Most couples would like to have children of both sexes. My spouse and I were hoping that when I conceived, everything would go according to plan. My first child is a boy and when we planned for the second one, we wanted it to be a girl. Well, things normally do not turn out as planned, and we had another boy. We waited for five years before trying again for a girl. We are happy to finally get the girl we wanted. We have decided that our family is now complete as raising children nowadays takes proper financial planning and three children is the limit for us.

Boys vs. girls: Which one is easier to raise

When you are parenting children of both sexes, it is normal to make comparison in their behavior. You will actually see the differences starting from when they are babies. No child is alike and it is not due to the gender differences either. My two boys are completely different. The first one was a happy contented baby and slept a lot while my second one was a bit colicky and did not like to nap. The first one is a bit of an introvert whereas the second one is very talkative and inquisitive.

Being boys, I like to play rough with them and they like it. They fell down a lot throughout their growing up years as they cannot seem to sit still. They enjoy playing with toys whether it is a toy truck or a cookery set. Only when they are older, their preferences tend to veer towards boy stuffs like toy guns and cars.

My daughter seems to fall somewhere in the middle of the two boys. She was very contented as a baby but did not like to sleep for long periods as well. Being a girl does not deter her from climbing all over the furniture in the house. She likes to play with her teddy bear as much as she likes to play with her brother’s toys.

Based on my experience, I will not say raising one gender is easier compared to the other gender. Both genders have their differences and I have experience frustrating moments with both although in different situations. As a parent, I learn about their personalities, their likes and dislikes and it is normal to encounter bumps along the way. My conclusion is boys and girls are hard to raise but in different ways.

I would love to hear a parent say that raising their child has been smooth sailing all the way. I may be able to say that when my kids are older, much, much older and all grown up.

What is your opinion on the above? I have friends who say girls are much easier to raise than boys. What do you think based on your parenting experience?

photo credit: GoonSquadSarah

As a mom, you must have heard or read about the countless benefits of breastfeeding your baby. If you still have reservations about the side-effects of breastfeeding or have false ideas about it, read on to learn the truths.

photo credit: Raphael Goetter

It is painful

Breastfeeding should not be painful. If it is, your baby may not be sucking or latching on properly. Breastfeeding can be a great bonding process with your baby.

It makes the boobs saggy

Pregnancy will affect your breast due to the physical and hormonal changes. Then there is also milk production to nourish the baby. It is actually good as it helps your breasts return to its pre-pregnancy shape faster. Women who plan to breastfeed should be happy with this news.

You need big boobs to breastfeed

The size of your breast makes no difference to your ability to breastfeed. It does not matter whether you have big boobs or small ones. The milk production is in the glandular tissue which is not affected by the breast size.

Breastfeeding prevents me from getting pregnant

In the first six months, the chance of conceiving is low if you continue to breastfeed and your menstrual cycle has not returned.

Having an inverted nipple means breastfeeding is not possible

Having a sticking-out nipple makes it easier to breastfeed but not necessary. Getting the right advice or practice will ensure breastfeeding is still possible.

Likewise having a C-section

After a C-section (Caesarian) does not mean you cannot breastfeed. It is up to you to find a comfortable position that enables you to breastfeed easily.

Choosing either breastfeeding or bottle-feeding

A mom does not have to choose one and stick to it. A lot of moms have successfully combined both in order to give their babies the benefits that go with breastfeeding and bottle-feeding.

Guilty feeling if not breastfeeding

Some women feel that they have failed as a mom if they do not breastfeed. Some women prefer not to breastfeed for various reasons. They should know that breastfeeding is only one part of the love they will be providing throughout the growing up years. There should not be any guilty feelings for not breastfeeding. There are many other ways to bond with the baby including giving lots of hugs and cuddles.

Therefore, having learned all of the above should encourage women breast feeding their babies to continue with their practice.

This article will reveal true and interesting facts about pregnancy. You will be amazed by the following facts and it just goes to show you the unbelievable things the human body is capable of.

photo credit: molly_darling

#1: Milk production

Upon conception, your breasts get ready for milk production. This starts as early as week 13. Your nipples will undergo some changes, i.e. become larger and darker and the veins will be more obvious as more blood is pumped to the breast.

#2: Womb size

The woman’s womb is about the size of a small pear before conception. The womb will grow bigger and reach the bottom of the rib cage by the time of the due date which is 500 – 1000 times bigger.

#3: Placenta

Your placenta does a lot of things for the baby. Something new I discovered is that it also produces heat to keep your baby warm, about one degree warmer than the mother’s body.

#4: Girl wonder

If you happen to carry a baby girl, she already has about two million eggs inside of her at only 13 weeks. The number of eggs will drop to about one million over the next two trimesters.

#5: The baby’s eyes

The eyes will develop on the side of the baby’s head in the beginning. The eyes will move closer together from week 12. The baby can move the eyes from left to right by about week 20 and open them by week 22.

#6: The baby’s heart

The baby’s heart will beat twice as fast as yours. By week five, all four chambers are fully developed. The baby’s heart is capable of pumping as much as six gallons of blood per day by week 16.

#7: Fingerprints

Your baby’s fingerprints are in place by week 13. The fingernails only start to grow from week 12 and she may even scratch herself in the womb.

#8: Hiccups

Do you know that your baby may hiccup while still in the womb? I experienced this with all of my three pregnancies and it was amazing! Your baby starts to practice breathing, inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid by week 16. If some fluid gets into the windpipe, it causes the baby to hiccup.

#9: Natural heating

Your baby will develop a special kind of “brown” fat in the nape of her neck in the last weeks of your pregnancy. The cells are special for giving heat during the first few weeks after birth.

#10: The baby’s bones

In the beginning, your baby has supple cartilage which transforms into bones by week 17. However, the bones will remain flexible to prepare for her journey through the birth canal.

You have just gone through the ups and downs of pregnancy and now you finally get to hold your baby face to face. Hence, the first few weeks may need some getting used to as you now have an additional person to take care off. Below are some of the things you may expect to encounter during the first 6 weeks with your baby.

1st week

You may still feel sore and tired and still recovering from the effects of labor. All attention is normally on the baby as everyone tries to settle down into a new routine. Do not be surprise to see that your baby is losing weight during the first week. This is normal.

2nd week

Some mothers are still feeling tired and more attention is needed to take care of their health. Good nutrition and enough sleep and rest is important but may be difficult to acquire. If you get any assistance from family members, it would be very helpful to you. Hiring a nanny or a companion is not uncommon nowadays especially for the first few weeks to assist in taking care of the newborn. Your baby will be sleeping a lot around this time, 15 – 16 hours a day.

photo credit: iandeth

3rd week

You will know your baby’s routine by now and you have learned to do your own things when the baby is sleeping. Your baby will want to feed often and will also be more alert. Some babies may also start to display signs of having colic around this time. He may be crying for more than 3 hours a day, for more than 3 days a week.

4th week

This week, you may feel like going out with your baby as you should be feeling strong and fully recovered. You and your baby will have settled down to a daily routine and you may notice your baby’s sleeping pattern as well. Prepare a carryall bag to keep all the necessary baby stuffs you think that is needed for an outing. Going out will become faster and easier as you just need to grab the bag each time.

photo credit: Bjørn Giesenbauer

5th week

Generally, you should be feeling happy and energetic. However, if you find that you are feeling down, tearful, unable to sleep and worry a lot, you may have Post Natal Depression (PND). Talk to your doctor about your symptoms for advice. Your baby will be making a lot of eye contact and loves to hear your voice. Learn to differentiate your baby’s cries on whether he is hungry, tired or in pain.

6th week

By this time, you should be feeling in control of your life once more. You may want to give more attention to the other areas of your life, for example your relationship with your partner. Your baby will love playing and interacting with you. Most babies will also start to sleep for 5 to 6 hours at night.

Personally, the first four weeks were normally tough for me. Feeling tired and sleepy are common and all activities centered around the baby. On top of that, the baby has not learned to sleep through the night yet and hence, sleep was only 2 – 3 hours at a stretch each night.

It is natural to feel tired and overwhelmed when you have a baby around. You may be feeling that there are so many things to do but you are unable to complete any of the tasks.

Prioritize

Do what is immediately important first. Forget about mopping the floors or ironing the clothes. Learn to live in an “imperfect” situation or environment temporarily until everything is more settled down. The most important thing is to take care of the baby and yourself.

Establish a routine

It is easy to organize your work once you have a set routine. Establish a feeding and sleeping pattern for your baby. It helps to keep a baby log and to write down what your baby is doing on a notebook. Help your baby to have a set time for feeding, sleeping, bathing and playing. You will be better organize once you know the pattern.

Do not refuse an offer of help

If someone offers to help you with taking care of the baby or in doing the household chores, do not refuse. In addition, get your partner to help out when he is around. You can take the opportunity to have enough rest or sleep.

If you have friends planning to visit you, it is fine to refuse or postpone their visit. They will understand your situation and would not be offended.

For your grocery shopping, your partner can do it alone or you can request help from your parents, parents-in-law, relatives or friends.

Baby crying

All babies cry and yours is no exception. Some babies cry more and it is important to find out the reason. Try to find out if your baby is crying due to a wet nappy, he is feeling hungry or tired or he is having a tummy-ache, etc. Some babies may cry without a reason or they are colicky. Knowing the reason will help you to handle the situation better. Hence, if you recognize that your baby is in one of his continuous crying bout due to colic, it helps to leave the room for a few minutes or to call someone close to you.

Lastly, get in touch with other friends who are mothers or get to know other moms on the internet. Talking or chatting and exchanging experiences help to keep things in perspective and make motherhood more enjoyable for you.

photo credit: ephotography

Most of us know that the placenta is an important organ connecting the baby to the mother while still in the womb. Its main role is to provide nutrients and oxygen from the mother to the baby. In addition, it also removes waste from the baby to the mother.

If that is not amazing enough, below are 8 more interesting facts about your body’s ‘disposable’ organ:

• The placenta produces pregnancy hormones, for example the “human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG)” in the early days of pregnancy. The hormones estrogen and progesterone assist in building up the lining of the womb to provide a cushion for the baby.

• It is important to have a good diet and a healthy lifestyle. Smoking is also strongly discouraged to ensure a good blood supply through the placenta.

• An average placenta will weigh about 0.5 Kg. The bigger the baby means a bigger placenta. The placenta is formed at conception and develops along with the baby.

• A good position for the placenta to implant and grow is at the top portion of the uterus. However, it is not unusual to find it at the low portion in the early part of the pregnancy.

• The placenta is naturally expelled from the womb after birth. The hormone oxytoxin assists contract the womb and to stop any postnatal bleeding.

• In the Chinese culture, some carry out the practice of burying the placenta in the ground honoring the new life brought into the world. It is also believed that the placenta should be buried near the birthplace for reincarnation purposes.

• The placenta can also be consumed as it contains good nutrients like minerals, iron and zinc. In addition, it is supposed to clear away any post-partum depression and helps the mother recover faster. The preparation may involve drying and baking the placenta before it is grinded into powder form.

• The placenta may also be used for cosmetic purposes just like the popular sheep placenta.

I hope you have learned something new about the placenta after reading the facts above.

When parents finally greet their bundle of joy and get to hold and cuddle their baby, it is a momentous and happy occasion for the parents. This is especially so for the mother who had been nurturing the baby for nine months.

Do you know that the Chinese has a custom or tradition of celebrating the birth of a baby? It is called the baby’s “Full Moon” or full month celebration and is celebrated when the baby reaches one month old.

In Malaysia, the country where I live is made up of a multiracial population. The Chinese make up a large percentage of the population. Hence, it is quite often that you hear people celebrating their baby’s Full Moon birthday. The main purpose is to introduce the baby to the relatives, (aunts, uncles and cousins) and also to the couple’s friends. Although the baby is supposed to be the star during the celebration, he would not remember anything except through the photographs or videos taken during the special occasion.

There will be lots of different types of food and drinks prepared for the guests. One of the items that are commonly seen is the red-colored or red-dyed eggs. The eggs symbolize a new passage in life whereas the red color symbolizes celebration and good luck and the egg’s oval shape represents harmony and unity.

photo credit: ccarlstead

During this occasion, some Chinese parents also practice the custom of shaving off the baby’s hair. Others however, would just take a small snip of the hair as a symbolic gesture. The hair is then wrapped in a red cloth and sewn to the baby’s pillow. This practice is said to ensure that the baby would be brave or not easily scared.

The baby will receive gifts such as clothing or other baby stuffs, ang pows (a red packet with money inside) or even gold jewelry. The happiest people would be the parents of course as well as the grandparents. The birthday celebration is carried out not only to celebrate the arrival of the new baby but it also serves to bring the family members closer together and strengthen the ties.

So, if you ever hear the Chinese celebrating a baby’s Full Moon, you know that it is a birthday celebration especially for the baby.

To read more about birthday celebrations, check out the
Parenting Blog Carnival for the month of March.

Before you make any plans to have a child or to have more children, there are a lot of factors to take into consideration. Get yourself and your partner thinking on the following questions and discuss them openly. These questions are examples only and you should further discuss issues that you think may be important. If everything is agreeable and there are no obstacles, having the child will be a happy and momentous occasion.

Sample questions to discuss together:

• Why do we want a baby/ more children?
• Are we ready financially
• Are we able to provide a comfortable home for the child?
• Who will look after the baby after it is born?
• Will one partner quit his/her job to stay home to look after the new baby?
• Are you willing to sacrifice your time (less time for yourself) to bring up the child?
• Are you ready for the extra burden (more responsibilities) of taking care of another person?

Well, the truth is becoming a parent can seem the job from hell for some people. It is therefore important to share the responsibilities with your spouse or partner. Once you have cleared away all the doubts and crossed all the hurdles, your reward will be a beautiful new baby. It is a goal both you and your partner work hard on to make a reality.

The mother has nurtured the baby for nine months inside her womb and has gone through an unimaginable labor. The baby has to be worth all the hard work, preparations and worries and therefore deserves loving parents. The last thing you would want is to have a baby without any forethoughts or preparations. With the proper planning, the end results are happy parents and family and that happiness should stay forever as you raise your children.