It seems that redheads are not a popular choice in sperm banks this year – as the world’s largest sperm bank has recently stopped taking donations from men with red hair. Read the full story below:
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/09/19/worlds-biggest-sperm-bank-turning-away-redheads/
If you've just had a baby, the first month can be challenging and exhausting. The next few blogs will have a few facts and tips designed to make your transition in to parenthood a little easier.
Make sure you take a lot of pictures as your baby will be changing almost every day. You should expect some idiosyncrasies in his or her appearance though. Here are some things to note, and not to worry about it. Your baby’s skin may be dry and flaky, and have a rash or two. Both baby girls and baby boys may have swollen breast tissue due to hormone levels after birth. His or her eyes may be bloodshot and/or swollen, and you may know he or she crosses his or her eyes occasionally. And, lastly, do not be concerned about lumps on his or her head, which tend to happen during birth.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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