Parenting Squad

Got Milk Allergies? Drinking More of It May Be the Answer

Fred Lee — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:09:26 +0000

For children with allergies to dairy, new research has revealed that over time, continued consumption might actually diminish or even remove the problem. In fact, regular daily consumption may be exactly what is needed to make the allergies go away.

The findings, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, were the result of a follow-up to a previous study that looked at the effects of giving increasing amounts of milk to children with milk allergies. What the researchers found was that constantly exposing them to milk, the patients gradually developed a tolerance for dairy products by essentially “retraining” their immune systems.

The follow-up study took place between 3 and 17 months after the initial project, and found that the children with severe milk allergies, who ranged in age from 6 to 16 years, were now able to safely consume milk at home. While some of them still had some reactions, they were generally described as mild and even became milder with time. Reactions to milk consumption included oral itch, hives, sneezing, and mild abdominal pain. None of the symptoms were considered serious.

Milk sensitivity was measured by a reactive skin test, as well as blood levels of IgE (decreased) and IgG4 (increased). IgE (immunoglobulin E) is a milk antibody which decreased over time, indicating the body’s growing tolerance to milk. IgG4 is a different antibody that signals immunity to a particular allergen, and its increases is another sign of increasing tolerance to milk.

Interestingly, when regular dairy consumption was discontinued, for some of the children, their symptoms did not reappear (implying that they had been cured of their allergies) while for others, they did. For the latter group, it is possible that regular exposure to dairy and dairy products is necessary to maintain tolerance.

Food allergies affect nearly 3 million children, with milk allergies being the most common. Dairy allergies occur when our bodies react to the proteins in milk, 80% of which are found in the curd (solids), while the 20% are in the whey (liquids). Our immune systems see the proteins as being “bad” invaders and attacks them with IgE, causing an extreme inflammatory response that can affect the respiratory system, the gastrointestinal tract, skin, and cardiovascular system.

Most symptoms pass within a day, but in extreme situations, a very strong reaction known as anaphylaxis can occur. Anaphylaxis results in swelling of the mouth, throat, and air passages such that breathing can be difficult, and coupled with a dangerous drop in blood pressure, could cause the body to go into shock. The effects can be lethal.

If you have questions or concerns about any sort of allergy your child may have, speak with your pediatrician or consult with an allergist. For more information about food allergies, including symptoms and treatment, visit the website for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Permalink | Comments | Fred Lee's blog | Channel: Health, Nutrition, Allergies

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Helicopter Parents: Is Bubble-Wrapping Your Children About to Blow Up in Your Face?

Sonja Stewart — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:00:03 +0000

By Sonja Stewart

I'll never forget the conversation I had with my friend, Scott, before I had kids. His brother and sister had a young daughter and were moving from their one bedroom apartment in Southern California to somewhere cold and mid-western, to get the yard, the square footage, every other ideal American dream to fulfill their little girl's life. Scott was saying, “You know, my mom moved here from Argentina and raised four kids in a one bedroom apartment in Manhattan. She says that people are revolving their lives around their kids and it just isn't healthy. Kids survive.” I think her apartment lacked a stove as well, but I'm getting away from the point.

It doesn't take much to find the trail that leads you to the monster of helicopter parenting (so titled due to the constant hovering of Mom and Dad). Take a look at your local baby store and you see the evidence of over-parenting in society:

Walking wings — to encourage your child's walking development
Indoor safety helmet — to prevent your child from injury during a fall
Baby knee pads — to prevent your child from harming their delicate knees while crawling

The list goes on and on. And while these safety supplies can be used less frequently as the child gets older and the parents mellow, the “safety delusion” persists.

Fewer children ride their bikes or walk to school, from 41% in 1969 down to 13% in 2001*
Parents are told to photograph their child daily in case of an abduction, even though the odds of an abduction and being killed are 1 in 1.5 million.**
Playgrounds are told to take down jungle gyms even though death by injury is down 51%*

Parents seem to be obsessed with bubble-wrapping everything to protect their children from consequences instead of teaching them and then allowing them to make their own mistakes. And yes, sometimes those mistakes are painful. If we hold a child's hand for every step they take, how can we ever expect them to learn to walk on their own?

To further expand on this thread, if we pay off 18-year-old Jimmy's credit card when it's maxed out, how will Jimmy learn that the consequences of irresponsible spending can be a lifelong misery? It would be better for him to learn, at 18, to get a second job and work to pay it off. This lesson is much less painful at 18 than at 38, with an upside-down mortgage, two kids, and staring at a behemoth credit card debt. Jimmy can't learn the lost quality of delayed gratification if we as parents are constantly rescuing him.

The over-parenting phenomenon has reached its clingy hands into the highest institutes of learning. Once thought to be an introduction into the real world, away from Mommy and Daddy, colleges are now having to instruct professors on how to deal with overbearing parents. Some colleges have even had to invent a “director of parent programs” to teach parents the inner workings of college life. I thought when my kids went to college, I finally got to live my own life back!

An article by Carl Pickhardt,Ph.D., Dangers of Over Parenting, says over-parenting can result in the following repercussions:

Intolerance of others' shortcomings
Passive-aggressive behavior
Struggle with handling problems on their own, (waiting for Mommy to save them)
Rebelliousness
Feelings of inadequacy
Feeling responsible for parent's happiness
Unable to accept responsibility or authority (rules don't apply to them)

I think there are many triggers that turn a normal person into a helicopter parent. Maybe they feel they didn't receive the love they so desperately needed as a child, and therefore they smother their child to “prove” their love. Or maybe they haven't accomplished things they're proud of, so they look to their child's accomplishments to fulfill that hole. Example: The former wannabe beauty queen who becomes a stage mom with her child.

If we get all of our joy and feelings of gratification from our children, they will grow up feeling personally responsible for our happiness. It's best to get away from the kids, overnight if possible, once a year or so, just so you can remember what it feels like to be you. Once you get back in touch with who you were before you were “Mom” or “Dad,” you may be surprised at what you discover. Take that art class you put aside so you could take a Mommy and Me class. Start writing again. Date your spouse. Join a bunco group. Just get back to what made you unique and you'll be more equipped to raise a strong, independent child, that doesn't need you.

And isn't that the real goal of parenthood after all?

*The Growing Backlash Against Overparenting

**The Growing Backlash Against Overparenting (page 2)

Permalink | 4 comments | Sonja Stewart's blog | Channel: Education, Pre School, Allergies, K-8, Wellness, High School, Higher Education, Parent-Teacher, Extra Curricular

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Poor Women Opting Out of Epidurals

Lela Davidson — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 04:00:05 +0000

By Lela Davidson

I read the headline with my usual cynicism: Poor Women Less Likely to Get Epidurals. Well, duh. Those syringes don’t grow on trees. However, a new Canadian study shows that the choice to refuse epidural pain relief is not all about the money.

The study, reported in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, compared epidural use among more than 200,000 Ontario women who gave birth between 2004 and 2006. They found a definite correlation between socio-economic class and epidural use. In terms of neighborhood wealth, the bottom 20% of women were 41% less likely than the top group to have an epidural.

Factors Other Than Money at Work

Because of Canada’s universal healthcare coverage, researchers believe that factors other than cost come into play when poor women refuse epidurals. The lower epidural rates among poor women are attributed to education and cultural norms.

Women with more education (including prenatal education) are more likely to know more about epidurals and be more open to having one.
Some cultures perpetuate the belief that childbirth pain is natural and, therefore, women should tolerate it.

Education appeared to make the greatest impact. Of the women with the lowest education levels, half had an epidural. That compared with roughly 71 percent of the women with the highest education levels.

Dangers of Epidural Pain Relief

Epidurals are extremely effective (I’ve had them for both of my labors), but not without potential complications. According to the American Pregnancy Association, some of the dangers of epidural pain relief include:

Drop in mother’s blood pressure
Severe headache
Slower labor due to need for mother to remain in bed (required for monitoring)
Difficulty in pushing, necessitating the use of Pitocin, forceps, vacuum extraction or cesarean
Numbness for several hours after birth
Rare instances of nerve damage
Possible difficulties for baby: breastfeeding, respiratory depression, fetal malpositioning, and an increase in fetal heart rate variability

I can’t imagine not having the option to use whatever pain relief is available. That’s my cultural bias. What’s yours?

Permalink | 4 comments | Lela Davidson's blog | Channel: Pregnancy, Birth

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SIDS Research Brings New Insights

Fred Lee — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 04:00:04 +0000

By Fred Lee

Current research has revealed potential new insight into why sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) may occur. Scientists have determined that babies who die from SIDS appear to make lower quantities of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates sleep, breathing, and heart rate. The information may help to identify at-risk infants and will hopefully lead to proper steps to reduce the incidence of SIDS.

Serotonin is a molecule that is responsible for communication between neurons. It is made primarily in the brain, where it performs many of its functions, influencing such things as our sleep patterns, moods, memory, and sexual desire. However, because its distribution throughout the body is widespread, serotonin is also believed to play a role in numerous bodily functions that include our cardiovascular function, our muscles, and our endocrine system. Serotonin is also believed to be a factor in breast milk production, and now, possibly in the occurrence of SIDS.

In order to arrive at the most recent findings, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), doctors compared neural tissue between babies that had died from various causes. Focusing on the medulla region, which is responsible for regulating basic bodily functions like breathing and heart rate, researcher found that when babies died from SIDS, they had levels of serotonin that were 26% lower than those who died from other causes. There was also a low level of an enzyme needed to make serotonin, tryptophan hydroxylase.

Scientists are not sure of the exact role that serotonin plays in SIDS, but some believe that the lower levels may inhibit a baby’s breathing. This situation could become lethal when the child’s vulnerability is increased, especially when their access to fresh air is compromised. It is for this reason doctors recommend that babies sleep on their backs for the first year of life, a practice that has become the single most effective way to lower a child’s chances of dying of SIDS. The authors hope that the results will lead to the development of a test to measure serotonin levels in newborns, thereby identifying babies with an increased risk for SIDS.

Over the past 25 years, increased awareness and vigilance have resulted in a decline in SIDS rates by over 50%. However, SIDS still claims the lives of over 2300 babies each year in this country, and it is the leading cause of death in children between the ages of one month and one year.

While the exact cause of SIDS is still unknown, certain steps recommended by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have been shown to reduce the incidence, including putting your baby to bed on his or her back, placing them on a firm sleep surface (remove soft objects like loose bedding or pillows, especially away from their faces), and not letting your baby overheat.

If you have concerns about SIDS, talk to your pediatrician, and spend some time at the website for the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, a division of NIH.

Permalink | Comments | Fred Lee's blog | Channel: Safety, Health, Diseases & Disorders

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The First Lady on Fat: In Defense of Michelle Obama's Weight Comments

Sonja Stewart — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:01:26 +0000

By Sonja Stewart

Sasha and Malia Obama already have it pretty rough. Like the First Families that proceeded them, they're under constant scrutiny, held to very high (if not impossible) standards. Despite it all, they seem determined to have a relatively normal childhood. I am a very big fan of how the former First Lady, Hillary Clinton, handled the press regarding her daughter Chelsea during her husband's two-term presidency. I call her the First Mama Bear, as she lashed out at media attacks on her daughter's looks and their desire to pry into young Chelsea's social life. She was successful at keeping the ravenous paparazzi at bay, which is most impressive.

Mrs. Clinton set a stern precedent in this aspect. So when I read all the headlines about Michelle Obama's comments that basically threw her daughters under the fat bus, I was a little shocked. I know the diseases of eating disorders, and I know the triggers. First there is the danger zone, which the Obama daughters are already in. They are female, young, watched relentlessly, judged, and followed, and their failures are seen as a direct reflection of their parents' ability to lead. All in all, it's a considerable amount of pressure for young girls to have to navigate around.

So why, I wondered, would their mother add to the pressure by sharing the most sensitive details of a private doctor's appointment with the entire nation, if not the world? I shudder to think about how mortified I was when my mom yelled out the car window, “Don't kiss any boys!” in front of my Jr High school dance...with everyone watching...and then laughing. That humiliation, which is still cringe-worthy two decades later, is nothing compared to this maternal sell-out.

But as I started researching, it turns out Mrs. Obama said some things that were helpful, thoughtful, and (shock) actually sensible. She didn't put her daughters on a “diet,” as some blogs wrote. She didn't even tell Malia what she was doing. She just switched out the juice drinks for water, added fruit to every meal and cut out television during the week. And guess what? It worked. It worked so well the doctor asked what she had done. To which she replied, “Not much.”

She emphasized that she never made a big deal about the changes to the girls, in total contrast to what I believed after reading just read the headlines. I was imagining the girls on a treadmill with the First Lady nearby yelling that the Presidency rested on their tiny tween shoulders and that their fat butts needed to get in shape. (I have a pretty active imagination.)

Now, full disclosure: I did not vote for Obama. I don't agree with everything he's done. And, to be even more frank, I went into this thing wanting to scold the First Lady. Doesn't she know how difficult it is for her daughters? Doesn't she know she just made things worse? Couldn't she have protected her daughters' privacy and used anonymous examples?

And based on my research, I have to answer, no. She had to use the very personal story to make it relatable to the American people.

We have a very big problem with childhood obesity rates, and for Mrs. Obama to step up and share a story that is very personal, confusing, and difficult for a mother is admirable. When her doctor told her that Malia had a higher than desirable BMI index, she didn't put her head in the sand and go into denial. She very easily could have just said, "She's just got baby fat."

But instead she tackled the issue with a level head and made healthy choices. She made small changes, small changes that made a big difference. I don't think her public statements could have made an impact on the public consciousness if she'd told the story about her, uh, “friend”...Rochelle Gobama. If she just stood at that podium and said small changes make a huge difference, invariably people would think, “How do you know? Your kids are perfect, thin, and you have all the money in the world.” Her story was, quite honestly, refreshingly helpful.

Remember Betty Ford? Her husband was President Ford. Betty Ford was an alcoholic when you didn't talk about being an alcoholic. You definitely didn't talk about it when you were living in the White House. Mrs. Ford has helped countless people who struggle with very real and ugly addictions. If she would have just kept up the public image and saved face, who knows how many people would have gotten irretrievably lost inside their substance abuse problems.

When I watched the video, I saw Michelle, not just the First Lady. And I liked what she had to say. More than that, I think I may actually do some of the things she said. And that's the sign of an effective leader.

Will her daughters be embarrassed? Probably. Will they become anorexic? I sincerely doubt it. Their mother seems to be a grounded, reasonable, and sensitive woman.

Who, if you believe the headlines, makes her daughters run ten miles a day.

Video clip to Michelle's statements.

Permalink | 2 comments | Sonja Stewart's blog | Channel: Health, Etiquette, Nutrition, Healthcare

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Best of Parenting Round-Up: Valentine's Crafts for Kids Edition

Lain Ehmann — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:57:24 +0000

By Lain Ehmann

Time to pull out the red and pink tissue paper and heart stickers and get crafting! Here is a quick list of some easy crafts that will let your kids feel like Van Gogh without making you want to cut off your ears or poke out your eyes with a pipe cleaner.

10 Easy Valentine's Day Crafts for Kids. Heart sun catchers, happy heart day bookmarks, and patchwork valentines will delight your kids. Easy step-by-step tutorials, too! Work It, Mom

Valentine's Day Crafts: Hearts for Haiti. More advanced crafts including plastic canvas and a bit of decoupage, but gorgeous results. Miss Farah also includes readers to create some projects to sell and donate the proceeds to those in need – always a good thing to keep in mind. Miss Farah's Class

Crafty Friday: Valentine's Day Craft. This heart placemat project is perfect for even the youngest toddler. Kids paint or decorate a large heart, then Mom or Dad laminates it. Easy-Peasy, and practical, too! Nessa Dee Art

Valentine's Day Crafts. This blogger has amassed an mazing round-up of her own tutorials including an origami candy holder, a heart-shaped pom-pom, heart-shaped cupcake liners, and more. Zakka Life

Assembly Line Valentines. Want your kiddos to create something handmade for their classes, instead of buying My Little Pony and Ben Ten kits from the drugstore? Then head on over to this tutorial for ideas on how to create handmade valentines from snippets and scraps. Simple and environmentally friendly! The Long Thread

Valentine's Day Heart Garland. Don't forget to deck those halls with boughs of scarlet! This super-cute and super-easy heart garland can be dressed up or down, depending on the amount of time you have, the ages of your kids, and whether or not they took a nap. The Mother Huddle

For more great Valentine's craft ideas, follow us on Twitter, username @parentingsquad.

Permalink | 1 comment | Lain Ehmann's blog | Channel: Entertainment

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Is Your Toddler Bipolar, Or Just a Profit Center?

Lela Davidson — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:47:09 +0000

By Lela Davidson

Children aged 2 to 5 are being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and prescribed powerful antipsychotic drugs at double the rate over a decade ago. Oh joy. This is the kind of news that makes me insane. How about you?

Drugging Our Babies

The conclusion of data analyzed for the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry is that more studies are needed. However, the lack of consensus on how bipolar disorder actually presents in the very young does not appear to be slowing the diagnosis, or the prescription of strong anti-psychotic drugs.

According to a Reuters story earlier this month, Columbia University professor of clinical psychiatry, Mark Olfson said:

"About 1.5 percent of all privately insured children between the ages of 2 and 5, or one in 70 children, received some sort of psychotropic drug -- whether an antipsychotic, a mood stabilizer, a stimulant or an antidepressant -- in 2007."

One in 70 children is a lot of profit. While vaccinations are the best growth sector for pharmaceutical companies, these numbers aren't bad either.

Can Bipolar Disorder Be Diagnosed in Toddlers?

Bipolar disorder is characterized by severe mood swings. Find me a toddler without severe mood swings. Just one. The disorder was previously thought to emerge during adolescence or later. However, Harvard University psychiatrist Dr. Joseph Biederman furthered the idea that the disease could manifest in children at extremely young ages. His opinions resulted in a more than 40-fold increase in the number of children diagnosed with bipolar disorder over the past decade.

Is this science, or is this just another money game? According to a the same Reuters report:

Biederman was accused in 2008 by Republican U.S. Senator Charles Grassley of failing to fully disclose payments by drug companies, including some that produced medication for bipolar disorder. Biederman declined to be interviewed about the latest study.

According to the report, of children diagnosed with bipolar disorder between the ages of 2 and 5, about half are prescribed an antipsychotic. More erratic toddlers means more drugs sold. You do the math.

Permalink | 3 comments | Lela Davidson's blog | Channel: Health, Diseases & Disorders

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Autism and Vaccines: Link Discredited?

Fred Lee — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:39:33 +0000

By Fred Lee

If you’re a parent who has concerns regarding your child’s immunizations, then this may of interest to you. A recent article in Time Magazine has revealed that Andrew Wakefield, the doctor who was responsible the enormous controversy that linked autism to vaccinations, has not only been discredited, but his original study has been retracted by the journal, The Lancet, which declared that it should never have been published in the first place. He may even be forced to give up his license to practice medicine.

A review of Wakefield’s’ tactics has determined that in arriving at his controversial findings, not only did he act unethically, but he was deemed dishonest and irresponsible and conducted his research with a “callous disregard” for the subjects in his research, who happened to be young children.

In the paper in question, published in 1998, Wakefield announced that he had found a relationship between the use of a common childhood vaccination (measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR) and the onset of autism and bowel problems in children. In the wake of his so-called findings, there ensued a public health maelstrom fueled by Wakefield’s calling for parents to stop immunizing their kids.

As a result, due in large part to the media frenzy that ensued (MMR was in fact the most written about science topic in the U.K. in 2002), vaccination rates plummeted, dropping in certain places from 90% to below 70% in less than ten years. Along with this decline, Britain experienced a commensurate increase in measles, a disease all but eradicated in much of the developed world, going from just 56 cases in 1998 to over 1300 cases by 2008.

All of this happened despite the fact that not only were Wakefield’s findings repeatedly discredited, but 10 of the 13 authors on the original paper renounced the findings. The most recent scrutiny has stemmed from an investigation by the General Medical Council, which oversees and regulates doctors in Britain. In investigating Wakefield’s methods, they found numerous examples of acting against the best interest of the children, including colonoscopies and spinal taps without considering the potential harmful consequences of such invasive techniques on children, as well as paying his subjects to give blood while attending his son’s birthday party.

And in what might be construed as a conflict of interest, Wakefield failed to reveal the fact that while he was carrying out his research, he was being paid by lawyers representing parents who were involved in lawsuits against MMR vaccine manufacturers. Furthermore, Wakefield had patent rights to an alternative measles vaccine that would have benefited from the discontinued use of the current version.

Interestingly enough, even though the editors of the Lancet consider the current revelations to be a “damning indictment of Andrew Wakefield and his research,” support for him remains strong, especially in this country, where he heads the autism center Thoughtful House in Texas that receives millions of dollar in donations every year. In fact, some groups believe that retraction will only strengthen how certain people view him.

Some of this support stems from the fact that autism rates continue to rise in this country by an estimated 10-17% each year, a fact that the scientific community is at a loss to explain, though some attribute it to greater awareness and more effective diagnosis.

Autism is a complex developmental disorder that generally appears within the first three years of life and can affect a person’s ability to communicate and interact with other people. Autism occurs in varying degrees that fall within a range known as autism spectrum disorders (ASD), which include Asperger syndrome.

According to the most recent statistics, autism affects 1 in 110 children and 1 in 70 boys, making it more common than cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. It has been estimated that nearly 1.5 million Americans have some degree of autism.

The exact causes of autism are still largely unknown, though experts believe that it is a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Children do not outgrow autism, but through early detection and proper intervention, many people can experience dramatically improved outcomes.

If you suspect your child has autism, consult with your pediatrician. For more information, visit the websites for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Autism Society.

Permalink | Comments | Fred Lee's blog | Channel: Health, Vaccines, Diseases & Disorders

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Adopting From Haiti

Lori Kerrigan — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:39:56 +0000

By Lori Kerrigan

The tragedy in Haiti taking place right now has captured the hearts of millions. Devastating images of children with sadness in their eyes, covered in dirt and stricken with hunger, have covered our media outlets. These images make it impossible to close our hearts to the reality taking place in the world’s poorest and now tragedy stricken country.

One of the ways people are opening their hearts to Haiti is through adoption. According to Dr. Jane Aronson (better known as pediatrician to the children of the Jolie-Pitt family) at OrphanDoctor, there are 380,000 orphans in Haiti, and only about 300 American adoptions from this country a year. In the aftermath of the earthquake, American interest in Haitian adoptions has increased greatly.

People everywhere are feeling a tug on their hearts to bring these vulnerable Haitian orphans to safety. They desire to provide them with what would seem to be a basic human right — a family.

Unfortunately, as time consuming and difficult as it was to adopt a child from Haiti prior to the earth quake, the process has only become more complex.

According to Laura McBride, at McBride Family, adopting a child from Haiti before the January 12th earthquake took about two years. She estimates now that it would take even longer due to the government offices being destroyed, and many government officials losing their lives in the earthquake. McBride states that she hopes somehow the process is streamlined, but people need to prepare for the opposite to be true.

Activities by the Haitian government confirm that a longer time frame looks like it will be a reality. In addition to Haiti not currently accepting adoption applications, the government now requires Prime Minister Max Bellerive to personally authorize the removal of any child. Though this can seem frustrating to those who want to bring a susceptible child to safety, this law has been put in place to protect the children from an even greater threat than the physical aftermath of the earthquake, sex trafficking.

In addition to sex trafficking, there is a risk that the children being adopted may not actually be orphans. If they are orphans, there is also the possibility that a family in Haiti is able to care for them. According to RainbowKids, the first priority is to find these children a family in their birth country. Due to the limits within the Haitian government and the current amount of children displaced from their families, determining which children are legitimately orphans looks to be a lengthier process than it was prior to the recent devastation.

If you are feeling a tug on your heart to help a child suffering in Haiti, don’t let these barriers stop you! McBride encourages people to not be discouraged when it comes to adopting. As a mother of three children adopted from Haiti, she knows firsthand that there are many precious children wanting families to love them. She also brings up an important truth, there are millions of orphaned children in the world and every child deserves a family.

If adoption is on your heart, and it is not possible through Haiti right now, adopting domestically or from another country is a viable option to consider. If you are interested in adopting, the first recommended step is to educate yourself on adoption guidelines.

Rainbowkids has an excellent source of information on many countries, including Haiti and the U.S. They also have a tool that allows you to contact multiple agencies for more information in a concise way.

If helping the children of Haiti is something you desire and adopting is not an option, now or in the future, it is recommended to donate to the Haitian orphans through a reputable charity or humanitarian group. One group that is currently on the ground in Haiti is Food for the Hungry. Their website, offers information on providing aid, including how to sponsor a child.

Permalink | 3 comments | Lori Kerrigan's blog | Channel: Planning, Adoption

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Notes For Your Underbelly: Great Online Pregnancy Resources

Rhonda Franz — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:37:34 +0000

By Rhonda Franz

The World Wide Web has some fantastic resources for pregnant women. With the click of a mouse, one can find out what to expect during each month of pregnancy, detailed information about fetal development, and get all kinds of support from an online community.

Pregnancy Tools and Resources

iVillage

iVillage has a pregnancy calculator, week-by-week pregnancy information, and a whole section with baby names for your new child. The comprehensive site has a plethora of information for new moms, touching on everything from maternity fashion to labor and delivery options, from fitness and nutrition, to Dad’s role in the process.

The pregnancy pages also include information on possible problems during pregnancy, including complications such as spotting, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes. There are message boards where readers can ask questions and help others along the way.

This is the first pregnancy website I ever used. It is amazing how many topics they cover! Some of the forums can be overwhelming; iVillage is a popular site and there are literally thousands of comments on forum threads.

The Healthy Belly

The Healthy Belly site focuses on natural health. It includes a pregnancy calculator, as well as an easily-accessible timeline of pregnancy at the top of the main page. Special tools on this site include an ovulation calculator, due date calculator, a baby name finder, a pregnancy checklist, and a “bump watch.” There’s even a “baby cost” calculator, though parents-to-be may want to skip over that feature! Educational videos by Dr. Robert Sears are a great asset to the resources found here.

The site also has its own shop with baby essentials, breast pumps, organic baby foods, toys and gift baskets.

Something I really appreciate about this site is how they provide a broader perspective of information on things like vaccines. Resources include links to an alternative vaccination schedule, and a video by Dr. Robert Sears explaining the issue of mercury in vaccines. Although it is acknowledged that breast feeding is best for babies, the site references formula as it discusses infant care.

Epregnancy

Epregnancy has a panel of experts, including a nurse/midwife/lactation consultant, an OB/GYN, and — get this — a mom and a dad.

Interesting features on this site include “A Pregnancy Guide For Men” and a “Complete Guide to Maternity Leave.” There’s also extensive information on baby names: popular names in 2009, predictions for 2010, advice about avoiding nicknames, and choosing middle names for your child.

The site includes member blogs and forums on a variety of pregnancy-related topics.

This site was easy to navigate. Major articles and features are placed next to a clear photo or icon, without too many titles and headings on one page.

American Pregnancy Association

The American Pregnancy Association’s website has a simple, clean format, with an index of subjects listed on the left side of the site’s home page. Information on prenatal testing, adoption, and even pregnancy prevention are included in the long list of resources.

The site includes recent pregnancy and reproductive news and research as well as an ovulation calendar, a pregnancy calendar, and information on paternity testing. There’s an impressive medical advisory committee, including faculty from Johns Hopkins and UCLA.

The APA site has a clean look, and is also very easy to read. There aren’t too many ads, and they’ve included an alphabetical index of links so readers can browse by subject.

5 Fantastic Things About Pregnancy Resource Websites

1. Most sites now include a section on infertility, with information and resources for women trying to conceive.

2. Many sites include a dad’s perspectives on expecting a child, and fatherhood.

3. Pregnancy prevention information is often included.

4. Online resources often link to the latest news and research on pregnancy and infant development.

5. Forums & Mom Blogs: If your best girlfriend isn’t available to help you with your most pressing concerns, you can usually find someone online who is willing to offer suggestions and support.

Permalink | Comments | Rhonda Franz's blog | Channel: Family Planning, Planning, Conceiving, Health, Pregnancy, Birth, Adoption, New Parents, Vaccines, Breastfeeding, Healthcare

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