When I was pregnant with Gavin, I did a lot of parenting pre-reading to help me get “prepared” for motherhood once Gavin was born.  One of the things I read about was not allowing children to watch TV before the age of two.  Well, with the TV on most of the time, it wasn’t long before I caved in and relented to some TV watching.

Then recently, I received a Baby Center newsletter in my mailbox reiterating the negative effects of allowing young children to watch TV and it struck a twinge of guilt as I discovered that Gavin is not only watching TV under the age of 2, but he’s also watching far more TV (more than the recommended 1-2hours of TV a day) than is recommended even for an older child! 

I confess, I’m a bad, bad Mum.  It was just getting too easy to plonk Gavin down in front of the TV while I made breakfast.  Then recently, when my MIL’s maid went back to Indonesia for a break, we were left without a maid because the hubby and I terminated my maid’s contract early after we found ourselves too unhappy with her service to keep her on any longer.  Since there were now more household chores to attend to, I started using the TV even more to engage Gavin’s attention while I ran off to do the dishes, or the laundry, or whatever else I felt safe enough to do and keep half an eye on Gavin to make sure he didn’t get up to anything in the meantime.

Occasionally, when I was away for too long, Gavin would come looking for me, but even then he was watching a LOT of TV.  Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, Manny the Handyman, Little Einsteins, Noddy, Higgly Town Heroes, Thomas the Tank Engine, Johnny and the Sprites - heck, he’s watched them all!  I think it’s really bad when Mummy starts remembering the words to the songs as well (especially when you consider that I have a bad memory, you can only imagine how many times I must have heard them to know them by heart).

Times like these, I really wonder how our parents did it when we were kids.  I mean, TV wasn’t a big thing back then, and my Mum didn’t even have a full time maid.  There were periods of time when she didn’t have a maid at all.  Then again, she was working and she left us with the baby sitter so I guess that was the baby sitter’s job.

Since reading that article from Baby Center, I’ve become more aware of how much I turn on the TV.  I try to keep it off whenever I’m free to tend to him, but sometimes it’ll require a little bit of cunning on my part to turn it off because my wiser and ever more demanding son will point to the TV and squeal almost as if to say, “Hey!  Turn that back on!”  That, in itself, is already a bad sign of Gavin’s growing addiction to TV.

More than ever, I think it’s time to start taking Gavin to classes.  I’ve been contemplating Gymboree and the music classes they have on at Fitfor2, although I’ve yet to go and check them out.  Therein lies my other problem - the difficulties I’ve been facing getting Gavin into the carseat.  Sometimes I’m not sure if I’m ready (mentally) to deal with a fussy baby in the carseat because it can be a rather draining experience.

However, I did manage to take Gavin out to KLCC recently and was surprised when he allowed me to plonk him into his carseat without so much as a whimper of complaint.  I guess he missed all his toys that I usually kept in the car to entertain him since he hadn’t played with them in a long while.  I didn’t even need to use the new stash of books I kept up the front for an emergency distraction. 

When it was time to go home, he was happy to return to his carseat because he was holding a new toothbrush that I had bought for him.  I also placed some bread that I bought next to him before we set off.  During the ride home, he helped himself to a bun which kept him occupied all the way home.  He was even feeding himself little bits of bread by the time we got home, although he made a bit of a mess.  I reckon the clean up was worth it considering how well behaved he was.

I might try that one again on our next Mummy and baby trip out…

Below: the stoned look you see on Gavin’s face below could only be achieved by a favourite TV program.  That’s the only other reason that he would allow me to put the bumblebee hood onto his head without complaint.

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I’m spotting - does that mean my period is back?  Gavin’s ten months old.  I was sort of hoping my period wouldn’t come back until he was at least a year old.  Not having my period is another one of those additional benefits of breastfeeding - most women who do not breastfeed start menstruating again around two months post delivery, although this can vary between four weeks to six months.  I suppose ten months is still pretty good considering some women who breastfeed can still end up menstruating by six weeks post delivery.  The majority of women who breastfeed generally take longer, some even longer than a year and a half - I wish I were one of those women.  Well, it was nice while it lasted…

In terms of getting pregnant, pregnancy before menstruation has resumed is usually rare.  In most cases the first period is usually anovular (no egg is released), although the longer it takes for menstruation to resume, the more likely it is for ovulation to occur during the first period. 

When I first told the hubby I was spotting, he asked, “Are you pregnant?”  (In case you’re wondering, spotting can also be a sign of implantation, as in when the fertilised egg implants into the wall of the uterus - a sign I somehow missed when I first got pregnant thinking it was an irregular period)  Well, although I think it highly improbable, based on what I’ve just written, it looks like it could be possible.  Now that it’s dawning upon me just how much effort goes into raising a child, I don’t think I’m quite as gung ho about my original plan of having number two when Gavin turns one - try when Gavin turns two or three.

The plan for having two children in close succession was more for the benefit of the kids.  I’ve always thought it was nice growing up with an older brother who was relatively close in age to me.  And if you think number two is a great idea for keeping number one happy, I think the following cartoon that I received from my weekly Baby Center newsletter says it all…

Hope it brought a smile to your face like it did mine…

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If you’re anything like me as a mother, then you’ll probably be looking for a list of toys or games to play with your baby. Well, here’s some great news - Baby Center has a great list of games and toys that are age specific:

Games to play with your baby

Toys to amuse your baby

Now you don’t have to wreck your brains trying to be creative.

Another good book for figuring out what games to play with your child is “Fun Start” by June Oberlander. It’s a very resourceful activity guide that teaches you a new game to play with your child only a weekly basis. I like it because it reads chronologically according to your baby’s age and it starts from week 0. The first book I bought required me to scan through the whole book to find games that were appropriate and most of them were not appropriate for a baby as young as Gavin.

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“Your baby’s ready to greet the world!” He continues to build up fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it’s likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds. (Newborn boys tend to be slightly heavier than newborn girls.) Your baby’s organs are fully developed and in place, and the outer layers of skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath. Your baby should remain as active as ever right up to delivery.

Well, he doesn’t seem to want to greet the world… I’m still waiting and I still have no further signs. As for weight, he’s closer to 8 pounds than 7. And the part about Newborn boys who tend to be slightly heavier than newborn girls… Well, I certainly broke that mould when I arrived into the world weighing a pound more than my brother did.

Interesting points of note in this week’s newsletter:

SIDS

Risk factors:

• Having a parent or caregiver who smokes (well, the hubby has stopped so, that’s good)
• Tummy sleeping
• Premature or very low birth weight (based on what the doctor has been telling us, I doubt we’ll have to worry about this)
• Overheating while sleeping
• Sleeping on a soft surface
• A mother who smoked or abused drugs during pregnancy
• A mother under the age of 20 at the time of pregnancy
• Suffering an apparent life-threatening event
• Certain ethnicities
• Gender - boys have a slightly higher risk than girls

Reducing the risk of SIDS:

• Put baby to sleep on his back
• Take care of yourself and your unborn baby during your pregnancy
• Do not allow smoking around your baby
• Choose bedding carefully
• Avoid overheating baby
• Try to reduce exposure to infection

Other cause and effects:

• While there’s no evidence that breastfeeding reduces the incidence of SIDS, it does reduce respiratory and gastrointestinal infections which are linked to SIDS
• Whether co-sleeping is linked to SIDS is still quite controversial, so whether you decide to or not, there are a few tips from baby center to keep in mind (we’ve opted not to co-sleep mainly because I’ve been smacked by the hubby a couple of times in his sleep before)
• Swaddling appears to help because it helps baby to sleep more comfortably, but be careful of overheating
• Use of pacifiers appears to lower the incidence of SIDS - although the link may be incidental. However pacifiers are linked with other disadvantages
• Currently there is no evidence that sleep monitors - other than the medical ones that have been prescribed by the doctor - decreases the incidence of SIDS (does that mean the angelcare we bought is not really that useful after all?)
• Likewise, special crib mattresses have also do not appear to make a difference (ditto for the Safe ‘n’ Sound mattress?)
• A sleepsack or wearable blanket can help if you are worried about not using a blanket for your baby as it prevents the blanket from accidentally slipping over the baby’s head (well, at least we got one thing right!)

Read the full article for more information.

Inducing Labour

I found this article quite interesting since I could very well end up with one…

Reasons for inducing labour:

• Your water breaks and your labor doesn’t start on its own within a reasonable amount of time.
• You’re one to two weeks past your due date. Most practitioners won’t let you wait longer than that to give birth because it puts you and your baby at greater risk for a host of problems. For example, it’s more likely you’ll develop an infection in your uterus that could be dangerous for your baby, or that your placenta will stop functioning properly, which could lead to a stillbirth or a baby born with serious problems. Additionally, your labor is more likely to be prolonged or stalled, increasing risk of injury for both mother and baby during a vaginal delivery, and your chances of needing a c-section are higher.
• Your placenta isn’t functioning properly, you have too little amniotic fluid, or your baby isn’t thriving or growing as he should.
• You develop preeclampsia, a serious condition that can endanger your health and restrict the flow of blood to your baby.
• You have a chronic or acute illness — such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or kidney disease — that threatens your health or the health of your baby.
• You’ve previously had a full-term stillbirth.

Techniques to induce labour:

• Stripping or sweeping the membranes (my friend C had this done and it sounds terribly painful…)
• Using prostaglandin medications (I think this is the usual method they use at the hospital here)
• Breaking the waterbag - although the cervix needs to be a few centimeters dilated to do this
• Using pitocin which is a synthetic version of the hormone oxytocin - the hormone that your body produces when you go into labour

What are the risks of induction:

• If it doesn’t work, you’ll need a c-section
• C-sections after failed inductions are associated with higher rates of complications
• If the uterus is hyperstimulated, resulting in contractions that are too often, abnormally long and strong, can stress the baby

When should induction be avoided:

• Tests indicate that the baby needs to be delivered immediately or cannot tolerate contractions
• You have a placenta previa; you have a vasa previa (when blood vessels from the umbilical cord are embedded in the amniotic membranes and at risk for rupture during labor); or the cord is lying in front of your baby’s head and could be compressed as his head enters the birth canal or prolapse through your cervix when your water breaks
• Your baby is in breech
• You’ve had more than one c-section
• You’ve had a c-section with a vertical incision
• You have twins and the first baby is in breech
• You have active genital herpes

Read the full article for more information.

Caring for newborns: Tips from new parents

Prepare as much as you can ahead of time
Ask for — and accept — help
Let the machine get it
Accept visitors only when you’re ready
Rest up
Go outside
Know your limits
Trust your gut
Tell yourself: This, too, shall pass

What happens after the delivery:

• You’ll start losing weight right away. While you probably won’t return to your pre-pregnancy weight for some time, most women are about 12 pounds lighter after delivering one 7- to 9-pound baby and losing another pound or two of placenta and at least a pound of blood and amniotic fluid. Although it will take a while for your body to regain its pre-pregnancy shape — that pregnant belly may stick around for longer than you’d like — by the end of the first week, you’ll probably have lost about 4 pounds of water weight.
• You’ll have lochia discharge. After your baby is born, the lining of your uterus will begin to slough off. This results in a discharge called lochia that lasts for weeks. At first, this discharge is mixed with blood, so it appears bright red and menstrual-like, then it gradually gets lighter in color, finally fading to white or yellow before it stops.
• Your emotions will be in flux. Within the first two to three weeks of giving birth, 60 to 80 percent of new moms experience the “baby blues.” You may find yourself moody and weepy, exhausted, unable to sleep, or feeling trapped or anxious. Your appetite can change — you might want to eat more or less — or you might feel irritable, nervous, or worried about being a mother. The good news is this emotional upheaval will generally pass within two to four weeks.

When to call the doctor and what to watch out for:

• You’re soaking a pad an hour: it may be a sign of postpartum hemorrhaging.
• You feel flu-like symptoms: it might be a case of mastitis, an inflammation of the breast.
• You have any signs of infection or pain around the incision from an episiotomy, tear, or c-section.
• You’re unable to sleep even when your baby sleeps, you have any thoughts of harming your child, or you’re crying all day long for several days in a row or having panic attacks. These are signs of postpartum depression.

Tips for recovering quickly:

• Sleep when your baby sleeps.
• Limit visitors and the time you spend with them.
• Eat a well-balanced diet.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Accept all offers for help with cooking, cleaning, childcare, errands, and the like. If you aren’t receiving offers, ask for help. It’s hard, but trust us, your friends and family want to help and most will be honored you asked. If you can’t get help for free, consider hiring a mother’s helper, cleaning lady, or others who can give you a break.
• Don’t isolate yourself. Talking to friends, relatives, and other new moms about your birth experience and life with a newborn can help you cope.

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The 38 week Baby Center newsletter is packed full of useful information. Here are some of the points I found of interest to me.

According to my 38 week Baby Center newsletter, my “baby has really fattened up. She likely weighs between 6 and 7 1/2 pounds now, and she’s probably between 19 and 20 inches long.” 7 1/2 pounds was what Gavin weighed at our last appointment. A little on the high end, but at least still within the expected.

“Swelling of your feet is normal in these last weeks, but if you notice any swelling of your hands or face, sudden weight gain, persistent or severe headaches, blurry vision or spots before your eyes, or upper abdominal pain, call your practitioner right away, because these are symptoms of a serious condition called preeclampsia.“

Yup, my feet are starting to swell even more. Usually, when I wake up in the morning, the swelling from the previous day would have subsided. Now I find that it still looks swollen. Last night, my right ankle looked as though I’d sprained it. My hands are bigger than they were before, but I don’t have any of the other symptoms. My blood pressure has remained steady on 110/70 all through the pregnancy, so I think I can safely rule of any concerns of preeclampsia.

There was an interesting section for Dads in this week’s newsletter:

The best ways for Dad to help during deliveryEven though you’ll be the star on labor day (a role your baby will quickly take when she makes her entrance), Dad’s a key player, too. Here are some ways he can stay involved and be helpful on the big day:

• While you’ve probably had your hospital bag packed for weeks, it’s a good idea for him to bring a few things of his own. Comfortable shoes, a clean shirt, and snacks are essential. A pillow’s not a bad idea either so he can sack out during slow times.
• Give your partner responsibility for insurance cards or other medical information, so he can talk to the nurses if there are any questions about paperwork at the hospital.
• Once you’re in the delivery room, your partner’s primary job will be to help you stay focused and relaxed - labor and childbirth can stretch into the 48-hour zone. You may have learned some traditional relaxation techniques in your childbirth education class, but don’t be afraid to go “off the board” either. If you think it will help, ask him to massage your feet, brush your hair, or just hold your hand.
• Have him run errands or interference for you. If you need anything, whether it’s a drink of water or drugs, let him rustle up the right people. Similarly, if something’s bothering you - from too many people in the room to an abrasive staff person - ask him to take care of the problem.
• Let your partner be your physical support person. Ask him to steady you as you walk around, help you change positions in bed, or grab a leg during the pushing stage.
• Find out whether he wants to cut the umbilical cord and then make arrangements with your caregiver. Many dads leap at the chance to handle this last step in welcoming their baby into the world.
• These days, many dads choose to be in the delivery room, but not all. Where will you be when your child is born?

I don’t think hubby will be cutting the cord, but at least he’ll be in the room with me through the delivery - brave man!

A Perspective from Medical Moms: What’s the best way to prepare for life with a baby?

Erica Breneman
Obstetrician in Oakland, California, and mother of one

I think the key thing is to be flexible. Don’t get caught up in a plan for how your life will be after the baby comes. In my experience, babies are very good at challenging the inner control freak in all of us. Develop a good social network and connect with other parents, both with kids the same age and with older kids since they’ve likely been through what you’ll go through. I’d really encourage you to go on dates with your partner or friends. It’s restorative to have some adult time and also to get some time for yourself. Find some friends, family, or sitters whom you trust with your child so you can have a few hours out. Besides that, put dimmer switches in the baby’s room and God help you if you don’t have a washing machine nearby.

MaryJane Lewitt
Certified Nurse-Midwife in Atlanta, Georgia, and mother of two

The best preparation for life with a child is learning from your pregnancy that you’re not always in control of every aspect of your life. Learn to be flexible and listen to your instincts. Babies don’t expect us to know everything all at once. They grow up over time so we can learn as we go. Do enjoy the moments with your baby - they go so quickly. With my first child I was so scared all the time that I wasn’t perfect, but I learned that perfection is not what our kids want from us. It’s much more important to just be there to hold them, laugh with them, cry with them. They grow so quickly, but those moments are the ones you’ll both remember for a lifetime.

Samantha Maplethorpe
Family Physician in Issaquah, Washington, and mother of three

Talk to your partner about sharing care, parenting styles, priorities, housework, careers. If you’re both on the same page, you’ll be prepared to work together as a team to take care of your new baby and each other along the way. You’re building your family. There will be many ups and downs; try to enjoy each phase and keep a good sense of humor! Reach out when you need to.

A few other articles that I found particularly useful are listed below with links:

20 Tips from Breastfeeding Veterans

Breech Baby - Hubby was a breech baby, so I thought it would be good to have a read of some of the ways one can turn a breech baby into position. Since Gavin’s in position (head down and 1/4 descended since our last appointment), I guess a lot of this information doesn’t apply to me.

Stages of Labour - some people prefer not to know too much detail about things that bother them. Others like to know so they can be prepared. I fall into the latter category. This article provided a relatively indepth explanation of the process of labour.

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I received this article from Baby Center. You can click on the links below to read more about it.

10 Infant Car Seats Fail New Crash Tests

Consumer Reports is known for taking safety to the next level, and in its most recent round of testing rear-facing, infant car seats, it went beyond the current federal safety standards for seat performance in a collision. The government tests seats in front crashes of 30 mph, but Consumer Reports simulated front impacts of 35 mph and side impacts of 38 mph (the same standards used for car safety testing). The results in this more stringent environment were dramatic, with 10 of the 12 seats either twisting too far or coming out of their bases.

Consumer Reports’ testing also showed serious failings in seats secured by the LATCH system. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) itself calls the LATCH system confusing and Consumer Reports notes that the NHTSA is planning a public hearing on the system later this year.

Here’s how the seats fared in Consumer Reports’ tests:

The Good

• Baby Trend Flex-Loc Adjustable Back
• Graco Snugride with EPS

The Bad

• Chicco KeyFit
• Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP
• Compass I410
• Evenflo Embrace
• Britax Companion
• Graco SafeSeat
• Safety 1st Designer
• Combi Centre ST
• Evenflo Discovery
• Eddie Bauer Comfort

Read the full Consumer Reports safety alert.
Visit our car seat safety bulletin board to talk to other parents about this issue.
Find a child safety seat inspection station near you to make sure your seat is fastened as securely as possible.
Check our infant car seat safety article over the coming days for updates on this issue as more information becomes available.

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I’m starting to get breathless even just sitting. I feel almost as if I’m slowly turning into a blob because moving is becoming such a chore so I end up moving only when it’s absolutely necessary. Yes, I know, that’s not a good thing.

House chores are a burden. My back aches after giving the floor the most superficial of cleans. I can’t wash more than a few dishes at a time because bending over the sink makes my back ache. I can’t get any closer to the sink to avoid bending because my bump gets in the way. In fact, my bump seems to be bumping into just about everything these days! I was just looking at it last night and I swear I can see it growing by the day!

My bags are packed, my birthplan is ready and I have just about everything I need for Gavin’s arrival. It’s now down to a waiting game for Gavin to arrive…

I received my 36-week Baby Center Newsletter today.

They say that when a baby drops (or engages) this is what it should feel like:

While your baby continues to grow and crowd your internal organs, you may find that you’re not as hungry as you were a few weeks ago. Smaller, more frequent meals are often easier to handle at this point. If your baby starts to drop down lower in your pelvis, you may have less heartburn and have an easier time breathing. This dropping - called lightening or engagement - is more likely to happen before labor if this is your first baby. Lightening can increase pressure in your lower abdomen and make walking uncomfortable. Some women say it feels as if they’re carrying a bowling ball between their legs or like their baby is going to fall out. (Don’t worry, she won’t!)

Well, I can’t say that breathing is easier and I had heartburn the other night after some pancakes at Paddington’s, so I guess Gavin hasn’t dropped.

They also say that we’ll be even more forgetful at this stage (Good grief! Is it even possible to be any more forgetful than I already am?):

Feeling absent-minded? Forgetfulness is normal during the last trimester. You may be overwhelmed or just plain distracted by the huge life changes you’re about to experience, as well as exhausted if you’re having trouble getting a good night’s sleep.

Note to hubby: you see, I told you I wasn’t making it up…

And points to take note of when it’s time to head to the hospital:

You might notice that Braxton Hicks contractions are a little more frequent now. This is a good time to review with your practitioner exactly when and where to call her when you think your labor has started. As a general rule, you should call when you start having regular contractions every five minutes for about an hour. If you have signs of labor this week, call right away - your baby is still considered premature until 37 weeks. You should also call without delay if your water breaks (or if you even think you’re leaking amniotic fluid), if you notice a decrease in your baby’s activity, or if you have any vaginal bleeding, fever, severe headaches, abdominal pain, or changes in vision.

Well, I have yet to experience my first Braxton Hicks contraction, let a lone a real one. I guess I’m still pretty far off from delivering. They say the more anxious you are to deliver, the longer time seems to pass, so I’m trying not to think about it. One of the Mums at Fit For 2 said that she wasn’t going to anticipate an early birth otherwise she’d only be disappointed. The doctor gave her a date and that’s the date she’ll hang onto in her mind. I thought that was pretty good advice to follow so January 25 it is…

There’s also a good description about the stages of labour:

For most moms, labor takes an average of 15 hours, though it’s not uncommon to last more than 20. But that doesn’t mean you’ll be pushing the whole time. In fact, the actual pushing stage of labor lasts from a few minutes to a few hours. There are three main stages of labor. Here are the highlights on exactly how childbirth progresses:

Stage one

Once your contractions are coming at regular intervals and your cervix begins to dilate, you’re officially in labor. Although this period, called the early or latent phase, can take from 12 to 14 hours or longer, the contractions generally aren’t as intense as they’ll be in the later stages of labor. Try to relax at home until the contractions are coming frequently enough (usually every five minutes for an hour, but check with your provider) to go to the hospital.

When your contractions become more frequent, longer, and stronger, and your cervix begins dilating faster, you’ve hit the active phase of the first stage of labor. This phase can last up to six or more hours.

The last part of the active phase is called the transition period because it marks the transition to the second stage of labor. This is the most intense phase of labor with contractions that are usually very strong and fast — coming about every two and a half to three minutes and lasting a minute or even a little longer. These powerful contractions will dilate your cervix from 8 to a full 10 centimeters.

Stage two

Once your cervix is fully dilated, the second stage of labor begins: the descent and emergence of your baby. This is the “pushing” stage of labor, and it can last anywhere from minutes to hours.

Your baby’s head will continue to advance with each push until it “crowns” — the term used to describe the time when the widest part of your baby’s head is finally visible. After your baby’s head comes out, your midwife or doctor will suction his mouth and nose, and feel around his neck for the umbilical cord. His head then turns to the side as his shoulders rotate inside the pelvis to get into position for their exit. With the next contraction, you’ll be coached to push as his shoulders deliver, one at a time, followed by his body.

Stage three

The final stage of labor begins immediately after the birth of your baby and ends with the delivery of your placenta. The contractions in the third stage are relatively mild.

We were told to start heading for the hospital once the contractions are about once every ten to fifteen minutes. I suppose that’s to take into account the traffic jams here which can take place at any hour of the day…

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The doctor said that Gavin hadn’t engaged so it wasn’t likely that he would be coming out to greet us within the next two weeks. Well, he’s been so active tonight I could have sworn he was trying to open a hole through my tummy like a scene out of the movie “Aliens”.

Since sleep is proving to be rather elusive, I thought I’d wear myself out a little more over a midnight snack of milk and a peanut butter sandwich. Perhaps Gavin’s been moving around excessively because my stomach is too empty.

I had my first cramps today. It wasn’t anything painful by a long shot but I remembered what the doc said about cramps being a sign that labour may not be too far off. After all the bravado I’ve been displaying about not being able to wait to get the birth over and done with, I’m suddenly feeling a little scared. Perhaps it has something to do with the doc telling me that Gavin’s going to be a big baby. Somehow being told that I should have no problems delivering a 4-4.5kg baby naturally hasn’t really done much to ease my mind.

I received my 35 weeks Baby Center newsletter a couple of days ago. According to that, an average baby at this stage should be about 5 pounds. Gavin weighed in at close to 6 pounds during his last visit to the doctor. Most of his basic development is complete and it seems the next few weeks are all about putting on weight. There we have the dreaded “w” word again. Perhaps I shouldn’t be having this midnight snack after all? Don’t they say that the baby’s weight has some correlation to the mother’s weight gain during pregnancy?

One mother commented: “I didn’t know babies moved around so much. Sleep is growing restless. I’m feeling anxious. I feel elbows and feet poking out! How cool and weird at the same time.”

I can so identify with you!

Baby Center also has a forum for anxious Mums. Perhaps it’s time for me to join in.

They also recommend completing the birth plan at this stage (something I’ve been procrastinating on, although I think I’ve spoken to the doctor about most of our main issues). Besides the one I posted a few weeks back from Shiau Chen, Baby Center provides another simple template you can use.

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Some news I received from my Baby Center subscription:

Recalled: Light-up pacifiers from various companies
Recalled: Toy keys from The First Years and Learning Curve

Funny that this piece of news should drop by my mailbox right after Sister Elizabeth was discouraging the use of pacifiers and saying how manufacturers these days were coming up with all sorts of funky toys to con parents into using them like the “light-up” pacifiers that obviously light up when the baby sucks on it.

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