Hello and welcome to More4kids Family Portal! As proud parents and business owners, we are dedicated to bringing quality pregnancy, parenting and educational resources.
This part of our website is dedicated to conception, pregnancy, childbirth, health, early signs of pregnancy, baby names, and the future mothers, fathers and their children. Proper planning is very important before the birth of a new child. We hope you enjoy your time here.
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by Jennifer Shakeel
Today’s purses are bright and cheerful. These large hold all, carry all bags are inexpensive and you can buy them anywhere. Stores like Target, and Kohl’s, Wal Mart and Macy’s have rainbows of pouches and purses. Their vinyl, PVC and faux leather surfaces wipe clean with soap and water, they resist spills, and you can have one to match every outfit, and every pair of shoes. These purses have great appeal to young and old. Unfortunately, they are slow killers.
Purses have joined the ranks of toxic consumer products, along with painted toys from China and play jewelry for children. A recent report from the not for profit Center for Environmental Health states that these bags, when tested, have levels of lead up to ninety times higher than the federal limit for lead in paint. This is a frightening finding for women, and their children. The lead is used to preserve colors and softness in purses and wallets that are sold in many national chain stores. Out of twenty one outlets in California, sixteen had contamination that exceeded the level required for labeling under Proposition 65. The colors that showed the highest levels of lead are yellow, and yellow tinted colors, such as green and orange. ABC News reports that H&M and New York stores are working to address this problem and pull contaminated purses from their shelves in California.More on Lead Found in Purses Risk for Pregnant Women
Pollutants in the air are something many people worry about, and in some areas of the country this information is reported on the evening news. It turns out, this fear is not unfounded. There is mounting evidence from studies conducted around the country that exposure to air pollutants during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of complications, negative outcomes at birth and problems throughout infancy and early childhood.
Several studies have looked at particulate and nitrous oxide emissions from vehicle exhaust and the effect of this exposure on the developing fetus. Most pregnant women are exposed to some level of fumes from vehicles, but the level varies throughout the country.
A new study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health suggests that fetal growth may be slowed by exposure to air pollution, resulting in low birth weight and smaller head circumference. The study gathered data on over 400,000 pregnant women in the state of New Jersey from 1999 through 2003.
Data on the air pollution levels was gathered from EPA monitoring sites located near the homes of pregnant women. This information was used to determine the level of air pollution exposure during pregnancy. Based on this information, average pollution levels were assigned to study participants.
The results showed an increased risk of low birth weight baby with higher levels of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter. The study showed a higher risk among low income women, who were more likely to live in congested areas with heavy traffic congestion and the related air pollution. Researchers found a higher correlation between air pollution and birth weight when an increase in exposure to pollution occurred in early and late pregnancy.
A separate study showed negative effects on the IQ in children with exposure to air pollution in the womb. This study was conducted by the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health at Columbia University and published in the journal Pediatrics.More on Fetal Growth and Air Pollution
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Many people experience night sweats. This is a symptom associated with menopause, thyroid conditions, obesity and pregnancy. Genetics plays a role in the tendency to sweat at night. If you experienced night sweats prior to pregnancy, you may be more likely to have problems when you are pregnant. Make sure you consult with your health care professional.
How and when night sweats are experienced during pregnancy varies widely. Some women have an occasional episode and wake up soaked with sweat, but sleep uninterrupted most of the time. Others have problems frequently, particularly in the first and third trimesters when hormone fluctuations are most common. For some, the problem is resolved when the baby is born. For others, night sweats may continue in the weeks after the baby is born until the hormone levels gradually return to normal.
Causes of Night Sweats
Hormones are to blame for most of the discomforts and changes in pregnancy and sweating at night is no exception. Lower estrogen levels cause the hypothalamus to function improperly. The hypothalamus is a section of the brain that is responsible for regulating the body’s temperature. Normally, it responds to changes in temperature and releases excess heat in the body through sweat on a hot day.
During pregnancy, changes in estrogen levels can mistakenly be read by the hypothalamus, causing more heat to be produced by the body. This results in sweating to release the heat. The physiological process is similar to what is experienced by women in peri-menopause and menopause.More on Night Sweats During Pregnancy
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Premature Labor affects about 12% of babies in the U.S. and can happen as early by 28 weeks. Early detection is important.
by Patricia Hughes
Preterm or premature labor affects about 12 percent of babies born each year in the United States, according to statistics from the March of Dimes. Preterm labor is classified as labor that begins at or before the 36th week of pregnancy. Most preterm births occur after 32 weeks, but 6% of all preterm births happen by the 28th week of pregnancy. Early detection is crucial for doctors to stop the labor or provide other potentially life saving treatments for the baby and mother.
There are some warning signs of preterm labor. Some things to watch for include:
Contractions that occur at least ten minutes apart can be a sign of early labor and can be mild enough in the beginning to be confused with Braxton Hicks contractions, or false labor. These contractions may or may not have regular intervals, but if you have having at least four or five an hour, call your doctor or midwife.
Cramping: The severity of cramping or pain in the abdomen can vary, depending on the individual. In many cases, this has been described as similar to the cramping experienced during a typical period.
Discharge: Most pregnant women experience some degree of discharge during their pregnancies. Any changes in vaginal discharge, particularly clear fluid, spotting or bleeding should be reported to your doctor or midwife immediately. Any fluid loss should be reported to your health care provider. Some women mistakenly think they will feel a gush of fluid if the membranes rupture, but it can be a slow trickle, if blocked by the baby's head.
Infection: Certain infections, particularly Beta strep, urinary tract infections and sexually transmitted diseases can play a role in preterm birth. The best way to reduce this risk is to treat any infections, report symptoms to the doctor and for your health care provider to carefully monitor you for signs of preterm labor.
Low Back Pain: Lower back pain can be an early warning sign of preterm labor, as well as a discomfort of pregnancy. Sudden lower back pain should be reported to your doctor, since it can be a sign of early labor. What is sometimes mistaken for normal discomfort can actually be back labor.More on Signs of Premature Labor
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by Patricia Hughes
Leg Cramps are common during Pregnancy
Leg cramps are a common discomfort in pregnancy, particularly in the third trimester. The sudden cramping and tightening of the calf muscles is extremely painful and often happens at night, causing you to wake in pain from a peaceful sleep.
The exact cause of leg cramps is not known, but there are some factors believed to contribute to leg cramps. The increased weight of pregnancy, changes in blood circulation and pressure on the nerves from the growing baby are believed to cause the discomfort in the legs. The best way to deal with leg cramps is to prevent them.
Preventing Leg Cramps
There are some things you can do to prevent leg cramps. Standing or sitting for too long at one time can cause leg cramping. If your job requires you to stand or sit for extended periods of time, take breaks throughout the day. Put your feet up if you stand for work and get up and walk around periodically if you sit at a desk.More on Pregnancy Leg Cramps
by Jennifer Shakeel
Fifteen years ago I was told by many, "remember you are eating for two now," every time I sat down to a meal. The doctors weren't really all that concerned with the amount of weight I should gain… though towards the end they did tell me that I should be careful I would have trouble losing the weight. I was young, 21, I didn't care I would get back in shape, no problem.
Jump ahead to last year, with my last pregnancy and my fear of gaining weight took me over, the doctor's said to me, "You aren't really eating for two. Your body is going to provide the baby with the nutrients first… and they you. So make healthy food choices and you will be fine." They key was everything in moderation.
You have to make healthy food choices so that the nutrients that are going into your body are good for you and baby. You do need additional nutrients to help baby grow properly and for you to remain healthy while you are pregnant, but you are not eating for two people. A simple increase of only 300 calories a day is ideal to take care of you and baby.More on Pregnancy Weight Gain: Am I Eating for 2?
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Whether you are expecting your first baby or are an experienced mom, writing a birth plan helps you have the experience you want during delivery. Even though unexpected things may come up during labor, having a plan can help you feel in control when you walk through the hospital doors. Working together with your wishes, those of your partner and your doctor will help things go as desired.
What is a birth plan? It's simply a written plan that gives details on how you would like your labor to happen. It will include all the details, so that when you are in labor – and possibly not communicating so well, your nurses and doctor will have a clear outline of your expectations.
The first element of your birth plan will include what type of delivery you want to have. Some women want to schedule it in advance, know they want the epidural, and don't mind helping nature take its course. Other women want to go completely natural, with no pain medication. Others are willing to try natural with an epidural as an option. Reading up and talking with your provider and other moms on the risks and recovery will help you make the decision that is right for you.More on How to Create a Pregnancy Birth Plan
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When a woman becomes pregnant she can be both excited and a little frightened at the same time. There will be many changes happening over the next 9 months, and this is only the start of an amazing journey. Luckily we have the internet as a pregnancy resource in addition to our friends, family, books, and other helps! But the internet can be a little overwhelming too. If you Google “pregnancy”, you will find over 117,000,000 search results! So which websites will have the information you need? Here is a condensed list of what we believe are the top 25 pregnancy websites every woman should visit. They are jammed packed with information and resources. As we find or hear about more great ones we will add it to the list, so stop back. Now here is the list:Top Pregnancy Websites
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by Jennifer Shakeel
Congratulations, you have just given birth to a wonderful baby! However, as wonderful as giving birth is, the process puts tremendous stress and shock on your body. It is difficult to explain all of the complex and minute changes that your body has to go through to get your body back to pre-pregnancy status. In addition to recovering from being pregnant, the body also has to recover from the actual labor and birth of the baby, being up at all times of the night and day, severe sleep deprivation, and breastfeeding. Believe it or not your body goes through most of the changes in the first 30 days.
All of the "jobs" your body now has is often referred to the nutritional equivalent of running a half marathon… EVERY DAY. So it is important that new mothers understand that a lot of this work is done without them even realizing, so it is no wonder a mother's body and emotions are under such strain and generally leave us feeling fragile at this time. As such, emotional, physical and other issues can arise – which if not managed well can manifest into longer term problems. Studies have shown that a high percentage of new mothers in western cultures have health and sexual problems for several months to a year after delivery, and reported this as "normal".More on Pregnancy – The First 30 Days After Birth
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Pregnancy is a beautiful thing. I have difficulty putting into words just how amazing it is. You are creating life. It's exciting and at the same time it can be nerve wracking. So what are some of the common concerns when pregnant? Not only is your body changing, growing, and you are experiencing new aches and pains that you haven't felt before, your mind is also experiencing changes that you were not prepared for. You are not going crazy, what you are going through is normal. Whether this is your first pregnancy or your third, the aches, pains, concerns and emotionality are all unexpected and yes, they are normal.
I am going to address the most common concerns that women have when they are pregnant. The very first one that many pregnant women stress over is weight gain. I remember when I was pregnant the first time, some 16 years ago doctors watched the weight you gained, but they didn't tell you that you should only gain so much. So with my last pregnancy that ended only 5 months ago, weight gain is an issue and one that is monitored by the doctor.More on Common Pregnancy Concerns
