My Baby!

Baby! y M

A Gatehouse Media / Topeka Capital Journal

2018-2019

From Baby Bump to Baby’s First Birthday

The

Everything Planner

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Women’s Health Specialists No matter what stage of life you are in—your overall well-being is our top priority. Whether you need a routine checkup, pregnancy care or a surgical solution, our professional team of physicians, nurse-midwives and a nurse practitioner focuses on your needs to bring you quality care in the comfort of our safe, family-friendly facility.

Sara Blake, MD, FACOG

Brian Cobb, MD, FACOG

Jamie Rempe, DO, FACOOG

Laura Tate, DO

Tom Wiley, MD, FACOG

Kierston Bocquin, APRN, CNM

Denise Nickel, APRN, CNM

Kim Teske, APRN, CNM

Cheryl Dultmeier, APRN, FNP-C

Women’s Center Obstetrics and Gynecology 634 SW Mulvane St., Suite 209, Topeka, KS 66606 Phone: 785-295-5330 | kutopeka.com TP-00021256

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Getting Ready for Pregnancy

Cover photo by TH Peterson Photography 785.793.2492 | 785.213.0812 www.THPetersonPhoto.com

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Finding an Obstetrician

Emotional Support

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Labor Memories

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Your Baby’s Birth Story

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Hand and Footprints

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Your Pregnancy Month by Month

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Bob Musilek EDITOR: Robin Good ADVERTISING: Terri Benson Sheila Kearney Brett Lackey Fabiola Sierra Danielle Sipe Jake Woodland DESIGN & PRODUCTION: Denise Fuller For more information or to get a copy of Oh Baby! contact the Topeka Capital Journal at 785-295-1175 or email tbenson@cjonline.com

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Nutrition: Eating for the Health of Your Family

CPR Budgeting for Baby

Choosing Child Care

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Tracking Your Baby…

Developmental Milestones

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Baby Nursery Design

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Baby Rooms on a Budget

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Nesting

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Choosing a Pediatrician

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Common Questions to Ask Your Pediatrician

Baby’s First Tooth

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Baby’s Tooth Chart

Risk Factors in Pregnancy Warning Signs Pregnancy Milestones A Baby Friendly Hospital Preparing Children For Pregnancy

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Read Aloud Everyday

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Dressing your Little One

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Baby Safety

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Pregnancy and Physical Therapy

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Breastfeeding

Baby Milestones

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Vaccine Tracker

Pregnancy Visits

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Showing Off That Bump

Essentials of Baby Shower Etiquette

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Getting your Body Back

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Safe Sleep

Chiropractic

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Checkup Worksheets

Baby Registry

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Exercising During Pregnancy

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Gestures by16 Months

Infant Reflux

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Baby’s First Birthday

Ultrasound / Sonograms

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Bonding with Baby

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What Do My Parents Think Today?

Stop Smoking

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Finding The Perfect Name

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Midwifery Care

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PUBLISHER: Stephen Wade

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Name Games

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How will I know when I’m in Labor?

What to Expect at the Hospital:

Your Optimal Pregnancy

Staff

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2018 Popular Baby Names

Planning Baby’s Birth

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Hospital Bag Checklist

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Tracking Your Toddler

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Getting Ready for What most couples don’t realize when considering a baby is that it involves a lot of thought and planning. It’s not enough to be mentally ready – you have to be physically ready (fit), and healthy. This gives you a head start to having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

How to get Pregnant As many of you know, conception is not as easy as it seems. While a few get lucky and conceive quickly, for others it can take longer than anticipated - sometimes years. By making a few healthy choices and lifestyle compromises you can increase your odds of getting pregnant. From eating the right foods, to losing weight and cutting down on caffeine and alcohol, you can make a direct impact on your ability to conceive.

If getting pregnant is high on your priority list, here is what you can do to increase your chances:

Eat Healthy There is nothing like a well-balanced diet to trigger your baby making process. Make sure to get ample doses of protein, zinc, iron, and Vitamin C to enhance your chances of conception.

Say no to Smoking Smoking affects fertility and also damages the ovaries. If you are considering pregnancy there is no better time to kick the habit!

Pregnancy

How do you know you’re ovulating?

Clear indications are: • Your cervical mucus becomes clear and slippery toward your ovulation date.

• There is a slight rise in body temperature after you have ovulated.

The Signs of Pregnancy One of the early positive signs of pregnancy is missing your period. This may differ from person to person. Here are more symptoms that could confirm your pregnancy: • Food Aversions • Frequent Urination • Mood Swings • Fatigue • High Basal Body Temperature • Tender, Swollen Breasts • Darkened Areola • Food Cravings • Morning Sickness • Positive Home Pregnancy Test

Stages of Pregnancy The nine-month pregnancy span is divided into three periods known as trimesters. During each of these trimesters, there are significant developments that occur.

First Trimester

High stress levels can wreak havoc on your hormonal system, thereby affecting ovulation and conception.

The baby grows quickly in this period. From being a tiny embryo, the fetus grows to the size of a kidney bean.

It is continuously moving with its heart beating quickly and intestines forming. The earlobes, eyelids, mouth, and nose are also taking shape.

Fitness Matters

Second Trimester

Exercise regularly. Walk, swim, cycle, or hike. Anything that gets you up and moving will do the trick. Being underweight or overweight can make conception harder and affect your baby’s health.

In the beginning of the second trimester, your baby is about 4 1/2 inches long and weighs about 45 grams from head to toe. The baby now has fingerprints! As the weeks go by the skeleton starts to form and the baby develops the ability to hear. You’re likely to feel the “butterfly kicks” as a fluttering sensation that begins between weeks 18 and 22.

Avoid Stress

Keep Away from Alcohol An occasional drink may not majorly impact fertility, but research has shown that alcohol impairs fertility and harms the developing fetus.

Frequency Have frequent sex to increase your chances of conception. Most fertility experts feel that infrequent sex at the best time of the cycle is one of the most common causes of infertility.

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Third Trimester In this final trimester your baby gains more weight. She/ he can blink their eyes, and wrinkled skin starts to smooth.

They also begin to grow fingernails, toenails, and real hair. At full term, the average baby is more than 19 inches long and weighs nearly 7 lbs.

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Finding an

Obstetrician How can I find an obstetrician to care for me during my pregnancy?

If you’re seeing a gynecologist you like who practices obstetrics as well, you may want to ask him or her to care for you during your pregnancy - particularly if you like the hospital where the doctor attends births.

If you need to find an obstetrician, ask one of your healthcare providers to recommend someone or talk to your friends or relatives who have recently had a baby or who work in healthcare in your area. Childbirth educators are also a good source for referrals and friends.

If you don’t come up with any recommendations on your own, try calling the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, in Washington, D.C., at (202) 638-5577. They can give you names of board-certified ob-gyns in your area. You can also visit the ACOG website (www.acog.org) to find a doctor in your zip code.

What criteria should I use to choose my obstetrician?

Only you can decide which are the most important considerations for you – it’s a very personal decision.

Keep in mind that you may be able to narrow your list of choices with a simple phone call. There’s no need to meet with a doctor who isn’t in your network of providers if that’s a requirement for your insurance coverage.

Here are some other things to consider: Your Health History

a physician with whom you are comfortable is very important. The ability to relax and ask questions with your obstetrician is vital to maintaining a positive relationship and pregnancy.

Remember - if you suspect you may be pregnant or if you have taken a positive pregnancy test, make an appointment with your doctor to ensure that you will have a happy and healthy nine months!

Do you have any chronic illnesses - such as high blood pressure, epilepsy, heart disease, or diabetes - or previous complications that may require special care? If so, ask the doctors you’re considering what experience they have caring for patients with your circumstances, and consider whether you should be cared for by a perinatologist (a doctor who specializes in high-risk births).

If you’ve previously had a c-section, would you like to try to have a vaginal birth this time? In that case, you’ll want to make sure that both the provider and the hospital are supportive of vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC).

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Todd Trobough, MD Douglas Gleason, MD Jamesina Dickson, MD Jeffrey Teply, MD Heather Morrison, MD Kimberly Brey, MD

Leslie Arnold, CNM Elizabeth Kamprath, CNM Chandra Case, CNM Shannon Obdyke, APRN

800 SW Lincoln Topeka, KS 66606

2830 SW Urish Rd Topeka, KS 66614

785-233-5101

lincolncenterobgyn.com

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The Doctor’s Outlook Find out the doctor’s attitude about issues that may be important to you, such as the routine use of interventions like IVs, continuous electronic fetal monitoring, and episiotomy. You can’t predict what your individual situation will require, but you can get an idea of the general approach your doctor has to your care…not to mention his or her practice patterns.

You may also want to determine the doctor’s feelings about having a doula or other support person/people present at the birth besides (or in addition to) your partner. Is the doctor supportive of natural childbirth, if that is what you’re interested in? Is breastfeeding encouraged?

Compatibility Pregnancy and childbirth are exciting, but they can also be stressful. So the best healthcare partner is one you feel comfortable with and whom you can communicate easily.

The Anatomy of Prenatal Visits You will probably need to free up your schedule to allot ample time to clear your doubts and apprehensions during the initial stages of your pregnancy as well as what to expect over the next few months. If possible, it would also be advisable to invite your partner to the doctor’s consultation.

During the first meeting, the doctor will be able to give you the expected delivery date of the baby. This estimation of the date is also important for careful evaluation of the monthly growth of the fetus. For women with irregular menstrual cycles, doctors usually recommend ultrasound scans to get a clearer picture of your delivery due date. Mothers-to-be will be asked to record their height, weight, and blood pressure to have a reliable assessment of health. In some cases, PAP tests may be required to screen for cervical cancer.

On prenatal visits, blood tests are also conducted to screen for certain diseases such as: • Mumps • HIV • Measles • Kidney Disorders • Rubella • Diabetes • Syphilis Apart from these tests, the doctor will ask you about your lifestyle and eating habits and may ask you to make the appropriate changes to accommodate your pregnancy.

ensure you are getting enough nutrients in your diet. If you have questions, be sure to list them so you can discuss with your doctor. You’ll both feel better when you understand each other – relax – it’s key.

Questions for your Doctor...

How many doctors are in the practice – will I have a primary and what are the chances that doctor will deliver my baby?

What is the hospital affiliation?

What is the cesarean rate?

Does the doctor or the group practice perform episiotimies as a matter of course?

What is the doctor’s attitude about patients having a birth plan with personal preferences?

How does the doctor feel about pain medication during birth?

If I happen to be a high-risk pregnancy – what is the doctor’s experience?

How many babies do you deliver each year?

Ask Yourself...

How comfortable do you feel with your doctor?

Do you find it easy to ask your doctor questions?

Does the doctor explain things clearly and completely?

Does the doctor seem like someone who will respect your wishes?

What to Expect in Future Visits After your first prenatal visit, you may need to see your doctor every four weeks or so until the 28th week of pregnancy, after which you will need to see each other more often. In addition to these checkups, you may also want to take advantage of other screening methods to ensure normal development of the baby.

The important key here is to discuss these options with your doctor – seek his advice and expertise.

A sonogram or ultrasound will also be conducted. You will be advised to take multivitamins that contain iron and folate to

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Before you move on to someone else, you might want to talk to the doctor about your concerns. If the problem can’t be resolved, or your worries aren’t addressed, don’t hesitate to change obstetricians or consider whether a midwife might be a better fit for you.

Photo by In A Flash by Jenn

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Another Option...

Midwifery Care

Midwifery care is based on a woman-centered approach.

Midwives are skilled practitioners who strive for continuity of care with their clients. They view birth as part of a natural life process and respect each woman’s individualism and uniqueness.

Midwives provide counseling and education throughout pregnancy to encourage the growth and development of a healthy baby. They emphasize good nutrition, provide emotional support, and walk beside each woman through her pregnancy, labor, and birth.

While Certified Nurse Midwives generally work in hospitals and in partnerships with OBGYN’s, midwives also work outside of the hospital, offering homebirths, and birth center births. It is important to have a clear understanding of the type of birth you desire. This will steer you towards the midwife that will best fit your needs.

Things to consider about your birth: Where do you want to give birth?

What type of atmosphere/environment do you want to give birth in?

What type of support do you want your care provider to give while you are in labor?

How well do you want your care provider to know you and your desires?

Do you want to have a water birth?

Do you want to be able to move around freely during labor?

Do you want to be able to birth in any position that you feel comfortable in?

T​ hings to consider about your midwife: What is her philosophy of birth?

How many children does she have?

Does she have children and where/how did she give birth?

How many births has she attended?

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How many of those were outside of the hospital?

What complications has she dealt with and how were they handled?

Has she delivered twins, breeches, VBACs (vaginal birth after cesarean) outside of the hospital?

What do her prenatal visits include?

How does she provide support during labor?

What care does she provide postpartum?

What is your access to her outside of regular office visits?

What type of connection do you feel with her?

How well does she listen to and address your concerns?

It is the hope of every new mother to receive not only the best care but also to be heard, to be accepted, to be understood, and to be empowered as a woman and as a mother.

It is the hope of midwives to provide the individual attention and encouragement to each expectant mother to help her walk away from her birth not only with a healthy baby, but with the sense of encouragement and empowerment that she deserves. Midwifery care is a practical option for expectant mothers to consider.

Your Optimal Every mother would love to have a healthy, smooth, and easy pregnancy – but sometimes this can be a challenge!

Each trimester can bring its own difficulties as your body adjusts to your growing baby. All pregnancies are unique and come with their own set of trials and successes for the mother to navigate. Here are 10 tried and true ways to make your pregnancy the best that it can be…of course you will want to check in with your OB before starting anything new. This is your pregnancy—you have the ability to make it optimal!

NOURISH: Nourish yourself and your baby by eating whole foods, good sources of protein, and lots of fresh fruits and veggies. Eliminate processed and sugary foods, alcohol, smoking, and excessive caffeine. Remember, everything you put into your body is also going into your baby’s body. If you are vegan or vegetarian discuss your nutritional requirements during pregnancy with your care provider to make sure you are getting what you need.

HYDRATE: Make it a priority to drink water – at least 1012 big glasses a day. A great way to keep up is to carry a refillable bottle with you wherever you go. If you get bored with plain water, try infusing it with mint, cucumber, or lemon for a fresh taste. Staying well-hydrated gives you more energy and reduces swelling in your feet.

SUPPLEMENT: In addition to your prenatal vitamin, consider adding rich sources of Omega 3 Fatty Acids (good for baby’s brain development) like Flax Seed, or Fish Oil until the 34th week of pregnancy, then Evening Primrose Oil until birth. If you are anemic, add extra iron-rich foods or supplements to your diet. Check for easily absorbed iron supplements that are gentle on your digestive system. Vitamin D3 can help with calcium absorption for healthy teeth and bones (for you and baby), and may keep your immune system strong and mood stable.

MOVE: Low impact activities like walking, swimming, yoga, or dancing are great ways to stay strong and prepare for motherhood. Half an hour of activity most days of the week is great for your health, both physical and mental – bonus points for being outside in fresh air and natural light.

Pregnancy

REST: Even when sitting still, your body is working hard to build a baby. Sleep is important – make sure you get enough rest at night, and consider napping during the day during late pregnancy, it’s great practice for sleeping when the baby sleeps in the first weeks of motherhood! Good “sleep hygiene” includes reducing screentime (including smartphones!) in the hours leading up to bedtime, having a healthy bedtime snack, and making sure your room is dark and quiet.

CONSIDER: Look in to complementary therapies such as massage, chiropractic, or acupuncture for relief of common discomforts of pregnancy, and to increase general well-being.

DECOMPRESS: Adopt practices that relieve the normal stresses of life for about 30 minutes a day. Take a warm bath, meditate, listen to music, try different things to find what works for you! Brewing and enjoying a cup of herbal tea designed for pregnancy can be a nice ritual.

CONNECT: Deepen your connection with yourself, your partner, your baby, and your family. Find your “tribe”, seek out other parents and supportive people in your circle who can help you explore your feelings, desires, fears, concerns, and plans as you move into this new chapter in your life. If you find yourself overly anxious, fearful, or depressed, seek out qualified mental health professionals to help you work through these issues.

LEARN: Become informed and research your options.

Read about pregnancy, labor, birth, and breastfeeding.

Attend Birth Classes with your partner and spend time visualizing your baby’s birthday. Make a birth plan that reflects your preferences in birth setting and care team. Talk to other parents, especially those with a positive perspective. Limit your exposure to “horror stories” of challenging labors and births!

EMBRACE your changes! Not only will your body change as your baby grows, but your priorities and routines are also transforming. Be patient with yourself as you find your new rhythm, and communicate your needs to those around you.

CARRIE CALHOON Cell 785-554-2852 Office 785-246-6955

Carrie.ReeceNichols.com carrie@reecenichols.com

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Family growing by two feet and need more space?

Reece & Nichols Topeka Elite, LLC Co-Owner Independently Owned and Operated Licensed in Kansas

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Jennifer Hawks | Photographer Specializing in Children and Family Portraiture

785-383-6226 • INAFLASHBYJENN.COM

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Your Pregnancy

Month by Month

Photo by In A Flash by Jenn

Photo by In A Flash by Jenn

One Month

Four Months

Seven Months

Your baby is an embryo consisting of two layers of cells from which all her organs and body parts will develop.

Your baby is now about 5 inches long and weighs 5 ounces. His skeleton is starting to harden from rubbery cartilage to bone.

By now, your baby weighs about 3 pounds and is more than 15 inches long. She can open and close her eyes and follow a light.

Two Months

Five Months

Eight Months

Your baby is now about the size of a kidney bean and is constantly moving.

He has distinct, slightly webbed fingers.

Eyebrows and eyelids are now in place. Your baby would now be more than 10 inches long if you stretched out her legs.

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds. His layers of fat are filling him out, making him rounder, and his lungs are well developed.

Three Months

Six Months

Nine Months

By now your baby is about 3 inches long and weighs nearly an ounce. Her tiny, unique fingerprints are now in place.

Your baby weighs about a pound and a half. His wrinkled skin is starting to smooth out as he puts on baby fat.

The average baby is more than 19 inches long and weighs nearly 7 pounds now, but babies vary widely in size at this stage

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Eating for the Health of Your Family

Nutrition:

legumes, dairy, and lean animal) and always pair a carbohydrate with a healthy fat or lean protein. It is easy to mistake nausea with hunger and thirst. Try adding lemon, lime, mint, or ginger to your water or hot tea. These are natural ways to manage nausea. Adding magnesium rich foods can help as well: pumpkin seeds, spinach, Swiss chard, and chocolate.

SECOND TRIMESTER In the 2nd trimester your baby is laying down new bone.

Bone building nutrients are a focus in the 2nd trimester.

Most of us know the role that calcium plays in strong bones, but did you also know that bones rely on vitamins A, D, and K, as well as the minerals boron, molybdenum, manganese, and magnesium? Focus on colorful fruits and vegetables daily to consume all of these vitamins and minerals. The goal is at least 1 food from each color daily: blue/purple, red, orange, yellow, white/tan, and green. The easiest way to achieve this goal is to make a daily smoothie loaded with fruits and veggies. Spinach is the mildest green vegetable to hide in a smoothie. Try a couple big handfuls, you’ll never know it is there!

You’re pregnant! You’ve never had a better reason to eat healthy. A developing baby depends solely on the transfer of nutrients from the mother. These nutritional building blocks help maximize brain development, growth of all organs, and develop the integrity of your baby’s immune system The quality and the quantity of nutrition that you eat, the pollutants, drugs and infections that your body is exposed to during fetal development, and the stress level and state of mind that you adopt while pregnant are all factors that shape your baby, your life, the lives of your grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. That’s right, not only can you grow a healthy child, but you can also optimize the health of your family for three generations. Balance in your lifestyle choices can bring vital health to your pregnancy.

FIRST TRIMESTER In the first trimester of pregnancy by week 6, your baby has a beating heart, and by the 10th week of pregnancy you will have created all of the organs your child will have for the rest of their lives. During the first 13 weeks, it is common to feel nauseous, fatigued, and moody. Don’t worry, all those symptoms are perfectly normal, and you will not have to eat more now than if you weren’t pregnant. It’s often hard to eat in the first trimester because of nausea. Focus on small and frequent snacks/meals that are protein rich (nuts and seeds,

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THIRD TRIMESTER Did you know that your baby’s brain grows by 260% in the 3rd trimester alone? Now that’s brain power! Focus on brain building nutrients in weeks 28-40 to help maximize cerebral development: protein, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, iron, vitamin A, vitamin D, and B vitamins. All your healthy eating is starting to pay off. Even if you can’t see your baby eating, they are swallowing amniotic fluid daily and with it comes all the flavors of the foods you have been eating. Recent studies show that you can influence the palette of your child starting in utero. By choosing foods that have strong and complex flavors such as herbs and spices, and colorful fruits and vegetables, you can prime your baby to enjoy diverse flavors before food introduction.

TOP NUTRIENTS FOR PREGNANCY AND WHERE TO FIND THEM Protein—promotes cell growth and blood production.

Protein is a long-lasting fuel source for your body as your energy requirements are in high demand. Found in lean meat, fish, poultry, egg whites, legumes, nuts and seeds, tofu, and tempeh.

Carbohydrates—your body’s #1 fuel source. Found in whole grains, non-starchy and starchy vegetables, fruits, legumes, and dairy/dairy alternatives.

Fat—promotes healthy hair, skin, eye, nail, and membrane development and is a key part of your body’s energy stores.

Probiotics—friendly bacteria that colonize in your gut to help boost your immune system health. 80% of your immune system comes from your gut lining. Probiotics help protect you and your child from infection, improve digestion and absorption of nutrients, and decrease the risk of allergies in your child. Found in kefir, yogurt, kimchi (fermented vegetables), sauerkraut, tempeh and natto (fermented soy beans), and miso (soy paste).

SHAWNEE COUNTY

BABY BASICS PRENATAL CLASSES Group Prenatal Education Whether you are experiencing a pregnancy for the first time or the fourth time, each experience is different and can create new challenges and concerns!

Interact with other pregnant women and find out more about common pregnancy experiences including what to expect during labor and delivery, how to be successful with breastfeeding, and how to calm your baby.

• Free • Earn Rewards SHAWNEE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

2600 SW East Circle Drive Topeka, KS 66606 • 785-251-5647 www.shawneehealth.org Call to register or for more information.

*This program utilizes the March of Dimes Becoming a Mom®/Comenzado bien curriculum and is supported by the Kansas Department of Health & Environment and March of Dimes.

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Found in olive oil, olives, avocado, coconut oil, sunflower oil, dark chocolate, nuts and seeds, seafood, and meat.

Vitamin A—an antioxidant and fat-soluble vitamin that helps create skin, eye, brain, and bone health, and fights off viral infections. Found in carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, kale, bell peppers, parsley, Swiss chard, and collard greens.

Vitamin C—an antioxidant and water-soluble vitamin that works in harmony with iron in your body. Vitamin C is also a co-factor in the production of L-carnitine. Vitamin C helps with muscle cramps, constipation, and is the key in collagen—daily Vitamin C helps your stretching skin and decreases the risk of perineum tears at delivery. Found in red bell peppers, kiwi, strawberries, parsley, broccoli, and citrus.

Vitamin D3—promotes a strong immune system, regulates insulin and blood sugar, lowers the risk of high blood pressure during pregnancy, reduces the risk of asthma and wheezing in your baby, increases the birth weight for your baby, and decreases the risk of postpartum depression.

Found from the SUN! 20 minutes of a pinking dose of sunshine daily yields 20,000 IUs of vitamin D. Food sources include: egg yolks, sardines, cod, shrimp, and dairy products.

B Vitamins—B6, B12, and Folate—these water-soluble vitamins play their biggest role in cerebral development and decreasing the risk of neural tube defects. The neural tube opens and closes in the 1st 4 weeks of pregnancy. Taking B vitamins prior to conception is the best way to optimize cerebral health. B vitamins are energy producers, red blood cell formers, nervous system health regulators, mood improvers, and sleep givers. We like them. Found in nutritional yeast, bananas, pork, green leafy veggies, legumes, yellow fruits and veggies, whole grains, and nuts and seeds.

L-Carnitine—an amino acid that plays a crucial role in decreasing the risk of gestational diabetes. It is a big energy giver as well. Focus on this nutrient especially in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. Found in red meat and pork, avocado, artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, garlic, and parsley.

Calcium—strong bones and teeth, muscle contraction, and nerve function. Take calcium apart from iron as they bind in the body. Found in dark green leafy vegetables, rosemary, yogurt, kefir, milk, salmon, and sardines.

Iron—crucial for red blood cell production, healthy brain health and myelin sheath (fatty coating on all neurons) formation, and energy production. Found in lean red meat, spinach, pumpkin seeds, kidney beans, tofu, Swiss chard, and edamame.

Zinc—a mineral that helps balance blood sugar, is an immune system regulator, supports optimal sense of taste and smell, is crucial in wound healing, and helps you make prolactin: the hormone that helps you produce breastmilk.

Found in crimini mushrooms, spinach, beef, lamb, summer squash, and calf’s liver.

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Risk Factors in Although many pregnancies are considered normal and only need standard prenatal care from an Obstetrics & Gynecology (OB-GYN) provider, there are certain circumstances that may require you or your baby to have additional testing, monitoring and treatment. Maternal Fetal Medicine specialists have the expertise and services to help manage high-risk pregnancies.

Pregnancy

• Heart or kidney disease • Hypertension (high blood pressure) • Gestational Diabetes • Multiple-birth pregnancy • Seizure disorders • Blood clotting disorders • Advanced maternal age • Preeclampsia (toxemia) • Infectious diseases • Repetitive pregnancy loss • Suspected abnormal fetal growth In some cases, a pregnancy may be considered high risk if the mother has a family history of the following diseases: • Cardiac disease • Renal disease • Gastrointestinal disease • Cystic fibrosis

Maternal Fetal Medicine providers are experienced

in a wide variety of complex high risk maternal fetal conditions and will partner with you to improve care for mom and baby/babies. By working with your OB-GYN provider, the specialist can help co-manage the high-risk pregnancy to ensure that you are closely monitored.

Maternal Fetal Medicine Services Include: • Genetic counseling • Pre-conception counseling • First trimester screening • Second trimester screening • Evaluation of fetal anomalies and growth disorders • Non-invasive prenatal testing

Maternal Fetal Medicine specialists have advanced expertise in obstetric complications of pregnancy and their effects on the mother and baby. These providers are fully trained and qualified OB-GYN physicians who, upon completing a three-year fellowship, are certified as subspecialists by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG). This additional training allows the providers to care for women with issues deemed to be high risk to the mother or baby; including, but not limited to:

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Some women with high-risk pregnancy symptoms may require a single consultation with a Maternal Fetal Medicine provider before or during pregnancy to help them prepare and to provide guidance to their obstetrician for managing their high-risk pregnancy. Other women may require ongoing specialist care throughout the pregnancy to help monitor the health of mother and baby by performing comprehensive fetal assessments with ultrasound and/or invasive evaluations.

Following delivery, a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist may be consulted to diagnose or manage postpartum symptoms related to the high-risk pregnancy. Ask your OB-GYN provider about the Maternal Fetal Medicine specialists in your area.

Identifying Warning Signs of

Pregnancy Danger

For many pregnant women and expectant parents, the whole pregnancy phase is fraught with physical and emotional changes. Pregnancy should be the time for women to be vigilant about their health. Pregnancy complications are not uncommon and while most problems may be relatively mild and can be immediately treated, in other cases, warning signs can carry some significant health risks to the child, mother and possibly both.

Although it is generally advised for pregnant women to have frequent doctor visits, it is equally important to be aware of the possible danger signs to look for during pregnancy.

These include the following signs: • Vaginal bleeding • Sudden weight gain • Fever • Chills • Seeing spots • Persistent headache • Burning sensation when urinating • Vomiting • Blurred and/or double vision • Lower abdominal pain • Thigh pains • No baby movements for 12 hours • Premature cramping • Persistent lower back aches • Nausea

Miscarriage Bleeding during the first trimester can be a sign of possible miscarriage. According to statistics, about 20 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage. These incidents usually occur when a woman is not aware that she is pregnant. Clots, bleeding and cramping are among the most common signs of miscarriage.

Ectopic Pregnancy There are some cases the fertilized egg may not reach its correct position in the uterus and the embryo grows on the fallopian tube. Since it grows in an abnormal location, it causes tears in the blood vessels and delicate structures.

It is known to display the following symptoms: lower back pains, nausea, lower abdominal pain, and cramping. This can require surgery to remove the non-viable embryo.

Premature Labor One of the most common problems of pregnancy is premature labor and delivery. Babies born prematurely run the high risk of having respiratory problems and underdeveloped lungs.

Hypertension Elevated blood pressures are a common complication that occurs in 3 percent of pregnancies. It can cause some adverse effects on the placenta as well as the fetus. Severe elevation of blood pressure can cause pain in the abdomen, fluid retention, seeing spots, and headaches.

My BABY! | 19

Pregnancy

Milestones

Record these important milestones, along with your emotions at the time.

They’ll make terrific entries in your little one’s book!

First time I heard my baby’s heartbeat: __________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ First time it really sank in that I was going to be a mom: ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ First time a stranger asked me if I was pregnant: __________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ First time I experienced morning sickness: _______________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ First time I bought a new-baby outfit: ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ First time I wore a maternity dress: _____________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ First time I couldn’t button my pants: ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ First time my parents found out I was having a baby: ______________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ First time I saw my baby on an ultrasound:_______________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ First time I could not longer see my feet: ________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ First time I felt my baby hiccup: ________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ First time I felt the baby kick: __________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

20 | My BABY!

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My BABY! | 21

A Baby Friendly

In 1991, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nation’s Children’s Fund (UNICEF) launched the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI). Through information, learning the skills necessary to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding -- moms gain the confidence and are empowered to reach their breast-feeding goals.

To be designated a Baby-Friendly Hospital, you must be accredited by WHO and UNICEF. There are 10 steps that encourage breastfeeding success – these 10 steps are promoted by the major maternal and child health authorities in the USA and include: American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Nursing, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Nurse Midwives, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetic, National WIC Association, US Surgeon General, the CDC, and many more health authorities.

It can take three to ten years to meet the 10 criteria required to be Baby-Friendly. The results are truly measurable. Scientific studies show that breast-fed children have fewer and less serious illnesses than those who never receive breast milk, including a reduced risk of SIDS, childhood cancers, and diabetes. Recent studies also show that women who breastfeed have a decreased risk of breast and ovarian cancer, anemia, and osteoporosis.

22 | My BABY!

Hospital

The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding • Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff.

• Train all health care staff in the skills necessary to implement this policy.

• Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.

• Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth • Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation, even if they are separated from their infants.

• Give infants no food or drink other than breastmilk, unless medically indicated.

• Practice rooming in – allow mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day.

• Encourage breastfeeding on demand.

• Give no pacifiers or artificial nipples to breastfeeding infants.

• Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or birth center.

Photo by Worth A 1000 Words

My BABY! | 23

Preparing Children for Pregnancy and a

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24 | My BABY!

New Baby

Your child’s age will play an important factor in determining how your child or children will react to your new pregnancy. For example, a toddler might not understand the concept of pregnancy until they actually see and meet the new baby. Sharing the news with a pre-school aged child may be confusing because they may not understand why they have to wait so many months to meet their new baby brother or sister.

The news of your pregnancy may make your child feel nervous, threatened, or unloved. It is important to talk to your child about how they will be a big brother or big sister, because the feelings that they are experiencing will be a normal reaction to your pregnancy. They’ll notice your changing shape and overhear conversations about pregnancy. So it is important to make time for your child or children and give them space when needed. It is also important to offer reassurance that you will provide enough love to be passed around to all of your children. Remember to wait until you are in your second trimester before spreading your news in the event of a miscarriage.

Try to set a couple of nights aside right before the baby is born to spend some time alone with your child or children. Explain to them that while the new baby will take up a lot of your time, you still love them very much and will make special time for just the two of you.

Photo by Worth A 1000 Words

My BABY! | 25

Pregnancy and

Physical Therapy

A GREAT COMBINATION! OH BABY, THAT HURTS!

While pregnancy is the one of the most wonderful times of your life, it is also bringing about many changes to your body. While your body is making room for your new baby it can make you experience discomfort and pain in ways and places that you never expected.

A major reason for many of the changes is the increase of Relaxin. This is a hormone that is normally released in the body but is increased during pregnancy and is the highest in the first trimester. This hormone helps loosen ligaments to help get your body ready for your growing baby, and eventually, the baby’s delivery. Increased levels of Relaxin can cause low back, hip and knee pain as well as many other conditions including carpal tunnel syndrome.

Any pre-pregnancy muscle weakness or joint instability can make it difficult to meet the increased demands on your ever changing body. Also, a pregnant woman’s center of gravity and body mass are changing which can also contribute to pain. As time goes on, if your body is in poor alignment, this can create muscle tightness and increased stress on the muscles in the shoulders, back and neck. Back pain in the first trimester can affect up to 2/3 of first time moms!

Urinary incontinence is also something that can occur during pregnancy. This condition, like many others, can be prevented if the proper intervention is in place. Many doctors will tell patients that a lot of their aches and pains are pregnancy related and will go away after delivery, but that’s not always true, especially for urinary incontinence. The good news is, however, physical therapy can help alleviate some of these challenges so that you can have a more

26 | My BABY!

enjoyable pregnancy and possibly less issues postpartum. A sad fact is that some women will choose not to have another child due to issues with the first pregnancy. Women need to understand that they have options to help with pain and discomfort.

Physical therapy can be very helpful from the first trimester all the way through postpartum. A physical therapist can asses you in order to decrease pain, help with muscle strengthening, correct muscle imbalances and educate you on proper posture. If you have a pre-existing musculoskeletal condition, a physical therapist can show you how to adjust your body to account for any deficits and changes that will benefit you now and after delivery.

Pregnancy is the ultimate challenge on a woman's body. Exercise is also something that is very beneficial during pregnancy. Whether you are new to exercise or have been doing it all your life, it can help with endurance, muscle strength and can help to prepare the body for the physical demands of delivery. After the baby is born, exercise can also help with weight loss by building muscle and help combat fatigue due to the loss of sleep! Whatever exercise you choose should be very carefully considered. A physical therapist can assess your current level of function and fitness safe pregnancy.

Pregnancy is such a wonderful and happy time in your life. Make sure you are doing everything you can and seeking out any help that you need to ensure that your pregnancy is as safe and pain free as possible.

Ask your doctor how physical therapy can help you!

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My BABY! | 27

Pregnancy

Visits

Date:_________________________________________________________________________________________ The week of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________________________ Weight:_______________________________________________________________________________________ Weight gained since the start of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________ Blood pressure:________________________________________________________________________________ Fundal height:_________________________________________________________________________________ Baby’s heart rate:_______________________________________________________________________________ Other tests:___________________________________________________________________________________ Prescribed medications:_________________________________________________________________________ What I can expect before my next prenatal visit:____________________________________________________ Instructions from my doctor:_____________________________________________________________________ How much weight should I gain:_________________________________________________________________ Notes:________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Date:_________________________________________________________________________________________ The week of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________________________ Weight:_______________________________________________________________________________________ Weight gained since the start of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________ Blood pressure:________________________________________________________________________________ Fundal height:_________________________________________________________________________________ Baby’s heart rate:_______________________________________________________________________________ Other tests:___________________________________________________________________________________ Prescribed medications:_________________________________________________________________________ What I can expect before my next prenatal visit:____________________________________________________ Instructions from my doctor:_____________________________________________________________________ How much weight should I gain:_________________________________________________________________ Notes:________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

28 | My BABY!

Pregnancy

Visits

Date:_________________________________________________________________________________________ The week of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________________________ Weight:_______________________________________________________________________________________ Weight gained since the start of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________ Blood pressure:________________________________________________________________________________ Fundal height:_________________________________________________________________________________ Baby’s heart rate:_______________________________________________________________________________ Other tests:___________________________________________________________________________________ Prescribed medications:_________________________________________________________________________ What I can expect before my next prenatal visit:____________________________________________________ Instructions from my doctor:_____________________________________________________________________ How much weight should I gain:_________________________________________________________________ Notes:________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Date:_________________________________________________________________________________________ The week of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________________________ Weight:_______________________________________________________________________________________ Weight gained since the start of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________ Blood pressure:________________________________________________________________________________ Fundal height:_________________________________________________________________________________ Baby’s heart rate:_______________________________________________________________________________ Other tests:___________________________________________________________________________________ Prescribed medications:_________________________________________________________________________ What I can expect before my next prenatal visit:____________________________________________________ Instructions from my doctor:_____________________________________________________________________ How much weight should I gain:_________________________________________________________________ Notes:________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

My BABY! | 29

Pregnancy

Visits

Date:_________________________________________________________________________________________ The week of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________________________ Weight:_______________________________________________________________________________________ Weight gained since the start of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________ Blood pressure:________________________________________________________________________________ Fundal height:_________________________________________________________________________________ Baby’s heart rate:_______________________________________________________________________________ Other tests:___________________________________________________________________________________ Prescribed medications:_________________________________________________________________________ What I can expect before my next prenatal visit:____________________________________________________ Instructions from my doctor:_____________________________________________________________________ How much weight should I gain:_________________________________________________________________ Notes:________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Date:_________________________________________________________________________________________ The week of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________________________ Weight:_______________________________________________________________________________________ Weight gained since the start of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________ Blood pressure:________________________________________________________________________________ Fundal height:_________________________________________________________________________________ Baby’s heart rate:_______________________________________________________________________________ Other tests:___________________________________________________________________________________ Prescribed medications:_________________________________________________________________________ What I can expect before my next prenatal visit:____________________________________________________ Instructions from my doctor:_____________________________________________________________________ How much weight should I gain:_________________________________________________________________ Notes:________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

30 | My BABY!

Pregnancy

Visits

Date:_________________________________________________________________________________________ The week of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________________________ Weight:_______________________________________________________________________________________ Weight gained since the start of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________ Blood pressure:________________________________________________________________________________ Fundal height:_________________________________________________________________________________ Baby’s heart rate:_______________________________________________________________________________ Other tests:___________________________________________________________________________________ Prescribed medications:_________________________________________________________________________ What I can expect before my next prenatal visit:____________________________________________________ Instructions from my doctor:_____________________________________________________________________ How much weight should I gain:_________________________________________________________________ Notes:________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Date:_________________________________________________________________________________________ The week of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________________________ Weight:_______________________________________________________________________________________ Weight gained since the start of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________ Blood pressure:________________________________________________________________________________ Fundal height:_________________________________________________________________________________ Baby’s heart rate:_______________________________________________________________________________ Other tests:___________________________________________________________________________________ Prescribed medications:_________________________________________________________________________ What I can expect before my next prenatal visit:____________________________________________________ Instructions from my doctor:_____________________________________________________________________ How much weight should I gain:_________________________________________________________________ Notes:________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

My BABY! | 31

Pregnancy

Visits

Date:_________________________________________________________________________________________ The week of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________________________ Weight:_______________________________________________________________________________________ Weight gained since the start of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________ Blood pressure:________________________________________________________________________________ Fundal height:_________________________________________________________________________________ Baby’s heart rate:_______________________________________________________________________________ Other tests:___________________________________________________________________________________ Prescribed medications:_________________________________________________________________________ What I can expect before my next prenatal visit:____________________________________________________ Instructions from my doctor:_____________________________________________________________________ How much weight should I gain:_________________________________________________________________ Notes:________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Date:_________________________________________________________________________________________ The week of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________________________ Weight:_______________________________________________________________________________________ Weight gained since the start of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________ Blood pressure:________________________________________________________________________________ Fundal height:_________________________________________________________________________________ Baby’s heart rate:_______________________________________________________________________________ Other tests:___________________________________________________________________________________ Prescribed medications:_________________________________________________________________________ What I can expect before my next prenatal visit:____________________________________________________ Instructions from my doctor:_____________________________________________________________________ How much weight should I gain:_________________________________________________________________ Notes:________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

32 | My BABY!

Pregnancy

Visits

Date:_________________________________________________________________________________________ The week of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________________________ Weight:_______________________________________________________________________________________ Weight gained since the start of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________ Blood pressure:________________________________________________________________________________ Fundal height:_________________________________________________________________________________ Baby’s heart rate:_______________________________________________________________________________ Other tests:___________________________________________________________________________________ Prescribed medications:_________________________________________________________________________ What I can expect before my next prenatal visit:____________________________________________________ Instructions from my doctor:_____________________________________________________________________ How much weight should I gain:_________________________________________________________________ Notes:________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Date:_________________________________________________________________________________________ The week of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________________________ Weight:_______________________________________________________________________________________ Weight gained since the start of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________ Blood pressure:________________________________________________________________________________ Fundal height:_________________________________________________________________________________ Baby’s heart rate:_______________________________________________________________________________ Other tests:___________________________________________________________________________________ Prescribed medications:_________________________________________________________________________ What I can expect before my next prenatal visit:____________________________________________________ Instructions from my doctor:_____________________________________________________________________ How much weight should I gain:_________________________________________________________________ Notes:________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

My BABY! | 33

Pregnancy

Visits

Date:_________________________________________________________________________________________ The week of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________________________ Weight:_______________________________________________________________________________________ Weight gained since the start of my pregnancy:_____________________________________________________ Blood pressure:________________________________________________________________________________ Fundal height:_________________________________________________________________________________ Baby’s heart rate:_______________________________________________________________________________ Other tests:___________________________________________________________________________________ Prescribed medications:_________________________________________________________________________ What I can expect before my next prenatal visit:____________________________________________________ Instructions from my doctor:_____________________________________________________________________ How much weight should I gain:_________________________________________________________________ Notes:________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Photo by Worth A 1000 Words

34 | My BABY!

Showing off that Pregnancy may change your figure, but the pounds you gain give you a different kind of beauty. It’s important to maintain your style – you’re still you – you’re just pregnant – it’s time to show off that baby bump! Yes, show off the bump in style!

#1 – Get the basics – a couple of pair of jeans that fit with your lifestyle — skinny, boyfriend, bootcut, jeggings – today’s pregnancy jeans are made by designers and that pregnancy panel comes in many cuts and sizes.

Bump!

#8 – Accessorize – scarves, jewelry, and shoes are important. They can also add a touch of color and style to an outfit.

Whatever your style, stay with it, be comfortable, be YOU!

#2 – Get a couple of stretchy lycra dresses – yes, clinging lycra to show off your baby bump. This type of dress will carry you through any special occasion.

#3 – Get a few maxi dresses – these dresses go casual, can be paired with a cardigan, sandals, boots, or flats – they dress up and they dress down.

#4 – Get some workout wear for your growing belly.

You’ll find that athleisure-wear goes from day to night with the change of a top…all while keeping you comfortable and in shape (yes, you can workout during pregnancy).

#5 – Get some jackets and cardigans – these will change your look from casual to dressy and look great with dresses, skirts, and leggings (not to mention, those jeans).

#6 – Get regular clothing in a size or two larger than your normal size …this way you stay true to your style.

#7 – Tanks and tees – these will be your lifesavers…pair with your jeans or leggings and a cardigan and you look pulled together.

Photo by TH Peterson Photography

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Prenatal and Infant Care

Prenatal Care

Many soon-to-be mothers can agree that pregnancy can produce new aches and pains that can result in severe strain and discomfort. The average weight gain during pregnancy is 25 to 35 pounds, which can place increased stress on the body. The low back, legs, buttocks and sciatic nerve can all be affected. In fact, studies have shown that about half of all pregnant women will develop low back pain during pregnancy.

Chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy can provide relief from aches and pains, and also ensure that your body is in the proper position to deliver your baby as naturally as possible.

Chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy are safe and effective. The best part is that you can relieve discomfort and pain naturally, without the use of medications!

Finally, in the eight weeks following delivery of your baby, the ligaments will begin to tighten up and some women experience additional discomfort from the new challenges of constant reaching, lifting, and nursing.

Continuing chiropractic care will help ensure that your body heals faster and that your nervous system functions the best it can to help you in caring for your newest family member!

Infant Care

Baby’s first year has many developmental milestones. The developmental periods will continue through infancy, in to childhood, and beyond. Well documented research studies have shown why it is important to consider chiropractic care early in a child’s life.

36 | My BABY!

Chiropractic

The natural birthing process exerts 40 to 50 pounds of pressure on the newborn’s head and spinal column. If there are complications, this can add health problems to the delicate balance and stability of the infants head and spine.

Problems with the head and spine can impact the infant in the following ways: • A misalignment of the spine during birth can cause respiratory problems which could cause further serious complications for the newborn.

• Inability or difficulty with latching onto the mother’s breast and difficulty with the suckling reflex.

• Difficulty sleeping.

• Constant crying.

• Chronic colic and digestive problems.

Chiropractic care can safely help the infant by making adjustments to the head and spine. The pressure for these adjustments is a ‘light pressure’, like the amount of pressure you would use to comfortably press on your eyelid without causing pain.

In the first year of life, the baby’s spine increases in length by 50%. This is the time also when the spine starts to get its distinctive ‘S’ shape. These spinal curves are important and necessary for movement, balance, upright posture, protection, and shock absorption. The head and spine also house the central nervous system – important in the growth and development of the infant. The nervous system has a direct impact on the immune system. Getting regular chiropractic care aids in the healthy growth and development of the infant and promotes a healthy immune response.

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My BABY! | 37

Exercising during Pregnancy

helps keep you

Healthy

Exercise During Pregnancy - Myth Broken It is a myth that exercising during pregnancy can be harmful to the unborn as well as the mother. In fact, exercising during pregnancy is beneficial for both the mother and the child. It reduces physical discomfort, and also reduces stress and labor length. Here’s a list of frequently asked questions with answers about exercise during pregnancy:

Is it safe to do workouts during pregnancy?

Working out during pregnancy is not only safe, but healthy if you do not have any complications during the pregnancy period. It is recommended that you consult your doctor or midwives and get their approval.

Why is exercise necessary during pregnancy?

Research tells us that working out or mild exercise during pregnancy helps in reducing backaches, swelling of ankles, and constipation - some of the most common problems faced by pregnant women. In addition, exercise gives you energy and makes you feel fresh.

Does exercise help during pregnancy?

The answer is ‘Yes’. Exercising during pregnancy promotes muscles, strength, and endurance, thereby, helping the mother to carry the additional weight gained during pregnancy.

I do a rigorous workout.

Is it safe during pregnancy?

According to a study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, healthy, well-conditioned women who exercised before pregnancy may continue to do so throughout their pregnancy without compromising their baby’s health or development. Be particularly careful during the first trimester – don’t overdo.

38 | My BABY!

For how long should I exercise?

The workout should be approximately 45 minutes long and should include a warm-up, the workout, and a cool down.

What precautions do I need to take while exercising during pregnancy, if I have never worked out before?

Talk to your doctor or midwife. As long as you have permission to proceed, you can engage yourself in mild exercise, like walking or swimming.

Immediately after the birth of my child, what exercises can I do to regain my shape?

Make sure you are physically ready before you start with the process of regaining your shape. Once you think you a re fit to start with an exercise regimen, begin with stretching and firming exercises, gradually add a second set of exercises.

Just remember that you need to follow normal exercise safety like, drinking lots of water, stopping immediately if you feel any pain etc. Most importantly, remember to speak to your doctor before starting any exercise regimen.

Ultrasound/Sonograms:

An essential part of Prenatal Care

For many Moms-to-be, a first ultrasound is a life-changing experience. As a medical procedure, it is one that patients look forward to.

A fetal ultrasound or sonogram is an imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of a baby in the uterus. An ultrasound can help your doctor evaluate your baby’s growth and development as well as gauge the progress of your pregnancy.

Your first ultrasound will typically be done between 18 and 20 weeks, but you may have one before 12 weeks to confirm your due date. You may also have an earlier ultrasound — or more than one — if yours is a high-risk pregnancy, if you have any pain or bleeding, if you have a history of having children with birth defects, or if another prenatal test or exam shows something abnormal. In addition, you’ll have additional ultrasounds if you have a chronic illness such as diabetes or a history of ovarian cysts or fibroids.

A first trimester ultrasound exam is done to evaluate the presence, size, and location of your pregnancy. It also helps your doctor to evaluate any problems, screen for abnormalities, or confirm a diagnosis. If your baby’s health needs to be monitored more closely, additional ultrasounds will be recommended.

What happens during an ultrasound? After you lay down on the

exam table, a small amount of gel is applied to the skin of your abdomen. A device called a transducer is applied to your skin, sending high-frequency sound waves into your body that reflect off the internal structures. The echoes are received by the transducer and turned into a picture on the screen.

All fetuses are approximately the same size in the early weeks of pregnancy, so a sonogram allows your doctor to approximate your due date. If you have your sonogram between 7 and 13 weeks, your doctor can set your due date within about 3 days!

A mid-pregnancy ultrasound is done at around 20 weeks. This sonogram is also called the anatomy scan. Your doctor will listen to the baby’s heartbeat, check for physical abnormalities, check the organs, determine if there’s more than one baby (twins!), measure the amount of amniotic fluid, check the location of the placenta, and measure your baby to be sure he or she is the right size for his or her gestational age.

And yes – determine the sex of your baby…This is the exam where you can catch a glimpse of your baby – and go home with a picture or two!

When properly done, an abdominal ultrasound poses no risk to you or your baby. In fact, there are many benefits to checking on your baby’s development during pregnancy. It is generally advised that an ultrasound be performed only if medically indicated.

My BABY! | 39

Stop

Smoking

The single most important thing you can do to protect your health and that of your baby is to stop smoking. When smoking, the nicotine, carbon monoxide, and other poisons that you inhale from a cigarette are carried through your bloodstream and go directly to your baby.

Quitting smoking at any stage of your pregnancy has health benefits for you and for your baby – almost immediately you will deliver more oxygen to your baby.

This extra oxygen aids in the development of the baby’s lungs and helps your baby to be at the proper birth weight.

If you smoke while pregnant, oxygen is reduced to your baby, their heart rate is increased, the chances of miscarriage rise, the chance of respiratory problems increases, the risk of birth defects increases, and the chance of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) increases. All good reasons to STOP. Secondhand smoke is also a danger. If you are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke while pregnant, you have an increased chance of having a stillbirth, a low birthweight baby, a baby with birth defects, premature labor, and other complications with your pregnancy.

How to Quit Smoking: • Get a plan to quit.

• Set a date to quit.

• Know why you are quitting.

• Change your routine to make smoking difficult.

• What triggers you to smoke – know how to avoid

the triggers.

• Let your friends and family know you’re planning to quit.

• Create smoke-free zones – your car and your home

(to start).

• Hide matches and lighters.

• Drink fewer caffeinated beverages as caffeine stimulates your urge to smoke.

• Chew gum or mints.

• Avoid places where there is excessive smoking.

• No smoking around the baby – ever.

Stopping smoking isn’t easy. But now that you are pregnant, quitting has never been more important.

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Photo by TH Peterson Photography

My BABY! | 41

Finding the Perfect Choosing a name for your baby isn’t as easy as it seems.

No regrets – take the time to choose a name with meaning, one that you and your child will be proud of, one that ‘fits’ your family. Consider the number of syllables, what nicknames can be derived from the chosen name, how you and your partner feel about the name (it’s nice to agree on the name). Your baby will wear the name you choose for life, which is why it is so important to put a lot of thought into it.

Your child will be known on the playground, in an interview, professionally, and to future generations by the name you choose.

Avoid names with initials that spell out words Would you name your baby Richard Alexander Thompson?

Maybe, until you saw “RAT” on a monogrammed baby gift!

Try to choose a name that doesn’t spell out an unexpected word with an unpleasant connotation.

Think about nicknames Are you prepared to hear your child called by a nickname? Andrew will inevitably become “Andy” some of the time, even if you insist on the formal name. Make sure you like the potential nicknames associated with the name you choose. But if you have strong feelings against them, think about choosing another name with nicknames you like better or consider names without commonly used nicknames like “John” or “Mary.”

Name

Should you honor a family member? If you genuinely like the idea of naming your baby after a family member, then by all means go ahead. Just make sure you like the name. If you don’t like the name, use that name as the middle name.

Remember – it is your decision. Family names are unique and valued – they should be considered. For example, my mother’s last name was Clayson…it is now the name of my nephew. My cousin’s last name was Whitfield…it is now the name of her son. Search your family names – you might just come up with something unique…something special.

Go with your heart! There are so many things to consider!

When your baby is born, you realize it’s all a matter of feeling, not logic. Stick with the name you genuinely love and welcome your child into the family with it.

Five tips on getting started: • Make a list of the names you favor most.

• Consider the middle and last name as well.

• Avoid names that remind you of people you dislike.

• Think about the nicknames.

• Most importantly, go with your heart!

Photo by TH Peterson Photography

42 | My BABY!

Popular Baby Names for

2019

Here are the year’s most popular baby names for girls and boys.

These baby name lists base popularity ranking on a single spelling of a name (Sophia and Sofia, for example, are considered two different names).

1

Liam

11 Carter

21 Jack

31 David

41 Ryan

2

Noah

12 Jackson

22 Leo

32 Levi

42 Nathan

3

Oliver

13 Sebastian

23 Luke

33 Matthew

43 Samuel

4

Mason

14 Alexander

24 Henry

34 Mateo

44 Isaac

5

Lucas

15 Benjamin

25 Jayden

35 Muhammad

45 Joseph

6

Elijah

16 Jacob

26 Wyatt

36 Asher

46 Caleb

7

Logan

17 Michael

27 Owen

37 Josiah

47 Isaiah

8

Ethan

18 William

28 Julian

38 John

48 Eli

9

James

19 Daniel

29 Gabriel

39 Lincoln

49 Anthony

10 Aiden

20 Grayson

30 Jaxon

40 Adam

50 Hunter

1

Emma

11 Aria

21 Ellie

31 Grace

41 Hazel

2

Olivia

12 Avery

22 Emily

32 Nora

42 Natalie

3

Ava

13 Ella

23 Lily

33 Bella

43 Savannah

4

Isabella

14 Evelyn

24 Chloe

34 Aubrey

44 Paisley

5

Sophie

15 Lina

25 Madison

35 Hannah

45 Nova

6

Amelia

16 Sofia

26 Zoey

36 Aurora

46 Violet

7

Mia

17 Abigail

27 Camila

37 Stella

47 Emilia

8

Charlotte

18 Layla

28 Penelope

38 Addison

48 Elena

9

Harper

19 Riley

29 Elizabeth

39 Skylar

49 Brooklyn

20 Scarlett

30 Victoria

40 Maya

50 Niamey

10 Mila

My BABY! | 43

Name

Games

Choosing a baby’s name is a momentous decision for new parents.

Are there any ethnic or religious traditions you or your partner would like to honor?

Do you prefer traditional names? One-of-a-kind names?

Names that start with a certain letter?

Use these pages to keep track of the names you and your partner like.

Names From Your Side of the Family

Other names we like

Name:___________________________________________

Name:___________________________________________

Relation (grandparent, aunt, etc.):___________________

Meaning:_________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

Name:___________________________________________

Name:___________________________________________

Relation (grandparent, aunt, etc.):___________________

Meaning:_________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

Name:___________________________________________

Name:___________________________________________

Relation (grandparent, aunt, etc.):___________________

Meaning:_________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

Name:___________________________________________

Name:___________________________________________

Relation (grandparent, aunt, etc.):___________________

Meaning:_________________________________________

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Names From Your Partner’s Side of the Family Name:___________________________________________ Relation (grandparent, aunt, etc.):___________________ ________________________________________________ Name:___________________________________________ Relation (grandparent, aunt, etc.):___________________ ________________________________________________ Name:___________________________________________ Relation (grandparent, aunt, etc.):___________________

Name:___________________________________________ Meaning:_________________________________________ ________________________________________________ Name:___________________________________________ Meaning:_________________________________________ ________________________________________________ Name:___________________________________________ Meaning:_________________________________________ ________________________________________________

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Comments:_______________________________________

Name:___________________________________________

________________________________________________

Relation (grandparent, aunt, etc.):___________________

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Photo by TH Peterson Photography

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During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Emotional Support:

Pregnancy is one of the times in a woman’s life that she feels the most fragile. Regardless of whether or not the pregnancy was planned and hoped for or unplanned and shocking, finding out that you are pregnant brings with it a host of emotions. When you combine these emotions with an assault of early pregnancy hormones, the need for emotional support is greater than at any other time in their lives.

Research has shown that up to a third of women experience clinical depression or an anxiety disorder during some point in their pregnancy. Yet these studies also show that fewer than 20% of women seek treatment. Many women are ashamed to admit that pregnancy bliss is not what they are experiencing. Sometimes they do not tell those that are closest to them. Many women find themselves suffering in silence throughout their pregnancy, hoping against hope that things will just get better.

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The days following giving birth are also a very vulnerable time for women. The sharp drop in estrogen and progesterone, coupled with a lack of sleep, are the perfect recipe for what is referred to as the “baby blues.”

During the first couple of weeks postpartum, up to 80% of new mothers experience feelings of sadness, anxiousness, and a sense of being overwhelmed.

Symptoms are more severe with postpartum depression and include feeling numb, extremely sad, or angry.

These mothers can experience a lack of interest in or excessive anxiety about their newborn. They may have feelings of hopelessness or not being able to cope.

They may not be able to stop crying, have an inability to concentrate, or experience memory loss. Panic attacks, inability to sleep, and a general feeling of being unwell are also symptoms. In extreme cases, the mother may begin to believe that the people around her would be better off without her or wishing that her baby was never born.

Untreated postpartum depression and anxiety can greatly hinder newborn attachment. It is during the first several weeks of a newborn’s life when he or she begins to recognize whether or not someone is going to be there to meet his or her needs. In these precious weeks of attachment and bonding, the baby learns trust, a vital stage in child development. Attachment difficulties are now known to be one of the causes of many issues later in the child’s life to include sensory processing disorders, lack of ability to trust other people, anxiety, and defiance.

Emotional difficulties, both during pregnancy and postpartum, can be successfully treated through the use of psychologically therapeutic techniques. The therapist or counselor can assist the mother in learning ways to best cope with these life transitions. The professional can also assist the woman with ways to build a greater support system, if needed. They may also encourage a greater amount of personal self-care, including taking some breaks from the baby. The therapist or counselor can also work with the obstetrician or other physician to make the best decision about the necessity of medication. Your emotional health is vital to you and your baby, before and after birth. If you experience any of these common difficulties, do not hesitate to seek professional help and know that you are not alone.

Photo by In A Flash by Jenn

My BABY! | 47

Photo by In A Flash by Jenn

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CPR

Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation As if you’ve got nothing else on your mind with your new baby…here’s one more thing that is very very important to know and that’s CPR – Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation. It’s daunting to even think you might have to actually use CPR on your child, but your best chance for success in an emergency is knowing how to correctly perform CPR. There are many injuries that can cause a person to stop breathing. In children, injuries could include, choking, near-drowning, asthma, head trauma, poisoning, smoke inhalation, electrocution, suffocation, apnea obstruction, and sudden infant death syndrome among other possibilities.

Statistically, children are more prone to accidents than their parents (as if you need another reason).

CPR restores the flow of blood to the brain, heart, and other vital organs. Without oxygen-rich blood flowing to these organs, damage and even death can occur. Performing CPR can restore breathing until advanced care and life support can be administered.

Ideally, you’ll take this course before you have your child (but if not, do it shortly after). You’ll go to a class with a certified instructor. In an infant CPR class, you’ll learn how to prevent, recognize, and respond to breathing emergencies. Your instructor will use an infant-sized mannequin to demonstrate how to perform CPR, and will guide you through the proper techniques. In many classes your instructor will advise on accident prevention and childproofing your home – accidents can be prevented.

CPR for an infant is different from CPR for adults. You use your fingers to do chest compressions (as opposed to your hands). A child’s smaller and more fragile body requires less pressure when performing the compressions.

There are 3 basic parts to CPR: Circulation, Airway, and Breathing with compressions being the most important.

Call 911 immediately and let them know of your emergency – if someone is with you and has a phone, have them make the call while you begin to administer CPR. Get the patient on a flat surface on their back: • Check for normal breathing by looking for the rise and fall of the chest.

• Ensure that the airway is open; it could be food or another object blocking the airway. Open the airway to enable CPR; • If there is not normal breathing, you will start chest compressions - 30 chest compressions; followed by 2 breaths; this cycle will continue. To give breaths, open the airway using a head-tilt chin-lift.

• Check the child’s carotid artery for pulse by placing 2 fingertips and applying slight pressure on the artery for 5 to 10 seconds. The carotid artery is located in the depression between the windpipe and the neck muscles. You should also check the infants pulse on the brachial artery (inside of the arm between the elbow and shoulder).

Remember – You may be your child’s only chance of survival.

Early recognition, getting help there ASAP, and early bystander CPR can double and even triple the chances of survival.

Pilates Performance & Rehab, located in Barrington Village

AUTHORIZED & LICENSED TRAINING PROVIDER

Shopping Center, is a Licensed Provider of the American Red Cross for individuals, corporations, and groups. Their enthusiastic and experienced educators teach Infant/Child/Adult CPR, AED, First Aid, & Babysitting Workshops, as well as a variety of education and certification programs. This includes the NEW Blended Learning program which combines online learning with reduced classroom time (about an hour) for a streamlined, efficient and effective option for busy families.

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Budgeting for Baby…

Now and in the Future Find Child Care Child care expenses can easily be the largest monthly expense for your baby. Take time to research your options.

Child care facilities offer many options, levels of care, hours, food, classes, and other benefits and options – things you want to know when considering who cares for your child.

Which facility or caretaker best fits your budget and lifestyle?

Where do you feel your baby will feel safe and comfortable?

Start Planning for the Future Once your baby’s social security number is in your hand, look in to special savings accounts for college. Encourage family and friends to make contributions to this fund in lieu of toys for special occasions. Parents do just fine showering their children with toys and love…so make each special occasion a time to prepare for the future and contribute to this very important fund.

Prepare a Will

A new baby brings big financial changes and budgeting challenges…What does a baby cost? How do I plan financially for the arrival of my baby? What expenses will I incur before and after my child arrives? What plans should I be making to secure the future of my child? So many questions and concerns…and while some expenses are obvious – if you’re budgeting for baby, you have to plan for the unexpected.

Government estimates suggest that you’ll spend about $10,000 on child-related expenses in the first 2 years of life. It is important to break down the one-time expenses – décor, equipment, gear; the monthly expenses – medical, food, clothing, toys, child care; and those unexpected expenses – life insurance, education savings.

Plan for Medical Expenses Did you know you’re already financially planning for your little one’s arrival? You are making financial arrangements with your doctor and the hospital as you progress through your pregnancy. It will be important for you to contact your insurer to see what additional medical expenses you could incur in case of complications. You’ll need to have your child on a health plan by the time he or she is 30 days old. Talk to the professionals – get the best coverage for your child and your family.

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A will is a financial responsibility you have to your new family member. If something should happen to you, it is important to decide who will step in as their legal guardian.

Who will protect them financially? If for no other reason – taking care of your child or children requires that you have a will. Without a will, you have no say as to how your assets are distributed after your death. Use a professional, ask questions, execute a will that covers every concern. Should you have life changes – more children, adoption, marriage or remarriage, change of executor, moving to another state with different laws – update the will.

Plan for the Unexpected - Life Insurance You have big plans for your kids and want to see them realize their hopes and dreams. It’s hard enough to make that happen the way it is. But what if you, your spouse, or both of you were to suddenly be out of the picture? From diapers to diplomas, would there be enough income to pay for day care, education, and everything in between? Your children are your greatest responsibility, and life insurance can help them grow up in an environment where they’re physically and financially secure – even if something should happen to you. In addition to coverage for mom and dad, protection for your child is also important. The benefit for children’s coverage includes providing a solid financial basis early in life, protection, and final expense coverage should the unthinkable happen. Simply put, let life insurance be a part of creating a bright future.

Choosing the Right While you would love to stay at home with your child, often it’s just not financially feasible. You’ll have to find the right child care. Where do you start? Instinct counts for much…but you have to visit the site to make sure the facility will support and enrich the development of your child physically, emotionally, socially and cognitively. Here’s a very important list that will guide you in your choice.

Will My Child Be Supervised?

Are children watched at all times, even when napping?

Are the teachers warm and welcoming? Do they pay each child individual attention? Are positive guidance techniques used? Are the staff-to-child ratios appropriate and do they follow guidelines set by the Department of Human Services (one caregiver per 4 infants/toddlers; one caregiver per 6 two year olds; one caregiver per 8 three year olds; one caregiver per 12 four year olds; and one caregiver per 15 school-age children).

Is This A Safe And Healthy Place For My Child?

Do the teachers and children wash their hands (before/ after eating, using the bathroom, changing diapers, touching bodily fluids, etc)? Are surfaces sanitized after each use?

Are all children immunized? Are medicines labeled and kept out of children’s reach? Are the foods and beverages served to the children healthy and nutritious? Are cleaning supplies and other hazardous materials stored out of children’s reach? Is there a plan to follow if a child is injured, sick, or lost? Are first aid kits readily available? Is there a plan to respond to disasters? Has a thorough criminal and background check been done on all teachers? Is the outdoor play area safe for children to play and is it inspected daily for hazards and regularly for condition? Is the play are fenced in? Is the equipment on mulch, sand or rubber matting?

Child Care

Will My Child Be Able to Grow And Learn?

Are the toys age and developmentally appropriate? Are there a variety of toys? Is the room arranged in easily identifiable play centers? Are there daily/weekly lesson plans? Do the teachers talk, converse, and question the children? Do the teachers read to the children often and are books readily available?

Is The Program Set Up To Promote Quality?

Are there written personnel policies and procedures? Are the parents and staff asked to evaluate the program? Are teachers evaluated each year – do they do self assessment?

Is the program accredited by a national organization?

Does The Program Work With Parents?

Will I be welcome to visit the center any time my child is in their care? Is parent’s feedback sought and used in making improvements? Will I receive access to policies and procedures? Are there yearly conferences with parents?

Are there any special parent events?

Have The Adults Been Trained To Care For Children?

Does the Director have a degree and experience caring for children? Do the lead teachers have a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, Associate’s, or Bachelor’s degree and experience in caring for children? Is there always someone present who has current CPR and First Aid Training? Have the teachers been trained on child abuse prevention and how to report a suspected case? Have the teachers received blood borne pathogens and disease prevention training? Is there ongoing education and training on the care of children?

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Baby Nursery Design in

12 Easy Steps Decorating a baby nursery can be a daunting prospect – especially for a first-time mom. There are so many decisions to make, and so little time…feeling stressed? Well that’s not good for the baby, so let us give you the basics for creating a haven for your little one… one step at a time…

Step 1: Baby safety is your first concern. Be sure to take this into account as you design your baby’s abode. Use a checklist for baby safety and plan accordingly.

Step 2: Decide on a room style. Cute, modern, traditional, whimsical, ethnic, the choice is yours. This decision will affect your furniture, theme, and color choices.

Step 3: Select a crib. The crib will form the focal point or centerpiece of your baby’s room. Consider a convertible crib as this will save you money over time and will grow with the child (and everything will continue to match for years to come). When selecting, look for shape, style, finish or color, durability – do you like it? Very important.

Step 4: Find baby nursery furniture to complement the crib. The dresser should match or mix well with the crib. The dresser can do double duty as the changing table (add a pad and safety straps and you’re set). Having said that – you can also get a changing table. If you use the dresser as the changing table, get one that is medium height – that allows you to lean over comfortably for needed supplies. The top drawer will hold all of your diaper-changing essentials – make sure the drawer is easy to get in and out of – it should glide/slide easily.

Step 5: Lighting is essential – and must be flexible.

Sometimes you’ll want it bright and sometimes soft. You want to be sure your night lighting allows you to see in the middle of the night (but not so it stimulates the baby).

Consider a dimmer switch for your lighting.

Step 6: If you already have wall to wall carpet in the room – that’s fine – you’re not likely to make the change (or go to the expense) – just be aware that you need to keep it vacuumed to avoid allergens (and be prepared to spot clean – it’s inevitable). Other flooring options are hardwood, laminates, concrete – with the addition of a nice area rug or rug tiles.

You can decorate a room around a rug – it can anchor your décor.

Step 7: After you’ve gotten the basics decided upon, it’s time to decorate the room. Do you have a theme? Is it about heirlooms? Colors? Style? Read decorating magazines, check

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out Pinterest, go shopping – you’ll see things you like and can build your baby’s room to perfection.

Step 8: The color you choose for the walls will be influenced by your ‘theme’. The things you can do with paint are amazing – stripes, murals, stencils, multi-colored walls – the background to your decorating vision.

Step 9: Now the accessories are added to your vision… pictures, art, lamps, bedding, wall hangings, storage, fabrics – as you go through the process, shop for things that please your eye. BUT, stay with your vision – see it through to perfection. You will get sidetracked along the way – just look for the items that go with what you have, that fulfill the look, and that are pleasing to the eye. This is the room your child will grow up in and it is a room you want to be happy with too.

Step 10: Curtains, blinds, shades – stay with the vision.

Also make sure that you can block light when needed. Make sure the crib is not near these things as children tend to climb and are attracted to anything within reach (keep any and all cords away from the baby).

Step 11: Equipment – you’ll need a few extras: a baby monitor, a mobile, safety gates, high chair, stroller, travel crib, diaper bags, playpen, white noise machine, humidifier, diaper pail, a car seat, a baby carrier, a rocker or glider, shelves and bins for toys, outlet covers. That’s a good start.

Step 12: You’re done. Now relax and wait for your baby to come and change your life forever.

Photo by TH Peterson Photography

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Baby Rooms on a If you have ever wandered through the infant’s section of a store, you know how much ‘stuff’ is out there for decorating a baby’s room. From wallpaper to furniture to bedding, you can find all kinds of products to decorate a baby’s bedroom. Sadly, if you don’t watch out, you can wind up spending a fortune.

If you have just found out that you’re pregnant and you’re concerned about the cost of decorating your baby’s room, don’t despair. You can still create a wonderful room for your baby without breaking the bank.

Paint is one of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to transform a room. If you have the skills, you can draw a mural on one or all four walls.

If that’s not your style, you can use stencils, stamps and paint pens to create a happy room. You can paint the walls light yellow, for example, and add some happy faces with a paint pen or stamp on handprints in various colors. Numerous faux painting techniques are available that will allow you to create any number of textures and designs, from puffy clouds to paint splatters. While you’re working on the walls, don’t neglect the ceiling. Remember, this is area the baby will see the most in the beginning when they are lying on their backs.

If you don’t like paint, you can try wallpaper. Keep in mind, though, that wallpaper will probably cost more than paint, and if you don’t apply it well, you may find your little one picking it off when they get older. If you go this route, select a wallpaper pattern that will grow with your child and make sure the wallpaper can be scrubbed for those inevitable sticky handprints, stray crayon marks, and more.

For inexpensive wall hangings, you have numerous options. You can hang up special baby blankets or quilts that you receive, or shop around for inexpensive prints and frame them for instant art. If you have kids already, you can have them draw pictures for the baby that you can frame and hang up. If not, you can use kid’s place mats, baby cards, and even family photos for art. Inexpensive wooden shelves with old baby shoes and bottles are another idea.

Whatever wall hangings you create, make sure you don’t hang anything above the baby’s crib. There’s too much of a risk that something you hang could fall on the baby or the baby could pull down on themselves when they get older.

With floors and windows, you have several options. If

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Budget

you can afford it, you may want to put down stain-resistant carpeting or laminate flooring. Babies tend to spit up, and the older they get, the messier they are likely to be. Instead of traditional carpeting, consider putting down carpet tiles, which you can easily change out should they get terribly stained. If you already have carpet and can’t afford to replace it, consider adding an inexpensive rug to protect the carpet from stains, or make a floor cloth out of canvas.

With window coverings, you can keep it simple and top inexpensive mini-blinds or shutters with a cornice board or valance, or you can go all out and purchase or make drapes. Whatever you do, keep in mind that the more light the window coverings block out, the better your baby may sleep.

When choosing furniture for your baby’s room, think sturdy and try to buy pieces that will grow with your child.

As your child learns to walk, they will start to climb and you do not want them climbing onto a rickety chair or table that could break and injure them. You also do not want a room full of furniture that you will have to change out within a few years. While your child may adore their white dresser with the heart-shaped mirror when they are little, they might not like it so well when they turn 5 or 6 and are into sports. Look for furniture pieces that will appeal to your child throughout their childhood.

As for bedding, the choice is yours. You can buy or make a layette set, complete with bed ruffle and bumper pad, or you can pick up some inexpensive sheets and add a nice quilt. Whatever you select, keep in mind that it will be some time before your baby is actually old enough to use all of the bedding and enjoy it. Experts recommend that newborns be placed in a crib with as little bedding as possible to protect them from accidental suffocation.

Remember, your baby will not be able to tell the difference between a rug that cost $50 or one that cost $500, so don’t sweat the price of the stuff you use to decorate their room. Stick to your budget and create a design that will appeal to your baby. A room filled with inexpensive tactile objects will appeal more to a baby than a room draped in silk and other expensive fabrics. Let your imagination run wild and have fun!

Nesting - Preparing for Baby Once you bring your new baby home, the last thing you’ll want to do is go shopping or head out to get items you’ve forgotten to have on hand in those first days, weeks, and months. If you plan in advance, those first days and weeks with your baby can run much smoother because you’ve thought of almost everything and you’ve taken the time to get organized.

Nesting hits hardest between your sixth and eighth month of pregnancy…you know the gender of your child, you start planning and dreaming of life with your little one, you’re decorating the child’s room, and you want everything to be perfect. During the last month of your pregnancy, you’re too uncomfortable or too tired to do much but wait for your child.

NESTING – THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOUR BABY COMES HOME: • Plan a budget for the time you won’t be working (if you work outside the home); • Set a schedule for bill payment – consult with your partner if you’re the bill payer;

• Clean everything in your home – carpets, fans, baseboards, windows, draperies/curtains; • Organize your closets and drawers – de-clutter the house; • Wash all of your baby’s clothing and linens; • Make freezer meals/dinners in advance for the first few weeks of recovery and bringing the baby home; • Have select meats frozen so you or your partner can easily grill or cook in the oven; • Buy pantry staples; • Clean out the refrigerator and restock with new condiments; • If you order in meals, have those delivery numbers handy; • If you want to make it really easy – get paper plates and plastic silverware; • Stock up on toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.); • Clean out the car and have it detailed; • Put the baby’s car seat in the car – check to make sure it is absolutely installed correctly; • Organize anything an older sibling will need while you are in the hospital and the weeks right after your baby comes home.

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Choosing a

If you already have a family doctor, you may not think you need a pediatrician. Although a general physician is licensed to care for children, they lack the training of a pediatrician. To become a pediatrician, a doctor has to have four years of medical school and three more years of residency working solely in pediatrics. Some are further specialized in a field like neonatalogy or cardiology.

You should start looking for a pediatrician in the seventh month of pregnancy. Start compiling the list by asking family and friends if they have any recommendations. Check with your insurance company for eligible pediatricians and with your local hospitals to see if they have referral services. Ask your obstetrician or family doctor if they know of someone.

Research.

Ask yourself if you want a male or female doctor. There may be a point when your child gets older that they will feel more comfortable with a doctor of the same sex. Do you want an older or younger doctor? An older doctor will have more experience, but could be set in their ways and not open to new technology or methods. They might be thinking about retirement. A younger doctor, on the other hand, may be more open to new technology or methods, but lack the experience of an older doctor. Like choosing an obstetrician, do the work – find out what fits you and your lifestyle.

You’ve narrowed your list of choices, now comes some

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Pediatrician

investigative work. Before interviewing a pediatrician, check with the state medical board to see if any disciplinary action or professional peer reviews have been made against the pediatrician. Check out the books put out by the Director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group. These list doctors who have been disciplined by a state or federal government.

As you interview the candidates on your list, look for a pediatrician who is open-minded and compassionate to your feelings and thoughts. Make sure the pediatrician is covered by your insurance and will actually be seeing your child. Most pediatricians will do these interviews for free, but some will charge. If they charge, see if the fee can be applied to the first office visit. If a pediatrician won’t do an interview, be wary of them.

Once you have made your choice, there are no hard and fast rules that say you have to stick with it. If you ever become concerned with your child’s care, discuss the situation with the pediatrician. If the problem continues, find a new pediatrician.

Choosing a pediatrician for your child may be the single-most important decision you make for their young years. Unfortunately, most people don’t spend enough time doing so. Next to parents, a pediatrician is one of the most important people in a child’s life, so choose wisely.

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Common Questions to Ask Your

Pediatrician

Before going in for the interview, check out the office. Is it clean and organized?

Can they be reached with questions, either routine or emergency?

Are there separate waiting rooms for sick and healthy kids?

Do they have specific call-in times?

Is the staff courteous?

Do they listen to parents’ concerns?

Do they have a Website that will allow you to reach them by email?

What are the office hours?

In the event your child becomes ill, when would they refer your child to the emergency room?

Is there a lab on site?

What hospital do they use?

What doctor is recommended for work not done on site?

Who covers when they are away?

Do they do eye and hearing checks in the office?

Are there resident physicians, nurse practitioners, medical students and nurses on staff?

How easy is it to get through on the telephone?

How involved will they be in caring for your child?

Is the practice large or small?

What kind of time will they spend with your child at a typical visit?

Is there more than one office?

How much time is spent at each office?

When you interview the pediatrician, ask them about their educational background.

How long have they been in practice?

Are they board certified?

How do they stay current on the latest medical developments?

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When do they prescribe medication?

What kind of medication do they regularly prescribe?

How do they handle a situation where you disagree with their treatment?

If your family situation is nontraditional, how will the pediatrician and the office staff treat you?

Pediatrics / Prenatal / Women’s Health / Dental / Vision / Behavioral Health

They lean on you for their happiness.

Lean on us for their healthiness. And yours.

You are the source of the life within them. And for many years in their early lives, they look to you for everything that makes them happy.

At GraceMed, we know you’re trusting us with the most precious relationship in your life when you place your child in our care. Our pediatric care providers also know we have to earn your trust and that of your children, so we can give them the care they need.

We can even provide a lifetime of women’s health services to get ahead of the challenges that time and age can present. Add in our dental, vision and behavioral health care, and you can lean on us for the whole family’s healthiness like they lean on you for everything else.

We start even before they are here.

Throughout your pregnancy, you can trust us to help you maintain your health and that of your baby, then continue your care after the baby comes home.

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Safety and

Baby-Proofing Your Home Preventing Baby Burns – Don’t hold hot liquids when holding your baby. Do not microwave the baby’s bottle – microwaves heat unevenly and can burn the baby’s mouth.

Warm the bottle in a bowl of warm water – shake the bottle – test the temperature.

Preventing Accidents – Keep sharp objects in secure places – out of baby’s reach. Don’t shake or throw the baby in the air (blindness and brain damage can occur). Secure lamps that have cords to the baseboards (try using electrical tape along the baseboards). Keep cleaning items and drugs out of your child’s reach.

Your child’s safety is an important responsibility – your responsibility. The tips below should help you to keep your baby safe and out of harm’s way. For the first 2 months, don’t take your baby to large public places such as malls and grocery stores – avoid crowds (germs). Keep your well-baby doctor appointments as it is important to check your baby’s developmental milestones.

Smoking and Fire Safety – Do not smoke or allow smoking around your baby. Install a working smoke alarm on every level of your home. Change the batteries on your smoke detector every 6 months. Have at least one fire extinguisher on every level of your home. If your home uses gas heat, install a carbon monoxide detector.

Safety in the Car – Always use a federally approved car seat. Read the instructions for installation. Car seats should face the rear of the vehicle for the for the first 2 years of the baby’s life. The safest location for the seat is the middle of the back seat. Never put the baby in the front seat or on your lap.

Disengage the air bag if you are in a truck with no back seat.

Leave your purse, briefcase, or cell phone in the back seat to avoid accidentally leaving the child in the car – this will get you in the habit of looking in the back seat.

Preventing Falls – If you use an infant carrier, always place it on the floor – not on a counter or table – and make sure the baby is strapped in. Never leave the baby alone on a couch, changing table, or bed.

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Bath Safety – Start bathing after the cord falls off using soap for sensitive skin. Always test the water to make sure it is not too hot (before setting your baby in the water). Dipping your elbow in the water is a good way to test. It’s a good idea to turn the hot water heater to 120 degrees F. Never leave the baby unattended or with a sibling – it only takes seconds for a baby to drown. Bathroom appliances (hair dryer, curling iron, radio) should be away from the water/tub.

Make sure these appliances are unplugged when not in use.

Toy Safety – Inspect toys regularly for breaks, sharp edges, small parts – toys should be larger than your baby’s mouth.

Toy chests need to be open (no lids) or with supports that keep it open in any position.

Choking/Strangulation – Keep cords away from the baby’s crib – secure cords on blinds. Make sure clothing with buttons are secure and tight (the buttons). Don’t use baby items that have strings or cords. Put away small objects that can cause choking.

Safe Sleeping – The baby should have a separate sleeping space (crib, bassinette, or cradle). A firm mattress with a tight fitting sheet is best. No bumper pad, pillows, or fluffy blankets in the crib. Crib is away from cords/blinds/electric outlets. Place your baby on his or her back for the first 4 months – no pillows. A one-piece sleeper is a good choice for sleeping. Don’t share a bed with your baby.

More Tips – Take a CPR class. Gather a list of emergency numbers and keep them by the phone (or in your mobile) – pediatrician, health care provider, family doctor, police department, fire department, and poison control. Have a will and name a guardian for your child in the event something should happen to you and your husband.

Baby’s Nutrition: Learning the

Dance of Your first dance with a new partner can be a bit awkward. With practice, you both learn how to move with one another gracefully. Learning to comfortably nurse your baby is very much like learning to dance. It may not be perfect at first, but with practice, it becomes effortless.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding exclusively through baby’s first six months and continuing to breastfeed as you add in other foods during the first months 6- 12. Even a small amount of breastmilk in the first few days after your baby’s birth makes a difference.

Breastfeeding provides warmth and closeness. The physical contact helps create a special bond between you and your baby. Breast milk has many benefits – it is easier to digest, doesn’t need to be prepared, and it is always available. It has all the nutrients, calories, and fluids your baby needs to be healthy and growth factors that ensure best development of your baby’s organs. Breast milk also has many substances that formulas don’t have that help protect your baby from many diseases and infections. In fact, breastfed babies are less likely to have ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia, wheezing, bronchiolitis, and other bacterial and viral infections.

Breastfeeding is good for Mom too. It helps to release hormones in your body that promote mothering behavior and return your uterus to the size it was before pregnancy more quickly. It also burns calories, which may help in losing pregnancy weight. Breastfeeding will delay the return of your menstrual period to help keep iron in your body. It also keeps bones strong.

Breastfeeding

consult with you on the phone or in person. You can search ‘find a lactation consultant’ at www.ilca.org. The La Leche League offers support groups.

INTERVIEW PEDIATRICIANS When choosing a Pediatrician, be sure to ask if he or she has experience supporting breastfeeding Mothers and babies. Your baby’s doctor will be a valuable part of your support system. They are the best source of information about medications you may be prescribed during the postpartum period.

IF YOU ARE RETURNING TO WORK OR SCHOOL Let your employer know that you will need regular breaks to pump human milk for your infant and ask about a comfortable, private space. Your insurance may provide a double electric pump or you can buy or rent one. A good pump is critical. Ask a lactation counselor about the best models. Take a few weeks to practice pumping before you return to work.

Work with your childcare provider to plan baby’s feeding around your schedule.

A lot’s gonna change

PLAN AHEAD Attend a breastfeeding class. It is important to learn how to latch the baby to the breast correctly so that you are comfortable and the baby is effective at getting milk. Check your local health department and area hospitals for breastfeeding classes. Ask friends and family members who breastfed for their support. You can get excellent and accurate information from www.womenshealth.gov.

Include breastfeeding goals in your birth plan. Ask about skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth. Research shows it eases the baby’s transition into the world. Often referred to as ‘kangaroo care,’ this close contact helps stabilize baby’s breathing and heartbeat – and has been shown to increase milk supply.

You’ve got this!

ESTABLISH A SUPPORT SYSTEM New Moms need support and reassurance. While you are pregnant, develop a list of ‘who to call’ in case you have questions or concerns. It can be a friend who had a successful breastfeeding experience or a lactation professional. Most hospitals have lactation professionals on staff and they will

Contact us

(785) 251-5647 www.shawneehealth.org

with a free personal nurse that can give your the support, advice and information you need as a new mom, pregnant with your first baby.

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Essentials of Baby Shower

Throwing a baby shower is just like throwing any other party. Who do you invite, when do you have it, where do you have it, is there a theme, what time of day or night…be aware there are certain times of day when the mom-to-be feels her best – ask her – she’ll let you know.

Appropriate Time For A Baby Shower Baby showers can be held before the baby is born or after. Many choose to do it a couple of months before when the mom is really showing (and glowing), while others wait until afterward, giving the mom the perfect opportunity to show off her little one to several people at once. Your host should check with you and make sure of the date and time and the guest list.

Etiquette for a Second Child Shower (or third, or fourth, etc.)

Every baby should be celebrated – right? In my view – yes. When it comes to a second pregnancy, people have differing opinions on shower etiquette – she’s got every-

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Etiquette

thing right? Well – maybe not, what if the child is a different gender? What if she’s having twins? What if she needs a few things? What if it’s been a few years since the first child?

Have that shower and enjoy being together. Find out what the Mom needs, have a shower, and celebrate.

Sometimes they call a second baby shower a ‘sprinkle’…the entire celebration is less formal, low key, less expensive – it’s about celebrating.

Who Will Host the Party?

According to ‘etiquette’ , anyone but the mom-to-be and her family can host a shower. This tradition is outdated and often disregarded – if you love the person – you’re related – are a best friend – are a close co-worker – host the shower.

Consult with the guest of honor to determine the guest list.

Consider having a couples shower – Dad’s need car seats too…a recent trend has been ‘Diaper Showers for Dads’… you’re going to need them (diapers and Dads), so you might as well get them (diapers).

another person to keep the costs in line. The host should know how many people will fit the venue (home, restaurant, etc.), so consider these things carefully.

Themes

Throwing a baby shower is just like throwing any other party. Who do you invite, when do you have it, where do you have it, is there a theme, what time of day or night…be aware there are certain times of day when the mom-to-be feels her best – ask her – she’ll let you know.

Whatever you do...make it memorible!

Location Most showers are held at the host’s home, but they can be held at a restaurant, a party room, the office conference room, even at the home of the mom-to-be (it’s her most comfortable place). Whatever works.

Invitations The host may go casual and phone or email each invited guest (evites are very popular and so much quicker in this busy world)…some like a more formal invite and spend the money on this type of invitation (it is a memento and I prefer this kind of invite – they can be absolutely charming – and set the tone or theme of the shower). Make sure all the details are on the invite (who, date, time, location, theme, where registered, list of needs, and RSVP information).

How Many Guests Should You Invite?

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There are no hard and fast rules on this subject. Having said that, the normal number should be about 20 guests. If over 25 guests, you might want to co-host the shower with

The theme of the shower will be determined by the host. People are getting more and more clever (thank you Pinterest) with themed showers and celebrations…for example, if the parents are Irish, the shower might be Luck O’ the Irish inspired (can you see the green and the shamrocks?)…check out the background of the parents and go from there…What you want to do is consider the parents and you’ll have your theme. Questions to ask are: Do you go co-ed? Do you go traditional? What is the venue – that can also determine your theme? What works best in your setting? What is appropriate at your shower location? Are you trying to match the baby’s nursery theme? These are just a few ways to set the theme of the shower.

Trends in Shower Themes • Nursery Rhymes • Travel • Monograms • Butterflies • Color Themes • Golden Book • Vintage • Baby Bling • Carnivals • Love you to the moon…

Gifts Though a gift is expected if a guest attends the shower, guests should only be invited to help celebrate the upcoming arrival (I’ve never seen a person come to a shower without a gift)…if you cannot attend, you are not obligated to give a gift (though you might want to give a gift).

Creating a registry at your favorite store or stores is a helpful way for guests to find the gifts that are needed.

Registry information should be included with the invitation or provided when the guest sends their RSVP in the affirmative.

If you are relatively well-equipped in the baby department, the shower host might consider themes that benefit the mom and/or dad…a night of babysitting, coupons for take-out meals, spa days, date night dinners, movie tickets.

Plush Toys, Hair Clips, Leggings, Blankets, Floral Arrangements 629 S. Kansas Avenue, Topeka, KS 66603 | Phone: 785-266-7999

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Your The list of ‘gear’ needed for your new baby is quite large and baby showers are a wonderful way for your friends and family to shower your baby with gifts. But let’s be practical, you have specific needs and a gift registry lets your loved ones know what you really want and what you really need for your baby’s first year of life. So you create a registry.

Some Tips: - Research large items a little at a time; ask other Moms for advice and reviews on items they use and love; put as much as you want on your registry, better to have more than less; plan ahead – babies grow quickly – you’ll need larger size clothes and diapers; don’t forget safety items for the house and those required for your automobile.

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Baby Registry Here is a list of items your baby will need during the first year of life: •Crib & Mattress, mattress pads, fitted sheets •Blankets – swaddles, heavy, receiving •Diapers – all sizes, wipes •Diaper Pail and Liners •Detergent (baby safe, dye free) •Sleep Gowns, Footies, Converter Gowns, Seasonally Appropriate Clothing •Baby Monitor •Travel Bed •Infant and Toddler Car Seat, seat protector •Back Seat Mirror •Stroller •Humidifier •Night Light

•Bottles, pacifiers •Drying Rack •Food Processor •High Chair, bibs, burp cloths •Breast Pump, storage bags, nipple cream, nursing bras, pads, tops, and cover •Diaper Bag with lots of pockets, changing pad •Bath Towels, grooming kit, soap, shampoo, lotion, diaper rash cream, sunscreen •First Aid Kit •Socks, mittens, onesies •Books, Toys •Floor Seat •Baby Carrier/Sling

Safe Sleep For Your

Baby

Photo by In A Flash by Jenn

WHO IS AT RISK FOR SIDS? SIDS is the leading cause of death for infants between 1 month and 12 months of age. SIDS is most common among infants that are 1-4 months old.

WHAT CAN I DO BEFORE MY BABY IS BORN TO REDUCE THE RISK OF SIDS? Take care of yourself during pregnancy and after the birth of your baby. During pregnancy, before you even give birth, you can reduce the risk of your baby dying from SIDS! Don’t smoke or expose yourself to others’ smoke while you are pregnant and after the baby is born. Alcohol and drug use can also increase your baby’s risk for SIDS. Be sure to visit a physician for regular prenatal checkups to reduce your risk of having a low birth weight or premature baby.

WHERE IS THE SAFEST PLACE FOR MY BABY TO SLEEP? The safest place for your baby to sleep is in the room where you sleep, but not in your bed.

Place the baby’s crib or bassinet near your bed (within arm’s reach). This makes it easier to breastfeed and to bond with your baby. The crib or bassinet should be free from toys, soft bedding, blankets, and pillows.

SAFE SLEEP PRACTICES Always place babies to sleep on their backs during naps and at nighttime. Because babies sleeping on their sides are more likely to accidentally roll onto their stomach, the side position is just as dangerous as the stomach position. Avoid letting the baby get too hot. The baby could be too hot if you

notice sweating, damp hair, flushed cheeks, heat rash, and rapid breathing. Dress the baby lightly for sleep. Set the room temperature in a range that is comfortable for a lightly clothed adult. Consider using a pacifier at nap time and bed time. The pacifier should not have cords or clips that might be a strangulation risk.

SAFE SLEEP ENVIRONMENT Place your baby on a firm mattress, covered by a fitted sheet that meets current safety standards. Place the crib in an area that is always smoke free. Don’t place babies to sleep on adult beds, chairs, sofas, waterbeds, pillows, or cushions. Toys and other soft bedding, including fluffy blankets, comforters, pillows, stuffed animals, bumper pads, and wedges should not be placed in the crib with the baby. Loose bedding, such as sheets and blankets, should not be used as these items can impair the infant’s ability to breathe if they are close to his face. Sleep clothing, such as sleepers, sleepsacks, and wearable blankets are better alternatives to blankets.

IS IT EVER SAFE TO HAVE BABIES ON THEIR TUMMIES? Yes! You should talk to your child care provider about making tummy time a part of your baby’s daily activities.

Your baby needs plenty of tummy time while supervised and awake to help build strong neck and shoulder muscles. Remember to make sure that your baby is having tummy time at home with you.

RESOURCE: American Academy of Pediatrics

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Infant

Reflux

Infant reflux is the condition where the contents of the stomach are spit out, usually shortly after feeding. Spitting up (infant reflux) becomes less common as a baby gets older, and it’s unusual if it’s still occurring after 18 months of age. In a small number of cases, reflux can be a sign of a more serious problem, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), an allergy or a blockage.

Symptoms Spitting up and vomiting are the main symptoms of infant reflux. As long as your baby is healthy, content and growing well, the reflux is not a cause for concern. Your child will in all likelihood outgrow it.

While your baby may act fussy or seem to be uncomfortable, it is very unusual for the stomach contents to be acidic enough to irritate the esophagus or throat, as happens with acid reflux.

Contact your baby’s doctor if your baby: • Isn’t gaining weight • Spits up forcefully, causing stomach contents to shoot out of his or her mouth (projectile vomiting) • Spits up green or yellow fluid • Spits up blood or a material that looks like coffee grounds • Refuses food

Photo by In A Flash by Jenn

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• Has blood in his or her stool • Has difficulty breathing • Begins vomiting at age 6 months or older

Causes Infant reflux is related to a number of factors, often in combination with one another.

In infants, the ring of muscle between the esophagus and the stomach — the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) — is not yet fully mature, allowing stomach contents to flow backward.

Eventually, the LES will open only when baby swallows and will remain tightly closed the rest of the time, keeping stomach contents where they belong. Babies are lying flat most of the time, which makes reflux more likely. Moreover, their diet is completely liquid, also favoring infant reflux. Sometimes air bubbles in the stomach may push liquids backward. In other cases, your baby may simply drink too much, too fast.

Although infant reflux most often occurs after a feeding, it can happen anytime your baby coughs, cries or strains. You can always check with your pediatrician if you are concerned about infant reflux. Your pediatrician will be able to answer any questions you may have regarding your baby’s health. The history a parent gives on their baby’s symptoms helps guide your pediatrician’s management.

Bonding with

Baby Bonding with your baby refers to the intense attachment you develop with your new born. Bonding creates a secure and healthy attachment between the two of you. Your voice, your touch, your smile, your eye contact, your cuddle, your response to cues and attention to your baby’s needs creates a secure and healthy attachment. In turn, this connection fosters a feeling of safety, which leads to trust, to communicate feelings, makes him easier to comfort, and makes him more affectionate.

This bonding becomes the foundation for your child’s ability to connect with others – to have healthy relationships through childhood and beyond.

As a new mom – you’re busy, your baby consumes you…how do you find time to exercise (yes, we’re often consumed with the desire to return to our former healthy self – as if having a baby weren’t enough)…the good news is a workout can energize you – both your mind and your body. Even better, you can exercise with your child – continue the bonding.

The earlier infants and toddlers are exposed to movement and exercise, the better the brain-muscle connection. Physical competence makes exercise and activity a life-long habit and is a protection against obesity in the future – they become active as adults because their brains have incorporated the physical skills that make exercise enjoyable.

Today, you’ll find many gyms offer programs for Moms and their babies. These mommy-and-me programs and classes allow you to exercise and at the same time, it builds valuable coordination skills for the baby as well as develops his brain. You get the benefit of having an instructor guide you through these post-pregnancy workouts and your baby gets to watch other moms and babies in action (great stimulation).

Photo by TH Peterson Photography

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Planning Baby’s

Birth

From the first positive pregnancy test, many momsto-be fret over labor. Writing a birth plan can help relieve your anxiety, and—like Kegels! —it’s a valuable predelivery exercise. A birth plan is a document that tells your medical team your preferences and desires for such things as how to manage labor pain. Most hospitals provide a birth plan worksheet or brochure that explains the hospital’s philosophy of childbirth – giving you options and guidelines. Much of your birth experience will be dictated by the setting you select and the caregivers assisting, so it’s important to learn your options before penning your preferences. In addition, it is impossible to completely control how your little one will make his or her grand entrance.

Things to Think About when Creating Your Birth Plan: Birth setting policies. You may want to chow down on hamburgers during labor, but many hospitals limit your consumption to ice chips. Get familiar with your delivery location’s policies ahead of time.

Procedures of your health care provider.

Atmosphere. Do you want a high-energy ambiance with jazzy music or a quiet, softly lit setting for your baby’s big debut?

Preparatory procedures. In earlier eras, a woman arriving at the hospital to give birth was given an enema and a trim (down there). Ask if these are still routine procedures where you’ll be delivering. They likely won’t be, but it’s better to know so there’s no surprise on labor day!

Pain management. Is your strategy “Get an epidural ASAP!” or do you want to avoid pain medications if possible? What pain management techniques will you use?

Monitoring. Many hospitals use constant electronic fetal monitoring, but if you don’t want to be bedridden, intermittent monitoring may be an option.

Episiotomies and assisted birth.

If your baby is being bashful, your caregiver may wish to perform an episiotomy—an incision between the vagina and anus—or use forceps or vacuum extraction. Discuss the pros and cons of each in advance.

C-section. In what circumstances would you want a Cesarean to be performed? Does five hours of pushing grant a ticket to the OR or is your baby’s distress the only call for surgery? Discuss this with your physician.

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Photos and videos. Do you wish to document every moment from the first twinge through baby’s first bath, or hold the flashbulbs until all are clean and content?

Crowning. Some non squeamish mothers request to have a mirror positioned so they can see the baby crown (when his head first appears) or even reach down and touch his tiny noggin.

Cutting the cord. Indicate when you’d like baby’s umbilical cord to be clamped, and specify whether daddy wants to take part in the snipping ritual.

Post Birth. “After a vaginal delivery, your delivery facility may practice placing baby immediately on your chest, known as skin-to-skin. This promotes bonding and successful breast feeding.” For a C-section, indicate who should bond with your baby while you recover.

Nursing. It is recommended to start breastfeeding right away; you can also ask the hospital staff not to offer baby a bottle or pacifier, which could interfere with nursing.

Additional info. Mention factors that may affect your delivery, like if you’re blind as a bat without glasses, have gestational diabetes, or wish to bank baby’s cord blood.

Don’t forget. While creating a birth plan is a great idea, don’t get so attached to it that you won’t allow any flexibility in the delivery room. Birth is different for every woman, every time, so no matter how much you plan there’s a good chance things won’t go exactly the way you envisioned them. Remember to expect the unexpected!

Hospital Bag

Checklist

Reduce your stress by packing for your trip to the hospital a few weeks before your expected due date. ____ Bath Robe

For Mom

____ Lotion

____ Night Gown

____ Hair Ties and Pins

____ Pajamas

____ Pillow

____ Loose Comfy Clothing

____ Tennis Ball for Labor Massage

____ An Outfit to Leave In

____ Cell Phone and Charger

____ Slippers

____ Camera and Charger

____ Nursing Bras

____ Music Player/Laptop/Tablet

____ Several Pair of Comfortable Underwear

____ Snacks for Husband/Family

____ Socks

____ Coins for Vending Machine

____ Nursing Pads/ Nipple Cream

____ Birth Plan

____ Toiletries and Makeup

____ List of Family Contacts

____ Brush and Blow Dryer

____ Magazines/Books

____ Glasses/Contact Lenses

____ Identification

____ Chapstick

____ Insurance Card/Info

For Baby ____ Going Home Outfit

____ Baby Finger Nail Clippers

____ Onesie/Sleepers

____ Car Seat

____ Baby Socks

____ Receiving Blankets

____ Baby Mittens/Hat

____ Newborn Diapers and Baby Wipes

Call List ________________________________________________ _

________________________________________________

________________________________________________ _

________________________________________________

________________________________________________ _

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

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How will I know when I’m in

Labor?

This is the plug that has sealed your cervix canal during the last nine months.

It can appear as discharge or in a lump. It might have pink, red, or brown blood.

Your water breaks. When the fluid filled amniotic sac surrounding the baby ruptures, fluid leaks out from your vagina and this is the time to call the doctor.

Most women have regular contractions prior to the water breaking (but sometimes the water breaks first).

In pre-labor or early labor (the latent phase), you may have:

Every woman’s labor is different, so pinpointing when yours begins isn’t really possible. However, some specific changes take place in pre-labor, early labor and established (active) labor.

Your body actually starts preparing for labor up to a month before you give birth. You may not recognize the changes at first, but there comes a time that you become aware of these new symptoms as your due date draws near.

In the weeks and days before labor starts, your baby ‘drops’ – you may feel what’s known as ‘lightening’ a few weeks before labor starts. You breathe easier because the heaviness has shifted to your pelvis as opposed to just below your ribcage.

You will have frequent and intense Braxton Hicks contractions signaling pre-labor. Your cervix ripens and you’re set for real labor. Some feel crampy (similar to when you had your period).

Those Braxton Hicks contractions are tricky and can strike as often as every ten to twenty minutes. You wonder if you’re in real labor…but real labor contractions are most often longer, stronger, closer together, and cause your cervix to dilate.

Your cervix starts to change – it softens and thins out.

As your due date draws near, your doctor will do an exam checking to see if your cervix has started to change.

You may pass your mucus plug if your cervix begins to efface significantly or dilate as you get close to labor.

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• Persistent lower back pain or abdominal pain, with a premenstrual feeling and cramps.

• Painful contractions that occur at regular and increasingly shorter intervals, and become longer and stronger in intensity.

• Broken water. Your membranes may rupture with a gush or a trickle of amniotic fluid. Either way, call your maternity unit to let them know.

• A brownish or blood-tinged mucus discharge (bloody show). If you pass the mucus plug that blocks the cervix, labor could be imminent, or it could be several days away. It’s a sign that things are moving along.

• An upset tummy or loose bowels.

• A period of feeling very emotional or moody.

• Disrupted sleep.

How you will feel in the pre-labor or early labor phases depends on: • Whether you’ve had a baby before.

• How you perceive and respond to pain.

• How prepared you are for what going into labor may be like.

When should I call my doctor?

You have probably talked to your doctor about what to do when you think you’re in active labor. But if you’re not sure whether or not the time has come, don’t be embarrassed to call. Doctors are used to getting calls from women who are uncertain if they’re in early labor or active labor, and who need guidance. It’s part of their job.

A doctor can tell a lot by the tone of your voice, so

talking helps. She’ll want to know how close together your contractions are, whether you can talk through a contraction, and any other symptoms you may have.

If she thinks you’re still in early labor, she is likely to encourage you to go home until you’re in stronger active labor. Her decision will depend on how you’re coping and whether you’ve got a birth partner to support you.

You should contact your doctor if: • Your waters break, or if you suspect you’re leaking amniotic fluid.

• Your baby is moving less than usual.

• You have vaginal bleeding (unless it’s just a small amount after a membrane sweep or the blood-tinged mucus of the show).

• You have a fever, severe headaches, changes in your vision, along with abdominal pain.

What should I do early on in labor?

This will depend on what time of day it is, what you like doing, and how you’re feeling. Keeping calm and relaxed will help your body to release the hormone oxytocin that you need for your labor to progress and will help you to cope with the contractions. Do whatever will help you to stay relaxed.

This could mean watching your favorite film, going for a walk, puttering around at home, or asking a trusted friend or relative over to keep you company. You could alternate between walking and resting, or try taking a warm bath or

shower to ease any aches and pains. If you can, try to get some rest to prepare you for the work ahead.

During early labor, you may feel hungry, so eat and drink if you feel like it. This will help to comfort you and may even help your labor to progress more smoothly.

Can I have contractions and not be in labor?

Yes. You can have pre-labor contractions. These help your cervix to go through the changes it needs to before it starts to dilate. During dilation, your cervix moves from the back (posterior position) to the front (anterior position).

It will also be shortening and thinning (softening and effacing).

These changes may take place without you noticing over the last few weeks of your pregnancy. Or you may experience hours or days of cramps or contractions. These may be progressing the early changes in your cervix, even though they may not be dilating your cervix yet. A doctor can confirm whether cervical changes have started during an examination.

If your baby has his head down but his back to your back, it can take longer for his head to engage and for labor to start. Your contractions may be erratic and low in intensity, and you may have backache.

Your doctor will advise you about ways to cope at home until labor becomes stronger. Try a warm bath or massage to relieve the pain. If your baby is back-to-back, getting into an all-fours position, on your hands and knees, for half an hour or so now and again can help relieve backache.

Can I tell if labor is about to happen soon?

Maybe. Signs of the approach of labor include: • Lightening, when your baby’s head begins to drop into position in your pelvis. You may be able to breathe more deeply and eat more, but you’ll also need to use the restroom more frequently, and walking may be more difficult.

• Heavier and more mucus vaginal discharge.

• More frequent and noticeably more intense Braxton Hicks contractions.

• Mood swings and a surge of energy.

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What to Expect at the Hospital:

A Guide to Labor and Delivery

Wow! You have made it! The big day has arrived! I’m sure by now that you are ready to sleep without bathroom breaks, fit in to your old clothes, and regain control of your own body functions. Lucky for you the hard part is over, or is it? If you haven’t been in labor before, the first time can be a little scary. You don’t know what to expect.

You’re anxious and a little scared. It is not as bad as most (if not all) of the stories you’ve heard.

So, what first? You will have to check in to the hospital once you have confirmed you are in labor.

Most hospitals require you to either check in at the Emergency Room or with General Admissions. Once that is completed, you will be moved to Labor and Delivery where you will be asked to change into a hospital gown.

Your Labor and Delivery nurse will assess you and the baby to make sure that everything is progressing normally.

During this time an IV will be started and a baby heartbeat monitor, a contraction monitor – lots of equipment. Now – you just wait.

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Important to know.

Stages of Labor: FIRST STAGE The first stage really consists of three phases:

Early Phase: This phase typically lasts up to 12 hours although it’s usually considerably shorter for second and subsequent babies. As labor progresses, the contractions get longer and stronger.

Active Phase: Often this phase lasts up to six hours, although it can be a lot shorter. You should be in the hospital or birth center by now or en route. Contractions are much more intense, last about 40 to 60 seconds, and are spaced 3 to 5 minutes apart.

Breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, and coaching are all important now. Pain relief is usually administered in this phase.

Transition Phase: This phase can last anywhere from a

Utilize the water - Ever take a bath to relax? Humans

few minutes to several hours. Contractions last 60 to 90 seconds and come two or three minutes apart.

have a natural draw toward water. Most women will report that upon entering a tub in labor, the contractions were much more tolerable. I can tell from personal experience that it definitely takes the edge off.

SECOND STAGE The second stage can last from minutes to hours – the average is about an hour for a first-time pregnancy (longer if you’ve had an epidural) – and ends with a moment that’s made up in equal parts of relief and breathtaking beauty: The birth of your baby.

THIRD STAGE Delivery of the placenta. It’s not over yet! This stage, which begins immediately after the birth of your baby and ends with the delivery of the placenta five to 10 minutes later, is usually anticlimactic, but necessary.

• During the course of your labor, you will be asked to make a lot of decisions.

• Do you want pain medicine?

• If so, will you want an epidural or general pain medication administered through the IV? • Episiotomy or no episiotomy?

These questions are best answered before you are in labor. Once the pain has started you may not be capable of making the best decisions. Labor can sometimes last for several hours, but there are many techniques that can be used to make these hours pass by a little quicker and easier.

Surround yourself with people that love you and will encourage you - Utilize your partner. At this point they are feeling helpless and useless. Have someone feed you ice chips, fluff your pillow, or massage your feet.

Remove negative energy from the birthing space - If there are spectators in the room who are commenting negatively or making you feel embarrassed or uncomfortable, they should leave the space. There is a lot of psychology in birth. If you don’t feel comfortable, the labor will take longer and may be harder.

Here are a few ways to make it more bearable: Labor at home as long as possible - You will typically be more comfortable in your own environment with the freedom to move as you need to, and the privacy to act on your instincts to make noise and adjust, no matter how strange the position.

Create a comfortable birthing space - Even in a hospital, you can do small things to make your birthing space more welcoming. Dim lights, aromatherapy/scents you enjoy, pictures, your own blanket and pillow, and your own music can all help the space feel more comfortable.

Wearing your own clothes is also something you can do to feel more comfortable.

Move - I am well aware that sometimes in labor all you want to do is lie down, but that position isn’t always the best for encouraging the baby to move down, especially in early labor. In most cultures, women do not lie down to give birth. They stand, squat, hug a tree, basically anything that feels good to them. They don’t tend to spend their labors lying down.

Give in - So many women try to fight the contractions/ pressure waves/rushes in attempt to make them less painful. Give in to the sensations and try to see them more as a rush of energy. They are going to happen no matter what you do. When you give in and let them work, your labor will be more effective and typically quicker.

Remember, at the end of this day you will have a tiny miracle in your hands. That alone will make this day worth every pain you felt!

Some things to have on hand after the baby is born – specifically for the new mom • Ice packs – in case of tearing during birth or swelling after; • 2-3 weeks supply of ultra-absorbent sanitary pads; • Panty liners; • Hemorrhoid wipes or cream (even if your pregnancy was trouble-free, these can be necessary after labor).

My BABY! | 73

Labor

Memories

My contractions started on (date/time):_________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ At first they felt like:__________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ They were this far apart:______________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ They lasted this long:_________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ The person I called first to tell:_________________________________________________________________________ His/her reaction:_____________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Exciting Moments:____________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Your Baby’s Birth

Story

Birthplace:__________________________________________________________________________________________ Time:______________________________________________ Date:____________________________________________ Length:____________________________________________ Weight:__________________________________________ Eye Color:__________________________________________ Hair Color:________________________________________ Who held baby first?__________________________________________________________________________________ People who were there:______________________________________________________________________________ Exciting moments:____________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

74 | My BABY!

These Tiny Feet and Hands Tiptoe and Crawl into your Heart and

Stay Forever

Left Hand

Right Hand

Left Foot

Right Foot My BABY! | 75

Tracking Your Baby…

Developmental Milestones The First Month:

Red flags

•Can lift head momentarily •Turns head from side to side when lying on back •Hands stay clenched •Strong grasp reflex present •Looks and follows object moving in front of them in range of 45 degrees •Sees black and white patterns •Quiets when a voice is heard •Cries to express displeasure •Makes throaty sounds •Looks intently at parents when they talk to him/her

Each child develops at his own pace, but talk to your child’s doctor if your 3-month-old: •Can’t support his head well •Can’t grasp objects •Can’t focus on moving objects •Doesn’t smile •Doesn’t react to loud sounds •Ignores new faces •Seems upset by unfamiliar people or surroundings

The Second Month:

•Drooling begins •Good head control •Sits with support •Bears some weight on legs when held upright •Raises head and chest off surface to a 90 degree angle •Rolls from back to side •Explores and plays with hands •Tries to reach for objects but overshoots •Grasps objects with both hands •Eye-hand coordination begins •Makes consonant sounds •Laughs •Enjoys being rocked, bounced or swung

•Lifts head almost 45 degrees when lying on stomach •Head bobs forward when held in sitting position •Grasp reflex decreases •Follows dangling objects with eyes •Visually searches for sounds •Makes noises other than crying •Cries become distinctive (wet, hungry, etc.)

•Vocalizes to familiar voices •Social smile demonstrated in response to various stimuli

Red flags: Each child develops at her own pace, but talk to your baby’s doctor if your 1-month-old: •Feeds slowly or doesn’t suck well •Doesn’t seem to focus her eyes or watch things moving nearby •Doesn’t react to bright lights •Seems especially stiff or floppy •Doesn’t respond to loud sounds

The Third Month: •Begins to bear partial weight on both legs when held in a standing position •Able to hold head up when sitting but still bobs forward •When lying on stomach can raise head and shoulders between 45 and 90 degrees •Bears weight on forearms •Grasp reflex absent •Holds objects but does not reach for them •Clutches own hands and pulls at blankets and clothes •Follows objects 180 degrees •Locates sound by turning head and looking in the same direction •Squeals, coos, babbles, and chuckles •“Talks” when spoken to •Recognizes faces, voices, and objects •Smiles when he/she sees familiar people, and engages in play with them •Shows awareness to strange situations

76 | My BABY!

The Fourth Month:

The Fifth Month: •Signs of teething begin •Holds head up when sitting •Rolls from stomach to back •When lying on back puts feet to mouth •Voluntarily grasps and holds objects •Plays with toes •Takes objects directly to mouth •Watches objects that are dropped •Says “ah-goo” or similar vowel-consonant combinations •Smiles at mirror image •Gets upset if you take a toy away •Can tell family and strangers apart •Begins to discover parts of his/her body

The Sixth Month: •Chewing and biting occur •When on stomach, can lift chest and part of stomach off the surface, bearing weight on hands •Lifts head when pulled to a sitting position •Rolls from back to stomach •Bears majority of weight when being held in a standing position •Grasps and controls small objects •Holds bottle

•Grabs feet and pulls to mouth •Adjusts body to see an object •Turns head from side to side and then looks up or down •Prefers more complex visual stimuli •Says one syllable sounds like “ma”, “mu”, “da”, and “di” •Recognizes parents

Red flags: Each child develops at her own pace, but talk to your child’s doctor if your baby: •Seems very stiff or floppy •Can’t hold her head steady •Can’t sit on her own •Doesn’t respond to noises or smiles •Isn’t affectionate with those closest to her •Doesn’t reach for objects

The Seventh Month: •Sits without support, may lean forward on both hands •Bears full weight on feet •Bounces when held in standing position •Bears weight on one hand when lying on stomach •Transfers objects from one hand to another •Bangs objects on surfaces •Able to fixate on small objects •Responds to name •Awareness of depth and space begin •Has taste preferences •“Talks” when others are talking

Red flags: •Seems very stiff or floppy •Can’t hold her head steady •Can’t sit on her own •Doesn’t respond to noises or smiles •Isn’t affectionate with those closest to her •Doesn’t reach for objects

The Eight Month: •Sits well without support •Bears weight on legs and may stand holding on to furniture •Adjusts posture to reach an object •Picks up objects using index, fourth, and fifth finger against thumb •Able to release objects •Pulls string to obtain object •Reaches for toys that are out of reach •Listens selectively to familiar words •Begins combining syllables like “mama” and “dada” but does not attach a meaning •Understands the word no (but does not always obey it)!

•Dislikes having diaper changed and being dressed

The Ninth Month: •Begins crawling •Pulls up to standing position from sitting •Sits for a prolonged time (10minutes) •May develop a preference for use of one hand

•Uses thumb and index finger to pick up objects •Responds to simple verbal commands •Comprehends the word “no” •Increased interest in pleasing parents •Puts arms in front of face to avoid having it washed

The Tenth Month: •Goes from stomach to sitting position •Sits by falling down •Recovers balance easily while sitting •Lifts one foot to take a step while standing •Comprehends “bye-bye” •Says “dada” or “mama” with meaning •Says one other word beside “mama” and “dada” (hi, bye, no, go) •Waves bye-bye •Object permanence begins to develop •Repeats actions that attract attention •Plays interactive games such a “pat-a-cake” •Enjoys being read to and follows pictures in books

The Eleventh Month: •Walks holding on to furniture or other objects •Places one object after another into a container •Reaches back to pick up an object when sitting •Explores objects more thoroughly •Able to manipulate objects out of tight fitting spaces •Rolls a ball when asked •Becomes excited when a task is mastered •Acts frustrated when restricted •Shakes head for “no”

The Twelfth Month: •Walks with one hand held •May stand alone and attempt first steps alone •Sits down from standing position without help •Attempts to build two block tower but may fail •Turns pages in a book •Follows rapidly moving objects •Says three or more words other than “mama” or “dada” •Comprehends the meaning of several words •Repeats the same words over & over again •Imitates sounds, such as the sounds dogs and cats make •Recognizes objects by name •Understands simple verbal commands •Shows affection •Shows independence in familiar surroundings •Clings to parents in strange situation •Searches for object where it was last seen

Red flags: •Doesn’t crawl •Seems to drag one side while he’s crawling for a month or more •Can’t stand with support •Doesn’t try to find objects you’ve hidden in front of him •Doesn’t say any words •Doesn’t use gestures, such as shaking his head “no” and pointing

My BABY! | 77

Read Aloud When children are read to by people they love, children learn to love books!

It’s never too early to start - Babies love to be held and to hear your voice. Cuddle up together and look at board books.

A few minutes is okay – young children may sit still for only a few minutes. They will listen longer as they grow.

Let your child turn the pages – Babies and toddlers need help to turn board book pages. A 3-year old likes to turn paper pages without help.

Read favorite stories over and over – Children love to hear the same stories again and again. This is how they learn.

Ask your child questions about the story – Where is the moon? What do you think will happen next? Be sure to give your child time to answer.

Read anywhere and anytime – Read at playtime, bedtime, and naptime. Read any place you have to wait.

Read at the playground, in the park, in the car.

Go to your local library to get more books – Your local library has lots of free books. Let your child choose which ones to bring home.

Every Day!

What Children Like in Books A simple guide to the kinds of books most suitable for children at different ages.

INFANTS (6-12 months) • Board books with photos of babies • Sturdy, brightly colored board books to touch and taste • Books with pictures of things they see every day – balls, bottles, chairs, dogs • Small books sized for small hands YOUNGER TODDLERS (12-24 months) • Sturdy board books they can handle and carry • Books that show children doing familiar things – sleeping, eating, playing • Goodnight books for bedtime • Books about saying goodbye and hello • Books with only a few words on the page • Books with simple rhymes or predictable text OLDER TODDLERS (24-36 months) • Books with pictures and names of many different things • Books with board pages – but also books with paper pages • Silly books and funny books • Books with rhyme and rhythm, and repeated text they can learn by heart • Books about children and families • Books about food, animals, trucks, and other favorite objects

Photo by Worth A 1000 Words

78 | My BABY!

PRESCHOOLERS (3-5 years) • Books that tell stories • Books about kids who look like and live like them – and also books about different places and different ways of living • Books about going to school or daycare • Books about making friends • Books with simple text they can memorize • Counting books, alphabet books, search and find books

If you’re curious how to raise a reader – go to your library Bee a Reader

It’s never too soon to get your baby a library card!

The Read With Me t-shirt looks great on little readers! (birth – 18 months)

Books to Keep

Sign up for Dolly Patron’s Imagination Library and your child receives a new book by mail each month. (birth – 5 years)

Learn & Play Bus

Play is the best way for your child to learn.

The Learn & Play Bus travels to 8 locations each week for storytime and playful learning. (birth – 5 years)

Pre-reading Classes

During storytime kids (birth to 5 years) can talk, sing, play, clap and dance – and it happens most days at the library. (birth – 5 years)

Get started at tscpl.org/kids-library

1515 SW 10th Ave | Topeka, KS | 785 580-4400 | tscpl.org TP-00020601

My BABY! | 79

Dressing your

Photo by In A Flash by Jenn

80 | My BABY!

Little One

Comfy and cute are the two ‘C’s every parent should learn when welcoming the little one. You want your baby to get the attention they deserve, that’s a no- brainer for parents; but you also want them to be relaxed and comfortable while enjoying the spotlight. Do babies need all the layers of clothes, big bows, cowboy boots, or even hair fixed to a “tee”? Do babies like it? Is there any way to be “comfy & cute”? Yes – keep it light and keep it casual.

Making Baby Comfy Cotton is the number one choice for happy babies.

An absorbent and breathable fabric, it keeps any baby comfortable. It is one of the most common fabrics for baby clothes. Cotton fabrics are available in organic versions, but make sure you buy two sizes bigger when going organic as organic cotton is typically not preshrunk (it will shrink about 10% after the first wash). Other options are Cotton/Polyester blends & Cotton/Spandex blends.

Prewashed clothing is soft, comfortable, and has gone through the shrinking process.

Fleece is another great choice for parents. A good material for keeping babies warm, it’s often used for baby outerwear and comes in various layers and weights.

Fleece is good for the in-between seasons, the fabric isn’t as heavy as most people would think. It’s easy to wash and there are a variety of colors and styles.

Look for clothing with easy snap closures at leg inseams. This makes your work go quickly. Slip on pants, shirts with snap closures, and coveralls.

Clothing to Avoid When buying clothes for your infant make sure seams are smooth and lie flat. Avoid buying clothes with seams that poke out or can easily scratch or irritate the skin.

Another obstacle you want to look out for are tight elastic bands at the arms, legs, neck, and waist. They can constrict your baby, irritate your baby’s skin, and cut off circulation – not good. Check the elastic before purchasing and see how much it gives. Does it stretch enough? If your baby has no room to grow, keep looking!

Make sure you go by weight and not by age.

Avoid buttons – they are time consuming and if they come off and can end up in the baby’s mouth.

Try to avoid metal zippers and rough edges on snaps. Avoid any possible choking hazards (buttons, sequins, etc.) when picking out clothes for your little fashionista.

Looking Cute Cuteness can come with comfort. Put your baby in the best fabric choice, (including bows, shoes, or anything else) and the smile of a happy baby says it all!

Remember, not all fabric is suitable for the skin of an infant. With the right material, you can dress your baby in endless colors, patterns and designs.

Trends • Look for modern updates on classic styles – this can mean colors beyond the imagination or the norm for babies; • Go Green – clothing made from organic or recycled materials; consider all-natural bamboo clothing as it will adjust to your baby’s temperature and is great for layering; • Designer Clothing – if you’re going that route, it’s fabulously chic and babies are a market that designers are going for…keep in mind that the outfit will be fleeting – most newborns triple their body weight in a year – outgrowing that chic outfit.

BUY, SELL & SO MUCH MORE! CHILDREN’S & MATERNITY CLOTHES TOYS BABY EQUIPMENT NEW GIFT ITEMS

TP-00020600

Topeka’s largest upscale resale shop specializing in children and maternity clothing and accessories.

3703 SW BURLINGAME RD. (785) 266-0375 OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK: M-F 10AM - 6PM & SATURDAY 9AM - 5PM Oh BABY! | 81

Baby’s First

Your baby’s primary teeth (baby teeth) are quite important.

Decay and/or loss of these teeth can jeopardize the proper development of the permanent teeth. It is recommended that you take your child to the dentist for his first dental examination, cleaning, and topical fluoride treatment at his first birthday.

For most babies, that first tooth starts coming in between 4 and 8 months. Girls tend to get teeth faster than boys.

Occasionally, some newborns are born with teeth. These are usually extra and should be examined by a children’s dentist.

The dentist may remove these teeth in order to prevent problems with feeding and damage to the newborn’s tongue.

Babies get teeth at different rates. Baby teeth generally come in pairs, and as long as your baby starts to get teeth before 18 months, you probably don’t need to worry.

When teeth come in, most babies experience pain and can be cranky and fussy. Common signs of teething include sore, tender, and swollen gums; excessive drool; loss of appetite; difficulty sleeping; and a low-grade fever. Babies may be clingy and chew on their fingers and toys. They may break out in a rash or their face, neck, and chest due to the excessive drool.

82 | Oh BABY!

Tooth

When Teeth Come In: Central incisors – 6 to 8 months.

Lateral incisors – 7 to 9 months.

Cuspids – 16 to 18 months.

First molars – 12 to 14 months.

Second molars – 20 to 24 months.

After your baby’s teeth begin to come in, you’ll need to take care of them. Use a piece of wet gauze to wipe them off or a toothbrush if necessary – do this twice per day. Don’t use toothpaste until they are older.

If your baby does not have teeth at 18 months, talk to your physician. There may be an underlying problem, such as hypopituitarism or hypothyroidism that is causing the delay and these need to be addressed.

By the time they turn 4 years of age, your child should have a full mouth of baby teeth – 20 to be exact. As guides for permanent teeth, baby teeth are important and should be taken care of – brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist.

Breast-Feeding and Bottle Feeding Whether to breast-feed or bottle feed is an important concern of the new mother. Consultation with your Continued on page 84

Baby’s Tooth

Chart

Date of Eruption

Date of Eruption

Date of Eruption

Date of Eruption

B A

Date of Eruption

D

C

Date of Eruption

D

UPPER

UPPER

E

E

E D

LOWER C

B

A

A

Date of Eruption

E

LOWER

Date of Eruption

Date of Eruption

Date of Eruption

B

C

Date of Eruption

Date of Eruption

A

Date of Eruption

D

B

C

Date of Eruption

Date of Eruption

Date of Eruption

Date of Eruption

Date of Eruption

Date of Eruption

Date of Eruption

A. Central Incisor

B. Lateral Incisor

C. Cuspid

D. First Molar

E. Second Molar My BABY! | 83

pediatrician will result in the decision that is best for you and your baby. If the bottle is used, the type of nipple will have no significant effect on your baby’s bite. However, after the eruption of the first tooth (4 to 8 months), allowing the infant to nurse from the breast or the bottle for extended periods of time can have destructive effects on the teeth.

Most children will complete their nutritional requirements at mealtime. Children who continue to bottle feed while napping, sleeping, or in-between meals past 6 months of age, run the risk of developing extensive tooth decay. Even breast milk can cause infant tooth decay. The most damaging bottle contents are fruit juices like apple or grape, citrus juices like orange or lemon, and sweetened beverages.

Carbonated drinks and sugar or syrup-sweetened water are also dangerous. Sleeping with a bottle should never be allowed to start. If the child must sleep with a bottle, then it should contain water only. If your child has been sleeping with a bottle or does have a daytime bottle habit, you should arrange for a pediatric dental examination as soon as hospital.

Pacifiers It is recommended that the baby be weaned from the bottle or breast at about one year of age. If the baby still has a continued need to suck, a pacifier may be used. The most important consideration in selecting a pacifier is safety. It should be one with a large handle which will not separate.

Thumbsucking Thumbsucking at an early age is very common and while continued thumbsucking can lead to deformation of the upper front part of the mouth, it is not advisable for parents to attempt to terminate the habit. Bribes and threats will do little to correct the habit and often enhance the anxiety and guilt your child may have. Some children will discontinue thumbsucking by themselves, often when they start preschool or kindergarten. For those who do not, most habits can be successfully corrected with the help of the pediatric dentist when, and only when, the child indicates a desire to stop.

Teething The first tooth will usually erupt between the ages of 4 to 8 months. Teething can be a most disturbing time for new parents, but this is a normal process in the child’s development. Although often the subject of debate between physicians, pedodontists, and parents, there is some evidence to suggest that certain other findings, such as a rise in temperature, diarrhea, increased salivation/drooling, rashes, and changes in the bowel habits, can occur in conjunction with teething. The use of teething rings, aspirin or Tylenol, and topical anesthetics or numbing agents can be helpful. If there is a doubt or concern do not hesitate to

84 | My BABY!

consult your pediatrician or family physician.

Nutrition Children should have few problems with their teeth if they eat a well-balanced diet high in the major food groups (dairy, meats, breads and cereals, and fruits and vegetables), and low in sugars. All children will eat sweetened foods from time to time. The cavity causing effects of these sweetened foods can be reduced by the following: limit sweets to mealtime and avoid sweets for snacks. Encourage liquid sweets instead of sticky, retentive sweets. Group sweets together instead of spreading them out over the day.

Remember, each time sweetened foods contact the bacteria (plaque) in our mouths, these bacteria produce tooth destroying acid for approximately 30 minutes. Keep acid products down by reducing the frequency of sugar intake.

Fluoride Supplementation The intake of optimal amounts of fluoride is beneficial to developing permanent teeth. Fluoride actually becomes incorporated into the enamel of the developing tooth making it stronger and more resistant to future decay. Your pediatrician or pediatric dentist can prescribe these for you.

Fluoride supplements are recommended from birth through about age 8.

Topical fluorides are applied directly to the teeth. They are most effective soon after eruption of the teeth because the teeth are porous (not fully mineralized) when they first erupt.

Complete mineralization actually takes several years and thus topical fluorides are recommended at least until adulthood.

Tooth Cleaning The best time to start routine cleaning of your baby’s mouth is shortly after birth. The gums should be gently wiped with a soft wet washcloth or gauze. This routine activity will get your baby adjusted to having his mouth touched by your fingers. When his first tooth erupts into his mouth, continue cleaning in the same manner. At about one year, it is recommended that your child be given his first toothbrush; it should be small with soft bristles. At this age, your child will not be able to adequately clean his own teeth and you will have to assist. By introducing the toothbrush at this early age, the child will develop a lifetime habit of oral hygiene. At about age 2 ½ , after the eruption of the second primary molars, flossing should be introduced. Parents will have to assume the responsibility of flossing until the age of 6 or 7. The toothpaste selected should be one with fluoride.

Avoid brands which claim to ‘whiten’ or ‘brighten’ teeth.

These are usually quite abrasive which can be damaging when used over an extended period of time.

If a child younger than 3 years has a cavity or any dark suspicious spot on a tooth or suffers from trauma to his teeth, he should be taken to the pedodontist immediately.

Good habits begin early…so do healthy smiles…

Baby

Milestones

Slept Through the Night:______________________________________________________________________________ Smiled:_____________________________________________________________________________________________ Rolled onto Tummy:__________________________________________________________________________________ Rolled onto Back:____________________________________________________________________________________ Laughed:___________________________________________________________________________________________ Blew a Kiss:__________________________________________________________________________________________ Sat & Played with toy:_________________________________________________________________________________ Waved Bye-Bye:______________________________________________________________________________________ Held a Bottle:________________________________________________________________________________________ Held a Cup:_________________________________________________________________________________________ Ate Baby Food:______________________________________________________________________________________ Held a Toy:__________________________________________________________________________________________ Crawled:____________________________________________________________________________________________ Danced:____________________________________________________________________________________________ Had a Haircut:_______________________________________________________________________________________ Clapped Hands:_____________________________________________________________________________________ Made a Sound: _____________________________________________________________________________________ Walked:____________________________________________________________________________________________ Went on an Outing:__________________________________________________________________________________ Played Peek-a-Boo:__________________________________________________________________________________ Stood Alone:_______________________________________________________________________________________ Spoke Your First Word:_______________________________________________________________________________ Other Unforgettable Moments:________________________________________________________________________

Service. Support. Advocacy.

My BABY! | 85

Vaccine

Tracker

Hepatitis B Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis Haemophilus Influenza Type B Inactivated Poliovirus Measles, Mumps, Rubella Varicella Meningococcal Pneumococcal Influenza Hepatitis A Rotavirus HPV 86 | My BABY!

yearly

11-12 yrs

4-6 yrs.

24 mos.

18 mos.

15 mos.

12 mos.

6 mos.

4 mos.

2 mos.

1 mo.

Vaccine

Birth

This immunization schedule is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If You’d like to try a modified schedule, speak with your pediatrician.

1 Month

Checkup

You can expect your baby’s doctor to:

Weigh and measure your baby to make sure she’s growing at a healthy rate.

Do a complete physical.

Probably give your baby a hepatitis B shot.

Recommend vitamin D drops for breastfed babies.

Address any other concerns.

How is your baby sleeping? What position does she sleep in?______________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ How often is your baby eating?________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ What are your baby’s bowel movements like?____________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does she quiet down, at least briefly, at the sound of your voice?___________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Is your baby awake for longer periods of time?___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does she make soft cooing noises when content and alert?________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Have you noticed anything unusual about your baby’s eyes or the way she looks at things?_____________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Is she a little fussier at the end of the day?_______________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Are you giving your baby tummy time when she’s awake?__________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does your baby hold her head up when she’s placed on her tummy?________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ How are you doing?__________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Notes:______________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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2 Month

Checkup

You can expect your baby’s doctor to:

Weigh and measure your baby to make sure she’s growing at a healthy rate.

Do a complete physical.

Recommend vitamin D drops for breastfed babies.

Address any other concerns.

How is your baby sleeping? What position does she sleep in?______________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ How often is your baby eating?________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ What are your baby’s bowel movements like?____________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does she quiet down, at least briefly, at the sound of your voice?___________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Is your baby awake for longer periods of time?___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does she make soft cooing noises when content and alert?________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Have you noticed anything unusual about your baby’s eyes or the way she looks at things?_____________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Is she a little fussier at the end of the day?_______________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Are you giving your baby tummy time when she’s awake?__________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does your baby hold her head up when she’s placed on her tummy?________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ How are you doing?__________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Notes:______________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

88 | My BABY!

4 Month

Checkup

You can expect your baby’s doctor to:

Weigh and measure your baby to make sure she’s growing at a healthy rate.

Do a complete physical.

Recommend vitamin D drops for breastfed babies.

Address any other concerns.

How is your baby sleeping? What position does she sleep in?______________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ How often is your baby eating?________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ What are your baby’s bowel movements like?____________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does she quiet down, at least briefly, at the sound of your voice?___________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Is your baby awake for longer periods of time?___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does she make soft cooing noises when content and alert?________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Have you noticed anything unusual about your baby’s eyes or the way she looks at things?_____________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Is she a little fussier at the end of the day?_______________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Are you giving your baby tummy time when she’s awake?__________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does your baby hold her head up when she’s placed on her tummy?________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ How are you doing?__________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Notes:______________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

My BABY! | 89

6 Month

Checkup

You can expect your baby’s doctor to:

Weigh and measure your baby to make sure she’s growing at a healthy rate.

Do a complete physical.

Recommend vitamin D drops for breastfed babies.

Address any other concerns.

How is your baby sleeping? What position does she sleep in?______________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ How often is your baby eating?________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ What are your baby’s bowel movements like?____________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does she quiet down, at least briefly, at the sound of your voice?___________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Is your baby awake for longer periods of time?___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does she make soft cooing noises when content and alert?________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Have you noticed anything unusual about your baby’s eyes or the way she looks at things?_____________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Is she a little fussier at the end of the day?_______________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Are you giving your baby tummy time when she’s awake?__________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does your baby hold her head up when she’s placed on her tummy?________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ How are you doing?__________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Notes:______________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

90 | My BABY!

9 Month

Checkup

You can expect your baby’s doctor to:

Weigh and measure your baby to make sure she’s growing at a healthy rate.

Do a complete physical.

Recommend vitamin D drops for breastfed babies.

Address any other concerns.

How is your baby sleeping? What position does she sleep in?______________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ How often is your baby eating?________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ What are your baby’s bowel movements like?____________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does she quiet down, at least briefly, at the sound of your voice?___________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Is your baby awake for longer periods of time?___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does she make soft cooing noises when content and alert?________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Have you noticed anything unusual about your baby’s eyes or the way she looks at things?_____________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Is she a little fussier at the end of the day?_______________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Are you giving your baby tummy time when she’s awake?__________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does your baby hold her head up when she’s placed on her tummy?________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ How are you doing?__________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Notes:______________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Oh BABY! | 91

12 Month

Checkup

You can expect your baby’s doctor to:

Weigh and measure your baby to make sure she’s growing at a healthy rate.

Do a complete physical.

Recommend vitamin D drops for breastfed babies.

Address any other concerns.

How is your baby sleeping? What position does she sleep in?______________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ How often is your baby eating?________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ What are your baby’s bowel movements like?____________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does she quiet down, at least briefly, at the sound of your voice?___________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Is your baby awake for longer periods of time?___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does she make soft cooing noises when content and alert?________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Have you noticed anything unusual about your baby’s eyes or the way she looks at things?_____________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Is she a little fussier at the end of the day?_______________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Are you giving your baby tummy time when she’s awake?__________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Does your baby hold her head up when she’s placed on her tummy?________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ How are you doing?__________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Notes:______________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Getting your Dedication, patience, and perseverance are what every mom needs to get that pre-baby body back! If you want it, go for it, but get it back the healthy way!

Here’s a few things every “new mom” needs to know about getting back into shape after baby.

Forget about the celebrities who look like they were never pregnant just weeks after the baby! Let’s just say it’s not realistic, nor is it healthy – ask any expert. Celebrities statistically do not gain as much weight during their pregnancies as average women, they have resources the average women doesn’t have, and many of them go on crazy diets (wrong!).

The worst thing you can do is try to do too much too soon. So, for the first six weeks after birth – DO NOT go on a diet – especially if you are breast-feeding. Your baby needs the nutrients and you need the energy.

“You should be eating at least 1,800-2,000 calories a day while breastfeeding, and if you eat less you will not only be shortchanging yourself, you’ll be shortchanging your baby.

You can’t produce quality milk if you are not eating enough,” says nutritionist Elizabeth Somer, RD, author of Nutrition for a Healthy Pregnancy.

“If you can lose a couple of pounds before then, that’s OK, but you really don’t want to cut your food intake dramatically during these early weeks. You need the energy, and you need the calories for breastfeeding,” she says.

Awesome news: Breastfeeding burns calories! It can help mothers lose extra weight gained during pregnancy and if you’re not breastfeeding, Somer says, it’s OK to watch your caloric intake, but never aim to lose more than a pound a week. “Pregnancy is not unlike running a marathon every day for nine months. You have put your body through the wringer. So even if you ate well, several nutrients are still likely to be compromised. You need this postpartum time to restore your nutritional status and your energy,” she says.

Exercise is highly recommended, it can not only help you whip into shape but also increase energy and may even

Body Back

reduce risks of postpartum depression.) Exercise is a key factor in the health of new moms, but before you start your exercise please ask your doctor if you’re ready (if you had a difficult pregnancy and/ or complicated delivery especially) Most doctors will say start whenever you feel ready and work up your activity, if you can’t keep up with any program you do decide to start, you’re probably not ready or the program could be too extreme.

Walking is a great recommendation, go on some stroller routes and the baby would love it too, you’ll get that one on one time with your little one, while getting exercise so it’s a win-win!

Tip: If you didn’t have a C-Section you could also focus on core workouts!

Don’t be in such a hurry to lose baby fat, be cautious about any exercise that puts major stress on your jointsexamples like jogging, jumping, running. You could end up on the sideline for months with serious injuries.

As exercising pay close attention to these warning signs and seek medical attention if they appear: Excessive bleeding, pelvic or abdominal pain, extreme shortness of breath, exhaustion even after mild exercise, muscle soreness that does not go away in a day or two.

Besides that have fun, eat good and love your momma body!

Pilates Performance & Rehab offers customized personal training programs designed by certified professionals to prepare and meet the rigors and demands of pregnancy, labor, delivery, and beyond.

ABC Prep 4 Pregnancy • Learn the Pilates ABC’s Alignment, Balance, and Core Prenatal 1-2-3 • Modified Pilates for the 1st-2nd-3rd Trimester of Pregnancy Postpartum Pilates and Beyond • Reclaim and Restore Strength to Care for Your Baby!

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16 Gestures by

Children Should Learn at Least 16 Gestures by 16 Months

Good communication development starts in the first year of life and goes far beyond learning how to talk.

Communication development has its roots in social interaction with parents and other caregivers during everyday activities. Your child’s growth in social communication is important because it helps your child connect with you, learn language and play concepts, and sets the stage for learning to read and future success in school. Good communication skills are the best tool to prevent behavior problems and make it easier to work through moments of frustration that all infants and toddlers face. By observing children’s early gestures, you can obtain a critical snapshot of their communication development.

Even small lags in communication milestones can add up and impact a child’s rate of learning that is difficult to change later. Research with young children indicates that the development of gestures from 9 to 16 months predicts language ability 2 years later, which is significant because

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16 Months

preschool language skills predict academic success. So it’s important to remember that by 16 months, children should have at least 16 gestures. Let’s consider how gestures develop. While the order or specific gestures may vary slightly, children should be using at least 2 new gestures each month between 9 and 16 months.

9 Months: Give, Shake head At 9 months, children’s earliest gestures begin to develop from their actions—and the reactions of others. Children first learn to take an object. Then, as they are able to control their hand movements to release and drop an object, they gain experience from their parent holding out their hand to catch it—and they learn to give. Children learn to shake their head to indicate “no” by turning away from food they do not like and then looking back to see their parent respond by moving the undesired food away.

10 Months: Reach, Raise arms At 10 months, children learn to reach through exploration and experiences with others, as they

reach to take an object and to be picked up. As they learn to anticipate the reactions of others, they use a reach gesture as a signal—first, with their arm reaching out, then, with their open hand facing up, and with their arms raised to ask to be picked up.

16 Months: Other symbolic gestures At 16 months, other symbolic gestures develop– such as “I dunno”, “high 5”, or even the universal peace sign. Gestures now bolster the learning of spoken words.

11 Months: Show, Wave At 11 months, children are motivated to share their interests with others. They learn to hold up and show objects to get others to look and notice what they’re interested in. Children are also motivated by the social experience of greeting in everyday routines where special people are coming and going. They learn to wiggle their hand to wave, with a mature wave developing later.

The richest moments for early language learning are when the child and caregiver are sharing attention on the same thing and the caregiver talks about the child’s focus of attention, creating opportunities to learn that stem from social interaction. As a child’s gestures are developing between 9 and 16 months, you should also see other social communication milestones—the use of eye gaze and facial expressions to share attention and emotion, an increasing rate of communicating with sounds and gestures, a wider variety of actions in play, and an emerging ability to comprehend the meaning of spoken words. If these early social communication milestones are not solidly in place, it is likely that language will be delayed. It is important to keep in mind that delays in many social communication milestones may indicate risk for autism or other developmental delays.

By detecting small gaps in early social communication skills, you can get extra help to support your child’s development before significant delays are evident.

12 months: Children use an open-hand point with the fingers spread, and a tap with the fingers together, as an indicative gesture to draw the attention of others to things of interest. Children’s gestures become more clearly intentional and are often produced with emphasis and are now accompanied by grunts or early speech sounds.

13 Months: Clap, Blow a kiss At 13 months, children begin to learn through observation— by observing others and copying what they do and say. They learn to use gestures, such as to clap their hands and blow a kiss, by watching others and imitating them. The gestures and words children are exposed to shape their vocabulary and drive their interest in learning.

14 Months: Index finger point, Shhh gesture At 14 months, children point with the index finger to reference things at a distance, a sign that observational learning is solid and they are on the cusp of becoming a symbolic communicator. Children also use the index finger for the “shhh” gesture. Their growing repertoire of gestures propels the unfolding of spoken words.

15 Months: Head nod, Thumbs up, Hand up At 15 months, you see symbolic gestures that are like words—a head nod or thumbs up to indicate “yes”, a wave in front of their face to indicate “stinky”, or a hand up to indicate “wait”. Gestures now reflect not only what the child is thinking about, but also that they know they are sharing ideas with others.

Photo by In A Flash by Jenn *16 by 16™ is a series developed by the FIRST WORDS® Project to help families and others learn important early social communication milestones that launch language learning and literacy.

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Baby’s First Your baby is turning 1 and that’s worth celebrating! Of course, you want to have a first birthday party in honor of his special day. But how do you plan for such an important occasion? How do you make sure that your baby’s first birthday is a wonderful time for both you and him? These top twelve do’s and don’ts will point you in the right direction.

DO keep the birthday party simple. Your baby won’t really comprehend what all the fuss is about. This day is for you to enjoy and to celebrate the amazing child that has transformed your life. Just don’t overcomplicate anything this allows you to be free to relish every moment.

DON’T struggle over finding the perfect theme for the party.

Your 1 year old won’t notice. Next year, he/she may be begging you for Cinderella, Elsa, Wonder Pets, Dora the Explorer, Thomas the Train theme, but this year you can do whatever makes sense for you.

DO make the party short. An hour or so is enough excitement for a 1 year old. Any longer than 2 hours and he/she might go into celebration overload.

Birthday

DO schedule the birthday party for a time when your baby is less likely to be tired and cranky. If he/ she usually takes an early afternoon nap, then a late afternoon party is best.

DON’T invite too many people. A room full of strangers crowding around your little one can be overwhelming.

Choose close friends and relatives to share this special day.

DO have the party at home, if possible. This is the place your baby feels most secure. There will be a lot of activity that day that he/she doesn’t quite understand. So, it’s important for him/her to feel comfortable and safe in the midst of all the strange birthday festivities.

DO keep your eyes open for potential dangers. If a balloon pops, make sure you put it in the trash immediately, because it could become a choking hazard.

DON’T serve food that is challenging to eat. Finger foods are best for little ones. And adults like them too!

DO have a birthday cake or cupcakes. It is fun for everyone to watch your 1 year old eat his first birthday cake, and a great photo opportunity. Just watch out for your baby and the lit candle.

DO consider invitations and favors that are personalized with your child’s photo. Most of your guests for this birthday party will be adults who have loved and supported you and your baby through the first year. Grandmothers, aunts, and other friends and loved ones will be thrilled with a keepsake featuring a picture or pictures of the birthday boy or girl.

DON’T forget to charge the camera batteries or take tons of photos. You may be busy and preoccupied with the celebration, but your 1 year old won’t remember the party, so you’ll want to make sure you document every moment – assign someone this task. A nice tip is to send out photo thank you notes after the party.

DO create a first birthday memory book after the party. This

Photo by In A Flash by Jenn

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is a great future gift you can give to your child. Take photos of the cake, decorations, guests, and of course, him/her. You can put these photos in a photo album or make a scrapbook, complete with journaling your thoughts about his special day. Include a page where each guest writes something special to your 1 year old.

Simplify, relax and enjoy this special day. Your baby’s first birthday party is a milestone that comes along only once in his/her life, so cherish every wonderful moment.

What Do My Parents Think Today?

Say it in a sentence...

Say it in a word...

Year 1:______________________________________________________________________________________________ Year 2:______________________________________________________________________________________________ Year 3:______________________________________________________________________________________________ Year 4:______________________________________________________________________________________________ Year 5:______________________________________________________________________________________________ Year 6:______________________________________________________________________________________________ Year 7:______________________________________________________________________________________________ Year 8:______________________________________________________________________________________________ Year 9:______________________________________________________________________________________________ Year 10:____________________________________________________________________________________________ Year 11:____________________________________________________________________________________________ Year 12:____________________________________________________________________________________________ Year 13:____________________________________________________________________________________________ Year 14:____________________________________________________________________________________________ Year 15:____________________________________________________________________________________________ Year 16:____________________________________________________________________________________________ Year 17:____________________________________________________________________________________________ Year 18:____________________________________________________________________________________________

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Tracking Your The End of Infancy – Tracking your Toddler and Child Your child is 18 months old, it’s the end of infancy. In their second year, your child walks independently, drinks from a cup, uses 15 words, and can identify body parts.

At 2 years, your child runs and jumps, is confident on his feet, kicks a ball, speaks in two-word sentences, continually increases their vocabulary, begins to understand the rules of grammar and syntax, follows simple instructions, and begins to play make-believe.

At 3 years, your child climbs, speaks in multiword sentences, and sorts objects by color and shape.

At 4 years, your child can converse in adult-like sentences, gets along with people outside the immediate family, draws circles and squares, and can ride a bike/trike.

At 5 years, your child can tell their name and address, has a grasp of the rules of grammar and meaning, hops, skips, and jumps, gets dressed on their own, and counts a large number of objects.

As a parent, your role is to ask questions and answer his, talk about books you read together, teach letters and numbers, put feelings in to words.

Toddler

As your child speaks, make sure you rephrase if they use words incorrectly, teach your child body parts and familiar objects, foster his verbal needs by prompting him to ask for an item he wishes to use.

Encourage him to feed himself with utensils and drink from a cup, play pretend, ask your child to sort and clean up after play. Get outside and explore, take walks, have conversations.

Reinforce good behavior with attention and praise. Set rules and limits – follow through with consequences – be consistent. Give your child options, allow him to make choices. Be patient and positive.

Each child will develop a their own pace – watch for these Red Flags: • Not walking by 18 months • Doesn’t understand the use of familiar, everyday objects • Doesn’t have at least 6 words by 18 months • Isn’t speaking in 2-word sentences by 24 months • Doesn’t imitate words and actions • Doesn’t follow simple instructions • Seems to lose skills he previously had.

Prenatal and Postpartum Programs & Services Baby Basics – Prenatal Group Education Classes Maternal Child Health Home Visiting Program Nurse-Family Partnership Immunizations Women, Infants & Children (WIC)

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Photo by TH Peterson Photography

Photos by TH Peterson Photography

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We’re We re delivering

something special, together.

Having a baby is one of life’s most memorable experiences. At The University of Kansas Health System St. Francis Campus, we work with expectant parents to provide individualized labor and delivery care–together. Large family suites, whirlpool baths, postpartum and breastfeeding support make our New Life Center the perfect setting to make every birth the special occasion it should be.

Call 785.295.8270 to schedule a tour of our New Life Center.

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