Tag Archives: domestic violence

The First Stage of Labor

Your doctor or your childbirth instructor may mention the stages of labor. There are three stages of labor. The division between these three stages is clearer cut on paper than it is in real labor; they exist to help describe where a woman is in the labor process and nothing else. They may seem to blend together during the actual experience. The three stages of labor are dilation (and effacement), pushing, and birthing the placenta. The first stage of labor is often the longest, especially for first time mothers. The cervix must completely open and stretch back into the upper … Continue reading →

The Pattern of Domestic Violence

Wednesday is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The aim is to raise the profile of this crime, for that is what it is, to try and change attitudes and lessen the problem. Let’s hope and pray it has some effect. It saddens me to think that domestic violence is such a problem in our world. No way could I imagine Mick raising a hand to me or my son or son-in-law raising a hand against their wives. Yet, sadly that is not the case for all women. I’ve had a couple of friends who have been … Continue reading →

Save on Baby Items

It is a fact that babies need stuff, lots of stuff. And all of that stuff winds up costing lots of money. Fortunately, with a few frugal practices, you can spend much less. Here are some ideas on how you can save on baby items. Announce it to the world If you are lucky, as soon as you announce that you are expecting, you will be inundated with offers for free baby stuff, such as equipment, clothes and toys. Friends, family and even casual acquaintances often have a ton of baby stuff that is sitting there waiting to be used. … Continue reading →

The First Feeding

Establishing breastfeeding right away, even minutes after your baby is born can go a long way to making breastfeeding easier. Early breastfeeding can also reduce the amount of stress that your baby has right after birth, soothing her from all of the tension that has built up over the time of labor and delivery. When my oldest child was born after a very long labor, family immediately burst into the room. As a result, I didn’t get to feed my son right away, and in fact, my sister-in-law got to hold him before I did! When I finally got a … Continue reading →

Avoiding the Pregnancy Conversation Trap

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If two people are having a conversation and at least one of them is pregnant, the conversation will most likely go in one of four directions. Negative: 1. The pregnant woman will ramble about her pregnancy and the other will get sick of hearing about it. 2. The non-expecting party will keep asking about the pregnancy, and the pregnant women will get sick of talking about it. Positive: 3. The discussion will be completely overtaken by baby talk and neither party minds. 4. Both parties avoid the subject altogether. This happens when one or both parties are either not interested … Continue reading →

Eat Right When Breastfeeding

Eating for two doesn’t stop once the baby is home. If you are breastfeeding, then you need to make sure that you are consuming the proper balance of food, both to keep you healthy and recovering well and to ensure that your breastmilk has the highest nutritional value for your baby. Breastmilk is an amazing thing. Your body will actually steal stores of nutrients from itself in order to manufacture the best food for your baby. But some nutrients cant easily be stored, and if your supplies run low then you will suffer. So eating right is very important. First, … Continue reading →

Moms-to-Be: Work Stress Can Be Harmful to Your Baby

A Dutch study published in the American Journal of Public Health took a look at work stress in the first trimester of pregnancy — and the impact it can have on an unborn child. More than eight thousand pregnant women participated in a survey focused on employment and working conditions — they were asked about the number of hours worked per week and their stress levels (among other things). More that seven thousand women continued in the study, and were in contact with researchers again after giving birth to report the weight of the newborns. The results? Women who worked … Continue reading →

Pregnancy and Forgetfulness

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A recent study conducted on 90 women who were either not pregnant, in their first trimester, or in their third trimester, revealed that pregnancy does make women forgetful. The women who were in their third trimester had poorer memory function than the women who were not pregnant, especially auditory memory. Auditory memory involves remembering something that you’ve heard, which explains why you may find yourself repeatedly asking, “What did you ask me to do again?” I don’t know about you, but I don’t need a scientific study to tell me I lost my mind during pregnancy. I recall (no pun … Continue reading →

Turn Your First Ultrasound into a Pregnancy Announcement

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Telling your friends and family you are expecting is an exciting time. Especially for first time parents, finding a creative way to break the news and surprise loved ones is half the fun! I used a couple different ways to tell my family. With my husband, I didn’t get creative because I was just too excited to wait. I ran straight from the bathroom, stick in hand, to the bedroom where my husband was fast asleep. It was four in the morning, so I’m not sure he really understood what was going on. Likewise, I told my mom by emailing … Continue reading →

Elements of a Modern Nursery

Frills, ruffles and a matching Winnie the Pooh layette is out for baby’s nursery. Instead, the hippest parents are taking their cues from celebrities, whose nurseries are modern and chic. while you may not be looking to spend $1500 for a crib, there are plenty of practical options will make your baby a sophisticated star. Here is what is hot right now for the modern nursery. Crib bedding Forget the cutsey and go for a bold statement with modern graphics that are easy for baby to focus on. Dots are really hot right now for the crib bedding, as are … Continue reading →