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Newborn Sleep Training?  What exactly does that mean? 

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Newborn Sleep Training?  What exactly does that mean? Many families call to ask for help “newborn sleep training” their baby.

Truth be told, it is really just a term many families use when seeking advice to help their baby sleep better/longer/easier. Each parent has a different need.

It may be to transition them to their crib, or their room, or out of the swaddle, or to get them thru the night. (which is 11 PM – 5 Am BTW)

Most cases with infants we aren’t talking about scientific issues ie. circadian rhythm disorder.  Mostly we are talking about undoing bad habits, teaching the baby to be on a schedule and to learn the routines that parents need to instill.

Here’s a breakdown of sleep with all babies-

 

Age Hours of Sleep Naps
1 Months 20+ all the time
2 Months 16-20 4+
3 Months 15-18 4
4 Months 15.5 3 to 4
5 Months 15 3
6 -9 Months 14.5 2 to 3
10 -15 Months 13-14 1 to 2
2 years 12 1

 

 

When a baby ( 2-3 months)  is ready, they can sleep as long as they like after the last feed of the evening. (only when the pediatrician gives the go-ahead) Typically not more than a 4-hour stretch (which is way better than the 1-3 hours stretches they gave parents just a few weeks ago.)

As the baby gets bigger, they can take in more each feed (breast milk or formula) allowing for overnight sleep to really increase. As the baby’s tummy grows the majority of their calories will be in the feedings during the day.

So if this is the case, then why do so many parents have baby’s that “don’t sleep well”

It’s probably about the bad habits that every parent starts?

We all have the best intentions, but as a parent who has a job, other kids, family responsibilities, a desire for a reasonably manageable day, they will do ANYTHING to get their baby to sleep.

Rocking to sleep, feeding to sleep, sleeping on them, in their bed or in a carrier?  Eventually, these tactics are not sustainable.

Whatever you do once, plan on doing that for a year!

When parents rush in at the sound of a peep, squeak or faint cry, the baby learns.  Parents just want it to stop so they can get some sleep.

Sure, for that instant it may give them an hour or two which is way better than every 30 minutes.  BUT, tending to the baby every two hours for more than a few weeks is torture

They then make the call.  Usually seeking a sleep trainer.

After a short conversation, I can help them with breaking bad habits.

Maybe it is sleep training, but the training is with the parents.

First, I need to understand what happens during the day?

Sleep begets sleep

So, if I hear that the baby only sleeps 30 minutes all day, I know that they are overtired.  Their nervous system can’t handle being overtired.

Or if I find out that the baby didn’t eat enough during the day, I know that they’ll wake due to hunger.

Roughly a baby should have 2.5 times their weight in 24 hours. A basic rule of thumb is to divide that number by 8 bottles, 7 if they are older and can manage a larger amount.

Ex. A 7 lb. baby should have 17.5 oz in a day (24 hours)

If they eat every 3 hours that means they need to have bottles of around 60 Mls.  As the baby grows and can handle a bigger bottle, then the need to wake during the night will go away.

What won’t go away is if a parent picks them up every time the squeak and feed them.

 

Dedicated to Beautiful Women

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Dedicated to Beautiful Women Watch her eyes

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“A little boy asked his mother, “Why are you crying?” “Because I’m a woman,” she told him.

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“I don’t understand,” he said. His Mom just hugged him and said, “And you never will.”

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Later the little boy asked his father, “Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?”

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“All women cry for no reason,” was his entire dad could say.

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The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why women cry…

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Finally, he put in a call to God. When God got on the phone, he asked, “God, why do women cry so easily?”

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God said

“When I made the woman she had to be special.

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I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world, yet gentle enough to give comfort.

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I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times comes from her children.

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I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up, and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue without complaining.

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I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any circumstances, even when her child has hurt her very badly.

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I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart.

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Finally, I gave her a tear to shed. This is hers exclusively to use whenever it is needed.”

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“You see my son,” said God, “the beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.

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The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart – the place where love resides.”

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Please send this to ten beautiful women you know today. If you do, – You will boost another woman’s self-esteem. I am also waiting

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Pass it on to men too – perhaps they will then understand “why women cry….

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Dedicated to beautiful women.

Mother’s Day

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Mother’s Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the months of March or May. It complements similar celebrations honoring family members, such as Father’s Day, Siblings Day, and Grandparents Day.

Mother's Day

Mother’s Day

Anna Marie Jarvis (May 1, 1864 – November 24, 1948) was the founder of the Mother’s Day holiday in the United States. Her mother had frequently expressed a desire for the establishment of such a holiday, and after her mother’s death, Jarvis led the movement for the commemoration.

Ann Reeves Jarvis was a social activist, founder of Mothers’ Day Work Clubs. As a woman defined by her faith, she was very active within the Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church community. It was during one of her Sunday school lessons in 1876 that her daughter, Anna Jarvis, allegedly found her inspiration for Mother’s Day, as Ann closed her lesson with a prayer, stating:

I hope and pray that someone, sometime, will found a memorial mothers day commemorating her for the matchless service she renders to humanity in every field of life. She is entitled to it.

— Ann Reeves Jarvis

However, as the years passed, Jarvis grew disenchanted with the growing commercialization of the observation (she herself did not profit from the day) and even attempted to have Mother’s Day rescinded. She died in a sanitarium, her medical bills paid by people in the floral and greeting card industries.

I hate all of the commercialization behind the day that celebrates moms; imagine how Anna Jarvis would feel now. The holiday’s founder worked so hard to get the world to give moms everywhere a day of recognition. Before her death, even she had to admit she had some regrets about starting Mother’s Day.

 

I hate the term “Empowering Women.”

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I hate the term “Empowering Women.” Empowering Women has become the term used when you offer a woman a job or an opportunity. In many cases more of a marketing term to place on a website or in blog posts or Facebook rant. What were we doing before this term now overused and without meaning grabbed the spotlight?

Women’s Empowerment Principles:

Empowering women to participate fully in economic life across all sectors is essential to build stronger economies, achieve internationally agreed goals for development and sustainability, and improve the quality of life for women, men, families, and communities.

How does this work if you are attempting to Empowering Women, where do you start?

In Guatemala, I have a great friend, supporter of Boston Newborn Care and our work. In turn, I admire James Dillon’s work in Guatemala, he never uses the term Empowering Women, and Enabling is his preferred means to express his work with Ethical Fashion Guatemala.

 

Empowering Women

Empowering Women

James works mostly Mayan Women Weaving Artisans, in the remote Highlands of Guatemala. The textiles are all handmade dyed from plant seeds, natural cotton, and handspun into works of textile art. The weavers lacked access to technology; he enabled the women to have access to websites, banking, and shipping.

Resulting in economic improvement, products sold internationally and sustainability for the weavers and other forms of Artisan works. Prior local Tourists were the customers, often bartering for a $20 scarf that took a week to weaver.

 

Empowering Women

Empowering Women

James stresses the fact that Ethical Fashion Guatemala is a business, not a None Profit seeking donations or a project. Artisans need work and sales, not donations.

Two years ago, James life in Guatemala changed, Fashionista wrote an article about how from Guatemala James forced ETSY, the on-line handcraft portal to remove thousands of Copyright works of Artisans from their website. The story went Viral.

Think about James story next time you see a sign or website about Empowering Women. I am today thinking how can I Enable more women??

Boston Baby Care | Helping Your Baby Sleep all Night

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Boston Baby Care | Helping Your Baby Sleep all Nigh. A Baby nurse can do more than just stay up all night. We have a lot of tricks up our sleeves to help the whole family.

Boston Baby Care prefers a bedtime routine is your best bet for a happy baby and happy parents.

Until you experience the first few months of being a new mom it is impossible to see how unorganized the day can be. Not only is there no time to make sense of what you do but there is little time to come up with a better plan. Nothing feels right. Insecurity is trapping you from properly thinking through the steps you take to accomplish anything.

Boston Baby Care

Boston Baby Nurse

By the time 7 PM comes along there is no way you are in any shape to make a plan for tomorrow. You are just waiting for the next feed and trying to figure out when the night actually starts since days and nights are the same.

Establishing a bedtime routine is so vitally important for everyone. Even though your baby could wear a different onsite or stretchy footie consistently should establish the start and end of each day.

When a new baby joins the family everyone’s life changes. The working adult needs to adapt to the routines as well. With husbands and wives returning home late, it’s hard to check out of adult life to tend to the baby alone. Even children who are used to after dinner being a free for all have to learn.

Boston Baby Care | Helping Your Baby Sleep all Night

Just this week I had a frantic call from a mom whose 4 week old was on a good schedule, but didn’t go to sleep until about 10 – 11pm, despite starting the bed time routine at 7!

So off I went for an observation and consultation. As 7pm approached, up we went to the nursery, and mom put on some music, turned on the overhead lights, and started to feed baby, talking to him the whole time.

While the mom was feeding, older siblings and hubby were coming in and out, for one thing and another, and I could visibly see the baby becoming over stimulated, and fussy very quickly. Then when the feed was over, baby was put into pajamas and…..wait for it….put under a toy with flashing lights and more music!!! By 9 pm poor baby was a complete mess, over tired, over stimulated, and hard to calm. Eventually the baby passed out from sheer exhaustion at 10:40!

Here are the changes I made the next night.

Mom let everyone come up and say good night to the baby BEFORE the routine started, and not to come back into the nursery unless there was a dire emergency. So up we quietly went at 6:45, so that the feed could start at 7.

Siblings kissed baby and left, and then mom put on the white noise machine to cue it was bedtime, change the baby into PJs, swaddle, and turned all lights off, in that order. Mom fed the baby in a very low key, quiet fashion, as you would in the middle of the night, with no conversation, just hugs. The baby was placed in the crib, still awake but drowsy and fast asleep by 7:30 PM.

Bedtime routines are to be very calm, relaxing, and uneventful, with as little stimulation as possible. I’m pleased to report that this is the baby’s new bedtime every night now!

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My Babies Bum and Diaper Rash

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Diaper Rash, Newborn parents find the first few weeks challenging, being accustomed to your baby, sleepless nights, breast-feeding and for some Diaper Rash. Seeing your Babies bottom ablaze in fiery color and pain all a mother seeks it to find relief for your Newborns suffering.

There are seven home remedies for diaper rash from diarrhea, yeast infection and other common triggers. Breast milk helps, if you are breastfeeding, if not the remedies include apple cider vinegar, olive oil, cornstarch, and browned flour.

I prefer to stay away from chemical based creams and lotion; one never knows what the hidden ingredients on the label may hold, many natural products may have side effects. The fact Microplastics found in almost everything we put on our body, including toothpaste.

Remember our skin is the largest organ on our body and what we put on it and our Babies bum will be absorbed.

 

I found in of all places Guatemala a natural product for Diaper Rash called “Baby Butter.”

Diaper Rash

 

On the shores of Lake Atitlan Guatemala, I found Geno Veva is a 35-year-old Guatemalan who gave up her career as an engineer five years ago to start a family and to take a break from the high tech world.

Her focus develop pure natural products based on Coconut, Coffee, Cacao, Avocado, Macadamia, and the vast supply of local herbs the Mayan culture have used for hundreds of years for natural medicines.

 

Diaper Rash

Geno working at home

Geno has real world experience with Diaper rash, stretch marks, her five-year-old daughter Love proves her products work as many of her products based on her experience as a mother. Geno continues to develop new products, natural deodorant for woman prone to breath cancer, soaps oil and lotions.

 

Diaper Rash

Geno Creams

I like the idea of supporting Geno through the blogs I write and my interest in natural products. Each products is handmade, extracting natural oils from plants. You can find her on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/Atitlanherbals/. She ships her products worldwide, offers workshops and classes.

 

Newborn Development Babies

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Newborn development babies. During their time in the womb, babies hear, feel, and even smell their mothers, so it’s not hard to believe that they’re attached right from birth. But as any adoptive parent will tell you, biology is only part of the love story. Young babies bond emotionally with people who give them regular care and affection.

A pregnant woman’s thoughts are the precursor for her emotions. … Hundreds of studies have confirmed that chemicals released by the pregnant mother’s body are transported into the womb and affect the unborn baby.” Negative thoughts are often the root cause of a fear-based stress response.

Your baby will recognize your scent within days of birth. Researchers have found that 3-day-old infants are able to discriminate their mom’s milk from someone else’s by its smell. And not only does your baby know your scent, he loves it too. … You’re my mommy!'”

Newborn development babies Week 1: Blurry View. In her first week, Baby can only see objects about 8-12 inches in front of her face. This is about the distance from her face to yours while feeding. Babies generally hold their gaze for only a few seconds.

A 1-week-old, a baby will spend most of the day sleeping. In fact, during the first week of life, a typical newborn baby will sleep for 16-18 hours every 24 hours. … Until then, your days and nights might feel a little mixed up during this first week.

Between birth and three months, your baby may start to: Smile. Early on, it will be just to herself. But within three months, she’ll be smiling in response to your smiles and trying to get you to smile back at her.

Newborn development babies first 3 months of life are by far the hardest for any parent. … The first milestone comes at six weeks, when baby smiles properly for the first time. But it is the three-month mark most new parents wait for anxiously – especially if they have a colicky, difficult baby.

So here are our tops tips for moms with newborn babies, from the mouth of real moms!

  1. Don’t Hush-A-Bye-Baby.
  2. Soothe Your Wailing Newborn.
  3. Help Get Your Baby to Latch.
  4. Get Prepped.
  5. Keeping Your Baby Awake During Feedings.
  6. Help Your Baby Bond with Dad.
  7. Crib Comfort.
  8. Sleep Trick.

Boston Newborn Care for Parents, offers a 3-hour course for new parents. Newborn Care Course for Parents is offered in Community College Throughout New England. The class is limited to 5 couples. New England Newborn Care has chosen a comfortable space for new parents to spend the 3 hours environment for parents to be.

Courses for Parents

Newborns and Measles

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Newborns and Measles

Massachusetts: 2nd measles case reported in Lowell

https://www.vox.com/2019/1/27/18199514/measles-outbreak-2018-clark-county-washington

Newborns and Measles

Measles is wildly contagious and during an outbreak, it can spread, especially to older infants who aren’t vaccinated yet. … Over 95% of babies who get the shot at 12 months of age are protected against measles and over 99% are protected for a lifetime after the 2nd dose (given at least 1 month later).

Measles is an airborne disease which spreads easily through the coughs and sneezes of infected people. It may also be spread through contact with saliva or nasal secretions. Nine out of ten people who are not immune and share living space with an infected person will be infected . People are infectious to others from four days before to four days after the start of the rash. Most people do not get the disease more than once. Testing for the measles virus in suspected cases is important for public health efforts

Infants, of course, are not supposed to get the MMR vaccine until they’re at least 12 months old, so they’re at a higher risk of contracting the disease. Here is how you can best protect your baby from measles.

A child should receive the first shot when he or she is between 12–15 months, and the second when he’s between 4–6 years of age. If you’re not sure if you have had the diseases or the vaccines (prior to 1971 it was given in three separate shots), you can get the MMR vaccine as an adult

Measles can be dangerous, especially for babies and young children. From 2001-2013, 28% of children younger than 5 years old who had measles had to be treated in the hospital. For some children, measles can lead to: Pneumonia (a serious lung infection).

Breast milk also contains antibodies, which means that babies who are breastfed have passive immunity for longer. … Passive immunity to measles, mumps and rubella can last for up to a year, which is why the MMR vaccine is given just after your baby’s first birthday.

Koplik Spots. Mouth of a patient with Koplik spots, an early sign of measles infection. Three to five days after symptoms begin, a rash breaks out. It usually begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline and spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet.

The rash usually lasts for three to five days and then fades away. In uncomplicated cases, people who get measles start to recover as soon as the rash appears and feel back to normal in about two to three weeks. But up to 40 percent of patients have complications from the virus.

 

The New Normal…

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The New Normal… I could finally see him, this little boy who had such a rough start into this crazy world. Who knew trips to the NICU, days, nights, weeks would be the new normal for us.

Not being able to hold this miracle baby or just touch him thru the glass window while he was getting warmed under the lights was hard.  This is not what I expected, seeing him struggling to breath, feeding tubes, cloth over his eyes while he received light treatment for jaundice.

As a mom, no matter what age your kids are l, you always want to hold, smell and snuggle them as often as you can. This baby was a miracle to us in every way.  The years of infertility, constant letdowns of IVF treatments not working and now, just hours old and having to face new battles.

You do a lot of soul searching when you feel the lowest of low; you are always asking yourself, “Why”?, “How come”?, “What did I do to deserve this”?.

When I finally got to hold him for a brief moment, I forgot all the guilt I was carrying and felt complete joy, love and I knew this little boy was going to be my precious gift from above.

My husband and older son had finally arrived for their first visit and the joy on my oldest sons face was just pure love. He was do happy to see this little boy he also had prayed for.

While dad and my number one son got to hold him, it set in with me that was going home tomorrow and this baby was not coming with me.

The doctors came in later that evening to explain all of the battles he was facing.   I am didn’t hear anything but “he will be home for a few months”.

My heart sank, my heart broke, i was sick to my stomach. Who knew the next few months would be the new normal for us.

All of my time would be spent at the NICU. The New Normal…

Baby is coming

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Baby is coming!!! Best news I heard all day, they are waiting for us in the delivery room.

This was it, weeks leading up to this point I have been flooded with emotions, nervousness and anticipation of how he would make his grand entrance. My perfect delivery plan was not going to happen.

Thought okay, I am doing this without my husband, I needed our son to be healthy and in order to do that he needed out now. I immediately got prepped for a C-section. I could not be more excited and ready for someone to cut me open.

My husband must have gone through every red light, stop signs to make it there before he was born. I remember someone grabbing my hand while they were prepping me, saying I am here honey and everything will be okay.

Fast forward a few minutes, my sweet little boy was here.  First thoughts, oh god please make sure he is okay, then we thought he is so small. Weighted in at 4lbs, god was he breathtaking.

My husband and I got a quick peak then he was taken to the NICU. I spent hours in the recovery room waiting to see this little person that I had spent the last few weeks of hours talking to, signing to, crying and begging him to stay in there longer so he could grew every day.

It was time we could see him. The first image of him with tubes, wires in what we called his little condo was heart breaking. I wanted to hold him, kiss him but all we could do was hold his hand

  • Shortly after I was sent back to my room I sent my husband home to be with our oldest son. Then the emotional sadness set in of feeling my body betrayed me, how could this happen, what complications will he have. My head, my heart was overwhelmed.
  • This was excessively much for me to process. Then this overwhelming feeling of I don’t even know how to explain it, sickness, sadness, pressure to be strong because everyone would be watching me expecting me to be so fragile. Who knew this feeling would be how I felt everyday for the next three months.
  • Following day, slept for maybe three hours I wanted to get down to the NICU ASAP to see this miracle child but I wasn’t able to go by myself. Now I have to wait for others to be free for me to see my baby, perfect one more thing to push me over the edge. The free time I spent waiting to be wheeled downstairs a horrible feeling of realizing I will be leaving tomorrow without my baby.
  • This was something I never thought about; again, this was not my delivery plan. I had only seen or heard of this on Lifetime Movie network this couldn’t be happening to me. I remember crying in my wheelchair at the elevator when the nurse finally came to bring me to see our baby.

First sight, first touch Speechless…

To be continued…..

 

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