The first fetal movements are called quickening and are often described as flutters.  Some moms can feel their babies move as early as 13-16 weeks from the start of their last period, although it may be difficult to determine whether this feeling is gas or your baby’s movements. After some time, if you pay attention, you may begin to notice a pattern. Some moms, especially those in their first pregnancy, may not feel movement until 18-20 weeks. Remember that each woman and each pregnancy is different, with the first detection of movement ranging from 13-25 weeks.

Why does my baby move?

Would you like to stay curled up in one position for nine months? Your baby likes to stretch her limbs and c change positions too! As you get further along in your pregnancy, you will begin to feel more obvious movements, such as kicking, punching, and rolling. Your baby may also move as she responds to noise or to your emotions. She may squirm if your position is uncomfortable for her. Certain foods you eat might also cause your baby feel active, and some women even notice a sleeping/waking cycle. And of course some babies like to get moving just as mom is trying to fall asleep (it’s good practice for after birth!)

How often should my baby move?

Some care providers suggest keeping track of how often your baby moves each day. This is easy to do because most of us just sit around all day with a pen and paper waiting for a flutter or a kick, so we can record it on our little chart.  Seriously!! What are they thinking?  Choosing a specific time of the day to count movements is slightly more practical:

Beginning with week 28, it is beneficial to begin counting your baby’s movements. This will help you to identify potential problems and can also be a great bonding experience between you and your baby. Using a kick count chart can be very helpful. When counting your baby’s movements choose the same time each day. It might be easiest to lie on your left side and record how long it takes to feel 10 movements. For further information about recording movements see kick counts.

Sometime in the third trimester you may notice that your baby’s movements are more frequent and vigorous and occur in a regular pattern. Then movements may start to decrease after week 32 as your baby grows bigger and is more restricted in the uterus.

What should I do if I don’t feel my baby moving?

If you have been keeping a chart of your baby’s movements and you notice a significant deviation in the pattern, contact your health care provider. If you do not feel 10 movements within 2 hours, try again later that day. If you still do not feel 10 movements within 2 hours, you should contact your healthcare provider.

Source: American Pregnancy Org.

Researchers have discovered eating too few calories while pregnant changes the way that a baby’s fat cells behave once they are born.  It causes excessive levels of inflammation which can damage the body’s ability to metabolise food, which leaves the youngsters at risk of putting on excessive weight.

The study is headed by Dr Helen Budge, who reminds us that what a mother eats while pregnant can have a large impact on the health of their baby in later life.  Instead of viewing obesity as entirely the fault of the individual, pregnant women must realize that genetic and environmental factors play a huge part. “What is particularly interesting is that we are not just talking about babies that have been malnourished while in the womb but those that are born within normal weight ranges,” says Dr. Budge.

Over-eating is similarly harmful too. So what is the advice? A healthy, balanced diet, of course!

As you may know, keeping your stress levels low has beneficial effects on your unborn baby. So perhaps we can consider pregnancy one of the few times when you’re actually encouraged to indulge yourself. Here’s a great way to start a relaxing day: treat yourself to this incredibly soothing facial mask designed to help dry skin feel baby-soft. Compliments of ivillage!

1 cup of rolled oatmeal
2 tablespoons of powdered milk
1 tablespoon of water
2 or 3 gauze squares
1 rubber band

Blend the oatmeal in a food processor until it becomes a fine powder. Put it in a bowl and add powdered milk. Gradually stir in the water until the mask reaches a creamy consistency. Unfold the gauze squares and position them on your face so that your eyes, nose and mouth are exposed. Generously apply the oatmeal mask on top, taking care to overlap the edges of the gauze so that the mask sticks to your face. While you can apply this mask directly to your face, the gauze makes for more even coverage.

Draw a hot bath while you’re waiting; the steam will enhance the effects of the mask. After 15 minutes, remove the mask by lifting up and removing the squares of gauze. Fold them so that the oatmeal is contained, seal with a rubber band, and drop into the bath for an all-over skin-softening effect.

Have a wonderful, relaxing, beautiful day!!

If you are expecting your first baby, there are many things to look forward to… but also a few things you might find yourself dreading.  Like one of those babies who seems to cry all the time!  Unfortunately that imaginary dream land where babies never cry is not where you’re headed. Every baby fusses and cries, but there’s a good reason for that! If you learn what a baby’s cry means and how to respond, you will come to appreciate what scientists have dubbed “the perfect signal”: an infant’s cry.

The following information is from Dr. Sears’ website, one of my very favorite sources of information on childcare and the art of attachment parenting!

Did you know that an infants cry is a reflex? A baby doesn’t think, “What can I do now to get Mom’s attention?” His cry is automatic and is easily generated. Once his lungs are full of air, the infant can initiate crying with very little effort. This is an important point, as some people will tell you not to run to comfort your baby every time he cries. “He’s just crying because he knows you’ll come running to you. He’ll learn to manipulate you!” This is not true. A baby’s cry is an automatic response to some sort of need. If he’s crying, he needs you!

A mother is biologically programmed to respond to baby’s cry and give a nurturing response. Fascinating biological changes take place in a mother’s body in response to her infant’s cry. One thing that happens is increased blood flow to a mother’s breasts, accompanied by a biological urge to “pick up and nurse.” Oxytocin, the hormone that causes a mother’s milk to letdown, brings feelings of relaxation and pleasure; a pleasant release from the tension built up by the baby’s cry. These feelings help you love your baby. A mothers who tries to ignore her baby’s cry may find herself getting frustrated and angry. Ignoring your baby’s cry goes against all your natural instincts! It’s easy for someone else to say, “Just let him cry, it won’t hurt him!” They don’t have that biologically connection with your baby that you have.

What happens if you DO ignore your baby’s cries? It depends on your baby’s personality.  A more compliant baby gives up and stops crying… yay, you win! But this baby eventually realizes that crying is not worthwhile, and loses the motivation to communicate with his parents. The baby becomes withdrawn and unresponsive. The parents also miss out on opportunities to nurture and get to know their baby.

A baby with a more persistent personality (most high-need babies) does not give up so easily. Instead, he cries louder and keeps escalating his signal, making it more and more disturbing. If you wait it out until he stops crying and then pick him up (thinking that you’ll show him it’s not his crying that got your attention)  you will teach the baby that you’re in control, but you also teach him that he has no power to communicate.

The mother responds promptly actually teaches her baby to “cry better!” This baby learns that when he cries, Mommy comes right away, and so his cries are less frantic and disturbing.  His environment is sturctured so that there is less need for him to cry; a sensitive mother learns to recognize when he’s tired and ready to sleep, when he’s hungry, bored, or just wants some loving! (And yes, sometimes babies do seem to cry for “no reason”! But at least you’ll know its not because he’s neglected!!)

Studies show that babies who developed a secure attachment and had their cues responded to in a prompt and nurturing way actually became less clingy and demanding as they grow older. There is also no medical evidence that “crying is good for a baby’s lungs.” In fact, the oposite seems to be true. Remember, you can’t spoil a baby by too much loving! Responding quickly and sensitvely to your baby’s cry is the best thing you can do for them at that moment, and it creates healthy communication patterns and a trusting bond that will be enjoyed for the rest of your lives.

Here’s more important information from Dr. Sears on comforting your baby:

11 Ways to Soothe a Fussy Baby
A Checklist of 36 Time-Tested Baby Calmers
3 Reasons Why Babies Fuss
7 Things Parents Should Know About Baby’s Cries
Letting Baby “Cry-it-out” Yes, No!
4 Ways to Teach Baby to “Cry Better”
The Shutdown Syndrome
Comforting the Gassy Baby
8 Dance Steps to comfort baby
6 Ways to Make Baby Dancing Fun

There was a time when eyebrow-tweezing and leg-shaving was part of my daily routine. I straightened my hair and actually thought about what I would wear each morning, instead of groping blindly among the pile of laundry that I hadn’t had time to put away yet.  I always wore at least a little bit of make-up.  And sometimes I even painted my nails!

And then what happened? It’s not that I stopped caring. It’s just that I had kids, and like many other women, there were no longer enough hours in the day to do everything.  Some things had to give.  Now, a hungry baby or a toddler with a dirty diaper takes precedence over my personal toilet. These days, I’m lucky if I can brush my teeth and remove my contact lenses before I drop into bed at night, totally wiped out from the day’s activities.

At least I’m in good company.  A new report reveals that 77% of moms don’t do enough to take care of themselves:

For many women, an important rite of passage for womanhood is becoming a mother. However all too often, after the baby is born, the focus quickly shifts and the routines that were once rituals are buried in the bottom of the family laundry basket. While it’s not surprising that their children and families come first, a new report of 3,000 U.S. moms reveals that although most (76 percent) agree it’s just as important for mothers to take care of themselves as their families, nearly eight in ten moms don’t do enough.

One of the first things that falls to the wayside seems to be a woman’s personal needs, including the time to indulge in things that make her feel beautiful. 84% of women polled admit that they have let their appearance slide since becoming a mother.

So, can motherhood and womanhood co-exist?

Beauty brand Suave developed the Suave Motherhood vs. Womanhood Report to investigate the trade offs women face when they become moms, the consequences of these sacrifices, and the benefits that occur when moms put themselves back on the to-do list.

The Motherhood vs. Womanhood Report found that:

• Although 67 percent of moms would rather get their pre-baby body back than their pre-baby sex life, exercise opportunities are tough to come by. After shopping for themselves, exercise is the second most desired activity to pursue during coveted “me” time
• 66 percent admit they sometimes don’t have enough time to take a shower or bath
• Some 80 percent have gone weeks or months without a haircut (even though they felt they needed one)
• Over half (53 percent) say that they’ve forgotten to brush their teeth in the morning

“I’ve studied women and family dynamics for more than twenty years, and I’m not surprised that there’s a conflict felt between being a woman and being a mother,” says Professor Gerson. “Despite the rise of busier lives, mothers remain key family caregivers who are relied upon heavily by the whole family. So it’s not surprising that moms often set aside or even forget their own needs. But moms also need to look out for themselves, which means doing things that help them keep an identity of their own apart from the role of mom.”
It’s not surprising that when moms do take care of themselves, they feel happier, more attractive, and more self confident. They feel more feminine and some even feel they are setting their children a good example (I agree!)

Professor Gerson adds “Mothers are caregivers, and taking time for  themselves will not change that. Yet it’s important for moms to find  opportunities to put themselves on their list of priorities. It comes as no  surprise that moms feel happier when they do take this step, and that doing  so can have huge benefits for the entire family.”

If you’re craving something sweet, indulging in some dark chocolate may be satisfying and good for you! Not only has dark chocolate been found to be full of mood-enhancing chemicals, a new study reports that chocolate could help ward off preeclampsia, a condition during pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure and the presence of protein in the urine.

Next Nine Months quotes Rueters as saying:

Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, is rich in a chemical called theobromine, which stimulates the heart, relaxes smooth muscle and dilates blood vessels, and has been used to treat chest pain, high blood pressure, and hardening of the arteries, Dr. Elizabeth W. Triche of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut and colleagues write.

The study finds that women eating five or more servings of chocolate each week during the first trimester were at 19 percent lower risk than those who ate chocolate less than once a week. Good news for the chocoholics!

According to The Current Online, “Dark chocolate has a stronger, more intense chocolate flavor and a hint of bitterness that not everyone prefers. Ironically, the bitterness is associated with some good things.”

Pregnant or not, here are some purported benefits of dark chocolate:

• Chocolate releases endorphins, hormone-like natural substances that produce a feeling of pleasure.
• Chocolate contains caffeine and antioxidants, which are found to produce a feeling of relaxation (compared to coffee, which also has caffeine and antioxidants, but creates tension.) The lower levels of caffeine improves alertness, and the mild stimulate theobromine relaxes the smooth muscles of the lungs.
• Chocolate contains magnesium and iron, which may explain why women, who need more of these nutrients, crave chocolate.
• Chocolate contains tryptophan, which is one of the building blocks that the body uses to make serotonin. Serotonin is a neurochemical associated with pleasure.
• Chocolate contains two other neurotransmitters. Phenylethylamine stimulates the body’s pleasure centers. Anandaminde targets the same brain structures as the active ingredient in marijuana, THC. These two substances inhibit the breakdown of anandamide, which prolongs its pleasurable effect.
• Chocolate contains polyphenols, chemicals that act as antioxidants. Antioxidants have been associated with cell-protection, anti-aging and other health benefits. They gobble up free radicals, destructive molecules that are implicated in heart disease and other ailments
• Dark chocolate lowers high blood pressure (But you have to balance the extra calories by eating less of other things.) This is due to compounds called plant phenols– in this case cocoa phenols.

Just remember that these benefits come with dark chocolate only… the darker the better!

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