Bonding Doesn’t Happen Right Away

Don’t worry if there isn’t an instantaneous bond with your newborn. Dr. Samuel J. Meisels, President of the Board of Zero to Three, a national organization for infants, toddlers, children and families, says bonding doesn’t always happen immediately, especially if there has been a difficult delivery or mother and baby have been separated following the birth. “Don’t worry if there isn’t that ecstatic moment after birth,” he says. “You will still attach to your child and develop a loving relationship.”

Don’t Worry about Perfection

Don’t stress too much about a perfect mom. It’s natural that you will be cranky, tired, and a little irritated at times. You’ve just had a baby and things are slowly starting to fall into place. It will take time to ‘feel’ like a parent, so remember that by getting things done, you will allow yourself to grow into your routine at your own pace.

Have a Good Support System

It’s vital to have someone provide not only emotional support when you first come home, but also help with looking after your infant, laundry, cooking, cleaning, and errands. This person could be someone like your spouse, mother, sister, or even a housekeeper. Don’t be afraid to let people take care of your newborn for an hour or two while you take a nap.
Don’t feel the need to pick up newborns whenever they cry

Babies cry for lots of reasons, from needing a diaper change to wanting to be held. They need to develop a sense of trust and security by allowing parents to respond to their needs.

Accomplish What You Can

Don’t try to accomplish too much in a day. Caring for a newborn requires a lot of time and energy, so don’t fret over doing the dishes or other chores. Allow yourself to cut corners or order in dinner.

Start a Bedtime Routine

Put your baby down to sleep while they are drowsy but still awake, so they can begin to learn what it’s like to drift off to sleep by themselves. Don’t insist that everyone whisper and walk around on their tiptoes, either. Babies need to learn to fall asleep with some normal background noise such as the TV playing in a nearby room.

Swaddle your Baby

Swaddling reminds your newborn of being in the womb and will help them sleep better. Each baby is different and some will prefer their arms to be free, while others might prefer to be tightly swaddled.

Follow your Gut

You need to trust your instincts. If you try a new parenting method and it doesn’t feel right, go with your gut and move on. Only you know what is best.

Forget the Clock

Don’t put your newborn on a schedule right away. Let them determine their own eating pattern, and wait until they’re older to put them on a schedule. Many babies have a more organized eating and sleeping schedule by six months, but some won’t until around nine months.

Guide contributed by Claire Hodge on behalf of Everyday Maternity – which has a wide range of nursing tops should you decide to breastfeed your child.

To Tell

If you’ve picked out your baby boy or girls name and are confident that you’ll stick with it to birth then you might decide to let the world know. Undoubtedly you think it’s the perfect name for your arriving bambino, but the friends and family you choose to tell might be of differing opinions.

Some people, especially close family or opinionated friends think they have a say in the matter.  Don’t be surprised if you get a negative reaction from them.  Many have their own ideas and will freely express them with you.  Suggesting alternative names is common practice and even more commonly is an awkward “oh that’s nice” response to your proposed name.  Even if there are doubters giving you mixed feelings about your choice, remember it is your choice and you know what’s right for your family.  From experience I can tell you that whatever you name him or her when their first birthday arrives you won’t be able to imagine calling them anything else.

Of course, there are plenty of people who will love the name you chose and maybe even some friends who had it on their short list for when they have a baby.  Relish the fact that you beat them to it and don’t let them talk you out of it. Your baby deserves that name just as much as theirs.

If you’re a little weary about announcing your baby’s name to the world maybe it’s best…

Not To Tell

For some expectant parents the decision on what to name their baby comes a little harder.  If you haven’t picked out a name or can’t settle on one it’s best to keep it to yourself.  Telling close friends and family your options opens a floodgate of suggestions that are most often unwanted.  In-laws are notorious for sending lists of names that they think are a perfect fit.

Being on the fence can be a dangerous game.  If you really like a name and haven’t settled on it yet our advice is to stay mum.  Ambitious family members may decide that it’s a sure thing and start quilting, crocheting or printing countless baby shower gifts with the name you offered.  If you change your mind you’re sure to receive some angry sentiments from the person who went through all that trouble.

If you just want to keep the name a surprise until your baby joins the world you’ll likely attract prodders.  You know the people that just have to know and have little respect for privacy. No matter how many times you tell them you’re not disclosing the baby name they’ll be just as likely to come up with a new scheme to get you to tell.

Whichever path you decide to go down you’re bound to leave someone dissatisfied with your choice.  Be confident in your decision and things will be a little easier.

If you’re among the many women who are wearing the wrong size bra, it’s time for a change! So grab your best girlfriend and head out to the mall to find that perfect-fitting bra you deserve. Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Make a day of it – Now’s not the time to feel rushed. Instead, dedicate a morning or afternoon to bra shopping so you’ll have time to try on many different styles and sizes and see what’s right for you.

2. Set a budget – Before you head out, decide how many bras you want to buy and how much money you have to spend on each. Try to stick to this budget when you’re shopping – and if you like the bras you choose, you can always go back in a few months to invest in more.

3. Clone your favorite – We all have a favorite bra that we miss when it’s been laundered. Spend a minute looking it over to figure out its best qualities and keep those in mind when shopping so that you can add to your ‘favorites’ selection.

4. Visit a specialty store – You’ll likely spend a little more at a specialty store, but in return, you’ll get a bra that lasts much longer. You could also try the lingerie section of your favorite department store.

5. Get a professional opinion – A professional on staff at any department or specialty store can provide an accurate measurement so that you can get the best-fitting bra possible.

6. Wear a non-padded bra – When shopping, make sure the bra you’re wearing is as natural as can be. One with extra padding will throw off the measurement.

7. Leave the sweater at home – Wear a t-shirt so that you can slip it on over the bras you’re trying on. The light material of a t-shirt tends to be the toughest judge of a bra’s character – a challenge the best bra should be able to stand up against.

8. Know the latest styles – To ease your stress on shopping day, spend some time researching the latest styles. Flip through a magazine window shop to find what’s hot. After you’ve narrowed it down to a few choices, keep these in mind when you’re shopping. You can also ask a professional who works in the store to recommend the right styles for you.

9. Pros vs. cons – Keep a mental list of the pros and cons of each bra you try on and create a separate pile for bras that grade higher than the others. This will make decision time a lot easier.

10. Do a double take – Before you leave the store, give your potential purchases one last look to be sure they meet all of the requirements. Do they fit perfectly, look great under your t-shirt, within your budget

11. Review your bra supply – Just because you own it, doesn’t mean it should still be worn. Mark your calendar to do the following at least twice per year:

12. Check your fit – Like it or not, our bodies change over time which means taking measurements every 6 months is important to maintain the perfect fit.

13. Put your bras to the test – Just because you own it doesn’t mean it should be worn…over time, your bras will lost elasticity and stretch out. Keep tabs on your bras and get rid of those that are beyond their expiration date.

What are the Options?

While there is a variety of options available to enhancing your breasts, they generally fall into the categories of surgical and non-surgical. Breast implants are an established and popular breast-enhancement procedure among North American women. Stem cell fat transfer augmentation is another surgical enhancement procedure, while breast enlargement pumps and padded bras round out the non-surgical breast augmentation options. Do they work? Some do – breast implants are wildly popular. But they’re expensive, at $2,500- $5000 per procedure. They can also lead to ongoing breast health issues, including difficulty detecting breast cancer, ongoing soreness and problems with breast feeding. Contrary to popular belief, breast implants are not permanent, and frankly, some women find the though of having their breasts sliced open downright unappealing.

Fortunately, there is one final option.

Natural breast enhancement is a non-surgical, safe and effective method to enhance and celebrate your breasts. Unlike the other options, natural breast enhancement uses phytoestrogens, which tighten and lift breast tissues. Moreover, this method balances the natural hormone levels produced by your body, and promotes overall breast health with herbals, nutrients and hormone balancers. Natural breast enhancements are often available in a three-step therapy system, consisting of a daily supplement, a gel and an exercise regiment. When looking for a daily supplement, be sure find one that contains buckwheat leaves, damiana leaf and watercress, as found in Total Curve 3-Step Breast Enhancement Therapy, as these ingredients are known to fight breast cancer, and produce breast milk and tissue.

Additionally, natural breast enhancement yields another secret ingredient proven to grow natural, healthy breasts. Volufiline is a recent development in natural breast enhancement that contains sarsasapogenin, which stimulates lipogenesis, causing the fatty tissue in breasts to grow in quantity and volume. In a recent clinical study, 32 women between the ages of 18 and 35 applied Volufiline to one breast, twice daily. Scientists looked a the results on days 28 and 56 of the study. The results? Twenty-five per cent of the women saw a 6.6% increase in breast size after 28 days. As a testament to its effectiveness, Volufiline is a key ingredient in Total Curve Lifting & Firming Gel and Volufiline has now been clinically proven to increase breast size by up to 8.4% in under 60 days.

It’s Your Choice

Breast enhancement does not have to be painful, nor expensive, and many women would argue that any breast enhancement procedure should compliment and work with a woman’s body and its natural balance of hormones and phytoestrogens rather than (literally!) tearing her breasts apart. Natural breast enhancement, as promoted by Total Curve 3-Step Breast Enhancement Therapy, is a celebration of the female form and its beauty. The choice is yours.

Holiday Cards
Holiday cards are a tradition. Everyone loves receiving and displaying them. If you have a new baby, what better way to celebrate your new member of the family than with a holiday cards? With the Internet, it’s even easier to create personalized cards to send to friends and family. Websites such as Hallmark.com let you upload photos and create personalized holiday cards. Pick out one of your favorite photos, write a festive greeting and send away.

Routines
Even though Christmas is an important time to let your parents and relatives see your new baby, don’t forget your routine. Your loved ones will understand if your baby needs a feed or a diaper change. Don’t be afraid to explain that he or she needs a nap. If your parents offer to help, let them. This is a busy time of year and any help should be more than welcome.

Christmas Pajamas
A nice pair of festive pajamas not only look cute but will also keep your baby warm. Once he/she has outgrown them, hand them down to a baby who needs them. They can also help to make a great photo moment.

Stockings and Christmas Trees
Introduce Christmas customs to your baby by hanging a stocking above the fireplace (at the end of your bed if you don’t have a fireplace) Choose a nice festive design and fill it with baby-friendly presents such as a rattle or squeaky toy. A well decorated tree will light up your living room. If you choose to buy a real tree, raise it to prevent your baby climbing on it and hoover any fallen pine needles. Fake trees don’t have this problem so bear that in mind.

Remember Your Traditions
Every family has their own holiday traditions. Continue these when your new baby arrives and introduce them to the quirky games you play or the songs you sing every Christmas Eve. Time flies so fast that they’ll be able to take part in all this before you know it!

I had never used a Scentsy warmer, or really any kind of candle warmer before, but it seemed like a pretty great deal.  Unlike the other warmers I had seen in the past, Scentsy warmers are plugged into the wall, rather than lit with a tea light, which was reason #1 for loving this idea.  My reason #2 — they burn so safely, you can actually leave them plugged in and turned on 24 hours per day!  What?! That’s crazy talk! But so true.  Granted, most nights, we do remember to turn it off, but just knowing it’s safe enough to leave on, even accidentally is great.  Reason #3 for loving the Scentsy warmer – it’s so very pretty!  It’s not just a regular pillar candle, or jar candle sitting on a table – it’s an actual decoration that contributes to my overall room design! LOVE!

There are so many warmer designs, colors, shapes and there are just as many, if not more, scents to choose from! Brandie recommended to me Luna because that is her favorite scent.  I also chose Fresh Lavender and Autumn Sunset to go in my Lisbon Full Size warmer.  I have loved the scents so far, and I do think that they make the room smell wonderfully all day without being too overpowering.

Cost-wise, they are far less budget busting than purchasing candles.  One Scentsy bar can last far longer (at only $5.00 for 8 squares) than any candle I’ve purchased (for more than $5.00).

Lastly, I must say it was super easy to switch the scents out from my summer to fall choices.  When the wax was melted, I simply (and carefully, of course) poured the wax from the warmer top into the bar container, where it reformed itself in the package when it dried.

I am looking forward to being able to try some holiday scents soon and highly recommend this product to all other candle addicts!

You can view Brandie’s Scentsy website to purchase these and other Scentsy products to be delivered directly to your home!

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What is a mommy makeover?

More or less a mommy makeover is a marketing tactic geared towards moms who are on the tail end of their child bearing days. Pregnancy often leaves women with excess skin, excess fat and deflated breasts which all leads to a lower self-esteem.  By turning to plastic surgery to correct these imperfections moms often feel rejuvenated and more confident than ever before.

Mommy makeovers consist of a few common plastic surgery procedures that when combined together have come to be known as a mommy makeover.  Breast augmentation, liposuction and tummy tuck are the most common elements of a mommy makeover, however you’ll often find that facelifts and collagen lip injections accompany them. The procedures can range in length from 3 hours to 6 hours depending on the plastic surgeon and the amount of work being done.

How much does a mommy makeover cost?

Typically the cost of a mommy makeover varies by region, however we’ve tracked down prices from across the U.S. to give you a ballpark of what you can expect. Costs below are based on the three main ingredients; breast augmentation, liposuction and tummy tuck.

Mommy makeover costs:

San Francisco – $17,000 average
Los Angeles – $19,000 average
Chicago – $13,000 average
Dallas – $15,000 average
Orlando – $12,000 average
NYC – $17,500 average

As you can see the cost of a mommy makeover does vary by region, however it also varies depending on the experience of the plastic surgeon you decide to go with.  Remember not all plastic surgeons are created equal and in the case of a mommy makeover it might not be a great idea to skimp on price. We recommended calling a few plastic surgeons and getting a feel for what you want.  Most are happy to do a free consultation and they can give you a better idea of the specific costs related to your mommy makeover!

For more information on mommy makeover prices visit our friends at MommymMakeoverCost.org. Find breast reduction prices at BreastReductionCost.us.

Post your questions below!

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