What is a Stay-at-Home Mum Worth?

Being a mum is one of the hardest jobs around. Long hours, lots of multi-tasking, various skills needed... the list is long. Unfortunately us mums don't get a big pay check at the end of the month for all the things we do. 


What would you be paid if mums were – you know – actually compensated for the work you do? Find out what you would make if you were paid an annual salary at  http://www.salary.com/mom-paycheck/ (unfortunately this only works for those in the US)

Breastfeeding: When to stop

The advantages to breastfeeding are numerous both for the mother and the baby. 


For the mother:

1. Reduces the risk of breast cancer. 
2. Reduces the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer. 
3. Lessens osteoporosis. 
4. Benefits child spacing. 
5. Promotes emotional health. 
6. Promotes postpartum weight loss. 
7. Costs less to breastfeed.

For baby:

1. Contains all the vitamins and nutrients a baby needs in the first 6 months of life.
2. Breast milk is packed with disease-fighting substances.
3. Breastfeed babies tend to have less allergic reactions.
4. Various studies have shown that breastfeed babies are more intelligent.
5. Breastfeeding may protect your child from obesity.

A study by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (US) showed that children who are breastfed have a 20 percent lower risk of dying between the ages of 28 days and 1 year than children who weren't breastfed, with longer breastfeeding associated with lower risk. 

For the first 4 to 6 months your baby will feed solely on your breast milk. At this point the paediatric will usually advise that it is time to start introducing solids into their diet.

I have breastfeed both my sons. With my eldest I stopped when he was a year old. I currently still breastfeeding my 7 month old and will continue to do so at least until he is a year old too.

Why a year? For me it seems like a natural cut off point. They are used to a varied diet by that point and so have less need of the milk. Plus by that time they have teeth and weigh quite a lot so it's no longer as comfortable for me. 

Some mothers last longer though as this video shows:

If you're pregnant, will you breastfeed your baby? 


When did you stop breastfeeding? 


What age do you think is the right cut off point?

The meaning of mother

Being a mum can be a demanding job that leaves you feeling tired, stressed and, at times, under appreciated. A lot of new mums end up feeling a little overwhelmed by all the things they have to do and start asking themselves if you really need to be super woman to be able to survive motherhood. The answer, simply put, is yes. That said though, being a mum is the best job in the world and the good bits largely out-weigh the bad bits.

Talking to other mums can be a great help as it will help you realise that it's not just you. Most new mums feel exactly the same way you do.

Make time to relax by yourself. This might sound like mission impossible but even just 5 minutes to call your own can help recharge your batteries and make it easier to cope. 

Don't be afraid to ask for help. Family and friends will most likely be happy to assist with either looking after the baby for a bit or helping hang out the laundry and other small jobs around the house.

How do you manage to get everything done?

Birth and motherhood survey

I recently received an email request from Samantha Reisz, a graduate student at Mills College in Oakland, CA, in Infant Mental Health. As part of her program, she is working on a research thesis project and is currently recruiting participants and collecting data. Her study explores the maternal psychological experience of birth and feelings about relationships and motherhood. It is an internet survey that takes 20-30 minutes to complete, and is anonymous (unless a participant chooses to give us identifying information, which is entirely voluntary and does not impact the results). They are recruiting mothers who have a baby under 12 months to whom they gave birth. The link is www.surveymonkey.com/s/birthandmotherhood.

Though birth is has become a more discussed issue in the past year or so, there is a serious dearth of methodologically sound research in the area of mothers' psychological experiences of childbirth, particularly in regard to how it may or may not be related to things such as personality, relationship with her partner, her feelings about being the mother of this child, feelings about motherhood in general, and maternal self-esteem, to name a few. With the ever increasing rates of cesarean deliveries,understanding the relationship between childbirth and later maternal functioning is very important--even if there is no relationship, which would be a relief and comfort to women who were not able to have the birthing experience that they wanted. 

Mothers Day wishes

Happy Mother's Day Comments
                   

What do you do when the only answer is NO?

As a mother of a two year old, it's been a few months that the most common answer I get from my son is "No" (even when not asking a question). He has in fact become fascinated by the word and will sometimes even yell it with all his strength (which can be slightly embarassing when it happens in a public place and everyone turns to look, giving me the 'you're not a bad mother are you' stare - I'm sure it's there- as I try to calm him down and explain that I was just asking if he wanted a drink -whilst giving my best 'I'm a good mother really I am smile').

If, like me, you're going through this period with your child,  you might find this article I can across useful :

Resistance: What to do about the endless no's 

It provides a nice action plan of ways to help over come the situation.

Have you got any tips of your own? Share them in the comments section of this post

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Make time for mummy

When you have a little one to take care of it's easy to forget about yourself. Between nappy changes, feeding, playtime etc... it's hard to fit in time to dedicate to yourself.

It's important though for both you and the child, that you take a little time out every once in a while.

What you do with that time will depend on how much of it you have, your budget and what you enjoy doing.

Here's a few simple ideas worth a try (some of my favourite 'time for mummy' activities):

A relaxing bath is a great way to unwind and clear your thoughts.

Make the most of it by adding some bubble bath or bath salts, wack on an intense hair mask or light some candles. You might want to have some soft music playing in the background or just listen the silence.

Great for making you feel human again.

Shopping. A little retail theraphy is a popular activity and great for a number of reasons:

1. You get to buy yourself something new. A little reward for all that good 'mumming' you've been doing :)
2. You get exercise. You'd be surprised at how much walking you do when you shop. Great for burning calories and getting back your figure. All those bags are much more fun than doing weights at a gym.
3. Can be done alone or with friends as a social activity.

The hairdressers. A haven created to make you feel good.

A relaxing head massage as they wash your hair, the wonderfully smelling products that give your hair back it's bounce and shine...

Another plus point?

Reading the magazines while you wait. With a small child it's hard to find the time to catch up on gossip mags or the latest fashions. Hairdressers normally have a good selection of the latest releases for you to browse.



These are just a few ideas. You could of course, meet a friend for a drink, go to a museum or show, sign up for a weekly dance class... There are lots of things you can do in just a short amount of time. Even if you give yourself just one hour a day by getting someone else to step in and look after the little one, you'll notice the difference.

How do you like to pamper yourself in your 'time for mummy'? How much time out do you give yourself?