Mother She Knows

Caring for Your Baby

Karen

Why Giving Your Child Siblings is the Best Gift You can Give Them

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I personally grew up with 3 older siblings and I must say that I’m beyond blessed that I have them and I will have them for the rest of my life.

True enough that at early stages of life, our siblings are our competitors, our friend-enemies, but as we grow older, you will realize that instead, they had always been loyal allies who will back you up in every battle.

The Benefits of Having Siblings

As parents, having more than one or two babies is truly challenging and requires a lot of sacrifices plus more responsibilities. Let me change your mind on that matter. Yes it is challenging, but it is what’s right. Here are the reasons why it’s important for your child to have siblings:

•Helps Improvement in a Child’s Development

When there’s more than one child in the family, it is easier for every child to communicate, improve their language skills and their ability to connect with other kids. Thus, makes it easier for them to express themselves as well, becomes mature especially the ones who are older and it makes them develop sense of responsibility.

•They Can Be Source of Entertainment for Eachother

Children can easily be bored on an invironment where there is no one they could play with, especially those around their age. But if they have siblings, you give them a chance to have better and fun childhood days.

•You are Building a Bigger and Better Pack

Of course you can be excused if you have health issues. But like wolves, the bigger the number, the stronger the pack. Raising children is surely not easy. Yet, when they get older, everyone will be of help already and things will get better for everyone in the family.

•You Are Giving Your Child a Friend For Life

Sure enough, they will have fights, they will hurt eachother at times, but a sibling is a sibling for the rest of our lives. Your siblings are your first friends and the ones who will be your to-go-to whenever life gets tough.

•When Parents Die, Siblings Will be Their Only Immediate Family

Their aunts, uncles and cousins will still be there, but siblings are different. Those who are born from the same parents, will have strong connection and sense of belongingness towards eachother. In my own experience too, even if I already have husband and kids, my relationship with my siblings will always remain special to me. They catch me at times when I lose my sanity and not even my husband can help me.

Let Me Tell You A Story

I had a friend who is an only child. She was always happy and cheerful about having everything just for herself. Wants, needs, name it. She can have almost everything because her parents adore their only child. However, the only constant thing in this world is change. There came a time that her parents got separated. Her mom got cancer and everything went downhill for her.

She was with an amazing man and supposed to be having the best time of her life builder her own empire. Only that she had no one to share her troubles. From the medication of her mother, to raising her firstborn, to dealing with her father, she had her boyfriend with her, but she wished her parents gave given her siblings whom she could share everything with instead.

How about you? What are your thoughts on these matters? If you were to choose, will you have one child or more? Share it in comments.

How Loving Myself More Made Me a Better Mommy

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I once read that when you are a mom, you are the light of the family. You are the first source of love for your husband and your children. So let me ask you, do you think you can give yourself the same amount of love you give to your family?

The answer to that is definitely yes! And mind you, the more you love yourself, the more you become better not just in being a wife, being a mom, but being the super woman that you are! This is actually based on some mother’s journey of becoming the best version of themselves through loving themselves more than ever.

How I Changed My Mommy Life After I Loved Myself More

I will now be enumerating how and what I did so I can take care and give more importance to myself more than ever.

•Know That You Matter

Before you had your kids, before you had your husband, your world revolves around your own self. The only life that gives you life is yours. And just because you started building your own family doesn’t mean your no longer part of your priorities. Hey, you’re still you. And besides, a home won’t be complete without its light. You are the light so do your best to shine brightly. You are as important as everyone else in the family so appreciate yourself more and know that you matter.

•Discover Your Passion

When you do something that you really love,you will start feeling so good. Not only that you can monetize that, but you can also use that as your stress reliever. As for me, it took a while before I made up my mind about pursuing my passion in writing and start blogging. The first time i did a blog post and realized that other mommies all over the world are reading my blog, It felt surreal! I was so happy that I finally found what could truly stir my blood and soul. Then I started loving myself more. Little by little, I was showing to my kids the “mommy” that I am inside my blogs. I started living through it. Love came overflowing not just for me but for the entire family.

•Look Good, Feel Good

Before I decided on this one, I was a stay at home mother for more than 4 years. I looked ugly, and I think I looked pitiful those times. Not only that I don’t have enough budget for skin care and all, but I was thinking it won’t be good if I spend my husband’s money only to make me feel and look good when I’m not helping the family financially. But after taking a lift and started monetizing my blogging, It occured to me how much different it is to have your own income and start taking care of your wants and needs to take care of your looks too. When I started looking a lot better, I can feel that my eldest son, who is almost 5 yrs old now, felt happy and proud of that I did. For the firat time, he told me I am so beautiful.

After that, I can slowly point out how everything flowed so well for me and my journey in motherhood.

•There’s No Way that You Are Perfect, so Don’t Pressure Yourself too Much Over Things

Being a human, wa are bound to commit mistakes. Know that you are not a perfect mommy so give yourself a chance to do better next time. Love yourself in every stage of motherhood. When you understand that, you will become much more patient for yourself and for everyone around you. Try to keep your cool.

The moment you understand, acknowledge and appreciate yourself, you will start loving yourself more. By doing that, you also give yourself the chance to do better in being a wife and a mother, and of course, being a person who shed light among others and shine even more brighter for yourself.

How to Stay In Love With Your Spouse After Having Kids

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“Why is our relationship going downhill when in fact we are okay. I love him, but I don’t feel connected with him anymore. I’m so busy with the kids and i feel aweful that I need to make time just for him instead of taking a break. I don’t know. I’m not sure anymore. The fire just—— died?”

These thoughts are common to married woman. Yes, common. I said so because as a blogger mommy who has mommy groups around me, it’s not just twice or thrice that I heard these phrases. Most of new mothers feel overwhelmed with their role as a mom plus as a wife. Because they are becoming so busy with the new members of their family, sometimes, they could doubt their emotions and feel disconnected to anyone or everyone. They can’t seem to point out what’s wrong but they feel that something’s really not right.

Can Love Fade Away and Come Back?

If your kind of love is genuine and true, then it is profound. That means it will always be there. But that doesn’t mean that it won’t fade, that it won’t hurt, that it will be perfect. Even if our vows were spoken in front of the person we love and with God as our witness, no body is perfect. Couples will become tired of daily routines, have trust issues, feel unconnected with eachother. Yet, if their love is strong and they both decide to make things work, point out what seemed wrong and fix it together, then there would be a great chance that their relationship will still rekindle the marital fire of love between them.

Tips to Keep the Fire Alive After Having Kids

•Honestly Talk About What You Feel

The moment you feel that your relationship is turning cold, everytime your brows would raise, everytime you don’t feel like checking if your spouse is still alive, I’m sure he felt that too. Yet, it is so true that men are born with a little insensitivity in their skin. So take a chance and talk to him. If you want chance, if you want things to get better, tell him. Tell him about all the nagative and honest emotion deep inside you and tell him that you need to make an effort together so things would become lighter.

•Keep Learning and Growing Together

Along in this journey, especially that you are already parents to little human, make sure that you go through it together. All the hardship, all the bitter-sweet and sleepless nights, share it with eachother. Don’t be a burden but instead, be there together so you can grow from all the situations you both overcome.

•Make Memories Worth Remembring

Now this could be effortsome. You might be tired from daily work, too occupied with kids, drained from all the energy-draining activities inside the house all day long. But please, if you want change, if you want to make things right or even better, do this! Have quality time together with your spouse regularly. Go take family photos that will capture every moment there is to remember. Surprise one another in little ways. The more you enjoy it, the more it gets into your system that this is how things should be and it will feel a little lighter for you.

•Sharing of Responsibilities Together

Because you and your husband decided to build a family, the responsibilities should never be shouldered just by one. Even if your husband is working to provide financially for the family, he should still be able to help you around the house and with the kids. If you are in need of help, tell him. Now there would be a problem if your hubby is a little lazy butt when it comes to chores and kids. But talk to him about it. When you are both calm, when you are both in the right mood, talk about sharing of responsibilities.

•Show Gratefulness More Often

Be grateful for the coffee and breakfast she prepared, for ironing your uniform on time. Be grateful for his cooperation in putting his dirty clothes in the laundry basket, for his efforts in changing the baby’s diapers.

Showing gratefulness is showing of appreciation. Who wouldn’t be delighted if they are appreciated and given credits, right? Be eachother’s main source of positivity by showing gratefulness even in slightliest efforts done by the other.

•Always Try Something New Together

Be it new restaurant to go to, new food you discovered, new set of hobies to keep you busy, or maybe new intimate love making strategies to try. Learn new things about eachother and try new things together. Maybe then it will bring out what’s best in you too.

•Keep God in the Center of Your Relationship

Whatever happens, happy and full of positivity, thank and glorify God. Full of sorrow, negativity and feeling of being detached from your spouse, pray together. As what they say, a family that prays together, stays together.

Sometimes, no matter how long you and your partner have been together, things change because there is no perfect relationship in this world. What you can do though if you still want to work things out, go through everything together. Remind yourself that it is not easy to build a relationship with someone especially if you already have kids. Be prepared to swallow your pride, to understand things you never thought about, your partner and you are on the same boat. When the both is shakey, be coordinate with one another to keep balance and be still. Soon, things will become steady again. Just like how it all started.

What You Should Know About False Labor in Pregnancy

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During your second or third trimester of pregnancy, you will be able to experience false labor pain or Braxton Hicks Contractions. These contractions happen because your body is preparing for the true labor that’s going to happen on the day you will give birth. However, braxton hicks is not an indication that you are going to start with true labor soon. There are also instances that Braxton Hicks contractions can also be felt as early as 2nd trimester of your pregnancy.

What You Would Feel When You Experience Braxton Hicks

This could be quite tricky and frightening for first time pregnants as they still don’t know what true labor pain could feel like so braxton hicks could make them worry that they are already about to give birth anytime soon.

When you have Braxton Hicks Contractions, you may feel pain in your lower tummy and there would be contractions that will last for a few seconds. As soon as the contraction kicks in, you will feel uncomfortable tightning in your tummy.

The Difference Between True Labor Contractions and Braxton Hicks Contractions

•TLC are gets stronger over time and comes in with regularity while BHC are unpredictable. They usually gets weaker and weaker over time would soon disappear.

•TLC has regular intervals and it gets closer and closer as time passes while BHC don’t come with time. It may just last for a short while.

•TLC starts from lower back would run through the abdominal part while BHC may just occur and can he felt in lower front of your abdomin and just stay in 1 spot. In true labor, the pain may run through your entire belly and even include your hips and lower back. The intensity of the contractions gets stronger and stronger so it could be felt much longer too.

•In TLC, each contraction may last for 30 seconds up to a minute. It has regularity and intensifies over time. In BHC, it may just last for few seconds and disappears soon.

What Happens to Your Body When You Have Braxton Hicks?

When a pregnant woman experiences Braxton Hicks Contractions, the muscle fiber of her uterus tightens and relaxes after a few seconds. It is believed that it helps in softening the cervix. However, since the purpose of Braxton Hicks Contractions is just to get the body ready for true labor, there will be no dilation of cervix during these contractions.

Since Braxton Hicks is a Normal experience for pregnant women especially on 3rd trimester, it is important to know what you can do to ease these contractions. Generally speaking, there is no cure or treatment for this, just few tips to decrease your discomfort and manage the situation. When you are actively moving around, it could trigger Braxton Hicks so take a break and lie down. If you had been in 1 position for a while, change your position. Stand up or take a walk. Dehydration could also trigger these contractions so stay hydrated.

Knowing your body and being informed on what you could experience during pregnancy is very important to set your expectations and manage your emotional and mental health much easier especially if you are a first time mom. Here is an article about what women goes through during her pregnancy to help you be informed.

How Dangerous is Preeclampsia?

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Preeclampsia is a health condition among pregnant women characterized by high blood pressure and damage in internal organs like liver and kidneys. About 8 in every 100 pregnant women can experience preeclampsia. Its diagnosis can start as early as 20 weeks of pregnancy and can last few weeks after giving birth.

This condition doesn’t only occur to women with health issues or history, but it could also affect those who seem to be healthy before their pregnancy. It can be considered as high risk especially if untreated. In severe cases, preeclampsia may result to lasting damage to internal organs of mother, pneumonia, premature birthing and even death to the baby, mommy or worst, both.

Symptoms of Preeclampsia

•Blurred Vision and Light Sensitivity of the Eyes

•Excess protein in the urine

•Other signs of kidney problems

•Constant and severe headaches

•Shortness of breath

•Pneumonia or water in lungs

•Vomitting and Nausea

•Problems in Liver

What are the Causes of Preeclampsia?

When a woman is pregnant in early stage, blood vessels are developed and produced to send more blood to the placenta. Placenta is the main source of nutrients and oxygen for the fetus. However, if a woman has preeclampsia, these blood vessels connecting to the placenta has abnormalities, thus, they function in a different manner. The causes of this abnormalities are:

•Genetics

•Not suffecient flow of blood to the uterus

•Problems with the Immune System

•Defective Blood Vessels

What are Preeclampsia’s Risk Factors?

There are lots of risk factors for preeclampsia that’s why it is considered as one of the most common complication during pregnancy. These risk factors include

•History of Preeclampsia in the family

•Women who are still very young or those who are aged 35 above

•Pregnancy Intervals. Those who has less than 2 years gap and more than 10 years gap has higher risk

•If your baby was conceived through virto fertilization

•First Pregnancy has higher risk

•Those who has pre existing hypertension or chronic hypertension are more prone to develop this condition

When to Get Worried with Preeclampsia?

It is important to regularly visit your doctor and attend to your prenatal check ups so your care provider can monitor your condition. If you are diagnosed of preeclampsia, you must know when you should get worried. If you have severe and constant headache, you’re having problems in your visions, and you cant seem to control your blood pressure no matter what, call your doctor. Talk to them about it so you can have better understanding of your condition too.

Being pregnant is never easy. Aside from possible complications that may arise, you may also have the discomfort of morning sickness and other pregnancy conditions. You need to make sure that you take care of yourself and follow your doctor’s instructions so you and your baby can go through the whole journey of pregnancy successfully. Sometimes, it’s no longer about how comfortable it could be, what’s more important is that you can survive going through it day by day. Keep strong Momma!