1. Some babies are unwilling to nurse, or suck poorly as a result of medication they received during the labour. Narcotics are responsible for many such situations, and meperidine (Demerol) is particularly bad as it stays in the baby’s blood for a long time and affects the way he sucks for several days. Even morphine given in an epidural may cause the baby to be unwilling to nurse or latch on, since medication from an epidural definitely does get into the mother’s blood, and thus into the baby before he is born. Other interventions during labour and birth (e.g. intravenous fluids in large amounts, vigorous suctioning of the baby at birth which is simply not necessary for a health full term baby) can also cause difficulties with the baby latching on. For more information see the book The Latch and other keys to successful breastfeeding, chapter 4, Causes of Latch Problems.

2. Abnormalities of the baby’s mouth may result in the baby’s not latching on. Cleft palate, but not usually cleft lip, causes severe difficulties in latching on. Sometimes the cleft palate is not obvious, affecting only the part inside the baby’s mouth.

3. A baby learns to breastfeed by breastfeeding. Artificial nipples interfere with how the baby takes the breast. Babies are not stupid. If they get slow flow from the breast (as is expected in the first few days of life) and rapid flow from the bottle, they will not be confused—many will figure it out quite quickly.

4. If the mother’s nipples are particularly large, or inverted, or flat, these nipple variations may make latching on more difficult, not usually impossible.

5. A tight frenulum (the whitish tissue under the tongue) may result in a baby having difficulty latching on. This is not, strictly speaking, considered an abnormality, and thus, many practitioners do not believe that it can interfere with breastfeeding; many studies indicate that it does interfere.

However, one of the most common causes of babies’ refusing to latch on arises from the misguided belief that babies in the first few days must breastfeed every 3 hours, or on some other insane sort of schedule. This results in anxiety on the part of the staff when a baby has not fed, for example, for three hours after birth, which results, frequently, in babies being forced to the breast when they are not ready yet to feed. When the baby is forced into the breast, and kept there by force, when the baby is not interested or ready, we should not be surprised that some babies develop an aversion to the breast. If this misguided approach then results in panic, and “the baby must be fed”, alternative feeding methods (the worst of which is the bottle) are then used, resulting in worsening of the situation and the beginning of a vicious circle.

There is no evidence that a healthy full term newborn must feed every three hours during the first few days. There is no evidence that they will develop low blood sugars if they don’t feed every three hours (the whole issue of low blood sugars has become a mass hysteria in many postpartum areas which, like all hysterias, results from a grain of truth, perhaps, but actually causes more problems than it prevents, including the problem of many babies getting formula when they don’t need it, being separated from their mothers when they don’t need to be, and not latching on). Babies should be together, skin to skin with their mothers, most of the day (See handout The importance of Skin to Skin Contact). When they are ready, most will start looking for the breast. Having the baby with the mother skin to skin immediately after birth and allowing the baby and the mother the time to “find” each other will prevent most situations of the baby not latching on. Mother and baby skin to skin will also keep the baby as warm as being under a heating lamp. Having the baby and mother together for 5 minutes though, is not the answer. The mother and baby should be together until the baby latches on, without pressure, without time limits (“we’ve got to weigh the baby”, “we’ve got to give the baby vitamin K,” etc—these procedures can wait!). This might take 1-2 hours or more.

But the baby is not latching on!

Okay, so how long can we wait? There is no obvious answer to that. Certainly, if the baby has shown no interest in nursing or feeding by 12 to 24 hours after birth, it may be worthwhile to do something, mostly because hospital policies usually require the mother to be discharged by 24 to 48 hours. What can be done?

1. The mother should start expressing her milk, and that milk (colostrum), either alone, or mixed with sugar water, should be fed to the baby, preferably by finger feeding *(read on). The mother should start expressing her milk as soon as baby has refused the breast—preferably within the first 6 hours. If it is difficult to get colostrum (often hand expression works better than a pump in the first few days), then sugar water alone is fine for the first few days. With finger feeding, most babies will start sucking, and many will wake up enough to attempt going to the breast. *As soon as the baby is sucking well, finger feeding should be stopped and the baby tried at the breast (Often a minute or two of finger feeding will do the trick). Finger feeding is essentially a procedure to prepare the baby to take the breast, not primarily a method to avoid the bottle, though it will do that too. Therefore it is done before attempting the baby at the breast, to prepare him to take the breast. See handout Finger and Cup Feeding.

2. Before discharge, early, competent help needs to be arranged so that the mother and baby are getting help by day four or five at the latest. Many babies not able to latch on in the first few days will latch on beautifully once the mother’s milk supply has increased substantially as it usually does around day 3 or 4. Getting help at this time avoids the negative associations with the breast that many babies develop as time goes on.

3. A nipple shield started before the mother’s milk becomes abundant (day 4 to 5) is bad practice. Starting a nipple shield before the mother’s milk “comes in” is not giving time a chance to work. Furthermore, used improperly (as I see it often being used), a nipple shield may result in severe depletion of the milk supply. See below on the importance of maintaining a good milk supply.

We’re Home From Hospital, the Baby Won’t Latch On, What Do I Do?

The single most important factor influencing whether or not the baby latches on is the mother’s developing a good milk supply. If the mother’s supply is abundant, the baby will latch on by 4 to 8 weeks of life no matter what. What we try to do at the clinic is get the baby latching on earlier, so that you won’t have to wait that long. So, it is more important you keep up your supply, than avoid a bottle. The bottle interferes, and it is better you use other methods (such as a cup) if you can, but if you feel you have no choice, you should do what you need to do.

Learn how to get the best position and latch from an experienced lactation specialist (see also handout When Latching and see the videos at www.drjacknewman.com ). As the baby comes onto the breast, compress the breast so that the baby gets a gush of milk. Try the baby on the breast he seems to prefer, or the breast that has more milk, or the side you feel most comfortable with if neither of the previous apply, not the breast he resists more.
If the baby latches on, he will start sucking and start drinking (get information on how to know a baby is actually getting milk at the breast—see handout Is My Baby Getting Enough Milk? and see the videos at www.drjacknewman.com).
If the baby doesn’t latch on, don’t try to force him to stay on the breast; it won’t work. He will either get hysterical or “go limp”. Move him away from the breast and start again. It is better to go on-off, on-off several times than to push him into the breast when he hasn’t latched on.
If the baby goes to the breast and sucks once or twice, he hasn’t latched on a little; he hasn’t latched on at all.
If the baby refuses the breast, don’t keep at it until he’s angry. Try finger feeding a few seconds to a minute or two, and try again, perhaps on the other side. Finger feeding is primarily used to prepare the baby to take the breast, not primarily to avoid a bottle.
If the baby doesn’t latch on, finish the feeding with whatever method you find easiest. Cup feeding works and is better than a bottle.
Using a lactation aid at the breast may be helpful, but often requires an extra hand.
At about two weeks after birth, a change in what you have been doing often seems to send a message to the baby that “there’s more than one way to do this”. If you have been finger feeding only, a change to a cup or bottle will sometimes work. If you have been bottle feeding only, switching to finger feeding may work (only before attempting the baby at the breast is good enough if finger feeding is too slow, and finishing the feeding with cup or bottle).
How to Maintain and Increase Milk Supply

· Express your milk as often as is practical, at least 8 times a day, using a reliable pump that expresses both breasts at the same time. Using compression while pumping increases the efficiency of pumping and increases the milk supply (another hand is helpful, but mothers have rigged up the pump so that they don’t have to hold onto the tubing or flanges while pumping and thus can compress without help).

· If the baby hasn’t latched on by day 4 or 5, start fenugreek and blessed thistle to increase milk flow. See handout Herbal Remedies for Increasing Milk Supply. Domperidone may also be useful. See handouts Domperidone, Getting Started and Domeprido9one, Stopping.

· If you must use a nipple shield, do not use one at least until the milk supply is well established (at least 2 weeks after the baby is born). Get good hands on help first—a nipple shield is really a last resort.

Do not get discouraged. Even if your milk supply is not up to the needs of your baby, your baby is still likely to latch on. Get good hands-on help. Do not try to do this on your own.

Baby Weaning – When is it Most Appropriate?
By Stella Mak

It is generally most appropriate to start baby weaning to solid food when your baby is around 6 months old. The reason for this is that most babies will have doubled in bodyweight so they will be ready for some solid food. However, if you have a very small baby, you might want to wait till your baby has grown a bit bigger.

You can also see changes in your baby’s development at around this period whereby their mouth will start to change so that they can cope with solid foods. From birth till now, your baby’s digestive system is only able to cope with breast milk or baby formula consumption. As such, the process of baby weaning has to be done gradually.

When your baby is 6 months old, you can start baby weaning by introducing soft solid food. You should not delay solid foods introduction for too long as it can hinder your baby’s ability to swallow solid foods and your baby might also not want to try other food except milk by then. Most babies are very curious to what you are eating and want to try as well when they are between the age of 6 to 10 months. If you were to wait till your baby is past one year old, they might not be willing to accept it. Besides, milk will not be sufficient to keep them full throughout the day and night if you do not feed them with solid foods.

When your baby is still in the early stages after his birth, breast milk or milk formula itself is sufficient to give him nutrition for his proper development. However, this balanced nutrition has to be balanced up with solid foods, thus you have to introduce a variety of nutritious foods into your baby’s new diet. This will help to maintain your baby’s healthy nutritional requirements.

With the introduction of solid foods into your baby’s diet, it will also mean that there will be additional cost to your budget. You will have to buy bowls, spoons as well as other utensils that are suitable for feeding your baby. Most of these items are not very expensive so you can shop for a good budget price.

To make life easier for you, you can invest in a food processor whereby the food that you want to feed to your baby can be blended into much softer substances so that it is easier for your baby to digest. Fortunately, such food processors are not very expensive nowadays so you might want to really consider getting one.

Make sure the solid food feed to your baby is not hard. In fact, cereal is a good choice but it depends on your baby as some babies can develop allergy towards cereals, so you should not introduce more than one type of food each day in order to keep track of which food is causing the allergy if any.

When you first start on baby weaning, you can do it once a day. Just feed a small amount to your baby to see if he likes the taste and whether he develops any allergy to it. Your baby’s milk consumption will still stay the same throughout this period till he is about one year old when he might demand more solid food and less of milk as solid foods can keep him full for a longer period.

Stella Mak is a qualified school teacher with over 18 years of experience and she is also the mother of a pair of twins. She runs an informative blog that covers tips related to baby advice at http://www.babyadvice.expertreviewslist.com To take advantage of this useful information as well as to get her free newsletter, make sure you check out Stella’s blog. Also, find out how to wean your baby smoothly and naturally at her website http://www.childrenproblemshelpdesk.com/babyweaning.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stella_Mak
http://EzineArticles.com/?Baby-Weaning—When-is-it-Most-Appropriate?&id=2501619

Problem-Free Breastfeeding – Ten Tips to Make Breastfeeding Easier and More Effective
By CC Swift

Breast milk is nature’s perfect food because it contains all the nutrients your baby needs. It also helps protect your little one against infection since it contains antibodies for the diseases which you (the mother) have already experienced. There are many studies showing that breastfeeding significantly reduces the risk of stomach upsets and pneumonia during the baby’s first few years.

Full-term babies are able to nurse almost immediately after birth. However, it is perfectly acceptable if you need to rest for a couple of hours after delivery. Your baby was continuously nourished while he was still attached to the placenta. Therefore, he will not be hungry right away.

Breastfeeding does not come easily to new mothers and you may sometimes require help. Here are ten (10) ideas new mothers can try to make breastfeeding problem-free.

1. Position Your Baby Correctly

The most important aspect of effective breastfeeding is the positioning of your baby. Many experts say that this is the key to almost ninety-five percent (95%) of all breastfeeding problems. According to La Leche League International (a support group for nursing mothers), incorrect positioning is particularly responsible for nipple soreness. Your baby’s body should face you entirely; his head, chest and knees should rest against your front. Also, his buttocks should be in the palm of your hand and his head should rest in the bend of your elbow.

2. Make Sure Your Baby has a Proper Latch

You could end up with sore and bruised nipples if your baby has not latched on properly. Additionally, he would not be receiving enough milk. Make sure his mouth is wide open before putting him to your breast. At least one (1) inch of your areola should be in his mouth.

As long as your baby is swallowing after sucking once or twice, allow him to nurse on one breast. If he seems to be sucking continuously, it most likely means that he is not receiving enough milk due to an incorrect latch. Interrupt your baby by inserting your little or ‘pinky’ finger at the corner of his mouth. Another way to interrupt him is by gently pinching his nostrils together.

Using either method will make your baby open his mouth to breathe and he will disengage his suction hold. The breast can then be removed. He may cry at this point which will result in his mouth being wide open. Quickly re-insert your breast. A proper latch should be achieved this time around. If not, keep interrupting him until he gets it right.

3. Nurse from Both Breasts with Every Feeding

If your baby appears to be falling asleep or just generally losing interest after nursing from one side, burp him and switch to the other breast. At the next feeding, nurse from the breast that you finished with previously. To avoid confusion, place a mark on the side of your bra that corresponds to the breast from where you need to start nursing, such as a paper clip or safety pin.

4. Do Not Soap Your Nipples

Soaping you nipples dries them out considerably. The glands around the areolas produce a type of antiseptic oil which cleanses them effectively. There is no need for additional cleaning.

5. Allow Your Nipples to Air-Dry

Air-dry your nipples after bathing before covering them up. Do not use breast pads that retain moisture such as plastic, spandex or nylon.

6. Do Not Toughen Your Nipples

Any manipulation or rough treatment does not help. In fact, this could cause serious damage such as bleeding.

7. Use Your Own Breast Milk to Help Heal Sore Nipples

Breast milk contains lubricants and natural antibiotics, especially the milk found at the end of a feeding. When you have finished nursing your baby, squeeze a little milk from your nipple. Rub the milk around your nipple and around the part of your areola that was inside your baby’s mouth.

8. Use a Nursing Bra that is the Correct Size

As a nursing mother, you should wear a nursing bra that is one (1) cup size larger than your regular bras. Make sure that the bra you choose consists of cotton and not nylon. (Remember, nylon retains moisture.) Additionally, the nursing opening should be wide enough so that the breast does not fell compressed. Trying to squeeze the breast into a small opening could lead to clogged milk ducts. This could lead to infection such as mastitis.

9. Establish a Steady Supply of Your Breast Milk

You should nurse exclusively for the first three (3) to four (4) weeks. If possible, avoid giving your baby any bottles or pacifiers during this time. This way both you and your baby will get accustomed to nursing and your milk supply will grow.

This is especially important for women who delivered via C-section. If you have delivered this way, it can be as much as four (4) days after your baby’s birth before your breast milk starts flowing steadily. During this time you have no choice but to bottle feed your baby. You cannot let him starve! However, you can let him nurse for a few minutes before giving him the bottle, even if you have no milk as yet. The benefits of doing this are two fold: (a) it will help your milk production come in faster and more steadily; and (b) it will help reduce any nipple confusion that your baby may experience when he needs to make the complete switch from bottle to breast.

10. Stay Alert and Listen to Your Body

It is unnecessary for a nursing mother to experience acute breast pain while nursing. Seek help and call your doctor if your breast feels inflamed or you are experiencing flu-like symptoms such as a fever. You may have an infection.

With a little practice, breastfeeding becomes easy. Both you and your bundle of joy can engage in this age old form of bonding. Remember, though, that breastfed babies nurse more frequently since breast milk is more easily digested than formula. This is not necessarily a bad thing. It’s true that you may wish for more sleep but this provides more opportunities for you to bond with your baby.

Sources: 1. Dana Sullivan. “Breastfeeding Month by Month.” Fit Pregnancy October/ November 2004: p 99-100

CC Swift (Carla Crepin-Swift) holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) since 2004. She is currently pursuing her MBA in Strategic Planning.

She has 10 years experience as a Project Manager and Project Management Specialist. Her favourite topics include Project Management, Economics, Finance, Interior Decorating, Health and Caribbean Music.

She has been married for five years and has a three year old son.She lives and operates in Trinidad & Tobago

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=CC_Swift
http://EzineArticles.com/?Problem-Free-Breastfeeding—Ten-Tips-to-Make-Breastfeeding-Easier-and-More-Effective&id=2432758

A Guide to Feeding Your Baby
By Sandra B Wilson

The responsibilities of a new mother do not end after giving birth to the child. Nourishing, feeding, and nursing the infant are all nothing but the beginning of a much more meaningful task for the mother. Bottle feeding your baby does not mean you do not love him or her either. There is nothing wrong with bottle feeding especially when you know how to make each feeding moment a rewarding experience for you and your child. Nursing moms are advised not to introduce bottles to the baby since babies may tend to prefer the bottle over the breast and that mom’s milk supply may not be properly established. However, in some unavoidable circumstance, nursing mothers may be forced to bottle feed. Finding and using the right nursing bottle will save you and your baby from the hassles of bottle feeding like leakage which waste most of your time and other resources.

What then do you use for feeding your baby? Breastfeeding mothers do not actually have big problems when it comes to choosing their feeding gadgets. They may only worry about general feeding considerations like time of feeding, amount of feeding and the manner of feeding the baby. On the other hand, mothers who have problems with breast milk production, or babies who have inefficient sucking ability or even those mothers who have returned to work after giving birth may find choosing the right baby bottle a crucial task. Selecting the right bottle and the nipple as breast substitute may be confusing. Pediatricians and experienced parents believe that the best guide in choosing the right bottle and nipple depends upon the needs of your child. Know your baby well, respond to his or her needs and do the best that you can to settle the situation.

There are many kinds of feeding bottles that can serve as perfect alternatives for the breast. But before deciding on what kind of baby bottles to choose, you might as well decide on the bottle size and the bottle types. Newborn babies have different needs from older babies. Newborn infants find small baby bottles which are usually four ounce sized knowing that newborn babies take in small amount of milk. Choosing the smaller nursing bottle will prevent more wasted milk and will further decrease your expenses for feeding. If after quite sometime, the baby can finish all that is contained in the small bottle, you have to switch on to a bigger bottle to provide larger amount of milk as your baby’s needs increase. You can opt for six ounce size bottle before going to the full bottle feeding.

Baby bottles vary in styles. Some bottles are crafted bent in order to reduce the amount of air that enters the baby’s stomach. This is also the objective why some disposable liner bottles are created. Disposable liner bottles also reduce the amount of air through collapsing as the baby drinks the milk. Compared to plastics, the glass baby bottles do not retain odor and can be conveniently washed.

Given a wide array of choices, what matters in the end is the good of your baby. Choose the feeding bottle that serves your purpose and that truly caters to your baby’s needs.

More tips on choosing the right baby bottles and nursing bottle; moreover, baby bottle styles that suit your baby’s needs can be found at this helpful baby bottle site.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sandra_B_Wilson
http://EzineArticles.com/?A-Guide-to-Feeding-Your-Baby&id=2383626

How to Choose Books to Read to Your Baby From Birth to One Year Old
By Krista Guerrero

Reading to babies can be such a joyful experience if you choose the right books. How do new parents go about finding the right books to read to their babies? With a few tips and in a matter of minutes you can be stocked up and ready to go.

The best time to begin reading to your baby is in the beginning. Some parents opt to read to their babies while in utero and experience fabulous results. Other parents prefer to read to their babies at birth. The best advice as to when to start reading to your baby is the sooner you start, the better.

During your baby’s first years of life, they are acquiring the language skills they will use for a lifetime. These are very easily developed when parents stimulate their babies with language through direct conversations and through reading to them.

The best way to choose a variety of books to read to your baby involves a few procedures. First of all, try to think back to books you enjoyed as a child. You may want to begin there. If you are not predisposed to any favorites, then you can look up some bestselling children’s books on Amazon. On Amazon you can read reviews to see why other people liked or disliked a particular book. This is often very helpful in choosing books. There are also bookselling clubs that offer a variety of books delivered to your home.

My favorite way of getting new books to read to my children is to look at lists such as Top 100 Children’s Books. My library offers online service. I just look for top rated children’s books and then search my library’s catalog to see if they are available. I request a hold and the library calls me when the books are available.

Using the library has allowed me to expose my children to hundreds of books at no cost. If we have a favorite we may purchase it for our home library, or we just request it again and again. By not owning them, the novelty of my children’s favorite books never wears off and when they see a book they enjoyed it is like a welcome visit from an old friend.

The library has many board books as well. These are very nice for babies under one. They are able to handle the books without destroying the pages. Some books have textures and make noises, which on occasion are nice for baby to interact with.

Rhyming books are a lot of fun to read and you might as well just begin with Dr. Seuss. Try reading different types of books to your baby to discover what they like.

Krista Guerrero is the founder of Intellectual Baby, LLC, a Florida based company that produces and distributes educational products for babies. The product line includes, DVD’s, flash cards, toys, books, and more. Its founder, Krista Guerrero, taught her son to read as an infant. Having taught reading for many years, she discovered that babies are capable of learning to read easier and faster than school-aged children. Her proven techniques have been incorporated into the “Monki See Monki Doo” system. To get your free report “How to Have a Smarter Baby”, visit http://www.intellbaby.com/babies-can-read.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Krista_Guerrero
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Choose-Books-to-Read-to-Your-Baby-From-Birth-to-One-Year-Old&id=2399309

Coping With Colic
By Melanie Wade

A standard definition of colic is inconsolable crying for more than three hours a day for more than three days a week and for more than three weeks. In reality, any crying, screaming or fussing that lasts much longer than expected in an otherwise healthy baby who has no apparent reason to cry qualifies as colic. Colic means pain from the intestines, but its not at all clear that this is the cause of crying in these infants.

There seem to be two distinct patterns of crying by infants with colic. For some, the crying is generally limited to one period in the evening typically from five to eight, for the remainder of the time the child is contented and easy to soothe for most of the day, its when evening starts and both parent and baby is most tired the crying begins. Sometimes a baby can cry inconsolably for the next few hours.

Other babies cry at any and all times during the day and night. Some of these babies also seem to be generally tense and jumpy, their little bodies don’t relax very well. They can easily be startled or cry at slight noises or on any quick change of position.

Persistent crying is the number one cause of stress for many parents in the first few months after their baby’s birth. Common misconceptions about what causes infant crying can leave parents feeling anxious, guilty, sometimes angry, and often unsupported. However recent research can help you to understand what is happening, even if it can’t stop the crying!

Responding to Colic

* Just remember that this is an intense phase that will pass, as your baby gets older.
* If you suspect that your baby has an intolerance to a certain food speak to your G.P.
* Under no circumstances blame yourself or feel guilty for not being able to stop the crying. Look after yourself and stay as calm and relax as possible.
* Keep your home as calm as possible especially in the evening or time when the crying is at its worse.
* Try changing positions and walking up and down: however don’t switch from one thing to another too often, as your baby is probably already over stimulated.
* Try giving a warm bath, especially if your baby normally enjoys being bath.
* Try playing calming music and gently rock your baby.

If you start to feel desperate and out of control, give your baby to someone else or if you are on your own, place the baby in a cot and go into another room until you feel calm. Never shake a baby. Feelings of desperation and anger drive some parents to shake their babies in a last-ditch effort to get them to stop crying. The result a real tragedy, often severe, permanent brain damage even death.

A crying baby is not your fault and don’t be afraid to seek help.

About The Author
Melanie Wade is a mother and the co-founder of http://gagagiggles.com providing knowledge and solutions for new parents; For your FREE parent’s guide to medicine safety, which answers the common questions that parents ask when their kid’s are sick, please visit http://gagagiggles.com now to get your FREE guide!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Melanie_Wade
http://EzineArticles.com/?Coping-With-Colic&id=2395485

So you are finally a mother. Whether you are experiencing motherhood by careful planning or as an unexpected surprise you are most likely feeling all the anxiousness and excitement that comes with your new bundle of joy. You look forward to every coo and gurgle. Each development your little one makes is a grand affair and you await the day that he offers you his first smile.

It can be a wonderful feeling to know that this tiny life depends wholly upon you for survival. But realizing this can also be overwhelming. As time passes you begin to feel the true responsibility of having a new baby. The early morning feedings, sleepless nights, inconvenient earaches and endless crying coupled with everyday chores and a full time job is enough to make even the strongest woman crack under the pressure. Now throw in the fact that you may be a single mother dealing with all of this alone and you are a time bomb waiting to explode. So here area seven steps to help you navigate through the tough terrain of being a new mom.

You are not perfect

As a new mother you will experience a myriad of emotions and not all of them will be positive. By being sleep deprived and operating on a full schedule you will at some time feel fatigued, irritated, agitated and quick tempered. You will make mistakes. When you do, learn to forgive yourself. When I first brought my daughter home from the hospital the realization that she was my responsibility for the next eighteen years hit me like a ton of bricks. My new daughter taught me that I was not as slow to anger and as patient as I had once thought. She slept very little and cried constantly and so did I. I went through a phase of depression and even questioned my maternal abilities. Those times when I would lose my temper I would feel like a monster. When you are operating under stress and with little or no sleep it is normal to feel this way. Realize that you are only human.

On the job training

Children do not come with instructions. Every child is different and you will have to learn by trial and error what works best for your child. Remember that your baby is adjusting to this new life as well so eventually you will learn how to work around their eating and sleeping schedule. You will learn their likes and dislikes, how to calm and soothe them and what makes them sleep. When you realize this you will begin to feel a little less pressure and will begin to enjoy your baby.

Ask for help

Every new mom could use a helping hand. If you are a single mother or if you have a special needs child it really helps to know that you have someone there for you. Reach out for help. Doing it all yourself doesn’t make you a good mother; it makes you a tired mother. If someone offers to assist you, let them. Having someone to do certain chores around the house will take the pressure off you. If possible you should ask for the help of a friend or loved one who is able to watch your child so that you can have a little time to yourself. Every mother needs time alone with themselves to be able to regroup, readjust and feel whole again. No one said you had to do it all.

Shed a few tears

This may sound simple but crying will relieve pressure and give you a positive release. It is not a sign of weakness but one of strength. When a new mother is sleep deprived, experiencing extreme hormonal changes, dealing with everyday chores and a full time job she can began to feel the pressure of having a new baby. Crying is one way of releasing this pressure. It’s nature’s way of helping you. So go on and have a good cry.

You are not alone

Realize that you are not the first mother to feel stress and anxiety. You should know that feeling frustrated is normal for a new mother. Even if you begin to question whether you should have become a mother at all is also a normal reaction that comes from feeling overwhelmed. Just know that you are not alone in your emotions. Being a new mother is exciting and wonderful but with it comes new responsibilities. You may even wonder if you will have time to spend with your husband again. Step back, take a deep breath and realize that you will get beyond this phase. Calm yourself and realize that your lives will be normal again.

Talk with other mothers

There is strength in numbers. Talk with other mothers who have experienced similar situations with frustration and stress. We only hear the happy stories of motherhood. But rarely do we hear how stressful being a new mother can be. Once I realized that there were other mothers who felt as I did I began to feel more positive about my own situation and I knew that the next day would be a better day.

Brighter days ahead

Better days are on the horizon. Your baby will began to cry less often and sleep through the night as he begins to adjust to his new life in the outside world. There will come a day when you will be dressed before twelve in the afternoon and actually start and finish a project before your child notices that you are out of the room. You will also be able to spend a little quiet time with your husband again. Life will slowly return to normal and you will know that you will be able to handle being a mom.

Over time I have discovered that there are many challenges that come with being a mother. The responsibility of raising a child is not always easy. You will see your child go through many stages. They will move beyond diapers, pacifiers and bottled foods and before you know it you will begin planning what school they will attend. So enjoy each phase of your child’s life because it will go by so quickly.

The concerns of a mother never end because simply having a child makes you vulnerable. It is in a mother’s nature to want to shelter her children from life’s hurts and disappointments. You will find that this is impossible. Someone once said that having children is like taking your heart out of your chest and letting it run around. I could not agree more. But ultimately the goal is to raise emotionally healthy and self sufficient children. So as mothers we must realize that we have the most important job of all. And if we get it right we will reap bountiful rewards in the end.

Elaine Whittaker is co-founder of Whitt’s Enterprise, LLC through which she exercises her passion of uplifting and inspiring women. She is the author of Woman to Woman: The Truth About Singleness and Marriage. She is an avid reader and poetry writer and is currently at work on her upcoming novel. For more information visit http://www.elainecwhittaker.com or to ask questions pertaining to being single or newly married visit http://www.elainecwhittaker.com/yourquestions.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elaine_Whittaker
http://EzineArticles.com/?Seven-Ways-to-Survive-Being-a-New-Mother&id=2348554

Baby Sleeping Through the Night – Suggestions to Help You and Baby Sleep Soundly
By Kayla Donohue

I often hear about the problems of moms regarding the sleeping habit of their babies. There are those that are not interested in nursing during the day but keep on waking up during the night every two hours to nurse. So how do you keep your baby sleeping through the night?

The famous scene of a baby waking up in the middle of the night can be very demanding at the same time stressful for both parents and other members of the family. Most parents don’t even have any helpful idea on how to put their babies back to sleep. Fortunately, there are some ways parents can follow in order to keep their child sleeping through the night.

First, in order to help them have an uninterrupted sleep, try to keep to a routine. This would require waking him up an earlier time every day so he will have to do all the sleeping he needs throughout the night when everyone at home is asleep.

During his daytime sleep, try to put him in a well-lit sleeping area. This would limit his day time sleep which will encourage him to sleep more at night. However, when you are nursing him, make sure to feed him in a quiet and darkened room. If he is not interested in daytime nursing, then this will do the trick. When you feed him during daytime, his nutritional needs will be met at a convenient time unlike during night time.

In case your little one uses a pacifier, why not allow him do the sucking at your breast instead. If you do this regularly during the day, then his waking up in the middle of the night will be reduced. It would also help if you carry your him with a closely attached baby carrier during the early evening hours. This is a great way to make him feel more relaxed and ready for a longer night time sleep.

You can also try to make the evening calm for him in order to avoid overstimulation. Some parents choose to bathe their babies before bed time as they find it more relaxing to them. Others however find it too stimulating, that is why it is wise to bathe them during day time.

If your baby wakes up at night and wants to be nursed, you should do it in a darkened room. Keep your night time feedings quiet and less disruptive while the daytime feedings social. This means when your child is just starting to whimper, try to attend to him immediately and feed him at once. Avoid talking or turning on the light. Try to keep a sleepy atmosphere so he would recognize that it isn’t time for play. If possible, do not change his diaper during sleeping hours. This would help him know that night time is for sleeping.

While you are trying to keep your baby sleeping through the night, it is also important to take care of yourself. If your child is resting, grab the opportunity to rest as well. Another great idea to keep your day more harmonious between the two of you is to develop a sense of attachment. Why don’t you both take a stroll in the park sometimes? Sunshine and fresh air is a great way to somehow relieve the stress and the worries of parenting.

Getting the baby sleeping through the night is definitely something new parents are going to have to face. Still at the end of the day, even without a much needed rest, there is nothing that can compare to the joy of having your little bundle of joy in your arms. If you achieve a loving and caring bond with him, parenting is not going to be a haunting job but a noble “career” which is something to take pride in and to cherish.

Kayla Donohue is a Mom and author who promotes and helps maintain Helping Baby Sleep, a resource for helping baby sleep through the night, for all parents who are needing help getting their baby to sleep better.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kayla_Donohue
http://EzineArticles.com/?Baby-Sleeping-Through-the-Night—Suggestions-to-Help-You-and-Baby-Sleep-Soundly&id=2348445