We're pretty lucky in NZ I think, once my baby arrived, there's a midwife or nurse to follow up every few days after birth and every 3 weeks up to 3 months. The Well Child book that records the baby's growth and immunisations. There's also a lot of information, courses from plunket and local groups which are offered for free.
There are also coffee groups, new mums groups, pram walking groups offered by Plunket or other organisations. Playgroup offer free sessions at childcare centres around the country for parents, they have session usually grouped with similar aged children so the parents can exchange tips while the children play with all the facilities the centres has. It's a good way to try the centre before using them. I am on a waiting list for a child care centre for next March, I went there on my last month of pregnancy and was quite surprise for a 10 month waiting list! It seems we really have a shortage of early childhood teacher and centres.
There are certainly a lot of choices of early childhood centres, but which one is good? I found a really good site by the Ministry of Education, they have an Education Review Office that generate reports on all registered centres in NZ on a yearly basis, it's a good way to do some research at home before visiting. I have visited a few centres, some has 5 different areas for children from age 0-5, while some only seperate them into 3 groups, some centres has good security that only parents can access, and some you can walk right through without any reception. I'll probably join the sessions offered by Playcentre when I get the time and confidence to take my baby in the car by myself, she cried at times when the car stopped at the traffic light, can't imagine if there wasn't someone sitting next to her.
I'm starting to connect more to my baby now, I found that sometimes I start to miss her when I don't see her for an hour or so when I'm in the study. I enjoy lying in bed side by side with her, looking at the ceiling and talking to her (she coos and ah after I speak, sounds like she's agreeing); watching her smile after feed; wiggle her arms & legs when she plays in the play gym.
After reading some articles in the La Leche League website, it seems normal now that she wants to feed every hour, or only for 5 minutes, or wants feed an hour after she just had a big meal. As it's the same with me as well, I might need a drink of water an hour after my mains, sometimes some snacks, afternoon tea..etc, why ask my baby why she need to feed so much!
There are two main 'theories' to childcare, the baby-on-demand where the parents act according to what the baby needs, or parent-on-demand where the parents have set routines for the baby. Which one is better? I guess it depends on the parents and the baby's character. There were days that I simply don't have time to take a shower, have a proper meal just because the baby needed to be fed or put to sleep or cry...etc. But is it really the way, I thought? So I re-set my priorities, the baby certainly is important, but things like personal hygiene, some free time to handle household matters are also important.
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