This may be a good time during the pregnancy for your spouse to give a
thought to the manner of delivery she wishes to opt for. The
options-natural, induced, or cesarean-all have their pros and cons.
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A babysitter checklist is a list of instructions for the babysitter to
follow to ensure a safe time with your child. It is a simple way for
you to feel more at ease when you leave your children alone with a
caregiver. Providing a babysitter checklist which includes emergency
medical information is crucial in the rare case of an emergency. And,
it can help with your peace of mind and make the babysitter's job
easier.
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Choosing a babysitter is a tough job. It is difficult to judge whether
a babysitter candidate is truly the best person to care for your little
ones. Each child has different needs, and you also want to make sure
they are cared for in way consistent with your parenting style. One way
to to reduce risk is to choose to hire a professional babysitter.
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By now you have noticed that your baby sucks his fingers and hands a
lot. Sucking brings pleasure to a baby. This is a strong need in babies
this age. Being able to suck his own fingers and hands means he can
make himself feel good all by himself. Sucking helps him feel happy and
calm. Sometimes sucking fingers is a sign of hunger.
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With an expanding waistline and hormones going completely crazy, it is
natural for the expectant mom to feel insecure. At a time like this it
is up to you, as the partner, to step in and make her feel loved and
adored. There are a number of ways to do this.
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Planning a baby? If your wife is trying to get pregnant, getting plenty
of folic acid is important to help lower the risk of a baby with a
neural tube defect such as spina bifida or anencephaly.
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1. Make Valentine's Day a Family Affair: Use the Valentine's Day
holiday to discuss with your kids the nature of romantic love, and your
feelings for their mother. Open up to them, and share your feelings
deeply, so they can see you as a complete person, not just a dad. This
may seem sappy, but your relationship with your wife is the most
important role model for romantic love and partnership for them as they
grow up.
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If you have pets in the family, it is natural that you will have
concerns regarding them during your spouse's pregnancy. Fortunately,
you need not rush to offer your pet for adoption. Discuss with your vet
any risks that your pet may pose for the baby and take adequate steps
to eliminate them before bringing the baby home.
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Constipation
Many pregnant women complain of
constipation. According to the U.S Department of Health and Human
Services, high levels of hormones in your spouse's pregnant body slow
down digestion and relax muscles in the bowels leaving many women
constipated. Plus, the pressure of the expanding uterus on the bowels
boosts the chances for constipation.
Try these tips to help her stay more regular:
• Add fiber-rich foods like fresh or dried fruit, raw vegetables, and whole-grain cereals and breads daily to her diet
• Get her to drink eight to ten glasses of water everyday
•
Tell her to avoid caffeinated drinks (coffee, tea, colas, and some
other sodas), since caffeine makes her body lose fluid needed for
regular bowel movements
• Get her moving. Mild exercise like walking may also ease constipation.
Heartburn and Indigestion
Almost
every pregnant woman experiences indigestion and heartburn. Hormones
and the pressure of the growing uterus cause this discomfort. Pregnancy
hormones slow down the muscles of the digestive tract. So food tends to
move more slowly and digestion is sluggish. This causes many pregnant
women to feel bloated.
According to the U.S Department of Health
and Human Services, hormones also relax the valve that separates the
esophagus from the stomach. This allows food and acids to come back up
from the stomach to the esophagus. The food and acid causes the burning
feeling of heartburn. As the baby gets bigger, the uterus pushes on the
stomach, making heartburn more common in later pregnancy.
Try these tips to help your partner prevent and ease indigestion and heartburn:
• Avoid greasy and fried foods in her diet
• Make sure she eats six to eight small meals instead of three large meals
• Take care she doesn't gain more than the recommended amount of weight
• Allow her to only take small sips of milk or eat small pieces of chipped ice to soothe burning
• Make sure she eats slowly
• Ask your doctor if she can take an antacid medicine
Your baby is mobile. She is aware of her surroundings. She has learned
what is familiar-her family, her home and her toys. She also knows what
is unfamiliar-a stranger, a sudden siren or a loud bark.
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