Baby Care

Massage For Babies

Massage Therapy: A Step By Step Guide
Babies And Children:

Babies And Children usually enjoy being massaged as much as adults, but will often only keep still for a short space of time.The strokes you have learned can be used on babies and children - just adapt them to allow for their size and the fact that their little bodies will not have built up the same chronic tensions that adults can suffer from.Just explore and discover what your child likes best.
Front Of The Body:

Massage Steps:
1.Starting with the child on their back, gently stroke their face, starting in the middle of the forehead and working out to the temples.
2.Stroke across the cheeks from nose to the ears and then from the cheeks down to the chin.Gently stroke across the eyebrows, and back around under the eye.Make gentle circles around the temples.
3.Stroke up the front of the body and out along the arms.
4.Make clockwise circles around the navel using both hands.Do gentle wringing strokes across the abdomen and up the body.
5.Lift arms one at a time and stroke the length of the arm from shoulder to the hand.Use one hand to squeeze the arm, starting from the shoulder and moving down the arm.
6.Massage the hand and squeeze and rotate each of the fingers in turn.
7.Repeat for the other arm.Gently drain up the leg.Wring or squeeze up the leg.
8.Stroke down the leg using a light, feathering stroke.
Back Of The Body:
Massage Steps:
1.Turn the child on their front and gently stroke their back.Stroke up and over the back and along the arms.
2.Gently knead the child's shoulders.
3.Make a gentle wringing stroke up over the body.If your child is a baby, massage their rear using a gentle kneading or pinching strokes.
4.Smooth down the spine using alternating hands, starting at the base of the neck and working down to the base of the spine.Use gliding strokes down the legs.Bend the knee up and work on the foot.
5.Work around the anklebone with your fingertips.Sandwich foot between heels of hand and massage, moving both hands in a circular motion.
6.Gently squeeze the heel with one hand and massage up the sole of the child's foot using the thumbs of your other hand.
7.Massage the toes, gently squeezing, rotating and pulling each one in turn.Sandwich the foot between your hands and hold it firmly for a few seconds.Turn the baby over.
8.Stroke from one foot up the leg, across the sacrum(base of the spine), and back down the other leg.Use light strokes down the body, starting from the top of head right down to the feet.

Massage Caution:
Be very gentle when working with babies and children.Do not pursue the session if the child begins to fidget.
Massage Tip:
As a general rule, the strokes you use will need to be much lighter on children.The younger the child, the smaller and more delicate the strokes will need to be.If the child you are working on is very young, then you can sit on the floor and massage him or her on your lap.Otherwise spread a towel on the floor or any safe, raised surface.


Babies With Gas or digestive Problems

For babies with gas or digestive problems do the "I Love You" technique.

1. Lie your baby on his or her back.
2. Undress the baby leaving on only a diaper.
3. With your right hand (palm) gently run down the right side of the baby's body in a straight line, not pressing hard but in a soothing way(like the letter 'I').
4. Take your right hand, and in a straight line starting from the left side of the baby, run your hand across the baby's chest (under their ribs) in a straight line toward the right side of the body and then down (sort of like a upside-down 'L').
5. With your right palm, starting from the left side of the baby by his side and by his thigh, do an upside-down 'U' shape across the baby's body, and under the ribs. Finish by the right side of the baby's hip (where the hip starts)

This is a technique that baby's enjoy and it helps the digestive system. If you do this improperly, it can cause gas for the baby. So please do it the way outlined above.


How to Massage a Baby in Your Home

Setting up the home environment to be warm, quiet and comfortable is the first step toward a relaxing, loving experience as you give your baby a massage.

Things You’ll Need:
• Baby Blankets
• Baby Hooded Towels
• Towels
• Massage Oils
Step1 Select a room that is quiet and warm.

Step2 Find a position that is comfortable for both of you. Be aware of your back.

Step3 Either cradle the baby on a pillow on your lap or position your baby on a towel or blanket in front of you. When having their backs stroked, young babies love to be held against your chest.

Step4 Have massage oil handy.

Step5 Take off any jewelry that may scratch the baby's soft skin.

Step6 Undress the baby. Either leave on a onesie or a diaper or strip the baby down to his or her birthday suit. Be aware of room temperature.

Step7 Breathe deeply, and relax. The baby will feel any tension in your body through your hands.

Step8 Swish the massage oil in your hands to give the baby a cue that you are ready to begin.

Step9 Talk to your baby while massaging. It is an interaction. Listen to your baby talk back to you.


SOME IMPORTANT REASONS TO BREASTFEED

Babies who are not breastfed have a increased risk of:
• respiratory infections and ear infections
• gastrointestinal infections, diarrhea, or constipation
• allergies, including food allergies, eczema, and asthma
• iron-deficiency anemia
• problems with jaw and dental development that may require braces or other orthodontic work
• illnesses serious enough to require admission to hospital
• sids (sudden infant death syndrome)
• diabetes
• obesity
• some childhood cancers
• lower scores on intelligence and achievement tests


Sleep & Bedtime

Congratulations on the birth of your new baby. This is a glorious time in your life. Whether this is your first baby or your fifth, you will find this a time of recovery, adjustment, sometimes confusion and frustration, but " most wonderfully " of falling in love.
Babies younger than four months old have very different sleep needs than older babies. This article will help you understand your newborn baby's developing sleep patterns, and will help you develop reasonable expectations when it comes to your baby and sleep.
Read, Learn, and Beware of Bad Advice
Absolutely everyone has an opinion about how you should handle sleep issues with your new baby. The danger to a new parent is that these tidbits of misguided advice (no matter how well-intentioned) can truly have a negative effect on our parenting skills and, by extension, our babies, developmentSumif we are not aware of the facts. The more knowledge you have the less likely that other people will make you doubt your parenting decisions.
When you have your facts straight, and when you have a parenting plan, you will be able to respond with confidence to those who are well-meaning but offering contrary or incorrect advice. So, your first step is to get smart! Know what you are doing, and know why you are doing it.
The Biology of Newborn Sleep
During the early months of your baby's life, he sleeps when he is tired, it's really that simple. You can do very little to force a new baby to sleep when he doesn,t want to sleep, and conversely, you can do little to wake him up when he is sleeping soundly.
A very important point to understand about newborn babies is that they have very, very tiny tummies. New babies grow rapidly, their diet is liquid, and it digests quickly. Formula digests quickly and breast milk digests even more rapidly. Although it would be nice to lay your little bundle down at a predetermined bedtime and not hear a peep from him until morning, even the most naive among us know that this is not a realistic goal for a tiny baby. Newborns need to be fed every two to four hours ~ and sometimes more.
During those early months, your baby will have tremendous growth spurts that affect not only daytime, but also nighttime feeding as well, sometimes pushing that two- to four-hour schedule to a one- to two-hour schedule around the clock.
Sleeping "through the night"
You have probably heard that babies should start "sleeping through the night" at about two to four months of age. What you must understand is that, for a new baby, a five-hour stretch is a full night. Many (but nowhere near all) babies at this age can sleep uninterrupted from midnight to 5 a.m. (Not that they always do.) A far cry from what you may have thought "sleeping through the night" meant!
Here we pause while the shock sinks in for those of you who have a baby who sleeps through the night but didn,t know it.
What's more, while the scientific definition of ,sleeping through the night0/00 is five hours, most of us wouldn,t consider that anywhere near a full night,s sleep for ourselves. Also, some of these sleep-through-the-nighters will suddenly begin waking more frequently, and it,s often a full year or even two until your little one will settle into a mature, all-night, every night sleep pattern.
Falling Asleep at the Breast or Bottle
It is very natural for a newborn to fall asleep while sucking at the breast, a bottle, or a pacifier. When a baby always falls asleep this way, he learns to associate sucking with falling asleep; over time, he cannot fall asleep any other way. I have heard a number of sleep experts refer to this as a ,negative sleep association.0/00 I certainly disagree, and so would my baby. It is probably the most positive, natural, pleasant sleep association a baby can have. However, a large percentage of parents who are struggling with older babies who cannot fall asleep or stay asleep are fighting this natural and powerful sucking-to-sleep association.
Therefore, if you want your baby to be able to fall asleep without your help, it is essential that you sometimes let your newborn baby suck until he is sleepy, but not totally asleep. When you can, remove the breast, bottle, or pacifier from his mouth and let him finish falling asleep without something in his mouth. When you do this, your baby may resist, root, and fuss to regain the nipple. It,s perfectly okay to give him back the breast, bottle, or pacifier and start over a few minutes later. If you do this often enough, he will eventually learn how to fall asleep without sucking.
Waking for Night Feedings
Many pediatricians recommend that parents shouldn't let a newborn sleep longer than three or four hours without feeding, and the vast majority of babies wake far more frequently than that. (There are a few exceptional babies who can go longer.) No matter what, your baby will wake up during the night. The key is to learn when you should pick her up for a night feeding and when you can let her go back to sleep on her own.
This is a time when you need to focus your instincts and intuition. This is when you should try very hard to learn how to read your baby's signals. Here,s a tip that is critically important for you to know. Babies make many sleeping sounds, from grunts to whimpers to outright cries, and these noises don,t always signal awakening. These are what I call sleeping noises, and your baby is nearly or even totally asleep during these episodes. I remember when my first baby, Angela, was a newborn. Her cry awakened me many times, yet she was asleep in my arms before I even made it from cradle to rocking chair. She was making sleeping noises. In my desire to respond to my baby's every cry, I actually taught her to wake up more often!
You need to listen and watch your baby carefully. Learn to differentiate between these sleeping sounds and awake and hungry sounds. If she is awake and hungry, you,ll want to feed her as quickly as possible. If you respond immediately when she is hungry, she will most likely go back to sleep quickly. But, if you let her cry escalate, she will wake herself up totally, and it will be harder and take longer for her to go back to sleep. Not to mention that you will then be wide awake, too!
Help Your Baby Distinguish Day from Night
A newborn baby sleeps about sixteen to eighteen hours per day, and this sleep is distributed evenly over six to seven brief sleep periods. You can help your baby distinguish between nighttime sleep and daytime sleep, and thus help him sleep longer periods at night.
Begin by having your baby take his daytime naps in a lit room where he can hear the noises of the day, perhaps a bassinet or cradle located in the main area of your home. Make nighttime sleep dark and quiet. You can also help your baby differentiate day naps from night sleep by using a nightly bath and a change into sleeping pajamas to signal the difference between the two.
Watch for Signs of Tiredness
One way to encourage good sleep is to get familiar with your baby's sleepy signals and put her down to sleep as soon as she seems tired. A baby cannot put herself to sleep, nor can she understand her own sleepy signs. Yet a baby who is encouraged to stay awake when her body is craving sleep is typically an unhappy baby. Over time, this pattern develops into sleep deprivation, which further complicates your baby's developing sleep maturity. Learn to read your baby's sleepy signs and put her to bed when that window of opportunity presents itself.
Make Yourself Comfortable
I've yet to hear a parent tell me that she or he loves getting up throughout the night to tend to a baby's needs. As much as we adore our little bundles, it,s tough when you,re woken up over and over again, night after night. Since it,s a fact that your baby will be waking you up, you may as well make yourself as comfortable as possible. The first step is to learn to relax about night wakings right now. Being stressed or frustrated about having to get up won,t change a thing. The situation will improve day by day; and before you know it, your little newborn won,t be so little anymore ~ she,ll be walking and talking and getting into everything in sightSumduring the day, and sleeping peacefully all night long.

Your baby's Development Week By Week

First Trimester:

Weeks 0-4:

Seven days after the egg is fertilised the blastocyst in your uterus starts to produce human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) hormone.

Week 5:

The embryo is now around 5mm long. Little buds form, which will become the lungs.

Week 6:

He's now 10mm long. The first signs of his kidney appear and his hands begin to form at the ends of the arm buds.

Weeks 7-8:

Separate fingers can be identified. The foot plate and external part of the ears also begin to develop.

Weeks 9-12:

During this phase his eyes form, his head and brain grow and his face takes shape. He's around 6cm long. Ovaries or testicles have formed. His jaw and mouth have also formed and tiny milk teeth buds are in place.

Week 13:

The placenta maintains the pregnancy and substitutes for lungs, liver and kidneys.

Second Trimester

Week 14:

Your baby is floating in the amniotic sac. He can hiccup and flex his legs.

Week 15:

Blood vessels are visible under your baby's skin. He grasps the umbilical cord and sucks his fingers.

Week 16:

Your baby's legs are longer than his arms. His skin is covered with downy hair (lanugo).

Week 17:

Your baby is now about the size of a large banana. He measures about 14cm and weighs about 200g.

Week 18:

He makes breathing movements and takes amniotic in and out of his lungs.

Week 19:

Your baby swallows amniotic fluid which passes into his bowels. This meconium will constitute your baby's first bowel movement after the birth.

Week 20:

Your baby is around 15cm long (about the size of a large bunch of grapes) and weighs 400g. Eyebrows and lashes start to grow.

Week 21:

His head and body are now more in proportion. Fat is being distributed under his skin.

Week 22:

His eyelids and ears are well formed. A cycle of waking and sleeping may be established.

Week 23:

Growth now begins to slow as your baby matures in other ways.

Week 24:

He has a strong sense of touch and can feel his surroundings. His hearing is developed and he can respond to music and loud noises. He may recognise your voice and may move when you speak.

Week 25:

His nostrils have opened and he is now practising breathing.

Week 26:

His eyelids may open for the first time.

Third Trimester

Week 27:

The amniotic sac contains about 770ml of fluid and your baby can move about quite freely.

Week 28:

Your baby is about 26cm long and weighs about 900g. His heartbeat is around 120 to 140 beats per minute, about double an adults heart rate.

Week 29:

If your baby is in the breech position, don't worry, he should turn between 32 and 34 weeks.

Weeks 30-31:

Your baby can hear both your own and your partner's voice, despite his watery surroundings. Your baby's tastebuds are now developed and he can distinguish between sweet and sour and bitter tastes.

Week 32:

His eyes are open for some of the time. His skin is covered with a layer of vernix which prevents it from drying out.

Week 33:

His lungs secrete a soapy fluid which keeps them open, ready for breathing.

Week 34:

He's now 32cm long and weighs 2kg. His head should be down, ready for birth, although around four per cent of babies are born bottom first - this is the breech position.

Week 35:

The different parts of the baby can be felt through your tummy.

Week 36:

Your baby is around 34cm long and weighs about 2.8kg.

Week 37:

His head mat have engaged (moved through the opening of the pelvis), especially if this is your first baby.

Week 38-39:

Your baby is now quite plump. There is no longer move for him to stretch out and make big movements, but he can still lift and turn his head.

Week 40:

Your baby is around 35-37cm long, weighs around 3.5kg and is ready to be born.



Newborn - Sleep Patterns

What are the sleep patterns of a newborn?

The average newborn sleeps much of the day and night, waking only for feedings every few hours. It is often hard for new parents to know how long and how often a newborn should sleep. Unfortunately, there is no set schedule at first and many newborns have their days and nights confused - they think they are supposed to be awake at night and sleep in the daytime.

Generally, newborns sleep about eight to nine hours in the daytime and about eight hours at night. Most babies do not begin sleeping through the night (six to eight hours) without waking until about three months of age, or until they weigh 12 to 13 pounds. Newborns and young infants have a small stomach and must wake every few hours to eat. In most cases, your baby will awaken and be ready to eat about every three to four hours. It is not necessary to wake a baby for feedings unless you have been advised to do so by your baby's physician. However, do not let a newborn sleep longer than five hours at a time in the first five to six weeks. Some premature babies need more frequent feedings and must be awakened to eat.

Watch for changes in your baby's sleep pattern. If your baby has been sleeping consistently, and suddenly is waking, there may be a problem such as an ear infection. Some sleep disturbances are simply due to changes in development or because of overstimulation.

Never put a baby to bed with a bottle propped for feeding. This is a dangerous practice that can lead to ear infections and choking.

What are the sleep states of a newborn?

Babies, like adults, have various stages and depths of sleep. Depending on the stage, the baby may actively move or lie very still. Infant sleep patterns begin forming during the last months of pregnancy - active sleep first, then quiet sleep by about the eighth month. There are two types of sleep:
• REM (rapid eye movement sleep)
This is a light sleep when dreams occur and the eyes move rapidly back and forth. Although babies spend about 16 hours each day sleeping, about half of this is in REM sleep. Older children and adults sleep fewer hours and spend much less time in REM sleep.
• Non-REM sleep:
Non-REM has 4 stages:
1. Stage 1 - drowsiness - eyes droop, may open and close, dozing
2. Stage 2 - light sleep - the baby moves and may startle or jump with sounds
3. Stage 3 - deep sleep - the baby is quiet and does not move
4. Stage 4 - very deep sleep - the baby is quiet and does not move

A baby enters stage 1 at the beginning of the sleep cycle, then moves into stage 2, then 3, then 4, then back to 3, then 2, then to REM. These cycles may occur several times during sleep. Babies may awaken as they pass from deep sleep to light sleep and may have difficulty going back to sleep in the first few months.

What are the different alert phases of a newborn?

Babies also have differences in how alert they are during the time they are awake. When a newborn awakens at the end of the sleep cycles, there is typically a quiet alert phase. This is a time when the baby is very still, but awake and taking in the environment. During the quiet alert time, babies may look or stare at objects, and respond to sounds and motion. This phase usually progresses to the active alert phase in which the baby is attentive to sounds and sights, but moves actively. After this phase is a crying phase. The baby's body moves erratically, and he/she may cry loudly. Babies can easily be overstimulated during the crying phase. It is usually best to find a way of calming the baby and the environment. Holding a baby close or swaddling (wrapping snugly in a blanket) may help calm a crying baby.

It is usually best to feed babies before they reach the crying phase. During the crying phase, they can be so upset that they may refuse the breast or bottle. In newborns, crying is a late sign of hunger.

Helping your baby sleep:

Babies may not be able to establish their own sleeping and waking patterns, especially in going to sleep. You can help your baby sleep by recognizing signs of sleep readiness, teaching him/her to fall asleep on his/her own, and providing the right environment for comfortable and safe sleep.

What are the signs of sleep readiness?

Your baby may show signs of being ready for sleep when you see the following signs:
• rubbing eyes
• yawning
• looking away
• fussing

How can you help your baby fall asleep?

Although it is surprising, not all babies know how to put themselves to sleep. When it is time for bed, many parents want to rock or breastfeed a baby to help him/her fall asleep. Establishing a routine like this at bedtime is a good idea. However, be sure that the baby does not fall asleep in your arms. This may become a pattern and the baby may begin to expect to be in your arms in order to fall asleep. When the baby briefly awakens during a sleep cycle, he/she may not be able to go back to sleep on his own.

Most experts recommend allowing a baby to become sleepy in your arms, then placing him/her in the bed while still awake. This way the baby learns how to go to sleep on his own. Playing soft music while your baby is getting sleepy is also a good way to help establish a bedtime routine.

What sleeping positions are best for a newborn?

For many years in the United States, babies have been put to bed on their stomachs. In most other countries, babies sleep on their backs. Research has found a link between sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and babies who sleep on their stomachs (in the prone position).

Experts now agree that putting a baby to sleep on his/her back is the safest position. Side-sleeping may also be used, but this also has a higher risk than back sleeping. Other reports have found soft surfaces, loose bedding, and overheating with too many blankets also increase the risk for SIDS. When infants are put to sleep on their stomachs and they also sleep on soft bedding, the risk for SIDS is even higher. Smoking by the mother is also a major risk for SIDS, as are poor prenatal care and prematurity. Since the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) made the "back-to-sleep" recommendation in 1992, the SIDS rate has dropped more than 40 percent.

Back sleeping also appears to be safer for other reasons. There is no evidence that babies are more likely to vomit or spit up while sleeping on their back. In fact, choking may be more likely in the prone position.

A task force of The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), offer the following recommendations for infant bedding:
• Place your baby on his/her back on a firm, tight-fitting mattress in a crib that meets current safety standards.
• Remove pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, stuffed toys, and other soft products from the crib.
• Consider using a sleeper as an alternative to blankets with no other covering.
• If using a blanket, put your baby with his/her feet at the foot of the crib. Tuck a thin blanket around the crib mattress, only as far as the baby's chest.
• Make sure your baby's head remains uncovered during sleep.
• Do not place your baby on a waterbed, sofa, soft mattress, pillow, or other soft surface to sleep.
• According to the task force report, bed sharing or co-sleeping may be hazardous for babies in certain conditions. The report advises the following:
• Parents should consider placing the infant's crib near their bed for more convenient breastfeeding and parent contact.
• If a mother chooses to have her infant sleep in her bed to breastfeed, care should be taken that the baby sleeps in a non-prone position, soft surfaces or loose covers are avoided, and the bed is moved away from the wall and other furniture to avoid the baby becoming entrapped between them.
• Adults other than the parents, children, or other siblings should not share a bed with an infant.
• Parents who choose to bed share with their infant should not smoke or use substances such as drugs or alcohol that may impair their ability to awaken.

To prevent overheating, the report recommends that the infant should be lightly clothed for sleep and the room temperature kept comfortable for a lightly clothed adult. Avoid over bundling and check the baby's skin to make sure it is not hot to the touch.

Additional research has found that infants should not be put to sleep on a sofa, alone or with another person, as this practice increases the risk for SIDS.

While babies should sleep on their backs, other positions can be used during the time babies are awake. Babies can be placed on their stomachs while awake to help develop muscles and eyes and to help prevent flattened areas on the back of the head.


Burping the Baby

Why is my baby crying, is she hungry
Most of the time that the baby is crying, it is because of hunger. Some parents begin to recognize the cry of hunger at a very early age. It has been observed that the feeling of a full stomach gives a baby the most comfort. - not the act of feeding, swallowing or being held. However, it is important that you should burp the baby (take out excess air) after every feed, because the air trapped in her system may cause her a lot of discomfort. Another possible explanation for your baby's discomfort may lie in her diet. Occasionally, allergy or sensitivity to something in the formula or breast milk may lead to crying, but this is usually accompanied by other symptoms.
How do I burp my baby
Babies often feel uncomfortable because they have swallowed air. Burp the baby regularly during feeds in order to expel swallowed air. Applying light pressure to the baby's abdomen (by laying her across your lap, tummy down, or upright against your shoulder) while patting or rubbing her back has also been known to be effective. When you are breastfeeding your baby, you can hold the baby against your shoulder for 30 seconds to one minute before offering her the second breast.
How can I prevent my baby from swallowing air
Parents can take a few precautionary measures to prevent the baby from swallowing air. Babies will swallow less air if you keep them upright as much as possible during feeding and burping. The right-size teat hole on a bottle will also reduce air intake. If you are breastfeeding the baby, you should position them in a semi-upright position.


Tips for Successful Breastfeeding

10 Tips for successful breastfeeding
1. You should begin breastfeeding your baby an hour after delivery.
2. Colostrum, the yellowish milk produced by the mother in the first 3 days, is very healthy for the child.
3. The baby does not need anything other than breast milk for the first 4-6 months of life. Breast milk provides adequate nutrition and immunity for the baby.
4. A baby who has only breast milk (no additional water), and urinates a minimum of 6 times in 24 hours is getting enough breast milk.
5. There is no need to worry about frequent watery motions in an exclusively breastfed baby, as long as the baby is active and passes urine adequately.
6. Your baby should be free to breastfeed whenever and for as long as she chooses. More suckling means more breast milk. Demand feeding alleviates breast engorgement and breast infection.
7. It is important that the baby not only get foremilk (rich in carbohydrates, vitamins and proteins, that also helps quench the baby's thirst), but also get hind milk (rich in fat and calories). Therefore, you should allow the baby to keep suckling from one side until he leaves the breast on his own, so that he gets enough hindmilk.
8. Try to avoid bottle-feeding entirely. It is not necessary at all.
9. Bottle-feeding may be a direct cause for breastfeeding failure.
10. If the baby cannot tolerate bottle-feeding or artificial feeding, it can lead to a serious illness.

Knowing the basics of breastfeeding
Positioning:
The baby should be unwrapped before being put to the breast. This will allow her the freedom to feel her mother's body, especially her warm breasts. She must be positioned such that she is in a semi-upright position with her stomach touching your stomach, her lower shoulder touching you, and her upper shoulder close to your breast.
Latching on:
She must take the entire nipple (the dark areola) in her mouth. If she is still very young and has a small mouth, it is more important that her lips cover the lower part of the areola than the upper part of the areola. It is her lower jaw that will do all the suckling.
Timing and Frequency of Feeds:
She must be allowed to feed as often and as long as she wants (including during the night). This will ensure that she gets enough hindmilk, and also a feeling of security.
Ban on Feeding Bottles:
Although you may have got many feeding bottles as gifts, it is important that you never use them. The use of feeding bottles could cause nipple confusion and result in breastfeeding failure.

Benefits of Breastfeeding for the Mother

What are the benefits of breastfeeding for the mother
• Once you master the art of breastfeeding, feeding the baby will be very convenient for you. You will not need to worry about washing and sterilizing bottles, preparing feeds, boiling water, etc.
• It will help you regain your figure faster than if you were not breastfeeding
• It also reduces the risks of breast and ovarian cancer
• It acts as a natural contraceptive (but you should not rely on it) and helps you space your babies by delaying conception

Will my breasts sag with breastfeeding
The mother's breasts usually do increase in size by as much as 2-5 inches during pregnancy and remain enlarged for a few months after delivery until the mother continues to nurse her baby. Since there are no muscles in the breast, only ligaments, your breasts will sag from the increased weight unless well supported by a good-fitting bra. These ligaments, once stretched, never return to their original size. Therefore, breasts sag not because of breastfeeding but because of poor support. A bra with good all-round support worn at all times during pregnancy and nursing (even at night) will ensure that your breasts do not sag.
I am worried about losing my figure after childbirth
There is good news for you. Breastfeeding helps you regain your original figure faster. Your uterus would have also expanded in size during pregnancy. Soon after delivery, however, it begins to contract to get back to its original size. You will regain your original figure faster because of the following reasons:
• The oxytocin hormone released during breastfeeding encourages faster contraction of the uterus
• The oxytocin hormone leads to earlier stoppage of vaginal bleeding after delivery;
• All the fat in your body accumulated during pregnancy will be consumed in the preparation of breast milk
Many breastfeeding mothers (who have gained a normal weight of 12 kgs) have happy stories to recount that they came back to their pre-pregnancy weight within 6 months of delivery without doing even a bit of exercise. (But remember exercise may not be necessary to lose weight but it is essential to reduce the flabbiness caused from pregnancy).


Benefits of Breastfeeding for The Baby

What are the benefits of breast milk for the baby
• It has all the nutrients that a baby needs
• It can easily be digested by the baby
• It protects the baby from illnesses by providing immunity
• It is readily available for the baby and is always at the right temperature

Is the nutrition provided by breast milk sufficient
Breast milk is the ideal and most complete food for the baby because it contains all of the nutritive elements essential for its growth. It is an important source of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals - all in the right proportion.
How does breast milk protect the baby
Breast milk strengthens the child's immunity because it contains antibodies, special white cells and other anti-infective factors. The protection is greatest when the baby is only fed breast milk in the first 4-6 months of life. Cow (or buffalo) milk and formula milk do not contain these antibodies that are so important to the baby.
Is a breastfed baby less likely to fall sick
Yes, absolutely. Breast milk helps to protect the baby against diarrhoea, coughs and colds, and common illnesses. A non-breastfed baby is 15 times more likely to get diarrhoea and 3 times more likely to get respiratory infection. Allergies are more common in babies given animal milk (including powder milk) in the first months of life. If your baby is sick, breast milk is ideal because it is nutritious and can be easily digested.
Does breast milk cause fewer stomach upsets and prevent constipation
Yes. Breast milk gets digested easily, even by the baby's delicate digestive system. This means fewer stomach upsets, less wind and less vomiting after feeds. The baby's stools are also soft and less smelly. In addition, the baby rarely (or never) suffers from constipation. Even if the baby does not have a bowel movement for a few days, when he eventually does, his stools will always be soft (though he may still show signs of straining).

Bath Tips For Baby

Bath Tips For Baby

What You'll Need.
• Bathe your newborn using a small tub or the kitchen sink. This will save new parents the pain of a sore back and knees. Your baby will also be able to sit more comfortably in this size tub.
How Often?
• Until your baby is more active, you need only bathe her two or three times a week. Once she's more energetic, she'll likely get herself into more sticky situations; now you'll need to wash her once or twice a day. Using a soft cloth, wash your newborn's face frequently and clean the genital area after every diaper change.
Proper Procedure.
• Assemble everything you’ll need for this bath—gather soft towels and have mild soap on hand. Fill the tub with 2-3 inches of warm water; test the water with your elbow to make sure it’s not too warm. Room temperature should also be comfortable so that your baby doesn’t catch a cold.
• Now you’re ready to ease your child into the water. Use one hand to support her neck and head. Use mild soap sparingly as it will easily dry out delicate baby skin.
• Wash from head to toe, front and back, using your hand or a soft washcloth. Use a moistened cotton ball to wash the face and eyes. Rinse your baby with a wet washcloth thoroughly.
• Wash her scalp twice a week, using a damp soapy cloth, and rinse well. Be careful not to get any soap in her little eyes!
Wrapping Up.
• Finally, wrap her up in a warm, soft towel and gently pat her dry. Make sure the genital area is completely dry to avoid a diaper rash.
Note: You don't want to make the bath water too hot, as a baby's skin is very delicate, and may get burnt easily.


Soothing a Carying Baby

Soothing a Crying Baby

Sometimes the solution to your baby’s crying is quite obvious. She’s hungry so you feed her. Perhaps her diaper is soiled so you put a fresh one on. But what about those times when you’re not so sure?

Gas Time

It’s common for many newborns to suffer from uncomfortable gas. Although they usually outgrow their difficulties by three or four months, you’ll probably need to help them get relief once or twice before then.

To relieve the gas (and stop those tears), try laying them on their back and gently pumping their legs. If that doesn’t work, then lightly rub their stomach in a downward motion, as though you were digging in the ground. Try this two or three times and then gently bring their knees up to their chest. Hopefully, this will do the trick, but if it doesn’t then softly rub their stomach in a clockwise motion two or three times. Bring their knees up to their chest again to help them pass the gas.

If you breastfeed, try adjusting your feeding routine so that you can help prevent the gas in the first place. Avoid switching breasts during the meal. Also, keep your little one’s head above her stomach. This will help to slow down the flow of milk, which will keep her from swallowing too much air.

Your baby might be crying if he's cold or if he's too warm. Try adding or taking away a layer of clothing.

Tired of Being a Celebrity

Perhaps your baby just wants some attention; the easiest solution is to pick her up and hold her. Perhaps you’ve just spent the evening at a family function where everyone was "oohhing" and "aahhing" over your little one. Then your baby is probably sick of the limelight and would like to spend some quiet time away from everyone. Find a quite place and sit with your baby until the tears stop.

Sometimes, though, babies cry for reasons that parents just can’t identify. If you’re not sure what is causing your baby’s tears, then try some of these tried and tested methods.

Good Vibrations

Put your baby in his car seat and place him on top of the washer or dryer while it’s running. Many babies love the constant vibration. Just make sure you hold on to that seat the entire time.

Another method thousands of parents swear by is the car ride. Whether it’s the movement or the change of scenery, car rides have stopped the tears of many babies. Try to find a route with a lot of right turns so that your little one doesn’t start crying again at every stop.

The Power of Touch

It is amazing how touch and skin-to-skin contact can calm a crying baby. Try giving your baby a gentle massage to ease their tears. You might also want to lay her on her back and move her legs in a bicycling motion.

One popular method of stopping a baby’s tears is to put him in a front carry pack and walk around with him. Sing, talk and hum to him while you go about your day. The close contact to your body will let your little one feel safe and warm. In fact, a study done in Montreal, Canada found that babies who were carried around by their mothers often cried less than babies who weren’t carried. So strap him into that front pack and do your chores!

Get Moving

Movement is a great baby soother. Pick your baby up in your arms and gently dance and sway with her in front of a mirror. She’ll enjoy the movement and being able to see herself.

Just like us, babies can get bored with their surroundings. So if you’ve been inside all day, take a stroll outside. If you’ve been outside all day, head inside.

If you have a bouncy chair, place your baby in it and swing a receiving blanket or burp cloth in front of his face. Play peek-a-boo with him.

All the White Sounds

White noise can be especially soothing for many babies. Try running the vacuum, the dishwasher or a hair dryer. You can also tune the radio to a static station and let your baby listen to that. Just be sure to keep the volume low.

When all else fails, then try setting a calming mood. Dim the lights, put on some white noise, wrap your baby up in some warm blankets and just let her enjoy the mellow atmosphere.

If none of these tips seem to help, you may want to consider asking your doctor or midwife about colic. Colic can really fray a parents nerves, so it's important to learn how to cope with a colicky baby.
Swaddling
Swaddling is another soothing technique first-time parents should learn. Swaddling keeps a baby's arms close to the body and legs snuggled together. Not only does this keep a baby warm, but the surrounding pressure seems to give most newborns a sense of security and comfort. Swaddling works well for some babies during their first few weeks.
Here's how to swaddle a baby:
• Spread out the receiving blanket, with one corner folded over slightly.
• Lay the baby face-up on the blanket with his or her head above the folded corner.
• Wrap the left corner over the body and tuck it beneath the back of the baby, going under the right arm.
• Bring the bottom corner up over the baby's feet and pull it toward the head, folding the fabric down if it gets close to the face.
• Wrap the right corner around the baby, and tuck it under the baby's back on the left side, leaving only the neck and head exposed.


The first Few Hours After Birth

Caring For Your New Born Baby

The first Few Hours After Birth

The first few hours after your baby's birth will be an exciting, awesome and exhilarating experience. In these moments, with your baby close to you, all your dreams, hopes and plans come together.

Many Mothers ask their Health care provider or Midwife to let them have the first few hours after the birth of their baby to be left to them, undisturbed. This is a very important and amazing time, as after a long nine months your little miricale has finally arrived, and lying in your arms.

After the birth, your newborn should be thoroughly dried with warm towels so as not to lose heat. Once it's clear that he has good color and is active and normal, he can be placed between your breasts, on your abdomen or right next to you as the two of you and your partner rest together.

The time spent together will have a huge impact on both you and your newborn. Not only will it put you at ease, your baby will feel so much more secure in it;'s new surroundings with the comfort and warmth of your body warming his/her body. it is often also thought that a newborn will recognise it;s mothers voice and smell, and therefore feel more safe and comforterd and rest easier.

Comforting a crying Baby

We all know that all babies cry, and at about two weeks of age, it is not unusual for babies to develop a difficult period in the evening that can last many hours. You might also be worried about colic.

It's a difficult period, as you will be wanting to comfort your baby, and try to find out what is wrong with him/her. All your efforts may end in more crying or no solution. Here are a few different suggestions we think you might find easy and effective in comforting your baby.

New Positions
• Hold your baby facedown over your forearm with his head at your elbow and your thumb and fingers wrapped around his thigh.
• Hold your baby seated in your hand with his back to your chest and your other hand across his chest, wrapping your thumb and fingers around his upper arm.
• Hold your baby high over your shoulder so his stomach is being pressed into your shoulder bone.
• Cradle your baby in your arms, holding him tummy-to-tummy tightly against you.

Rhythmic Motion
• Walking around
• Rocking vertically by doing deep-knee bends.
• Swaying side to side or back and forth while standing up
• Rocking back and forth in a comfortable rocking chair

Warmth
• Swaddle your baby tightly in a receiving blanket.
• Hold your baby close to you so she can receive your warmth.
• Put a heating pad in your baby's sleep area to warm the sheets before putting her down. Take out the heating pad and check the temperature of the sheets to be sure they're comfortably warm.
• Lay your baby facedown over a wrapped hot-water bottle on your lap.

Soothing Sounds
• Speak reassuring words in a soft, low voice.
• Hum and sing familiar songs you enjoy.
• Make a tape recording of a dishwasher, washing machine, vacuum cleaner or clothes dryer to let your baby hear repeated swooshing sounds. A fan or humidifier in the baby's room can sometimes do the trick, as can a radio tuned to the static between stations.
• Play classical, new age, soft rock or soft jazz music. No heavy metal, please! It makes babies nervous

Touch
• Firmly but gently massage your baby's back from the neck down to his bottom.
• Firmly pat or rub your baby on his back and bottom.In a warm room, lay your baby on a firm surface and gently massage his tummy with clockwise strokes.
• If you think his discomfort may be resulting from gas, this can help move down the gas. Then gently press his knees into his abdomen to push out the gas.

Recommended Link
Caring for a newborn is often an experience few woman (or men) are properly prepared for. Help other new moms know what to expect by visitng Pregnancy Stories and telling your story about taking care of your baby.


Handling A Newborn

Handling a Newborn

If you haven't spent a lot of time around newborns, their fragility may be intimidating. Here are a few basics to remember:
• Be careful to support your baby's head and neck. Cradle the head when carrying your baby and support the head when carrying the baby upright or when you lay him or her down.
• Be careful not to shake your newborn, whether in play or in frustration. Shaking that is vigorous can cause bleeding in the brain and even death. If you need to wake your infant, don't do it by shaking — instead, tickle your baby's feet or blow gently on a cheek.
• Shaken baby/shaken impact syndrome (SBS) is a form of inflicted head trauma. Head injury, as a form of child abuse, can be caused by direct blows to the head, dropping or throwing the child, or shaking the child. Head trauma is the leading cause of death in child abuse cases in the United States.
• Make sure your baby is securely fastened into the carrier, stroller, or car seat. Limit any activity that would be too rough or bouncy.
• Even though babies are small and seem uncomplicated, there's nothing small or simple about their accessories! Choosing products for your baby can be confusing, especially with all the new gadgets and features available. But there is one overriding consideration that must never be compromised when picking out your baby's products, whether you're buying, borrowing, or accepting a hand-me-down: your baby's safety.
• Remember that your newborn is not ready for rough play, such as being jiggled on the knee or thrown in the air.

Baby - Care Basics

You've survived 9 months of pregnancy. You've made it through the excitement of labor and delivery, and now you're ready to head home and begin life with your baby. Once home, though, you frantically realize you have no idea what you're doing!

Brushing up on these tips can help first-time parents feel confident about caring for a newborn in no time.

Baby-care basics:
• Getting Help After the Birth
• Handling a Newborn
• Bonding and Soothing Techniques
• Diapering Dos and Don'ts
• Bathing Basics
• Circumcision and Umbilical Cord Care
• Feeding and Burping Your Baby
• Sleeping Basics