by Patricia Hughes
Choosing your baby’s doctor is a big decision. You may want to start thinking about it and checking around before your baby is born. This person will care for your baby for well visits and through illness. You need to find a doctor that has a similar philosophy about infant care and that you are able to communicate with comfortably.
Finding a Pediatrician
There are several sources of information about pediatricians. One good place to get a recommendation is from friends or family members. Ask your friends with babies and young children about their pediatricians. Also ask your obstetrician (OB) for suggestions.
If you are new to the area or don’t have friends with young children, you can ask your health care provider for a recommendation. If you are pregnant, you will be asked for the name of your pediatrician in the hospital. If this is your first pregnancy, the time to shop for a doctor is before the baby arrives. More on Choosing A Pediatrician For Your Baby
by Patricia Hughes
If your baby is born in a hospital, testing will begin immediately after the birth. Depending on where you live, your baby may be tested for a variety of disorders. In addition to testing, there are several procedures that are common after the birth of a baby. Become familiar with these procedures so you can make decisions and include these in your birth plan.
The baby’s first test is the APGAR. This is done at one and five minutes after the birth to evaluate the baby’s condition. The test was developed by Dr. Virginia Apgar to assess newborns. The test assess five areas to determine baby’s condition at birth. These are Activity, Pulse, Grimace, Appearance and Respiration. Each area is given a score from 0 to 2. The total possible score is 10. Don’t panic if your baby doesn’t have a perfect score; most babies don’t. More on Newborn Testing – What To Expect
Congratulations! After all the months of waiting, your baby has finally arrived. Your days of pregnancy has finally ended, and a new exciting adventure is about to begin. These first days are an amazing time that passes so quickly. These early days and weeks should be spent getting to know and bonding with your baby, both you and daddy. Naturally, family and close friends will want to stop by to see the new little one. However you may want to limit visits during the first week or so.
Take care of yourself. Remember that you have just gone through child birth. you will be tired and you need to rest. Don’t try to be supermom and do crazy things like cleaning the house and cooking a big dinner. Believe me; you have the rest of your life for all that. Right now, you need to concentrate on resting and getting to know the new little member of your family. More on Pregnancy, Childbirth and Your Newborn – Now What?
Filed under Pregnancy by 
For most women, pregnancy is a healthy, normal part of life, rather than a medical event. However, for about seven percent of pregnant women, a complication will occur. Becoming familiar with some of the complications of pregnancy won’t prevent a problem from happening, but it’s good to have some knowledge. When you know some of the symptoms, you can get medical treatment faster and give your baby the best possible chance of a healthy birth. This is by far not an exhaustive list, and if ever you suspect or feel anything wrong you should seek medical attention or contact your health care professional. More on Some Common Pregnancy Complications and Symptoms
Filed under Pregnancy by
by Patricia Hughes
Taking a childbirth class during pregnancy is the best way to learn about labor and delivery. You will also learn about possible complications, interventions and procedures. You will have the chance to ask questions of the instructor. Taking a childbirth class helps reduce anxiety and may lessen the need for pain medications in labor. You will learn relaxation and breathing techniques to help you deal with the pain of labor. The two most common classes are Bradley and Lamaze.
The Bradley Method
The Bradley Method is also called Husband Coached Childbirth. This method was developed by Dr. Robert Bradley in the 1940s and was revolutionary at that time. This method emphasizes natural childbirth without medication and minimal interventions. More on Choosing a Childbirth Class
Filed under Pregnancy by
by Patricia Hughes
Negative body image is a problem for many women. In some cases, the problem only gets worse in pregnancy. Society offers the image of the emaciated supermodel as the ideal. This is not realistic at any time of life, especially during pregnancy. Some women love their curves during pregnancy, but others hate it.
Your feelings about your body may change many times during your pregnancy. These highs and lows are typical and nothing to worry about. However, if you feel depressed frequently or find yourself skipping meals or trying to lose weight, this is not healthy. Talk to your doctor right away. He or she may be able to refer you to a counselor with experience in this area.
Tips for Increasing Self Esteem
Eat a Healthy Diet: Focus on health, rather than size during this important time in your life. Remember that you are nourishing your baby with every bite you take. Choose healthy foods for meals and snacks. When you are caring for your body, you naturally feel better about it. This increases your self image. More on Maintaining a Positive Self Image During Pregnancy
Filed under Pregnancy by
by Patricia Hughes
Pregnancy is an amazing time, but can also be a stressful time of life. You are busy preparing for the arrival of a new baby. You may spend most of your time working at a job or caring for other children. The fatigue of pregnancy coupled with pressures from work or home life can leave you exhausted. It’s important to take some time to pamper yourself from time to time.
A Day at the Spa: Indulge in a day at the spa, or just a treatment or two. Look for a spa that offers prenatal massage. This should be done by someone experienced and trained in massaging pregnant women. Most have tables with a space for the belly cut out for your comfort. After the massage, treat yourself to a facial and a pedicure. A pedicure and painted toe nails will have your feet ready for sandal season and you won’t have to worry about your inability to reach your feet. More on Pregnancy and the Importance of Pampering Yourself
