Now that we are home with Luka, in our familiar environment, finally doing so many of the things we envisioned we would once our baby came - fix-its around the house, enjoying our first cool weather in over a year, and yes, lots of cooking - we can't help but realize Luka is not quite the vital newborn we anticipated two active, fit, and yes,
big parents would have. Instead, we are reminded by Luka, and experts in the field alike, that our little bundle of joy continues to require just that extra bit of attention, sensitivity and patience.
In researching the best ways to nurture and care for Luka, still three-weeks short of his due date, we are reminded of the importance of continuing the skin-to-skin or
kangaroo care. Renowned UCLA paediatrician and child development expert Dr. Harvey Karp, M.D, long-term researcher of colic in infants and subsequent purveyor of
The Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer,* argues that babies are really cheated out of a 'fourth trimester' and should therefore really be granted the same level of security, warmth and yes, touch and cuddling as they would normally enjoy in the womb - '
womb service' as he calls it. In his opinion, a newborn undergoes such dramatic development in the first three months of their life, evident in the marked difference between a fussy, crying, jerky newborn and a smiling, cute, engaging three-month old. In reading this, I am once again reminded that the parents of preemies, even healthy ones, must beware to adjust expectations accordingly. After all, Dr. Karp suggests that parents of 40-weekers beware and sensitive to the need for a womb-like environment, all the more so for the little ones who are still weeks away from their due date, such as Luka.
Aaah, enters that dreaded notion of
spoiling the baby. This concept so present in our western society where parents who pick up crying infants or otherwise see to their needs are quickly labeled as
spoiling the infant. As if someone that is not yet supposed to even be here has the critical thinking skills to come up with a cause-and-effect equation that favors his desires. Even advocates for strict routine such as Tracy Hogg agrees that you should not try to treat your preemie as a
normal (sic) baby until at least its due date. Indeed, in her book
Secrets of the Baby Whisperer: How to Calm, Connect and Communicate with your Baby she claims that this is the only type of baby that should be allowed to
demand feed and enjoy constant cuddling What is interesting is that Dr. Karp argues that even the
term baby should be nurtured and not subjected to a strict routine until four months.
In our day-to-day dealings with Luka, and in getting to know his likes and dislikes, despite his amazing progress, it is still evident that he not simply
wants, but
needs closeness, warmth, security and yes, noisiness of the womb. To best accomplish this, we carry him in one of the many pouches we were gifted by our friends and family. The lovely thing about these pouches are not only the comfort, but that the meters of fabric negates the need for wearing a shirt, and since Luka is only in a nappy, I figure that drastically cuts down on laundry!
Thanks to everyone who has sent us pouches, Amy & Darren, Rita, and Leana. We really appreciate it, as does Luka!
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| Luka smiling from inside the organic "Sleepy Wrap" |
* Also see Dr. Karp's website: The Happiest Baby on the Block at: www.happiestbaby.com
