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Getting pregnant after the age of 35 can be a difficult task for a lot of women. In this article you’ll find some methods that you can try to boost your odds of getting pregnant in the next months. Ready? Let’s go…

Caffeine

Here’s a massive one! Caffeine can dramatically decrease the odds of getting pregnant, particularly if you’re under going fertility treatments. If you are like most women, it’s hard to give up that Starbucks cup of espresso or latte in the morning. Like some of us, without caffeine in your morning you could expertise headaches or migraines. So if that is so, start weaning yourself off slowly and step by step from this caffeine. There are a lot of coffees and teas you could purchase in the market with half the caffeine. As you are doing this, increase your intake of water in the morning and throughout the day. This will even help you reduce and alleviate the headaches.

Use Chinese Herbs

Within the U.S., you might have to ingest these herbs in the form of capsules, granules, tablets or teas. The materials are typically derived from leaves, fruits, flowers, roots and barks of various herbs. Chinese herbs have been used to treat cases of infertility as a result of obstruction of the fallopian tubes, absence of ovulation, endometriosis, amenorrhea, uterine fibroids, and other causes. It’s possible you’ll be required to make use of these herbs each day or periodically relying on the cause. Several ladies who have used Chinese herbs have reportedly become pregnant in three to six months.

Appropriate Diet

If you are over weight or under weight, start on a diet that will bring your body into the weight range it needs to be in. Make sure that the food regimen is one that will provide your body with all the foods rich in nutritional value that a body requires to be strong. The more healthy the body is the more fertile it will likely be so, think about seeing your doctor and have them put you on a food plan that will be healthy for you, and allow you to get your weight the place it belongs. They’ll also let you recognize what not to eat or drink to assist you increase the fertility levels.

Most important, open yourself and be ready to learn new tips to get pregnant. With the correct way of thinking, the patience and persistence to try new and confirmed methods, it is more than possible to get pregnant naturally after the age of 35.

Are you struggling to get pregnant? Don’t lose hope!

Learn how to get pregnant naturally in 8 weeks with Pregnancy Miracle By Lisa Olson – the most recommended holistic remedies system on the internet or find more about how to get pregnant fast here.

Green parenting doesn’t have to be a nuisance and can be easy to incorporate into your life. There are many things that you can do to make a difference to the planet and the environment that you bring your children up in. The best approach is to make small changes so that they can become lifestyle habits for the long term. Small changes can have a huge impact so don’t feel like you are doing nothing.

This article gives you a few ideas of what you can do to be a greener parent.

Breastfeed For As Long As You Can – Breastfeeding is an important activity for the physical and emotional health of your baby. It creates a deeper and greater bond between you and your child and provides them with the best start in life. The WHO recommends breastfeeding for the first 2 years but it is better to continue until your child weans themselves. Although many people will say there isn’t a benefit to doing so but there is. Not only for a child’s emotional development but also because studies are now showing that many immune factors that a baby gets from breast milk increases in concentration in the 2nd year. A child’s immune system doesn’t fully develop until around the age of 6 so providing the best nutrition and support possible is only possible through breastfeeding for as long as possible.

Breastfeeding not only is great for your child’s emotional and physical well being but also is great for the environment as doesn’t involve bottles or using electricity.

Elimination Communication or Cloth Diapers – Elimination communication is a toilet training method used from the moment a baby is born. One takes cues from their baby in order to learn when a baby needs to go and this enables one to get them to use a potty by holding them over it instead of using diapers. Elimination communication thus is the best solution for the environment. There is no need to buy cloth diapers and use electricity and water to continue to wash them and there is also no need to buy disposables that get dumped into landfills.

Elimination communication can also be done on full time, part time or occasionally but does require a big commitment from parents in order to make it work. It can be a great way to feel closer to your child as you learn to read your baby’s subtle signals.

Alternatively though if this isn’t a method you want to use, cloth diapers are a good secondary alternative. Many people who practise elimination communication often do so in conjunction with using cloth diapers. Cloth diapers these days are extremely easy to use as well and often mimic the way a disposable is. There are many types you can use and you will need to do your research in order to determine which one is best for you and your baby.

If you need a baby cot bed or pop up travel cot check out our websites for the best deals and reviews on your favourite brands.

Has it come to that time with your baby when you are looking at weaning onto solids? No need to worry, it can be so straightforward. Baby led solids/weaning is something you must look into!

Infant-led weaning onto solids is not something new. For many years, mothers and fathers have been making it possible for their children to consume food by themselves and take their time to explore and discover solid food. In latest times, however, this method of introducing table food into a child’s diet has been obtaining some good press, and many more folks are now adopting this great way of assisting their tiny ones learn to love food, and gradually decrease their intake of milk.

Baby-led weaning onto solids in a nutshell

In a nutshell, child-led weaning is basically the method of allowing your baby to tell you when he or she is completely ready to start exploring table food, and then him or her in family mealtimes, which will supply the possibility to choose what he or she would like to consume, and also the speed at which he or she does that. You don’t have to make any purees, and you don’t have to devote hours spoon-feeding your infant.

The benefits of weaning onto solids this way

Both you and your baby will get some awesome benefits from following a infant-led weaning onto solidsstrategy. You will:
o Provide your boy or girl the chance to experience a range of flavours and textures
o Be able to make the most of family mealtimes
o Let your infant to consume food at his personal pace, and stay in control
o Save money and time
o Be encouraging your kid towards independence
o Help your infant try food in a interesting and pleasant way
o Avoid tough mealtime battles
o Be capable of relax about the quantity of solid food your boy or girl is consuming
o Give your child an early chance to learn to chew, which can assist speech to improve
o Encourage your baby to develop vital skills like hand-eye coordination
o Eat together as a family which is such a blessing

Yes, it can get messy!

When it comes down to it, it has to be said, there will always be some mess with what ever approach of weaning you choose. Even if you choose to spoon-feed your child, he can quite simply spit it out, or plunge his hands in the bowl, or simply turn his head away leaving the spoonful of mush plastered right across his cheek! And at some stage, your little one will want to try feeding herself, and that’s never going to be clean from the get go. Mess is one of the points you have to accept when you have children, but you can minimise the damage by becoming ready.

So when do you begin baby-led weaning onto solids?

At all-around the 6-month mark (with some versatility either side, specially for premature babies who might only grow fascinated in solid food a little bit later), your kid will give you some obvious indicators that he is completely ready to commence wanting table food. This will probably be the moment that your child is sitting at the table with you and picks up some food off your plate which he then pops in his mouth!
At this point, you can start to give your infant a small selection of things to test, anytime she’s awake and in a good mood, and you’re having a little something to snack on yourself.

The first period of time of baby-led weaning onto solids

In the course of the very first handful of weeks, even when it feels counter-intuitive, it’s better to be sure your infant isn’t particularly hungry when you attempt this, so that your child is in the correct mood just to play and discover. Your baby will still be satisfying her hunger via milk feeds, and she will be much more apt to demonstrate an interest in discovering table food when she isn’t hungry or over-tired.
Don’t be concerned about the quantity he’s in fact getting into his little tummy – it is only over a gradual period of weeks and months that he will begin to take in food properly, as his body needs it and he develops the required competencies to properly eat by himself.

The golden rules when weaning onto solids

Your infant should be:
o Sitting up straight
o Always under supervision
o Allowed to remain in charge
o Given adequate time
o Offered a balanced diet

Excellent first food

It’s a good concept to begin with fruit and veggies; long batons of cooked carrot, florets of broccoli with an extended piece of stalk to act as a handle, pieces of perfectly ripe pear and baby corn are all fantastic for this discovery phase. It is vital that you remove any stones or significant pips from fruit, and also make make sure that you cut items like grapes and cherries in half.

Fundamentally, something your infant can grab in his fist and get in his mouth is ideal. The only items you actually will need to steer clear of are honey and entire nuts till your baby is one, and bear in mind that it is entirely unnecessary to add any salt or sugar to his food.

Rebecca Mercer: child specialist and author of Baby-led Weaning Onto Solids: A reference guide

You are so excited as you have just discovered you have a new life growing inside you!! What a miracle, but also a big responsibility! To find out what you can do to take the best care of your health during pregnancy, and that of your child, you head to the internet.

You read time and time again that it is absolutely essential for you to eat good, nutritious food. You will read information on how you can not just eat anything just because you are pregnant. You read that what you eat helps with the brain, bone and organ development of your child, as well as your own health during pregnancy, labour and recovery.

Perhaps this information was new to you, perhaps not. It is all good, helpful information that helps you to lay down the foundation for your baby.

BUT . . . did you know this?

What you eat during your pregnancy will ALSO help your baby eat well after it is born and on solid foods. As your pregnancy progresses, some of what you eat will cross the placenta and the taste will be in your baby’s amniotic fluid. Babies actually swallow this fluid and are able to taste these flavours even in the womb. Doctors believe that babies who are exposed to a wide variety of fruit and vegetables while in the uterus have less of a chance of being a fussy eater later in life. They think that these are the babies who will eat their fruit and vegetables without putting up any fight.

Another rarely known fact is that doctors also believe that the children of moms who drink their milk while pregnant will be weaned onto regular milk a lot easier! Who doesn’t like that idea? It is recommended that you drink at least one glass of milk, preferably fat free, a day. A great thing about drinking milk is that it is also a good source of calcium which the babys bones and teeth need for development, even though the teeth do not come through for at least a few months.

So, how would you be? It is what you eat while you are pregnant that may possibly tell how well it will eat fruit and vegetables!! Take my advice, do anything you can to do that will make it a good eater. If you can avoid the struggles later on to get it to eat healthy, all the better!!

So, a possible long term benefit to make you strive for your health during pregnancy!

Click here for must have tips on how to do your very best for your health during pregnancy and for the well being of your unborn child.

Women have been feeding their children this way from the beginning, and it is of course natures intended food, therefore the best nourishment for your child. The decision to breast-feed is entirely up to you and each woman should make up her own mind, it is an individual choice.

There are a number of reasons why a mother would decide not to breastfeed, including infection e.g. hepatitis or HIV this can be passed onto the baby through the breast milk, or if the mother is on long-term medication for an illness, in this situation it is advised to bottle feed instead. Some mothers can’t produce enough milk and others just do not like the idea at all, either way it’s a personal decision.

In the 40s and 50s it was very unfashionable to breastfeed and mothers were encouraged to bottle-feed. It’s a different story now days with our health conscious society, more and more mothers are deciding that for them and their infant’s breast is best. Breastfeeding benefits not only the child but the mother also.

It is the baby’s natural food and is easily digested limiting stomach problems and wind causing pain and discomfort to the baby. It is also provides antibodies reducing the risks of gastro-intestinal infections, urine infections, chest and ear it infections, breathing difficulties including asthma, diabetes, eczema and childhood obesity.

There are also lots of benefits to the mother for breastfeeding including a close maternal bond between you and your baby, a reduced risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer and osteoporosis. Breastfeeding also helps the womb to contract back to its normal size much quicker than if you were not breastfeeding.

You need to keep in mind that when you are breast-feeding it is not safe to take the combined pill but you can take the mini pill for this duration, this of course dispels the myth that you cannot get pregnant during breastfeeding you definitely can. Another positive note is that breastfeeding aids in the loss of the body’s fat stores that were stored in preparation for breastfeeding, this will speed up loosing the pregnancy weight.

Although keep in mind that eating a well balance diet with daily vitamins and minerals is fundamental for producing high quality milk for your baby, this is not the time for any crash diets.

One of the big concerns for mothers when breast feeding is that they are unsure of the amounts of food the baby is consuming, once the baby is breastfeeding well and he or she is having wet and dirty nappies be assured all is well. Your midwife or maybe friends and family can help and advise when you are going through those anxious few weeks of breastfeeding, there are also breast feeding support groups that you can go along to and speak to other mums with the same problems or concerns as you.

Another concern for mothers is breast-feeding in public, most people are okay with breastfeeding in front of friends and family but the thought of breastfeeding in public makes them a little nervous. Do not let this put you off, if you and your baby are comfortable with it that’s all that matters. There is always a discrete table you can sit at in a restaurant and or on the train and there is always the option of planning your outings around feed times to avoid it completely.

When you decide the time is right to wean your baby onto bottles and get some routine back into your life you need to decide if you will be expressing your own milk or using formula.

Expressing is said to be a difficult and tricky task that takes a bit of time and patients, however if you decide to go down this route you can build up a store of breast milk and freeze it in specially adapted freezer bags. Breast milk can last up to six months in the freezer. This way you can be more flexible with your time and your baby gets all the goodness of breast milk.

Although a lot of women actually want their breasts back and to feel it’s their body once again so they go with formula. Bottle feeding using formula is not a bad idea as you can stop worrying about those embarrassing wet patches and get back into your pretty smaller size bras again.

Not all women want to or can breast feed but I think you should give it a go. It is a wonderful bonding experience for both mother and child providing a lot of health benefits, its extremely rewarding all round.

Adrien Brody is a business writer specializing in health and beauty products and has written authoritative articles on the industry. To learn more about breast enhancement, make sure you visit http://curvesenhancement.com

Shopping for clothes takes on a whole new level of complexity when you are pregnant. Not only do you have to guess ahead to how big all parts of your body will be in the months ahead, but you need to plan for different seasons as well. It’s one thing when you buy a pretty dress for summer and know you can wear it for the next few years but when you are maternity clothes shopping, your window of wearing a new item may only for a couple of months unless you know for sure you are going to have many children in the coming years. Also, maternity clothes can receive a lot more abuse than your average top or dress as you are continuing to stretch it out more each day you wear it with an increasingly bigger belly.  Chances are, there may not be a lot of clothes left in your wardrobe by the time you have your baby that you even want to recycle for another pregnancy several years down the road. With this in mind, you may want to target some good basic maternity clothes that will carry you across several seasons to maximize your purchases. Here are a few suggestions:

 

Any good American girl needs a good pair of jeans. If you are newly pregnant, you may want to postpone this purchase with a BellaBand that will allow your pre-pregnancy pants and shorts to fit a bit longer by unbuttoning the top button and even unzipping partway as the BellaBand fits around your hips and tummy and will hold the pants in place without anyone knowing your secret. The BellaBand can also be worn on pregnancy pants that are bit big and need more support – this is particularly useful after you have your baby when you are not quite ready to squeeze into your pregnancy jeans, but don’t want to show off a postpartum belly or have your maternity jeans fall off.

 

When you are ready to buy maternity jeans and maternity pants, buy a little bigger than would fit you at the moment. You will be surprised how much bigger your belly and even hips will get in the coming months. A jean or pant that fits perfectly at 4 months of pregnancy will probably be on the tight side in another month or two down the road. Also, look for a very comfortable fit across the belly. There are so many belly styles to choose from in maternity pants today, some that fit under the belly, some over and some across. When you try on your maternity jeans or pants, try to sit down and get up several times. Lean over and pick up something and try jogging in place. These are the movements that will tell you the true comfort level of the jean and how it fits around the belly. Some lowrise maternity jeans look great on when you first pull them up, but after bending over a few times you realize they may not stay up so well and wearing a belt is not an option. Also, the bigger your belly is, the more likely a super low rise jean or pant will slide down if the belly support is not sufficient.

 

Tanks and tops that have built in nursing bra support with nursing access are extremely useful for pregnancy and beyond. Not only are these types of tops nice and cool to wear for the hotter months, they can be layered effectively in the fall and winter months and worn after the baby for nursing. The tip to buying fitted tanks during pregnancy, is to go a little bigger or looser than normal if you are buying early on in your pregnancy. Not only will your belly get bigger in the coming months, your bust will continue to grow and your rib cage will expand. After you have your baby and your milk comes in, you will probably achieve another cup size of growth if you plan to nurse. Although as your milk supply settles in after 6 weeks or so, your bust size should go down a bit, but your will still be bigger than pre-pregnancy until your baby is weaned.  Bravado, the nursing bra brand, has come out with a Nursing Bra Tank with very good built in bust support and easy to access strap buttons for pull down nursing access. The cotton material is very stretchy and even comes in a super soft organic blend. This bra tank can easily be worn through the first two trimesters of pregnancy due to the stretchy material and then again after the baby is born for postpartum wear and nursing clothes.

 

In general when shopping for maternity tops, look for styles that are extra long and have plenty of belly coverage as well as stretch. There is nothing that is more annoying than having a belly skimming maternity top when you are 8 months pregnant and when you are not in the mood to show off your belly to the world – particularly if this time happens to be during the colder months! Also, a top that is long enough can be worn after the baby postpartum until you slim down. After all, there probably isn’t a woman in the world who wants to show off a postpartum belly in the weeks or even months following the birth of their child!

 

Maternity tops that can double for nursing tops after the baby are always a good investment. Cross over styles are easy to wear and usually very flattering for both before and after the baby and have easy nursing access. Look for styles with ¾ sleeves that can be worn comfortably anytime of the year and dressed up or down.

 

Styles that are versatile for both maternity and postpartum as well as those that are made for all seasons will get you the most wear out of your maternity clothing investment. Make sure that you actually like the styles that you buy and that they are comfortable against your skin since we all know that the clothing we reach for the most in our closet are those that we like the best and feel the most comfortable on, particularly when we are pregnant!

Amy is owner of TummyStyle.com an online store selling a variety of maternity swimwear, maternity sleepwear, nursing clothes, and maternity clothes.

Are saltine crackers destructive to cockatiels?
Mine is obsessed with them as well as bits of toast.

Are seagulls fitting larger birds? These things are HUGE compared to years ago ?
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Are sonar mouse repellents deleterious to birds?
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Are spotted doves & pigeons unendorsed as pets surrounded by hawaii?
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Are Toucans devout pets? ?
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Are you an precipitate bird or an dark owl?
i,m licking my lips as i ask this question.Meoooow!

At what age is an umbrella cockatoo fully weaned?
does anyone have the answer?

At what tempature will a parakeet die?
i was cleaning its cage, got out and its cold where on earth i live and im woundering if it will die in really cold wether or will i have a opening of getting it back? if it doesnt die.

Ave u see a cockatuu?
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Aviary birds question?
i have this aviary it is fairly big and i have birds within it but i also want to put some small mammals in it but which ones any suggestions also no reptiles

B&G macaw or SCARLET which have a more impossible attitude and which one is easier to enjoy?
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Babay pegion alone minister to?
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Babay pegion alone support?
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Baby bird fell from nest – what to do near it?
Today a baby bird fell from its nest into my garden. My cat got it and hurt it, I think one of the wing is quite hurt. We managed to save it but presently we don’t know what to do with it! We don’t know where exactly…

Baby blackbird… lost?
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Baby budgie ( nearly 3 weeks) condition cross-question?
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Baby budgie near broken leg/ dislocated leg?
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Baby budgies are individual without being seen by mother?
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Baby lovebird…rejected?
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Babysitting a Cockatiel…?
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Balding macaw,how long till adjectives feathers grow posterior?
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Barn owl..?
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Beak disease contained by a bird?
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Beginner Parrot and question?
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Best route to provide chickens?
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More Birds Q&A Please visit : PetsAsk.com

PetsAsk.com

With numerous guidelines being written on the importance and benefits of breastfeeding, more and more mothers are becoming aware of how beneficial it is to nurse their babies.  However, it seems that the benefits of breastfeeding to a mother isn’t as well publicised, for many mothers still view breastfeeding as a sacrificial practice almost akin to martyrdom.

Far from it, mothers stand to gain just as much from breastfeeding their babies.  Breastfeeding is beneficial to mothers as it reduces their risk factors for developing certain medical conditions and diseases later in life.  It is beneficial for helping mothers regain their pre-pregnant figure more quickly – something that is bound to attract the attention of many post-partum mothers.  Breastfeeding also has psychological and financial benefits.

Here are the 17 benefits that breastfeeding offers to nursing mothers:

The baby’s suckling action triggers the release of the hormone oxytocin which produces the letdown reflex (a process whereby the breast releases its stored milk to the baby). Oxytocin also causes contraction of the uterus which is important during postpartum healing as it reduces the risk of bleeding and promotes the return of the uterus to its original shape and size.

Breastfeeding delays the return of menstruation. Mothers who formula feed their babies usually observe a return of their periods within 6-8 weeks postpartum. A breastfeeding mother can expect to delay the return of her period for months up to a year and beyond. This helps a mother maintain her stores of iron and helps to reduce her risk of developing iron deficient anaemia.

Breastfeeding reduces a mother’s fertility by preventing ovulation. This can help delay further pregnancies and allow her body to recover before being taxed again with another pregnancy. It is important to note, however, that the period of reduced fertility depends on the mother, her baby and their nursing patterns.

There is evidence that breastfeeding may provide a mother protection against breast, uterine and ovarian cancers.

A common misconception is that breastfeeding increases a mother’s risk of osteoporosis, however, studies have found the converse to be true. While a mother’s stores of calcium are reduced during breastfeeding, it was found that bone density return to normal levels and even increased after weaning, thus providing extra protection against osteoporosis.

Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce a mother’s risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

Some studies also show that breastfeeding helps to reduce a mother’s risk of developing heart disease, heart attacks and stroke.

Breastfeeding also reduces the risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Breastfeeding releases the prolactin – a hormone responsible for milk production. Prolactin also has a calming and sedating effect on a nursing mother. This relaxes the mother, helps her get back to sleep quickly after a night-time feed and may be helpful in combating the baby blues and potential postnatal depression. Studies show that mothers who breastfeed are less likely to suffer from postpartum anxiety and depression.

It has been shown that breastfeeding strengthens the bond between a mother and her baby. This can help first time mothers adapt to the role of motherhood more easily. Studies have also shown that mothers with a history of abandonment are less likely to leave their babies if they breastfeed them.

Breastfed babies are less likely to fall ill which offers mothers greater peace of mind. Something must be said about the benefit of not having to deal with the added stress of living with a child with recurrent illness.

Breastfeeding can consume an extra 200-500 calories a day (the equivalent of swimming 30 laps or riding a bicycle up a hill for an hour). This helps a mother return to her pre-pregnant weight more quickly and easily.

During pregnancy, fat is stored around the waist and hip areas to protect the baby and womb. This fat is utilised in the production of breast milk after birth, which helps a mother return to her pre-pregnant size more quickly than a mother who formula feeds her baby.

It has been estimated that breastfeeding can save parents an average of US$400-800 a year since there is no need to purchase expensive infant formulas.

Breastfeeding directly also means there is no need for baby bottles, sterilizers and other fancy equipment required with bottle feeding.

Breastfeeding is a lot more convenient, especially for night feeds as Mum does not have to get up to prepare formula.

A nursing mother can also rest while she is nursing the baby (utilising the lying down position).  She doesn’t have to stay awake to hold the bottle which allows her to get more rest.

The benefits of breastfeeding for mothers are many and should not be overlooked.  They are also equally valid factors that mothers should take into consideration when deciding whether or not to breastfeed their babies.  Even if some mothers might not want to breastfeed their babies for the benefits that it offers to the baby, I’m sure knowing a little more about “what’s in it for me” might change their perspectives.

Shen-Li is a stay-at-home-mum dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in parenting. She has a formal educational background and former work experience in healthcare. If you enjoyed this article, visit her blog Babylicious and follow her as she learns how to raise a happy, confident and successful person.

Infant constipation is the difficulty in passing bowels.  Usually the bowels are hard and dry.  It is actually a very common occurrence, especially in children and babies who have just been weaned off breast milk and have started formula milk or when he or she is given table food instead of strained foods.

Normal infant stool looks differently at every stage.  Breast-fed babies have stools that are soft, often yellow to orange with white flecks and varying in frequency.  Bottle-fed babies pass stools that look like soft paste, greenish gray, yellow or brown in color. 

Breast fed babies often pass bowel movements once a day or once in two days.  Babies eating solid food have stools that are formed, but still pasty and contain undigested food.  Color and frequency can vary according to the food eaten but often times, when babies start eating solid food, the frequency of bowel movement decreases.

Infant diarrhea, however, is characterized by firm, hard and dry feces.  Often, they look like pebbles.  Another sign of infant diarrhea is that your baby might cry while defecating, while bleeding from the anus might be present. Also check if your baby is eating less often or having abdominal pain.

There are many causes of infant diarrhea, including the lack of fluids, the introduction of new food, having low fiber in their diet, medications and the type of formula he or she is drinking.  Check whether your baby is of the right weight, uses more than five diapers daily, getting enough water.  If not, you might have a problem with infant diarrhea.

Bottle fed babies drinking formula milk are also more prone to infant diarrhea.  On top of that, there are some types of baby formula that can cause constipation, like those containing casein, lactose-free formulas, and anti-regurgitation formulas.  Switching formulas can also cause constipation.

Common medications and supplements like pain killers, antibiotics, iron supplements and aluminum-containing antacids can also cause infant diarrhea.

Contrary to popular opinion, infant constipation is not the absence of regular or daily bowel movement.  Parents are advised not to worry too much. 

Newborns often enter a period of transition during the first two to six weeks of age where there is a marked decrease in bowel movements and an increase in their irritability.  It is also around this time that babies begin to strain due to passing gas and bowel movement.  Straining, per se, is not a sign that your baby has infant diarrhea.  In fact, straining is normal for babies.  Straining is often brought about by gastro-colic and the defecation reflexes.  Think of it as your baby’s way of learning which muscles to use in the effort of eliminating feces.

Therefore, it is not infant diarrhea unless all three conditions are present: hard, firm and pebbly stools, crying and straining while passing feces, and no bowel movement for a certain period of time.

If your baby has infant diarrhea, you must give him lots of water, sugar, fruits, vegetables, juices and probiotics.  Probiotics have been found to have beneficial health benefits including improving the balance of microflora in the intestines.  In fact, infant formula with probiotics are said to change the constitution of intestinal microflora so that it is almost the same as those of breast-fed babies.  One of the most common probiotics in baby formula is bifidobacteria.

For severe cases, or when all these failed, then it might be good to consult your pediatrician to get a good laxative for your baby.  Do this only as a last resort.

Kirthy Shetty, Platinum author. Get all your tips related to: Infant Constipation

For more information on: Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

With numerous guidelines being written on the importance and benefits of breastfeeding, more and more mothers are becoming aware of how beneficial it is to nurse their babies.  However, it seems that the benefits of breastfeeding to a mother isn’t as well publicised, for many mothers still view breastfeeding as a sacrificial practice almost akin to martyrdom.

Far from it, mothers stand to gain just as much from breastfeeding their babies.  Breastfeeding is beneficial to mothers as it reduces their risk factors for developing certain medical conditions and diseases later in life.  It is beneficial for helping mothers regain their pre-pregnant figure more quickly – something that is bound to attract the attention of many post-partum mothers.  Breastfeeding also has psychological and financial benefits.

Here are the 17 benefits that breastfeeding offers to nursing mothers:

The baby’s suckling action triggers the release of the hormone oxytocin which produces the letdown reflex (a process whereby the breast releases its stored milk to the baby). Oxytocin also causes contraction of the uterus which is important during postpartum healing as it reduces the risk of bleeding and promotes the return of the uterus to its original shape and size.

Breastfeeding delays the return of menstruation. Mothers who formula feed their babies usually observe a return of their periods within 6-8 weeks postpartum. A breastfeeding mother can expect to delay the return of her period for months up to a year and beyond. This helps a mother maintain her stores of iron and helps to reduce her risk of developing iron deficient anaemia.

Breastfeeding reduces a mother’s fertility by preventing ovulation. This can help delay further pregnancies and allow her body to recover before being taxed again with another pregnancy. It is important to note, however, that the period of reduced fertility depends on the mother, her baby and their nursing patterns.

There is evidence that breastfeeding may provide a mother protection against breast, uterine and ovarian cancers.

A common misconception is that breastfeeding increases a mother’s risk of osteoporosis, however, studies have found the converse to be true. While a mother’s stores of calcium are reduced during breastfeeding, it was found that bone density return to normal levels and even increased after weaning, thus providing extra protection against osteoporosis.

Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce a mother’s risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

Some studies also show that breastfeeding helps to reduce a mother’s risk of developing heart disease, heart attacks and stroke.

Breastfeeding also reduces the risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Breastfeeding releases the prolactin – a hormone responsible for milk production. Prolactin also has a calming and sedating effect on a nursing mother. This relaxes the mother, helps her get back to sleep quickly after a night-time feed and may be helpful in combating the baby blues and potential postnatal depression. Studies show that mothers who breastfeed are less likely to suffer from postpartum anxiety and depression.

It has been shown that breastfeeding strengthens the bond between a mother and her baby. This can help first time mothers adapt to the role of motherhood more easily. Studies have also shown that mothers with a history of abandonment are less likely to leave their babies if they breastfeed them.

Breastfed babies are less likely to fall ill which offers mothers greater peace of mind. Something must be said about the benefit of not having to deal with the added stress of living with a child with recurrent illness.

Breastfeeding can consume an extra 200-500 calories a day (the equivalent of swimming 30 laps or riding a bicycle up a hill for an hour). This helps a mother return to her pre-pregnant weight more quickly and easily.

During pregnancy, fat is stored around the waist and hip areas to protect the baby and womb. This fat is utilised in the production of breast milk after birth, which helps a mother return to her pre-pregnant size more quickly than a mother who formula feeds her baby.

It has been estimated that breastfeeding can save parents an average of US$400-800 a year since there is no need to purchase expensive infant formulas.

Breastfeeding directly also means there is no need for baby bottles, sterilizers and other fancy equipment required with bottle feeding.

Breastfeeding is a lot more convenient, especially for night feeds as Mum does not have to get up to prepare formula.

A nursing mother can also rest while she is nursing the baby (utilising the lying down position).  She doesn’t have to stay awake to hold the bottle which allows her to get more rest.

The benefits of breastfeeding for mothers are many and should not be overlooked.  They are also equally valid factors that mothers should take into consideration when deciding whether or not to breastfeed their babies.  Even if some mothers might not want to breastfeed their babies for the benefits that it offers to the baby, I’m sure knowing a little more about “what’s in it for me” might change their perspectives.

Shen-Li is a stay-at-home-mum dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in parenting. She has a formal educational background and former work experience in healthcare. If you enjoyed this article, visit her blog Babylicious and follow her as she learns how to raise a happy, confident and successful person.