baby milestone

Developmental Milestones

July 13, 2016 by • Developmental Milestones • 0 Comments

baby milestoneMilestones are a way to track your Baby’s progress and development but it is important to remember that all children are different. Some babies don’t meet the milestones within the charted dates and some far exceed them. If your baby does not meet these milestones please do not panic. If you are concerned, talk to your pediatrician. Otherwise, just be patient and use these milestones as a general guide.

By the end of their first month, most babies:

  • Make jerky, quivering arm movements
  • Bring hands near face
  • Keep hands in tight fists
  • Move head from side to side while lying on stomach
  • Focus on objects 8 to 12 inches away
  • Prefer human faces over other shapes
  • Prefer black-and-white or high-contrast patterns
  • Hear very well
  • Recognize some sounds, including parents’ voices

By the end of their third month, most babies:

  • Raise head and chest when lying on stomach
  • Support upper body with arms when lying on stomach
  • Stretch legs out and kick when lying on stomach or back
  • Push down on legs when feet are placed on a firm surface
  • Open and shut hands
  • Bring hands to mouth
  • Grab and shake hand toys
  • Follow moving object with eyes
  • Watch faces closely
  • Recognize familiar objects and people at a distance
  • Start using hands and eyes in coordination
  • Begin to babble and to imitate some sounds
  • Smile at the sound of parents’ voices
  • Enjoy playing with other people
  • May cry when playing stops

By the end of their seventh month, most babies:

  • Roll over both ways (stomach to back and back to stomach)
  • Sit up
  • Reach for object with hand
  • Transfer objects from one hand to the other
  • Support whole weight on legs when held upright
  • Develop full-color vision and mature distance vision
  • Use voice to express joy and displeasure
  • Respond to own name
  • Babble chains of consonants (ba-ba-ba-ba)
  • Distinguish emotions by tone of voice
  • Explore objects with hands and mouth
  • Struggle to get objects that are out of reach
  • Enjoy playing peek-a-boo
  • Show an interest in mirror images

By their first birthday, most babies:milestones

  • Sit without assistance
  • Get into hands-and-knees position
  • Crawl
  • Pull self up to stand
  • Walk holding onto furniture, and possibly a few steps without support
  • Use pincer grasp (thumb and forefinger)
  • Say “dada” and “mama”
  • Use exclamations, such as “oh-oh!”
  • Try to imitate words
  • Respond to “no” and simple verbal requests
  • Use simple gestures, such as shaking head “no” and waving bye-bye
  • Explore objects in many ways (shaking, banging, throwing, dropping)
  • Begin to use objects correctly (drinking from cup, brushing hair)
  • Find hidden objects easily
  • Look at correct picture when an image is named

By their second birthday, most children:

  • Walk alone
  • Pull toys behind them while walking
  • Carry large toy or several toys while walking
  • Begin to run
  • Kick a ball
  • Climb on and off furniture without help
  • Walk up and down stairs while holding on to support
  • Scribble with crayon
  • Build tower of four blocks or more
  • Recognize names of familiar people, objects and body parts
  • Say several single words (by 15 to 18 months)
  • Use simple phrases (by 18 to 24 months)
  • Use two- to four-word sentences (“want snack”)
  • Follow simple instructions
  • Begin to sort objects by shapes and colors
  • Begin to play make-believe
  • Imitate behavior of others
  • Show growing independence

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics. “Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5, Fourth Edition” (Bantam Books, 2005).

Cord Blood

Cord Blood Information

July 13, 2016 by • Cord Blood Information • 0 Comments

cord bloodHas anyone asking if you are banking your cord blood? Did you come away thinking that you needed more information about what cord blood banking is about?

Cord blood banking has become an increasingly popular health option for new parents in both Canada and the U.S.. Parents see it as an option toward insuring that their child will have a better chance of beating any possible future serious illness through the use of the stem cells present in the cord blood.

In an explanation provided by the Cord Blood Association of Canada, “Although the number of parents choosing to bank their newborn’s cord blood has doubled in the past five years as more families are becoming aware of this technology, over 98% of expectant parents become aware of cord blood banking only after child-birth, when their newborn’s cord blood has been discarded and no longer recoverable. As a new and promising medical option, there is important information about cord blood banking that every expectant parent should be informed before making decision on whether to bank their newborn’s cord blood.

cord bloodBy storing your child’s cord blood, you are storing stem cells with regenerative capabilities. Currently, over 50 of diseases can be treated with cord blood, but scientists predict that stem cell treatment will become increasingly frequent as cord blood stem cells research is performed, with some experts suggesting that stem cell treatment may be commonly used for many major diseases within a decade.”

If you are considering or have any questions about Cord Blood storage we have tried to put as many sources below as possible, to start you on your journey. Good luck!

Cord Blood Banking

Hema-Quebec Public Cord Blood Bank

National Marrow Donor Program-Details on umbilical cord blood donation

Cord Blood

Cord Blood Association of Canada

The March of Dimes-Umbilical Cord Blood
National Cord Blood Program – Cord Blood Q&A
GentleBirth.org – Umbilical cord issues
Parents Guide to Cord Blood
Cord Blood Blog
International Cord Blood Registry
Cord Blood Legislation by State (United States)

healthy living

The Land of Nod Product Recall

July 13, 2016 by • Healthy Living • 0 Comments

This Warning is from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.  I know that many of us buy products from the States online for our kids so I wanted to be sure to add it on our site.

The Land of Nod Recalls Toy Vegetables Due to Laceration Hazard

baby toysWASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: “Play With Your Veggies” toys

Units: About 2,100
Manufacturer: The Land of Nod, of Northbrook, Ill.
Hazard: The metal wire in the toy asparagus can become exposed, posing a laceration hazard to children.
Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received a report of an exposed wire in the asparagus. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves The Land of Nod toy vegetables sets made of felt wool. The toy set has six vegetables: radish, onion, asparagus, tomato, lettuce and carrot. The asparagus is the only toy vegetable involved in this recall.

healthy livingSold exclusively at: The Land of Nod stores in Illinois and Washington, the Land of Nod catalog and www.landofnod.com from October 2007 through February 2010 for about $25.

Manufactured in: Nepal

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the toy asparagus from children and return the product to the company for a free replacement asparagus.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact The Land of Nod at (800) 933-9904 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (800) 933-9904      end_of_the_skype_highlighting between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, visit the firm’s website at www.landofnod.com, or email the firm at recall@landofnod.com

swaddling

Experts say that there is harmful & misleading information being spread about Swaddling

July 12, 2016 by • New Baby • 0 Comments

swaddling“Swaddling a baby is perfectly safe”, says Raleigh, North Carolina-based Pamela Diamond, a certified postpartum doula and baby sleep consultant.

Newborn care experts are saying that those who advocate arms-free swaddling and anti-swaddling are misleading and irresponsible at best and potentially harmful or even deadly at worst.

“There are people out there who are spreading fear-laden messages that are patently false, lacking in evidence, data and clinical studies and go directly against decades of clinical research*”, she said.  “To advise parents to use an arms-free swaddle or no swaddle is downright absurd.”

“Swaddling is a vital tool that is clinically proven to comfort a crying, screaming newborn and keep an infant safely asleep on its back.”

Dr. Harvey Karp Pediatrician concurs. An eminent expert on the subject of newborn sleep and whose work spans nearly four decades, Dr. Karp has long advocated swaddling as part of the Five S’s.   On his website The Happiest Baby on the Block, Karp writes that swaddling is essential to public health because infant crying and the exhaustion it causes in parents are main triggers for postpartum depression, SIDS, child abuse such as Shaken Baby Syndrome, breastfeeding failure, maternal smoking, marital stress, car accidents, and over-diagnosis and treatment of babies for illness, among others.

Though some published reports claim otherwise, the American Academy of Pediatrics has advocated swaddling many times and has also written about the benefits of swaddling on numerous occasions.

Nowhere is the anti-swaddling trend more directly evident than in North Carolina.  As part of the implementation of the Infant Safe Sleep Campaign the NC Healthy Start Foundation says the long held tradition of swaddling could lead to suffocation due to loose bedding.  While loose bedding is no doubt a serious problem, it is altogether a separate issue from swaddling safety.

new baby“Considering the millions of people that have been swaddling newborns every night and every day, if such a theory were correct, there would be literally thousands of such reported incidents over the years, and there simply aren’t,” says Michael Gatten, CEO and Founder of Miracle Industries, LLC, makers of a leading swaddling product, Miracle Blanket. “We are extremely concerned about parents being incorrectly educated regarding sleep positions that have not been clinically studied.”

As an example of the misinformation, the term “swaddling” is being exploited and illegitimately applied to various non-swaddling items to validate the use of clinical studies to promote sales. While most of these products do serve the purpose of eliminating loose bedding, they lack the very discernible scientifically-proven attributes that make swaddling safe and effective.

Arms-free swaddling or no swaddle at all, it’s pretty much the same.  In both cases, experts say the efficacy and the benefits are gone.  Therefore it’s crucial to separate the MYTHS from the FACTS.

MYTH: A wearable blanket or other zip-up sack is just as good as a swaddling blanket to help babies sleep.

FACT: Medical research showing the incredible efficacy of PROPER swaddling has been done using a snugly-wrapped blanket witharms comfortably immobilized; usually at the sides. Wearable blankets are not snug to apply pressure and do not keep the arms snugly inside.

MYTH: Babies need their hands free to self-soothe, develop motor skills, and to flail their arms if they are in distress.

FACT: Babies are not coordinated enough to practice motor skills and/or self-soothe (ie. suck hands) reliably until 14 weeks.  Swaddling is a substitute during this time to limit startle reflex, thus preventing unwanted arousal and facial scratches.

MYTH: Wearable blankets and other zip-up sacks help babies sleep better.

FACT: Only PROPER swaddling has been shown in clinical studies to calm a fussy, colicky baby while helping baby sleep safer, better, deeper and longer on their backs, while also eliminating loose bedding.

MYTH: Wearable blankets and other zip-up sacks contribute to a decrease in the risk of SIDS.

FACT: Only PROPER swaddling has been shown in clinical studies* to reduce SIDS by as much as 30% even over back-sleeping babies without swaddling.

MYTH: Tight swaddling can interfere with lung expansion, contributing to the risk of suffocation.

FACT: Research on PROPER swaddling has shown that a tight swaddle does not inhibit oxygen absorption or respiration. And, no incident of suffocation due to overly tight swaddling has ever been reported.

*Ponsonby, A, et al, Factors potentiating the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome associated with the Prone Position. NEJM 1993; 329:377-82 http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/329/6/377

OTHER RESOURCES & CONTACTS:

www.SwaddlingTruth.com

Pam Diamond, CPD
FIRST DAZE & NIGHTZzz
Doula, Newborn Sleep Consultant
pjdisme@mindspring.com
P: (919) 274-0445

Harvey Karp, MD, FAAP
THE HAPPIEST BABY ON THE BLOCK
Pediatrician
dr.karp@thehappiestbaby.com
P: (310) 207-1111

Michael Gatten
MIRACLE INDUSTRIES, LLC.
CEO/Founder
P: (805) 908-2526

Marta Pirzadeh, MPH
NC HEALTHY START FOUNDATION
Infant Safe Sleep Campaign Coordinator
Marta@nchealthystart.org
P: (919) 828-1819

These are photos of a baby in a Miracle Blanket®, a pre-made swaddler.

DESCRIPTION

Miracle Blanket’s patented design combines all the subtle aspects of a PROPER swaddle to mimic the womb in a way that

nearly always triggers a dream-like serenity in a colicky, restless, crying baby immediately.   Do not confuse it with loose baby wraps orsack-like devices. Miracle Blanket® is the only TRUE SWADDLE successfully designed to help baby sleep – every time. And its guaranteed!

Pregnancy

Getting Pregnant with a Tipped Uterus

July 12, 2016 by • Pregnancy & Birth • 0 Comments

What is a Tipped Uterus?

PregnancyA tipped uterus is can be a uterus of many names. Your doctor might refer to it as retro-flexed, tilted, backward, retroverted or tilted. There are also beautiful medical terms like: uterine retro-versionn, uterine retroflexion,retro-versionn of the uterus, symptomatic uterineretro-versionn, sympromatic uterine reflexion, uterine retrodisplacement, reflexion of the uterus. But how does the uterus normally sit, and how is a tipped uterus sitting?
The uterus is normally suspended in a straight up and down position or slightly forward toward the belly in your body. A tipped uterus is the term used to describe a uterus that is tilted backwards or forwards away from the belly.

What Causes a Tipped Uterus?

About 20% of women have a tipped uterus. This can be something that they are born, it can be caused by labour while giving birth, or can be caused by some diseases. A tipped uterus does not discriminate based on marital status, age, race or childbearing history.
The condition tends to be more problematic for women in their childbearing years as women tend to be more sexually active during this time period. Some of the documented causes of a tipped uterus include the following:
The uterus fails to move to the forward position as a woman matures.
Childbirth can tip the uterus forward or backward.
A disease such as a fibroid tumor, endometriosis, and pelvic adhesions from pelvic infection or from a prior surgical procedure can cause displacement of the uterus.

How Do I Know if My Uterus is Tipped?

Healthy PregnancyThere are not many specific symptoms of a tipped uterus because it is more of a situation than a disease. A lot of women do not find out that they have a tipped uterus unless it is mentioned by their doctor or an ultrasound technician. Most women do not experience any difficulties or problems as a result of a tipped uterus.

Here are some possible symptoms of a tipped uterus:
1. Pain during sexual intercourse. This happens when the penis hits the cervix or uterus during sex. This condition is known as collision dyspareunia.
2. Women may also suffer pelvic pain during menstruation or ovulation because of a tipped uterus.
3. Back pain during menstruation and at other times during their cycle.
4. Minor incontinence.
5. Urinary tract infections.
6. Problems when trying to conceive.
7. Difficulty using tampons.

How Do I Find Out if I Have a Tipped Uterus?

Your doctor can perform a simple physical exam to find out whether your uterus is indeed tipped. This can be done during a routine pelvic exam. It is not necessary to have any treatment for this condition if it does not trouble you.

Can I Still Have A Baby with a Tipped Uterus?

A tipped uterus does not effect your fertility nor does it impact your chances of having a baby. If you are unable to get pregnant and have exhausted all other possibilities, your tipped uterus might be considered the culprit, but that is very rare. There is a medical procedure, called a uterine suspension, that may be considered but these are rarely suggested.
The only reason that a tipped uterus could lead to difficulty in getting pregnant is because sexual intercourse can be painful. If the penis is directly hitting your uterus or cervix it may be too painful to have sex. Be sure to change positions and talk to your partner about your situation. Most of the time couples can find ways to maintain their sexual relationship even though the uterus is tilted. It is possible to temporarily tip your uterus into its proper position with some leg exercises if a doctor determines that it is causing a problem for you when trying to conceive and they can help you with those exercises. Straightening out the uterus can often enable a woman to become pregnant, if that was the reason for the failure to conceive.  Definitely worth checking out!

Developmental Toys

Developmental Toys from 18-4yrs. with BuckleyBoo

July 12, 2016 by • Toddlers & Beyond • 0 Comments

baby toys BuckleyBoo is a growing collection of award-winning developmental stuffed toys co-created by a child psychologist and grandma that encourage cognitive development and sequential learning through matching, buckling and unbuckling. Plus BuckleyBoos are adorable and cuddly and are sure to become your little one’s new favorite friend.

From the age of 18 months to four-years-old, children will embark on a developmental journey with BuckleyBoo where each mastered task serves as a springboard for the next level of learning:

  • Stage 1: Matching – Children first learn to visually scan and match the brightly patterned ribbons on their BuckleyBoo – polka dot to polka dot, stripe to stripe.
  • Stage 2: Buckling – At eighteen months, children are ready to buckle, but they cannot yet unbuckle, which makes BuckleyBoo, for a time, a toy to be shared between parent and child. At this stage, the child will likely leave all the other buckles in their environment alone; now they have their own buckles with which to play.
  • Stage 3: Unbuckling – At three years, children have both the physical strength and the problem solving skills to buckle and unbuckle and they will happily do for hours on end. Children will also begin to integrate their lovable pal into their world of imaginative play.

The 17” BuckleyPanda retails for $29.99 and the 12” for $19.99 and is available online at www.BuckleyBoo.com as well as specialty toy, education and gift stores (see the website for all product pricing and list of local retailers).  Other BuckleyBoo animals include a lion, monkey, dog, bunny, bear and more.

fibroid-awareness-month

Fibroid Awareness Week April 19th – 23rd!!!

July 12, 2016 by • Pregnancy & Birth • Tags: • 0 Comments

Fibroid Awareness Week

April 19th through April 23rd

A week dedicated to education about fibroids.

Did you know that fibroids affect 40 percent of women?

(20-80% by age 50 according to the U.S. Department of Health

& Human Services)

50% of those being African American women?

Well, we didn’t either.

We figured that we would provide you as much info as we could accumulate,

from a source in the “know”, www.fibroids.com.

Fibroid Must Knows

What is a Uterine Fibroid Tumor?

Fibroid tumors are benign (non-cancerous) growths that appear on the muscular wall of the uterus. They are the most common tumors of the female genital tract. You may hear them called other names like leiomyoma, leiomyomata, or myoma. They range in size from microscopic to masses that fill the entire abdominal cavity. In some cases, fibroids can be as large as a 5-month pregnancy. Uterine fibroids can affect women of all ages, but are most common in women ages 40 to 50. In most cases, there is more than one fibroid in the uterus. Fibroids consist of dense, fibrous tissue (hence the name ‘fibroid’) and are nourished and sustained by a series of blood vessels.

Uterine fibroids cause different symptoms depending on their number and where they are located in the uterus. There are 3 different classifications:

Intramural Uterine Fibroids

Are located in the wall of the uterus and are the most common type of fibroids. They cause the uterus to become enlarged, and can cause pelvic pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic or back pain, and pressure.

Submucosal uterine fibroids

Are located inside the lining of the uterus and protrude inward. These cause heavy bleeding and heavy, prolonged periods.

Subserosal Uterine Fibroids

Are located outside of the lining of the uterus and protrude outward. They have less of an affect on your period, but may cause back pain or pressure. The subserosal fibroid can also grow on a stalk attached to the uterus, in which case it is called ‘pendunculated.’ The stalk may become twisted and can cause severe pelvic pain.

What are the symptoms?Fibroid Awareness

While not cancerous, uterine fibroids can cause problems. Depending on size, location and number of fibroids, common symptoms include:

  • Pelvic pain and pressure
  • Excessive bleeding, including prolonged periods and passage of clots, which can lead to anemia.
  • Abdominal swelling
  • Pressure on the bladder, leading to frequent urination
  • Pressure on the bowel, leading to constipation and bloating
  • Infertility

Though very common, most fibroids don’t cause symptoms- only 10 to 20 percent require treatment. However, you may experience no symptoms or have mild symptoms, but still need treatment.

Why do I have them?

No one knows. Fibroids affect 40% of women over 35 years in America and have a high rate of incidence among African Americans. There is a possible link between uterine fibroid tumors and estrogen production. Fibroids can grow very large during pregnancy, when estrogen levels are high, and can shrink back down after pregnancy. They usually improve in menopause, when estrogen levels decrease.

How do I find out if I have fibroids?

Women usually will undergo an ultrasound in their gynecologist’s office as part of the process to determine if fibroids are present. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is also used to determine if fibroids can be treated with embolization and provide information about any underlying disease. MRI is the standard imaging technique for evaluating fibroids because it provides a clearer image than ultrasound and can detect other causes of pelvic pain and/or bleeding you may be experiencing.

Uterine Fibroid Treatment

There are many treatments available if you have fibroids. If your doctor recommends a hysterectomy, you should seek a second opinion and be aware of all your options. Most women with symptomatic fibroids are candidates for Uterine Artery Embolization, but should consult with their doctor to determine if it is the right choice for them.,

Uterine Artery Embolization is Non-Surgical

Fibroid AwarenessUterine artery embolization (UAE), also called uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is an endovascular procedure, meaning it is done through the arterial system. It is non-surgical and minimally invasive. It does not require general anesthesia- the groin is numbed and the patient is sedated, but still conscious enough to respond to a question.

The surgeon first makes a small nick in the skin on the groin, above the femoral artery and inserts a catheter. Under real-time x-ray guidance, the surgeon identifies the uterine artery on both sides of the uterus. These arteries supply blood for the fibroids in most patients suffering from uterine fibroids. The doctor then injects tiny particles, about the size of a grain of sand, into the uterine arteries to block the blood supply to the uterus. These particles slow blood flow to the fibroids, causing them to shrink.

Recovery time after uterine fibroid embolization is usually an over-night stay in the hospital, mostly to monitor pain with pain medications. Most women return to light activities and work within one week. After embolization, bleeding stops immediately in most patients, and fibroids shrink gradually to about 50% within 6 months.

Surgery Options

Uterine fibroids can be treated with surgery, including hysterectomy, which removes the entire uterus, and myomectomy, which removes the fibroids but leaves the uterus. Both are major surgeries that require 4 days in the hospital and a 6-week recovery period. Myomectomy can preserve fertility, but carries the additional risk of recurrence, since most women have multiple fibroids and it is impossible to cut them all out.

What are the chances of a child being born healthy by a mother affected by fibroids during pregnancy?

If you are pregnant and have fibroids, you may be able to sleep a little better at night knowing that the battle is half over. Several of the complications related to fibroids occur prior to becoming pregnant. It is because of certain types of fibroids that women experience infertility. This is often due to the fact that these fibroids may either block a fallopian tube, thereby stopping the sperm from ever reaching the egg or may bulge into the uterine cavity, changing the natural shape of the uterus and preventing a newly fertilized egg from being planted. Therefore, if you have successfully passed this stage and are now well into your pregnancy, you may have a little less to worry about.

It is not to say, however, that you will be problem-free if you have fibroids during your pregnancy. Although many fibroids do not cause any problems during pregnancy, some fibroids -especially those located in the cavity of the uterus-may increase the chance of a miscarriage (in which the pregnancy ends before 20 weeks) or may cause a woman to go into premature labor. They may also increase the chance that the baby is not positioned to come out headfirst which can increase the need for cesarean section. Other complications due to fibroids may include discomfort, feelings of pressure, or pain.

Because of the reasons stated above and simply to ensure the proper growth of your baby, it is important to constantly have your pregnancy monitored by your physician. Although fibroids, almost never directly affect the health of your baby during pregnancy, it is necessary to keep close watch.

All things considered, if you are able to successfully deliver your baby, you should feel comforted knowing that the fibroids have no affect on the health of your newly born baby.

Should I surgically treat the fibroids before I give birth to avoid further complications?

Unfortunately, fibroids cannot be removed during pregnancy because of the risk of injury to the uterus and hemorrhage. Treatment is often limited to pain medication and medication to prevent premature labor, if necessary.

Most pregnant women who have fibroids will not experience any complications with their pregnancy. During pregnancy, there is usually an increase in the size of the fibroid due to increased hormone flow. Additionally, some of the complications that may arise include: obstructed labor, postpartum hemorrhaging, stalled labor, and forcing the fetus into an unusual position. Your physician will keep close watch to monitor and prevent the occurrence of most of these complications. Still, in approximately 75% of cases, there are no problems as a result of fibroids.

In the majority of cases, the symptoms are inconvenient and unpleasant, but do not result in health problems. Some of the more common minor symptoms pregnant women do experience are pelvic pain and light spotting. Additional symptoms include: pelvic pain or pressure, constipation, back pain, pain during intercourse and pain in the back of the legs.

(Thanks to www.fibroids.com for the above content)

How Do I Learn More?

There is a lot more to learn about fibroids, but if it is such a common problem that we might all face, it is essential that we are educated and we know what the options are for treatment. Take a closer look at these sites that provide all sorts of information on Uterine Fibroids.

Fibroid Treatment Collective

www.fibroids.com

Fibroid Awareness Week Pdf Document

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

http://womenshealth.gov/faq/uterine-fibroids.cfm

Mayo Clinic

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/uterine-fibroids/ds00078

YouTube Videos

Women’s Health Matters

http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca/centres/pelvic_health/fibroids/treatment/embolization.html

About.com

http://adam.about.com/reports/000073_9.htm?terms=uterine+fibroids

Canadian Association of Radiologists

http://www.radiologyinfo.ca/default.aspx?page=79&lang=en-us

Baby birthday party

Green Kids Birthday Party Ideas

July 12, 2016 by • Birthday Party Ideas, Toddlers & Beyond • 0 Comments

Birthday Cake

Birthday Party IdeasLet us step back from our desire to go off to the Dollar Store and buy cheap plastic trinkets for the birthday bash.

Let us stop having junk food the moment someone utters the word birthday.

Let us spend our money wisely on well thought out grab bag items that our child and their friends will actually use, and won’t end up in a landfill.

Let us have a wonderful time while maintaining our responsibility to our children and planet.

Below are examples of how you can Green up your party. Throwing responsibility in with the cake and fun. It is worth considering the lasting effects of our choices at events like these…

SERVE HEALTHY FOODS

healthy-foodsThere is no reason that you can not try and make the Birthday spread as healthy as possible.

Skip the Dogs

Why not choose Turkey Dogs, or even Veggie Dogs instead, on Whole Grain Buns of course.

Healthy Finger Foods

Hummus and Veggies or Whole Wheat Pita Chips will entice little ones to munch away.

Set out Plenty of Fruit

Instead of a cake why not have a Birthday Watermelon. Carve out the top ¼ of the watermelon and make melon balls with the inside. After scraping it out carve a face just like you would a pumpkin.

Fill it with other melon balls, strawberries, blueberries and pineapple pieces.

There are many other exciting creatures that you can create with watermelon. Let your imagination soar.

Healthy Popsicle Treats

Don’t put out candy, make some popsicles.

Puree a favorite fruit, fill a popsicle tray with the puree and add some other fruit. Freeze and enjoy!
Want a safe popsicle mold…GREEN PLANET PARTIES has an awesome stainless steel mold that will last forever and doesn’t break the bank. It is definitely an investment that won’t walk out the door when the party animals leave.

A Plate Of Sweets

Make some RAW CASHEW CHOCOLATE FUDGE recipe from Natural Papa or some CHOCOLATE BROWNIES WITH CARROT & SPINACH. Convert your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe a little by using whole wheat flour, dark chocolate, and throw in a tablespoon or two of flax seeds. They still taste yummy!

MAKE IT A GRAB BAG THAT LASTS

Choose Fair Trade Items

Kids LOVE skipping ropes so why not inspire an active lifestyle and support a fair trade product at the same time. GREEN PLANET PARTIES has some awesome skipping ropes. A gift that will be appreciated and used, not thrown away or put in a drawer.

Or try their Trashy Zip Purse for your little girls party, the Trashy Zip Purse is made in Ghana from water sachets. They are awesome additions to any little girl’s wardrobe.

Frame Your Memories

baby framesHaving a princess party? Using your digital camera take a picture of all of the little princesses and print them out before the party has ended. As the girls leave hand them each the photo that was taken in a special frame.

FAUX MUSEUM Mat Board Pop-Up Art Frames
These trompe l’oeil (French for “trick the eye”) frames are stylish, safe and a highly inexpensive new way to make art and photos come alive – especially for the little princesses.

They are shipped flat, and the frames simply pop out to create an expensive three-dimensional form. You can frame everything from posters to kid’s drawings to princess photos.

The frames were created by a mom looking for a safer and more affordable poster-framing option for her child’s princess room. Looks like she got it right! Faux Museum frames are extremely lightweight (made of cardboard) but look like antique real wood and extend out several inches deep to create that ‘arty and antique’ look.
Although not Made of recycled materials because it warps too easily for a frame, the frame is completely recyclable and can be reused over and over again. It can even be recovered with a new design if desired.
Faux Museum has an array of sizes and finishes to choose from.

Pregnancy can go without troubling morning sickness

Pregnancy can go without troubling morning sickness

July 7, 2016 by • New Baby, Pregnancy & Birth • 0 Comments

Pregnancy is a blissful condition, and motherhood is one of the most beautiful experiences in every woman’s life, but the fact is that it goes together with some not so pleasant aspect. Morning sickness is one of them.

Too many pregnant women start every new day feeling dizzy and walking straight to bathroom from their bed. It may last for few minutes or hours, sometimes ending with puking, sometimes just bothering the whole body as a rather unpleasant feeling.

There is no guaranteed way to deal with morning sickness during pregnancy. Every woman had her methods applicable to her body, but some general tips and advice tend to help most of the future mothers.

Pregnant-woman-morning-sicknessNeutral approach right after you get up from the bed is the formula: glass of water and fresh air. Keep your body hydrated enough, but stick to the water, because all the other drink might promote sickness. Also, lemonade could be a good replacement, if you need a flavor and want to get the whole body refreshed. Many women report that even a smell of citrus can make them feel better.

Keep your bedroom winded always, but the best help is to spend some time on your balcony, simply breathing slowly and deeply.

Siasati Mual dan Muntah Saat Hamil dengan Cara IniThinking of breakfast, even if you are hungry, can come as disgusting when waking up dizzy, but you should avoid an empty stomach. Stomach acid can make morning sickness worse, so try to eat a small amount, but often. You might want to avoid groceries, especially going on your own to buy them, because the smell of groceries tends to make many women feel worse. Stick to the protein rich meals, but avoid fatty and spicy food. If you want just to have a bite and wait until the sickness goes away, try eating nuts or some neutral salads. Also, it seems that cold meals are easier to cope with than hot ones when feeling sick.

In addition to that, get your partner to bring you breakfast into the bed and eat it slowly before getting up.

Pregnancy is not an illness, and you should be perfectly capable of functioning normally most of the time, but nevertheless, don’t push it. Stress and fatigue make your morning sickness worse, so make sure you get plenty of rest and sleep.

lemon-balm-herbal-teaHerbal teas can be quite helpful, and most of the women say that ginger tea can be an easy and quick relief to morning nausea. You can easily prepare it at home or buy it in the form of syrup or tablets. Also, add multivitamins to your every day’s diet. Vitamin B complex or just vitamin B6 are particularly handy when fighting morning sickness and vomiting.

The trick is that every woman reacts in an individual way, and you have to listen to your body’s signals carefully. Frequently being repelled by specific food or drinks or smells is a common thing, so if any of these instructions doesn’t work for you, feel free to adjust the approach to your personal needs.

 

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