Ideally during your pregnancy, you should be healthy and happy as this has a direct bearing on the health and development of the child. But there are some cases where this not possible due to many medical conditions. There are many such complications that can lead to a high risk pregnancy. Let us take a look at some of these reasons.

Ectopic Pregnancy
This is a common complication that some women go through. An ectopic pregnancy happens when the ovary releases the egg which get fertilized by the sperm, but ends up in the fallopian tubes instead of the uterine lining and the womb. This can cause a series of complications and symptoms that should not be ignored. To begin with, one will experience a lot of acute and sharp pain in the abdominal region. Also, one will experience light vaginal spotting. This should be reported to the doctor immediately so that this kind of pregnancy may be treated and terminated immediately.

Other Lifestyle Diseases
There are a number of high risk diseases that may lead to neural defects for the baby during the development of fetus. This includes diabetes mellitus which may not have been controlled in a proper way as well as other diseases like kidney disease, chronic heart disease and much more. During this time, the doctor will have to prescribe the right medication along with the correct measures in terms of diet and exercise so that the patient and the baby are both taken care of, with minimal risk to either of them. These kind of diseases also have the risk of affecting the unborn child. Hence, it is important to take stock of the situation and the possible defects with the help of proper scans and shock ups so that any anomalies and mutations can be detected on time.

Maternal Age
A lady who is older than the average age of conception and conceives, is also at risk of coming down with various complications during the pregnancy. High blood pressure and other hormonal changes can also lead to complications and the possibility of preeclampsia. These problems can also occur when a woman is nearing menopause when she conceives and has the child.

Gestational Diabetes
The diabetes that develops when the mother is expecting is known as gestational diabetes. This kind of diabetes affects the unborn child, who may be born with diabetes thereafter. Yet, if one followers a healthy and well laid out treatment plan, there are good chances of giving birth to a healthy baby who can also live a more or less normal life after being born as well.

Placenta Previa: This is a condition where the placenta coats or covers the cervix of the expecting mother. This can lead to a number of complications including a premature delivery of the baby as well as false labor pains also known as Braxton Hicks. Further, due to the risk of bleeding during such a complication, the doctor can also ask the patient to go through a C Section.

Pregnancy is a time when women are supposed to indulge in the practices as far as diet and exercise as well as pre natal care goes. Yet, unknowingly, we end up making many mistakes during this period and they are more common than we would think. So here are the top mistakes that we make and also, how you can avoid them!

Eating for Two
We have heard this phrase so often that it has become an urban legend of sorts. Eating for two involves indulging every craving and ingesting calories that we would otherwise not take in. While it is true that women feel hunger at more frequent intervals during pregnancy, one should take care to only have the right calorie intake with the help of good calories that can be found in fruit and vegetables as well as dairy products, for those who are not lactose intolerant. This is due to the fact that the calories in other kinds of junk and sugar heavy or fatty food contain what we term as empty calories. These calories will serve no purpose than leading to unhealthy weight gain as the fetus does not get anything in development terms from such calories. So, when you are hungry, it is better to have plenty of fruit and vegetables at regular intervals. And the intake should be just enough rather than too much which can lead to acidity as well.

Check Ups and Confirmation of Pregnancy
Many people just take a home pregnancy test or an online pregnancy test as a confirmation of the pregnancy. In such cases, it is also important to go to the doctor and have the pregnancy formally confirmed. This will also help in eliminating the risk of an ectopic pregnancy which may go undetected and cause complications at a later date. It is always better to have this checked on time so that timely action may be taken.

Self Medication
This is another major mistake that many mothers give into when they are pregnant. When the mother is going through fever or any kind of acidity as well as nausea, she may take medicines which she thinks are pregnancy safe. This is not a good practice, as any medicine taken during pregnancy should only be taken with a prescription from a doctor so that there are no complications and problems at a later date.

Post Natal Care
This is another area where many women face problems. While most pregnant women take care of themselves during the pre natal phase, there are few who are aware of the implications of ignoring yourself during the post natal phase is not a good thing. One should attend post natal classes and go for plenty pf check ups in this phase to ensure that the healing process is happening in a normal way. This will also alleviate some of the stress and trauma that new mothers often feel. Also, during such care, postpartum depression, if any, can be deleted and treated.

The pre natal phase or the pregnancy of a lady is one of the most joyful yet the most crucial times of her life in terms of the level of care that has to be accorded to her in mental and physical terms. This has to be done because the health and development of the fetus depends to a great degree on the health of the expecting mother. Here are the ways in which one should take care of oneself during pregnancy.

Know Your Dates
To begin with, one will have to ensure that the checks ups and pregnancy tests are done on time so that there is timely confirmation of the same. In case you start noticing the symptoms in the first few weeks of pregnancy, it would be a good idea to get an online pregnancy test done. Thereafter, you must also visit the doctor and get a formal check up done as a confirmation of the pregnancy. You should also be well aware of your due date with a due date calculator. This will also show you when your trimester date check ups are and when the various trimesters will start. This will help you in keeping a check on the pregnancy so that things are under control and any small anomaly can instantly be reported to the doctor.

Nutrients
Nutrition is one of the main things that one has to look after during pregnancy. It is important to start having folic acid as soon as you start planning the pregnancy as this will ensure that the fetus is in good health. During pre natal care, you will need to take care of your folic acid intake and also get supplements from your doctor so that you can have the same regularly. Apart from this, you will also have to take regular iron and calcium supplements.

Regular Check Ups
It is imperative to invest in yourself during the pre natal time. Your check ups will have to be scheduled and taken up on a timely basis so that every scan can be conducted and every test can be concluded to ensure that you and the fetus are not suffering from any kind of issues and possible anomalies. You will need to find yourself a doctor whom you can trust so that you are comfortable with him or her.

Pre Natal Classes
There are a number of pre natal classes that one can undergo so that you are well prepared for the delivery of the baby. Pre natal yoga and breathing classes are an absolute must as the techniques taught here will ensure that you are well prepared for a normal delivery with stamina and breathing techniques by your side. You must try and attend these classes with your partner or the person who will be with you in the delivery room. Also, you may want to attend classes on taking care of yourself and grooming yourself during the pre natal period so that you do not fall prey to any kind of infections.

There are a number of things that come into the home when a baby is about the enter the same. The would be parents are excited and they prepare well so that the child gets the bets of everything. In such cases, it can become an overwhelming exercise where either they stock up on things that they do not need, or they miss out some essentials. So here is a quick list of furniture that parents will need to bring their infant home and to help their toddler grow into.

The Bed
The crib or a bassinet is one of the main items that the new baby will need. The place where the baby sleeps should be the most comfortable and secure place in the entire home. Many mothers prefer co sleeping, in which case there should be a clear demarcation between the space to be taken by the baby and the parent. Also, as the child begins to grow into toddlerhood, he or she will graduate from a crib to a toddler bed. Nowadays, many baby malls and marts as well as brands offer cribs that can be expanded into a toddler bed. In such beds, one can knock down the railing of one side and pull out the length a little more. So you could invest in such a piece for your toddler to comfortably grow into.

Storage
Storage is one of the most essential things that a baby and the parent will require from the word go. One can choose from a plethora of style for cabinets as well as chest of drawers. It is important to choose sturdy pieces with soft textures and finishes. These should not topple easily. Also, you can try and choose pieces that will match the rest of the soft furnishings of the room including the rugs, bedding and curtains. There should be plenty of room in the drawers and cubbies although they should not be too deep as this can create problems while retrieving items.

Changing Table
This is another essential element that should come with all the requisite padding so that the baby is comfortable. Also, the parent should choose the height depending on comfort so that one does not have to stoop too low, or bend too much.

Play Pen
This will be required once the child reaches toddlerhood. The playpen is an essential item which can hold many toys and give the child plenty of space to cruise around without getting hurt on any other furniture around the house. Make sure that the netting is firm and the rods are well padded too. a

High Chair
Once your toddler is ready to sit, it will be time to prop him or her up in a high chair. This should have a tray where you can place food and toys so that the child can start experimenting with meals and food. Also, you will need to ensure that the safety levers and latches are in place, but out of reach when it comes to the toddler’s grasp.

The new born baby and the growing toddler may be very different when it comes to their personalities and range of development. But there is another area where they are markedly different from each too – nutrition. The nutritional and dietary needs to the baby and toddler are quite different, and it is imperative to know what one should feed and at which stage.

Here is a guide for all those parents who want to give their children a perfectly wholesome meal and diet at various stages of their life.

Infant
This is the time when the infant basically requires the mother’s milk as well as her undivided attention during the precious breast feeding time when he or she gets to make contact with the mother again. This is the time when the baby is making adjustments with the world around him or her, and it is imperative to make it a happy and soothing time. If you are not able to produce enough milk for a good feed, or if you are a working mother who cannot pump too often, then you can use Similar Printable Coupons to get formula milk for your baby. This is usually fortified with the best ingredients in terms of vitamins and minerals and is the closest replica of a mother’s milk.

Introducing Solids
From the time the infant is at least 6 months old and done with all the basic vaccinations, the parents should try and start introducing solid food to the child. You can boil and puree mashed vegetables or even procure some ready to eat options from the baby marts. Even pureed fruit can be given to the child along with the paste version of cereal. You must check for chunks in case you are creating the meal at home, so that there is no risk of choking. Also, you will need to ensure that you offer the same food at least for a few weeks even if the child is rejecting it. This will help the baby in developing a taste for various types of food.

Finger Foods
Once the child sits up and starts to sprout teeth, it is important to start introducing finger foods like vegetable sticks that have been boiled so that they are soft. At this stage, the baby’s gums will also be itching, so one must ensure that the food is soft and succulent.

Grown Up Meals
Toddlers who are able to sit upright in a high chair and handle sandwiches as well as cutlery should be allowed to explore adult meals with minimum seasoning so that they begin to eat normal food as soon as possible. Watch out for various kinds of allergic reactions and loose motions so that you can talk to the doctor about the same.
– Hygiene: Starting from the bottles to the bowls and sipping cups of toddler, one must steam and clean the various utensils that the child will be using. This will also help in avoiding infections that they are prone to, in any case.

Being present for your child is one of the best gifts that you can give him or her. It is imperative to be completely invested in your children because this is what will bring out the best in them. In order to be fully invested in your children, you will have to start when they are infants and toddlers so that a pattern and routine is set for you as a parent and for them as your offspring.

Needs: One of the main things that we need to look after when it comes to infants is their needs. The needs of an infant are usually very simple, but the challenge is to understand them at the right time without raising an alarm or panic. It is imperative to listen carefully when your baby cries so that you can then take the correct action like giving him or her a feed and changing the diapers. A baby also gets colicky at the same time every evening which can make him or her cranky at that time. At such times, soothing the child and indulging him or her in some sort of play is imperative. When the baby senses that the parent is there for him or her and that the needs are taken care of, the bond begins to develop between the two in a proper and organic manner.

Understanding: Once the baby starts growing up, the toddler begins to come into his or her own. Here, there will be attempts at articulation and also some amount of frustration. In such cases, it is important to be present at all times so that you can soothe the child and explain things to the child as well. The toddler is someone who is busy exploring the world around him or her. Make sure that you are a part of that journey and learn to watch out for signs of danger which you can also teach the child. Remember that at this phase, the child will not simply hear you once and listen. You will need to repeatedly tell your child the same thing in a soft tone so that it becomes a happy and learned experience which the child can apply later.

Hobbies and Interests: The toddler phase is also an interesting one because your child is getting exposed to a variety of things. What your child catches on to, and what he or she leaves will also point towards his or her hobbies and interests. Watch which story or video your child likes the most. Help the child learn the ropes for those activities and be a part of the same so that the child enjoys your company and tells you all those things that he or she likes.

Learning: This is also a stage where the child is learning a lot of things. So it is imperative to be with the child through all this. You must take the child to the park, the zoo, the mall and even museums and libraries so that the child learns new words and actions everyday.

A baby is a wonderful addition to any family and it brings on much laughter and so many challenges for the new parents. Starting from taking care of an infant to rearing a feisty little toddler who is forever testing the waters (and your patience), there are a number of things that go into becoming a parent to a wonderful child who blossoms well.

Communication is one of the key traits that all parents need to have. There are many new parents who are mistaken when they think that communication starts only at the toddler phase. In reality, the way you begin to communicate with your infant is what will set the tone for the bond between you and the child when the child starts to grow up. So follow these steps for setting the right tone and forging a good communication pattern with your infant and toddler.

The Needs of an Infant: The infant has many needs which cannot be well articulated. You will have to learn to listen and decipher the cries of this little one because that is all he or she has when it comes to asking for attention. Mostly, an infant cries when it needs feeding, diaper changing, or is colicky which is also gas that most infants go through at a particular time of the day. This can make them cranky.

Communicate to soothe: At this phase, it is important for the parent and the baby to feel comfortable with each other. If you panic and get hassled, the infant will only get more cranky as this is the cue that he or she will get from your mood. Instead, you must seek to soothe. When the baby cries, you may want to lift him or her in your arms and talk in a soft soothing voice with encouraging words, or even sing to the baby. You must also develop a night time routine at this phase so that the child knows that it is time to sleep. A massage, a bath or some singing will generally help lull the child into peaceful slumber.

The Toddler: As your toddler begins to come of age, you will that he or she will try and assert his or her personality in a certain way. This can turn out to be a pretty trying time for most parents, who will find themselves at the receiving end of many tantrums and also, they will find that they are constantly saying no.

Setting Boundaries with Love: Here, communication is all about body language too. You will need to stoop and meet the young one’s eyes to carefully explain why he or she cannot do a certain thing. Also, develop a bond with play where the child gets to lead you, and read plenty of stories at bed time. Also, start doing activities which the child shows interest in. Take the child on various outings and teach him or her many different kinds of words which can build the vocabulary.