Strollers and child safety
 Probably every moms who reads my articles on this blog have used/currently use strollers to 'transport' their babies/toddles on when they go grocery shopping, or to take a walk outside, etc. Well, that is actually a good idea, because walking in the street for little kids up to age of 2 can be quite dangerous, especially when they tend to fall often and even a second of unattendance can turn into a tragedy. So, using a stroller is a lot safer until our child can handle his walking skills well. Even so, it's important to protect our child against the fumes with a proper stroller cover that helps our little one breathe without being affected by the fumes.Sometimes it might be useful to count on a few stroller accessories to take along, especially when we want to go on long trips: umbrellas, stroller covers, carry bags, baby head support pillows... all little things that may help face emergencies, like rain, cold wind, uneven terrain, etc. It can be useful if we live on the mountains or country side, or go off-road anyway, the use of all terrain strollers, which are more stronger than normal strollers, reinforced with a suspension system and air-filled tires that have the ability to handle uneven terrain and rocks. In the end, choosing the model is up to the mom, but remember that safety is more important than style and colors. A stroller must be a strong means of transport before being a cute thing to own. :) Labels: kids, older child, parenting, tips, toddler |
Focus On: BabiesBase.com
All greatest pregnancy and baby care information websites often forget one important detail: that moms usually don't have a lot of time on their hands to browse huge database of articles, which most of the time are not so easy to read and to search for. This is something that Babies Base does not forget. Not just the website comes with a cute but simple graphics, easily browsable and searchable, but even the articles present in their database are nicely written; structured in a way that they're quick to read and scroll down, these written pieces of pregnancy information and baby care how-to's are practical and straight to the point. I tell you moms, this is one of my favourite websites so far. :) I always get to find good ideas for this blog and other stuff to put on practice on its pages, and I hope it can be inspirational to you too. Happy mothering! |
Vaginal Birth in a C-Section World
| By Danielle Goodnight Giving birth, for a staggering 29.1% of all women nationally happened by cesarean section in 2004. These latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control showed the rate of vaginal birth and vaginal birth after cesarean declining and c-sections increasing by 40% since 1996. In certain regions of the U.S., we are seeing that 1 out of 3 women is giving birth surgically, by c-section. Though a cesarean section can be a life saving operation, common sense would tell us that giving birth through a surgical incision isn't ordinarily preferable to the normal design of vaginal birth! So, are there ways to avoid c-section and achieve vaginal birth? Absolutely! The first key to avoiding a c-section when giving birth is to understand what the real risks of cesarean delivery are. It is easier to decline unnecessary surgery if you have all of the facts ahead of time. The recent landmark survey, "Listening to Mothers" reflected that women did not feel fully informed of the risks of c-section by their doctors and that, despite claims of "maternal choice" by physicians, only one woman in the survey chose giving birth surgically with no medical reason. Some of the risks of c-section for the mother include infection, injury to surrounding organs, chronic pain from scar tissue, hysterectomy and in rare cases death. Some of the risks of c-section for the infant include respiratory distress, prematurity, surgical injuries and early breastfeeding difficulties. Perhaps one category of risk not often talked about is the risk to future pregnancies including placental problems, unexplained stillbirth and uterine rupture. The International Cesarean Awareness Network's "Cesarean Fact Sheet" fully documents the risks of giving birth by cesarean for expectant mothers and their babies. The second key to achieving a vaginal birth and avoiding a c-section is to choose the proper labor support, care provider and care setting. Klaus, Kennell and Klaus document in "Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier and Healthier Birth" (1993), that hiring a doula can decrease your chances of having a cesarean by 50%. Hiring a doula is particularly important if you will be giving birth in a hospital. Choosing a midwife as your care provider will not only give you the benefit of a personal, emotionally connected relationship with your birth attendant, but your chances of experiencing the cascading effects of technological interventions, including c-section, will be significantly reduced. Having a midwife attend your birth out-of-hospital, in a birth center or in your home should be an option that all women with low risk pregnancies consider. Citizens for Midwifery provides information about types of midwives, their education and training, and research supporting the safety of giving birth at home or in a birth center. Giving birth is an intensely personal and life changing experience in a woman's life. Become educated about normal vaginal birth and c-section. In the unusual circumstance that a cesarean section becomes medically necessary, you can feel confident in making the decisions that are in the best interest of you and your baby. Have confidence in your body's ability to do its job and surround yourself with people who support and affirm a philosophy of giving birth in the manner it was designed to be. Danielle Goodnight is the mother of three boys. She has experienced childbirth differently every time, from the standard obstetrician attended medical model, to a c-section, to a home birth with a midwife. She shares her childbirth, natural mothering and attachment parenting experiences at MommyThink.com. Share your experiences and ask questions about natural childbirth at MommyThink's fun new message boards! |