Sister Lilian’s Babycare Companion: Complimentary and traditional care. Lilian Paramor

so there is no absolute guideline on which will be the easiest for you. Be careful, though, not to hurt your nipples by applying too strong a vacuum too soon.

      OTHER CHALLENGES

      Once your baby is over the initial crises, a number of hurdles still lie ahead. Infections are quite often contracted in hospital, partially due to the lower resistance your child will have and also because a hospital is, almost by definition, a fertile breeding ground for organisms. Always wash your hands with great care before handling him, as should all others who come into contact with him. If he has been exposed to prolonged, high levels of oxygen therapy, there is a chance that the retinas of the eyes will be damaged and in time you will have to see an ophthalmologist. Stimulation of the sucking reflex and encouraging your baby to take sufficient milk will also take dedicated mothering skills, so try to ensure that you have a fairly light schedule elsewhere.

      The day will come when your child is ready to progress to an open crib with no special care of the hi-tech variety. You will experience all the feelings and uncertainties of caring for a small infant all over again, but it will be wonderful to be able to cuddle her without any restrictions whatsoever. Soon after, you will be able to take her home, but you are likely to live with the effects of the premature birth for a number of years to come, especially if your baby was born very early. Remember that you should not compare this child to others of a similar age, but rather to those who were born at the time of your expected date, as the time spent receiving specialist care in hospital was an imitation of the time in the womb that your baby should still have experienced. Most parents accept this on an intellectual level but many still find it difficult to apply in daily practice. It will relieve much stress for both you and your child, however, if you can remember this.

      The homeopathic remedy Baryta Carb is very helpful for catching up after a poor start to life and any subsequent problems that might need occupational therapy can be circumvented by its use. Consult a homeopath, though, as it needs to be prescribed in a very specific way.

      Five

      Mom after

       Birth