Browsing Articles Written by

Jill Amery

Jill Amery is a mom of 2 small boys and the Publisher of UrbanMommies, a stylish digital lifestyle magazine filled with fitness, style, health, recipes and savvy mom advice to help you through pregnancy, birth, and raising your kids.

Difficulty Breastfeeding

baby, EAT By November 5, 2007 1 Comment

Breastfeeding takes a lot of commitment. It seems to happen painlessly in concept, but in reality it takes practice and perseverance. Make sure you get all the help you can from lactation consultants in the hospital, and know how to access one from home if you still need advice. Some public health units have lactation consultants on hand that you can consult with for free. If this is not the case in your community, you can consider hiring a lactation consultant that will visit you in your home. Don’t be discouraged – difficulty breastfeeding seems to be the biggest problem experienced by the women at mom group so know that you are not alone. Try not to be anxious about it because anxiety effects your production; the more relaxed you are the better things will be.

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Mom Groups

FAM, self By November 5, 2007 Tags: , , , , , , 2 Comments

Your Public Health Nurse will probably strongly suggest that you attend your local weekly group meeting, and this is good advice. The group setting we’re familiar with is an informal, relaxed atmosphere where everyone sits on a gym mat playing with their babies and getting acquainted with other moms. If the group is run by the local health unit, there will be a nurse there to answer questions and who will have a scale available for you to weigh your baby. Mom group is an excellent outlet for questions (many of which other mums will have) on things like breastfeeding, teething, sleeping issues and first foods. The age range of the babies is typically from two weeks to nine months old, so moms with more ‘experience’ or who have already gone through some of these things may have good advice too.

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What To Have On Hand When You Come Home From the Hospital

FAM, health By November 5, 2007 No Comments

There are lots of products available but here are a few of the critical things you’ll probably need for baby’s carewhen you come home:

acetaminophen suspension for infants – for fevers or if needed after vaccinations
antibiotic ointment – for control of wound infections
batteries – for all of the baby equipment!
calamine lotion – for heat rash or sunburn
diapers/diaper wipes
gentle baby wash/shampoo
gripe water – good for fussy babies who need to get a burp up
hand sanitizer – it’s good to have one by each sink for visitors to use
hydrogen peroxide – helps keep the umbilical stump clean
silicone skin cream – good for preventing diaper rash
vaseline – keeps moisture in and soothes skin
vitamin D drops dietary supplement – breastfed babies require daily 400 IU for one year

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Things To Consider When Writing A Birth Plan

FAM, pregnancy By November 5, 2007 Tags: , , 4 Comments

It is a good idea to write a draft birth plan to discuss with your doctor prior to delivery (at around 32 weeks), fine tune it and pack a few copies in your hospital bag to give to the attending staff. In your summary you will discuss what type of birth you want, what type of pain relief and your general preferences and expectations.

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packing for the hospital

Packing For the Hospital & Childbirth

baby, FAM, GEAR, pregnancy By November 5, 2007 Tags: , , 2 Comments

So you’re nearing the end of your third trimester, and it’s time to start planning for labour & childbirth. Some important things to remember before the big day!

Have you pre-registered for the hospital? Your doctor’s office will have a registration package for you, which you can fill out at home and mail directly to the hospital. Many hospitals offer a tour of their maternity wards so it’s a good idea to book one for you and your partner to prepare you for your labour and what to expect during your stay. Book early; if you are having multiples you may be put on bedrest and be unable to attend a tour later in your pregnancy. Most hospitals recommend a tour when you are around 20 weeks pregnant.

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Water Retention or Edema

FAM, pregnancy By November 5, 2007 Tags: , , No Comments

Caused by rising hormones, edema is a very common condition and is experienced by about 50% of women sometime during their pregnancy. It can happen any time but tends to be worse in the third trimester. It is the result of the production of more blood and body fluids to meet the needs of the developing baby. Normal swelling is typically experienced in the hands, face, legs, ankles and feet. This fluid is necessary to soften the body and allow expansion as the baby develops. Fluid also helps to prepare the pelvic joints and tissues to open for birth. The extra fluid accounts for about 25% of the weight women gain during pregnancy.

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Dealing with bedrest during pregnancy

FAM, pregnancy By November 5, 2007 Tags: , 2 Comments

Whether it’s for one week or three months, dealing with bedrest during pregnancy can be a challenge. If you approach the matter as a time to prepare yourself for your new role, it may help. It is a chance to get a few things accomplished before baby comes, too. There are several other things you can do to help pass the time you spend on bedrest.

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Naming Your Baby

baby, FAM By November 5, 2007 Tags: , , , No Comments

What’s in a name? There are several important factors to consider when choosing a name for your baby. How does the name sound? Is it compatible with your surname? Sometimes longer first names go well with shorter surnames, and vice versa. Also you should consider whether or not combining vowels at the end of the first name and the beginning of the surname works, because they often tend to run together when spoken.

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