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kaniamazdar
Monday 28 February 2011
Baby Proofing Your House
Thursday 24 February 2011
New at Dear-Born, New Maclaren
Wednesday 23 February 2011
Jolly Jumper Breastfeeding Pillow
$59.99 CDN Available Online and In-store.
Tuesday 22 February 2011
Easy Walker Sale March 5th + 6th 2011
Saturday March 5th 10:00am - 5:00pm and Sunday, March 6th 11:00am - 5:00pm
Dear-Born Baby Outlet Store
67 Doncaster Avenue
(Across the street from our Main Store)
NEW! Dear-Born Baby Workshops
Click here to see what workshops we have right now
Also...We will have Surprise Giveaways during the Workshops! Sooo exciting!
Also...We will have Surprise Giveaways during the Workshops! Sooo exciting!
Monday 21 February 2011
Friday 18 February 2011
Tinylove Gymini Monkey Island
Read more about this online
$89.99 Available at Dear-Born Baby
Wednesday 16 February 2011
Medela Calma Feeding Device
$21.99 Available in-store and online
FETUS STAGES
Fetus Growth Stages
During the gestational period of pregnancy, there are several different fetus growth stages that occur. Beginning with what looks like a small bean on an ultrasound and going to a fully-developed baby several weeks before the end of a pregnancy, the fetus goes through many different stages. In the last weeks of the pregnancy, the baby is fully developed but puts on a lot of fat while further developing internal systems.
Following Fetus Growth Stages
Many pregnant women like to follow the stages of fetal growth during their pregnancy. One way to do this is to sign up for a weekly email from a website that has pictures and information about every week of pregnancy; in this way, you get the images and information right in your mailbox each week. Sign up for an account at the BabyCenter website in order to receive weekly emails with this fun and valuable information.
Another way to keep track of your own baby's growth stages based on how far along your pregnancy is can be to look up the number of weeks that you are pregnant every so often on the Internet. A few good online sources for learning about fetal development and seeing the development in pictures, are:
Length and Weight in Fetal Growth
The following numbers are averages; all babies grow at different rates and there is a difference between male and female babies, especially nearing the end of pregnancy. When looking at the length figures below, keep in mind that until 20 weeks of pregnancy, the length of your baby is measured from the head to the baby's bottom (because the legs are always curled up and can't really be measured). After 20 weeks, your baby's length is measured from toes to head, hence the sudden jump in height in the figures below:
- 8 weeks: Average fetal length is .63 inches and weight is 0.04 ounce
- 12 weeks: 2.13 inches is the average length and average weight is 0.49 ounce
- 16 weeks: 4.57 inches long and 3.53 ounces
- 20 weeks: 10.08 inches long (from head to toe) and 10.58 ounces
- 24 weeks: 11.81 inches and 1.32 pounds
- 28 weeks: 14.80 inches and 2.22 pounds
- 32 weeks: 16.69 inches and 3.75 pounds
- 36 weeks: 18.66 inches and 5.78 pounds
- 40 weeks: 20.16 inches and 7.63 pounds
As is evident in the numbers above, the fetus grows faster and faster as the pregnancy progresses, with especially a significant weight gain at the end of the pregnancy. Women who go past their due date, which is quite common especially in a first pregnancy, often deliver even larger babies.
Fetal Development
Another important aspect in fetus growth stages is to consider which body parts, internal organs, and systems develop during which parts of a pregnancy. While the gender of the baby is already determined at the moment that conception occurs, the baby's gender will not be visible until a few weeks before your 20-week ultrasound. At this point, your baby's genitals and most other physical traits will be visible (depending on the position of the baby during the ultrasound).
Important Milestones
- 3 weeks: the heart begins to beat
- 4 weeks: the backbone is forming while arms and legs are starting to become distinct physical features
- 6 weeks: the brain can control muscle movements
- 8 weeks: the fetus is now physically complete
- 16 weeks: everything going on in the environment of the pregnant woman can be heard by the baby
- 24 weeks: oil and sweat glands start functioning
- 29 weeks: the baby blinks in response to light seen through the uterine walls
- 32 weeks: antibody production increases
Following this point in pregnancy, the fetus is fully developed. The last weeks of pregnancy allow the baby to put on weight and gain strength for the outside world.
Monday 14 February 2011
Phil & Teds Lobster Chair
Available in 2 colour options. $79.99
Available Online and In-Store
Friday 4 February 2011
Boob Design
Thursday 3 February 2011
DANGER SMOKING DURING PREGNANT
When you smoke, poisons from tobacco smoke pass through your lungs and into your blood stream. They are carried around your body and interfere with the way it works. Every puff you take on a cigarette increases the carbon monoxide in your bloodstream which takes the place of oxygen in your blood. The nicotine in the smoke immediately increases your heart rate and blood pressure. It causes your blood vessels to narrow, reducing blood flow. The combination of these causes great stress to your body, especially your heart.
Over time, smoking starts to take its toll on your body. It depresses your immune system, interferes with your lungs̢۪ clearing system, reduces blood flow to your hands and feet and hardens your arteries.
What Diseases Can Smoking Cause?
Smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Smoking also causes cancer of the throat, mouth, lip, tongue, nose, nasal sinus, voice box, oesophagus, pancreas, stomach, kidney, bladder, ureter, cervix, and bone marrow (myeloid leukemia).
Smoking causes blindness, loss of bone density, hip fractures, gum disease, peptic ulcers, and vein disease in your legs. Problems caused by smoking can be painful, crippling and long lasting. The earlier you quit, the more you reduce your risk of serious illness and early death.
What About Weight Gain?
Most people do gain some weight when they quit smoking. But research shows that in the long term, the average weight of ex-smokers is similar to women who have never smoked.
On average, smokers weigh slightly less than people who don̢۪t smoke. This is thought to be due to the effects of nicotine, which suppresses hunger and speeds up the way the body processes food.
Weight changes also depend on things such as exercise and eating habits. Plan a range of healthy snacks. But be realistic, allow yourself some treats. Also, think about doing some exercise. For example, walk up stairs rather than take the lift, walk to the shops or around the block for exercise. This may even help you quit.
If worrying about putting on weight is stopping you from quitting smoking, act on your concerns. Talk to your doctor or dietician, and make a sensible eating plan. A lot of women who are concerned about putting on weight before they quit actually find that it isn̢۪t the problem they thought it would be.
Smoking While Pregnant
If you smoke when you are pregnant the combination of carbon monoxide and nicotine in cigarettes makes it harder for your baby to get the oxygen and nourishment it needs. Smoking places stress on the baby̢۪s heart and affects the development of its lungs.
Pregnant smokers have a greater risk of miscarriage, may have a difficult birth and risk having a low weight baby, which will be more vulnerable to infection and other health problems. The baby of a smoker is more likely to die at or shortly after birth.
If you quit before becoming pregnant or in the first few months, your baby̢۪s birthweight will be the same as if you had been a non-smoker. Also, you reduce the risk of premature birth and other pregnancy complications.
What Happens To My Baby When I Smoke?
The umbilical cord is your baby̢۪s lifeline. Blood flow through this cord provides your baby with oxygen and the food it needs to grow. Every puff you take on a cigarette has an immediate effect on your baby. Carbon monoxide replaces some of the oxygen in your blood, reducing the amount of oxygen received by your baby through the umbilical cord.
The nicotine in cigarettes increases your heart rate and your baby̢۪s heart rate. It also causes your blood vessels to narrow, reducing the flow of blood through the umbilical cord. This makes it harder for your baby to get the oxygen and nourishment it needs.
To prepare for breathing after birth, your unborn baby will be practising by exercising some of its chest muscles. Nicotine reduces these breathing movements.
Cigarette smoke also contains many other harmful poisons, which pass through your lungs and into your bloodstream, which your baby shares.
Smoking during pregnancy by a mother is a major cause of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS or ‘cot death’). It also has the following effects:
- Increases the risk of miscarriage
- Increases the risk of complications during the birth
- Increases the likelihood of having a low-weight baby who is more vulnerable to infection and other health problems
- Increases the chances of the baby dying at or shortly after birth.
Can Quitting Cold Turkey Harm My Baby?
There is no evidence to support the claim that quitting cold turkey could harm the foetus. On the contrary, every cigarette delivers many chemical agents that put the baby under stress. In particular, carbon monoxide displaces oxygen from red blood cells and makes it harder for the blood cells to release oxygen. This badly affects the transfer of oxygen from the mother’s blood to the baby’s blood across the placenta.
Tobacco smoke has very high levels of oxidizing chemicals which upset important processes in the umbilical cord, constricting it. Their actions also impair the production of the membrane around the baby.
Smokers have more viscous (thicker and stickier) blood than non-smokers, which is a risk factor for stroke in the newborn as well as for blood clots (thrombosis) in the placenta. When the mother quits smoking, the level of carbon monoxide drops quickly and is much lower after only a day, and her blood improves over the next several weeks.
Smoking results in retarded growth of the foetus and subsequently low birth weight. Low birth weight may have a lasting effect of the growth and development of the child. It is associated with an increased risk for early puberty, and in adulthood an increased risk for heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Women who quit early in their pregnancy have babies with birth weights similar to non-smokers.
Women who quit smoking during pregnancy reduce the risk reduce the risk of preterm membrane rupture, preterm delivery and low birth weight.
In general, quitting without using quitting aids (nicotine replacement therapy or bupropion (Zyban) is preferred. This means first options are quitting suddenly or cutting down over one to two weeks and then quitting.
At the moment, there is nothing to recommend one method over the other, although quitting suddenly is more popular. Withdrawal symptoms might cause some emotional stress to the mother, which for most people is worse in the first week, but they decrease over time and usually do not last more than a few weeks. However, continued smoking puts the bodies of both mother and child under physical stress. All the evidence points to quitting smoking being one of the most important ways to improve pregnancy outcomes.
This is general information only and doesn’t take into account any individual medical history. If the mother has particular problems with withdrawal, for example taking other medication or depression, then she will need to seek appropriate medical advice and help.
Smoking and Breastfeeding
If you breastfeed you are giving your baby a good start in life. Breast milk provides all the nutrition your baby needs for the first six months of life, and the major part of nutritional requirements for the first year. It also helps protect your baby against infection.
As a breastfeeding mother, you have some control over your own and your baby’s environment – by not smoking and limiting your alcohol intake.
If you breastfeed and smoke it̢۪s not ideal, but it is better than not breastfeeding. Women who smoke tend to produce less milk. Babies of smokers are more prone to chest illnesses, but breast feeding helps prevent these infections.
If you quit smoking, you will no longer be passing on nicotine and other poisons from cigarette smoke to your baby through your breast milk. You will also cut down your baby̢۪s exposure to tobacco smoke, which will help protect your child̢۪s health.
If you are having difficulty quitting, you can still help to reduce harm to your baby. Consider every cigarette and decide whether it’s worth it to you. Try not to smoke before or during feeds. Also try not to smoke near your baby – if you can, go outdoors to smoke. If you can’t give it up altogether, accept that for now, but keep working on it.
After the birth of your baby, smoking by either parent increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
Common Smoking Fears and Myths
- “There’s nothing wrong with having a low-weight baby – it just means a quicker and easier birth.”
Having a low-weight baby does not make things easier for you or your baby at birth. A smaller baby is more likely to become stressed during birth, leading to a more complicated delivery. Labour with a small under-weight baby is no easier or shorter than labour with an average baby.
- “If I stop smoking I’ll put on too much weight.”
Some women find that smoking reduces appetite, but at what cost? You will need more calories during pregnancy to cope with the increased needs of your growing baby and to maintain your own health. A weight gain of 10 to 13 kilograms is considered desirable for the development of a healthy baby. A balanced, healthy diet consists of eating moderately from a wide variety of foods. It is the quality of your diet that is important, not the quantity of food eaten.
- “Smoking relaxes me, and being relaxed is better for my baby.”
Smoking may calm you down, but it does speed up your heart rate, increases your blood pressure and depresses your nervous system. It cuts down the amount of oxygen and food reaching your baby. This is not better for your baby.
- “Cutting down during pregnancy is good enough.”
Every bit helps, but even a few cigarettes a day means many poisons will be in your growing baby̢۪s food supply, and damaging your own health at a vital time. There is no safe level of smoking. Smoking lower tar/nicotine cigarettes is not likely to reduce the amount of poisons you inhale, as smokers tend to inhale more deeply and more often to get the amount of nicotine that they are used to.
- “I’m already three months pregnant. What’s the point of stopping now? The damage is done.”
It is never too late to quit because most of the baby̢۪s growth happens later in pregnancy. For example, if you quit now, your risk of having a low-weight baby will be similar to that of a non-smoker. Quitting at any time during pregnancy reduces the risk of harm to your baby. However, planning to quit as early as you can means a better start to life for your baby.
Quit Tips
Once you̢۪ve decided you want to quit, make sure you̢۪re successful by planning before you stop:
- Throw away all cigarettes, lighters and ashtrays in your home and car. If your partner smokes, suggest that he stops too, or only smokes outside the house. Your children suffer if anyone smokes in your home.
- Plan how to handle the places and events that you know make you want to smoke.
- Talk to your family and friends about how they can help and encourage you to quit.
- Treat yourself with the money you have saved. Your efforts deserve to be rewarded!
- Remember each craving only lasts a few minutes. Use the 4Ds – delay smoking, deep breathe, drink water, do something else.
- If you have a cigarette it̢۪s not the end of your quit attempt. A slip-up is a setback, not a defeat.
Wednesday 2 February 2011
Nap Nanny
Ideal for: • playtime & rest • babies who don't like to sleep flat • reading books • watching your favorite infant video • feeding twins With no top-end weight limit, the Nap Nanny transitions into the perfect toddler chair!
$159.99
Available online and in-store
DANGER ALCOHOL WHILE PREGNANCY
Can I drink alcohol while I'm pregnant?
We don't know for sure how much alcohol it's safe for you to have while you're pregnant. That's why many experts advise you to cut out alcohol throughout pregnancy (DH 2007), or at least for the first three months (NICE 2008).
If you do decide to drink alcohol while you are pregnant, it's best to stick to light drinking. That's no more than one or two units of alcohol, no more than once or twice a week (DH 2007, Kelly et al 2010, NICE 2008, RCOG 2006a & b).
Heavy or binge drinking is dangerous for your baby. Heavy drinking is six or more units of alcohol a day (NICE 2008; DH 2007; RCOG 2006 a & b). If you have five or more units in a session, it's binge drinking (RCOG 2006a; BMA 2007).
If you do decide to drink alcohol while you are pregnant, it's best to stick to light drinking. That's no more than one or two units of alcohol, no more than once or twice a week (DH 2007, Kelly et al 2010, NICE 2008, RCOG 2006a & b).
Heavy or binge drinking is dangerous for your baby. Heavy drinking is six or more units of alcohol a day (NICE 2008; DH 2007; RCOG 2006 a & b). If you have five or more units in a session, it's binge drinking (RCOG 2006a; BMA 2007).
Why is alcohol a problem?
Alcohol is a toxin. When you drink alcohol, it rapidly reaches your baby across the placenta, via your bloodstream.
If you drink too much alcohol during pregnancy it can permanently damage your developing baby's cells. This could affect how your baby's face, organs and brain grow.
Heavy drinking can also damage your baby's nervous system. This can result in your baby having learning difficulties and problems with movement and coordination throughout his life (BMA 2007: 2).
The term for all these problems is fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). It's called a spectrum because the problems can range from mild learning difficulties, through to birth defects.
Full-blown fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is at the extreme end of the spectrum of disorders. Babies with FAS tend to have facial defects, to be born small and to carry on being small for their age. These children will have learning difficulties, poor coordination and behavioural problems for the rest of their lives (BMA 2007:2).
FAS is rare. FASD is more common. It's thought that more than 6,000 babies are born each year with FASD in the UK (DH 2007).
Heavy drinking can also cause problems with your pregnancy, such as miscarriage and premature birth (BMA 2007: 2; 9). Too much alcohol can even increase the risk of your baby being stillborn (RCOG 2006a).
It's because of the harm that too much alcohol may cause an unborn baby, that experts are wary of saying how much it's safe to drink during pregnancy.
If you drink too much alcohol during pregnancy it can permanently damage your developing baby's cells. This could affect how your baby's face, organs and brain grow.
Heavy drinking can also damage your baby's nervous system. This can result in your baby having learning difficulties and problems with movement and coordination throughout his life (BMA 2007: 2).
The term for all these problems is fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). It's called a spectrum because the problems can range from mild learning difficulties, through to birth defects.
Full-blown fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is at the extreme end of the spectrum of disorders. Babies with FAS tend to have facial defects, to be born small and to carry on being small for their age. These children will have learning difficulties, poor coordination and behavioural problems for the rest of their lives (BMA 2007:2).
FAS is rare. FASD is more common. It's thought that more than 6,000 babies are born each year with FASD in the UK (DH 2007).
Heavy drinking can also cause problems with your pregnancy, such as miscarriage and premature birth (BMA 2007: 2; 9). Too much alcohol can even increase the risk of your baby being stillborn (RCOG 2006a).
It's because of the harm that too much alcohol may cause an unborn baby, that experts are wary of saying how much it's safe to drink during pregnancy.
What are the proven risks of drinking in pregnancy?
There are several things that can influence how much your unborn baby may be harmed by alcohol. It depends on:
Drinking heavily and often affects a developing baby and can result in FASD (BMA 2007:6). Binge drinking can be particularly harmful. If you binge drink, you are at more risk of having a baby with FAS than if you drink the same amount over a longer period (BMA 2007: 6).
Experts are less sure whether or not drinking at lower levels is dangerous. Obstetricians say there is no proof of harm from light drinking. Light drinking is no more than one to two units of alcohol, no more than once or twice a week during pregnancy (RCOG 2006a).
Other research suggests that if you stick to a glass of wine a week it will do no harm to your baby. However, the Department of Health stands by its advice to pregnant women, and those trying to conceive, not to drink alcohol at all.
- how much alcohol you have
- the stage of pregnancy when you have the alcohol
- how often you drink throughout your pregnancy (BMA 2007: 6)
Drinking heavily and often affects a developing baby and can result in FASD (BMA 2007:6). Binge drinking can be particularly harmful. If you binge drink, you are at more risk of having a baby with FAS than if you drink the same amount over a longer period (BMA 2007: 6).
Experts are less sure whether or not drinking at lower levels is dangerous. Obstetricians say there is no proof of harm from light drinking. Light drinking is no more than one to two units of alcohol, no more than once or twice a week during pregnancy (RCOG 2006a).
Other research suggests that if you stick to a glass of wine a week it will do no harm to your baby. However, the Department of Health stands by its advice to pregnant women, and those trying to conceive, not to drink alcohol at all.
How much is a unit of alcohol?
In the UK, one unit of alcohol is defined as 10ml of pure alcohol (ethanol). You can find out exactly how many units of alcohol are in a bottle by reading its label (DH 2009).
Labels on a drink show its percentage of alcohol by volume (ABV). See our table below for an idea of how many units are in different-strength, popular drinks.
It's worth bearing in mind that most people who pour drinks at home tend to be generous with their measures. And be aware that many wine bars and pubs now sell wine in large glasses. Depending on the strength of the wine, large glasses can contain up to three units.
Labels on a drink show its percentage of alcohol by volume (ABV). See our table below for an idea of how many units are in different-strength, popular drinks.
| Drink | % ABV | serving | number of units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary lager, bitter or cider | 4% | 1 pint (568ml) | 2.3 |
| Strong lager, bitter or cider | 6% | 1 pint (568ml) | 3.4 |
| Wine | 12% | 125ml glass (small) | 1.52 |
| Alcopops | 5% | 275ml bottle | 1.4 |
| Spirits | 38% to 40% | 25ml measure | 1 |
| Sherry or port | 17.5% to 20% | 50ml glass | 1 |
It's worth bearing in mind that most people who pour drinks at home tend to be generous with their measures. And be aware that many wine bars and pubs now sell wine in large glasses. Depending on the strength of the wine, large glasses can contain up to three units.
I drank before I knew I'd conceived. Will my baby be OK?
You're not alone. Thousands of women have a few drinks before realising they are pregnant.
We don't know for sure what a few drinks over a short period early in pregnancy can do to a developing baby (BMA 2007: 7). That's why the Department of Health recommends that you give up drinking before getting pregnant (DH 2007).
However, babies have a habit of turning up when they're least expected! Many women have conceived around the time of a night out drinking, and their babies have been fine. The important thing is to cut out alcohol, or be careful about how much you drink, once you know you're expecting.
We don't know for sure what a few drinks over a short period early in pregnancy can do to a developing baby (BMA 2007: 7). That's why the Department of Health recommends that you give up drinking before getting pregnant (DH 2007).
However, babies have a habit of turning up when they're least expected! Many women have conceived around the time of a night out drinking, and their babies have been fine. The important thing is to cut out alcohol, or be careful about how much you drink, once you know you're expecting.
What can I drink instead of alcohol?
Stopping drinking or cutting down on alcohol may be easy if nausea means you go off it early in your pregnancy. If you enjoy using alcohol to unwind, giving it up may be harder.
Try replacing a glass of beer or wine with other stress-easing pleasures, such as a warm bath, soft music, a massage, exercise or reading.
If you miss the ritual of drinking, replace that Bloody Mary with a virgin variety. Switch to a non-alcoholic beer or wine during your evening meal. See our other ideas for non-alcoholic and party drinks perfect for pregnancy.
If your partner enjoys a drink after work, consider asking him to abstain for a time so you won't feel deprived.
Try replacing a glass of beer or wine with other stress-easing pleasures, such as a warm bath, soft music, a massage, exercise or reading.
If you miss the ritual of drinking, replace that Bloody Mary with a virgin variety. Switch to a non-alcoholic beer or wine during your evening meal. See our other ideas for non-alcoholic and party drinks perfect for pregnancy.
If your partner enjoys a drink after work, consider asking him to abstain for a time so you won't feel deprived.
I'm struggling to give up. What can I do?
If you think you may have a drink problem, talk with your doctor or midwife. Your doctor or midwife won't judge you. It's their job to help you have as healthy a pregnancy as possible. And asking for help just shows how much you care about your baby.
