Newborn Sleep Patterns

If you are a new parent, you have probably already realized that your baby needs to sleep a lot. Parents of infants tend to complain quite a bit that they are sleep deprived because they are up all night long with their babies. While this is certainly a normal pattern for parents of newborns, there are some steps you can take to help your child sleep for longer periods of time without waking up constantly.

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Does Bed Rest Really Work?

Bed rest during pregnancy–something that you, or someone you know, has most likely had to do. One of my best friends was on bed rest during two of her pregnancies–for five months each. She would complain, it would be hard, but would you do something different if it meant the life of your baby? Probably not. So, I was very interested in an article that I read on LATimes.com saying that bed rest didn’t really help prevent preterm birth. And the most interesting part? That OB’s have known this since 2004. Read More

Managing Diabetes During Pregnancy

For women who have diabetes, pregnancy presents some difficult challenges that must be dealt with early on. Not only do women need to be concerned about their own health; they must be concerned about the health of their baby as well. Fortunately, there are a variety of steps pregnant women can take to ensure that they have a pregnancy that is free of problems.

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Starting Solid Foods: When and How

By Lisa Pecos For several months following birth, breast milk (or formula) is the only food that your child needs. It is only a matter of time, however, before your child begins to develop cravings for solid food. As muscle coordination develops and the baby’s nutritional needs begin to change, the transition from an all-liquid diet to a mixed one becomes inevitable. Moving to solid foods is a big step, but the good news is that it usually comes naturally, so you will not have to force it. Read More

How to Lose Your Baby Weight

By Jamell Andrews

Most women would love to be able to get pregnant and have a baby without gaining a significant amount of weight, but it is just not possible. The American Pregnancy Association recommends a weight gain of 25 to 35 pounds for normal-sized women, 28 to 40 pounds for underweight women, and 15 to 25 pounds for overweight women. Deviating too much from these recommendations (in either direction) can lead to health problems for both mother and baby.

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