Little Tidbits

Kangaroo Care

HBMimsy — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:40:55 +0000

Finding a way to bond with your baby in NICU can be difficult to say the least. There are so many wires and tubes attached to your little one, nurses and doctors telling you what you can and cannot do, as well as the constant dinging of alarms. It is enough to jangle anyone’s nerves. It also doesn’t help that the touching in singing that comforted your baby yesterday, upsets him today.

One way to help both the parents and the baby (regardless if the child is preterm or full term) is Kangaroo Care. Kangaroo care is skin-to-skin contact between parent and child. Both the mother and father can participate.

During Kangaroo Care, there will be an Registered Nurse (RN) and a Respiratory Therapist (RT). They will work in sync to gently place the baby on the parent and make sure that the move doesn’t stress out the baby. This is extremely important with a baby who is still on a respirator and cannot breath on her own. The RN and RT will continue to monitor the baby and make sure she does not become overstressed.

The benefits of Kangaroo Care are many. It has a very calming effect on both the parent and the child. It will increase the milk supply in the mother. KC will encourage the bonding experience. During KC, the baby will have increased physiological stability, including heart rate, oxygen levels and temperature regulation.

To learn more:

http://www.kangaroomothercare.com/

Baby E’s One Month Birthday

HBMimsy — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:03:14 +0000

June 9th is Baby E’s 1 month birthday. It is an amazing milestone considering when he was born, he was only given a 20% chance. The best part, on June 8th, I was able to hold him for the first time. He still weighs less than 2 pounds.

Buying for a Micro-Preemie

HBMimsy — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 21:13:58 +0000

At 1-3 pounds, Eric is considered a micro-preemie. Which makes it a bit difficult to find clothes for him. Not only do the clothes need to fit his itty bitty size, they also need to accommodate all of the tubes and wires connected to him.

Local stores have sizes that are way too huge for him. So back to Google and online shopping. One such place that I have found is Preemies R Us. Lots of cute clothes made for the NICU. Along with clothes, they have pacifiers (that will not interfere with CPAP), snuggle toys and blankets. They only thing they didn’t have, and I wish they did, is a swaddle blanket made for micros in the NICU. Micro-preemies love to be swaddled and it is difficult to find one small enough.

NICU Scrapbooking

HBMimsy — Fri, 30 May 2008 20:59:47 +0000

Living life in NICU (Newborn Intensive Care Unit) can be challenging, to say the least. It is a constant rollercoaster of emotions. Some days are easy and you are elated. Other days, you can feel your whole life crashing down. Those are the days that you know you will be given a call in the middle of the night. It is relief when it doesn’t happen.

My own preemie, Baby E is now 27 weeks gestationally and is 21 days in the NICU. It seems more important than ever to document the journey that he is going through. Every day I take pictures so that I have something of him to take home with me. Every milestone is celebrated, every setback mourned. The people at www.mykidsinspiration.com realize this and have a whole section is dedicated to NICU scrapbooking, along with calenders and milestone stickers.

The days of NICU are uncertain, but memories are forever.

Lansinoh

HBMimsy — Wed, 21 May 2008 02:30:09 +0000

One of the reasons some women discontinue breastfeeding, is the pain associated with it. Problems such as sore and cracked nipples are a great discouragement. A good product to help counteract that is Lansinoh HPA® Brand Lanolin. Lanolin is created when shearing sheep for their wool and is many skin care products.

Lansinoh HPA® Brand Lanolin is 100% pure medical grade lanolin and is safe for baby. It doesn’t have to be removed before nursing. As a personal testament, this stuff is heaven.

Medela Lactina Breast Pumps

HBMimsy — Tue, 20 May 2008 12:29:07 +0000

If somehow you are unable to breastfeed directly, but still want your child to have the benefits of breast milk, renting a breast pump may be an option. I am currently renting the Medela Lactina from the hospital for $35 a month. It is meant for long term pumping, unlike many of the pumps on the market. Many are meant only for occasional use. Spare parts for the Medela Lactina are sold at online stores such as Amazon.

I may eventually get a different one, perhaps the hand’s free, also from Medela. For right now, the Lactina is working for me until I am able to breast feed my preemie directly.

Baby E Was Born

HBMimsy — Mon, 12 May 2008 02:15:55 +0000

On May 09, 2008, Baby E was born. At 24 weeks and 1 day, the prospect is bleak for him. However, he continues to beat the odds. He was born weighing 450 grams and will need to stay in the hospital for 16 more weeks. I am still in shock and it is hard to keep from crying when I see him in NICU. I am so grateful to all of the staff at at UMC in So. Arizona. Thanks to all you.

Everyday is a blessing that Baby E is in my life.

Top 100 Children’s Books

HBMimsy — Fri, 09 May 2008 05:20:37 +0000

Educators’ Top 100 Children’s Books

The following list was compiled from an online survey in 2007. Parents and teachers will find it useful in selecting quality literature for children.

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
I Love You Forever by Robert N. Munsch
Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Oh! The Places You Will Go by Dr. Seuss
The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner
Thank You Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco
The Cat In The Hat by Dr. Seuss
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
The Mitten by Jan Brett
Crunching Carrots, Not Candy by Judy Slack
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willlems
Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman
Corduroy by Don Freeman
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
Tacky the Penquin by Helen Lester
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.
Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type Doreen Cronin
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss
Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Make Way For Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Piggie Pie by Margie Palatini
The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
The Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett
From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann
Olivia by Ian Falconer
The BFG by Roald Dahl
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Bark, George by Jules Feiffer
Bunnicula by James Howe
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Charlie the Caterpillar by Dom DeLuise
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
Frederick by Leo Lionni
Frindle by Andrew Clements
Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
Harris and Me by Gary Paulsen
Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion
Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
I Love You, Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt
Is Your Mama A Llama? by Deborah Guarino
Jan Brett’s books
Knots on a Counting Rope by Bill Martin Jr.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
No David! by David Shannon
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
Stephanie’s Ponytail by Robert Munsch
Swimmy by Leo Lionni
The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Warner
The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper
The Empty Pot by Demi
The Five Chinese Brothers by Claire Huchet Bishop
The Giver by Lois Lowr
The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown
The Last Holiday Concert by Andrew Clements
The Napping House by Audrey Wood
The Quiltmaker’s Gift by Jeff Brumbeau
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
The Wide-Mouthed Frog: A Pop-Up Book by Keith Faulkner

Found on http://www.nea.org

Sidelines National Support Network

HBMimsy — Mon, 05 May 2008 23:05:46 +0000

After 7 weeks of pregnancy, I was rushed to the hospital for bleeding. Same thing happened again at 9 weeks. As you can imagine, the first trimester of pregnancy was not a great time for me. I was on bed rest for the entire trimester and later allowed to ease back into my routine.

For many women however, bed rest is mandated for the entire pregnancy. An organization that was recommended to me was http://www.sidelines.org/ I have never actually checked it out myself as I was allowed to get off of bed rest, but if you are in a high risk pregnancy, you may want to check it out. Just knowing that you are not alone and that there are other people to talk to, may be its biggest benefit.

Update on Bisphenol-A (BPA)

HBMimsy — Sat, 03 May 2008 02:51:56 +0000

On April 15, 2008, the National Toxicology Program, part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, issued draft findings stating “There is some concern for neural and behavioral effects in fetuses, infants and children at current human exposures.” The findings expressed concern about exposure in these populations, “based on effects in the prostate gland, mammary gland, and an earlier age for puberty in females.”

The FDA is being asked to reconsider its findings on the potential hazardous long term effects of bisphenol-A.

So what is bisphenol-A? It was originally created in the 1930′s as synthetic estrogen. Later it became used to make a clear plastic and epoxy resin for the food industry. It has been under the spotlight for about a decade now as more and more studies show links to health care issues.

BPA is in polycarbonate bottles, usually with a 7 recycle number on the bottom. It is also used as an epoxy lining in metal food and beverage containers. It is thought that it leaches out into the food and mimics estrogen in the body. The reason for only banning it in baby products, is because it is thought to cause the most problems in newborns and young infants. BPA has been thought to cause long-term problems, such as early puberty in girls, reproductive problems, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, insulin resistance, and certain cancers later in life.

Canada has banned BPA (bisphenol-A) from baby bottles and is the first country to do so. While the U.S. hasn’t followed in Canada’s footsteps, stores like Wal-Mart, and Toys/Babies “R” Us, are pulling them from their shelves.

BPA has been found in the urine of many people and in concentrated amounts in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women. Bisphenol-A can also be found in breast milk. More research is needed to determine what is safe and what isn’t. However, right now during pregnancy, it is better to be safe than sorry.

How to reduce your exposure to you and your fetus:

Reduce your intake of canned goods and beverages. Eden Foods™, however, is BPA free.
Look for, and avoid, the #7 on the bottom of your container. It is usually located in a recyclable triangle. Polycarbonate plastic is clear and rigid. Not all #7s are polycarbonate, but it is best to be on the safe side.
Choose plastics that have #1, #2, #4 and #5. Avoid #3 as it is made from PVC plastic.
Do not microwave or pour hot food or beverages in any type of plastic containers. Try to use other materials besides plastic, for hot foods and beverages, such as porcelain, glass and metal.
Make sure that if you use metal containers, they are stainless steel and not lined with plastic.
Do not use plastic bottles that are scratched and old.
Do not wash plastics in harsh dish washing soap and hot water. It can cause abrasions in the plastic that allow the toxins to leach out.
Avoid using plastic wrap with food and never microwave with it. SaranWrap™ is considered BPA-free.