Saturday, March 24, 2012

Baby Care Tip #1: Solid Feeding

7:26 PM | Posted by Cacai M. | | Edit Post

Although some moms tend to introduce solids to their little one as early as four months, some doctors actually advice that you wait out until they are 6 months before introducing any solid food in their diet. This is to prevent show of any food allergies your child might have much early. It is also best to stick with personally-prepared solid food instead of buying them over the counter. You can mash potatoes, carrots, pumpkin or any other vegetable that is available. Just make sure they are fresh. You can prepare it in batches and store them in baggies in the freezer. Also, be careful to introduce these new solids one at a time. This is to make sure that whenever an allergy occurs, you will know for sure which food causes it. It will be harder to pinpoint the culprit if you will be feeding him two or three new food at a time.

And this is what I am doing right now. So far it works great that's why I am giving you this. :-)

Labels: baby care tips, baby's journey, mommyhood | 0 comments

Cardiac Cath Lab

7:24 PM | Posted by Cacai M. | | Edit Post

My precious baby love, my heart daughter underwent her cardiac catheterization laboratory examination last Wednesday in CHLA and it went fine. She was in the laboratory with her cardiologist and other one with him, a cardiologist also who's a cardiologist stationed in CHLA. It lasted two hours in laboratory and six hours afterwards in recovery room to check if there is other possible reactions like bleeding, fever, swelling and the like. She had IV on her groin  and left back palm (the two had bandages and I was given instruction when to get it and some caution of possible bleeding if there is and such when at home) with two on her front feet for anesthesia. After hours (before the sixth hour) of recovery, she was red and hot (she was being tacked-in with her head as well because it's cold in the room) but without fever. The redness lasted for an hour or so and I saw she was swollen and the nurse checked her temperature and she had a fever, then she gave her Tylenol. Supposedly, had to gave it to her when we already home but she gave it there instead which was a good move (I did not gave her at home no more). Then the nurse had a water with glucose to nourished her after two hours in the recovery room. I gave it to her and she finished two small bottles and a little on the third. No more milk yet until on her 3rd hour. And so I made her a milk with my supplies and gave it to her on her 3rd hour. It went fine. We went home on-time. And had her two days (1st day bed rest and moderate movements on the second) recovery here. I just pity her of being bed rest and moderate movement as she liked to do it that days. Ooh well, I just tacked her in so she cannot move that a lot. No patience, no gain. :-) And she did it! Right now she's on her jumperoo doing her favorite thing, playing. Ooh I love being a mother. She's an inspiration, an apple of my eye, an angel. We will always be together no matter what. :-)

Labels: baby's journey, family/ family matters, heart baby | 0 comments

My Hubby

7:03 PM | Posted by Cacai M. | | Edit Post

(Guest post from: Natalie Walter)

My husband recently found out that we can get better rates on electricity by switching to CenterPoint Energy. That man knows how to spot a deal when he sees one. I have been so blessed by having him as my husband. He works hard so that I can stay home with the kids. Being a stay at home mom has been such a great experience for me. Sure I get bored sometimes, but I love being able to be with my kids every day. When they get home from school, they don’t have to come home to an empty house. It was really nice staying home when they were younger and didn’t go to school yet. I wouldn’t trade that time for anything in the world. I love the fact that they never had to go to daycare and that we had the chance to bond all day. This was really important for nursing as well. My children were excellent nursers and I attribute that to the fact that I was able to stay home with them.

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How to Cope as a New Mom When You're Trying to Further Your Education

6:51 PM | Posted by Cacai M. | | Edit Post

Being a new mom results in a whole bunch of new feelings. You will often feel happy, nervous, tired, frustrated and maybe even a little sad. Coping with all of these feelings can be overwhelming at times, especially if you are trying to experiencing post-partum depression. No matter what, keep in mind that everything will be okay. Lean on family and friends for support so you can meet your baby's needs and get the education you want. Here are some tips to help you get through the trying times.

Sleep Problems

Newborns can turn your household upside-down when they get night and day confused. Some moms are lucky and their baby sleeps through the night. But many moms have babies that sleep more during the day and stay awake more at night. For the first few weeks, you will probably lose sleep if your newborn is not a good nighttime sleeper. After that, you can begin to work on getting your baby to sleep most of the night.
When you can, keep your baby awake during the day. Introduce her to baby-safe toys and keep her interested in what's going on around her. If she falls asleep, don't worry. Just try not to let her sleep for several hours. At night, develop a calming routine. Darken your baby's room and turn off any televisions or radios. Some people use a white noise machine to create a calming atmosphere for their babies. The key to getting your baby to go to sleep on her own is to give her cues such as darkened, quiet atmosphere. If she falls asleep on her own, she will have an easier time of getting herself back to sleep if she wakes up during the night.
If you have a caregiver for your child while you are completing school work, explain what's going on to her. Ask her to try and keep your baby awake as much as she can during the day. If you stay at home, ask a trusted friend or family member to watch your baby while you grab a nap. Be consistent and it will pay off. Sometimes it can take months, but sooner or later your little one will start sleeping at night.

Crying

The sound of your newborn baby crying can keep you guessing. Sometimes, no matter what you do, she will still cry. First, try to see if she needs anything. Is her diaper wet or dirty? Is she hungry? Is she hot or cold? Is she sleepy? Is she in pain?
If you can't find a reason for her cries, try to soothe her. Turn on some soft music while holding her close. Walk around with her and pat her back. Sit down and hold her in different ways. As you change positions, be gentle. Hold her upright, next to you. Rock her gently in your arms. Or put her on her stomach across your legs and pat her back. If she has gas, this may help. If your baby doesn't stop crying, call her pediatrician to ask for advice.

Feeling Sad

If your feelings of sadness keep you from doing the normal things that you always do, such as taking care of yourself and your baby and completing your school work, let your partner or someone else know. Or call your OB-GYN right away. Your doctor can talk to you about your feelings and help you get back to your old self. Don't let your sadness cause you to neglect your baby. She needs you.
Asking for Help
As a new mom, you may find that you can't do everything that you used to do before your baby came. This is especially true if you are trying to get an online degree. That's okay. You shouldn't expect yourself to be super-mom. Instead, ask for help. Ask your husband to help out around the house or with the baby. If you have other children, ask your husband or other family members or friends to help with their needs. Don't try to cook dinner every night or at all at first. Your husband or partner can take control of the evening meals. The point is to ask for help whenever you need it. Taking care of a newborn is a full-time job. When you're exhausted and trying to cope with all of your new feelings, find someone else to help you with routine tasks, so you can focus on completing your goals and being the best mother you can be. Make sure you do everything you can to keep yourself and your baby healthy and happy.

Sources

Aces.edu
WebMD

Labels: baby's journey, family/ family matters, mommyhood | 0 comments