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New Mother Myths
When you become a mother, you are always hearing advice whether wanted or unwanted, as well as hearing about certain things you and your baby ‘should’ be able to do, or things that should be happening.
I am always happy to listen to hints and tips if they can help me, but after many of these so called pieces of advice have never worked for me, I have decided that just a few of these pieces of advice are simply not true, impossible to achieve or are only gifted to one in a million lucky mothers.
Check out my interpretation of a few of these so called “your baby should be”, and “you should be able to’s”..................
I am always happy to listen to hints and tips if they can help me, but after many of these so called pieces of advice have never worked for me, I have decided that just a few of these pieces of advice are simply not true, impossible to achieve or are only gifted to one in a million lucky mothers.
Check out my interpretation of a few of these so called “your baby should be”, and “you should be able to’s”..................
My New Mother Myths
The Transfer
Now this is one of my favourites. The transfer is the myth that a sleeping baby can be successfully ‘transferred’ from the car seat to the cot without waking up. I don’t know how many times I have mentioned that my daughter has fallen asleep in the car only two minutes from home only to hear “oh but can’t you transfer her”.
My interpretation of the transfer
In my opinion there is only one way to successfully do the transfer, and you probably need to be breastfeeding to do it successfully, and here is how it goes.
The Transfer
Now this is one of my favourites. The transfer is the myth that a sleeping baby can be successfully ‘transferred’ from the car seat to the cot without waking up. I don’t know how many times I have mentioned that my daughter has fallen asleep in the car only two minutes from home only to hear “oh but can’t you transfer her”.
My interpretation of the transfer
In my opinion there is only one way to successfully do the transfer, and you probably need to be breastfeeding to do it successfully, and here is how it goes.
1. Pull in to the drive way
2. Quietly curse that your foot tickling and loud singing couldn’t keep your baby awake for 30 more seconds
3. Close the garage door, or check the street for nosey neighbours
4. Creep around to the side of the car, open the car door, and slowly undo the seatbelt
5. Undo your shirt, undo your bra and get your boob ready
6. Lean into car, slowly wiggle baby out of car seat
7. As soon as baby begins to stir, shove nipple in baby’s mouth
8. Quickly stand up (without smashing head) and rock baby back and forth
9. Continue to breastfeed baby whilst rocking and walking into the house
10. Once baby has fallen back to sleep, dislodge baby and lay in cot
11. Slowly and quietly sneak out of the bedroom (without tripping over toys)
12. Turn on kettle and ‘high five’ the air. You did it! You transferred!!!!!
Sleeping like a baby
This myth or commonly used expression leads people to believe that babies sleep well, sleep peacefully and quietly, go to sleep easily and sleep for very long periods of time.
My interpretation of ‘sleeping like a baby’
I have absolutely no idea where the expression ‘sleeping like a baby’ came from, but surely it has nothing to do with babies. Sure there is one baby in ten thousand that loves sleep and sleeps exactly when and where its mother chooses, but for most of us exhausted, stressed and sleep deprived parents, we know that this expression is absolute #%$!. Most babies don’t know how to sleep, don’t want to sleep, and wake at the click of your poor old kneecaps.
If baby’s really did sleep like the angels this over used expression implies I would actually say that they sleep like a man. “You know falls asleep on the couch, falls asleep as soon as their head hits the pillow, sleeps through a nuclear explosion”. Now that is what I call ‘sleeping like a baby’.
Baby sleep has lots of myths including:
Baby’s sleep all the time; (when?)
Baby’s can sleep through the night from 3 months of age (yeah right, as long as they are not hungry, cold, teething, sick, scared, in a different cot etc.)
Giving baby solids before six months of age will make them sleep through (only age will help this one).
Breastfeeding is natural.
Most women are lead to believe that breastfeeding is the most natural thing in the world. So most women are under the impression that the second they hold their new bundle of joy in their arms they will just pop on and have a big long drink.
My interpretation of this myth
Now whilst breastfeeding may feel natural, it definitely doesn’t come naturally, it takes a lot of hard work, is extremely frustrating and a very hard skill to master.
There is breast refusal, mastitis, blocked ducts, milk supply issues, leakage, flow issues and the list goes on. Yes it might be natural for mothers to breastfeed, but is it any wonder that many mothers give it up in the first weeks as it just soooo hard.
In saying this though, that after battling through every problem known for a month, I am still breastfeeding happily 16 months on, and if anything I am now addicted.....
This myth or commonly used expression leads people to believe that babies sleep well, sleep peacefully and quietly, go to sleep easily and sleep for very long periods of time.
My interpretation of ‘sleeping like a baby’
I have absolutely no idea where the expression ‘sleeping like a baby’ came from, but surely it has nothing to do with babies. Sure there is one baby in ten thousand that loves sleep and sleeps exactly when and where its mother chooses, but for most of us exhausted, stressed and sleep deprived parents, we know that this expression is absolute #%$!. Most babies don’t know how to sleep, don’t want to sleep, and wake at the click of your poor old kneecaps.
If baby’s really did sleep like the angels this over used expression implies I would actually say that they sleep like a man. “You know falls asleep on the couch, falls asleep as soon as their head hits the pillow, sleeps through a nuclear explosion”. Now that is what I call ‘sleeping like a baby’.
Baby sleep has lots of myths including:
Baby’s sleep all the time; (when?)
Baby’s can sleep through the night from 3 months of age (yeah right, as long as they are not hungry, cold, teething, sick, scared, in a different cot etc.)
Giving baby solids before six months of age will make them sleep through (only age will help this one).
Breastfeeding is natural.
Most women are lead to believe that breastfeeding is the most natural thing in the world. So most women are under the impression that the second they hold their new bundle of joy in their arms they will just pop on and have a big long drink.
My interpretation of this myth
Now whilst breastfeeding may feel natural, it definitely doesn’t come naturally, it takes a lot of hard work, is extremely frustrating and a very hard skill to master.
There is breast refusal, mastitis, blocked ducts, milk supply issues, leakage, flow issues and the list goes on. Yes it might be natural for mothers to breastfeed, but is it any wonder that many mothers give it up in the first weeks as it just soooo hard.
In saying this though, that after battling through every problem known for a month, I am still breastfeeding happily 16 months on, and if anything I am now addicted.....
More Myth Busting coming soon.... If you have any to add in the mean time we would love to hear from you.
