Discovering that you are pregnant for the first time is quite overwhelming. As you have not experienced this miracle before, there will be a large number of questions circling your head. For example when to meet with your doctor, when can you announce the news to the world and what body changes are going to occur. Here are the basics of what you need to know.

Whether you snored before pregnancy or not, it is quite a common occurrence for snoring to increase while you are pregnant. This is because your nasal membranes swell. If it becomes a sleep disturbance to your partner, you can try nasal strips to open up your nasal airways. Ear plugs being worn by your partner are another option.

If you find yourself experience pain in your hands when you are pregnant, in particular closing them to clench a fist first thing in the morning, chances are you could be experiencing carpal tunnel syndrome. Discuss this when you next visit your doctor, however, in most cases things return to normal after birth.

Do not overeat while pregnant so that you do not have to lose too much weight after the baby is born. You should not eat twice as much as normal. You only need to consume an extra 200-300 calories per day during the last 6 months of pregnancy to help the baby develop properly.

If your doctor prescribes bed rest during your pregnancy, whether it is limited or complete bedrest, it is important that you follow the doctor’s orders. While it is difficult to sit still and watch the world around you go past, particularly when you see chores piling up, not following medical advice could lead to serious complications to your and your baby’s health.

Be prepared for frequent toilet breaks towards the end of the pregnancy. It is quite common to wake up every two hours during the night and have to get up to urinate. This is because the baby is pushing on your bladder. Consider this to be training for the sleepness nights ahead after birth.

It is very common for a woman’s feet to swell during pregnancy and for them to go up a shoe size, especially in the third trimester. Wearing flat shoes at this stage will be more comfortable than high heels so look at purchasing a new pair of shoes for this short period of your life.

Do not be too mentally hard on yourself during pregnancy. Weight gain is normal, mood fluctuations are normal and pregnancy is about giving birth to a healthy child at the end. Aim to look the best you can be but don’t continuously compare yourself to slim celebrities in magazines as this will not do wonders for your disposition.

Breast Feeding

Taking prenatal vitamins is essential. Your body needs extra nutrition before, during and after your pregnancy. If you are planning on becoming pregnant, start taking these vitamins well before. If you are already pregnant, it’s not too late to start. You will still get the benefits of it. Keep taking them well beyond giving birth. At least until you stop breast feeding.

Most new mothers know that breast-feeding is best for a newborn baby. Breast-feeding comes naturally to most women, but it helps to take a class on the subject and learn what to expect as well as what to do if you should have any problems! Remember: Breast is best!

Now that these tips have answered the most immediate questions that have sprung to mind it is time to book your first doctor’s appointment. Congratulations on the wondrous joy that you are going to experience in approximately nine months time. Seek assistance from family and friends, follow the medical advice provided and enjoy the days ahead.

All mothers ask themselves this question. It is well accepted that breastfeeding is the best and most natural option for nourishing a baby. However, for a variety of reasons breastfeeding may not be an option; or possibly it’s just a personal choice to bottle feed.

Most professionals and professional organizations recommend breastfeeding babies, especially during the first year. Breast milk contains antibodies that help babies fight infections and is the best nutrition for a baby. Breast milk also contains the right amounts and mix of nutrients that a baby needs. However, a baby will benefit from being breastfed for even a short period of time, even if only a few weeks.Breast milk is also easier to digest than formula and helps protect babies from allergies. It also contains fatty acids that promote brain development and decreases the risk of baby being obese later in life. Most babies learn to latch on properly, but if they can’t a dedicated mom can use breast pumps and feed baby breast milk from a bottle. Also, moms who don’t produce sufficient milk, with is rare with regular feedings, may supplement with formula in a bottle. Once a baby learns to latch on properly, using a bottle or pacifier should not interfere with breastfeeding.

Occasionally, the mother’s health prevents her from breastfeeding or even pumping; and some medications may be contraindicated if breastfeeding. Consulting her doctor on options is the place to start in these cases.

Plenty of healthy, happy babies have been bottle fed with infant formula. So if you find yourself having to use formula or you simply choose that path, do not beat yourself up about and do not allow others to second guess your choice. Infant formulas have come a long way and many are close matches to the ingredients of human milk. In addition, many formulas are available to aid in digestion. Furthermore, how much nourishment a baby is receiving is easier to measure through bottle feeding. (Of course, breast milk can be given from a bottle as well.)

Moms should not worry about bonding with a bottle fed baby. Properly feeding a baby includes holding him or her close to your chest, holding the baby snugly and giving the bottle. In addition, dad, siblings, grandparents and friends can be more involved with baby’s care, allowing the special bonding to begin immediately.

Of course, formula can be expensive over the time baby uses it and no formula will exactly match the composition of breast milk. But, in the end, unless a medical issue is involved, the choice of breast v. bottle is a personal one. No matter what the mom chooses, her husband and other family members should show their support.

Learn more about baby birth video at our baby health care website.

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Breastfeeding has been proven as one of the main practices offering children many health benefits. Most mothers often carry out this task without knowing how well to go about the entire process. This article seeks to give you breastfeeding tips aimed at making the process easier not only for you but also for the baby. The first thing each mother ought to do is ensure that the baby is placed on the breast immediately after birth, something that is going to take place in the delivery room. You should let the practitioner approve this for you since there are some facilities that do not allow breastfeeding in the birthing room.

Another of the breastfeeding tips is to allow the baby to suckle enough, some few hours after birth as this helps in fostering an attachment between both the baby and mother. This also helps keep the baby warm during the process considering that there is the skin to skin contact between it and the mom. Medically, breastfeeding a baby immediately after birth has been proved to be of immense advantage to their health considering that it boosts their nutritional supply.

The posture in which the baby is held during breastfeeding goes a long way in ensuring that the process runs smoothly. In essence, a mother is supposed to hold the baby’s chin to their breast and the tummy to their tummy.

This should be done when the mother is either lying down or sitting and the breast should be held in a ‘c’ hold. This is where the thumb is placed on top of the breast and other fingers placed at the bottom. Most mothers do not know this but the baby’s lips are supposed to be tickled using the breast nipple until their mouth opens. During feeding, the tip of the baby’s nose and chin should be allowed to touch the breast.

One of the important breastfeeding tips is that the baby should be offered both breasts during each feeding. When the baby falls off the breast, a mother will get to know that it is time to switch to the other one. To avoid excessive drying of the nipple, the mother should rub a few drops of her milk onto the nipple and allow it to dry through air before covering it using a bra, clothing or nursing pad. Note that nipples are often tender during the first breastfeeding days, though the tenderness gradually disappears as the milk begins flowing.

Another of the breastfeeding tips is to ensure that you read the signs of breastfeeding form the child early enough. This involves looking at things such as the baby licking their lips, sucking on their fingers and crying. As a mother, you do not have to keep looking at the clock so as top ascertain the exact time when the baby is supposed to breastfeed. As you also engage in the breastfeeding exercise, you should ensure that the child’s mouth covers the entire area underneath the nipples. This helps in preventing instances of chocking for the baby.

For more information about breastfeeding tips and benefits for mums from breastfeeding please visit mumzone.com.au.

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Feeding your newborn is the initial step you need to do for your baby’s welfare. Breastfeeding is still best for your baby. But in cases where it is not possible or not preferred, bottle-feeding is your next available option. Below are guidelines to help you make an informed decision:

Many medical professional groups promote breastfeeding. Babies are best breast-fed for the first 6 months of their infancy. Breast milk has the following advantages:

- Rich in vitamins and essential minerals like iron, protein, lactose, and fat. These are digested easily by the baby’s fragile system.

- Contains antibodies that strengthen the baby’s immunity

- Decreases the child’s chance of experiencing weight management issues

- Readily available, no preparation needed

- Cost-effective

- Improves the connection between the mother and child; the best way for bonds to develop

- For moms, may decrease chances of acquiring breast or ovarian cancer

However, breast feeding requires the mother to dedicate more time for her child. The frequent demand for milk may cause the mother a great amount of stress. In most dual income families, the mother needs to balance her time between work and home in order to fulfill the baby’s needs. A breast pump can easily resolve this issue. But to compensate for the various reasons that prevent breastfeeding, there is a wide range of commercially formulated milk available in the market.

Formula milk has the following advantages:

- Only alternative for a mother who is biologically incapable of breastfeeding.

- Offers freedom for the mother, giving other members of the family a chance to participate in the task of feeding the baby and to bond with the baby while bottle-feeding.

- Reduces risk of embarrassment for mothers who need to feed their babies in public places

On the other hand, formulated milk can never perfectly duplicate breast milk. In terms of organization, bottle feeding requires time. There are added steps like bottle sterilization, milk preparation, and storage considerations. They are also a significant addition to your family’s budget.

For the best results for your baby, consult your pediatrician first. Whether bottle or breast-fed, keep in mind that it’s your child’s nutritional needs that are at stake.

Make breastfeeding a comfortable experience for you and your baby by using a breastfeeding pillow. Find out more on Beds & Pillows.

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