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New
moms
and dads have questions...
Family Resources WARMLINE has answers
An Instruction Manual for New and Expectant
Parents
Congratulations!
You are going to have a baby!
How
do
these words make you feel?
Happy? Scared? Excited?
Worried?
Some
frequently
asked questions:
Having a baby can be
an exciting
time in your life, and you and your partner will experience many
changes,
both physically and emotionally. Learning, reading and talking
about
pregnancy, childbirth, and babies can help make these transitions a
little
easier. Taking positive steps to reduce the stress in your life
during
and after your pregnancy can make a real difference in your health and
the
health of your baby.
The volunteers and
staff at
Family Resources WARMLINE believe that all babies deserve the finest
beginnings
in life, and all parents deserve information and support. Taking
good
care of yourself is the best way to insure a healthy baby, and asking
questions
is the best way for you to feel confident in your new role.
Talk
to your health care provider early and often in your pregnancy about
any
concerns you may have. Share your feelings and expectations with
your
partner, and ask for the support you'll need to make healthy choices
for
you and your baby.
New
moms
and dads have questions...
Family Resources WARMLINE has answers.
Call the WARMLINE at
412-641-4546
or 1-877-WARMLYN (outside Allegheny County, dial 1-800-641-4546).
Our
trained counselors are available to answer your parenting questions
seven
days a week. For free, confidential, and caring support,
information,
or referrals, call Family Resources WARMLINE Monday-Friday 9 am - 9 pm,
and
Saturday and Sunday 1 pm - 5 pm.
What are the best
ways
for me to give my baby a healthy start?
It is never to early
to begin
preparing to give your baby a healthy start. Even before you are
pregnant,
the choices you make about your own health can affect your future
family.
During pregnancy make sure that you:
- See your doctor
early and
regularly.
- Eat a balanced
diet or healthy
foods.
- Don't smoke,
drink alcohol
or use drugs.
- Get plenty of
rest and exercise.
- Protect yourself
from sexually
transmitted diseases.
- Check with your
doctor before
taking any over-the-counter medications.
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How will my baby
be
affected if I drink alcohol, smoke, or use drugs?
During pregnancy, it
is important
to remember that your baby is sharing your body with you. The
things
you do to treat yourself right treat your baby right, too. But
using
drugs and alcohol, which are unhealthy for you, can be even more
harmful
to your unborn baby.
If you smoke while
you are pregnant:
- You may be
increasing the
risk of miscarriage.
- You will be more
likely
to have a low birth weight baby who may need to spend time in the
hospital
after birth.
- Your baby could
be born
too early.
- Your baby could
have breathing,
learning, or behavioral problems later in life.
- Your baby will
be more at
risk from sudden infant death syndrome (called SIDS, or crib death)
If you drink alcohol
while you
are pregnant:
- Your baby may be
born with
fetal alcohol syndrome, which contributes to many birth defects.
- You will have a
greater
risk of having a miscarriage or a stillborn baby.
- Your child could
have many
learning problems later in life.
- Your baby may be
born too
early or too small.
- You are risking
harm to
the baby's developing brain and heart.
If you use drugs while
you are
pregnant:
- Your baby could
be born addicted.
- Your baby could
die.
- Your baby may be
born too
soon.
- Your baby could
have trouble
breathing.
- Your baby could
have brain
damage, or may have learning problems for the rest of his life.
- You will not be
as healthy
as you should be in order to give birth to a healthy baby.
Talk to your doctor
about any
substance you may be using, and ask your health care provider before
you
take any medications, even for a cold. Don't take medication that
was
prescribed for somebody else or for you before you were pregnant.
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I'm an expectant
father. What can I do to support my partner?
How can I feel more involved?
Finding out that you
are going
to be a father can make you feel many different ways. You may be
concerned
about how your life and your relationship with your partner will
change.
You might worry about money or wonder what your role will be during
childbirth.
All the feelings you are having are normal, and sharing them with your
partner can build healthy communication between the two most important
people in your
baby's life.
You can support your
partner
and feel more involved during her pregnancy by:
- Going with her
to her prenatal
appointments and asking questions.
- Practicing a
healthy life-style
with her. Encourage her to eat healthy, rest, and exercise -- and
you
do the same.
- Staying away
from drugs
and alcohol -- together!
- Talking together
about your
feelings, hopes, and fears.
- Learning about
pregnancy,
childbirth, and babies. Attend birthing classes with mom.
- Staying active
and involved
in every part of your child's life -- forever!
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I have a beautiful
new baby.
Why do I feel so sad?
Most new moms expect
to feel
happiness after their baby is born, so feelings of sadness or anger can
come
as a surprise. Many women have these feelings and wonder why it
is
happening and what it means. The responsibility of taking care of
a
new baby can be scary, and this little person may seem like a stranger
as
you start out as a parent. These feelings are normal, and it may
take
some time to adjust to the many different feelings you are
having.
Often, getting to know your baby and what she likes and needs can make
you
feel more confident, relaxed and happy.
A majority of new
moms notice
that they have "the blues" a few days after delivery. Feelings of
sadness
or anger, or questions about whether or not you can really take care of
your
baby, may occur. This is a common experience and usually goes
away
as fast as it comes, generally within a few days. Asking for
help,
support or a break to take a shower, catch a nap, or have a meal can
sometimes
ease "the blues."
If your feelings of
sadness
are strong or don't go away, or you seem to be having "good" days and
"bad"
days for more than a week or two, talk to your doctor. This is
not
unusual for new mothers either, and your health care provider may be
able
to help you feel better.
If
you or
your partner is having trouble coping with changes in feelings...
Family Resources WARMLINE has answers.
Call the WARMLINE at
412-641-4546 or 1-877-WARMLYN
(outside Allegheny County, call 1-800-641-4546).
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Why won't my baby stop
crying?
All babies
cry. And all
parents wonder why and what to do about it. It is important to
know
that your baby cries for lots of reasons -- it is the only way he has
to
communicate how he feels and what he needs. Is he hungry?
Wet?
Tired? Bored? Teething? Lonely? You may need to
try
many things to get to the bottom of the problem.
If you have checked
everything
you can think of and the baby continues to cry, you may want to:
- Try rocking your
baby or
holding her in a different position.
- Sing or talk
softly to him.
- Take her for a
ride in the
stroller or car.
- Offer a pacifier.
- Put him in an
infant seat
or baby swing.
- Give yourself a
break.
Ask someone to care for the baby for a while, or make sure she is safe
and
go to another room.
- Talk to your
pediatrician
if your baby's cries don't stop and you are unable to comfort him.
You won't spoil you
new baby by
responding to her cries. She depends on you completely, and your
nurturing
behavior will make her feel loved and secure. Remember, babies do
not
cry because they are "bad" or trying to make you mad. Crying can
make
parents feel frustrated and desperate, but it is important to know that
punishing
an infant is never the answer. There are many ways to calm a
crying
baby, but slapping, hitting, or spanking will make the crying worse and
could
seriously hurt your child. Shaking your baby could cause him to
die.
If you are
frustrated by
your baby's crying, ask for help. Call your doctor, call a
friend,
or call the WARMLINE.
NEVER,
NEVER
SHAKE A BABY!!!
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How can I help my older child get ready for the new baby?
Many expectant
parents worry
about how their older child will handle the arrival of a new
sibling.
Some tips for making this easier for everyone are:
- Prepare your
child for the
new arrival. Allow him to get involved in planning for where the
baby
will sleep, clothes the baby will wear, etc.
- Read to your
child about
families with new babies. Encourage her to ask questions and
allow
her to express her feelings and concerns.
- Celebrate the
new role of
"big" brother or sister. Let your child know that he will be a
part
of this exciting change for your family.
- Teach your older
child about
keeping the new baby safe. Establish rules and assign him "new
baby
jobs" (such as getting diapers, singing to the baby while you prepare a
bottle,
etc.)
A new baby in the
house means
changes for everyone in the family. Being a parent to more than
one
child can feel more demanding and overwhelming than you
expected.
The way you respond to your changing family will be an example to your
older
child, and loving feelings and behavior toward his new sibling will be
easier
for him if he is feeling loved and cared for, too.
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What can I do to
protect my baby from crib death?
Crib death, also
called Sudden
Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), is the unexplained, sudden death of a
baby
less than 1 year old, which usually occurs while they sleep.
Doctors
really don't know the exact cause of SIDS, but have learned some things
about
what puts babies at a higher risk.
Some things you can
do to help
protect your baby from SIDS are:
- Get good
prenatal care.
- Don't drink or
smoke while
you are pregnant.
- Make sure you
put your baby
to sleep on her back on a firm surface.
- Remove pillows
and stuffed
animals from your baby's crib, and do not place soft comforters or
extra
blankets under him as he sleeps.
- Breast feed your
baby, if
possible, for good health, which reduces the risk of SIDS.
- Don't overdress
your baby
or keep her room too warm as she sleeps. If the temperature feels
conformable
for you, then it is right for your baby.
- Keep your baby
healthy with
regular visits to the pediatrician.
- Have a "smoke
free" home.
Babies who are exposed to smoke get sicker more often and are more at
risk
for SIDS.
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How do I cope with
the stress and pressure of parenthood?
Becoming a parent
can change
your life in ways you may not have imagined. Being responsible
for
another human being 24 hours a day can be an awesome task, and many of
the
"normal" behaviors babies and children have can make you feel
frustrated,
overwhelmed, or even angry. Thinking about positive ways to deal
with
stress is a healthy step toward building a positive relationship
between
you and your child.
Some tips for
helping to ease
the pressures of parenting are:
- Talk to other
parents about
their feelings and suggestions for handling stress.
- Exercise to feel
healthy
and relieve pressure.
- Learn about
parenting.
Take a parenting class, read parenting books and magazines to gather
information
that will help you develop a parenting style that is comfortable for
you.
- Take time out
for yourself.
As you nurture your children, remember to take care of your needs
too.
A happy, healthy parent is a gift to any child.
- Call a
friend. Ask
for help or a break when you are feeling overwhelmed or tired.
- Practice healthy
habits
that will keep you feeling your best. Don't smoke. Say no
to
drugs and alcohol. Protect yourself from sexually transmitted
diseases.
Your choices will affect your ability to parent and the health of your
child.
- Call the
WARMLINE at 412-641-4546
or 1-877-WARMLYN (outside Allegheny County, dial 1-800-641-4546) for
more
tips about dealing with stress in parenting.
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to top)
Raising Kids is a Tough Job...
Call the Family Resources WARMLINE for help.
412-641-4546 or 1-877-WARMLYN (in Allegheny
County)
1-800-641-4546 (outside of Allegheny County)
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