Pregnancy & Baby e-guide

Health and Safety

-Digital thermometer
-Nasal aspirator
-Infant acetaminophen drops
-Baby shampoo/baby wash
-Biaper cream
-Baby nail clippers or safety scissors
-Baby oil/lotion
-Baby brush
-Baby powder

Layette and Diapering

-Newborn diapers/cloth diapers
-Baby wipes and/or extra baby washcloths
-Diaper pail
-Burp cloths or extra cloth diapers
-Newborn sleepers
-Receiving blanket
-Swaddling blankets
-Crib blanket
-Newborn socks or booties
-Newborn cap (1-2)
-Bath towels
-T-shirts or all-in-ones

Baby Equipment

-Baby carrier (sling, wrap or pack carrier)
-Infant seat (have to bring it to the hospital!)
-Stroller or carriage
-Diaper bag

Furniture and Accessories

-Cradle or crib
-Mattress, waterproof pads, at least two sheets and other bedding
-Changing table or other safe changing area
-Disposable nursing pads
-Breast pump and storage bottles or bags if you plan to pump milk
-Feeding bottles (2-4 4 oz to start), nipples, and bottle brush if you plan to use bottles

Hospital:

-Pads for hospital and other toiletries - toothbrush etc.
-Nursing nightgown or comfy cotton pajamas
-Small tube of modified lanolin or other product to soothe sore nipples
-Nursing bras
-Clothes to wear when you leave the hospital

Relax and enjoy this time with your precious baby because this time will never return.

In the beginning your baby will sleep about 16 to 20 hours every day. These sleeping times are usually 2-4 hour periods. The best thing to do is get your baby into a routine sleeping schedule. If you do this you will make things easier on yourself and you will have more time for household chores, a good night's rest, and time in general just for you...( because I know that all moms need some of that.)

What you can do to get into a routine:

- Always keep to a certain time and a certain method - the best for me was to keep to 7 in the evening and I made a point of never rocking him to sleep...otherwise they expect this from you every night. Just put him/her in their cot, switch the light off and close the door. For the first two or three nights they might cry for a few minutes but after that they will get into the habit if going to bed a certain time and they will also know that when you close the door and switch off the light that they must sleep. I started doing this from the time Tyler was 6 months old...I wish I had done it sooner

- Keep activities before bed time to things that wont excite them too much. These should be activities that are not over stimulating.

If your baby starts crying, leave him/her for five minutes before soothing. Remain only long enough to pat his back and say a few kind words. Do not pick him up out of his cot. Always speak reassuringly when you go in. By waiting 5 to 10 minutes, your baby will learn that crying will not help and your reassuring voice will help your baby feel secure.

Have a look at The Baby Sleep Solution Audio Program. This Audio Program Teaches You How To Get Your Baby To Sleep Through The Night Every Night - Ideal For Parents Whose Toddler Or Infant Has Sleep Problems.

Most babies begin sleeping through the night by 9 months. Like all things, soon this too shall pass. It actually does go by very quickly so enjoy it while it lasts.

Have a look at some of the resources available that could help you get baby to sleep through...

A baby with colic is usually over stimulated. They have trouble winding down from all the stress they endure throughout the day. Their stress reliever is to cry. But instead of helping them to wind down, the crying seems to wind them up.

Baby's who are bottle fed show an improvement when the formula being used is changed for a different one...this actually helped Tyler, after we changed his formula he stopped the constant crying and stopped clenching his fists. Also mothers who are breastfeeding should pay attention to what they actually eat that their baby does not have a bad reaction to certain foods in their diets. By trying to get rid of items which seem to be causes of colic:

Products that you should consider eliminating from your diet are
- caffeine, chocolate and gas producing foods (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, onions, peppers, melons, tomatoes, citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruit etc), beans and peanuts).

Gripe water can also help.

If you really want to do something different then give your baby a warm aromatherapy bath or massage. Add a few drops of lavender oil to some warm bath water and then give him/her a massage. Try focusing the massage on the stomach area to help relieve the trapped gas which is causing the pain.

Many parents say that their upset baby became soothed when swaddled or held close to their mother or father's chest (see the video below on how to do this)

Whatever you do rather keep an eye on the root cause of colic - rather than the symptoms

Below is a link to an e-Book on the best treatment for Colic

A baby's nails are often pretty long at birth and you need to cut them early enough to avoid him/her from scratching themselves. You may feel a little nervous handling it that soon, some tips can help you:

- Trim the nails right after a bath, because the nails are pliable then. Blunt-edged scissors or baby nail clippers can be used. Just trail the natural line of fingers.
- You can put his/her hands in a pair of soft mittens until you are self-assured enough to cut the nails.
- You can also gently nibble the nails as your mouth is more sensitive than scissors.
- When your baby is a little older, you can sit him in your lap. While holding his fingers steady with one hand, trim his nails with the other

Here are some tips and tricks for starting your baby on solid foods

- Don't feed your baby directly from the jar. This is an interesting tip I've heard from experienced mothers. Feeding your baby directly from the jar is not a good idea. Their saliva can mix with the food and make it taste bad. Put the food in a mug rather than a bowl so that you can feed baby more easily.

- Give them vegetables before fruits to keep away that sweet tooth. Also don't add sugar or seasoning to their food. They don't need it and this will also prevent them from getting use to unhealthy things.

- It is a good idea to wait until your baby gets his/her first tooth before even thinking of starting solids. One baby (I heard) got his first tooth at 5 months and began showing interest in what his father was eating shortly thereafter. At about 6 months, he was reaching for his parents' food.

Starting your baby on solids doesnt be a difficult task. Hopefully the above tips will help you when that time arrives for your baby.

Have a look through The Ultimate Collection Of Parenting EBooks


Search for other good advice on feeding baby below.

Is your todler testing your limits?

The best way to deal with this is to try and distract them with a different, safer activity.

It is probably better to try and reward and praise good behavior to reinforce it, rather then having to change bad behaviors.

It is important to try and find the reason for your child's behavior. Most toddlers misbehave because they are trying to learn what their limits are and what they can get away with. Other reasons can include jealousy, feeling that they aren't getting enough positive attention, being frustrated, and during times of stress.

Try avoid yelling or hitting or getting too worked up when your child misbehaves. This just increases the negative attention that your child receives and shows him/her that it is alright to get out of control and be aggressive and hit etc. Stay calm. You should spend special time with your child as much as you can, so that he is getting all of the attention that he needs.

When your child misbehaves or is diruptive, you should stop paying attention to your child. This approach is best for temper tantrums and whining, or other bad behaviors.

Always remember to be firm, consistent, calm and loving

Temper Tantrums

They are a way for your child to express anger or frustration. They usually increase when children are hungry, tired or ill and you should try to help them cope with these situations.

You should try to ignore attention-seeking or demanding tantrums and avoid situations that you know will lead to a tantrum (including changes in their regular daily schedule). If you can see that your child is getting overly frustrated and that a tantrum is coming, you can try to distract him

Read more at keepkidshealthy.com...

Click Here

Check out The G.o.l.d. Standard. - Developing Discipline Without Yelling, Spanking, Nagging, Or Time-outs!

These things should be kept in a handy place in your home, and all family members old enough to use them should know where they are. You should keep a first-aid kit in your car and have a portable kit that can be tucked in a bag for outings.
Many pharmacies sell pre-packaged first-aid kits, but you can assemble your own from items that you most likely already have on hand by using this checklist:

FOR THE HOME
- Collection of adhesive bandages in various sizes
- Sterile gauze pads and rolls of one- and two-inch gauze
- A roll of adhesive bandage tape
- Elastic bandages
- Cotton triangular bandages and long strips that can be used for slings,
bandages and ties. (These can be cut from an old sheet.)
- Germ-free packages of cotton-tipped applicators and cotton
- Paper tissues or a roll of toilet paper
- Safety pins, a pair of scissors and tweezers
- Fever thermometer
- Basic medicines, including acetaminophen, antihistamines, antibiotic cream,
hydrogen peroxide and antiseptic spray or cream
- Syrup of ipecac (to induce vomiting in poisoning emergencies)

FOR THE CAR
- Flashlight and additional batteries (check them periodically to make sure they are
working)
- Flares
- A lightweight blanket, fresh sheet and a large plastic sheet or several plastic
garbage bags

Okay...so now lets concentrate a bit on the Mommy!
There are no two pregnancies that are alike so, It is difficult to say exactly how each will progress, there are certain factors that are common among all women going through pregnancy. During the pregnancy, it is very important that you have a healthy lifestyle. During this time your body will go through a lot of changes - both physically and mentally. Mood swings will become more intense, and after the baby is born, you will likely have a desire to lose your pregnancy weight!
The list below is a content rich collection of information that might be useful to you during this time

Does a pregnant woman need to eat double as much?

Eat for two people? NO!

During pregnancy woman have to provide good nutrition for two individuals. Your growing baby gets all its nourishment from you through the umbilical cord, so diet is very important. If you are lacking in any vitamins and nutrients your baby might lack them too...so eating healthy foods is important - Quality NOT Quantity

How much energy do you need during pregnancy?

* Before you get pregnant you need about 2100
calories per day.
* During pregnancy you need 2500 calories per day.
* During breastfeeding you need about 3000 calories per day.

What sort of food should you eat during pregnancy?

Try eat something from all the food groups: dairy products, fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, eggs, fat and carbohydrates (starch). A pregnant lady needs to eat something from all five food groups every day in order to get the proper amounts of energy.

* 10 per cent of calories should come from protein.
Protein is mainly found in meat, fish, eggs, dairy products and beans.
* 35 per cent of calories should come from fat,
which is mainly found in butter, oils, margarine, dairy products and nuts.
* 55 per cent of calories should come from carbohydrates,
which are found in bread, pasta, potatoes, rice, corn and other grain products.

What other vitamins and minerals are necessary during your pregnancy?

Folic acid

During the first three months of pregnancy (and if possible before becoming pregnant) a woman needs folic acid. It is important during pregnancy for the formation of the baby's nervous system.

Folic acid can help prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida and other congenital malformations such as cleft palate or cleft lip.

Natural sources of folic acid are barley beans, fruit, green vegetables, orange juice, lentils, peas and rice. All pregnant women should take a daily 400 microgram supplement of folic acid a day for two months before conception and three months into pregnancy.

Iron

Your body will need more iron than usual to create all the blood needed to provide nutrition to the placenta. Good sources of iron are green vegetables such as broccoli and spinach, strawberries, muesli and wholemeal bread.

Iron is more easily absorbed if it is taken with vitamin C - either as a supplement or in citrus fruit or juice. Tea and coffee can interfere with the body's absorption of iron.

All pregnant women should take an iron supplement every day from the 20th week of pregnancy. This is not necessary if a woman has a good diet and routine blood tests show that she is not anaemic. Iron supplements sometimes cause constipation.

Zinc and calcium

The minerals zinc and calcium are also needed for the growth of the embryo. It is usually possible to obtain enough zinc and calcium by following a varied diet.

What foods should be avoided during pregnancy?

Avoid vitamin A during pregnancy because it may cause damage to the embryo. Foods containing large amounts of vitamin A include liver, and should be eaten on an occasional basis only. Unpasteurised cheeses, blue-veined cheeses and pâté are also not advised because of the possible risk of transmission of infectious diseases such as Listeria.

How to avoid constipation

Constipation during pregnancy can be caused by hormonal changes that cause the intestines to move less, and can also be caused from iron supplements.

To avoid constipation, eat lots of fibre-rich foods such as fruit, vegetables, wholemeal bread and cereal, prunes and prune juice. Drinking 2 to 3 litres of water each day will also help prevent constipation.

Exercise will also help get the intestines moving. About 20 to 30 minutes' swimming or walking should be enough.

This link below will take you to where you can download the best free weightloss tracking software. I used it after my pregnancy...It's really helpfull, it calculates your BMI and body fat percentage, take a look..

diet-buddy-download

Where do the extra kilos come from?

* A total weight increase of about 11.2kg (24lb) is normal.
* Your baby weighs about 3.5kg (7lb 11oz) before birth.
* The uterus grows to about 900g (1lb 14oz).
* The placenta weighs about 650g (1lb 6oz).
* The amniotic fluid weighs about 800g (1lb 12oz).
* Your breasts might grow by approximately 400g (14oz).
* The weight of the extra blood is approximately 1.25kg (2lb 12oz).
* Water retained in the body tissues weighs about 2kg (4lb 6oz).
* The layer of fat beneath the skin weighs about 1.7kg (3lb 11oz).

Deciding to have a baby is one of the biggest decisions you and your partner will ever make. But having a baby might not be as simple as just deciding you are both ready to try for one. It is also a question of whether you and your partner together are physically capable of conceiving a child.

Fertility facts

Women aged 20 years have around 50,000 eggs
By the time a woman turns 35, she has 15,000 eggs left
Women in their mid-40s have a 5% chance every month of conceiving
Source: The Family Planning Association

When do you ovulate? How do you know when you are ovulating? Use this free ovulation calculator (you can think of it also as a fertile days calculator) to generate an ovulation calander showing when you will ovulate next and your most fertile days for the next 7 cycles. In addition, you will find out the due date for each cycle if you are to get pregnant during your fertile days. Free ovulation calculator

Create your personal Pregnancy Calendar and follow your baby's development from conception to birth. Free pregnancy calendar

Got any specific questions about your pregnancy? Here is a very good pregnancy message board

Free Due Date Calculator

My husband and I are not ready to have another child, and we want a healthy, non medical natural way to make sure that we don't fall pregnant again, I'm sure there are other couples out there who don't want to use things like condoms, contraceptives etc."

The answer: No sex at times of ovulation. A woman ovulates about 14 days BEFORE her next period starts. It is called the luteal phase--DAY PASSED OVULATION. It is generally 12-16 days---14 days in average. The first part of a woman's cycle might have fluctuations---but the luteal phase is always the same.

Here is a good definition: If a woman has irregular cycles---(28 one month, 35 the next month, 45 another month) it is much harder to know the timing of ovulation--other than body temperature or increased vaginal secretions. Increased vaginal secretions are a good sign a woman is ovulation. Avoid sex then to avoid pregnancy.

The best thing to do is start charting your cycles--and see how regular you are. There are plenty of sites out there. I like this one: http://www.cyclespage.com
Basic service is free. After a couple cycles, it will let you know how many days your cycles are, and APPROXIMATELY what days you are most fertile---in a window. Due to not knowing exactly how long your luteal phase is.

The "Fertility Awareness Method" or Natural Family Planning (2 different methods based on similar principles) are different than the rhythm method, and have higher success rates.

I recommend the book Taking Charge of your Fertility by Toni Weschler (book here below) and use of a Basal Body Temperature thermometer for avoiding pregnancy without artificial hormones or uncomfortable barriers. The great thing about Fertility Awareness is that once you are ready to try to conceive, you already know how to tell which days are best for conception. Ovusoft makes a software program that goes along with the book, it makes it really easy to keep track of your cycle. I have used it for both avoiding pregnancy and trying to get pregnant.

These awesome pictures are taken from babycenter.com...check it out! Click Here

Your baby is an embryo consisting of two layers of cells from which all her organs and body parts will develop.

• 4 weeks
  
• 5 weeks
  
• 6 weeks
  
• 7 weeks

Your baby is now about the size of a kidney bean and is constantly moving. He has distinct, slightly webbed fingers.

• 8 weeks
  
• 9 weeks
  
• 10 weeks
  
• 11 weeks
  
• 12 weeks

By now your baby is about 3 inches long and weighs nearly an ounce. Her tiny, unique fingerprints are now in place.

• 13 weeks
  
• 14 weeks
  
• 15 weeks
  
• 16 weeks

Your baby is now about 5 inches long and weighs 5 ounces. His skeleton is starting to harden from rubbery cartilage to bone.

• 17 weeks
  
• 18 weeks
  
• 19 weeks
  
• 20 weeks

Eyebrows and eyelids are now in place. Your baby would now be more than 10 inches long if you stretched out her legs.

• 21 weeks
  
• 22 weeks
  
• 23 weeks
  
• 24 weeks

Your baby weighs about a pound and a half. His wrinkled skin is starting to smooth out as he puts on baby fat.

• 25 weeks
  
• 26 weeks
  
• 27 weeks
  
• 28 weeks
  
• 29 weeks

By now, your baby weighs about 3 pounds and is more than 15 inches long. She can open and close her eyes and follow a light.

• 30 weeks
  
• 31 weeks
  
• 32 weeks
  
• 33 weeks

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds. His layers of fat are filling him out, making him rounder, and his lungs are well developed.

• 34 weeks
  
• 35 weeks
  
• 36 weeks
  
• 37 weeks

The average baby is more than 19 inches long and weighs nearly 7 pounds now, but babies vary widely in size at this stage

• 38 weeks
  
• 39 weeks
  
• 40 weeks
  
• 41 weeks

What is postnatal depression?

-Postnatal depression (PND) is a sickness that happens after having a baby. It is common for women after childbirth to experience a 'low' mood. This can vary from mild 'baby blues'. It occurs in 10 to 15 per cent mothers. PND usually develops within the first month after childbirth.

What are the symptoms of PND?

The symptoms:

-Feeling 'low', 'miserable' and tearful for no reason.
-Being unable to enjoy yourself.
-Irritability
-Trouble Sleeping
-Low Appetite
-Anxiety
-Feelings that you are 'worthless' or 'hopeless'

What to do if you have PND

-Don't 'bottle things up'. Talk to somebody about how you feel. Speak to your health visitor or GP. They will be able to sort out what should be the best way of helping you with this.
-Do not fret that you will lose your baby. When mothers have PND they often think that they are poor mothers and that if they speak to somebody like their GP, they will have their baby taken away from them. This will NOT happen. What will happen is that you will get the help that you need to get rid of the PND.

Click Here

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