by Jennifer Shakeel
As a mamma to be you have probably thought whether or not you should breastfeed your newborn. There isn’t a mom in the world that does not know that when it comes to providing the best for your baby, then you should consider breastfeeding your child. Breastfeeding is scientifically proven to have many benefits for both infants and mothers. It is estimated that breast milk contains one hundred ingredients not found in formula. Breast milk is so nutritious that virtually all a baby’s organs benefit from it. I know, there are some formulas that boost they are the next best thing to breast milk… but when it comes to the health of your baby, is the next best thing really all you want to give?
Firstly, breastfeeding an infant fortifies his immune system, which is still largely undeveloped. According to scientists who study breast-feeding, babies who have been breast-fed have fewer cases of diarrhea, constipation, ear infections, and allergies. Furthermore, the mysterious Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is less common among breast-fed babies.
Breastfeeding may also help stimulate brain development in babies. It is estimated that children who have been breastfed have higher IQs of at least eight points than formula-fed children. Breast milk also continually evolves as the infant matures, containing different amounts of different nutrients as the baby reaches newer developmental stages. Because breast milk is human milk, rather than artificial milk, it contains the exact amounts of amino acids, fats, water, and carbohydrates that best nurture a baby. It is also at a warm temperature, which often promotes better sleep.
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Filed under Breastfeeding, Pregnancy by More4kids Inc.
Anticipating the arrival of a new baby is an exciting experience. There are a number of preparations to be made, and many decisions to make. One of the most important decisions that parents have to make – especially mothers – has to do with the nourishment of the child. A mother must determine whether she will breastfeed her child, or feed her child through the use of a bottle.
I know how difficult that this type of decision is. I have been there, and had to make the decision as well. Here, I will expound on some of the pros and cons related to breastfeeding. I feel that it is important to know and understand these so that you can make a better informed decision overall. More on Breastfeeding - Pros and Cons
Filed under Baby, Breastfeeding, Pregnancy by More4kids Inc.
A note from Julie: The decision to breastfeed should be made ahead of time. This article describes some of the benefits. I breastfed my first son and am now going on to breastfeed our most recent addition to our family. It can be physically and emotionally exhausting at times but feel it is well worth it.
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Filed under Breastfeeding, Moms, Pregnancy by More4kids Inc.
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.
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by Patricia Hughes
What are some of the changes in the sixth month of pregnancy. First, the fetus is moving a lot this month. The baby is still small enough to move freely in the fluid and changes positions often. She breathes in fluid and swallows it. This helps the baby develop the muscles used in breathing and eating.
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Filed under Pregnancy, Stages Of Pregnancy by More4kids Inc.
In the seventh month, the fetus can hear her mother’s heart beat. She knows Mommy’s voice and is starting to hear voices outside mom’s body. She can hear the voices of her family. The baby is also aware of changes in light. She can detect light and dark, especially extremes, such as bright sun light. More on Changes In The Seventh Month Of Pregnancy
Filed under Pregnancy, Stages Of Pregnancy by More4kids Inc.
by Patricia Hughes
More on How to Write a Birth Plan
Filed under Pregnancy by More4kids Inc.
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.
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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 More4kids Inc.
New at More4kids - learn how to deal with Stretch Marks
Hello and welcome to More4kids Family Portal! As a proud parents and business owners, we wanted to do something a little different from most Parenting sites. Here at More4kids we are dedicated to bringing quality parenting and educational resources. We also want parents, future parents, grandmothers and grandfathers, aunts and uncles to be fully involved with More4kids. Not only will you be able to participate in forums, but also will have the ability to express yourself and respond to any articles written here. In fact, we encourage your participation! We are dedicated to building the best online community of parents and educators on the internet as we learn from each other.
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The section of More4kids you have landed on is dedicated to pregnancy, the future mothers, fathers and their children. Here you will find information and resources on childbirth, planning for your baby, infertility and alternatives to pregancy such as adoption. As brand new parents for the second time, we are excited about this section. Proper planning is very important before the birth of a new child. The main categories for this section is on the right hand site. To navigate to other parts of our site click on the links at the top of this page or on the bottom. The main categories at the top of the page are areas of our site that are more detailed about a particular topic. For example, selecting Education will bring up topic on homeschooling, reading, and homework tips. In our Disabilities section you will find information on learning, physcial and emotional disabilties. Finally, our Pregnancy topic area is devoted to family and baby planning as well as other topics of interest during pregnancy.
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Filed under Blog by More4kids Inc.
Depression is one of the most common complications during and after pregnancy. Postpartum depression can be mild or moderate, but can be treated by psychotherapy or medications. However, if a woman’s depression is severe, she may be given both treatments.
Women who experience severe premenstrual syndrome tend to suffer from postpartum depression after pregnancy. Mothers with postpartum depression love their newborns, but feel incapable of becoming good mothers.
There are numerous reasons why pregnancy can make a woman depressed. A stressful event and hormone changes are the two leading factors that could trigger of depression, which could cause chemical changes in a woman’s brain. Sometimes, the cause of depression is unknown.
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