I borrowed the following links from Pregnancy & Baby Blog, and hope you’ll find them helpful!

• Save money and budget for baby
• Save money with attachment parenting
• Save money on baby clothing
• Save money by using cloth diapers

• Top 7 ways to save money while raising baby
• Bringing up baby: on a reasonable budget
• How to buy a used crib
• Great baby budget books
• Fun ways to save on a dresser or bookcase
• Five quick tips for saving on baby toys
• Spend more money on this baby item
• Swap baby goods

“These girls screwed up and their stupidity shouldn’t be excused,” said Steve Booher in the St. Joseph, Mo., News-Press. But that doesn’t mean they should be punished by society. They’ll get punishment enough “in a few months when they have to get up at 2 a.m. to change a dirty diaper and feed a howling infant.”

I’d like to object to anyone calling a newborn infant a “punishment!” I mean, sure these girls are probably clueless about what motherhood entails. And I’m sure they won’t enjoy waking up in the middle of the night more than any other new mother. But a little baby is a precious gift and a blessing. I only  hope that these innocent children don’t grow up feeling like thier birth was a punnishment to their mothers!

We all know that breast milk is the ideal food source for young babies. What some people may not realize is that breastfeeding has benefits for the mother and for society as well!

Here are some of the many benefits of breastfeeding, from WomensHealth.gov:

BENEFITS FOR BABY:

• Breast milk is the most complete form of nutrition for infants. A mother’s milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein that is needed for a baby’s growth and development. Most babies find it easier to digest breast milk than they do formula.
• As a result, breastfed infants grow exactly the way they should. They tend to gain less unnecessary weight and to be leaner. This may result in being less overweight later in life.
• Premature babies do better when breastfed compared to premature babies who are fed formula.
• Breastfed babies score slightly higher on IQ tests, especially babies who were born pre-maturely.

BENEFITS FOR MOM:

• Nursing uses up extra calories, making it easier to lose the pounds of pregnancy. It also helps the uterus to get back to its original size and lessens any bleeding a woman may have after giving birth.
• Breastfeeding, especially exclusive breastfeeding (no supplementing with formula), delays the return of normal ovulation and menstrual cycles. (However, you should still talk with your doctor or nurse about birth control choices.)
• Breastfeeding lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancers, and possibly the risk of hip fractures and osteoporosis after menopause.
• Breastfeeding makes your life easier. It saves time and money. You do not have to purchase, measure, and mix formula. There are no bottles to warm in the middle of the night!
• A mother can give her baby immediate satisfaction by providing her breast milk when her baby is hungry.
• Breastfeeding requires a mother to take some quiet relaxed time for herself and her baby.
• Breastfeeding can help a mother to bond with her baby. Physical contact is important to newborns and can help them feel more secure, warm and comforted.
• Breastfeeding mothers may have increased self-confidence and feelings of closeness and bonding with their infants.

BENEFITS FOR SOCIETY:

• Breastfeeding saves on health care costs. Total medical care costs for the nation are lower for fully breastfed infants than never-breastfed infants since breastfed infants typically need fewer sick care visits, prescriptions, and hospitalizations.
• Breastfeeding contributes to a more productive workforce. Breastfeeding mothers miss less work, as their infants are sick less often. Employer medical costs also are lower and employee productivity is higher.
• Breastfeeding is better for our environment because there is less trash and plastic waste compared to that produced by formula cans and bottle supplies.

A worried grandmother posted the following question on the ivillage message boards:

“Would you be concerned if your son and daughter in law planned to keep a Pit Bull mix (now 6 mos. old) after finding they are expecting twins? If so, what would your specific concerns be?”

A registered veterinary nurse who currently works in a busy pet emergency hospital answers with mixed feelings. She makes it clear is that “ANY DOG can be dangerous around children, REGARDLESS of breed. Children have been known to have been killed by the family Pomeranian. Cocker Spaniels are NOTORIOUS for biting kids…. A good quality well bred Pit who has been raised in a responsible, caring home, is no more dangerous than any other dog….” In her opinion, there are a few factors to be taken into consideration, including breed, mix, temperament, whether the dog has had obedience training, and whether the dog will be supervised around the baby AT ALL TIMES.

What is your opinion?

photo credit

Nutritional therapist Kate Cook and postnatal fitness instructor Lucy Wyndham-Read have written a new book called An Unfit Mother: How to get your Health, Shape and Sanity back after childbirth. “New mothers need a no-fuss plan to take control, without beating themselves up about slip-ups along the way.” Sounds good, doesn’t it?

So how do you prevent yourself from feeling knackered (they’re British chicks. They use funny words)? Here are a few helpful tips, courtesy of Keep the Doctor Away:

• Get motivated! Start making really small changes rather than trying to tackle a huge health program. You can easily feel overwhelmed at this time, and are much more likely to stick to the small changes and get bigger results.

• Eat right! Don’t fall into the trap of snacking on junk because you don’t have time to prepare food. Instead, snack on “superfoods” such as nuts and seeds. They’re “full of zinc, a great food to balance the blood sugar and to ward off the blues.”

• Forget the gym; exercise at home! You can tone your body with simple exercises such as this one: Start knitting the abdominals back to their pre-pregnancy state by simply pulling your belly button in tight towards your spine and holding for up to 10 seconds, then release. Do this several times a day. Not only does it tone your deepest abdominal muscle, but it will also help strengthen your lower back and improve your posture. You can start right now, as you read this!

One reader sent in the following question:

Dear Donkey and Wife
What should you do if your wife wants to keep a few extra pounds on? I’ve done a good job of convincing my wife that I love her no matter what and that I don’t mind when there is “a little more to love.” I overheard her recently tell a friend that she doesn’t want to get back to her pre-pregnancy weight, because “he likes me with a few extra pounds.” I always thought she would just lose the weight. Now what do I say to that?
-Weighting for an Answer

Oh my! “This question takes the cake…” says Donkey, “Assuming your wife hasn’t eaten it off the counter already.” He has a number of solutions, some better than others (Please don’t blame us if the suggestions don’t work for you. You’re the one taking advice from a donkey.) and the Wife has some ideas as well.

But two points of interest that I gleaned on this topic, from the bloggers and the commenters, are as follows:

1. For the husband: It’s all about the tact. It’s about doing things together that promote a healthier lifestyle (get a gym membership together… help cook healthy meals together… take brisk early morning walks together… you get the point!)

2. For the wife: Even if your husband truly does love you when there’s a little (or a lot) more to love, it’s only fair to make an effort to get back into shape. Although he loves you too much to say it, maybe he’d like to see you looking more like you did when he first fell in love. And even if it’s not realistic to think that you’ll get your pre-baby body back, at least he’ll find it endearing to know that you are making an effort!

The closest situation your baby will probably get to being in your arms is the Amby Baby Motion Bed. It brags a “womb-like design and gentle motion that babies love” and is specially suited to assist premature or restless infants, as well as babies with colic and reflux.

The Amby Baby Motion Bed comes highly recommended by Dr. Sears: The Amby bed hangs from a spring, so every time baby moves or stirs in his sleep, the bed gently moves up and down, back and forth, and side to side. This is the same motion that baby cherishes both while in the womb and when you carry baby around in your arms. Plus, the slightly upright sleep position of the Amby minimizes painful acid reflux that can frequently waken baby when sleeping flat. As an extra perk, it fits conveniently next to your bed for easy nighttime access.

Shop the Amby Baby US store here.

Other common skin concerns you might experience with your newborn are dry skin, cradle cap (dry, scaly skin on his scalp), and heat rash (red pimply rash). You can click on these links for more info on how to identify them and treat them (or not treat them, as the case may be.)

iVillage says: “Babies don’t get very dirty, so you don’t need to bathe your baby every day if you keep the face, head and diaper area clean. Wipe your baby’s face and head gently with a soft, wet washcloth or dampened cotton balls. Be sure to get into all skin creases, especially where dribbled milk might collect. And clean your baby’s bottom well with each diaper change. ” According to BabyCenter, newborns don’t need to be bathed more than once or twice a week. (Oh good, so I haven’t been a negligent mother!) Here are some more good baby bath tips and guidelines.

Luckily for Sophie Richards, she was able to seek and get help. This story has a happy ending, but so many women struggle alone, and sadly they and their families are suffering.

By the way, although depression is commonly associated with women after birth, it is common during pregnancy as well.   Click here for more information on postpartum depression and where to seek help when necessary. You can also look at Mayo Clinic’s website or the American Academy of Family Physicians.