Every mother worries about their baby.  One of the times we worry the most is when they are asleep but you can put your mind at ease by making sure that your baby’s crib, bassinet, play yard or cradle are perfectly safe.  Follow these safety tips and you will sleep like a baby too.

1.    Bassinets or cradles are a good option for the first few weeks of the baby’s life to keep him/her within arms reach of you.  It is perfectly safe through to put a newborn in a full size crib.

2.    Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when putting together any crib, bassinet, cradle, or play yard.  Follow instructions carefully and make sure all nuts and bolts are secure and tight. Check them periodically.

3.    Always use a properly fitted mattress.  If two adults fingers can fit between the mattress and slats of the crib there is too much space and this is unsafe for your baby.

4.    When your baby is finally big enough to pull to a standing position make sure to lower the mattress to the lowest possible position and remove bumper pads or anything that your child can use to climb on in order to escape from the crib.

5.    Never put a crib near a window where any blind cords or drapes can be reached. Also make sure no electrical cords are near the crib, be especially careful or the baby monitor cord.

6.    Use tightly fitted crib sheets that wrap completely around the mattress.

7.    Make sure that bumper pads are fitted tightly and that the straps are not more than 9 inches long. 

8.    Keep pillows, toys, especially stuffed animals out of the crib while baby is asleep.

9.    NEVER put a baby to sleep on a pillow, waterbed, sofa cushion, or in an adult bed.  The safest place for your baby is in the crib alone.  There are safe ways to co-sleep.  (Co-sleeping is when your baby sleeps with you in the bed.) We will talk about co-sleeping soon.

10. Lastly, do not overdress your baby, put baby in comfortable clothing and try swaddling.

 

Most importantly, is to always put your baby to sleep on baby’s back.  This will prevent the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and is recommend by every pediatrician for the safety of your baby.  

Diabetes is a disease where your blood glucose levels get too high. Another term for blood glucose is blood sugar.  Gestational diabetes is when you get diabetes for the first time when you are pregnant.  Having gestational diabetes is not good for the baby and so you both need to be closely monitored by a doctor.  


Women usually get tested for gestational diabetes in their 2nd trimester.  Women who are at higher risk can get tested earlier.  The best way to control gestational diabetes is with meal planning, exercise, frequently testing blood sugar and if necessary, medication. 

The good news is, gestational diabetes goes away once the baby is born however having gestational diabetes does increase your risk for having diabetes later. 

 Source: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/diabetesandpregnancy.html

So you’re a couple of weeks from delivering and you just realized you need to pick a pediatrician for your new baby.  How do you select the right doctor for your child and your family? What questions do I ask the doctor? Where do I start?

First off, what is a pediatrician? A pediatrician is a medical doctor that specializes in the care of infants, adolescents and children as old as 21. Many pediatricians are also trained in subspecialties such as neonatal medicine and cardiology. Pediatricians provide preventive care to healthy children and medical care to children with illnesses. The care they provide includes physical, mental and emotional support. Most pediatricians offer a variety of services for children and their parents. Pediatricians must complete the requirements set by the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP).

Requirements include:

• Graduation from an approved medical school
• Three years of pediatric residency training

After completing residency training, pediatricians must pass a test administered by the American Board of Pediatrics in order to become board certified. Pediatricians must be recertified every seven years.

Now that we know what education a pediatrician obtains and services that provide to the parent and child what questions do we ask and how do we get referred to a one? Asking friends, relatives and your prenatal care provider for referrals is a good start. The write down the important questions that need to be answered such as whether you prefer a male or female pediatrician or the approximate age of the pediatrician (if it matters to you). Scheduling interviews with more than one pediatrician might seem to be unnecessary but it is worth taking the less than 10 minutes for a brief interview in order to get a “feel” for his/her personality and approach.  A couple of questions you may ask the pediatrician when you interview them are as follow:

• What is your educational background and training?
• What hospital would you admit my child to in an emergency?
• What is your philosophy about breastfeeding? For example, do you make referrals to lactation consultants?
• What is your philosophy about circumcision and the use of antibiotics?
• If you are unavailable when I call, will your nurse be available?
• Does your office accept my insurance plan or make other payment arrangements?

By asking these few questions and seeing and feeling comfortable with the pediatrician you selected is the first step in securing that your child is off to a healthy start.

 

Story Adapt from: http://americanpregnancy.org/planning/choosing-a-pediatrician/

So you just gave birth, you are finally getting to meet that individual that was inside your womb all those months.  You begin to be overcome with emotions, and then that moment comes in which they put your child in your arms and you actually see your child.  As most mothers do they count to make sure their child has 10 fingers and toes and begin to bond.  As time goes on, depending what setting you’re in (hospital, birthing center, at home, etc…) it comes time to feed your child.  This is probable the first most crucial decision you must make, whether to breast feed or bottle feed the child. Now you may think this is not a hard decision but to some mothers this is when you receive your first critique from society.

Let’s look at the difference of breast milk and formula and help you as the reader make that decision that is most comfortable for you.  The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends breast milk as the best nutrition for infants. Babies should be breastfed exclusively for the first six months, according to the AAP.  The advantages of breast milk for babies:

• It provides natural antibodies that help your baby resist illnesses, such as ear infections.
  
• It's usually more easily digested than formula. So breastfed babies are often less constipated and gassy.
  
• It may lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome in the first year of your baby's life.
  
• It may raise your child's intelligence. Studies show breastfed babies have higher levels of cognitive function.
  
• Breast milk may even help your child in later years, by reducing the risk of being overweight, and of developing asthma, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, Hodgkin's disease, leukemia, and lymphoma.
  

Breastfeeding is good for moms, too. Women who breastfeed have a reduced risk of breast cancer, diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, and ovarian cancer. But let's not forget a key reason many new moms want to breastfeed. It's a wonderful bonding experience with your baby.

Now on the other hand many mothers how choose to formula feed their baby have these advantages:

• It's convenient. Formula-fed babies can be fed by anyone at any time.
  
• It's flexible. You don't have to fit pumping into your work schedule. Instead, you can simply leave formula for your babysitter or day care center.
  
• Your partner can help out with nighttime feedings and share that bonding experience with your baby.
  
• Scheduling feedings may be easier. Formula isn't digested as quickly as breast milk, so formula-fed babies don't need to eat as often, especially in the first few months.
  
• You don't have to worry about what you eat. Moms who breastfeed may have to avoid certain foods that her baby can't tolerate.
  

Just remember it your choice how to feed your baby breast milk, formula, or a combination of both.  The most important thing is that your baby is well fed, well cared for, and loved.

Story Adapt from: http://www.webmd.com/baby/breastfeeding-vs-formula-feeding

We all think pink and blue when babies are on the brain. But October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and PINK should remind us of all the very special women in our lives.  This is the time to commemorate, support and advocate for all the mothers, sisters, aunts, grandmothers, and special friends who have fought or are currently fighting against this terrible disease.   Here are some facts about Breast Cancer.

1 in 8 Women will develop invasive breast cancer in her lifetime.

• About 232,670 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in 2014
• A man’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 1000
• The chance that breast cancer will be responsible for a women’s death is 1 in 36.
• About 40,000 women will die from breast cancer
• There are more than 2.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States 
• Breast Cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women.
  

Now that you know the facts, you also need to know if you are at risk.  There are some risk factors that you cannot change, like the fact that you are a women, your age and family history, but there are other risk factors called lifestyle-related risk factors that you should know about.

1. Being a mom reduces your risk. Having no children or having your first child after you are 30 slightly increases your risk for breast cancer. 
2.  Birth Control. Women who use oral contraceptives (birth control pills) or the Depo-Provera (the shot) have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer also. Women who stopped using the pill more than 10 years ago and women who got the shot more than 5 years ago have very little to worry about though. 
3. Breastfeeding. Research says that breastfeeding lowers your risk for breast cancer especially if you continue to breastfed for more than 18 months.  For more information about the benefits of breastfeeding for both you and your baby check out Baby Café at http://www.sanantonio.gov/Health/HealthServices/BabyCafe.aspx or call 210-207-7138.
4. Alcohol. Drinking alcohol is linked to increased risk of breast cancer and the risk increases as the amount increases. 
5. Being overweight or obese after menopause increases risk for breast cancer. 
6. Being physical active by exercising reduces the risk for breast cancer.  Doing as little as 75 minutes to 150 minutes of brisk walking per week reduces the risk by 18%. 
   

We have covered the facts about breast cancer, and the risks. Now let’s talk about some signs and symptoms. These are the things to look out for.  If you notice any one of these, see your doctor soon.

1.    A lump or mass in the breast tissue

• Swelling of all or part of a breast (even if no distinct lump is felt)
• Skin irritation or dimpling
• Breast or nipple pain
• Nipple retraction (turning inward)
• Redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin
• A nipple discharge other than breast milk

Lastly, early detection can save YOUR life.  So here is what you have to do:

• If you are over 40 years old, get a mammogram every year! 
  
• Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam performed by a health professional every 3 years.  After age 40 women should get a clinical breast exam as well as a mammogram every year. 
  
• In your 20s, start doing Breast Self-Exams.  Know the normal look and feel for your breasts. This will help you to know if anything changes.  If something does change, or poses a concern to you, see your doctor right away. 
  
• If you are 50 to 74 years old, it is recommended you get a mammogram every 2 years. 
  

This is just the tip of the Breast Cancer iceberg.  There is tons of great information, resources, organizations for research funding and support groups out there for women and family members who are affected by breast cancer.  Check out resources like Susan G Komen Foundation, American Cancer Society, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 Sources:  American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/resources/features/breastcancerawareness/

Why is it important for a woman that is pregnant or considering to get pregnant to begin take folic acid? What if I don’t want to take folic acid will it affect my baby?  How does folic acid benefit me in the long run? These are some of the questions that might cross your mind when you hear the word “folic acid”. So let’s answer these couple of questions.

Folic acid is a B vitamin. It helps the body make healthy new cells. "Folic acid" and "folate" mean the same thing. Folic acid is a manmade form of folate.  Folate is found naturally in some foods. Most women do not get all the folic acid they need through food alone.  All people need folic acid. But folic acid is very important for women who are able to get pregnant. When a woman has enough folic acid in her body before and during pregnancy, it can prevent major birth defects, including:

• Spina bifida , which occurs when an unborn baby’s spinal column does not close to protect the spinal cord. As a result, the nerves that control leg movements and other functions do not work.
• Anencephaly which is when most or all of the brain does not develop. Babies with this problem die before or shortly after birth.

The results of some studies suggest that folic acid might also help to prevent other types of birth defects. Folic acid also helps keep your blood healthy. Not getting enough can cause anemia. Women able to get pregnant need 400 to 800 mcg or micrograms of folic acid every day, even if they are not planning to get pregnant. That way, if you do become pregnant, your baby will be less likely to have birth defects.

You can't get too much folic acid from foods that naturally contain it. But unless your doctor tells you otherwise, do not consume more than 1,000 mcg of folic acid a day. Consuming too much folic acid can hide signs that a person is lacking vitamin B12, which can cause nerve damage. Lacking vitamin B12 is rare among women of childbearing age. Plus, most prenatal vitamins also contain B12 to help women get all that they need. People at risk of not having enough vitamin B12 are mainly people 50 years and older and people who eat no animal products. Older adults need 400 mcg of folic acid every day for good health. But older adults need to be sure they also are getting enough vitamin B12. Too much folic acid can hide signs that a person is lacking vitamin B12. People older than 50 are at increased risk of not having enough vitamin B12. If you are 50 or older, ask your doctor what vitamins and supplements you might need.

Story Adapt from: http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/folic-acid.html

Pregnancy can bring some of the most joyous time for a woman as she prepares for her new bundle of joy.  As she waits for her bundle she begins to notice changes with her body.  One of the major occurrences is stretch marks.  Yes, that evil appearance that occurs on our belly and sometimes on our thighs, buttocks and upper arms.   But why do we stretch marks at all and is there a way to prevent this from happening.   Let’s examine how stretch marks come about and if there are ways to prevent or decrease the appearance of them.

Stretch marks happen when your body grows faster than your skin can keep up with. This causes the elastic fibers just under the surface of the skin to break, resulting in stretch marks. In an average pregnancy you gain between 25-30 pounds in 9 months.  Growing that fast can leave you with stretch marks, especially on your belly and breasts, two areas that grow the most. Stretch marks can also show up on the thighs, buttocks, and upper arms. The marks often start out reddish or purple, but after pregnancy they gradually fade to white or gray.

About 90% of women will get them sometime after their sixth or seventh month of pregnancy, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.  If your mother had stretch marks, then you're more likely to have them too, since genetics plays a role.  Unfortunately, there’s no way to prevent stretch marks. It's always a good idea to keep your skin hydrated with a rich lotion or cream, especially if it makes your skin feel better, look smoother and more toned, and helps the itchiness that can come with your growing belly.

Story Adapt from: http://www.webmd.com/baby/features/stretch-marks

Wondering about fun family events around the city? There is a lot to do and only 31 days to do them in, you can learn about the bats in San Antonio, listen to ghost stories, you can even attend the Bootanica Fall Festival  and plant sale!

There are lot’s of fun family events and things to do out with friends or on a date.

Look at the calendar HERE and see what could be fun for you.