Timeline of a Healthy Pregnancy-Infographic

I really like infographics. They're pictures that can teach something in an interesting and visual way, which is very helpful for people with attention span problems like me. If you're in the same boat and are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, here's a useful outline of what a healthy pregnancy should be like.
http://dailyinfographic.com/the-path-to-a-healthy-pregnancy-infographic
The Path To A Healthy Pregnancy


Here are some parts I found particularly interesting.


-Stay away from kitty litter boxes. Used cat litter can cause a syndrome called toxoplasmosis, a disorder that can result in birth defects. You can read more about it here http://www.momsnewbaby.com/2012/01/what-is-toxoplasmosis-and-can-your-baby.html

-Talk about genetic counseling. This isn't necessarily a "must", but many parents who are concerned about passing medical conditions or other traits down to their children-either directly or simply by virtue of race or ethnic group-might want to have some sort of test done so they'll be prepared if the child does indeed have the trait. There are also chromosomal disorders like Down Syndrome of Tay-sachs that aren't directly inherited but can still be very difficult to live with or, in the case of the latter, fatal. Like I said, this isn't a “must”, but it might put your mind at ease. For more information, check out http://kidshealth.org/parent/system/medical/genetic_counseling.html



-Save cord blood. This is another thing that isn't a “must” but could be beneficial down the line. The blood in the umbilical cord contains stem cells that can turn into other types of cells and be useful if your child gets hurt or sick and needs them. They are also good to help other family members. The problem some have with this is that a) the chance that the blood will every be used are pretty low, and b) it can be very expensive. You can read more about this here http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/features/banking-your-babys-cord-blood

-Have amniocentesis if you are over 35. This test would be done for the same reason as genetic counseling-to assess the chances of birth defects. They're usually offered to women over 35 because we have a higher risk of birth defects such as Down Syndrome, but it's not a requirement. You can read more about the test here http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/stages/amniocentesis/prenatal-testing-amniocentesis/.



Enjoy!

Baby Word Scramble For Kids

Do your kids like word games? This is something you could print out and give to your child to keep her occupied during car rides or visits.

Just for fun, unscramble these words relating to babies and pregnancy.

1. pnalype              _ _ _ _ _ _ _
2. dupreial              _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
3. brihcildht           _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
4. fiacrpei               _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
5. pardies               _ _ _ _ _ _ _
6. borla                   _ _ _ _ _
7. rotlrlse                _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
8. pidtoaon             _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
9. gniehtet              _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
10. cypnergna           _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
11. trienue                _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 
    
12. rogmonsa           _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
13. bonwnre             _ _ _ _ _ _ _
14. nosimcrciuci     _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Answers: playpen, epidural, childbirth, pacifier, diapers, labor, stroller, adoption, teething, pregnancy, uterine, sonogram, newborn, circumcision

Detecting Autism In A Baby?

No parent ever wants to hear that there may be something wrong with their child. Sometimes we're over-vigilant and see problems that aren't really there but, unfortunately, sometimes our worst fears are confirmed when the doctor tells you that there *is* a problem to be dealt with. I'll admit I don't have any experience with autism, but millions of parents are perplexed as to how they can detect and treat such a problem in their children early on. There are so many variables that it can be very difficult to differentiate autism from some other disorder, particularly in very young children. However, doctors have developed a system that may be able to detect autism during infancy. Here's an ABC news segment about it:

http://autismawarenesspage.com/detecing-autism-in-the-eyes-of-your-baby/

The test works under the assumption that autistic children don't look people in the eye. Basically, it attempts to follow the child's gaze as it watches a television puppet show. The children whose eyes divert from the TV host's face the most often have been found to have a stronger tendency toward autism than other children. It's not a certainty that the child will develop autism, but these children have had higher instances of showing up on the autistic spectrum.

As the doctor said, it's not a fail-safe system; while it's been pretty accurate so far, there's still a lot of research to be done. Hopefully, though, this will give parents the early “heads up” that can help them learn how to deal with an autistic child.

Things To Think Of When Having A Baby Part 2

(continued from previous post)

 

4-What effect will it have on your health? For some of us, this is a very real consideration. For instance, there's a good chance that I would not be able to take some of the medications I am currently on if I were to get pregnant. This might not be a problem, but there's no way to tell that beforehand. For this reason (among others), I think I'd prefer to adopt. My husband is on board with this in theory, but we know that there are going to be a lot of other things to think about in addition to what I've mentioned above. Things like adoption-specific costs, age of the child and whether we will be able to meet any special needs the child may have are very important considerations.

Also, some parents have medical conditions that they are concerned about passing onto their children. Only their doctor can guide them about this, but it has factored into the decisions of some people I know to adopt as opposed to having a baby.

If you do get pregnant, will you be able to carry the baby to term? People with certain medical conditions or prior injuries may need to have the baby taken early by C-section if there's a reason natural childbirth wouldn't work well.

-Do you have a good support system? Even if one of you staying home with the baby, you're going to need a babysitter or someone to help you with errands when things get to be too much for you and your partner. Are there people around who can help you? If you're planning on going back to work, who will care for your child?

Hopefully now you have an idea of what things you should consider before having a child. I'm writing this just as much for myself as I am for you; I'm not a parent myself, but I've seen a lot of people have children before they're really ready to. While some say that if you wait for the “right time” to have a child you never will, it's important to consider the impact a child will have on your life and vice versa. Good luck!

Things To Think Of Before Having A Baby Part 1

For the past few months, I have been seriously thinking about having a child. My husband is on board with the idea of kids in theory, but there are still a lot of details to work out. If you're in the same boat or just want to make sure you know what you're getting into, here are some questions to ask yourself before getting pregnant or adopting.

1-Are you having a child because you want one, or to please someone else? Some people feel as though they “should” have kids by a certain age or have parents who keep pushing them to procreate. Also, are you trying to “fix” a problem in your life by having a baby? Trust me, having a child is not a way to repair an ailing relationship. While it is possible that someone will settle down and “grow up” when a baby is coming-it happened with my nephew and my friend's boyfriend-, you shouldn't count on that. If your relationship is having problems, best to work on them before you have a baby. Otherwise, it will be three (or more!) lives affected by a breakup.

2-Can you afford it? I can't imagine anyone saying that having children is cheap, but many of us don't realize exactly how much things can cost until the time comes. This is especially true for teenage mothers still living at home and have not had to make their own way. Think about daily expenses, as well as one- or maybe two-time purchases (car seats, cribs, furnishing a nursery, if you need a different car, etc). This is especially important if you plan to take time off from work; some employers will give you paid time off, but FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) is usually unpaid. FMLA basically means that your employer has to hold onto your position for up to 12 months after you have a family event, but that doesn't always kick in right away; depending on the company, you might have to have worked there for a year or so before being eligible. They may extend it to you out of courtesy, but they don't have to. Inquire about your employer's policies and keep them in mind if you intend to return to work.

3-What effect will it have on your other children? This isn't to say you should ask “permission” so much as to consider whether you and your partner will be able to handle an extra child. Can you deal with two children in diapers at a time, or do you want to wait until your older child is potty-trained before you have another? Will you be able to give the older child the attention s/he needs? It's not uncommon for a child to start 'acting out' to get attention or to have other problems, so it helps to consider whether or not you and/or your partner will be spread too thin.

(continued in next post)

Things to do before the baby arrives part 2

(continued)

 

Choose a pediatrician if you don't already have one. Your obstetrician might double as one but, if she doesn't, ask for recommendations. Also, bone up on what your insurance covers and what it doesn't so you don't end up paying more than you can afford. Your budget is going to be stretched enough as it is! I've had doctors figure out ways to get me care I couldn't afford otherwise-giving me samples of medications, doing a procedure in their office as opposed to an outpatient testing facility, etc. I'm not saying to try to ask your doctor to violate her ethics or get around the law, but many physicians have connections that can save you a lot of time and trouble.

If you're breastfeeding, you might want to learn how to use a breast pump or look into classes or lactation consultants. Many hospitals have them available before and after the birth.

Do what you can to prepare the rest of the family for the new arrival. I'm not talking about the type of mental preparation that starts long before your due date (although this is very important too) so much as making the rest of your household aware of what should and shouldn't be done with and around a baby. Little children might not realize that playing too roughly with a new baby could hurt them. They'll need to know what the baby can and can't eat/wear/play with/etc. Also, sometimes older siblings will resent the baby for taking attention away from them. If they know why the attention is needed, it might make it easier for them to adjust.

Some people will immediately start trying to get their children into the best preschools and kindergartens before the baby even learns to crawl. While I'm not sure this is necessary, it does help to start vetting nannies and day care centers. The process of finding and procuring the right one can take a while.

Let others know what sort of help you need. When I had hip surgery last year, a lot of people from my church did things like bring food, lend or buy various home supplies, drive me places and stay with me so I wouldn't be alone so much. These things were extremely helpful, especially since my family lives eight hours away. In addition to feedings and diaper changes, you're probably going to need someone to run errands, clean house or babysit your other children while you get some much-needed sleep!

Stock up on diapers, wipes, formula etc. You'll always want to have a good supply of these on hand. A lot of people bring these things to baby showers in addition to their gift, so that will help.

I hope I've been able to help. Congrats again on the baby!

Things to do before the baby arrives part 1

You're pregnant! Congratulations! You've probably got a million things going through your mind. Where is the baby going to sleep? To breastfeed or not? How can I get rid of these awful stretch marks? Should I start looking into colleges and modeling agencies? I can't help you with the last one, but here are a few basic things to do before your baby arrives.

Make sure the pantry and freezer are stocked. You might want to find some recipes you can make and freeze for those days when you're too exhausted to cook. From what I've heard, that's every day! Get plenty of “hand-foods” such as fruits, cereal bars and bottled drinks because there's a good chance that at least one of your hands will be occupied at any given point in time.

Learn what you can about babies in general. You're definitely going to get a lot of advice from all sides, some of which doesn't apply to your child. It helps to find one or two people in addition to your doctor you can go to with any questions, as well as asking for recommendations of helpful books or websites.

Baby-proof the house. Invest in covers for all power outlets, gates for the doors and stairs and safety latches for the cabinets. Keep all cords out of reach and put blunt padding on any sharp corners. It might seem too early to think of things like this, but time with babies passes very quickly! Also, my friend found baby gates helpful for keeping the dog out of the baby's room.

Buy and install a car seat. Do not use a car seat that has already been in an accident because it will not be as effective. Get a new rear-facing seat and learn how to properly install it in the backseat of your car. NEVER install a rear-facing seat in the front.

On a similar tip, start seeking out new cribs, mattresses and changing tables. Hand-me-downs are not recommended for these either. Get the baby's room ready ahead of time.

If you don't already have them, start getting clothing of various sizes. Hand-me-downs are usually fine. I suggest not getting a whole lot of things in “newborn” sizes because of how fast babies grow. Also, remember that the sizes of baby clothes are usually inaccurate-a lot of 6-month-olds are in 9-month clothes, 9-month-olds in 12-month clothes, etc. Don't feel you have to spend a lot of money on J. Crew or Baby Gap clothes to impress anyone because babies don't do much other than sleep anyway.