Here are our top ten myths in Kosovo about new Baby and Motherhood:
While many women do experience the wonderful rush of love and happiness after giving birth and feel an instant connection with their baby, some women take more time to adjust to being a mother and to form a deep bond with their baby. Practicing skin-to-skin is a great way of helping create that bond.
It might be the most natural thing in the world, but breastfeeding doesn’t necessarily come naturally for all women. Many have difficulties in the beginning, mostly with getting a good latch (and thus avoiding nipple pain or damage) and have concerns about baby getting enough milk.
They are very different. The Baby Blues are very common with about 80% of all new mothers experiencing emotional ups and downs. The Blues usually last for 2-3 weeks after birth and go away on their own. However, PPD, which affects about 15% of new mothers, can occur anytime within the first year of birth and will not go away on their own without treatment. PPD should be taken seriously; you can learn more about it here.
It’s OK not to love sleepless nights, poopy diapers, and the crying and screaming of your little ‘angel’. That doesn’t mean you don’t love your child or being a mother, it just means you a normal! So be kind to you, because there is no doubt about it, raising a child is hard work!
Yes, motherhood can often involve all of these things, especially in the early months, however it is not normal to feel this way most of the time. If you feel like this more often than not, you could have postpartum depression.
While this is not necessarily true, there is some basis in fact. You and especially your baby are more vulnerable to infections and bacteria immediately after birth. Your baby has an immature immune system, especially if you are not breastfeeding. So while it is a good idea for you and baby to get out and have fresh air, make sure you take precautions like staying away from crowds and sick people, and make sure people wash their hands with soap before touching your baby (and wash your own hands after you return home). In Kosovo, women also believe they cannot leave their baby alone, even for a minute, for the first 40 days of life. This is not always practical, so just put baby in a safe position (like in her crib) if you need to step away from her for a few minutes.
The safest place for baby to sleep is on his back, alone in a crib, in your room. This greatly reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). About half of all SIDS deaths happen when a baby shares a bed, sofa or sofa chair with another person. So if you are bed-sharing with baby, make sure you do it safely; we give you some guidelines here.
This might be a tightly held belief by some family members, but it is not true. Nor is it true that your baby will grow up to be vain if you don’t cover baby’s face when he sleeps. You should not place anything over baby’s face, especially when he is sleeping, as this increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
The sex of your child doesn’t influence your weight after birth. The things that will are the amount and type of food you eat, whether you exercise, and if you breastfeed. Most first-time mothers take 6-12 months to get back to their pre-pregnancy weight.
This is simply not true; you cannot spoil a child in the early months. Studies have found that babies who were held and carried often cried much less. They also end up being much more independent toddlers, according to research by Johns Hopkins University, one of the world’s leading public health institutions.
Category: ToolsWe offer free classes across Kosovo at our Mom's Class Centers (Women’s Health Resource Centers).
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At Beba-ks we give you the facts so you can make the right choices for you and your family. You won’t read opinion or rumor here, only the latest in evidence-based information taken from leading sources around the world and in Kosovo. Brought to you by Action for Mothers and Children (AMC).
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