It’s common to question whether a symptom is normal or not in the first six weeks postpartum as your body adjusts to post-pregnancy. As a new mom, your first impulse may be to put yourself on the back burner, but it’s vital to care for yourself as you take care of your newborn. Start by listening to your body and learning which postpartum issues warrant a call to your healthcare provider....
Regardless of whether you had a vaginal birth or a c-section, being concerned about the discomfort of going to the bathroom may cause some stress and anxiety. If you had a vaginal birth, your concerns may have to do with the tenderness you feel in the perineum. And, if you had a c-section, you may be worried that straining will cause pain or affect your incision. Likewise, it’s not uncommon to experience postpartum diarrhea, constipation, or even hemorrhoids after giving birth....
Back in the 1950’s, it wasn’t uncommon for people with diabetes who injected insulin to have what looked like a mini-laboratory complete with glass syringes that needed to be sterilized by soaking in alcohol and needles sharpened with a whetstone. Because glucometers were not available, blood sugar levels could not be attained easily or quickly. At that time, it was felt that women with diabetes could not and should not have babies....
Their recent study, published in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, has revealed the results of the investigation and offers suggestions for healthcare providers to help reduce pandemic stressors in perinatal women. “While many have experienced stressors during the pandemic, pregnant and postpartum women have additional stressors on top of the stress experienced by so many others," says lead author Celestina Barbosa-Leiker. “Since stress during pregnancy impacts fetal development, we need to help alleviate these stressors in pregnant and postpartum women....
While some women are at a greater risk of preterm labor, it can happen to anyone in any pregnancy. This is why it is important to know the signs of preterm labor. Often, the sooner you can report that you’re experiencing symptoms, the more likely it is that your labor can be stopped. Signs and Symptoms Call your practitioner if you have any of the following: Contractions or cramps, more than five in one hourBright red blood from your vaginaSudden gush of clear, watery fluid from your vaginaLow, dull backacheIntense pelvic pressure...
Plastibell Circumcision After a plastibell circumcision, a plastic rim is left on the penis while it heals for the first week. After the first day, you don’t need to use the gauze dressing. You can apply a lubricant to the penis after washing and cleaning the area with warm water. Do this for three to seven days to help keep the penis from sticking to the diaper.Be sure not to pull on the plastibell as it can cause soreness and bleeding....
However, just because you can use an early pregnancy test, does that mean you should? It’s worth considering a few points before you proceed. Types of Pregnancy Tests There are two types of pregnancy tests you can take: urine or blood tests. Over-the-counter home pregnancy tests are urine tests, and doctor’s offices frequently use this method as well. Early pregnancy tests are a more sensitive type of urine test. These tests can potentially detect human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)—the early pregnancy hormone—before your missed period and give you an accurate positive result....
A diagnosis of infertility is usually given when a couple, after a year of trying to conceive, does not become pregnant. If a couple is trying to have their first child, the diagnosis given is primary infertility. If they are trying to have a subsequent child, a diagnosis of secondary infertility is given. A couple who suffers from recurrent miscarriages (usually after three successive losses) is also given a diagnosis of infertility....
The key is to figure out what to tune in and what to tune out. Asking yourself these questions can help you distinguish between useful advice and unhelpful criticism, and learn how to respond to critics. Vocalize What Kind of Support You Need It’s tough when you ask for help and don’t like the response you get. But try to avoid blaming someone for having an opinion when you did ask them for it....
Many parents who aren’t sure whether it’s best to let their child “be a quitter” or force her to finish what she started. When it comes to making the decision about whether you should let your child quit a sports team, there isn’t one right answer. Instead, you should think about what lesson you want your child to learn. Investigate the Reason If your child comes to you saying she wants to quit, do some investigating....
Overview Shoulder dystocia happens in less than 1% of all births but can lead to serious complications for the baby and/or mother. It can also be fatal and is considered a medical emergency when it occurs. This complication is serious because it can delay delivery, trapping the baby. Potential consequences for the baby include: Damage to the brachial plexus nerves, which travel from the spinal cord in the neck down the arm....
Violence between siblings is one of the most common types of family violence. It occurs four to five times as often as child abuse. What’s more, about 30% of all children have been assaulted by a sibling. And anywhere between 10% and 40% of children have been repeatedly bullied by a sibling. But even the most severe incidents go unreported. Signs of Sibling Bullying One of the best ways to identify sibling bullying is to know the three components of bullying....
Things Parents Should Know About Heelys Although kids rarely go fast using the heel wheel, this sought-after class of footwear isn’t without its risks. They likely aren’t any more dangerous than skateboards, scooters, or inline skates, but kids do seem to get the same injuries when heeling. Research studies found that kids using Heelys occasionally experienced serious injuries including “distal radius fractures and elbow injuries” and that one patient even had a head injury that required surgery....
Typically, babies start crawling somewhere between 7 and 10 months old, but sometimes babies start earlier or later—or skip crawling altogether and go straight to walking. Learn more about when you can expect your baby to start crawling, the different styles babies use when they learn to crawl, and how you can encourage your baby to crawl. When Do Babies Start to Crawl? On average, parents and caregivers first notice signs of babies trying to crawl when they are around 7 months old....
“Reading over the summer not only helps kids academically, but it also connects the experience to recreation and discovery, empowering children to benefit from and enjoy the practice for a lifetime,” says Deimosa Webber-Bey, the director of information services and cultural insight at Scholastic. Many children like to read during the summer, according to the “Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report.” Per the same research, though, there is a 40% and 28% decline in reading over the summer in kids ages 8 and 9, respectively....
Use Bad Behavior as a Teachable Moment Experts have many different opinions, but in general agree that getting the child to think about what they have done wrong, why it was wrong, and the impact the bad behavior had on the other child is the best way to approach the situation. After giving the child time to think about their actions, ask them what they can do about it to make the situation right....
Whether you have a first-time chess player or an advanced competitor on your hands, a good instructor (even if that’s you) is vital. “I can tell you from experience that teaching kids will definitely require a different approach from teaching adults—sometimes the student is in a bad mood because he’s hungry, or maybe she’s forgotten something that she seemed to understand last week,” explains National Master Craig Clawitter, who’s been teaching chess for more than 15 years....
