Conquering Constipation

So for those who know me, you are aware of the constant battle my child has with constipation. She struggled with gas issues when she was a newborn, but began struggling with constipation at 6 months of age, when she began solids. To help with her constipation, we gave her what the pediatrician and everyone else recommended “give her anything that starts with P (prunes, peaches, peas, and pears), apple/pear/prune juice, stay away from rice cereal, massage, and warm bath.”

As she grew older, new solids where introduced (very slowly) and we had to find the right balance between solids and liquids. It worked temporarily, but at times would still struggle with severe constipation. After about 3 months and no additional assistance from the pediatrician, I was furious and went on my own hunt…to conquer her constipation.

What I discovered was some babies do not get enough fat in their diet…basically the extra fat moistens their stools. And with my daughter eating all those fruits and veggies she probably wasn’t getting all the fat she needed. The secret is Flax Oil. I gave ½ teaspoon in the morning and within hours she was unplugged. I was amazed at how quickly and effectively it worked. Now I put about 1 teaspoon in her milk or food everyday and she very rarely gets constipated. If I notice her stools hardening than I give her an extra teaspoon in her lunch.

Flax oil is located in the natural section of most grocery stores. You can either buy the seed and grind it yourself or oil. Just watch out…if you give your child too much their stools will get runny. Of course you should check with your child’s pediatrician if you have any additional concerns. But I just really wanted to share how we conquered the struggle with constipation. No one told me about Flax Oil, so I am spreading the word!

Here's a couple of links that may be helpful!

http://eastbayworkingmoms.com/reply/206/t/Re-Constipated-baby-Flax-seed-.html

http://http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/flaxforbaby.htm

Being A Storyteller

Even though my daughter is only 14 months, she loves it when I create a story that's not in one of her books. Here are some guidelines that I tend to follow when I tell her stories.

1. 
   
   Start with a fun lead character. Someone that is familiar like your child, a pet, or an animal.


2. 
   
   Take the time of day into account. Bedtime stories should be soothing...save the action stories for during the day.


3. 
   
   Tailor the tale to your child's interests. Create a story around what you child enjoys. If he is into trucks, have the lead character be a truck driver.


4. 
   
   Work in suggestions (great for older children). Ask your child for their input. They'll love it when their ideas come to life!


5. 
   
   Vary your tone. Be upset when there is a sad part and speed up to convey action. Add funny sounds to make the story more exciting. Even young babies can distinguish the tone of your.


6. 
   
   Choose the perfect ending. If you finish the story with a cliffhanger, your child will anticipate the next story time.

Is This (Poop) Normal?

OK, so who really wants to go there? But in reality we all wonder if our baby’s poop is normal! Sudden changes in poop can be very concerning, especially for new mother’s. So here is a little informational table to inform us all:

Tarry & Sticky Black Poop. For the first week or so, your baby’s first poop is called meconium. Looks weird, but totally normal.

Mustard/Yellow Poop. Yellow, seedy, and runny common for breastfed babies.

Green Poop. It usually comes from their waste moving quickly through the tract.

Tan Poop. Tan-colored and soft are normal for formula-fed babies. As solids are introduced your baby's poop will become browner and smellier.

Multiple Color And Color-Changing Poop. As long as the colors are listed above there’s nothing to worry about. Baby poop changes colors on a regular basis.

Chalky White Poop. Could indicate that there is no bile from the liver to digest food. Call the doc.

Tarry Black Poop. When NOT the first poop, could mean there is blood in the digestive tract. Call the doc.

Bright Red Blood Poop. Blood has been expressed very close to the anus (i.e. no time to turn black.) Call the doc.

Some Good Books

With much information and so many books have you ever wondered where to find the good/useful information? I decided to create a list of books that have inspired me over the past two years.

Secrets of the Baby Whisper by Tracy Hogg. This book gave me insight in discovering my child's temperament and how to communicate and understand my baby, treating her the way I would like to be treated. You'll also get helpful tips on setting your baby on a routine within weeks by using E.A.S.Y. This book is a MUST for all new moms!!!

The Vaccine Book by Robert W. Sears, M.D., F.A.A.P.
Being a new mother, the hype surrounding vaccinations scared me (to say the least). But this book was very informative. Instead of giving parents advice, it provides an in-dept look at each vaccine and disease, including, ingredients used, side effects, and the rarity of diseases This book gave me the knowledge and understanding to assist my family in making a good decision for our child. Please, talk to your child’s pediatrician about any concerns you may have.

The Wonder Weeks by Hetty Vanderijt, Ph.D, and Frans Plooij, Ph.D.
When Alexis was about 3 months, I was very discouraged with her behavior. Her sleeping, eating, attitude, and just about everything went on the frits. This book gave me courage and understanding why Alexis was acting the way she was. The Wonder Weeks will take you through the first 14 months and outline the 8 major development periods. Providing charts, calendars, and checklists, this book will teach you how to aid your baby through these fussy periods and track their progress.

Be Prepared by Gary Greenberg and Jeannie Hayden. This is a survival manual for guys entering fatherhood. My husband (and I) have been inspired with the insights, tips, and advice on conquering the first year of our child’s life.

Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Pregnancy by John Adams, M.D. and Marta Justak. This book provides advice and information from conception to post-delivery. I really enjoyed that this book was written by both and OB/GYN and a mother. So you will get both perspectives on a variety of issues.

Louder Than Words by Jenny McCarthy. What this book taught me was you must be your own advocate for your child. Go to whatever length to get the answers you are looking for at whatever cost. If you do have an Autistic child, Jenny does an awesome job taking you through Evan’s journey of Autism and his recovery.

Please feel free to comment and share any books that have inspired you!

Greeting

So I am very excited that to set up this new blog. I am a first time mom of a 14 month baby girl Alexis, who is a wonderful blessing to our family. I had a full term pregnancy with no complications and a smooth delivery. I nursed her for a full year than successfully weaned her to milk.

For those who are curious Mom 2 mom is blog that discusses baby health, education, pregnancy, breastfeeding, toys, immunization, and other topics that matter a lot to mothers.

I am continually expanding my research on mom and baby topics and very interested in sharing this information. I look forward to sharing my knowledge with other parents in the near furture, so stand by for future posts!