Formula-feeding away from home

Bottle-feeding is very convenient — until you're away from your own kitchen. Then scooping, mixing, and pouring may start to seem pretty complicated, especially if your baby is fussing.

What helps:

• Canned, ready-to-feed formula. Canned, ready-to-feed formula is the easiest solution — and the most expensive one. It costs considerably more than powdered or concentrated liquid formula, so many people save it for emergencies. Consider buying a brand sold in cans that are free of the chemical bisphenol A (BPA).
• Powdered formula dispenser. Use a divided plastic container to carry premeasured amounts of formula. Then simply pour the powder into a bottle, add water, and serve.
• Individual packets of powdered formula. While a bit more expensive than cans of powder or liquid concentrate, these premeasured packets are very handy, especially if you're traveling by plane and don't want to lug a can of formula in your diaper bag.
• Knowing how to safely carry formula with you. If you choose the more economical route of mixing your own formula, be sure to safely prepare and store it: A prepared bottle keeps at room temperature without spoiling for about one hour. If you won't use it within an hour, keep it in an insulated cooler with ice packs until you're ready to serve. To be safe, many experts recommend boiling the water you use for formula until your baby is around 4 to 6 months old, when his immune system starts to provide more protection against infection — so you may need to bring water with you. Throw away any formula that's still in the bottle one hour after your baby started feeding. Once your child's mouth has touched the bottle, the contents can become contaminated with bacteria.
• A bottle cooler/warmer. With a portable cooler/warmer, you can keep a bottle cool and then warm it up when you need it. Some run on batteries. Others have car battery adapters (and can also be used at home).
• Hot and cool gel packs. Gel packs that can be frozen solid or heated in the microwave help keep your baby's bottles cold until ready to serve and can also be used to heat the bottle for serving.

Tip: If your baby prefers formula warm, take a thermos of warm water with you. Just heat the water to the desired temperature at home, pour it into a thermos, and scoop the right amount of formula into individual bottles. Mix the bottles when you're ready to feed.

How to bathe your baby

Be sure to read our article on safe bathing before you get started. The most important safety tip is never to leave your baby alone in the bath – not even for a minute.

How often should I bathe my baby?

Although some parents bathe their babies every day, until yours is crawling around and getting into messes, a bath isn't really necessary more than a few times a week. Just wash his face frequently, clean anywhere there are skin folds, and thoroughly clean his genital area after each diaper change.

When you do bathe him, you may find it a little scary to handle your wiggly little one when he's all soapy and slippery, so keep a good grip.

Where should I bathe my baby?

It makes sense to use the kitchen sink or a small plastic baby tub. A standard bathtub requires you to kneel or lean awkwardly over your baby and gives you less control over his movements.

What's the best way to give my baby a bath?

Here's how to do it and what you'll need to make baby-bathing easy. With any luck, bath time will become one of the most enjoyable parts of your days together:

1. Gather all necessary bath supplies, and lay out a towel, a clean diaper, and clothes. Make sure the room is comfortably warm so your baby doesn't get chilled.

2. Fill the tub with about 3 inches of water that feelswarm but not hot, to the inside of your wrist – about 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) or a few degrees warmer.

3. Bring your baby to the bath area and undress her completely. 

4. Gradually slip your baby into the tub feet first, using one hand to support her neck and head. Pour cupfuls of bath water over her regularly during the bath so she doesn't get too cold.

5. Use mild soap sparingly (too much dries out your baby's skin). Wash her with your hand or a washcloth from top to bottom, front and back. Start by washing her scalp with a wet, soapy cloth. Rinse the soap from the cloth and use it to gently clean her eyes and face. If dried mucus has collected in the corner of your baby's nostrils or eyes, dab it several times with a small section of a moistened washcloth to soften it before you wipe it out. As for your baby's genitals, a routine washing is all that's needed.

6. Rinse your baby thoroughly with cupfuls of clean water, and wipe her with a clean washcloth.

7. Wrap your baby in a hooded towel and pat her dry. If her skin is dry, or if she has a bit ofdiaper rash, you may want to apply a mild lotion after her bath.

Traveling Without Your Child

Leaving your child at home while you travel may be a frightening and stressful prospect if you've never done it before — and even if you have!
But you can prepare your child before you leave so that both of you can feel more comfortable.
Are Kids Ready?
Kids' readiness to stay at home depends largely on their age.Separation anxiety is common among kids between 6 months and 2 years old. For them, comfort is vital. Make sure they'll feel comfortable with a babysitter while you're gone and keep their normal daily routines going. If possible, it's better for kids at this stage to stay in their own home while parents are away rather than at someone else's house.
Preschoolers might not understand why a parent is leaving, may worry that they've done something wrong to cause it, and might think that the separation is punishment. So it's important to assure them that this isn't the case and to explain the reason for a trip in terms they understand.
Often, preschoolers will react to a parent's departure by regressing to younger behaviors, such as whining or asking for a bottle. If your child reacts that way, a reminder from you that the behavior is not appropriate and that you won't change your travel plans can be effective.
School-age kids might more directly show their feelings of sadness or anger about a parent's departure. Kids ages 6 to 8 may feel comforted by something of yours to keep close while you're gone.
Older kids may seem extra-moody about a parent's departure and act angry one moment and clingy the next. So consider scheduling activities to engage them while you're gone. It's important to reassure them that you'll miss them, too, and that you trust that the babysitter will take good care of them.
If your kids are teenagers, they might feel like they don't even need a babysitter while you're traveling. If you also have younger children, you can explain that the caregiver is there because of them and ask your teen to help the babysitter look after the younger kids while you are gone.
If you have only a teen and are not comfortable with leaving him or her alone, it is important to convey your concerns and to explain why you feel more comfortable having someone else in the house. If you do decide to leave your teen alone, establish clear rules for the time that you're away. And it's a good idea to have a friend or neighbor look in on your teen while you're gone.
Preparing the Caregiver
If possible, try to have the person caring for your kids visit before you leave. This will help them be more comfortable with that person and your plans to go away. It's also a chance to review the house rules, the kids' daily routines, and other important issues with the caregiver.
Things to cover:

• proper use of the car seat
• tips for comforting your child
• babyproofing or childproofing measures that are taken in your home
• rules your child follows with strangers
• the layout of your house and neighborhood
• what to do in the event of a fire, including information on where the fire extinguishers and the fire detectors are in the house
• what to do in the event of a medical emergency, including where and how to reach you at all times
• a list of important phone numbers
• a record of kids' allergies, medications, vaccinations, and medical history
• where to find a flashlight and spare batteries
• your travel itinerary, including times when you might be unreachable

Also consider leaving these with the caregiver:

• library cards
• membership cards for community centers, pools, museums, and other local attractions
• a calendar of local events
• cash for food and any emergencies
• a full tank of gas in your car (also check the oil and tires)
• a well-stocked food pantry and refrigerator
• favorite toys, videotapes, and books in plain view

a new book or toy to help distract or comfort your child

Stocking the Medicine Cabinet

A well-stocked medicine cabinet should have:

• acetaminophen or ibuprofen
• adhesive bandages
• antiseptic
• calamine lotion
• cool-mist vaporizer
• cotton balls/swabs
• insect repellent
• nail clippers
• sterile gauze pads and surgical tape
• sunscreen
• thermometer
• tweezers

If your child takes medication regularly, make sure there's a sufficient supply and that your caregiver knows how to administer it.
While You're Away
Check in with the caregiver regularly, if possible. Think carefully about how much contact will comfort your child while you're away. Some kids might need postcards or a daily phone call or email message, whereas others might get more upset when they hear a parent's voice.
Review basic details about your travel plans with your kids before you leave. You can mark your travel dates on a calendar to help them understand how long you'll be gone or instruct the caregiver to cross off each day at bedtime.
Be prepared for your child's behavior when you return. Young kids sometimes feel angry at their parents for leaving and act out or ignore them when they return.
If this happens, provide your child with the same sort of reassurance and discipline that you would in any other situation. Certainly, you should try to hug or kiss your child when you return but don't push it if your child is still angry.
Leaving a Paper Trail
Besides your itinerary, leave a folder with your child's medical information and these phone numbers:

• your child's doctor and your local hospital
• police, fire, and ambulance
• your pharmacy
• your dentist
• gas/electric emergency number
• health insurance company
• nearest relative and neighbor
• poison control center
• school/child-care center

Important medical information in the folder should include:

• health insurance cards
• your child's medical record (listing allergies, current medications, height, weight, age, and vaccination history)
• emergency medical consent forms (from your local hospital), which will let the caregiver seek medical care for your child while you're away

When will my premature baby reach development milestones?

The BabyCenter Editorial Team

Whether a baby is premature or not, there's no way to predict exactly when she'll hit milestones. Instead, there's a "range of normal" that spans when most babies accomplish these big developmental goals.
For preemies, many pediatricians recommend using an "adjusted age" to determine this range. Adjusted age helps level the playing field by taking into account just how early your baby was born. After all, had your baby not been premature, she would have had a lot more time in your womb to get ready before she was expected to achieve milestones!
When you use an adjusted age, the range of normal gets shifted. For example, while most full-term babies will sit up between 4 and 7 months, a baby born two months early can be expected to do this between 6 and 9 months.
To find your child's adjusted age, count the number of weeks between her birth date and her due date, and subtract that amount of time from her current age.
For example, if you have a 4-month-old baby who was born 8 weeks early, her adjusted age would be 4 months minus 8 weeks, which comes to about 2 months. At 6 months old, her adjusted age would be 4 months, and at 12 months old, her adjusted age would be 10 months. 
According to Sessions Cole, a pediatrician and director of newborn medicine at St. Louis Children's Hospital, adjusted age may be more accurate for motor milestones (such as rolling over, sitting up, and walking) than for cognitive milestones (such as babbling and imitating sounds).
"Premature babies tend to be less delayed in their cognitive milestones, so the adjusted age may be slightly more helpful for the motor milestones," Cole explains.  "But remember that it's highly individual."
If you're concerned about your baby's development, even after adjusting for age, talk with her doctor. A referral for early intervention services (for children younger than 3) may be in order.
Research has shown that early intervention is extremely helpful. As Cole says, "Premature babies can benefit greatly from these services."
You'll probably find that your child's adjusted age becomes less and less relevant the older she gets. "We can't pinpoint an exact date to stop adjusting, but at some point it will become clear that it doesn't make that much difference – usually around age 2 to 3," says Mia Doron, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of North Carolina and coauthor of Preemies: The Essential Guide for Parents of Premature Babies. 
Some parents find it helpful to consider adjusted age as a child gets older, though – when approaching big life events like starting kindergarten or smaller ones like choosing a cabin at camp.  
If your child seems younger than her peers, you may want to group her with slightly younger kids. "Adjusting for age could still be appropriate" in cases like this, Doron says.
Finally, remember that while milestones are important, they don't provide a complete picture of your child. "Milestones are great for helping to keep track of how a baby is doing – but babies have strengths that milestones can't capture," says Cole. "We shouldn't deny these strengths, even if they aren't exactly 'fitable' into the milestone cubbyholes."
This advice makes good sense for the post-baby years, too. As Jeff Stimpson writes of his 5-year-old son in Alex: The Fathering of a Preemie,"He can do three forty-eight piece puzzles simultaneously. I can't do that."

How do I choose the best food for my baby?

You'll find quite an array of baby food on the supermarket shelf — from simple veggies and fruits to fancy mixed dinners — so it's no surprise that you're wondering which to choose.

Many baby food jars are labeled according to a baby's stage of development, with stage 1 for babies who are just starting solids and stages 2 and 3 for babies and toddlers with more experience (and solids!) under their belts. If your baby's a beginner, stick with stage 1, which is pureed to a thick liquid. Stage 2 has a thicker consistency, and stage 3 has chunks in it.

Check the expiration date on the jar label and make sure the vacuum seal is intact: The center of the lid should be slightly indented. When you open the jar at mealtime, listen for the whooshing sound and watch the center of the lid pop up. (It's a good idea to wipe the cap clean before opening the jar, too.)

When it comes to ingredients, you don't have to worry much about salt because it's no longer added to most commercial baby food. But do avoid food with added sugar and modified food starch, which are just empty calories.

Buy simple, one-ingredient baby food — rather than combinations — until you know your baby can tolerate each of the components. Introduce peas before peas and potatoes, for example.

Should I buy organic baby food or use organic food when making my own baby food?

Just don't skimp on fruits and veggies in an effort to reduce your baby's exposure to pesticides. You might consider buying organic produce for the "dirty dozen" — the fruits and vegetables that typically contain the highest levels of pesticides: celery, peaches, strawberries, apples, blueberries, nectarines, bell peppers, spinach, cherries, kale/collard greens, potatoes, and imported grapes.

Just don't skimp on fruits and veggies in an effort to reduce your baby's exposure to pesticides. You might consider buying organic produce for the "dirty dozen" — the fruits and vegetables that typically contain the highest levels of pesticides: celery, peaches, strawberries, apples, blueberries, nectarines, bell peppers, spinach, cherries, kale/collard greens, potatoes, and imported grapes.

Many parents prefer organic baby food, despite the higher cost, because they want to give their baby food that's free of pesticides and other chemicals. But other parents trust that commercial products meet the minimum requirements set by the Environmental Protection Agency for their baby's safety. This is an issue you'll have to decide based on your family's beliefs and budget.

Substance Use During Pregnancy

Tobacco, alcohol and drugs can have harmful effects on anyone's health. When a pregnant or nursing woman uses these substances, her baby also is exposed to them, for all substances cross the placenta through the umbilical cord and enter into the baby's bloodstream.

While pregnant, it is best to eat well, stay healthy and avoid ingesting anything that might be harmful to the mother's or baby's health. A health care provider can give you more information about these issues.

"Street" Drugs

A pregnant woman who uses drugs like cocaine, crack, heroin and methadone may have a baby born addicted to the substances she took during her pregnancy. Cocaine is one of the most harmful drugs to unborn babies. Cocaine can cause a woman to miscarry and may cause preterm birth, bleeding, fetal death and fetal strokes, which can lead to brain damage and death. After birth, a baby who has been exposed to cocaine prenatally goes through withdrawal, signs of which include jitters and irritability. These babies are hard to comfort and are often unable to respond to their mothers. Cocaine use during pregnancy also may be linked to an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS.

Amphetamines or "speed" also are harmful to unborn babies. One study showed that the fetuses of mothers who used speed during pregnancy had decreased weight, length and head size. Another study showed that these babies had more strokes, or bleeding into their brains.

Marijuana

Marijuana can affect fetal and infant development and may cause miscarriage. Although the effects of marijuana on an unborn baby are still unknown, studies have indicated that prenatal marijuana use is linked to premature births, small birth size, difficult or long labor and an increase in newborn jitteriness.

Marijuana smoked by a pregnant woman remains in the baby's fat cells for seven to 30 days. Smoking marijuana can affect the amount of oxygen and nutrients the baby receives, which may affect growth. Marijuana is never safe during pregnancy and it can harm the baby at any stage. In addition, marijuana can have long-term effects on infants and children, such as having trouble paying attention or learning to read.

Alcohol

Drinking alcohol can increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, newborn death and fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Babies with FAS have low birth weight, heart defects, facial defects, learning problems and mental retardation. Since it is not known if there is a safe level of alcohol during pregnancy, the best advice is not to drink at all. Even one drink a day has been shown to have effects on the growing fetus. The best time to stop drinking alcohol is before you conceive. If your pregnancy is unplanned, you should stop drinking as soon as you suspect you are pregnant.

Tobacco

Women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to have babies who are too small. Smoking also increases the risk of miscarriage, preterm labor, stillbirth and newborn death. Babies born weighing less than 5 pounds may have more health problems early in life and learning problems later in school. If you smoke, quit now. Ask your health care provider for information about classes or support groups for pregnant women who want to quit smoking.

Prescription Drugs

Some prescribed medications may be harmful to your unborn or nursing baby. If you are taking any prescribed drugs, tell your health care provider as soon as possible so that your medications can be changed or adjusted as needed.

Over-the-Counter Medicines and Vitamins

Avoid over-the-counter medicines such as antacids, laxatives, sleeping pills, cold medications and pain relievers. While some are safe for pregnant women, many are not. If you feel you need any of these medications, first check with your health care provider. This applies to large doses of over-the-counter vitamin preparations as well, for taking large doses of extra vitamins can be harmful to you and your baby.

Caffeine

Caffeine is present in coffee, tea, cola drinks and some medications. For at least 10 years, there has been controversy over whether caffeine is harmful during pregnancy. Some studies suggest caffeine is harmful, pointing to an increased risk of miscarriage, early delivery or lower birth weight. Other studies have shown that women who consume a moderate amount of caffeine do not experience these problems. Because results are conflicting, no one knows the true risk. We recommend drinking as little caffeine as possible.

Ask your health care provider for more information about substances and their effects on pregnancy. Remember -- your baby needs a healthy mom!

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or health care provider. We encourage you to discuss with your doctor any questions or concerns you may have.

How to Emotionally Prepare for Pregnancy?

Bringing a baby into the world can be an emotional roller coaster ride. During the nine months of pregnancy, feelings can wax and wane between excitement, joy, fear, and frustration. In the end, for most women it is a wonderful or at least, a rewarding, experience. However, how you'll feel during pregnancy is only one aspect of thinking things through carefully before becoming pregnant. The decision to bring a child into the world is one that requires carefully consideration, with the full intention to acknowledge all the responsibilities that this comes with. Many parents who get pregnant before they have fully discussed the various issues associated with pregnancy, childbirth and parenthood find themselves overwhelmed by the prospect of raising a child. By preparing emotionally for a pregnancy, you can eliminate some of the negative emotions that develop as a result of being emotionally unprepared.

Steps:

1.Speak with your partner openly about intentions and desires regarding raising a family. One of the worst mistakes that a couple can make is to delay the conversation about pregnancy and child raising until it is too late. It also unhelpful to be furtive about intentions, not talking but taking risks that expose you to pregnancy without sharing your hopes and wishes for the future with your partner. There are many important questions and concerns that should be discussed before starting a family. Some individuals have specific timelines in mind regarding a family, while others may care only about the number of children they have. Discussing all of the details surrounding raising a family is the first step in emotionally preparing for a pregnancy and is a sign that you have the maturity needed to become a parent to a small being who needs your every ounce of calm guidance. To begin your discussions about pregnancy and parenthood with your partner, try these approaches:

• If you feel uncertain, use a celebrity or television pregnancy as a springboard to discussion. Make comments about how you would feel about being pregnant like the person you're discussing and then lead into a discussion about the possibilities of pregnancy for the two of you.
• Tell your partner how you feel now about pregnancy. If you feel ready, then make this clear. Be sure that it is at a time in your lives where you're both stable enough and able to start raising a family––early on in a relationship is often an unrealistic time to raise this possibility, as is a time of emotional or financial turmoil in your lives.
• If your partner remains ambivalent, be considerate. It may take time to bring him or her around to your way of thinking and easy does it. Avoid badgering him or her, or insisting that you keep talking about it regularly. Give it a rest for a few months before returning to the discussion––this will give your partner time to think about what you've said.

2.Find useful and constructive information to inform your conversation. It's one thing to imagine what it must be like to be pregnant, and quite another to be in possession of the real facts and issues. It's recommended that you do a little research first and find useful resources to guide both of you in understanding fully what's at stake. A good place to start is with printed resources, such as self-help books, pregnancy books, parenting books, self-discovery books and resources printed by parenting and baby care groups. Such resources will help both of you to explore the health and emotional issues associated with pregnancy, including risks and stresses. Moreover, be sure to read beyond the pregnancy stage and read about early childhood, including about child raising impacts on your own choices of livelihood and lifestyle. Forewarned is forearmed and it is much better to know how you'll juggle two jobs, volunteer work, caring for an ailing parent and raising a newborn baby before you set out having a child than to find yourself suddenly having to work out the hows once the baby is born.

• Draw on naturally available, realistic sources of information––family members and friends who have already experienced raising children. Discuss the emotional nature of pregnancy and parenthood with trusted friends and family members. Individuals who have experience with pregnancy and parenthood can provide you with helpful advice and resources that can prepare you for the emotional changes that you will experience and the lingering emotional transformation caused by a newborn baby.

3.Consider starting a journal in which you can document all the feelings associated with the emotional pregnancy journey, including the decision to try to get pregnant. You might not even be the type who keeps a diary normally but this is probably the one time in your life when you'll love being able to look back and see what you experienced, as well as let your child read the entries some day. There is also a more practical element to doing this––it enables you to keep track of the highs and lows of your feelings and moods, which can be vital in reminding you that you are sane, it's just that tiredness and feeling a little blue at times can turn you into someone you least expected! A journal can be many things––it can help you organize your thoughts as you collect information from various sources, it can be a place for expressing your feelings, it can be where you keep price comparisons for all the baby items you think you need to get and it can be a place to keep medical notes too.

• Be sure to include information that you receive from conversations with your spouse or partner, suggestions from friends and family members as well as the facts that you absorb from print resources. Nurse and doctor suggestions that are helpful rather than medical in nature can also be kept in the journal for referring back to––in particular, midwives will have much helpful advice in general to impart.

4.Invest in a suitable method of contraception until you are ready to intentionally create a child. The most common cause of feeling emotionally unprepared is an accidental pregnancy. Your concerns can range from whether you've consumed alcohol during the baby's first weeks of formation, whether you've had adequate nutrition to give the baby the best start in life, through to whether you're actually ready at this point in time. Avoid these worries by properly planning when you want to conceive and only remove contraception from your regular routine when you choose the time. This way, you will both maintain control over the outcome and start off with the desire to create a family on your own terms.

5.Evaluate the financial ramifications of a pregnancy and of raising a child. Financial instability can contribute to emotional unpreparedness surrounding a pregnancy. Children are little "cost centers" and it's essential to have the means to care for a child properly or you'll risk feeling overwhelmed and possibly even resentful. Discuss the financial details openly with your partner, including expectations about who will take time off work and when, if at all, the partner principally responsible for at-home baby care will return to work. If you choose to be a stay-at-home mom or dad, there will need to be very clear financial strategies set in place to ensure that this decision doesn't mean you're stretched beyond your abilities financially. Be realistic here––thinking everything will be okay when you're already up to your eyeballs in debt is irresponsible. Clear the decks as much as possible where debts are concerned and remember that clean, used goods are fine for baby––you don't need the very latest or best in everything, provided what you buy is safe and clean.

6.Take care of your body physically. Caring for the physical needs of your pregnant body can help to prepare you emotionally for a pregnancy. Many women experience intense emotions as a result of hormone fluctuations and the dramatic changes that their bodies encounter during a pregnancy. Some women are shocked to find that they have "mommy brain" and can't think straight during some or all of the pregnancy. While this doesn't happen to all pregnant women, for those who do experience it, it can be very distracting. This might mean considering reduced duties if working, scheduling earlier bedtimes and getting help with things that you find tax your energy too much.

• Complications like diabetes or drastic weight gain can contribute to emotional stability during a pregnancy. If you have medical complications or weight issues, be in regular contact with your doctor and other relevant medical carers to ensure that you are getting the correct care at all times. Remember that no question is a stupid question––if you have a worry, you have a right to raise it and seek reassurance.
• By exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet, you can take greater physical control over your body. In turn, this can help to create better emotional control.

7.Prepare for the birth––and after the birth––during a pregnancy. Many women and their partners find emotional relief and stability when they tackle pregnancy-related tasks one at a time. Planning a baby shower, decorating a baby nursery, purchasing baby clothing and accessories, purchasing maternity attire and picking out a baby name are all simple, easy tasks that can be completed in stages so that a pregnancy doesn't become overwhelming. Moreover, be sure to attend birthing classes regularly and inquire about after-birth baby care classes too––you can never learn too early what you'll soon have to know how to do. Consider drawing up a timetable plan and marking in suitable times for each thing you'd like achieved. Most of all, aim to be as rested, contented and un-rushed as possible. Pregnancy can feel like forever but it is a time in which you can really nurture yourself as well as the baby and should ultimately be a time of personal contentment, if you let it be. Don't try to keep doing everything you've already done––dust bunnies can wait, as can hosting the dinner party for the curious.

• Be aware that many women experience what is commonly called "nesting instinct" toward the end of pregnancy, a period of intense activity arising out of a boost of energy that lets you get baby's room and requirements ready. This can help you to get those last minute things organized with pep.

8.Communicate regularly during a pregnancy. The best way to emotionally prepare before and during a pregnancy is to regularly communicate about your fears, your hopes, your desires and your anxiety. Communicating with your partner, your parents, siblings and friends will help to ease the emotional burden that is often associated with a pregnancy. You are going through a physically and emotionally challenging time and it is important to use the support of others to bolster your morale and to help you feel like you can cope. Even if you live far away from most family members, there are always hospital and midwife resources on which you can draw for added support, and the internet can be another source of support by checking out pregnancy forums and the like. Join a few online mom's groups when you've had a look around for ones you like––they're super for reassurance at 3 AM in the morning!

First Trimester of Pregnancy

Wow, there's a lot going on in there as your baby begins to develop and your pregnant body starts to go through some (big!) changes. Here's more about what to expect in the first trimester of pregnancy.

You may not look pregnant yet, but chances are you're feeling it. That's because a flood of pregnancy hormones is prepping your body to play baby hostess for the next nine months. And that means you could be in line for a bunch of wackypregnancy symptoms from breast changes to bloating to fatigue to flatulence. Sure, you might be less than thrilled with some of the stuff you'll be coping with (did we mention heartburn and constipation?), but remember that these temporary discomforts are part of the incredible process that's happening inside: You're growing a child! 

During the first trimester alone your baby changes from a single fertilized cell (a zygote) to the embryo that implants itself in your uterine wall to a peach-sized bundle of growing limbs and body systems. So much happens in so little time: Organs take shape, baby starts to move (aroundweek eight of pregnancy), and hair follicles and nail beds form. More major first-trimester milestones include the formation of muscles, the production of white blood cells to fight off germs, and the development of vocal cords (I want Mommy!). 

For Mom, a lot happens quickly in the first trimester as well. At some point, you'll likely have a routine ultrasound to make sure things are progressing as they should, and ascreening (done through a blood test between 11 and 14 weeks of pregnancy) to look for chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome and congenital heart defects. 

In terms of day-to-day stuff, by week five of pregnancy you may be well into morning-sickness malaise (which, unfortunately, doesn't just strike in the morning!). By week six, you might be wondering who replaced your boobs with those alien orbs (so tender, so tingly, and sooo big!). Pregnancy mood swings may hit by week seven, leaving you feeling up, then down, then up again — and that was just in the past five minutes! Weeks eight through 12 bring a laundry list of other possible pregnancy symptoms, including metallic taste, food aversions, and headaches. 

The thing to keep in mind when it comes to pregnancy woes during the first trimester is that every woman is different, so while your neighbor may have moaned about endlessly peeing, that may not happen to you at all. And just because your mom or sister reported cramping or spotting doesn't mean you'll do the same. No matter what symptoms you do have, take heart in knowing that most lessen or disappear as your pregnancy evolves. 

Your first ob-gyn visit may well be the longest as the doctor goes over your medical history and performs a thorough physical exam. You'll likely undergo a battery of tests including a Pap smear, urinalysis, and blood work to determine your blood type and Rh status, hCG levels, and the presence of any infections. You might also be screened for genetic illnesses or diabetes, depending on your family history. And while your practitioner is asking you lots of questions, be prepared to ask plenty of your own. Now's the time to inquire about prenatal vitamins, GERD, weight gain, sexual desire (or lack thereof), or anything (really…anything!) you might be concerned about. 

Ultrasound Examinations During Pregnancy

Ultrasound & Pregnancy

Images obtained after ultrasound scans during maternity are a resource of pleasure for the anticipating mom and dad. The regularity of audio surf is used to illustrate the foetus in the uterus. Physicians need it to observe foetal growth but you get to see your child. You should know how this devices is beneficial in assessing the growth of your child.

 

Uses of Ultrasound exam examination in Pregnancy

·         Crown-rump Duration (CRL) Statistic – It is required for identifying gestational age when women cannot keep in mind the end of their last period. It is useful for perseverance of perception. This measurement is taken between the 7th and Thirteenth weeks time and it can approximated due time frame quite beginning in maternity.

·         Femur Duration (FL) Statistic – Femur is the name given to the upper leg cuboid, the greatest cuboid in the body. The growth of this cuboid in the foetus is a very very good of its longitudinal growth. It is noticed after 13 several weeks of maternity and actions 1.5 centimeters at the preliminary level of its growth.

·         Biparietal Dimension (BPD) Statistic – The gap between two temples of foetus is calculated after 13 several weeks. Usually, the foetus size is around 2.4 centimeters. It can be used to find gestational age but only in the preliminary phases of maternity.

·         Stomach Area (AC) Statistic – This is done in the later level of maternity to decide about the dimensions and weight of the child. It is important for tracking the child's growth.

Uses of Ultrasound exam examination in Pregnancy

Ultrasound is required to observe foetal growth and identify opportunities of problems for the mom.

·         In the first trimester, center health of the child is supervised after verifying maternity.

·         In the second trimester, the overall growth of the foetus is under assessment to check for irregular growth or penile deformation. Sex can also be identified at this level. It has been made unlawful in Indian because of widespread women foeticide.

·         In the third trimester, the place of the child for regular distribution and the place of the placenta are supervised to make sure regular beginning.

Some side results of ultrasound in maternity and the foetus have also been scary of delayed. The audio surf that are used in ultrasound can improve the circulation of system to the uterus resulting in development of heat range. Gas can also type which locations the lady at a chance of losing the unborn baby, early beginning or having a stillborn child. However, the advantages of having an ultrasound over-shadow the chance of loss.

Fetal Beats

T. 587-777-4222

F. 1 866-655-6346

Address: Unit A,

9066 14th Ave. SW,

Calgary, Alberta

T3H 4A5

Email: support@fetalbeats.com

Website: www.fetalbeats.com

Significance of Family Assistance During Your Pregnancy

Pregnancy Cure

Family support can serve as the groundwork of protection and growth for a mom and child. Expert indicates that family support has a positive impact on the mind-set of mothers-to-be, such as females with an unwanted maternity.

Women go through many psychological and physical changes during maternity. Since she has to face new obligations and difficulties, you should have someone by her side on which she can psychologically depend upon. Family associates support can help lower down the stresses associated with maternity and offer a feeling of protection for herself and her child.

Today doctors motivate the household's contribution during the whole course of maternity. Preferably one or two associates must go along with a expectant mom during every prenatal trips to her doctor. This will even help the close relatives hook up with child and also offer some help to the mom. Simple actions of family support and connection are worth focusing on during and after maternity. Here are some of the methods in which children can offer support to females during their maternity.

o   Originally you should recognize a relative who can be available throughout the whole maternity. It can be the to-be father, in-laws, mother and father or even a friend. This person must be dedicated and be with her from the very start of maternity i.e. as soon as the maternity is established.

o   If possible, assign one other friend to take care of her when the primary partner is away.

o   Expecting moms must be associated for prenatal trips to gynecologist's or midwife's office, prenatal sessions, assessments during maternity and lastly, for labor and distribution.

o   Make sure to be with her during ‘big events’. For example, when the first ultrasound exam examination comes or at the time when the unborn child's first heartbeat is recognized. The miracle of these prenatal events becomes even more unforgettable when distributed to loved ones.

o   Being actually present is not enough. Family associates members must try to know about maternity and of possible methods to back up a mom and also appear participative in characteristics.

Remember that adoring support from family associates can considerably give rise to a healthy maternity, giving birth and being a parent experience.

Fetal Beats

T. 587-777-4222

F. 1 866-655-6346

Address: Unit A,

9066 14th Ave. SW,

Calgary, Alberta

T3H 4A5

Email: support@fetalbeats.com

Website: www.fetalbeats.com

Results of Regular Ultrasound Examination During Pregnancy

Ultrasound & Pregnancy

Ultrasound during maternity are conducted to keep a tab on the foetus’s growth, its weeks’ time by weeks time growth and lastly on its place within the uterus. Ultrasounds also suggested by obstetricians/gynecologists if they suppose any side-effect during maternity. However, there has been several analyses that look at the risks that frequent ultrasound during maternity present. And these analyses are very important in today's current day and age because of increasing styles such as perseverance of an unborn child's sex and getting ultrasound pictures of the foetus.

The risks of frequent ultrasound during pregnancy

·         A research conducted at a United states School has evidence of the fact that the radioactive surf of the ultrasound has a bad effect on the growth of the mind of the foetus. This analysis was done on expecting rodents.

·         Regular ultrasounds obviously prevent the organic department of tissues in the foetus. Although the studies have not been conducted on human to tell for sure of the consequences of frequent ultrasounds, but tests conducted on rodents and other non-human primates’ display otherwise.

·         Scientists are also of the viewpoint that frequent ultrasound during maternity can actually harm the DNA of tissues and may also induce a tumor suppressant gene known as p53 that is accountable for managing mobile loss of life. This is a scenario of fear because strains in the p53 gene have been discovered to be one of activates for melanoma in people.

·         Another research that was conducted in Perth, in Sydney revealed that females, who had frequent ultrasounds during their maternity, delivered reduced beginning weight infants. Also, in intrauterine growth of the foetus of these expectant mothers was more limited.

·         A Canada analysis was performed on kids within the age groups of 2 and 8 for late conversation. It was seen that kids who had been revealed to frequent ultrasounds as foetuses were more vulnerable to wait in conversation growth.

Since there is no definite analysis to confirm that the audio surf used during maternity are secure for both the expectant mothers and her kid, it is suggested that ultrasounds be limited and conducted only when needed. Although the whole issue of the protection of ultrasounds is controversial, it is suggested that all possible protection measures are used during maternity.

Fetal Beats

T. 587-777-4222

F. 1 866-655-6346

Address: Unit A,

9066 14th Ave. SW,

Calgary, Alberta

T3H 4A5

Email: support@fetalbeats.com

Website: www.fetalbeats.com