March 31, 2011
Filed under: Celebrity babies — Alan @ 2:23 am
A new baby girl was welcomed over the weekend by model Myleene Klass, M&S model and her husband Graham Quinn. Hero Harper was born Friday in London at around 5:00pm and weighed just over 6 pounds at birth confirmed a family spokesman.
Myleene and baby Hero are fine and the entire family are very proud and happy about the new arrival and other congratulations have come in from X Factor winner Alexander Burke who commented on Twitter saying he was happy for her and her husband and congratulations.
Myleene, who also has a three year old daughter, has often talked about having a large family and her daughter said she missed her other sisters and when her mom asked how many she had or wanted, Ava replied two and Myleene admitted she would love to give her seven sisters saying though it would be hard to love anyone more than she loves Ava.
March 30, 2011
Filed under: baby development — Alan @ 4:10 pm
New advice about feeding twins and triplets
Parents now have access to free information on how to feed twins, triplets, or more multiple children at one time that is informational and evidence based. The guide was released this week by the Multiple Births Foundation (MBF) and is called ‘Feeding twins, triplets, and more.’ The guide was published based on research that was completed by the National Prenatal Epidemiology Unit and made free by funding that was provided via the Big Lottery Fund.
Director of the MBF, Jane Denton, stated that within the UK one out of every 32 childbirths results in a twin or higher multiple births. She continued to explain learning how to feed more than one baby correctly is usually one of the first concerns of parents who have multiple pregnancies.
She added that multiple birth babies are more likely to have a low birth weight and be born premature which will require them to be admitted to a neonatal unit. Given this fact many parents do not actually start to feed the newborns until they are a few days to a few weeks old which can be very dramatic and nerve-wracking for parents.
For the first time, practical evidence-based advice and information on feeding twins, triplets and higher multiples is now freely available to parents. ‘Feeding twins, triplets and more’, a comprehensive guide, is published today by the Multiple Births Foundation (MBF) with funding from the Big Lottery Find and based on research undertaken by the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit.
“In the UK, one in 32 babies is born a twin or triplet,” says Jane Denton, director of the Multiple Births Foundation, “and how to feed two or more babies is one of the first questions parents ask when a multiple pregnancy is diagnosed. Yet our research suggests that many mothers want more guidance on feeding.”
“Twins and triplets are more likely to be born preterm and of low birth weight, requiring admission to a neonatal unit,” she adds. “Many will not be able to feed directly for the first few days or sometimes weeks. It can be a very anxious, even dramatic, time for the parents.
Filed under: Baby health — Alan @ 5:20 am
High mortality rates have brought into focus the link between death in newborns and obesity in mothers. The levels for infant mortality for obese women are twice of what was expected says a reports by the Centre for Maternal and Child Enquires. A rate of 10% o mothers who had stillbirth or whose babies died in the neonatal period had a Body Index Mass of 35 or higher, that indicates obesity, per the 2009 Perinatal Mortality report.
There has been a downward turn in the rates of mortality deaths since 2000 but also with the link of obesity the report found links between age and stillbirth and neonatal deaths. The report said mothers that were younger or less than 25 or older than 40 were much more likely to have stillbirths or neonatal deaths.
Under 20 years old, the youngest were 1.4 times more prone to have stillbirth and 1.2 times more prone to neonatal deaths than those mothers that were between the ages of 25 – 29. While those older mothers (40 plus) were more prone to have stillbirths (1.7 times) and neonatal deaths (1.3 times) than mothers that were between the ages of 25 – 29.
Women need to be encouraged to lead a healthy lifestyle by getting information from their doctor throughout their lifetimes in things like nutrition, diet and exercise says the president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Dr. Tony Falconer
March 24, 2011
Filed under: baby development — Alan @ 1:31 pm
Any parent will tell you they only want their child to be healthy and happy in life. The new parent is continually watching their little ones weight changes and growth. To allay any concerns you may have, we have listed a few hints and suggestions regarding your little ones progress.
Often a baby will lose up to 10% of its bodyweight in the first week of his birth. This is not cause for alarm as they soon regain the weight. An average of 4 to 7 ounces a week can be gained by infants after their first week. Thereafter, they start gaining 1 to 2 pounds a month. They double their weight in the first 4 months and this is tripled by the end of their first year.
Your doctor will record your child’s growth, both length and weight and the chart should show a steady increase after each visit. Genetics play a large part in the child’s development. Where one parent may be slender and tall, the baby may be greater in length and lower in weight than the average.
As long as baby is eating and gaining weight you should have no worry as to which percentage parameter he is in. Your doctor will inform you if there is anything to be concerned about. For 6 months you will see the doctor monthly and he will monitor your baby’s growth recording changes on the chart. It is important to choose the right doctor and you have the right to change should you be unhappy.
When choosing a pediatrician it is important to note how well he listens or hears what you are saying and how well your concerns are addressed. You will be visiting your baby’s doctor often in the first two years so communication is important. Observing the interaction of his staff with other patients can tell a great deal about the doctor.
Always have questions ready for the doctor when attending your appointment. This will assist you in finding out if you have similar thoughts on issues that are important to you and your child’s wellbeing.
March 19, 2011
Filed under: Baby health — Alan @ 6:36 am
Yeast infection in toddlers is pretty common because they are more susceptible to illness and disease as a result of their immune systems not being fully developed. Yeast infections can easily spread to the bottom area from the digestive area. Antibiotics are often no good in these circumstances because they kill all bacteria, including the good ones. Nappies can also pass on infections, and toddlers can also pick them up through breastfeeding.
Nappy rash is common of course, and the chances are, that if, after applying the nappy rash, the rash is not disappearing, your baby has a yeast infection. Ways in which you can help to cure the infection are to keep the affected area completely dry, to ‘air’ the bottom area and, of course, to make sure you change your toddler’s nappies more regularly perhaps than normal. If you’re really brave, let your toddler ‘go commando’ for a while, without wearing a nappy.
Your baby eating more greens is also a way of helping deal with yeast infections, as is applying natural yoghurt to the affected area. Probiotic food is also good for fighting any kind of infection. The minute you suspect symptoms of yeast infection, you should act, again because of the risk of spreading it. Anti-fungal cream from the pharmacist should do the trick; however, more and more mothers these days are turning to natural remedies.
There can be many other different symptoms of yeast infection, including thrush, which shows itself in the mouth with white spots, a yellow or white discharge from the genital area, or itching in that area which can manifest itself in your toddler not being able to urinate or the area being painful to the touch. Ensure you familiarise yourself with all of the causes and symptoms of yeast infections and you and your toddler will be better for it.
March 17, 2011
Filed under: Names — Alan @ 5:38 am
Hello Baby, the online nursery retailer have launched another app for the iphone. This one is called the baby namer. It’s a self explanatory app, and is said to over over 1000 names and their meanings. It is free to download from itunes, and is a boon to all expectant parents who feel overwhelmed with the sheer volume of names available.
The first app for the iphone from Hello Baby (www.HelloBabyDirect.co.uk) is the Peek a Boo rattle. this has been very successful with over 20,000 downloads. They say that they always wanted their 2nd app to be for the parents. It is very user friendly and and looks great too.
The app has three main functions. If you are feeling lucky, the shake feature allows random names to be generated by shaking the phone. More methodical users can browser names based on a sex, beginning or letter selection. Finally, the 1000 US and UK girls and boys names can be viewed by popularity.
“At Hello Baby we love to innovate with cutting edge technology and we are very excited by our new app” said Trevor. “Early feedback has been great. The application has had over a thousand downloads in the first three weeks. The Baby Namer allows us to promote our business to the growing number of iPhone users and also give something back to our customers.”
March 10, 2011
Filed under: baby development — Alan @ 7:36 am
Expectant mums have always been given the odds of their child carrying Downs Syndrome, and the only way to find out for sure was by having one of two very invasive tests. This testing takes place on approximately 30,000 women in the UK every year and resulting in around 300 miscarriages. There has now been a new technique discovered which identifies a key difference in the DNA of a baby with Downs Syndrome and one without. To find this they check the chemical differences present in the blood between mother and child as it crosses the placenta.
Down’s syndrome is the result of an extra no.21 chromosome. Those born suffering from this affliction usually have both mental and physical impairments. The new technique is being perfected at the Institute of Neurology and Genetics in Nicosia. The word is that this method will be able to be used in every lab across the globe as it requires no expensive, specialist equipment. All pregnant women are screened for Down’s Syndrome, with an ultrasound scan and blood taken from the mother and tested. This enables the obstetrician to calculate the likelihood of the baby being born with Down’s.
Those who are classed as high risk then have the option of going for one of the invasive tests, both of which involve a needle being inserted through the wall of the womb to collect some of the amniotic fluid or cells that surround the baby.
The new, none invasive approach is being welcomed across the globe. There is no increased chance of miscarriage with this method, putting a lot of mum’s minds at rest. The simplicity of the test opens the door to possibly every woman being routinely checked for Down’s Syndrome this way and having the choice to keep or abort, depending on the result.
March 6, 2011
Filed under: baby development — Alan @ 6:41 am
Toddlers need routine and they need to know what is happening ahead of time. This can ease the transitions from one thing to the next. They also need to feel important and part of what everyone else is doing. So allowing them to help you and teaching them that their part is important will have lasting effects on their character.
Routine can be as simple as teaching them to clean up their toys prior to starting some new activity. The next activity could be having a snack, taking a nap, or playing with other toys. Don’t forget to help them the first few times and to explain simply why we clean up after ourselves.
Add some singing to the cleaning and it becomes a game itself. Match the same song to the same task, because toddlers love routine. You can time the child to have them race against the clock too, for more fun.
Remember to tell the child what the plan for the day is and to tell them often. Then they are not surprised when they must stop one thing and start the next. Tell them a few steps ahead what will happen, especially when you begin each event. For example, you could say, “We will play with toys first, then we will put the toys away and have a snack.” They will be better prepared emotionally to make the shift. If the plan is different than normal, you should tell this plan for that day often so the toddler can remember it is not the same as usual.
Toddlers like to feel a part of the family team. You can start this by teaching the toddler ways they take care of their own bodies, like brushing their teeth after breakfast and before bedtime. You can think of a small part of a household chore you are doing that the toddler can help with. It will make them feel important in the family.
March 3, 2011
Filed under: Diet — Alan @ 12:08 pm
Dr. Ellie Lee, of the Centre for Parenting Culture Studies (CPCS) at the University of Kent, said in a briefing released February 28 this year, that the government policies on feeding infants should be revamped in order to make it effective for today’s generation of parents.
Dr. Lee’s inspiration to request the current policies for infant feeding be re-examined comes from many distressed, angry, and confused parents who had written her, her own research, along with that of her colleagues both within Britain and abroad.
As preparation for the briefing she surveyed current scholarship from the past 10 years relating to the topic, from the fields of the Humanities and the Social Sciences. Her conclusions are as follows:
1. Infant feeding needs to be depoliticised.
The briefing argues, ‘Policy in this area should aim to support individual mothers to feed their babies in the way that makes most sense for them and their families. It should cease to connect mothers’ infant feeding practices with solving wider social and health problems. Doing so, evidence suggests, has failed to do much to increase breastfeeding rates; has generated a distorted picture of the causes of health and social problems; and has encouraged a situation where many mothersexperience being placed under pressure to feed their baby according to priorities laid down by others’.
2. Policy makers should treat infant feeding as an issue in its own terms.
The briefing argues, ‘Active efforts need to be made to separate infant feeding from morally-charged ideas and rhetoric about motherhood. The moralisation of infant feeding is detrimental for mothers – however they feed their babies – and damaging for wider society. Policy needs to be disentangled from the promotion of a particular orientation towards motherhood and family life’.
3. Policy makers should aim to promote an ethos and practice whereby choice really means choice.
The briefing argues, ‘Mothers feed their babies in a range of ways, yet as things stand, lip-service is paid to choice in infant feeding: alternatives to breastfeeding are routinely portrayed as inferior. As a result, tensions exist between mothers and health service staff. Policy makers need to work to change this situation. Mothers should be provided with properly balanced information about all feeding methods as a matter of course. Policy should seek to encourage maternal confidence and a sense of mutual trust between mothers and those who are there to offer advice and support. They should seek to engage fully with the real experience mothers have of feeding their babies, and develop the approach of the health service accordingly’.
Of the briefing, Dr Lee said: ‘The public health strategy published recently by the coalition government argues for essentially the same approach to this issue that has been taking place for the past 15 years. But there are very good reasons for arguing that this approach has not worked well, and that problems need to be addressed that are currently just not being considered by policymakers. We hope that this briefing will encourage serious discussion that takes into account the findings of intelligent, well-designed research and commentary.’
The briefing document, titled ‘Feeding babies and the problems of policy’, can be downloaded at https://blogs.kent.ac.uk/parentingculturestudies/resources/cpcs-briefings/
CPCS, which is based at the University’s School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research (SSPSSR), is also organising a one-day symposium on 21 March 2011 at the British Library conference centre on ‘Feeding children in the new parenting culture’. This will feature a lecture by Joan Wolf from Texas A&M University and author of Is breast best? Taking on the Breastfeeding Experts and the New High Stakes of Motherhood (New York and London: NYU Press).
March 2, 2011
Filed under: Child Birth — Alan @ 9:21 am
Retired welder Richard Roden and has wife Lisa, 26, of Brownhills said he would not change his life for anything after welcoming new baby Madison into the world, even though he still would like to have more children, they have decided to sterilize Mrs. Roden since the cost of living for having four young children is so high.
Mr. Roden turns 73 on Wednesday and in 2009 made the record books as the oldest father in country and he commented that his new baby Madison is beautiful as are all his girls even though it is hard work, he loves it and has not place for those that criticize saying he will be in his 80s when they are in secondary school.
He just wants to be a good dad to them now, stating that people die at all ages and his dad dies when he was only two. He has 10 other children and six of them do not speak to him since his relationship began with his wife Lisa.
Lisa feels the same as when they met six years ago, while studying at an adult education college and says they are still madly in love and have no time for those that make comments about his age.
A new baby girl was welcomed over the weekend by model Myleene Klass, M&S model and her husband Graham Quinn. Hero Harper was born Friday in London at around 5:00pm and weighed just over 6 pounds at birth confirmed a family spokesman.
