Now that your sweet baby/preemie is strong enough to leave the NICU at the hospital, you may have endless questions like, “How do I properly care for my preemie?” It’s a scary thing to think about but it is also quite normal. If you are in need of some tips and support you have come to the right place. After I give you some tips that are straight from experienced parents and professionals I will lead you to a community for parents with preemies so that you may connect and share your stories, cares, concerns, etc.

Caring for your Preemie

• Be sure you have chosen the right pediatrician for your family and make medical appointments.
• Receive specialized training in CPR.
• If your preemie is a boy, you will most likely need to make a decision about circumcision. This may be done before your preemie leaves the hospital just like a full term baby boy.
• Make sure you have the appropriate car seat placed in the back seat of your vehicle facing the rear. Three-point or five-point harness systems are the best.
• Success in feeding and sleeping is so very important for a preemie.
• If your home is very warm, make sure your preemie only wears a diaper.
• Moms, make sure you take care of yourself too. Enough rest, eating properly, and exercise is very important.

For more benefical tips on how to care for your preemie, check out “taking home your preemie” on kidshealth.org.

If you would like to join a community of moms who are currently caring for a preemie, join “moms of preemies” on circleofmoms.com.

Source: Kids Health

Image: Wikimedia Commons

I am sure this can be a very sensitive topic when it comes to the health of your preemie but the fact of the matter is you have to do what you feel is right for your little one. I think as long as you instruct your family members and friends to thoroughly wash their hands before they hold your preemie, there shouldn’t be a problem. If anyone in your family or any of your friends have even the slightest cold, kindly ask them if they can hold off until they are free and clear since preemies can catch any cold or virus very quickly, and it is much harder for them to fight germs off. This could cause health problems and further complications.

If you do decide to let friends and family members hold your early addition after washing their hands, don’t let them hold him or her for too long. The bond with the mother is very important at this stage in preemie development. Being around too many adults for a long period of time can hinder that bond since preemie’s are very different than that of your full term newborn. I am sure your friends and family will understand, especially because of the state of your baby.

Most definitely do not let any stranger even come remotely close since so many adults carry so many germs. Even a slight little touch can cause your preemie to get sick very quickly. It is best if you don’t go out too much with your preemie to avoid this problem. Plus, keeping track of his body temperature is very important, so leaving the home too much is probably not a good idea.

I personally did not experience a preemie birth but I am close to someone who did and got to see exactly what she went through to keep her little one safe from all sorts of germs. It’s definitely a very delicate situation not only for the preemie but also for the mother and father of the preemie. If you are currently a parent to a preemie, don’t let friends and family tell you what to do or what is best for your little one. Only you and your baby’s pediatrician can tell you that.

Are you are parent to a preemie? What were your rules regarding letting family and friends hold him or her? Please share your experiences with us.

Image: Wikimedia Commons

If you’re a new parent, you probably have your child’s diapering area set up appropriately. Diapers and wipes – check. Diaper cream – check. Baby powder – you may want to hold off on. Although baby powder is sold with baby essentials and has that sweet smell that few can resist, it’s one of those items that just isn’t necessary. In fact, baby powder can be possibly harmful, especially to a young infant.

Traditionally, baby powder has been used on infants to keep the skin soft and dry, thus fighting off diaper rash. Even though it feels and smells good, pediatricians do not recommend the powdery stuff and neither does the American Academy of Pediatrics. Since baby powder is expelled into the air, your little one can breathe it in and irritate his or her lungs. This may lead to further breathing difficulties down the road.

Although baby powder isn’t recommended, you don’t have to throw away that bottle quite yet. First, make sure that it is made from cornstarch instead of talc, as many are. Cornstarch is better for the skin and the lungs, and isn’t inhaled as easily. Second, you can use the baby powder in skin folds and creases that may be subject to irritation. Just make sure you don’t let the powder build up in the skin creases and that you don’t shake the powder near baby’s face.

And of course, when setting up your diapering area, you now know that you don’t have to include baby powder into the mix.

If you do have several bottles laying around from your child’s welcome home gifts, consider using the baby powder for other applications. For example, baby powder works great when at the beach and you need something to get the sticky, wet sand off your feet. Or if you’ve skipped a shower (or two), toss some in your hair for a refreshing lift. Baby powder can also be used on oily spots and spills, as it absorbs the oil.

Image: mothersspace.in

When it comes to cleaning baby bottles, a simple washing with hot water and dish soap is just not enough. Plastic bottles are a breeding ground for viruses and bacteria so it is important to sterilize the bottles properly. It is especially important to sterilize the bottles right after purchasing them and before use.

How to Sterilize baby bottles

1. Gather the bottles, caps, nipples, and pacifiers together to prepare for sterilizing.

2. Wash the items with hot water and soap.

3. Fill a pot with water and place on the stove. Turn the heat on high until boiling point.

4. Carefully place all bottle parts into the boiling water. Do not submerge more than the pot can handle. The water may bubble over.

5. Keep the bottle and items in boiling water for five minutes.

6. Take the bottle and its parts out of the pot of water with tongs or anything that may help you to avoid burning yourself.

7. Set items on a dish rack to air dry or dry them with a paper towel.

For more information on sterilizing baby bottles, check out baby basics on babyzone.com.

Image: Wikimedia Commons

A few things you can expect early on

Pregnancy is an exciting time, but it is also one that is full of uncertainty. No two women are alike, and no two pregnancies are the same, so you may be worried about what you should expect early in your pregnancy.

No one can tell you exactly what will happen over the next nine months, but some of the things you may experience in the first few months of pregnancy include:

-         Morning sickness. Nausea at this time in your pregnancy is caused by the release of hCG, human chorionic gonadotropin. This nausea is commonly referred to as morning sickness, but you may experience it at any time of the day. The good news is that it usually subsides by the end of the first trimester as hCG production slows.

-         Cravings and aversions. You may desire certain foods that you normally don’t care for, or you may find yourself avoiding old favorites. Your senses are heightened at this time, so these changes in appetite are normal and should not be a source of concern.

-         Mood swings. The hormonal changes that occur during your pregnancy can cause you to feel happy one moment and anxious the next or suddenly weepy. This, too, is completely normal.

-         Fatigue. Many women feel very tired during these first few months. Try to get as much rest as your body needs to stay healthy, even if you need to start napping or going to bed earlier than usual.

If you are looking for signs that you are pregnant, look no further! In our second look at this topic, we’ll go through the symptoms that, once you have them, just about always point to being pregnant:

Can’t miss sings of pregnancy include:

-         Morning sickness, or nausea. One common sign that women are pregnant is experiencing morning sickness. However, morning sickness is not limited to the morning – some women feel this nausea at other points in the day instead of the morning or as well as during the mornings.

-         Pelvic cramping. As the fertilized egg implants in the uterine lining and the uterus begins to grow, many women experience cramps. This can be an indication that you are pregnant, but it may also be a normal pre-menstrual symptom.

-         Missed period. Although not a perfect indicator, a missed period is generally a clear sign that it is time to take a pregnancy test. Of course, some women are irregular and others do not track their cycle, so you may not realize you have missed a period right away.

-         Cravings for certain foods. Not all women have these during their period, but some experience a strong desire for foods they don’t usually want to eat or an aversion to ones they normally love. Sensitivity to smells is also a common sign of pregnancy.

-         A “gut instinct.” Finally, many women say that they simply knew that they were pregnant. They cannot point to a single, certain symptom or experience, but rather indicate an inherent knowledge and certainty that they were carrying a child.

For many women, especially those who are trying to get pregnant, a common question is what are some early signs of pregnancy? As each pregnancy and every woman is different and unique, there are many potential indicators that you might be pregnant.

However, as many of these can be explained in ways other than pregnancy, it is important to consider this list in light of your own health history.

A few early signs you may be pregnant include:

-         Exhaustion, tiredness, and fatigue. One of the first signs that women point to as indications that they were pregnant is feeling much more tired than usual.

-         Mood swings. The dramatic changes in hormones, production of new hormones, and fluctuations in these chemicals that occur during pregnancy are similar to those that were experienced during puberty. Women often feel weepy unexpectedly or go from very happy to extremely anxious quickly when they are pregnant. If you are experiencing unusually strong mood swings, it may be a sign of your pregnancy.

-         Changes in your breasts. Women often notice that their breast look larger and feel heavier when they are pregnant. This swelling can also make them more sensitive. These changes can be explained by pregnancy as your body begins to prepare the ducts and glands to produce milk. However, this can also be a normal part of your menstrual cycle, so it is important to consider both explanations. Additionally, some women notice that their areolas have darkened after becoming pregnant.

For the more obvious signs of pregnancy, look to the second post on this topic, or visit our website to read our full article on early signs of pregnancy.

Is there any such thing as normal?

When it comes to life, there is an old saying that goes “there’s no such thing as normal”. You could say that the same thing applies to pregnancy, and that’s one of the many good reasons why books like “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” are so popular.

Pregnancy can be a time of great apprehension and nervousness, especially for women who are pregnant for the first time. After all, this period is a time of great changes and an experience unlike any other, so what should you expect from pregnancy as you go into it?

A few things you can expect during pregnancy:

• Weight gain. Although this is fairly obvious, the pattern of weight gain may not be what you would expect. Most women do not gain a great deal of weight during their first trimester, and some may even lose weight during the first few weeks. However, by the start of the second trimester you will probably gain 1-2 pounds each week for a total of 25 to 35 pounds.
• Hormonal changes. Hormones are your body’s way of telling your body what to do to support the pregnancy, but they can also cause dramatic emotional swings. Do not feel like something is wrong with you if you go from happy to anxious and back again quickly; this is a normal reaction to the hormones you are producing.
• Physical changes. You will notice a huge range of physical symptoms although they vary from one woman to another. Common symptoms include heartburn, constipation, stretch marks, swollen and/or tender breasts, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and nausea.

Not sure, ask your doctor

No one can tell you exactly what to expect while you are pregnant, because each pregnancy is unique. And if you have any concerns about what is normal, make sure to ask your doctor.

Almost every mother is concerned about having a healthy pregnancy, even if she was never concerned about being healthy before she became pregnant. Here are five tips to having a healthier pregnancy that will help both you and your growing baby during this exciting time.

5 tips for a healthy pregnancy

1. Get started before you get pregnant. The best way to have a healthy pregnancy is to plan ahead, whether it is starting an exercise regimen or eating a more balanced diet.
2. Take a prenatal vitamin with folic acid. Your normal vitamin probably doesn’t have all the vitamins you and your baby will need while your pregnant, so starting on a prenatal vitamin as soon as you start trying to conceive will ensure that your baby has all those nutrients from the first day of development. Plus, these vitamins may help with fertility.
3. Rest up. Get at least eight hours of sleep each day. If you are having trouble sleeping at night, take afternoon naps to get the rest you need.
4. Exercise daily. If not daily, then as many days a week as you can manage. The workouts should not be intense or exhausting – try a workout class aimed at pregnant women or just walk for 20-30 minutes a day.
5. Avoid dangerous toxins. Don’t drink while you’re pregnant and if you are a smoker, this is a great time to quit. Avoid areas where others are smoking as second hand smoke is also detrimental to both mother and child.

Breastfeeding is both an incredibly special opportunity and an enormous responsibility for mothers. However, when mom’s start to feel run down, they often wonder if they should still be breastfeeding their baby even though they are sick.

However, as the sole source of your child’s nourishment during these
important early years, mothers must also be careful to eat a balanced diet and avoid potential toxins that could be transferred through breast milk. This can be difficult when a mother gets sick because it is harder to separate the safe medicines from those that could be harmful.

Don’t let normal illnesses get in the way

Generally, it is safe for mothers to continue breastfeeding when they become ill with common sicknesses such as a cold, flu, fever, or stomach bug. The baby has already been exposed to the virus during the time spent together nursing.

Your body makes antibodies to the illness that can be passed to the baby through your breast milk, so it is a good opportunity to build the little one’s immune system. However, you will want to be careful when selecting medicines to alleviate your symptoms.

Keep the following tips in mind, and of course, if you have any questions, ask your doctor.

• Avoid long-lasting formulas that will stay in your body and your breast milk longer than necessary
• Skip the extra-strength option, it has more of the active ingredient
• Treat only the symptoms you have rather than taking a multi-symptom medication
• Take the medication after you breastfeed and only as often as you need it

If you have other concerns, or a more serious illness such as HIV or Hepatitis, speak with your doctor as breastfeeding may be unsafe for your baby.