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Below is a list of tips that have appeared on Your Baby Today home page since the program began. Tips are updated on this page on a weekly basis.
- Keep a pregnancy journal to share with your child.
- Call a babysitter so you can give yourself a break, even if only for a few hours.
- Plant a tree to commemorate your baby's birth.
- Trust your instincts and don't be afraid to make mistakes.
- Do not give your infant any small, hard foods, such as nuts, popcorn or raisins.
- Install your infant car seat a couple weeks before your due date when you can take the time to read the directions and do it properly.
- Strengthen your abdominal muscles before you decide to get pregnant to prevent back pain during pregnancy.
- While pregnant, do upper-body exercises to prepare for toting heavy baby gear.
- When exercising for the first three months after childbirth, be careful because your joints may be weak.
- To shed post-pregnancy weight and increase energy and strength make time to exercise. Even 10-minute bursts helps.
- Exercise releases endorphins to help battle post-partum depression.
- Vitamin B-6 and multivitamins may raise energy and stave off baby blues. Consult with your doctor before adding any nutritional supplement to your diet.
- If your baby keeps you up at night and you're feeling moody, try a nap. Even a half an hour nap will relieve stress.
- Breast-feeding mothers should drink plenty of water.
- While breast-feeding avoid gassy foods like broccoli, which may cause gas in a breast-feed baby.
- If your nipples are sore from breast-feeding, try a cream like Lansinoh to relieve pain.
- Once baby arrives, remember to let your other children know you love them by expressing your love regularly.
- After your baby is born, don't feel guilty telling visitors you need time alone with your family.
- Don't feel pressured to finish housework-- caring for your newborn is top priority.
- After baby is born, join a parenting group to share concerns and for support.
- When caring for a newborn, remember to eat nutritious meals for energy.
- Exhausted parents of a newborn should take turns sleeping in on weekends to avoid burnout.
- For an inexpensive alternative to an infant backpack, tie a square knot in a 45-inch wide piece of sturdy fabric to create a sling.
- Acupressure technique that may help induce labor: Press hard on your right foot between the ankle and Achilles tendon.
- Raspberry leaf tea may help induce labor, but consult with your doctor before ingesting any supposed labor inducing herbs.
- If you're past due and hoping to induce labor, according to popular belief spicy foods help.
- If you have sciatic nerve pain running down the back of your legs, try sleeping on your opposite side at night.
- Sleeping on your side with a pillow between your legs helps prevent back pain during pregnancy.
- If you're having trouble sleeping, cushion your pregnant belly with pillows.
- Exercising moderately at least three times a week will help you sleep better while pregnant.
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