Parenting Magazine

Crying Babies - Parent Calming Strategies That Work

No parent likes to listen to their baby cry, much less scream their heads off.  There is something wrong and we seldom know what it is if the crying goes on for more than a few moments, and usually it isn’t easy to figure out.  It is frustrating for you and the no doubt the baby.  I ran across this article and thought I would add it to our content.

Crying Babies - Parent Calming Strategies That Work
By Marie Hendrix

At the sound of his cry, I instantly transformed from a mild mannered mother to, well, Supermom. With adrenaline offering me superpowers, I leaped with a single bound more quickly than a speeding bullet to his side, ever ready to restore peace to his world. At times, that feat took only a few seconds. At others, it seemed I was against a force more powerful than kryptonite.

Sometimes, I wondered if he was an alien from another planet. In some ways, he was. The process of childbirth separates infants from all that is familiar and comforting to them. They land in a strange new world outside the womb. Crying is part of adjusting to that change. It is their first method of communication. Parents quickly learn to decode messages from the pitch, tone and fervor of their child’s cries. “I’m hungry.” “I’m mad.” I’m sleepy.” “I’m hurting.” Amazingly, infants can recognize and effectively communicate these feelings. Like adults, their tiny bodies have built-in monitoring systems.

A cry signals that a system is out of balance. Supermoms, Superdads, and Super Heroes who care for children respond promptly. Hungry? Wet? Sleepy? Super Caregivers check each system carefully and make needed adjustments. Feed. Diaper. Burp. A quick fix assures us of our super powers. If the crying continues, we rely on our super insight for a solution. Our powers of instinct, experience, and creativity come to our aid.

Often we mimic the sensations of the womb to recreate a comfortable atmosphere.

Motion, pressure, and sound soothe unhappy babies. Babies continuously experience these before birth. Mom’s swaying walk. The tightness of her bulging tummy. Distant voices and sounds. Blood swooshing by. Her thumping heartbeat. Super Caregivers identify a child’s unique comforting preferences. Rhythmical movement is often an instant peacemaker.

By design, rocking chairs, cradles, baby swings, and bouncing and vibrating seats provide calming motion. Super Caregivers achieve the same results with only their bodies. Their arms are versatile cradles that walk about. They also sway from side to side. When standing, their knees are built-in bouncers. When sitting, their laps become vibrating beds. Read more of this Parenting Magazine Article

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My Uterus Is Not A Circus Ring

But it certainly feels like one right about now.

For a while there I was a bit worried about not feeling much movement from Sarah. I shouldn’t have been. She’s currently performing acrobatic feats and generally making me uncomfortable. I don’t remember Liam ever being this active until much later on. I guess it goes to show how different each pregnancy can be. I just wonder if I can survive the next 18 weeks while still staying sane. I did it once before……

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Baby Update

So, there was an ultrasound this morning.

It’s a girl.

Later the ultrasound will go up so everyone can admire Sarah Felicia in all her glory. My mom was very happy. I told her “So now you can tell everyone.” She replied “Now I can buy girly things!” That’s my mom.

We told Liam this evening. Showed him the ultrasound pic, asked what he thought it was. He didn’t know. So I told him it was a baby. Then I asked whose baby he thought it was. He named both my sisters and a family friend first. Then I told him it was mine and that he was going to be a big brother. He gave me a thumbs up. Then I said it was a little sister. He facepalmed. Seriously. But he seems rather okay with it and was overall just kind of blase about all of it. It was far easier than I’d thought it would be. He’s since asked when she was coming out but no other questions. He’s gonna be a great big brother.

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Seeking Advice From Other Moms

Okay, yes this is my second pregnancy, but it has been ten years. I’m seeking advice from all the moms out there for a couple of my pregnancy symptoms.

Swollen feet, what to do about them? When I was pregnant with Liam they didn’t swell until the last trimester. This go around they’re already swollen. I really don’t want to contemplate buying larger shoes right now, so any advice on getting the swelling down? I already drink water and know I need to be drinking more. I’m also trying (emphasis on the trying) to monitor my sodium intake.

Also headaches. I swear I’ve had a constant low grade headache for a month now, but I’m pretty sure it’s allergy related as my sinuses are acting up. I wake up with a stuffy head and a raging headache that’s concentrated between the eyes and/or on the sides. I’m already taking Sudafed for the allergies but anything else to help. I’m almost contemplating a humidifier in the bedroom to help me breathe at night or at least to stop my sinuses from getting clogged.

Thanks in advance for anything you can tell me!

Katy

BTW I don’t care how fat I am at Halloween, you won’t catch me doing this…

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What Was I Expecting Now That I’m Expecting

I am happy, I am sad, I am excited, I am worried, I am scared, I ecstatic, I want to smile, I want to cry, I am scared shitless (might be the prenatal vitamins with iron), I am happy, I am sad, I am excited, I am worried, I am scared, I am happy, and that was just the last thirty seconds. If you feel any of that, then you aren’t alone in this. This is normal, trust me. You aren’t going crazy, it’s the hormones and let me tell you, it will only get worse (or better) with time. You’ll alternately want to curse your husband/boyfriend/significant other and then jump his bones. It’s loopy and weird, but it comes with the territory.

When I was pregnant ten years I know I found great solace with all the people I met on different message boards and thought I would like to do that again. But Brad said no, no, we will start our own blog and board. He has turned his other blogs profitable, or at least to the point of not losing money so I am on board with this. So thank you for visiting us and helping us out. Point anyone else you know over here, we’d appreciate it and maybe they’ll learn something, or just get a good laugh for the day.

My due date is October 21, 2008, just two weeks after Liam turns ten. When my mom heard this, she joked I should cross my legs if I felt contractions on his birthday. I didn’t think I would be in this position again. In fact I had all but decided I was done. If I had any clue the pill would fail after all these years I would have suggested to Brad, who I knew didn’t want more kids, to go get snipped. I wish he had he had been thinking about that too, because we wouldn’t be in this situation, and what a situation it is. Remember, no matter how long you’ve been using a particular birth control method; it’s never going to be one hundred percent effective. I’ve been on the pill for almost ten years, since Liam was born. There was a brief two year period where I lost medical coverage and we used condoms, and we’re damn lucky I didn’t get pregnant then. Read more of this Parenting Magazine Article

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Welcome To WTF Are We Going To Do Now!

That is right ladies, gents, men, women and hopefully not too many young ladies because I really wish you could have lived a hell of a lot more of your life before be needing this sort of blog.

I am Brad, your blogmaster and all around administrator. Aside from being a stay at home dad for at least another seven years I am a blogger and author.

Katy is my wife and if you hadn’t guessed is preggers, knocked up, in a family way, has a bun in the oven, renting out her guest womb, lost the immunity challenge, showing signs of a man juice infection, spinning off a wholly owned subsidiary, protesting the Chinese government, bought a three month pass to the morning sickness express, had the fucking pill quit working, and in all other very specific terms pregnant.

I am just waiting to hear how she will introduce me now. All things aside I love her, our son Liam, and what ever we end up calling this one besides “The New Pet“. I am a father, I know how we got into this situation and I am 50% responsible, so I will do my job.

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