Pack Your Bags

You should have your bag packed when you’re in your 8th month of pregnancy. Some things you’ll need during labor and other items after you have your baby.  Picture ID Insurance card Birth plan Bathrobe Book or magazine Phone & charger Comfort Items (favorite pillow, blanket, music) Cosmetics, hair items Toiletries- deodorant, lotion, toothpaste, toothbrush Comfortable clothes to wear...

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Minor Discomforts and Remedies

Pregnancy is a joyful experience that can also bring some minor discomforts.Here are the reasons you may feel the way you do and suggested remedies. You might  have morning sickness from an increase of pregnancy hormones, dehydration, and an empty stomach. *Eat crackers 15 minutes before getting out of bed, sip water during the night. You might have a backache because your spine...

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Old Wives Tales

Tales, in general, have been passed down from generation to generation before information was recorded, published and read. Old wives tales explained things that people didn’t understand. Here are some examples: Pregnant women should not take baths. Pregnant women shouldn’t lift her hands over her head. Heartburn means the baby has lots of hair. More babies are born during a full moon. If...

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Fine Motor Development

Fine motor skills involve the control of muscles in the hands, fingers, feet and toes. Also the muscles of the tongue and lips that help children speak and sing. Improving fine motor skills will lead to self-care. •tying shoes  •zipping and unzipping •buckling and unbuckling •playing games that require precise hand and finger control •pinching objects between fingers •using locks and...

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Quench Your Thirst

Hydration is important for flushing waste products from your body, and aiding the liver and kidney function in both you and your baby. You will need 8 to 12 eight ounce glasses of fluid. Fill a pitcher or large sports bottle and drink in small amounts throughout the day. Avoid caffeinated and sweet beverages which can actually cause dehydration. Dehydration can make you feel queasy cause fatigue cause toxemia lead to...

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Have a Ball

A colorful ball has lasting play value: Newborn – visual interaction 4 months – reaches 8 month – crawls to ball 1-2 yr old – practices releasing 2-3 yr old – kicks 3-4 yr old – throws 4-5 yr old – bounces 5 years old – tosses & catch...

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Invest in Your Future

Think of the people you know who have retired. Are they living on a lower fixed income? Social security and pension plans alone are not enough to live on. You haven’t even started your career yet but when you do you’ll need to start planning for retirement!  According to www.schwabplann.com , for every 5 years you put off investing for retirement you will have to double your monthly investing...

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The More You Know

Every woman has a unique childbirth experience so keep that in mind when stories are shared. Try not to let these conversations scare you. Remember, the more you know, the more confident you will feel during childbirth.  Begin researching all aspects of childbirth. Register early for childbirth classes so you have plenty of time to learn everything before the big day. Some of the...

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House Hunting

Figure out your housing budget. The best rule of thumb is 30% of your net income (take home pay). Consider the following when choosing a location: distance to work, school districts, safe neighborhood. Always ask friends and family if they know of any available places. Check Craig’s List or Padmapper.com for apartment locator. Take time to check each potential apartment. Do the faucets work?...

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Healthy Weight Gain

Gaining just the right amount of weight depends on many factors. You can put your baby at risk if you gain too little or too much weight. As a teenager your body is still growing so it’s vital that you are eating enough calories and nutrients for your development as well as your baby’s. During pregnancy women generally only need an additional 300 calories added to their daily intake. Talk to...

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Bond With Your Baby

Interacting with your baby will directly affect his growth and development. It will release endorphins in you that will make you feel happy and calm. Begin talking to your baby Read to your baby Ask him how he’s doing today. Stroke and pat your tummy. Play with him by poking your tummy Sing to him Listen to soft music Dance with him Tell him you love him and you can’t wait to hold him. ...

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Get Politically Active

You have wanted to grow up and move out for so long. There are probably many things you planned on doing with your home and life on your own. But one of the things most young people don’t think about doing once they turn 18 is getting involved in politics. It’s not only your right, but it’s your responsibility to know what’s happening and who is making the decisions. How are the taxes used? Who...

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Importance of Play

Play influences every aspect of your child's development Creativity and imagination grow, along with learning that life is full of opportunities and possibilities when your child creates and pretends. Physical skills develop as your child learns to reach, crawl, walk, run, climb, jump, throw, catch and balance. Fine motor skills develop as your child handles playthings. Mental...

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Bathing Your Baby

Your baby will get a sponge bath until the umbilical cord falls off in the first 2-3 weeks. Caution: Never place a cotton swab inside a baby’s ears or nose. Use a new cotton ball dipped in warm water, no soap, for each part: Eyes - wipe from inner eye to outer. Ears - Clean behind and around the outer ears. Nose – wipe around each nostril. Neck - Wipe gently under baby’s chin and folds of the neck. Supplies...

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Feeding Your Family

Feeding your family is more than purchasing food. There is so much that goes into planning meals and preparing things your family likes to eat. You have the responsibility to instill healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime.    Plan a menu around the items you have in your freezer and pantry Check weekly specials and coupons in newspapers & online. Utilize discount grocery...

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Dangers of Toys

Nothing is more tempting to a one-year-old than a four-year old’s toys! According to the CDC, choking rates are highest for babies under one-year-old and is the leading cause of injury and death among children. Between 1990 and 2011, at least 231 children died after choking or asphyxiating on a toy or toy part. The Consumer Product Safety Commission designed this simple device to test the safety...

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You Child's Temperament

You overslept, missed the bus, and were late for school. What happens to your day when your routine is changed? Does it offset your whole day or do you just shrug it off? What kind of temperament do you have?There are three basic types of temperament:Easy Child Reacts mildly to discomforts and can sooth self. Establishes a regular eating and sleeping routine quickly Generally in a positive mood,...

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Employment Success

Imagine if you owned a business.  What characteristics would you want from your employees? To be productive, hardworking To be positive, confident To be helpful, friendly, patient To be a team member and get along with others To leave your troubles out of the work environment To be on time, dependable To be neat and clean, dressed appropriately To be flexible, adapt to change To keep your...

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Safe Sleep

The A B C's of Safe Sleep Alone, on their Back, in the Crib Provide safe sleep by placing your baby on his back Baby may suffocate when sleeping with adults. Remove all pillows, stuffed animals and crib padding Never use a heavy or loose blankets Place baby’s feet toward the foot of the crib. Avoid cigarette smoke exposure around your baby. Avoid letting baby’s room get too hot. Use only...

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Categories of Toys

These are the toy categories and examples of items: Arts and crafts – large crayons, chalk & markers, large sheets of paper, finger paint, blunt nose scissors, easel Active Play – climber, swing, slide, wagon, riding, large balls, bowling pins, bean bags Books – age appropriate Construction – blocks, wood train, play tools, play workbench Dramatic Playthings – dolls, child-size...

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Pre-K Matters

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Low Birth Weight

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Benefits of Blocks

These are the major concepts children can learn from playing with colored blocks: Constructing, Designing, Comparing, Building, Transporting, Classifying, Adding, Subtracting, Ordering, Apportioning, Originating, Measuring, Restructuring, Balancing, Sorting, Dividing,  Multiplying, Arranging Colored blocks have lasting value: 6-8 months: grasps, mouths, and release blocks. Develops...

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Your Spending Plan

There are the 6 steps to making a spending plan:  1) Assess your financial situation,  2) Set financial goals,  3) Create a budget based  on projected income and expenses,  4) Monitor spending patterns,  5) Compare your budget to what you’ve actually spent,  6) Review progress and revise as needed. How to calculate estimated Net Income (take home pay): Monthly...

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