Lifestyle Archives - BabyQ

Dec 16
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Crying Baby

Can I Spoil My Baby By Picking Her Up Every Time She Cries?

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[Featured Image Credit:  Nutdanai Apikhomboonwaroot / FreeDigitalPhotos.net] Will picking up baby every time he/she cries result in behavioral issues? There is a lot of controversy surrounding this issue because many parents think that  picking up a child too much will spoil them and make them feel that they are in control. Picking up baby when he/she cries doesn’t lead to behavioral issues if you understand when you should pick the child up and when it’s alright to let him/her cry a little longer. Should I always pick up my newborn when s/he cries? The answer to that question is “yes.” Your newborn has just entered a new world that can be both exciting and frightening. During those beginning months of life, it is important for you to respond to your baby’s cries so that he/she will know that they aren’t alone and that they are surrounded by loving people who will care for…

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Dec 14
4

Can a Baby Be Bipolar?

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The classic signs of a bipolar disorder are extreme ups and downs.  If we think about infancy, all young babies are by definition bipolar.  They can go from crying one minute to smiling and laughing the next.  If we saw that type of behavior in an adult we would suspect they were bipolar.  In a young baby, these bipolar symptoms are normal.  That is why pediatric bipolar disorder is rarely diagnosed under the age of nine; but occasional reports indicate in it can present as young as six. Pediatric bipolar disorder is often diagnosed on the basis of behavior because a child may not always be able to express himself appropriately in words. They may lose weight secondary to a poor appetite, no longer enjoy their usual activities, and have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.  These are the usual characteristics of depression.  When children are in the manic phase…

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Dec 13
0

Cord Blood Banking

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When I was pregnant I heard a lot about cord blood banking and received many pamphlets from different companies offering cord blood banking services.  I didn’t know much about the process or the reasons to bank my baby’s cord blood, so I decided it was worth some research.   Cord blood is the blood that remains in your baby’s umbilical cord after delivery.   The blood is a source of stem cells that can be used in different medical treatments.  Cord blood and stem cells have been used to treat different ailments, including cancers, blood disorders, and immune diseases.  If needed in your child’s lifetime, he or she will always be a perfect match to the cord blood collected at delivery.  Cord blood banks cryogenically freeze the blood and hold on to it for you if ever needed.  When discussing the topic with other pregnant moms, someone told me that they weren’t…

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Dec 12
0

My neighbors must think I’m crazy

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Growing up with very curly hair, I learned at a young age how to prevent frizz with chemicals products.  I’ve since come to cherish the extra volume that comes with textured hair and use almost no product – except for the occasional spritz of hairspray on humid days.  Hairspray contains many different chemicals and it is not safe to inhale constantly.  My solution? I wear a mask, only use non-aerosol products, and I do not use it in my house.  Yes, I stand in my front yard with a dentist-like mask on and spray my hair.  I firmly believe that there has to be balance between doing everything said to be “right/healthy/perfect” and doing what makes you feel good and look good.  Other ways to cut down on chemicals in your beauty routine: Try using grape seed oil instead of lotion to prevent stretch marks. It’s all- natural, inexpensive, odorless,…

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Dec 11
0

Why am I being screened for gestational diabetes?

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Pregnancy can take its toll on your body, and your health care provider may offer you many tests and screenings during the three trimesters of pregnancy. One of the most commonly used tests is the screening for gestational diabetes, which measures how your cells are using sugar supplies. Gestational diabetes that is left undiagnosed or untreated can be medically devastating on both you and your baby. Even if you have no prior history of diabetes, or even any signs or symptoms, your body might be reacting differently because of all of the changes and demands that pregnancy puts on it. A healthy pregnancy relies on the placenta to supply increased levels of certain hormones to help you and your developing baby. However, these hormones don’t always allow your body’s natural insulin levels to work, blocking them from doing their job (regulating your blood sugar). When the blood sugar levels are…

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Dec 10
0

What Are Symptoms I Might Be Pregnant?

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Even though on the outside it might seem like there are no signs or symptoms of pregnancy, on the inside your body is going through tremendous and significant changes. Many of these changes will trigger symptoms even in just those first few weeks that when all put together point to the same answer – you are pregnant. Early Signs of Pregnancy One of the very first signs of pregnancy a woman might notice is very light bleeding, which can happen 10-12 days after conception. This is known as implantation bleeding from the fertilized egg implanting in the uterine wall. For women who do have implantation bleeding, many think that it is just an early, light or slightly unusual menstruation period. Don’t assume you’re not pregnant if you don’t have this symptom – many women become pregnant and never experience noticeable implantation bleeding. There are many other signs and symptoms of…

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Dec 10
0

It Takes a Village

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It’s funny to see how peoples’ roles change when kids come into the picture.  While my husband’s worries and priorities changed, his day-to-day life didn’t change that much.  He still worked the same hours, everyday.  He’s an amazing husband and father.  He changes diapers, he does nighttime bottles, and when my kids were newborns, he fed the first bottle in the morning before he went to work…which was heaven.  The difference of getting up at 5am and 7am is literally night and day.  Anyways, it’s been a blessing living in the same town as both my parents and my husband’s family. I always tell my mom how grateful I am for her company and help.  She remembers how exhausting this phase of life is and wished her mom didn’t live across the country when she had four kids in four years, and a husband who didn’t do any of the…

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Dec 09
18

Should I Be Worried That I Was Diagnosed with Subchorionic Hemorrhage?

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What is Subchorionic Hemorrhage? This condition is also referred to as subchorionic hematoma. There is excessive bleeding and a collection of blood or hematoma that forms between the chorionic membrane surrounding the embryo, and the wall of the uterus. Subchorionic hemorrhage is caused because the membrane surrounding the embryo separates from the inner lining of the uterus. It is the most common cause of bleeding in the first trimester. How Does a Subchorionic Hemorrhage Affect My Baby? There are a number of factors that determine how this condition affects the baby including how large the hematoma is, the mother’s age and how far along the fetus is in its development. Older pregnant women with large amounts of bleeding have higher rates for miscarriage. Women who experience subchorionic hemorrhage in late first trimester or in second trimester also have an increased chance for miscarriage. Subchorionic hemorrhage also increase the risk for…

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Dec 09
2

What If I’m Measuring Small for My Dates?

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Measuring Development During Pregnancy Your outward sign of pregnancy is your growing abdomen, and everyone seems to have their own opinions about whether or not you’re measuring too large or too small. Perfect strangers might offer you opinions on how you are “showing” and what that means for you and your baby. However, the opinion and measurements that matter most will come from your doctor. Typically during the 16th to 20th weeks of gestation your healthcare provider will begin to measure what is called the fundal height. Your fundal height is obtained when your doctor measures the distance from your pubic bone up and over to the top of your uterus (also known as the fundas) when you are lying down on your back. The size of this measurement in centimeters is roughly equal to the number of weeks along you are in your pregnancy. For example, if your fundal…

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