Name: Jilyn Nacario
busy mom and a happy wife..
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When I gave birth to my first baby. I cannot believe that I am now a "Mom". I am still asking myself "Is this real?"or I am dreaming? Well, it is absolutely a fact that I am now completely a woman..It really amazed me when I saw my baby that she is white and beautiful like me?yeah, I am pretty like my baby.
I am so excited to go home with my baby. I a afraid to hold her tight because I feel that she is so soft and skinny that time. She is always sleeping. She is so behave. When she cry I know what she wants. It is maybe she is hungry or her diaper is already wet. I am exhausted during her first month because she wants me carry her for her to sleep. I cannot disturbed my husband because he needs to sleep because he is working. But during her two to 12 months old I learn to adjust and happy being a mom.
Now, I know that to become a mother is a fulfillment. And I am so happy very thankful to God for His wonderful gift to
us..my Mickyla Angeline Nacario.
Being a parent is such a hard task to do but it teaches how to handle our children. We learn to be patient and be able to explain to them why we need to discipline them. It is for them to grow maturely because they learn from their mistakes. 
Being a parent is to be a good mom because we must know how to take good care of them. From infant we learn to understand their needs when they cry. And when they cry we knows what she/he wants. From toddlers we are so happy to see that she/he is talking and can understand us by listening to us. They show their talents by dancing and singing and we always appreciate it.
Being a parent needs more effort especially when they grow up. When they start schooling we must teach them how to become a good student by being responsible like doing their assignments. Teach them also to choose their friends in school. And give them some advices by sharing your experiences. Treat them as a friend so that they will not keep secrets.
Being a parent considers everything..
Q I'm expecting a boy in a few weeks, and my husband and I are trying to decide whether to have our newborn circumcised. We need more information before we can make a decision. Can you explain the pros and cons of this procedure?
A Should the foreskin stay or go? This continues to be a subject of debate among parents and even some pediatricians. Once considered routine in the U.S., more and more parents are wisely considering the pros and cons of circumcision, rather than blindly subjecting their infant to a surgical procedure that is usually unnecessary. Assuming there are no religious reasons to influence your decision, here are a few points to consider before making a final decision:
Uncircumcised penises require some simple cleaning. Most men want a maintenance-free penis. Little boys (and even grown men) are often lazy about caring for the foreskin, even though it's quite simple — all it requires is a few seconds of extra hygiene during a bath. Normal secretions accumulate beneath the foreskin, requiring the foreskin to be retracted and the secretions to be gently removed. Rarely, the accumulation of secretions beneath the foreskin can lead to a painful infection. By removing the foreskin, care of the penis is streamlined and the rare risk of infection beneath the foreskin is alleviated.
Circumcision at birth reduces the need for the procedure later on. As your child grows and begins getting normal erections (typically by age 1), the foreskin gradually completely retracts. The foreskin is usually completely retractable by three to four years of age. Rarely, the foreskin does not retract or actually tightens, which obstructs the flow of urine. In this case, a circumcision is medically necessary.
Foreskin can protect the head of the penis. Leaving the foreskin intact protects the penis from irritation caused by rubbing against soiled and wet diapers.
Your decision needn't be based on whether others are circumcised or not. Just because your husband may be circumcised, doesn't necessarily mean your newborn son should be as well. Sons and fathers rarely compare the appearance of their penises, and today we know much more about the non-necessity of circumcision than parents did in past generations. Also, forget the notion of boys "looking alike in the locker room." Boys don't stand around comparing the look of penis tips after gym class. Plus, the percentage of intact boys is steadily increasing, so that by the time your son is school-age, it quite possibly could be a 50/50 split.
Does circumcision affect sexual pleasure? There is a theory, reinforced by some evidence, that intact men experience more sexual pleasure during intercourse, perhaps because of the extra stimulation from the foreskin.
Circumcision doesn't prevent disease. Whether or not circumcision lowers the risk of penile cancer (an extremely rare condition) is still not proven. Also, the risk of passing sexually-transmitted diseases to partners is not more common as long as an intact man practices proper hygiene.
If you do decide to have your baby circumcised, be sure the doctor uses a local anesthetic — nearly all doctors now use some sort of painkiller. If you choose to leave your son intact, care of the foreskin is quite easy — see my tips above. The most important tip to follow: Don't retract the foreskin in a forcible manner. This will actually increase the risk of infection. Rather, allow it to retract naturally over the first few years of life. Between ages 3 and 4, you can teach your son to care for the penis and foreskin himself.
You and your husband are wise to talk through the pros and cons of circumcision. Make a decision and live with it for a few weeks. If the decision still feels right to you, go with it. Either way, your little boy will be just fine.
www.parenting.comWhether you're adopting domestically or internationally, what you need to know
Considering adoption? For your child's well-being now and in the future, find out as much as you can about her origins. Going forward, you'll want to keep an eye out for any health or development challenges. Whether you're adopting domestically or internationally, here's what you need to know:
Before you bring her home
The best time to gather your child's medical history is during the adoption process. It's easier to do this if you're adopting in the U.S., but a growing number of countries, such as Korea and Guatemala, now provide extensive information. Ask about:
• Her birth mother's health, including any physical illness, chronic conditions, history of depression, or alcoholism.
• How the child compares with other kids her age. Does she eat or sleep less, or cry more? Has she been sick?
• Locating her medical records, often scattered among hospi-tals, orphanages, and foster homes. You may need to make quite a few calls to get them all.
The first few months
Aim for an initial checkup within two weeks of bringing her home (even if she's had a medical exam in a foreign country). Of course, if she's sick see a pediatrician right away; about half of adoptees have common illnesses like ear infections that need immediate treatment. She'll need a follow-up four to six weeks after her first visit.
During these early appointments, your child's vision and hearing will be checked. If she's under 4 months, expect the standard newborn screenings. Internationally adopted children will be vaccinated — whether or not they've already gotten shots abroad. The doctor will also screen for:
• Nutritional risks like anemia
• Lead poisoning
• Genetic abnormalities (an African-American baby, for instance, will be tested for sickle-cell anemia)
• Infectious diseases, depending on the birth mother's history and country of origin
In the future
It's not uncommon for newly adopted kids to start off behind in growth and development — to crawl or walk a little later than average, for example. This might be due to a lack of early stimulation, a nutritional deficiency, or, more rarely, exposure to alcohol or drugs. That's why your pediatrician will pay close attention to your child's growth pattern and milestones, especially during her first years. Fortunately, with good food, medical care, and love, most adoptees with delays catch up in a few months or a year.
"Does my child need a special doctor?"
Probably not. Just look for a pediatrician who communicates well and is willing to devote time to your family's needs. However, if your child has been seriously ill, or experienced abuse or emotional trauma, it's a good idea to seek out a doctor who has treated adopted kids with these issues.
Party-throwing advice for the younger set
Before about age 3, celebrations are really for you and other doting relatives — little kids won't remember a thing, and making a big deal might backfire (a noisy crowd can be scary). To keep things fun for all:
Invite family and the kids your toddler plays with regularly (four or five is plenty). An hour and a half is about right — enough time to play, have a snack, sing, and eat cake.
Set up big toys — pop-up mesh tents, oversize foam shapes and letters, riding toys, and baby strollers with dolls, since most 2- and 3-year-olds would rather roam around and run than sit still long enough to make a craft. Roll out a long piece of bubble wrap for them to stomp on. If the weather's good, take it all outside, and add sidewalk chalk and balls.
Serve simple snacks like cut-up fruit, cheese and crackers, or pizza bites. Fancier food won't dazzle a toddler.
Let your child help you pick out his party outfit and the music to play. Make a special paper hat or crown together with his name on it to wear on party day.
Extend the fun by playing hide-and-seek with some of the gifts after guests leave. Give him easy clues to find them, such as "It's in the room with the blue chair."
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Toddlers can be very squirmy. As every parent know, they hate to sit in one place for too long a period of time, they get bored easily, and they want to be the boss! It is no surprise that so many small children dislike staying in their car seats.
It is extremely important that your child be securely fastened in the proper size car seat or booster seat each time he takes a ride in the car. How can you make his ride (and yours) more pleasant? By making a few changes you can help to keep those restless little ones safely belted in their seats and make everyone's trip more enjoyable.
Birthday celebrations for toddlers and preschoolers can involve a fair amount of planning. It can be daunting as the guest list expands and you worry about cake and decorations. But don't worry, your child is not expecting a 'perfect' occasion!
By the age of two, your child may be fairly vocal and able to understand the basic idea of their birthday, if you explain it to them. By three to four, your child will enjoy looking at their baby photo album with you and hearing about the story of their birth.
Older children may be aware their birthday is coming up for quite a while in advance and may start 'pestering' for certain presents. See Tackling 'pester power' for more information.
Toddlers and preschoolers enjoy toys that rock and move, things that they can build (and knock down!) and cuddly toys. Age-appropriate present options include soft teddy bears, bricks and blocks and first train sets.
Following are some tips for a terrific toddler party:
Holding a small, morning or afternoon celebration - and plan to keep the running time short.
Keep numbers small. You may like to invite your child's friends from playgroup, nursery, or preschool, as well as family. Five to seven children should be more than enough. This will also depend on how much space you have and what you can afford.
Think about a theme for the party - this may be your child's favourite colour or much-loved character from a TV show or film. You can reflect the theme in invitations, decorations, food and party games.
Make a tape of your child's favourite songs to play.
Plan some activities for the children - visit the CBeebies website for more party game ideas.
Enlist other parents to help you run games.
Keep food simple - finger food is best.
Your child may have ideas about what sort of birthday cake they would like, but don't get too stressed about providing the 'perfect cake'.
Save the food and cake until the end of the party, and you won't need to give out party bags!
The idea of weaning your baby is to progress them from a milk-based diet to more substantial, yet equally nutritious foods.
Weaning your baby from the bottle or the breast can start from six months onwards.
The milk your baby has been drinking is the only food he'll have needed - but from six months, he'll need more iron and nutrients than are found in milk. So you should try to wean him on to 'solids' - soft or puréed foods that you would possibly prepare for the rest of your family.
Try giving solids when:
Don't stride in with a roast dinner for your baby the first time he gets to try solids! Ideally you should start him off on soft, tasty foods:
If the food is hot, make sure you stir and test it before giving it to your baby. Don't add any foods to a bottle with milk, as it could cause your baby to choke. Don't force-feed him - if he doesn't seem to want the food, try another day.
Your baby should still be having breastmilk or 600 millilitres (one pint) of formula milk a day.
Prepare your own food for your baby where possible. It's cheaper than buying ready-made jars, can be made in bulk and frozen and you know exactly what the ingredients are.
Add other foods to the vegetable, fruit and cereal purées:
If a family member suffers from food-related allergies, it's important that you talk to your doctor or health visitor before introducing any of the foods below into your baby's diet:
Allergies to nuts, nut products and some seeds may only affect one per cent of the population, but for those who are at high risk (people with allergies such as hay fever, asthma and eczema in the family) it's best to steer clear of them altogether.
Once your baby has got used to the whole idea of eating his first solid foods, you could start introducing more tastes and textures to his diet.
You could try fish, all meats and eggs provided they're minced or mashed. Try to ensure they get at least one serving of protein (meat, fish, eggs or pulses) each day.
Around this time you should be encouraging your baby to chew. He may not have many teeth but it's advisable to leave a few little lumps in his food, just so he gets used to new textures. Try to stay near to your baby to give him encouragement and to make sure he doesn't choke. You could give your baby:
Your baby's milk intake should still be 500 to 600 millilitres (one pint) per day.
If your baby's now on the move, you may well need to increase the amount of food you give. He should be eating three minced meals per day, plus milk, as well as fruit and healthy snacks in between meals.
Make sure your baby has full-fat dairy products as part of his diet now - he needs it for growth and strength.
If you're bringing up your baby as a vegetarian, feed him two servings of split pulses (red lentils, split peas) each day. Also make sure there's plenty of fruit and vegetables at mealtimes as vitamin C helps to absorb iron. Give milk, diluted fruit juice or water at mealtimes.
Your baby's diet should now include plenty of starchy foods and a wide range of fruit and vegetables.
You can now start to give your baby full-fat cows' milk as the main drink (not semi-skimmed or skimmed milk). Aim to give around 350 millilitres (12 ounces) a day.
Don't be afraid to try your baby on the foods he didn't like before.
Pre-prepared jars or packet foods are convenient, especially if you're visiting friends or family and need to take something for your baby. If you do give him bought foods, try to mix them with fresh foods.
And to quench baby's thirst...
Some babies are born with teeth, some get their first teeth (milk teeth) from about six months old, while others will have still have no teeth by the time they're one. It varies. But most children will have all their milk teeth by the time they're two-and-a-half and will begin to get their first 'second' teeth at the back when they are six years old.
Studies have shown that babies are more likely to suffer a slight rise in temperature when teeth come through the gums. And, for a number of babies, this can make them a little irritable, more inclined to wake up crying at night, more liable to drool and dribble, and needing more soothing and comfort.
Teething takes the blame for all sorts of baby complaints - from bad temper and a runny nose to rashes, crying, and extra dirty nappies. Be sure you check with your doctor or health visitor if you're concerned about your baby's behaviour, and don't just put it down to 'teething'. Teething shouldn't make babies ill.
You may find your baby's gums become red and sore, one cheek may be more flushed, and she may seem more fretful. Dribbling and gnawing is also a common complaint. Again this may not necessarily mean your baby is 'teething' but there are ways to ease your anxiety and your baby's discomfort.
"I don't think my baby was bothered by her teeth coming through, but she did get a sore chin and cheeks because her dribble used to end up on it, and then she'd spread it round over her face as she sucked on her fingers... I used petroleum jelly to keep it from getting worse."
Your child's teeth will include 20 primary teeth - ten at the top and ten at the bottom. Even if your baby has only one or two teeth, they need to be looked after properly. Make sure you brush your baby's teeth as soon as they appear, and try to get into a routine of brushing them twice a day, in the morning and before bedtime.
You should use a smear of fluoride toothpaste on a small toothbrush for your baby. Baby toothpaste may have a nicer taste, but doesn't offer as much fluoride protection. Check with your family dentist if in doubt of which toothpaste to choose.
Set a good example - your baby will learn about good teeth hygiene by watching you brush your own teeth.
Your baby's diet is also important for the growth of healthy teeth. When introducing food and drink other than milk, try to avoid sweet things as sugar causes tooth decay. When appropriate offer healthy alternatives to sweets - such as fresh fruit, raw vegetables and water. Avoid fizzy drinks, syrups and lollipops.
Keeping tabs on your baby during labor
Throughout your labor, you and the medical staff will no doubt be wondering how your baby is handling all the excitement. That's why monitoring was created. The least invasive type is intermittent external monitoring (also known as auscultation), in which your labor nurse uses a stethoscope or handheld ultrasound device to check the baby's heart rate every 15 minutes or so. The advantage to this method is that you can keep moving, which helps promote more efficient contractions.
External electronic monitoring involves strapping two electronic devices to the mother's belly to measure the fetal heart rate and contractions. The intensity of the contractions is shown in waves on a printout, while the fetal heartbeat can be observed on a video screen. (One great way for your partner to help out in this situation is to watch the printout and tell you when the contraction has peaked and is on the downhill swing.)
Internal electronic monitoring — performed by attaching a small electrode to your baby's scalp — is the most effective form, but it renders you immobile and is generally reserved for situations in which there is reason to be concerned about the baby.
Several recent studies have resulted in a popular bias against fetal monitoring. These reports tend to indicate that monitoring can result, at worst, in an unnecessary cesarean — due to false signals of fetal distress — and may increase discomfort and slow the progress of labor by immobilizing the mother. But the bottom line is that monitoring remains a valuable tool that can provide important reassurance for both doctors and parents.
www.parenting.comNow, more than ever, fathers want to become better dads to their daughters. In the past, it was often assumed that moms played the primary role in shaping girls into young women. However, recent research suggests that the role of fathers can be just as influential, especially when it comes to a daughter's self-image and decision making.
How a daughter perceives her father begins at a very early age. Her perceptions may change with age, but it seems that those perceptions can be categorized into four general types of dads: Prince, Buddy, Ghost and Boss.
PRINCE DAD
He is a knight in shining armor because he treats his daughter like a princess. He is always willing to talk to her about the things she is interested in, and he spends time doing things she likes to do, including playing tea party or doll games. When they go out to dinner, he pulls out her chair and compliments her appearance. As an adult, the daughter views her father as someone who knew how to listen and who taught her not to be afraid of being feminine.
BUDDY DAD
He is his daughter's pal. They often do things he enjoys together. He encourages his daughter to try new things, even if it is predominantly a male activity. Buddy Dad is a great storyteller, but often his stories are about things he is interested in. As an adult, the daughter often sees her father as the one who taught her to stand up for herself and strive for what she wants. He may not have taken the time to talk about girl stuff, but he always supported his daughter's choices.
BOSS DAD
He is the authority figure in the home. He doesn't spend as much time listening as he does laying down the law. His daughter sees him as harsh and sometimes critical. He occasionally spends time talking about her concerns, but he often tells her what to do. The daughter views her dad as loving but rigid.
GHOST DAD
He is the father she hardly ever sees. When Ghost Dad is home, he hides behind a newspaper or in front of a TV. He is not available to talk to anyone. He is a busy man who works hard for the family but hardly ever sees them. He is not willing or able to talk to his daughter and provide her with self-assurance. As an adult, the daughter usually insists he did show love but did not give his time. She grew up thinking that talking and spending time together is not something she can get from others.
Additional research is required to determine how behavior and other factors shape father-daughter relationships, including how the relationship influences a woman's choice in life mate…if at all. What we do know is that the bonds between dads and daughters begin very early in life.
How would your daughter describe you, and how would you label yourself?
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As your child heads back to school, he or she will be renewing old friendships and making new ones. Some teens have a stronger natural ability to develop and maintain relationships. But all can use some help evaluating their friendships. Don't assume your child knows the fundamentals of healthy relationships.
Teach the language and actions of respect, and let your child know that you expect him or her to treat others with respect as well as to require it from others. Be a good role model in your own relationships.
Help your child examine his or her friendships to determine which are healthy and which may need to be ended. Here are some questions for your child to think about:
Learning how to ask questions about all relationships will help your child avoid a harmful friendship and feeling stuck. It will also point out things that he or she needs to improve to be a better friend. As a parent, you can use this to start a nonjudgmental discussion about someone that concerns you in your child's life.
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Shari Harper of Spokane, WA, was shocked to notice that her daughter, Creta, 8, was developing breasts. "My baby's growing up too fast!" she thought.
In fact, this isn't unusual. Over the past century, the average age at which girls get their periods has dropped to 11 to 12; breasts usually appear 18 to 24 months beforehand.
No matter what the "normal" age, it can be hard to be the first girl among friends to need a bra. To help your daughter feel confident about her new body:
Say something. Even if you're close, she may not feel comfortable discussing this with you. In that case, suggest a shopping trip for a bra and new tops. That lets her know you've noticed, without making it a big deal.
Reassure her. If she complains about her chest, or is getting teased, explain that all girls go through this eventually and that there's nothing wrong with her. Since pubic and underarm hair usually show up at the same time as or soon after breasts develop, let her know that that's normal, too.
Clothe her comfortably. Often, girls will wear baggy shirts or hunch over to hide their chests. Tell her you'd be happy to help her choose clothes that fit well but don't emphasize her chest. She may want to wear a sports bra, which minimizes the bust.
Let her act her age. She may look grown-up, but it's okay for her to be the kid she still is.
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Q My 11-month-old daughter has gone from eating two jars of baby food a day to only one or two spoonfuls. She's still drinking the same amount of formula and water. I'm worried something could be wrong with her. What should I do?
A Between 6 and 12 months of age, many babies go through a passing stage of refusing solids and favoring milk — either from the breast, or formula. This preference is likely due to the ease and familiarity of sucking from the breast or bottle versus the hard work of swallowing solid food. As long as your baby gets the nutrients she needs during this phase, there's no real cause for concern. Here's how to keep her healthy and encourage her to return to solids:
Feed her plenty of milk. Your baby needs about two ounces of formula per pound per day. Most 11-month-olds average around 32 to 36 ounces daily. As long as you feed her this amount during her solid-food strike, she'll get all the vitamins and minerals she needs.
Add healthy fat to her diet. During an infant's first year, many of the calories for growth come from fat. Human milk is about 50 percent fat (yet another reason breast milk is best). If your baby's growth seems to be slowing, try increasing her intake of nutritious fats. Flax seed oil is a great supplement for children during temporary dietary downturns. Add two teaspoons to her formula (½ teaspoon to four bottles) daily. This provides around 80 extra calories a day. Avocado also contains lots of healthy fats and is a perfect food for babies. Mash up a little ripe avocado and let her eat it off your fingertip.
Offer nutrient-dense foods. For picky solid-food eaters, stick with foods that pack the most nutritional punch in a small volume. Your best bets are avocado, yogurt, tofu, eggs (only after one year of age), veggies (such as carrots and squash), and flax seed oil.
Redefine "baby food." Perhaps your daughter is trying to tell you that she wants an upgrade in her cuisine! Many mothers say that once they switch from jarred baby food to homemade, their babies begin to eat more solids. Try giving your child the same fresh, healthy foods you eat: Purée fresh fruits, cooked vegetables, lean meats, and seafood (such as wild salmon). By feeding her nutritious homemade food — the very food you eat — you're shaping her tastes from an early age. Today’s childhood obesity epidemic (and subsequent nutrition-related illnesses, such as diabetes) is due in large part to children being raised without a taste preference for healthy foods. Instead, kids favor artificially sweetened and nutritionally deficient packaged foods. If you serve your baby freshly prepared foods as often as possible, she's more likely to grow up preferring those tastes and shunning packaged foods.
Try lap-top eating. Sit your daughter on your lap, put her puréed food on your own plate, and try a bit of it yourself. This strategy capitalizes on an infant's desire to copy what you do. Seeing the food on your plate and watching you eating it should entice her to try it, too. Some babies just want to eat grown-up foods on grown-up plates!
www.parenting.comQ My wife may need to stop night nursing our 2-year-old for health reasons, but our son demands it several times during the night. Any suggestions?
A It may help to get behind the eyes of your 2-year-old to understand why he loves to night nurse. During the day, mom and child are busy; yet at night he has mom all to himself. Life is good. If he sleeps next to mom, he's inches away from his favorite cuisine, so naturally he's going to "milk" the situation for all he can get. This problem may require some creative parenting; here are some tips to help you wean your child at night.
Tank up your toddler during the day. Reserve a couple of special times during the day to snuggle up with your toddler for nap nursing. This tranquil interlude during a busy day is a luxury that won't last much longer, so enjoy it while you can. Also, wake baby for a full feeding just before you go to bed. This may satisfy your child and give you a couple extra hours of sleep. Enjoy father nursing. Remember, nursing implies comforting, not only breastfeeding. While only mothers can breastfeed, fathers can "nurse." A custom that I have used to help Martha wean our night nursers is a fathering technique I call "wearing down." Just before bedtime, Dad can wear Baby around in a sling until he is sound asleep. This capitalizes on the concept of sleep associations. If a baby is always breastfed to sleep then he will naturally expect to breastfed back to sleep when he awakens. Once your toddler gets used to Dad putting him to sleep, he will more willingly accept Dad's comfort. Teach your child that nighttime is meant for sleeping not for nursing. Two-year-olds are verbal enough to understand this concept. When you put him to sleep say, "nummies go night-night," or whatever term he uses for breastfeeding. If he wakes during the night say, "nummies are night-night." When night-weaning our toddlers, the last thing they would hear was, "mommy go night-night, daddy go night-night, baby go night-night, and nummies go night-night." Constantly hearing this phrase will condition your child not to expect to be nursed when he awakens. Let Dad take over at night. Dad should realize it's very hard for his wife to say no to her night-nursing toddler. A mother is biologically programmed to respond to her child's cries. In fact it has been demonstrated that when a child cries, blood flow to a mother's breast doubles, accompanied by a biological urge to nurse. If your wife is burning out from sleep depravation and the above night-weaning techniques are not successful, sleep with your toddler in a separate room for a couple of nights so that mother and child are not in close nursing distance of one another. While this may be hard on all three of you, you'll be surprised what comforting techniques you'll come up with in a pinch. Once your child gets used to "father nursing" and realizes that nighttime is for sleeping and not for eating, you will all enjoy a full night's sleep. Remember, nursing lasts for a relatively short time in the life with your child. So while night nursing can be exhausting, think of it as a long-term investment. The memories of nighttime love and availability are ones that will last a lifetime.
“Heartburn and indigestion often occur during pregnancy because hormone changes allow reflux of stomach acids back into the esophagus,” March of Dimes medical director Dr. Nancy Green says.
“These stomach acids can irritate the sensitive esophageal lining, causing burning sensation right around the heart (in the chest or under the breastbone). Late in pregnancy, the problem can be compounded by the increasing size of the uterus as it presses against stomach,” Green says.
Here are some tips if you want to avoid heartburn:
If you experience heartburn, Green says taking an antacid made from calcium Carbonate can help.
“Pregnant women are common sufferers of heartburn and taking a calcium carbonate antacid can not only relieve heartburn but can serve a dual purpose as a calcium supplement and help supply much-needed calcium,” Green says. “Calcium carbonate is the same form of the mineral found in many calcium supplements and can help expectant mothers maintain strong bones, as part of a healthy diet of food containing calcium.”
I feel fashionably inferior to the other moms at preschool dropoff. Do I need to dress up?
Q Some of the more fashion-conscious mothers at my kindergartner's school made jokey comments about my clothes, and now I feel pressured to dress up more for morning dropoff. Should I?
A Between fixing the lunches, making beds, and coaxing a halfway decent breakfast down my kids' throats, the last thing on my mind is putting on a faceful of Maybelline and slipping into couture first thing in the morning. Shoot, everyone should be thankful I'm not showing up at the school in a bathrobe, rollers, and slippers.
This is what my friends and I tried to explain to an acquaintance recently when, during a girls' night out, she suggested that too many of us moms let ourselves go for the sake of the kids. "If you cared about yourself, you'd put on some makeup, a little perfume, and fix your hair so you feel good," she said. My friends and I looked at her like she had 12 heads, and then argued her down — "Who's going to get all decked out just to buy bananas and diapers at Kroger?"
But later, alone, I had to admit that I do carry myself differently when I have on a cute top and a little lip gloss, and perhaps it wouldn't hurt every once in a while to remind my friends and my husband — and especially myself — that when I feel like it, I clean up good.
The key words here, though, are "when I feel like it." And that should be your mantra. No need to keep up with Barbie. Jeans or skirt, heels or sneakers, follow your own dress code.
Don't worry if your twins aren't hitting their developmental markers at the same time
Of course you can't help comparing your baby's accomplishments to those of other tots, but when the one who's leaping ahead happens to be his twin, you're bound to have double the anxiety. Why is one twin not like the other? Because no two babies are the same, even though they were womb-mates. So don't worry if your twins aren't hitting their early developmental markers at the same time.
Fraternal twins are just like any brother and sister pair. Did you and your sibling roll over or walk at exactly the same age? Probably not. Though identical twins may have a similar rate of development, there are many reasons why there could be disparities.
Twins with very different birth weights often have different development schedules. And since multiples are more likely to be born preterm, there can be medical conditions present that affect their early development.
Keep in mind that slight differences don't mean much. With preemie and low-birth weight babies, expect to see some delays in milestones like holding up their heads, smiling, rolling over, and grasping objects. But if one twin is significantly lagging behind the other, let your pediatrician know.
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