LilSugar

It's Complicated, But Hopefully It's Over!

babysugar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:00:00 -0700

Mama Denise Richards fought hard to make her television show Denise Richards: It's Complicated a reality. Lacking fan support or interest, it's not surprising that the foul mouthed mum could be hearing "CUT" a lot sooner than she'd like. According to some sources, the drop in viewership is being attributed to her nasty public custody battles with ex–husband Charlie Sheen over daughters Sam and Lola and her use of four letter words on screen.

Perhaps Living Lohan will be next up on the chopping block? A girl can dream. Would you be relieved if Denise's show was canceled?

Source

Goblins, Ghosts and Spider Cupcakes, Oh My!

babysugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 06:00:25 -0700

It's time to get spooky in the kitchen! Most everybody loves a cupcake and boy have we got some haunted frosted tops that will make wee ones squeal! Though the creepy cakes may look tough to tackle, these deliciously lil devils are a cinch to make and the youngsters can easily give a helping hand.

To see how to make the ghost caps, spider crawlers, and goblin adorned treats, just read more.

First, pick out your candy and decor. I was lucky enough to find all of my inspiration at Walgreens. Here is my quick list of goodies:

Ghost Peeps
Candy corn
Black and orange sprinkles
Goblin and witch jelly pops
A bag full of plastic purple and black spider rings

First you'll want to bake up a batch of cupcakes to your liking. Choose fun Halloween frosting colors like black, white and green and frost the cakes. Add sprinkles if you wish.
Peeps:
If using the Peeps, take a straw or a toothpick and push it halfway into the marshmallow. Then poke the remaining portion into the cupcake. Add candy corn for color and added sugar bonus.
Witches:
The jelly pops are easy enough as you can simply unwrap them and stick them into the cupcake as is.
Spiderweb:
The most complicated of the bunch, these are still quite easy. Frost the cupcakes with white icing and use a knife to spread it smoothly. Then take the black icing and make three circles starting with the smallest one first. Then make four lines across the entire cupcake to form the web. Take a clean knife and insert it just a bit to make room for the ring portion of the spider. Push the spider in and mama's got a perfect web!

View 12 Photos ›

How Did You Choose Your Doctor?

LilSugar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:00:04 -0700

A, B, C. . . If only selecting a doctor was as easy as teaching your child the alphabet or thumbing through the yellow pages! Choosing an OB/GYN can be compared to studying for a final exam. There are histories to check, references to get and insurance companies that must be consulted. Some receive referrals from friends and family, while others select one simply based on proximity to their home or office. Many women select their doctor before children are ever even a thought in the back of their head, and then want to reevaluate their decision after they become pregnant. It's a giant headache.

According to a new JAMA study, mamas-to-be may want to spend some time researching where her doctor did his or her residency before signing on as a patient. Research into 4.9 million baby deliveries in Florida and New York found that those delivered by doctors trained in the top 20 percent of obstetric residential programs had less complications than those trained elsewhere.

How did you choose your doctor?

Are You Still Taking Swine Flu Precautions?

babysugar — Tue, 19 May 2009 06:00:57 -0700

The media circus surrounding the swine flu had all but died until the H1N1 virus claimed its first victim in Queens, NY. Intermediate School 238's Assistant Principal Mitchell Wiener died of complications related to the virus on Sunday night.

Since the outbreak started weeks ago, some airlines pulled all blankets and pillows from their flights while airports made hand sanitizers readily available for passengers. Schools have been shut down and some stayed closed. I allowed my tots to re-enter the park, but have become more stringent about washing their wee hands after a dash in the dirt. As the illness continues to make waves, I'm still playing it safe and taking necessary precautions to keep my family healthy. Are you?

Mommy Wellness: Placenta Previa

LilSugar — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 05:00:00 -0700

Considering it is the body's only disposable organ, it's amazing how important the placenta is to the growth and nutrition of babies in utero. Throughout pregnancy, the placenta moves around the uterus, ultimately making its way to the top, in anticipation of labor. Sometimes, it stays in place on the bottom of the uterus, either partly or completely covering the cervix, leading to a condition called placenta previa.

Placenta previa occurs in one out of every 200 pregnancies, and while it is a serious condition, it is manageable. Usually discovered at the end of the second trimester or early in the third, the condition is often found during routine sonograms or through symptoms like heavy vaginal bleeding. While this may sound severe, placenta previa no longer poses the risks it did years ago.

To read how placenta previa is treated, read more.

According to A.D.A.M., treatment depends on the severity of the bleeding and exact location of the placenta.

"If the placenta is near the cervix or is covering a portion of it, you may be ordered reduce activities and stay on bed rest. Your doctor will order pelvic rest, which means no intercourse and no douching. Nothing should be placed in the vagina. If there is bleeding, however, you will most likely be admitted to a hospital for careful monitoring."

Women diagnosed with the condition tend to deliver via c-section to reduce the risk of hemorrhaging and post-delivery complications.

Source

Tell Mommy: Is There Such a Thing as a Bad Baby Name?

LilSugar — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 08:00:46 -0700

If you don't happen to be part of Hollywood's elite, who seem to be allowed to pick wild and crazy baby names, choosing a complicated or nontraditional name can insight all kinds of chatter among friends and family.

Of course, it's not just gossip new parents have to worry about. Just ask Chris Okum, the author of Seriously Bad Baby Names. What if you name your child something that rhymes with a body part, dirty act or funny historical character?

I just assume most parents are highly selective and thoughtful about what they name their children, so I always try and embrace new baby names with the understanding that it's just a name - and no matter what, the child will grow into it. Then again, I don't know a Richard Boutiekiss. Do you think there is such a thing as a bad baby name? And if so, what is it?

How to Identify Your Fertile Days

babysugar — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 09:00:39 -0700

Most mothers or future mothers know all their fertility terms and jargon, but knowing your body and understanding your cycle can be a bit more complicated. Doctors recommend that couples that are trying to have a baby have intercourse between day 10 and day 20 of a woman's menstrual cycle. However, it is still difficult for most of us to magically know exactly when ovulation is going to occur.

If you aren't certain if and when you are ovulating, you might start with an ovulation predictor kit, which can be bought at most drug stores and check for LH (luteinizing hormone) in your urine. You can also use a simple calendar to map out your cycle. For some other simple suggestions of how to identify your fertile days, read more.

First Steps for Identifying Fertile Days

Evaluating Your Cervical Fluid - Cervical fluid plays protects the sperm and helps it move through the cervix toward the uterus and fallopian tubes. Cervical fluid changes in preparation for ovulation. You will notice clear differences in how it looks and feels over the course of the cycle
Taking Your Basal Temperature - After you ovulate, your body temperature will rise and stay at an elevated level for the rest of your ovulation cycle. At the end of your cycle, it falls again. You can use a special thermometer to take your temperature in the morning before you get out of bed. Use a glass basal thermometer or a digital thermometer so that you can get accuracy to the tenth of a degree.
Chart it! - Create a chart and write down your temperature everyday. If you look at a complete cycle, you will probably notice a point at which the temperatures become higher than they were in the first part of your cycle.

Source

Do You Know the ABCs of Pregnancy?

babysugar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:00:20 -0700

The moment I found out I was pregnant I was hit with a wave of questions and concerns: Do I tell my boss? Am I going to get morning sickness? And, naturally, what will it be like to be a mother? Next, I was overwhelmed by the complicated words and phrases my doctor started casually dropping into our conversation. I soon learned there's a unique language reserved for pregnancy, labor and child rearing that they just don't teach us growing up.

It's a language that can be picked up quickly and makes perfect sense as soon as you open up pregnancy books and start talking to other parents. How well do you know the pregnancy ABCs? Take my quiz (it's one of many, I promise!) and find out!

Photo courtesy of ABC

Take the quiz

Pushing For the Knife, Not the Baby

babysugar — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 11:00:17 -0800

It is becoming increasingly popular for expectant moms to choose their baby–to–be's due date by scheduling c–sections.

According to a 2007 MSNBC report, "29 percent of all American births are done via c–section."

Christina Aguilera freely told People magazine that she opted for a caesarian delivery of baby Max. She said:

I didn’t want any surprises. Honestly, I didn’t want any tearing. I had heard horror stories of women going in and having to have an emergency c-section. The hardest part was deciding on his birthday. I wanted to leave it up to fate, but at the same time I was ready to be done early!

To keep reading about caesareans, read more.

In many instances, c–sections are necessary for the baby and mother's well–being. But more and more, they are elective as mums–to–be are fearful of the vaginal laboring process or its consequences (incontinence and/or vaginal tearing). And many doctors are happy to oblige the requesting patient.

In Ricky Lake's movie, The Business of Being Born, the film claims physicians and hospitals even encourage these type surgeries because it increases profits. And for some doctors, c–sections pose less liability, especially for mothers who have experienced previous c–sections.

However, caesareans are like any other surgery - risky and can be complicated by blood clots, anesthesia, or infections. And as we reported recently, having multiple caesareans can bring on other sets of complications.

What do you think about elective c–sections? Would you choose to have one?

Source

Which Was Easier, Labor or Breastfeeding?

babysugar — Fri, 16 May 2008 04:00:12 -0700

Some mamas were made to have babies and just pop them out. Others suffer rough deliveries and deal with C–sections, episiotomies and tearing.

Similar to labor, mothers who breastfeed have varying experiences. There are women who love nursing from the get–go. And, those like myself who had an uphill battle beginning with mastitis and other complications. While time eased me into it, initially it was agony.

What was less painful for you?
Source