Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Should a baby use a pillow?

How old is Jinny again? Quite big liao wor. Whether she wants a pillow or not, up to her leh. But small, tiny babies must NOT sleep with a pillow leh.

Some old folks will say babies no sleep on pillow will get flat head. Come see all my 4 (+1) sons. All round, round head. Next time big time, if they go bald sure damn sexy wan (I fancy bald and bold men). There is a risk of suffocating if we give a pillow to small babies.

For for bigger babies who can crawl, turn here, turn there, whether they need pillow or not is their individual preference. Give one lor, see she likes or not? Not need to so rigid wan.

My Matthew 'paa sai' (used up) his father's pillow, that kind which is hard one and meant for good posture wan? See la, small guy wants that kind of pillow, no problem for us anyway.

* BUT REMEMBER - don't give any funny pillows with tea leaves la, herbal leaves la, red beans la, whatever rubbish inside that you are not sure of, to a little child. For all we know, the insides may contain harmful dusts, mould, bacterias, etc.*

Monday, December 17, 2007

Natural Remedies Can Aid Pregnancy, Birth, Breastfeeding, And Baby Care

Since their ancient origins, natural and organic remedies are making new strides every day to help improve the various aspects of the journey for mother and baby from conception to the nursery.

The First Trimester:

You have checked it out, and now you are sure you are an expectant mom. You may be able to avoid some of the digestive disturbances that may show up during pregnancy, like nausea and vomiting (morning sickness) with a safe alternative to the over the counter and prescription medications that many people fear might have side-effects as well as adverse effects on the development of your unborn child.

The Second Trimester:

For many woman worries about things like stretch marks and the effects of pregnancy on the body enter the picture. Now natural oils and other natural and organic products can help soften the skin and underlying tissue and prevent or reduce the formation stretch marks.

The Third Trimester:

The last month before your due date is approaching, you are both looking forward to holding your baby, and at the same time you are feeling nervous about labor and birth.

You may find help for these feelings in the natural herbal remedies passed down through the generations, by mothers and midwives that cared for women during pregnancy and giving birth.

Recovery from childbirth:

The "postpartum period" is the term given to the 6 weeks following delivery. With a vaginal delivery you may be up after a few days, but it will take several weeks to complete the healing process. With a Caesarean birth it will take longer to heal due to the surgery. Pregnancy and childbirth have put a strain on you mentally and physically, and here again there are natural remedies to help return you to your pre-pregnancy state.

Your Baby:

Your newborn can also profit from natural remedies for cradle cap, teething, diaper rash, and many other items such as organic bedding and a natural all around nursery.

Natural and organic remedies have been gaining a new respect lately, as practitioners of traditional medicine begin to recognize the ability of hundreds of thousands of herbs and other natural products that have the capabilities to enhance comfort, health, Mental Attitude, Appearance, and Performance.

Joe Rote has spent 18 years in the health field, and is the webmaster of http://www.aa1info.com/momandbaby.htm that will point you to high quality information, and natural herbal remedies that are produced under pharmaceutical conditions to ensure the highest degree of potency and consistency.

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Ouch That Hurts! A Nursing Mom’s Guide to Treating Plugged Ducts

A plugged duct is a mass of milk or cells that cause the flow of milk to become "stuck". It often happens to women who have an abundant milk supply.

You may feel a hard bump on your breast, or have swelling and tenderness. You may see a red area on your breast, or it may look streaky. It may also feel warm to the touch. Plugged ducts usually affect only one breast at a time but there are exceptions.

Plugged ducts can be caused by several things including: pressure on the duct from ill fitting clothing or a bra (especially too tight or underwire bras) or even baby carriers that put pressure on the breast. Nursing schedule changes that contribute to baby nursing (or Mom pumping) irregularly, stressful times like holidays and vacations can cause it too.

A clogged duct is uncomfortable but thankfully, there are several things you can do at home to treat it.

The most important treatment is to keep nursing. Some Moms are told that they have to wean their babies when they experience a plugged milk duct, but this is false. Weaning would mean more pain and the simple plug could lead to a more serious infection or abscess. Keep nursing your baby and offer the breast with the plugged duct first. Baby sucks with more vigor at the beginning of the nursing.

This may require some contortion, but try to "aim" the baby's chin towards the plugged duct. Her suction will be strongest in the area of the clogged duct, helping clear it out.

Get lots of rest! Plugged ducts are often a symptom of Mom doing too much too fast after having a baby.

More tips:

· Use a warm compress and gentle massage on the breast with the clogged duct.

· Get in the shower and aim the shower head on your sore breast. Get the water as hot as you can comfortably stand, then massage your breast. Start from high up on the chest and rub down, towards the nipple. You may see milk shoot out, or a stringy looking ribbon, or even a crystallized, dried milk clump if the duct clears out. As soon as possible after doing this, nurse your baby to empty the breast further.

· Loosen clothing and bra so there is less constriction on breasts while nursing. If you use underwire bras, switch to a soft cup style for awhile, or permanently if plugged ducts are an ongoing problem.

Once the blockage is gone, the hard lump will disappear and tenderness will go away. If the pain or swelling becomes worse or you have flu-like symptoms, you may have mastitis. The remedies mentioned above can heal mastitis, but if it doesn’t respond to home care in two days, call your Lactation Consultant or a La Leche League leader for recommendations.

Carrie Lauth is a Mom of 4, breastfeeding educator and the owner of http://www.TheHappyBreastfeeder.com, a free newsletter for Moms who want to breastfeed their babies.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

My experiences on asthmatic baby

Hi!
I am the self proclaim asthma expert mom.

1. Any side effects of Ventolin or Zyrtec?

Nope. Ventolin does make kids jittery bcos it has caffeine like effect. It will make the child have cold sweats cos it not only open up the airways, it makes the child sweaty too.

2. it could be that he's allergic to the formula and that brought on a reaction.

Definitely yes. Please note that if your child has this sudden reaction, you must be extra careful in future. It does sound like a nasty reaction so please seek more opinions. And please make sure your relatives who handle your child is aware of the danger of allergic reactions. Watch out for mucousy stools too.

3. Paed advised to delay intro of formula for as long as possible;

No reason why you must intro formula unless you do not have milk. Do not give your child anymore. Maybe if really no choice, try a formula that is not dairy based. Ask your doctor.

4. Sounds like a stupid question, how can I tell if pneumonia has set it???

Your child will be very ill then. So, don't worry, if your child is well, then, it is not pneumonia.

5. Do air-purifiers/humdifiers help?

Not really but you can try.


Hehehe, don't mean to sound like I know everything but I have been there done that. All the docs told me my son is allergic to everything but when I finally sent him for tests, he is only allergic to dustmites.

Monday, October 08, 2007

Successful Breastfeeding – Prepare Yourself!

“I’m going to breastfeed”, is a common refrain amongst pregnant women. But what many women don’t do is to prepare for breastfeeding beforehand. They simply make the statement and then put it to the back of their minds. The next time the issue arises is often in the delivery suite when the new mum has just gone through the ordeal of childbirth.

When presented with her newborn, the new mum may be exhausted and the last thing she wants is to have anyone else poking at her. The result? All her good intentions to breastfeed become overshadowed when a bottle is produced and the exhausted mum is told that she can try to give a breastfeed later on in the day!

To stand the best chance of successfully breastfeeding, pregnant women need to prepare during their pregnancy.

Successful breastfeeding results from careful planning. And the most important way to successfully breastfeed is to give the newborn baby a breastfeed within half an hour of her birth! Not later on!

Being committed to breastfeeding, but not placing too much pressure on oneself, can work wonders! If a new mum pressurises herself she is likely to end up feeling stressed and, as a result, will be more like to give up breastfeeding early. Having a new baby is stressful enough! By preparing to breastfeed whilst you are still pregnant, you will feel more relaxed about it when the baby is born.

The following will certainly aid you in your breastfeeding experience:

Join a Breastfeeding Support Group to chat to new and experienced breastfeeding mums. Ask questions about breastfeeding and enquire if you can watch some babies being offered the breast.

Observe how each baby is put on the breast.

Look at how different mums hold their babies. Getting the right position is essential to avoid early problems.

Also ask for advice about breastfeeding friendly shops and changing facilities!

Read books, magazines or online articles, to find out as much as you can about breastfeeding successfully.

Get measured for a nursing bra when you are around 38 weeks pregnant. Many baby stores now offer this service. Try a few different styles to find one that is comfortable. Also purchase a couple of night-time nursing bras.

Nursing pads are essential for absorbing leaks and avoiding embarrassing stains!

Nursing shells can be very useful on nights out, as they will catch leaks. Or you can use them during breastfeeding to collect milk from the breast not being used, storing the milk for later use.

Nipple Creams can help soothe sore nipples.

Front-opening or Nursing Nightdresses or Pyjamas can make it easier to breastfeed at night.

Loose- fitting tops can be comfortable during the day. Try layering so that your back is not exposed when you are feeding. Or use a poncho or wrap if you feel anxious about breastfeeding in front of other people.

A Breast-pump is a fantastic investment as it can be used to collect milk for bottle feeds, making up first solids or when you are away from the baby to prevent engorgement or ease mastitis. Ask other mums to recommend one they liked.

A V-shaped Cushion can make breastfeeding more comfortable as it offers good support for mums back. Or a Nursing Pillow can be used to raise the baby up to a more comfortable height for mum.

A Steriliser is a compact way to keep baby utensils and breast-pump attachments clean and sterile.

Some mums find a Gliding chair very useful, particularly for night feeds.

If you are well prepared for breastfeeding there is no reason why you should not succeed.

Breast-milk is nature’s diet for babies; perfectly balanced for a great start to life!

Sinead Hoben runs her own website, http://www.breastfeedingmums.com offering breastfeeding support and advice to pregnant and breastfeeding mums. Or visit BreastFeedingMums Blog http://breastfeedingmums.typepad.com

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Torticollis

Anyone heard of torticollis? My son Isaac at 2.5 months old we realise he's head tilt to the left and we brought her to see pediatric. Doc mention that his head tilted to the left and it's call torticollis. He recomended us to go for therapy and he say no big deal as he doens't feel any lump on Isaac's neck.

My answer :

Errmm...not meaning to scare you but usually, it is something that we should take serious notice. I guess you have read enough to know that these are part of the signs of children with disabilities. My premature baby had it and my doc told me it is part of the signs of cerebral palsy. (cacat anggota)

Of course, there are just those habits but how do we break a habit of a small child? Isn't there something like a neck brace or something to make sure that it is straighten out?

Do find a paediatrician who makes you assured of their decision. Try DSH Dr. Musa Nordin. He is an expert with this area.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Some Preventive Measures Of Allergies At Pregnancy

Heredity is one of the major factors in determining whether a child has an allergy. Tendency of a child towards allergy could be while being breastfed, during the mother’s pregnancy and while being introduced to foods. One can find out how allergies may be the cause of a child's health problems.

Preventive measures during pregnancy:

Breastfeeding - Feeding babies with solid foods during their first six months of life could increase their risk of developing allergies. is The best way to prevent allergies later in childhood is to breastfeed them during the first six months.

Avoid unnecessary medicines - Unless and until it is absolutely necessary, a pregnant women should not risk taking any allergy medications. DO not take anything without your doctor's permission.

Avoid herbs during pregnancy - Pregnant must avoid several herbs as they tend to cause skin allergies.

Special Formula May Reduce Allergies in Infants - By means of some of the same ingredients that are found in breast milk scientists have developed a new formula. This formula helps in preventing allergies in infants. The infants who are at high risk for developing the allergic condition are helped through this formula by reducing their eczema.

Over breastfeeding invite allergies:

A study on 200 mothers for a period of 20-years at the Helsinki Skin and Allergy Hospital in Finland, indicates that breastfeeding a child for nine months can increase the food sensitivity and the risk of allergies.

Peanuts during pregnancy - Peanuts are believed to cause allergies. They are avoided during pregnancy and lactation.

Avoid tobacco - Avoid tobacco and its products at the time of pregnancy.

Physical Exercise - Consult your doctor whether its OK to do some mild exercise as it has been observed that exercise at the later part of pregnancy can cause allergic reactions.

I hope you will find this information helpful. Needless to say, always consult your doctor before following these advices.

Justin Foss is the proud owner of the site http://www.mymedicenter.com where he spends most of his time to make better. You can get more articles on at http://www.mymedicenter.com/allergies.