, commercial audience and I think that's the key. They > all love it, and they love having certain books suggested to them to read, > because there are so many out there. I have a recommended reading list I > provide. But of course, many don't read these books until they really need > it ;) > > I wish for the day where you go to the GP or wherever and get handed > brochures on both homebirth and hospital birth, co-sleeping and cot sleeping > etc. That would be just great. > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Helen and Graham > Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 7:36 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] co-sleeping > > This story reminds me of my time working in Gove in the Northern Territory. > The aboriginal women on the ward would co-sleep from day 1 and also leave > their babies in their beds when they went outside to escape the > airconditioning. You had to be VERY CAREFUL before you went ripping the > sheets off the bed to make it. I was always afraid a baby would end up in > the linen skip one day!!!! > > Helen > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Lyle Burgoyne" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 1:22 AM > Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] co-sleeping > > > > Hi Raelene, > > We have a policy that allows co-sleeping.We had more concerns about > > babies falling out of bed(did actually happen) rather than them being > > smothered by mums so our policy just makes sure the bed rail is up on > > which ever side of mum the baby is sleeping with a pillow against the > > bed rail so bub doesnt slip through.We regularly have bubs in bed with > > mums .Works well for both mums and bubs. > > All the best with getting a working policy > > Lyle > > > >>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 22/01/2007 1:54 pm >>> > > Hi everyone, > > I need some help! I'm trying to formulate a policy regarding > > co-sleeping and want to offer alternative sleeping arrangements for > > mothers and babies whilst in hospital. Does anyone know of a "special" > > cot that has been developed that allows the baby to sleep with mum but > > in a separate cot that is attached to the main bed. I've seen pictures > > of babies using a biliblanket in a cot attached to the bed in this way, > > but can't find any information. Can you help. > > Regards > > Raelene George > > Maternity Ward > > Kalgoorlie Hospital > > -- > > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > > This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended > > > solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. > > > If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. > > > This message contains confidential information and is intended only for > > the individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should not > > disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. > > -- > > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > > > > __________ NOD32 2000 (20070123) Information __________ > > > > This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. > > http://www.eset.com > > > > > -- > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > > > > -- > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
