Be The ParentWritten by Demetria Zinga
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How easy was that! Being parent has become a whole lot easier now that I’ve realized importance of setting limits. Setting limits is not an overnight process. It takes some time. I am aware that there will be plenty of mornings awaiting me when I will be faced with new and different challenges. But you know what best part of this journey is? Being parent. -- Demetria Zinga is founder and owner of www.faith-media.com, a technology and consulting firm which specializes in web design and hosting, graphics and print designs, internet marketing, and e-training. She is also founder of www.christianladies.net, an interactive ezine, blog, and podcast for Christian women.
Demetria Zinga is the founder and owner of www.faith-media.com, a technology and consulting firm which specializes in web design and hosting, graphics and print designs, internet marketing, and e-training. She is also the founder of www.christianladies.net, an interactive ezine, blog, and podcast for Christian women.
| | The Sleepless ChallengeWritten by Demetria Zinga
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•Thicken baby’s milk. I breastfed my daughter for several months. In beginning nurses were telling me that breastfed babies need to get fed more often because breast milk apparently “goes right through” their systems. After my daughter was a few weeks old they gave me go-ahead on thickening her breast milk with rice cereal (about a teaspoon full). It did wonders for her nightly waking ritual. Instead of waking up every hour and half she slept about two hours longer than usual. I say that’s good for mom and baby! Of course, check with your pediatrician first, and again, there are differing views on thickening baby’s milk, so do (or don’t do) what you feel is best. •Breastfeeding mothers take a break. For mothers who nurse, I highly recommend pumping so baby can be given a bottle by other members of family while you rest up. Breastfeeding is a demanding job and takes quite a bit of energy reserves. Did you know you burn approximately 500 calories during one nursing session? That’s equivalent to amount of calories I burned on treadmill a few days ago. So there’s another reason for you to take a breather. •Take your prenatal vitamins. Keep taking these. You’ll need them, especially during this time of recovery. Your body needs all minerals and vitamins necessary to boost your immune system and promote overall health. You’ll be glad you took them daily. •Continue to eat for two. If you are nursing, this is an especially important concept, since you’ll need to eat enough to keep your milk reserves flowing. It’s very easy for postpartum women to want to begin dieting right after giving birth. However, healthiest choice is to simply continue intake of nutritious foods, and to eat enough to keep your energy levels up, because you will definitely need energy in wee hours of morning! In addition, doctors recommend that postpartum, nursing women intake anywhere from 2000-2400 calories per day. So eat, and eat healthy. •Keep others in your life. Don’t ever feel alone or isolated. If you don’t have relatives nearby who can help, seek for help within your community: churches, civic groups and non profit organizations, as well as friends. In addition, there are a host of online communities and discussion groups specifically geared toward pregnancy and parenting issues that are helpful for new moms.Most of all, do things you like to do most: read, meditate, write, and work on crafts. Do something you truly enjoy every day for as much as you can. With time, your baby will start sleeping through night, and one day you will realize that you can finally catch your “z’s”. Demetria Zinga is founder and owner of www.faith-media.com, a technology and consulting firm which specializes in web design and hosting, graphics and print designs, internet marketing, and e-training. She is also founder of www.christianladies.net, an interactive ezine, blog, and podcast for Christian women.
Demetria Zinga is the founder and owner of www.faith-media.com, a technology and consulting firm which specializes in web design and hosting, graphics and print designs, internet marketing, and e-training. She is also the founder of www.christianladies.net, an interactive ezine, blog, and podcast for Christian women.
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