Family Values

Children that are breastfed have a higher IQ than children that are fed formula? Is this some sort of unsupported statement by radical breastfeeding supporters?  Has our support of breastfeeding outstripped the facts?

Nothing could be further from the truth.  Perhaps one of the most important stories that hasn’t made your local paper (but has been on the newsfeeds) is that there is a demonstrated direct relation between a child’s intelligence and cognitive ability and how long that child was breastfed.  Some studies show an increase in intelligence for each additional month the child was breastfed.

Could you give your child a more important gift than a better brain?  The findings are hardly surprising when we consider that the brain is only 1/3 formed at birth, and that breastmilk has been evolutionarily honed over millions of years to complete building the brain during the first two years of life.  Cow’s milk has been evolutionarily honed to.., hmm.., maybe build big bones?  Whoever heard of a smart cow?  [Read more →]

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Are changes in mood common after childbirth?

After having a baby, many women have mood swings. One minute they feel happy, the next minute they start to cry. They may feel a little depressed, have a hard time concentrating, lose their appetite or find that they can’t sleep well even when the baby is asleep. These symptoms usually start about three to four days after delivery and may last several days.

If you’re a new mother and have any of these symptoms, you have what is called the “baby blues.” “The blues” are considered a normal part of early motherhood and usually go away within 10 days after delivery. However, some women have worse symptoms or symptoms last longer. This is called “postpartum depression.”   [Read more →]

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If there’s a single group of people who are underappreciated more than any other group of people, it has to be single parents. While everyone knows being a parent is hard, being a single parent tends to be even harder. Not only do you have to play the roles of both parents, but you’re financially responsible for a set of bills that are usually paid by two incomes. Here are six of the most common single parent struggles with tips and strategies on how to overcome them.

1. The Financial Challenges. When you have two people paying a mortgage of $1,400 or more a month, it doesn’t seem like that big of a deal. However, when one person is responsible for that kind of monthly payment, it becomes a big deal indeed. If you’re having a hard time making your monthly housing payment, try downsizing to a smaller home, or if that’s not possible, refinance over a longer period of time (or at a lower interest rate, if possible).

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For many women, a balanced diet during pregnancy will consist of the three main daily meals. Meals should contain nutrient-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, grain products, fresh meats and milk and milk products.

Proteins

Protein-rich foods have the added advantage of containing iron and B vitamins. Two or three servings of protein foods a day will meet the requirement. Good choices are lean meats, fish, eggs, beans and tofu. Other sources like hot dogs, sausage, spare ribs, and especially bacon are poorer choices as they generally contain a high percentage of fat.  [Read more →]

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Women who listened to CDs of classical music felt more relaxed during pregnancy than those who did not

Mothers-to-be who listen to lullabies, classical music and sounds of nature are less likely to feel stressed about their pregnancy, a study has shown.

The music’s tempo was set at 60 to 80 beats per minute, the same as the human heart, and was found to ease anxiety and depression.

Scientists split pregnant women into two groups, with 116 given music CDs and 120, in the control group, receiving normal pregnancy care.

The women using the music received four CDs, each containing about 30 minutes of music.  [Read more →]

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For decades, classical music has been universally believed to have great impact to make babies become smarter. Due to such believe, many of expectant mother spend their time to regularly listen to certain kinds of classical music – commonly with headphones on their ears – hopefully that their unborn child would be safely born with a higher intelligence. But, some people say that such believe is only a fiction rather than a fact. How would you response to such pros and cons on this?  [Read more →]

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It essential to get the right vitamins and minerals while you are pregnant. Not only can they make you feel better and lead to a healthy amount of weight gain, but they can make your nine months easier for you and your baby. That’s why it’s important to plan healthy meals with the right nutrition throughout your pregnancy. Your body is changing in so many ways, so keep it healthy by trying some healthy meal ideas.   [Read more →]

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Many factors affect our eating behavior: individual needs and wants, health status, social environment, selection of available foods, advertising, etc. The following recommendations ( a sort of Nutrition Guide for Pregnant Women) ensure (in the form of a balanced diet) an adequate supply of energy, and nutritional and protective elements, and therefore represent healthy nutrition. The listed amounts and portions are averages; it is no possible to follow them exactly day by day.
Words in italics are especially important for the mother-to-be.  [Read more →]

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Nausea and vomiting
These symptoms are common, especially at the beginning of pregnancy.

• Plan light and more frequent meals.
• Do not eat solid and liquid foods at the same time. Drinks should be taken a half-hour before or after the meal.
• Avoid fatty foods, fried foods, sauces, and hot spices.
• Have breakfast 15 minutes before getting up to offset morning sickness. [Read more →]

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Minerals and vitamins are essential during pregnancy

The increased demand for minerals and vitamins during pregnancy can be satisfied by an adequate, varied, and balanced diet. Attention should be paid to folic acid, calcium, and iron in particular, since these are often deficient. [Read more →]

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