Nurturing the Next Generation
Sound Vision

Motherhood: A New Sense of Humility

By Ammarah Usmani

Women give birth everyday and the experience is enough to completely alter one’s perspective of life. Pregnancy and delivery might make some women feel a sense of power, of creating life, of being the medium for someone’s arrival into this world. For Ammarah Usmani, the experience was extremely humbling. Read more about her experiences and conclusions.

 Parenting Tip

Children are an incredible blessing. In addition to the joys, there is hard work, a need for incredible patience and understanding, and a need for introspection. In order to gain the full reward, we must go into parenting with our eyes open and make good use of the resources that Allah so mercifully provides.

Breastfeeding: Recommended by the Quran and Sunnah

By Wendy Díaz

Islamic and secular sources on the topic of infant care emphasize breastfeeding over other means of nourishment for the first two years of life. Guidelines on nursing and its role in the bond between mother and child are mentioned in both the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. And they need to be supported within our families and communities. 

Here are 9 tidbits of advice from one-mother-to-another:

• Make your intention purely for the sake of Allah
• Make lots of duaa for it to be made easy
• As with everything we do, start every feeding with Bismillah
• Be patient with yourself and your baby
• Stay hydrated and well nourished
• Put your baby to the breast as often as possible for the first few weeks to increase your milk supply
• Keep your baby close by when you sleep, like in a bedside crib or bassinet to help with night feedings
• Ask for help from family and friends
• Reach out to a lactation consultant or other healthcare professional for assistance

Read the full article for details about Islamic guidance on breastfeeding.

Inspiration

“Loving a baby is a circular business, a kind of feedback loop. The more you give the more you get and the more you get the more you feel like giving.”

Penelope Leach, British psychologist who writes extensively on childhood development and parenting

Myths about Sleep and Breastfeeding

By Melissa Barreto

Myths surrounding infant sleep and breastfeeding are common and can plague mothers with doubt and worry. The best way to allay fears and reduce frustration is to educate oneself and also those who you rely on for support. Find out more about infant sleep, about an infant’s need for comfort, about growth spurts that impact calorie intake, and more.

From The Quran

“And for those who fear Allah, He always prepares a way out, and He provides for him from sources he never could imagine. And if anyone puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is Allah for him. For Allah will surely accomplish His purpose: verily, for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion.” 

Surah At-Talaq, 65:2-3

From the Midwife’s Desk: Perinatal Depression, Not Just the Baby Blues

By Melissa Fleming

While the birth of a baby is filled with hopes and dreams, some postpartum families may find themselves struggling with unexpected emotions, behaviors, and attitudes that reduce the feelings of happiness. It is important to address these changes without shame and understand the signs and symptoms of perinatal depression. Family members, friends, and communities must assist mothers who are struggling with these challenges. Get more details by reading the full article.

Some Interesting Facts

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control Breastfeeding Report Card for 2020: 

• 84% of infants are breastfed at some point.
• The total number varies by race with the highest breastfeeding in mothers of Asian descent (90%) and the lowest in mothers who are Black (74%).
• At age 6 months, that number decreases to 58%.
• At 1 year of age, the number drops further to 35%.
• 19% of breastfed newborns receive formula supplementation within the first two days of life.
• Hospital support for breastfeeding (also known as institutional management) varies widely by state from 47-95 on a scale of 100.

More details on this research can be found here

Preparing Siblings for the New Baby

By Zahirah Lynn Eppard

The arrival of a new baby is a joy in any household. Existing children in the family may be extremely excited and happy most of the time, but there is a good chance that the frustrations of sibling rivalry might also lurk in the background. Here are 15 activities designed to strengthen family bonds before and after the arrival. Read the full article for details.

Online Resources

17 Great Resources for Pregnant Moms and New Parents - This is a comprehensive list of resources that can be helpful, particularly during the COVID pandemic. 

6 Sunnahs Every Parent Should Perform after the Birth of their Child - This article summarizes six of the sunnahs that parents should observe after the birth of a child.

Sunan of Welcoming a Newborn Baby - This Daily Reminder video by Sheikh Muis Bukhary provides a quick summary of the sunnah practices after the birth of a Muslim child. (6:02) 

Blessings of Children - This is a portion of a halaqah by Sheikh Mufti Mink that discusses the blessings of children. There is also a portion of the video where he performs that tahneek, the sunnah of giving the baby a taste of a date soon after birth. (8:15)

Adam’s World Video: One Big Family 2

This is the second in a collection of Islamic song videos (or nasheeds) and includes “Allah, You Are the Greatest” and “Hush-a -Bye Baby.” (4:31)

Experienced educators and creative hosts have put together a special treat for the entire family during our Winter Break! 

Four separate classes designed for children ages 5 through 12 offer maximum learning opportunities in an engaging learning environment. Students explore:

• the beauty of Allah and His creation 
• the best of human ingenuity 
• beautiful Muslim lands and cultures
• delicious baked sweets

Recorded classes make it easy to learn at a time that works for your family and in the safety of your home. Tuition is family based and scholarships are available. Make a plan to join us!

Visit Academy.AdamsWorld.org for more details and online registration.

The Sound Vision Foundation has been a trusted source of Islamic knowledge for more than 30 years. Our work with the world-renowned puppets Adam and Aneesah pioneered creative programming for Muslim children, encouraging them to learn about and love their religion. We continue to bring sound content and engaging programs that stimulate minds, touch hearts, and strive to fulfill our mission of raising better Muslims, better neighbors, and better citizens. This latest effort is designed to support and empower Muslim parents to do the same.