Looking for SA mommies

[BrightMom05]

Hi I actually live in the states right now, but was born in Cape Town, and grew up in Durban. I was just looking to meet some other mommies from South Africa. I miss it there so much and have not been able to go back since moving here 13 years ago. My grandparents and aunts and uncle's all still live there!
Look forward to hopefully talking with some of you soon. I really miss the culture and the food, american food doesn't even come close to our food back home!:wink

[mjj]

Hi

I've been living in Atlanta since 2000. Orginally from Stellenbosch. I have 1 daughter, almost 3. Would love to chat.

Cheers.:)

[XanaduMama]

Hi mamas!

I grew up in Durban but moved to Joburg when I was 16. My family all still live there :( :( . I miss them more than ever now that I have my sweet baby! I came to the States for grad school, met my husband, and we've lived all over since then (NY, SC, CA). Now in Durham, NC where we're grad students at Duke. Still missing SA, though! We might try a trip over there in July (if the family will help pay!), but I'm anxious about doing the 20-hr flight and 7-hr time diff with a 6-month old...any advice there?

Great to know there are other S'th Effricans out there! Let's keep this thread going.

[velveeta]

Hi! I am actually an American, but my DH is from SA, and I wanted to recommend to the OP that she check out the local SA clubs. I am from Texas, and when we lived there, we belonged to a group call SA Rhinos or something like that, which was in Dallas, but there is a bigger group (I am told) in Austin area, where we will hopefully move in the next year. We belong to a group here in NC called SA Tarheels (tarheel means somebody from NC) and it is fun for get togethers and braais and so on. Maybe do a google search?

Also, it has been great to meet other natural family living kinds of moms (through MDC) who also speak Afrikaans.

Oh! Another tip I just discovered. A guy in California makes great biltong: www.800biltong.com (http://www.800biltong.com/). I think that's it.

[AnnieMarie]

Hi All,

I live in Zululand in South Africa and spent many years living in Durban. There seem to be very few SA's here.

[Kay11]

Oooh, I'm so excited! I've just joined here and have been lurking, but I'm thrilled to see that there are other SA mummies who are parenting like this! I'm in the UK now, grew up in Durban, but I don't know any other SA mums who even vaguely share my ideas of parenting. I'll be back here often!

[DarkHorseMama]

Hi, Kay. My DH is from down Durban way and still has family in the area. :)

[XanaduMama]

So many Durbanites! Maybe there's something about the climate that encourages AP-ness? Though, come to think of it, most of the parents I know who still live there (or anywhere in SA) are pretty mainstream and think I'm a total hippie.:lol

Velveeta: where in NC are you? We're in Durham. There seem to be loads of SAns around.

[MammaMelissie]

Hi there
I live in in Mpumalanga in S'Africa. My mothertongue is afrikaans. We're expecting our 1st baby in May07. Am only about 5 weeks preg now. And I am very excited, but extremely scared that I do something wrong to harm the baby in these 9 months. I must just get to month 3, so I hear, that's the crucial stage. I'm working full time & my back is killing me (ALLREADY!!) but "they" say it's normal. Body changes inside & so on. Crave salt&vinegar chips & anything spicy like crazy!!!!

I am so scared that I pick up too much weight (like 40kg's) & look like a elephant the rest of my life!!

Take care.

[BFingMama]

Hi Mamas,

I am hoping someone can help me out. Obviously, I know this is a bit weird and I truly do not want to offend anyone. I am writing to you about my children's book about breastfeeding, Near Mama's Heart. I am committed to making the book more ethnically diverse but have been unsuccessful in getting the pictures I need. I have received over 500 pictures of breastfeeding babies and Mamas and only 2% were not Caucasian.

According to a recent survey by Abbott Laboratories, a lack of role models and breastfeeding exposure and information are among the reasons why ethnic groups other than Caucasian have much lower breastfeeding rates.

I hope that you will be gracious enough to submit a picture for consideration in my book. I can honestly say you are almost guaranteed a spot. Please PM me if you are interested. Thanks!

[Rafe's Mom]

Hi, I am Barbara - live in Pretoria.

Where abouts have you asked for pictures? As in SA I would say caucasians are still the minority when it comes to breastfeeding (definitely in public at least). I think it could simply be that the places you asking.

I understood from your post you are looking for pictures of other races breastfeeding. I can mention it to those I know and pass on your details for them to contact you if they would like to share a photo.

Take care

[AnnieMarie]

Hi All,

Hi Barbara :wave fancy meeting you here! LOL

Hi MammaMelissie - I am sure your pregnancy will go great :thumb , you will find tons of info on this site.

BFingMama - I commented to my husband the other day, how I haven't seen a single African mama BF lately, but I will ask around as well. I tend to do quiet a bit of photography (or at least used to before my youngest was born) so if I come across anybody that does not mind having pics taken I will pm you.

[Rafe's Mom]

Hi All,

Hi Barbara :wave fancy meeting you here! LOL



Hi Annie ÜÜÜÜ - its a small big world hehe

[MammaMelissie]

Hi you guys....errr, girls! I'm going for my 1st gynae appointment 2morrow, 20 Sept. (6weeks) Must admit I'm $h!T scared:crap - the 'what if's' are making me crazy in my head.:dizzy:
We live in a kinda rural part of MP, and it's 200km to the nearest gynae!! Got my worst case of morning sickness today.:sick

Wonder if I'll be seein' a heartbeat 2morrow?:heartbeat

Love this site, though & chatting 2 other mommies!!:grouphug

See ya.

[AnnieMarie]

Barbara - don't you just love the internet, you get to "meet" people all over the world without ever leaving home :lol


MammaMelissie - All the best for your gynae app, I seem to recall that 6 weeks is a bit early to pick up a HB, depends on the u/s machine I guess. We are also rural, though not as way out as you guys are, our nearest gynae is about 60km, though my GP is also an OB and surgeon at the local (govt) hospital 20km away - I would trust him sooner than most gynaes :wink
Hope you morning sickness isn't too yucky!!

[MammaMelissie]

Hi Everyone!
Everything went great at the gynea. And we saw & heard the little heartbeat!!!:heartbeat (Anniemarie: :raz !!!!) The doc even gave us a video with it on to take home. Cool hey? Now I can "check in" on my baby if I miss the little Peapod, and hear his/her heart as a reminder that there is LIFE inside of me growing....:carrot

I am SO excited about everything, :jumpers: I can't hope for the day I can feel my Peapod moving inside of me!

Keep well & good luck with the nausea.:sick (My doc prescirbed me meds 4 it, so I feel better. Not throwing up anymore, just slight nausea!!! Yippee.)

PS. I hear Marmite or Liquorice helps for the nausea. Is there anyone else that is as tired as I am???? Even though I am sleeping @ night, I can't keep my eyes open @ work!!!:zzz

[DarkHorseMama]

PS. I hear Marmite or Liquorice helps for the nausea. OMG. I can't take Marmite on a non-pregnant stomach, let alone a pregnant one! Granted, I didn't grow up with the stuff, but I think DH takes a certain delight at watching my faces when he eats it. :gross

[XanaduMama]

OMG. I can't take Marmite on a non-pregnant stomach, let alone a pregnant one! :gross

:yeah: Yuck!!

What I found most helpful with morning sickness was always making sure you had something in your stomach--nibble on something constantly. An empty stomach, esp if you then drink water, is a guarantee of serious nausea. My mom swears by extra calcium, too. Hope you feel better soon!

[Rafe's Mom]

Hi Everyone!
PS. I hear Marmite or Liquorice helps for the nausea. Is there anyone else that is as tired as I am???? Even though I am sleeping @ night, I can't keep my eyes open @ work!!!:zzz

I am incredibly tired which = nausea but i have found that using the Natura Tissue salts Nat Sulph and Nat Phos is definitely making a difference (on the days I rememer to take them)

[Rafe's Mom]

Barbara - don't you just love the internet, you get to "meet" people all over the world without ever leaving home :lol


Yup and those 'on our doorstep too :lol - I would be a very lonely bug without the internet Ü

[Schae]

I'm Shuia and live in Joburg.
:D

[Azza]

I'm Tanya and live in Johannesburg. Expecting our first baby in February.

*waves furiously to Shuia* Was so nice to see you on Saturday! Dont you just love the pic Sally took of you and Luka? It is gorgeous!

[sally Z]

Hi I am Sally mom to Rachel who is 2 and waiting for piglet due in June.
nice to se other south african here and overseas. i think the majority of people are still fairly main stream but there are a few crunchies here and there

[Charmain]

Hi I'm Charmain and we live near Johannesburg. Would love to chat!

If you are Afrikaans speaking, PM me for a great mothering forum in our own language.

[AnnieMarie]

hi Charmaine!!!

Nice to see new SA's here!!!

[lin1235]

Hi, I'm Linda and I'm from Cape Town. Mommy to the best baby in the world since November last year!

[Samjm]

Hi, I'm Samantha, an ex-pat South African living in Colorado. I was born and raised in Cape Town, studied at Stellenbosch and lived in Joburg for a few years too. ALL my family is still in SA, and I miss them madly.

Oh and I just have to say....

Yeah bokke!!!!

Charmain, I'd love info on the board - my Afrikaans is so rusty!

[DarkHorseMama]

We went to a pub in Nashville today that had a live satellite feed of the rugby final. It was about 2 SA supporters per 1 English supporter....so, a nice turnout for it! Lots of us are going to meet up for a celebratory braai next Sunday at one of the parks. :D

[AnnieMarie]

What can I say - GO BOKKE!!!! :thumb:thumb:D

[DarkHorseMama]

Anyone out there have any links or contacts for midwives and/or doulas in Jo'burg? My SIL is pregnant and already has concerns about giving birth there. She's had two births in the US, but she doesn't believe she will be able to advocate for herself as well back in SA.

Any help appreciated. :)

[AnnieMarie]

She can try

www.earthbabies.co.za - great place to get cloth diapers, slings etc - they also have a forum where the moms are mostly AP/CD etc and the moms there will have details for doulas / mw etc as a number of them live in Gauteng. I live in KZN so don't know any of the GP doulas / mw, but apparently there are some great ones and she can get a personal recommendations from earthbabies

also

www.birthing.co.za
http://doulas.co.za/
http://www.doula.co.za

[XanaduMama]

I don't know about the HB situation in JHB, but the Linksfield Clinic in Orange Grove has midwives and a natural birth center. I've known a couple people that have had nice natural births there.

[Devaya]

it took me a while to find u ladies - i'm a capetonian been living in uk for past 3 1/2 yrs. miss it a lot too. only been bk once since leaving, but plan 2 go later this year with DP and LO, who have never been there!
my folks moved 2 mpumalanga in 06 and run a b n b there close 2 the kruger national park. will visit them of course but its cape town i long 4...the mountains, the beaches, the people :D

[TazzyBear]

Hi I am living in New Zealand now but I was born and grew up in Pietermaritzburg. My daughter was born at St Annes on the 6th September 2006 and we moved to New Zealand on the 28th April 2007.

[Devaya]

Hi I am living in New Zealand now but I was born and grew up in Pietermaritzburg. My daughter was born at St Annes on the 6th September 2006 and we moved to New Zealand on the 28th April 2007.

hi! whats it like in nz? i've often wondered bc I miss so many things about SA and England can get one down with all the limited space and the weather (altho I LOVE england in other respects), I wondered if NZ is a bit more like SA in some ways? (tho i've heard it also rains a lot there).

[ema-adama]

Hey all, I'm from Cape Town (dad from Durban), now living in Israel for almost 4 years... I really miss SA and of course my friends there who are also into AP, even if that is not what they call it... fantastic to know that there are AP resources in SA - should we ever move back!

Cheers

[wholisticmidwife]

This is kind of an old thread but thought I would post. My name is Sam, I was born in Swaziland and grew up in the US with my mom and SA with my dad. We lived in Rustenburg and Joburg and Pretoria. We spent all our holidays in Cape Town and I grew up in Fish Hoek. I love and miss SA! I am a midwife in Tx and had my three kids at home. I miss my dad alot. My 9 year old daughter is going to SA in december for a visit. I am so excited and nervous for her. She going to Krueger and a private game reserve.
Wholistic Midwife

[safigee]

Hi Everyone!

I was born in Empangeni and moved to Durban when I was 5. We lived there until I was 17 and then moved to the States. I live in California now. I've only been able to go back once but hope to go back again soon. My parents and one of my sisters live in the States as well, but the rest of my family is still in SA. Im married to an American man and we plan to move to Atlanta, Georgia pretty soon. My parents are already in Atlanta and my sister lives in Alabama.

Anyway I am 32 weeks pregnant with our first baby. Someone mentioned in another post that Durban somehow breeds all the crunchy people, ha ha! I have to concur! I think about the flea markets, the midlands meander through the Valley of 1000 hills, walking around barefoot all the time and living in our swimming pools because it is SO darn hot all the time :wink. Theres something about that lifestyle that breeds crunchiness! Oh Im homesick now! But then its all of South Africa too. How common is it there to see babies strapped on to their momma or nanny's back? I don't think I have seen it once here. I miss seeing that.

Someone also mentioned that marmite helps with morning sickness. I'm going to have to try it. Im craving some Appletizer though! That would be so yummy.

Anyway happy to have found this thread! Hello to all!

Greer aka safigee

PS: Durbs girls, where did you go to school?

[safigee]

Hi Mamas,

I am hoping someone can help me out. Obviously, I know this is a bit weird and I truly do not want to offend anyone. I am writing to you about my children's book about breastfeeding, Near Mama's Heart. I am committed to making the book more ethnically diverse but have been unsuccessful in getting the pictures I need. I have received over 500 pictures of breastfeeding babies and Mamas and only 2% were not Caucasian.

According to a recent survey by Abbott Laboratories, a lack of role models and breastfeeding exposure and information are among the reasons why ethnic groups other than Caucasian have much lower breastfeeding rates.

I hope that you will be gracious enough to submit a picture for consideration in my book. I can honestly say you are almost guaranteed a spot. Please PM me if you are interested. Thanks!

Hello!
I had a question about your post. Was this study done in America or in Africa itself? Cos I always found, in SA at least, that Caucasians had lower breastfeeding rates than other ethnic groups there. It was really due to the economy I think. I know my sister at least had no choice but to breastfeed because she just couldn't afford formula. Its expensive there, more so than America. It would be interesting to compare the rates of breastfeeding in different countries as well as ethnic groups. I remember even in 2001 when I was last in SA, it was more common for women to breastfeed than not and I was surprised when I saw it was the opposite here in the USA.

Anyway... just curiosity in me killing the cat again! Good luck with the book.

Safigee

[AnnieMarie]

Safigee - we live about 40km from Empangeni :) I am originally from Gauteng, and went to school there, but lived in DBN for many years.
Marmite is an absolute life saver for morning sickness.
On the breastfeeding, it is sad to see so few moms nursing nowdays, I recall when I was growing up, often seeing moms (indigenous moms that is) nursing their littles ones, nowdays they all seem to give their babies bottles, which is sad given that BF is soooo much better for their babies and the cost of formula :(

[safigee]

Oh thats so sad! Maybe I'm out of touch with SA being so far away but thats what I always remembered too: more people breastfeeding. Its so sad that its taking a back seat now!! :(