Cold Weather: What temperature should the Baby room be.

Have you ever wondered what the nightly temperature should be in a baby’s room when the weather turns cold?  If you don’t know the answer then we are in the same boat! But these are things I just have to know for our baby. In fact I was at a speaking engagement and as they were introducing me and listing a few of my affiliations and hobbies it dawned on me, right now my most consuming hobby is baby research.

When the weather got cold I wanted to find a way to keep Zara’s room warm without spending a fortune on electricity.  Because our thermostat is in the living room I was also concerned that the room would get too warm.  So my husband and I did a little research and found a heater that was not at risk for sparking,  was flat and can be mounted on the wall when she starts to crawl.  To keep it regulated it plugs into a temperature sensor that turns the heater on and off depending on the temp of the room. 

And the correct answer for the temperature is….

65-68 degrees according to the Academy of Pediatrics both in the USA and UK.

So now you know (just like me) and Zara is sleeping nice and warm.

Pregnant, Breast-Feeding, Checking for Depleted Nutrients.

After going through pregnancy and then the stress of labor, a new mom often feels very depleted and may struggle with fatigue.  And while some may say that it’s to be expected it could also be the sign of something more serious such as a vitamin deficiency. Deficiencies can cause all kinds of symptoms including fatigue and poor healing. 

To be sure, at in-Health Clinic we offer a micronutrient analysis which checks all the vitamins, amino acids, antioxidants and minerals present in your cells. The replenishing of micronutrients is a nice way to get back on track toward healing and rejuvenation.  A thyroid test can also be done but only when other concurrent symptoms are present.

I took the test and you can see my results.

I was deficient in Asparagine, an amino acid important for helping the manufacture of several proteins in cellular tissue. It also helps balance the central nervous system making it less affected by excitement or calm.  Simply it controls the brain’s metabolism.

I also was moderate low in Calcium and Magnesium, which is very common due to the fact that during pregnancy you are building a tiny skeletal system. This takes a lot of minerals and can deplete your reserve to maintain your own system.

Pumping and Working

 So when mom’s have extenuation occasions where they get mastitis or  c-sections and sometimes nursing immediately isn’t an option the modern invention of the breast pump can still allow them the ability to have there baby receive all the benefits of  breast feeding. 

So for me when I got mastitis I had to pump and feed because I got so sick I had trouble sitting up for long enough periods of time. 

This was a womens advice that stuck and I believe that it can also help when production drops or is low such as in my case that mastitis caused my production to drop. 

http://happyhomefairy.com/2013/06/07/extreme-pumping-tips-and-tricks/

This is the advice that help get my breast milk production back and what has helped me keep feeding my daughter.

Bum Problem

So what happens when you Get a Hemorhoid.  Hemorroids are a bum problem that no one wants to talk about but commonly occur in a significant amount of pregnant women and new mom’s.  They typically occur in the third trimester of pregnancy due to the larger amount of force that is placed on the cervics and the rectum causing the inflammation of a vein which swells and becomes painful and itchy.  These hemoroids can be external occurring around the anus or internal just inside the anus.  The common symptoms are:

·      Blood on your toilet paper after you wipe

·      Excessive itching

·      Pain when sitting on hard surfaces

·      Mild discomfort when having a bowel movement

·      The need to pass a bowel movement after you have just had a movement

So I didn’t get a hemorrhoid during my third trimester like I thought I might due to a big baby.  But I started to get a small internal one after sitting on the floor during the middle of the night using the breast pump.  This can occur in women due to the weakend muscles of the pelvic floor post partum.  Since I have sat on a pillow while pumping to allow it to heal. 

Treatment in our office is s healing suppository which can take away the itching and pain in a matter of a few days which allows you to be more comfortable and get back to normal life.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things!

Fisher-Price FastFinder Dome Diaper Backpack 

Why I love it? 

It’s very sleek, easy to use and it also looks a bit masculine so my husband looks good in it.  But the best part is the easy access diaper wipes and the zipper that opens the entire large compartment for easy packing.  Not to mention lots of labeled organizer pockets that keep everything neat and handy.  I love it!!

Where to find it? Target

WubbaNub Brown Monkey

Why I love it?

When my mother-in-law purchased this for us I thought that we had another small toy gimmick on our hands.  But if you use a pacifier to soothe your little one this cute little monkey keeps the pacifier sitting perfectly in your baby’s mouth.  The monkey is also a pretty cute toy as well. Not into monkeys? It’s also available as an elephant, giraffe, bear and puppy.

Where to find it?  BuyBuyBaby

Medulla Breast Pump – Pump in Style

Why I love it?

When I got mastitis three times during my first month post partum due to high milk production I was able to continue breast-feeding and even regain my milk production by nursing and using this pump.  Now I use it at work and schedule pump breaks so I can still work and be a good mom!

Where to find it?  BuyBuyBaby, Amazon, Target

Crystal Nail File

Why I love it?

This is much safer and less harsh on baby’s flexible sensitive hands and is the best for those little toes.

Where to find it?  Sephora

Burt’s Bees Shampoo & Wash

Why I love it? 

It has very light suds and also seems to be very gentle on the sensitive skin my daughter inherited from me. I love this shampoo!

Where to find it? Target

Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow Glass Bottles

Why I love it? 

It reduces spit up by using an airflow vent. The glass is safer and better than most plastics which can release harmful chemicals.

Where to find it?  Target

Aden and Anais Muslin Swaddle Wrap

Why I love it?

These are light wraps that are nice to swaddle baby, use to cover-up for breastfeeding or to shade your little one from the sun. 

Where to find it?  BuyBuyBaby, Target

Exercising after birth

Once the baby is born most new moms expect an immediate return to their pre-pregnancy body and regular clothing.  However, that’s far from true. In fact you’ll leave the hospital looking about five months pregnant.  Naturally, weight loss is a concern. Exercise is important post-partum for weight loss but it is also much harder to find time than during your pregnancy (unless you are already running around with other kids). Besides contributing to weight loss, exercise will also benefit you post-partum in the following areas:

·      Mood: Exercise helps keep baby blues at bay

·      Heart: Healthy circulation helps with milk production, healing and reduced spider/varicose veins

·      Fatigue:  Getting some exercise and fresh air can actually boost a mom’s energy.

While it is tempting to gauge your success by the number on the scale remember that breastfeeding requires a little extra weight. Instead focus on the fit of your clothes and be proud of your healthy eating and exercise program.

Here some popular exercise options that I have tried. Maybe some of these will work for you!

·      Kid lifting:  I like the at-home video that we have in our office. You can call us or purchase it at http://www.kidlifting.com

·      Baby Yoga: This is yoga with mom and baby.  We had a lot of fun doing this but it didn’t work well with my little one’s schedule.  Check out the class options here:  http://www.harmonymama.com/yoga/playfulyoga.html

·      Walking/Jogging: This is nice because the dog gets join you as you get some sunshine and fresh air.  I recommend interval walking until you are ready to actually jog.  At that point start small and work up.  I use my Bob Jogger and a very supportive body pillow for baby.

·      Biking indoors:  This can be done at the gym but I have accomplished it by using my road bike on a trainer.  While the baby is sleeping I am exercising without leaving the house. You can reward yourself by tuning into a fun TV show while you work out.

·      Boot camps:  I go to one on Sundays with other people which helps motivate me. Since it is on the weekend my husband, who is a big runner, goes along and pushes baby around the school track while I do boot camp.

·      Ab workout:  I do some of the traditions crunches and leg lifts. However, be cautious and start slowly as you can get ab cramps and hip flexor cramps dut to your body’s wildly changing hormones.