To properly store formula:

• Feed your baby prepared formula immediately.
• Immediately refrigerate prepared formula up to 24 hours.
• Discard any extra formula after one hour because bacteria can grow VERY quickly.

If you are traveling, use the formula dispenser.

Post from: Blisstree

Formula Storage

There was an article in the December edition of Reader’s Digest that focused on this topic…raising children who care. In the article, five families show how they got started, how they stay committed, and how they make a real difference in their lives and in others’ lives.

Read the entire Reader’s Digest article here.

Post from: Blisstree

Raising Kids who Care

It is true that a high percentage of children with Down syndrome are born to women younger than 35 years old (80%, says NDSS) fueling the connection that Palin’s 17-year old could likely be the mother to a baby with downs.

Maybe she is, maybe she isn’t. But let’s not get the wrong idea that being young makes one more likely to give birth to a baby with downs.

More women under the age of 35 are giving birth to Down Syndrome babies because prenatal genetic test for this age group is not mandatory. Hence, the mother would not know before birth (or later into the pregnancy) that the baby has Down Syndrome. Again, it doesn’t mean that younger women are at higher risk for carrying babies with downs. On the contrary, the incidence of down Syndrome increases with maternal age. Women age 35 have a 1/365 risk of carrying a fetus with down syndrome; by age 40 the chance increases to 1 in 109.

However, the number of children with Down Syndrome born to women over the age of 35 has substantially decreased in the last decade. Credit this to vast improvements in prenatal screening for genetic disorders, and the increased choice of women to terminate a pregnancy. This means, lesser number of women are continuing with the pregnancy once they learn that the fetus maybe at risk for the chromosomal disorder.

There is also something to be said about prenatal testing for genetic abnormalities. I’ll tell you about that, and my personal story, in a later post.

Post from: Blisstree

Why 80% of babies with Down Syndrome are born to women below age 35

As an incentive I will be giving away a $20 gift card to Amazon to a winner randomly chosen. But first, let’s chat. Here are some questions to begin with -

• How long did you breastfeed? How was the experience like?
• If you did not breastfeed, was it a choice or because you can’t? Care to share the circumstance and experience?
• What breastfeeding tips can you give for first time moms?
• If you’re a dad and you wish to join the contest, feel free to share your wife’s experience (with her approval and discretion, I hope).

Now for details to the give-away:

Did you know there is breastfeeding blog that has the lowdown on everything breastfeeding from no less than a lactation counselor? Check out Angela White at Breastfeeding 1-2-3; she’s also new mom to baby #3.

image: flickrcc

Post from: Blisstree

Amazon GC give-away, world breastfeeding week and a kitchen table talk

Mommy’s Bliss Nipple Cream (click for image) is used by nursing mothers to heal and soothe dry or cracked nipples. Immediately seek medical attention if these symptoms are observed in infants whose mothers used the cream:

• decreased appetite by the infant
• difficulty in awakening the child
• limpness of extremities
• a decrease in an infant’s strength of grip
• a change in skin color

The harmful ingredients are: chlorphenesin and phenoxyethanol. Chlorphenesin relaxes skeletal muscle and can depress the central nervous system and cause respiratory depression (slow or shallow breathing) in infants. Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that is primarily used in cosmetics and medications. It also can depress the central nervous system and may cause vomiting and diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration in infants.

source

Post from: Blisstree

Health alert: Mommy’s Bliss Nipple Cream has harmful ingredients

I am so excited about this new blog. The writer Marijke Durning, a registered nurse with postpartum experience, is one awesome blogger (in a channel with many greats!). I know she’ll bring expertise and experience to WombWithin, so check it out, ‘K. But I’ll let her invite you in -

Pregnancy is such a unique time in a woman’s life. Some pregnancies are anticipated and enjoyed throughout; others are unexpected and maybe not as welcome as one would hope. However you came to be here to read this blog, I hope that I can make your journey a little easier, a little less mysterious, and – when possible – fun.

Post from: Blisstree

b5media Health and Wellness has a new baby…

And now, we have TWELVE WINNERS of the Banjees wrist wallets (one pair each)! The following numbers-names were randomly drawn –

Congratulations to the winners! I’ll email you instructions for receiving your prize. If you have a blog, I appreciate a link-up so I know you’re there.

Post from: Blisstree

Kids Health Notes give-away: Banjees wrist wallets – winners

Here is her bio:

mia amelie
born 28 april 2008, 11:10 am (GMT+8)
national university hospital, singapore
3200g, 50 cm.
almost 11 hours of labor, 4 pushes.

Mia just looks adorable, and I say she looks like mom. Happy mother’s day, Ruth!

Post from: Blisstree

A new baby girl for Ruth @ Eating Fabulous

And in a world like today, where the pressure to look pretty and thin can suck the life out of a young girl, how her parent (and especially her mom) looks at her makes a big difference in her self-esteem. To have our girls  know and believe that it’s fine to be themselves, and really, we love them no matter what. 

My next give-away is perfect for both Mom and her girls – The Only Hearts Club dolls.

These dolls help promote a healthy self-esteem in young girls, by sending them the message to “Listen to your heart, and do the right thing.”

Each doll is “born” with her own, unique identity, likes and dislikes, and group of friends.  They were created to show girls that no matter what they like in life, it’s okay to be yourself. These are the same messages that moms tell her girls all the time, and now maybe she’ll have a little more help.

So from one mom to another, I’m giving away one Only Hearts Club doll each to 15 (fifteen) winners!

How to join?

• In the comments, share how you encourage your child(ren) to have a more positive self-image.
• Additional entry will be given to those who link this contest post on their site!
• Eligibility – one entry per person per email daily (so you get more entries if you come back tomorrow).
• It’s open to US residents only. If you have a blog, do post your URL as well, as I love to visit my readers’ sites and catch a conversation.

The contest ends 12:00 midnight EST May 10, 2008 in time for Mother’s day. Fifteen winners will be randomly chosen. I will post the winners before 12mn of May 11, 2008.

(I have 4 other contests for Mother’s Day. Check them out, and join, HERE)

Post from: Blisstree

Kids Health Notes give-away: The Only Hearts Club dolls

I didn’t stress, wanted to hit someone, or angered over losing. In fact, I was playing it rather calmly, and absolutely amused by it. Weird? Nope, it’s PopCap.

PopCap Games is the leading developer and publisher of casual games.The audience are primarily middle-age workers seeking diversion during, or as downtime, after work. Or mothers like us who need downtime, and time out away from stress. But hey, your kids will love them too! The PopCap games are a great source of stress relief, cognitive exercise and confidence-building. They are thoroughly nonviolent, uncontroversial and simple. And extremely fun! So this is the kind of video games that are healthy for you.

Now what does PopCap have to do with Mother’s Day? 

PopCap.com will honor Mother’s Day by donating 30% of the price of each game sold on its website to Susan G. Komen for the Cure^®, the global leader in the fight to end breast cancer forever. The monetary goal of the Mother’s Day fund-raising drive is $100,000 – and if that goal is met, all consumers who participated (by purchasing one or more games) will receive a free gift from PopCap. The promotion is site-wide, with the main informational page located at www.offers.popcap.com/holiday/mothersday.

Post from: Blisstree

Healthy gift idea for Mothers – Popcap video games!