Imagine if you will the life of Suzy - the busy, married mother of two wonderful children. She works a full time job, both inside and outside of the house; she is busy trying to be a devoted daughter and sister to her parents and siblings. Suzy is somehow managing to keep her head above water. The house stays fairly clean, the kids get their homework done, and she and her husband are doing ok. However she just can't avoid the feeling that something is missing. Suzy doesn't remember the last time she did something just for fun with her kids or her husband. Each day feels like the same routine and experiencing bonding or important moments with her loved ones is rare.
All the way across town, Ron is getting ready for his day. He owns his own small business and being the boss cuts down on his free time a lot. His friends and family constantly complain that they never see him or get to talk to him for more than a few minutes at a time. While Ron loves what he does for a living, it is starting to seem as if work is all he does. He wants the opportunity to spend time on his hobbies and relax with his loved ones, but there aren't enough hours in the day.
These two people have widely different lives. The one thing they do have in common, however, it not having enough time to spend with their loved ones. Many times in our lives we struggle with making all of our obligations and responsibilities fit into our schedules. The result is that our loved ones lose out on valuable and important time with us. At the same time, we, too, are losing out on the affection and rewards of being part of a family larger than ourselves.
The best laid plans often go wrong. For this reason, it would be incredibly helpful for you to consider using Feng Shui to decorate your home and give yourself more time to spend with those you love. The process isn't difficult and many people who experience Feng Shui for the first time are amazed at how much it improves every aspect of their lives. This ancient Oriental philosophy is centered on the idea of creating a space that enables positive energies to flow around your home. Any obstacle or impediment of this process creates an imbalanced atmosphere. If finding more time to enjoy and bond with your loved ones is important to you, here's your chance to make a positive step in the right direction.
The first rule in any Feng Shui changes is to eliminate clutter throughout the house. Completely and thoroughly clean and organize every nook and cranny of your home. Get rid of items you don't use and find a home for everything you are keeping. Don't forget about cabinet space and closets. Once this is done, you have a clean canvas to work your Feng Shui magic on.
In order to create a relaxed atmosphere that promotes time spent among those you love, look at your lighting. Excessively bright light is often too stimulating. You will feel the need to be at constant work with such bright light in your home. Change all of the light bulbs in the house to a lower wattage. The balance and relaxation allowed by the dimmer lights will help you to focus on the softer side of life and that includes the love and devotion of your family.
Water is an important element in Feng Shui. The sound of gently flowing water is essential in helping you and your family find the relaxed state you need to concentrate on each other and thrive in the family unit. In the living or family room, or whichever room the family spends the most time in, add a small water fountain. The sound of running water alone will encourage relaxation and focus on each other. In Feng Shui, it also helps to relieve the stresses of the day and wash away any nagging worries or concerns you may have related to work.
Things that are beautiful are very helpful in promoting stress relief and focus. In order to lift yourself spiritually to a higher plane, put a shelf up in the corner of your bedroom. Then pick a pretty vase or small piece of artwork on the shelf. Seeing something you enjoy placed higher than eye level will assist you in making the transition from work to home and enable the positive energies to properly flow.
It may not seem like its possible for something like Feng Shui to be able to help you find more time to enjoy your family and friends, but when the good chi is encouraged to flow, it can make a tremendous difference in how the whole family interacts and learns from each other. Just a few small changes make a huge difference.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Helping Your Teen Find A Summer Job
Summer break for most students is not too far away. In fact, many teens will be looking for a way to earn extra cash. As a parent, there are things you can do to help your teen find summer work.
Thinking back to when we were teens, it was a given that summers would be devoted to finding a job to help with family finances. Today, the same holds true for some teens, while others simply want to find a way to earn additional cash for expenses they may incur over the summer.
Having a job as a teen is important in that it teaches responsibility at an early age, but more importantly, prepares them for when they become full-time members of the work force. More importantly, developing a worth ethic can be immeasurable. Along with learning to work along with others, understanding what is expected of them, and given the opportunity to work in different types of businesses can make all the difference in ascertaining their field of endeavor.
In order to help your teen find a summer job, perhaps the place you work in may need someone to help with filing or other office duties; or if your teen is pursuing a specific area of interest you can contact many companies in that particular field who are seeking interns; you can ask your teen’s counselor if there are any corporations who are hiring teens as part of a school-wide program; contact local department stores, small boutiques, or stores within malls who need assistance during the summer. You can also contact your local state and city government to determine what summer jobs they have available. In fact, some of these jobs may be out door related, which your teen may find more suitable.
As a parent, you can also contact your friends and family members who may need additional help in their respective companies. In addition, there are plenty of jobs offered at summer camps where your teen can apply for a position as a counselor.
For a teen, working a summer job brings a certain amount of experience they could not obtain anywhere else. Understanding how specific businesses operate, the ability to take orders, and establishing a foothold in one area or another gives them the opportunity to decide what field of endeavor they may want to pursue in college.
As parents, we want the very best for our teens. Helping them to find a summer job is the first step on their path to learning the rules of the game. Moreover, the benefits are invaluable in helping them think about their career choices. The more teens are exposed to, and become part of, the work force – the easier the transition will be when they graduate from college.
Thinking back to when we were teens, it was a given that summers would be devoted to finding a job to help with family finances. Today, the same holds true for some teens, while others simply want to find a way to earn additional cash for expenses they may incur over the summer.
Having a job as a teen is important in that it teaches responsibility at an early age, but more importantly, prepares them for when they become full-time members of the work force. More importantly, developing a worth ethic can be immeasurable. Along with learning to work along with others, understanding what is expected of them, and given the opportunity to work in different types of businesses can make all the difference in ascertaining their field of endeavor.
In order to help your teen find a summer job, perhaps the place you work in may need someone to help with filing or other office duties; or if your teen is pursuing a specific area of interest you can contact many companies in that particular field who are seeking interns; you can ask your teen’s counselor if there are any corporations who are hiring teens as part of a school-wide program; contact local department stores, small boutiques, or stores within malls who need assistance during the summer. You can also contact your local state and city government to determine what summer jobs they have available. In fact, some of these jobs may be out door related, which your teen may find more suitable.
As a parent, you can also contact your friends and family members who may need additional help in their respective companies. In addition, there are plenty of jobs offered at summer camps where your teen can apply for a position as a counselor.
For a teen, working a summer job brings a certain amount of experience they could not obtain anywhere else. Understanding how specific businesses operate, the ability to take orders, and establishing a foothold in one area or another gives them the opportunity to decide what field of endeavor they may want to pursue in college.
As parents, we want the very best for our teens. Helping them to find a summer job is the first step on their path to learning the rules of the game. Moreover, the benefits are invaluable in helping them think about their career choices. The more teens are exposed to, and become part of, the work force – the easier the transition will be when they graduate from college.
How to Remove Stains from Your Toilet Bowl
Does your toilet bowl have nasty brownish or yellow rings around it? Stains running from beneath the rim to the water level? A brownish rust stain in the bottom? All of these stains are caused by a buildup of minerals from hard water. Because porcelain is porous, it’s especially prone to picking up these nasty stains and holding onto them forever.
Don’t despair if this sounds familiar to you. There is a way to eliminate these problems and to keep them from coming back. By following these simple cleaning tips, your toilet will look great once again:
• Turn off the water to your toilet.
• Flush it repeatedly until the bowl is empty of water.
• Get some heavy duty paper towels and soak them with an all purpose bathroom cleaner or orange citrus cleaner. You can also use white vinegar.
• Line the toilet bowl with the paper towels. Let them sit there.
• Keep the paper towels wet for several hours by adding more citrus cleaner as it dries out.
• When the water spots start dissolving, get out your stiff bristled toilet brush and scrub to remove the scale. A toilet brush with a bent tip will make the job easier by getting up under the rim and into the trap to get at the source of the stains.
• Turn the water back on and rinse thoroughly.
• If the treatment didn’t completely dissolve the stains, buy a pumice stone at a janitorial supply store or a hardware store.
• Wet one end of the pumice stone. Keep it wet while you work. Rub the pumice stone across the stains very, very gently.
• Switch to the nylon bent tip toilet brush again to scrub away the remains of the stain.
• Maintain the cleanliness of the toilet by giving it a daily quick scrubbing with the toilet brush. While you’re at it, scrub up under the rim to remove hard water and lime deposits that will drip down the insides of your toilet. Remember to rinse the brush well and to hang it to dry when you’re done.
You can remove lime scale and alkaline deposits from your bathroom sink using the same method. Just soak paper towels in citrus cleaner or vinegar and line the bowl of the sink with them. Then, keep the towels wet with the solution for several hours. After this time has passed, scrub the stains with a nylon bristle toothbrush or cleaning brush and then rinse with clear water. Voila! A sparkling clean sink to match your perfectly clean toilet..
Don’t despair if this sounds familiar to you. There is a way to eliminate these problems and to keep them from coming back. By following these simple cleaning tips, your toilet will look great once again:
• Turn off the water to your toilet.
• Flush it repeatedly until the bowl is empty of water.
• Get some heavy duty paper towels and soak them with an all purpose bathroom cleaner or orange citrus cleaner. You can also use white vinegar.
• Line the toilet bowl with the paper towels. Let them sit there.
• Keep the paper towels wet for several hours by adding more citrus cleaner as it dries out.
• When the water spots start dissolving, get out your stiff bristled toilet brush and scrub to remove the scale. A toilet brush with a bent tip will make the job easier by getting up under the rim and into the trap to get at the source of the stains.
• Turn the water back on and rinse thoroughly.
• If the treatment didn’t completely dissolve the stains, buy a pumice stone at a janitorial supply store or a hardware store.
• Wet one end of the pumice stone. Keep it wet while you work. Rub the pumice stone across the stains very, very gently.
• Switch to the nylon bent tip toilet brush again to scrub away the remains of the stain.
• Maintain the cleanliness of the toilet by giving it a daily quick scrubbing with the toilet brush. While you’re at it, scrub up under the rim to remove hard water and lime deposits that will drip down the insides of your toilet. Remember to rinse the brush well and to hang it to dry when you’re done.
You can remove lime scale and alkaline deposits from your bathroom sink using the same method. Just soak paper towels in citrus cleaner or vinegar and line the bowl of the sink with them. Then, keep the towels wet with the solution for several hours. After this time has passed, scrub the stains with a nylon bristle toothbrush or cleaning brush and then rinse with clear water. Voila! A sparkling clean sink to match your perfectly clean toilet..
Creating Stained Glass Panels
Used in cathedrals to show glorious scenes of saints, and for animals and plants in other venues stained glass panels are beautiful works of art. Though complex looking, these stained glass windows are actually fairly simple, and with a little effort anyone can recreate the art.
The biggest concern when creating stained glass panels is of course safety. The art you are creating includes exposed glass edges, a hot soldering iron, chemicals, and power tools. If you keep safety in mind and maintain a well-organized workspace your hobby will be perfectly safe. As with most crafts you will need to acquire some tools and materials before you begin. You will need glass cutters to score the glass for breaking. As with most tools the higher quality cutter will cost more to purchase, but can make the difference between success and accidental breakage. Another glass specific tool you will need is a pair of combination breaker-grozer pliers. A glass grinder will be needed for making adjustments to glass edges after breaking. Mastering this tool can help your pieces fit together more precise, increasing your appearance quality. More material and tools will be introduced to you as we begin to construct a stained glass panel.
To get started grab the sheet of glass you will be working on with one hand holding the top edge and the other holding the bottom with the sheet in a vertical position. Never carry a sheet of glass in the horizontal position to avoid cracks and breakage! To place the glass on your workbench while vertical place the center of the sheet against the bench edge. Then roll the glass onto the table and slide completely onto the bench surface.
For your first project choose a novice pattern with a simple design and relatively short lines to score. You will need two copies of your pattern so trace the original pattern onto a sheet of standard paper and heavy pattern paper with a sheet of carbon. Assign numbers to each piece as a way of keeping track of your pieces as you create and build the project. Then use special glass pattern shears to cut your pattern out of the heavy paper.
Select one piece of your pattern and trace the shape onto your glass using a glass-marking pen. Do not forget to mark on the glass the number assigned to that piece of the pattern. Then you need to score the lines you traced onto the glass. Apply firm constant pressure with your glass-cutting tool and make one smooth cut along your line. After you score the line you will need to break the score. Some crafters opt to do this step by hand, while others use breaker-grozer pliers for the job. Either way apply a quick even pressure while doing the break to keep it as clean as possible. Continue to mark, score, and break until all the pieces of your project are created.
Starting in one corner of your project, next compare the glass piece you cut out with that piece in the uncut pattern. Mark any glass that crosses over the pattern lines and then use a grinder to remove the excess glass. Continue to do this to each piece until all pieces are the same as the pattern then place them within the assembly jig for the project.
For the foil wrapping step you need to ensure your hands and the glass are clean to ensure the tapes sticks correctly. Apply the foil wrap tape onto the glass edge with exactly the length of overhang on each side and work your way around the glass edge completely. Overlap the tape on the end about ¼” then crimp the foil over the glass edges. Complete this step by burnishing the foil smooth and then place the glass piece back into the jig.
The final step of your stained glass panel project will be to solder all joints together. Slowly move the hot soldering iron over all the seams coating the foil in solder. Once the initial side is complete roll the project over and solder the seams from the other side. Once you have all the seams covered in solder you should clean your project with a soft rag and glass cleaner. After cleaning the stained glass panel is ready to be proudly displayed for all to enjoy. When others comment on the beauty of the panel you can smile and say you did it all yourself!
Creating stained glass panels is a very fun and rewarding hobby, which can also become a little extra income if you are so inclined. There is so much to learn with stained glass, please take the time to seek out more learning resources than just a small article. To learn techniques and skills to improve your skill look into local classes and workshops. Also speak with artisans in your area, most are more than willing to pass on pointers to a fellow glass worker.
The biggest concern when creating stained glass panels is of course safety. The art you are creating includes exposed glass edges, a hot soldering iron, chemicals, and power tools. If you keep safety in mind and maintain a well-organized workspace your hobby will be perfectly safe. As with most crafts you will need to acquire some tools and materials before you begin. You will need glass cutters to score the glass for breaking. As with most tools the higher quality cutter will cost more to purchase, but can make the difference between success and accidental breakage. Another glass specific tool you will need is a pair of combination breaker-grozer pliers. A glass grinder will be needed for making adjustments to glass edges after breaking. Mastering this tool can help your pieces fit together more precise, increasing your appearance quality. More material and tools will be introduced to you as we begin to construct a stained glass panel.
To get started grab the sheet of glass you will be working on with one hand holding the top edge and the other holding the bottom with the sheet in a vertical position. Never carry a sheet of glass in the horizontal position to avoid cracks and breakage! To place the glass on your workbench while vertical place the center of the sheet against the bench edge. Then roll the glass onto the table and slide completely onto the bench surface.
For your first project choose a novice pattern with a simple design and relatively short lines to score. You will need two copies of your pattern so trace the original pattern onto a sheet of standard paper and heavy pattern paper with a sheet of carbon. Assign numbers to each piece as a way of keeping track of your pieces as you create and build the project. Then use special glass pattern shears to cut your pattern out of the heavy paper.
Select one piece of your pattern and trace the shape onto your glass using a glass-marking pen. Do not forget to mark on the glass the number assigned to that piece of the pattern. Then you need to score the lines you traced onto the glass. Apply firm constant pressure with your glass-cutting tool and make one smooth cut along your line. After you score the line you will need to break the score. Some crafters opt to do this step by hand, while others use breaker-grozer pliers for the job. Either way apply a quick even pressure while doing the break to keep it as clean as possible. Continue to mark, score, and break until all the pieces of your project are created.
Starting in one corner of your project, next compare the glass piece you cut out with that piece in the uncut pattern. Mark any glass that crosses over the pattern lines and then use a grinder to remove the excess glass. Continue to do this to each piece until all pieces are the same as the pattern then place them within the assembly jig for the project.
For the foil wrapping step you need to ensure your hands and the glass are clean to ensure the tapes sticks correctly. Apply the foil wrap tape onto the glass edge with exactly the length of overhang on each side and work your way around the glass edge completely. Overlap the tape on the end about ¼” then crimp the foil over the glass edges. Complete this step by burnishing the foil smooth and then place the glass piece back into the jig.
The final step of your stained glass panel project will be to solder all joints together. Slowly move the hot soldering iron over all the seams coating the foil in solder. Once the initial side is complete roll the project over and solder the seams from the other side. Once you have all the seams covered in solder you should clean your project with a soft rag and glass cleaner. After cleaning the stained glass panel is ready to be proudly displayed for all to enjoy. When others comment on the beauty of the panel you can smile and say you did it all yourself!
Creating stained glass panels is a very fun and rewarding hobby, which can also become a little extra income if you are so inclined. There is so much to learn with stained glass, please take the time to seek out more learning resources than just a small article. To learn techniques and skills to improve your skill look into local classes and workshops. Also speak with artisans in your area, most are more than willing to pass on pointers to a fellow glass worker.
Breast Feeding Your Baby
By: Cecilia Koh , Posted On: 2007-04-26 Reasons for choosing breast feeding
1. It is the natural physiological way to feed a baby
2. Human breast milk is made for human babies
3. The components - lactose, protein (whey and casein), and fat - are easily digested by a newborn's immature system so breastfed babies have fewer incidences of diarrhea or constipation
4. Breast milk is always fresh and readily available
5. Breast milk is always the right temperature
6. It protect baby against allergies, asthma, diabetes, obesity and SIDS
7. The skin-to-skin contact can enhance the emotional connection between mother and infant thereby increasing the bonding process
8. No need to spend money on bottle feeding equipment and expensive milk formula
Advantages
Antibodies - a nursing mother passes antibodies to her baby to protect or lower the occurrence of many conditions such as ear infections, diarrhea, respiratory infections and meningitis. Breast milk contains new antibodies whenever the mother is exposed to new infections. Antibodies cannot be added to formula milk
Prevent obesity - Recent studies show that breastfeeding might help prevent childhood and adult obesity. According to the National Women's Health Information Center (part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), babies who are breastfed tend to gain less unnecessary weight, which may help them be less overweight later
Higher IQ - Also recent studies suggest that children who were exclusively breastfed for 6 months have IQs 5 to 10 points higher than children who were formula fed.
Reduces cancer risk - In addition, studies show that breastfeeding helps lower the risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer and also may help decrease the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer
Natural weight loss - A nursing mother will need extra 500 calories per day to produce breast milk but breastfeeding also burns calories and helps shrink the uterus, so nursing mothers are able to return to their pre-pregnancy shape and weight quicker. Eating a wide variety of well-balanced foods introduces breastfed babies to different tastes through the breast milk which will have different flavors depending on what their mothers have eaten.
Breast feeding is nature's way of providing food for the newborn. For some mothers it is so easy whereas for some it is a struggle. In Malaysia, the struggle is more pronounced amongst the Chinese especially those who are in the higher professional group. Most often the complaint is 'not enough milk'. Some even blame it on breast sizes, which is utter rubbish because the Chinese women's physique has not changed that much over the decades. If our female ancestors can breast feed successfully, why can't modern Chinese mothers do so? I personally think that it is because we have too many choices and most of us want to take the easy way out instead of trying a bit harder to succeed. Remember that once your baby is suckling properly you will truly enjoy the experience and the wonderful feeling that you are nourishing your baby yourself.
How to succeed?
1. Make up your mind that you definitely want to breast feed
2. Do not feel pressurized into breastfeeding if mentally you do not want to do so as you will never succeed and you will see yourself as a 'failure'
3. Do not say that you will try as it definitely will not work
4. Keep telling yourself that you will succeed and be positive about it
5. Make sure your husband will support you 100%
6. Learn to ignore negative remarks and pressures to bottle feed
7. Remember the benefits of breastfeeding for you and your baby outweighs all the negative remarks
8. If you need to hire a confinement lady, make sure that she is pro breast feeding and can give you a lot of support during the early days
9. Try and register with a local breast feeding group as they can give you the support and encouragement needed to establish and continue breastfeeding
Preparations
Apart from preparing yourself mentally, you need to prepare your nipples by toughening them. Once a day when you are bathing, gently pull the nipples forward and roll them between your thumb and forefinger for a couple of minutes. When you are drying yourself give the nipples a slightly vigorous rub with the towel to strengthen them for when your baby starts sucking. Apply a little cream on them to get them supple. Do not stimulate the areola which is the area just behind the nipple as this could stimulate the production of oxytocin leading to premature labour.
Getting started
The baby should be put to the breast immediately after birth in the labour room itself. Discuss with your attending midwife and doctor about this. As a midwife myself, I get very irritated when a lady comes in with a list of demands even though I am normally very pro mothers' request. My advice is to use a soft approach and you will find your birth attendants will bend over backwards to fulfill your request.
Most babies will start rooting for the breast as soon as they are placed on the mother's chest once the umbilical cord is cut. Make sure that your baby is dried properly before being placed naked on your chest and covered with a dry towel. Your body heat will keep your baby warm so there is no need to wrap baby as this could prevent your baby feeling for you and rooting for your nipple. If your baby is a little sleepy because of drugs given to you during labour, do not worry, just wait for the effects to wear off and baby will be able to suckle.
The key to success is making sure that the baby is LATCHED ON PROPERLY.
This will:
1. Prevent sore nipples
2. Enable baby to suckle properly and get the milk
3. Stimulate the 'let down' process
The first step to a proper latch on is getting baby to open his mouth WIDE! Brush baby's lower lips with your nipple to encourage him to open his mouth.
Once baby's mouth is open wide, quickly pull him onto the breast by pulling the baby toward you with the arm that is holding him. Make sure you move the baby towards you, and not move yourself towards the baby
The baby's gums should completely bypass the nipple and cover approximately one inch of the areola behind the nipple. Make sure the baby's lips are everted. Some baby's will tighten or purse their lips, especially the lower one. If the lower lip is inverted (turned in), gently press down on baby's chin to evert the inwardly turned lip.
Remember to make sure that you are sitting comfortably before you start and that baby is correctly positioned by using pillows to raise him to the level of your breasts. There are several "nursing" pillows on the market that help raise baby to a comfortable height and position. If you are not comfortable and relaxed, your milk will not flow properly. Your baby will feel your tension and start to 'fight' with you or start crying which will increase your tension.
If your baby is latched on and sucking correctly, you should not feel any pain. Sometimes the baby's initial suck may cause a slight stinging pain which quickly subsides as baby continues sucking. If the pain continues or your baby is not sucking correctly, stop and start over again. Break the suction by putting your finger in the side of the baby's mouth between the gums. DO NOT let the baby continue to feed incorrectly, as you can develop painful and damaged nipples, and baby will not be able to get enough milk
Causes of sore nipples
1. Baby is not positioned and latched properly
2. Baby is not suckling properly
3. Both the above causes combined together
4. Fungal infection due to Candida albicans. The pain goes on throughout the feed and may continue even after feeding. This infection may also cause cracked nipples. You need to consult a doctor who will prescribe a fungal cream to apply.
Nipple shields are not recommended for sore nipples, because, although they may help temporarily, they usually do not. They may also cut down the milk supply dramatically, and the baby may become fussy and not gain weight well. Once the baby is used to them, it may be impossible to get the baby back onto the breast. In fact, many women who have tried nipple shields find that they do not help with soreness. Use as a last resort only,
Breast shields may be useful to protect your nipples rubbing on your clothes when you are not feeding and it also collects the milk drips so you do not have to go around with 2 wet patches on your clothes.
Remember to keep telling yourself and your baby that you will succeed and be patient as it may take a couple of days to get started properly.
1. It is the natural physiological way to feed a baby
2. Human breast milk is made for human babies
3. The components - lactose, protein (whey and casein), and fat - are easily digested by a newborn's immature system so breastfed babies have fewer incidences of diarrhea or constipation
4. Breast milk is always fresh and readily available
5. Breast milk is always the right temperature
6. It protect baby against allergies, asthma, diabetes, obesity and SIDS
7. The skin-to-skin contact can enhance the emotional connection between mother and infant thereby increasing the bonding process
8. No need to spend money on bottle feeding equipment and expensive milk formula
Advantages
Antibodies - a nursing mother passes antibodies to her baby to protect or lower the occurrence of many conditions such as ear infections, diarrhea, respiratory infections and meningitis. Breast milk contains new antibodies whenever the mother is exposed to new infections. Antibodies cannot be added to formula milk
Prevent obesity - Recent studies show that breastfeeding might help prevent childhood and adult obesity. According to the National Women's Health Information Center (part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), babies who are breastfed tend to gain less unnecessary weight, which may help them be less overweight later
Higher IQ - Also recent studies suggest that children who were exclusively breastfed for 6 months have IQs 5 to 10 points higher than children who were formula fed.
Reduces cancer risk - In addition, studies show that breastfeeding helps lower the risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer and also may help decrease the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer
Natural weight loss - A nursing mother will need extra 500 calories per day to produce breast milk but breastfeeding also burns calories and helps shrink the uterus, so nursing mothers are able to return to their pre-pregnancy shape and weight quicker. Eating a wide variety of well-balanced foods introduces breastfed babies to different tastes through the breast milk which will have different flavors depending on what their mothers have eaten.
Breast feeding is nature's way of providing food for the newborn. For some mothers it is so easy whereas for some it is a struggle. In Malaysia, the struggle is more pronounced amongst the Chinese especially those who are in the higher professional group. Most often the complaint is 'not enough milk'. Some even blame it on breast sizes, which is utter rubbish because the Chinese women's physique has not changed that much over the decades. If our female ancestors can breast feed successfully, why can't modern Chinese mothers do so? I personally think that it is because we have too many choices and most of us want to take the easy way out instead of trying a bit harder to succeed. Remember that once your baby is suckling properly you will truly enjoy the experience and the wonderful feeling that you are nourishing your baby yourself.
How to succeed?
1. Make up your mind that you definitely want to breast feed
2. Do not feel pressurized into breastfeeding if mentally you do not want to do so as you will never succeed and you will see yourself as a 'failure'
3. Do not say that you will try as it definitely will not work
4. Keep telling yourself that you will succeed and be positive about it
5. Make sure your husband will support you 100%
6. Learn to ignore negative remarks and pressures to bottle feed
7. Remember the benefits of breastfeeding for you and your baby outweighs all the negative remarks
8. If you need to hire a confinement lady, make sure that she is pro breast feeding and can give you a lot of support during the early days
9. Try and register with a local breast feeding group as they can give you the support and encouragement needed to establish and continue breastfeeding
Preparations
Apart from preparing yourself mentally, you need to prepare your nipples by toughening them. Once a day when you are bathing, gently pull the nipples forward and roll them between your thumb and forefinger for a couple of minutes. When you are drying yourself give the nipples a slightly vigorous rub with the towel to strengthen them for when your baby starts sucking. Apply a little cream on them to get them supple. Do not stimulate the areola which is the area just behind the nipple as this could stimulate the production of oxytocin leading to premature labour.
Getting started
The baby should be put to the breast immediately after birth in the labour room itself. Discuss with your attending midwife and doctor about this. As a midwife myself, I get very irritated when a lady comes in with a list of demands even though I am normally very pro mothers' request. My advice is to use a soft approach and you will find your birth attendants will bend over backwards to fulfill your request.
Most babies will start rooting for the breast as soon as they are placed on the mother's chest once the umbilical cord is cut. Make sure that your baby is dried properly before being placed naked on your chest and covered with a dry towel. Your body heat will keep your baby warm so there is no need to wrap baby as this could prevent your baby feeling for you and rooting for your nipple. If your baby is a little sleepy because of drugs given to you during labour, do not worry, just wait for the effects to wear off and baby will be able to suckle.
The key to success is making sure that the baby is LATCHED ON PROPERLY.
This will:
1. Prevent sore nipples
2. Enable baby to suckle properly and get the milk
3. Stimulate the 'let down' process
The first step to a proper latch on is getting baby to open his mouth WIDE! Brush baby's lower lips with your nipple to encourage him to open his mouth.
Once baby's mouth is open wide, quickly pull him onto the breast by pulling the baby toward you with the arm that is holding him. Make sure you move the baby towards you, and not move yourself towards the baby
The baby's gums should completely bypass the nipple and cover approximately one inch of the areola behind the nipple. Make sure the baby's lips are everted. Some baby's will tighten or purse their lips, especially the lower one. If the lower lip is inverted (turned in), gently press down on baby's chin to evert the inwardly turned lip.
Remember to make sure that you are sitting comfortably before you start and that baby is correctly positioned by using pillows to raise him to the level of your breasts. There are several "nursing" pillows on the market that help raise baby to a comfortable height and position. If you are not comfortable and relaxed, your milk will not flow properly. Your baby will feel your tension and start to 'fight' with you or start crying which will increase your tension.
If your baby is latched on and sucking correctly, you should not feel any pain. Sometimes the baby's initial suck may cause a slight stinging pain which quickly subsides as baby continues sucking. If the pain continues or your baby is not sucking correctly, stop and start over again. Break the suction by putting your finger in the side of the baby's mouth between the gums. DO NOT let the baby continue to feed incorrectly, as you can develop painful and damaged nipples, and baby will not be able to get enough milk
Causes of sore nipples
1. Baby is not positioned and latched properly
2. Baby is not suckling properly
3. Both the above causes combined together
4. Fungal infection due to Candida albicans. The pain goes on throughout the feed and may continue even after feeding. This infection may also cause cracked nipples. You need to consult a doctor who will prescribe a fungal cream to apply.
Nipple shields are not recommended for sore nipples, because, although they may help temporarily, they usually do not. They may also cut down the milk supply dramatically, and the baby may become fussy and not gain weight well. Once the baby is used to them, it may be impossible to get the baby back onto the breast. In fact, many women who have tried nipple shields find that they do not help with soreness. Use as a last resort only,
Breast shields may be useful to protect your nipples rubbing on your clothes when you are not feeding and it also collects the milk drips so you do not have to go around with 2 wet patches on your clothes.
Remember to keep telling yourself and your baby that you will succeed and be patient as it may take a couple of days to get started properly.
Do Teen Brains Cause Reckless Behavior?
The latest issue of Scientific American Mind has a great article about the teen brain, challenging many of our current thoughts about our young adolescents. Many recent studies support the notion that teenagers' brains are somehow inept at dealing with challenges in the same way as adults, and that this underlies their often reckless behavior. I have written posts in the past summarizing some of this work.
The Myth of the Teen Brain
In his article, The Myth of the Teen Brain, Robert Epstein makes a compelling argument that the majority of these previous studies are all wet. Epstein is a psychologist who has studied this issue for many years, across hundreds of cultures.
He cites one study of 186 pre-industrial societies in which teens spend most of their time with adults and have few of the problem behaviors that we Americans associate with adolescence. In fact, the majority of these societies don't even have a word for adolescence – teens are not distinguished from adults.
The Battle between Hormones and Culture
Treating teens like adults makes a lot of sense from a biological perspective. Like it or not, teens are of reproductive age. If they lived a few hundred years ago, they would likely be parenting children of their own. If their brains were really ‘programmed' for recklessness then it's unlikely that the human race would have survived. It is only the rules of our society that have made teen parenthood abnormal. This is, of course, not to condone teen pregnancy but to realize that the problem stems from man-made cultural issues, not from nature-made biological ones.
The Consequences of Restricting Behavior
Another statistic that Epstein points out is that American teens have 10 times as many restrictions as adults and twice as many restrictions as incarcerated felons! He points out that prior to 1800 there were really no laws restricting teen behavior; by 1900 there were about 20; and by the year 2000, there were over 140 laws defining what teens can and cannot do.
This, Epstein argues, is the real problem. He claims that we artificially extend teens childhood by treating them like children. We are also placing them in situations where they primarily only socialize with each other – when we should be socializing them to be adults.
He claims that all of the previous studies showing that teens' brains are ‘inferior' to adults' brains is because the behaviors we impose on them make their brains different – and not that their brain differences cause their behaviors.
Anyone that went to college with someone who was a raised in a restricted environment knows how rebellious they can be. At the risk of offending readers, my Catholic School friends were the wildest kids around. Too strict or restrictive of an up-bringing pushes many teens to go hard the other way. Dr. Epstein suggests that our over-restrictive society may be behind tragedies like Littleton and Virginia Tech.
The question then, is ‘Are all the restrictions on teens necessary in today's society or have we gone too far?' Do all the rules make matters better or worse?
Protection or Exposure?
Many Europeans laugh at us Americans for our protective attitudes, especially around alcohol and sex. We think little of exposing teens to violence on TV and in video games, but we cringe at letting them see a sex scene. What's worse, growing up to have sex or shooting someone?
Also in Europe, teens are exposed to alcohol for a couple of years before legally learning to drive. They don't have the taboo associated with a glass of beer or wine and don't have as many problems associated with alcohol abuse. In America, we make sure that they already have their car keys in hand when they go out for their first legal drinking binge. Seems a little backward to me.
Lighten Up?
There are good arguments on both sides of the debate. As parents, we need to take a hard look at the rules we impose on our own teens. Of course, we need to stay within the laws of our country. But we can ask ourselves if all our household rules are for their own long-term good. Do our rules protect them at the expense of delaying their abilities to become independent and think for themselves? Will you feel comfortable with your teen's ability to handle adversity when they step out of the protection of your home? Maybe if we stop treating them like children they will stop acting like them.
The Myth of the Teen Brain
In his article, The Myth of the Teen Brain, Robert Epstein makes a compelling argument that the majority of these previous studies are all wet. Epstein is a psychologist who has studied this issue for many years, across hundreds of cultures.
He cites one study of 186 pre-industrial societies in which teens spend most of their time with adults and have few of the problem behaviors that we Americans associate with adolescence. In fact, the majority of these societies don't even have a word for adolescence – teens are not distinguished from adults.
The Battle between Hormones and Culture
Treating teens like adults makes a lot of sense from a biological perspective. Like it or not, teens are of reproductive age. If they lived a few hundred years ago, they would likely be parenting children of their own. If their brains were really ‘programmed' for recklessness then it's unlikely that the human race would have survived. It is only the rules of our society that have made teen parenthood abnormal. This is, of course, not to condone teen pregnancy but to realize that the problem stems from man-made cultural issues, not from nature-made biological ones.
The Consequences of Restricting Behavior
Another statistic that Epstein points out is that American teens have 10 times as many restrictions as adults and twice as many restrictions as incarcerated felons! He points out that prior to 1800 there were really no laws restricting teen behavior; by 1900 there were about 20; and by the year 2000, there were over 140 laws defining what teens can and cannot do.
This, Epstein argues, is the real problem. He claims that we artificially extend teens childhood by treating them like children. We are also placing them in situations where they primarily only socialize with each other – when we should be socializing them to be adults.
He claims that all of the previous studies showing that teens' brains are ‘inferior' to adults' brains is because the behaviors we impose on them make their brains different – and not that their brain differences cause their behaviors.
Anyone that went to college with someone who was a raised in a restricted environment knows how rebellious they can be. At the risk of offending readers, my Catholic School friends were the wildest kids around. Too strict or restrictive of an up-bringing pushes many teens to go hard the other way. Dr. Epstein suggests that our over-restrictive society may be behind tragedies like Littleton and Virginia Tech.
The question then, is ‘Are all the restrictions on teens necessary in today's society or have we gone too far?' Do all the rules make matters better or worse?
Protection or Exposure?
Many Europeans laugh at us Americans for our protective attitudes, especially around alcohol and sex. We think little of exposing teens to violence on TV and in video games, but we cringe at letting them see a sex scene. What's worse, growing up to have sex or shooting someone?
Also in Europe, teens are exposed to alcohol for a couple of years before legally learning to drive. They don't have the taboo associated with a glass of beer or wine and don't have as many problems associated with alcohol abuse. In America, we make sure that they already have their car keys in hand when they go out for their first legal drinking binge. Seems a little backward to me.
Lighten Up?
There are good arguments on both sides of the debate. As parents, we need to take a hard look at the rules we impose on our own teens. Of course, we need to stay within the laws of our country. But we can ask ourselves if all our household rules are for their own long-term good. Do our rules protect them at the expense of delaying their abilities to become independent and think for themselves? Will you feel comfortable with your teen's ability to handle adversity when they step out of the protection of your home? Maybe if we stop treating them like children they will stop acting like them.
Four Easy Ways to Organize Your Entire House
If you're like most people and not a topnotch housekeeper whose home would pass the white glove test at any given moment, you can still keep your place organized with everything neatly in its rightful place. Keeping clutter at bay while also having things easily accessible is actually possible with just a few simple ideas and just a tiny bit of elbow grease.
1. Keep like items together
It's really common sense, but you'd be surprised at how many people store like items in various locations throughout their homes. Teach the kids to keep all of their school work and similar items in one designated area. This not only cuts down on clutter but keeps their homework safe in a central location. It also saves time and eliminates the frustration of searching for papers that mysteriously get lost.
Toys and sporting equipment should also be kept together instead of shoes and uniforms thrown in the hall while bats and catcher's mitts land in the living room. Use medium to large, inexpensive plastic containers and clearly label them. If you have a garage or some separate area such as a laundry room or entrance way, install shelves and stack the containers there for easy access.
2. Creatively tackle clutter
Keep a small and decorative basket or container of some sort at the bottom of the stairs. Instruct family members to use the basket for things that need to be put away or that need to be returned upstairs. Be sure to make use of hidden areas like under the bed and put shelves in closets to add even more storage space.
Cabinets or bookshelves that are tall but narrow take up the least amount of space and can be put just about anywhere. Make use of vertical spaces as well as the empty space around the ceiling that's perfect for either storing or displaying items on shelves.
3. Organize in increments
Instead of feeling overwhelmed and depressed at the prospect of trying organizing your entire house in one day, give yourself a break and tackle the task in smaller increments. This way you'll be more productive and actually accomplish a lot more in the long run.
Take a leisurely walk throughout the house and jot down all the areas that desperately need some serious organization. Try your best to see your home with a fresh perspective and then create a schedule or plan and stick to it. Post it on the fridge or somewhere you'll see it often as a reminder of your vow to keep your home neat and organized.
4. Maintain your newly organized home
Set aside 15 minutes each day to walk through every room in your house, de-cluttering as you go. Carry a laundry basket with you to easily carry the items and transport them back to their rightful place on your return trip.
Have a designated bin or container to keep all of those to-do lists or important mail, receipts and papers in one place until you can deal with them, which should be at least once a week to avoid a pile-up of clutter.
1. Keep like items together
It's really common sense, but you'd be surprised at how many people store like items in various locations throughout their homes. Teach the kids to keep all of their school work and similar items in one designated area. This not only cuts down on clutter but keeps their homework safe in a central location. It also saves time and eliminates the frustration of searching for papers that mysteriously get lost.
Toys and sporting equipment should also be kept together instead of shoes and uniforms thrown in the hall while bats and catcher's mitts land in the living room. Use medium to large, inexpensive plastic containers and clearly label them. If you have a garage or some separate area such as a laundry room or entrance way, install shelves and stack the containers there for easy access.
2. Creatively tackle clutter
Keep a small and decorative basket or container of some sort at the bottom of the stairs. Instruct family members to use the basket for things that need to be put away or that need to be returned upstairs. Be sure to make use of hidden areas like under the bed and put shelves in closets to add even more storage space.
Cabinets or bookshelves that are tall but narrow take up the least amount of space and can be put just about anywhere. Make use of vertical spaces as well as the empty space around the ceiling that's perfect for either storing or displaying items on shelves.
3. Organize in increments
Instead of feeling overwhelmed and depressed at the prospect of trying organizing your entire house in one day, give yourself a break and tackle the task in smaller increments. This way you'll be more productive and actually accomplish a lot more in the long run.
Take a leisurely walk throughout the house and jot down all the areas that desperately need some serious organization. Try your best to see your home with a fresh perspective and then create a schedule or plan and stick to it. Post it on the fridge or somewhere you'll see it often as a reminder of your vow to keep your home neat and organized.
4. Maintain your newly organized home
Set aside 15 minutes each day to walk through every room in your house, de-cluttering as you go. Carry a laundry basket with you to easily carry the items and transport them back to their rightful place on your return trip.
Have a designated bin or container to keep all of those to-do lists or important mail, receipts and papers in one place until you can deal with them, which should be at least once a week to avoid a pile-up of clutter.
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