Having another baby is a wonderful thing for parents, but it may not be so wonderful for your other child or children if they do not know what to expect. If you do not prepare them for the new baby that is coming the following things may happen, jealousy, sadness, anger, they may try to hit the baby when nobody is looking, they may start acting like a baby again, they will act out for attention and many other things. Here are some tips for helping your children get ready and understand that there is a new baby coming
Start early - As soon as you find out you are pregnant the very first person or people you should tell are your children, even if they do not understand yet, they will get it eventually with a little help.
Tell them, show them - Telling them your having a new baby is not enough to help them understand, you have to show them your belly as it grows.
Pictures - Before your first ultrasound comes bring out the ultrasound pictures of your children, show them that the picture is of them when they used to live in your belly. If possible, make copies and give a copy of the picture to your child, at your ultrasound appointment bring your child with you and remind them to bring their picture. When you see the baby on the screen show your child and explain that in his picture he was in mommies belly just like the new baby is in mommies belly right now.
Kisses and hugs - As your belly grows, let your child hug your belly and kiss your belly.
Ask questions - When your child is touching your belly ask questions such as " Is it a boy or a girl? " " Do you love the baby? " " Is it your brother or sister? " " Can you feel baby moving in there? " " Where is the baby? " It helps them know that there is a little person in there that they love and want.
Play house - Get a doll that is just like a newborn baby and show it to your child. Get the smallest onesie you can and get your child to help you dress the baby or even diaper the baby. If you have set up the crib, swing or other baby items tell your child to put the doll in it. Give the doll a name, if you've picked a baby name already use that name. Show your child how to feed the baby and burp the baby. Call the doll little sister or little brother if you know the gender of your baby. Get a small play stroller and put the doll in it and go for a walk.
Heartbeat - Bring your children to the doctors appointment so that they can hear the babys heartbeat.
Books - Read books about new babies and show pictures of other pregnant women.
Visit - With friends or relatives who have babies. Hold the baby and ask your child "Where is mommies baby?" then point to your belly. Let your child touch the baby and remind him/her that they have to be nice and gentle with the baby.
Be sure you spend lots of time with your children before and after the new baby comes. Make special time just for you and your child such as, movie time, snuggle time, bedtime stories, mealtime, etc. The reason most kids become jealous of a new baby is the fact that some parents do not make enough time for them. The best way to avoid it is to just make time! I know, harder then it sounds, but it is possible.
If you have 1 child or 10 children it's very hard to keep your house as clean as you would like it, even having a newborn makes it hard to keep your house spotless. With all the feedings and diaper changes and let's not forget the sleepless nights. Here are some tips to keeping your house clean
Clean whenever you get the chance - When the kids are napping and at bedtime is the best time to get a quick load of laundry in and do the dishes.
Ask for help - From your hubby, your toddler, your mother, anybody who is around really. Especially if you just had a baby and you're tired all the time.
Never leave dishes in the sink - They pile up as fast as you use them. Ask your hubby and kids to use one cup only, there is no point of using a cup for juice, then using a different cup for water later on. Rinse the cup out and use it again!
Make the beds in the morning - It's a good idea to start teaching your toddler how to help make the bed.
Change the trash every day - At night before going to bed be sure to take the trash out and put a new clean bag, the smells that 2 day old trash can leave in a house are disgusting and if you don't notice the smell...your company will!
Keep laundry going in rotation - Load up the washer, when it's finished put it in the dryer, load up the washer again, when the dryer is done put those clothes in a laundry basket and load up the dryer again, then put the dry clothes away. Keep it going like that and you'll never have a gigantic pile of dirty laundry in the bathroom again.
Teach your kids - To put their toys away, put their clothes away in their dressers, put their dirty clothes in the hamper, make sure they take their shoes off at the door and put their jackets away.
Sign up for paper-free bills - And pay your bills online! It's get rid of the paper pile up and clutter! Get rid of junk mail for good! Plus it saves a tree, no brainer!
If you have older children - Give them their own laundry basket and tell them that it's their responsibility to bring it to you when their basket is full, this is a lot easier than sorting through which clothes belong to who. Or you could teach them how to do their own laundry.
Get them to clean - Their rooms before they can go outside and play, before they can turn on their TV and game consoles and before they can invite their friends over to play.
Do a clean sweep - On birthdays and Christmas help your kids go through all of their toys and pick some that you can donate to charities, if they get mad remind them that they have to make room for all the new things they will have to put in their toy box.
Clean before bedtime - Sweep the floors and pick up whatever things were left on the floor and couches. Waking up to a clean house means waking up happy. Waking up knowing you have to clean something causes stress and waking up stressed causes a cranky mama!
Keeping a house clean is hard work, but you don't have to do it alone. Get your kids involved, it teaches them responsibility and giving them an allowance wouldn't hurt. Giving an allowance motivates kids to help out, it's amazing what kids will do for a few dollars a day. See it like this.....A few dollars a day VS. you being exhausted way before bedtime...it's your choice. Happy cleaning!
Making a birth plan is a good way to help people know what you want and need during labor and delivery. Keep in mind that it has to be a realistic plan. For some women a birth plan can be as short as 2 things, for other women it can be as long as they need it to be. The point of a birth plan is to let people know what you want and need because when in labor you might have difficulty expressing the things you want and need and there might be things that you know will bug you so be sure to include even the small things. Here is an example of a birth plan
Mothers name :
Fathers name :
Baby's name :
Due date :
*During labor & delivery :
Who do I want present during labor & delivery
-___________________ (Coach, Partner, Doula etc )
Who do I want present during labor
-____________________ ( Mom, Dad, Brother, Sister, Friend etc )
Who I would not like present during labor & delivery
- _____________________ ( Babies siblings, trouble makers etc )
How would you like to deal with pain?
-________________________ ( Naturally, Epidural, Nitrous Oxide etc )
I would like to remain mobile during labor
I would like to be offered certain objects to help me with natural labor
( Birthing ball, birthing stool, music, shower etc. )
I would like the lights to remain dim
Please do not offer me an epidural, when I feel I need one I will ask
Please do not call me mom, sweetie, hun, dear etc.
During delivery I would like my partner to stay by my head and hold my hand
I would like a nurse and -__________to help support my legs
I would like to see my baby's head crown
I would like my baby placed on my chest as soon as she/he is born
I would like -_________________to cut the cord
I would like to breastfeed as soon as possible
I would like -______________to record and take pictures of my baby during her/his birth
*If I need to have a cesarean section
I would like my partner by my side at all times until the baby is born
I would like to have direct skin to skin contact with my baby as soon as possible
I would like to see the baby as soon as possible
I would like my partner to take pictures of my baby being pulled from my stomach
I would like somebody in the Operating room to take pictures of my partner cutting the cord
I would like -__________ to be with the baby and take pictures when she/he is being cleaned and dressed
*After the cesarean
As soon as I regain feeling in my legs I would like the catheter to be removed
I would like to breastfeed as soon as possible
*After the baby is born
I would like a private room if possible
I or my partner would like to accompany my baby during tests and at any time the baby leaves our room
I would like my baby to stay in my room at all times unless she/he needs tests etc.
Please do not bottle feed my baby as I will be breastfeeding exclusively
Please do not give my baby a pacifier
I would like to return home as soon as possible
I understand that it may not be possible for all of my requests to be followed
Signed ____________________ Date ____________
Signed ____________________ Date ____________
You should make several copies of your birth plan and go over it with your doctor. Make sure you give a copy to your partner, your doctor, the nurses, and anybody else who will be in the room with you.
Most women will have morning sickness, for some it will last a few weeks, a few months and for some unlucky ones, it can last the entire pregnancy. It's called morning sickness but let's face it, it should be called all day sickness. Anything can trigger it, smells, certain foods, temperature, growling belly etc. Sometimes it's hard to eat and keep food down and you wonder to yourself if you're eating enough food to nourish your growing baby inside. Here are some tips to help with morning sickness
Try the following foods
-Cold foods ( raw veggies, sandwiches, fruits, Flavored Popsicles etc. )
-Salted crackers
-Dry toast
-Soup, broth
-Lemons
-Jell-O
-Pretzels and other salted plain chips
You will of course find a food that helps you get through it.
Eat small meals - And lots of snacks in between them. Having an empty stomach does not help and most of the time if you're hungry you're more than likely to be hugging the toilet.
Drink ginger ale - It does help, ginger ale, ginger herbs, ginger candy, ginger anything really.
Smell - Smelling lemons, you can use a facecloth put a few drops of lemon juice on it, when you feel sick put it up to your nose. This does help a lot.
Do not drink fluids while you eat - Waiting around 20 minutes after you eat to drink is a good idea.
Drink fluids - Avoid dehydration, carry a water bottle around with you with lots of ice in it. This does help with headaches as well.
Eat - Before bed, and as soon as you wake up. Eating before you go to sleep will help you avoid feeling very hungry when you wake up but wait at least 30 minutes before you lay down after you eat. Eating a few crackers in bed when you wake up will help you avoid getting out of bed and running to the toilet.
Avoid cooking - Ask somebody else to do the cooking and open the windows. Turn a fan on to avoid the odors.
Eat salted potato chips - Eating salted potato chips before a meal is a good idea, the chips will settle your stomach so that you can eat a meal and keep it down.
Avoid spicy food - The smell of spicy food can trigger your nausea and eating spicy food will give you heartburn.
Get lots of rest - Try to get as much sleep as you can and take naps during the day.
Avoid being warm - Getting to warm and being in warm places increases nausea. In the car, roll down the window or put the air condition on. Outside, carry a bottle of ice water, when you feel sick put it up to your head and around your neck.
Follow your cravings - Eat what you want when you want, your cravings will not add to your nausea. If it helps you avoid being hungry then eat it.
If you're still feeling sick after your first trimester and you cannot keep any food down after follow the tips listed above, and if you're losing weight, contact your doctor. He will prescribe you something to make pregnancy life a lot easier and happier.
Most of the time the first thing that mom is ready to do after having her little bundle of joy is lose all of the weight she gained while nurturing this little baby inside of her body. It won't happen over night, well...some of the weight will come off very fast, depending on what your are doing to help yourself. Here are some great tips to help you lose weight.
Breastfeed - Breastfeeding can burn between 500-700 calories a day. The longer you breastfeed the more calories you burn!
Healthy foods - Keeping healthy food in the house instead of junky fatty foods is a good start on losing weight.
Healthy snacks - Having healthy snacks laying around will help you from feeling hungry in between meals. Apple slices, carrot sticks, wheat crackers, banana peanut butter sandwich, etc. are good snack foods for that 3PM hunger pain.
Water - Drinking a lot of water is a great way to avoid getting dehydrated and it fills you up so that you don't eat as much. You don't HAVE to drink 8 glasses of water a day but it won't hurt. To be sure you're getting enough water check the color of your urine when you use the bathroom. It will be more clear when you have enough water.
Walk - It's a good idea to go for a nice walk everyday, fresh air does everybody some good. Push your limits everyday and see how good this exercise will make you feel. Make sure you have good walking shoes so that you avoid being uncomfortable and bring a bottle of water along with you to avoid getting dehydrated. Going for a walk is a great stress reliever and if baby is fussy, putting her in a stroller and walking around the block will definitely help her fall asleep.
Forget about fast food - It's a hot day, you're tired and hungry and just don't feel like cooking. You have a fast food place on your mind. STOP! Think, do you really need to eat at a fast food place? NO! Make a salad, fruit salad, veggie salad any kind of salad really. Make a sandwich with wheat bread. There are so many other healthy foods you can make on a hot day instead of spending a good 20-30 dollars on a fast food place.
Park further away - This way you will have to walk a longer distance to get to where you're going. Always look for a spot the farthest away from the grocery store and many other place.
Take the stairs - Taking the stairs is better than taking the elevators. It's exercise! Come on ladies it's a no brainer!
Join a fitness group - Joining a gym or fitness group is a great idea. They also have mommy and me fitness classes you can sign up for which means you bring your baby along with you, no need for a sitter which means you can concentrate on what you're doing instead of worrying about your baby at home.
Make it a fun thing - Ask a friend to join you and schedule everyday walks together. It's fun to walk and catch up on old times with good friends. See if there are other people having trouble losing weight or looking for a buddy to walk with. Ask grandma and grandpa to visit with the baby while mommy and daddy take an after supper walk. It does feel good to get out together and enjoy talking to each other while walking hand in hand. Nothing makes a relationship stronger than communication.
Put away the scale - Not a good idea to weigh yourself every time you do an exercise, that will just make you obsessed about losing weight and how much you lose. Weigh yourself before you start trying to lose weight, then weigh yourself once a week to see how much weight you lost that week. If you're not seeing the results you want to see, try pushing yourself a little bit further, but DO NOT push yourself too much. Remember you have a baby to take care of and that little baby needs some of mommies energy too.
Face it ladies, we're not going to lose weight by just sitting on the couch all day, it's time to get up and do the work! It's time to get motivated! It's time to lose some weight! You don't need diet pills, you don't need expensive exercise equipment, you don't need to feel low about yourself, you don't need those extra pounds! Remind yourself that you look good no matter who says what. You're just doing this to feel better and be healthier for your baby!
You're surfing through every baby name website available on the internet, you're buying baby names books left and right, you have a few names picked out but just can not decide. Picking a baby name can be a stressful time in your pregnancy so here are a few tips that might help you out in your decision.
Make a list - Making a list of names that you really like is a good start. Your list can be as long or as short as you like as long as it has all the names you like. Chances are you will have more than one list, a first names list, a middle names list even a full names list. Try this, make a first names list, a middle names list and have a blank sheet of paper. Pick a first name that you like and go through your middle names list, put two names that you like together, if it sounds right to you then add the last name. Do this with all the names that you have until you feel like you have the perfect name for your baby.
Spell the name different ways - Spelling the name many different ways will help you pick the perfect spelling, for example :
Mariana - Marianna - Marianah - Marriana - Maryana - Mariannah
Catelyn - Katelyn - Catelynn - Katelynn - Cate Lynn - Kate Lynn
Stephanie - Stefanie - Stephani - Stefani - Stephany - Stefany
Brandon - Brandyn - Branden
Kevin - Keven - Kevyn
Nicholas - Nicolas - Nickolas - Nikolas
Deven - Daven - Devin - Devyn
Find more than 1 name - It's a good idea to pick a girl name and a boy name along with middle names if you're going for a surprise in the delivery room.
Consider using a family members name - There are many parents to be who consider naming their babies after a family member, and there are many family members who are honored to share their name with another family member. You can either pick the name for a first name or a middle name. It's the best possible way to show someone how much you love and care for them.
Say it over and over.....and over again - Sometimes saying the names you've picked over and over and over again can help you decide if the name sounds right and it can help you narrow down your list.
Best of mom and dad - Try putting together both you and your partners names, sometimes this works out great and what more special than to share mommy and daddys name? Example
Brooke - Cody = Brody
Brandy - Chris = Candace (Candy for short)
Or you could scramble the letters of both your names to make a new name.
Using the methods above is a great way to pick a name for your child, if you get too stressed out just leave it alone for a few days. Who says you can't name your baby after you deliver? Some mothers have to see their babies before they can name them. Just remember that picking your babies name is entirely up to you and your partner. Do not let anybody pressure you into picking a certain name for your child, you are the mother, it is your decision.
