TheBumpOC.com

What is a birth plan?

A birth plan is what you would like to see happen at the time of your delivery.  A birth plan includes who you want in the room (ie. babydaddy, sister, mother, or best friend) and it also states who you specifically don’t want in the room (ie. anyone that would make you feel uncomfortable and distract you from your ability to focus.

The birth plan also includes what you want to do regarding the use of pain medications during your birthing process.  Now is the time to decide what you want to do regarding anesthesia during delivery.  Research the information that is available to you so that you can make the best decision while you are clear and level-headed and not in the heat of the moment.

For additional information on how to set up your own birth plan, please visit www.birthplan.com.

Okay mommies-2-be, we’ve got you covered in the munchies dept.  No, this isn’t the eat off the veggie tray only list.  BORING, don’t you think?  How about some lettuce wraps stuffed with organic chicken, water chestnuts, and carrot straws sauteed with ginger, garlic, in a splash of canola oil?  Is your mouth watering???  Well then read on…the keys to surviving the super bowl food fest is maintaining your blood sugar levels to curb food cravings and to treat yourself to some yummy culinary delights that support your nutrition goals for your pregnancy.  

On game day, start on the right foot nutritionally.  Even though kick off isn’t until the afternoon, your nutrition game starts in the AM.  Your first play of the day should be a balanced breakfast such as: egg whites scrambled with organic broccoli, red bell peppers, and a 1/4 c. of yukon gold potatoes.  Add a sprinkle of low fat  sharp cheddar cheese to kick up the flavor.Wrap this in a whole grain low-fat tortilla and some mild salsa and you’ve scored a few points for nutrition, flavor, and satisfaction!   

For your next play of the game, have some tasty treats like the asian lettuce wraps mentioned above, or baked potato skins stuffed with seasoned chicken and sprinkled with sharp cheddar cheese.  We think that the baked skins is a field goal solution for you and baby. Potatoes are a Super Bowl MVP in our book because it has a low glycemic load and has an enzyme found in the “juice” of the potato that signals the brain that your full!   Another great snack is hummus with grilled zucchini. We think that this will be sure to score some points for your running game. 

If you find yourself not able to prep some of these fab dishes we mentioned, don’t get blind-sided!  Make a play for  the baked low fat organic tortilla chips and double team it with a black bean dip or mild salsa.  Grilled organic chicken on a stick, dipped into some fun creative sauces will be a touch down right before half time. 

You don’t have time to run any of these food plays we mentioned?   Follow our drop back ten yards and punt rule; steer clear of overly spicy or greasy foods that could cause heartburn or indigestion. BabyMomma you’ve got the play book, let us know how you score!  Run your best offense nutritionally and you will be a winner on Super Bowl Sunday.

Would you do it?

Reference

http://blog.peta.org/archives/Naked_Mothers_day_demonstration.jpg

It’s that time of year where the birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, and yes, taxes are due.  We thought we would throw in this little reminder about all of the tax deductions that your pregnancy brings.  Not only is your baby a tax deduction after birth, but the medical expenses that you incur before birth are a deduction as well.  This article is only to give you a few examples, please talk to your accountant to determine which of these you qualify for.

True or False:  Pregnancy tests are tax deductible.

TRUE.  This info is  from the IRS website.

You can include in medical expenses the amount you pay to purchase a pregnancy test kit to determine if you are pregnant.

True or False:  All of my pregnancy  expenses are considered a deduction.

True and False.  Medical expenses such as office visits for your OB, chiropractor, accupuncturist (licensed health care provider) can be included but you will need to have a receipt for each visit.  Save those receipts for your co-pays and payments toward deductibles for each ultrasound and OB check.  You will need this information at tax time.

True or False.  My baby is an automatic deduction of $1300.

True, if you have given birth.  False if you are still pregnant at the end of the tax year.  Let’s say you get pregnant in February and deliver in November.  Yes, the baby is a deduction.  On the other hand, you concieve in March and it is December 31, and you still have not had the baby,  the $1300 deduction does not apply.  The birth year determines when the deduction begins.

True or False:  The deduction is the approximate amount of what I will spend on my child that first year.

False!  Wake up and smell the diaper baby momma!  Money experts say that you will spend an average of $300,000 dollars MINIMUM on each child until they are 18.  Ask any new momma how much they spent on their new little one and you will get a more realistic ball park figure.  Be sure to include diaper costs, formulas, car seats, clothing, child care, just to name a few.   This commitment to child-rearing involves sacrifice;  time, money, and sleep. Don’t underestimate any of those three.

Pedicures are manicures are a really special treat anytime especially when you are pregnant.  Nothing feels better than a foot soak and massage on tired swollen feet.  You also may have noticed that your nails are growing a bit faster and feel stronger now that you are pregnant.  You can thank your hormones for that!  We have a few precautions for you regarding visits to the nail salon now that you are pregnant.  First, bring your own equipment unless you are absolutely certain that the nail salon sterilizes its tools.  Second, make sure you sit in a well ventilated area such as by the front or back door or close to an air purifier.  Third, watch for a chemical called methyl methacrylate abbreviated as  MMA.  This chemical is highly toxic and is found in nail polishes, adhesives, and removers.  How do you know if your salon uses MMA?  This may be difficult because of language barriers in some salons.  Ask Ask! Ask!   If they give you a blank look and say what is that?  Hold off on removing that polish until you can read labels from the product containers.  The labels will tell all.  This is how some nail shops can offer to apply a full set of acrylic nails for twenty-dollars, while other salons in the same vicinity are charging double.   The difference in price is probably because the lower priced salons are using  MMA, as opposed to the safer but more expensive alternative, ethyl methacrylate (EMA). Not only is MMA-based nail products cheaper in price, but MMA dries quickly, and makes acrylic nails stronger.

Wait! Don’t get upset!  It may not be a conscious choice by your nail salon to use MMA.  There are cases, however, where the manufacturers who ship liquid adhesives to salons are not required to list the ingredients on the labels, so some nail technicians may not realize that they are using MMA-based nail products on their clients. But even if this is the case, salon owners have a responsibility to know exactly what nail products they are using on their clients.

Why don’t we like MMA?  There are several reasons..

MMA can’t adhere properly to the natural nail, so nail technicians will file the surface of the nail down. Once the surface of the nail is filed, the MMA will bond with amazing strength – so strong in fact, that if you bump the acrylic nail on a hard surface, your real nail can lift right off the nail bed, and cause permanent damage. Other dangers of MMA include skin irritations, numbness, nails turning black, liver damage, and harm to the fetus.  Acrylic nails can enhance the beauty of your hands. But don’t take chances with your health.   Remember our goals is to help you have a healthy pregnancy naturally!! So PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, if you plan to have acrylic nails applied, ask the nail technician what type of liquid adhesives she uses on her clients, and if there is any doubt, ask to see the original container.

At 22 weeks of your pregnancy, your baby’s  eyes are developed.  This is another part of your baby where gender differences matter in how you interact with your baby.  According to researchers girl babies and boy babies visually gather information much differently.  Boy babies have thicker retinas because they have mostly larger thicker M ganglion cells which provide the brain with tracking information.  Male retinas attempt to answer questions such as “Where is it, and where is it going?”  Female retinas on the other hand are thinner because they have mostly P ganglion cells.  P ganglion cells provide information to the brain about texture and color.  Female retinas attempt to answer questions such as “What is it?”  How will this information change the way you interact with your baby?  Tell us at the bumpOC.

References

Why Gender Matters, Leonard Sax, M.D., Ph.D.

Progress in Brain Research, Kaplan and Bernardete, 134:17-34, 2001, .

You’ve got to be comfortable when you are pregnant, and one of the keys to comfort is a great fitting bra! This doesn’t, however, mean simply moving into a larger sized standard bra in a style that you have worn pre-pregnancy. Maternity bras are specifically designed to accommodate changes in your breasts providing breast and diaphragm support during pregnancy. And when baby is born and ready for feeding, maternity bras have specially designed drop feeding cups.  Thanks to Bub Hub, we found an online guide to maternity bra fitting.  Please read this BEFORE you go out shopping.

It is very important that you are fitted for a maternity bra as soon as there is a noticeable increase in the size of your bust. As a general rule this occurs around the third to fourth month of pregnancy.

How does a maternity bra differ from a standard bra?
Although there are many different styles of maternity bras available, the diagram on the right shows you the key design features that differentiate a maternity bra from a standard bra.

How do I know if I have the correct fitting?
In the early months of your pregnancy your bra should be fitted on the tightest hook and eye fastenings to allow for growth across the back and diaphragm. The cup should also allow room for extra growth of the bust. As a guide, you should be able to slide your hand into the upper section of the cup to assess if there is enough room for expansion. However the lower cup should fit well for support.

How often should I have my maternity bra fitting checked?
Depending on bust development, you should have another fitting at approximately 7 months. However if you feel the bra is restrictive in any way you should have your fitting checked immediately.

Can I wear an underwire bra during pregnancy?
It is recommended that during pregnancy you do not wear an underwire bra. A soft cup is less restrictive through the underbust and will allow for growth. They provide as much support as an underwire bra.

Should I wear my maternity bra while sleeping?
Yes you should if you are feeling uncomfortable. Wear a maternity bra that stretches with your movements. It is especially handy for those night time feeds.

How many bras will I need?
During pregnancy, you should at the least have two maternity bras. During breastfeeding stages you may want to purchase a third or fourth bra, particularly because of the moisture associated with breastfeeding.

How should I wash/care for my maternity bras and underwear?
Hand wash in warm water. Do not use bleach or fabric softener. Hang your maternity bra in the shade to dry. Avoid using a clothes dryer, as the heat intensity will crack or break the elastic fibres in these garments.

How long should I wear my maternity bra for following delivery?
For approximately six weeks following the birth of your baby, you will still need the support for your breasts, shoulders, neck and back of a maternity bra, even if you do not carry on breastfeeding during this six week period. If you are breastfeeding, you should continue to wear a maternity bra until you have weaned your baby off the breast.

Should I have another bra fitting after my pregnancy?
Although the glands will return to their pre-pregnant state, the breasts themselves may not have the fullness they had before. This is because the fat which was displaced by the expansion of the mammary tissue is never replaced in quite the same way. Following your pregnancy and breastfeeding we recommend that you have another fitting to ensure you are in the right size bra.

All images and diagram supplied courtesy of Triumph International.

References

www.bubhub.com.au/info/articles/pregnancy/maternity_bras.shtml

Can you believe that we were able to find a study about babies and mobiles?  Well you might be interested in what we found out.  According to researchers at Cambridge University, baby boys are more than twice as likely to prefer the mobile over baby girls.   What did the baby girls prefer? Baby girls on the other hand preferred looking at a young woman’s face.  Will this change the way you decorate your nursery?  Tell us  what changes you will make in decorating based on this information.

References

Why Gender Matters, Leonard Sax, M.D., Ph.D.

Psychological Bulletin, 126:424-53, 2000.

Could there be a difference in the hearing between girl and boy babies.  Janel Caine researched this while at Florida State in the late 1980’s.  Her research came up with a few interesting pieces of information.   Premature girl babies who received music therapy left the hospital nine and a half days earlier on average than girl babies who did not.  Premature boy babies, on the other hand, who received music therapy did not leave the hospital any earlier than boys who did not!

Why the difference?  According to Pediatric audiologists Barbara Cone-Wesson and her colleagues, an average girl baby had an acoustic brain response about 80 percent greater than the response of the average baby boy.  The frequency tested was 1,5000 Hz tone played to the right ear.  This is the range of sound critical for understanding speech.  Further research confirmed this fact that girls hear differently than boys, especially at higher frequencies by Jane Cassidy, a professor at Louisianna State University.  Cassidy further goes on to report that girls’ hearing was substantially more sensitive than the boy’s in the range which is important for speech discrimination.  Further studies show that the female-male difference in hearing only gets bigger as kids get older.

References

Why Gender Matters, Leonard Sax, M.D., Ph.D.

Janel Caine’s unpublished Thesis at Florida State University, Reference#  ML/3920/C34/1989

Journal of Music Therapy,28:180-92, 1991

Journal of Music Therapy, 37:28-35, 2001

Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology, 71:357-66, 1988