has anyone tried castor oil to induce labor?

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Cheyann Cr

my due date is december21,2012 this is my first i went to the doctors and im half a cenemeter dialated and my friend said to try castor oil and it workd for her ?has it workd for anyone else

Answer
Yes my sister and your friend is a whack-a-doodle to put it kindly for even suggesting you drink that poison.

At 38 weeks my sister took this - it gave her extremely violent contractions - it put my niece in fetal distress which caused her to pass meconium prior to delivery

She spent 8 days in the NICU - 4 of those we didn't think she was going to make it through the night!

If this is what you want for your new baby?

"The authors of the review conclude:

Castor oil does appear to stimulate uterine activity although the mechanism remains unclear. No healthcare professional would consider administering an unknown quantity of prostaglandins or not monitoring mother or fetus after attempting to stimulate labour. Yet this is.. what occurs when women are advised to take castor oil. Uncontrolled uterine activity can occur... Hyperstimulation can lead to fetal distress and the passage of meconium which increases the risk of intervention"
http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/coMec.html

Am I losing my mind? Please help (sleeplessness, anxiety, paranoia)?

Sarah

I am a new mom. This problem did not start recently, but it did subside for awhile. I constantly think someone is going to murder me. Only past a certain time. Past midnight the thought slips through my brain and then it grows worse. By 1am I start thinking that I should go to sleep because the thoughts will only get worse. By 2am I start obsessing. 3am and I swear someone is out there watching me, waiting to burst into a window or door at any moment. I have glass on my front door and it is blurred in areas, but you can still see light from across the street through it. I swear, I will stare at that blurred light waiting for it to disappear because there is someone walking towards my door to get me. I'll plan escape routes in my head. I think "what would I do if I heard someone breaking into my babies room." Sometimes I imagine it happening and I become paralyzed in my bed thinking they are waiting for me to get up and check on him. The feeling of terror wraps my throat and abdomen. I'm scared that I don't know how to use a gun to protect myself.

This started when I was little. It was a fear or dark or monsters, from what I understood at the time. I shared beds with my sister until I was in 9th grade because I'd be so scared. Well the fear got worse when my brother died because I was convinced he was going to haunt me around the time that he died every thing in Feb of 2012 until I had my child in Sept of 2012. Then the fear went away for awhile. I think I was just so exhausted from being up every night that I couldn't have time to think. Now I have more time to think about it, it's coming back, except for worse. I've never had it this bad. I'm 22 years old and I don't know what's wrong with me. I can't sleep anymore. I sleep for few hours a night, and it's all because of my head. I think I hear things over my son's monitor and try to listen to the white noise for voices in his room.

Oh when my brother died I'd have visions every night of him dying over and over as I was trying to fall asleep, although those disappeared.

I obviously need to talk to someone, but I have no insurance. I don't know what's going on with me.

Answer
I don't think you're crazy. But you are the one who controls your brain, so you can work harder and get better at controlling it. We ALL have that challenge one way or another, so don't feel alone.

For sleep, try the remedies here:
http://earthclinic.com/CURES/insomnia.html

You can also look for books in your library about curing insomnia. Be sure to get exercise. Exercise causes feel-good chemicals to get released in your brain, so sometime while it's light out go for a good run. Run in a heavily populated area or take a friend and some pepper spray. When you can't go outside to run, then find exercise videos on youtube and work out in your living room. If you can afford it, go join a gym and work out. Hard exercise helps us cope with stress and it helps us sleep.

Use meditation. There is a lot about it on the web, and a lot of good guided meditations on youtube.

Use affirmations. There is a lot about that on the web, not sure about youtube but you can look.

Meditation and affirmations are very powerful tools that can help bring you peace.

Go to PetFinder and adopt a nice big guardian type dog like Newfoundland or Great Pyranees. These are calm Gentle Giants that will not get you sued, and can be good with your kids and later with their friends. You can sleep like a baby knowing there is a good protection dog in your room. Dogs hear things at four times the distance we do. I sleep like a baby with three dogs. If they don't bark I know anything I heard wasn't important.
http://www.petfinder.com/

Train your dog. Great videos here: http://www.youtube.com/user/kikopup?feature=watch

Put pepper spray in your nightstand top drawer.

Smile a LOT. Every time we smile our brains release feel-good chemicals. There's been a lot of research on that.

Eat healthy. You might also have a bad sensitivity to some foods you're eating. Go to the library and get the book, "Eat Right 4 Your Type." Then for the next month avoid all the foods on your "Avoid" list and see if that doesn't make you feel a lot better. I've heard a lot of people say it's nonsense but it has always worked well for me and for a lot of other people I know. When I bought that book at a huge health food store the lady told me that book had gotten more rave reviews from her customers than anything else she'd ever sold.

Put a second voice in your head -- a best friend voice. Every time you think bad thoughts, have that voice chime in and tell you to knock it off. And when you run yourself down have it tell you that's silly and not true. I think that's what "be your own best friend" really looks like.

I hope I've given you some good ideas that help you.

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How common are still births and why do they do they occur?

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claredarre

Answer
Im not to sure really, but i really do think me and you are so alike. Are you worried about this? When i was carrying my son Kieran , i was in hospital at leat 3 times a week getting monitored because i didn't feel him move. As soon as i got there he moved like i don't know what!!!! I said to my mum and partner that all i want him to do is scream when he came out so i knew he was ok and he did. I found this on the internet, see if it helps, but try not to worry too much even though you will as your so like me. Your baby will be fine, your just so paranoid and love your baby to bits that you are already trying to protect him/her. I think we may have been seperated at birth.
What are the causes of stillbirth?
There are a number of known causes of stillbirth. Sometimes more than one of these causes may contribute to the babyâs death. Common causes include:

Birth defects: About 15 to 20 percent of stillborn babies have one or more birth defects (4). Nearly half of these have chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome (4). Others have birth defects resulting from genetic, environmental or unknown causes.

Placental problems: Placental problems cause between 10 and 20 percent of stillbirths (3). One of the most common placental problems is placental abruption. In this condition, the placenta peels away, partly to almost completely, from the uterine wall before delivery. It results in heavy bleeding that can threaten the life of mother and baby. Sometimes it can cause the fetus to die from lack of oxygen. Women who smoke cigarettes or use cocaine during pregnancy are at increased risk of placental abruption.

Poor fetal growth: Fetuses who are growing too slowly are at increased risk of stillbirth, sometimes from asphyxia (lack of oxygen). About 20 percent of stillborn babies have poor growth (3). Women with preeclampsia, a pregnancy-related form of high blood pressure, are at increased risk of having a growth-restricted baby. Smoking also increases the risk. An ultrasound examination during pregnancy can show that the fetus is growing poorly, allowing health care providers to carefully monitor the pregnancy.

Infections: Infections involving the mother, fetus or placenta appear to cause about 10 to 25 percent of stillbirths (3). Infections are an important cause of fetal deaths before 28 weeks of pregnancy (3). Some infections may cause no symptoms in the pregnant woman. These may include genital and urinary tract infections and certain viruses, such as fifth disease (parvovirus infection). These infections may go undiagnosed until they cause serious complications, such as fetal death or preterm birth (before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy).

Chronic health conditions in the pregnant woman: About 10 percent of stillbirths are related to chronic health conditions in the mother, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and kidney disease (3). These conditions may contribute to poor fetal growth or placental abruption. Due to improvements in medical care, fetal deaths due to maternal health conditions have greatly decreased (3).

Umbilical cord accidents: Accidents involving the umbilical cord may contribute to about 15 percent of stillbirths (3). These may include a knot in the cord or abnormal placement of the cord into the placenta. These can deprive the fetus of oxygen.
Other causes of stillbirth include trauma (such as car accidents), postdate pregnancy (a pregnancy that lasts longer than 42 weeks), Rh disease (an incompatibility between the blood of mother and baby), and lack of oxygen (asphyxia) during a difficult delivery. These causes are uncommon.

Can stillbirths be prevented?
Over the past 30 years, stillbirths have declined by about 50 percent (3). This is largely due to better treatment of certain conditions, such as maternal high blood pressure and diabetes, which can increase the risk of stillbirth. Today, women with well-controlled diabetes and high blood pressure face little increased risk of stillbirth (3). Rh disease was an important cause of stillbirth until the 1960s. Now it usually can be prevented by giving an Rh-negative woman an injection of immune globulin at 28 weeks of pregnancy, and again after the birth of an Rh-positive baby.

Women with high-risk pregnancies are carefully monitored during late pregnancy, usually starting by about 32 weeks (3). Tests that monitor the fetal heart rate often can tell if the fetus is in trouble. This can allow treatment, sometimes including early delivery, which can be lifesaving. Premature babies are at increased risk of health problems in the newborn period and of lasting disabilities. However, with advances in medical care, the outlook for premature babies has greatly improved.

Health care providers often suggest that high-risk pregnant women do a daily âkick countâ starting around 28 weeks of pregnancy (5). One approach is to record how long it takes a fetus to make ten movements. It is reassuring if a fetus makes ten movements within two hours. If a woman counts fewer than ten kicks in two hours, or if she feels that the baby is moving less than usual, she should contact her health care provider. Her provider may recommend tests, such as fetal heart rate monitoring and ultrasound.

Women should not smoke, drink alcohol or use street drugs during pregnancy. All of these can increase the risk of stillbirth and other pregnancy complications. Pregnant women also should discuss all prescription, over-the-counter and herbal medications with their health care provider because some medications can pose a risk to the fetus.

Pregnant women should report any vaginal bleeding to their health care provider immediately. Vaginal bleeding during the second half of pregnancy can be a sign of placental abruption. Often, a prompt cesarean delivery can save the baby.

Women who are obese appear to be at increased risk of having a stillborn baby (6). Women who are obese should consider losing weight before they attempt to conceive. Their health care provider can discuss their ideal weight and how they can achieve it. A woman should never try to lose weight during pregnancy. However, women who are obese should not gain as much weight during pregnancy as women who are not overweight.

Is there anyway to boost my reception in my basement?

rynearson9

I get decent signal on the main floor and when i go in the basement my signal sucks. I have Verizon

Answer
Well here is some information that tells you what interferes with wireless signal:

Sources of interference for wireless devices and networks

The farther away the interference source, the less likely it is to cause an issue. The following items can cause interference with wireless communication:

* Microwave ovens: Placing your computer, Bluetooth wireless device, or AirPort base station near a microwave oven that is in use may cause interference.
* Direct Satellite Service (DSS) RF leakage: The coax cable that comes with certain types of satellite dishes may cause interference. Obtain newer cables if you suspect RF leakage.
* Certain electrical devices such as power lines, electrical railroad tracks, and power stations.
* 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz phones: A cordless telephone that operates in this range may cause interference with wireless devices or networks when used.
* Metal objects: If possible, move metal objects or change the placement of the computer, wireless device or wireless access point so the path between your computer and the wireless device or wireless access point is free from metal objects that may cause interference.
* Video senders (transmitters/receivers) that operate in the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz bandwidth.
* Wireless speakers that operate in the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz bandwidth.
* Certain external monitors and LCD displays: Certain displays may emit harmonic interference, especially in the 2.4GHz bandwidth between channels 11 and 14. This interference may be at its worst if you have a portable computer with the lid closed and an external monitor connected to it. Try changing your access point to use 5 Ghz or a lower 2.4 GHz channel.
* Any other "wireless" devices that operate in the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz bandwidth (microwaves, cameras, baby monitors, and so on).

Note: Some devices may not overtly state that they operate in the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz bandwidth. The operations manual should indicate the frequencies the device uses to operate. These may be referred to as "Dual Band" or "Wireless" devices.

Effect of home and office elements on wireless communication
Where you are located and what materials you are surrounded by can affect your wireless networking performance or Bluetooth wireless device. The table below shows common elements and their potential for interference.
Type of Barrier Interference Potential
Wood Low Interference
Plaster Low Interference
Synthetic material Low Interference
Glass Low Interference
Water Medium Interference
Bricks Medium Interference
Marble Medium Interference
Paper rolls High Interference
Concrete High Interference
Bulletproof glass High Interference
Metal Very high Interference

I would say your problem is Concrete because of the bricks, which are almost the hardest next to metal and bulletproof glass... But if you can get a wireless access point and get it at the entrance of the basement, it will take the signal from your router and extend it into your basement. You can take these WAPoints and move them around to see where you get the best signal in your basement with where the access point extends the signal too. I hope this helps. Also some of the other items listed above can cause inteference but I would suspect the concrete and start there. There not too expensive and you can have more than one.

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Why is my wireless adapter limiting my download speed?

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Aaron Cost

When my router is plugged VIA Ethernet, I can get download speeds of 62,000 kbps (7.2Mb/s) and this result was supplied by multiple online download speed testers, and is true.

However, because I'm being forced into using a wireless adapter (Realtek RTL8187B 802.11g 54Mbps) and then my download speed is 6000 kbps, my connectivity to it is Excellent and it reports good signal strength... The 54Mbps cap is enough for 62,000 kbps.

I'm so annoyed, frustrated and confused.

Should I buy a new wireless adapter that is not a USB one? Is there a setting I need to change...?

Answer
Well, 802.11g is half duplex, meaning only one device can communicate at a time. Because of this (and a few other factors) 802.11g is only usually less than 50% efficient. So if your data rate is 54 Mbps, then you can expect an actual through of around 27 Mbps (or less). That would be 3 MBps. You also have to factor in the number of connected devices. Also 54 Mbps is only ~55,000 Kbps so you wouldn't get your 62k with it anyways..

WiFi is a shared medium, so if anything else is connected, that will decrease the available bandwidth to the device. Devices operating on the same channel will create interference which will also decrease performance. Microwaves, baby monitors, and other WiFi networks on the same channel will cause interference. Try to stay away from non-WiFi devices you are try to use the network and they are operational. Also, if their are other wireless networks near you, make sure you are operating on a different, non-overlapping channel.

Also, take into account the quality of the router. Some consumer grade devices aren't very at forwarding packets, so even though they report they support a certain data rate doesn't mean they will forward data at full line rate. Only way to test this is to try connecting to someone else's WiFi with a similar Internet bandwidth but a different router. If you get better performance there, its possible your router sucks.

Should GMO foods be banned until proven safe?

DaveW79

NaturalNews) A report published in the International Journal of Microbiology has verified once again that Monsanto's genetically modified (GM) crops are causing severe health problems. A legal challenge issued against Monsanto forced the multi-national agriculture giant to release raw data revealing that animals fed its patented GM corn suffered liver and kidney damage within just three months.

http://www.naturalnews.com/z028388_GM_crops_kidney_damage.html
Hundreds of sheep have died in India after grazing on cotton plants after the BT Cotton was harvested.

Answer
I've looked into this study and, statistically speaking, it is a textbook case of a Type I error. In science, we call this type of error a 'false positive'. In other words, there was a weak correlation between the liver damage and the consumption of Bt toxins that could have just as easily been attributed to chance. Therefore, it is illogical to jump to conclusions and declare that a causal relationship exists.

There are many, many other tests, on the other hand, that indicate that the toxin is perfectly harmless. Think about this for a second. The Bt toxin is naturally produced by Bacillus thurengiensis. This is a very common bacteria; it is found in most soils and on many plant surfaces. We have been eating this bacteria, along with the Bt toxin that it produces, for thousands of years. Bt corn has had the gene that codes for Bt proteins spliced into it. When these normally harmless proteins are exposed to alkaline conditions they change conformation and latch onto the walls of the intestinal tract, causing cells to lyse and eventually killing the animal. Many herbivorous insects have very alkaline intestinal tracts. Humans and other mammals, on the other hand, have acid to neutral intestinal tracts. In our GI tract, the protein remains in its harmless natural conformation.

I agree that GMO's need to be more heavily monitored, especially the ones that are modified to produce pharmaceuticals. IMO, they should only be grown in isolated hothouses so they cannot cross-pollinate with our field crops. But Bt crops and RoundUp ready crops are both harmless. When we grow Bt crops we don't have to use pesticides, which can be very damaging to the surrounding ecosystem and to the consumer.

When we plant RoundUp ready crops, then we can use RoundUp exclusively. I've studied herbicides extensively in college. Some of them are horrible chemicals, staying in the soil for years. Some of them will burn human skin if they touch it, basically popping our cells like balloons. Others, mostly auxin-based herbicides, can be carried on the wind for miles, burning the new growth of entire forests. Glyphosate (RoundUp) is a very safe herbicide. It isn't dangerous unless you drink large amounts of it (which would be incredibly stupid), breaks down in the soil after about three days, and doesn't leech nearly as easily as many other, more dangerous herbicides. It's only harmful to the environment if it gets into wetlands, where it can injure amphibians. But that can be avoided by using best management practices.

Some GMOs are dangerous. Many are actually helpful: they reduce the use of more dangerous herbicides and pesticides. Please don't throw out the baby with the bathwater.

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How do I know if I have gestational diabetes or not?

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cutegirl07

Hi I am currently 33 weeks pregnant and I had glucose tolerance test (75 ml) at 18 weeks and then at 28 weeks. Both of the times were negative but I had gestational diabetes with my first one though. Two weeks ago I have generally monitored my sugar level 2 hours after dinner and I was shocked to see that it was 8.8. Now I have been monitoring everyday since then and average is 7.5 ( without any diet plan and exercise). So does this mean that I got diabetes?

Answer
No, my friend, it does NOT mean that you have gestational diabetes.

Believe me, if your gynae team were concerned the would have told you as it makes their job even more difficult if there are added complications thrown into the cooking pot. (I'm fairly sure that you already appreciate that developing gestational diabetes increases risks to both mother and unborn child.)

Because you developed gestational diabetes during an earlier pregnancy DOES put you at increased risk of developing it during successive pregnancies, but this does NOT mean that you automatically will.

As you suspect, the 8.8 mmol/l (millimoles per litre) result that you got IS higher than it should be, but this MAY have been just a 'one off'. Yoiu also need to take into consideration whether you performed the blood test correctly. Did you, for instance, wash and dry your hands immediately prior to testing? There are a number of contaminants that can affect the results, such as food and/or drink remaining on the hands, cleaning products, scents/perfumes, alcohol swabs ... if not allowed to completely evaporate.

Your average blood sugar (glucose) level of 7.5 mmol/l is within the range that a non-diabetic would expect. (Normally, a non-diabetic's blood sugar level would not rise above 7.8 mmol/l two hours after eating. I am well aware that you MAY have been requested to test after one hour, but this is to do with the dangers that could be involved when someone has gestational diabetes.)

If you are, at all, concerned, my friend, you need to express your concerns to your gynae team. You could also try following the advice that was offered during your first pregnancy with regards to diet and exercise. It won't do either yourself, or your baby, any harm whatsoever.

Congratulations, by the way. I hope that everything goes well for you, that your pregnancy goes according to plan, and that your baby is the most beautiful baby in the world.

Is labor delivery the only option if I slips and falls during 29 weeks pregnancy?

wenny

I am 29 weeks pregnant and fell yesterday on the stairs, only my bottom and legs suffered sour and pain, no stomach pain and breeding. I called the Dr office, and the nurse suggested to have labor delivery right away, but I don't want to, because the baby is only 7 month, and I feel just fine. I want to know if early labor delivery the only option, please help me out! Thanks.

Answer
Did the nurse say go to labor and delivery or did she actually say deliver? Because if she said you should deliver she should be written up to the medical board. She has no reason to assume that the baby should need delivered. I am a medical student in ob/gyn. The only way they would deliver you is if there is placental abruption or if for some reason they feel the baby is distressed. They do that by placing you on a fetal heart monitor. And even that is not likely in your case. The baby is protected in an amniotic sac and is safer than you think. He or she would just bounce around your body and the sac protects the baby greatly. Now you should definately not be sitting here online you should be at your labor and delivery center at your hospital because you need to be checked out. If your placenta did partially erupt from the lining of your uterus it is limiting the babys oxygen and nutrient supply. Even if you have no blood externally you and your fetus could still be in great danger. But don't get yourself upset 97 percent of the time the fetus is fine just get to the hospital in case.

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my cordless phone just cut out while talking?

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Doug

I can no longer talk on the phone outside of the house, and lately the phones will just 'cut out' while talking. Phone doesn't go dead, it just 'cuts out'.

Answer
where is the question in all of that?

how old is the phone or batteries?
what frequency is the phone, 5.8ghz, 2.4ghz, 900mhz, 1.9ghz (DECT)?
do you have other wireless devices that operate in the same frequency as your phone, wifi, wireless cameras, wireless intercom, baby monitor, etc?

if the batteries are over 2 years old i would replace them...

if your phone is 900 Mhz or has a channel button on it, i would replace the phone...

if you have a 2.4 ghz phone and wifi, i would change the channel that the wifi operates on, or replace the phone with a 5.8ghz or DECT phone..

i would place the main base in a centralized location depending on where you want the cordless phones to reach.. up as high as possible..

What's the best baby monitor? I have trouble with static.?

titians

We have the AngelCare monitor, but when it is on, we get terrible static. It may be interference with some Plantronics 900 mghz headseat phones we need for work. Is there a brand that works on a different frequency?

Answer
We use a 5.8ghz cordless phone rather then a baby monitor. It doesn't have the same problems that a baby monitor would since it's on a different frequency. Great reception, only problem is we can't use the telephone while monitoring.

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Can anyone recommend a digital video baby monitor that can be linked to the internet?

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JSR

Can you recommend a digital video baby monitor that can be linked to the internet? I can't seem to find one that can be linked to the web so that we can watch baby remotely while at work.

Answer
go to gerber lol they should hav baby stuff

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayOgFNuDCuc

How to extend the range of a video baby monitor?

rich1000

Does anyone know how to extend the range of a video baby monitor? Our monitor is 900mhz. We live in an old building full of steel and concrete so the signal doesn't go well between rooms and is lost entirely between the baby room and the master bedroom. There are boosters for wifi networks so I would assume there is some technology or the same one that would work for baby monitors.

Answer
Take a power booster and uplink the connection to the communication antenna but dont forget to bypass the firewall and that should work.

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What are the best baby products?

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proud Moth

I am due with my first on June 12th. I don't really know the best products to use yet since I don't have any experience.I was hoping that some of you could give me some ideas on what works best and the products you prefer. Also is there a way of getting free samples from some places so I can try some of the products first and see how I like them? Please share your experience with these items that brought you to like/dislike them. Thanks! Best answer will go to mos descriptive.

Diapers?
Wipes?
Pacifiers?
Lotions?
Baby wash?
Diaper rash cream?
Baby monitor? Video and sound or just sound?
Formula?
Bottles?
Breast pump?
Breast pads?
Breast creams?
And anything else I may have left out.

Thank you so much!
BTW: I plan on breast feeding, but the formula is just in case it doesn't work out. Thanks again!

Answer
Diapers: Pampers are best, especially the swaddlers. They're softer and smell nice. As your baby gets bigger, you might find Huggies little movers fit better though. I found the sides on the Pampers started to scrunch up and dig in (or at least, look uncomfortable) as my daughter got bigger. Fisher Price diapers are also a decent (and less expensive) option as well as the Walmart brand.

Wipes: I definitely preferred the Huggies wipes. I found the Pampers wipes too soft and too flimsy. I like something with a little more substance. The Walmart brand wipes are ok too - but smell kind of bad.

Pacifiers: I only ever used the NUK ones, which we never had a problem with, but I can't really compare them to anything else.

Lotions: I've tried pretty much every baby lotion on the shelf and always end up going back to the Aveeno ones. Mostly because I think they smell good. I never found the Johnson's lotions to really keep my daughter's skin as soft as the Aveeno ones either.

Baby wash: I love the Aveeno baby wash too, but only because they smell nice. All baby washes are pretty much the same otherwise.

Diaper rash cream: Definitely not Desitin - it smells awful. I always used and liked Penaten.

Baby monitor: I have an Avent monitor and it works great. You can adjust the senitivity enough to hear your baby breathing or to stay off unless she actually starts crying. Reception is awesome, no interferance from other electronics/computers you sometimes get with other monitors.

Formula: After my breastfeeding woes, we started using Enfamil. But after a few weeks my kid got pretty constipated so we switched to Similac. She did really well with it and we never had another problem. If you sign up on their website, they send you pretty decent coupons once in a while too.

Bottles: We used the NUK bottles - mostly because we had a free sample lying around when we needed a bottle. I'm not sure I would recommend them though. Their venting is not really reliable and you have to interrupt the feeding because a vaccuum has developed in the bottle. We used the Playtex drop ins later on. The idea was nice - not having to wash so many bottle parts, but the liners were an added cost.

Breast pump: I used an ancient Ameda one for a while, which worked great but I don't think they sell them anymore (at least, not that model). I've heard the Medela Swing is pretty good though.

Breast pads: I only ended up using the Gerber contoured ones (because it's what I bought while pregnant). I wouldn't buy them again - they were awkward and definitely pretty obvious under clothing. I never got a chance to use them, but I'd look into "lilypads" too - they're a silicone type "pad" that apparently works pretty well.

Breast creams: I used the Lansinoh cream. In retrospect, I think it interfered with the healing of my cracked nipples more than it helped. It also stains so beware.



(Also, if you're really into natural/green baby products (and not just how nice they smell - ha), I would spend some time researching them instead of just trusting the label: http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2011/lousylabels/)

Baby registry and purchases before your baby shower?

Married an

I have not started my registry nor do I plan to until probably around Thanksgiving time. I am just curious what everyone bought before their showers. I am a big CraigsList surfer but haven't purchased much yet. I think you can find great stuff on there for fractions of the price. I was thinking I would buy used a video baby monitor, cloth diapers (to find my preferred type/brand) and dresser and crib set (once I check out the recalls, etc). I have also been given a bunch of stuff from my sister in law like bouncy chairs, bassinettes, infant swing, clothing, baby tub, stroller & carseat (not sure about it's safety rating though) and a bunch of other stuff I have no idea what it is.

What is left for my baby registry?

Baby #1 due February 1, 2011 and shower is only 2 weeks before the due date!
Having the shower so close because that's when my sister (has time and) offered to have it for me. I would prefer to have it after the baby is born that way out of town people could meet the baby and we don't know what we're having yet!

Answer
Well, i have a 7month old and i'm still finding things i need. I suggest getting some sort of toybox/storage system...i really like those cubbies and fabric bins. you won't really need it for a while, but i'm already tripping over all her toys! a hamper. i have a little 3drawer plastic office organizer for her headbands and clips, it's nice for little odds and ends. I agree with a previous comment, it's better to buy a new carseat if you are able to. A soft lamp, so when you go in to feed/change/check on baby you won't wake them up too much. you'll need a finger nail clipper. again, i agree w a previous person...a diaper warmer isn't necessary, just hold it in your hand for a minute. blankets, lots of socks (they always go missing) pacifiers and a CLIP, don't forget a clip to attach it to the baby or car seat. one little gadget i was given, and loved was this timer (from babiesRus or target i think) it has a few timers for last diaper change, feeding, medicine administration, how long they've been asleep. it helped me alot in the beginning to wake her up for her feedings instead of letting her sleep thru them.

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What kind of baby monitor did you use?

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Q. There seems to be a million different types out now. Ones that just monitor sound, ones with big LCD video screens, ones with handheld LCD screens, night vision, motion detection, etc etc.

Which one did you use?

Answer
i didnt use one

whats a good wallet friendly baby monitor camera and sound that can be viewed from phone threw wifi?

ryan

I want to be able to view threw phone and still have a monitor at home with little or no monthly fees to view online is there such a system?

Answer
You can check Foscam ip/network cameras. It works over wifi (wireless) or with cable to your internet connection router. It costs around 80 dollars I think... Some models have 2 way voice, too... With night vision and everything... You can even change the camera direction remotely from your phone or computer... It's not easy to setup initially (the user manual was horrible when I bought it 6 months ago), but once it's done - no problems... I have 2 of them at home.

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Have you grown up in a funeral home or were the child of undertakers?

baby monitor for the deaf image

Lee

Hi, I am looking for the most amusing/shocking/emotional experience anyone has had growing up in a funeral home or whos parents have owned an undertaking business. Any memories that would capture the experience when ones parents ran such a business. Can be funny, sad, emotional, frightening. This is real research so real answers please.

Answer
No.
If anyone says yes then there's a 99.99999999999999999999999999999999% that they're lying.

My Mom is a 911 operator though and my dad a police sergeant. They have lots of stories...
Here's some funny/shocking/sad/interesting ones.
~Mom got a call from a college student who was writing a report on deaf people and wanted to see what it was like so he poured high-quality superglue into his ears.
~Mom got a call from a mother who's baby had been accidentally killed by her toddler. The toddler was pretending that the baby was a dog and tied a jump-rope around it's neck. The baby slide down their slide, the rope got caught, and the baby was strangled.
~One of dad's police dogs (before he got promoted) bit a badguy in the thigh and swallowed a huge chunk of flesh. Yum.
~My Mom got a call for a fire and it turns out that the fire was caused by one of this ladies MANY exotic pets. One of her giant monitor lizards chewed through a lamp cord. The firefighters went inside and were attacked by hundreds of exotic and illegal animals including alligators and monkeys.

How do deaf parents know their babies are crying in the middle of the night?

chica

Answer
As the other poster said, they have device that tells them that they have a phone call, someone is at the door, or there's a fire. Usually lights flash.

A Google search of: deaf parents baby monitor

reveals that they also have vibrating pagers they wear to bed.

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My mind is so clouded that I can not think straight. Can you give me a clearer picture?

best baby monitor mother and baby awards image

brileync20

My husband is abusive. He is verbally, emotionally, & at times physically abusive. He was abusive while I was pregnant with both of our children. He was abusive after they were born. He would say things like:
you can't do sh** right
your a sick bi*** (had/have postpartum depression)
etc. etc. etc.
He is a very self-centered man. Everything is about him & he always has some sort of issue to attend to. We even had to focus on him while I was in labor. He was angry about something...
He makes it known that I am his problem. I am the reason that he is abusive. I make him this way. If he was with someone else they would appreciate him more. (We live in a big house. I work as a elementary teacher part time to keep the kids out of daycare.) He thinks that I should be more appreciative because he is one black man that hasn't left his family. But to tell you the truth, this is worst than him just leaving me. He is here but he resents being here. You know that "work" of raising children. But he wants to award of being here for his kids, but on the side he is taking out his resentment on me. Always talks about how much work he does with the kids, i.e. helping with bath, diapers, monitoring, etc. He enjoys nothing with them it seems.

It is so hard to appreciate him because he is so abusive. I can not see past the abusive things that he saids and does. That is why I am leaving. My children who are in the infant & toddler phase do not deserve to grow up in such a dysfunctional environment. I am a excellent mother. My 2 year old already knows her ABC, counting to 10, etc. etc.
Can I be causing him to be abusive? Or is he using the fact that I am weak with postpartum depression to make me feel helpless & guilty enough to stay?

Answer
Sweetheart...there is no way on earth that it is your fault that he is abusive. That is a choice he makes, every time he does it. He can stop, if he so chose.

He is using your weakness to control you and cover his own problems. You can never do anything that is deserving of any type of abuse.

You are doing the right thing by leaving. It will be very hard, no doubt. You're heart might hurt, you may think you did the wrong thing, you may feel bad because you "hurt" him. Let me tell you, you are doing the right thing, the pain will pass, and as far as hurting him...he should have thought about the pain he'd feel while he was inflicting your pain.

You are right that the kids don't deserve to grow up in such an environment. They will lead much healtheir, more productive lives if they are not afraid. Also, they will learn respect and how to treat others properly if they are not hearing and seeing daddy be mean and uugly to mama.

You can do this....your babies deserve it! And as far as being weak....you have 2 children, work, and put up with an abusive husband! I don't see any weakness there! You are strong enough to see what he does is wrong, that your kids deserve better, and you are leaving. That takes strength. Now, you will have to put "strong" into overdrive to make it after you leave him....even if just for a little while.

God bless you, I'll be praying for you and your babies! You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you! (Philippians 4:13)!

why do young girls get pregnant as fast as they change clothes and then make a big deal about child support!?

Alex

its like any girl 18 or older has a kid, is not with the kids father, has had many many sexual partners, and then always bitches they dont get child support or dont get enough (even if he pays what hes required to) its just never enough. its always "im gonna raise this baby" attitude and constant change in boyfriends, which of course leads to police visits when she wants him out over nothing, then restraining orders over BS and court. why are girls so slutty. they cant keep it in their pants either.

Answer
It's not any, it's just that 20% of sexually active females, over the age of 12, as actively trying to get pregnant. Tyra Banks featured the study on her TV show. It has nothing to do with child support, it has to do with having something they can own and have 100% control of. It's the idea that they can, so why not just do it. And, they do not have to have sex with the father of the child.

With the growth of the Self Insemination Kit industry, they can obtain kits, online, with full instructions on how to use semen after oral sex, or from a used condom, to attempt pregnancy. Spermicide in condoms have a very short shelf life, and those imported are not closely monitored by our government to determine even if it is spermicide being put in them. The industry has resisted government oversight. This means the boy can have sex with one girl, oral or with a condom, and she can than help a female friend get pregnant with it. An Illinois Doctor was ordered to pay child support the a woman who did this after oral sex, though he has been allowed to sue for for damages.

As for child support, this is petty issue to raise. There are by far worse ones.

Consider that a Michigan 12 year old boy has sex with the woman who takes care of him when his parents want to go to dinner or a movie. The woman gets pregnant, but she is married, so her husband thinks the child is his. The boy doesn't report the sex as boys are often taught that if they get "lucky" with an older woman, that is suppose to be great.

Now, 14 years later the woman is in the middle of a divorce with her husband, and he files for custody. She counters that he is not the father, so he can't get custody. However, she cannot now collect child support from him, so she files and is awarded a 14 year retroactive order on the "bio" dad. She couldn't be charged as the statute of limitations has run out which was the law for the time the act was committed, and old cases could not be grandfathered in under the new law.

A case in the news just recently involving a 13 year old Ohio boy, and a 19 year old girl, Jane C. Crane. He gets her pregnant and is ordered to pay $50 a month in child support, to be paid by his parents. The girl went to jail, however the child is now in the care of her mother. The boy cannot file for custody due to his age, and his parents do not have standing int he court.

In all states, underage males, who have sex with an adult, can be required to pay child support.
http://docs.dads-house.org/Statutory_Rape_Victims_Must_Pay_Child_Support.pdf
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How do you send internet to other devices, using a computer?

best baby monitor dual receiver image

Vanessa

We get internet in one spot in our house with our computer, but I would like to know if there is a way to send it the internet to other devices like home theater systems, and i-pods from the one computer.

Answer
It is possible, however often not cost effective or the best solution.

There are methods such as Internet Connection Sharing (ICS). You can set up ICS on a PC with a Internet connection and connect it to another PC or other device. This requires two network cards in the first PC. The Internet connection can be Ethernet or WiFi. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/using-ics-internet-connection-sharing. This method also requires the first PC to be active any time you need to access the Internet on the second PC.

The best solution for your application is to just add a wireless router. http://www.amazon.com/s/?_encoding=UTF8&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957&field-keywords=wireless%20router&url=search-alias%3Daps&sprefix=wireless%20ro%2Caps%2C490&tag=excharge-20
This is a efficient way to share a single Internet connection with multiple devices. The router can connect to your devices via Ethernet cables or using WiFi (wireless) connections.

Many people would be likely be surprised at how many active connections their wireless router has. I have dozens. Cell phones, tablets, iPods, game consoles, laptops, desktops, ROKU boxes, Internet enabled devices such as TVs and audio receivers, and the list goes on.

That being said,

Go here http://speedtest.net and test your Internet connection speed.

This is your Internet speed. No wireless router, or connection method can make it any faster.

If you are going to have multiple users or simultaneous devices such s ROKU boxes to do HD streaming such as Netflix, then you'll want a minimum of 10 Mbps or faster.

Your Internet bandwidth is shared among all of the users of your LAN. So any bandwidth others are using will be deducted from the total WAN (Internet) bandwidth that is available to you.

In simple terms, the more users you have the more speed will be required. Streaming video, such as Netflix and Hulu require a lot of bandwidth. Here are the minimum recommendations from Netflix. https://support.netflix.com/en/node/306

The only way to Improve your Internet speed is to upgrade your plan or switch to a faster ISP.

WIRELESS ROUTERS:
Wireless signals are affected by many factors including distance, wall density, electrical interference, directional antenna range, etc.

All of these factors will affect your actual wireless range. As wireless connection quality varies the connection speeds are renegotiated. The WLAN connection may start at 150 Mbps and end up at less than 10 Mbps or drop entirely.

2.4 GHz WiFi connections also experience interference from microwave ovens and cordless phones which interfere with the 2.4 GHz band.

Dual band routers have multiple wireless radios enabling broadcast on the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands simultaneously. Using the 5 GHz band cuts down on interference from cordless phones and microwave ovens.. Not all devices can use the 5 GHz frequency. Many laptops and other devices only operate at 2.4 GHz. Thus the need for dual band routers.

You should try to centrally locate your wireless router or gateway up high and away from dense walls and electrical and 2.4 GHz wireless interference such as microwave ovens, cordless phones, baby monitors, etc.

Your best bet is always a direct Ethernet connection. Ethernet is unaffected by wireless interference and will give you a rock solid, stable network connection.

If it is not feasible to run Ethernet cable the next best option would be a set of powerline network adapters http://isp1.us/reviews/netgear-xavb2101-powerline-adapter/

You plug one in by your router and one in the room where you need access and connect them to the devices with standard Ethernet patch cables. The network signals are transmitted over your existing home electrical wiring which will not be affected by wireless interference. There is still overhead in the connection but it is much more stable than WiFi.

Good Luck...

Hot to set up a sound system throughout the house?

kitty98

This house is already pre-wired: it has in-ceiling speakers in the master bedroom, bathroom, garage, and patio (these are 80W). Every set of speakers has its own volume control. Plus there are also 6 speaker hook ups in the living room.

I want to set up capable of playing different things at the same time, ie. if I want to hear music in my bedroom, while my roommate watches a movie in the living room. How can I do this? what good receiver can handle this? I need a receiver capable of handling 2 or more different sources at the same time.

I also need a surround sound sys for the living room. It has the cables, but not the speakers. Recomendations?

Do I need an amplifier too, or the receiver alone can deal w this?

I'm pretty new w all this, so info w baby steps will be greatly appreciated :-)

Answer
I have provided links below with tutorials and diagrams for multi room applications. You will need a receiver with dual zone capabilities. You do not say if your volume controls have impedance matching. If they are impedance matching controls you will only need to add a fairly beefy two channel amp (which you will connect to your receiver's zone two preamp outputs) to drive the speakers in the bedroom, bathroom, garage, and patio. If these volume controls do not do impedance matching I recommend you get a multi channel amplifier (you will need at least eight channels) which you will connect to the zone two preamp outputs. This will give you MUCH better performance in your bedroom, bathroom, garage, and patio than trying to drive all 4 pairs of speakers by your receiver's zone 2 output (low power). You do not need a speaker selector (switch) since you have volume controls unless you want to use this for impedance matching. I would not recommend it for that purpose though (signal loss). Either go with an impedance matching block or (BETTER) go with the multi channel amp. Since volume controls usually don't provide much information on the front and since you are pretty new to this you may need to find out who installed the system to find out if these controllers are impedance matching. Worst case scenario an installer can look at the back of the controllers to tell you if they are impedance matching. People who do multi-room on the cheap usually go back eventually to upgrade their system. Best to do it right to begin with.

Recommendations for your home theater:
1) Do a lot of comparison listening and pick what sounds best to you.

2) Be sure to listen to brands such as M&K (I like these alot), Monitor Audio, and B&W on the higher end. On the slightly lower end try brands such as Boston Acoustics, Klipsch, and Paradigm.

3) Recievers: I like Denon (sound quality). Onkyo, Yamaha, and Harmon Kardon are good too.

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Can your neighbors listen in on your phone conversations with a baby monitor ?

best baby monitor range image

Lady

If you're on your cordless phone in your home? I've heard that its possible for neighbors with baby monitors to do this to their neighbors, and I wouldn't think this would work, unless my cordless phone acts as a monitor.

Answer
It's possible if the phone and the monitors work in the same broadcast frequency.

Most do not, however. Modern cordless phones operate in the 2.4ghz wavelength, and older ones operate in the 900mhz wavelength (the newest ones operate in the 5.2ghz wavelength, but don't worry about those).

Most baby monitors work in the 300-900mhz wavelength, so a few of them *can* pick up on older cordless phones, but those that do are few and far between... especially becase every phone and monitor is coded to only pick up a very specific frequency around their specified range... so crosstalk is less likely.

What is the best 2 room video baby monitor?

Kristin

I would like to get a baby video monitor but I want it in both kids rooms with only one monitor screen. What is the best one on the market for the cheapest price. Or...is there a video system out that has only one camera that I can order a 2nd camera separate for?

Answer
Hi

Like any other products, baby monitors need to suit your lifestyle and satisfy your requirements, even to the slightest of details. So before you purchase one, try to dwell on a number of factors first. These things will not only serve as your guide, they will also help you pick out the best type or brand for your little one.

Some of the things you need to consider are:

Range
Portability
Levels of Interference
Video Monitoring Options

There are more details at the link in the source box about the Best Baby Monitors and I hope they help

Take care

Paul

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What did you put in your birth plan?

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Emmy Jo (1

I'm in the process of writing my birth plan, and I'd love to hear what some new moms included in their birth plans.

I've looked up plenty of examples and instructions online, so I don't really need links to those. I'm most interested in your personal experiences.

-- What ended up being the most important wishes/instructions to include in your birth plan?

-- Are there any wishes/instructions you included in your birth plan that weren't necessary?

-- Is there anything you forgot to include in your birth plan that you wish you had included?

Thanks!

Answer
I gave birth at a freestanding birth center with a midwife, so I didn't have to make much of a birth plan. I knew that most of the interventions and medications I wanted to avoid wouldn't be pushed on me there, so my birth plan was very short and sweet:

~ I wanted to catch the baby myself (and I did).
~ I wanted to have a waterbirth (which didn't happen, but I was okay with it).
~ I wanted perineal support while I was pushing to prevent tears (which happened, and it worked).
~ I didn't want him given eye ointment or a vitamin K shot (which he wasn't).
~ I wanted freedom of movement and the freedom to push in whatever position I found most comfortable (which I did).

Most of my birth plan was followed to the letter, and I'm fairly certain that wouldn't have happened if I gave birth in a hospital. I chose a midwife because I knew that most of my birth wishes were part of her typical repertoire anyway. I have to disagree that doctors and midwives don't follow them. My midwife worked very hard to make sure my wishes were met. Doctors are far less likely to do so, in my experience. They care far more about their own liability than your birth plan.

I didn't have to worry about being offered or pressured into interventions, like Pitocin augmentation, epidural, pain medication, episiotomy, IV, constant fetal monitoring, or anything else of the sort. There wasn't a chance of my baby being given formula in a hospital nursery, we weren't separated at all, we had skin to skin contact immediately after birth, and all newborn assessments were preformed while I held him skin to skin on my chest.

I honestly hope that I'll be able to have either a homebirth or birth center birth will any future children I have. My oldest was born in a hospital. I strongly prefer the out-of-hospital birth experience.

If you're planning a hospital birth, you might consider having a doula or labor assistant with you. They can be very helpful with explaining procedures to you, helping you achieve the kind of birth you want, and they can advocate on your behalf.

I also have to disagree that nothing on a birth plan is unnecessary. Having discussed this with several OB nurses, birth doulas, and midwives, I can tell you for a fact that many women put a lot of unnecessary information in their birth plans. Some women basically hand over a novel to their nurses and doctors. Not only are they unlikely to have time to read all of that, but they're going to view you as a very high maintenance patient, and some nurses take offense to them because it makes them feel like the patient thinks they're an idiot and has no faith in them. Super long birth plans with tons of unnecessary details can really insult and alienate nurses. It's best to make sure your entire birth plan fits on a 3x5 index card. That way, they can get all the important details quickly and fit it in their scrub pocket.

Here are the best things you can do:

1) Develop good, open communication with your doctor or midwife. Discuss how you want your birth to be *BEFORE* you get close to your due date. That way, if there's a part of your birth plan that they refuse to accommodate, you can look into changing providers before it's too late. Also, ask them about what kind of policies your hospital has. If they don't know, call the hospital.

2) Make sure your birth partner knows about your birth wishes. Quiz them, even. When the stress of labor hits, they'll be the person you rely on to advocate for you and your rights and wishes. If you think they might not be able to handle that, then you can hire a doula or have another person, like your mother, sister, or friend with you. Having someone else there who knows your birth plan well is key in helping you achieve a healthy, safe, and satisfying birth. You'll most likely be too distracted to answer questions, so you'll want someone who can do it for you, or at least explain it to you.

3) Develop a good report with the nurses as soon as you get there. You might consider packing treats for them in your hospital bag, even. When you come in, hand them your birth card, or better yet, have your plan memorized, or have your partner memorize it.

Overall, the key to developing a good birth plan is knowing what your hospital or practitioner does and doesn't allow BEFOREHAND. If you want to have intermittent monitoring with a Doppler, but the hospital you're planning to give birth at requires constant fetal monitoring at all times, then you'll want to know that beforehand and either come up with ways to work around that, or find a different place to give birth. Many cities have more than one hospital at which you can give birth.

The most important thing is communication before you're close to your due date. Knowing your doctor or midwife's birth policies (as well as the hospital) gives you time to adjust your birth wishes and even change providers or hospitals if you like. You don't want to end up in a situation that you didn't anticipate because you didn't communicate with your provider and find out what kind of policies your chosen place of birth has.

Why would a DR recommend a C Section?

Ern

What are all the reasons a doctor may want to recommend a Cesarean delivery and why(this is not including emergency C-Sections).

Thank you.

Answer
Many drs will suggest a cesarean for reasons ranging from previous cesarean births to an ultrasound indicating a big baby to fetal distress as indicated by fetal monitoring

whats important is not really why a dr might recomemnd a cesarean but whether or not it is a legitimat reason

according to this sight there are only a few real reasons to have one

http://ican-online.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=69&Itemid=142

"Q: When is a cesarean absolutely necessary?
A: ⢠Complete placenta previa at term.
⢠Transverse lie
⢠Prolapsed cord.
⢠Abrupted Placenta.
⢠Eclampsia or severe preeclampsia with failed induction of labor.
⢠Large uterine tumor which blocks the cervix
⢠True fetal distress confirmed with a fetal scalp sampling or biophysical profile
⢠True cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD- baby too large for pelvis). This is extremely rare and only associated with a pelvic deformity (or an incorrectly healed pelvic break).
⢠Initial outbreak of active herpes at the onset of labor.
⢠Uterine rupture "

here are some things your dr can do to avoid a cesarean

http://ican-online.net/resources/white_papers/wp_carepro.pdf

and here some things you can do

http://ican-online.net/resources/white_papers/wp_uncs.pdf

heres more information about breech delivery (one of the more common reasons a cesarean might be suggested)

http://ican-online.net/resources/white_papers/wp_breech2.pdf

hth

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