Solutions for the child
It is worth spending some time before the birth of the child to make a series of decisions on the issues that he will require. Of course, later you can change your mind, but, having considered the options now, in the future you will be able to make a more informed decision.
Here are some of the questions that you must decide before the baby is born: how do you want to feed it, what will you call it, whether you will return to work after the birth of the child, and if so, who will take care of it.
BREAST OR BOTTLE?
The decision on how to nurse a child is very personal, and it is worth trying to assess the advantages and disadvantages of breastfeeding and artificial feeding to make the right choice. It is clear that mother's milk is the best option, especially in the first weeks after birth, but there are many reasons why women switch to breastfeeding. Ultimately, the most important thing is for you and your child to feel comfortable, healthy and happy. See Chap.14, where the feeding of the child is described in more detail.
Breastfeeding
Most women can breastfeed, regardless of breast size and shape. However, if you have flat or hollow nipples, you will need a little help to learn how to put a child or use breast pads before birth. First, breastfeeding can be difficult or painful, but women get used to it for several weeks with the help of a doctor. Some pregnant women feel uncomfortable with the very idea of breastfeeding, but after they bring a child, they easily exercise it. Often, this happens as a result of natural hormonal changes in the body. If you are not sure of your desire to breast-feed, at least try to do this - to breastfeeding you can always go if it does not work out. It's harder to get back to breast feeding
after a bottle, so you may not have another chance, if you do not try it right away.
If you are going to return to work shortly after the birth of the baby, definitely you should apply breastfeeding, even if you are sure that you will not continue it;Breastmilk is especially necessary for a child in the first weeks of life to create an immune system. Think about the combination of feeding: breastfeeding when you are at home, and rely on baby food while on the job. You can also express milk before leaving for work, so that the child receives it in the absence of the mother.
Artificial feeding
If you have problems with breastfeeding or you are disgusted with this process, you may decide to use artificial feeding. There are some medicines and conditions, for example human immunodeficiency virus, incompatible with breastfeeding because of the risk of infection of the child,
when necessary artificial feeding. One of the main advantages( if you really decide to apply bottle feeding) is that your spouse and close relatives, such as grandparents, will easily participate in this process. This will also allow you to see how much milk a child consumes per single feeding.
CHOOSING NAME
Selecting a child's name can be an amazing and exciting process. Discuss the possible names with your spouse, then write the papers you liked on the sheet and fix it on the refrigerator or billboard to often see the names and feel the warm feelings from each of them. Some parents prefer to keep the child's name secret until birth - an adorable newborn, perhaps, will please the "old people" who may think that you have chosen the wrong name. Remember that when a child appears, you can change your decision regarding
. Mother's milk is designed by nature to ensure the baby's requirements for all nutrients in the quantities required.
Mother's milk contains antibodies and other protective elements that help fight infection. It has been revealed that infants fed on breast milk have less respiratory, ear and gastrointestinal diseases, as well as diabetes, granulomatosis, auto-allergic disease, they have less sudden death syndrome and obesity.
Mother's milk is easily digested and leads to stomach disorders, diarrhea and constipation.
Mother's milk is cheap, always available, the right temperature and freshness.
Breastfeeding speeds up the process of returning the uterus to its normal size and can help to lose weight gained during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding can reduce the risk of breast cancer.
In the UK, approximately 25% of boys go through this operation annually. At a certain stage, before the scheduled delivery, you should decide if you will circumcise your foreskin to your child, and if so, make sure that it is done soon after his birth. There are no medical reasons for early circumcision, in addition, pediatricians do not recommend doing this routine operation. However, many parents expose children to circumcision for religious or other reasons. The procedure is painful and requires some anesthesia: moreover, there is a small risk of infection, excessive bleeding and scarring. Discuss this problem with your spouse and doctor.
of the selected name to another, more suitable. Below are a few tips.
♦ Define variations and values of Buy a book with a name or browse all the names you have chosen on the Internet.
♦ Try to think through the possible nicknames Elena can become Lena, Alexander will shrink to Sasha, etc.
♦ Avoid complex names It's better not to give names that are difficult to write and pronounce.
♦ Take into account stereotypes of Will you and your child be satisfied with such a standard name as Petya, Vasya, Olya, etc.
♦ Take into account the names of the relatives Is there a famous person in the family who you want to call your child after whom, or is it better to avoid it?
♦ Notice how the name sounds next to the middle name of the If you give the child a name, pay attention to how it is pronounced with the middle name.
BIRTHDAY PHOTOGRAPHS
This may seem trivial, but if you think in advance how to fix the birth of a child, it can save a lot of nerves on that very important day.
Think about whether you want the birth to be taken off or recorded on video. Connect someone, preferably not a spouse, to the camera or video camera. Think carefully about what you want to shoot, remembering that later you can edit the frames. Stock up with film and batteries, just in case, get a one-time camera. Beforehand make sure that you can take pictures, as some doctors and hospitals prohibit shooting.
Try not to watch footage immediately after birth. The birth of a child is a very strong emotional test, and your body is restored after it in a natural way, due to neurochemical amnesia, which during the following weeks makes the memories of the birth blurred.
SEARCH FOR A GOOD DOCTOR FOR A CHAMBER
You probably want to register a child with a general practitioner who is interested in pediatrics, but the search for this can turn into a kind of exciting detective story. First of all, ask the district doctor, health visitor, friends and relatives about their opinion. It's good to ask the following questions.
♦ What is the practice of the doctor? Does he work alone or with a group? It is better to choose group practice, in this case it is always possible to reach someone.
♦ Is there a children's department?
♦ When the reception time, how many usually need to wait for reception, how, when and to whom to call?
♦ How are calls processed during unattended hours?
♦ How does the doctor work in case of urgent need in it?
♦ If you are not disappointed with the answers, arrange a meeting with the doctor and try to get the following information from him:
♦ What are the doctor's views on questions of breastfeeding, feeding, jaundice of newborns, use of antibiotics, immunization, etc.?
♦ Does the waiting room give a pleasant impression, is it clean in it, are there many toys and books to borrow children?
♦ Is the staff friendly and friendly, do they find contact with children?
RETURN TO WORK
Another solution that you may have to take before the birth of a child is when you plan to return to work and how the baby will be taken care of if it happens. Remember that in many children's institutions there is a queue and you should sign up in this queue long before the birth of the child.
Perhaps you want to leave work as long as possible - many mothers find that it is much more difficult for them to leave a child than they thought before. And if the idea of returning to a full-time job is horrifying to you, consider the issue of a more flexible work schedule, for example, part-time work( about 20-32 hours per week) or with a flexible visit, when you work longer for a few days, and several for a shorterplan.
Negotiations on working hours
New legislative decisions have been introduced, according to which parents with children under the age of three can count on a flexible work schedule. To exercise this right, you must meet certain criteria, so contact your local social security department before making a decision for more information.
Let's give some tips to help you talk to the employer.
♦ Identify the reaction Inform your employer that you are thinking about part-time work, and arrange a meeting with him to discuss the matter. Ask if you need to write a statement describing how you imagine it.
♦ Prepare a question Describe exactly how the work will be performed if you change the working hours. Convince your boss that you will work as efficiently as you used to.
♦ Explain the situation to colleagues Tell them what you are going to do and how to overcome the difficulties that may arise.
Day care benefits children
Studies conducted in the UK, Europe and the US show that the quality of childcare has a serious and positive impact later on their education, health and quality of life, this is especially true for children from families with low levelsincome or development problems.
Organization care for child
However, regardless of whether you are going to work full or part-time, you need to organize some kind of care for the child, then it's much easier to return to work if you are sure that the child is under supervision. Ask the health visitor, relatives and friends about the recommendations and make a list of registered institutions according to local authorities. Remember that the most important indicator is the safety and health of your child. It is necessary to check and recheck the license, qualification certificates, recommendations from those institutions that you liked.
Select
Take the time to review the available options. Your child needs to be with someone who likes you, whom you and your spouse will trust, otherwise all efforts will be in vain. You will have the following choices:
♦ The parent of the house Obviously, this is an ideal option. One of you sits at home and cares for the child, or both parents work at different times, sharing the care of the child.
♦ Relatives of An excellent solution for caring for a child can be a grandmother or other relative, this will provide constant care for the child.
♦ Babysitter Home care can be expensive, but if you have more than one child, this approach can be economical. There is no doubt that going one-on-one in the first year of life has great advantages, but it depends on a reliable experienced nanny who is attuned to the child's physical and mental needs.
♦ Nursery Suitable for children of any age, if they meet high standards. However, not all nurseries accept children up to 12 months.
HELP AFTER YOU RETURNED TO HOME
It is important to plan your return home with the child in advance, as you will want to get to know the baby better and get used to a new role in the familiar atmosphere. If you have had difficult or prolonged labor, you may be tired and you need a lot of rest. Home help in the first weeks after the birth of a child may not be what you expected, but it is better to be sure that you have chosen the right kind of help - and the right person.
Decide what of want
Child care assistants are either full-time professional nurses who can teach you how to take care of an infant and breastfeed, or experienced mothers who, for a fee, will come for several hours to help with household chores and answer questions. You should clearly understand what you want from your assistant and how long you will need it. Ask about the payment, preparation and experience, check the recommendations, make sure that you get along.
Some women hope for the help of relatives, which is ideal provided that you are on good terms with them and are confident in their skills and experience of caring for children.