Week Thirty Nine: Very close now

We have reached 39 weeks and we are still waiting for peanut to be here and it can be any day now. For this week this is what is happening in peanuts fetal life.

• On average a baby is about 20 inches and weighs about 7.5 pounds.
• Baby William has reached his final birth position.
• There is not much space left for baby William to move
  
• Baby William will continue to punch and kick, but lower in Yissel's abdomen, under her pelvis.
• Baby William's head is about 4 inches in diameter.
• Most of the baby William's downy coating of lanugo has now disappeared.

Yissel is very close now to the end of her pregnancy, just a week or so left. Keeping track of her little one's activity level may be a good idea at this time. As space in her uterus becomes more cramped, baby William's kicks and other movements may seem less forceful. She may want to check on his movements from time to time and still do a kick count. If movement drops off considerably, we should call our doctor or caregiver.

The average baby weighs in at over seven pounds, but can be as much as one or two pounds heavier or lighter. It can vary with each baby, and there is no cause for concern. Yissel's pregnancy is considered full term now (between 37 and 42 weeks is full-term). At birth the umbilical cord will stop working when baby William takes his first breaths of air outside of uterus. Baby William's breathing will trigger changes in the heart that will force all blood to go through the lungs.

Most Caucasian babies are born with blue eyes and their true eye color may not reveal itself for weeks or months. Multiracial children often turn out to have the most beautiful colored eyes. Baby William is restricted in movement as there is no space left in the womb. Yissel should be finding it easier to breathe now that the uterus is dropping away from the diaphragm.

Yissel is experiencing the nesting syndrome by attempting to clean, cook, shop, and prepare for William's arrival. This is very common, just be careful that you do not wear yourself out love. You need to conserve your energy for the hard work ahead in labor.

Yissel's body still makes amniotic fluid, but absorption may outpace the amount she makes and so levels may decrease a bit. We will need to contact our caregiver immediately if Yisssel has any leaking of fluid. The lanugo has mostly disappeared, but we will probably find a bit on his shoulders, arms and legs and in those little bodily creases. It will vanish completely on its own in time.

Home Visit

Hello all, I just got back from the movie Watchman with Yissel's brother Alex. I though it was a great movie, but I am glad to be back home with my beautiful wife and spend some quality time with her. Today was a pretty busy day, but I wanted to take some time before I went to bed to give you todays update. While work, my wife had an instructor from a previous class check the car seat to make sure it was installed properly. Apparently it gave both Yissel and the instructor the same trouble I had, but they ended up getting it in. I owe my wife big time.

Since it was early release day at the school, I got off work at 1:30 and helped Yissel do a quick clean before we had a home visit with a nurse. There are only 4 county that offer this free program were nurses can come to your home to help you with anything during the first year. It looks like a neat thing to have at our disposal. The funny thing was that the nurse kept on talking about how her son-in-law works Google and they were hiring that I should apply there.

Introducing Your Pet and New Baby

So yesterday we went to a class about pets and babies. As I mentioned in my last post I found the class quite interesting and I am going to put them to use. I also decided to do more research online and came across this article last night.



http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/introducing_your_pet_and_new_baby.html
Congratulations—you're expecting a baby! If your family already includes a pet, you'll need to help that first "baby" adjust to the new one you'll soon bring home.

You can help your pet cope with this big change in much the same way parents help children understand that a new brother or sister will be joining the family. By following the tips below, you can ease your pet's stress, help her welcome your new baby, and ensure that your pet stays where she belongs—with you and your growing family.

Can I Keep My Cat?

If you're pregnant, you've probably heard of toxoplasmosis because it can cause serious birth defects. However, toxoplasmosis is a rare disease in the United States and is one that can easily be avoided. While the disease-causing parasite can be found in the feces of cats who ingest raw meat, birds, mice, or contaminated soil, toxoplasmosis is more commonly found in uncooked or undercooked meat.

If you're concerned about a possible exposure, ask your obstetrician to perform a simple blood test.

If the result shows you were exposed to toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, you may be given medication and your baby may be tested and treated soon after birth. Keep in mind that the odds of contracting toxoplasmosis during pregnancy are extremely low, and even lower for your baby.

Being pregnant does not mean you have to give up living with and caring for your beloved cat. Toxoplasmosis is easily avoided by practicing good hygiene and responsible pet care. Just follow these simple steps to reduce the risk:

* Avoid handling or eating uncooked meat.
* Be certain to wash all cutting boards and utensils that may have come in contact with meat before using them to prepare other foods.
* Keep your cat safely indoors and away from wildlife.
* Have someone else clean the litter box daily.
* If you must clean the litter box, wear rubber gloves and thoroughly wash your hands afterward.
* Feed cats only commercially prepared cat food.


How Will My Pet React?

No matter how much you plan ahead, the addition of a new family member may be difficult for your pet.

Remember, your dog or cat was your first "baby" and is used to being the center of your attention. So it's understandable that she may experience something akin to sibling rivalry when you introduce a new human baby into your household.

You can minimize this feeling by working with her before you bring home your baby. For example, because your new baby will demand a lot of your time and energy, gradually accustom your pet to spending less time with you.

Drastically decreasing attention and frequently scolding, ignoring, or isolating your pet after the baby comes home will likely make your pet feel stressed. If your pet is particularly attached to the mother-to-be, another family member should develop a closer relationship with the animal. That way, the pet can still feel loved and provided for while mom is busy with the baby.

How Can I Prepare My Pet?

Below are several suggestions to make introducing your pet and baby safer and smoother for all. Be sure to carry out these changes months before the baby's arrival to best prepare your pet.

* Take your pet to the veterinarian for a routine health exam and necessary vaccinations.
* Spay or neuter your pet. Not only do sterilized pets typically have fewer health problems associated with their reproductive systems, but they are also calmer and less likely to bite.
* Consult with a veterinarian and pediatrician if the thought of your newborn interacting with the family pet makes you uncomfortable. By working with these experts before your baby is born, you can resolve problems early and put your mind at ease.
* Address any pet training and behavior problems. If your pet exhibits fear and anxiety, now is the time to get help from an animal behavior specialist.
* If your pet's behavior includes gentle nibbling, pouncing, or swatting at you and others, redirect that behavior to appropriate objects.
* Get your pet used to nail trims.
* Train your pet to remain calmly on the floor beside you until you invite him on your lap, which will soon cradle a newborn.
* Consider enrolling in a training class with your dog, and practice training techniques. Training allows you to safely and humanely control your dog's behavior and enhances the bond between you and your pet.
* Encourage friends with infants to visit your home to accustom your pet to babies. Supervise all pet and infant interactions.
* Accustom your pet to baby-related noises months before the baby is expected. For example, play recordings of a baby crying, turn on the mechanical infant swing, and use the rocking chair. Make these positive experiences for your pet by offering a treat or playtime.
* To discourage your pet from jumping on the baby's crib and changing table, apply double-stick tape to the furniture.
* If the baby's room will be off-limits to your pet, install a sturdy barrier such as a removable gate (available at pet or baby supply stores) or, for jumpers, even a screen door. Because these barriers still allow your pet to see and hear what's happening in the room, he'll feel less isolated from the family and more comfortable with the new baby noises.
* Use a baby doll to help your pet get used to the real thing. Carry around a swaddled baby doll, take the doll in the stroller when you walk your dog, and use the doll to get your pet used to routine baby activities, such as bathing and diaper changing.
* Talk to your pet about the baby, using the baby's name if you've selected one.
* Sprinkle baby powder or baby oil on your skin so your pet becomes familiar with the new smells.
* Finally, plan ahead to make sure your pet gets proper care while you're at the birthing center.

What Do We Do After Baby Is Born?

Welcoming a new baby is exciting for your family. Remember when you first brought home your dog or cat? But before you bring your baby home from the hospital, have your partner or friend take home something with the baby's scent (such as a blanket) for your pet to investigate.

When you return from the hospital, your pet may be eager to greet you and receive your attention. Have someone else take the baby into another room while you give your pet a warm, but calm, welcome. Keep some treats handy so you can distract your pet.

After the initial greeting, you can bring your pet with you to sit next to the baby; reward your pet with treats for appropriate behavior. Remember, you want your pet to view associating with the baby as a positive experience. To prevent anxiety or injury, never force your pet to get near the baby, and always supervise any interaction.

Life will no doubt be hectic caring for your new baby, but try to maintain regular routines as much as possible to help your pet adjust. And be sure to spend one-on-one quality time with your pet each day—it may help relax you, too. With proper training, supervision, and adjustments, you, your new baby, and your pet should be able to live together safely and happily as one (now larger) family.

classes and appointments

Good afternoon everyone,

Hope all is well today. We had an appointment, which I was not able to go to, but Yissel said they did the usual check up: measuring the belly, checking her blood pressure, checking her weight, and peanuts heartbeat. The appointment went well and the doctor said peanut could be here any day now.

At 7 we went down to the Napa Library to go to a class on preparing your pet for the baby. It was only half hour long and the instructor showed a simple slide, but it was still interesting though. The instructor basically talked about playing sound for your pet, dieses from animals, and the relationship between child and animal. After we where finished the class we went up to the counter and got library cards. I don't even remember the last time I got a Library card.

Week Thirty Eight: Development is complete

My wife is now 38 weeks pregnant and this is what is happening this week in peanuts development. Baby William is about 20 inches and weighs about 7.5 pounds. The soft down, which covered the body throughout the pregnancy, is now disappearing. His body fat is continuing to build up. The wrinkled skin is becoming 'baby' smooth. He may have reached his final birth position. Most babies are born head first with only about 3 percent coming out feet first. About one in eight births are cesarean. For baby William his development is complete, his main job is to continue to gain weight. The body continues laying on the fat stores that will help regulate his body temperature after birth. The amniotic fluid, this is approximately equal to 4 or 5 cups. It doesn't sound like much, but when my wife's water breaks, it will feel like much more to her. Baby William may have a full head of hair now, an inch or more long, but some babies are born with only peach fuzz. Speaking of hair, most of the downy coat of lanugo that covered William for weeks has disappeared, but we may see some on the upper back and shoulders when he arrives. Almost gone has most of the vernix caseosa, the whitish substance that also covered William. William will swallow the lanugo and exterior coating, along with other secretions, and store them in his bowels. These will become his first bowel movement, a blackish waste called meconium. Williams intestines are accumulating lots of meconium. About 30% of babies move their bowels before birth. Usually this is a sign that William is under some stress and can cause pneumonia if he inhales any amniotic fluid with meconium in it. If there are signs of meconium in the amniotic fluid at birth our care provider will make sure that his throat and lungs are suctioned thoroughly. Love, you are almost at the end of your pregnancy. Your weight should not increase much from this point. It should remain between 25 and 35 pounds until delivery and you still look more beautiful then ever. Reference: http://baby2see.com/development/week38.html

False Contractions

Hello everyone hope you are having a great weekend. Things are going great here. It has been a pretty busy week. I have been spending a lot of time at work preparing my student and I have had aides shadow me so they know what to do when I am gone for a couple days. At home I have been spending time around the house putting up curtains and other handy man work. I have also been spending time in getting the garden ready. I might spend more time during the spring vacation planting some stuff. A couple nights ago we got baby Williams bassinet and I spent some time putting it together. I will post some pictures in a couple days.

My wife is doing great, she is pretty much done and wants baby William to be here already. Last night my wife got a little worried because she thought she was having contractions, but it was just another round of false contractions. It's a possibility that baby William will be here any day with only a couple more weeks to go. Once he is here he will be the 6th great grandchild on my dads side of the family.

There are lots of things happening in the next couple of week. We have more appointments, our last class on preparing your pet, and we have family visiting during the weekends so I will keep you posted.

Tips On Choosing Childbirth Options

We have filled out a birth plan a while ago and have considered many options. My wife of course has friends that have through labor in the past few weeks. The question that we are still look at is doing things naturally vs. and epidural. We would like to doings naturally, but we have a back up plan. The last thing we want to do is have a c-section. With that in mind I came across the article below.

Author: Paul Banas

This may be a good time during the pregnancy for your spouse to give a thought to the manner of delivery she wishes to opt for. The options-natural, induced, or cesarean-all have their pros and cons.

Natural delivery

• This is the most common method of childbirth.
• It does not involve an extended stay in a hospital.
• The risks associated with major surgery are avoided.
• This method of delivery makes breastfeeding easier.
• The mother can actively participate in the childbirth.

Induced delivery

• In this method, labor is artificially induced rather than spontaneous.
• It avoids complications in post-term babies.
• The pregnant mom, or her doctor, can decide when to go in for labor.
• Studies report that women who have induced labor are less likely to develop chorioamnionitis, an infection of the placental membranes.

If your spouse's pregnancy extends beyond her due date, her doctor may decide to induce labor. In fact, there some everyday activities, natural labor inducers, that are popularly believed to induce labor. Find information on common natural labor induction when your spouse's pregnancy extends beyond her due date.

Cesarean section

• In this method, delivery is surgically carried out through an incision made by the doctor in the abdomen and uterus.
• It is required if labor does not progress normally.
• It is also required in case of a complication in the pregnancy.
• It is useful in cases where the fetus has been diagnosed with a developmental problem.
• It is helpful in cases of women carrying twins, triplets, or multiples.
• Cesarean is also used in the cases where the mom has herpes or similar infections, to prevent the baby from contracting these infections.

About the Author:

Paul Banas is a founder and writer of GreatDad.com. Many future dads are a bit confused about their role in their spouses' pregnancy. If you are one of them, here are some pregnancy planning tips to tell you what you can do.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pregnancy-articles/tips-on-choosing-childbirth-options-798216.html

Week 37 appointment

Hello all,

As of the 6th of this month my wife went on maternity leave. So she gets to be home all day, while I have to work. She tells me she doesn't know what to do with her time, but I am sure she is going to enjoy the time she has off.

Today we had another appointment and I was able to go to. During the appointment the doctor used an ultrasound machine to check baby Will's position; and he is in the downward position. So there are no worries there. Everything else is going well, which is always good to know. There is not much room for baby Will to move around, yet he still actively kicking away. Sometimes he keeps my wife up all night. She is pretty sleepy most of the time, I'll know when it is time because I hear that we will get a sudden burst of energy before she goes into labor. In fact my wife mentioned that she had what felt like a false contraction last night. Which means there is not much time left. She feels that he may be here by the 26th. So we'll see when baby Will gets here.

At this point the doctor tells us that we will be having an appointment every week now, but I won't be going to next weeks appointment since I will be at work, but we also have a class on preparing our pug Ozzy. So I'll keep you posted on what happens during the appointment and the class.

Blood Cord Bank

Every time a week goes by, it amazes me how much time has flown by. We have only 1 month left until peanut will be here. Over the past 8 months we have had many people including strangers that come up to us and say congrats, to give their opinions, and advice. It's amazing how much attention we get, just the other day while at Denny's my said the people are nice to her, but ever since she got pregnant people have been a lot more nicer. I like to hear what other people have to say, but I take the information with a grain of salt. I just hope that peanut will like us and the we will be great parents.

Also in the past 8 months, we have gotten lots of calls and mail trying to sell us something like storing peanuts umbilical cord at a Blood Cord Bank. I can see the potential of storing an umbilical cord because of the stem cells. But storing can be quite expensive with service and annual storage fees. Here's an article I came across

Cord Blood Banking: Should you Bank your Baby

Author: Alvin Toh

Cord blood banking is a relatively new concept. It is only in the last ten years that parents have seriously begun to bank their baby's cord blood. While the practice of banking cord blood is still not common it is becoming more popular as people begin to learn about its benefits.

Cord blood is the blood that remains in umbilical cord after a live birth. Currently the umbilical cord along with the placenta and associated blood are all discarded after birth. Cord blood stem cells have more extensive uses than bone marrow stem cells and do not face the controversy that is associated with embryonic stem cell research.

Cord blood stem cells can develop into various types of cells such as muscle, nerve or blood cells. Since these cells can regenerate immune system and repair damaged cells, they have the potential to treat heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, stroke, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson disease.

Cord blood may indeed be the way of the future. Currently, it can treat more than 75 diseases, immune deficiencies and other conditions. It is effective for treatment of certain types of cancer, blood disorders and auto-immune diseases. The cord blood can be used not only by your child, but also other family members.

In recent stem cell breakthroughs, researchers were able to develop bone and cartilage, and grow mini liver and lung cells from cord blood stem cells. These cells can potentially be transplanted into the body to repair damaged organs, thus overcoming the severe shortages of organ donors. Researches are hopeful that cord blood stem cell transplant can regenerate into organs inside or outside the body and saves many lives. There is less chance of the body rejecting the new organ regenerated from your own cord blood.

There are 2 types of cord blood banks: private and public. If you want to bank your baby's cord blood for use by your child or other family members, then you should choose a private cord blood bank. However, private cord blood banking can be costly as you have to pay for the cord blood collection process and annual storage fees. There are cases you should consider storing cord blood privately. Parents of children of ethnic minorities are encouraged to bank their baby's cord blood as it is difficult to find bone marrow match. Private cord blood banking is also recommended where there's a family history to diseases only treatable with cord blood.

Cord blood stored in a public bank can be used by anyone who needs it.

If you decide to bank your newborn's cord blood, you will need to choose a cord blood bank ahead of the birth, typically at least a month or two before the due date. Once you fill out the paperwork and inform your doctor and hospital about the decision. Many hospitals are not equipped to handle this immediate cord blood collection at the birth and special arrangements may need to be made. The cord blood will be collected and returned to the bank of your choice to be stored for later use if needed.

About the Author:

Cord blood banking is an insurance against future diseases. There have been several cord blood stem cell breakthroughs in recent years. Learn about the miracle of cord blood by visiting www.storingcordblood.com/home

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/cord-blood-banking-should-you-bank-your-baby-224441.html

What is your opinion about storing an umbilical cord?

Week Thirty Seven: Baby is full term

	My wife is now 37 weeks pregnant, so hang in there love. I know you want William to be here, but we have only three more weeks to go. Though, there is a possibility that he could be here starting this week until the expected due date. William should now measures 19.5 inches from the head to the heel. He should also weigh up to 7 pounds. The head diameter is over 3.5 inches. The water could break at any time. Gaining one ounce per day, William is growing rapidly. An elbow, foot or head may protrude from your stomach when William stretches and squirms about. Soon, as the wall of my wife's uterus and her abdomen stretch thinner and let in more light, William will begin to develop daily activity cycles. Even though my wife is three weeks from her expected due date, she is now considered full term. In most cases, nothing will be done to stop her labor once it starts, even if it is before 40th week mark. If my wife goes into labor at this point our care provider will not try to stop it. These are the signs that labor may be starting? Regular contractionsthat grow longer, stronger and closer together. Contractions that are not affected significantly by a change in your activity level. A trickle or gush of fluid from your vagina. A regular, rhythmic backache. (Babies between 37 and 42 weeks are considered full-term - - a baby born before 37 weeks is premature and after 42 is post-term.) At this point we have our bags packed and ready for the birth ?

The Facts About Breast Milk Jaundice

So I have added yet another article by Author: Narisa R.

Jaundice is an effect of buildup in the blood of the bilirubin, a yellowish pigment that gets from the breakdown of old erythrocytes. It is normal for the erythrocytes to break down, although the bilirubin formed does not generally cause jaundice since the liver will metabolize them and then eliminate them in the bowel.

However, the newborn infant will often get jaundiced on the first few days due to the liver enzyme that metabolizes the bilirubin seemly relatively immature. Therefore, newborn infant will have more red blood cells than adults, and thus more will break down at any given time.
There’s a condition that’s normally referred to as breast milk jaundice, although nobody knows what really causes it. In order to diagnose this, the infant should be at least a week old. The infant should be well gaining with breast feeding alone too, having good bowel movements with the passing of unclouded urine.

In this kind of setting, the infant gets what is referred to as breast milk jaundice. On occasion, urinary infection or an under functioning of the infant thyroid gland, as well as other uncommon illnesses that can induce the same types of problems.

Breast milk jaundice normally highest at 10 - 21 days, although it may last for 2 - 3 months. Contrary to what you may think, breast milk jaundice is normal. Seldom, if at all ever, does breast feeding need to be ended for even a brief period of time.

If the infant is doing well on breast milk, there is no reason at all to end or add on with a lactation aid.About the Author:

Narisa R. works as a medical doctor in Thailand.

For further information regarding Information about pregnancy and childbirth please visit at http://pregnancybabybirth.com.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/the-facts-about-breast-milk-jaundice-770758.html

It Is Your Choice To Formula Feed Or Breastfeed

Today's article Author: B Wilson

Breastfeeding:

Any doctor will tell you that breastfeeding your baby is better than using prepared or ready to feed infant formula. Since the baby gets anti bodies from mom along with the nutrients, it is believed that breastfed babies have stronger immune systems. Breastfeeding also builds closer physical and emotional bonds between mom and baby due to the more constant contact. Statistics show that premature babies also do much better when being breastfed.

There are some disadvantages and concerns as well. As with any new skill, it may take some time and effort to become comfortable with breastfeeding, especially in the first few weeks. It is normal for the first week or so to have some pain when baby first attaches to your breast. This shouldn’t last more than a minute. If this does continues throughout feeding you should seek some advice from your doctor.

Deciding to breastfeed your baby takes a significant commitment from mom. Breastfeeding will make it more difficult to work, travel or take care of normal everyday errands due to your baby’s breastfeeding schedule. Breastmilk is digested faster by baby so more frequent feedings would be required. Breastfeeding moms need to be very careful what they eat and drink. As when you were pregnant, anything you take into your body will be passed on to your baby through your milk. If you are healthy, have the time and are committed, breastfeeding your baby will have many benefits for both of you.

Formula Feeding:

Many moms today are choosing not to breastfeed their baby. There may be any number of medical, social, psychological or economical reasons not to breastfeed your baby. Moms should not feel guilty if you any reason they can not or choose not to breastfeed their newborn.

Infant formulas today come very close to natural breastmilk in many ways. They contain the nutrients, minerals and vitamins that babies need and are a very good option when the decision is made not to breastfeed. Formula can be prepared in advance and refrigerated for up to 48 hours (check manufacturers recommendations). Mom does not need to be available to feed baby as any caregiver can feed formula. If you are in public it is not necessary to find a private place to feed your baby.

First time parents may have some difficulty deciding what baby formula is best for their baby. There are a wide variety of manufacturers each with several different infant formula choices. You will readily find milk based formula, soy based formula, organic formula, lactose free formula, ready to serve formula, powders and concentrates. How are you to know which formula is best for you? A good place to start is with your pediatrician. . Be ready to supply information about your family. Here are some questions you can answer that will help narrow down the choices.

1. Is anyone in your family lactose intolerant?
2. Does anyone in your extended family have any type of food allergy?
3. Are there or were any other feeding issues with other children in your extended family?
4. Talk to your parents. Did you have any special problems with feeding as an infant.

There are some disadvantages to formula feeding. The formula will not contain the antibodies found in breastmilk that help bolster your baby’s immune system. Concentrated and powdered formula will need to be mixed with sterile water for infants so water will need to be purchased or boiled. Bottles left un-refrigerated for more than one hour need to be discarded.

Another concern with feeding infant formula is the cost. This is especially true if your baby has allergies and needs a special formula. While you can save money buying a store brand, you can usually get the brand name formula online at a significant savings.

Read more about infant formulas and savings at Discount Infant Formula

About the Author:
Manufacturing plant manager with a background in remodeling construction, gemology and sales. With our latest adoption, two girls aged 2 and 5; we will have been active parents of children under 18 years old for almost 30 years. The required training classes, many hours of support groups for foster care and adoption, and trial and error, we have learned a few constants that have helped us tremendously.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/it-is-your-choice-to-formula-feed-or-breastfeed-777554.html

Boobies And Bottles

Today's article by Author: TJ Lord

I had the best intentions: I planned to breastfeed my son for a year.

Of course, we all know the one about the road to Hell being paved with the aforementioned good intentions.

When I got pregnant and asked my doctor about the breast-vs-bottle controversy, all I heard was this: "breastfeeding is the only way" and "breastfeeding will turn your child into a rocket scientist" and "formula is for lazy mothers who don’t care about their babies".

Wow – that’s not exactly fair, is it? Breastfeeding is a wonderful, natural, beautiful way to nourish and bond with your child. It was my first choice and I wish it had worked out. However, it does not work for everyone. It doesn’t mean you’re lazy or neglectful; there are several reasons why you may need to invest in some Enfamil:

· Some women just don’t get the milk supply (this happened to me, so I can attest)

· Some babies never learn to latch (often a problem for preemies)

· Some women have medical conditions requiring medication that transfers into breastmilk and therefore isn’t safe for baby

· Some women need the convenience of formula based on working/caregiver needs

· Breastfeeding can be VERY stressful; not everyone is equipped to deal with that stress

Whatever the reason you opt for the bottle, it’s important to conquer the guilt that almost always accompanies that decision. Your friends and relatives may have useful input, great advice; but they can’t tell you what’s right for you and your child. Every woman is different, every baby is different, every pregnancy, every delivery – you have to know your own situation and weigh all the pertinent factors before making the choice on how to feed your baby.

I was forced into the bottle for several reasons; my milk dried up due to blood pressure problems, my son was a preemie who never learned to nurse, and the stress of pumping (when my supply was dwindling anyway) was much too stressful for me, considering my problems with high blood pressure. I had to learn the hard way how to get over the guilt, and here are the tips that helped me:

· Today’s formula is perfectly fine; it contains all the nutrients baby needs.

· If you don’t take care of your body, how can you care for your infant?

· You do the best you can: I pumped for as long as my body would allow; therefore my son received five weeks of breastmilk, including the antibodies he needed for his immune system – better than nothing!

· Love and nurturing is the most important thing for your baby.

· Your baby won’t hate you for bottle feeding.

· It’s easier to bottle-feed when traveling or in public.

· You can bond over a bottle by wearing just a bra or camisole, and holding your infant against your skin.

If these sound like excuses to you, then you’ve never been in that situation. However you feed your baby, she cherishes your love more than anything. If you’re able to breastfeed, that is fantastic – I’m glad for you and I envy you! If not, you are no less of a mother: you’re just working with different tools.

For more information:

(1) http://www.womanshealth.gov/breastfeeding/index.cfm?page=227

(2) http://www.preemie-l.org/bfaq.html

(3) http://www.breastfeed.com/articles/overcoming-difficulties/stressed-out-and-dried-up-3259/

About the Author:

TJ Lord is a wife, mother, and member of Christian ministry; she is a freelance writer who specializes in sexuality and sexual health, marriage/relationships, babies and parenting, and fashion.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/boobies-and-bottles-789717.html

More pictures of peanuts room

Some Photos

Hello everyone I though I might show you some pictures of peanuts room.

It's getting crowded in here

Hello all we are now in week 36 and in the last month with just about 34 days left. My wife made a comment the other day how her baby calender has gone to the last image. According to my book, peanut is about 6 pounds and is 20 1/2 inches. As amount of room peanut has his movement should start to slow down, put peanut is still really active. Other then that it is slow week in development. Looking at week 37 it talks about lots of stuff, so I will keep you posted next week. By the way, if you did know already peanuts name is William Ezekiel Timpano.

The happiest Kid on the Block

A few weeks ago I wrote a blog about the baby care class me and my wife went to. In that blog I talked about how interesting the class was and what I learned. Like how to swaddle a baby and putting a diaper on a newborn. During the class the instructor also showed a video were Dr.Karp was showing ways to calm a crying baby. I found interesting and I finally had a chance to visit the Happiest Baby website. The site was pretty basic, but it had lots useful information. I did see that Kaiser has classes so I sent an email to get more information. Once we take the class I share what I learned. Below is an excerpt from his book The Happiest Baby on the Block.

Chapter 2 - Crying…our babies' ancient survival tool

Main points:

• The Crying Reflex: Your baby's brilliant attention-getting tool
• How a baby's crying can make a parent feel
• Do different baby cries have different meanings? Some babies scream even for little problems.

At delivery, your baby's powerful wails are a welcome sign that you've given birth to a healthy child. However, if after the first week or two, your infant continues to scream, his crying may become the last thing that you want to hear! But, we should be grateful for our baby's crying - it's one of their most wonderful abilities.

During the first few months of life, your baby will have no problem getting by without the foggiest idea of how to smile or talk, but he would be in terrible danger if he couldn't call out to you. Getting your attention is so important that your newborn can cry from the minute his head popped out of you. This great ability is called the "crying" reflex.

The Crying Reflex - Nature's brilliant solution for getting a cavewoman's attention!

"A baby's cry…cries to be turned off."

-Peter Ostwald, Soundmaking: The Acoustic Communication of Emotion (1963)

My guess is that millions of years ago, a Stone Age baby accidentally was born with a perfect way of getting his mother to come to him - screaming. Even if he yelped just because he had the hiccups or had scared himself, his mom appeared in seconds.

Other baby animals also need to get their mother's attention quickly, but they would never scream for it. Loud crying could be fatal for a young rabbit or monkey, because the sound might reveal his location to a hungry lion. For this reason, modern kittens meekly meow for help, squirrel monkeys beep softly if they fall out of a tree, and baby gorillas barely whimper when they need their moms.

Baby humans, on the other hand, gave up such caution a long time ago.

Whenever they needed their cavemom's attention, they wailed! Perhaps such
brash, demanding babies were safe because their parents were able to fight off dangerous animals. Or perhaps a powerful cry was the only sound that could carry far enough for a baby's mom to hear him while working or chatting with friends outside the cave. Some scientists even believe successive generations of babies began to shriek louder and louder because such noisy infants received more food and attention to keep them quiet, and thus were more likely to survive.

We may never know exactly when or how ancient human babies learned to cry, yet it's clear that the cave babies, who survived and passed their genes on to us, were those who could "raise a ruckus".

Your baby's shrill cry is powerful enough to yank you out of bed or hoist you off the toilet with your pants down. (Not bad for a ten-pound weakling!) However, it is a mistake to think your baby is crying because he's trying to call you for help. During the first few months, trying to get your attention is the furthest thing from your crying baby's mind. In fact, the amazing truth is your baby has absolutely no idea he's even sending you a message.

When you hear your two-week-old scream, you're not getting a communication from him; rather you're accidentally eavesdropping on his conversation…with himself.

His cries are like agitated complaints he's muttering to himself, "Gosh, I'm hungry." or "Boy, I'm cold." Since you're right next to him, you hear his grumbles and want to lovingly respond, "What's the matter sweetheart? You sound upset."