| |
|
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Alternatives to Punishment
Great article from kidstalknews.com!
Friday, July 27, 2012
The Chemistry of Attachment (part 5)
(The full version of this wonderfully informative article by Linda F. Palmer can be found at: http://www.attachmentparenting.org/support/articles/artchemistry.php)
The Chemistry of Attachment (part 5)
Norepinephrine & Learning
Breastfeeding also causes dopamine and its product, norepinephrine (adrenaline), to be produced, which help maintain some of the effects of the early bonding. They enhance energy and alertness along with some of the pleasure of attachment. Norepinephrine helps organize the infant's stress control system, as well as other important hormonal controls in accordance with the nature of the early rearing experiences. It promotes learning about the environment-especially learning by memorization that is carried out by oxytocin, opioids, and other chemical influences.
Pheromones & Basic Instincts
How does the man's body know to initiate hormonal changes when he is living with a pregnant female? How can an infant accurately interpret mother's "odors" that adults often can barely detect? The answer is pheromones. Among other things, pheromones are steroid hormones that are made in our skin. Our bodies are instinctually programmed to react accordingly when we detect these pheromones around us.
Newborns are much more sensitive to pheromones than adults. Unable to respond to verbal or many other cues, they apparently depend on this primitive sense that controls much of the behavior of lower animals. Most likely the initial imprinting of baby to odors and pheromones is not just a matter of preferring the parents' odors, but is a way nature controls brain organization and hormonal releases to best adapt baby to its environment. Baby's earliest, most primitive experiences are then linked to higher abilities such as facial and emotional recognition. Through these, baby most likely learns how to perceive the level of stress in the caretakers around her, such as when mother is experiencing fear or joy. Part of an infant's distress over separation may be caused by the lost parental cues about the safety of her environment. Of course the other basic sensation an infant responds to well is touch, and coincidentally, body odors and pheromones can only be sensed when people are physically very near each other.
What the World Needs Now . . .
Infants universally cry when laid down alone. If we allow ourselves to listen, our neurons and hormones encourage us in the proper response. Babies are designed to be frequently fed in a fashion that requires skin-to-skin contact, holding, and available facial cues. Beneficial, permanent brain changes result in both parent and infant from just such actions. Contented maternal behaviors grow when cues are followed. The enhancement of fatherhood is strongly provided for as well. A father's participation encourages his further involvement and creates accord between father and mother. Frequent proximity and touch between baby and parents can create powerful family bonding-with many long-term benefits.
Sadly, over the last century parents have been encouraged by industry-educated "experts" to ignore their every instinct to respond to baby's powerful parenting lessons. Psychologists, neurologists, and biochemists have now confirmed what many of us have instinctually suspected: that many of the rewards of parenthood have been missed along the way, and that generations of children may have missed out on important lifelong advantages.
Dr. Linda Palmer retired from her chiropractic practice when the health challenges of her son and the parenting style objections from those around her led her to extensive research efforts, culminating in her writing of a healthy parenting book, Baby Matters: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Caring for Your Baby.
The Chemistry of Attachment (part 5)
Norepinephrine & Learning
Breastfeeding also causes dopamine and its product, norepinephrine (adrenaline), to be produced, which help maintain some of the effects of the early bonding. They enhance energy and alertness along with some of the pleasure of attachment. Norepinephrine helps organize the infant's stress control system, as well as other important hormonal controls in accordance with the nature of the early rearing experiences. It promotes learning about the environment-especially learning by memorization that is carried out by oxytocin, opioids, and other chemical influences.
Pheromones & Basic Instincts
How does the man's body know to initiate hormonal changes when he is living with a pregnant female? How can an infant accurately interpret mother's "odors" that adults often can barely detect? The answer is pheromones. Among other things, pheromones are steroid hormones that are made in our skin. Our bodies are instinctually programmed to react accordingly when we detect these pheromones around us.
Newborns are much more sensitive to pheromones than adults. Unable to respond to verbal or many other cues, they apparently depend on this primitive sense that controls much of the behavior of lower animals. Most likely the initial imprinting of baby to odors and pheromones is not just a matter of preferring the parents' odors, but is a way nature controls brain organization and hormonal releases to best adapt baby to its environment. Baby's earliest, most primitive experiences are then linked to higher abilities such as facial and emotional recognition. Through these, baby most likely learns how to perceive the level of stress in the caretakers around her, such as when mother is experiencing fear or joy. Part of an infant's distress over separation may be caused by the lost parental cues about the safety of her environment. Of course the other basic sensation an infant responds to well is touch, and coincidentally, body odors and pheromones can only be sensed when people are physically very near each other.
What the World Needs Now . . .
Infants universally cry when laid down alone. If we allow ourselves to listen, our neurons and hormones encourage us in the proper response. Babies are designed to be frequently fed in a fashion that requires skin-to-skin contact, holding, and available facial cues. Beneficial, permanent brain changes result in both parent and infant from just such actions. Contented maternal behaviors grow when cues are followed. The enhancement of fatherhood is strongly provided for as well. A father's participation encourages his further involvement and creates accord between father and mother. Frequent proximity and touch between baby and parents can create powerful family bonding-with many long-term benefits.
Sadly, over the last century parents have been encouraged by industry-educated "experts" to ignore their every instinct to respond to baby's powerful parenting lessons. Psychologists, neurologists, and biochemists have now confirmed what many of us have instinctually suspected: that many of the rewards of parenthood have been missed along the way, and that generations of children may have missed out on important lifelong advantages.
Dr. Linda Palmer retired from her chiropractic practice when the health challenges of her son and the parenting style objections from those around her led her to extensive research efforts, culminating in her writing of a healthy parenting book, Baby Matters: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Caring for Your Baby.
The Chemistry of Attachment (part 4)
(The full version of this wonderfully informative article by Linda F. Palmer can be found at: http://www.attachmentparenting.org/support/articles/artchemistry.php)
The Chemistry of Attachment (part 4)
Opioids & Rewards
Opioids (pleasure hormones) are natural morphine-like chemicals created in our bodies. They reduce pain awareness and create feelings of elation. Social contacts, particularly touch-especially between parent and child- induce opioid release, creating good feelings that will enhance bonding. Odor, taste, activity, and even place preferences can develop as the result of opioid release during pleasant contacts, and eventually the sight of a loved one's face stimulates surges. Opioid released in a child's brain as a conditioned response to a parent's warm hugs and kisses can be effective for helping reduce the pain from a tumble or a disappointment.
Parents "learn" to enjoy beneficial activities such as breastfeeding and holding, and infants "learn" to enjoy contact such as being held, carried, and rocked, all as a response to opioid release. Babies need milk, and opioids are nature's reward to them for obtaining it, especially during the initial attempts. The first few episodes of sucking organize nerve pathways in the newborn's brain, conditioning her to continue this activity. This is the reason that breastfed babies sometimes have trouble if they are given bottles in the newborn nursery-early exposure to bottles creates a confusing association of pleasure with both bottle nipples and the mother's breast. In fact, any incidental sensations experienced during rocking, touching, and eating that aren't noxious can become part of a child's attachment and will provide comfort. It could be the warmth of mother's body, father's furry chest, grandma's gentle lullaby, a blanket, or the wood-slatted side of a crib.
Prolonged elevation of prolactin in the attached parent stimulates the opioid system, heightening the rewards for intimate, loving family relationships, possibly above all else. Just as with codeine and morphine, tolerance to natural opioids can occur, which will reduce the reward level for various activities over time. But this is not a problem for attached infants and parents, because higher levels of oxytocin, especially when created through frequent or prolonged body contact, actually inhibit opioid tolerance 7, protecting the rewards for maintaining close family relationships. On the other hand, consuming artificial opioid drugs replaces the brain's need for maintaining family contacts.
Once a strong opioid bonding has occurred, separation can become emotionally upsetting, and in the infant possibly even physically uncomfortable when opioid levels decrease in the brain, much like the withdrawal symptoms from cocaine or heroin. When opioid levels become low, one might feel like going home to hold the baby or like crying for a parent's warm embrace, depending on your point of view. Sometimes alternate behaviors are helpful. For instance, thumb-sucking can provide some relief from partial or total withdrawal from a human or rubber nipple and can even provide opioid-produced reminiscences for a time.
The Chemistry of Attachment (part 4)
Opioids & Rewards
Opioids (pleasure hormones) are natural morphine-like chemicals created in our bodies. They reduce pain awareness and create feelings of elation. Social contacts, particularly touch-especially between parent and child- induce opioid release, creating good feelings that will enhance bonding. Odor, taste, activity, and even place preferences can develop as the result of opioid release during pleasant contacts, and eventually the sight of a loved one's face stimulates surges. Opioid released in a child's brain as a conditioned response to a parent's warm hugs and kisses can be effective for helping reduce the pain from a tumble or a disappointment.
Parents "learn" to enjoy beneficial activities such as breastfeeding and holding, and infants "learn" to enjoy contact such as being held, carried, and rocked, all as a response to opioid release. Babies need milk, and opioids are nature's reward to them for obtaining it, especially during the initial attempts. The first few episodes of sucking organize nerve pathways in the newborn's brain, conditioning her to continue this activity. This is the reason that breastfed babies sometimes have trouble if they are given bottles in the newborn nursery-early exposure to bottles creates a confusing association of pleasure with both bottle nipples and the mother's breast. In fact, any incidental sensations experienced during rocking, touching, and eating that aren't noxious can become part of a child's attachment and will provide comfort. It could be the warmth of mother's body, father's furry chest, grandma's gentle lullaby, a blanket, or the wood-slatted side of a crib.
Prolonged elevation of prolactin in the attached parent stimulates the opioid system, heightening the rewards for intimate, loving family relationships, possibly above all else. Just as with codeine and morphine, tolerance to natural opioids can occur, which will reduce the reward level for various activities over time. But this is not a problem for attached infants and parents, because higher levels of oxytocin, especially when created through frequent or prolonged body contact, actually inhibit opioid tolerance 7, protecting the rewards for maintaining close family relationships. On the other hand, consuming artificial opioid drugs replaces the brain's need for maintaining family contacts.
Once a strong opioid bonding has occurred, separation can become emotionally upsetting, and in the infant possibly even physically uncomfortable when opioid levels decrease in the brain, much like the withdrawal symptoms from cocaine or heroin. When opioid levels become low, one might feel like going home to hold the baby or like crying for a parent's warm embrace, depending on your point of view. Sometimes alternate behaviors are helpful. For instance, thumb-sucking can provide some relief from partial or total withdrawal from a human or rubber nipple and can even provide opioid-produced reminiscences for a time.
The Chemistry of Attachment (part 3)
(The full version of this wonderfully informative article by Linda F. Palmer can be found at: http://www.attachmentparenting.org/support/articles/artchemistry.php)
The Chemistry of Attachment (part 3)
Prolactin & Behavior
Prolactin is released in all healthy people during sleep, helping to maintain reproductive organs and immune function. In the mother, prolactin is released in response to suckling, promoting milk production as well as maternal behaviors. Prolactin relaxes mother, and in the early months, creates a bit of fatigue during a nursing session so she has no strong desire to hop up and do other things.
Prolactin promotes caregiving behaviors and, over time, directs brain reorganization to favor these behaviors 6. Father's prolactin levels begin to elevate during mother's pregnancy, but most of the rise in the male occurs after many days of cohabitation with the infant.
As a result of hormonally orchestrated brain reorganization during parenthood, prolactin release patterns are altered. It has been shown that fathers release prolactin in response to intruder threats, whereas childless males do not. On the other hand, nursing mothers do not release prolactin in response to loud noise, whereas childless females do. In children and non-parents, prolactin surges are related to stress levels, so it is generally considered a stress hormone. In parents, it serves as a parenting hormone.
Elevated prolactin levels in both the nursing mother and the involved father cause some reduction in their testosterone levels, which in turn reduces their libidos (but not their sexual functioning). Their fertility can be reduced for a time as well. This reduction in sexual activity and fertility is entirely by design for the benefit of the infant, allowing for ample parental attention and energy. When the father is intimately involved with the infant along with the mother, there should be some accord between the desires of the two, and oxytocin and other chemicals provide for heightened bonding and non-sexual interest in each other, which serves to retain a second devoted caretaker for the infant.
The Chemistry of Attachment (part 3)
Prolactin & Behavior
Prolactin is released in all healthy people during sleep, helping to maintain reproductive organs and immune function. In the mother, prolactin is released in response to suckling, promoting milk production as well as maternal behaviors. Prolactin relaxes mother, and in the early months, creates a bit of fatigue during a nursing session so she has no strong desire to hop up and do other things.
Prolactin promotes caregiving behaviors and, over time, directs brain reorganization to favor these behaviors 6. Father's prolactin levels begin to elevate during mother's pregnancy, but most of the rise in the male occurs after many days of cohabitation with the infant.
As a result of hormonally orchestrated brain reorganization during parenthood, prolactin release patterns are altered. It has been shown that fathers release prolactin in response to intruder threats, whereas childless males do not. On the other hand, nursing mothers do not release prolactin in response to loud noise, whereas childless females do. In children and non-parents, prolactin surges are related to stress levels, so it is generally considered a stress hormone. In parents, it serves as a parenting hormone.
Elevated prolactin levels in both the nursing mother and the involved father cause some reduction in their testosterone levels, which in turn reduces their libidos (but not their sexual functioning). Their fertility can be reduced for a time as well. This reduction in sexual activity and fertility is entirely by design for the benefit of the infant, allowing for ample parental attention and energy. When the father is intimately involved with the infant along with the mother, there should be some accord between the desires of the two, and oxytocin and other chemicals provide for heightened bonding and non-sexual interest in each other, which serves to retain a second devoted caretaker for the infant.
The Chemistry of Attachment (part 2)
(The full version of this wonderfully informative article by Linda F. Palmer can be found at: http://www.attachmentparenting.org/support/articles/artchemistry.php)
The Chemistry of Attachment (part 2)
Vasopressin & Protection
Although present and active during bonding in the mother and infant, vasopressin plays a much bigger role in the father. This hormone promotes brain reorganization toward paternal behaviors when the male is cohabitating with the pregnant mother. The father becomes more dedicated to his mate and expresses behaviors of protection.
Released in response to nearness and touch, vasopressin promotes bonding between the father and the mother, helps the father recognize and bond to his baby, and makes him want to be part of the family, rather than alone. It has gained a reputation as the "monogamy hormone." Dr. Theresa Crenshaw, author of The Alchemy of Love and Lust, says, "Testosterone wants to prowl, vasopressin wants to stay home." She also describes vasopressin as tempering the man's sexual drive.
Vasopressin reinforces the father's testosterone-promoted protective inclination regarding his mate and child, but tempers his aggression, making him more reasonable and less extreme. By promoting more rational and less capricious thinking, this hormone induces a sensible paternal role, providing stability as well as vigilance.
The Chemistry of Attachment (part 2)
Vasopressin & Protection
Although present and active during bonding in the mother and infant, vasopressin plays a much bigger role in the father. This hormone promotes brain reorganization toward paternal behaviors when the male is cohabitating with the pregnant mother. The father becomes more dedicated to his mate and expresses behaviors of protection.
Released in response to nearness and touch, vasopressin promotes bonding between the father and the mother, helps the father recognize and bond to his baby, and makes him want to be part of the family, rather than alone. It has gained a reputation as the "monogamy hormone." Dr. Theresa Crenshaw, author of The Alchemy of Love and Lust, says, "Testosterone wants to prowl, vasopressin wants to stay home." She also describes vasopressin as tempering the man's sexual drive.
Vasopressin reinforces the father's testosterone-promoted protective inclination regarding his mate and child, but tempers his aggression, making him more reasonable and less extreme. By promoting more rational and less capricious thinking, this hormone induces a sensible paternal role, providing stability as well as vigilance.
The Chemistry of Attachment (part 1)
(The full version of this wonderfully informative article by Linda F. Palmer can be found at: http://www.attachmentparenting.org/support/articles/artchemistry.php)
Once born, baby's hormonal control systems and brain synapses begin to permanently organize according to the human interactions she experiences. Unneeded brain receptors and neural pathways are disposed of, while those appropriate to the given environment are enhanced.
Oxytocin -- a Bonding Hormone
Oxytocin is a chemical messenger released in the brain chiefly in response to social contact, but its release is especially pronounced with skin-to-skin contact. In addition to providing health benefits, this hormone-like substance promotes bonding patterns and creates desire for further contact with the individuals inciting its release 1.
When the process is uninterrupted, oxytocin is one of nature's chief tools for creating a mother. Roused by the high levels of estrogen ("female hormone") during pregnancy, the number of oxytocin receptors in the expecting mother's brain multiplies dramatically near the end of her pregnancy. This makes the new mother highly responsive to the presence of oxytocin. These receptors increase in the part of her brain that promotes maternal behaviors.
Oxytocin's first important surge is during labor. If a cesarean birth is necessary, allowing labor to occur first provides some of this bonding hormone surge (and helps ensure a final burst of antibodies for the baby through the placenta). Passage through the birth canal further heightens oxytocin levels in both mother and baby.
High oxytocin causes a mother to become familiar with the unique odor of her newborn infant, and once attracted to it, to prefer her own baby's odor above all others'. Baby is similarly imprinted on mother, deriving feelings of calmness and pain reduction along with mom. When the infant is born, he is already imprinted on the odor of his amniotic fluid. This odor imprint helps him find mother's nipple, which has a similar but slightly different odor. In the days following birth, the infant can be comforted by the odor of this fluid 2. Gradually over the next days, baby starts to prefer the odor of his mother's breast, but continued imprinting upon his mother is not food related. In fact, formula-fed infants are more attracted (in laboratory tests) to their mother's breast odor than to that of their formula, even two weeks after birth 3.
By influencing maternal behavior and stimulating milk "let down" (allowing milk to flow) during nursing, oxytocin helps make the first attempts at breastfeeding feel natural. Attempts at nursing during the initial hour after birth cause oxytocin to surge to exceptional levels in both mother and baby. Mothers who postpone nursing lose part of the ultimate hormone high provided for immediately after birth. Powerful initial imprinting for mother and baby is intended to occur chiefly so that mother and baby will be able to find and recognize each other in the hours and days after birth.
Yet a lifetime opportunity for bonding and love is not lost if this initial window is missed. Beyond birth, mother continues to produce elevated levels of oxytocin as a consequence of nursing and holding her infant, and the levels are based on the amount of such contact. This hormonal condition provides a sense of calm and well being. Oxytocin levels are higher in mothers who exclusively breastfeed than in those who use supplementary bottles. Under the early influence of oxytocin, nerve junctions in certain areas of mother's brain actually undergo reorganization, thereby making her maternal behaviors "hard-wired."
As long as contact with the infant remains, oxytocin causes mother to be more caring, to be more eager to please others, to become more sensitive to other's feelings, and to recognize nonverbal cues more readily. Continued nursing also enhances this effect. With high oxytocin, mother's priorities become altered and her brain no longer signals her to groom and adorn herself in order to obtain a mate, and thus a pregnancy. Now that the child has already been created, mom's grooming habits are directed toward baby. High oxytocin in the female has also been shown to promote preference for whatever male is present during its surges (one good reason for dad to hang around during and after the birth). Prolonged high oxytocin in mother, father, or baby also promotes lower blood pressure and reduced heart rate as well as certain kinds of artery repair, actually reducing lifelong risk of heart disease 4.
Although baby makes her own oxytocin in response to nursing, mother also transfers it to the infant in her milk. This provision serves to promote continuous relaxation and closeness for both mother and baby. A more variable release of oxytocin is seen in bottle-fed infants, but is definitely higher in an infant who is "bottle-nursed" in the parents' arms rather than with a propped bottle.
Persistent regular body contact and other nurturing acts by parents produce a constant, elevated level of oxytocin in the infant, which in turn provides a valuable reduction in the infant's stress-hormone responses. Multiple psychology studies have demonstrated that, depending on the practices of the parents, the resulting high or low level of oxytocin will control the permanent organization of the stress-handling portion of the baby's brain-promoting lasting "securely attached" or "insecure" characteristics in the adolescent and adult. Such insecure characteristics include anti-social behavior, aggression, difficulty forming lasting bonds with a mate, mental illness, and poor handling of stress.
When an infant does not receive regular oxytocin-producing responsive care, the resultant stress responses cause elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Chronic cortisol elevations in infants and the hormonal and functional adjustments that go along with it are shown in biochemical studies to be associated with permanent brain changes that lead to elevated responses to stress throughout life, such as higher blood pressure and heart rate. Mothers can also benefit from the stress-reducing effects of oxytocin-women who breastfeed produce significantly less stress hormone than those who bottle-feed 5.
Nor are fathers left out of the oxytocin equation. It has been shown that a live-in father's oxytocin levels rise toward the end of his mate's pregnancy. When the father spends significant amounts of time in contact with his infant, oxytocin encourages him to become more involved in the ongoing care in a self-perpetuating cycle. Oxytocin in the father also in-creases his interest in physical (not necessarily sexual) contact with the mother. Nature now provides a way for father to become more interested in being a devoted and satisfied part of the family picture through his involvement with the baby.
With all of its powers, oxytocin is but one of a list of many chemicals that nature uses to ensure that baby finds the love and care he needs.
The Chemistry of Attachment (part 1)
Human babies are born helpless, needing to be entirely cared
for and protected. Luckily, they are born with all the necessary tools and
"instructions" to attain such care for themselves, and to become a loved and
loving part of their family and society. The ingrained neural and hormonal
interactions provided for parent and child to assist them in this process are
among the most powerful in nature. The hormonal cues are clear and compelling
and our instincts can provide us with all the appropriate responses. Without
taking great efforts to avoid and ignore such urges, parents will naturally
follow the advice of their neurons and hormones, nurturing their babies and
maintaining physical closeness with them.
Once born, baby's hormonal control systems and brain synapses begin to permanently organize according to the human interactions she experiences. Unneeded brain receptors and neural pathways are disposed of, while those appropriate to the given environment are enhanced.
Oxytocin -- a Bonding Hormone
Oxytocin is a chemical messenger released in the brain chiefly in response to social contact, but its release is especially pronounced with skin-to-skin contact. In addition to providing health benefits, this hormone-like substance promotes bonding patterns and creates desire for further contact with the individuals inciting its release 1.
When the process is uninterrupted, oxytocin is one of nature's chief tools for creating a mother. Roused by the high levels of estrogen ("female hormone") during pregnancy, the number of oxytocin receptors in the expecting mother's brain multiplies dramatically near the end of her pregnancy. This makes the new mother highly responsive to the presence of oxytocin. These receptors increase in the part of her brain that promotes maternal behaviors.
Oxytocin's first important surge is during labor. If a cesarean birth is necessary, allowing labor to occur first provides some of this bonding hormone surge (and helps ensure a final burst of antibodies for the baby through the placenta). Passage through the birth canal further heightens oxytocin levels in both mother and baby.
High oxytocin causes a mother to become familiar with the unique odor of her newborn infant, and once attracted to it, to prefer her own baby's odor above all others'. Baby is similarly imprinted on mother, deriving feelings of calmness and pain reduction along with mom. When the infant is born, he is already imprinted on the odor of his amniotic fluid. This odor imprint helps him find mother's nipple, which has a similar but slightly different odor. In the days following birth, the infant can be comforted by the odor of this fluid 2. Gradually over the next days, baby starts to prefer the odor of his mother's breast, but continued imprinting upon his mother is not food related. In fact, formula-fed infants are more attracted (in laboratory tests) to their mother's breast odor than to that of their formula, even two weeks after birth 3.
By influencing maternal behavior and stimulating milk "let down" (allowing milk to flow) during nursing, oxytocin helps make the first attempts at breastfeeding feel natural. Attempts at nursing during the initial hour after birth cause oxytocin to surge to exceptional levels in both mother and baby. Mothers who postpone nursing lose part of the ultimate hormone high provided for immediately after birth. Powerful initial imprinting for mother and baby is intended to occur chiefly so that mother and baby will be able to find and recognize each other in the hours and days after birth.
Yet a lifetime opportunity for bonding and love is not lost if this initial window is missed. Beyond birth, mother continues to produce elevated levels of oxytocin as a consequence of nursing and holding her infant, and the levels are based on the amount of such contact. This hormonal condition provides a sense of calm and well being. Oxytocin levels are higher in mothers who exclusively breastfeed than in those who use supplementary bottles. Under the early influence of oxytocin, nerve junctions in certain areas of mother's brain actually undergo reorganization, thereby making her maternal behaviors "hard-wired."
As long as contact with the infant remains, oxytocin causes mother to be more caring, to be more eager to please others, to become more sensitive to other's feelings, and to recognize nonverbal cues more readily. Continued nursing also enhances this effect. With high oxytocin, mother's priorities become altered and her brain no longer signals her to groom and adorn herself in order to obtain a mate, and thus a pregnancy. Now that the child has already been created, mom's grooming habits are directed toward baby. High oxytocin in the female has also been shown to promote preference for whatever male is present during its surges (one good reason for dad to hang around during and after the birth). Prolonged high oxytocin in mother, father, or baby also promotes lower blood pressure and reduced heart rate as well as certain kinds of artery repair, actually reducing lifelong risk of heart disease 4.
Although baby makes her own oxytocin in response to nursing, mother also transfers it to the infant in her milk. This provision serves to promote continuous relaxation and closeness for both mother and baby. A more variable release of oxytocin is seen in bottle-fed infants, but is definitely higher in an infant who is "bottle-nursed" in the parents' arms rather than with a propped bottle.
Persistent regular body contact and other nurturing acts by parents produce a constant, elevated level of oxytocin in the infant, which in turn provides a valuable reduction in the infant's stress-hormone responses. Multiple psychology studies have demonstrated that, depending on the practices of the parents, the resulting high or low level of oxytocin will control the permanent organization of the stress-handling portion of the baby's brain-promoting lasting "securely attached" or "insecure" characteristics in the adolescent and adult. Such insecure characteristics include anti-social behavior, aggression, difficulty forming lasting bonds with a mate, mental illness, and poor handling of stress.
When an infant does not receive regular oxytocin-producing responsive care, the resultant stress responses cause elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Chronic cortisol elevations in infants and the hormonal and functional adjustments that go along with it are shown in biochemical studies to be associated with permanent brain changes that lead to elevated responses to stress throughout life, such as higher blood pressure and heart rate. Mothers can also benefit from the stress-reducing effects of oxytocin-women who breastfeed produce significantly less stress hormone than those who bottle-feed 5.
Nor are fathers left out of the oxytocin equation. It has been shown that a live-in father's oxytocin levels rise toward the end of his mate's pregnancy. When the father spends significant amounts of time in contact with his infant, oxytocin encourages him to become more involved in the ongoing care in a self-perpetuating cycle. Oxytocin in the father also in-creases his interest in physical (not necessarily sexual) contact with the mother. Nature now provides a way for father to become more interested in being a devoted and satisfied part of the family picture through his involvement with the baby.
With all of its powers, oxytocin is but one of a list of many chemicals that nature uses to ensure that baby finds the love and care he needs.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Article: Language Development is Critical
Found this article on Language Development and thought I'd share with my readers! :)
Help Me Help Myself
LOVE this article - although it's geared toward the preschool child ages 3-6, it is a good primer for all of us working with younger children and even infants. So many times, I find that a 6 month old infant becomes fussy because he cannot reach his arms far enough to get the toy he wants... he can almost crawl, but is not yet there. What a great example of how (just as the article describes) the SKILL to crawl leads to independence & confidence.
Sensitive Period for Movement
Over the last decade or so that I've been working with children both professionally and socially, I can absolutely attest to the fact that children want & need to MOVE! :)
I found this article (click here for article) and feel it does a great job of describing the sensitive period for movement in the preschool age. However, I wanted to mention that it is equally important for children to have PURPOSEFUL activity and opportunities for movement in infancy as well!
Presently, I am working with a family on reducing the time their four month old daughter spends in the swing and bouncer at home in the morning time, evening time and during the weekends. Consider for a moment the amount of time your child (or someone's child that you know of) spends in the bouncer or swing... While children absolutely love these comfort measures (swings and bouncers are so comfortable the child will literally fall asleep after a short time in them) they do NOT provide opportunities for movement. Substituting instead at least half of the time on the floor, the four month old child would be motivated to attempt rolling over, reaching for a toy, grabbing a dangling object or rotating their body in a 90 degree angle. In time, the child will begin doing even more! Scooting across the floor, rolling onto her belly and pushing her head up with her arms. I have already seen progress in the two weeks I have been working with this family - infants progress so quickly when given opportunities!
As this article mentions, the sensitive period for movement is from birth through the preschool years. I know you're going to enjoy the article and also exploring ways of incorporating purposeful movement into the routine of your little one! Happy parenting :)
I found this article (click here for article) and feel it does a great job of describing the sensitive period for movement in the preschool age. However, I wanted to mention that it is equally important for children to have PURPOSEFUL activity and opportunities for movement in infancy as well!
Presently, I am working with a family on reducing the time their four month old daughter spends in the swing and bouncer at home in the morning time, evening time and during the weekends. Consider for a moment the amount of time your child (or someone's child that you know of) spends in the bouncer or swing... While children absolutely love these comfort measures (swings and bouncers are so comfortable the child will literally fall asleep after a short time in them) they do NOT provide opportunities for movement. Substituting instead at least half of the time on the floor, the four month old child would be motivated to attempt rolling over, reaching for a toy, grabbing a dangling object or rotating their body in a 90 degree angle. In time, the child will begin doing even more! Scooting across the floor, rolling onto her belly and pushing her head up with her arms. I have already seen progress in the two weeks I have been working with this family - infants progress so quickly when given opportunities!
As this article mentions, the sensitive period for movement is from birth through the preschool years. I know you're going to enjoy the article and also exploring ways of incorporating purposeful movement into the routine of your little one! Happy parenting :)
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
My Baby Journey - 102 Days to go!
Wow!!! I haven't blogged about my baby countdown in a couple of weeks. Time is going by SO fast! Since my last post, we have completely finished the baby room. The furniture is in, bedding is on, changing table is ready and the room is painted. Oh, not to mention the closet - Geneveve has a closet full of clothes to get her started. :D
My diet has changed a little bit - I'm starting to be hungry all day long!!!! It has been challenging to keep healthy foods prepared in the fridge for me to munch on so I have come up with a couple ways to help in this area....
Frozen fruit smoothies - I have been getting mixed frozen fruit and keeping it in the freezer. That way, at any time during the day I get hungry, I can pour it into the blender and have a healthy (no preservative, no sugar added) snack.
Frozen homemade-from-scratch vegetable soups - On the weekends, I've been spending a good deal of time preparing different soups for the week. I start with fresh produce and lean meats - the soups are so hearty and yummy! Freezing them in serving size containers make it so much easier to toss on the stove and warm throughout the day.
I would imagine that for the remainder of my pregnancy (only one more trimester to go!) I will be mentioning these smoothies and frozen soups/stews in my "Today I ate" baby countdown sections.
***
As of today, my baby has 101 days to go before she is due to meet the world! Today, as always, I spent lots of time reading to the other infants I care for and I know Geneveve really enjoyed listening. :)
***
Today I ate
Breakfast: Smoothie (1 cup mixed frozen fruit, 8 oz milk, 2 tbsp peanut butter)
Late lunch: Warm Sausage & Cabbage Stew with celery, carrots & onions.
Mid-Afternoon Snack: Wheat Crackers & Cheese
Dinner: Veggie Saute - Squash, Zucchini, Onion & Sweet Bell Peppers Sauteed with Lemon Herb seasoning & fresh lemon juice. Garlic Bread on the side.
Beverage total: 5 glasses of water & 1 cup of coffee
Daily Exercise: walking for 45 minutes
Total weight gain to date: 7 lbs
My diet has changed a little bit - I'm starting to be hungry all day long!!!! It has been challenging to keep healthy foods prepared in the fridge for me to munch on so I have come up with a couple ways to help in this area....
Frozen fruit smoothies - I have been getting mixed frozen fruit and keeping it in the freezer. That way, at any time during the day I get hungry, I can pour it into the blender and have a healthy (no preservative, no sugar added) snack.
Frozen homemade-from-scratch vegetable soups - On the weekends, I've been spending a good deal of time preparing different soups for the week. I start with fresh produce and lean meats - the soups are so hearty and yummy! Freezing them in serving size containers make it so much easier to toss on the stove and warm throughout the day.
I would imagine that for the remainder of my pregnancy (only one more trimester to go!) I will be mentioning these smoothies and frozen soups/stews in my "Today I ate" baby countdown sections.
***
As of today, my baby has 101 days to go before she is due to meet the world! Today, as always, I spent lots of time reading to the other infants I care for and I know Geneveve really enjoyed listening. :)
***
Today I ate
Breakfast: Smoothie (1 cup mixed frozen fruit, 8 oz milk, 2 tbsp peanut butter)
Late lunch: Warm Sausage & Cabbage Stew with celery, carrots & onions.
Mid-Afternoon Snack: Wheat Crackers & Cheese
Dinner: Veggie Saute - Squash, Zucchini, Onion & Sweet Bell Peppers Sauteed with Lemon Herb seasoning & fresh lemon juice. Garlic Bread on the side.
Beverage total: 5 glasses of water & 1 cup of coffee
Daily Exercise: walking for 45 minutes
Total weight gain to date: 7 lbs
Friday, April 27, 2012
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
My Baby Countdown: 122 Days to go!
As of today, my baby has 125 days to go before she is due to meet the world!
Today, I read to my baby one of my favorite children's books of all time: Love You Forever by Robert Munsch. Every time I read this book it makes me cry and I hope little Geneveve knows I will, indeed, love her forever...
***
Today I ate
Breakfast:1 bowl of granola cereal with milk
Lunch: Salad with diced celery, diced green onions, cubed cheese, shredded carrots & thinly sliced radishes. Tossed with a little ranch and salt & pepper.
Snack: 1 apple
Dinner: Quesadilla Salad from Chili's without the chicken. Salad had tomatoes, corn relish, shredded cheese & tortilla strips with citrus balsamic dressing.
Beverage total: 6 glasses of water & 4 glasses iced tea
Daily Exercise: gardening for 45 minutes
Total weight gain to date: 5 lbs
Today, I read to my baby one of my favorite children's books of all time: Love You Forever by Robert Munsch. Every time I read this book it makes me cry and I hope little Geneveve knows I will, indeed, love her forever...
***
Today I ate
Breakfast:1 bowl of granola cereal with milk
Lunch: Salad with diced celery, diced green onions, cubed cheese, shredded carrots & thinly sliced radishes. Tossed with a little ranch and salt & pepper.
Snack: 1 apple
Dinner: Quesadilla Salad from Chili's without the chicken. Salad had tomatoes, corn relish, shredded cheese & tortilla strips with citrus balsamic dressing.
Beverage total: 6 glasses of water & 4 glasses iced tea
Daily Exercise: gardening for 45 minutes
Total weight gain to date: 5 lbs
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
My Baby Countdown: 123 days to go!
Today, I spent an hour or so updating my pregnancy scrapbook. As I put in my new sonogram pictures and made notes about the past few weeks, I read some of them aloud to Geneveve... It was fun to spend this time reflecting and talking to my little one. :)
***
Today I ate
Breakfast:Oatmeal with raisins, dates & walnuts
Lunch: Small cheeseburger with pickles and onions, handful of french fries.
Snack: One apple
Dinner: Salad with chopped celery, green onions, shredded carrots, sliced radishes and cabbage, tossed in balsamic vinaigrette. 1/2 cup chicken salad with whole wheat crackers.
Beverage total: 1 cup coffee & 6 glasses water
Daily Exercise: walking the dogs for 30 minutes.
Total weight gain to date: 5 lbs
***
Today I ate
Breakfast:Oatmeal with raisins, dates & walnuts
Lunch: Small cheeseburger with pickles and onions, handful of french fries.
Snack: One apple
Dinner: Salad with chopped celery, green onions, shredded carrots, sliced radishes and cabbage, tossed in balsamic vinaigrette. 1/2 cup chicken salad with whole wheat crackers.
Beverage total: 1 cup coffee & 6 glasses water
Daily Exercise: walking the dogs for 30 minutes.
Total weight gain to date: 5 lbs
Monday, April 23, 2012
My Baby Countdown: 124 Days to go!
Today, little Geneveve has 124 days to grow before she is due to meet the world! We marked this day by going to the doctor and receiving great news that she is indeed, most probably, a girl and that she is very healthy.
I spent a good deal of time being thankful and welling up with tears of joy that my pregnancy has continued to go so very well. I wanted to tell her that I love her so very much so again, I read to her: I Love you Forevery by Robert Munsch. I also wanted to tell her a story about children with wonderful imaginations so I read: Where the Wild Things are, by Maurice Sendak. I hope she enjoyed them as much as I did!
***
Today I ate
Breakfast:Oatmeal with raisins, dates & walnuts
Lunch: Hearty salad tossed with ranch dressing, shredded carrots & radishes
Snack: two quesadilla wedges
Dinner: Crock pot cream of mushroom chicken & rice with green beans
Beverage total: 1 cup coffee & 6 glasses water
Daily Exercise: cleaning the house for 45 minutes! lol
Total weight gain to date: 5 lbs
I spent a good deal of time being thankful and welling up with tears of joy that my pregnancy has continued to go so very well. I wanted to tell her that I love her so very much so again, I read to her: I Love you Forevery by Robert Munsch. I also wanted to tell her a story about children with wonderful imaginations so I read: Where the Wild Things are, by Maurice Sendak. I hope she enjoyed them as much as I did!
***
Today I ate
Breakfast:Oatmeal with raisins, dates & walnuts
Lunch: Hearty salad tossed with ranch dressing, shredded carrots & radishes
Snack: two quesadilla wedges
Dinner: Crock pot cream of mushroom chicken & rice with green beans
Beverage total: 1 cup coffee & 6 glasses water
Daily Exercise: cleaning the house for 45 minutes! lol
Total weight gain to date: 5 lbs
Sunday, April 22, 2012
My Baby Countdown: 125 days to go!
As of today, my baby has 125 days to go before she is due to meet the world!
Today, I read to my baby one of my favorite children's books of all time: Love You Forever by Robert Munsch. Every time I read this book it makes me cry and I hope little Geneveve knows I will, indeed, love her forever...
***
Today I ate
Breakfast:1 bowl of granola cereal with milk
Lunch: Salad with diced celery, diced green onions, cubed cheese, shredded carrots & thinly sliced radishes. Tossed with a little ranch and salt & pepper.
Snack: 1 apple
Dinner: Quesadilla Salad from Chili's without the chicken. Salad had tomatoes, corn relish, shredded cheese & tortilla strips with citrus balsamic dressing.
Beverage total: 6 glasses of water & 4 glasses iced tea
Daily Exercise: gardening for 45 minutes
Total weight gain to date: 5 lbs
Today, I read to my baby one of my favorite children's books of all time: Love You Forever by Robert Munsch. Every time I read this book it makes me cry and I hope little Geneveve knows I will, indeed, love her forever...
***
Today I ate
Breakfast:1 bowl of granola cereal with milk
Lunch: Salad with diced celery, diced green onions, cubed cheese, shredded carrots & thinly sliced radishes. Tossed with a little ranch and salt & pepper.
Snack: 1 apple
Dinner: Quesadilla Salad from Chili's without the chicken. Salad had tomatoes, corn relish, shredded cheese & tortilla strips with citrus balsamic dressing.
Beverage total: 6 glasses of water & 4 glasses iced tea
Daily Exercise: gardening for 45 minutes
Total weight gain to date: 5 lbs
Friday, April 20, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
A Sigh of Relief at my 20wk OB Appt...
Today, I nervously went in for my 20 week OB appointment. The reason I was nervous for my appointment.... For the past month, I have been having some major discomfort in my tummy area... One of the discomforts is on the left side and feels like a runner's cramp. This comes and goes but I usually feel this discomfort more days than not. Additionally, and more worrisome for me, I've been having discomfort & pain in what I would call the "hammock" of my belly... This area is below the belly button and reaches from one hip area to another. This discomfort and the worry was so much that I got a belly band to support my pregnant belly until the day for another doctor's appointment came. I tried to remain calm because I have not experienced any bleeding or fluid leakage which could be associated with any particular negative outcome.
Another reason I was nervous is that I haven't felt my baby move more than a couple of times and from what I've read and heard from others, I really should be feeling her move by now! I thought I felt my baby move last Friday night. I was resting on the couch with my feet up and reading one of my pregnancy books, Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn by Penny Simkin. I felt a little flutter on my right side - this particular feeling I had never experienced and I was just SURE it was my baby. :) So that gave me some comfort.
Anyway, by the time my appointment came this morning at 11:30, I had gotten myself so worked up that my blood pressure, when taken by the nurse, was WAY too high. I explained my worries (and luckily by the end of the appointment my blood pressure was back to normal.)
When I spoke to the doctor about my pains, I was surprised to find that this is actually pretty normal. I kept thinking to myself - really??? But, apparently, that's why baby and maternity stores sell the belly bands - to provide the very, very much needed support to bellies that are growing larger than they have ever been before. And my doctor reiterated that this IS my first pregnancy so I can expect a little more stretching and discomfort for the remainder of my nine months.
Regarding fetal movement, I was very interested to find out why on Earth I hadn't been feeling my little one move. During the sonogram, it was explained that I have an anterior placenta. Anterior placentas are located near the top of the uterus (presently right behind my belly button) and are in the front, rather than the back. As this was being explained, I began to understand the "why" question I had been asking before. Since the placenta is coiled and floating just behind the uterine wall, every time my baby moves or kicks, she kicks the cord instead of the side of the uterus and therefor it cannot be felt by the nerves just under my belly skin. So that explained it!!
Needless to say, I was so relieved after my appointment that it took a few hours to realize all of the wonderful things the doctor had to say... our baby girl is strong, healthy, growing right on target. :)
Another reason I was nervous is that I haven't felt my baby move more than a couple of times and from what I've read and heard from others, I really should be feeling her move by now! I thought I felt my baby move last Friday night. I was resting on the couch with my feet up and reading one of my pregnancy books, Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn by Penny Simkin. I felt a little flutter on my right side - this particular feeling I had never experienced and I was just SURE it was my baby. :) So that gave me some comfort.
Anyway, by the time my appointment came this morning at 11:30, I had gotten myself so worked up that my blood pressure, when taken by the nurse, was WAY too high. I explained my worries (and luckily by the end of the appointment my blood pressure was back to normal.)
When I spoke to the doctor about my pains, I was surprised to find that this is actually pretty normal. I kept thinking to myself - really??? But, apparently, that's why baby and maternity stores sell the belly bands - to provide the very, very much needed support to bellies that are growing larger than they have ever been before. And my doctor reiterated that this IS my first pregnancy so I can expect a little more stretching and discomfort for the remainder of my nine months.
Regarding fetal movement, I was very interested to find out why on Earth I hadn't been feeling my little one move. During the sonogram, it was explained that I have an anterior placenta. Anterior placentas are located near the top of the uterus (presently right behind my belly button) and are in the front, rather than the back. As this was being explained, I began to understand the "why" question I had been asking before. Since the placenta is coiled and floating just behind the uterine wall, every time my baby moves or kicks, she kicks the cord instead of the side of the uterus and therefor it cannot be felt by the nerves just under my belly skin. So that explained it!!
Needless to say, I was so relieved after my appointment that it took a few hours to realize all of the wonderful things the doctor had to say... our baby girl is strong, healthy, growing right on target. :)
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Understanding a Child's Sense of Order
I found a great article about understanding a child's sense of order - enjoy! Click here to view article!
Sunday, February 5, 2012
A Child's Love of Silence
It may be shocking - but it's true! Children have a need for silence and when they learn to use periods of silence in order to concentrate on exploration or other tasks, they learn to love it. I found a great article discussing just that - click here to read on!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Sonogram 9 Weeks
We had our second sonogram and the baby actually looks like a baby now! If you look closely, you can see a tiny foot at the top of the two leg buds. We got to hear the heartbeat too, which was much stronger than last time. You guessed it - we're absolutely thrilled!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
My Baby Journey - Vomiting & Vitamin Deficiency
Nearly 10 weeks along, I'm happy, excited, a little anxious, and eagerly awaiting the completion of my first trimester. Since my last post about morning sickness, I have to say that I've continued to feel very nauseated and vomiting more frequently. I'm extremely tired... to the point I literally want to take naps every day (not that I'm actually able to of course!). When my 11 hour workday ends each evening, I eat dinner, take vitamins and, leaving room for little else, find myself retiring to bed for the night... In case you're asking yourself "what's the perfect amount of sleep?", I'll share that averaging about 10 hours of sleep helps me feel the best when I awake each morning.
On another note, I received a call last week from my OB/GYN to discuss my most recent blood test. The results? I have vitamin deficiencies in both iron & b12. I've been borderline anemic during my adult life which has been primarily caused by heavy flow periods. I thought that since I'd been taking a daily prenatal vitamin for the past year (in preparation for conception) that I would avoid any deficiencies once I got pregnant. I was surprised at the blood test results of course, but I'm glad to know now so early in my pregnancy.
My doctor has instructed me to continue the daily prenatal along with a prescription grade supplemental vitamin (thank goodness she gave me samples enough for about a month!). At first, the double dose of vitamins upset my stomach more than usual, but now, I just make sure I eat a carb-dense dinner and go straight to bed. Actually, this has helped me to keep weight on since I had been losing weight due to frequent vomiting.
Later this week, I have another prenatal appointment and I'm absolutely THRILLED to share more sonogram pictures. :)
On another note, I received a call last week from my OB/GYN to discuss my most recent blood test. The results? I have vitamin deficiencies in both iron & b12. I've been borderline anemic during my adult life which has been primarily caused by heavy flow periods. I thought that since I'd been taking a daily prenatal vitamin for the past year (in preparation for conception) that I would avoid any deficiencies once I got pregnant. I was surprised at the blood test results of course, but I'm glad to know now so early in my pregnancy.
My doctor has instructed me to continue the daily prenatal along with a prescription grade supplemental vitamin (thank goodness she gave me samples enough for about a month!). At first, the double dose of vitamins upset my stomach more than usual, but now, I just make sure I eat a carb-dense dinner and go straight to bed. Actually, this has helped me to keep weight on since I had been losing weight due to frequent vomiting.
Later this week, I have another prenatal appointment and I'm absolutely THRILLED to share more sonogram pictures. :)
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
My Baby Journey - Morning Sickness & Such
I knew long before I got pregnant that "morning sickness" is different for every mommy. I also knew that it sometimes lasts only the first trimester, and sometimes lasts the entire pregnancy....
My "morning sickness" started out as midnight sickness. I would get up during the middle of the night (sometimes multiple times per night) and be sick. Sometimes it was pretty severe with dry heaving, and other times it would be as simple as walking to the bathroom, vomiting, and going back to bed. I try to remember to keep a hair tie on my night stand so I can pull my hair back on the way to the restroom - not glamorous but it works!
I still have to get up during the night, but now, it's happening when I wake up in the morning and sometimes after breakfast! Occasionally throughout the day but not usually.
One thing I've done to cope with the frequent vomiting is to just eat through the nausea. It feels weird to make myself eat when I have an upset stomach but after I do it, I feel a lot better. I'm extremely busy during the day, so I'm wondering if I'm digesting my daytime meals more quickly because of the activity... if so, this is probably helping curb the nausea. It seems that when I wake up during the night, I'm throwing up undigested dinner from 5 or 6 hours before - gross! Needless to say, I have started eating lighter dinners!
My "morning sickness" started out as midnight sickness. I would get up during the middle of the night (sometimes multiple times per night) and be sick. Sometimes it was pretty severe with dry heaving, and other times it would be as simple as walking to the bathroom, vomiting, and going back to bed. I try to remember to keep a hair tie on my night stand so I can pull my hair back on the way to the restroom - not glamorous but it works!
I still have to get up during the night, but now, it's happening when I wake up in the morning and sometimes after breakfast! Occasionally throughout the day but not usually.
One thing I've done to cope with the frequent vomiting is to just eat through the nausea. It feels weird to make myself eat when I have an upset stomach but after I do it, I feel a lot better. I'm extremely busy during the day, so I'm wondering if I'm digesting my daytime meals more quickly because of the activity... if so, this is probably helping curb the nausea. It seems that when I wake up during the night, I'm throwing up undigested dinner from 5 or 6 hours before - gross! Needless to say, I have started eating lighter dinners!
Friday, January 6, 2012
My Baby Journey (sonogram & heartbeat)
As soon as we discovered the amazing news, we hopped online to find a new ob/gyn. I have a gynecologist which I've gone to for about ten years, however, the drive to his office is a little far. Since I'm now running a business from my home, I'm opting for a closer ob/gyn, especially for the much more frequent pregnancy appointments.
We found an amazing doctor right in our area and had the first appointment on Wednesday at 4:00. I was nervous all day. (Neither of us slept the night before!) I tried to keep my mind occupied throughout the day, however, my thoughts kept drifting back to the appointment... what would it be like?... will I get to see anything?... is everything okay so far???
We arrived right on time and as soon as we were taken back to our room, the nurse came in and put us at ease. She confirmed our pregnancy! Then, she invited us to the sonogram room where I was instructed to change. One surprise I had was that it was a VAGINAL SONOGRAM. Okay, I should have expected this but for some reason I was thinking it would be the kind of sonogram where they'd rub jelly on my tummy and then we'd see a picture on the screen. No. The vaginal sonogram wasn't as scary as the initial surprise let on. The sonogram wand was about 12 inches long (only about 3 inches were actually inserted) and about 1 inch wide. The doctor had turned off the lights in the room. On the monitor, we were able to see a little pac-man looking circle that kept flashing. She told us that was our baby at 6 weeks - the 'flashing' was actually the beating of the baby's heart. I was so amazed and excited. Tears filled my eyes to the brim. She said that normally, you can't hear the heartbeat this early, so we shouldn't get our hopes up that high. But, after turning the volume up all the way on her machine - there it was! A little thump thump, thump thump. Brett & I just looked at each other in disbelief! We are going to be parents.
We found an amazing doctor right in our area and had the first appointment on Wednesday at 4:00. I was nervous all day. (Neither of us slept the night before!) I tried to keep my mind occupied throughout the day, however, my thoughts kept drifting back to the appointment... what would it be like?... will I get to see anything?... is everything okay so far???
We arrived right on time and as soon as we were taken back to our room, the nurse came in and put us at ease. She confirmed our pregnancy! Then, she invited us to the sonogram room where I was instructed to change. One surprise I had was that it was a VAGINAL SONOGRAM. Okay, I should have expected this but for some reason I was thinking it would be the kind of sonogram where they'd rub jelly on my tummy and then we'd see a picture on the screen. No. The vaginal sonogram wasn't as scary as the initial surprise let on. The sonogram wand was about 12 inches long (only about 3 inches were actually inserted) and about 1 inch wide. The doctor had turned off the lights in the room. On the monitor, we were able to see a little pac-man looking circle that kept flashing. She told us that was our baby at 6 weeks - the 'flashing' was actually the beating of the baby's heart. I was so amazed and excited. Tears filled my eyes to the brim. She said that normally, you can't hear the heartbeat this early, so we shouldn't get our hopes up that high. But, after turning the volume up all the way on her machine - there it was! A little thump thump, thump thump. Brett & I just looked at each other in disbelief! We are going to be parents.
Monday, January 2, 2012
My Baby Journey (week 6)
Yesterday, on New Year's Day, 2012, my husband & I found out (after two years of trying to conceive) that we're PREGNANT! I will never forget the look on Brett's face when I brought the at-home pregnancy test into the living room with a stunned grin and handed it to him. I thought he'd tip over the coffee table as he lunged toward me, hugging me, both of us beaming with joy. I had felt that I may be pregnant for a few weeks prior, but, even as a birth educator, I explained away the symptoms. One reason I did this is that I wasn't having morning sickness. Rather, it was midnight sickness. It was always after something slightly different for dinner, so I thought, well, it was just something I ate. Looking back over the past month or so, I admit that I'd been a little more emotional and a little more tired than normal (more very typical signs of pregnancy). But, I'd been feeling great otherwise! So, here we are on January 2nd - about to schedule our first prenatal appointment and - WOW - I couldn't have a wider range of emotions!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)