Page 2 - Health Professionals

Have you ever thought of giving birth at home? Perhaps you have not chosen this option if you have given birth in the U.S., as so few women have – currently around 0.67%. Consequently, there is only a relatively small chance that you know someone who has personally had the experience of giving birth at home. For some, it may seem unfamiliar that a birth at home should give you a greater level of security and satisfaction with your birth. However, in this article, we will examine a variety of the aspects that differ between a home birth and a hospital-based birth. And although you may in fact never choose to deliver at home, some of the features of a home birth may be an inspiration for the way you choose to give birth in a hospital. In the small, but relatively progressive country of Denmark in Northern Europe, with a population roughly equal to that of the state of Wisconsin, a group of midwives has been working over the past twenty years in close and mutually beneficial collaboration

"Are you mother’s little baby?…… Are yooouuu mother’s little baby?…… … Aaaare yooouuuu mother’s liiiiittle baaaaby?……" A mother is conversing with her little baby. She speaks with a high-pitched voice and her facial expressions are exaggerated, both in duration and in style. The baby is not yet sufficiently developed to respond in words to the mother’s repetitive and enthusiastic question, but somehow the mother perceives the baby to be fully capable of taking part in the conversation and she feels encouraged to go on. Those of us witnessing the “conversation” notice the joy and sheer fun emanating from the duo. We intuitively sense their mutual love and find it sweet. According to research described in the classic child development book “The First Relationship – Infant and Mother,” by pre-eminent psychologist, Daniel Stern, and according to a host of others, the vital role in baby brain development in these innocent play episodes is confirmed. These common “conversations” between mother

Because of the unusually close relationship that exists between a mother and her baby, especially during pregnancy and breast feeding, all efforts to prevent obesity in your baby will have to begin with you, the mother and to a lesser degree with the father as well. This fact presents both a challenge, but also some unique possibilities to shape your baby's appetite, digestion and metabolism and to lay the foundation for your baby's lifelong healthy lifestyle. In this article we will take a look at some general lifestyle recommendations, and we will also discuss some less-known measures and approaches that will help you and your baby stay or become lean. First of all, if there were ever a time where it would be a good idea from a nutritional point of view - to make sure that your food is packed with anti-oxidants and essential fatty acids, the period when you are either pregnant or breastfeeding your baby is that time. And that means lots of fruits and vegetables, nuts, fatty fish, whole

Out of love, parents do so many things with their little baby to help their baby grow up and get ready for life, eventually for life on her own, with all the challenges that adult life will present. They feed, nurture, soothe, stimulate, teach and protect her. Researchers have long been interested in breaking down the great many different things parents do with their babies to find out which actions or patterns of actions may be most vital to the future resilience, security and healthy independence of the baby. Much work has gone into looking at parental sensitivity and responsiveness to the baby's needs. Recently, scientific focus is turning to the effects of maintaining skin-to-skin contact with one's baby in the formative months. Providing deliberate skin-to-skin contact has been done with premature babies since the 70's, where parents hold their babies skin-to-skin for several hours a day. This in part substitutes or compliments use of the incubators where the premature babies are normally

The Natural Sitting Position is one which supports the natural rounding of a baby's spine, supporting a forward pelvic tilt and proper development of the hip joints. In the Natural Sitting Position, the baby's legs are bent with his knees level with his bellybutton, and spread apart at about a 45 degree angle. This position, also referred to as the Spread-Squat Position, mimics the natural position for optimal joint and spinal support; hence, the Natural Sitting Position.

Recently, there has become a clear distinction between co-sleeping and what experts now refer to as bed-sharing. In order to decide what is best for your family, it is important to know the difference. According to Attachment Parenting International (API), the definitions are as follows:

"Co-sleeping refers to sleeping in 'close proximity', which means the child is on a separate sleep surface in the same room as the parents."

"Bed-sharing, also called the 'family bed', describes a sleep arrangement where the family members sleep on the same surface."