As you may already know, you need to line up a pediatrician while you’re Rill pregnant. There is still no perfect, foolproof way to find the ideal doctor. Most people either use the Yellow Pages or rely on the recommendations of friends. Take recommendations, but know that people are at :tart a tad lazy and don’t relish change. Breanna stayed with her baby’s doctor even though she didn’t like him because it was “easier than finding a new one.”

Call local hospitals where pediatricians have privileges and get some -times. Nurses are great sources of information. Local lactation centers usually know all the pediatricians in town who are good and who support breastfeeding, and La Leche League can give you names, too. Once you have a few names, make appointments to interview the doctors on your list. Most doctors won’t charge for this, but some do, so make sure you ask in advance. Helen was surprised to be presented with a bill for $100 for a consultation. Most pediatricians are used to being interviewed ahead of time. If you find one who doesn’t do this, cross him or her off your list.

Find out the doctor’s academic credentials and whether the doctor is board-certified. Is this doctor a member of any professional organizations? Does he or she teach at any local academic institution? But also trust your gut instincts. Would you feel comfortable “bothering” this person on a Saturday or after office hours? Solo practitioners can be fine, as long as they have someone who covers for them when they’re not available. No matter whom you chose, make sure there’s always a doctor available by phone and after hours. Babies have this uncanny sense of timing and usually pick weekends and after-business-hours to get sick.
Does the doctor encourage you to call with questions? Will he or she actually take your call? Will he or she see you promptly if you sense a problem? Look for a doctor who is gentle, makes eye contact, and spends some time with you during your interview. He or she should answer all of your questions patiently. If the doctor seems impatient with your questions, this is likely how-you’ll be treated during office visits with your child. Going to the doctor does have some of the feel of a three-ring circus. You’ll be distracted, and it’s hard enough to take care of your child and get your questions in, let alone remember the answers. If the doctor barely disguises his or her annoyance at the amount of time you’re taking up, move on. You want a doctor who will talk to your child and give you thorough,understandable explanations.

Could your baby’s IQ even be influenced by breastmilk? Researchers say “yes.” Consider this: In a study published in 1993 in the British medial journal Lancet, eight-year-olds who were given breastmilk in the first month of life scored 8.3 IQ points higher than another group fed formula.

In another study published in 1996 in the Journal of Human Lactation, 4-month-old babies exclusively fed breastmilk were compared to another group of four-month-olds fed formula or breastmilk supplemented by formula. The researchers found that babies fed only breast-milk “differed significantly” from the other groups, including the group fed a combination of mother’s milk and formula. Exclusive breastfeeders were ahead in both physical and behavioral development, keeping up with all of those “what your baby may be doing” charts and even exceeding many of the developmental milestones, unlike many in the other group. They were checked and compared again at a year and the differences still held up.

Another study looked at the mental and motor development of eighteen-month-olds. Even after controlling for things that are decidedly hard to control for (how smart the babies’ moms and dads are, how much stimulation there is for baby, how many other kids in the family are competing for mom’s and dad’s attention, etc.), the researchers still found a “robust statistical association between type of feeding and child intelligence.” One more thing: Some follow-up work suggests there are longterm developmental differences.
This is upsetting news for those who weren’t breastfed (including me, since I myself was minimally breastfed) and those who don’t breastfeed their own children. I tell you this because each time I’ve talked about a link between breastmilk and IQ, I’ve needed a flame-proof suit. Some will say the IQ differences are “small” or “insignificant,” but the studies taken together suggest the boost to IQ could be as low as one point, but may be in the range of five to ten points. I’ll let you be the judge of what seems “small” or “insignificant” to you.

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The innocent cute new babies born definitely bring happiness for all family members, relations, colleague, and even new acquaintance.  Even if we are not married yet, we understand how it feels, and drawn in happiness. The babies are so lovely that we would like to give anything for them, with pleasure. When visiting new baby born, unique baby gifts often be chosen as presents to celebrate the happiness. The gifts can be containing baby layette, diaper, doll, or other baby needs.

Did you know :

1. Breastfeeding improves your cleavage.
2. Breastfeeding encourages bonding (it’s an incredibly warm, comforting feeling for both of you).
3. Breastmilk provides nutrients not found anywhere else.
4. Breastmilk staves off allergic reactions and potentially lifelong allergies and asthma.
5. Breastmilk protects your baby and makes him less likely to get sick; formula-fed babies see the doctor almost twice as often as breastfed babies.
6. Breastfeeding dramatically lowers rates of serious illness. Breastfed babies are four times less likely to be hospitalized for bacterial infections; less likely to suffer from SIDS, cancer, dermatitis, ear infections, diarrhea, diabetes, liver diseases, and other afflictions.
7. If you breastfeed, you’re less likely to have to stay home with a sick infant.
8. Breastmilk is cheaper than formula.
9. Breastmilk is easier to prepare and digest than formula.
10. Breastmilk is always the right temperature.
11. Breastmilk is always clean.
12. Breastmilk is free.
13. Read the rest of this entry »