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My husband took shared parental leave – for far too many fathers, it’s still an impossibility | Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett Sharing our baby’s care has given my partner the time to bond with our son. Why is this a privilege, not a right? says Guardian columnist Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett

AAP now recommends breastfeeding beyond age 2 due to benefits for both mother and baby The organization also recognizes that more social and workplace support is needed to make longer breastfeeding happen.

From La Leche League Canada.

Breastfeeding: a supply and demand relationship

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A sensitive topic but worth talking about . ❤

Why we need to end the silence around pregnancy loss Most of us don’t know how to talk to people who’ve experienced a miscarriage or stillbirth, says communication researcher Dr. Lisa Hanasono. Here’s how we can change that — …

From the Maternal Mental Health Research Collaborative.

Antenatal Depression is Common, But We’re Not Talking About It If you think there isn't enough said about postpartum depression, just wait until you're searching for information and answers about antenatal depression. Antenatal depression occurs in pregnancy and can happen at any time during the 40 week...

From Dr. McNamara

Shyness in children can be viewed negatively, especially in cultures that value gregariousness and extroversion. What isn’t well understood is that shyness is an attachment instinct that prevents children from being led by people outside of their village of connection. Shyness isn’t often celebrated nor seen as part of nature’s design to ensure that a child’s closest attachments will have the most influence over them.

The shyness instinct can makes its first appearance in a 6 to 7 month old child as stranger protest if development is ideal. Instead of being easily passed from person to person, a baby will start to show clear preferences for their favourite people, and greater signs of upset when separated from them. Attachment to others becomes highly polarized for a child with the world splitting into those they seek to be close to as well as those they shy away from. In other words, shyness is not a deficit in a child but a strategic move on nature’s part to ensure a child stays close to ‘their people.’

Research suggests there is a genetic predisposition for shyness instincts to be stronger in some children in comparison to others. Approximately 15% to 20% of children are born with more inhibited temperaments and demonstrate more reactivity to their environments giving rise to stronger shyness responses. As babies they were more upset by loud noises, had greater hand and leg activity, and displayed a higher heart rate in comparison to other children. By the age of two these children were more likely to hide behind a parent’s leg when a stranger entered their play area and were more likely to engage in solitary play by the age of seven. These children were more likely to be labeled as shy by their parents and teachers but only ¼ of them still demonstrated characteristics associated with shyness in adulthood.

To read more about shyness see - http://macnamara.ca/portfolio/super-shy-the-protective-power-of-shynes/

To download the infographic see -http://macnamara.ca/why-do-kids-do-that/

BBC World Service - Witness History, The Birth of the Water Baby In 1977 a state hospital near Paris began quietly changing the way women gave birth.

From Doula Canada. Did you know today is Bell Let's Talk Day? Let's have a conversation about perinatal mental health.

Today is day.

Today, everyday, perinatal mental health needs to be a part of the conversation.

So

It must be part of the conversation

This is a great opportunity to share your birth story.

The story of your pregnancy and birth deserves to be counted. Was your birth care respectful and supportive? Or did you experience disrespect, discrimination, or mistreatment? This survey is a part of a first-ever project where community members shaped the research questions. Researchers hope this information will help improve the quality of care of Canadian birthing people. Learn more and complete the survey here: www.respcct.ca