15 Tips for Raising an Only Child

for Become a Nanny  http://www.becomeananny.com/blog/15-tips-for-raising-an-only-child/

Once upon a time, big families were the norm. These days, however, more parents are choosing to raise only children instead of having a large brood. Along with that decision comes the concern about what it means to raise an only child. Many parents have apprehension over the thought of their child becoming spoiled or being lonely. Just as with multiple siblings, you can raise a well-adjusted, responsible, socially engaged child by following a few rather common sense pointers.

1. Relax – Babies and younger children easily pick up on a parent’s anxiety. Learn to relax and enjoy the wonders of childhood with your little one. It won’t last long, so you don’t want to fill the time you have with your baby with unnecessary angst about things that will most likely never happen anyway. You’re going to make some mistakes, but all parents do. Go easy on yourself and take delight in your child.
2. Find Other Single-Child Families – You don’t need to join an only child club, but befriending other families like your own will provide socialization for the children and give you some support as you connect with other parents who may share the same or similar concerns you have about raising an only child.
3. Set Clear Boundaries for Your Child – All children need boundaries. Children who have no siblings are no exception. Even though it may be easier to give in to your child’s various requests all the time, don’t do it. Every child will test the boundaries; some will do so constantly, testing your patience in the process. Be firm in your resolve to hold to the established rules. Some parents lean toward leniency because there are no siblings to pander to, but that sends out the wrong message to kids. Your resolve shows that you can be trusted to stand by your word.
4. Play With Your Child – Some valuable life lessons that kids would normally learn at the hands of their siblings can be taught through you engaging with your child during playtime. You can teach your child to share as you both decide what you’re going to play. Let her know that she won’t always get to dictate what you play; you get to have a say in what games are played too.
5. Teach Responsibility – One child is a lot easier to clean up after than two or more children. However, you also need to teach your child how to be part of a greater whole. Let him help clear the table after meals. Give him a list of chores that are age appropriate, and be clear about the consequences of not following through. Show appreciation when he completes his tasks.
6. Find “The Other Mother” or the “Second Dad” – This person does not usurp your role, but rather acts as a secondary adult confidant and cheerleader for your child. According to Jennifer Powell-Lunder, child psychologist, parents of only children need to be on guard so they don’t become enmeshed with their child. Engaging in relationships with other trusted adults, such as aunts, uncles or close friends for support will help prevent your child from totally taking cues from you.
7. Let Go of the Lonely-Kid Guilt – It’s okay for your child to have some alone time. You don’t need to fill up every spare moment with activities and play dates to make sure she is socialized properly. Everyone needs time to themselves, and you will find that kids who have time to themselves quickly learn how to fill it creatively with a little guidance from you. This quiet time can teach your child how to be productive and content.
8. Let Him Be Himself – Some parents begin to live vicariously through their child. This is not healthy. Encourage your child to be the person he was meant to be. Take pride in his accomplishments, but let them be his own and not yours.
9. Keep it Real – According to Dr. Kevin Leman, author of The Birth Order Book: Why You Are the Way You Are, only children are prone to perfectionism. Let your child know that it’s all right to not be perfect in every little thing. Indeed, it is impossible to get everything perfectly right all the time.
10. Monitor Self-Talk – You may need to interrupt negative self-talk from time to time. Only children can set impossibly high standards for themselves, and they need some encouragement to see that failure does not mean the end of the world.
11. Teach Him to Set His Own Goals – Only children who are prone to perfectionism are also hungry for success in many cases. They strive to be the best at everything, and they can be quite ambitious. Sometimes this can be taken to extremes, so it’s wise to step in and teach your child how to create and manage realistic goals.
12. Stay Involved – There are so many activities available to kids these days. You can enroll your child in sports, dance, acting, gymnastics, music and just about anything else you can think of. Choose a group activity so your child will have an opportunity to make new friends, but don’t overload her schedule. Involvement in a team will teach valuable lessons about working together and compromise.
13. Let Her Off the Hook – It’s natural for children to seek their parent’s approval. For only children, this can become an obsession. Especially as she gets older, it’s important for you to let your child know that she doesn’t need to do everything to please you. Autonomy has a place in her life as well.
14. Live, Laugh, Love – Only children have a tendency to be quite serious and very grown up in their approach to life. You can help your child lighten up and see the humor around him by being a good role model in this department. You need to have discipline, but you also need to see the humor in life.
15. Volunteer – Teach your child to help others by doing volunteer work. There are many opportunities for families to do service together. There are also other things you can do, like taking your child shopping for Toys for Tots or gathering up things and clothes you aren’t using anymore and taking them to Goodwill and explaining to your child what that organization does.

How to Choose a Godparent That Isn’t a Family Member

While the tradition of choosing godparents for a new baby is typically affiliated with the Roman Catholic faith, there are some parents who are of different religions or no religion at all that are eager to confer the honor upon someone close to them. Choosing godparents for your child can be a difficult task, especially if you are worried about offending members of your family by passing them over. There are a few ways that you can manage the situation with as much grace as possible, however, hopefully staving off any hurt feelings or family feuds. Click here to read entire article

Why breastfeeding is important | womenshealth.gov

Why breastfeeding is important womenshealth.gov

Breastfeeding benefits society
The nation benefits overall when mothers breastfeed. Recent research shows that if 90 percent of families breastfed exclusively for 6 months, nearly 1,000 deaths among infants could be prevented. The United States would also save $13 billion per year — medical care costs are lower for fully breastfed infants than never-breastfed infants. Breastfed infants typically need fewer sick care visits, prescriptions, and hospitalizations.
Breastfeeding also contributes to a more productive workforce since mothers miss less work to care for sick infants. Employer medical costs are also lower.
Breastfeeding is also better for the environment. There is less trash and plastic waste compared to that produced by formula cans and bottle supplies.

In the Beginning…There Was Menarche

By Michelle Schnaars


6 January 2012

Menarche is the first menstrual period a girl or young woman gets. The average global age for menarche is anywhere from 10 to 13 years of age.

The beginning of a period can mean different things to different girls. It can be an exciting time in your life, filled with anticipation, expectation, and sometimes fear of the unknown. Some girls think about it a lot, while others don’t think about it at all. Some think there’s something physically wrong with them the first time they get it. With this article, I aim to show that ‘normal’ encompasses a wide range of feelings, experiences, and options. So, whether you slide in to this new chapter in your life easily, or go kicking and screaming, at least you’ll know that this is indeed a healthy time in your life, and that your body is doing what it’s supposed to do.

You might want to know what you can expect from your first period. It might surprise you to know that it might not occur every month, or that you’ll feel sick, and the color of the blood might not be bright red. In her article, I Got My Period and Thought I was Dying, Jessica Gottlieb shares a great point. Gottlieb says, “I went to the restroom and as I took down my pants I saw brown on my underwear.” It’s possible that you too might experience this brown discharge instead of bright red blood.

Maybe you’ve wondered if there’s a way to know you’re period is impending. Well, there sort of is a way to know that it’s about to make it’s appearance. Aside from sore and growing breasts and mood swings, you might also notice a whitish or clear discharge coming from your vagina. This can start about 6 months or so before getting your first period. This discharge is common, there’s no need to worry about it unless it has a strong odor or causes itching. If this happens have your mom take you to see your family doctor, or a gynecologist. Sometimes girls get minor infections, and it doesn’t mean you’ve done something wrong. You just might need some help getting over it.

This white discharge will usually appear in the middle of your cycle each month. And, some girls will have this each month before their period starts. You might notice this discharge a few days each month before your period starts. This can be an indication that you’re ovulating. (More about this later).

Now, using a common questions format, I’ll break this down into small pieces. Here’s the lowdown on what to expect from your menstrual period:

When will my period start? As I mentioned earlier, the global range is 10 to 13 years old. But, it can start as early as 8 or as late as 15 years of age. Just because your mom, sister, aunt, or friend got their period at age 11 it doesn't mean you will too. And, just because your friends are getting theirs, doesn't mean you'll get your's anytime soon. Be patient and enjoy this time in your life.

Will I get cramps? Some girls notice cramping in their abdomen or lower back, you might even cramp in your vagina. You’ve probably heard of PMS, premenstrual syndrome, the symptoms include irritability, fatigue, food cravings, nausea, headache, bloating (water retention in your breasts and abdomen), and breast tenderness. Not every one experiences PMS, and not everyone experiences all of these symptoms.

Will it come every month? Your period may be irregular for the first year, and will become regular over time. You might bleed for the first time, and then wait months before it returns. Use a personal calendar to mark when your period comes. You can do this by placing a check mark in the upper right-hand corner, and then mark each day you have your period with this check mark. Over time this record will help you to see when you’re most likely to get it each month, and you can have pads on hand.

How much will I bleed? You will pass about 3 tablespoons of blood during your period, with an average of 6 to 9 tablespoons. It’s important that you know the blood flows out of your uterus and through your vagina.

What will the blood be like? The color of the blood can be bright red, brown, or rusty red. All of these colors are normal. Periods are also described in terms like flow and spotting. This means the amount of blood you pass during your period. Most girls start out with a light flow. And, spotting literally means spotting. It’s when a small amount, like a spot, of blood comes out.

When should I wear a pad? You already know to wear one when you’re bleeding. But, you’ll also wear one when you have the white discharge. Wear one to bed too, because even though you’ve gone to sleep, you won’t stop bleeding. You can also wear one as back-up for a tampon or cup, and on light days when you’re spotting.

Can I get pregnant now? Conception (conceiving a baby) happens when a woman and a man have sex. A woman can become pregnant once she starts ovulating, if you have your period, than you’re ovulating too. Check marking your personal calendar, as we discussed above, will help you to determine your cycle. A cycle is how many days from one period to the next. A cycle can be 28, 30, or even 40 days. To determine your cycle, start counting the days from the start of one period to the start of the next period. If you count 28 days from the first day, to the next day, then you have a 28 day cycle, if 30 days then you have a 30 day cycle, etc. To determine when you’re ovulating cut the number in half. Example, cut 28 in half and you have 14, this means you’re ovulating about 14 days after you’ve started bleeding.

Your period is a time of practice for your body for the time when someday you’ll get pregnant. Every month when you have your period, your uterus is making a place for the baby. Blood and other fluid builds up on the walls of your uterus, since there’s no baby, you shed this lining and have a period.

You’ll also notice other changes taking place, these include:

• Breast tenderness and growth.

• Hair growth under your arms, on your legs, and on your pubic area (the space between your legs).

• Breakouts, also known as pimples or zits.

• Oily hair

• And, you may have noticed that you sweat more or even an odor after a long day or exercising.

Taking care of yourself: If you notice body odor or oily hair take a shower every day or every other day. And, you can use the same soap you shower with to wash your face in between showers to help reduce the chances of breakouts occurring, and to help heal existing ones.

Period care: There are many options for period care available to you. These include disposable pads and tampons, and cloth pads, and menstrual cups.

Cups, tampons, and pads come in different sizes to fit different body sizes, and the flow of your period. When starting your period you most likely will use a smaller size cup or tampon, a good pad size for beginning or for lighter days is 6 or 8 inches. This size is also good for young girls and teens.

Period kits are excellent things to have on-hand before your period starts, that will go a long way in helping to feel, as well as to be, prepared for when your period starts. You will find links to websites that tell you about menstrual care products and options right here, feminine hygiene care and information.

A Teen Kit usually includes:

3 pads, to wear during the day and at night.

3 underwear liners, for lighter days or spotting, or as a back-up for tampons or cups.

A carrying bag for when you’re out of the house (to take to school, etc.), and for storing in between use. You can also look into wet/dry bags, and laundry bags.

And, a booklet of information about menarche and periods.

The thing to remember is that this is your own experience. It’s all about you and the wonderful changes that are taking place; although, it might not always feel wonderful. At least now you know what to expect and what options are available to you.

If you still have questions, talk with your mom, sister, or a trusted woman in your life. You’re also welcome to email me at MensesToday@comcast.net.

Mother of the Medicine Wheel

Molly Remer shared the following poem written by Sharon Blessum via her Talk Birth website, and I found it timely for the season and wanted to share it with you all.

Mother of the Medicine Wheel
By Sharon Blessum




In the womb of the East Lodge

She gives birth in the morning.


She mothers us with smiles and songs.


In the strong sun of the South

She offers food from Her garden,


Enchantment for the mid-day of life.


In the benediction of the West


She colors evening with sunset


Wraps us in reflections of day.


In the old age of the North Lodge,


She will hold us in sweetness


Cross with us into the Land of the Ancestors.

Ages and Stages: Speech Development in Infants and Toddlers

Children acquire language gradually through interaction with people and their environment. During the first year, babies start to develop skills they will use for the rest of their lives. The following developmental time-line was shared with Childbirth and… by Sonali Shivlani, CLE, CCCE (see her byline below)

Speech Development in Infants and Toddlers:

• 0-2 months listens to voices and can produce vowel sounds.

• 3-4months coos and gurgles and can also produce some other consonant type sounds like ba da ga, etc.

• 5-6 months can recognize names and familiar sounds. Starts smacking lips and also will talk to self in mirror.

• 7-9 months tries to imitate more sounds. Can recognize the meaning of ‘no’. Will start enjoying listening to simple reading from story books. Recognizes own name.

• 10-12 months says mama and dada, and other simple words like ‘bye-bye’ or ‘hi’. Can follow one step instructions like ‘give’ or ‘go to mama’, etc.

• If your child has not met these milestones then it makes sense to visit a specialist.

About Sonali Shivlani

Sonali Shivlani, CLE, CCCE, is an Internationally Certified Child Birth and Lactation Educator. She completed her certification from CAPPA – U.S.A. in April 2004. Training covered all birth related aspects beginning with Diet and Nutrition during Pregnancy, to the Common Concerns to Ante-Natal Exercise. Various methods of child birth such as Vaginal, Assisted Births and C Sections were also covered. Comfort and Pain relief measures both pharmacological and non – pharmacological were encompassed. Post Partum issues such as Child Care, Breast Feeding and Recovery of Mom were a part and parcel of the training program.

For Sonali's full bio: http://www.cappaindia.com/sonali_shivlani_profile.html

Do you Breastfeed!

By Michelle Schnaars

Breastfeeding is important because it protects the baby, benefits mothers and society, and lowers healthcare costs. Children receive the most complete and optimal mix of nutrients & antibodies when breastfed. Breastfeeding plays an important role in the emotional development of babies, and babies enjoy a special warm bonding and relationship with their mothers.


Often we hear "breast is best". But, how is it best? What sets breastfeeding apart from formula feeding?

The following are just a fraction of the many wonderful benefits of breastfeeding:

• The varying composition of breastmilk keeps pace with the infant's individual growth and changing nutritional needs

• Have fewer incidences of vomiting and diarrhea in the US (20-35 million episodes of diarrhea occur in children under the age of 5, resulting in over 200,000 hospitalizations and 400-500 deaths in the U.S.)

• Protection against gastroenteritis, necrotizing entercolitis

• Reduced risk of chronic constipation, colic, and other stomach upsets

• Reduced risk of childhood diabetes

• Increased bone density

• Average cost of formula to feed a baby in the first year $1, 733.75.

Do you breastfeed? And if so, do you feel you have support from your family or peers? And, what are your thoughts on extended breastfeeding?

References:

http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/03/04/how-much-money-does-breastfeeding-really-save/

http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/?page=227

http://www.motheringfromtheheart.com/Benefits.htm

http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/digestive/nec.html

APPPAH Hosting an International Congress Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology

APPPAH (Association for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health) will be hosting an international congress November 17-20, 2011 in beautiful San Francisco at the Kabuki Hotel in Japan Town.

Be inspired by individuals who are making a difference in the field of prenatal and perinatal psychology. We will have new and exciting speakers including:

Bruce Lipton, internationally acclaimed author and speaker who connects the biology and the psychology of the brain, the cells and the psychology of human development. Bruce will also offer a one-day pre-congress workshop on Thursday, the 17th of November.


Annie Murphy Paul, author of the popular book on fetal life ORIGINS: How The Nine Months Before Birth Shape The Rest of Your Life


Jeanne Ohm, founder and executive editor of Pathways to Family Wellness

Gabor Mate, author of In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts other books

Michael Trout, founding president of the International Association for Infant Mental Health.


Raylene Phillips, attending neonatologist at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital in Loma Linda, CA


Marcy Axness, author of the forthcoming book, Parenting for Peace

In addition to these keynote speakers, we will have 20 breakout sessions with additional experts in the field of prenatal and perinatal psychology and medicine, focus groups, a book store, and many opportunities for networking.

Visit http://birthpsychology.com/content/2011-congress to register for this important event.

Are You A Flower Power Mom?

If you're having a baby after 40 then yes you are! You might want to tap into the leading online support community at A Child After 40, and connect with other over-40 women on the same journey.

FlowerPowerMom.com is the source of a growing “movement” to empower the rising number of women having children after 40. It launched as a blog in 2009, featuring commentary, real mom stories and expert advice on the hardcore realities of midlife motherhood.

In May, 2011, FlowerPowerMom.com launched A CHILD AFTER 40 (ACA40)—the first free, private online community to empower all women on the journey of motherhood after 40—from fertility, pregnancy and birth or adoption, to parenting, menopause and ageing.

The A Child After 40 community now has a dedicated Weekly News Brief and is currently featuring a 2011 Summer Series of free online “Ask Our Experts & Authors” Forums. Experts range from the fields of reproductive endocrinology, clinical child psychology and Traditional Chinese Medicine, while Authors include journalists from some of the top newspapers in the USA and the BBC in Britain.

FlowerPowerMom.com has been widely featured in the media on key issues related to midlife motherhood, including several live broadcasts on CNN and a broad range of radio programs and newspapers across the country since 2009. FlowerPowerMom.com is the leading resource for the fastest growing population of moms in the USA—midlife moms!

Join Our "A Child After 40" Community

A Child After 40 is a free and private online community -the first initiative to empower women on the journey of motherhood after 40, from fertility, birth or adoption to a midlife renaissance of parenting and self discovery. (Launched 8th May, 2011)

If you became a mother after 40, or are preparing to become one, you’re welcome to join our support community. We’re here to offer mutual support on all stages of the journey and discover of our true potential as midlife women and mothers.

Share experiences, compare notes, or just remember the good old days. It’s a place to relax and enjoy the company of women and moms from your generation. United we are strong!

Don’t forget to visit our blog at Flower Power Mom.

A Child After 40 Launches Expert Forum

 NEWS RELEASE                                                                                             Wednesday June 15, 2011

A CHILD AFTER 40 -- the new online community from Flower Power Mom -- The Truth About Motherhood After 40 (www.flowerpowermom.com) -- is now launching the first forum dedicated to experts and authors on midlife motherhood.

From 14th June 2011, A Child After 40 (ACA40) will feature regular guest experts and authors on subjects from midlife fertility, pregnancy, birth, and adoption, to parenting, menopause and aging to appear in an online Guest Experts and Authors Forum.

Members of the free, private community for the empowerment of women on the journey of motherhood after 40 will be able to regularly participate in an online "post-in" to ask questions and receive expert feedback from a broad and varied range of guests.


According to Angel La Liberte, Founder, the Forum aims to provide a unique opportunity for members to benefit from a live "Q & A" session, much like a university lecture hall or guest speaker format.

"We're pioneering the first online forum to offer an education and entertainment resource to the fast-growing demographic of women having children over 40," she says.

La Liberte adds that, while the forum is not intended for medical diagnosis or any other form of healthcare or business consultancy, its purpose is to broaden the horizons of the membership of over-40 women and mothers, and enhance a sense of community.

The Guest Expert and Author Forum will be supported by a regular news digest from ACA40, which will be distributed to members, media and professional organizations.

This new initiative comes only weeks after the official launch of the ACA40 online community by www.flowerpowermom.com on May 8th, 2011, which was featured live on CNN, on radio and widely in newspapers, including the Washington Times and San Jose Mercury News.

-ends-

For further information, please contact:

Angel La Liberte, Founder

Website: http://www.flowerpowermom.com/

Email: angel@flowerpowermom.com  

Telephone: 831-246-3879

All in a Days Work

By Michelle Schnaars


In April I launched a new blog –http://www.mensestoday.blogspot.com/ with the purpose of encouraging open communication between girls, young women, and their parents concerning menarche, menstruation, and feminine hygiene products, and to help girls and young women form healthy thinking and choices for their care. Six weeks after its inception, Menses Today has faithful visitors from around the world, United States, India, Canada, Australia, Sweden, Ghana, Germany, Pakistan, and Russia to name a few. Thanks to all our visitors we appreciate you and wouldn’t thrive without you!

Why is Menses Today important to so many people from such diverse countries? Because we all have young women in our lives who are either about to enter puberty or have started. As a mother of three young girls, an aunt, and a friend of other mothers, I know we all have the same questions and concerns for our daughters. We want to help them while they mature. To provide helpful answers to their questions and direct them to healthy products that will also be comfortable for them. We want to provide a safe place for them to come to us and know that their feelings and needs are respected.

Menses Today is a place for young girls and the woman in their lives to come and learn about all things menarche, menstruation, and feminine hygiene –no and’s or if’s just the period! There are links to informative articles and books, a directory of definitions of related words, and links to feminine hygiene care products, and more. You’ll learn things that you might not have known before, and you’ll gain a community of support for you and your daughter as you both enter this new and exciting journey.

Michelle

Menstrual Monday

By Michelle Schnaars for Menses Today.blogspot.com


Don’t get red in the face, celebrate your day with style. Menstrual Monday was founded by a lady named Geneva. Who is this mysterious woman? Well, no one really knows, or at least no one has come forward and said who she is. But it is attributed to her, and so we give her credit. Menstrual Monday is celebrated the Monday before Mother’s Day because, “Menstruation comes before motherhood… and usually long after it, too.”

What’s the purpose of Menstrual Monday? DeAnna L’am writes the reasons to celebrate are to create “a sense of fun around menstruation.” “to encourage women to take charge of their menstrual and reproductive health.” and “to enhance honesty in our relationships.”

But it is something that can actually be celebrated anytime and any place, and with anyone we choose like the special women in your life: your mom, sister, aunt, grand mom, and friends. You can also celebrate by wearing the color red, taking a leisurely walk, telling the story of your first period, and by eating red foods like strawberries, strawberry or raspberry cheesecake, spaghetti, and pink lemonade.

This celebration is one way you can take care of yourself at this time. Make sure you have a good multivitamin, and or calcium with magnesium, as these will help encourage overall good health including healthy bones, less or no cramps, and less or no headaches and nausea. Other things that help ease this time are regular and appropriate exercise, and a balanced diet (meaning a balance of healthy foods).

You can also use this as an opportunity to make the switch from disposable to reusable hygiene products:

Some reasons women use cloth pads, sponges, or cups:

• Cost effective. They last longer, therefore reduce your monthly expenses
• Less waste in landfills that take years to degrade
• They are healthier. They reduce the amount of harmful chemicals you are exposed to

I switched to cloth menstrual pads eleven years ago, and have never looked back. Back in 1985, shortly after starting my period at age 13 I found disposable pads uncomfortable, and I usually ended up with skin irritation from them too. However, I didn't learn about reusable products until some time in 2000 after a friend told me about them. She was using them and told me about the comfort, ease-ability (is that a word ;-/), and how much money she saved using them. But it wasn't until after my first period after my daughter’s birth that year that I had the chance to use them. Although I was too nervous to try them with postpartum bleeding, I did try them soon after, and found them to be completely wonderful. They were soft, easy to wash and store, and reduced the discomfort that I was experiencing each month. It was a good decision for me to switch. Remember, this is your time and your body. Figure out what works best for you.

Menstruation is a part of your life, or will become a part soon. It isn’t something to fear or an embarrassment. Not that you have to announce it on the mountain tops, but you don’t have to hide in your room either, though you might feel like doing that the first time. Understanding what’s happening and being prepared can help you to feel better about your period. And, celebrating it will help you to have an easier time each month, because you can’t run from it.

If you need resources or more information please visit the pages linked at the top right-hand corner. There you will find links to hygiene products, information about menarche (which is the first period a girl gets), menses (your period), and articles and books about this time. And, make sure you have your teen kit on hand before you start menarche. This kit should include:

• 3 day pads, which when starting out can also be used during the night without the threat of leakage.
• 1-3 panty liners.
• A carrying bag for going out (to school, etc.), which will fit one or a couple clean pads, and has a separate side for soiled pads.
• A storage bag for clean and or soiled pads, which will hang in your room or bathroom, if you have the latter option.

Talking with a trusted woman in your life will also help you to feel better, so go find mom, your sister, grand mom, aunt, even some dad’s are able to help. Whoever that person is, it’s never too soon to start talking about your period.

Labor Doula Workshop Training

Thinking about a new career?

Do you enjoy working with mothers & babies?

This is a great opportunity to become a CAPPA Certified Labor Doula.

This workshop will give you all the skills needed to get started right away in your new career. Helping pregnant mothers is very rewarding. Find out more about becoming a Labor Doula at http://www.aspecialtouchatbirth.com/ or through CAPPA (Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association).
CAPPA APPROVED LABOR DOULA TRAINING

Instructor: Angie Whatley, RN, CCCE, CLD – 21 years experience in Women’s Health
Location: West Memphis, Arkansas, US
Dates: May 13, 14 & 15, 2011
Days: Friday & Saturday – 8:30a – 5:00p, Sunday 8:30a – 1:00p
Cost: $350.00 USD


*Provides 18 CEU's through CAPPA

Seats Limited Register now!!!

Visit http://www.aspecialtouchatbirth.com/

Why Hire an Overnight Doula?

Who hires an overnight doula? Diane, a grandmother concerned for her daughter who can’t seem to stop crying since the baby came home. Kate, eight months pregnant, who is just planning ahead because she is concerned that she and her husband may need help after the baby arrives. Chuck and Kris who have a three day old baby who wakes every hour (they are exhausted). Mary who has a two week old and wants help learning how to support her baby developing healthy sleep habits. Cheri whose husband travels often and just wants to make sure that she has help on the nights he is gone. (All names have been changed for privacy.)


An overnight Doula supports the developing family. She helps ensure that the parents get plenty of rest; this is often a key factor in avoiding postpartum depression. She helps the family learn nighttime parenting techniques, such as how to support their baby in learning self soothing, and setting up a healthy sleep environment. She supports the baby in learning to resettle himself. She is knowledgeable about breastfeeding. She supports mom in learning how to feed her baby during the night with minimal sleep interruption for both of them. Most overnight Doulas keep the same schedule as the baby, sleeping when baby sleeps and caring for baby when he is awake.

Nighttime parenting takes a different skill set than parenting during the day. Our society does not always provide parents with accurate information on what are “normal" expectations for newborn behaviors. An overnight Doula (or specialist) is knowledgeable in infant sleep patterns as well as the things that can interfere with a good night of sleep for baby (and the whole family!). The overnight Doula can help you to work with your baby's temperament while encouraging a healthy sleep pattern.

About the author:

Allison Coleman, CD(CBI) is a mother of four children, who have been her strongest supporters, and greatest strength. She began working as a labor doula more than twelve years ago. She received postpartum doula training through MaternityWise, and breastfeeding educator training from the Texas Department of Health. Allison is a midwife’s assistant, and a student working towards nursing. She has been providing postpartum doula services for six years now, and realized she has a talent for night-time doula work, and loves to help new moms learn how to night-time parent their newborn baby. More information about Allison’s services can be found at http://www.supportingmom.com/ and http://www.austinbabyguru.com/.

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Websites:www.AustinBabyGuru.com, and http://www.supportingmom.com/
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Night-Time Parenting and the Newborn Baby

Recently I had the pleasure of being introduced to Allison Coleman of Austin Baby Guru. Allison is a phenominal labor and postpartum doula who helps new parents learn how to night-time parent their newborn. She blogs about babies and sleep, among other important newborn topics on her blog BabyFace.

Allison Coleman is a labor doula, postpartum doula, breastfeeding educator, and midwife's assistant. She writes about birth and postpartum issues that are important to new parents. This past week Allison shared facts about newborn sleep habits, and finding them beneficial for new parents I wanted to share them with Childbirth and... readers. The following is a bit of what she has posted to her blog, you can read the full article by clicking here: BabyFace.

Baby Sleep
By Allison Coleman

• A full night’s sleep for a newborn is a six hour stretch.
• Night waking might be one way of baby’s protecting itself from an immature respiratory system.
• A newborn will pace its breathing to an adult in the same room. Having your baby sleep within 5 feet of an adult for the first few months may lower its risk of SIDS.
• Babies are safest sleeping on their backs.
• Swaddling a baby shuts off the Moro reflex, this often helps a baby to sleep longer stretches. If you are co-sleeping, do not sleep with a baby swaddled, baby needs his/her arms free.

This is an exceptional and extensive list so make sure you follow the links!

Michelle

Book Review of Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth

Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth, by The Boston Women’s Health Book Collective, 2008 (ISBN: 978-0743274869. Touchstone, $15, 370 pages, soft cover).


Reviewed by Molly Remer, MSW, ICCE http://talkbirth.wordpress.com/

Many women view the book Our Bodies, Ourselves as an essential women’s health resource and also as a radically transformative influence in their lives. The Boston Women’s Health Book Collective is a confident volume specifically about pregnancy and birth. I hope Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth will become to pregnant women what the original book has been to women’s health and empowerment.

The book is divided into five major sections: The Journey to Parenthood; Your Pregnancy; Giving Birth; Becoming a Mother; and Knowledge is Power. Subsections include an extensive chapter on prenatal testing and other important areas such as childbearing loss, coping with pain, and breastfeeding. A chapter titled “Relationships, Sex, and Emotional Support” was a particularly good one. The book has numerous contributing authors from a variety of backgrounds and organizations. Sprinkled throughout the book are italicized snippets of anonymous birth stories, often paired statements—i.e. an “I loved being pregnant!” segment and an “I hated being pregnant” segment. Then, inset into each chapter in box format, there are more complete stories or profiles that include women’s names and photos. Overall, the book has very few pictures and only one series of photos of a woman actually giving birth (and she is in the semi-sitting position).

Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth is one of the only basic pregnancy books I’ve ever read that acknowledges the reality of violence against women during pregnancy and offers resources for seeking help if you are living with a violent mate. This book is also willing to address some unpopular or largely ignored subjects such as depression during pregnancy, HIV, STDS, and sexual abuse.

In the opening section of Chapter One the authors describe the “Climate of Confidence, Climate of Doubt” which becomes a thread running throughout the rest of the book. “The media’s preference for portraying emergency situations, and doctors saving babies, sends a message that birth is fraught with danger. Other factors, including the way doctors are trained, financial incentives in the health care system, and a rushed, risk-averse society, also contribute to the popular perception that childbirth is an unbearably painful, risky process to be ‘managed’ in a hospital with the use of many tests, drugs, and procedures. In such an environment, the high-tech medical care that is essential for a small proportion of mothers and babies has become the norm for almost everyone…[a] ‘climate of doubt’ that increases women’s anxiety and fear. In contrast, a climate of confidence reinforces women’s strengths and abilities and minimizes fear. Some of the factors that nourish a climate of confidence include high-quality prenatal care; healthy food and time to rest and exercise; a safe work and home environment; childbearing leave; clear, accurate information about pregnancy and birth; encouragement, love and support from those close to you; and skilled and compassionate health care providers.” I love this way of articulating the messages swirling around pregnant women in our society.

Because this book looks at birth within our current sociocultural context—which is enmeshed in a dominant medical model and climate of doubt—and because the book is designed to be a basic introduction to pregnancy book, I do feel like it sometimes veers into “climate of doubt” territory itself with all the risks, complications, prenatal testing, and so forth that it covers. However, the overriding attitude felt through this book is one that is the hallmark of Our Bodies, Ourselves in general--that ultimately, situations involving women’s bodies are about each woman and what she wants and needs. The support offered is for her regardless of the popularity of her choices with either the medical model or with childbirth activists—the woman wins out over anyone else’s agenda. This is a truly woman-centered approach.

Early on, the book also explores and explains the two models of maternity care in the chapter titled “Choosing Your Health Care Provider and Birth Setting.” The book primarily seems aligned with the midwives model of care while still containing a huge amount of information regarding the dominant, medical model.

I had a minor critique of the persistent use of the term “breast-feeding” with a hyphen, which is not correct. In addition, the book’s suggestions regarding overall newborn care routines in hospitals were surprisingly conventional and conservative.

Many of the most popular pregnancy books are rooted in medical model, conventional wisdom, and a climate of fear and doubt. This book is rooted in an empowerment oriented, woman centered midwifery model in a climate of confidence and competence. This book is a basic introduction to pregnancy and birth and is primarily directed towards the newly pregnant first time mother. I hope it finds a comfortable home on bookstore shelves next to (or in place of!) books about “what to expect” during pregnancy.

Postpartum Doula Training

Register online at www.hiptoheart.com/trainings.

APPPAH (Association for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health) will be hosting an international congress November 17-20, 201l in beautiful San Francisco at the Kabuki Hotel in Japan Town.


Be inspired by individuals who are making a difference in the field of prenatal and perinatal psychology. We will have new and exciting speakers including:

Bruce Lipton, internationally acclaimed author and speaker who connects the biology and the psychology of the brain, the cells and the psychology of human development. Bruce will also offer a one-day pre-congress workshop on Thursday, the 17th of November.

Annie Murphy Paul, author of the popular book on fetal life ORIGINS: How The Nine Months Before Birth Shape The Rest of Your Life

Jeanne Ohm, founder and executive editor of Pathways to Family Wellness

Gabor Mate, author of In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts other books

Michael Trout, founding president of the International Association for Infant Mental Health.

Raylene Phillips, attending neonatologist at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital in Loma Linda, CA

Marcy Axness, author of the forthcoming book, Parenting for Peace

In addition to these keynote speakers, we will have 20 breakout sessions with additional experts in the field of prenatal and perinatal psychology and medicine, focus groups, a book store, and many opportunities for networking.

Visit APPPAH to register for this important event.

Avoiding Dangerous Foods in Pregnancy

By Natalie Torres

For the CAPPA Quarterly
Volume 12, issue 4
Autumn 2010

A mom wants only the very best for her baby, so during pregnancy eating nutritious foods is especially important. Equally critical, though, is understanding which foods she should avoid. While pregnant women are especially susceptible to the hazards in our food supply, the threat is even greater to the fetus. Among these risks are:

*Listeria (Listeria monocytogenes)- bacteria that can cause from mild to quite severe flu-like symptoms in the pregnant woman. The fetus, though, is in the most danger. It can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature labor, blood poisoning, birth defects.

-Listeria is most commonly found in

-cold deli meats (deli ham, turkey, etc., hot dogs…),

-soft cheeses ( such as Brie, Camembert, Feta, Mexican-style cheeses like queso blanco, and blue-veined cheeses like gorgonzola and roquefort,

-unpasteurized milk and dairy products, and unpasteurized juices,

-any undercooked meat

*Toxoplasmosis (Toxplasma gondii)- a parasite that may cause no symptoms to mild flu-like symptoms in mom, but can be devastating to the unborn baby. This parasite crosses the placenta; this can result in miscarriage, or a number of physical conditions and disabilities. Mental retardation, seizures, blindness, deafness, and cerebral palsy can be long lasting effects of fetal exposure.

-The most common food sources of Toxoplasmosis are

-undercooked meat and poultry

-unwashed fruits and vegetables

-raw eggs

-unpasteurized milk

*Mercury (methylmercury)- a natural element, bur also released into our air via industrial pollution. It falls from the air and accumulates in the water system (streams, lakes, oceans, etc.) where it turns to methylmercury, affecting freshwater fish and seafood. The fetus is especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of mercury. It can damage the baby’s developing nervous system, resulting in lower IQ, delayed mental development, and other neurotoxic effects.

-Fish/ seafood to eliminate

-king mackerel, shark, swordfish, tilefish, marlin

-especially avoid raw oysters and clams

-Fish/seafood to restrict (or eliminate)

-ahi and bigeye tuna, orange roughy, walleye, largemouth bass, and northern pike

-In general, fish-eating fish and older fish have higher levels of methylmercury than smaller and/or herbivorous fish (like herring and tilapia).

Another food category you may want to be careful of is soy products. Soybeans contain isoflavones and phytoestrogens, which affect multiple hormonal actions in the body. So an excess of soy may have a negative effect on the development of certain body systems. It can impact the way the baby’s reproductive organs and cells grow, the way the immune system develops, and even influences the organization of the brain. It also increases the risk of future problems such as behavioral issues, learning disabilities, and increased risk of developing severe allergies.

Research continues in all these areas, it is important that childbirth professionals remain current concerning foods expectant women need to avoid.  While keeping in mind the above precautions, expectant women can also protect themselves with these further hints for food safety…

1. Wash your hands well, scrubbing with hot, soapy water before eating, before preparing food, after handling raw meat, and after using the restroom.

2. Thoroughly wash all fruits and vegetables, preferably using a fruit and vegetable wash when possible (homemade or store bought).

3. Avoid cross-contamination by separating raw meats from all other foods, double- wrapping stored meat so that the juices do not get on other foods. Any dish, utensil, etc., that touches raw meat should immediately be washed in hot soapy water.

4. Cook raw meat and poultry until well done. Cook hamburger and pork until the internal temperature is 160 F. (71.1 C.) Chicken should reach at least 180 F. (82.2C.), and steak 170 F. (76.7C.) Most fish should be cooked to about 145 F. (63 C)

5. Heat ready-to-eat foods (like deli meat and hot dogs) and leftovers until steaming hot, approximately 165 F. (73.9C.), or avoid them completely.

6. Don’t buy raw meat that’s been pre-stuffed. (i.e. stuffed chicken breast)

7. Do not eat dishes containing raw or partially cooked eggs (i.e. homemade ice cream, raw cookie dough, eggnog, and hollandaise sauce)

8. Cook eggs until the yolks and whites are firm.

While most of these things should always be done, it becomes even more important during pregnancy, because expectant women and their babies are more vulnerable to the dangers hiding in our food supply. Expectant women can safeguard themselves by eating a variety of healthy, nutritious foods at the same time as avoiding dangerous foods in pregnancy.

(These are general guidelines only and should not take the place of your own personal care provider.)

About the author:
Natalie Torres, CLD, CAD, CPD, is the former Assistant Director of CAPPA Publications. She provides antepartum doula, labor doula, and postpartum doula services to families within Bozeman, Montana. Natalie is also a volunteer labor doula for Operation Special Delivery, and a birth photographer.