Baby Page: April 2009
April 1st, 2009 by Teresa Leary Jenkins
Feel The Love – 5 Ways to Encourage Kindness
Create “Team Siblings” • No, this won’t turn into the monkeys running the zoo, I promise! Encourage your clan to plan a family community service activity. This could mean cleaning the family room together or helping a clean up the yard. All ages can participate, you assist with the discussion and planning.
Family Chefs • Encourage siblings to plan, shop for, and prepare a meal to be served to the family. Parents supervise, but allow your kids to enjoy time together in the kitchen.
Book Worm • Take siblings to the library or bookstore and let them choose a book they can read together. You read the book too, then discuss over pizza.
Each One Teach One • Each sibling teaches or shares something new with his siblings.
Spread the Word • Siblings write a family newsletter with everyone taking turns interviewing and writing for the online or paper publication. Distribute to family and friends.
Trying to Get Pregnant
Many couples take getting pregnant for granted. But it isn’t always easy.
If you’ve been trying to conceive for one year and haven’t succeeded, speak with your doctor. To improve your chances, try Conceivex’s Conception Kit.
This FDA-approved kit enhances fertility with the Conception Cap, a diaphram-like cup that holds semen in place against the cervix. When sperm have less of a distance to swim, the likelihood of fertilization increases. The kit has proven effective for those with tilted cervix and low sperm mobility.
Conception Kit includes 24 ovulation predictors, two conception timing wheels, three pregnancy test kits, as well as an instruction manual. • $299.95 for a three-month regime. Available at conceptionkit.com or through your OB-GYN.
Subtle Signs of Labor
As due date nears, many pregnant women may expect a water puddle to appear as they wait in the grocery line. Or maybe a sharp pain announcing baby’s pending arrival. But some signs of labor signs can be far more subtle.
A recent March of Dimes conference for labor and delivery personnel discussed the importance of educating women on subtle or missed signs of labor. Pam Sere, maternity care coordinator at Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women, agrees that most women use television or the movies as a gauge for labor, sometimes ignoring signs that may prevent premature labor or a cesarean.
So, what are these often missed signs of labor?
• Pelvic heaviness or pressure that does not go away. If you suddenly begin to breathe easier and it feels like the baby has dropped, call your doctor. It’s too easy to slide into a relaxed mode because you feel more comfortable.
• Leaking or trickling fluid on your panty liner. If constant leakage is new for you, notify your doctor. Approximately 25 percent of women experience this and even though the fluid is replenished it does not always happen fast enough. There is a simple test for the presence of amniotic fluid, which acts as a barrier to infection. If your fluid is low due to leakage, antibiotics or steroids may be needed to keep your baby healthy. Note: Drinking fluids will not replenish amniotic fluid.
• An increase or change in vaginal discharge is a sign that labor may be starting. Women are encouraged to work with their doctors to determine the “norm” of fluids for their body. Bleeding is never normal during pregnancy and should be viewed as a warning sign; because the presence of blood is often related to the placenta.
• A low, dull backache can be a sign of labor. Many women expect back pain and ignore the constant pain.
• Diarrhea can be a sign, especially if that is a new symptom.
If you think you’re in labor, drive directly to your hospital. Don’t eat, says Sere, because if a procedure is necessary, it’s best to operate on an empty stomach. Finally, have a vision of your labor and delivery, but recognize there may be a variation to that plan.