Contest Winner!
One contest winner for today’s drawing!
You Could Win!
I am happy to award the Kindle version of my book to Kathy Ball for her entry regarding premature babies and what to expect. Thank you for taking the time during these busy days right before Christmas to enter this contest. I will contact you with details for receiving your winning eBook. Congratulations!
The contest will continue to run through this next week, so everyone still has time to enter to win a copy of Newborn Baby—Tips & Videos. Here is a reminder of the contest rules to help guide you:
Anyone may enter the contest.
You may enter as many times as you like, a different concern or question per entry.
You may give you winning prize as a gift to someone else.
If you have an iPad, start your contest entry with the word iPad for the Apple version of the book.
If you have a Kindle or Kindle Reading Application, start your contest entry with the word Kindle for the Amazon version of the eBook.
Entries will be numbered consecutively as they appear on the website. All iPad entries will be assigned consecutive numbers (1-n) as they appear in the list. All Kindle entries will be assigned consecutive numbers (1-n) as they appear in the list.
Research Randomizer will be used to generate the random winning numbers, one for each group, each week, for a total of 6 possible winners.
Winners will be posted on Sundays, the day of the drawing.
Each week will start with a new Post to announce the last winner and to request new entries. You may resubmit entries from a prior week, and you may add new entries too.
You will have 2 days to accept your winning eBook. After 11:59 PM on the Tuesday following the Sunday drawing your win will be forfeited if not claimed.
Prizes will be sent via email.
Apple Codes expire 4 weeks after issue.
Good Luck!
For you and yours,
Doris Fravert, RN
CONTEST! WIN YOUR FREE COPY!
Enter to win your free copy of Newborn Baby—Tips & Videos
You Could Win!
‘TIS THE SEASON
In the spirit of giving I would like to give away my book to 6 lucky winners in this easy contest. There will be 3 eBooks given for iPad, and 3 eBooks for Kindle. The drawings will be held on the last 3 Sundays in December 2013. Odds of winning this weekend Dec. 15th are high with only a couple of days to enter!
PURPOSE
I have been sharing observations, experience, wisdom, and research about newborn babies, and about the experience of having a newborn. Perhaps I’ve missed some things along the way that are important to you. Here is an opportunity for you to share your newborn concerns, questions, requests for more or new information about newborns and newborn care. You may enter as many times as you like.
RULES
Anyone may enter the contest.
You may enter as many times as you like, a different concern or question per entry.
You may give you winning prize as a gift to someone else.
If you have an iPad, start your contest entry with the word iPad for the Apple version of the book.
If you have a Kindle or Kindle Reading Application, start your contest entry with the word Kindle for the Amazon version of the eBook.
Entries will be numbered consecutively as they appear on the website. All iPad entries will be assigned consecutive numbers (1-n) as they appear in the list. All Kindle entries will be assigned consecutive numbers (1-n) as they appear in the list.
Research Randomizer will be used to generate the random winning numbers, one for each group, each week, for a total of 6 winners.
Winners will be posted on Sundays, the day of the drawing.
Each week will start with a new Post to announce the last winner and to request new entries. You may resubmit entries from a prior week, and you may add new entries too.
You will have 2 days to accept your winning eBook. After 11:59 PM on the Tuesday following the Sunday drawing your win will be forfeited if not claimed.
Prizes will be sent via email.
Apple Codes expire 4 weeks after issue.
THAT’S IT!
So jot down all of those questions that have popped into your mind, and go ahead and start entering them here at the end of this blog. Remember to start each entry with iPad or Kindle.
GOOD LUCK!
For you and yours,
D. Fravert, RN
Note: There were no entries for the first drawing Dec. 15, 2013.
Baby’s Stuffy Nose Keeping You Awake?
Your baby’s stuffy nose may sound really bad.
Sleeping Baby
First Cold
When your baby gets older and has his or her first cold it can be very distressing. It is very difficult as a parent to see your baby suffering from any illness. Here are some tips that may help to guide you.
Behavior
When your baby gets sick the first symptom you will notice is a change in behavior. Perhaps your baby is more quite than usual, more sleepy, or more fussy. You’ll just know that something is not right. Your doctor has learned to pay attention to the expression “something is not right” because it frequently is the best way you can explain what is happening with your baby. And your doctor already knows that a change in behavior is typically the first symptom of illness that usually precedes fever, rash, runny nose, or any other symptoms that may be part of the illness. Your baby’s behavior is also a guide to how sick your baby is as the illness runs its course.
Stuffy Nose
If a stuffy nose is part of your baby’s symptoms, sleep can be difficult. Because your baby’s nasal passages are so tiny, even a small amount of mucus can cause an obstruction that sounds really bad. The first question an advice nurse or doctor will ask you about your baby’s stuffy nose is “Does it keep your baby awake … or does it just keep you awake?” Your answer to that question helps determine treatment, if any, and is also meant to give you reassurance. If your baby is sleeping just fine, even though you can hear that your baby has a stuffy nose, the treatment is to let your baby sleep. Being aware that your baby is sleeping fine despite this symptom will hopefully give you the reassurance you need to go back to sleep too. Rest for both of you is the best help for getting through this difficult time of illness.
When to Call the Doctor
If your baby is less than 3 months old you should call your baby’s doctor when you first suspect that your baby may be sick. There will be an advice nurse to guide you and help you make decisions about care. Fever in this age group is not common, so if fever is noted (a temperature greater than or equal to 100.4 degrees) you must see a doctor as soon as possible.
Information Is Good
Unfortunately science has not been able to eliminate the common cold from the human experience, but hopefully it will be a very long time before your baby does get sick. And hopefully this information will help you manage more confidently, and perhaps give you some measure of reassurance when that time does come.
For you and yours,
D. Fravert, RN
http://www.aboutyournewborn.com
Learn Newborn Care Before Your Baby Is Born!
Be safe and confident learning newborn care.
Grab a Bear, a Blanket, a Diaper, and a T-Shirt!
I Want to Help
My passion as a baby nurse is to help you enjoy your newborn baby from the first moments of your new life together, without letting fear of the unknown get in the way. I believe feeling confident in handling and caring for your newborn will help tremendously. I have witnessed this transformation repeatedly in my practice, and I have now figured out a way for you to gain this confidence before your baby is born. Feeling confident in your ability to provide newborn care will allow you to truly enjoy your new baby, starting on Day 1.
Here’s How
Remember how you learned to drive a car? … someone with experience was by your side to keep you safe and give you confidence to try new things. Now, you can learn newborn care the same way. And with this new approach you can practice and perfect your baby-care skills before your baby is born!
Your Virtual Baby Nurse
With today’s technology you can have an experienced baby nurse “by your side” to keep you safe, give you peace of mind, and make learning easy and fun. Newborn Baby—Tips & Videos gives you your personal baby nurse to demonstrate baby care, step by step, through delightful how-to videos embedded into the text. Learning to change a diaper, change clothes, give a bath, trim tiny nails, swaddle your newborn, and more, becomes easier too with the gifts of instant replay and repetition as you watch and learn in the comfort of your home.
Practice Makes Perfect
And like learning to drive, you can practice what you learn too! Grab a 15-inch teddy bear … your newborn baby stand-in … a diaper, a T-shirt, and a blanket. Watch the videos, imitate each step, and practice! … over and over again until you feel good about your new baby-care skills.
Confident and Optimistic
Imagine feeling confident and optimistic when providing baby care from the very first moments with your newborn. This confidence, and peace of mind, will give you the freedom to truly enjoy your newborn baby. So, get this video book, grab a bear, and start practicing today! You’ll be glad you did.
Newborn Baby—Tips & Videos is available for iPad and for Kindle.
For you and yours,
D. Fravert, RN
A World of Beautiful People
I believe the future holds a world of beautiful people.
Beauty
Of course beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And beauty can mean different things to different people. But for this particular observation about newborn babies let’s go with the Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition: “the qualities in a person or a thing that give pleasure to the senses or the mind.”
Observation
As a baby nurse specializing in newborn care I have seen literally thousands of newborn babies. All of them are beautiful in their own way. But, over the years I have made the observation that the newborns of mixed-race parents definitely stand apart in their “qualities … that give pleasure to the senses.” Other baby nurses have shared this same observation, that these babies have something beautiful about them that gets your attention.
The Future
I believe that when we become a world of people without judgement about our differences, that we will become a world full of beautiful people. I believe we will no longer have distinct differences that today keep some of us apart, but rather we will be universally open to the beauty that surrounds us with everyone we meet.
What If
And what if that beauty was not only skin deep. What if the beauty we see on the outside that gives pleasure to our senses, actually goes much deeper and gives pleasure to our mind too. What if the world of the future is full of beautiful people, both inside and out. Imagine the possibilities!
For you and yours,
D. Fravert, RN
Golden Hour Benefits
The Golden Hour offers benefits for both of you.
Skin to Skin in the Golden Hour
What Is the Golden Hour?
As you may remember from the last post, the term Golden Hour is used to refer to the time immediately after your baby is born when being in close contact with you is beneficial for both of you. Holding your baby skin to skin is one of the most important parts of this practice that allows a myriad of benefits to unfold.
Special Opportunity
Because your newborn has a sustained period of wakefulness in a quiet-alert state, this hour or so after birth presents the perfect opportunity for bonding, imprinting on each other, and learning about each other to occur. Although other shorter periods of wakefulness will present themselves later, the high levels of oxytocin present right after birth play an important role in establishing, and maintaining, this special bond between you and your baby. Oxytocin acts to lower stress levels for both of you, setting the perfect stage for short and long-term benefits to unfold. Oxytocin generates changes in brain chemistry that increase your desire for nurturing, and creates the desire for further contact for both you and your baby. Dads who have significant contact with their newborns also experience a rise in oxytocin that creates this desire for further contact too. All of this bonding activity is beneficial for your new family, and provides long-term benefits for your baby’s overall health and development.
Benefits
Skin to skin contact makes it easier for your newborn to transition from the womb to the outside world. Research has shown that your baby will be able to regulate heart rate and rhythm more easily, will breathe more regularly and easily, and will be able to maintain a warm body temperature more easily when held skin to skin. These three things are the important measurements of your newborn’s stability and vitality. Scientists first made these observations about the power of skin-to-skin contact in the early 1980s when the practice of Kangaroo Care (mothers holding their premature babies skin to skin) in Bogotá, Colombia more than doubled the survival rate for these pre-term babies. We now know skin-to-skin holding is beneficial for all newborn babies.
Skin to skin contact also encourages successful breastfeeding, but especially during this first hour after birth. Your body chemistry during this Golden Hour promotes more successful letdown and latching, allowing breastfeeding to occur more easily. The same hormones that help you push your baby out also help to release the flow of milk for your baby (letdown). The readily available milk makes feeding more interesting for your newborn. The smell of the milk, the instant gratification, and the calm-alert state work together to help your newborn “figure out” a proper latch for sustained and successful feeding. And for your benefit mom, the combination of skin contact and breastfeeding releases hormones which cause the uterus to contract and to stop bleeding, both of which are desirable outcomes after delivery.
Overall
The Golden Hour with your newborn held skin to skin offers many wonderful benefits. My hope for you is that you both get to have the intimate and amazing experience of sharing this first hour of life together.
For you and yours,
D. Fravert, RN
The Golden Hour
The Golden Hour and Your Newborn
Dad Helped Too
What Is the Golden Hour?
Golden Hour is a term used in photography, labor and delivery wards, and in war … and it refers to that small window of opportunity when the action taken, or not taken, directly affects the outcome of an event. Acting quickly with practiced and proven expertise, defined by the circumstances of photography, birth before 32 weeks gestation, or a traumatic injury, significantly increases the probability of a positive outcome. Leaving this small window of opportunity, usually about an hour, to fall by the wayside leads to a less than optimal outcome.
For Your Baby Too
Today, as research documents its benefits, it is becoming the norm rather than the exception to capture the Golden Hour following uncomplicated deliveries of healthy newborns. More and more the expectation is that the first hour of your baby’s life will be spent in close contact with you, one of the most important practices of this golden hour concept, so that you and your newborn can enjoy these benefits too. If needed, medical interventions to save or improve your newborn’s life of course are always performed first, and your baby returned to you as quickly as possible.
Communication
If you would like to have this Golden Hour with your newborn you can start the communication process by talking with your OB/GYN. When you check in to the hospital you can talk with the medical personnel who will be taking care of you. Expressing your wishes verbally, using only positive words to describe what you imagine to be the best possible way for this magical hour to unfold, will bring you more success than writing a list of everything you “don’t want” to happen in a Birth Plan. This suggestion has everything to do with Mother Nature, and nothing to do with hospital personnel. Acknowledging and trusting medical expertise, and talking positively about your desire to have this Golden Hour with your baby, will work wonders to help you realize this dream.
Benefits
A lot happens in the first hour of life as your newborn engages in a play of interactions with the new environment. After the initial crying that brings air into the formerly fluid-filled lungs, your baby typically will transition into a calm alert state, a state of being that is proven to be the perfect state for learning to occur. Being skin to skin with you during this quite alert time adds to the benefits your baby receives. The next post will go more deeply into these benefits, but just know that taking advantage of this Golden Hour, if possible, will provide positive, short and long term, benefits for both of you.
For you and yours,
D. Fravert, RN
What’s In a Hug?
Hugs are pretty powerful … let’s take a look.
Hugs are Good
Definition
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of a hug is “to put your arms around someone especially as a way of showing love or friendship.”
Hopefully you have experienced a hug as defined above, and hopefully you’re fortunate enough to get hugged a lot. And if not, perhaps after reading this you may want to exchange hugs more frequently, every opportunity you get.
Benefits of a Hug
For some insight into the benefits of a hug you can turn to that familiar Kaiser Permanente voice, currently on the radio, talking about hugs as part of their continuing efforts to support you in your quest for health. They say that a hug can lower blood pressure, improve memory, and reduce stress. That’s amazing! And besides that, they say that a hug makes you feel good, and is proven to be good for your overall health. There’s a lot happening when you engage in this simple gesture of wrapping your arms around someone, beyond showing love or friendship.
For Your Baby
So, if a hug is good for you, you can see that a hug is definitely good for your baby too. Perhaps there is no high blood pressure to lower, but hugging your upset or crying baby will definitely reduce some of the stress of the situation, probably for both of you. And sometimes you might, for no reason at all except that you are so filled with love, just give your baby a hug. A gentle little squeeze with your arms that brings your baby even closer and gives your baby an infusion of your love. Who knows? Perhaps hugging does improve your baby’s memory too!
Hugs Are Powerful
Hugs have the power to improve your overall health and make you feel good, I believe, because they offer an infusion of loving energy combined with human touch. Your baby, a little version of you, is capable of receiving this loving energy too, and can experience the benefits of a hug for improved health and happiness.
Hugs, straight from the heart, can only do you … and your baby … good. You’ll see!
For you and yours,
D. Fravert, RN, BSN
Choices that Shape Your Baby’s Future
Research shows how baby care choices shape your baby’s future.
How Will You Choose for Me?
Abundant Research
Perhaps you remember the (linked) post “Intentional Baby Care” that talked about human touch, love, and attention, and the positive, long-term effects of these baby care choices. Here are some other choices you may want to make for your newborn as you think about the person you want your baby to become. In 2013 we have technological advances that make information readily available at the touch of your finger, and we have an abundance of research that only time can make possible. Here is a small sample of what we now know.
“The Primacy of Human Touch”
http://www.benbenjamin.net/pdfs/Issue2.pdf
Ben E. Benjamin, PhD begins by talking about unwanted babies of a hundred years ago in orphanages who died, not from lack of food or lack of clean surroundings, but from lack of touch. When given touch in an outside environment, the babies from these institutions thrived. He goes on to mention that today’s cuddlers (volunteers who hold babies in the hospital) not only help those babies improve physiologically so that they grow and heal faster, but the cuddlers themselves experience “lower anxiety levels, fewer symptoms of depression, and improved self-esteem.” He asks the important question worth exploring: “And what is the connection between physical human contact and virtually every aspect of health and well being?” And after some discussion he makes this observation about newborn babies: “But it does make sense that during this most vulnerable time of our lives we would form patterns and expectations about how the world works, specifically, about how safe and valued we are in the world, through our skin.” Human touch is a powerful force, easy to give to your newborn, that will help shape the person your baby will become.
“Crying Babies: Answering the Call of Infant Cries”
http://www.childcarequarterly.com/fall10_story2a.html
Melodi Faris cites in her article the research of many investigators as she gives us ample documentation to support responding immediately to the call of a baby crying. “Ideally, a caregiver would evaluate the infant’s cries, choose a method of care to ease the infant’s distress, and respond quickly. This process, if consistent, should instill security and trust in the infant.” Security and trust provide the foundation for development of the long-term benefits of “a more balanced self-concept, better language skills, better problem-solving skills, greater conscience development, and more mature and positive interactions,” skills that may influence greater success in life. Many more research findings are presented that will help you explore this choice for your own baby care.
“Books and Babies and Brains! Oh My!”
https://multcolib.org/parents/early-literacy/brain-development
We learn from the “Brain Development” section of the Multnomah County Library that your baby’s brain development is influenced by “simple acts – singing silly songs, talking about colors and textures…., holding and reading….daily” that cause connections in the brain to form. The article goes on to say that “Babies and young children learn best through warm, responsive caregiving. Clear evidence has emerged that suggests that activity, experience, attachment, and stimulation determine the structure of the brain.” This research documents that “warm, responsive caregiving is essential to healthy brain development.”
“Rocking Chair Therapy Research”
http://www.rockingchairtherapy.org/research.html
Champ Land’s article cites many sources of research demonstrating the positive benefits of rocking, not just for babies, but for people of all ages. Rocking is proven to be good for the mind, body, and spirit. Studies in the elderly population have demonstrated that rocking benefits include a decreased need for medication, improved balance, and more happiness for patients and their families. They also noted in these studies that it’s possible to “rock away anxiety and depression.” Other studies found that post-operative and C-section patients recover more quickly with rocking. Perhaps if you have a Cesarean delivery you would also like to know that “rocking mothers had less gas pain, walked faster, and left the hospital one day sooner than non-rocking mothers.”
It’s commonly known that “rocking soothes fussy babies and relaxes mothers.” But did you also know that rocking “stimulates the balance mechanism of the inner ear. It assists an infant’s biological development and ability to be alert and attentive.” Rocking is also proven to enhance the bonding process for mother and baby. And, it has been discovered that, beginning the 10th week of pregnancy, “rocking promotes the development of the fetal nervous system.” It seems that no matter the age or condition, rocking is truly a simple, relaxing, and fun way to enhance the human body.
Your Baby’s Future
Perhaps you have learned, or been reminded of, some things that may influence your baby care choices. You do have the power, as a parent to this little person who came to live with you, to influence your newborn’s overall healthy development as you make choices that will shape your baby’s future.
For you and yours,
D. Fravert, RN
A Valuable Tip for the Early Days of Breastfeeding
Here is a tip that may help you in the early days of breastfeeding.
Yawning Baby
Story
As you may remember from one of the stories in the book my son happened to be born in a hospital without rooming in and without any offer of breastfeeding support. When the nurses would bring my baby to me for feeding, they’d leave him in the crib and disappear very quickly. As a first-time mother, prior to my nursing career, I would look at the empty doorway, and look at my baby, and wonder what I was supposed to do. Without any offer to help me I concluded that I should, as a mother now, know how to breastfeed.
Inexperienced
I was so excited to hold my baby and so in awe of him, this tiny person who came to live with me, that I would end up just visiting with him as I got lost in the wonder of it all. He slept (so it seemed to me) on my chest as I explored fingers and toes and got to know him. My inexperienced eye judged him as sleepy rather than hungry. I never managed to feed him while in the hospital even though milk ran down both sides of my body in response to holding him. When the nurse would return to check on me I would say “He’s not really hungry” … and they would let me! They’d whisk him away back to the nursery and, thankfully, feed him a bottle of formula. I was discharged 24 hours after birth, and it never occurred to me that breastfeeding might have some challenges.
From Home to ED
After breastfeeding my baby by connecting baby and breast as best I knew how, my baby developed projectile vomiting. I took him to the Emergency Department to rule out stomach problems. After examining him and viewing the X-ray the doctor was surprised to report that my baby was “90% air!” A few questions about feeding revealed that I needed help with breastfeeding. The ED nurse watched what I was doing and then gave me this valuable tip that I want to share with you.
Valuable Tip
She realized that with my lack of experience I was not waiting for my baby to open his mouth wide enough before trying to latch him for feeding. Consequently he had a poor latch and took in a lot of air with feeding. The nurse suggested I take a good look at how wide his mouth opened when he was crying. I was so surprised at the shape of his mouth! She told me to wait until I saw his mouth open about that wide before trying to connect him for feeding. She guided me to the perfect latch and let me feed him for awhile before leaving. Breastfeeding suddenly became very easy and very rewarding … for both of us. I was able to breastfeed for 14 months, and even today I am so grateful for the help.
Success
Perhaps this little tip will help you when you are first learning about breastfeeding your newborn. A good latch involves a wide-open mouth, and your baby will define “wide open” during crying or yawning. Now we know!
For you and yours,
D. Fravert, RN
When Your Baby Needs a Break
Sometimes even your newborn may need to take a break.
So Far, So Good
Activity
Like adults, babies sometimes get overly tired and need a change from the current engaging activity. Perhaps there are a lot of people visiting, or perhaps there is more noise than usual in your new location outside your home, or perhaps brothers and sisters want to keep playing with their new baby but your newborn has already tired of the interactions. These are just some of the times your baby may need a break, but it gives you an idea of things to consider.
Baby Cues
We have addressed some of your baby’s cues in this linked post “Your Baby’s Language,” but I believe this set of baby cues are worth mentioning too because they may be very subtle and easily missed. There are a few ways your newborn will let you know it’s time for a break.
The more subtle cues include turning away from the interaction and breaking eye contact. Looking away may be accompanied by frowning or by having a glazed look. Other need-a-break cues take the form of a raised hand with splayed fingers and palms out … almost like holding up a stop sign, falling asleep, or arching back away from you. If any of these baby cues are missed your newborn may resort to crying to get your attention to let you know something needs to be changed.
You see how these cues may be easily misinterpreted as part of a wide range of behavior. But now that you are aware you might consider the possibility that your baby has grown tired and wants to have a change when you see these cues.
What to Do
When you recognize these baby cues you may honor your baby’s needs by changing the situation. Using the examples above, if there are lots of people visiting, perhaps letting them know your newborn will be disappearing for a nap may give your baby the calm environment needed at that time. If it is unusually noisy where you are, perhaps finding a more quiet place to hang out if possible would be a good change. And if siblings are enthusiastically playing with your newborn, perhaps giving them a new activity that doesn’t include your baby would be a welcome change for awhile. These are simple suggestions that perhaps you would want for yourself if you were overly tired and unable to enjoy the current activities anymore.
In the Beginning
When your newborn is learning to feed, to hold up his or her head, to coordinate movement of arms and legs, and to interact with the environment and with the people in his or her life, it is all work. Inside the womb things like feeding and moving come relatively easy and without effort in a warm, relatively quiet, and comfortable environment. All of that changes very abruptly when your baby is born. So, until muscles develop more, and experiences become more commonplace, your newborn may tire easily.
Knowing
Now that you are aware of these subtle cues your baby may give you when rest, quiet, or a change of activity or environment are needed, you can help your baby more easily. Responding to your baby’s needs is proven to help your newborn develop trust and an optimistic outlook, qualities that will help give your baby the best start in life. Truly life is good when someone cares.
For you and yours,
D. Fravert, RN
New Version of Newborn Baby Manual
If you have a copy of this ebook you will be interested to know that an updated version is now available for your added reading and viewing enjoyment.
What’s New
Font change in the videos makes it easier to read captions while keeping your focus on the demonstrations.
List of Baby Care Videos is hyperlinked to give you easy access to any video any time.
“Praise for Newborn Baby Manual” page shares insight into what this book offers from the readers point of view.
Simplified cover art captures the unique feature of embedded videos. All of the “Things You Should Know” are still the same.
Enjoy!
I hope you enjoy the new version of your book. I think you will like the video changes!
D. Fravert, RN
Pacifiers are Good
Pacifiers are good when used to help your baby.
Pacifiers are Good
Learning to Feed
When your baby is in your womb, nutrition is easily provided without requiring your baby to do any work. From the moment your baby is born, everything changes. Outside the womb, your baby suddenly needs to work to get food. This work consists primarily of sucking, swallowing, and breathing. Although it seems to happen spontaneously, your baby needs to learn to coordinate these new feeding activities. Coordinated sucking, swallowing, and breathing prevents choking, makes the food easier to get, and helps your baby conserve energy needed to complete the work of feeding. Most babies learn this quickly and easily.
When Feeding Is Challenging
For some babies feeding can be a little tricky. If your newborn finds feeding to be challenging, using a pacifier as a learning tool is a good way to help. Sucking on a pacifier will help teach your baby to coordinate sucking with breathing, to coordinate swallowing without having to manage a large volume of fluid, and to learn proper tongue placement to help accomplish these important tasks for feeding.
More Sucking
The pacifier is also good for providing sucking time outside of feeding time. It is possible that your baby may want more sucking without necessarily wanting more food. Hunger may be satisfied earlier than sucking, and a pacifier is the perfect tool designed for your baby’s sucking needs. Once satisfied the pacifier usually falls out of your baby’s mouth as your relaxed newborn gives in to sleep.
For Comfort
The most familiar use of a pacifier is to provide comfort to your baby. Most babies are pacified by sucking, ergo the name “pacifier.” Sometimes sucking has the power to calm your fussy baby and to provide the perfect comfort your baby is seeking.
Rejecting the Pacifier
But sometimes your fussy baby may need more than just a pacifier to provide comfort. If your crying baby quickly rejects the pacifier, it’s beneficial for both of you if you respect that rejection and offer some other measures of comfort. Perhaps food, and/or a diaper change, are needed to soothe your baby, and the pacifier of course won’t provide the comfort your baby is seeking. Your baby will let you know.
It’s Your Choice
As with all preferential decisions regarding your new baby, it’s best to gather lots of information and make an informed decision. You’ll be happier with your choice.
As part of information gathering, observe the babies in your world who use pacifiers, as well as the baby in the photo “Pacifiers Are Good.” Make true observations to help you make an informed decision. It’s your choice, for your baby.
For you and yours,
D. Fravert, RN
Tummy Time
Tummy time is the perfect complement to back to sleep.
Tummy Time is Important
If you practice “back to sleep” for your baby’s safety, you’ll want to practice “tummy time” for your baby’s overall health and development.
Back to Sleep
Positioning your baby on his or her back is the current recommendation by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to help reduce the chance of your baby having SIDS, sudden infant death syndrome. This simple practice has reduced the incidence of SIDS significantly.
But when your baby is lying down on the back it is not possible for your baby to lift the head. In fact this position that provides total support does not allow movement that challenges the neck and upper back muscles. These are the muscles that will help with head control and body mechanics.
Tummy Time
The AAP also recommends tummy time for your baby. The baby in the picture is a few weeks older than your newborn and is demonstrating tummy time very well. Notice the lifted head, the arm and hand positions, and the leg position.
The tummy position places your baby’s arms and legs next to a firm surface (such as a pallet on the floor), which provides resistance during natural movement. Your baby may be a flurry of activity, pushing, pulling, and lifting up with arms, legs, and head. All of these resistance activities will strengthen your baby’s muscles.
Muscle Development
Placing your baby on the tummy for short periods of time when awake helps your baby to develop muscles necessary for both fine and gross motor skills. Development of these muscles will assist your baby with crawling, rolling over, and sitting up. Lifting the head will strengthen the neck and upper back muscles and will assist with head control. Head control plays an active role in helping your baby with eating, sleeping, and general body mechanics.
Have Fun!
Always stay with your baby, and play with your baby, during tummy time. Whether your baby is on a pallet on the floor, across your lap, or leaning forward into your hand, you can help your baby practice tummy time skills. Interacting with your baby makes it fun for both of you.
For you and yours,
D. Fravert, RN
Just a Note
Hello Everyone,
Just a note to let you know that I am revising my videos to enhance their clarity and your viewing enjoyment.
The videos are now submitted in HD, with improved font that is easier to read.
They also include the appropriate music and copyright credits that need to appear in the stand-alone videos in addition to being in the book.
Thank you for your patience as I make these conversions as quickly as possible.
D. Fravert, RN
Fourth of July Newborn Tips
Happy 4th of July!
Your Happy Newborn
Today is traditionally a time to celebrate with families and friends, with most of us getting together to share food, fun, and fireworks. If you have a newborn, here are some tips for you.
Sharing Your Baby
When you get together with family and friends you can count on everyone wanting to hold your new baby. That’s just the natural response to being in the presence of new life, so tiny and precious. And thank goodness, because babies love to be held. Not only that, but it’s good for them. You’ll find some of the important benefits of holding your baby by clicking this linked post “The Magic of Human Touch.” Sharing your baby, in general, is a good thing for both of you.
Germs
While your baby is still a newborn, that is 28 days old or less, you should make sure that the person who holds your baby washes their hands first. Hand washing is the best way to prevent the spread of germs.
As you probably learned when your baby was born, hand washing is actually recommended for the first two months of life, not only for the first 28 days. And of course, your baby should not be around anyone who is sick.
Peace of Mind
The medical recommendation for taking your newborn out to be with others has two parts to consider.
One, if you are going to be with family and friends, following the above recommendations should be safe for your baby and should give you the peace of mind you desire.
And two, taking your newborn to a public place such as the movies, or the mall, is not recommended until after your baby is two months old. You are not able to know who might be sick when you are out in the general public, therefore it is not worth the risk.
Happy celebrating!
For you and yours,
D. Fravert, RN
Simple Tool to Guide Your Baby Care Choices
A Tool to Guide You
What would I want if I were you?
I’d like to offer a tool to help you when you are trying to choose the best care for your baby. There are so many choices to make throughout your day. The benefit of this particular tool is that it will help you immensely with every choice you need to make. It’s “simple” because you simply have to ask yourself one question.
Baby Version of the Golden Rule …
It’s the same question every time:
“What would I want if I were you?”
Only the Best
When choosing for your baby, and that’s what baby care is, if you stop and ask yourself this question you automatically consider the care and response you would want. Since it’s natural to want only the best for yourself, no matter the situation, you will automatically be choosing the best for your baby too.
Try It
So, for example, the next time your baby is crying, stop and ask yourself “What would I want if I were you?” You will automatically begin to make a mental list of options based on the circumstances at that moment. Having this awareness to mentally stop and ask will help guide your response and your choice for the baby care you provide.
Even When You Know
This tool not only helps you figure out what your baby wants and needs, but it also influences how you choose to provide your baby care. Even when you know, for instance, that the care your baby needs at that moment is a diaper change, being in this Baby-Golden-Rule frame of mind will help you provide the best possible care. Because you would want nothing less for yourself, it may come automatically to you to provide your baby care with an abundance of love, human touch, and attention.
Now That You’ve Thought About It
Because your baby is totally dependent on you, your days and nights will be filled with many choices you need to make on behalf of your baby. “What would I want if I were you?” is a tool that is yours … forever. It’s the happy-baby choice. You’ll see!
For you and yours,
D. Fravert, RN
Look Inside Newborn Baby Manual
The Table of Contents
The complete list of Baby Care Videos
The important benefits provided by Newborn Baby Manual
For you and yours,
D. Fravert, RN
The Table of Contents
Happy Father’s Day!
For all Dad’s everywhere …
A special Father’s Day message just for you!
I hope you enjoy it.
D. Fravert, RN
Music Stock Audio File # 1576249 http://www.istockphoto.com. ©D. Fravert, RN
SF Bay Area Birth and Baby Fair
The SF Birth & Baby Fair is coming!
If you are in the SF Bay Area you might want to check out the Baby Fair! Next weekend, June 22nd, there will be a variety of exhibitors with wonderful things for your baby. Whether your baby is about to be born, recently born, or a few years old, there is sure to be something worthwhile and interesting for you to explore.
Here are some of the things you can expect for this year!
If you do go to the Fair, please stop by to say hello. I will have a booth with a display of my ebook Newborn Baby Manual, and a continuous showing of all of the videos that you will find in the book. I will be happy to answer any questions for you about your newborn. And if you would like to learn about swaddling, I will show you my baby-nurse inside tips for securing a perfect swaddle for your newborn. Perhaps you would like to practice before your baby is born so you can be ready on your first day together.
My friend will have a display of her App, “Out In My Stroller” that is sure to entertain the little ones in your family. She will show you how the flowers jump, the kites fly, and the birds sing, as you make your way across the scenes.
Hope to see you there!
For you and yours,
D. Fravert, RN
Can We Influence Breastfeeding With a Positive Expectation?
The role our thoughts and expectations play in breastfeeding.
Happy Newborn Happy Mom
When you first know you want a baby in your life, you begin to plan for the best experience for both of you. You realize you have many choices to make, and one of those important choices is how to feed your baby. If you choose breastfeeding, I believe there is something you can do to positively influence your experience. Epigenetics, and my own experience, each convince me that it is possible, and therefore worth sharing.
Epigenetics
There is an interesting article I just discovered about epigenetics. The scientist in me is intrigued by the results of the experiment shared in “Genetics, Epigenetics, and the Mind-Body Connection” by Eric Nelson, posted in the PaloAltoPatch 6/6/13. (Click here)
Essentially the experiment demonstrates that taking identical stem cells (growing in a Petri dish), and dividing them into three different Petri dishes with three different environments causes the originally-identical stem cells to grow into three different things (in this case muscle, bone, and fat). The only change was their environment. I find that amazing!
What It Means for Us
The article goes on to say that the human body is just a Petri dish full of cells (about 50 trillion cells) covered by skin. Like the stem cells in the experiment above, our environment has an influence on us. Everything from what we eat to how we think influences the cells in our body. Think of the possibilities!
My Breastfeeding Experience
Because I’ve loved babies all of my life I started making choices about the baby in my future long before I became pregnant. When I discovered the benefits breastfeeding offers babies, I decided at that moment that I would breastfeed my baby.
It was several years before I had my baby, but my conviction to breastfeed held true. The thought never ever crossed my mind that I could not breastfeed.
My positive thoughts and unwavering conviction about breastfeeding gave me a wonderful experience. I sincerely believe your positive thoughts and beliefs can do the same for you too!
The Future
And now, inspired by the thought that I am a walking Petri dish, I am excited to think about the possibilities!
For you and yours,
D. Fravert, RN
Your Newborn’s Skin
Your newborn’s skin is interesting.
Picture Perfect
Amniotic Fluid
When your baby is in the womb, the skin is in constant contact with amniotic fluid which is mostly composed of water. Mother Nature provides this fluid layer to act as a cushion to protect your growing baby from injury, to help develop your baby’s lungs, and to provide the space and means for your growing baby to move easily. Being able to move is important because movement helps to promote your baby’s muscle and bone development.
Vernix
Mother Nature also provides a protection for your baby’s skin while living in this fluid environment. That protection is a cheesy-like substance known as vernix. You will see various amounts of vernix on your newborn’s skin, from a little to a lot, depending on when your baby is born.
Peeling Skin
As your baby matures over the first few days to weeks you may notice the skin peeling on your baby’s lips, hands, and feet. If your baby is born after your due date, your baby may have peeling skin at birth. The skin after peeling will be soft and smooth. This process is normal as part of the transition from the fluid environment of the womb to the air environment outside the womb. No lotions or creams should be used on your baby during this time as they will interfere with this natural shedding of the top layer of skin. Soon all of the peeling skin will be gone and your newborn’s skin will be soft and smooth.
Lanugo
If your baby is born early you may see a fine downy layer of hair on the ears, the temples, the forehead, and the back. This abundance of hair is known as lanugo. Lanugo begins to fall out while your baby is still in the womb, and it will continue to disappear on its own after your baby is born.
Milia
It is very common for your newborn’s skin to develop little white spots that are known as milia. These tiny spots are usually found on the nose and face. Milia are formed by dead skin cells that do not slough off (due to a still developing oil gland system) and the cells get trapped in tiny pockets in the skin. These tiny white spots are harmless and will go away on their own within a few weeks.
Baby Acne
Baby acne is another possibility for your newborn’s skin experience. Small pink to red spots may appear in patches or alone, usually on your baby’s cheeks, chin, and forehead. This rash is thought to be caused by the hormones your baby is exposed to in the last trimester of your pregnancy. Baby acne may last for a few months. The best treatment is none at all. Just continue your usual face washing routine, using warm water only, and your baby’s skin should clear up on its own.
Picture Perfect
So you see, your newborn’s skin may be very different than picture perfect. All of these skin conditions are normal, and come and go on their own.
With or without vernix, peeling skin, lanugo, milia, or baby acne, your newborn’s skin is perfect. With peace of mind you can embrace all of these events as a natural part of the adventure of being a newborn.
For you and yours,
D. Fravert, RN
Tips About Your Newborn’s Head
The shape of your newborn’s head may surprise you!
A Few Hours Old
At Birth
When your baby is first born you may notice the shape of your newborn’s head is not what you expected. In all of the pictures you see, newborn babies have perfectly rounded heads that imitate the natural shape of humans. But when they hand you your newborn for the first time, your baby’s head may have a noticeable ridge along the top of the head, or the head may be markedly oval and not rounded at all. No worries. These unusual appearances are temporary, and not uncommon.
By Design
By perfect design, your baby is born with the bones of the skull separated into primarily five plates that are held together by fibrous membranes. This design accommodates both you and your baby during delivery to allow for safe passage through the birth canal. These separated plates also accommodate the rapid growth of your baby’s brain during the first year of life.
The First Week
Because of these shifting plates, your baby’s head may also assume a variety of unusual shapes during the first week of life. These changing head shapes are caused by the position of your baby’s head at rest, and usually create a noticeably flat area on the side in contact with the sleeping surface. To help return your newborn’s head to a more natural shape, you can gently rotate your sleeping baby’s head so that the pressure of the mattress, or your shoulder, is on the opposite side. Changing the position of the head as needed will help it become more naturally rounded over time. Your back-to-sleep baby may just turn the head back to midline after your attempt to rotate the head to one side or the other, but it’s worth the try.
Babywearing Helps
Holding your baby or having your newborn in a soft cloth carrier will help to keep your baby’s head more rounded too. Because your baby’s head will not be pushing against a plastic carrier, or against a firm mattress for sleep on some occasions, wearing your baby will help to maintain a nicely rounded head.
The Future
Just for fun, notice the adults you encounter in life and the shapes of their heads. It will be easy to appreciate a nicely shaped head for your baby. And, your grown-up baby will be very grateful for a nicely shaped head that can sport any hairstyle, even the currently popular shaved look for men or the partially shaved styles for young women.
For you and yours,
D. Fravert, RN
Talking to Your Newborn Increases IQ!
Talk to your newborn and raise your baby’s IQ
Your Voice and Your Attention Are Powerful
Perhaps it comes naturally for you to talk to your newborn baby about most anything that crosses your mind. Or, perhaps you have never really thought about talking to a person who cannot yet hold a conversation with you. You might be surprised to learn how important it is to simply talk to your baby … a lot!
Reading versus Talking
You are already aware that reading to your baby helps your baby differentiate the sounds of words and the intonation of your language, making it easier for your baby to imitate language when needed. But, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), not only is reading to your baby highly beneficial, but the less formal times of sharing everyday “conversations” with your baby are very important too. You can enhance your baby’s brain development and have a smarter baby just by talking to your baby. That’s amazing. Learn more about the AAP’s findings in their article
“The Secret to a Smarter Baby”
There’s More
Recently a friend shared another interesting article that documents the research supporting the importance of talking to your newborn. Apparently the continuous monologue that you can have with your baby … What shall we wear today? Do you like the yellow one or the red one? Ok, the red one it is! … is extremely important and has the power to increase your baby’s IQ. According to Tina Rosenberg in this new article
“The Power of Talking to Your Baby”
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