Photographing Your Baby

We’ve all seen them – the perfect pictures of a cocooned baby on a beautifully crocheted blanket with just the right lighting. Then when we try to take that picture at home, we come up a bit short of the artistic image we expected. Aside from hiring a professional photographer, what can you do to beautifully capture your precious little one?

Photographers have the following tips for photographing your baby at home:

Safety is paramount: Make sure any props you use are sturdy and clean. No leaving baby laying on a table or fluffy pillow. If baby will be undressed, make sure the room is warm.

Pay close attention to lighting: Natural light makes for the best photos, so set your shot up near a large window to take advantage of lots of daylight. This is especially helpful for making the most of those hospital pictures that capture the first days of baby’s life.

Keep extra supplies on hand: Diapers, wipes and blankets are helpful. Be sure baby is fed and comfortable before starting, and take breaks if baby gets fussy.

Let the baby stand out: Choose a neutral color palate for your background (black, white, grey, beige) and keep props to the minimum. The baby should be the focus of the images.

Use angles to your advantage: Try taking pictures from above – which limits distractions in the background and is typically a flattering angle. Don’t move the baby, move yourself. Take pictures from all different angles, walking around baby and snapping as you go. Consider tilting the camera for an artsy image.

Consider a macro lens or setting: To get the best images of those tiny fingers and toes, choose the correct settings on your camera to bring out the detail.

For the fussy baby: Consider images where mom is holding baby (even if the backdrop is draped over mom’s body!). Play some white noise or classical music to keep the mood calm. If baby is too fussy, end the photo session and try again another time.

Get to know your camera before the photoshoot. A top-of-the-line camera won’t do you any good if you don’t know how to use it. Learn how to change the settings to capture the best lighting. Play around with modes – portrait, action, landscape, shutter speed, etc. Learn what focal length and aperture are, and try shooting manually with your camera.

As your baby grows into a toddler and young child, some of the same rules apply, but you may be trying to shoot pictures of a moving target. Tips for capturing images of your older child include: Get down to their level (rather than always taking pictures from your taller perspective), give them something to hold or something to do, or ask them to copy your facial expressions.

Candid shots are always fun, too. Don’t always focus on the portrait sessions.

The best advice, though, is to stay in the moment. Sometimes being the constant family photographer – for holidays, birthday parties, and vacations – keeps you from living the experience. So, at least once in a while, put the camera away and join in the fun.

Written by Michelle, childbirth instructor, lactation consultant, and mother to 4 busy kids

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice.  All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

Why Don’t I Want to Have Sex?

It may not be surprising, but many new moms find they have a decreased libido. Could it be that being surrounded by poop, vomit and urine all day maybe isn’t the best lead up to a successful night of passion? A decreased sex drive isn’t unusual after birth, for some women sex is the last thing on their mind after a long day of parenting.

Why don’t I want sex?

There are plenty of reasons why you might not be feeling in the mood for love these days. First and foremost, there’s that bone aching tiredness you’re experiencing. When you finally collapse into bed at night, you probably don’t have much energy left for anything other than falling asleep.

Caring for a baby can be pretty full on. Babies like to be held, they need cuddling, feeding and changing all day long. By the end of the day, it’s not surprising that many moms feel ‘touched out’. Once that baby is sound asleep in bed, some moms just want to not be touched for a while. Not exactly conducive with sexy time.

You may also be worried that sex won’t feel quite the same after having a baby. Hormonal changes associated with breastfeeding can leave you less interested in sex. If you’re breastfeeding, the decreased estrogen levels mean you may also notice some vaginal dryness that could mean sex is less enjoyable than usual. You may even be feeling a little self-conscious about your postpartum body. It may take a while before you truly feel like yourself again.

What to do instead

Sex isn’t the be all and end all, there are plenty of ways you can nurture your relationship without having sex. Intimacy is just as important, and that’s something you can invest time in while you’re waiting for your libido to increase again. Make sure that you still have time for each other physically. Hold hands, cuddle, kiss and snuggle up together on the sofa. Intimacy doesn’t always have to lead to sex, you can just enjoy the closeness for what it is.

Most women find their libido increases as time passes, so try not to waste time worrying that this is it forever. Be open and honest with your partner, and don’t be afraid to communicate how you are feeling. Without this open communication, your partner is likely to assume you don’t want to have sex with him. Let him know how much you love and appreciate him, but don’t be afraid to tell him you’re not in the mood. Explain that it’s a temporary dry spell and that it’s nothing to do with the strength of your feelings for him.

If you are worried about your decreased libido, speak to your healthcare provider for advice.

Have you noticed a decrease in libido after the birth of your child?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

Can I Get Pregnant While Breastfeeding?

As a breastfeeding mother, you may think you have a free pass when it comes to birth control. Many couples mistakenly presume that they won’t be able to conceive while the mom is still breastfeeding. In reality, however, plenty of breastfeeding mamas have fallen pregnant. There is no way of knowing whether you’ll be one of them, so it’s better to play safe if you don’t want to get pregnant. It seems unfair, doesn’t it? After carrying a baby for nine months, giving birth to it, feeding it and living up to your elbows in dirty diapers, you’d think mother nature would, at least, give you a few months break from worrying about getting pregnant while breastfeeding.

Whilst it’s true that many mamas find their cycles don’t return until they’ve stopped breastfeeding, there is no guarantee. If you want to avoid an unplanned pregnancy, you’ll need to use birth control when you’re breastfeeding. Some mamas find that their periods don’t return until after their child’s first birthday, but for other women, it can be just a couple of months after the birth when their cycle returns.

It’s not wise to wait until your periods start again before turning to birth control, because ovulation can occur first. Some women have already ovulated by the time they get their first period. If this happened, you could already be pregnant even before getting your first period.

Every woman is different and there is no fixed schedule to determine when your periods will return. For some women, their cycle doesn’t return until their baby is feeding less frequently, but for others, their periods return when their baby is just a couple of months old and still attached to the boob for most of the day.

How to avoid getting pregnant while breastfeeding

If you know now is not the time to add a younger sibling to your family, you’ll need to decide on a method of contraception to use. This is something usually discussed by your healthcare provider at your postpartum checkup. If it wasn’t discussed at yours or if you’d like some more advice, get in touch with your healthcare provider today. There may be some forms of contraception that are not advised for use during pregnancy. For example, estrogen can interfere with breast milk production, so your doctor may advise you to avoid the combination pill.

Trying to get pregnant while breastfeeding

If you are hoping to conceive and would like advice on how to achieve this while breastfeeding, ask your healthcare provider for advice. You may have to wait until your baby is feeding less frequently or sleeping for longer stretches until you can become pregnant, but remember, this is not always the case.

Have you spoken to your healthcare provider about contraceptive options?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

Pumping At Work: 5 Top Tips

It might be time for you to head back to work, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re ready to stop your breastfeeding journey just yet. You may have a magic number in mind for when you’d like to stop breastfeeding or perhaps you want to let your child decide when she’s ready to wean. Either way, the following top tips might help you as you prepare to re-enter the workplace after maternity leave:

  1. Plan ahead

If you’re planning to continue breastfeeding, you’ll need to plan ahead to figure out how best to make this happen. You’ll need to be upfront with your employer so they can find ways to accommodate you as you settle back into work. If you’re planning to express milk at work, you’ll need to find out if they can offer you a private area to do this in. You’ll also need to try and work out how frequently you’ll need to pump and where you’ll be able to store the milk. Your employer is best placed to advise you on these matters.

  1. Store it safely

When you express milk at work, you’ll need somewhere safe to store your milk. A fridge would be ideal, allowing you to keep your breast milk chilled until you can transport it home. Breast milk can only be stored at room temperature for up to four hours, so you’ll need a better solution for where to store your milk.

  1. Supportive childcare

Choose a childcare provider who is supportive of your desire to continue breastfeeding. Your childcare provider should be able to use your pumped milk to bottle feed your child during the day. This allows you to balance the demands of the workplace with your desire to continue breastfeeding your baby. If you’re lucky enough to have childcare near work you may even be able to visit your baby to breastfeed during the day.

  1. Be prepared

You may find that your baby feeds more often during night for the first few weeks, which may come as a shock as you’re adjusting to the early mornings of employment. Plan ahead; go to bed early to maximize the amount of sleep you’re able to get. This might be a tiring few weeks as you juggle daytime work with nighttime motherhood, and it may take you a while to get used to this new lifestyle.

  1. Reconnection

After a challenging day at the office for you, and a busy day at nursery for your baby, breastfeeding can be the perfect way to reconnect. It allows you each a few minutes of quiet after a hectic day, as well as the benefits of touch and being close to each other. Many mamas say breastfeeding helps them to reconnect with their child after a day’s work.

Do you have any tips to share with mamas who are preparing to return to work?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

You Are a Goddess, Mom!

Many cultures around the world and across the ages have woman-centered creation myths. These might be stories of a goddess birthing culture, or tales about how the world itself was created. Often pregnancy, birth and motherhood themselves have the protection of a goddess or saint.

The Earth Mother is a common theme among these creation stories. She is a fertile goddess embodying the fertile earth. She is typically the mother of other gods and goddesses, and is seen as protector of motherhood. One creation story in Chinese culture, for instance, is that the earth mother, Nu Wa, who created humans from mud until she tired of the work and gave humans the job of procreating themselves.

Many creation stories pair an earth mother with a sky father to give birth to a society or culture. For instance, the Greek earth mother, Gaia, gave birth to the sky god, Uranus, and they produced the first generation of Greek gods and goddesses. Among the Maori, the creation myth pairs the earth mother, Papa, with the sky father, Ranji. They were locked in an eternal embrace until their child, Tane, separated them by pushing his father up to become the sky and his mother down to become the earth. Once this was accomplished, the rest of the nature gods could be born.

Goddesses and earth mothers tend to be tied to the unknown aspects of creation, giving them power but also making them both awed and feared. The connection of fertility, birth and death is seen in many cultures.

  • The Morrigan, a Celtic goddess, controlled life, death and sexuality.
  • Juno, the ancient Roman goddess, is the guardian of women and childbirth. Hera is her Greek counterpart. In Celtic cultures, this goddess is Brigit.
  • Egyptians believed the goddess, Meskhenet, presided over birth and arranged each baby’s destiny. Meshkenet’s symbol was often found on the birthing tile over which Egyptian mothers squatted when giving birth.
  • Also in Egyptian mythology, Isis is the protector of mother, child and family.
  • While not a goddess, the Theotokos, or Mary, Mother of God, serves as the Christian saint with a connection to birth. Being the Virgin Mary, she is the spiritual mother of all Christianity.

The story of the creation of the Milky Way is another great connection to womankind. One version of the Greek legend of how the Milky Way was formed claims that Zeus decided to let his infant son, Heracles, nurse from his divine wife Hera (and not Heracles’s mother) while she was sleeping to give the baby godlike qualities since his mother was mortal. When Hera woke up and realized that she was breastfeeding an unknown infant, she pushed him away and the spurting milk became the many stars of the Milky Way.

Creation myths and earth mothers are a way for cultures to explain the unknown. But they can also be a way for modern mothers to feel more connected with creation. Now that you are a mother, you are a goddess! Allow yourself to feel that kinship with other women now and in the past. Feel connected to creation. Know you are part of the cycle of life, no matter what culture or religion you belong to.

Written by Michelle, childbirth instructor, lactation consultant, and mother to 4 busy kids

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice.  All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

Could Your Baby’s Fussiness be Due to a Milk Allergy?

Whether your baby is breastfed or formula fed, milk is usually her only source of nutrition for the first four to six months of her life. Even after you start solids, milk continues to be important for your baby. But could your baby’s fussiness and splitting up after eating be due to a milk allergy?

It’s helpful to understand that a milk allergy and milk intolerance are not the same thing, although symptoms can be similar. If your baby is allergic to milk, his immune system reacts to the protein in the milk as if it were harmful even though it’s not. After feedings, allergy symptoms develop, such as hives, a rash, spitting up and possibly watery eyes. Addition symptoms, such as frequent, watery poops may also occur.

You might also notice your baby is fussy and crying immediately after nursing or taking a bottle. A severe allergic reaction, such as trouble breathing is rare but is an emergency and requires immediate medical attention.

If you’re breastfeeding, your baby is not allergic to your breastmilk. Instead, it could be the dairy you are eating that is causing the problem. If your baby is formula-fed, the proteins in the formula may be bothering her.

Milk intolerance is a bit different and does not occur due to a reaction in the immune system. Babies with milk intolerance have problems properly digesting the sugar in the milk. Milk intolerance is also called lactose intolerance because it is the lactose sugar in the milk that’s causing the problem. Symptoms of milk intolerance may include gas, a bloated tummy, diarrhea, spitting up and other colic symptoms, such as fussiness.

If your baby is not gaining weight or has symptoms of milk intolerance or a milk allergy, it’s important to see your pediatrician right away. Your baby’s doctor will likely do an exam and may perform a heel-prick to get a blood sample. The sample will be tested to check for signs of an allergic reaction in the body.

The good news is, milk allergies are pretty uncommon. Experts estimate only about three percent of babies are allergic to milk. Milk intolerance is also rare in babies. When it does develop, it usually occurs a little later in life when kids are in grade school.

If your pediatrician suspects your baby has either milk intolerance or a milk allergy, you may be asked to make a few changes. For example, if you are formula feeding, your baby’s doctor may recommend switching to a hydrolysate formula. If you are breastfeeding, your pediatrician may suggest limiting your dairy intake. If you do need to ditch dairy products, make sure you continue to get enough calcium in your diet. Good sources of calcium without milk include broccoli, kale, figs, white beans and almonds.

Written by Mary Ann DePietro @ writerlady34

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

5 Tips for Coping with Sleep Deprivation

There are no guarantees in motherhood. Well, aside from sleep deprivation, that much is absolutely 100% guaranteed. Sleep deprivation is real, almost too real, and there’s no escaping it. If there’s a new baby in your house, then you will definitely be experiencing some lack of sleep.

First of all, you were exhausted after giving birth and in need of some serious relaxation time. You didn’t get any, of course, you were far too busy staring lovingly at your new baby. The baby who, by the way, is nocturnal.  You probably spent the first few weeks of your baby’s life welcoming guests during the day and trying to stay awake at night. Thankfully, the nocturnal stage didn’t last long and within a couple of weeks your baby knew the difference between night and day. Not that it made much difference since your baby still didn’t seem to fancy sleeping at night all that much.

So here you are, 10 weeks later, tripping over your eye bags and sobbing into your cold cup of coffee. Don’t worry, your child will sleep one day. No guesses on when that will be, but fear not, it will be. In the meantime, try the following tips to survive sleep deprivation:

  1. Be kind to yourself

You’re tired and have been for a long time now, don’t judge yourself too harshly. You’re going to forget diapers, answer the door without a top on and get your days mixed up sometimes. That’s just what happens when you’re tired. Lower your expectations. You don’t need to have a showhome tidy house, a red carpet ready outfit and a completed to-do list. These days, you don’t even need matching socks. Take it easy, prioritize things that need to be done, and other than that simply focus on getting some rest.

  1. Remember you’re both tired

Try not to fall into the I’m-more-tired-than-you trap. It’s not a good place to end up. Once there, it’s easy to get stuck and, most importantly, there are no winners. You are both tired, being a new parent is tough and it doesn’t really matter who got the least sleep last night. What matters is that you both feel supported, loved and appreciated during this time. Try to keep your irritability in check and be aware that emotions can run high when you’re low on sleep.

  1. Ask for help

You don’t have to do this alone. Looking after a baby isn’t easy and, as they say, it takes a village to raise a child. These days, we don’t live in tribes and not many villages collectively raise babies, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it alone. If you’re tired, ask for help. Friends and family will be more than happy to help you out. People will happily fetch groceries, hoover the living room and entertain your older child for a few hours so you can catch up on sleep. All you have to do is ask.

  1. Take care of yourself

Sleep isn’t always possible, especially when you have a new baby in the house. Even when you can’t sleep, however, there are things you can do to lessen the blow of exhaustion. Make sure you’re eating a healthy, balanced diet rich in fresh vegetables and greens. Make an effort to get some exercise each day, it doesn’t have to be anything too intense, a half hour walk with the pram is enough. Set some time aside to relax each day, even if all you manage is a short soak in the tub, it might be enough to reset your batteries.

  1. Sleep when the baby sleeps

It’s not always possible, in fact sometimes it might be impossible, but do try to catch up on sleep whenever you can. Ignore the mountains of laundry waiting to be done, and instead snuggle up in bed when your baby goes down for a nap. If you have another child demanding your attention, don’t be afraid to ask a friend or family member to help out so you can nap when the baby sleeps.

Most importantly, remember this won’t last forever. You are exhausted now, but one day your child will sleep better and you will feel human again. Promise.

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.