Breastfeeding, Good For You and Baby. . .
By · CommentsShould I breastfeed or bottle feed? If I breastfeed, how long should I do that? What about other people that want to feed my baby? What if I don’t like it?
These are all questions that many new moms have. Breastfeeding is by far the best choice. However, it isn’t the only choice. I tried to breastfeed both of my children. After a few weeks of trying and not succeeding (even with help from the midwife, pediatrician, the ped-nurses, and lactation consultant…) I decided to throw in the towel. I was staying up all night crying because my baby wasn’t eating “the way he was supposed to” It was very stressful! I tried to pump, only to find I wasn’t getting much there either and when I did, he would just spit it out anyways. I then found my new best friend! The bottle - with formula in it!
The best choice a mom can make is to listen to her body and the reactions of her baby. Breast feeding is the best choice and is lots of hard work! If you stick with it, in the end it pays off! Yes, at first it will be painful. If that pain doesn’t go away, check with a consultant to see if your baby is latching on properly, that makes all the difference in the world! As far as other people feeding your baby, there are plenty of other baby bonding chores they can do! If you don’t like breastfeeding but your baby does, give it a chance, it will grow on you!
The benefits of breastfeeding are so great! You get to have that special bonding time. You gain that special closeness that no other person will have! The health benefits for both you and the baby are great too – not to mention you will be back to your pre-pregnant shape in no time! Did you know that nursing helps your uterus to contract and get back to normal size? Just think, in the middle of the night there’s no running to the kitchen to make a bottle (in the dark) – and hope you have everything clean and ready. I mean after all, you did just go to bed an hour ago when the little guy finally decided it was bed time! There are no bottles to wash. Breast milk is ALWAYS the right temperature and requires NO prep work at all!
However moms. . . If you have to go to formula, don’t feel defeated. Your baby can still be smart and healthy and strong! My kids were both formula fed and they are very healthy and strong – and really smart too!
~Dee Stafford is a freelance writer and the content contained here is her opinion from research. Check her resources page for background data.
Birth Plan. . .Just The Facts!
By · CommentsBirth plan? Of course I plan to give birth, I’m pregnant aren’t I?
Birth plans are a great thing to have! It is a “contract” if you will, that lets the doctor/midwife/nurse/labor assistant/doula know what you want and expect during your birthing experience. While you are in labor, you will hardly be able to say to someone, please turn down the lights; it is very bright in here. That kind of thing. Your birth plan can be very simple or very detailed. Something to keep in mind is to be sure to go over your birth plan with your health care provider BEFORE you are in labor. You will want to give a final copy to your health care provider, the hospital, and any birth assistants that will be present. You want to make sure everyone is on the same page. When you have your plan ready, talk to your health care provider about your wishes. Some of the things you opt for may be things they do already, some things they may have never considered doing at all.
Do you want natural childbirth and to not be offered any pain meds? Say so in your birth plan. Let them know you are not interested and would appreciate if they would support your desire to go naturally and to help you do that. There are many things they can do to help you without giving you an epidural or a little “something something” to take the edge off. In the heat of the moment, if they offer, you may be willing to take it.
Having a birth plan will help you be more informed and will open up lines of communication between you and your health care provider. You want your birthing experience to be memorable because it was wonderful, not terrifying.
Here is a great starter sheet to help you with your planning thoughts. Download Or you can get a little more information here: Creating Your Birth Plan
~Dee Stafford is a freelance writer and the content contained here is her opinion from research. Check her resources page for background data.
Water for you, your baby, your life!
By · CommentsAgua, voda, vesi, eau. 
Anyway you say it, it’s water. Have you ever noticed that so many things go wrong when you don’t get enough water? You get dry skin, dry mouth, dry eyes, dry mood!! Water is important to our bodies in so many ways.
Think about it, almost 70% of our body is made from water.
It would only make sense that we need to drink it to keep everything working the way God designed it to. When you are pregnant, water is even more important. It is so easy to become dehydrated and being pregnant, that can just cause a mess of trouble. When you get enough water, it also keeps you from being too hungry. This will keep you from eating sugary snacks, sodas, and just over eating in general.
The water will also help you flush out unwanted toxins building up in your body. By staying nice and hydrated, it will help you to be in a good mood and have clarity in your thoughts. That’s always a nice help when you have hormones going crazy and putting you in a rollercoaster of moods.
So, long story short… pregnant or not, the best drink is water!
I’m not sure where I remember reading this, but it went something along the lines of “A nutrient can be defined as “a substance needed for the regulation of energy production or growth”. It is normally not produced by the body. Water is certainly important in this respect. In fact, “there is no basic biochemical bodily function that occurs without water.”
Therefore, that baby you are growing needs water. He doesn’t need juice, milk, tea, soda, coffee…. any of that other stuff… Similarly, water is a component of other body fluids and lubricates our joints. Water also provides a cushion for the spinal cord, brain and babies in the womb. Pregnant women need more water than others. They need the water for the amniotic fluid and keeping their joints lubricated. Breastfeeding women need even more! Breast milk is over 80% water!
One of the best things you can invest in is a stainless water bottle. It is best to avoid bottled water. The plastic bottles can have Phthalates. Phthalates mimic human hormones and that’s not only bad for you, it’s certainly not good for baby either. Not to mention, plastic water bottles are not environmentally friendly and the costs sure does add up!
With a water bottle, you know how much water you getting. I know if I drink 2 bottles, I have reached my daily minimum. Notice, I said minimum.
If you don’t like water try adding some fresh fruit to it. It will make it sweet and pretty! You will eventually start preferring water over anything else if you stick to it. Maybe you are addicted to sugar and that’s why you don’t like water?
So, what do you say? Put down the soda and grab a nice refreshing glass of water!
Dee Stafford
~Dee Stafford is a freelance writer and the content contained here is her opinion from research. Check her resources page for background data.
Your Baby, Their Diaper, & What’s That Smell?
By · CommentsWhat’s that smell?
DIAPERS!
They smell so wonderful when they are clean and so bad when they aren’t! I love the smell of new diapers!! One question you want to ask yourself before the baby comes -
“What kind of diapers do I want to use?”
There are a couple of different options. Cloth or disposable. I used both. When my oldest was a baby, there was a diaper service. Six years later, just before he birth of my daughter, we started having that huge rate increase in gas prices and the diaper service closed RIGHT before she was born!
I did the wash at home for awhile, but that didn’t last long! I then switched to disposables. I think that was even more disgusting than the cloth myself! At least I didn’t have to wash those!
When it comes to which one is better it’s really a tough call. You will find support for both when it comes to the environment and cost. Something to consider too is diaper rash. Cloth babies “tend” to have less of it! That’s always a bonus!
One of the things I love to credit to cloth diapers is the potty training! My son was self potty trained just after he turned 2 and my daughter was about 16 months old when she started the process. I however discouraged her at that age! It meant she was growing up! She was however potty trained at 18 months. I couldn’t control her!
When it comes to diapers, go with what YOU are comfortable with!
Dee Stafford
~Dee Stafford is a freelance writer and the content contained here is her opinion from research. Check her resources page for background data.
I Am Pregnant, But Give Me Another Drink
By · Comments
Something that drives me out of my mind is women that think it is ok to have “just one drink” while they are pregnant or while they are nursing. I mean really lady, do you think it is ok to give your baby that one drink? Why not just fill your newborns bottle with wine. Who knows, maybe they will sleep all night. Don’t worry about the development, I mean after all, your mother did it and you turned out fine. Aside from my personal feelings about that subject, here is a ‘little’ researching to back my disapproval. Do more research and find out what your doctor isn’t telling you when he says, “just one won’t hurt anything.”
Avoid drinking alcohol during your pregnancy. Alcohol passes the through the placenta to your unborn child. Which means, when a pregnant woman drinks any alcohol, such as beer, wine, or mixed drinks, so does her baby. There are several problems drinking can cause during your pregnancy. Some of which include but are not limited to higher rates of miscarriage, premature birth, complications during birth, and low birth weight. One disorder that is 100% preventable and directly related to drinking during your pregnancy is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, FAS.
It is not known exactly how much alcohol can be consumed before causing FAS in your developing baby. FAS is not reversible and can cause lifelong problems. FAS is characterized by particular physical and mental/neurological defects-abnormal facial features, reduced or slowed physical growth, a small head, and slowed intellectual/behavioral development. Damage from alcohol can happen before a woman even knows she is pregnant. So if you are trying to get pregnant, stop drinking now.
Other problems from drinking may include mental retardation, poor motor skills or hand-eye coordination, severe behavioral problems, learning disabilities, and attention deficit, among others. Here is a list from the Center for Disease Control.
• Abnormal facial features, such as a smooth ridge between the nose and upper lip (this ridge is called the philtrum)
• Small head size
• Shorter-than-average height
• Low body weight
• Poor coordination
• Hyperactive behavior
• Difficulty paying attention
• Poor memory
• Difficulty in school (especially with math)
• Learning disabilities
• Speech and language delays
• Intellectual disability or low IQ
• Poor reasoning and judgment skills
• Sleep and sucking problems as a baby
• Vision or hearing problems
• Problems with the heart, kidney, or bones
There is no safe amount to drink during pregnancy. So help your baby out for life and don’t drink!
So, why not just wait until your little tyke is born and you aren’t nursing to have that “one glass” They will thank you for it when they are older!
Dee Stafford
~Dee Stafford is a freelance writer and the content contained here is her opinion from research. Check her resources page for background data.
Pregnant Smokers, What Damage Are You Causing?
By · CommentsOne thing that drives me INSANE is when a woman is pregnant and she lights up a cigarette! I am sure she is addicted to it and she has tried to quit a thousand times. Yea, yea, yea, I’ve heard it all before. Aside from the fact that it is known that cigarettes cause cancer in the person smoking them, sit back and think for a minute what it is doing to that baby. Nicotine is a stimulant, a very addictive one at that. Again, another addiction for sweet helpless baby.
Pregnant women should avoid cigarettes, first hand and second hand. Have you read the Surgeon General’s warning on the side of your cigarette pack lately lady? It clearly says it could cause complications. IF you don’t have a miscarriage from it, your baby is very likely to be underweight. It is also cutting of the oxygen your baby is getting. Your blood is filled with nicotine instead of oxygen and nutrients that your baby needs. By smoking during your pregnancy, you are also increasing your child’s chance of having addictive behaviors when they are older. Their bodies easily accept the addictions because it’s what they know.
The pharmacologic and behavioral processes that determine tobacco addiction are similar to those that determine addiction to drugs such as heroin and cocaine.
Even after the baby is born, moms should stay away from the cigarettes. They should certainly keep their baby away from the second hand smoke. The baby is at an increased risk of having SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and many health problems. Things like ear infections, asthma, allergies, bronchitis, and general illnesses are the ones that come to the top of my mind.
Did you know that smoking ‘could’ also cause you to have a difficult time in conceiving? Does it mean you won’t? No. Trust me… I’ve known a few smokers that had no trouble at all getting pregnant. However, if you are already having a hard time, this may not be helping you any. During the preconception period, maternal exposure to secondhand smoke can potentially affect female fertility by altering the balance of hormones that affect oocyte production, including growth hormone, cortisol, luteinizing hormones, and prolactin (Mattison 1982; Daling et al. 1987; Mattison and Thomford 1987), or by reducing motility in the female reproductive tract (Mattison 1982; Daling et al. 1987)
To find out more about smoking and the affects it has on you and your child, go to my resource page for a few links to check out. Don’t forget to subscribe to learn more ways to get your body ready for baby!
Dee Stafford
~Dee Stafford is a freelance writer and the content contained here is her opinion from research. Check her resources page for background data.
Caffeine and Your Pregnancy
By · CommentsThis is the first part of a multipart series that was introduced, here.
When you are pregnant, giving up caffeine means giving up a lot! Some of the things you will be giving up are chocolate, (chocolate milk, M&M’s, candy bars, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate icing, and chocolate covered raisins just to name a few), soda, tea, coffee, and some pain relieving medicines.
What effect does caffeine have on your unborn child? Just think about the way caffeine makes you feel, jittery, fast heart rate, anxious, and irritable just to name a few. The effects of caffeine on the brain include an increase in dopamine levels, much like that caused by amphetamines or heroine (but without such a pronounced effect). Dopamine is a neurotransmitter which activates the pleasure centers of the brain. It is suspected that this is part of the reason caffeine can be so addicting.
Ok, so that may be a little over your head. To put it simply, think about caffeine and it’s addictive quality and it’s stimulating effects. As an adult you drink caffeinated drinks to get you going in the morning or when you are sleepy in the afternoon. Think about how much caffeine that is for you as an adult. Now, think about how much that is for your developing fetus. Their little bodies are hardly ready for such stimulation. As for the addictiveness, you think your headache is bad. Just imagine what your little guy is feeling when he doesn’t get the caffeine. I guess you could always take an aspirin to help him get rid of the headache… Ok, so that’s a story for another post!
There are many things that have been undetermined about caffeine during pregnancy, but why risk it. (low birth weight, birth defects, preterm labor… just to name a few possibilities)
Caffeine is also a diuretic. Diuretics make you lose more fluids and can dehydrate you.
When you make the switch, be sure to check labels on your drinks. You would be surprised how many sodas have caffeine in them. Be careful with root beer, some have it, some don’t. Be sure to drink things that are CAFFIENE FREE not decaffeinated. Decaf just means that the caffeine has been removed from the drink and there are still trace amounts of it in there.
The best thing you can drink while you are pregnant is water. Subscribe to this blog to find out more about water and other things that can help you give your baby the best that you can during your pregnancy.
Dee Stafford
~Dee Stafford is a freelance writer and the content contained here is her opinion from research. Check her resources page for background data.
Getting Your Body Ready for Pregnancy
By · CommentsGetting Your Body Ready for Pregnancy
The first step to a healthy pregnancy is to get your body healthy. Many of the things you will do to get your body ready, you will keep doing throughout your pregnancy to be sure and give your baby the best that you can. After all, as a parent, don’t you want the best for your kids?
First start with cutting back on a few things and cutting other things out all together. Here are a few things to help get you started:
• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Smoking
• Processed foods
• Raw fish
• Fried foods
• Artificial sweeteners
• Drugs – Over the counter and recreational
• Sugar
• Paint
• Nail salons
• Hair color/perms
While you should cut back on some things, you should also increase a few things as well. Here are a few examples:
• Water
• Walking
• Fresh Fruits and Veggies
• Fish Oil
• Protein
• Folic Acid
• Other Vitamins
Over the next several weeks I will be covering these in detail, be sure to subscribe to get a break down of each of the things listed above, plus more in the future.
Dee Stafford
~Dee Stafford is a freelance writer and the content contained here is her opinion from research. Check her resources page for background data.
