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4 Reasons You Should Consider Formula Feeding For Your Toddler

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Baby formula has been around for quite some time now and it has been a huge support to parents all over the world. In times gone by, before you could order online from MumStore or just pick formula up at your local supermarket you had to rely on breastmilk alone as a source of nutrition for your little one. There are various reasons why some babies are not able to consume or digest breastmilk, so formula really was a breakthrough for parents.

Breastmilk has been the only thing that mothers could provide for their young for as long as mammals have been around. While it has been proven that breast milk is best most of the time, having a formula that is engineered for the health of your baby can be a godsend in certain situations. There are many reasons why you might choose baby formula over breast milk.

Keep reading for some reasons why baby formula may be a wise choice for your little one.

You Are In Need Of More Time 

Any busy parent will be thrilled to have something that can save them time during the day. Breastfeeding can be a very time-consuming process, not to mention a painful one, and the modern parent could really use a break sometimes. If you are strapped for time on a regular basis consider switching to a toddler formula for your little one. It is going to provide just about everything they need to thrive as well as giving you back a considerable amount of time in your day.

Your Toddler Cannot Drink Breastmilk

This is a very real concern for any new parent, as it will change the way you provide nourishment for your child. It is fairly common these days to find children with various degrees of intolerance or allergies to breast milk. This is one of the main reasons baby and toddler formulas were first created, to help those young ones who were struggling with their diet. Regardless of why a toddler cannot consume regular breastmilk, you can be assured there are alternatives to keep them fed.

You Are Concerned About Extra Nutrition

While breast milk is the natural way to feed your child it is going to be difficult to determine the exact nutritional content without getting expensive testing done all the time. If you are a parent who is hyper concerned with the nutrition your children get, formula will be right up your alley as you are guaranteed of its quality and nutritional content every single time.

You Have Breast Milk Related Issues

There are a variety of issues a mother can run into when it comes to her breast milk after birth. Some women are not able to produce enough breast milk to keep their children fed properly and they need other options. You can choose to go with a variety of different toddler formulas to make sure your toddler gets the nutrition they require. Some mothers can still breastfeed but just rely on the formula to give their child added nutrition, especially at the toddler stage.

You Are Fine With Formula

Every parent is going to have a slightly different stance on breastfeeding versus formula feeding, but the only thing that really matters is the health of your child. Baby and toddler formula has been researched and worked on meticulously for a long time so your child will certainly benefit from it. Whether you cannot breastfeed, your child has allergies, or you just need a break sometimes, baby and toddler formulas are available for a reason.

Should You Pick a Midwife Over Your OB-Gyn?

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The first time you see those two lines on a pregnancy test stick, it’s time to make decisions. How you are going to save all the money? Who is going to be the OB-Gyn? And the best places to stock up on all the baby stuff. Perhaps the most important decision parents have to make is choosing between a midwife and an OB-Gyn.

Doctors perform deliveries in hospitals while midwives arrive at your doorstep and turn your home into a makeshift birthing center. Midwives are also more available as they visit the family multiple times before the big day and thus bonding with the mother. Hospitals, on the other hand, are more equipped to handle emergencies that may occur during childbirth. 

Advantages of Doctors Over Midwives

When it comes to childbirth, most people still choose hospitals and doctors instead of midwives of home births. There is no denying that being in the hospitals provides more confidence as you know they are equipped to handle emergencies. The following are a couple of advantages of choosing a delivery performed by a doctor as opposed to home births. 

Doctors Are Prepared to Handle Emergencies: The biggest reason why doctors are preferred over midwives is that they are qualified to perform emergency procedures such as vacuum births, C-sections, and forceps deliveries. Midwives are neither qualified nor legally allowed to perform these procedures. This means if there is a complication during a particular home birth, midwives usually rush the mom to the nearest hospital. 

Doctors Have More Experience and Knowledge: When it comes to childbirth and the knowledge of medicine, doctors are more qualified. This helps the would-be mother feel more confident about the entire setup.

Advantages of Midwives Over Doctors

If your delivery is uncomplicated and natural, then there is no beating the personal care and experience of a qualified midwife. They prepare your home, they support you and coach you through the delivery,  and they eliminate the need for rushing to a hospital. Midwives are also quite experienced, especially if you hire them through a reputed service provider such as Hearth and Home Midwifery. The following are 6 advantages midwives have over doctors.

They Are Less Likely to Do Anything Risky: As mentioned earlier, midwives are not legally allowed to perform procedures such as forceps and vacuum deliveries. This can be a blessing in disguise. A lot of injuries to the mom and the infant happen due to these emergency procedures. For instance, Erb’s palsy is a lifelong condition of partial disability of the arm that happens to infant and that occurs primarily due to forceps deliveries. 

Midwives Remain Available and Provide Personalized Attention: If you are looking for a friendly advisor who will stay long hours before and after the pregnancy, then there is no beating a qualified midwife. Apart from providing assistance during childbirth, midwives remain available and answer questions and provide helpful tips and services.

They Are Open to Take Your Preference and Comfort into Consideration: Midwives are almost always more flexible and they take your inputs very seriously. Whether you want a water birth or want your baby delivered in a particular room, they are always ready to accommodate. Midwives also create an atmosphere where you feel empowered. They also pay extra visits as per your request before and after the delivery.

They Provide Essential Services After the Delivery: Right from placenta encapsulation to providing infant care facilities, midwives stick around after the birth to provide assistance and guidance to the new mom. Having assisted many births, they know how to solve commonly arising problems and offer helpful advice to make the parents feel more confident.

They Are Easily Accessible: Doctors have hectic lives. So much so, that they often remain unavailable. It’s not uncommon for doctors to leave for out-of-town conferences and seminars. This means if you need your OB-Gyn to provide advice and assistance, he or she might not be available. Midwives, on the other hand, remain available and make house calls on requests.

They Are More Affordable: One of the main reasons why people often choose home births performed by  midwives is because they are cheaper than hospital births. While a home birth can cost around $3,000 a hospital childbirth can easily fetch a bill of over $10,000.

What Happens If Things Go Wrong?

Most experienced midwives often call ahead to inform the hospital that a pregnant patient is being transferred. They also follow an emergency protocol to swiftly transport the patient to a hospital if things do go wrong. 

What Happens During the Second Trimester of Pregnancy

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What Happens During the Second Trimester of Pregnancy

A lot can happen throughout your pregnancy. There will be highs and lows as it progresses—each trimester different than the others.

For some expectant mothers, the first trimester is where all the bad stuff happens: morning sickness, nausea, lightheadedness, mood swings—you name it! You’re dreading to know what’s in store for you next. But what really happens in the next trimester?

Whether you’re preparing to bear a child or nearing the second trimester yourself, this guide will help you learn what to expect during months 4 to 6 of pregnancy.

The Momma’s Guide to the Second Trimester

Good news! By the second trimester, you should expect all the nasty stuff that irked you in the last three months to fade. Your energy and mood are back—it’s like being your old self again.

Many expectant moms love the second trimester. They regard it as the easiest stage throughout their pregnancy.

While you’re feeling a lot better, you will experience major changes during this phase. And it’s important to know what to expect to help you prepare for them.

Your Baby’s Growth

Your baby is growing fast! As you enter week 18, your baby will weigh as much as a chicken breast. He or she will likely pack on the pounds by the end of the second trimester.

Another thing to be excited about is the fact that you can now feel little jabs and kicks in your belly!

Here are more fetal developments you can expect:

  • Skin, hair, and nails.Your baby now has tiny hairs—and eyelashes too. He or she will be covered with a downy fuzz known as lanugo. Vernix caseosa follows on; this greasy layer will protect your baby’s skin from the acid in amniotic fluid.
  • Your baby starts sucking and swallowing to prepare for life outside the womb.
  • Your baby’s brain now regulates his or her heartbeat. You should clearly hear it with a stethoscope come week 20.

Your Changing Body

During the second trimester, your body should be transforming from looking plump to actually looking pregnant. For some women, certain symptoms from the first trimester may persist, but there will be new changes as well.

  • Breast enlargement. Your breasts will continue to grow to prepare for breastfeeding. On the brighter side, much of the tenderness you’ve felt from the previous trimester should be wearing off. It’s best to go one size up or more when wearing a bra to keep you more comfortable.
  • Heartburn and constipation. During this stage, your body is producing more progesterone, a muscle-relaxing hormone. It affects the esophageal muscle that keeps the acid and food down in the stomach and pushes your food through the intestines. You can avoid heartburn by having small frequent feedings. Meanwhile, taking more fiber and extra fluids should keep constipation at bay.
  • Skin changes. A dark line on your abdomen, called linea nigra, will start to appear. This skin change is usually temporary and should fade away after giving birth. You may also notice spider and varicose veins appearing on your legs. This is due to the increasing pressure in your lower limbs.

Your Weight Gain

Expect to gain pregnancy weight during the second trimester. This is due to your growing baby and your increasing appetite. If you had a normal weight pre-pregnancy, it’s advisable to gain around one pound a week, with a total of fourteen pounds throughout the trimester.

But don’t overdo it. Packing on way too many pounds increases your chances of pregnancy complications, such as gestational diabetes and hypertension.

It’s best to discuss weight requirements with your doctor so you’ll know how much weight to gain throughout pregnancy.

Your Prenatal Care

Prenatal care during the second trimester will focus on your baby’s development and detecting any pregnancy problems.

Your healthcare provider will regularly check your weight and blood pressure, as well as the size of your uterus. Your doctor will often want to listen to your baby’s heartbeat. He or she can suggest a screening test using a reliable ultrasound transducer to find out your baby’s sex.

You’re almost there!

While you’re waiting for your belly to pop, take advantage of the second trimester. Pamper yourself while you can. The third trimester is on its way, and before you know it, you’ll be holding your tiny bundle of joy in your arms.

Image: https://www.babble.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/489226561-624×416.jpg

An overview about C section delivery

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Source: Unsplash | Patricia Prudente

C section is considered to be the safest delivery option when there are concerns about the health of your baby. In fact, caesarean section name origin did occur from Julius Caesar who was assumed to be the first baby who was born by this method. There are benefits along with risks associated with this type of delivery as you need to discuss with your doctor before going ahead.

The benefits

In case if a woman did not have a C section delivery before, if the C section is planned it could prove to be beneficial for the following reasons:

  • Vaginal injury
  • Pain before and after the delivery
  • After birth heavy bleeding

In no way this does not mean that these things are not going to happen. The risk would a lot lower in the event of a vaginal delivery. The risk of pain during bowel movements and sex cannot be a lot higher than vaginal birth.

The risks

Once you are having a C section delivery it enhances risk to both the mother and even the baby. Why is a Caesarean called a Caesarean is because of this reason as well.  Discuss with your doctor on how these risks can have an impact on the baby

  • Bleeding could pave way for transfusion of blood or even the womb can be removed. Though this would be a lot uncommon and this could arise in case if you had any problem with the placenta or when pregnant suffer from heavy bleeding
  • Issues may crop up of becoming pregnant in the future
  • Possibility of heart attack

Once a C section delivery is undertaken late during the stage of pregnancy there is a strong chance of preterm birth in the following pregnancies. If it is done at full dilation, the risk would increase from 2 % to 15 %. The list of possible risks to the baby might include

  • A cut to the baby during the course of surgery if the baby is a minor and they are known to heal quickly.
  • Occurrence of breathing problems once the baby is born before 39 weeks of pregnancy. Though in most of the cases the breathing problems are expected to become a lot better after a few days, though some babies might have to proceed to a neonatal unit. Discuss with your doctor in case if you are worried about the breathing of your baby when you are still at the hospital.

C section and implications in long term conditions

Till date there is not a lot of material available on how C section has long term implications on the health of a baby. Though there are traces of evidence that is available showcasing the fact that long term implications can occur due to C section delivery. Why this risk is higher still there is no clarity on the same. Yes, it all could boil down to the cause of C section itself. One of the theories could be that the baby is not exposed to enough bacteria in the vagina of the mother.

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