SaintJohnMoms

Playgroups Uptown

noreply@blogger.com (J MacKenzie) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 17:46:00 +0000

I'm a full time working Mom and my children are taken care of by my mother during the day. Does anyone know of any playgroups in the uptown Saint John area?

-Anonymous

Side C Section

noreply@blogger.com (J MacKenzie) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:29:00 +0000

I recently heard someone mention a c-section in the side abdomen. I would like to know more about this if anyone has any information. Thanks!

J.M.

Whats YOUR Christmas Wish List?

noreply@blogger.com (J MacKenzie) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:29:00 +0000

What are you hoping to get for Christmas as a gift?

Toddler Bed Time

noreply@blogger.com (J MacKenzie) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 00:02:00 +0000

Anyone have any advice on how to get your little one to sleep when they start standing in their crib? I used to lay him down and he would go to sleep, now he stands and shakes the rails, How to stop this?

-Ashley

Stay Fit

noreply@blogger.com (J MacKenzie) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:35:00 +0000

FredMoms Stay Fit!

Moms are busy people, and I want to emphasize that these exercises do not need to be done all at once, obviously when a baby is crying at you, or supper is sizzling, you have to go. Exercise is important for so many reasons though, so it's important to make time. Heart disease is the number one killer of women in Canada.

Osteoporosis in women is also an epidemic, and if you're like most you probably don't get enough calcium, but this isn't the only way to build strong bones. When you do strength training, your muscles grow and so does your bone density as a supportive response. A recent study concluded that women who jumped as little as 10 times per day, 3 days a week saw increased bone density in the hip and lower spine.

Another area you should keep strong is your core abdominal muscles. The name core says it all, you use these muscles for simple tasks like sitting up and walking, and harder ones like lifting toddlers, or groceries. If your abs aren't strong your back takes up the slack, and may leave you with lower back pain. So it's worth it to keep 'em in shape. A move called the plank works your back, shoulders, and most importantly all of your deep abdominal stabilizing muscles.

Don't let your lower back sag to the floor, use your abs to keep it in a straight line. You can intensify this move by placing paper under your toes, which forces you to work your muscles more as you stabilize to hold the position. For the basic move, lie face-down, resting on your forearms, with palms flat on the floor. Push up, rising onto your toes and elbows. Keeping your back flat, hold for 20 to 60 seconds. Lower and repeat 3-5 times a day 3-5 times a week.

You can also work your abs and inner thighs, by doing the reverse crunch. Lie on your back with a big ball between your feet, lift your head and shoulders into the crunch position and lift your legs up and down while squeezing the ball to work your inner thighs. Leave your head and shoulders up, while you lift and lower your legs as many times as you can. Do 3 sets, resting 30 to 45 seconds between each. If you don't have a ball, you can squeeze your feet together anyway, for a similar effect.

Push-ups work wonders for a woman's body (including her cleavage), and improves your over all strength. If you aren't strong enough, do girl push-ups. As long as you have the right form, they will be effective, and once you get stronger, you can up get off your knees. To do proper "girl" push-ups, get onto all fours, make a straight line from your knees to your head, hands slightly wider than shoulder width apart, fingers pointing forward. Do 3 sets of as many reps as you can. Rest 30 to 45 seconds between sets.

If you want to lose weight, cardio plays a key role. Some women wonder why when they began dieting they immediately lost weight, then, the pounds stopped dropping. If you are not burning more calories than you consume in a day then your body simply won't burn stored fat. If you can't get out for a run, and don't have a treadmill, elliptical, etc., rope skipping is an excellent cardiovascular exercise and requires little space. Jumping is great for bone density, as previously discussed, and easier on your joints than running or jogging. You can do this 3-5 times a week, in as little as 12 minutes, or as much as an hour, depending on your goals and intensity level. Just 10 minutes of rope skipping is equivalent to a one-mile run. 10 Minutes ladies!! Who doesn't have 10 minutes?

If you're going to start jumping rope you may need to get one, because a child's rope probably won't do. When choosing a rope, hold the rope and stand with your feet on the middle. If the length is correct, the handles should just reach your armpits. Handles should be thick and comfortable. Look for a cushioned surface to jump on like a carpet or a rubber mat to go easy on your joints. Choose cushioned athletic footwear just as you would for walking or running.

If you do not yet have a jump rope and are feeling motivated right now, there are other things you can do in the meantime.
With your feet together, jump from side to side over an imaginary line.

Or from the lunge position (one foot forward, knees bent, and one foot back), jump to switch feet. This works your butt, and hips too!

You can also try stepping up and down on a bench, curb or lowest stair of a staircase, alternating legs. If you think you can without hurting yourself, you can also jump into the step and back off with your feet together.

Remember jumping jacks? They also work great for a cardio workout. Standing with your feet together, arms at your sides, jump so you land with your feet hip-width apart as you raise your arms overhead. Jump back to starting position.

Print this sheet off and track your progress, seeing how well you are doing will help you stay motivated. The first column is just a goal, the subsequent columns are for what you actually do. Be sure to place the dates in the first row (horizontal), it will help you get in gear when you realize you haven't done anything for a couple days. Weigh yourself regularly, studies show that women who weigh themselves, stick with it longer because they are seeing results. You do not have to do every single thing, every single day, just make sure you wait no longer than 3 days between doing each exercise. Just remember the harder you work, the less time you need.

Spanking VS Timeouts

noreply@blogger.com (J MacKenzie) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:52:00 +0000

When your child is misbehaving, do you spank or use timeouts? Do you think it depends on the situation?

noreply@blogger.com (J MacKenzie) — Mon, 19 May 2008 22:48:00 +0000

To Do for Saint John Moms

If you want to add something to this calendar, post it below (bottom of page)

If you are looking to the FRC website, See Community> FRC

Should Mom Get Push Presents?

noreply@blogger.com (J MacKenzie) — Fri, 16 May 2008 14:53:00 +0000

Mother's Day is one thing. But the latest trend in gift-giving for moms are so-called push presents. Post-delivery room, dads are being nudged to give jewelry and other expensive gifts that reward wives for doing the work of giving birth. What do you think of this trend? Should moms get push presents or is this just a form of materialism taken too far?

Mom Cars

noreply@blogger.com (J MacKenzie) — Fri, 16 May 2008 14:26:00 +0000

Wondering what moms w 3 carseats drive?? We have been looking at new SUVs as we will have 3 carseats, but find it hard to find something with everythign that I need (well want) and I prefer not to have a minivan??? any suggestions??

-Anonymous

noreply@blogger.com (J MacKenzie) — Fri, 16 May 2008 14:26:00 +0000

A new bill legislating midwifery in New Brunswick is having its 1st reading (of 3) today in Fredericton. I'm part of a group called Birth Matters who have been advocating this legislation and have actively participated in the working group to recommend how midwifery will be practiced in NB. I'm looking for women interested in helping me to educate women in the SJ area about midwifery including screening the movie "The Business of Being Born".
Please respond to this post if interested.

noreply@blogger.com (J MacKenzie) — Fri, 16 May 2008 14:23:00 +0000

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Hitting and Biting with a Smile

noreply@blogger.com (J MacKenzie) — Fri, 16 May 2008 14:15:00 +0000

How to handle this behaviour
By: Teresa Pitman

Sixteen-month-old Rowan Harrison runs up and smacks his four-year-old sister, Peyton, with a big smile on his face. “When she yells ‘stop’ or screams at him, he smiles even more and whacks her again,” says mom Adriana Harrison.

Melissa Wilkinson’s two-year-old son, Nathaniel, recently went through a similar stage. “He bit me so hard that I had to put ice on it,” she says. “There was no apparent reason — he wasn’t upset or frustrated.”

Experimenting and exploration

It’s fairly easy to understand when toddlers bite or hit out of frustration or anger. But what’s up with these little ones who wallop other kids while smiling or laughing? Are they taking some kind of evil pleasure in the suffering of others?

Not at all, says Susan Martin, a member of Toronto’s Centennial College Early Childhood Education faculty: “Toddlers are doing a massive amount of experimenting as they learn about the world.” They’re also operating at a very sensory, physical level, so it’s intriguing to them when the person they hit yells or cries or has some other strong reaction, she explains.

Biting can also happen as a result of this physical exploration. “The child sees a nice, fleshy arm and it just looks like something good to chomp on,” Martin says.

How to handle it

Toddlers haven’t learned yet that others feel pain as they do, she adds.

“Of course, it’s important to teach them that hitting and biting are wrong,” she explains, and offers these approaches:

• Deal with the situation right away. Toddlers have short memories, so there’s little point in talking about it later.

• Comfort the child who was bitten or hit: “It hurt when you got hit” or “Those teeth hurt.”

• Then talk to the toddler who did the hitting or biting, beginning with a no, but then using positive language: “No, we use teeth for eating food” or “No, we use the broom to sweep the floor.” (Martin says that when you say, “Don’t bite” or “No hitting,” the toddler’s limited understanding of grammar may mean that he only understands bite and hit and doesn’t realize you’re telling him not to do it.

• Avoid saying “Use your words.” Since the hit or bite isn’t the result of frustration or anger, it’s probably not possible for them to explain what they’re feeling.

• Plan to supervise very closely. After a child has tried biting or hitting once, it’s common to see the behaviour repeated.

Older toddlers

Older toddlers with larger vocabularies and greater experience may be more ready to learn to understand how their actions affect others. Wilkinson says that Nathaniel had been bitten a few times by another child at daycare. “When he bit me, I made a really big deal about how much it hurt and how biting is not acceptable,” she adds. “He was able to make the connection between that and him getting bitten at daycare, and that he doesn’t like it and Mommy doesn’t either. It hasn’t happened since.”

Harrison says that when Rowan goes after Peyton, she usually picks him up and cuddles him on her lap. “That’s to protect both of them, really,” she says, “because Peyton is likely to give him a whack if he keeps it up! I mention that it hurts and then try to get him distracted with some other activity.”

“Parents are sometimes horrified when their toddler does this,” adds Martin. “Especially if they are happily biting others — it seems so primitive and animalistic. But an overly emotional reaction can be counter-productive. If you can stay calm, and yet be clear with your toddler, you’ll help him learn what he needs to get past this stage.”

noreply@blogger.com (J MacKenzie) — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:51:00 +0000

To Do for Saint John Moms

If you want to add something to this calendar, post it below (bottom of page)

noreply@blogger.com (J MacKenzie) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:43:00 +0000

Community Notice

"I am a PhD psychology student at UNB and I am conducting research on mothers who have experienced intimate partner abuse while caring for young children. The abuse may be in any form (physical, emotional, psychological, etc.). The aim of this research is to make policy recommendations to various agencies in New Brunswick to better serve mothers who are experiencing abuse. If you would like more information or would like to participate in my study, which would entail a one hour interview, please contact Debbi O'Brien at 461-9003 or debbi.obrien@unb.ca. Your confidentiality and anonymity are assured."

Discussions

"My baby is 3 months old, and still gets up between 3 and 4 times per night. I really want to get a good nights sleep, even half the times waking up would be helpful. I feel like I am just so tired by morning that I didnt even sleep at all. Does anyone have any good tips on how I can get her to sleep more at night? -Anonymous" Reply to this post

Tools For Moms

Every Mom needs to get out once in a while but it can be hard if you don't have a reliable baby sitter, or close family who can give you a break. SaintJohnMoms.com has a section for On-Call Babysitter Listings. If you or someone you know enjoys child care, and is willing to be listed write to admin@fredMoms.com

Blogs

Become a blogger! Write as often or as little as you like about being a stay at home mom, a working mother juggling the family life, or your quest to life a greener life. What ever your lifestyle, family size, or main goal, we would love to read about it. Email blogs@fredmoms.com to be a SaintJohnMoms.com blogger! All you have to do is write.

Are women really not what they used to be?

noreply@blogger.com (J MacKenzie) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:42:00 +0000

The Proper Care and Feeding of Marriage Written by Dr. Laura Schlessinger, is one that touches on a rarely explored avenue of why many marriages or relationships fail. She has been on television many times, you may recall her as the one who says that many women are simply bad wives or girlfriends.

She has previously said that women should stay home, take care of things, and love their husbands, and that men should appreciate their wives.

She writes that women do way too much nagging at their men. And that men don't spend enough time making women feel like a lady and women don't try and make their men feel like a man.

Here is an excerpt from her book:

"I believe that men yearn for their spiritual and psychological counterbalance to humanize and beautify life. I don't think it matters much to a man if his woman chooses to be an accountant or physician—as long as she is "his woman" and "a woman" to him. That understanding is lost to too many women today. Sadly it is all too typical for women to want to be seen by their men as the high-powered position they have at work, instead of as a woman, with those special attributes that are natural to her and yearned for by her man.

But the reality is that women today do not think of themselves in the context of helping "their man." Women today have been brainwashed into thinking that efforts in that direction are in the category of oppression, subservience, and catering to frail male egos. It is sad that this is the prevalent point of view, because interdependence is what ultimately feeds both the man and the woman what they truly need to be happy."

What do you think about her opinions? Do YOU think that women are on a power trip with their careers as she seems to frequently suggest? And that they are too preoccupied with this to "properly care for their husbands and relationships with them"? Do you think this 'powerful woman era' is responsible for the mean age of a mother in Canada being in the 30s?

Watch Her

Related:
Vaginal Birth Won't Spoil Your Sex Life
Moody Men
Nagging, Is That All YOU Do?
8 Foods To Get You In The Mood
on SEX!
How Does Your Relationship Work?

Discussion- Baby- Sleep- Night

noreply@blogger.com (J MacKenzie) — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 01:42:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (J MacKenzie) — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Discussion Board: Soothing Colic
My daughter is 2 weeks old and is a great calm baby in the most part, but every night around 10pm she gets really colicky. How can I calm her and soothe her? Reply to this post
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New Question on the Discussion Board- Child Birth/ Prenatal Classes
Would anyone be able to tell me who to contact to sign up for childbirth/prenatal classes in Saint John? Thanks! -Anonymous Reply to this post here! ................................................................................................................

Post Free Classifieds
You can post your listings here, child care ads, looking for ads, or selling an item ads, you do not need an account to post on SaintJohnMoms.com Click the link above to post your ad, and check back daily for the newest ads that are always posted on the left side of this site!
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Saint John Moms Bloggers Wanted!
Do you think you would enjoy writing about your experiences as a mother in Saint John? Blog about your children, your relationships, or being a working mother. You can blog anonymously under an Alias (ex: Happy Mom). If you want to be a blogger email admin@fredmoms.com and I will set it up for you with an email address you provide. All you have to do is write!
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All Through The Night
Myths and facts about babies and sleep – psst…you’re not alone! At the end of the day (or night), sometimes you just need to adjust your attitude. “My wife and I kept getting up angry,” says Richard Whate, a Toronto dad. “Finally, we accepted that we weren’t going to sleep all night and started taking turns.”
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When You're Ready for Sex but He Isn't
Men and post-baby sex: By Kathy Kelleher-The cliche among the new-parent set is that men always want sex and women never do. But believe it or not, some fathers are not exactly chomping at the bit after the baby arrives.
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Family Friendly Restaurants
Read what other moms in the area have to say about local restaurants. Their atmosphere, food, staff, and over all feel towards being family friendly.
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Hot Topic Discussion:
When paternity is uncertain do you believe the mother should come clean or that some things are better left unsaid. Discuss it.
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Articles About Preconception

noreply@blogger.com (J MacKenzie) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:59:00 +0000

Myths about Conception Busted
Wondering about Vaginal Birth After Cesarean? (VBAC)
Having Trouble conceiving? There is help for you.
Geting your body ready for a baby!
What is Ovulation and How can you track it?
You may have more of an effect on the sex of your baby than you think
Which Baby Bottle Will you Choose?
Want Multiples?

noreply@blogger.com (J MacKenzie) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:59:00 +0000

There is currently a group in the Fredericton area offering support for couples experiencing trouble conceiving.

The Fredericton Infertility Awareness Support Group can provide information, and support.

The group meets on the third Saturday of each month (except during July and August annually) at 1pm in MacLaggan Building on the Fredericton campus of UNB (33 Dineen Drive), room 212. The meetings not only offer the much needed support and answers to specific questions but also feature guest speakers on infertility issues.

For more information you can contact Pam Burton at 451-6846 or e-mail her at pburton@unb.ca

noreply@blogger.com (J MacKenzie) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:58:00 +0000

For some couples conception can be hard, and you may have to turn to other options.

Artificial Insemination or AI is a process in which the sperm is uterus or cervix using artificial means. Success rates for artificial insemination vary based on the type of fertility problem being treated and the age of the patient.

In Vitro Fertilization is a procedure that involves fertilizing the woman's egg outside of her body. The process involves hormonally controlling the ovulatory process, removing eggs from the woman's ovaries and letting sperm fertilize them in a fluid medium. The fertilized egg (zygote) is then transferred to the patient's uterus with the intent to establish a successful pregnancy.
Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is another option similar to In Vitro Fertilization. In this case the sperm is inserted into the egg using a hollow needle, and the fertilized egg is then placed in the woman's uterus.

The nearest fertility clinic, Conceptia is located in Moncton.

noreply@blogger.com (J MacKenzie) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:58:00 +0000

Hoping for a boy? Maybe you want that little princess. What ever wishes you have for your offspring, you may be able to influence it more than you think.

There are significant differences in male and female sperm that help influence who makes it to that egg.

Female sperm for example are actually more able to survive the acidic environment of the vagina, and will live up to 7 days inside you.

Male sperm on the other hand don't survive very long but are faster swimmers and generally make it to the egg first as long as you are ovulating.

So in other words, if you are hoping for a boy try and have intercourse on, or as near to ovulation as possible. If you are hoping for a little girl try a couple days before ovulation is set to occur.

Click here to calculate your most fertile dates.

noreply@blogger.com (J MacKenzie) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:57:00 +0000

Eating Yams will increase your odds

There's no scientific proof that yams will help you get pregnant. Varro Tyler, professor emeritus of pharmacognosy (the study of drugs from natural sources) at Purdue University, and the author of The Honest Herbal thinks that claims of yams contributing to conception are all scams. "I call them the yam scams. The only possible positive outcome could be due to the placebo effect," he says. And as far as any negative or harmful effects are concerned, there seems to be only one: "The most deleterious effect is to the pocketbook."

It doesn't matter what type of underwear HE wears

Boxers are less constricting than briefs, and that's good news for testicles (those sperm-producing machines in every man's pants). For optimum functioning, testicles should stay a couple of degrees below normal body temperature. Boxers allow them to hang loose, away from the body — and keep their cool. For the same reason, men who are trying to make a baby should also avoid hot tubs, saunas, and tight jeans or pants.

Man on top is best

There's no evidence that any particular sexual position is more likely to lead to conception. You may have heard that positions that deposit the sperm closest to the cervix — such as the missionary position (man on top) — are more promising than other positions. But there are no studies to back this up.

Stand on your head

There's no evidence that it makes a difference, but it can't hurt. Even remaining horizontal for 15 minutes or so after intercourse allows more semen to remain in your vagina. Of course, with millions of sperm in every ejaculation, there should be plenty of sperm in your vagina even if you get up right away.

noreply@blogger.com (J MacKenzie) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:56:00 +0000

If you have previously had a c-section you may be wondering if you can have a vaginal delivery after cesarean or VBAC. About 7 out of 10 women who try to have a VBAC are successful at doing so. The likelihood increases if you have also had a previous vaginal delivery, to 80%. The previous incision on the uterus however, must have been transverse (across the abdomen).

You will need to talk to your doctor about your particular case to see if you can try to have a vaginal birth. If the reason for your previous cesarean was a one-time problem and isn't an issue in your current pregnancy, you have a good chance of a vaginal birth.

The benefits of a VBAC compared to a C-section include:

Avoiding another scar on your uterus. This is important if you are planning on a future pregnancy—the more scars on the uterus, the greater the chance of problems with a later pregnancy.
Less pain after delivery.
Fewer days in the hospital and a shorter recovery at home.
A lower risk of infection.
A more active role for you and your birthing partner in the birth of your child.

One major concern from women, is rupturing of the uterus at the location of the previous incision during labor. There is a very low risk of rupturing of the uterus - about 0.1 %.

The risk of uterine rupture during labour increases if you have had more than one caesarean birth, and if you had a caesarean in the past 18 to 24 months. Your risk also increases if you had more than one caesarean.

Want to know what other moms think? Start a discussion about it.

noreply@blogger.com (J MacKenzie) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:56:00 +0000

If you are trying to conceive you can actually start taking prenatal vitamins now. It is important to be eating a diet high in folic acid. You get folic acid from eating lots of fruit and vegetables. In addition you should also try and cut out unhealthy processed foods, and make your best effort to follow Canada's Food Guide.

Cutting out things like alcohol, cigarettes and drugs are also important, and not only for you, but also for your partner. If you are on prescription drugs, make sure to mention to your Dr. that you are trying to get pregnant, just in case he or she wants to recommend anything else. Try to limit stress. It is easier said than done, but if you know that going to certain places or speaking to certain people stresses you out, try and avoid them if at all possible. If not, start practicing relaxation techniques, like yoga, or simple deep breathing with your eyes closed for a minute or two.

Try and get your self at an ideal weight and blood pressure level. If you have never worked out before you can start slow by walking, or doing yoga, and work yourself up to jogging and weight training. You can keep working out through out your pregnancy. There are many benefits to doing so.

noreply@blogger.com (J MacKenzie) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:55:00 +0000

Related: fertility calculator

What is ovulation anyway?

Ovulation occurs when a mature egg is released from the ovary, pushed down the fallopian tube, and is available to be fertilized. The lining of the uterus has thickened to prepare for a fertilized egg. If no conception occurs, the uterine lining as well as blood will be shed. The shedding of an unfertilized egg and the uterine wall is the time of menstruation. Here are some additional facts about ovulation.

An egg lives 12-24 hours after leaving the ovary
Normally only one egg is released each time of ovulation
Ovulation can be affected by stress, illness or disruption of normal routines
Some women may experience some light blood spotting during ovulation
Implantation of a fertilized egg normally takes place 6-12 days after ovulation
Each woman is born with millions of immature eggs that are awaiting ovulation to begin
A menstrual period can occur even if ovulation has not occurred
Ovulation can occur even if a menstrual period has not occurred
Some women can feel a bit of pain or aching near the ovaries during ovulation
If an egg is not fertilized, it disintegrates and is absorbed into the uterine lining

When does it occur?

If you are trying to conceive, it may be helpful to mark your most fertile days on your calendar. Here is how to calculate yours: from the first day of your last, or next period, the 13th to 17th days are your most fertile (for women with a 28 day cycle). If you do not have a 28 day cycle, you can figure out your most fertile days here.