Babies

My partner, Guo Jian, has been priming me for the “moon month” or zuo yuezi (坐月子).

When my in-laws were here a couple of weeks ago (the precursor to their more permanent visit before the baby’s arrival) and we were downstairs helping to unload the car, a perfect stranger noticed my advanced pregnant shape, the presence of parental figures and Guo Jian and I helping them with their things. This stranger very confidently turned to Guo Jian and half-asked and half-stated, “Your parents have come to help you through the moon month?” To this woman, there could be nothing more obvious. Guo Jian just smiled and nodded. His parents glowed with pride.

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New parents know that feelings of intense isolation can emerge when they bring home that “tiny, needy, crying, confusing” baby. Add a set of powerful language and cultural barriers, and that isolation can seem even more daunting. The good news is, the Internet can help. According to a research study led by a new father, blogging can help overcome those parenting blues.

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Slate is on fire this month! Hot on the heels of a feature about C-sections, the magazine published a story called “The truth about epidurals” last Wednesday. Author Melinda Wenner Moyer says that women face a slew of conflicting statements when it comes to epidurals. On one hand, the injections contribute to “the over-medicalization of motherhood.” On the other, pregnant women must face the prospect of squeezing “a head the size of a grapefruit through [their] much-smaller-than-a-grapefruit-sized vagina.” What’s a smart, informed, and totally not panicked future mom to do?

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In a Slate article called “Cesarean Nation: Why do nearly half of Chinese women deliver babies via C-section?”, author and journalist Mara Hvistendahl looks at the reasons behind China’s skyrocketing cesarean rates. Between 2007 and 2008, a whopping 46 percent of Chinese babies were born via C-section – the highest documented rate in the world. This number is three times higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended 15 percent threshold.

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The Solana branch of Mothercare, the British superbrand for expectant mothers and kids 0-8 years old, has moved. The store isn’t going far, but simply moving from its former location at SMM-42 (now home to the long-delayed H&M) to bigger digs in Solana’s Children’s World (儿童天地, in the basement close to Bershka). To sweeten the deal, Mothercare is giving out RMB 20 vouchers with every purchase of RMB 500 or above until stocks last. In addition, the first 15 moms-to-be who spend RMB 500 or more will receive an RMB 800 International Mommy & Baby Healthcare Institute card.

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With so many people expecting family arriving for the holidays I thought a letter from the Newborn to the grandparents would be fun. It is a reminder to all of us, that there is a difference between a " newborn" and the adorable baby imagined from so many photos.

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The December issue of beijingkids is full of fun-indoor activities and excursions to keep you and your clan happy over the holidays.

Give yourself ten ways to celebrate Christmas in Beijing, and catch the spirit of Christmas and Hannukah from three families. Also, get a peek from behind the scenes of Beijing Playhouse’s wacky production of Cinderella. And if you're looking for ways to give, consider Beijing's local charities focused on helping less fortunate babies and young children.

The weather outside is frightful, but indoors is still delightful! Explore Joy City Chaoyang for shopping and playing - role playing at EE City, that is! Or warm up at one of Beijing's hot springs. We've also got a great winter craft for your kids: making your own snowman. He makes a great decoration for your home.

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Nicely Made In China is a website which introduces products and services nicely made in China every Saturday, to know more, click here.

French-born Amélie Peraud overcame Beijing's coldness and started her company "Tang'Roulou" with the passion to the Beijing sweets "Tanghulu" seven years ago. With a wide range of products including clothes and accessories for kids (0-8), Tang'Roulou's special "Beijing hutong daily lives inspired" designs,  passionately sourced fabrics and handmade products have drawn attention from trendy Beijing moms as a "new promising Chinese brand."

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The State Council of Legislative Affairs is considering tweaking China's official maternity leave policy and is currently soliciting input from the public, according to a report on msn.com's Chinese-language news site.

Under the proposal, which would replace the current policy that was effected in 1988, the number of maternity leave days would be increased from "90 days to 14 weeks" (98 days). Other stipulations include two additional weeks off for "difficult births," and two extra weeks off for each baby if you have multiple babies. Women who suffer miscarriages (or undergo abortions) in their first four months of pregnancy can also get a minimum of two paid weeks off and after four months, it goes up to six full paid weeks.

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“Sleep, oh precious sleep, that knits up the ravell'd sleave of care”
 
Ever since I studied Macbeth, this line (from Act II, Scene 2) has fascinated me. I love the image of our personal tangled yarn (think of life and it's many daily cares), being unraveled and restored to order by sleep.

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