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Sunday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Babies of 2010 January 23, 2011
Where
Ask the Expert: "# $%&
Experts Work Best.
Question: What are some of the reasons why a C-section might be necessary? Answer:
! has occurred
Nationwide one-in-three babies is born via cesarean section. A C-section, or surgical delivery of a baby, can be planned or may be needed after a woman has begun labor and complications arise. Mothers-to-be should learn about cesarean delivery and why it is sometimes needed. A physician may plan a C-section delivery if he knows certain factors exist that would make a vaginal birth risky. In this event, the obstetrician and mother will select the delivery day after the mother is 39 weeks into her pregnancy.
All pregnancies and deliveries differ. A C-section is generally considered a safe procedure and has been used to save the lives of many women and babies. Work closely with your physician to decide what’s best for you and your baby.
Reasons for planning a C-section include: chooses not to have a vaginal birth after C-section in a vaginal delivery
Ken Slack, M.D., Obstetrician/Gynecologist Appointments: ' ( ) * + / 012 425 6728
Some C-sections are emergency deliveries performed after labor started and a complication has come up. Reasons an obstetrician may elect to do a C-section include:
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Connect with us: Although the content of this ad is intended to be accurate, neither the publisher nor any other party assumes liability bility for loss or damage due to reliance on this material. If you have a medical question, consult your medical professional. onal.
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naming
rights and
wrongs JADE CODY SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR
M
y sister’s name is English. Middle name: Mint. Yes, you read that right. No, she doesn’t double as a brand of tea. When my parents chose names for my sister and I, they wanted to pick something unique, which, obviously, they ac-
complished. There’s something to be said for a name that nobody else shares, and besides good ’ole Alex English, we don’t know anyone who has her name. Obviously, everyone has their own taste as far as names go. Some people prefer to find religious or familial meaning in a child’s name. Some want to embrace an idea or object, such as spirit or apple, and some just want to give their precious baby a name they are fond of. “The choice of a baby’s name reflects more about the parents than it does about the child,” said Beth Firestein, a licensed therapist in Loveland. “Some people choose biblical names to reflect their faith. Other’s choose names to reflect their hopes and aspirations. And some parents want to give their child a special and unique identity in the world.” Among things to avoid, Firestein said names that are hard to spell or pronounce should be avoided, along with names that might lead to teasing from other children. So do names impact a child’s personality? Not always, Firestein said. “I do think names can shape an individual’s identity, but not always. A name can
be something to live up to, or a source of pride for a family.” For parents struggling to come to agreement on a name for their child, Firestein recommended compromising if possible. One parent might get to pick the first child’s name, and the other parent could pick the name of the second child. Or, let the parent who feels the strongest on a particular name choose. She said going through baby name books together might help. Looking at the names of the babies that were sent in to the Reporter-Herald this year, a few trends seem apparent:
LAST NAME FIRST NAMES A trend in the last decade, people are using common last names for their babies. We got a Jaxon, Parker and a Madisen.
K NAMES Names that started with the letter K were by far the most common of the RH’s submissions, with six total. Coming in second were the letters L, J, E and C, all with three.
the name game According to online baby name site, Nameberry.com, the top names for U.S. babies in 2010 were as follows.
GIRLS: 1. Charlotte 2. Seraphina 3. Olivia 4. Elizabeth 5. Isla 6. Sophia 7. Alice 8. Violet 9. Lucy 10. Ava
BOYS: 1. Henry 2. Finn 3. Oliver 4. James 5. Asher 6. Jack 7. Max 8. Quinn 9. Jude 10. Liam
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Sunday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Babies of 2010 January 23, 2011 little on the bottles and/or nipples that are supposed to reduce the amount of air ingested while bottle feeding. Instead of buying bottle after bottle in search of one that works, go straight to the top and avoid the hassles. These also can be beneficial to breastfeeding mothers who may want to share feedings with a spouse or family member. be kept in your room while you • Entertainment: As your baby sleep or on another level if you grows, he or she will want to try don’t want to disturb other mem- out new tricks. Simply being bers of the household when the placed on a blanket or in the crib baby awakens to be fed. will not suffice. A swing can be a • Diaper bags: You may want to good way to have your hands free invest in two sizes of diaper bags. for a while. Today’s swings are innovative in that they offer vibraPick a large one for when you’re tion, music, lights, motion in difgoing to be out for a while and need to pack a change of clothes, ferent direction, and many other toys and other essentials. A small- bells and whistles. You can also iner bag will be good for quick stops vest in an exercise saucer. They’re safer than walkers and can be to the store or if you’re just runused with babies who are able to ning out for a few minutes and hold their head up adequately need to bring along the basics. (from about four months on). • Anti-colic bottles: Splurge a This gives the child the feeling of being vertical and enables the child to stretch his or her legs. • Smaller-sized bags of diapers: Babies grow very quickly. If you stock up on cases of one particular sized disposable diaper, chances are your little one will out grow the size before you use up the hundreds of diapers. Some manufacturers now offer dual-
new mom?
no problem
Veteran mothers pass along advice for new moms METRO CREATIVE SERVICES
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ongratulations to the women who recently had children or are about to give birth. Becoming a mother can be a wonderful, if not nervewracking, experience. You want to be sure you do everything right by your baby. However, with mixed messages from experts and wellmeaning friends and family members, it can be confusing. Plus, with so many baby products on the market, many new moms wonder what they should buy, and what they can pass up. Based on advice from veteran mothers, here are some tips for surviving those first few months with your new baby.
WHAT TO BUY When stocking up on baby essentials, here are the items you will likely use again and again. • Infant sleeping sacks: It is recommended to place your baby to sleep on his or her back and in a place free of items that can potentially smother the child. This also means blankets. Therefore, skip the package of receiving blankets and opt for zip-up sleeping sacks instead. • Bassinet or co-sleeper: Your baby spent over nine months nestled inside of your womb. Once born, he or she isn’t going to appreciate the wide expanse of a crib. A smaller area in which to bed down will create that safe environment desired. Plus, a bassinet can
ThinkStock photos sized diapers, meaning they stretch the weight limit a little so you can get more use out of a particular size.
is often tricky when you’re sleep deprived and doing the warming at 3 a.m. It is not essential to heat baby bottles. There are no health implications if you give a baby a WHAT YOU MAY WANT TO cold bottle. Heating is more for PASS ON comfort. Running the bottle under hot tap water or microwaving Here are a few items you can a plastic container of water and probably live without. • Bottle warmers: Some moth- then placing the bottle inside is ers swear by bottle warmers, while equally effective. • Wipe warmers: Sure, the others simply swear at them. Bottle warmers often work by placing thought of wiping your baby with warm wipes seems very appealing. a small amount of water in the However, as your baby grows, you bottle of a heating area. The water creates steam, which heats up will be changing him or her on the go or in other areas of the the bottle. It takes a precise house; not necessarily in the nursamount of water to heat the botery where the wipe warmer is lotle accurately — something that cated. • Fancy bottle sterilizers: You can sterilize bottles by boiling them in water or running them through the dishwasher. • Video monitors: Sure the thought of seeing your little one while he or she is sleeping can be reassuring. However, is this more of a novelty than a necessity? Did you know that much like a cordless phone signal can be accidentally shared by someone on the same frequency, so too can the monitor? It’s possible for someone crafty to tap into the signal and “see” inside of your house. If you don’t believe you will be using the monitors that frequently, chances are you can simply use the audio models instead. • Babies only detergent: Laundry detergent marketed to parents of infants tends to be some of the most expensive out there. There are other brands available that are free of dyes and preservatives that may be more affordable. Plus, you won’t have to worry about doing separate batches of laundry from your own.
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baby
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steps
Five financial tips for expecting parents ARA
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1. START EARLY During your pregnancy, take the time to determine your family’s immediate financial needs as well as your long-term goals.
2. CREATE A REALISTIC BUDGET Determine the true cost of what you will need and weigh it against the new realities of your household income situation. This is particularly important if you plan on leaving the workforce for an extended period of time. Consult another new parent for a list of monthly baby expenses to get a clear picture of those costs.
3. START AND/OR INCREASE AN EMERGENCY FUND The chances of unexpected expenses will become much greater once the little one comes on the scene.
4. GET PROTECTION THROUGH PROPER INSURANCE It’s time to face your own mortality and vulnerability. Protection is critical. Consult with a financial representative to insure your health, property, in-
Be sure to update the beneficiary designation on your own policies once the baby is born.
come and life through appropriate insurance. In addition, consider a juvenile life insurance policy when your child is born. Be sure to update the beneficiary designation on your own policies once the baby is born. “For new parents, one of the biggest financial priorities we hear about is their desire to protect their family’s financial future,” said Bruce Fear, vice president of protection products and solutions for Thrivent Financial. “The foundation of this protection starts with having the proper insurance in place in case of an unexpected event. This can provide some peace of mind to many parents.”
5. SAVE FOR COLLEGE Before you know it your child will leave the nest, so start saving for junior’s college experience now. A financial professional can assist with the various investment tools available today for college savings. Furthermore, opening a savings account in the child’s name is a great starting point for depositing monetary gifts given to the child.
BA-323309
hile today’s economy continues to put extra stress on most Americans’ wallets, those preparing to welcome a new child into the family experience the added pressure of a whole new set of expenses. From diapers to baby furniture and day care, the costs for new parents mount quickly. For some, the reality of these expenses is daunting. Others are completely unaware of how the joy of a new child will impact their financial situation. So, just how much does a baby cost? The answer depends on many factors. Does one parent stay at home or does the family hire a child care provider? Will the child attend public or private school? Is there a need for a larger home or car for the growing clan? Raising a child costs an average of nearly $11,000 the first year and more than $220,000 for the first 18 years, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. So where do expecting and new parents start?
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Sunday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Babies of 2010 January 23, 2011 ThinkStock photos
tips for
easier feeding
ents. Bottle-feeding can be easy for both mother and baby, and gives other family members the chance to help out with feeding and experience bonding with the eeding a baby, it’s been said, is a baby. collaborative effort between an Regardless of how you feed your baby, adult and a baby, neither of whom feeding time is an important time for have much education or experience in the matter. While infants are born with a bonding and nourishing. Here are a few strong instinct to suck, that doesn’t nec- tips to make feeding easier, whether you nurse or bottle-feed: essarily mean they know how to drink. • Choose a quiet place for feeding your And the parents’ instinct to nurture and care for a newborn doesn’t mean they will baby. This may not always be possible, but it will make mealtime much more enjoyautomatically know the best way to feed able. As the baby grows, this will also help their babies. her focus on feeding versus being disEven if you already have children, you may find feeding a new baby a challenge, tracted by what’s happening around her. • Use a feeding pillow, like the Boppy depending on how different her personality is from her older siblings. Some babies Feeding and Infant Support Pillow, to make feeding time easier for mom and will take to breast-feeding happily and baby. It puts mom in the correct erturn their little noses up at the hint of a gonomic position, relieving back and bottle. Others will struggle with nursing and find greater success and satisfaction neck strain. It also supports the baby, as with a bottle. And many babies will prefer babies always need to have their heads a combination of nursing and bottle-feed- supported properly when eating. • Snuggle. Feeding is the perfect time ing. to bond, so enjoy those special moments All three methods have their advanbetween parent and baby. Infants love tages and challenges. Breast-feeding ofskin-to-skin contact. Nursing mothers get fers nutritional and developmental bene- this naturally. Parents using a bottle can fits to a baby, and cost savings for parsnuggle their baby close to their face and wear short sleeves to maximize skin contact. • Let the baby decide when she is full. She knows when she’s had enough to eat. Nursing moms are often concerned about their baby getting enough to eat. In general, if the baby is back up to birth weight within two weeks, she’s getting what she needs. • Burp the baby — a lot. Babies often swallow too much air and need help to get it out. If the baby is fussy or not interested in feeding, sometimes she just needs to be burped. Once the gas is relieved, she’ll be comfortable and ready to continue eating. • If using formula, make sure to measure. Follow the directions on the label; the correct ratio is important to maintaining nutritional balance. Put the recommended amount of water in a clean bottle and then add the formula. This will help make measuring more accurate too. If you put the formula in the bottle first, you will end up adding less water than recommended. • Learn what the experts recommend for storage times on both breast milk and
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formula. Times can vary depending on storage methods. • Let Dad help. Dad and baby will bond over feedings and Mom will get a few much-needed minutes of rest. • Reach out to the experts, such as doctors and lactation consultants, if you need assistance. They are there to help. Feeding is one of the greatest joys of parenthood. It’s a special time to nourish and bond with your baby. Whatever feeding solution you choose, enjoy the quiet moments together and be confident that you are helping your baby grow into a healthy, wonderful little person.
Boppy Feeding and Infant Support Pillow
Sunday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Babies of 2010 January 23, 2011 11
self soothe
Mom&Tot Social Spot
How to encourage your baby to self-soothe
NoCoTots is a hub for active moms and their children
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here are many things parents can teach their children. However, there are some things that children must learn for themselves. Soothing is one of them. But that doesn’t mean parents can’t provide the environment for baby to do the learning. If your baby never spends time playing on the floor, how can he or she learn how to crawl? The same concept applies to self-soothing. If your child never has the opportunity to try to calm himself or herself down, the baby will continually be reliant on you as the parent to provide the soothing. Self-soothing takes time and practice, just like anything else a baby will learn. Ensuring your baby catches on quickly requires a few steps.
1. CREATE A ROUTINE If you want your baby to selfsoothe at nap time and bedtime do the same things each day before you will be placing your child in the crib, and ideally at the same time. For example, at nap time tell your child that he is going to go for a nap. At night, give the baby a bath, feeding or whatever nighttime routine you use.
2. USE YOUR SIGNALS Learn to read the baby’s signals that indicate he or she is getting
JENNIFER LEHMAN SPECIAL SECTIONS REPORTER
A ThinkStock photos tired. Chances are your baby will become tired at the same time each day and sleeping patterns will become predictable.
3. CRIB NOTES Baby goes in the crib when he or she is drowsy, but not entirely asleep. Place the child in the crib when he or she is showing signs of sleepiness. This way the infant grows accustomed to falling asleep in the crib, rather than in your arms or in your bed. The first few times will likely be met with resistance. However, give your baby time to figure it out. Don’t run in and pick up the baby at the first whimper.
4. WAKING THE SLEEPING BABY IS ACCEPTABLE Many parents adhere to the
mantra “never wake a sleeping baby.” However, you have to look at the bigger picture and use your own instincts when baby is sleeping. If your child has fallen asleep outside of the usual schedule, or is taking a longer nap than usual, it may be alright to wake him or her to get the child back on track. Also, if your baby has fallen asleep in your arms at night, you may want to wake the child so that he or she has the opportunity to drift back off while in the crib. This way he or she learns how to self-soothe and that will pay dividends when the infant can go back to sleep without your help in the middle of the night.
5. DON’T GIVE UP If your baby just won’t catch on, he or she may not be ready. Wait a few weeks and try again. Find out if there’s something you’re doing wrong, such as rushing into the baby’s room prematurely or failing to create a relaxing, predictable schedule before it’s time to drift to sleep. Eventually your child can learn how to self-soothe.
fter their first child was born, Tiffany and Gary Blackden of Fort Collins noticed a gap in the social scene for families with small children. It was hard to get recommendations for things to do and places to go with a child under five-years-old, Blackden said, with most activities geared toward schoolaged children. Being a mom with small children can be very isolating, but it doesn’t have to be, Blackden said. The couple created NoCoTots in March 2010, to connect moms, dads and their small children, from pregnancy to five years old, via a single hub of resources and planned events. Included are resources on staying active and getting outdoors with tips on how to hike with little ones, the best outdoor spots for young families and tips for travelling with toddlers. The site also lists favorite indoor/outdoor playgrounds, parks, birthday venues and places where tots eat free. NoCoTots recently started a monthly health series, Tot Health, where visiting
health professionals share information on how to take a more natural approach to treating health problems common with small children, Blackden said. Expecting parents can find pregnancy resources and classes like one recently held called Ten Ways to a Better Birth, on how mothers can find support to achieve the birth they want. Links are listed for other local resources like local chapters and meetings for MOPS, Mothers of Preschoolers, and La Leche, an international breast feeding support group. Each week NoCoTots hosts a playdate and periodically organizes family playdates like a recent outing to the Nature and Science Center in Denver, Blackden said. Parents can keep up on calendar updates and information through the site’s newsletter, and MeetUp.com Facebook pages. There is no membership fee and classes are free, sponsored by local businesses with services catering to parents of small children, Blackdens said. For more information, go to www.nocotots.com.
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Sunday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Babies of 2010 January 23, 2011
s n o o i t f a B r e e a n utiful B e G g n i r a e bies v i l e d o a r D f o o l r o o C ver 40 ye n r e h t r o ars! in N
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