1 New Baby

Back Again

2011-12-26T22:09:00.000-08:00

Life has sure been challenging since I last posted. The family has now grown to two members, now 1 and three. What I have been lacking is some focus. My career is well on track by time to put a focus on my over all wellness. I welcome you on my journey and hope that you can share your secrets about but family life and try to keep some sort of balance in your lives.

Bringing In and Maintaining Your Milk Supply

2008-06-01T08:27:00.000-07:00

So we are now just past six weeks and our little guy is just under 12 pounds, so he is getting bigger and happier. My wife asked me to do check to see how to increase her milk supply. Here is what I found:

Ameda

When do you start? If you can, start pumping within the first six hours after your baby’s birth. As soon as possible, pump at least 8-10 times every 24 hours. This is how many times each day your baby would be breastfeeding. In general, the more times each day you pump, the more milk you make. The reverse is true, too. The less you pump, the less milk you make.
Until your milk "comes in" on Day 3 or 4, pump at least 10-15 minutes per breast.
Pump at least once during the night. Don’t go longer than about 5 hours between pumpings. (Full breasts make milk slower.)

Maintaining your Breastmilk Supply
Suggestions for maintaining and improving your milk supply.

Get enough rest and eat regularly.
Drink plenty of water, herbal teas, and other liquids throughout the day.
Drinks that increase milk supply:

Fennel, fenugreek (in a tea or capsule form). Mother’s milk tea (Traditional Medicinals or Yogi brands).
Teas made from nettles and raspberry leaf
Dark/stout beers, especially Guinness.
Amazake rice shakes in almond and hazelnut flavors (available in the refrigerated section at the Coop and Back to the Land).
The book Wise Woman Herbal recommends the following herbal infusions: comfrey, alfafa, red clover, and borage leaves.
Barley water (prepared by soaking 1/2 cup pearled barley in 3cups cold water overnight or boiling 25 minutes, then pour 1 cup boiling barley water over 1 tsp fennel seeds which you steep no longer than 30 minutes.

Foods that increase milk supply:

Helpful foods include beets, leafy greens, shrimp, oatmeal, whole grains, brown basmati rice, and black sesame seeds.
According to the book Wise Woman Herbal, other good foods include apricots, asparagus, green beans, carrots, sweet potatoes, peas, pecans, parsley, watercress, and dandelion leaves.

Things that decrease milk supply:

Mint tea – if you are an herbal tea drinker, make sure none of your tea has mint in it.
Sage
Avoid caffeine and alcohol (with the exception of dark/stout beers).
Stress/Worrying about your milk supply!

What are some other suggestions that you may have tried or have heard about?

Circumcision?

2008-05-13T13:20:00.000-07:00

So what are peoples thoughts about circumcision? In the hospital most nurses and doctors strongly recommended us against this. In most cases they scolded us for even thinking about it. We were more than frustrated. I have heard of a few cases where older men had to have this done and it was extremely painful and had major health implications. In the hospital they gave us very dated information that recommended against this procedure. In the last while I have heard information about why not to do this procedure but have never seen any data about health complications of males that do not have this done. Below is some reading that may help with your decision.

Circumcision - Wikipedia

Opponents of non-therapeutic circumcision claim infant circumcision infringes upon the individuals bodily rights, is medically unjustified and it adversely affects sexual pleasure.^[9] Circumcision advocates claim it is a worthwhile public health measure that has no substantial effects on sexual function and has a low complication rate when properly done.^[10]

The American Medical Association stated in 1999: "Virtually all current policy statements from specialty societies and medical organizations do not recommend routine neonatal circumcision, and support the provision of accurate and unbiased information to parents to inform their choice."^[11]

The World Health Organisation (WHO; 2007), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS; 2007), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; 2008) state that evidence indicates that male circumcision significantly reduces the risk of HIV acquisition by men during penile-vaginal sex, but also state that circumcision only provides partial protection and should not replace other interventions to prevent transmission of HIV.^[12]^[13]

The American Medical Association defines “non-therapeutic” circumcision as the non-religious, non-ritualistic, not medically necessary, elective circumcision of male newborns. It still advocates that medical associations in the US, Australia, and Canada do not recommend the routine non-therapeutic circumcision of newborns.^[36]

Circumcision advocates argue that circumcision prevents infections and slows down the spread of AIDS.^[37] Opponents of circumcision question the ethical validity of removing healthy, functioning genital tissue from a minor, arguing that infant circumcision infringes upon individual autonomy and represents a human rights violation.^[38]^[39]

^{Circumcision Benefits}

^{Circumcision - To Circumcise or Not Circumcise}

What do you think?

Sleeping Baby

2008-05-10T17:14:00.000-07:00

Our little guy is now over three weeks old. As you can tell by my lack of posts we have been extremely busy. He seems to be sleeping at 2-3 hour intervals and then he is up feeding, fusing, getting changed and/or playing with us for 40 minutes. We are both learning how to be parents and loving ever minute of it. Does this sound right, in terms of the sleep? To answer this question I thought I would do some research and this is what I found.

The following information can be found at BabyCentre in the article Establishing Good Sleep Habits 0-3 Months :

Newborns sleep a lot -- about 17 to 18 hours a day for the first few weeks and 15 hours a day by month three. However, they almost never sleep for more than three to four hours at a time, day or night. We can sure vouch for this. He likes to sleep at the most three hours at a time!

The Canadian Paediatic Society recommends that babies sleep at night in a crib next to their parents' bed for the first six months. Other recommendations include:

Put your baby down on his back to sleep, not his front or his side. We were sure worried about this because of SIDS. The first two weeks we made sure he stayed on his back but now he sometimes turns to his side and we let him.
Put him with his feet at the end of the crib so he can't wriggle too far down under the blankets. We actualy are using bassinet right now and will soon be switching to his crib as he is getting too long.
Keep your baby's room at a temperature of around 18 degrees C / 64 degrees F.
For bedding, use a sheet and cellular blankets rather than a duvet. We are using organic sheets that we bought online and they are sure working well.
Check that your baby isn't getting too hot or too cold by feeling his stomach: if he's too hot, remove a blanket, if he's cold, add one. Don't go by his hands or feet, as it is normal for them to feel cold.

One final article I enjoyed on sleep was Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night by Elizabeth Pantley found at Canadian Parents.

It talks about differnt options for sounds that you can use to put a baby to sleep to. Our little guy loves the sound of water or waves in the ocean. It seems to always do the trick. That reminds me I need to change the batteries.

If you have any other ideas please let me know!

Birth Annoucment

2008-05-01T16:33:00.000-07:00

Well the big day for us has come and past and the rest is a blur. Our little guy was born on Friday, April 18 at 8:48 in the morning. He weighed 8 pounds and 15 1/2 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. We were sure excited to say the least. In the delivery room they thought that he was at least 10 or 11 pounds. We were able to go home on the following Monday, but wife was very sore after the operation. Things are going well right now, although we had some trouble with the breast feeding. Today we had our two week doctors appointment and found out that the little guy has regained all of his birth weight and now weights 9 pounds and is 21.5 inches long.

It has been some time since I last posted but I am back and ready to share what we learn along the way and hope you continue to give me feedback and suggestions.

Clothes for a Newborn

2008-03-30T09:50:00.000-07:00

So here is a list I found at Pregnancy Weekly that talks about what clothes you should have ready for a new baby. We have purchased a lot of items already and they are washed. Also, We are lucky to have some friends that have passed on a ton of clothes to us. I think we are ready to go. We just have to get our car seat installed. Is there anything else that you think we need to do? What else could be added to the list below?

Here are some of the things your new little one will need. It's probably best to get them together during your seventh month. Don't forget to wash everything before you put them on your baby.

3 Side-snap shirts
3 Pullover t-shirts
6 Onesies
3 Gowns
4 Terry cloth sleepers with feet
4 Snap-up rompers without feet
2 Blanket sleepers
1 Bunting/snowsuit (if needed)
4 Booties and/or socks
4 Bibs
2 Sweaters
1 Jacket

Braxton Hicks

2008-03-25T13:20:00.000-07:00

I got the information below from PregnancyWeekly. My wife is telling me that she is experiencing Braxton Hicks. We are now in the home stretch to see are first bundle of joy.

Braxton Hicks are intermittent contractions of the uterus that some women experience during their pregnancy. They were first described by Dr. John Braxton Hicks in 1872, an English gynecologist, and are often referred to as practice labor because they are thought to help prepare your body for the real deal.

Some women have a lot of Braxton Hicks (particularly with second or subsequent pregnancies), while others report not feeling any. They may be short, barely noticeable and infrequent; or they may last for several minutes, stop you in your tracks, and occur several times an hour. Some women experience them from early in their pregnancy through to the end, while others don�t feel any until just a couple of weeks before they go into real labor. However, most women notice Braxton Hicks contractions in the second half of their pregnancies, particularly in their third trimester. They generally last between 30 and 60 seconds and occur less than four times an hour. They often feel like a tightening of the front of your abdomen or pelvis, but you may not even know you are having one unless you place your hand on your belly and notice it�s rigid and hard.

Real labor pains are different for every woman and even with each pregnancy; however, many describe them as being a dull ache in the lower abdomen and back with pelvic pressure, or like strong menstrual or diarrhea cramps.

Many doctors and midwives believe that Braxton Hicks may help tone your uterine muscles and promote blood flow to the placenta. And although true Braxton Hicks do not have any effect on your cervix, false labor (when they occur closer to actual delivery) can actually help your cervix dilate and efface.

Certain things can trigger Braxton Hicks, such as physical activity, touching your belly, movement of the baby, having sex, dehydration, or having a full bladder. If you are experiencing a lot of contractions, try changing positions or lying down on your left side, walking, and drinking water. If the contractions persist, call your doctor.

So how do you know when they�re just Braxton Hicks and when it�s time to head to the hospital?

Braxton Hicks:

are irregular in intensity
are irregular in pattern
are infrequent
do not increase in intensity or frequency
are more uncomfortable than painful
disappear if you change positions or activity level, or drink water

Real labor pains:

increase in intensity and frequency
have a pattern to them
do not lessen or disappear if you walk, drink water, or rest
are painful

Call your doctor if your contractions progress in intensity, frequency, and regularity or if you have other signs of labor such as abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, increased vaginal discharge, increased pelvic pressure, or low back pain.

What are your experiences with Braxton Hicks?

What to Pack for the Hospital

2008-03-01T22:24:00.000-08:00

Well the time is right for us to start to put together our bags, for the birth of our first baby. We have less than two months and I bet we will experience our joy early. Do not tell me how I know this, but I want to make it known now that this is my prediction. I am sure that a number of you have been through this process already. Any suggestion about what we should be packing for our short trip (a 5-10 minute drive through the small city we live in)?

This post will provide a list based on what we learned at our prenatal classes (they sure did not teach us as much as we had hopped) and from sites on the Internet.

For My Wife

Pain Kit (My wife packed this a long time ago. It includes lotions, massage bars, massage tools, music, candy, drinks, books/magazines pictures of loved ones, tennis ball, mp3 player)
Toiletries (Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Hair Ties, Lip Chap, Washcloth, Ear Plugs, Hair Brush, Shampoo/Conditioner, Soap)
Bathrobe, Nightgown, Slippers, Socks (Extra Pairs), Front Buttoned Pajamas
Glasses
Extra Pillows/Body Pillow
Nursing Bra and Pads
Sanitary Napkins
Clean Nightgown and Maternity Underwear
Comfortable Clothes to Wear Home
Warm Sweater
Health Card

For the Baby

Car Seat
Going Home Outfit
Receiving Blankets
Hat
Diapers
Socks and Booties
Nursing Pillow

For Me

Toiletries
Change of Clothes
Pjamas
Ball Cap
Swim Suit

Other Items for Me to Remember

Watch (to time contractions)
Camcorder and Camera (Extra Batteries and Tapes
Pad of Paper and a Pen
Books/Magazines
Phone Card/Cell Phone
List of People to Call When the Baby is Born
Celebration Items (Sparkling Cider, Chocolate Cigars, Gift for my Wife)
Snacks (Fresh Fruit) and Drinks
Preregister (Not sure if we can but a great idea)

Recommendations Not Taking

1. Birth Plan (We will just make our decisions based on what the doctors or nurses recommend)

Here are the sites that I used to help compile my list:

What to Pack for the Hospital by Paige Bierma
Packing 101: What to Bring to the Hospital by Julia Rosien
Momma's Diary Blog
Abby Monroe is HERE! Blog

Fetal Development in Pregnancy Week 31

2008-02-27T19:49:00.000-08:00

Here is my 31 Week Post from Baby Gaga.

Your not-so-little-one is just a bit closer to their birth weight and height at around 4 pounds and 17 inches. With each added layer of baby fat, your baby's skin starts to look more and more like it will when they finally get to see the light of day. The heavy news: you can expect your miracle-gro muffin to gain about a half a pound of weight per week from now until about two weeks before birth. Great. That's just what you needed. Even more weight to carry around!

Your baby's still-developing immune system has gained substantial strength over the past few weeks getting them in full gear to face our disease-ridden world o’ wonders. Obviously, a large majority of your child’s immune strength will be derived from exposure to breast milk as well as the outside elements. Their cute little noggin’ (which could already be covered with luscious locks or just purty peach fuzz), is still soft because the skull bones have not yet fused together. As much as that sounds a little too vulnerable, their “skull softness” allows for a much smoother passage through the birth canal during labor—something both you and your little swimmer will appreciate when it’s finally time to “go!” Also, some babies will have that “soft spot” on their head for up to one year after birth.

And how's mom doing?
Have you felt anything you suspect might be contractions already? Braxton-Hick contractions are part and parcel of the second half of pregnancy and lucky for you, become more frequent during the third trimester. Cleverly dubbed “false labor” contractions, these spasms are an obnoxious fake-out and So next time you’ve got yourself a pair of damp head-lights in the grocery store, just go ahead and purchase the nursing pads to protect your clothes, bras, and any remaining shreds of dignity you can salvage shouldn’t be confused with premature labor. The fun part of having BH contractions is that it’s not unusual for them to be painful... and by fun, we mean “why oh why, does the third trimester mean everything is uncomfortable?” Still, just a heads up: if you notice the contractions more than four times in one hour, or even more glamorous—changes in your vaginal discharge, call your healthcare practitioner right away. As for other third-trimester niceties; your nipples may be engaging in a bit of “pre-milk” expulsion at the most untimely moments. So next time you’ve got yourself a pair of damp head-lights in the grocery store, just go ahead and purchase the nursing pads to protect your clothes, bras, and any remaining shreds of dignity you can salvage.

As your magical growing baby obstinately refuses to shrink or give back any real-estate in your belly, you can sit back, "relax," and take in the heartburn and increased lower back pain. If you choose, you can always eat less with each meal, and instead opt for smaller more frequent meals, this should help the heartburn. As for your poor back, get off your feet and elevate them above your heart, double-check the names list, and how many key baby-items you’ve already got in your registry. If you’re lucky, you might just make it in less than eight weeks! Hang in there wonder-mom, we believe in you!

Any suggestions on how I can be more supportive to my wife, as she is extremely uncomfortable right now and is having trouble sleeping?

Fetal development in pregnancy week 30

2008-02-21T18:32:00.000-08:00

Here is my 30 Week Post from Baby Gaga.

The fetus in now in the seventh month. The light is visible at the end of the tunnel! Your oversized self and amazing growing baby have finally reached the single digits (in terms of weeks till birth)! The fine lanugo hair that has been growing all over their little monkey-like body is going to start falling off this week in preparation for the big day. But don’t be shocked if they’re hairier than you’d anticipated, some babies keep their lanugo until after birth. Still, it’s not any cause to be concerned as it will fall off eventually. No surprises here: your little porker is getting even cuter with increasingly pudgy arms and legs this week thanks to the ever-growing layers of subcutaneous fat. In terms of numbers, your baby should be weighing in at around 3 pounds 12 ounces (or more!) and be nearly 16 inches long.

And how's mom doing?
On a very serious note: you should make sure to determine both you and your baby’s blood type. It’s extremely important for everyone. In the case that you and your maturing babe’s blood types don’t match there’s a chance you could produce antibodies that could potentially attack and harm a future the drama you’re feeling is largely a result of increased adrenaline thanks indirectly to hormonal swings—not because things really are that dramatic and merit adult temper tantrums fetus. It is rare, but with modern medicine, the problem is easily corrected and little cause for concern if dealt with properly.

As for the ongoing joys of being in your third trimester: your not-so-fun symptoms are just intensifying this week, so it might not hurt to slow down a bit and focus on yourself. If you’re feeling extra fatigued, you’ve probably joined the sleeping shouldn’t be this tough when I’m this tired club, especially if you’re experiencing a lot of back pain and general discomfort. If you’ve been pushing the exercise thing, then this is the time perhaps to cut down on the physical activities and focus more on getting proper sleep (if this means buying a pregnancy pillow, then do it!). Oh and all that moodiness? Just go with the flow emotionally. This doesn't mean letting the hormones win and becoming a complete psychotic. Instead, feel the feelings, but know that the drama you’re feeling is largely a result of increased adrenaline thanks indirectly to hormonal swings—not because things really are that dramatic and merit adult temper tantrums. The clincher symptom for this week: it’s highly likely your libido has gone on sabbatical. This, as far as we’re concerned, is perfectly natural in your condition.

We have the blood type thing figured out already. We sure learned a lot about this with our previous pregnancy. I have never heard of a pregnancy pillow. Is this just a body pillow?

Caring for Baby 101: Part 3

2008-02-18T14:54:00.000-08:00

Here is a continuation of the previous two posts. I found these posters for Caring for a Baby on JamesStriding.com. They are a hilarious collection of posters that originally were found at Wacky Archives. These would sure be great to print out to give to someone who is preparing for parenthood for the first time. Make sure to click on the link for all of the posters. Have you found any other humorous baby information. If so let me know and I will post it.

Week 28: Your Pregnant Body

2008-02-10T09:09:00.000-08:00

Here is my weekly email from Pregnancy Weekly. Week 28 things are sure moving fast.

OB Visits and Fetal Monitors

Starting next week, you will probably visit your OB more frequently as he or she will be keeping a closer eye on your progress in case you go into early labor. Although your baby could survive if born today, the longer he or she stays inside you, the better. Be aware of the warning signs of preterm labor, including menstrual-like cramps; a low, dull backache; pelvic pressure; abdominal cramping; increase or change in vaginal discharge; and uterine contractions every 10 minutes or more. If you notice any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately.

If you were tested for Rh factor earlier in your pregnancy and you don't have it (are Rh negative) but your baby does (is Rh positive), your doctor will probably give you a vaccine called Rh immune globulin this week and again after you deliver. This will help prevent potential health risks your baby faces, such as jaundice and anemia.

Your Baby: Rapid Weight Gain

Your baby weighs approximately 2.4 pounds and is a little under 15 inches from head to heel. He or she has been gaining weight steadily during the past 27 weeks as its stem cells develop into organs, blood and immune systems, and bones. However, from this point forward, your baby's weight gain will be due to increasing amounts of body fat. Your baby would have a very good chance of surviving a premature delivery; but preemies are relatively rare thanks to modern obstetrical care.

Caring for Baby 101: Part 2

2008-01-29T19:51:00.000-08:00

Here is a continuation of the post I made on Sunday. I found these posters for Caring for a Baby on JamesStriding.com. They are a hilarious collection of posters that originally were found at Wacky Archives. These would sure be great to print out and give to someone who is preparing for parenthood for the first time. Make sure to click on the link for all of the posters. I will post the last 9 pictures later this week. Have you found any other humorous baby information. If so let me know and I will post it.

Week 27: Well, Isn't that Swell? EDEMA

2008-01-28T15:50:00.000-08:00

Week 27, I sure tell you that time is going fast. Her is a post I got from WhatToExpect. com. If you are expecting and interested you can sign up for a free email subscription by visiting the link above.

"Continuing on those sports analogies (remember, it was a soccer ball two weeks ago), your uterus has swelled to the size of a basketball this week. But unfortunately, that's not the only thing that's swelling. Beginning somewhere around this stage of pregnancy, nearly three-quarters of pregnant women start to experience mild swelling of the extremities, particularly of the feet and ankles (but also your hands, as you may have noticed when you last tried to take off your rings). Called edema, such swelling occurs when fluids accumulate in your body tissues as a result of increased blood flow and pressure of your growing uterus on the pelvic veins and your vena cava (the large vein on the right side of your body that returns blood from your lower limbs to the heart).
Mild swelling sure isn't swell (especially when you try to squeeze into your shoes at the end of the day, when puffiness is at its peak), but it is completely normal. If your swelling seems to be more than mild, talk to your practitioner. Excessive swelling can be one sign of preeclampsia, but when it is, it's accompanied by a variety of other symptoms (such as elevated blood pressure and protein in the urine). If your blood pressure and urine are normal (they're checked at each prenatal visit), there's nothing to be concerned about.

To spell swell relief, avoid sitting or standing for a long time, try to get some pregnancy-appropriate exercise, such as walking or swimming (if your practitioner okays it), and when you rest, do so with your feet elevated (if anyone deserves to put her feet up, it's you). Be sure, too, to drink enough each day to stay hydrated. Restricting fluid intake will not decrease swelling, but making sure to get your eight glasses daily may. And also try to look on the bright side: First of all, pretty soon your belly will be so big, you won't even be able to see how swollen your feet are. Second, edema is a temporary condition — you'll deflate completely soon after you give birth."

Caring for Baby 101

2008-01-27T18:18:00.000-08:00

I found these posters for Caring for a Baby on JamesStriding.com. They are a hilarious collection of posters that originaly were found at Wacky Archives. Make sure to click on the link for all of the posters. I will post more tomorrow. Have you found any other humorous baby information. If so let me know and I will post it.

Week 26: Seeing Light and Hearing Sounds

2008-01-27T17:41:00.000-08:00

I got this email from PregnancyWeekly.
Your baby weighs almost 2 pounds, measures around 14 inches from head to heel, and hears noises, responds to light, and is generally more aware of its surroundings. In the same way that you can see a flashlight if you hold it against your palm, your baby can see the light coming through your belly. You may notice increased activity when in brighter light and decreased activity in darkened rooms. Its hearing is fully developed, and as he or she reacts to sounds, its pulse increases. Your baby may even move in rhythm to music! If this is not your first baby and you delivered your first by c-section, you may still be able to deliver this one vaginally. If you would like to attempt a VBAC (vaginal birth after c-section), be sure to discuss it with your doctor sooner rather than later.

What else can we expect in the coming weeks?

Major Purchases: Playard

2008-01-14T17:24:00.000-08:00

As with my last post we have started purchaing items for our first child. Yesterday we purchased two items. One was the stroller I previously talked about and the other was a Living Room Playard. We spent more that we probably should have, as we talked to a salesperson at a store and she indicated that there was a cheap one on sale at a Baby Days Sale this coming weekend. I never even knew there was such a thing as Baby Days, but it seems like every store is having one the coming weekend! She told us that some babies even sleep in this until they are two years old and not to be fooled by all of the bells and whistles on expensive systems. Anyways, we purchased a maching playard to our stroller and car seat combo that was three times the price of the cheap one she told us about. Are we suckers for buying the bells and whistles and trying to match items? Guilty. Anyways, we purchased the Graco Pack 'n Play® Playard, it sure looks good.

Here is some information that I found on this product (found at Albee Baby):

Product Features and Benefits:

Silhouette style frame blends flowing lines, ideal proportions and purposeful details to define quality and comfort.
Posture plus changing table fits your life with uniquely convenient height and functionality.
Cozy oval bassinet embraces your baby with Graco signature quilting.
Baby basics organizer blends practical baby care with style and flair offering diaper stacker, refillable wipes container, and storage compartments.
Deluxe electronic mobile entertains and soothes with:

2 speed mattress mounted vibration
5 classical songs + 5 soothing nature sounds
LED lights "dance" to the music
Check light shines on baby's sleep area
Timer settings of 5, 10, 15 or 20 minutes
Full slumber dome canopy shades bassinet with a calm charming influence
Squeeze latch adds graceful detailing to natural folding motion
Accented with elliptical aluminum legs
Wheels for better mobility in the home

Recommended Use:
For use by children unable to climb out, less than 35" tall.Changing Station for use by children less than 25 lbs.; Bassinet for use by children less than 15 lbs.

Care and Maintenance:If unit gets sandy, carefully remove sand from all surfaces before packing into bag. Sand may damage top rail lock. Clean with household soap and warm water. Drip dry. NO BLEACH. Machine wash carry bag in lukewarm water.

Was it worth the cost? What are your experiences with Playards?

Major Purchases: Baby Strollers

2008-01-14T16:46:00.000-08:00

We are almost at week 25 now and this past weekend we started purchasing big items, that we will need when the baby arrives. We decided to go into a larger city and get some advice on products that we might need. We started at Toys "R" Us - Babies, as we were told that they are very educational. The lady we talked to had run a daycare for years and was very helpful. She took us through all of their products and indicated what she thought was best. We were specifically looking for a stroller and she indicated it did not matter which one we got but we should go with a Quattro.

We ended up purchasing one later on in the day from Sears. We purchased the Graco Quattro Tour Deluxe Travel System. The main reasons we purchased this model was because it was a Quattro, the car seat is good for infants from 5-30 lbs. (most of the others only were good up to 22 lbs), and yes we like the colour. More information about the system we bought can be found below.

The Graco Quattro Tour Deluxe travel system includes the Quattro Tour Deluxe stroller, SafeSeat infant car seat with a 5-Point front adjust harness and a stay-in-car adjustable base. The Quattro Tour Deluxe stroller is made of aluminum tubing and promises years of comfy strolling for infants through toddlers. The one hand gravity fold simplifies life for parents and the 180° rotating canopy with peek-a-boo window shades your child from any direction. The 4-position, flat reclining seat keeps your child comfortable while the parent organizer tray with storage compartment and cupholders provides convenience for mom and dad. The lower and load storage basket is the perfect place for storing baby's essentials. Best of all, this travel system includes the Infant SafeSeat car seat for your infant from 5-30 lbs. and up to 32".

Do you have any other suggestions about major purchases that we should be doing before the baby arrives? What were your experiences when purchasing a stroller?

Fetal Development in regnancy week 23

2008-01-04T11:02:00.000-08:00

I got this post from Baby Gaga Week 23. They email these posts every week. It is free to sign up.

At this point you’ve pretty much adjusted to the fact you’ve got a moving little gymnast inside of you, but now they’re going to kick up the party a notch because they can hear and react to sounds from the outside world. Sounds from your alarm clock, a thunder roll, or that darned car honking at you across the intersection can actually jar their little ears enough to elicit a kick or violent bout of squirming. Of course this also means that their little ears are picking up the sounds of your voice and those near you. So go ahead, sing a lullaby to your little angel—if they start kicking, it’s likely they just want you to stop… or maybe it was a kick of approval? You decide. Your baby's tiny taste buds are still growing and their bones are continuing to ossify (harden), their tiny veins are visible through their translucent yet wrinkly skin. (Think of it this way: they’ve been swimming in the equivalent of a long hot bath for the past 23 weeks, so you can’t blame them for being a little prune-like.)

And how's mom doing? If no one warned you about the joys of the pregnancy-sleep-challenge, you’ve probably already started to discover just how difficult it can be to find adequately comfortable sleeping positions. The good news is: some people actually invented pillows specifically designed to give a pregnant woman a better chance of sleeping through the night. There are a variety of different designs, but inevitably you’ll want some sort of belly support as well as a body pillow between your legs and under your belly to relieve a bit of the discomfort you're sure to be experiencing right now. If you choose to buy the (rather spendy) pregnancy pillows they've got on the market, make sure you keep the receipt as some women still have problems sleeping and fare better with their own unique pillow collection and set-up

As if there's not enough to keep track of already, are you remembering to drink lots of fluids? Plenty of good ol’ fashioned H20 (water) can help reduce swelling in your poor ankles and feet-- resulting from the pressure your now over-sized uterus is putting on your pelvic veins, thereby slowing fluid circulation to the lower half of your body. Also, if you want to further reduce the dreaded appearance of pregnancy “cankles” (calf-ankles) try to avoid sitting for long periods of time—and for the hundredth time: don’t forget to stay active! Keeping your fluid intake up is also good for your little resident swimmer as dehydration is frequently connected with premature birthing. Yep, it’s a lot of responsibility, but you can do it! You’re almost two-thirds of the way there already! Keep up the good work mom!

Sick

2008-01-02T21:43:00.000-08:00

We are both sick and for me who cares but it is scary when you see your expecting wife sick (head cold, chest infection). It has been almost a week now and three visits to the doctor. Any suggestions?

Here is some information that I found about chest infections from Love Life Matters:

Chest Infection During Pregnancy?

Question

I'm 24 weeks pregnant and have a chest infection. Firstly, I'm worried that all my coughing will distress the baby – is this reasonable? Secondly, what medicines can I take that are safe to the baby, but will ease my cough and cold? I have been taking blackcurrant linctus 3-4 times a day.

Answer

Unfortunately there is no way to avoid infections in pregnancy. In fact, women are slightly more prone to infection in pregnancy than they would otherwise be.

It is normal to be concerned about the baby throughout pregnancy, and many women worry about the effects of excessive coughing. The baby is remarkably resilient and will not be affected by your cough and cold. I would not advise that you take any medicines apart from paracetamol for any fever or discomfort that you might have. Usually symptoms such as yours will last for a couple of weeks and will then begin to settle. If you are coughing up phlegm or your symptoms are not easing after this time, it would be a good idea to arrange to see your GP so that you can be examined. If there is evidence of bacterial infection a course of antibiotics may be needed, and there are several antibiotics that can be safely used in pregnancy. If this is not the case, drinking plenty of fluids and using some steam inhalation is likely to help, and over a period of weeks your symptoms will settle.

Fetal Development in Pregnancy Week 22: Fetus in Fifth Month

2007-12-26T10:26:00.000-08:00

This submission comes from a weekly email I subscribed to from Baby Gaga. Click Here to Get all of the information about week 22 or read below.

The grow must go on! No wonder you’re getting so big, you’re now housing a wonder-baby who weighs nearly a pound and measures nearly a foot in length. Their perfect little pancreas is now further developed and they’ve also started producing their own hormones! Your baby's future in the circus as a world-famous tight-rope-walker is secure: their inner ear is now developed to the point that they have their own sense of balance. Lucky for your little explorer, balance also promotes physical dexterity, which has them actively feeling out their surroundings where skin, body parts, and the resident umbilical cord are the big sensory experiences. Your foot-long baby, is looking a bit like an oversized raisin right now as more and more wrinkles are showing up each week. Not to worry, all that excessive wrinkling is just their skin’s way of planning ahead for the time when they’ll start piling on that irresistible baby chub.

And how's mom doing? Take a moment to think about this: your uterus has now stretched to such unholy proportions that it extends beyond your navel! The not-so-exciting part of this remarkable fact is that growth like this tends to leave stretch marks and can itch like nobody’s business. If it makes you feel any better, Don’t get suckered into buying really expensive creams that supposedly make stretch marks ‘magically disappear.' Stretch marks are scars on your skin and won’t disappear with a topical cream stretch marks on the belly are extremely common. Don’t get suckered into buying really expensive creams that supposedly make stretch marks ‘magically disappear.' Stretch marks are scars on your skin and won’t disappear with a topical cream . But feel free to apply all the aloe-vera (and other anti-itch lotions) to alleviate the itching. In terms of preventing their appearance, cocoa butter-based creams and creams full of Vitamin E have a reputation for helping-- but there's still no guarantee that those pesky stretch marks won't show up despite your best creaming-up efforts.

Also, your doctor may offer you a glucose screening test sometime in the upcoming weeks. The test checks for a high blood sugar condition that some women are susceptible to during pregnancy. At most, 5 percent of women actually test positive for this problem, but if you do, you will probably have a few more follow up tests to be sure. If you end up with a positive test, make a plan with your physician or nutritionist for treatment. Untreated, the high sugar content in your blood enables the overproduction of baby fat for your little one, and often results in overly high birth weight which can induce premature birth and/or the necessity to deliver via cesarean.

I hope that everyone had a great Christmas. We sure did! Wow this will be our last Christmas with just the two of us. This is truly amazing.

Breech Position?

2007-12-17T17:09:00.000-08:00

We had another one of our checkups today. It is always a bit scary until you hear that little heart beating away. Music to our ears. We also found out that everything is looking good from the ultrasound except that the baby is in a breech position. He told us that we do not have to be afraid of anything and that most babies turn before being born. I asked him and he indicated that if it was still breeched closer to the due time that he would perform a cesarean section (c-section).

I had heard about this before and knew it was a surgery but what does it really mean and why do babies breech. That is what I am learning about now online as I write this post.

Breech

Parenting iVillage has an article entitled, "Breech Baby: Should You be Concerned." It indicates that, "The vast majority of breech babies are fine. There are, unfortunately, increased risks of problems (abnormalities) in babies that stay breech into the last few months of pregnancy. Therefore, you have some reason to be concerned about your baby's health. Remember, an increased risk does not mean a high risk, just a higher risk than normal. Fortunately, the normal risk is low, so even an increased risk is still low.... About 30 percent or so are breech earlier in pregnancy (16 to 20 weeks), but only about 3 percent are breech at birth. Most do turn around at sometime during the pregnancy, but when they turn around is subject to chance, as far as we can tell. When we see a breech baby later in pregnancy (after 34 weeks), we talk about version. This is the process of turning the baby by pushing on your belly to get it to turn around." Click on the article name above for more information.

Cesarean Section (C-Section)

Baby Center has a great article entitled, "Giving Birth by Cesarean Section."
It indicates that, "A cesarean section, or c-section, is the delivery of a baby through a surgical incision in the mother's abdomen and uterus. In certain circumstances, a c-section is scheduled in advance. In others, it's done in response to an unforeseen complication."
It also answers the following questions:
What is a cesarean section?
Why would I have a planned c-section?
Why would I have an unplanned cesarean delivery?
What happens right before a c-section?
How is a c-section done?

What are your experiences with a breech position or Cesarean Sections?

How much sleep does your child need?

2007-12-16T21:03:00.000-08:00

I got my weekly email from Baby Center. It talks about how much sleep a child need in the first 3 years at various stages. You can find a link to the article by clicking on the chart below.

Age	Nighttime Sleep	Daytime Sleep *	Total Sleep
1 month	8 1/2	7 (3)	15 1/2
3 months	10	5 (3)	15
6 months	11	3 1/4 (2)	14 1/4
9 months	11	3 (2)	14
12 months	11 1/4	2 1/2 (2)	13 3/4
18 months	11 1/4	2 1/4 (1)	13 1/2
2 years	11	2 (1)	13
3 years	10 1/2	1 1/2 (1)	12
* number of naps in parentheses

We are about half away to being blessed with a newborn, do you think that these times are realistic? Any other suggestions in regards to sleep patterns?

20 Week Ultrasound

2007-12-15T21:16:00.000-08:00

So it is a ....? Well we know but I think we are keeping it a surprise except for our immediate family. I think that we even have a name picked out and there is still so much time left. I can tell you that we are elated. What are your thoughts of finding out the sex of the baby? If you did find out who did you tell.

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Chinese Lunar Calendar

2007-12-01T23:42:00.000-08:00

I got the following information from Baby-Parenting.co.uk. It predicts the gender of a baby before it is born. It was correct for our first pregnancy that ended in a loss and using the chart it indicates that we will be having a girl. I guess we will see how well it works. I had not heard about the Chinese Lunar Calendar until my wife told me about this. A friend at work told her about this. Have you heard about this? If so, did this work for you?

"The Chinese pregnancy calendar was allegedly discovered about 700 years ago by a Chinese Scientist. Try it out and see if it works. Try it for other children and tell us if it was correct.

Find where the column with the month of conception meets the row which corresponds to your age at conception, this will tell you whether you had will have a boy or girl.

Click below on one of the sites to see a Chinese Lunar Calendar and other methods to predict the gender of an unborn baby.

Pregnancy Weekly
Baby Gender Prediction

Chinese lunar Month of Conception

Age Of Mother At Conception

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Week 17: Nothing to Wear?

2007-11-21T18:11:00.000-08:00

Sorry about the long wait since my last post and today I have two. We recently went on a shopping trip south of the border to take advantage of the great Canadian Dollar. My wife sure did well. She is now all decked out and looking even more gorgeous than ever. I also get a daily email form What to Expect. I thought the post I got today sure matched with our shopping trip.

It's official — your belly is big and getting bigger! It's time to raid your partner's closet for oversize shirts and sweats, and your gal pals' attics for maternity clothes that are gently used and begging to be borrowed. Swapping maternity clothes is a time-honored bonding ritual, so go for it (you can return the favor by passing them on to someone else when you're done). Going shopping? Don't overdo it. A couple of pairs of good-quality maternity pants, skirts, and tops should see you through many a month (especially if you buy well-coordinated separates that can generate many an outfit).

Also a special thank you to the person that sent me the book in the mail. I got this book from someone that replies to posts on this site and I visit their blog as well. Thank you again! It is entitled The Expectant Father: Facts, Tips, and Advice for Dads-to Be by Armin A. Brott and Jennifer Ash. I will make sure to post what I am reading about in other posts. Are there any other books that you would recommend?

Fetal development in Pregnancy Week 17

2007-11-21T17:57:00.000-08:00

I got this post from Baby Gaga. They send me a new post every week. It sure helps us learn about what is happening. Before the post I thought you needed a laugh. What do you think of the cartoon?

Don't be too shocked but... your baby is EVEN bigger than it was last week, not to mention getting cuter, and smarter every day! As you’ve come to expect, there’s no shortage of growth and development this week: your fantastic little bean stalk has added yet another half inch to their overall height-- making them nearly half a foot long! Their little limbs have reached (or are within one week of) their relative proportions, and will continue to grow evenly with the rest of the body after this week. Reactive listening has begun for your baby, even though their ears are not yet structurally complete or fully functional. Meanwhile, different parts of their astonishingly complex brain are developing to process your little one’s hearing and other senses, (you know, sight, smell, taste and touch). Mind boggling factoid of the week: if you’re having going to have a little girl, her ovaries have already produced millions of primordial egg cells, which, within a few weeks, will develop into actual eggs! Phew… just wait till she’s a teenager eh?

And how's mom doing?
Even though the second trimester is often characterized as the most enjoyable of the three, you can count on a few ailments (see week 14 for additional tri-2 symptoms). This week, or in the coming weeks, you may be privy to the uncommon joys of “round ligament pain.” These not-so-lovely symptoms can doctors advise sleeping on your left side as lying on your back can compress your pelvic veins, decreasing blood return to the lower half of your body include bellyaches, pain in the lower abdomen and sharp shooting and/or stabbing pains, most often expressed at the end of the day. Your suffering is due to stretched ligaments and muscles that support your ever-growing uterus. This is to be expected and is perfectly normal (especially since your uterus is only getting bigger!). Some doctors advise sleeping on your left side as lying on your back can compress your pelvic veins, decreasing blood return to the lower half of your body. Lying on your left side relieves this pressure thereby allowing normal blood flow. If this doesn’t do the trick, go ahead and consult your health care practitioner, but try not to punch them when they serenely tell you it’s normal to feel stabbing pain during this time. As we all know, violence never solves anything.

30 Tips for New Dads

2007-11-14T20:24:00.000-08:00

I was sent an email today from Abel Cheng who gave me permission to post the article below. It can be also found on the website Parent Wonder. It is entitled:

30 Tips for New Dads: Being the Best Father You Can Be Before, During, and After Delivery

Any proud papa would be excited and expectant about the impending arrival of a new baby. For him, however, he has the added anxiety of seeing his partner go through discomfort, mood swings, pain, morning sickness, childbirth and so on, not knowing how he can really be of assistance. Well here is a checklist of things that are of wonderful benefit to an expectant Mom … even if she may not realize it at the time.

During the pregnancy

1. Jobs, big and small: When your partner is pregnant, one of the most important things you can do for her is to offer support, understanding and able-bodied assistance. From simple jobs such as stacking the dishwasher to more high-expectation tasks such as buying sanitary products for use in hospital, a new Dad-to-be should be the calming influence.

2. Just be there: When she’s irritable and uncomfortable, having a haven at home can be bliss. Try to keep in mind why she’s irritable and do your best to smooth things over. After all, she’s weighed down and not feeling the best so try to soften the impact.

3. The lovely foot rub: Fluid retention and swollen legs are par for the course in pregnancy. A foot rub can be as valuable as a diamond necklace to a pregnant woman, especially if it’s done with love. Similarly, a shoulder massage or even allowing her some time off her feet will be just as welcome.

4. Take an interest: Browsing the baby aisle at the supermarket may not be your idea of retail therapy but your partner will swoon at the very sight of pretty bibs, adorable bootees and colorful linen. If she asks your opinion, try to give a well-formed one instead of shrugging “I don’t know, Darling”.

5. Prenatal classes: Particularly if it’s your first baby, your partner will want to attend prenatal classes so that the whole pregnancy/childbirth scenario is not a shock to the system. It’s important that you attend along with her, not just to learn the same things but also to show your support for what she will be going through physically.

6. Car seat: In most places, the law states that you are not permitted to take a new baby from the hospital without having a regulation car seat installed securely in the car. This could be your job. Either go shopping together or take it upon yourself to research and buy the baby carrier/car seat and have it installed so that it’s ready, whenever the baby is born.

7. The nursery: Naturally, setting up the nursery is something you’ll want to discuss and do together. Make it a priority so that it’s one less thing to think about as the pregnancy enters the final stages. Painting should be done early on and other furnishings can be arranged as the money is available or when on sale. Help hang curtains, install shelves and generally prepare the nursery for readiness.

8. Attend doctor’s visits: You won’t know the wonder of seeing your very own baby growing and developing in your partner’s belly unless you go along to one or more of the prenatal visits to the doctor. If you miss all other appointments, make sure you don’t miss the ones that include an ultrasound examination. Why not go out for lunch afterwards and make a real event of it?

9. Plan the road ahead: Planning is one of your jobs too. You need to plan contingencies for the sudden onset of labor, including the route to the hospital and who will look after any other children in the house at a moment’s notice. You need to make sure the car is read and gassed up for the trip and that you can take time off work when the baby is to be born. You also should plan financially, taking into account insurance, medical costs and expenses once the baby is born.

10. Remember your relationship: Once the baby enters the world, your relationship is likely to change. Now is the time to cement the love that you have for each other and talk about the demands that will be upon you both after the birth. Act now to remind each other of romance and the partnership that you share.

Labor and delivery

Here comes the big challenge! Watching your loved one go through agony and frustration can be tormenting but remember, there is a grand prize at the end.

11. Be supportive: Above all, your partner will be leaning on you for support. That means holding her hand, helping her walk, massaging her back, calling the nurse, feeding her drinks of water, reminding her of her breathing, timing contractions, helping her to the bathroom and all manner of other considerations. It may not be easy but it will definitely be appreciated.

12. Be prepared to feel like you’re in the way: It’s common for Dads in delivery rooms to feel as though they’re the ‘third wheel’, that they’re in the way and of no use. Nothing could be further from the truth (unless you make a nuisance of yourself). You are witness to everything that is going on. You may choose to cut the umbilical cord, you may be called upon to make important decisions and you will, most importantly, meet your new baby at the end of the proceedings. You are every bit as important as your partner; just be prepared to take somewhat of a back seat.

13. Offer help: Whether or not it’s required, offer assistance where it appears to be needed. Your partner and the professionals on hand will gladly accept if they know you are willing and able.

14. Don’t panic: Try to remain calm and level-headed throughout the delivery. If you feel as though you are going to faint or lose your composure, remove yourself from the environment, and return when you feel better.

15. Be the messenger: Everyone – family and friends – will be anxious to hear news. If the delivery is taking longer than expected, it will be up to you to keep everyone informed so that they don’t worry.

16. Step in if necessary: If you feel that something is not going according to the way you and your partner had planned, say so. Your partner may be too exhausted to speak up and will be relying on you to be the spokesman for both of you. Similarly, if you are concerned about her safety or wellbeing, or that of the baby, you must raise your concerns immediately.

17. Cut the cord: What a beautiful moment it is to help deliver your new child. Cutting the umbilical cord is symbolic of your profound role as father and welcoming your baby into the world. If you don’t feel up to it, just say so and hold your partner’s hand instead. But if you do want to do it, mention it to the delivering doctor early in the piece and remind him once the baby is born.

18. Bath the baby: Fathers are taking on more involvement in their children’s deliveries these days. Some are even comfortable with bathing the new baby post-delivery and it can be a lovely experience for the mother to look on as she recovers from the birth. The nurse will help you every step of the way if you require it.

19. Tell your wife how proud of her you are: When the big moment has finally arrived, there can be almost a sensation of disappointment as the excitement dies down. The doctor goes off to attend to another patient, the baby has stopped crying and everyone appears busy with other tasks. Now’s the time to share a special moment with your partner. Tell her how amazed you were at what she managed to achieve and tell her how much you love her.

20. Share the good news: Offering cigars after the birth of a new baby is not done so much anymore, but everyone appreciates a phone call telling them the exciting news. If possible, pass the phone to your partner if she feels up to talking to friends and relatives.

After the baby is born

You’ve endured the pregnancy together, survived the delivery together and now you have a future to look forward to with your new baby. Here too, there are things you can do to be the best father you can be.

21. Share in the care: On nights when you have to work the next day, your sleep is important but when you have the next day off, it can be a huge relief to take over the night feeds or, if your partner is breastfeeding, keep her company during feeds.

22. Support her feeding choices: For some women, breastfeeding comes naturally; for others, it’s a struggle from the first attempt. Whatever your partner chooses to do with regard to feeding, support her choice and back her up in front of others.

23. Help around the house: If you haven’t been a housework helper in the past, now is the time to change that, even if it’s until your partner is feeling like her old self again. Doing the shopping, vacuuming the floor and preparing meals are huge contributions at this point in time.

24. Change diapers: Come on, it’s not that hard! Imagine if you were left to change every single diaper. Taking a break from it is a delight so if you can afford your partner that opportunity now and then, she’ll adore you.

25. Screen visitors: A new baby does not mean a free-for-all on visiting hours. Your partner needs rest and your baby needs to adjust to a routine. Discourage spontaneous drop-ins and late-stayers with as much respect and poise as possible. Let them know that they are more than welcome at a particular time and ‘for an hour or so’ until everyone’s settled.

26. Be the hero: Contrary to the popular image of besotted, doting mothers, new Moms are often tired, stressed and hard to please. This passes so do your best to bear with it and maintain your understanding nature. Defend her to others and be her hero as much as possible. This will ensure that life returns to normal peacefulness sooner rather than later.

27. Try to be home on time: Work is vital to keep the income flowing in, but right now, you also need to concentrate on that work/life balance. Make every effort to be home on time until a routine is established.

28. Get to know your beautiful child: You have a new son or daughter. The responsibility can seem overwhelming but don’t forget to enjoy him or her. Every day is a precious gift so spend time getting to know your little one. Play, talk, feed, watch … they change very quickly, don’t miss out.

29. Count your blessings: Look around you. You have a partner who has given you the gift of a son or daughter and you yourself have helped to create a brand new life. Whether you have the world at your feet or you are making do with second hand nursery furniture, be thankful for what you have and encourage your family to feel that way as well.

30. Be the Dad you want to be: Not every father is hands-on and not all new Dads go ga-ga over tiny babies. What matters is that you can be relied upon and that you love your family. Compromises can always be made on specific roles and tasks.

Enjoy your family and revel in how it makes you feel. One day you may want to create another little addition so pave the way now for a comfortable, secure relationship by being a great Dad today.

What are your thoughts and experiences about this article form either a male or female perspective?

Your Nose Always Knows: Nasal Stuffiness

2007-11-12T17:00:00.000-08:00

I got the information below from the What to Expect website. You can sign up and they will send you information about what is happening both to the mother and the little one. I find the information to be interesting.

"Popping out of your clothes yet? You're getting to the point (if you're not there already) where the bulge in your belly says "baby" and not "fat." If you haven't been able to feel the top of your uterus yet, try again this week. Feel for it about three inches below your belly button.

But your uterus is not the only thing that's starting to swell. The mucous membranes of your nose may also start to swell from all the pregnancy hormones circulating in your body, which are also increasing blood flow there. The result? Your nose probably already knows: congestion, and possibly even nosebleeds. Unfortunately, the stuffiness may only get worse as your pregnancy progresses, but your practitioner will probably not prescribe any medications or antihistamine nasal sprays to help clear things up (but do ask if he or she recommends something else instead). You can safely try saline sprays or nasal strips, especially if the congestion takes a turn for the truly uncomfortable. A humidifier in your room and a little petroleum jelly dabbed under your nose may also help overcome the dryness associated with any congestion."

How common are nosebleeds and congestion. I am just starting to notice that my wife is congested?

A Scare with a Happy Ending: Fetal Doppler

2007-11-09T19:10:00.001-08:00

Monday started out as one of those days that you hope you never have. We had a scheduled appointment with a specialist that we have been seeing after we lost our first pregnancy. The doctor went over all of our tests and things looked like they were going well. He then decided to use the fetal doppler to check for the baby's heart beat. He was unable to find one. I felt our hearts drop and began to think about what happened last time. Not again, I kept thinking. The doctor called the Ultrasound clinic and unable to get us in for an appointment until Wednesday. He indicated that it was still early and that he did not like to use the fetal doppler. The look on his face did not make me feel any better.

I know that waiting until Wednesday was not going to work, so we went down to the ultrasound clinic to see if we could get in any earlier. The lady at the desk said there may be a cancellation. She new what happened last time and told us that she would call us if something opened up, but could not promise anything. She did call a few hours latter and we did get in, I guess I can not complain about our health care system. I still can't believe that we got in. We went into the clinic scared and not sure what to expect. Well........ as they say a picture is worth a million words:

As you can see things worked out. The baby positioning caused us not to be able to hear the heartbeat when using the fetal doppler. We were able to hear the heartbeat during the ultrasound (music to our ears) but do to the positioning they could not determine if we are having a boy or a girl, only time will tell. Life could not be any better. What are your experiences with fetal dopplers?

The Future of Our Children

2007-11-05T22:29:00.000-08:00

I came across these two video while doing some work. It sure makes me think about the future world that our children will be living in. Changing jobs and global competition (the flattening of the world) is already taking place. How we raise and educate our children will be a lot different than we were accustomed too. Even this blog has amazed me because I am able to chat with people from all over the world. Talk about a great audience to get advice for a couple expecting for the first time. Or am I wrong? What are your thoughts?

Second Trimester

2007-11-04T15:09:00.000-08:00

Well we made it to our second trimester and things seem to be going well! I found the following information and picture from Parents.com. This week, our baby's sex organs will continue to grow more sophisticated. If we're having a girl, her ovaries are moving down into her pelvis. If it's a boy, his prostate forms this week. Our baby's thyroid, an important hormone-producing gland that regulates metabolism, starts working this week -- a crucial step for the rest of his development. Some other cool stuff to note: The roof of its tiny mouth is fully formed, and its constant sucking reflexes are helping to create full, cherubic cheeks. Right now, our baby is nearly 3 1/2 inches long and weighs about an ounce -- but in just two months' time, it will double in length and reach the impressive weight of one whole pound! This is truly amazing! What else can we expect in the second trimester?

Avoiding Constipation While You Are Pregnant

2007-11-03T09:20:00.000-07:00

I got my weekly email from Parenting Weekly. This week focused on constipation and pregnancy. Below you will find some of the tips that they offer.

Constipation is, unfortunately, a common problem for pregnant women. Here are some ways to avoid this painful and frustrating situation:

Drink more fluid than normal. Carry water bottles with you and try to consume at least 10 to 12 glasses of water every day.
Reduce or eliminate caffeine consumption. Caffeine acts as a diuretic and eliminates much of the water you need for smooth digestion.
Stay active by walking at least 20 minutes each day.
Gradually add fiber-rich foods, which act as a natural laxative, to your diet.

Do you have any other suggestions that may work?

The Cost of Having a New Baby

2007-10-31T21:32:00.000-07:00

I found a interesting calculator used to predict the cost of raising a baby in the first year. You can view this calculator by clicking on the following link:

Ringing Up Baby: First-Year Costs Calculator

When I went through I found that the first year cost will be around $8500. This includes one time purchase items at $2800 and an additional cost of $475 a month, not including any daycare (as my wife will be staying home for at least the first year). I like that you are able to select the items that you want and can change the cost of the item price (there is an average price listed for each item). If you do not like the calculatorthe shopping list is an excellent source of information. Any suggestions on how to cut corners? Is this list realistic?

Ultrasound Pictures

2007-10-28T19:06:00.000-07:00

Here are the pictures from our latest ultrasound. We were sure happy to get seven new photos. As of October 18 the ultrasound indicated that the baby is 12 weeks and 1 day old, with a length of 5.6 cm.

BubbleShare: Share photos - halloween photos

Acupuncture and Pregnancy

2007-10-24T16:46:00.000-07:00

Acupuncture and pregnancy. That is something that we have never even thought about. Have you heard anything about this? Below is a video that talks about the benefits of acupuncture during pregnancy.

Yoga and Pregnancy

2007-10-23T15:09:00.000-07:00

I am sure we have all heard about the importance about exercise and pregnancy. What have you heard about yoga and pregnancy? Below you will find a video that I found on YouTube about Yoga during the first Trimester. What do you think?

MEME Tag

2007-10-23T13:34:00.000-07:00

I got memed (Thank you 4 Time Father) at the time we lost our first pregnancy, May 26.

We are very excited to be expecting again. I can not believe that we are at week 13 already. I have not been posting because of the loss and decided to start posting after we passed the first trimester.

Well back to this meme thing. I had no idea what it meant at the time but here it is. What happens is that I got tagged from Thank you 4 Time Father. I need to then follow these Eight Rules:

Each player must post these rules to begin the meme.
Each player starts with eight random facts or habits about themselves.
People who get tagged must blog about their eight things and post these rules.
At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

We lost our first pregnancy at roughly 13 weeks. That is where we are at right now and everything is looking good so far.
I love watching football, especially the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Both me and my wife are teachers.
I was introduced to blogging last year and enjoy communicating with people about technology and the excitement about pregnancy.
In my spare time I love to travel and spending time with family/friends.
I consider myself to be a lifelong learner and am always searching for ways to expand my knowledge.
I enjoy coaching and officiating. I like to give back all of the support that I was given as a child.
In April we will be parents for the first time. It is a little scary but we are learning as much as we can. Feel free to leave any suggestions for us.

1 New Baby Blog
People I am tagging.

Beagles & Babies
Tortoise Tales
AskMeanMom
Blogtography
The Heidinger's
Mummy Yiau, Dillon
Pregnancy, Parenthood and Career
My Pregnancy

Taming Heartburn

2007-10-23T12:56:00.000-07:00

The information below is from Pregnancy Weekly. They send out information each week. On the topic what have you tried to avoid or cure heartburn? I guess that we are trying to be proactive before this happens. We do have some time before the third trimester.

Heartburn is a common complaint from pregnant women (especially during the third trimester) even those who have never experienced it before. Heartburn and indigestion are caused by your growing baby putting pressure on your intestines and stomach, causing the contents to be pushed back up into your esophagus. Here are some ways to quell the burn:

Eat small meals throughout the day instead of three larger meals

Eat slowly and chew well

Avoid lying down after eating

Wear loose clothing, especially around your waist, to reduce pressure on your stomach

Avoid spicy or fatty foods

Bake or broil your food instead of frying it

Avoid carbonated sodas and caffeinated beverages

If you do experience heartburn try the following natural remedies:

Eat yogurt or drink a glass of milk

Add a tablespoon of honey in a cup of warm milk

Week 13

2007-10-23T12:45:00.000-07:00

I got the information below from American Baby Magazine Online.

The post talks about what is happening at week 13. I can not believe that we are this far along. For those of you that have been through this what can we look forward to?

Despite its solid feel, bone is living tissue. As your baby's bones and muscles grow, ossification is taking place. Minerals are added and cartilage is replaced. You're probably feeling more grounded, and steady, too. If you're not feeling peachy yet, you will soon.

Your Baby

Vocal cords are forming in your child's larynx, but no sound comes out because your baby is surrounded by fluid and not air. The nervous system and muscles are practicing the coordination of certain movements, such as bending the wrist, grabbing, and making a fist. The digestive tract is testing its ability to contract and push food through.

Your Body

Your uterus is starting to fill your pelvis and expand up into your abdomen. You may get headaches, or feel faint or dizzy at times. There are increased vaginal secretions. Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid very hot baths, saunas and hot tub.

Your Self

You have to feel good to look good. To promote a sense of contentment and well-being, wear clothing that's stylish yet comfortable. Don't forget to accessorize.

Your Partner

Take your mate out on a date, or stay in for a cozy night at home. Flirt like mad, feed each other, and revel in all things quirky. Bust out your albums of baby pictures. Look at old school photos. Play a board game. Serve low-brow fare like chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese on your best china, or spell out each other's names with stick-on glow-in-the-dark stars. Don't forget dessert and candles or a romantic flick for when you turn out the lights.

News

2007-10-20T21:17:00.000-07:00

It has been such a long time since my last post. We have been holding on to some great news. We are expecting again! It has been over 12 weeks and we had an ultrasound this past week. We were able to even see the arms and feet moving. The heart beat is also amazing. I will be posting some pictures latter this week. We are back and sure excited, especially after our loss!

Powerful Pregnancy Report

2007-07-24T16:12:00.000-07:00

I came across the link below that answered some questions about getting pregnant. Try it our for yourself and let me know how it worked for you. Just click on the link or picture below.

Why you haven't been able to get pregnant, even after two years of trying.
How to increase your fertility, naturally.
What sorts of foods you should and shouldn't eat while trying to get pregnant.
What time of the menstrual cycle is the ideal time to try.
How long it will take for you to conceive.
Popular myths about infertility, exposed!
And much, much more.

Click Here!

Decisions

2007-07-24T14:02:00.000-07:00

When we first got pregnant we went to the doctor to make sure that everything was fine. He first got us to both do blood work. We did not hear anything back from the results of our blood work, so we assumed that everything was fine. Well, that was potentially a bad mistake. After we found out that our baby had no heart beat, after 13 weeks, we also found out that we had non-compatible blood types. We were told that this did not cause us to lose our baby but my wife was given WinRho right away as our blood types did not match. We did a lot of reading online and we were both scared that having two different blood types could have made her infertile. When we went back to the doctor he told us that everything is fine and that we should be able to get pregnant again. We are both hoping that his happens soon. Please make sure to share any stories similar to this with us.

Back Again

2007-07-04T15:15:00.000-07:00

It has been over a month since my last post. Losing our first baby to a miscarriage was a truly difficult experience. We are both still trying to get past this, realizing that we will never fully get over this loss. We have both been doing some reading and talking with others that have had a similar experience to us. It was quit shocking for me to find out how many couples go through a loss. If you are interested, please share your experiences. We are at the point where we would like to try again. We are staying positive, especially after reading, 'The Secret.' Please feel free to offer us any advice!

Bad News

2007-05-26T15:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a day that was very stressful I am relieved that the day is behind us. My wife had a miscarriage. I believe that this was in Gods hands and that there is a reason for these things to happen. Thank you for all of your support and comments along the way. I will be taking some time from posting for the time being. We both need some time to digest what has happened. We will take some time to heal but we are planning to try again.

Colds During Pregnancy

2007-05-20T09:17:00.001-07:00

My wife is around 13 weeks in her pregnancy and this last week she developed a cold. She thinks that it may be bronchitis. She can not seem to shake this bug. She has been coughing, exhausted and stuffed up. Is there anything that may help her get over this except rest and eating healthy? We have also heard that she is not able to use antibiotics. Is this true?

I did find the following nonmedical treatments (http://www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,5985,00.html):

Drink plenty of fluids, as this will help to thin secretions. Water, chicken soup, juices, and warm tea are good sources.
Use a humidifier. Place it close to your face when you sleep. During the day, you can make a tent out of a sheet draped over your head. Stay under the tent for 15 minutes, three or four times a day.
Rub a mentholated product (like Vicks Vaporub) on your chest according to package instructions.
For nasal stuffiness, use saline drops. You can buy these at drugstores or prepare a solution at home. Just dissolve 1/4 teaspoon salt in 8ounces of water. Place a few drops in each nostril, wait 5 to 10 minutes, and then gently blow your nose.
To make breathing easier, sleep in a recliner or prop up your head with lots of pillows so that you are in a semi-upright position.
Take a warm shower. This can help clear nasal stuffiness and mucus.
Get plenty of rest.

Digital Media

2007-05-19T15:39:00.000-07:00

It is amazing the videos that you can find on the Internet about pregnancy and childbirth. Below you will find a sample of the videos that I found on You Tube.

3D Medical Animation of Normal Vaginal Birth (Childbirth)

Has anyone every seen these two movies before? Below you will find the trailers to these movies. They look both educational and funny.

Fetal Development in Pregnancy Week 12

2007-05-17T20:34:00.000-07:00

I subscribed about two months ago to Baby Center. Each week I am emailed what should be taking place with our pregnancy. Below you will find a small expert from the email. You can read the rest of the Week 12 info here.

Your baby's hit the 2-inch mark (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce. Her face is beginning to look more human. Her eyes, which started out on the sides of her head, have moved closer together on her face, and her ears are near their final positions on the sides of her head. Your baby's intestines, which have grown so rapidly that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into her abdominal cavity about now. Her kidneys are secreting urine into her bladder. Her nerve cells have been multiplying rapidly, and synapses (neurological pathways in the brain) are forming. Your baby may have acquired more reflexes by now, including sucking, and she'll even squirm if you prod your abdomen, though you still won't be able to feel her movement for several weeks.

Cord Blood Saving

2007-05-15T19:37:00.000-07:00

What does everyone think about Cord Blood Banking? I was talking to a friend and they asked me what I thought about this. I went to the Cord Blood Society of Canada website and found the following information. Cord Blood is collected after a baby is safely delivered and it contains a rich source of stem cells. These cells can be used for life-saving and regenerative applications for stem cells and new applications for stems cells are being discovered everyday. What do you think ethically or as a parent/parent to be? Do any of you know, from first hand knowledge or from others who have done this? If so, how did it work?

Living close to Alberta I also found a link to the Alberta Cord Blood Bank. You can find a great deal of information here including a pamphlet with great information.

Help: What Can We Expect?

2007-05-15T17:23:00.000-07:00

I think the video below is a great in explaining the thoughts that we have about being parents for the first time. Any suggestions for us? Anything we should do before our life changes in less than 200 days?

Exhausted or Tired?

2007-05-14T20:14:00.000-07:00

ZZZZZZ! The two of us are both exhausted and tired, and I am not even the pregnant one. Any suggestions other than getting more sleep?

Happy Mother's Day

2007-05-13T08:13:00.000-07:00

According to Wikipedia the history of Mother's Day is the following:

People in different countries celebrate Mother's Day on different days of the year because the day has a number of different origins. One school of thought claims this day emerged from a custom of mother worship in ancient Greece. Mother worship — which kept a festival to Cybele, a great mother of gods and the wife of Cronus; was held around the Vernal Equinox around Asia Minor and eventually in Rome itself from the Ides of March (March 15 to March 18). The Romans also had another holiday, Matronalia, that was dedicated to Juno, though mothers were usually given gifts on this day.

In the United States, Mother's Day was copied from England by social activist Julia Ward Howe after the American Civil War. Howe wrote the Mother's Day Proclamation. In the UK, the day now simply celebrates motherhood and thanking mothers. According to the National Restaurant Association, Mother's Day is now the most popular day of the year to dine out at a restaurant in the United States.

Besides dining out what are the best gifts for Mother's Day?

Summer Holidays

2007-05-12T11:16:00.000-07:00

With the summer quickly approaching us we were thinking about what we would be doing this summer. Here are some tips that I found:

Here are seven tips to keep in mind if you’re planning on traveling when pregnant:

Travel in comfort, not in style. Yes, you used to be okay with wearing your three-inch heels even when you had to run for airplanes but that’s not the case while you’re pregnant. Being pregnant is often uncomfortable so you should do what you can to minimize discomfort. Wear comfortable clothing, in layers that can be added to and removed as your body temperature changes. Upgrade to the first class seats on flights.
Practice de-stressing techniques. Travel is stressful. Flights get delayed, busses break down and you often take wrong turns. Compound this with the emotions you’re already swinging through as a pregnant women and travel can be the thing that brings tears to your eyes. Practice meditation and relaxation techniques in advance of your trip to help you cope when things get rough on the road.
Know where the bathrooms are. You’re going to need to go to the bathroom more frequently when you’re pregnant (as you surely already know) so make sure you know where they’re at when you travel. Airports, train stations and rest areas should always be on your radar.
Play the pregnant card. Many independent women don’t like to be given special treatment just because they’re pregnant. Pish tosh. Pregnant women get to board planes early and get extra assistance with their luggage because it’s the safe and healthy way to travel. Don’t be so stubborn that you’ll deny yourself the help you need.
Don’t overdo it. Along those same lines, you have to remember that being pregnant takes a lot out of you. Yes, the conference runs all day and into the night or the relatives want to show you every tourist attraction in their town. Remember that it’s okay to say “no”, to rest in your room when you need to and to admit that the process of travel itself might take so much out of you that you can’t do as much as you’d like on your trip.
Know the rules. There’s a certain time period after which it is not advisable to fly while pregnant. There are immunizations required for certain countries which are not good for the health of the fetus inside you. Know the rules about your mode and destination of travel before you go. Then follow them!
Consult a physician. Most people don’t want to bug their doctor with a whole bunch of questions, but that’s what she’s there for. You are better off safe than sorry so whether you’re planning a weekend getaway by car or an overseas trip by plane, bring it up with your doctor and discuss all of the dangers and options before you travel.

Are there any vacations that you would recommend or avoid based on the fact that we are expecting towards the end of November? We have been discussing Victoria, Las Vegas or just spending time at the lake (as well as working on our basement).

Fetal Development in Pregnancy Week 11

2007-05-11T18:00:00.000-07:00

I subscribed about a month ago to Babby-Gaga to get a Pregnancy Ticker (see the top of my page). Each week I am emailed what should be taking place with our pregnancy. Below you will find a small expert from the email. You can read the rest of the Week 11 info here.

Maybe you’ve noticed… your child is a stupendous grower! They will be gaining a substantial amount of weight this week, and have already achieved fruit-size-status comparable to a plum. Your little scientist is already starting to explore their body, focusing most intently on touching their head, and especially their face and mouth. The mouth in particular will provide them with hours of entertainment. This happens not only because your baby is gaining coordination, and is therefore able to move a hand on command, but also because their palms have gained sensation and can actually “feel” what it touches.They're also developing their swallow reflex this week. And lastly, your baby's smelling and other olfactory senses begin developing this week, which when combined with the maturing taste buds, will provide your baby with their first experiences of taste and smell.

Worth Thinking About

2007-05-10T19:27:00.000-07:00

I got one of those chain emails today, the ones I normally get frustrated when receiving and delete with a click of the mouse. For some reason I decided to read it and it continued to put things into perspective for me. Earlier this week during our scare made me think about what I was doing in life. Things that seemed to be important did not seem so important. How many times in life are we told that it is the little things in life that mean so much. We need to settle down and enjoy every moment in life and not just look for the grass that is greener on the other side. I guess the list from the chain letter below was a reminder for me. I hope that this helps you out in your busy lives and puts things back into perspective. Any solutions for our busy lives?

Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play.
Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.
Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles.
Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck and I will buy you one if he comes by.
Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned.
Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to fix them.
Just for this afternoon, I will take us to McDonald's and buy us both a Happy Meal so you can have both toys.
Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you.
Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry.
Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch and count all the stars.
Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my favorite TV shows.
Just for this evening when I run my finger through your hair as you pray, I will simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever given.

And when I kiss you good night I will hold you a little tighter, a little longer. It is then, that I will thank God for you, and ask Him for nothing, except one more day.............

Nervous Moments: No Heartbeat at 10 Weeks

2007-05-07T19:02:00.000-07:00

We were both anxious to get back to our jobs after the weekend and the day started off with a beautiful morning, no wind and warm. My wife had a doctor appointment close to lunch to ensure that she could fly out east. Everything seemed to be going well until I got a call from my wife. She told me that the doctor was unable to hear the baby's heartbeat. My heart skipped a beat, I knew that I had to be able to support my wife, but I was in shock. I was sure that this news had to be negative, I thought the worst. We have had some concerns over the last two weeks as my wife had been spotting and very tired. The doctor set up an ultrasound two hours later. I started to panic...

I came home for lunch and thought I would be meeting my wife. She was not at home.. I was concerned and called her at work. She had been given more bad news but not related to the pregnancy. I went to the Internet and looked at how common it is for a doctor to not hear a heartbeat, especially after 10 weeks. For the most part what I found did not look good. A few articles indicated that the baby can shift in the uterus and a heartbeat may not be heard. When my wife finally arrived I showed her all of the good articles I found and excluded the negative ones. I thought I needed to stay positive for both of us, I am reading The Secret right now and it talks about how you have to stay positive and use the law of attraction. I started to think about the day we are blessed with a baby and holding it for the first time. I told my wife to do the same thing. This may sound corny but it did make us feel better.

The wait at the ultrasound clinic seemed to last forever. When we were taken into the room I felt tense and anxious. We did see the baby right away, then I saw it move. We then saw the heart beating on the screen. It felt like the weight had been lifted off my chest. I could see color going back into my wife's face. We then had to wait about five minutes before we were told it looked like everything was all right. Below you will see two pictures of the ultrasound. If you look close you can see arms and feet. What a relief.

After seeing our heart beat of our little gaffer, I knew that all of our other problems were really so trivial. The bad news she got earlier did not seem so bad. The gift of life far surpasses any hardships--which helps to put everything into perspective....I think our little guy/gal will be a great little hide and seeker!!

How common is it for a doctor to not be able to hear a heartbeat but an ultrasound picks it up?

Huggies Virtual Room Creator

2007-05-06T21:27:00.000-07:00

Huggies Virtual Room Creator is a web based program that allows you to decorate your baby's or toddler's room with the click of a mouse. I especially like the floor plan decorator as I was able to build a room with the actual dimensions of the room we will be using. At this site you can also do things like create a mosaic of you and your baby, create an online story book, look at products and view special offers. I know that I am beginning to sound like and advertiser but this site is a lot of fun.

Baby Furniture

2007-05-06T09:19:00.000-07:00

This week I will be focusing my posts on baby furniture. Yesterday we were at SEARS and started looking through the baby furniture and toys. It was sure a lot of fun and when I looked at the prices I realized that we need to be saving money in a hurry. The selection was abundant and we found many things that we liked. When is the best time to start making purchases? I talked to one couple that started buying things after 12 weeks. That does seem early but the research I have done tells me that after 12 weeks and hearing a heartbeat means the chances of a problem are less than 1%. Please give us some advice on when we should start purchasing items, how much it will cost, the best places to shop, must have items and anything else that may help us out.

Decorating the Baby Room

2007-05-05T21:52:00.000-07:00

We have been gone for the last couple of days but I am ready to start posting again. Today, we started talking about decorating a baby room. At first I thought we should not paint this room, as we just painted it roughly two years ago, but my wife really wants to change the colour.

She is thinking about a light green colour and I think that would be OK because the football team I love is green and white.

I decided to do some searching on the Internet to find out what others think about painting a baby room.

Painting Baby's Room - Creative Ideas for Painting a Baby Nursery by Rebecca Johnson

This article gives the following suggestions:

Stencil a board around the room
Decorate and put up a chair rail around the room
Paint vertical stripes around the room
Paint a mural on one of the walls

Ideas for Decorating Baby Rooms, General Baby Room Decor and Nursery Decoration

This article gives the following suggestions:

Coordinate nursery bedding and window coverings
Use a calm color scheme (ie. mint green, aqua)
see also Color Meaning, Color Psychology & Color Therapy

So when is it the right time to start to Decorate a Baby Room? Any suggestions when painting or decorating the room?

Pregnancy Stories

2007-05-01T22:03:00.000-07:00

I am looking for a good laugh. We all know that a good laugh is needed in our busy lives.

Here is a funny story I heard the other day.

Mr Jones rushed into the local emergency room shouting, "My wife's going to have her baby in the cab!" The ER physician grabbed his bag, rushed out to the cab, lifted the lady's dress, and began to take off her underwear. Suddenly he noticed that there were several cabs, and he'd gotten in the wrong one.

Do you have any other funny stories for me? Please leave me a post.

Gifts During Pregnancy

2007-04-30T22:15:00.000-07:00

I was thinking about how lucky I am to have such a great wife when I started to think about what sort of gift she would like while, she is expecting. I decided to decorate the house tonight as she went to sleep early and buy her a nice house coat that she can use to relax in the house. What other gifts do you think would be appreciated by a women to make their pregnancy more enjoyable?

Pregnancy and Flying

2007-04-29T20:46:00.000-07:00

In a couple of weeks my wife will be going on a trip and will be flying. We were visiting some family over the weekend and my wife started to talk about her upcoming trip. One person indicated that pregnant women should not be flying, neither one of us had heard of this before. This post will focus on information I can find on this topic.

Flying While Pregnant
Indicates that healthy pregnant women before the 36th week should be able to fly but should consult their doctor. It also points out that during the first trimester flying can make morning sickness worse.

Pregnancy and Flying
This is a set of questions and answers on fling and pregnancy.

BBC Parenting: Flying During Pregnancy
Information from Dr. Gill Jenkins about problems arising from flying during any stage of pregnancy.

What have you heard about flying and pregnancy?

Diet and Pregnancy

2007-04-27T19:55:00.000-07:00

I have read, in a number of places, how important it is to have a good diet during pregnancy. We have not visited a dietitian by I am interested in what a good diet would entail. I noticed that we have an eating plan on the fridge, but have not been following it at all. Below you will find two online sources of information on this topic and I then leave you with a question.

Pregnancy Diet and Nutrition by Gloria Tsang R.D.

BBC Parenting Diet and Health

What type of diet do you suggest?

Problems During Pregnancy

2007-04-25T21:28:00.000-07:00

So as I have said before we are both new to the realm of being expecting parents. We had a little bit of a scare yesterday but the doctor told her she would be fine (she sure felt better when she heard a heartbeat). We were told that my wife needs to get some rest. She needs this as she has been working really hard the last while. I told here that the rest is well worth the wait. What types of complications can there be during pregnancy and what signs should we be looking for?

Balance

2007-04-23T21:50:00.000-07:00

I was reflecting on my day today and started to think about balance. Both my wife and myself work long hours and have many commitments outside of work. We are extremely excited about starting a family but I am a little nervous about the pace of our current lives and know we will need to make changes.

I have noticed already that I need to do a lot more around the house, as my beautiful wife is tired when she gets home. For those of you that are parents now, how did you balance your life after being blessed with a baby?

Here are a few articles on this topic I found on the Internet.

40 Mom-Tested Tips for Balancing Work and Family

Juggling work and family: 7 coping strategies

Finding Balance: Parenting and Working: Geeky Mom Blog

Week 8

2007-04-22T12:22:00.000-07:00

I signed up to get emails about what is happening at each week of our pregnancy. The information comes from Pregnancy Baby-Gaga and it provides information for each week. We are currenlty at week 8. I am also placing a Pregnancy Ticker at the top of this blog so show everyone where we are at each day. What do you think of this?

Pregnancy Community Chat

2007-04-21T19:24:00.000-07:00

I am currently talking to a group of people online. I sure think it is a big support to talk to others about things we are going through. I have asked the people that I am talking to, to add a comment about the things they are going through (ie. tired, sore, hungry). I guess I will see how this works.

Ultrasound

2007-04-19T20:51:00.000-07:00

Today we had our first ultrasound. I was sure excited and scared at the same time. The best part for me was hearing the heartbeat. It is a sound that I will never forget. It really did not hit me that I was going to be a dad I until I drove away from the clinic. Below you will find two pictures. The dotted line in the second picture is our baby! The baby is only 1.64 cm and yet has a heartbeat, that is truly amazing.

Ultrasound

2007-04-17T21:50:00.000-07:00

We are going to having our first ultrasound on Thursday. I have heard of people going but am not sure what to expect. At Wikispaces it indicates that an ultrasound looks for the following:

Date the pregnancy.
Check the location of the placenta in relation to the cervix
Check for the number of fetuses.
Check for physical abnormalities.
Assess fetal growth.
Check the sex of the baby.
Check for fetal movement, breathing, and heartbeat.

We were talking last week with a relative that has a newborn about finding out early the sex of our baby. She told us that she did not want to know because it gave the birth day that much more excitement. At first I thought that I wanted to know but I think I want to wait as well. At this point we believe that this is what we will be doing.

Below you will find some information on ultrasounds:

Girl or Boy Quiz
Fetal ultrasound: What can it tell you?
A real 20-week ultrasound (Watch ultrasound videos)

What do you think about finding out through and ultrasound about the sex of a baby?

Pregnancy and Bathing

2007-04-15T11:33:00.000-07:00

We have been discussing whether it is OK for my wife to have a bath during pregnancy. We were not sure if it was OK and have heard that the temperature can cause problems. It is important to find out as my wife has been extremely cold, especially at night. So today I decided to turn to looking to see if this was a health concern or not. This is what I found out.

About

This articles states that baths are very good for pregnant women but the temperature can cause problems. The temperature of the bath should not be more that 100 degrees F (roughly 38 degrees C).

Aetna InteliHealth
An article at this link 'Twelve Myths About Pregnancy' by Robert H. Shmerling (MD) agrees with the information about watching the temperature of a bath. He also gives advice about:

Controlling and Predicting Gender
Morning Sickness and Gender
Umbilical-Cord Problems
Heartburn and Hair
Sleeping Position
Sex and Exercise
Cats
X-Rays, Microwaves and Computers
Bathing
Weather and Labor
Spicy Foods and Labor
Bumps

FitPregnancy
An article at this link 'Bathing Bliss' by Marla Neuman agrees with the last two sites. She states that bathing is safe as long as the temperature is equal to your body temperature and that you limit the soaks to ten minutes. It also gives suggestions to when bathing that include setting the mood, drawing the bath, bubble bath, massages and body lotion.

Do you have any other suggestions or information on the subject of bathing and pregnancy?

Baby Names

2007-04-14T17:47:00.000-07:00

I know that it is early to start thinking about names but I thought it would be fun to start. I have heard of some ways to think of a name. They including naming after significant people in society, after family members, combining the parents names and a host of other ideas. Well here are two sites that tell you the background of individual names.

Baby Names
This site has it all. It includes information about the meaning, history, names starting or ending with a certain letter, nationalities or even the top names from various years.

Think Baby Names
This site is similar to the last. You can search by the name and their meanings, by alphabetical order or by popularity.

Do you have some good ideas for us for either a boy or a girl?

Fetus Development

2007-04-13T22:39:00.000-07:00

It has been about eight weeks, be belief since my wife has become pregnant. We have an ultrasound this coming week. We have both been reading information about the changes the fetus is going through. I sure do not like the word fetus, I prefer baby better. I thought it would be a good idea to do some research on a couple of websites to see exactly what was going on. Below you will find some websites that I discovered that may help you out as well.

Baby Center
This link takes you to information called Fetal Development: How your baby grows. You can actually select the month you are at and read about the changes. Also, it shows a picture of exactly what is going on. The information tells me that our baby is the size of a kidney bean and is constantly moving. That sure is small.

Paternity Angel
This site has some very descriptive photos. Things sure change fast. I especially liked the information for men section.

Pregnancy
This link is really amazing. It takes your through each week and breaks them down into the Trimesters. The pictures that are found under each week are in colour and sure make me excited about what is happening. Wow we are 1/5 of the way done and cartilage and bones have begun to form, not to mention the little one is roughly 0.61 inches (1.6 cm) in length and weight in at 0.04 ounces (1 gram).

Have you found any other great sites?

Holiday Expectations

2007-04-12T09:58:00.000-07:00

The holidays can be a great time to get together with family and friends but it can also be a very stressful time, especially for the expecting mother. What others forget is that pregnancy affects women in different ways. Family members must remember that they need to be supportive and do what they can do to reduce the stress in the expecting mothers life.

Barbara P. Homeier, MD has an article that can be found online at Kids Health. It is entitled 10 Things that Might Surprise You About Being Pregnant. These ten things include the following (make sure to check out the article for more information):

Altered States

The Nesting Instinct (organize, clean, decorate)
Inability to Concentrate
Mood Swings

Unexpected Effects of Pregnancy

Bra Size (Breast Fairy)
Skin
Hair and Nails (Grow Faster)
Shoe Size
Joint Mobility
Varicose Veins, Hemorrhoids, and Constipation

Birth Day Surprises

Things That Will Come Out of Your Body

With all of these changes it is important for family, friends and especially the husband to be supportive.

Shirley Temple Anyone?

2007-04-11T09:56:00.000-07:00

Hello there, I am the mother of 1new baby. I have a funny to tell about my husband who has been so gracious and eager to help me out. We were out with friends during a mini getaway. While everyone was ordering a beverage, I asked for a Shirley Temple. My husband kind of gave a funny look, and then flagged our waitress down. He looked slightly distressed and asked her for a non alcoholic version of the Shirley Temple. We, the table, had a good little chuckle as we then realized that my husband did not know that Shirley Temple's have been famous for their lack of alcohol, and their"virgin" appeal. We had a good laugh, and it remains as one of our lessons to laugh and live over.

Looking for some great non alcoholic drinks, check out this link. Do you have any other great drinks that an expecting mother may enjoy? Make sure to leave us a comment with your suggestions.

Maternity Clothes

2007-04-06T21:12:00.000-07:00

Today I learned a lesson about maternity clothes with a stop at Thyme Maternity. My wife was having problems finding clothing in her closet that fit right. We have still not let everyone know our good news so she wanted some clothing that conceals and looks good. We found a line of clothing that is called Now & After. This line is supposed to work early in pregnancy and after the baby is born. It is a little expensive but my wife sure looks good in the clothing.

Well time for a story. We went into the store and I looked around for a while. I am not the most patient shopper I was told so after about five minutes I decided (asked permission) to go over to London Drugs. I spent about ten minutes in the store looking at new TVs and thought I better get back to see how my wife was doing. I went back into the store and sat down to read a magazine that was in the store. Another fifteen minutes passed so I walked to the change room and called her name. No one answered. I then asked a salesperson to see if she was changing. I thought she might have been having a touch of selective hearing. The salesperson said that she was not in the change room. Well I was a little frustrated that she was not there and thought I would check a few more of the stores in the mini mall. I did not find her anywhere so I went back to the vehicle. She came outside from the store and was wondering where I was. She needed my opinion on the clothes. In the exchange in the vehicle I found out that I had been sitting in the wrong store! We sure had a good laugh. Do you have any shopping stories for me? If so make sure to leave me a comment.

Travel and Pregnancy

2007-04-04T23:51:00.000-07:00

Travel during pregnancy is something that needs to be planned for and not taken for granted. This past weekend we went on a trip. It was a lot of fun but it is important to make sure there is plenty of food available. I sure have learned this in a hurry. As for the trip itself, it is important to make sure that you communicate the expectations for the trip with everyone involved. The expecting mother to be will more than likely be very tired. This needs to be taken into consideration. I sure know that I learned a lot this past weekend. Make sure to comment on any good travel stories during pregnancy that you have had.

Here are some other tips Internet sites or articles on this topic:

Suite 101: Travel During Pregnancy by Kelby Carr

Safety Tips
Making Travel Comfortable During Pregnancy

About: Pregnancy & Childbirth: Tips for Travel During Pregnancy by Robin Elise Weiss

Five Tips to Remember

Nutrition and Pregnancy Week by Week

2007-03-29T22:23:00.000-07:00

I got the feedback below about a similar situation that I talked about yesterday.

"Be cautious when dealing with food and pregnancy. The best advice is to assume nothing and nod agreeably to your lovely spouse. Remember sudden movement can be perceived as insincerity. I remember buying my pregnant wife food...thinking I was sensitive to her needs. It turned out by the 9th month of pregnancy in reality she did not appreciate the food I was buying. Let's just say I had a lot of making up...sucking up to do."

Sincerely,
I feel your struggle

I think that I know where this is coming from, even though the post was anonymous. We need to go out for those Thai Fresh Rolls.

I found a great website today that shows what is happening each month of pregnancy developed by WebMed. The area of the website is Pregnancy Week by Week. This is sure interesting for a rookie like me.

Whats for Supper?

2007-03-28T21:31:00.000-07:00

Well today my wife was not sure what she wanted for supper. She told me she had no idea what she wanted and whatever I suggested she did not want (Canada Food Guide). This got here a little frustrated. We finally decided to make grilled cheese sandwiches but I needed to stop at the store and buy margarine. I then asked her what else I should pick up (cheese slices, fruit, tooth paste and margarine). I went to the store and knew I was missing something. It was the margarine. This was what I had been looking for in the first place. How silly was I and my wife was very hungry and had to leave. She decided that cream of wheat would be what I should make for her but I only had 15 minutes. All was going well until I added the pinch of salt. Oops.... I added well over a teaspoon as I poured it out of the box. No problem I thought I will pretend that it tasted fine, well this did not work as planned as my wife, with here increased sense of taste (and smell, that is another story), did not buy into my story. She told me it tasted salty and I told her to add lots of brown sugar, as it would then taste better. All in all she did not get a chance to eat. She had to run out of the house for an appointment but when she came back I made her some cheese toast. Funny how things turn out. Mental note to self to keep a list, as I was told that I could not be forgetful during this time unless I was pregnant. She sure had a laugh when I confessed about the salt.

Exercise and Pregnancy

2007-03-27T20:17:00.000-07:00

I have heard how important exercise during pregnancy is and am currently doing some research on this. I found some great information about this at Childbirth.org. They give the following guidelines (I hope this information is handy).

As, for myself, I have found that I am doing a lot more house work. My wife is extremely tired leaving me with added responsibilities around the house. Between staying caught up at work, a class I am taking and housework there does not seem to be enough time in the day. I need to make sure to take time to exercise. Any suggestions for finding this balance?

Parenting Websites

2007-03-26T23:15:00.000-07:00

I was searching the web to find great parenting sites. I found an excellent source called More4kids. This is a family resource devoted to parenting and education. You name a topic on parenting and useful information can be found. It would also be a great site for comparing information found at other sites. You can never be to sure what you are reading so by comparing information found on this site and talking to health professionals you can make informed decisions. Another great site is Parenting. Are you aware of any other websites that are crucial to rookie parents to be like us?

Stress and Pregnancy

2007-03-26T21:15:00.000-07:00

Today my wife had a busy day at work. I have heard that stress is not good for a pregnant women but was not sure how this may cause problems. I decided to do a search and found a great article Stress, Mood and Other Factors May Affect Mom’s Diet During Pregnancy.

The article talks about how stress, mood and other psychological factors play a role in the eating habits of pregnant women. What do you think about this? Do you have any suggestions on how to support my wife during this stressful time?

New Baby

2007-03-25T22:02:00.000-07:00

Wow! I can not believe that we are going to have a baby. It sure has been hard not to tell people. We did the whole A + W routine with my parents. We also got my wife's dad out of the coffee shop by calling here mom. She was panicked and thought something was wrong. We sure got a good laugh. We think it has been about five weeks in. It was sure great to get the test back from the doctor, it sure beats the three tests we did at home.

We sure seemed to argue the first week after finding out but this weekend has been great. I can not believe that I am going to be a dad. I thought this blog would be a great way to share our journey through parenthood and allow me to share my feelings. I talked to my wife about this and she seemed interested so I hope that she will start posting as well. Tomorrow will start a new week, so I should be getting some sleep. I have a lot of work to do and I sure put things off this weekend. I think my theme for posts this week will focus on what I should be doing for my wife, especially since she has not been feeling well.

Feel free to send me a post. Give me some advise or share with me what you know.