by kmlevis on 8 February 2010
An Australian-led study has confirmed a lack of serotonin was a common factor with babies who die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
“The breakthrough offers a “much clearer direction” in the search for a cure for the mysterious syndrome, which still claims one in 2,000 apparently healthy children. Researcher Dr Jhodie Duncan, of the Melbourne-based Florey Neuroscience Institutes, studied cases of infant deaths from confirmed SIDS and other causes. The SIDS babies were found to have lower levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter which regulates the body’s basic life-sustaining functions. “Things like heart rate, blood pressure, sleep cycles, respiration, serotonin plays a very important role in all these things that you need to stay alive,” Dr Duncan said. “Our study has proven that in infants dying of SIDS there is lower TPH2 (a related enzyme) levels and reduced serotonin production.” Earlier research had indicated serotonin production may play a role in SIDS deaths though scientists were yet to determine whether it was more, less or the same as unaffected children. – AAP”
More on this story here.
by kmlevis on 3 February 2010
Not sure what to feed your bub once she starts taking solids? It is best to err on the side of caution, especially if your family is susceptible to allergies (who isn’t these days?).
To be safe, visit Baby Centre’s age by age feeding guide. It tells you what to feed your little one and how much to feed them. Remember to introduce new foods during the day so you have enough time to deal with possible allergic reactions.
by kmlevis on 20 January 2010
The co sleeping option is talked in hushed tones in private conversations under soundproof basements similar to old style speakeasies.
Mothers from western societies hide this secret in fear of being ridiculed and ostrasised. But there are heaps of advantages to co sleeping, aside from the fact that you won’t lose sleep because it solves those middle of the night feeds.
Here are some bits and pieces of information about co sleeping:
“Stress hormones are lower in mothers and babies who co-sleep, specifically the balance of the stress hormone cortisol. In studies with animals, infants who stayed close to their mothers had higher levels of growth hormones and enzymes necessary for brain and heart growth. The physiology of co-sleeping babies is more stable, including more stable temperatures, more regular heart rhythms, and fewer long pauses in breathing than babies who sleep alone”.
“Co-sleeping is standard practice in many parts of the world. In long-term follow-up studies of infants who slept with their parents and those who slept alone, the children who co-slept were happier, less anxious, had higher self-esteem, were less likely to be afraid of sleep, had fewer behavioural problems, tended to be more comfortable with intimacy, and were generally more independent as adults.”
Be it a battle of facts or culture, the point is there is no shame in co sleeping. There should be no stigma attached to it. It is a personal choice and as long as the family is happy with it, then others who think otherwise should just go with their own choices.
For guidelines on safe co sleeping, check Ask Dr Sear’s website.
by kmlevis on 11 January 2010
Being a mum is an overwhelming role, no doubt about that. Because of the things we all have to do, we forget the little nuggets of advice we use everyday of our lives. Or we miss the little precious moments that will soon pass us by. Or we forget the things we want to pass on to our kids when they grow up.
Times like these, it is advisable to keep a little journal for yourself. You can be as open as you want and write as long or as short (tweet-like) entries as you want. These bits and pieces of information will help your little one understand you as a person, not just as a mother, when they’re older. You can write advice that he/she might need when she reaches a certain age. Communication is sometimes difficult, depending on what kind of background you have. There are parents who doesn’t like confrontation or talking face to face. Why not try and write down things that you know you will have a hard time saying to your children when they grow up?
Not a writer? It doesn’t matter. Just be yourself. It’s a journal, not a novel. Bad handwriting like me? Then type your ideas and print them out. It’s easy to bind loose pages these days – you can even find bookbinding services online so you don’t need to get out of the house.
Who knows, maybe one day your child will do the same thing to her/his child and even pass on the journal you gave them. It’s a good way to start a family heirloom.
