Making your baby laugh is not only fun – it’s cute, and healthy! Try a few of these things to keep your baby smiling and giggling. First, play patty-cake. Baby will enjoy it because he or she is copying you. The same thing works for any “goofy” activity – act like a monkey, prance around like a horse, put a shoe on your head. Babies will also react with laughter to odd sounds like a cat meowing – try making some funny noises and see what happens. As your baby gets older, you will find they begin to do things to you to make you laugh: feed you instead, tickle you, etc. It’s important that you indulge these tricks, and even encourage them. After all, laughter is a tension-reliever.
August 2011
08/26/2011
Budget Ideas
Here are some great ways to save money with a new baby around the house.
1. Don’t pay full price for baby clothes – online discount sites such as http://www.mamabargains.com are 60 to 70 percent off. Also, look for hand-me-downs from friends who aren’t having any more children.
2. Tear baby wipes in half vertically. For a newborn, it’s all you need.
3. Start a babysitting co-op with friends to split the price.
4. Look for hand-me-down strollers, car seats, etc. You can always buy a new cover for your stroller, and cut your cost significantly.
5. Coupons!
6. To decorate the baby’s room, frame art and drawings from cousins and friends. This is cost-effective and colorful.
7. Buy diapers in bulk, especially in the first year.
8. Make your own baby food.
9. Don’t be afraid to borrow items such as clothing, car seats and strollers. Your baby will soon grow out of all of these things.
10. Ignore marketing. You don’t need everything!
New Baby Lifestyle Tips
Having a baby means things in your life are about to change – rather dramatically. There are three things to make sure you are aware of before baby comes. The first is that you will have an increase in your budget. Having a baby costs money, and you have to prepare for everything from diapers, to baby food to clothing and healthcare. Second, if you are raising the baby with a partner, it is important to clarify each partner’s role in raising the baby. Who will change him or her? Who bathes, watches him or her, etc.? Talking about this well before baby arrives is important. And, last, remember that you will have a whole new schedule as soon as the baby arrives. Make sure to set aside one or two hours of the day for yourself – and stick to it.
08/25/2011
Risk Factor: Weight Not Age
Often, doctors say that any pregnancy over age 35 is a “high risk” one – but recent studies show that the highest risks pregnancies are not related to age. Instead, weight is the most important factor. This past March, British researchers demonstrated that overweight moms-to-be put their unborn child in harm’s way. Maternal obesity has more than doubled over the past 20 years, and it is an often un-addressed problem. In fact, many birthing centers have had to purchase new, larger equipment to handle the special needs of obese pregnant women. Major risks of obesity include infertility, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsisa and a variety of birth defects.
If you are considering getting pregnant, talk to your doctor about a healthy weight to keep both you and your baby healthy.
United States Birth Rate Declines Overall – but Increases for Older Women
Birth rates in the United States declined by an average of four percent between 2007 and 2009, reaching 66.7 births per 1,000 women ages 15 to 44, according to the latest federal report from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics. This is the largest decrease in 30 years.
Though the CDC report does not link the decline to the economic recession, other studies have. Birth rates dropped most in the West and Southeast, among Hispanic women and young women.
Older women are bucking the national trend. Birth rates for women ages 40 to 44 increased six percent to reach 10.1 per 1,000 women. Improved IVF techniques are the most likely reason for this increase.
Single Embryo IVF News
England’s The Guardian recently reported that women who have one embryo transferred during IVF treatment are five times more likely to give birth to a healthy baby. Those who have two embryos may be more likely to get pregnant, but have a greater risk of delivering a premature or low-weight baby.
Read the full story and research data at http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/behind-the-headlines-archive/single-embryo-ivf-best-for-healthier-baby/5023646.article.
08/23/2011
The Pill and Getting Pregnant
Many women who are ready to begin a family have to stop taking birth control pills as a first step. Most women begin ovulating immediately after they stop taking the pill. For some women, however, it can take a few months for your body to readjust and reset its natural menstrual cycle.
If you have been taking the pill and want to get pregnant, I suggest picking the date you want to start trying to get pregnant, and stop taking the pill 2-3 months prior to that date. You can then use a barrier method such as a condom for birth control (just in case!) until the date you are ready to start trying.
Worried About Postpartum?
Postpartum depression can strike mothers who have never dealt with depression in their lives – in fact 70 to 80 percent of women report feeling very sad 2-3 days after birth. Here are a few risk factors to look out for prior to having your baby. You may be at a great risk for postpartum if your pregnancy is unplanned, if you are having relationship problems, your finances are rocky – or if you lack support for your pregnancy. Other risk factors including being a perfectionist, you’ve gone through a stressful life event, or are making a major job change. For more details on these risk factors, and how to reduce the chance of postpartum happening to you, visit http://www.fitpregnancy.com/motherhood/health/out-blue.
08/22/2011
Help Your Newborn Sleep
If you have a newborn, you know all about not sleeping! If you can get your baby to sleep, this means you get to sleep some as well. My first baby always had a hard time going to sleep, so I picked up a few tips to help him get better (and longer) sleep. Here’s what worked for me.
Get a crib that swings. Studies show that a swinging cradle soothes babies. Try rocking the cradle for a few minutes right after you put him or her down for the night.
White noise. It works for adults, why not babies? Pick up a white noise machine, and try a variety of sounds from wind, to rain, to a simple fan noise.
Routine. This is a key element. Establish a routine. If bedtime is 8:00 p.m., stick to it. Babies love patterns as much as we do.
Sleep Together. Though not everyone agrees on this, it may be worth a try. It’s also less disturbing for night-time breast feeding.
Make Sure Baby is Clean and Fed. Don’t give the baby any reason to be uncomfortable. Make sure he or she has a full belly, and a clean diaper.
The Best Car Seats
As your due date approaches, a safe and comfortable car seat is high on the “things to purchase” list. There is always new information on what seat is best, and which is safest. I encourage you to do your research fully before purchasing. It can be challenging, and a little overwhelming, to pick the right one. I’ve done a lot of research and feel these three seats are the best options. You cannot go wrong with any of the seats below:
1. The True Fit Recline Convertible Seat by Urban Life http://www.thefirstyears.com/Convertible-Car-Seats/True-Fit-Recline-Urban-Life
2. The Graco Smart Seat All-in-One http://www.gracobaby.com/Products/Pages/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=1770991
3. The Sunshine Kids Radian XTSL http://www.skjp.com/country_selector.php
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