Man Cooks The Best Homemade Baby Food – This Video Will Amaze You

Most moms are often unsure of the various solid foods that can be fed to a little baby. So if you are planning to start feeding your infant solid food, then this video is just perfect for you! Though there are lots of commercially prepared baby foods available in the market today, nothing can beat the nutrition and taste that comes from homemade baby food. These homemade baby foods are completely healthy as they are freshly prepared, unlike, the chemical or preservative rich packaged store bought baby.

This amazing dad here in the video shows us some very simple and easy to make homemade baby foods that you can feed a baby when it is 5-6 months old. So the video starts with the dad explaining how he and his wife prepare food for their kids at home which can last a whole week! He also compares the cost of the store bought  jar food and the home made baby food and says that a store bought jar costs around $1 per jar whereas the grocery for one week’s baby food just costs about $8.




Next, he introduces the various ingredients and tools he will be using to make the baby food. So he has, baby potatoes, organic apples, organic carrots, a butternut squash and 2 chicken breasts, a couple of baking dishes, and a hand blender! That’s all, it’s as simple as that and am sure you will find these ingredients easily in any household!

For the first meal, he quarters and cores the apples and places them in a baking dish. Next he scoops out the seeds from the squash and places the squash halves in the dish with the apples and fills the baking dish with about an inch of water. He  then places the baking dish in the oven, which is set at 375 degrees and bakes it for 90 minutes.

While the first dish is baking, he lightly greases another baking try with a bit of olive oil so that the chicken doesn’t stick to the pan. While  chopping up some potatoes, the daddy chef explains why we must refrain from adding sugar and salt to the baby food until the baby is a little bit older. He also says that a pinch of cinnamon can be added to the baby food for kids over 8 months. He then peels some carrots,  and coarsely chops them and adds the carrots along with the potatoes in the greased baking dish. He places the chicken breasts above the vegetable layer and pours a  little bit of water in the dish and places it in the same oven for baking.

Next in the video, the chef dad shows us the gorgeously baked dishes. He then uses a hand blender to mash the ingredients separately. He first scoops our the carrots along with some of the juices into the blender, whirs it up and pours it into a bowl and repeats the same with the potatoes and the chicken. Next he scoops the apples from the other baking dish and blends it and then scoops out the flesh from the roasted butternut squash and blends that too!

So if you make these meals and keep it ready, it’s a whole lot of food that can last almost a week and you can mix some of the  foods together while feeding the baby. At the end of the video we see a  sneak peek of the  baby who is happily feasting on the homemade food that his dada made! How cute is that!
source:http://www.kidsloverscenter.com/

10 Great Things About Having A Baby Girl

Some parents-to-be don’t have a preference for the sex of their baby, but others may be secretly (or not so secretly) be hoping for a little girl or little boy. If you’ve just found out that you’re expecting a baby girl (or if you’re strongly hoping that you will be handed a little girl by your midwife or partner!), here are some great things about having a baby girl. Please note that this is a fun, light article, which has not been written to delve into the deeper awesome things about having a girl (that’s a topic for another article!). This article is about the short term view of having a baby girl. Many parents get excited about these things too.



Great Things About Having A Baby Girl #1: The Clothes

Definitely, the clothes. Those endless rows of frilly dresses, floral rompers and gorgeous little skirts are yours for the taking. The clothes available for little girls are undeniably cuter than those for little boys. As the mother of a daughter, you belong in those aisles, so go and pick out some adorable vests immediately.

Great Things About Having A Girl #2: Especially The Stripy Tights

There is nothing cuter than a pair of newborn tights. Well, ok, maybe the newborn baby wearing them is a bit cuter. The stripy tights with frills on the bottom are, quite frankly, the cutest items of clothing in existence. They may very well have been invented as a sneaky way of ensuring the human race continues breeding, simply walking past a window display of these tights can cause tingly ovaries.

Great Things About Having A Girl #3: … And The Tiny Hair Accessories

The headbands, and the glittery clips, and the floral crowns (especially the floral crowns) are yet more great reasons to have a little girl.

Great Things About Having A Girl #4: It’s Easier To Find A Name You Love

This is a generalisation, of course, but there seems to more choice for girls’ names. Pregnant women can often be heard cursing the difficulties of finding boys’ names both parents-to-be can agree on.


Great Things About Having A Girl #5: She’ll Be Your Mini-Me

There’s a reason men often seem to want sons, whereas women long for daughters – it’s simply because the idea of having a mini-me is so appealing. You grew up as a girl, so may find the idea of having a girl more appealing – especially if you didn’t have brothers or many male friends growing up.

Great Things About Having A Girl #6: You’ll Know What She Is Going Through

You have been a little girl, and you have experienced puberty, love and friendship as a little girl. This may make you feel like you are better equipped to relate to a little girl, simply because you have experienced life as a little girl.

Great Things About Having A Girl #7: It’s Much Harder For Her To Wee Into Your Wine

Any nappy free time is much less risky if you’re dealing with a little girl. Any stray wees will probably end up soaking into your jeans or making a mess on your sofa, it’s not ideal, but it’s undeniably better than watching the stream fly straight the air and land in your glass of red.

Great Things About Having A Girl #8: She Probably Won’t Pee In Your Face

If you have a son, you are likely to end up with pee in your face during at least one nappy change – and he’ll certainly end up with it on his. One of the great things about having a little girl, is that she doesn’t have the equipment to accidentally pee in your face.

Great Things About Having A Girl #9: She Will Dress Up As You

Your baby girl will see you get dressed every day, and one day, when she’s old enough to toddler, she will play ‘mummy’. She will force her tiny feet into your high heeled shoes, slip some bangles on her wrist, and cart a handbag around the house with her. The first time she does this, she will look to proud that your heart will break a tiny bit, as you realise that your little baby girl wants to be just like you.

Great Things About Having A Girl #10: You Will See Her Transform Into A Daddy’s Girl

As a newborn, your baby will long to be in your arms. Daddy will be a close second, but you will probably always be first choice. As she grows, however, she may blossom into a daddy’s girl. She will want him to read her bedtime stories, play make believe with her and tell him secrets. Far from being jealous, you will love watching two of your favourite people in the world developing such a strong bond, and it will make you love both of them even more (if such a thing is possible).
source:http://www.kidsloverscenter.com/

10 ROOM SHARING TIPS FOR BABY AND A BIG KID

Room sharing tips can be so helpful to second-time mothers. When I was pregnant with my second son I worried about how sibling room sharing would go.  I looked all over the internet for reassurance that my baby and my preschooler would be fine sharing a room.  We live in a very small home and while baby would be staying in our room at first, the two boys would have to bunk together eventually.



My baby and preschooler have been sharing a room for over a month now and I’m happy to report it is working just fine.  So for all those mothers in a similar situation I’m here to say, it will be okay!  Better yet, I’ve got ten tips to help make the transition easier on everyone!

1. Wait until baby is sleeping fairly consistently.  My baby still wakes once or twice in the night but not every hour or two.  If you can wait until your baby is sleeping most of the night you will cut down on the disturbances to the older sibling.  (And save yourself from having to get up and go to a different room  several times a night).

2. Change your older child’s bedtime routine location, but keep everything else consistent.  Since the baby goes to sleep first we moved my preschooler’s bedtime routine to our room.  We read a story, sing a song, and have a little snuggle just as we have always done.  The only difference is we do it in my bed and then sneak quietly into the shared room for sleeping time.



3. Get baby used to the room as it is set up for your older child.  For us, that meant a wave noise machine and nightlight, for others it might mean silence and darkness.  Baby’s are generally more adaptable than older kids and your older child is already coping with a lot of change.

4. Make it fun. We talked with my older child about how fun it is to share a room.  Their room got a special decor update.  We also make sneaking in to fall asleep a fun by pretending to be super stealth ninjas.

5. Employ a (safe) bumper.  We use a dark breathable bumper to help create a little bit of privacy for baby.  It seems to help block the light from the door opening and closing when we put our older child down or when he gets up to use the bathroom.

 room sharing tips

6. Make the rules very clear.  Safety is very important, which means you will want to set up a few simple rules for your older child.  Make sure they know they cannot climb on or into the crib.  It is also important that they don’t put objects into the crib, even though it is nice that they want the baby to have a toy or blanket.  And if your baby is a light sleeper it is important that the older child learns to be extra quiet.

7. Be flexible with the monitor.  This one is totally up to what works best for your family.  I discovered that we all slept better with the monitor off.  Again, our house is very small so I hear the baby if he needs me.  However, other parents might rest better if they are able to keep ears (or eyes if you’ve got a cool video monitor) on the room.

8. Get organized.  Set up an extra changing station outside of the room so that you can change baby in the middle of the night without disrupting their sleeping sibling.  Likewise, be sure to gather items from the room you might need for your older child’s bedtime routine such as pajamas and books, before you put baby down.


9.  Explore your nap options.  Usually a baby sleeps much more during the day than an older child.  We chose to put baby down for naps in the crib and have our son nap in our bed, but you could also use a pack n’ play for baby to sleep outside of the room at nap time.  If your older child plays a lot in their room this second option might make more sense.

10. Remember that all transitions have an adjustment period.  This too shall pass.  If one or both of your children are struggling with the change, rest assured that with time they will adjust.  Your family will find it’s new rhythm and soon everyone will be sleeping like a baby.
source:http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/

From Abel to Zephyr, here are the 100 most intriguing baby names of 2016

The 100 best movies, restaurants, novels, jobs, apps — the world is full of lists cataloging all sorts of premier picks. So, we thought, why not do the same thing with baby names?

The question we asked ourselves: If expectant parents today were limited to 100 choices from which to name their child, what should those names be? Which names offer the best balance of appeal and distinctiveness, of authenticity and creativity, at this moment in time? Which names sound both adorable for a 2016 baby and seem most likely to serve her or him well into the 22nd century?



Are there other wonderful baby names out there? Of course there are — thousands of them! But if we can only have 100, these are our picks for the very best, and here's why they made the cut:

Abel: Biblical boy name with a capable sound

Adelina: The next Isabella

Agnes: Vintage A name set for a major comeback

Alice: Storybook heroine back in the Top 100

Amias: Undiscovered masculine name whose meaning we love

Apollo: A Greek god at home in the modern world

Arden: Shakespeare's forest makes this a literary nature name

Arlo: Upbeat Arlo is a folk singer — and an animated dinosaur

Athena: As smart as Sophia

Atlas: Mythological name that holds its own

August: The Oscar of 2016

Aurora: Ancient name seeing a new dawn



Beckett: Literary name and Hollywood favorite

Benedict: Ben name glamorized by leading man Cumberbatch

RELATED STORY: Most popular baby names of 2015: Real princess name soars, fictional royalty sinks

Blaise: Saint's name with a fiery image

Bodhi: Surprising spiritual name entering the mainstream

Brooks: Brooke is fading for girls, but Brooks is white-hot for boys

Cait and Cate: New ways to spin classic Kate, inspired by Jenner and Blanchett

Cassian: Roman rarity poised for 21st century discovery

Charlie: Modern parents increasingly prefer Charlie to Charles - or Charlotte

Charlotte: A Nameberry favorite turned royal baby name

Clementine: Edible appellation back in the US Top 1000

Cora: The "Downton Abbey"name most likely to succeed

Cordelia: Lear's loyal daughter, and a recent returnee to the U.S. Top 1000

Crosby: Irish surname name that's part-crooner, part-NHL

Cy and Si: Claire Danes picked Cyrus, the Timberlakes Silas, and Zoe Saldana simply Cy

Declan: Ryan and Brian's little brother

Delilah: Biblical bad girl rehabilitated

Delta: Southern belle baby name chosen by Dax Shepherd and Kristen Bell

Dinah: Undiscovered Biblical girls' name

Dorothea: Distinctive classic rich with great nicknames

Edith: 2016's Abigail, and Cate Blanchett's youngest

Eloise: Childhood literary heroine ready for the real world

Elsie: Rising nickname-name chosen by Zooey Deschanel

Emmeline: Alternative to popular Emma and Emily, and Meryl Streep's "Suffragette"character

Emmett: An "Em"name for a boy, boosted by "Twilight"and "The LEGO Movie"

Everest: Nature name with a hint of danger, featured on the big screen last year

Ezra: As Biblical as Noah, plus with the zippy 'z'

Fable: Modern spin on Mabel just right for a writer's child

Fay or Faye: A more inventive — and vintage — middle than May or Ray

Flannery: As literary as Harper, but far more distinctive

Flora: Halfway between Nora and Daisy, yet all the way more unusual

Flynn: Dashing Flynn, part-"Tangled," part-Finn.

Ford: The chicest of the car names

Fox: An animal name as snappy as Max, as modern as Bear

Frances: A classic that's thrown off its dowdy image to feel fresh and wearable

Freya: A Norse goddess name long popular in the UK, and newly discovered in the United States

Grey: Color name possibility for boys, rising thanks to — or despite — "Fifty Shades"

Hank: Casual Jack-like name chosen by Andy Roddick and Brooklyn Decker

Harold: Former grandpa name now following Henry into wider use

Harvey: A name that's been out for so long in the U.S. that it's suddenly very in

Hawk: Fierce nature name worn by Jeremy Renner in "The Avengers"

Hazel: Once an out-there starbaby choice, now a vintage favorite

Holiday: Cooler than Holly or Noel, more approachable than Christmas or Easter

Huck: This year's Finn or Sawyer

Imogen: UK (and Nameberry) favorite slowly catching on in the U.S.

Inigo: Rare saint's name that deserves wider use

James: The most enduring of boys' names, now also a possibility for a daughter

Jane: Quirky television series "Jane the Virgin" makes classic Jane a cultural-crossing possibility

RELATED STORY: Here are the best (and worst) celebrity baby names of 2015

John: Top name for CEOs; appropriate for an upwardly mobile child

Juniper: Jennifer's daughter, and an energetic nature name on the rise

Justus: Ancient Roman name meets modern word name

Leilani: A Hawaiian name feeling more at home on the mainland

Leonora: Leonine girls' name that's familiar yet rare

Linus: Finally out from under the blanket

Louisa: Lovely, literary and back in the Top 1000

Luca: Handsome, Italian spin on Lucas and Luke

Lucia: A favorite with parents looking to bridge cultures

Luna: Spacey Harry Potter name that has stuck

Maeve: Authentically Irish, without the spelling and pronunciation challenges of some imports

Magnolia: The hottest new-old floral name

Magnus: An ancient royal name in Norway and Sweden, Magnus shares a meaning with Max that any little boy would love: the greatest.

Maisie: Sweetly vintage nickname name

Malala: Nobel Peace Prize-winner that deserves wider use

Margot or Margo: Sophisticated o-ending spin on classic Margaret

Marigold: A golden-hued "Downton Abbey"-inspired option

Marlowe: Harper, Harlow and now Marlowe are last names succeeding in first place for girls

Matilda: Roald Dahl's girl power heroine for a new generation

Nathaniel: Biblical favorite that never feels overused

Nova: New — literally! — and celestial

Ocean: Water-inspired nature names are hot, from River to Ocean

Olive: Starbaby favorite with ties to the natural world and a peaceful image

Ophelia: Once-tragic Shakespearean name, now an alternative to Olivia

Orson: An ends-with-son name that isn't overused

Paris: The City of Lights shines on, classic for boys or modern for girls

share link
No more Noahs? Gender-neutral baby names on the rise
PLAY VIDEO

MORE VIDEO
PlayFrom CES: 3 innovative devices for women and babies
From CES: 3 innovative devices for women and babies

PlayBaby tries bacon for the first time, seems to be (understandably) elated
Baby tries bacon for the first time, seems to be (understandably) elated

PlayMeet the mom who had 3 sets of twins in 5 years
Meet the mom who had 3 sets of twins in 5 years

PlayCelebrity babies born in 2015
Celebrity babies born in 2015

Poe: Poetic surname name boosted by new "Star Wars"hero

Poppy: Flower power pick big in the UK, finally catching on in the United States

Rafferty: Cool and confident surname name for boys

Robin: Back on the boys' side

Romy: Former one-person name ready for wider use

Royal: A name that rules, with ties to the World Series champs

Rufus: Neglected boy name that feels fresh and fashionable

Saint: A celebrity baby name sure to find wider use

Saoirse: Irish import boosted by rising actress Saoirse Ronan

Sophia and Sofia: The name heard 'round the world

Stellan: One of the best n-ending names for boys

Susannah: Classic spin on Susan currently given to fewer than 100 girls

Titan: Powerful mythological name now in the U.S. Top 1000

Xanthe: Mythological but modern, with the X factor

Zephyr: Breezy nature name with stylish -r ending

Al-hijaamah (cupping): what Islam says about it

I would like to know when al hijama (cupping) began to be practiced according to the sunnah, and the manner in which it should be performed. Are there recommended times for one to have it done, or times that one should avoid cupping? We are hoping to begin this prectice for sisters, and wish to make sure that we would be perfoming it strictly according the the sunnah of Rasool Allaah, sallalahu alaihi wa salaam.



Hijaamah comes from the root al-hajm, which means “sucking”, and is used of the action of draining the breast when an infant is suckled. Al-hajjaam is the name given to the cupper, and hijaamah is the name given to this profession. Al-mihjam is the name given to the tool in which blood is collected, or to the knife used by the cupper.

Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with them both) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Healing is to be found in three things: drinking honey, the knife of the cupper, and cauterization of fire.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 10/136).

According to a hadeeth narrated by Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with him), the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “If there is any good in your medical treatments, it is in the knife of the cupper, drinking honey, or cauterization with fire, as appropriate to the cause of the illness, but I would not like to be cauterized.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 10/139)

According to a hadeeth narrated by Anas ibn Maalik, may Allaah be pleased with him, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I did not pass by any group on the night when I was taken on the Night Journey (Isra’), but they said to me, ‘O Muhammad, tell your ummah to do cupping.’” (Reported by Ibn Maajah; it has corroborating evidence which strengthens it).

Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with them both) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was treated with cupping, and he paid the cupper his fee.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 10/124; Muslim 1202).

Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allaah was treated with cupping by Abu Tayyibah. He commanded that he should be given two measures of food, and he spoke with his tax-collectors, who reduced his taxes. He said, “The best treatment you can use is cupping.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 10/126; Muslim, 1577)

With regard to the times when cupping is recommended:

It was reported from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with them both) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The best times to be treated with cupping are the seventeenth, nineteenth or twenty-first [of the month].” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, 2054; the isnaad is da’eef).

It was reported from Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever wants to be treated by cupping, let him do it on the seventeenth, nineteenth or twenty-first, lest the blood flow too copiously and kill him.” (Reported by Ibn Maajah, 3489; there is some weakness in the report).

Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever is treated with cupping on the seventeenth, nineteenth or twenty first, will be healed from all diseases.” (Reported by Abu Dawood, 3861, and al-Bayhaqi, 9/340. The isnad is hasan).

Although the ahaadeeth quoted above are from different sources and may be weak to some extent, they give strength to one another.

Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

“These ahaadeeth coincide with what the doctors agree on, that cupping should be done in the second half of the month, and that the third quarter of the month is better than the beginning or the end. But if cupping is done out of necessity it is beneficial at any time, even at the beginning or end of the month. Al-Khallaal said: ‘Ismah ibn ‘Isaam told me: Hanbal told me: Abu ‘Abd-Allaah Ahmad ibn Hanbal would be treated with cupping whenever his blood increased, no matter what time it was… They disliked having cupping done on a full stomach, because that could lead to obstruction and grievous diseases, especially if the food was heavy and bad… Choosing the times mentioned above for cupping is an extra precaution, to be on the safe side and to protect one’s health, but when it comes to treating disease, whenever it is necessary it should be used.

Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “According to the doctors, the most efficacious cupping is that which is done at the second or third hour, after having intercourse or taking a bath, etc., and neither on a full nor empty stomach. With regard to specific days for administering cupping, it was reported in a hadeeth narrated from Ibn ‘Umar by Ibn Maajah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Administer cupping, may Allaah bless you, on Thursdays, and administer cupping on Mondays and Tuesdays, but avoid cupping on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.’ It was reported with two da’eef isnads, and there is a third version, also da’eef, reported by al-Daaraqutni in al-Afraad. He also reported it with a jayyid isnaad from Ibn ‘Umar but it is mawqoof (the isnad stops at the Sahaabi). Al-Khallaal reported that Ahmad disliked cupping on the days mentioned, even though the hadeeth was not proven. It was said that a man was treated with cupping on a Wednesday and he developed leprosy because he ignored the hadeeth. Abu Dawood reported from Abu Bakrah that he disliked cupping on Tuesdays, and said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Tuesday is the day of blood, and on that day there is an hour when blood does not stop.’ The doctors are agreed that cupping in the second half of the month, especially in the third quarter, is more beneficial than cupping at the beginning or end of the month. Al-Muwaffaq al-Baghdaadi said: The body fluids (humours) flow heavily at the beginning of the month and calm down at the end, so the best time to let the blood flow is in the middle of the month.”

It is clear from the above that the ahaadeeth which specify a particular time, when taken as a whole, indicate that there is a basis for this, especially since the words of the doctors are in agreement with it. If the seventeenth or nineteenth or twenty-first of a hijri month happens to be a Thursday, this is the best possible time for cupping, but this is not to say that it is not good to do it at other times. As a form of medical treatment, cupping should not be restricted to any particular time; it should be done as needed by the patient.

It is essential to make sure that you do it properly; cupping should be done by one who is experienced and he or she should use instruments that are properly cleaned and sterilized. The cupper must also ensure that no blood reaches the stomach of the patient.

We ask Allaah to help us and you to follow the Sunnah. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad.
source:http://islamqa.info/

What to do when your blood sugar spikes

high blood sugar levels can spell danger for a diabetic, especially if you're unprepared.

Classic symptoms of high blood sugar include extreme thirst, increased urination, dry mouth and fatigue or lethargy.

If you suspect your blood sugar is high, it's important to check your levels before you attempt to bring them down.



Insulin

If you take insulin, you can reduce your blood sugar with an insulin injection. It's crucial to know how much insulin you need to take, so check with your doctor if you're not sure.

Also bear in mind that insulin can take a few hours to be fully absorbed, so take into account how much you may already have in your body.

Exercise

Exercise is a great way to lower your blood sugar, and studies have shown that a walk after meals can improve blood glucose levels.

It's not necessary to work out hard - just light or moderate aerobic activity will help.

However, the American Diabetes Association warns not to exercise if your blood glucose is above 240 mg/dl. Also, check your urine for ketones. Exercising when you have ketones may spike your blood sugar even higher.

Water

When you have high blood sugar, your body will attempt to flush excess sugar from your system through your urine. As a result, you'll need to rehydrate. Drink plenty of water to help assist your body in regulating its blood sugar levels.

Diet

If your blood sugar spikes, it's important to pay close attention to your next snack or meal. Avoid sugary foods and opt for something protein-rich instead.

You may also need to speak with your doctor about portion sizes or dietary choices that will keep your blood sugar better balanced.
source:http://www.informationaboutdiabetes.com/

5 Things You Need to Know If Your Kids Are Adopting

When my husband and I announced to our parents our decision to adopt our first child, their reactions ranged from, "Great, when can I babysit?" to "Why would you want to do something like that?" The less-than-enthusiastic responses surprised me at the time, but I understand them better now. After all, my husband and I had had years to embrace this path to parenthood, while these soon-to-be grandparents were reacting – honestly – to something that was new and unfamiliar and, for one or two of them, a bit uncomfortable.

Whether you're immediately thrilled by the news of an impending adoption, or feeling some cautiousness – or even reluctance – about your adult child's decision, you're likely to have some questions.
Here are five important things every new adoptive grandparent needs to know:

1. Adoption has changed.

Consider how adoption used to be practiced. There was an emphasis on separation, even secrecy. You may have once known a pregnant girl who "went away" and came back months later, childless and expected to resume her life where she'd left off. Some children were never even told they were adopted. Parents who adopted transracially were counseled to try to minimize or ignore the child's differences as much as possible.
These practices were once considered best for everyone.



Today, the values of information and communication, for all participants, are paramount. Adoption is almost never a secret. Birth cultures, birth families, and birth countries often have an ongoing role in our families. Parents who adopt transracially are encouraged to acknowledge differences and to try to support a child's ethnic identity. These are significant changes, and they may be unfamiliar to people whose concept of adoption is based on past practices or media portrayals. It makes sense to have questions and concerns.

Try to educate yourself about contemporary adoption. Read books and articles, visit websites, or attend information meetings. Gathering up-to-date, accurate information not only makes you better prepared; it's also a way to demonstrate your interest and support for your loved ones – even if you still have reservations.

2. You may need time to get comfortable with adoption.

Adoption may be new to you – just as it was at one point to the new parents. You may need time and space to prepare for an unexpected path to grandparenthood. It's not at all uncommon for grandparents or other family members to have imagined and anticipated a very different child or experience. We adoptive parents typically need time to get comfortable and ready for adoption ourselves. The lengthy process – paperwork, training, decision-making, and waiting – helps to prepare us. As grandparents, you may need to (gently) remind your loved ones to extend to you the same time, education, and preparation that they, as adoptive parents, had.

Many of your questions or concerns no doubt stem from feelings of love and an urge to protect the adoptive parents. But even the most enthusiastic and supportive grandparent can benefit from more information. Explain this to your loved ones. Then have some discussions with them about their adoption plans, asking and listening in equal measure.

3. You will be asked questions, too.

One morning, as my mom was taking a walk with my daughter, her neighbor approached her and asked, "How'd she get so brown?" When my mom told me about the incident later, she said that when my husband and I adopted, she'd figured we'd get plenty of questions and comments about the children and about adoption. But she hadn't expected to be answering questions herself. It hadn't occurred to me, either, that other people close to my family might find themselves speaking on behalf of adoption and our children. They deserve to feel prepared to do so.

You, too, may find yourself fielding unexpected questions or comments at preschool pick-up or while walking through the grocery store with your new grandchild. Over time, your adopted grandchild may approach you with questions or a desire to talk about his or her adoption. You need information and guidelines to do so.

Discuss with your grandchild's parents the kinds of questions people ask about adoption (How much did she cost? What is she? Is she adopted?) and how they'd like you to respond. Understand the family's boundaries regarding privacy – especially the child's. Remember that the most important listener is always the child. Frame any comments for the child's benefit above all.

4. You can have a role.

Relatives of adoptive parents often ask how they can help or show their support. It's a good question. Since so much of the adoption process can only be completed by the adopting parents, much happens independent of other family members who might otherwise be very involved in such a life-altering experience. Even that most traditional of ways we welcome a child – the baby shower – gets complicated when age, size, gender, language, and arrival date may still be a mystery. But even though some aspects of this path to parenthood look different, adoption still can be very much a shared experience.

Practical ways to help include: donating air miles for adoption-related travel; offering breaks and babysitting to the new parents; making donations to child welfare or adoption organizations; or simply discussing current events from a child's birth country. More personal ways to help include seeking out other perspectives on adoption, especially those of birthparents and adult adoptees, and acting as an ambassador for adoption through your own words and attitude. Remain positive and engaged. Listen without judgment to your child, who is in the midst of a challenging personal experience. These demonstrations of love and support will be welcomed – and remembered.

5. You have a lot to look forward to.

I sometimes think of adoption as being in on a really good secret. Whenever I see a family like mine, I'm always tempted to approach the parents and whisper something like, "Can you believe this? Isn't it great?" And I can tell from the pleased and proud faces of doting adoptive grandparents that this insight usually extends to them, as well. To participate in an adoption is a privilege. There are particular experiences and insights to which you will now be privy. Like any worthwhile experience, adoption will challenge you and even change you.

In the words of one adoptive grandfather: "Every child gladdens your heart. What happens after a child comes into the family is just as important as how they arrived into it." This is where you, both a parent and grandparent, come in. Congratulations. You are in on it now, too.
source:http://www.grandparents.com

Regular Periods After a C-Section

After your baby is born, one event you might not look forward to is the return of your menstrual periods. Resumption of a regular menstrual cycle is dependent on hormonal changes after delivery, so having a cesarean delivery won’t have an impact on when your periods return.
Having a cesarean can affect the type of periods you have after delivery, however, since spotting occurs more frequently after cesarean birth. Your period might differ in length, color and amount after giving birth, whether you deliver vaginally or by cesarean.

When Menstruation Returns

After both cesarean and vaginal delivery, your levels of the hormones estrogen, progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin — hCG — drop. But one hormone, prolactin, decreases only if you don’t breastfeed.

If you bottle-feed, your periods will recur within 12 weeks in 70 percent of cases, but if you breastfeed exclusively, prolactin levels remain high, preventing ovulation on average for 6 months, according to the textbook “Maternal Child Nursing Care.” Note, however, that breastfeeding is not foolproof birth control, so use contraceptives if you’re not ready for another pregnancy.



Post-Cesarean Bleeding

Whether you deliver vaginally or by cesarean, you will experience a bloody discharge called lochia for 4 to 6 weeks after delivery. It becomes lighter in color and less copious over time and should not be confused with a period.

Women who have had cesarean delivery may experience more spotting and heavier periods due to the surgical incision and repair of the uterine wall. When your periods resume after delivery — whether vaginal or C-section — they are likely to differ initially in color, regularity, odor and amount from periods before the pregnancy. Gradually, your periods will become regular again. If periods do not return to normal in a few months, consult your doctor.
source:http://www.kidsloverscenter.com/

Bleeding after the birth – Everything you need to know

very new mum bleeds after having her baby (lochia), whether the birth was vaginal or by caesarean section. It’s how your body gets rid of the lining of your uterus (womb) after birth. The blood may come out in gushes, or flow more evenly, similar to a heavy period.
The bleeding will change colour and become lighter as your uterus heals and returns to its pre-pregnancy size. At first, the flow of lochia will be heavy and bright red, and may have clots in it. Gradually, it will change to pink then brown, and eventually to yellow-white.

You may bleed for as little as two weeks to three weeks, or for as long as six weeks after having your baby. The flow will gradually become less. Red lochia usually tapers off within the first couple of weeks, though if you try to do too much too soon, it may start flowing again. If you see bright red blood, it’s a sign that you need to slow down.

Do I need to do anything about the bleeding?

Not really. Just stock up on maternity pads. Two or three packs of 12 should do. Don’t use tampons for the first six weeks or so after you have your baby, as this can introduce bacteria into your still-healing uterus, causing an infection.



You may need to change your pad every hour or two to start with, then every three or four hours in the coming days and weeks. Always wash your hands before and after changing your pad.

You may also have a wound between your vagina and back passage (perineum). You’ll need to keep this part of your body clean to prevent infection there as well. Take a bath or shower at least once a day, and change your maternity pad regularly.

Some mums like to add salt to their bath water, but your wound will heal just as well with clean water alone.

When should I call my midwife or doctor?

Call your midwife or doctor if you develop the following symptoms, as you may have an infection:

The lochia has an unpleasant smell.
You come down with a fever and/or chills.
The bleeding stays heavy, and is bright red, after the first week.
Your tummy feels tender low down on one or both sides.
Sometimes, bleeding that’s much heavier than normal lochia happens. This is called postpartum haemorrhage (PPH).

PPH may happen within 24 hours of giving birth (primary PPH), or between 24 hours and 12 weeks after the birth (secondary PPH). It may be caused by a piece of membrane or retained placenta, or when your uterus doesn’t contract down properly after you’ve delivered the placenta.

Call an ambulance if:

The bleeding suddenly becomes very heavy, and soaks more than one pad an hour.
The bleeding becomes persistently fresher (bright red) and heavier four days or more after giving birth, even after you rest.
You pass lots of large blood clots that are bigger than a 50p piece.
You start to feel faint or dizzy.
Your heartbeat starts to race, or becomes irregular.
You can be treated with antibiotics, or you may need a minor operation to remove the rest of the placenta. Once you are receiving the right treatment for postpartum haemorrhage, you should be fine. But it may take a little time, good care and rest for you to recover fully. Make sure you know all the postnatal symptoms you should never ignore.
source:http://www.kidsloverscenter.com/

How much life insurance do you need?

When buying life insurance, it’s important to take into consideration your annual income, debt and net worth.

Life insurance is something you don’t buy for yourself — you buy it for the benefit of others. When should you think about buying it? Certainly, when you get married, have children or have someone who is dependent on your income. Then the question is: How much do you need?

Take a common-law couple in their early 30s we’ll call Carly and Jack. They have been in a relationship for three years and recently purchased a $350,000 two-bedroom condo in a Toronto suburb. But what if Jack suddenly died? It currently takes both Jack and Carly’s incomes to afford their $2,000 monthly mortgage payments and condo fees. Carly could sell the condo and downsize but she’d like to avoid that hassle. So, the couple decided to get life insurance to protect their new home. That way, Carly or Jack would have the money to pay off their mortgage if something happened to one of them.

Many people believe the coverage provided by their employer is sufficient. But let’s do the math. Your employer’s group insurer would likely pay your beneficiary three times your annual salary, at most. If you earn $70,000 a year, that’s $210,000. Let’s say you have a husband and two young children counting on that income for mortgage payments, daycare costs, education savings and day-to-day living expenses. It won’t take long for that lump sum to disappear.



So how much do you need? An insurance advisor will help you to fill out a needs analysis questionnaire to determine the appropriate amount, taking into consideration your annual income, net worth, debts and existing life insurance.

A general rule of thumb is you should be covered for at least 10 times your annual income, so if you earn $70,000, you’d be looking at $700,000 in coverage. But every individual situation is different and should be examined as such.

An analysis would determine what you need the money for, how much you need each month and how long you need it to last. Let’s take Jackie, a 39-year-old married mother of two. She has three goals for her insurance coverage:

Pay off the $300,000 mortgage.
Top up her two children’s registered education savings accounts.
Replace her $60,000 income.
In simple terms, Jackie is looking at a $1 million policy. If she died, the money from her insurance could be spent this way:

$300,000 toward the mortgage
$100,000 toward the kids’ RESPs ($50,000 is the maximum amount you can contribute to an individual RESP).
$600,000 (her annual earnings times 10) to invest to cover day-to-day expenses that her husband Bob and children will incur over the years.
How term insurance works
Term life insurance provides temporary protection for temporary needs. Specific terms usually range from one to 20 years, so it can be an excellent, affordable option for parents with young children. For instance, a typical $1 million term policy on a woman in her late 30s like Jackie could cost about $77 per month. For a man of the same age, it’s closer to $111. Experts recommend 20-year term policies for younger couples who are buying their first homes, are recently married and have significant debt. For couples in their 40s who have little debt and have almost paid off their mortgages, 10-year term policies might be sufficient. Couples should consider joint-term, first-to-die policies, which insure two people and pay out on the death of the first insured person.

Jackie and her husband Bob decided they needed a $1 million, 20-year joint term first-to-die life policy, with a monthly premium cost of $177. They thought about going with a $500,000 life policy instead, but reconsidered at the last minute. With a significant mortgage to pay off, they wanted the security of knowing that in a worst-case scenario, they’d have that extra money for other needs.

In addition to providing affordable protection, term insurance also gives you some future flexibility. Most term insurance plans let you convert your term coverage to permanent insurance without having to answer any health-related questions. As long as your premiums are paid, your life insurance protection will stay in place for the rest of your life.
source:www.sunlife.ca