Program - First Central European Babywearing Conference

First Central European Babywearing Conference

Saturday, 21 October 2017 - Zagreb, Croatia

PROGRAM

 

9:00 – 9:05
Welcome

 

9:05 – 9:20

Dr. Milan Stanojević, Ph.D., neonatologist and President of the World Perinatal Association
Conference Opening

 

9:20 – 10:30
Dr. Henrik Norholt, Ph.D., expert in child psychological and motor development
Attachment Theory, Neuropsychology & Infant Carrying

The lecture covers the history of the psychological paradigms for parenting in the past century, as these still influence current caregiving ideals. It describes the evolution of modern child developmental psychology, leading to the most recent scientific advances in child psychology. Topics include mammalian and primate research, attachment theory, neuropsychology and studies into the effects of parent-infant physical contact.

 

10:30 – 10:50
COFFEE BREAK

 

10:50 – 12:10
Dr. Henrik Norholt, Ph.D., expert in child psychological and motor development
Fathers' role in child development - and how babywearing can support fathers' engagement in the young infant
Fathers' attachment processes during pregnancy and the immediate postpartum have received scant attention. This lecture summarizes current knowledge. Fathers' caregiving behaviour is distinctly different to mothers' and has been found to contribute uniquely to child development. Fathers may also compensate for depressed mothers' impaired caregiving. The incidence and effects of fathers' postpartum depression are described. Fathers' attachment representations, brain and hormonal systems are influenced and shaped through being and interacting with their infant through e.g. father-infant contact. Sensitive periods/windows of opportunity for fathers' engagement in young infant are discussed with focus on clinical implications.

 

12:10 – 12:30
Dr. Josip Vlaić, MD, orthopedist
Babywearing and Infant Hip and Spine Development

From conception to birth and postpartum, a child's body and locomotive system grow quickly. A child’s spine, the pillar of its locomotive system, is a special area of concern for parents. Developmental hip dysplasia is a challenge in treating and monitoring the child in its first year of life. This lecture was created in response to ever frequent inquiries received by orthopedic surgeons from parents about child carriers and brings a brief overview of the existing knowledge in field, discussing the correct method of spine manipulation in the newborn and infant age up until toddlerhood. Special emphasis will be given on the correct position of the infant’s hips when carrying in the carrier.

 

12:30 – 13:30
LUNCH BREAK

 

13:30 – 14:30
Multi-Disciplinary Round-Table Discussion on Babywearing

Renata Jelušić, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
Virginia Zubović, babywearing consultant
Željka Kuljak, nurse (M.Sc. Nursing) and Midwife (B.Sc. Midwifery)
Goran Krakar, MD, PhD., pediatrician and neuropediatrician
Ivana Baksa, B.Sc. Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, physiotherapist
Ines Gazibara - B.Psych., psychologist
Irena Orlović - parent of a child with special needs, publisher and entrepreneur specialised in encouraging children to reach their full potential

 

14:30 – 15:00

Dr. Snježana Gverić-Ahmetašević, Ph.D., neonatologist
Mother-Baby Bonding Theory in Practice – Skin to Skin Contact and Kangaroo Care

Kangaroo care, or skin-to-skin contact between parents and children is very important for newborns, especially for premature newborns. The influence of kangaroo care on development and the effects of the macro-environment (ambient noise, activity, lighting, etc.) and micro-environment (individualized treatment for each patient) has a positive influence on infants. Quiet sleeping during kangaroo care allows for more optimal brain development, accelerates brain maturation and promotes brain connectivity and complexity.
Kangaroo care (KC) meets some criteria which are essential for minimizing the negative influence of the environment. It has both short- and long-term beneficial effects, with recent findings showing select benefits sustained for 10 and 16 years. Furthermore, the mother's emotional state is better and her stress is lower with the Kangaroo care.

 

15:00 – 15:20
COFFEE BREAK

 

15:20 – 15:30
Željka Skukan Šoštarić, B.N. (Nursing), IBCLC, Community health nurse
Babywearing and Breastfeeding

This talk will discuss the effects of babywearing on breastfeeding and on the practical aspects of breastfeeding and babywearing. Research has shown that infants whose parents practice kangaroo care have higher percentages of exclusive breastfeeding as compared to those who did not practice kangaroo care. The benefits of babywearing and its positive effects continue later in the postpartum period, and breastfeeding women who practice babywearing can more easily and more often breastfeed their infants. More frequent breastfeeding means that the breastmilk has a higher fat content, which can help babies gain weight faster. Babywearing also allows the mother to more easily read and answer to the child's early feeding cues and as a result the children expend less energy gaining their mother's attention, and more on growth and development.

 

15:30 – 15:50
Urška Podvršič, psychologist, Die Trageschule Network leader for Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Role of Babywearing Consultants

The lecture explains the role of a babywearing consultant and the contribution s/he provides to a young family. The lecture focuses on the psychological effects and on support provided by the consultant to parents, especially the mother during a very sensitive life period. It provides an overview of the psychological and physical effects of babywearing for the child and the whole family. The lecture will also provide basic information on how to recognize a good and suitable carrier, and how a consultant can provide support to parents when choosing a carrier.

 

15:50 – 16:00
Roda – Parents in Action
Roda's Babywearing Projects – Child Carriers during the Refugee Crisis and Babywearing Library

 

16:00 – 17:00
Workshops led by babywearing consultants Urška Podvršič and Iris Božić (participants attend one)
1) Babywearing for Midwives, Paediatric Nurses and Community Nurses (basic newborn babywearing and one newborn wrap tie) - Croatian only (Urška Podvršič)
2) Introduction to various baby carriers including demonstrations of basic positions in various structured carriers - in Croatian and English (Iris Božić)