HealthyBabyNetwork.com Blog http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com A place to discuss pregnancy, birth experience and motherhood Wed, 09 May 2012 17:48:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 A Special Mother’s Day Request http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/2012/05/09/a-special-mothers-day-request/ http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/2012/05/09/a-special-mothers-day-request/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 17:48:44 +0000 admin http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/?p=605 . . . → Read More: A Special Mother’s Day Request]]>

We are supporting The Feminist Breeder’s Mother’s Day campaign to help get life-saving birth kits to women around the world.
We would like you to join us.
According to The Birthing Kit Foundation, “Every 90 seconds, a woman dies of complications related to pregnancy and childbirth …many from infections acquired during childbirth”.
You can help by  providing a “birthing kit” so that the women obtain necessary items to help ensure a healthier outcome for mom and baby. The birthing kit addresses the “7 cleans needed for a safe delivery.” The kits are basic with 6 items. A plastic sheet, soap, 2 gloves, sterile scalpel blade, 3 cords and 5 gauze squares. A simple kit that can save the life of a mother and her child.
Originally the campaign goal was to raise $300 but on Tuesday the post was updated and The Feminist Breeder had surpassed her goal. Now a new goal has been set and we are contributing $15 for every $100 in donations above the original goal. The best part is that only $10 can buy three Birthing Kits so for a small amount of money, you truly can make a hugeWe are supporting The Feminist Breeder’s Mother’s Day campaign to help get life-saving birth kits to women around the world.
We would like you to join us.
According to The Birthing Kit Foundation, “Every 90 seconds, a woman dies of complications related to pregnancy and childbirth …many from infections acquired during childbirth”.
You can help by  providing a “birthing kit” so that the women obtain necessary items to help ensure a healthier outcome for mom and baby. The birthing kit addresses the “7 cleans needed for a safe delivery.” The kits are basic with 6 items. A plastic sheet, soap, 2 gloves, sterile scalpel blade, 3 cords and 5 gauze squares. A simple kit that can save the life of a mother and her child.
Originally the campaign goal was to raise $300 but on Tuesday the post was updated and The Feminist Breeder had surpassed her goal. Now a new goal has been set and we are contributing $15 for every $100 in donations above the original goal. The best part is that only $10 can buy three Birthing Kits so for a small amount of money, you truly can make a huge difference.
Please join us and help The Feminist Breeder reach a new goal of $1000. difference.
Please join us and help The Feminist Breeder reach a new goal of $1000.

We are supporting The Feminist Breeder’s Mother’s Day Campaign to help get life-saving birth kits to women around the world.AfricaBaby

We would like you to join us.

According to The Birthing Kit Foundation, “Every 90 seconds, a woman dies of complications related to pregnancy and childbirth …many from infections acquired during childbirth”.  This is especially shocking when so little is needed to change these statistics.

Some facts from the Birthing Kit Foundation website:

  • Papua New Guinea was the very first country that received our kits in 1999. The need was great and the impact from the first 100 kits showed that at least anecdotally there was a significant reduction in maternal deaths.
  • In Kenya 70% of women deliver at home and traditional birth attendants have no access to materials
  • Ethiopia is a country of 80 million people in Sub Saharan Africa where 2.75 million women become pregnant every year and 93% deliver in the home. The issue of unhygienic births is of particular concern in remote areas where there are high rates of poverty.
  • Afghanistan has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, estimated at 1900/100,000 live births, and a lifetime risk of maternal death is approximately 1:9.

You can help by  providing a “birthing kit” so that the women obtain necessary items to help ensure a healthier outcome for mom and baby. The birthing kit addresses the “7 cleans needed for a safe delivery.” The kits are basic with 6 items. A plastic sheet, soap, 2 gloves, sterile scalpel blade, 3 cords and 5 gauze squares. A simple kit that can save the life of a mother and her child.

Originally the campaign goal was to raise $300 but on Tuesday the post was updated and The Feminist Breeder had surpassed her goal. Now a new goal has been set and we (HealthyBabyNetwork.com) are contributing $15 for every $100 in donations above the original goal. The best part is that only $10 can buy three Birthing Kits so for a small amount of money, you truly can make a huge difference.

Please join us and help The Feminist Breeder reach a new goal of $1000. Donate here. Thank you for your kindness, compassion and generosity.

]]> http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/2012/05/09/a-special-mothers-day-request/feed/ 0 The Volcano Effect: Why Skipping a Nap Results in Meltdown http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/2012/04/18/the-volcano-effect-why-skipping-a-nap-results-in-meltdown/ http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/2012/04/18/the-volcano-effect-why-skipping-a-nap-results-in-meltdown/#comments Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:31:25 +0000 admin http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/?p=594 By Elizabeth Pantley, Author of The No-Cry Nap Solution

From the moment your child wakes in the morning he is slowly using up the benefits of the previous night’s sleep. He wakes up totally refreshed, but as the hours pass, littleby little, the benefits of his sleep time are used up, and an urge to to sleep . . . → Read More: The Volcano Effect: Why Skipping a Nap Results in Meltdown]]>

By Elizabeth Pantley, Author of The No-Cry Nap Solution

newbabe
From the moment your child wakes in the morning he is slowly using up the benefits of the previous night’s sleep. He wakes up totally refreshed, but as the hours pass, littleby little, the benefits of his sleep time are used up, and an urge to to sleep begins to build. When we catch a child at in-between stages and provide naps, we build up his reservoir of sleep-related benefits, allowing him a “fresh start” after each sleep period.
As shown on the sleep chart below, as children age, the length of time that they can stay “happily awake” increases. A newborn can only be awake one or two hours before tiredness sets in, whereas a two year old can last five to seven hours before craving some down time for a nap. When children are pushed beyond their biological awake time span without a break that’s when they become fatigued, fussy and unhappy.rn to sleep begins to build. When we catch a child at in-between stages and provide naps, we build up his reservoir of sleep-related benefits, allowing him a “fresh start” after each sleep period.
Age “Happily Awake” span of time between naps
Newborn 1 – 2 hours
6 month old 2 – 3 hours
12 month old 3 – 4 hours
18 month old 4 – 6 hours
2 year old 5 – 7 hours
3 year old 6 – 8 hours
4 year old 6 – 12 hours
As the day progresses, and the sleep pressure builds, a child becomes fussier, whinier, and less flexible. He has more crying spells, more tantrums, and less patience. He loses concentration and the ability to learn and retain new information. The scientific term for this process is “homeostatic sleep pressure” or “homeostatic sleep drive” . . .  I call it The Volcano Effect. We’ve all seen the effects of this on a baby or child, as it is often as clear as watching a volcano erupt; nearly everyone has observed a fussy child and thought or said, “Someone needs a nap!”
As a child progresses through his day, his biology demands a sleep break to regroup, refresh and repair. If a child does not get this break the problem intensifies: the rumblings and tremors become an outright explosion. Without a nap break, the homeostatic pressure continues building until the end of the day, growing in intensity – like a volcano – so that a child becomes overtired, wired and unable to stop the explosion. The result is an intense bedtime battle with a cranky, overtired child, or an infant who won’t fall asleep no matter how tired you know he is.
Even more, a child who misses naps day after day builds a sleep deprivation that launches her into the volcano stage much easier and quicker. If she is missing naps and also lacking the right quality or quantity of nighttime sleep…watch out!
Newborns and young babies have a much shorter span in which their sleep pressure builds. They rapidly reach the peak of their volcano in one to three hours. This is why newborns sleep throughout the day, and why young babies require two or three or four daily naps. Over time, as a baby’s sleep cycle matures he will be able to go longer periods between sleeps. It is not until age 4 or 5 that a child is able to go happily through the entire day without a nap, and sleep research suggests that even through adulthood a mid-day nap or rest break is extremely beneficial in reducing the pressure in all human beings.
The Volcano Effect is not something reserved only for children! This biological process affects adults as well. Understanding this can help you interpret what is really going on in your home at the end of a long day, when children are fussy and parents are grumpy – resulting in a whole mountain range of volcanoes.
Sleep pressure can be exaggerated by environmental issues such as the previous poor night’s sleep, on-going sleep deprivation, or daily stress. What’s more, each person’s moodiness feeds off the others, causing contagious crankiness. And then you’ll find yourself losing patience and saying to your child, “I’m sorry, honey. Mommy’s just tired right now.” (This is a very telling explanation we don’t often stop to analyze.)
This Volcano concept brings to light one more important point: Quality naps can make up for lost night sleep – but extra nighttime sleep does not make up for missed naps, due to the homeostatic sleep pressure concept. Therefore, no matter how your child sleeps at night – great sleeper or poor sleeper — his daily naps are critically important to release the rising sleep pressure.

From the moment your child wakes in the morning he is slowly using up the benefits of the previous night’s sleep. He wakes up totally refreshed, but as the hours pass, littleby little, the benefits of his sleep time are used up, and an urge to to sleep begins to build. When we catch a child at in-between stages and provide naps, we build up his reservoir of sleep-related benefits, allowing him a “fresh start” after each sleep period.

As shown on the sleep chart below, as children age, the length of time that they can stay “happily awake” increases. A newborn can only be awake one or two hours before tiredness sets in, whereas a two year old can last five to seven hours before craving some down time for a nap. When children are pushed beyond their biological awake time span without a break that’s when they become fatigued, fussy and unhappy.rn to sleep begins to build. When we catch a child at in-between stages and provide naps, we build up his reservoir of sleep-related benefits, allowing him a “fresh start” after each sleep period.

Age “Happily Awake” span of time between naps

Newborn 1 – 2 hours

6 month old 2 – 3 hours

12 month old 3 – 4 hours

18 month old 4 – 6 hours

2 year old 5 – 7 hours

3 year old 6 – 8 hours

4 year old 6 – 12 hours

As the day progresses, and the sleep pressure builds, a child becomes fussier, whinier, and less flexible. He has more crying spells, more tantrums, and less patience. He loses concentration and the ability to learn and retain new information. The scientific term for this process is “homeostatic sleep pressure” or “homeostatic sleep drive” . . .  I call it The Volcano Effect. We’ve all seen the effects of this on a baby or child, as it is often as clear as watching a volcano erupt; nearly everyone has observed a fussy child and thought or said, “Someone needs a nap!”

As a child progresses through his day, his biology demands a sleep break to regroup, refresh and repair. If a child does not get this break the problem intensifies: the rumblings and tremors become an outright explosion. Without a nap break, the homeostatic pressure continues building until the end of the day, growing in intensity – like a volcano – so that a child becomes overtired, wired and unable to stop the explosion. The result is an intense bedtime battle with a cranky, overtired child, or an infant who won’t fall asleep no matter how tired you know he is.

Even more, a child who misses naps day after day builds a sleep deprivation that launches her into the volcano stage much easier and quicker. If she is missing naps and also lacking the right quality or quantity of nighttime sleep…watch out!

Newborns and young babies have a much shorter span in which their sleep pressure builds. They rapidly reach the peak of their volcano in one to three hours. This is why newborns sleep throughout the day, and why young babies require two or three or four daily naps. Over time, as a baby’s sleep cycle matures he will be able to go longer periods between sleeps. It is not until age 4 or 5 that a child is able to go happily through the entire day without a nap, and sleep research suggests that even through adulthood a mid-day nap or rest break is extremely beneficial in reducing the pressure in all human beings.

The Volcano Effect is not something reserved only for children! This biological process affects adults as well. Understanding this can help you interpret what is really going on in your home at the end of a long day, when children are fussy and parents are grumpy – resulting in a whole mountain range of volcanoes.

Sleep pressure can be exaggerated by environmental issues such as the previous poor night’s sleep, on-going sleep deprivation, or daily stress. What’s more, each person’s moodiness feeds off the others, causing contagious crankiness. And then you’ll find yourself losing patience and saying to your child, “I’m sorry, honey. Mommy’s just tired right now.” (This is a very telling explanation we don’t often stop to analyze.)

This Volcano concept brings to light one more important point: Quality naps can make up for lost night sleep – but extra nighttime sleep does not make up for missed naps, due to the homeostatic sleep pressure concept. Therefore, no matter how your child sleeps at night – great sleeper or poor sleeper — his daily naps are critically important to release the rising sleep pressure.

~~~~~

From The No-Cry Nap Solution: Guaranteed Gentle Ways to Solve All Your Naptime Problems by Elizabeth Pantley (McGraw-Hill, January 2009). Here is the link for information and more excerpts: http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth/

]]> http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/2012/04/18/the-volcano-effect-why-skipping-a-nap-results-in-meltdown/feed/ 0 Men and Birth: a Vancouver Doula’s Perspective http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/2012/01/22/men-and-birth-a-vancouver-doula%e2%80%99s-perspective/ http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/2012/01/22/men-and-birth-a-vancouver-doula%e2%80%99s-perspective/#comments Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:49:24 +0000 admin http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/?p=578 A guest post byJessica Austin – Vancouver Doula

Feeling supported, safe, and taken care of is key to having a positive birth experience. The biggest enemies of birth are fear and anxiety, which decrease mom’s ability to cope with the pain or discomfort of contractions, and can actually slow or halt the birth process altogether. You can . . . → Read More: Men and Birth: a Vancouver Doula’s Perspective]]>

A guest post byJessica Austin – Vancouver Doula

Feeling supported, safe, and taken care of is key to having a positive birth experience. The biggest enemies of birth are fear and anxiety, which decrease mom’s ability to cope with the pain or discomfort of contractions, and can actually slow or halt the birth process altogether. You can read more about why birth support is important in my article, How Good Birth Support Leads To Better Births.

As a birth doula here in Vancouver, I find it fascinating to watch the interaction between couples during childbirth. It is more intuitive for some men than others to fall smoothly into a supportive role during the intensity of birth. Birth is challenging, and it can be difficult for men to watch the mother of their unborn child working hard, sometimes feeling helpless to contribute. Furthermore, no one really teaches them how they can help.

Thankfully, in Vancouver at least,  gone are the days when the father was not allowed into the hospital birth room at all. It is great that we are birthing in a time when men are being allowed and expected to participate in birth. (Note: This isn’t true everywhere in Canada. A recent study was released showing some hospitals in Canada had been decreasing their encouragement of men and other labour support people in hospitals).Copyright Jessica Austin

The problem is, providing nurturing support during birth is a new role for men, and it can be difficult for them to know how to best fill this role. On top of that, our culture barely talks to women about birth, never mind men! In the more recent past, men were only involved in birth as medical authority figures. Now that men are able and often expected to be mom’s primary support during birth, it’s important to help them figure out how.

Dr. Michel Odent, a popular obstetrician who has done a lot of research on birth, is well known for his position on the presence of men at birth. His position is that men do not belong at birth at all. He believes that having men at birth increases mom’s anxiety and contributes to longer, more  difficult labours. His article, A Top Obstetrician on Why Men Should Never Be At The Birth Of Their Child, stirred up a lot of controversy on the matter.

I do believe women are more intuitively able to provide positive, calming birth support to other women during labour than men are (this is why so many women, even if they have supportive partners, choose to have a professional doula support them during birth). And I also believe Dr. Odent makes some good points in his article about men sometimes contributing to higher stress levels and therefore more difficult births.

However, I think the problem lies in a lack of resources targeted to men about birth. A woman who has a solid, communicative and supportive relationship with her partner will often find great comfort in having him at her birth, especially if he has a basic understanding of what a woman’s needs are during birth and he wants to participate. In fact, a Canadian study was released recently which showed that the presence of partners (men) in the birth room resulted in better birth outcomes and more positive  experiences for moms.

For men to participate in birth in a positive way, they need to understand and embrace two key points:

1. Birth is for women. Really, fellas, birth is the one area where only the woman matters. It’s simply a fact! When it comes to men and birth, you are important in the sense that you have the potential of being an amazing birth support person for mom and helping her have a more comfortable and positive birth experience. You are important in the sense that the journey into parenthood is one you are making together, and you will be important in your role as father once your child is born. But during the birth process, the choices, needs and desires belong to mom. If you embrace that and remember you are there to support her and her needs at all times, rather than wanting to contribute with your own well-intentioned desires and visions, mom will feel much more powerful. And she needs that power to birth your child with strength and confidence.

2. A calm birth is a good birth.As I mentioned above, stress is the enemy of labour. Mom needs to feel safe and calm at all times for birth to progress with its natural flow. The people in her birth space also need to exude calmness and confidence in her and the birth process. Men need to be able to really trust in birth, trust birth is normal and natural, and truly believe mom is capable of birthing your baby (she is!). Mom will feel it if you don’t, and it will contribute to increased stress and anxiety for her. Fears and anxiety about birth are normal, especially for men. It’s okay to ask for support, or bring on a doula to help make sure everyone feels calm and supported throughout the birth.

Our birth culture is shifting more to accepting the presence of men at birth as support people. As a result, men are needing explore ways to contribute to birth in a positive way, avoiding the potential negative impact attributed to them by Michel Odent.

There are limited resources available for men and birth. I think it is important to make resources and information available to men who plan to participate in birth. This means more than just having men tag along to prenatal classes and try to read a pregnancy book or two. This means providing access to information that speaks to men about birth in a way they can relate to, in a way that allows them to draw on their masculine traits to provide nurturing and trusting support to women during birth.

Birth Takes a Village offers a Prenatal Workshop for Dads once monthly in Vancouver, BC. The workshop focuses on how men can contribute to birth in practical and helpful ways. Men seem to like tasks, clear guidelines for “what to do”, “how to solve x problem”. Having a clear and concrete set of techniques to use during birth helps men stay confident and calm, and allows mom to feel supported and comforted during birth.

…

Jessica Austin – Vancouver Doula. Promoting gentle and informed birth culture.

For more information on the Prenatal Workshop, contact Birth Takes a Village  at 604-700-4115.

]]> http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/2012/01/22/men-and-birth-a-vancouver-doula%e2%80%99s-perspective/feed/ 0 Are You Having a Baby in 2012? http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/2012/01/09/are-you-having-a-baby-in-2012/ http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/2012/01/09/are-you-having-a-baby-in-2012/#comments Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:54:45 +0000 admin http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/?p=571 Happy New Year! For all the new visitors to our sites, I just wanted to let you know a little more about us.

HealthyBabyNetwork.com is a network of sites that include helpful articles about pregnancy, birth and newborn care. We like to share products that are environmentally friendly and healthier alternatives for mom and baby.  We also offer many free downloads and . . . → Read More: Are You Having a Baby in 2012?]]>

Happy New Year! For all the new visitors to our sites, I just wanted to let you know a little more about us.

HealthyBabyNetwork.com is a network of sites that include helpful articles about pregnancy, birth and newborn care. We like to share products that are environmentally friendly and healthier alternatives for mom and baby.  hny2We also offer many free downloads and services for women trying to conceive or those preparing for labor and delivery.

Our Ovulation Calendar is easy to use and will provide personalized monthly calendars to let you know when you are most fertile — giving you the best chance of conception.

Print out our Birth Plan and hospital bag checklist to make sure you have a good start on planning for the big day.

If your business is related to birth, eco-products for mom and baby or you have a blog or book that you feel would be of interest to our visitors, please contact us. We are happy to help those with a similar mission as ours — “Helping moms have the best birth experience possible“

]]> http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/2012/01/09/are-you-having-a-baby-in-2012/feed/ 0 10 Reasons Why Baby #3 is Easier http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/2011/02/16/10-reasons-why-baby-3-is-easier/ http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/2011/02/16/10-reasons-why-baby-3-is-easier/#comments Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:31:14 +0000 admin http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/?p=560 When you are pregnant with #3 you think about how you could possibly manage caring for THREE kids when two can be overwhelming. You try to imagine who this little person will be and if their personality, appearance, temperament will be like the others.

Then you meet them.

You can’t imagine #3 being any more amazing than . . . → Read More: 10 Reasons Why Baby #3 is Easier]]>

When you are pregnant with #3 you think about how you could possibly manage caring for THREE kids when two can be overwhelming. You try to imagine who this little person will be and if their personality, appearance, temperament will be like the others. hosbaby

Then you meet them.

You can’t imagine #3 being any more amazing than they are – and they are the perfect addition to your family and you can’t imagine life being any different. As you look forward to the next few years, as busy as they will be, keep this list in mind when life with three presents challenges.

Here are some reasons why #3 is easier and more fun

  1. You aren’t #3’s only source of learning and entertainment. #3 will spend considerable time watching older siblings and play in close proximity with them giving you a bit of a break.
  2. #3 has more family members to cheer for first steps, first birthdays and other milestones.
  3. #3 has learned to “brush” their teeth and other tasks at 12 months because they observe and do EVERYTHING their siblings do.
  4. You KNOW that #3 will eventually sleep through the night and actually appreciate the nighttime snuggles knowing that this special time passes too quickly.
  5. You have been through croup, colic, colds, vomit and mystery rashes and know that as sick as a baby can get, they recover quickly and are back to smiles and mischief in no time.
  6. You’re experience allows you relax a little with the rules – most behaviors are developmental phases and having been through it a couple of times lets you truly know that “this too shall pass”.
  7. You have little helpers who are eager to help grab diapers, entertain the baby and even comfort #3 when they wake up crying.
  8. Although you have the largest collection of educational toys, you know that your parents were right when they said “they’ll spend more time playing with cardboard boxes and pots and pans” so that’s what #3 gets.
  9. You take advantage of nap time. It’s not the time for cleaning or laundry, it’s time for mom to have a nap, catch up on a reality show or connect with a friend.
  10. With #1 you really felt you were too busy to shower. By the time #3 arrives you have learned that monitors, swings, and excersaucers are all there to HELP YOU take care of yourself. You know the importance of self-care to be the best mom you can and have learned creative ways to do it.

Obviously three kids are much more work than two – some say “exponentially more” – but three can be a ton of fun regardless of the age differences between siblings. The older ones are becoming more independent and need less hands-on care and a new baby is such a miracle. Try to find the time each day to give some undivided attention to each of your children. Life with three will be busy but there is always time to give a hug, look them in the eye and say “I love you” – even if they are driving you crazy.

]]> http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/2011/02/16/10-reasons-why-baby-3-is-easier/feed/ 1 Planning for Your Best Birth Experience http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/2010/12/09/birth-experience/ http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/2010/12/09/birth-experience/#comments Fri, 10 Dec 2010 02:47:42 +0000 admin http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/?p=539 When you are having a baby, educating yourself and keeping expectations realistic are very important as you plan the way your baby will enter the world and join your family. Start educating yourself with a birthing class. Try to avoid the sensationalized birth programs on television that often don’t provide enough information or select stories based on shock . . . → Read More: Planning for Your Best Birth Experience]]>

When you are having a baby, educating yourself and keeping expectations realistic are very important as you plan the way your baby will enter the world and join your family. Start educating yourself with a birthing class. Try to avoid the sensationalized birth programs on television that often don’t provide enough information or select stories based on shock value. This only generates fear and does not help properly educate.

Hospitals and birthing centers will offer courses usually as a weekend session. If the cost is an issue, contact your doctor or public health office to find out what is offered in your area. In addition, a great online Childbirth Class has been prepared by Robin Weiss and is free through About.com (Robin Weiss Childbirth Classes). We also recommend a breastfeeding workshop even if you aren’t sure about your decision to breastfeed. If you want to explore your concerns in a less public forum, Best for Babes is a fabulous resource.

ALL moms deserve to make an informed feeding decision, & to be cheered on, coached and celebrated without pressure, judgment or guilt, whether they breastfeed for 2 days, 2 months 2 years, or not at all.  -BestforBabes.org

Many feel birth is out of their control and just accept that they will follow the path that most do — wait for labor, go to the hospital, have their baby, go home after 48 hours. This mental preparation is all some women need or want. They focus on how they will care for a new baby and not as much on the event of the baby’s birth. Yournewbabysm birth experience will be a memory that stays with you for a lifetime. Mothers can recall each of their birth experiences with amazing details although more than 60 years have gone by.

In recent years more and more women are taking a proactive role in their prenatal care and enter in to their birth experience well-educated about all of their options.  Women are choosing birthing centers and more specialized care. Doulas are rising in popularity and offer emotional and physical support during and after birth. Birth plans are written to express the preferences and wishes of the family so that they have the experience they want — not what is “standard practice.” 

Some hospitals pay little attention to birth plans since birth can not really be “planned” and others fear they may reflect unrealistic expectations and set a mom up for disappointment. A good birth plan will provide specific information about labor preferences including interventions, medications, birthing positions and baby care following birth. If you choose to use a birth plan, share copies with your birthing team (partner, doula, Midwife, OB, etc)  so you are all clear about your intentions going in to birth. Know that labor is unpredictable and birth plans are tools — they are not legally binding.

Realistic Expectations

Expectant moms all hope to have a healthy, happy, baby that sleeps well, eats well and thrives. However, complications occur, undetected illness may surface once the baby is born, problems occur as a result of interventions which may put mom and baby at risk. Whether you choose a hospital birth, home birth or birthing center, know the risks and benefits and make an informed choice. The most important thing an expectant mom can do is educate herself about labor and birth, decide what is best for her, and have a birth team that supports her choices and will advocate on her behalf.

A Healthy Baby and Your Birth Experience

You may be thinking, or even said to a friend when offering support, that “a healthy baby is all that matters”. While we understand this statement has value and may be reassuring to a new mom, it is only a part of the whole experience. How mom is treated matters and her emotional and physical experience matters. I have read countless stories about women being mistreated and disrespected during birth. This should NEVER happen. Interview doctors and midwifes and get recommendations from friends.

If your birth experience isn’t what you hoped, if you feel angry, traumatized or mistreated,  talk to a professional about your feelings or join a support group.  Friends and Mothers Love family may try to be supportive but often finding women who have gone through a similar situation or can listen with empathy and compassion will help you heal.

The people who surround you contribute to your positive (or negative) experience. When you are going through what could be the most anticipated, most intimate and beautiful experience of having a baby for the first time (or 4th time), you should be surrounded by people who genuinely care about you and the experience you are having. Doulas will support and advocate for YOU. Labor can be overwhelming and having a person who has experience, compassion and a genuine passion for positive birth experiences can really help you through labor and delivery and keep it positive. 

Birth should be an empowering and intensely joyful, beautiful experience. Being prepared and informed will help shape the experience to be a happy one and allow you to address concerns as they arise with confidence. 

 

Some helpful links

Giving Birth With Confidence at http://givingbirthwithconfidence.org/

VBAC and Cesarean Support at http://www.ican-online.org/

My Best Birth  http://www.mybestbirth.com/

]]> http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/2010/12/09/birth-experience/feed/ 1 Starting Solids and Best First Foods for Baby http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/2010/11/18/starting-solids-first-foods-for-baby/ http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/2010/11/18/starting-solids-first-foods-for-baby/#comments Thu, 18 Nov 2010 17:27:40 +0000 admin http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/?p=534 From birth to six months both Health Canada and The World Health Organization agree that exclusively breastfeeding your baby is optimum.  Breast milk is nutrient dense and will provide everything your baby needs for growth, development, health and wellness.  If you have chosen to formula feed, your baby should only be feed formula during the first . . . → Read More: Starting Solids and Best First Foods for Baby]]>

yougreenbabyFrom birth to six months both Health Canada and The World Health Organization agree that exclusively breastfeeding your baby is optimum.  Breast milk is nutrient dense and will provide everything your baby needs for growth, development, health and wellness.  If you have chosen to formula feed, your baby should only be feed formula during the first six months.  At six months you can begin to introduce your baby to the wonderful world of food.  This is a very exciting time but it is also a time filled with questions, concerns and lots of conflicting advice.  So before your begin tickling those tiny taste buds let me help you decipher all the information you have read and heard and make the process a little less overwhelming.

What Foods First?

There are many schools of thought on which foods to begin introducing your baby too, I believe the best first foods are real foods, foods that have not been processed, foods that have not been packaged – food that your grandmother would recognize and food that helps support the growth, development, health and well being of your baby. This real food is of course fruits and vegetables!
Fruits and vegetables offer your baby a wide variety of nutrients including minerals, vitamins, fibre, carbohydrates, fats, protein and phytochemicals to support the amazing amounts of growth occurring at this time, and to support the overall health and well being of your baby.

Here are the foods I considered to be great first foods:

Bananas (easy to digest and sweet like breast milk – tastes particularly wonderful roasted then pureed)
Pears (choose organic, pesticide residues are extremely high)
Apples (choose organic, pesticide residues are extremely high)
Butternut squash
Sweet potatoes
Avocado (no need to cook first, just peel and mash well)
Apricots (choose sulfite free dried fruits)
Prunes (choose sulfite free dried fruits)
Figs (choose sulfite free dried fruits)
Raisins (choose sulfite free dried fruits)
Blueberries (organic best, pesticide residues are extremely high)
Carrots
Yams
Parsnips
Green peas
Broccoli (organic best, pesticide residues are extremely high)
Cauliflower (organic best, pesticide residues are extremely high)
Turnip
Green beans
Beets

All of the above foods should be washed well, peeled, cored and steam or roasted until fork tender and then pureed to desired consistency for your baby. At first the consistency should be very runny, but as your baby gets used to the food you can begin to thicken it up.

Introduce one food at a time waiting 3 to 4 days before adding another food.  This will allow you to see if there are any sensitivities or allergies to the food being introduced.  It can take up to 72 hours for a reaction to a food to show up. The most common signs are rashes, changes in bowel movement, increased gas and spitting up.  If you suspect a problem with a food wait a few weeks and try introducing it again.  If you experience a negative reaction again, wait three months before reintroducing.

Once you know that a food is okay, you can begin to use that food to create wonderful combinations of food. For example if you have introduce apples and all is okay, when it comes time to introduce beets you can create a tasty apple and beet puree; or if raisins were a big hit with your little one how about a carrot and raisin puree, and pear and parsnip works well too! This makes introducing foods with a stronger taste a little easier and also opens your baby’s taste buds to many different tastes.

Keep in mind food introduction is not meant to meet your baby’s nutritional demands – breast milk or formula will do this until your baby’s first birthday. Food introduction at this time is a chance for your baby to get used to eating, to develop a taste for different foods and to gain acceptance of different textures. This is not the time to force feed your baby, follow your baby’s lead, when they have had enough stop. Don’t stress or panic if they don’t want to eat, it just might not be a good day, put it away and try again later or tomorrow.

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Kim Corrigan-Oliver is a Certified Nutritional Practitioner and a Registered Orthomolecular Health Practitioner.  Her practice Your Green Baby specializes in nutrition for mom, baby and toddler – preconception to preschool.  For more information please check out her website at www.yourgreenbaby.ca

]]> http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/2010/11/18/starting-solids-first-foods-for-baby/feed/ 1 Safely feeding your baby http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/2010/11/16/safely-feeding-your-baby/ http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/2010/11/16/safely-feeding-your-baby/#comments Tue, 16 Nov 2010 18:13:28 +0000 admin http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/?p=531 First foods … it’s an exciting pairing of words.   The first time you feed your infant something other than breast milk or formula there is a lot of preparation that you’ve done beforehand.

Like most parents you’ve researched what foods to start with.  Maybe you’ve checked with your pediatrician or physician about food allergies or what they . . . → Read More: Safely feeding your baby]]>

First foods … it’s an exciting pairing of words.   The first time you feed your infant something other than breast milk or formula there is a lot of preparation that you’ve done beforehand.

Like most parents you’ve researched what foods to start with.  Maybe you’ve checked with your pediatrician or physician about food allergies or what they recommend.  You’ve gone shopping for the all important bowls and baby spoons to start feeding those first foods.  But are you prepared if it doesn’t go well?

Not all infants are overjoyed or easily swallow their first solid foods.  Most physicians recommend a very watered down rice or other cereal to start with.  After all, your baby has been on a liquid only diet up to this point.  It is natural for him or her to spit it up, gag, or even choke on those first spoonfuls.

Before starting solids you might want to review what to do if your infant begins to choke.  The steps on what to do are basic, but in a moment of panic would you know what to do?

Disclaimer:  These instructions do not replace taking an actual hands-on CPR course.

How will I know if my infant is choking:
• Your child will not be able to breathe.
• Has high pitched breathing or wheezing sounds. 
• His or her skin color may be very flushed due to straining to breathe or may be bluish in color. 
• Your child will not be able to scream or cry.

What to do if your infant is choking:
• Support baby’s head and neck with your hand and lay baby face down across your lap.
• Give 5 forceful back slaps between baby’s shoulders
• Support baby’s head and neck and place baby face up on your lap
• Give 5 chest thrusts in the center of the chest
• Keep switching between back slaps and chest thrust until baby spits up the object or becomes unresponsive.
• If baby becomes unresponsive start CPR and call 911

You can be prepared for an emergency by taking a CPR course.  Most hospitals and fire departments offer courses.  Ask at your doctor’s office and they may be able to refer you to an instructor.

…

Gail Klanchesser is a CPR & First Aid instructor and the owner of Coastal CPR & First Aid, LLC located on the NH Seacoast.  She is a mom of 4 and an active community volunteer.  She writes on CPR, First Aid and Safety topics as well as her random life with kids.  You can find out about Gail’s courses; visit her online store of safety products or find links to all the interesting places she hangs out on her website www.coastalcpr.com

]]> http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/2010/11/16/safely-feeding-your-baby/feed/ 1 Red Flag Foods During Your Baby’s First Year http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/2010/11/09/red-flag-foods-during-your-baby%e2%80%99s-first-year/ http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/2010/11/09/red-flag-foods-during-your-baby%e2%80%99s-first-year/#comments Tue, 09 Nov 2010 16:43:35 +0000 admin http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/?p=526 The first year is full of milestones and getting to know your new baby. It’s also when you need to be very careful about introducing certain foods. With so many companies marketing cereals and “treats” for babies over 6 months — many with added sugar, oils and potential allergens, we asked Kim Corrigan-Oliver, a Certified Nutritional Practitioner, to . . . → Read More: Red Flag Foods During Your Baby’s First Year]]>

The first year is full of milestones and getting to know your new baby. It’s also when you need to be very careful about introducing certain foods. With so many companies marketing cereals and “treats” for babies over 6 months — many with added sugar, oils and potential allergens, we asked Kim Corrigan-Oliver, a Certified Nutritional Practitioner, to share the foods moms need to avoid or postpone during the first year.

CAUTION: The following foods should be avoided during the first year due to allergy risk: FeedingBaby

  • Egg whites (egg yolk is okay after 9 months)
  • Citrus/acidic fruits and juices, including tomatoes – these may also cause digestive upset or rash due to their high acidity
  • Strawberries
  • Corn – also a choking hazard
  • Shellfish
  • Chocolate
  • Soy
  • Milk/yogurt
  • Peanuts, tree nuts (such as walnuts and pecans), peanut butter, and nut butters – these are also a choking hazard; some experts recommend avoiding these until your child is at least two or three years old, particularly if there is a family history of nut allergies; if there is no family history of nut allergy introduction at one year is fine
  • Wheat, difficult for baby’s digestive system. It has been suggested that the enzyme to digest gluten — the protein in wheat — is not present in sufficient amounts until eighteen months of age. In a small number of children, early wheat introduction can also trigger celiac disease – an inability to digest gluten

Other foods to avoid during the first year include:

  • Honey (in any form or amount) and corn syrup (to a lesser extent) may contain botulism, a serious food-borne illness that can be deadly for infants less than one year of age.
  • Milk, other than breast milk or infant formula (including cow’s, goat’s, soy, and rice milks) is difficult for your baby to digest, can lead to allergies, and is nutritionally inadequate for infants.
  • Salt can strain a baby’s immature kidneys, causing damage. Too much salt for children has also been linked to diabetes later in life.
  • Sugar is implicated in early tooth decay and severe changes in blood sugar levels. Adding sugar to a baby’s food can also develop a “sweet tooth” in your little one that can be very difficult to break.
  • If you have a family history of food allergy, avoid that food during the first year, and then introduce with caution, watching carefully for any adverse reactions.

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Kim Corrigan-Oliver is a Certified Nutritional Practitioner and a Registered Orthomolecular Health Practitioner.  Her practice Your Green Baby specializes in nutrition for mom, baby and toddler – preconception to preschool.  For more information please check out her website at www.yourgreenbaby.ca

]]> http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/2010/11/09/red-flag-foods-during-your-baby%e2%80%99s-first-year/feed/ 0 Balancing Working from Home and Motherhood – Not an easy Task http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/2010/10/21/balancing-working-from-home-and-motherhood-%e2%80%93-not-an-easy-task/ http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/2010/10/21/balancing-working-from-home-and-motherhood-%e2%80%93-not-an-easy-task/#comments Thu, 21 Oct 2010 14:10:49 +0000 admin http://blog.healthybabynetwork.com/?p=519 by Lindsay Harris

The decision to go back to work after having your first child is an agonizing one.  Most moms I have spoken with have gone back to work with a heavy heart and hope that one day they won’t feel guilty about leaving their child with someone else all day.  When my eldest was . . . → Read More: Balancing Working from Home and Motherhood – Not an easy Task]]>

by Lindsay Harris

The decision to go back to work after having your first child is an agonizing one.  Most moms I have spoken with have gone back to work with a heavy heart and hope that one day they won’t feel guilty about leaving their child with someone else all day.  When my eldest was one I struggled with this decision and ultimately decided to quit my permanent job.  I was lucky enough to find a consulting job with a previous employer and so I was able to work from home.  It was the best of both worlds.  I had an income coming in, I was challenged and most importantly I got to spend oodles of time with Ainsley.  It was fairly easy to juggle my work and her needs.

When I began looking at the options after my second daughter Juliet was born, it was a different world.  The company I had consulted for no longer had room in their budget for me so I was faced with either going back to work full-time or I had to find another solution.  I had toyed with the idea of starting my own business but had never really had a reason to take the leap.  The thought of being my own boss and being able to be here for my children was what ultimately motivated me to start Glow Baby www.glowbaby.ca.   I thought that running my own business would be similar to working as a consultant except that I could choose what I wanted to work on and every high point would be because of my efforts.

Glow Baby has been in business for 9 months now and my expectations were definitely wrong on some levels but correct in other ways.  It takes a lot of work to get a business up and running.   When you are a sole proprietor you are the accounting department, the marketing department, the sales department, shipping department and the administrator to name a few.  In my case I am also the product developer.  I love my business.  I love what I have created and I have a million ideas in my head about the direction I want my company to go.  I do not however, have enough time. 

It was definitely easier to balance my business needs and my daughters’ needs at the early stages of the business.  Ainsley was in nursery school for 4 mornings a week and Juliet would nap in the morning so I could get work done.  I would then pick Ainsley up from school we would all have lunch and then both girls would have their afternoon nap.  I would seize this opportunity to work again.  When the girls woke up we would have snack and then play until dinner time and then we would have family time until bedtime.  I would then pick up working again after they went to bed.  It was definitely busy, but I had blocks of time to devote to my work.

As Juliet grew older, she dropped her morning nap which meant that I do not have time in the morning anymore for the business.  As a result, I have found a wonderful caregiver who is able to come in two mornings a week to play with Juliet so I can work.  There are days when I struggle with the fact that I am not with her on these mornings and I do get jealous when they go out and have fun, but I keep telling myself that the total time I am missing each week is 6 hours.  If I was working in an office I would be missing her at least 9 hours a day if not more. 

Another challenge I have been faced with as the girls get older is that Ainsley has now dropped her afternoon nap.  At first this was very frustrating as there went two hours of work time, but we now have a routine.  I will let Ainsley watch an hour of TV (and yes I felt guilty and still do about this) but then she will come into my office/dining room and do her own “work”.  She will draw next to me as I work and has learned that when mommy is on the phone she needs to be quiet.  It’s actually very cute and I have a huge art collection now of Ainsley originals.  Ainsley loves to see what I am working on and I love to see what she works on and we get to do our work together.

There are days when I miss the girls as I have to devote more time to what is going on in the business but overall when really looking at the amount of time I do get to spend with them, I am very lucky.  I got to see their first steps, hear their first words and I get to be there to develop the people they are going to be.  As much work as the business can be, I am in control of the pace of our growth and can keep it slow and steady while the girls are young and build a solid foundation.  Once the girls start full-time school I can take what I have already accomplished and run with it.  I hope that the girls remember the time we spend together happily and I hope that they can see what I have done with my business and realize that they too can do anything they want if they only put their minds to it.

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Lindsay Harris is the owner of Glow Baby – For the Organized Family www.glowbaby.ca.  Glow Baby products are designed to help parents stay organized through all stages of parenthood to help make life easier after baby.  She is also the proud mom of two beautiful daughters ages 3 and 16 months.

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