June 30th, 2006
Today I would like to draw your attention to culture differences and people attitude to the birth of baby in different countries. And I have chosen the most interesting countries from my point of view such as Muslim ones. So, what does happen in Muslim family and community after the birth of the baby? The birth of every new person the Moslems consider as a great gift of Allah, the most important event in the life of every Muslim family. There are specials conditions, which regulate the actions of parents and their relatives in connection with the birth of baby.
1. The first sigh and the first word. The first word that every Muslim baby hears is “God”. As soon as the baby born in his ears whisper the words of praising of the Most High: in the right – appeal to the prayer and to the left – the second appeal to the prayer. As a rule the father does it. This ceremony has a deep sense. According to Islam, Satan, the main enemy of all people, waits impatiently for the birth of every baby in order to lead astray. That is why it is very important that the baby hears the appeal to God before the call of Satan. The words of belief in God and faithfulness will accompany him during his life.
2. Sweetness of the first moments. After the baby has heard the divine words it is necessary to anoint his lips and oral cavity with date mass. The mother does it the next manner. Firstly she chews well a date, than takes a small part of it and puts in the mouth of the baby. Then she massages his oral cavity with light movements in order to place this mass throughout the oral cavity. In the same time she reads prayers to health and good wishes to her baby. If the parents have not a date, they can use every sweet fruit. People consider that this massage strengthens the muscles of baby. According to the legend the prophet Muhammad himself have done this procedure in the first time.
3. Hair worth weight in gold. In seven days after the birth of baby it is desired to shave his head and distribute among the poor silver and gold, the weight of which is equal to shaved hair. In another case the parents can give a sum of money corresponding the quantity of this precious metal. But what the parents should do, if the baby does not have hair at all? They should simply distribute charity among those, who need it.
4. The importance of the name. The choice of the name is very important for the Moslems. Bur there are some disagreements according to the target date. Some insist on calling the baby in the seventh day after his birth. The others persist in doing it in the first day. But the day is not so important. The attitude to this event in the life of every person is much more significant. The Moslems should call their children in the name of prophets and angels. It is reasonable that that the name of the first prophet Muhammad is the most popular. But there are other recommendations. A person, who is responsible for it, should observe on the name of the baby in order to save him from offensive mockeries. People say that even Prophet himself changed disharmonious names. The names of boys include not only the names of prophets and angels, but also ones, which have the root “abd”. Girls usually have the names of the women from the family of Prophet
5. Thank God. It is desired (if the parents of the baby have enough money) in the seventh day after his birth to sacrifice a sheep. If the girl has born, it is necessary to sacrifice one sheep in the case of the birth of boy it is necessary to slaughter one or two sheep. It depends on the financial position of his father. But nowadays in the cities it is not so easy to sacrifice an animal. But the Moslems try to resolve this problem. They go to suburb in order to do this ceremonial there. People, who are too far from Islam, may think that this custom is very exotic or even barbaric. But the Moslems believe that God doe not need this sacrifice. They think that people themselves need it.
6. Circumcision as a sign of submission to Allah. This custom is very ancient and not only people of Islam do it. The Moslems do it with their sons in order to show that the parents, completely submitted to Allah, pass the baby to his will. A person with a special medical and religion education can do the circumcision. He can do it both at home and in any hospital, where there is a surgeon. There is no a single opinion about the day of circumcision. The majority of doctors believe that it necessary to do the circumcision in the same day with the shaving of hair of the baby. It means in the seventh day after his birth. For example, in Turkey, doctors do it with the boys at the age of 7-10. However, all boys of the full legal age should be cut.
The possibility to have children is very important for all Moslems. They marry not only to satisfy their carnal needs. It is much more essential to born and to bring-up own children. The Moslems believe that children are the greatest plenty of God. That is why in Muslim families the wife and the husband are not slave and sovereign, their relations are build on mutual respect and care.
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June 29th, 2006
Today in a bus I heard a little talk between two young women about all advantages and disadvantages of their own baby-sitters. That is why I decided to know why mothers need a nanny and what every woman should do in order to find a good one.
The more time a mother spends with her baby, the better it is. It is necessary to wait as minimum one and a half year and only after that to think about the job. Three year is the best alternative.
A housemaid is much better than any baby-sitter. She not only exempts a woman from housekeeping, but she also will be able to walk with the baby when he is sleeping and will stay with the child if a mother needs to left him for several hours. However, when the child is staying awake, alongside with him should be his mom. If it is necessary for a woman to go to work, she must choose a baby-sitter at the age of 30-45. It will be ideal if she married and has her own children preschool and school age. It is really important because all children are very sensitive. If a baby-sitter has her own baby, she necessarily possesses emotional and practical experience in relations with children.
If a baby-sitter has not her own children or if a baby-sitter is a woman of pensionable age, who wants the grandchild, there is a high probability that this very woman will transfer outstanding mothering feelings to the baby. This baby-sitter will be attached to the child very much. And firstly this situation is too dangerous for the mom, because she may begin to be jealous. As a result, the atmosphere in the house will be negative and it will have an effect on baby badly.
A baby-sitter not under any circumstances should exceed her authority and replace the mom. The most dangerous are advertised super-nannies such as teachers and doctors. They can literally enslave the whole family. For example, a baby-sitter accustoms the baby to eat or to sleep only in her presence. After that it will be very easy for her to manipulate the mom. That is why every woman should watch closely in order to keep all positions in the family in the same place. May a child have so called ceremonials, which makes the mom, for example, a special song before dream.
It is very important that a baby-sitter has the same positions to the upbringing as parents have.
We suppose that you have chosen a baby-sitter. But let she spend about a week with the baby under the supervision. It is a good chance to understand suit this baby-sitter or not!
However, if you want to find a good and responsible person you should use the next question during the interview.
1. The first and the most important is “Tell me please about your experience.” It is very important that a baby-sitter worked with children at the age of your own baby. You should know in details how many children were in the charge of this woman. As two-week experience you hardly like. Try to know if this baby-sitter looks after for several children in the same time. The question about recommendation is both important and unimportant. Some parents prefer them, the others trust only themselves.
2. The second is “What did you do before?” This question is about profession. The main plus is experience in the child institutions and appropriate education such as pedagogical, psychological and medical. It will be very good if she has additional experience and skills. For instance, knack of massage, knowledge of languages, music and so on.
3. The third is “What situation is more serious, when baby is crying or when he is too active and energetic?” This question helps you to know the character of your future nanny as well as possible. If she chooses the first variant, it means that your nanny has not enough patience and she can easily get angry. In another case it means that she is not energetic herself and hardly she will encourage active games.
4. The forth is “Do you smoke?” I think this point is very important because healthy of the baby depends on it. If the nanny says yes, you should take obligation from her not to smoke when the baby stays close.
5. The fifth is “Describe, please, your daily routine, working with the baby.” Of course the future baby-sitter can embellish the reality, telling how they firstly sing songs and read fairy tales, and then go to park in order to work up an appetite. But in any case in her answers will be some nuances, which she will not be able to keep back. If the nanny simply lists daily affairs, which have their own time, there is a chance that she will be attentive to the internal development of the child.
6. The sixth question is “From your point of view, how looks the ideal baby?” This question helps to know how this baby-sitter can cope with difficult situations. If she wants the baby will be happy, it is a big plus. If she dreams about calm and accommodating baby, will be careful! Probably she afraid weeping and will yield in difficult situation.
7. The next question is provocative “The child has fainted away. Your actions?” Due to this question you can easily check the quickness of her reaction. If she does not know what to answer, think, suit this woman to you or not. If she answers that will call the ambulance or will connect with parents without delay – you are lucky, because you have found a really good nanny.
8. This questions concerns food which a baby–sitter prefers. Your baby needs balanced food. As in the most cases your nanny will cook it is really very important to know what she knows about dietetically food.
9. The ninth question is “How do you spend your holidays?” or “Do you have a lot of friends?” This question helps you to know your baby-sitter is homebody or soul of the party. Yes, of course, your baby needs active games, but sometimes he wants to rest. It is very useful for you to know who visits the baby-sitter in your absence, how often rings the telephone and so on. You even can return home earlier in order to check your baby-sitter.
Of course, there are much more questions every mom can ask, bur I hope that these once will be able to help every mother to find good and responsible person.
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June 29th, 2006
I think that this question disturbs every man and every woman throughout the world regardless their religion and age. However, in reality what does it mean to be mother and to be father?
All people suppose that the destination of every woman in the Earth is to continue human race. But our forefathers thought that if a woman had not children she could not be valuable. They made believe that only after a woman understood what it meant she would be able to feel her feminity completely. The birth of child is a miracle, which approaches every woman to the God. Everybody knows that practically all religions have a cult of mother.
A lot of women explain that they are not ready to be a mother. Furthermore, they frequently approach to this important event very irresponsibly. It is not a secret that the majority of them even do not plan the birth of their children. They become mothers in consequence of silly fortuitousness. A lot of women do not want to have children because these living beings limit their liberty. Moreover, children need many financial charges and very often they spoil a figure.
Nevertheless, if a woman decides to become a mum, it is necessary for her to raise the next question: Why I need this baby? It is not a secret that the most commonly used answer is I need someone in my old age, who will be able to offer a glass of water. It turns out that parents take care of their children only because they need someone, who will be able to look after them in declining years. And if a baby does not justify their hopes in future, he will receive reproaches about his ingratitude. However, it is necessary to remember that a child is not a bank to which people deposit their money with hope to receive interests in future. He must be desired. It is essential to take care and love him without selfish ends.
Every woman must evaluate her readiness to become a mother and it is necessary for her to think about what she will be able to give her baby. And the most important thing here is spiritual values. An educational program, elaborated for the majority of schools and universities, has not a goal to educate women in the sphere of motherhood. That is why if a woman decides to chose this way, she will have to study a lot in order to behave in a proper way during her pregnancy, childbirth and in post-natal period. It is really very important because the future of every child depends on it.
And now I would like to speak about men and their attitude to fatherhood. It is not a secret that for the majority of men fatherhood is not the most important and significant affair in the life. The first positions occupy their career and job. And it is useless to blame our dear mankind in selfishness and loss of consciousness. Simple the nature decided that in all periods of time men were getters and bread-winners, while women were the keepers of house fireside. Although, in spite of continuous pressure of work, they have to participate in the upbringing of their children. Every child needs not only maternal, but and paternal love and kindness. He carefully keeps an eye on the behavior of his parents and tries to imitate it. And then in the future he will try to build his family according to the model in which he lived and grew up. That is why it is very important for every child to see under his very nose deserving example of both parents.
The desire to become father is frequently unconscious, at the level of instinct. All men simple want to continua their family and they do everything no to let it disappear.
The same way as women, all men should think carefully about their preparedness for this serious step. They should begin to think about what they will be able to give their children. It is essential to weigh all merits and demerits. Psychologists believe that if woman feel motherhood in the first period of pregnancy, man begins to feel his fatherhood not also after baby birth. That is why in order to speed up his knowing of responsibility, man should prepare to the birth of his child together with his wife. Moreover, he should help her during the pregnancy, childbirth and in post-natal period.
So as we can see in our society both of parents should be responsible for the birth of healthy and valuable baby. The way to motherhood is very important in the life of every woman. And man has not to keep his distance. During the pregnancy he should take care about future mother and future baby by her deliverance from housekeeping. It is important to create in the house friendly and positive atmosphere. Sometimes a woman, who waits a child, has different whims in food and desires. In accordance with Kazakh folk custom, all wishes and desires of future mother are holy and father makes unbelievable efforts to satisfy them. Besides, fathers must remember an advice of ancient Greeks: a woman, who waits a child, should look at beautiful statues, pictures and listen to pleasant music. Accomplishment of all these conditions will help an expectant mother to give birth to healthy and cheerful baby!!!
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June 9th, 2006
If you are going to smoke, make choices so the kids aren’t affected!
I got the information that tobacco carcinogens found in urine of smokers’ babies have detected cancer-causing chemicals associated with tobacco smoke in the urine of infants whose parents smoke.
Parents who smoke are passing detectable levels of cancer-causing chemicals to their infants, according to new research of the Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota.
The researchers collected urine from 144 infants, aged 3 months to 12 months, who lived in homes where at least one parent was a smoker.
Urine from nearly half of the infants contained detectable levels of NNAL, a chemical byproduct produced in the human body when it processes NNK, a cancer-causing chemical, or carcinogen, found only in tobacco.
“You don’t find NNAL in urine except in people who are exposed to tobacco smoke, whether they’re adults, children or infants,” study team member Stephen Hecht said.
In the families of babies who had detectable levels of NNAL, family members reported smoking an average of 76 cigarettes per week. For babies who had no detectable levels of NNAL in their urine, the average number of cigarettes reportedly smoked by family members was 27 per week.
Levels of urinary NNAL in the infants were higher than that seen in older children and adults exposed to secondhand smoke.
The researchers suspect this is due to infants being less able to move around and avoid the smoke.
They also hypothesize that it might not be enough simply to stop smoking in the presence of babies, since NNAL and nicotine could potentially cling to dust and the surfaces of household objects.
A previous study by Hecht and his colleagues indicated that the first urine from newborns whose mothers smoked during pregnancy contained even higher levels of NNAL compared to babies in the current study.
My husband is smoking a lot. About 70- 80 cigarettes a week. I don’t like it. I think that the best thing for him is just to quit smoking. But that can be difficult. So at least I force him to smoke outside or it’s going to impact my child’s health.
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May 30th, 2006
There is a big problem in America. Over 41 million Americans are uninsured and many of those who are insured are underinsured. Insurance premiums have been increasing and they are expected to continue to rise. This has led many Americans to go without insurance and hope for the best for their health. As a result, there are approximately 13% of women who become pregnant each year who are not insured, which results in pregnant women receiving inadequate prenatal care.
Another challenge uninsured pregnant women face is the notion from many insurance plans that pregnancy is a pre-existing condition. Medicaid, a federal funded program for low income persons, will accept women who are already pregnant. However, if you are not eligible to receive Medicaid it can still be a challenge to pay for all the prenatal visits and delivery. The estimated cost of delivery alone is $6,000 – $8,000 for a normal pregnancy and the cost increases if it is a high risk pregnancy. It is really expensive.
This is the crisis that many pregnant women find themselves facing when they learn that they are pregnant. The excitement of being pregnant is quickly dissolved by the worry and anxiety of financial burden.
Government funded programs
Medicaid is a state run program that is federally funded. Medicaid provides medical assistance for low-income families and individuals.
You may find that there are other options, depending on your state, which provide additional programs for women who are pregnant such as Medical from the state of California.
WIC is a federal agency that serves to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants and children under the age of 5. WIC provides nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating and referrals to health care.
Healthcare discount programs
There are many alternatives to traditional health insurance and Medicaid. These alternatives offer a discount on your healthcare and may help you out.
MaternityCard™ is a discount health program that can save you up to 60% on doctor’s visits, lab work, sonograms, your hospital stay and much more. MaternityCard is not insurance but it works with a National Preferred Provider Maternity Network. For a low monthly fee, MaternityCard can provide you with a comprehensive maternity plan. You can receive these benefits even after you have found out that you are pregnant.
AmeriPlan is a discount plan that is currently available in all states except Alaska. AmeriPlan saves people up to 50% and more on their health care services. Benefits include physician, hospital, and ancillary services (i.e. lab work, tests, x-rays). Since AmeriPlan is not insurance, all pre-existing conditions are covered (except orthodontic treatment in progress), there are no deductibles, no waiting period, no claim forms and no annual limits.
Smart Health Care Solutions is not insurance but an affordable alternative to the soaring costs of health care. All pre-existing conditions are accepted. As an Association, Smart Health Care Solutions is committed to providing members with access to healthcare providers at reduced rates that are both nationwide and affordable regardless of any pre-existing health conditions
Other options for managing healthcare costs
Here are some additional ideas for helping you manage the costs related to prenatal care and birth:
If you are delivering at a hospital you can contact the account office and talk to someone about setting up a payment plan or ask if they offer a sliding scale. Many hospitals do offer these, but they are not utilized because people do not know what is available to them.
If you are having an uncomplicated pregnancy you may want to consider giving birth at a birthing center. The estimated cost of a delivery and prenatal care at a birthing center is about $3,000 – $4,000. This is half of what it would be for a delivery at a hospital. Many birth centers also provide sliding scales, payment plans and accept Medicaid.
If you are a single parent you can go to Single Parenting: Making It Work and Doing It Alone for other ideas on how to save a little extra money.
It is expensive to give a birth in USA. But I know that it is much more expensive in Sweden. The estimated cost of a delivery and prenatal care is about $12,000- $25,000 if you don’t have any problems and $18,000- $29000 if you need Cesarean section. In Germany cost of a delivery and prenatal care is about 18400 – 22000 euro. THAT IS REALLY EXPENSIVE!!!
I know that the medicine is free in some countries. For example you don’t have to pay anything for delivery in Russia. If you want medical personal to be very nice you can pay. It is gonna cost you about $100 – $1,000. Pregnant woman usually don’t have insurance.
I don’t know why it is so different in different countries and I don’t know where is better. Can anybody explain to me?
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May 27th, 2006
A number of children were reported to have died of malaria in villages of Gedo region in southern Somalia (Africa), where the spring rains began.
The most complexity that the people in Burdhubo district and villages of Gedo region were suffering is malaria disease, which has threatened the region that bordering Kenya.
Two children have died of malaria in Burdhubo district for the past two days after more rains in the region laid water on the ground, which resulted out break of malaria.
Chairman of health committee in the district Ali Hassan Burale said the villagers faced the worst health problems in three years.
He said more than 12 people mostly pregnant women and children over the age of 12 fallen into the disease every day.
Mr. Burale appealed aid agencies to deliver urgently humanitarian assistance including mosquito net and medicine to fight against the disease.
My God! Can anybody help them?
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May 27th, 2006
Numbers of Zimbabwean children illegally entering Mozambique are increasing every year. Children want to escape poverty at home. Many are AIDS orphans or unaccompanied, hoping to find a better life in better-off neighbouring Mozambique. Instead they can fall prey to exploitation and abuse, including prostitution and child labour.
A lot of Zimbabwean children are crossing the Mozambican border each day. Large numbers of these children are alone and extremely vulnerable.
Zimbabwe is in its eighth year of economic decline, which has cut GDP by 40 percent. But child migration was not a problem peculiar to Zimbabwe, but a growing issue in the southern African region.
Mozambican children are entering South Africa illegally, Angolans are entering Namibia, and so on. Children say that they are not fully aware of what is going to face them in the countries. They often think they can earn money quickly. The reality is that they often become trapped in a cycle of abuse and dependency.
The study of Zimbabwean children found that many young girls - some aged as young as 12 - ended up in the sex trade along the transport corridor linking Zimbabwe to the Mozambican port of Beira in Sofala province. Sofala has the highest HIV infection rate in Mozambique, at around 26 percent of the adult population.
Young Zimbabwean sex workers living illegally in settlements along the Zambezi River in central Mozambique are popular with men because they are exploitable.
Many Mozambican men tend to be sexually involved with Zimbabweans because they are cheaper,” the report quoted a government official in the central Mozambican town of Machipanda as saying. “With 30 to 40 thousand Meticais [just over one US dollar], it is possible to have one afternoon or a night of pleasure.”
Zimbabwean girls are also employed in barracas - informal, often rowdy bars - and in restaurants. The owners see English-speaking staff as a status symbol.
Children often find employment illegally on farms. The provincial government in the central province of Manica confirmed that child labour occurred, with boys paid up to 900,000 Meticais (about 33 US dollars) a month for long, arduous work herding livestock or as farm hands.
SCF is looking to develop a range of school magazines and radio programmes targeting children, clearly spelling out what it means to travel to another country “without papers, family or friends to support them, and for them to know that the kind of problems they will face will be massive and grave”.
SCF is also calling for police and border officials to be provided with additional training on children’s rights and abuse laws.
That is horrible!!!!! I even don’t know what to say! A night of pleasure for one US dollar!!!!!!!!!!! Poor children…………. Yeah, it is a good idea to develop a range of school magazines and radio programmes clearly spelling out what it means to travel to another country alone and explaining to children what kind of problems they will face there. But I don’t think this measure can help a lot. Children want to escape poverty at home!!! They are going to another country because it is extremely difficult to live in their own country. I don’t think they want to work so hard for 33 US dollars because they like it. They just want to live better!!!!! Probably some reach European countries and USA can help to rise their economy. I don’t think it is too difficult for them. I understand that they can’t help all poor countries, but in such situation……..
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May 24th, 2006
Pregnancy was always considered the most important period in the life of women of all nations. That was usually a period when women were to observe special rules, and these rules were as a rule similar with different people.
People from Latvia - a country on the Baltic coast next to Lithuania and the Russian Federation - hope that the Goddess of Fate smiles kindly on their newborn baby. Latvians believe the Goddess of Fate, or Lamia, determines a child’s future the second he’s born.
They may also pray to Mara, or Mary, for help in childbirth. It’s believed that Mara rules the human body and can make a woman’s labor easy or difficult. Young wives will often try to get in Mara’s good graces with gifts even before they become pregnant. In ancient Latvia, babies were usually delivered in a small building called a pirt. Pirts are similar to Finnish saunas and are designed to be used as steam baths. Mothers, infants and midwives return to the pirt three days after a baby is born for a ceremonial bathing of the mother and the new baby called Pirtizas. Women who helped with the birth may also attend and take part in the ceremonial feast which follows. When leaving the pirt, a new mother will often leave a gift for Mara
Nine days after the baby is born, his or her godparents host a name-giving ceremony, or Krustaba, at the parents’ home which lasts two days. In Latvia, a baby girl has two godmothers and one godfather. A boy has two godfathers and one godmother. Parents usually appoint relatives as godparents. Latvians believe children inherit their godparents’ good qualities, so they select someone they’d like their children to emulate. In addition to participating in the name-giving ceremony, godparents are expected to raise the child in the event that the parents cannot.
The name-giving ceremony begins in the morning. Guests arrive bringing gifts for the baby and food for the feast. Talk is happy that day; it’s believed that there should be no unpleasant conversation at the ceremony. And women wear their best and most expensive jewelry. The actual name-giving ceremony is performed at Mara’s church — a sacred grove of oak or birch trees. At the church, guests receive a quick meal of bread, milk, cheese and honey. Guests eat the meal while standing. They then form a circle around the child to insure good habits and sound physical development of the child
The child is placed in water and the clergy performing the ceremony asks the godparents if they will accept the child and lift her into Mara’s sun or leave her in the water of the Vala Mate (Mother of Spirits). The godmother lifts the infant out of the water and holds the her in front of the symbol of the cross while all the godparents promise to care for the child. At that point the selected name is bestowed upon the baby. In Latvia, the godparents select their godchild’s name
When the newly named child returns home, everyone welcomes the child as a full-fledged family member, and the child’s name is announced. Songs of praise and good wishes are sung at a feast, and the godparents perform a ceremonial dance with the baby. Guests join in and soon everyone is singing good wishes for the child while executing a light dance step and passing the child from guest to guest
On the second day of the name-giving ceremony, the godparents attend the preparation of the cradle. The godfather first leads a party of guests to a nearby woods and selects a suitable pole for the cradle while other guests prepare a light basket to hold the infant. The godfather fastens the pole between the ceiling and the wall and affixes the cradle to the other end. The godmother places the baby into the cradle along with a gift. The other godparents and guests also place a gift in the cradle. The name-giving ceremony concludes with guests giving thanks for the new family member. And, they give the baby their best wishes that life will smile kindly upon him.
Such a beautiful and interesting ceremony! I also want to have 2 godmothers! So they can care about me!!!!!!! I just don’t like that godparents select their godchild’s name! I think that biological parent’s should choose it. This is their decision.
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May 21st, 2006
There are some funny tips about pregnancy from Dominican Republic web-site!!!
• When a baby is just born you say “God Bless You” to prevent the child from getting the evil eye
• If you let a child see his or her reflection before they’re two years old they won’t talk.
• Put a small bracelet of beads on the child’s ankle or wrist to ward off evil and to bring prosperity.
• You must never say no if a pregnant woman asks you for something that you are eating, if you do you’ll get a sty. To be on the safe side ALWAYS ask pregnant women if they would like something of what you’re eating.
• Be aware of witches who try and eat babies ( from the legend)! That is really important!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• When very young children are given a nickname. No one will use their real name so as to deter attacks from evil spirits. This custom is very common it is said that a witch needs to know your real name in order to curse you. So in this way with the fake name it conceals their true identities from anyone trying to curse them.
• If you drop a spoon and the bowl of the spoon is up (it looks like a pregnant women) a new family member will be arriving soon.
• Some parents in Dominican Republic hang a baseball glove on the crib of a newborn baby boy as a good luck charm because they wish him to become a great baseball player.
• When a child bends over and looks at you from between their legs, it is said that they want another little brother or sister.
• A pregnant woman should not walk underneath a guanabana tree as she may lose her child.
• If a baby is getting sick or congested take a hair off a menstruating woman’s head and tie it around the babies wrist for 24 hours and the child will not get sick.
• When a baby has hiccups, put a hair from the mother’s head on the baby’s head until the hiccups go away.
Yeah, very important advices!!!!! I ‘m going to follow all of them!!!!
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May 20th, 2006
When my husband, my parents and especially my doctor found out that I am pregnant began to tell me that I have to be calm, I shouldn’t think about bad things and I shouldn’t have be stressed in any case. Because stress during pregnancy affects child. But how is this possible? Pregnancy is not a short period in our life. And during this time I have some problems at my work or my University I should solve. And sometimes nobody can help me and I should deal with all the troubles on my own. So I decided to look for some information about this and found a new study I agree with.
Researchers from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and the National Institute of Child Health Development (NICHD) asked 137 healthy, pregnant women with low-risk, normal pregnancies to report on their levels of anxiety and stress between the 24th and 32nd weeks of their pregnancy, as well as six weeks and two years after the birth. The researchers also assessed the women’s feelings about the pregnancy. Two years later, the researchers evaluated the mental and motor development of the children born to those women, as well as the toddlers’ ability to control their behavior and regulate their emotions.
The researchers found that the mothers’ emotions during pregnancy were indeed associated with child development – but not in the expected direction. Women who reported more stress and anxiety during pregnancy had children who were somewhat more advanced in their mental and motor development at age 2. This remained true even after taking into account the women’s stress and anxiety levels after birth, which can influence child rearing in other ways.
In addition, there were no effects of prenatal stress or anxiety on the children’s ability to handle their own emotions or control their behavior with one exception: children of women who reported more negative feelings about being pregnant had somewhat poorer behavioral and emotional regulation. It’s not known, however, if this is a specific biological effect or whether women who were highly negative about being pregnant treated their children differently after birth.
A developmental psychologist and professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health say that «While these findings may seem counterintuitive, chemicals that are produced by stress have a well-known influence on organ growth and development. Mild to moderate stress has been proposed to be important to successful adaptation to the environment after birth and necessary for optimal brain development.» She notes, however, that study participants were well-nourished, financially stable women who were not receiving psychiatric care. “These women experienced the typical types of stresses and anxieties that accompany juggling the many roles and responsibilities of modern life,” she said. “It is possible that the results might be different if the study had included women undergoing more chronic, physical, or severe turmoil.”
So we can “stop worrying about worrying”. I think it is great!!! And I am sure, that my child is not gonna be unadapted to this life, because she is already solving some problems with her mum!!!
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