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The Benefits of Babywearing
In many developed countries, the practice of babywearing is sometimes perceived as a relatively new trend among young parents who subscribe to certain 21st-century parenting styles. But in fact, babywearing is thousands of years older than modern inventions such as strollers and playpens, and it is still practiced widely throughout the world. And contrary to what one might believe, it is not uncomfortable or inconvenient for mother or baby, and it actually has many benefits.
Babywearing might not be for Continue reading
Tips to Help Baby Sleep Through the Night
Every baby is different, so it’s only natural for some to have a more difficult time with nighttime sleep than others. Some babies take to it very well and at a very young age are able to sleep through the night with only the occasional wakeup. Others, however, require a lot of patience and guidance in order to get to point where they can sleep all night. But in every case, there are things parents can do to make things easier for the baby as well as for themselves.
If your baby has trouble sleeping through the night and you are ready to move to the next stage, Continue reading
Deciding When to Wean Your Baby
Once mother and baby get past the initial stages of breastfeeding, which can be tricky and uncomfortable, the act becomes so easy and natural that giving it up might seem unappealing. Breastfeeding is quick and easy, while bottles and, later, solid food come with learning curves and many unique difficulties. Yet weaning has to happen sooner or later. When exactly it should happen is up to each family, though, and it is a major decision that warrants careful consideration.
Many things enter into the decision of when to wean, but what should be kept at the forefront is Continue reading
Medication For Gestational Diabetes
If you have gestational diabetes and you have not been able to control it with the advised changes to your diet and exercise regime then you will be prescribed medication. This prescription is usually given to you a couple of weeks after diagnosis but the timing can vary according to your blood glucose levels. You could also be given medication if an ultrasound scan reveals that your baby is large for his gestational age. The medicines available include Continue reading
What Is Gestational Diabetes?
The condition that is caused by too much glucose (sugar) in the blood is known as diabetes. There is a type of diabetes that affects pregnant women and is known as gestational diabetes. In most people the glucose level in the blood is controlled by the hormone known as insulin. With some pregnant women the glucose levels in their blood rise and their bodies cannot produce enough insulin to transport it all to the cells. When a woman is first diagnosed with diabetes during her pregnancy Continue reading
What Do Your Pregnancy Cravings Mean?
Do you think you are having crazy cravings? A lot of pregnant women crave sweet foods and in a recent US survey the most popular craving was for ice cream. 40 per cent said their preference was for something sweet, 33 per cent preferred something salty, 17 per cent said they craved something spicy and 10 per cent said they most wanted citrus fruits or sour foods.
Approximately 85 per cent of pregnant women crave at least one thing but what that can be varies considerably. Nobody is completely sure as to why cravings occur during pregnancy but some believe it is because Continue reading
Are You Pregnant With High Blood Pressure?
Your heart has to work much harder to pump blood around your body when you have high blood pressure or hypertension and this can lead to your heart muscle weakening. Approximately 10-15% of pregnant women will be affected by hypertension. There are three types.
Gestational hypertension – this is Continue reading
How Can I Encourage My Infant To Develop Healthy Eating Habits?
When your baby is six months old and you first introduce her to solid food do not try and overload her spoon. Trying to give her too much food could put her off trying other food types. Variety of foods is important so make sure you are feeding her the four main food groups which are: Continue reading
When Is My Baby Ready For Solids?
In most cases it is advised that you should wait until your baby is six months old before introducing her to solid food. Waiting until this age protects your baby’s health by reducing the risk of getting infections from food and also developing food allergies. At six months she should have doubled her birth weight and her immune system is more robust. From six months of age formula or breast milk will not provide her with all the nutrients she requires as she is becoming more and more active. Waiting until she is six months old before introducing her to solids is even more important if your family has a history of Continue reading
A Little Bit About Baby Sleep
As you get older you sleep less and less. Babies need the most sleep of all and on average babies up to three months old will require twice as much sleep as their parents. Unfortunately this is not in one nice long stretch during the night because they need to wake to feed. On average, you will probably find that your baby will sleep in blocks of Continue reading