Parenting Children

They say, you are what you eat and that may just be true. What a woman eats before pregnancy may play a role in whether the baby is a boy or a girl, according to surprising new research. Women who have a good appetite, eat a lot of potassium-rich foods like bananas, and don’t skip breakfast appear more likely to have a boy. Among women with the highest calorie intake before pregnancy, 56 percent had boys. Women who had boys also ate an additional 300 mg of potassium daily on average, and about 400 calories more daily, compared to women who had girl babies.

Previous studies have also shown that male embryos do best with longer exposure to nutrient-rich lab cultures. The research involved first-time pregnant women. The study involved 740 newly pregnant British women who had not given birth before and who did not know the sex of their babies. All the women were white, non-obese, and had no medical problems. It seems to be the first study ever to show a link between a woman’s diet and the gender of her children.

Breakfast has always been billed as the most important meal of the day and that may be true if you would like a son. Although I don’t think most cereals are a good enough breakfast for anyone, since they are usually filled with preservatives and sugar. Eating regular, frequent meals, including plenty of fruits and vegetables and foods rich in folic acid is the best way to bring any child into this world.

nutrition while pregnant, eating for two, pregnancy, baby’s gender, diet influencing gender

When it came to getting maternity or nursing bras, I was clueless. When do I buy them, when I am pregnant or after my milk comes in? What size do I get? As my belly expanded, I decided I needed to find some new bras stat, plus I wanted some nursing bras ready for when I gave birth. Today I am going to help you out with all of your pregnancy/post partum bra needs!

Most women will need 3-4 nursing bras. Many woman have increased breast size during pregnancy so you will need bras in a larger size then you normally wear. I have three nursing bras and two sports/tank nursing bras that I wear at night. You should buy them when you no longer fit into your regular bras, which for most women is during the last trimester.
Remember that underwire may interfere with your milk ducts so it is best not to wear an underwire nursing bra at least for the first few days after your milk comes in.

Most women will experience increased breast size during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The size change will vary from woman to woman, but generally it will increase at least one bra and one cup size. If you would like to measure yourself at home before going shopping, measure around the chest, just under the arms, above the bust. This measurement is your bra band size. Then measure snugly around the fullest point of the bust, then below the breasts, the difference between the two equals your cup size. If the difference is 1″ then your cup size is A, 2″ is B, 3″ is C and so on.

maternity, maternity bras, nursing bras, breastfeeding, nursing tips, how to buy a nursing bra, pregnancy

Did you know that regular generic prenatal vitamin you took when you were pregnant is now no longer the “in” vitamin. There is a new pre-natal on the block and it is not one, but two vitamins, one regular one and a oily type capsule that is filled with DHA (an omega-3 acid).
They vitamins I take are Vitafol and the only bad thing about them is the terrible packaging!

The current recommendations suggest that pregnant women get an average of 300 milligrams of DHA daily. These findings suggest that omega-3 consumption might be particularly important in the third trimester, when brain development is rapid. You can get DHA in food sources like fish, but large fisn and pregnant women do not go together because of the high levels of mercury in them.
What’s the harm in giving your baby a leg up in the brain development, ask your OB for these DHA prenatals.

prenatal vitamins, pregnancy, DHA, prenatal, infants, brain development, parenting

My mother delivered me by C-section because I was breech. I had a c-section with my twins because baby A, my son, was breech also. Now a new study, published in the March 28 edition of the British Medical Journal says that If one or both parents were born bottom first or feet first their children are twice as likely to be born the same way.

Most babies are born head first, but about one in 20 is born bottom first. The gene is as strong through the father as the mother. Finding out if the parents were born or presented in a breech presentation is important because a considerable number of breech presentations are not detected before labor. Breech delivery is dangerous because the largest parts of the baby, the head and shoulders should pass first so the rest of the baby can be born. If the head or shoulders cannot fit through the birth canal there is a high rate of mortality.

breech, breech deliveries, pregnancy, c-sections, giving birth

Finally our baby is here! Through all of my trying to have a VBAC, nothing worked so we went in for a repeat c-section on March 18th, one day before my 40th week. I thought I would share my baby’s birth story here with all of you.

I woke up that morning not nervous at all, although I did not sleep much that night. I left the twins with my mother in law and went to the hospital with E and my mom. We checked in and I gowned up ready for my surgery. I still was not nervous at all. Things moved very quickly from there, I answered questions, got my IV, had a quick sonogram to see where my placenta was located and E got gowned up as well. Then we were off to the operating room.
This is when the panic set in.

E wasn’t allowed in the room until we were ready for the surgery, so I was getting my epidural alone. I was scared, since I had never had an epidural before and once I started to feel the pins and needles in my legs I freaked out. I actually started uncontrollably laughing because it freaked me out so much to have people moving my legs, whcih I could feel but have no control over my legs. The doctors were finally ready to operate and then E came in. I started to cry as soon as I saw him from excitement and fear. E calmed me down and helped me to really not have a panic attack which was right around the corner.

The operation was faster then I expected, and 10 minutes later our son was born, breaking the record of the first 8 c-section that morning all of which produced girls. He is my largest baby weighing in at 9lbs 2 oz and 20 and 1/4 inches. He is named after my father and my husband and is an amazing baby. He only cries to eat, which is often but for short amounts of time. He is very cute and his older brother and sister love him.

Breastfeeding has been …..interesting. I hate that I question everything, is he getting enough, when will he want to eat next, is he still hungry etc. Questions that I didn’t have when I bottle fed my twins. It is demanding and tiring but I think we are doing OK since he gained 5 oz in 3 days. Let’s hope he keeps up on this trend.
So far so good with our new addition, we couldn’t love him more and he really completes our family.

birth story, pregnancy, repeat c-section, parenting, breastfeeding, infants

There are so many types of different home pregnancy test brands to choose from. If you question the positive result from your first test, test again before calling your doctor. These days you can get a pregnancy test in a grocery store, drug store, even the dollar store! The price ranges for a home pregnancy test about $7.00 to $20, depending on the brand and how many tests are included in the kit.

Some tests you will have you pee on a stick, others will ask you to pee in a cup (especially cheaper ones like from the dollar store), and digital. They all test for the same thing, a hormone in your urine called hCG, which is produced by the placenta and therefore indicates a pregnancy.
Doe sit matter if it is a generic test or a name brand? I don’t think so, I have used all types of tests and none of them have ever been wrong.

What you will do: The most common test you pee on a stick. They are easy to do but follow the directions closely. You will pee on the stick, place it on a flat surface and wait for a specific time before the results are valid.
The result will either be a simple, a color change or a “pregnant” from the digital tests.

Remember that with any test, false positives and negatives are always a possibility. Testing twice and consulting with a doctor for a blood test is the best way to make sure you are really pregnant.

pregnancy test, home pregnancy tests, pregnancy, conceiving, trying to conceive

I have so many favorite things to share with you today, the last day of February. I love looking all over the web and in stores for the cutest and coolest things for moms, and children. I also love supporting mom owned businesses and try to promote my favorites whenever I can.
Here are some great things that have caught my eye in the past few weeks:

I love everything sock monkey. Target has had a lot of sock monkey products lately from slippers to sheets. If you want to make your own, here is a good rainy day activity for you and your kids, make your own sock monkey kit.

I have always loved anything with my name on it, but who doesn’t? This site is closed for maternity leave right now, but it has everything personalized for baby from diaper covers to bibs and headbands. I can’t wait for her to get back because I need to get my daughter a personalized headband of her own!

Practice Spanish with these cute dominoes. These are English/Spanish dominoes and for $6.50 are a steal because they are well made and so cute!

Every little one needs a pair of converse sneakers!

Check out my latest reviews on the ultimate receiving blanket

Eco-friendly baby gear

A blanket that is easy to carry and so soft you will want your own!

Great burp cloths and

This amazing pregnancy planner I cannot live without!

toys, baby gear, reviewing baby gear, baby gear reviews, kids, parenting, pregnancy planner, baby shoes, baby blankets, baby gifts

Now that I am 37 weeks pregnant the fact that a baby will emerge from my body soon is starting to freak me out. With the twins I knew I was having a C-section early on because my son, who was Baby A, was breech. Now I am facing all new things, like contractions, labor, vaginal birth and epidurals. None of which I had last time.

I have to admit, I am scared to have a vaginal birth but I really do not want a repeat cesarean section either. I have had enough surgeries for one lifetime and recovering from surgery with a newborn and five year old twins doesn’t sound too appealing.

I am enjoying the last few weeks of pregnancy knowing that this is it for me, my last pregnancy, my last baby. This pregnancy was hard at times but now at the end, it is not half as hard as when I was pregnant with the twins. I can still sleep and I didn’t have ONE horrific leg cramp that I had all the time with the twins. I can still get out and do things and I can even still drive! I am going to miss being pregnant and although it is so hard at times, I will remember it fondly.

I am getting very excited about this baby and I cannot wait to see what it is. I have been getting many “girl” things to review so I wonder if it is a sign, or it will never be used. Either way this baby will be loved and his or her arrival will be a great joy to our large families. Especially by his or her big brother and sister.
We are down to the final countdown, so wish us luck!

babies, pregnancy, last pregnancy, nine months, labor, labor pains, birth, birthing, new moms, moms

When I was pregnant with the twins, my last month of pregnancy was miserable. I was huge, sleeping, walking and sitting had become uncomfortable. Doing anything was a chore, I just wanted them out. This time around I am feeling great, besides a little tired and trying to enjoy the last weeks of pregnancy of my life. I am awaiting the time when I am so uncomfortable that I am done so I did a little research on what to do to give labor a little nudge.

Walk. Everyone says to walk to try and stimulate labor. I guess it is gravity’s pull coupled with the sway of your hips that can bring that baby down into the pelvis.

Nipple stimulation. Ouch! Experts say this can release your body’s oxytocin and start contractions. I am not sure I would try this no matter how far along I am, but never say never.

Herbal teas. Raspberry leaf tea is one I have always heard of trying to bring on labor. We tried it with my sister at nine months though and no luck. You should always check with your doctor though before trying any herbs or herb teas becvause soem can cause harm to your baby.

Sex. this is the one I always heard that works, but maybe it is just men feeding into this rumor. Semen does contain prostaglandin which can stimulate contractions. I guess if you are physically able to, have some fun and do it.

Do you have any tried and true recipes for getting the baby out?

At least New Jersey is doing something right! New Jersey is leading the way in postpartum depression (PPD) care and prevention. As of October 2006 a new law states that hospitals have to screen new mothers for postpartum depression before they leave the hospital.

Postpartum depression has risen significantly over the past few years, probably because of better diagnosing. Symptoms include, feeling angry, irritable, depressed, sad, guilty and inadequate.
I know it is hard to decipher what could be PPD when your hormones are going crazy also and you have a brand new human depending on you. You can always talk to your doctors, nurses or family about what you are feeling. Getting help is very important.
If you need more information or to find help in your area visit www.postpartum.net.

While I was in the hospital they monitored the baby for signs of distress. They did various non stress tests and one sonogram to make sure the baby was handling the stress of my illness and developing appropriately. During one of these tests the nurse told me I had had two contractions and asked if I had felt them. I had not. Honestly, I have no idea what a contraction feels like since I didn’t have any with my first pregnancy, that I knew of. It got me wondering what they really felt like and have me asking any and every mom I come in contact with for their experience. I want to know in case I do go into early labor, something I hope not to do.

Premature births are babies delivered before 37 weeks and they are on the rise in the Untied States. Being born too early puts the baby at risk for life long health problems. There are signs for early labor and ways to reduce your risk:

-Get prenatal care as soon as you think you are pregnant

-Reduce any stress you can

-Do not smoke, drink or do drugs.

If you have any of these signs of premature labor call your doctor right away:

Contractions every 10 minutes
leaking fluid
pelvic pressure
low and dull backache

Of course if you have any concerns or questions call your doctor and if you need more information on premature births, visit the march of dimes web site.

Once again caffeine intake is being linked to miscarriage. A new study says that caffeine drinking can increase the risk of miscarriage. Caffeine is any form is what is dangerous it doesn’t matter if it comes from tea, soda chocolate or coffee.

According to the January issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology woman who ingest greater than 200 milligrams of caffeine a day, have double the risk of miscarriage than women that don’t have any caffeine. The study looked at 1,063 women from San Francisco; they were interviewed at an average of 10 weeks’ gestation. During the study period, 16 percent of the women, 172, had miscarriages and 60% of the woman said they had up to 200 milligrams of caffeine a day.
“Caffeine, the most frequently consumed drug in the world, crosses the placental barrier and reaches the developing fetus, according to the study. While previous studies have found an association between caffeine intake and miscarriage, it hadn’t been clear whether the problem was due to the caffeine or another substance in coffee, or if it had something to do with non-coffee drinkers’ lifestyles — perhaps people who didn’t drink coffee ate more fruits and vegetables, for example.”

Other known risks of miscarriage smoking, a history of previous miscarriage, drug use, alcohol use and more. Although they have stats saying that 60-80% of miscarriages are because of genetic defect doctors still say to stay away from or at least limit the amount of caffeine pregnant woman intake, at least for the first three months.

pregnancy, pregnant woman, miscarriage, miscarriage risks, healthy pregnancy, pregnancy safety, caffeine and pregnancy, women’s health

Here I am 31 weeks pregnant and I don’t have anything ready for the baby yet. Maybe I am not alone, maybe many moms wait to get the nursery ready, or maybe I am just a second time mom and I know there is no rush and things will get done when they get done. I really have only a few things to buy for this baby but I have to get out all of our old baby gear and “things”.
I have a feeling I will have this baby early though, so I am now feeling the rush to get some things done. One of the things I made a list of is what to pack for the hospital. I forgot all the things I had or didn’t have last time around so this is like starting fresh for me. Here is what I have on my list so far:

-cheap slippers to throw away after the hospital
-soft socks
-toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, great lotion, chapstick, makeup, toothbrush, hair brush, hair dryer.
-snacks for my husband
-pads
-ipod
-contact list of friends and family
-camera and camcorder
-outfit for the baby
-comfy pjs or sweat suit
-nursing bra
-treats for the nurses*

Is there anything you think I left off this list? What did you have with you in the hospital that you are glad you did?

* I think this is a good idea to say thank you to all the nurses that help you at this vulnerable time. Bring donuts, candy or chocolate, but bring more then one box because you will have various shifts of nurses during your stay.

pregnancy, bringing home baby, pack for the hospital, what to pack for the hospital, birth, labor, birthing plan, moms to be

My kids are very lucky and have no known food allergies. My husband’s father is allergic to seafood so we waited until our kids were three to introduce fish and they have never had a reaction. Since I have been pregnant I have eaten a ton of candy, which is what happens when you gestate through Halloween. Most of that candy had nuts in them which I never thought about until one day when it realized to me that maybe me eating all of those nuts may give my unborn baby a nut allergy. It wasn’t something my doctor told me to stay away from, but I remember that advice from other moms.

According to a new guidance report for pediatricians, in the January issue of the journal Pediatrics, I have nothing to be scared of. The only sure fire way to prevent allergies, food allergies and wheezing is to breastfeed your children. The report says:
-There is no convincing evidence that women who avoid peanuts or other foods during pregnancy or breast-feeding lower their child’s risk of allergies.
-For infants with a family history of allergies, breast-feeding for at least four months can lessen the risk of rashes and allergy to cow’s milk.
-There is some evidence for feeding hypoallergenic formulas to susceptible babies if they are not solely breast-fed.

Surprisingly to me, they say there is no convincing evidence that delaying the introduction of foods such as eggs, fish or peanut butter to children prevents allergies. They also state that infants should not get solid food before 4 to 6 months of age, just like pediatricians tell us.

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I have to admit I find most maternity clothing to be dowdy and boring. I thought maybe something had improved in the four years between my pregnancies, but I was disappointed. The one thing that was much better was the availability of maternity clothes in stores, I hated having to buy all of my maternity clothes online just to get them and see how ugly or unflattering they actually were.

If you are looking for hip, cool maternity clothes that don’t make you look like you are wearing a tent, I have a great site for you. 2chix.com is a great site for expecting mamas, and they don’t leave expecting dads out either! Do they sounds familiar? Well you probably have seen their clothes featured in magazines liek People, Conceive or Pregnancy.
They have the cutest t-shirts for your ever expanding belly like this knocked up shirt or this 009 months shirt.

They don’t just sell t-shirts, they have long sleeve shirts, maternity skirts and tanks as well. At first I was concerned about the “one-size-fits-most” sizing but the soft cotton of their clothing was surprisingly stretchy and even fit over my big belly! If you are scared about the “one size” try their voluptuous tees which fits sizes 12-18.
All of their clothing are for the haute mama in you, we all know that woman are even more gorgeous when they are pregnant, why not let the world see how “haute” you really are?!

pregnancy, maternity, maternity clothes, hip maternity clothes, new moms, expecting dads