Pregnancy and DrugsJennifer, 25, of Baltimore wishes she only had to deal with the basics of pre-pregnancy planning, like going for a routine checkup and taking prenatal vitamins. “I get discouraged when I think of how much more I have to consider before trying to conceive,” says Jennifer, who has taken the antidepressant Zoloft (sertraline) for three [...] |
Smoking and PregnancySmoking during pregnancy is the single most preventable cause of illness and death among mothers and infants. It is associated with increased risks for preterm premature rupture of membranes, abruptio placentae, and placenta previa, and with a modest increase in risk for preterm delivery. Infants born to women who smoke during pregnancy have a lower [...] |
PacifiersAre pacifiers really OK for your baby? New guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics say yes. Here are the pros and cons, plus tips about safe pacifier use. |
BreastmilkBreastmilk is naturally produced by women during the pregnancy state, and it provides the basic nutrition for a baby during the first several months of his/her life. Breast milk has three distinct stages: colostrum, transitional milk, and mature milk. |
CircuncisionIf you give birth to a boy, you need to decide whether you want him circumcised. Here are the facts to consider. If you have a baby boy, one of the first decisions you’ll face after birth is whether to have him circumcised. Circumcision is a surgical procedure performed to remove the skin covering the [...] |
Solid FoodsIf you’re eager to expand your baby’s diet, take care not to move too fast. Follow these pointers for choosing and introducing the right foods. Does your baby reach for food at the dinner table? Is he or she still hungry after regular feedings? These may be signs that your baby is ready to start [...] |
FormulaThe most common sources of protein in infants’ formulas are either cow’s milk or soybeans. If the mother cannot or chooses not to breast-feed, normal, full-term infants should get a conventional cow’s-milk-based formula, according to John N. Udall Jr., M.D., chief of nutrition and gastroenterology at Children’s Hospital of New Orleans. |
Breastmilk x FormulaWhile parents of a new baby have a million things to do, planning for meals menu – isn’t one of them. Until a baby is 4 to 6 months old the only items on the menu are either breast milk or infant formula. |