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There’s another good reason to lose weight before getting pregnant. Shedding excess body fat could reduce the risk that the baby-to-be will be overweight or obese. According to a recent study published in the Journal of Physiology, losing weight before pregnancy leads to changes in hormones and insulin sensitivity that are passed on to an unborn baby – helping them reduce their obesity risk.

Losing Weight before Getting Pregnant: What a Study Shows

Researchers compared the offspring of obese rats that ate a high-fat diet before and after pregnancy to mama rats that were switched to a low-fat diet thirty days before conceiving. When they checked the blood of the baby rats, they not only had higher levels of triglycerides, a type of fat that increases the risk of heart disease, but higher leptin levels and more insulin resistance than baby rats from moms that lost weight by eating a low-fat diet before they conceived. These baby rats also had more fat cells and fat cells that were larger – all signs that they were heading for obesity.

This study was done on rats, not humans, but it does raise some compelling questions. Can moms who are obese avoid passing obesity to their offspring by losing weight before getting pregnant? Even if not, there are other good reasons to lose weight before conceiving a child.

Women Who Are Obese During Pregnancy Have a Greater Risk of Other Complications

Women of normal weight often have an easier time conceiving and, when they do, they generally have less discomfort during pregnancy. It’s hard to carry around too much body fat and a baby too. Women who are obese during pregnancy run the risk of pregnancy-related medical problems including gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, pre-term birth and they have a greater chance of needing a Caesarian section.

Babies carried by obese moms are likely to be larger, which can create problems during delivery. They may also be at risk for neural tube defects, a type of birth disorder that causes severe brain and spinal cord problems.

lose weight Before Pregnancy: The Bottom Line?

There are many reasons to lose weight before pregnancy if you’re overweight or obese. Being obese during pregnancy causes problems for both a mom and her unborn baby – and it could influence whether a child is destined to fight a lifelong battle with obesity. If you’re overweight, slim down before getting pregnant.

References:

Medical News Today. “Losing Body Fat Before Pregnancy Could Help Break Obesity Cycle”

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Baby Development Guide for Baby’s Twelfth Month (weeks 48-52)

Congratulations- you have made it through your first year of parenting your new baby! At the rate your child has physically grown over this past year he would weigh one ton by age five. Fortunately his growth rate significantly pulls back and he will grow at a steadier rate going forward.

Physically your child might not show an interest in learning how to walk (if he is not already walking), but this is okay. Each child learns at a different pace so some children might want to learn the entire skill before moving on to the next skill. Now is a great time to buy him those pushing toys so he can practice the skill with a fun and safe toy.

He might also lose weight around this time, but this is quite normal. Weight loss can be due to a number of reasons including his newly found food preferences (he will not eat everything you put in front of him anymore!) and his increase in exercise. The average height for a one year old child is 28-32 inches while the average weight is 18-24 pounds.

She will take interest in imitating your every move. She sees what you do and wants to be like you, so take it as a compliment!

During this time she will probably also experiment with new behaviors including some bad behaviors (ever heard of regressive behavior?). You might even have the joy of experiencing the feared toddler tantrum. She has gained a sense of independence, so tantrums should come as no surprise. Simply let her throw the tantrum, calmly waiting until she is done. Then when she is done, coolly but firmly correct her behavior and explain why it is unacceptable. Soon enough she will realize that tantrums “do not work” and she will give them a rest.

Make sure you leave room for your toddler to explore and go on adventures often without “cracking the whip” and correcting every behavior. Try to only discipline when it is absolutely necessary.

She will likely enjoy mimicking your sounds and noises. Keep in mind most children should speak one to two words by the end of the first year (although ours was already saying phrases!).

By now you might have realized that she reacts differently to dad than she does to mom. This is likely due to the way each of you treat her- she might view mom as more of the nurturer and run to her when she has a “boo boo” whereas dad is seen as more of a physical rough-houser.

He has a clear understanding of the word “no” now although he will often return to the same off-limits habits, behaviors and objects even after repeated corrections. Stay patient with him; this stage will pass. In the mean time you are teaching him about the importance of personal boundaries.

In the years to come your approach to parenting will need to stay the same in some areas and transform with the times in other areas. For instance, your child will always need you to lovingly and caringly interact with them but the actual way that takes place will change based on your child’s age. With a solid year of parenting behind you (and one of the most challenging years, no less!) you probably have more experience than you think you have as a parent. Continue to love on your child no matter his or her age and you will likely have a child who adores you and will responsibly contribute to society for the rest of their life.

For these and more great tips and for tons of parenting freebies, visit http://www.birthannouncements4baby.com/yearone

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Baby Development Guide for Baby’s Eleventh Month (weeks 44-47)

Month eleven has come around and can you believe that your baby is almost one year old! You might want to start thinking now what you want to do on his first birthday. Be sure to have a plan for taking tons of photos and video to capture the memories.

This might be the age at which your child starts to love water. Always practice safe water habits and never leave his side. If you have a pool or hot tub, make 100% sure it is baby proof so your little one does not accidentally fall in.

Your son or daughter will also love to stand and might be very preoccupied with it. Again, make sure your house is 100% child proof. Guard stair cases with gates because he will probably love to explore the steps. A standard walking age is anywhere from nine to eighteen months.

She might take interest in clothing (and unclothing!) herself. To prevent this, try putting her clothes on inside out or backwards so the zipper or buttons are on the back and out of reach for her.

Socially, he will gain interest in pets at this age. He will think pets are toys, so use common sense to keep him safe and do not let pets sleep with him.
Your child might seem to be “testy” as he tries to coax you into saying “no.” He isn’t necessarily doing it to test you…he probably does it simply to get your attention.

If you haven’t already considered using a caretaker, you might be thinking about it now. A caretaker is okay (as long as they pass your criterion!) and will even help your baby learn. Although baby might not perform tasks on demand for others, a caretaker will probably become a special friend to your baby.

A big step has happened intellectually this month- he has learned about object permanence. In other words, he knows that a toy he left nearby will still be there when he turns around to find it again.

She understands more and more every day and will respond non-verbally. For example, if she is thirsty and you hold a sippy cup in front of her, she will reach out to grab it. Or, when it is time to eat and he is sitting in his high chair, he might bounce up and down repeatedly in anticipation of the food.

To help your baby develop during this time, try playing hide and seek with objects. (This will help sharpen his understanding of object permanence.) Keep offering her a running narrative of your day so that she can hear you speak and use new words.

Another great way to promote bonding between you and your little one is to spend unhurried time with her. A creative way to do that would be to play instruments with safe kitchen items. Gather pots, pans and wooden spoons together on the floor and enjoy banging them together with your son or daughter. You will both treasure the bonding and it will be a learning experience at the same time.

For these and more great tips and for tons of parenting freebies, visit http://www.birthannouncements4baby.com/yearone

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Baby Development Guide for Baby’s Ninth Month (weeks 36-39)

Your child is now nine months old and he or she has grown up so fast! Significant mobility is not too far away (if it hasn’t already come), social interactions are slowly transforming and intellectual capacities are rapidly increasing. As a parent, are you tired yet? (Be sure to take care of yourself through the process!)

Your baby will get his nine month check up around now. At that doctor’s visit you will be asked about teething, sleep patterns, baby’s diet, mobility progress, vocalization of your child and so forth. Another topic that will probably be discussed is that of nursing vs. bottle feeding. Nursing in the United States often does not go past the first year but internationally it often goes on for years.

At this age your son or daughter will probably be able to pull themselves up and stand while holding on to furniture. And if they are able to do that they will also cruise around the perimeter of tables, desks and chairs. To make matters more challenging, your child might also be a climber- gaining interest in reaching things that are higher up. Now is the perfect time to make sure your house is safe for baby cruising!

At nine months your baby might show their personality through the form of fears (for example she might become afraid when you have to leave the house to go grocery shopping). When this happens simply offer reassurance and keep “goodbye” times light, short and sweet.

Your baby will love his siblings but he would much prefer to be playing with toys instead. His interactions with siblings will also change with his increased mobility- older brothers and sisters might not appreciate having their space invaded and might do things such as shut the younger “intruder” into a closet or surround him with toys to disallow movement. While these situations are probably hard to observe as a parent, they are actually quite harmless and can even be beneficial to your 9 month old. Try to not react unless your baby is in real danger. Instead, channel it into a game that each sibling can play together.

A great new addition to your baby’s interests is her enjoyment of simple interactive games. Playing “how big is (Ashley)? So big!” can be a fun way to get laughs and teach her all at the same time. These games teach her about herself and the world and they can add self-esteem too.

Intellectually your child’s distinct cognitive style will begin to really shine through (all kids are unique). She will be more aware of vertical space and might be fearful of heights. He will probably also be harder to amuse because he remembers toys and games from day to day. This new skill makes the “newness” of every toy and activity fade more quickly and he might seem harder to entertain.

Finally, most experts agree that well before your child turns one he or she has gained a sexual identity. This is perfectly normal and needed for each child and, although it’s hard to detect specific activities or events that formulate this discovery the best thing you can do is love on them and show them that you cherish them in a way that they best receive it.

For these and more great tips and for tons of parenting freebies, visit http://www.birthannouncements4baby.com/yearone

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Congratulations- you have made it through your second month! This article will cover the third month of your new child’s development and offer some parenting tips to help you along the way.

In the third month of the life of your child there will be many developments including several key intellectual advances. After the third month your baby will have grown leaps and bounds not just physically but also socially and intellectually.

During this month, your child will have a significant increase in muscle control and vision. Simply because you do not see her moving does not mean she is not increasing her muscle development. She is actually not moving because she chooses not to move- she is now more able to make voluntary muscle movements! Furthermore, you will be happy to learn that spitting and spit up will occur less and less.

Another great improvement you might experience this month is an increase in uninterrupted sleep. Your child should be able to sleep for up to 6-8 hours without waking! To help this along you can increase bedtime feeding amounts. Because of all of this, your son will probably experience a decrease in nighttime feedings.

A benefit of your child’s development this month is the decline in crying he might experience. This decline is due to several reasons, including an increased capacity for food, decrease in gastrointestinal pains, etc. If your child is colic those symptoms should also pass during this time period.
A key development this month is the establishing of short-term memory. Your child is constantly enhancing his or her memory skills. This mental progression will open doors to many future breakthroughs including, but not limited to, identifying frequently seen family members and recalling what items are off limits.

In order to stimulate further growth in your child here are some things you can do: Respond quickly to the needs of your child in the first six months of his life, increase bedtime feeding and learn how to differentiate different types of cries. Studies show that faster responses to the needs of your child in the first six months decrease dependability later on. And since your child is only crying for specific reasons these days, learning how to differentiate between different types of cries will be beneficial to both you and your child.

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