My random thoughts on the 5 S's. 

 

I wish that someone had taught these to me as a new mother. It would have
helped my breastfeeding my son, and it would have made me a better mom. My
son screamed all of the time, in fact I've only seen one other baby with as
bad of colic as my first had. I couldn't soothe him no matter what I tried.
He cried for hours every day AND night.  As a result my husband and I didn't
want to hold him, touch him, sleep with him or even be with him. We just
felt like we were going mad. Second child was perfect, third child started
the same way as the first. 

The ONLY way to calm her was to swaddle her tight, lay her on her side,
breastfeed her while swaying, and shushing in her ear. Sometimes she would
nurse so much she threw the milk up so I would hand her to my husband and he
would have to do it as she knew he had no milk. Her poor tummy got so full
that with him holding her and mimicking these things (but with her facing
out rather than in) she calmed down. 

I carried my daughter everywhere and though I loved it and had easy access
to nursing (nursed for 3 yrs) I didn't have time with 3 kids to have her
strapped to me all day and night every day and night. I still didn't know
about the 5's at this time, but through my years as a postpartum doula and 3
babies figured it out. 

 

So my thoughts are that Dr. Harvey has admitted that this isn't a new
concept, but he has been able to bring this knowledge to the masses. Because
of him more parents can now calm their crying and hysterical babies. More
parents have some sense of sanity, AND I feel that more parents can enjoy
being parents and love their babies more rather than wondering why they
became parents and try to get away from their babies (see my first few
sentences). 

As a doula I have used this method to show frustrated parents how to calm
their own babies and become better parents in the process. 

 

As a side note I must say that I swaddle babies with their hands across
their chests as if they are giving themselves a big hug. 

 

Heather Shelley CD, LCCE

Midwifery Student MCU

 <http://www.birthingyourway.com> www.birthingyourway.com 

 


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