The smart e-newsletter for Miyuki Maddox's first year!
Hi Pearl! If you choose to use a pacifier to calm and quiet Miyuki Maddox, keep
the following safety tips in mind:
- Never tie the pacifier to her neck or crib with a string or ribbon, Miyuki
Maddox can be strangled by it.
- Before giving a new pacifier to Miyuki Maddox, run it through the dishwasher
or boil it (make sure it's dishwasher safe first). Once Miyuki Maddox is 6
months or older, you can simply wash a new pacifier with hot soapy water and
air-dry it.
- Don't store pacifiers in plastic bags. Dampness encourages fungal growth.
- Don't allow children to share pacifiers.
- Don't put anything sweet (such as sugar, corn syrup or jam) on the pacifier.
- Use one-piece pacifiers to avoid choking on small parts.
- Use pacifiers made of flexible, non-toxic material with shields at least
1-1/2 inches wide and air holes.
- Check pacifiers often for signs of deterioration, including holes, frayed
edges or tears. Replace worn or damaged pacifiers immediately.
In week 4 we explore...
- Your Post-Pregnancy Body - Urinary Incontinence
- Your New Baby - Effortless Growing
- Your Baby Journal - Memories of the First Month
- Expecting Again? Win FREE Cord Blood Banking
- Target.com
- A Quote Worth Repeating - By Ben Sweetland
- This Week's E-poll - When did you name your baby?
- Tips from the Trenches - Dryer Changing
- Links to Other Features
Your Post-Pregnancy Body
Pearl, you may experience an unfortunately common problem after giving birth:
urinary incontinence. A cough or hard sneeze may cause you to urinate a little
bit-and you thought those days of wetting yourself were over now that your baby
is no longer sitting on your bladder! Eight-five percent of women experience
post-birth urinary incontinence, which is caused by the weakening or stretching
of the vaginal muscles. Despite its prevalence, it's one of the least discussed
post-birth issues women face. Many women suffer quietly with urinary
incontinence because they're embarrassed to talk about it and don't understand
why it occurs. Kegel exercises, the same ones your childbirth instructor or
caregiver had you do during pregnancy, can help strengthen and restore those
muscles and prevent accidents.
Click here
to learn more about Kegel exercises.
Your New Baby
When you see Miyuki Maddox in the morning does she seem to be bigger than the
day before? You aren't imagining things! Miyuki Maddox is now capable of deep
sleep, or non-REM sleep, during which the growth hormone somatotropin is
released, so your baby really does grow while sleeping! Miyuki Maddox is also
spending more time in lighter REM sleep, when dreams occur. You may begin to
notice her body twitching, eyelids fluttering, and breathing increasing when she
is dreaming.
Has Miyuki Maddox displayed the Moro, or startle, reflex? Babies are born with
this protective reflex, which is triggered when the baby's head falls backward
or changes position quickly. If Miyuki Maddox feels herself falling, she will
extend her arms out sideways with palms up and thumbs flexed. She will then
quickly bring her arms back together and cry. The Moro reflex gradually
disappears around 3 months of age.
You may notice Miyuki Maddox is becoming a bit more interactive this week and
will probably begin making wet, throaty noises that amuse Miyuki Maddox as much
as they do you. If she is fussing, she may now become quiet when you start
talking to her.
Babies' eye color is a shifty thing! Most Caucasian babies are born with dark
gray-blue eyes that can take weeks or months to reveal their true color. Many
African-American, Asian, and Hispanic babies are born with dark gray-brown eyes
that don't change color significantly, but some may start out with hazel eyes
that get darker as they approach 6 months. After six or nine months of age, the
eye color you see is probably what Miyuki Maddox will have for the rest of her
life. However, some children's eye color is still changing after a few years.
Your Baby Journal
Pearl, can you believe Miyuki Maddox is nearly one month old already? Remember
how careful and nervous you were when you brought her home? You must have so
many memories of exciting moments from this first month. Record these memories
in your journal so you won't forget them. Write now.
Click here to access your journal.
Be sure to add all your new baby pictures to your photo album and share with
your friends and family.
Click here to access your photo album.
Expecting Again? Win FREE Cord Blood Banking
Storing your baby's potentially lifesaving cord blood stem cells provides you
with a powerful medical resource that may be used to cure many severe illnesses
for you, your child and loved ones. If youre expecting, or know someone who is,
take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Enter now to win Free Cord Blood Banking from Cord Blood Registry - The Name to
Trust!
Click here to enter!
Target
Target is the one-stop shop for many families, offering affordable apparel, home
furnishings, electronics, hardware, sporting goods, outdoor and garden supplies,
and more. Now featuring designers such as Todd Oldham, Isaac Mizrahi, Liz Lange
maternity, and Cynthia Rowley and Illene Rosenweig's Swell bedding and bath
line.
Click Here
A Quote Worth Repeating
"We cannot hold a torch to light another's path without brightening our own."
- Ben Sweetland
This Week's E-poll
When did you name your baby?
A Tip from the Trenches
If your baby fusses at each changing, try this tip: turn on your clothes dryer
and change her on a thick towel on top of the dryer. The hum and warmth from the
dryer may soothe and distract her. The dryer may also do the trick if you can't
get her back to sleep in the middle of the night and you can't take her out for
a car ride or a walk in the stroller. You may also try putting Miyuki Maddox in
the infant seat on the dryer; but be sure you stay with your baby at all times.
That same soothing vibration could vibrate her off onto the floor! Never leave
your baby unattended, even for a moment.
Links to Other Features
Click here to check out the lists to organize your life.
Click here for more helpful baby resources.
Click here to see what's new with the moms and babies in your Birth Club.
Until next week,
Catherine
 |
|
