As new parents, we must really worry if our baby has allergies. From sneezing, skin rashes, to vomiting, these kind of thing sure make us worry about our baby. If you wonder why your baby has food allergy and what is he/she allergic to, here are the some information about food allergies

To give you the picture, approximately 6 percent of young children and 3 to 4 percent of adults in the United States have a food allergy. If your baby is allergic to a food, her/his body treats the food like an invader and launches an immune-system as defense.

The body makes an antibody called IgE, an intelligent protein that can detect the food. If the food is eaten again, the IgE tells your baby’s immune system to release substances such as histamine to fight the “invader.”

Unfortunately, this histamine release is what causes allergy symptoms. The symptoms can be in the form of hives, swelling, trouble breathing and usually shows up within minutes to two hours after eating the allergen foods.

Remember that your baby can have a reaction to a food even if she’s eaten it before without any problem. So if she inherited the tendency to be allergic to eggs, she might not have a reaction the first few times she eats them — but eventually she’ll show symptoms. Other cases might be that her early exposures to the ingredient may have been when it was combined with something else — for instance, the eggs, milk, or ground nuts in a cookie.

What food are baby most commonly allergic to ?

These eight food groups are responsible for 90 percent of food allergies: eggs, milk, peanuts, wheat, soy, tree nuts (like walnuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews), fish (such as tuna, salmon, and cod), and shellfish (like lobster, shrimp, and crab).

What should I do if I think my baby’s having an allergic reaction to a food?

Allergy symptoms can be life threatening. If your baby ever seems to be having trouble breathing, has swelling of the face or lips, or develops severe vomiting or diarrhea after eating, call 911 or your local emergency number right away.

Severe allergic reactions are nothing to fool around with. Your baby’s airway can close up within minutes, so don’t call the doctor to get advice or drive her to the emergency room. You need paramedics on the scene as soon as possible.

If your baby consistently has symptoms within two hours of eating a certain food, talk with her doctor. He may refer you to a pediatric allergist for testing.

An allergist should be able to tell you which food or foods are causing the problem and whether the symptoms are part of an immune reaction (indicating an allergy) or are a sign that your baby’s unable to digest the food (indicating a food intolerance).

Once your baby has had an allergic reaction to a food, you’ll want to be prepared in case it happens again. Even if her first reaction was mild, the next might be severe. Your baby’s doctor can provide you with an action plan, including instructions on how to manage an allergic reaction.

The doctor may recommend that you carry an epinephrine auto-injector, which he can prescribe and show you how to use in case of a reaction. These devices look like magic markers and automatically administer the right dose of epinephrine to stop an allergic reaction.

Auto-injectors are usually first prescribed for young children, but if your baby has had an allergic reaction to a food, the doctor may recommend one for her now.

Make sure anyone who takes care of your baby — babysitters, relatives, daycare workers — knows about her allergy and what she shouldn’t eat. Point out the kinds of foods that could hide the substance and ask caregivers to double-check ingredients. Also make certain that her caregivers know exactly what to do if she ever has an allergic reaction.

Tags : allergy, baby allergy

Being a parent is something rewarding and pleasant, although it takes time to fell comfortable with this new role. Both new parents and the babies are learning together. You don’t have to expect to know everything at once.

A new born sleeps more on the first few weeks; usually either in deep sleep, feeling sleepy, awake, cranky, half sleeping, and crying. Watch how your baby change from one situation to another. Every baby is different. A communication between the parents and the baby is very important. Each baby is born as a unique individual. Don’t give up if you baby doesn’t behave as how you wanted him/her to be.

Watch your babies closely, and see how they’re actually giving clues/hints about how they wanted to be treated. Crying is the only method for them to communicate their needs. They usually won’t stop crying until you fulfill their needs. Many parents are confused about what cause the crying?

Baby cries usually because of:

1. Hunger. On the first few weeks, newborn babies get hungry more often. Feed your baby when he/she showing some signs of hunger (looking for something, try to reach to anything that touch the baby’s cheek, sucking the finger, cranky, etc) The best time is to feed your baby in between full and hungry, so your baby doesn’t get too cranky.
2. Feeling lonely. When a baby stays calm and peaceful right after you hold your baby, means your baby misses you. It’s not about pampering your baby, but it’s a need for every baby to get some love from the parents.
3. Feeling hot/cold. Touch the back or the tummy area and check if you feel some heat or cold. Adjust the clothing to make your little angel feel more comfortable.
4. Too much distraction. Too many people around making noise at one time can make your baby feel exhausted. Your baby needs some quiet and peaceful time as well. When this happens, bring your baby to a quieter room to sooth him/her.
5. Shocked. Have you seen your baby suddenly moves, shocks, and cries? Wrap a warm blanket around the body and carry her to calm your baby.
6. Wet diaper. Some babies actually don’t mind about this, but some do.
7. In pain. There’s a possibility that your baby is in pain or feeling uncomfortable, maybe there’s a safety pin poking the skin or the label in the outfit irritate the skin, or a sharp zipper.
8. Sleepy. Some babies get really cranky when they feel sleepy.
9. Behavior. Certain babies are more sensitive than others. Don’t give up, it might needs longer time to adjust themselves to their new environment outside the womb.

Tags : hungry baby, milk, parents, Why does your baby cry?

Breastmilk is like the best milk ever. Each drop of breast milk that you give to your baby contains the exact amount of fat, amount of immune system, and the exact amount of other nutrition you baby needs. Besides that, breast milk also has a lot of benefit. Here are some of the benefits

1. No Menstrual Cycle or Ovulation During Breastfeeding
The choice to breastfeed will effect your reproductive cycle. Nursing your baby can cause your body to stay in a state of amenorrhea longer after giving birth. This means that you have no menstrual cycles or ovulation, nice right?

2. Lower Risk for Osteoporosis
There is some evidence that nursing a baby lowers your risk for osteoporosis later in life. Your body takes calcium from your bone reserves during lactation - but once your baby begins solids and weans your body replaces the calcium at an increased rate. Studies also have shown that women who breastfed their children are at lower risk of hip fracture and other bone problems.

3. Saves You a Lot of Money
Breast feeding definitely will give you economic advantages for you as well. To give you a picture, using formula can cost anywhere between $1,160 and $3,915! Even if you receive assistance from the United State’s Women Infants and Children program (WIC), you will still have to pay for some of your baby’s formula. This is true with other nations’ assistance programs.

The cost savings of nursing your baby are also seen in your baby’s good health. You pay less in medical bills, prescription costs, and insurance co-pays because your baby stays healthier than she might if she were being fed artificial baby milk.

4. Less Stress
Nursing allows you to feed your baby while lying down. You can nap with your baby - and you should - and if you choose a family bed you can nurse your baby right in your bed at night. You don’t have to get up, and after the first few weeks you’ll hardly notice your baby waking at night. This results in a far more rested you, and a happy baby.

5. Other Natural Benefits
Your body and your baby expect to breastfeed. Nursing is a natural continuum moving from pregnancy and birth. By breastfeeding your baby, you have access to an instant mothering tool that will help you grow more confident in yourself and your mothering instincts. And you will have a happy baby!

So don’t quit breast feeding your baby, be patient and keep doing it until your baby is 6 months old!

Evidence shows that for healthy moms and babies, natural birth is definitely preferred over a birth with interventions. However, many women today remain in the dark as to why natural birth is the best for most moms and babies. They’re told that interventions do not affect their babies or their bodies, and that cesarean section is just as safe as vaginal birth. These are lies. Below are the risks of having cesarian cut.

Risks of Cesarean Cut

Violation of your body. On the most basic, primal level, c-section can be a violation of your body. C section is cutting you open. Sure, it is cutting done in a professional medical level, but cutting human skin is still cutting, it’s somekind of a violation.

Physically damaging. Since it is a major abdominal surgery, all cesareans involve a wound across the abdomen and the uterus. There is also risk of damage to organs around the uterus, including the possibility of nicking the bowel. Babies can also suffer accidental cuts from cesarean operations.

Higher Risk of Uterine Infection The risk of uterine infection is much higher after a c-section than it is after a vaginal birth. There is usually a longer hospital stay for the mother, and she is at a higher risk of being re-admitted to the hospital later for complications.

Length of pain after cesarean is greater than after vaginal birth. You may feel more pain during a vaginal birth than you would during a cesarean. But shortly after birth most of that pain will be gone (unless you receive intervention such as episiotomy). Pain from cesarean surgery continues on into the early weeks and for some women, months.

Risks for Baby

Respiratory problems. Babies born by c-section are much more likely to have respiratory problems than babies born by vaginal birth. They are also at much higher risk for developing asthma later in life.

A harder time breastfeeding.Babies delivered by cesarean is takes longer to get their breast milk. The first nursing session is almost always delayed and it may be harder for the mother and baby to establish the breastfeeding relationship. This is not an insurmountable problem - however the risk of a baby not being breastfed is much higher for cesarean section than for vaginal birth.

Risks for Future Pregnancies

Finally, women who have cesareans suffer from more infertility than women who have vaginal births. This infertility is related directly to the physical effects of the surgery. Women who had c-sections are also less likely to want to become pregnant again.

Moreover, future babies are more at risk for preterm birth and have an increased risk of stillbirth. It is also possible that they may be at risk for more malformations or more nervous system damage while growing in a scarred uterus.
Emotions

Tags : delivering baby, risks of cesarean, vaginal birth vs c section

Being a parent gets even busier when you have to take your baby back and forth to the hospital go get some immunization. Immunization are important for your baby’s health, so let’s take a look at the common immunization schedule for your baby (age 0 to 1 year)

immunization can be given starting at age:
1 month : Hepatitis B
2 month : Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis
3 month : H Influenzae type B
4 month : Inactivated polio, Pneumococcal Conjugate
12 month : Measles, Mumps, Rubella ; Varicella (Chicken Pox)

Tags : baby immunization

Some of you might be thinking of going to somewhere cold for vacation, but unfortunately, you are pregnant. Now is it safe for pregnant moms to go to cold high altitude places? Here’s the answer

Experts say that as long as you keep the temperature at the right level it is totally fine to go to cold high places. The right temperature is one that’s warm enough but not too hot that you raise your body temperature, which could be dangerous for your developing baby.

However, keep in mind that pregnancy makes you short of breath. So if you’re not used to being at a high altitude where there’s less oxygen in the air, you’re going to compound your shortness of breath. And you won’t have as much endurance and stamina as you would at low altitudes. Research have proven that women who live at a high altitude tend to have slightly smaller babies.

Tags : can i go to cold places when pregnant?, pregnancy, pregnancy should and should not do, should i travel during pregnancy?

In one of my post, I talked about some tips to increase breast milk production. One of the tips was “consuming fenugreek”. In this post I am going to talk more about what fenugreek is and how to consume it

The fenugreek is a plant has been used for thousands of years throughout the world to increase breast milk supply in lactating women both as an herb and as a spice. In ancient Egypt, the herb is called “hairs of the earth”.

Crushed fenugreek seed also appears to lower blood sugar and has been used as a treatment for diabetes in Ethiopia. Fenugreek is also a common ingredient in curry powder and adds a maple syrup flavor to artificially flavored maple syrup.

Now here are the ways you can consume the fenugreek

Buy the capsule or actual herb.
Buy fenugreek capsules at a natural health store, natural supplement store, or drugstore. Or purchase loose fenugreek spice from a reputable herbalist. Good, fresh fenugreek should smell somewhat like maple syrup and not smell acrid.

Here is the fenugreek capsule dosage:
Take 4-7 grams a day. This means 2-4 610 mg capsules three times daily OR 1/2-1 teaspoon of the spice (powdered fenugreek seed) dissolved in water, juice or milk three times daily OR 1 cup of fenugreek tea 2-3 times per day. You may start at the lower dosage for a few days and then work up to the maximum dosage if called for.

Results will be seen within 1-3 days. Continue to take fenugreek seed for several days. Nurse or pump or express breast milk, eliminating as much milk from your breasts as you can to build your milk supply.

You may try going off the fenugreek when you feel your milk supply has increased sufficiently to feed your baby. If your breast milk production lowers again, even with the baby draining your breasts completely, resume taking fenugreek seed in the same dosage as before and keep taking it.

Tags : breastfeeding moms, breastmilk, diet while breastfeeding, fenugreek

As a mother, you must want the best for your children, and giving breastmilk is a part of it. Breastmilk contains the right amount of nutrition and gives more immunity to the baby compared to formula milk. But unfortunately, to some mothers, their breastmilk production is running low after two or three months (and that includes me). So I researched and found some tips to increase breastmilk production. Here they are

I consulted my doctor about the low production of breast milk and my doctor said that I should not be stressed. Stress is the major cause of low breast milk production. However, I am not stressed at all so I guess that reason does not apply for me. These are the tips that my doctor suggest me:

Pump or breastfeed more frequently.
Try pumping for five to ten minutes after a nursing session. Whether nursing or exclusively pumping, you can also try adding a pumping session or two during the day to increase your supply, such as first thing in the morning or after baby has gone to bed. I am using the Medela breast pump, and it has worked very well.

Drink plenty of water.
Make sure you’re drinking enough water during the day. It’s summer now in here and weather is so hot, and I did not drink enough water, maybe that’s why my breast milk is running low.

Eat enough.
Breastfeeding moms should consume 1,800-2,200 calories per day to maintain an abundant supply; fewer than 1,500-1,800 calories can cause a decrease in supply and decrease in the number of calories your milk contains. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and protein-rich foods.

Rest and relax.
Try taking a nap during the day or just resting on the sofa with your little one. Some sources also suggest co-sleeping with your baby.

Try eating oatmeal.
Lots of moms say that adding oatmeal to their diet somehow increased their milk supply. Have a bowl or oatmeal for breakfast, or snack on oatmeal-granola or even oatmeal cookies throughout the day.

Take away the pacifier.
Your baby should be sucking only at the breast, not pacifiers. Your baby’s need to suck will ensures that he or she spends enough time at the breast to stimulate your supply.

Try massage and relaxation techniques.
Before breastfeeding or pumping, take a few deep breaths and try to relax. Sit in a comfortable chair, play soft music and massage your breast for a minute or two before you begin to help with letdown.

Herbal remedies.
Fenugreek is an herb commonly used to increase milk supply. Fenugreek can be used short-term to boost your supply or long-term to augment supply and/or pumping yields. Be sure to consult with your doctor before taking any herbal remedies.

Tags : breastfeeding, breastmilk

For those of you who wants to enjoy going to the beach while pregnant, you might wonder if it is ok for you to have a bikini wax. Well, you are in luck, lovelymotherhood will explain if it is ok or not to have a bikini wax when you are pregnant

As the matter of fact, it is totally safe to get a bikini wax while you are pregnant. You don’t absorb those waxes through your skin. If you choose to have pain when you’re pregnant, you can. It won’t affect the pregnancy.

Tags : bikini wax while pregnant, pregnancy do and don'ts, pregnanty should and shoult not do

Whenever you go to swimming pool, you often see parents bringing their babies to the swimming pool and introduce water to them. Now the question is “when can you bring you baby to go to into the swimming pool?”

Experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics said “For newborns younger than 2 months we really worry about immunity — how vulnerable babies are to illness — so I recommend that parents not take their young infants into swimming pools, lakes, the ocean, and so on.” They said that even pristine looking pools may be a danger for infants. Pools can easily be contaminated with bacteria that cause diarrhea, which can be very dangerous for a young infant.

Moreover, before 6 months, your baby won’t be able to regulate his body temperature. Therefore, you need to make sure the water’s warm enough for him. The pool should be at least 84 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit for your baby to be comfortable. If he starts shivering, it’s time to get out of the water.

In contrary, too much heat can be a problem, too. Hot tubs, spas, and pools heated to more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit are off limits to children younger than 5. Young children overheat more quickly than adults and the high temperatures in hot tubs can cause a child’s heart to race or pose other dangers.

In conclusion, it is advisable to wait until your baby is at least 6 months old before you introduce them to swimming pools. Also, make sure that the water is not too cold and not too hot for the baby.

Tags : when can baby go in a pool?