My Baby, My Child My Baby, My Child From pregnancy to birth, from growing up to parenting, this blog will discuss it all.
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Articles
Being a Father
2007-12-12 07:31:00 Few things have changed so radically in the last 100 years as the view of a father's role in parenting.Once, it was the Victorian view of 'rarely-seen law-giver'. Then the Freudian influenced 'not a terribly important factor' became dominant. That was gradually replaced with the 1950s 'wise breadwinner'. Then came the social revolution of the 1960s, which taught that fathers were little more than sperm donors. Now there's the contemporary, splintered view that encompasses a dozen conflicting outlooks.Sorting out a better view, therefore, will have to involve getting back to basics and asking: "What are fathers for?", "What's the effect of their presence or absence?", and "What actual influence do they have?" Complex and difficult questions, to be sure.Many broad-based studies concur on one point: kids raised without fathers have a much higher incidence of bad outcomes - poor scholastic performance, violent activities, drug use and criminal convictions.What to conclude from ... More About: Father , Fath
Active Listening Helps You Communicate With Your Kids
2007-12-10 10:38:00 A major part of good communication between parent and child is active listening. But, what is ACTIVE listening? It means not merely staring at the child while he or she talks, but actively taking in what is said and exploring its meaning.The mechanics of active listening are simple, though a parent may need to remind him or herself of them when interrupted during a busy day.Focus on the child's eyes, but keep aware of the child's posture and movements, tone, rhythm and other physical factors. Stifle - for a few moments, at least - the urge to immediately respond with a 'quick fix' or piece of advice. Often, the goal isn't problem resolution as much as simply hearing what the child has to say. Like adults, children want to be heard.With active listening a parent is positioning him or herself to carry out another important aspect of communication: echoing back what has been said. But 'echoing' doesn't mean 'parroting'. In order to truly hear, you have to engage the brain, no... More About: Kids , Communicate , Active , Listening , With You
Parenting - Through Then and Now
2007-12-10 00:32:00 In the past 40 years, roughly since the 1960s, parenting, along with dozens of other life issues has undergone a revolution in thinking. Traditional methods were questioned, in many cases rejected, and a spirit of experimentation resulted in the adoption of many alternatives.Many people during the 1960s began to believe that the restrictive, almost Victorian parenting styles of earlier generations were unsuited to a modern society. Many converging views led to that conclusion, including Dr. Spock's books and those of other influential child psychologists.The results of those 'experiments' has now been observed for the past 10-20 years and after a generation of experimentation, some have come to believe that the traditional ways were not so far off after all. The pendulum has begun to swing back to more traditional views of parenting.But are those the only alternatives? Are the only possibilities a harsh and unreasonable discipline versus a soft and mindless lack of discipline? Ma... More About: Parenting , Then , Pare
Parenting is the World's Toughest Job
2007-12-09 19:43:00 If you ask around what is the hardest job in the world, I bet most of the answers would be, parenting. The process lasts longer and need more attention than any careers that ever existed combined. It requires a larger investment, in time and money than just about any other activity. There are a lot of complex choices to make and the outcome is more uncertain. Greater patience is needed and the roller coaster of emotions steeper than any other undertaking.Pare nts have to learn, virtually from scratch, a range of new skills and they have to get it as close to right as possible even for their first time. Relatively simple diaper changing rapidly gives way to complex medical conundrums. Educating a child, both intellectually and ethically, not to mention choosing among formal education alternative, is a serious and difficult process.Dealing with divorce and single-parenthood, safety, emotional well-being and a spectrum of practical and value situations can tax the best parents. These, a... More About: Parenting
What Is an Ultrasound Test?
2007-12-08 16:37:00 There are all kind of tests out there that an expectant mother can have performed to gain information about the health of her growing fetus. Some, like amniocentesis, have been around for over 100 years. Ultrasound was introduced in the 1960s, though the early tests had limited value. Modern tests are much clearer, some even in 3D showing many kind of motions and how your baby really look like.Today, ultrasound is clear, simple, and inexpensive. Most are even covered by standard insurance plans that covers pregnancy.Also called sonography or just 'a scan', the woman's abdominal area is exposed to harmless ultra-high frequency sound waves. The echoes are then recorded and interpreted by a computer program which then projected onto a screen. The basic principle is similar to those that been used in fishing boats and submarines. Unlike X-rays ultrasound do not produces ionizing radiation, though the sound waves still carry energy. Nevertheless, the procedure is safe and painless. It... More About: Test
What to Expect During Delivery?
2007-12-08 16:34:00 Once the first stage of labor is passed, the placental sac has broken, the cervix has dilated and contractions are regular and frequent, the second stage of labor - actual delivery - begins. Of course, there's no bright line dividing the first from the second. Where one leaves off and the other begins will vary from woman to woman and birth to birth.There's a wide variation among women in many aspects of the process. The length of time is different for everyone and from child to child. The amount of pain differs. And the post-birth consequences will vary for each individual person and baby. In 75% of women who carry to term, delivery is within 12 hours. Only 2% will be in labor for more than 24 hours.During the active delivery phase contractions are frequent, though there are breaks in between. Here that training you spent so many hours to practice kicks in. Proper breathing technique differs between the resting phase and the contraction and pushing phase. Use both.Drugs are an op... More About: Expect , Delivery
What to Expect During Your First Stage of Labor?
2007-12-07 06:49:00 Once labor begins, you'll need to prepare yourself mentally for the day. For some women, especially after a first child, this is a very easy task. For others, anxiety builds and builds. The best way to relieve that tension is to find out what to expect on that golden day.During labor the cervix will dilate to about 4 cm (1.5 in) and contractions begin lasting 30 to 60 seconds about five minutes apart. This stage can last anywhere from a couple of hours to all day, so be prepared to go a little hungry. Eating during this time is not recommended.The baby's head is waiting at the inner end of the cervix.As labor progresses, cervical dilation will increase from 4 cm to about 8 cm (3 in) and the contractions will come quicker, about two minutes apart. Time to kick into mental gear and make use of that training you spent so much time to acquire and practice. Breathing properly will help oxygenate your tissues and minimize pain.The baby's head, assuming a 'normal' (not breech) birth, ... More About: Labor , Expect , Stage
Baron Trump, Ladies and Gentlemen!
2007-12-07 06:47:00 My dad is a millionaire and my mom is a model, and what does that make me? Lucky!Here I want to share a picture of baby Baron and mommy going out in style. He turned one on 20th March ago. Growing up so fast, eh? Look at that blue eyes! Isn't he cute? I just love the suit. More About: Trump , Ladies , Gentlemen , Gent
Milla Jovovich Gave Birth to a Baby Girl!
2007-12-05 10:16:00 Milla Jovovich and her fiancé welcomed their beautiful daughter baby Ever Gabo J. Anderson on 3rd November 2007. There's a story behind that unique name of hers, you know. Here is a message from Milla Jovovich herself that she posted in here website, explaining what the name means.."hey everyone! just a brief message to let you know that we have the most gorgeous little baby girl! her name is Ever Gabo J. Anderson and she was 7 pounds 8 ounces when she was born! the name Ever is a scottish boy's name, Paul has scottish blood in him (not to mention two tartans in his family!) so we wanted to give her a name that reflected her "celtic" roots, while her middle name Gabo -pronounced "Gabeau"- is a mixture of my parents names! the first two letters are after my mom's first name, Galina and the last two letters are after my dad's first name Bogie! we just got home from the hospital with her yesterday, so when i get a bit more settled i will write everyone to let you know about the wh... More About: Baby , Milla Jovovich , Girl , Birth , Milla
Look out for these danger signs during your pregnancy
2007-12-04 08:08:00 Pregnancy can be uncomfortable in many ways throughout the nine months period. But some aspects are within normal range, others can signal serious issues. Only your physician can provide you with definitive answers, but knowing some of the common risk signals can help mothers decide whether to seek professional advice. Always err on the side of caution.About two weeks after the first missed period, about half of pregnant women experience nausea. It can occur once per day or almost all day and persists (for some) throughout the first trimester. That can make it difficult to decide when a stomach condition is a serious problem, such as hypertension. Here again, err on the side of caution. Better to appear weak in the eyes of some than to risk the health of your baby.Severe pelvic or abdominal pain goes beyond what might accompany gastrointestinal upset. In the early months of pregnancy, it may be a sign of a tubal pregnancy. A 'tubal' is a condition in which the fertilized ovum atta... More About: Pregnancy , Signs , Danger
Dealing With Labour Pain
2007-12-02 11:13:00 Mothers report that few things are as painful, or as rewarding, as giving birth. How much pain, for how long and when varies enormously among individual women. But expectant women, especially when giving birth the first time, may want less pain in order to better enjoy the reward. For them, there are many choices.Most experts and women agree that the less medication taken or anesthesia given the better, both for mother and child. When used the amounts are so low that problems are very rare, but anything that enters a woman's bloodstream will affect the child during delivery. Training can help minimize the need.Preparation well before the onset of labor is the first step. Lamaze or Bradley training is helpful, in order to learn good breathing and relaxation techniques. It's difficult to focus on the process rather than the pain when you're in the moment, but training can get her part way there. Attending with a partner is particularly helpful.Some training involves learning focusi... More About: Pain , Labour
How to deal with your body changes emotionally?
2007-11-30 15:53:00 Pregnancy involves a range of issues, both physiological and emotional. Though complex, dealing with physical issues is very well understood. There are hormonal changes that have been thoroughly studied and medical technology is up to the task of maximizing the odds of a good outcome. Deal ing with the psychological issues is less straight forward, but just as important.One of those results from the simple and obvious physical change - a woman's body becomes larger and rounded as the baby increases in size. Weight gain and the space occupied produce a familiar shape. Attitudes over the centuries have evolved, with contemporary views very mixed.Among some, that change is celebrated, even venerated. It's taken as a sign of life, something to be cheered. Unfortunately, others may - while recognizing its inevitability - regard that change as, at best, a 'necessary evil' of sorts.The problem, when it is a problem, can be increased - often unwittingly - when a partner makes comments th... More About: Body , With You , Emotional
Changes during pregnancy
2007-11-27 15:24:00 Pregnancy presents a time of big changes in every dimension. There's the obvious weight gain and changing shape. Over time, it will be more difficult to maintain a regular exercise regimen of the same type as before pregnancy. Less obvious changes are taking place, too. Estrogen and progesterone levels are increasing. All those, and many more, carry both physical challenges and emotional implications. And, all this at a time when expenses are going up.Faced with all this, women have a right to be disgruntled. But many women report that being pregnant is (or was) the best time of their lives. They have many resources that can be used to lighten any burdens and others to help them celebrate the fact.For those who want to become pregnant, but haven't yet achieved their goal, there have been great advances in fertility treatments. The knowledge of the risks of those treatments has improved along with the treatments themselves.Home pregnancy tests allow women now to predict early, and ... More About: Pregnancy
What should you do when "that" pain comes
2007-11-27 15:13:00 It can be difficult to know exactly when labor begins in earnest. But some signs are unmistakable. One such occurs when your new baby's head exerts pressure on the amniotic sac and it breaks. When your 'water breaks' (the liquid isn't just water, but amniotic fluid), labor is imminent.Unfortunately, 'imminent' doesn't mean 'will occur within 10.5 hours' or any exact amount of time. The time to the beginning of regular contractions and actual delivery, can vary enormously from woman to woman and even child to child.Nevertheless, when you feel that trickle or gush of colorless fluid flow down your leg, it's time to get ready. On average, labor will begin within 12 to 24 hours later. For some, the time is much sooner.Note the time, wipe away the fluid and clean the vagina to minimize the risk of infection. Don't bathe. Look for any green or brownish fluid, the meconium, which is from your baby's bowel movement. That's an indicator of fetal stress and should be reported to ... More About: Pain
Options for Delivering Your Baby
2007-11-25 09:03:00 Some women understandably wish from time to time that a baby could be delivered by Fed Ex. After nine months of hormonal changes, carrying extra weight and reduced movement many will want to just get it over. But the race is won at the final leg and Lamaze, Bradley or other options can help carry you over to the finish line in optimal shape.Women, obviously, have been giving birth for hundreds of thousands of years. The basic process has changed little over that time. But medical knowledge has grown by leaps and bounds.During the mid-19th century that knowledge consisted of a growing set of tools and drugs to minimize pain. By the mid-20th century, though, birth was almost something that happened to a woman and her baby, rather than something they did. Contemporary knowledge can help the expectant mother take more active control of her birth and deliver with the highest chances for her baby's health.The Bradley method was devised by Dr. Robert Bradley in the 1940s. The emphasis was... More About: Baby , Options , Erin
The Pros and Cons of Caesarean Childbirth
2007-11-22 17:31:00 Vaginal childbirth, in which the new baby emerges through the uterus and vaginal opening, has been the most common method of childbirth for millennia. But Caesar ean sections which is delivery by creating an opening through the abdominal wall, has been used for centuries, too. But no matter how long each practice has been used, every new mother will wrestle with the same issues, both physical and emotional.There are many factors involved in making the difficult decision between vaginal and Caesarean delivery.The level of pain experienced isn't simply a matter of being 'tough' or committed to 'natural' childbirth. It can have an effect on the baby's well-being, too. Being in labor for hours on end, enduring painful contractions, carries risks. Stress produces hormones that the baby is exposed to, along with the mother. Contractions can produce harmful effects on the child and mother. Rectal tearing, in which the mother tears rectal tissue from straining, is a potential problem.V... More About: Cons
Nutritional tips for a healthy pregnancy
2007-11-16 08:40:00 Any expectant mother will want first and foremost to optimize her health and that of her growing baby. Proper nutrition is a major key to that effort.The amount of additional calorie intake that pregnant women need, may be a surprise. Only about 300 extra calories per day is recommended by experts. Much more than that can lead to excess weight gain, which is not healthy for mom or baby. An extra tuna fish sandwich or bagel with low-fat cream cheese can do the trick. Avoid the urge to indulge cravings.Some of those calories should come from protein, about 60 grams total per day or about 10 grams per day more than non-pregnant women. Fish, chicken and lean meats are a good source, as are dried beans, nuts and cheese. About 1 1/2 ounces of meat contains 10 grams of protein.A woman's calcium requirement goes up during pregnancy, as well. Non-pregnant women get only about 75% of the recommended amount anyway, so increasing it is a good idea for all. Milk, yogurt and cheese are common an... More About: Pregnancy , Tips , Healthy , Heal
Nicole Richie is going to be a mom soon!
2007-11-13 14:20:00 From a wild party girl to a soon-to-be mommy! Who would have thought? But I think pregnancy does agree with her because she's looking hotter than ever. There she was, looking pregnant yet very stylish. More About: Nicole Richie , Nicole , Goin , Nico
Choosing the right physician for your child birth
2007-11-12 15:15:00 Making the right choice of doctor to deliver your baby is one of the most worrisome things for any newly pregnant woman. But you can reduce that anxiety by dividing your questions into two sets. One list will involve objective factors, the other will cover issues that are not so easy to quantify.You'll want to investigate some immediate practical matters, such as whether a physician you are considering is part of your insurance company's list. You'll want to find out whether the doctor has a good relationship with the hospital you intend to use and whether that hospital accepts the same insurance coverage. As part of that research, you'll want to find out whether billing, co-pay and other issues can be handled simply.You'll want a doctor that is likely to be available when and as you need him or her. The best physician is of no use to you if they can't see you on short notice. Most pregnancies go from start to finish without a hitch, but when a doctor is needed, he or she is g... More About: Birth , Child , Physician
The role of the midwife
More articles from this author:2007-11-12 15:13:00 For centuries giving birth was strictly an affair between the pregnant woman and a midwife. Though not always present, a mid-wife would frequently aid in the birthing process. The role was often performed by an older woman who had previously experienced birth herself. She gave comfort, medical knowledge based on real experience and a second pair of hands at a critical time.With the rise of obstetrics in the 19th century, midwifery became much less common, almost disappearing from birthing practice in the U.S., except in circumstances of deep poverty or geographic isolation. In recent decades, it has risen again in a new form in which midwives are often licensed nurses with considerable traditional medical experience.Though midwifing was historically carried out in the home, modern practitioners carry out their work in hospitals almost entirely today. Many women want to have the services of a midwife, but still avail themselves of the advantages of modern medicine in a traditional ho... More About: Role 1, 2 |
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