Parenting Journals

by Mari Mennel-Bell

Positive talk about adoption emerges from feeling good about it, from feeling that your baby came into your life as a matter of much-welcome destiny.

Several years ago, I went out for dinner with a friend, may newly adopted infant, and my four-year-old son. I remember thinking proudly, “Look at me, the mother of two, and life is going so smoothly!” But on the cab ride home, my friend asked, “Do you know anything about the baby’s mother?” In a flash, my confidence crumbled; and for an endless moment, I felt like a child pretending to be something she’s really not.

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by Joan Logghe

Irish Yotvat’s chronicle of her VBAC homebirth at age 40 is an amazing document. Pregnant with her third child, and shaky at the prospect, she introduces us to her numerous support networks: women friends, massage, her midwife, body-centered hypnosis with Gayle Peterson, movement classes, sound harmonics - the full gamut of pregnancy possibilities.

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by Chris Molnar

Premature babies start life with special challenges, but kangaroo care can increase their overall growth rate and help in their development. Slings and wraps are an excellent way to compliment this type of care, as they mimic and simulate being in mom’s womb. The warmth, closeness, and skin-to-skin contact that is possible with these baby carriers all help a premature baby thrive. The security of the baby carrier and fully participating in the baby’s care can turn a time of crisis and anxiety into one of deep bonding with their newborn. Being involved in the nurturing and caring of baby in the hospital and the practical skills learned will give parents greater confidence so they can care for their baby after they go home.

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For many years millions of people have understood the benefits of taking cod liver oil as a supplement to their diet. Over the past few decades awareness into the foods we eat has increased and the importance of oils obtained from the body tissue of fatty fish, rather than the liver alone, has become more apparent. To achieve optimum health, food that is high in saturated fat or contains trans fats should be kept to a minimum and we are advised by medical experts to consume food which contains high levels of essential fatty acids.

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Entrusting our children to the care of others is one of the most crucial decisions we make.  Consequently, finding the right kind of childcare for our loved ones is hugely important to us all. There are a number of options available to working parents and whether you choose to place your child in a day care center or an in-home (family) care environment, there are many factors to consider when looking for reliable childcare.

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Extended nursing can be defined as breastfeeding beyond the first year of a child’s life.  This practice is healthy, safe and should be regarded as completely normal.  However, some Western societies have conspired to make it an almost taboo activity and pressure on women to stop nursing their children at 12 months old has become commonplace.  The disapproval of friends, family and even strangers can become quite a burden and this alone may prevent mothers from carrying on with what must be one of the most natural acts of motherhood.

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by Sophie Cosic

For many parents today, the issues that surround childbirth don’t only concern the various birthing methods or the reputation of a particular hospital or obstetrician. There can be a myriad of factors to consider. Increasingly, women are turning to doulas for emotional and physical support when they give birth. And for some, this support continues in the postpartum period.

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by Sophie Cosic

The Bradley method of childbirth was developed in the 1940’s by Dr. Robert A. Bradley, an American Obstetrician.  It is based on the philosophy of ‘natural childbirth’ (drug free) and was pioneering in the involvement of fathers during the birthing process.

The Lamaze technique was also established in the 1940’s by Dr. Fernand Lamaze, a French Obstetrician.  Lamaze was influenced by Soviet childbirth practices and he particularly endorsed the role of Midwives during labor.  His method began to gain popularity in the USA in the late 1950’s and is now the most commonly used childbirth technique.

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by Sophie Cosic

There is nothing more exciting or overwhelming than becoming a parent for the first time. What if there was someone who could help to take some of the guesswork out of being a new mother and answer all of your breastfeeding questions?

This article is designed to help answer those important questions by helping you to find the right Lactation Consultant for your growing family.

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by Lydia Quinn

Whether it’s a holiday or a birthday, kids can be especially hard to buy gifts for. Here are some surefire gift ideas that will make any kid happy.

Games

The best games to get a child are usually the tried and true games that have stood the test of time. These include Candyland, Chutes & Ladders, Monopoly, Battleship, Sorry, Operation and PayDay. These games have been played for generations and are fun for the whole family, as well as the kids.

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