Well I have just found out I'm pregnant. Im 5 weeks gone, and it's quiet a mad feeling, and it's weird, especially as I don't feel the same buzz of excitement I felt on my daughter, and I think I should feel guilty about this, but I don't. Maybe it's just me, and I'm plain weird.
I believe Im pregnant, especially as I did quiet a few tests to prove it to myself (the first two the confirmation line as a bit faint, and I just needed more proof).
So as my pregnancy progresses, Im left wondering how I'm going to run around after a one year old, especially as lifting is out of the question the further along I go.
I know many women have coped before me, and no doubt will cope after me, but I can just go from my point of view (selfish I know, but that's the way of it).
This blog is probably just brainless ramblings, well, a womans brain does shrink when she is pregnant (still bigger than most mens all the same he he).
I will keep the blog update, but I am thinking of starting a new one, and give an account of how everything is going. For now however, Im going to get a cup of tea and relax.
Showing posts with label having a baby in the netherlands. Show all posts
Showing posts with label having a baby in the netherlands. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Friday, March 7, 2008
Being a mom!!
Being a mom is more fun than I thought it was ever going to be.
My daughter is now a year old, and she is hilarious. Trying to say words, feeding herself, standing up in her playpen. She is learning all the time, and when she figures something out, you can see her brain working from her facial expressions.
Now to be honest I was never terribly maternal to begin with, and I figured that she would cry all night, not feed, poop all the time and at the beginning I wouldn't enjoy it. However, she is the most docile, contented child on the planet. She sleeps until 9.30am (I am just SO lucky), she eats great, she is growing exactly as she should and she is happy. The only area in which I was right was the poop, but I've long since gotten over that.
Our district nurse (she weighs and measures her to make sure all is good) said that she may be naturally calm, but that we should take it as a compliment to our parenting, as she is obviously taking our lead. When a professional says something like that to you, you feel very proud of yourself, especially seeing as she is our first child!
I just assumed that she was naturally content, and that I was the one following her lead, but the nurse said that babies take their cue from the tension they feel from their parents. So if a parent is stressed, the baby will be stressed, and vice versa.
It was never something I gave that much thought to, but if I think about it logically it makes complete sense. I would NEVER in a million years claim to be a child rearing expert but if there is one tip I would give to any new parent it's to relax and always remember that your child is reading your signals.
Try to enjoy the first year, especially as it goes so fast. I know everyone who has a child tells you that, but you have got to believe them, because they are not lying. This has been the fastest year of my life. I have no idea where it went at all
My daughter is now a year old, and she is hilarious. Trying to say words, feeding herself, standing up in her playpen. She is learning all the time, and when she figures something out, you can see her brain working from her facial expressions.
Now to be honest I was never terribly maternal to begin with, and I figured that she would cry all night, not feed, poop all the time and at the beginning I wouldn't enjoy it. However, she is the most docile, contented child on the planet. She sleeps until 9.30am (I am just SO lucky), she eats great, she is growing exactly as she should and she is happy. The only area in which I was right was the poop, but I've long since gotten over that.
Our district nurse (she weighs and measures her to make sure all is good) said that she may be naturally calm, but that we should take it as a compliment to our parenting, as she is obviously taking our lead. When a professional says something like that to you, you feel very proud of yourself, especially seeing as she is our first child!
I just assumed that she was naturally content, and that I was the one following her lead, but the nurse said that babies take their cue from the tension they feel from their parents. So if a parent is stressed, the baby will be stressed, and vice versa.
It was never something I gave that much thought to, but if I think about it logically it makes complete sense. I would NEVER in a million years claim to be a child rearing expert but if there is one tip I would give to any new parent it's to relax and always remember that your child is reading your signals.
Try to enjoy the first year, especially as it goes so fast. I know everyone who has a child tells you that, but you have got to believe them, because they are not lying. This has been the fastest year of my life. I have no idea where it went at all
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Maternity Leave in the Netherlands
Working life in the Netherlands, is relatively stress free. You have a lot of rights and you are reasonably well protected (especially with sick leave). You start a job and on your third contract you have what they call a vaste contract. Which is a permanent contract, and this in the Netherlands is a big deal if affords you lots of protection as an employee.
The only area that dutch employment law falls short is in maternity leave. In total you have 16 weeks. That 16 weeks is broken down as follows:
4-6 weeks before your due date you MUST start your leave.
10-12 weeks that remain after the birth of your child is your total time to
arrange everything before you have to go back to work.
To be fair they do also have Ouderschap Verlof, which is parental leave, which is 6 months, however you take this at your own expense, and it cannot be taken in one time frame. Most people tend to take it as one day a week unpaid for a certain time frame.
The fact that the Netherlands has maternity makes anyone living in the Netherlands luckier than in some countries. However in comparison to many other EU countries it's quiet paltry, especially when you consider that their employment law as a whole is very evenly balanced between protecting employee and employer alike.
Given this important fact, if makes me wonder why their maternity leave is so poor. I know having a baby is not an illness, but it still takes on average a year for a womans body to recover. Hopefully over time it will rectify its self, but until then dutch citizens and residents will have to manage.
The only area that dutch employment law falls short is in maternity leave. In total you have 16 weeks. That 16 weeks is broken down as follows:
4-6 weeks before your due date you MUST start your leave.
10-12 weeks that remain after the birth of your child is your total time to
arrange everything before you have to go back to work.
To be fair they do also have Ouderschap Verlof, which is parental leave, which is 6 months, however you take this at your own expense, and it cannot be taken in one time frame. Most people tend to take it as one day a week unpaid for a certain time frame.
The fact that the Netherlands has maternity makes anyone living in the Netherlands luckier than in some countries. However in comparison to many other EU countries it's quiet paltry, especially when you consider that their employment law as a whole is very evenly balanced between protecting employee and employer alike.
Given this important fact, if makes me wonder why their maternity leave is so poor. I know having a baby is not an illness, but it still takes on average a year for a womans body to recover. Hopefully over time it will rectify its self, but until then dutch citizens and residents will have to manage.
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