Shop at mass merchandisers. Formula [...]]]> If your baby is on infant formula exclusively, you’ll shell out about $1,500 by her first birthday on the stuff. Of course, “breast is best” not only because it’s healthier for your baby, it’s also a bargain. But infant formula has its place. Here are six big ways to pay less:

Shop at mass merchandisers. Formula sold by mass merchandisers, such as Wal-Mart, Costco, and Sam’s Club, cost 16 percent less than formula sold in supermarkets, according to a USDA report. And formula sold in drugstores cost 19 percent more than in supermarkets, so shop there only as a last resort. Generally, milk-based formula tends to cost less than soy-based formula, so don’t buy soy or another type of specialized formula unless your pediatrician recommends it.

Join the club. Some formula companies, such as Similac have a membership club you can join for free by filling out an online form. After you enroll, you’re eligible for exclusive offers and savings.

Buy online. Many retailers, including many mass merchandisers, don’t sell formula through their Web site, so you’ll have to go shopping, and then schlep the stuff home. But you can purchase formula online at www.amazon.com. The site offers Enfamil, Similac, and Nestle Good Start, with free shipping on some quantities. The site also has organic formulas from brands such as Baby’s Only and Bright Beginnings. You can also sign up for Amazon Prime, which entitles you to unlimited “free” standard and two-day shipping on eligible items as well as other benefits for an annual membership fee of $79. Another option is to buy formula online from the manufacturer’s Web site. Enfamil (www.enfamil.com) and Similac (www.welcomeaddition.com), for example, offer this convenient method. If you buy three or more cases at a shot from the manufacturer, you may find reduced prices. By checking around online, we found that this option can be a competitive deal, and unlike Amazon, there’s no membership fee.

Prefer powder, if possible. Powdered formulas are the least expensive option in the formula lineup. The USDA reports that liquid concentrate formulas, though more convenient and easier to mix, than powder, tend to cost more.

Buy big. Across brands, larger cans of formula, whether it’s in powder or liquid form, cost less per reconstituted ounce than smaller cans. Buy the largest cans you can find.

Consider a store brand. You’ll find store brands of formula at major retailers such as Kmart and Wal-Mart and the savings can be substantial. We found that the store brand of formula at a local Wal-Mart (Parent’s Choice) cost 50 percent less per ounce than a leading national brand (Enfamil). According to the FDA, all formula marketed in the United States must meet the same nutrient specifications, which are set at levels to fulfill the needs of infants. Although infant-formula manufacturers may have their own proprietary formulations, brand-name and store-brand formula must all contain at least the minimum levels of all nutrients specified in FDA regulations, without exceeding maximum levels, where those are specified. Safety note: Always take special care with baby formulas. Check the “use by” date; follow preparation and storage instructions exactly; and pay attention to recalls. It is generally recommended that parents not switch brands once baby has gotten used to one.

2. When eating, always consider whether what you are about to eat will benefit your baby and try to avoid those foods that are low in nutrition value.

3. Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly.

4. [...]]]> 1. Wash your hands with soap before you handle food and again after touching raw meat, fish or poultry.

2. When eating, always consider whether what you are about to eat will benefit your baby and try to avoid those foods that are low in nutrition value.

3. Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly.

4. Though two foods have the same amount of calories, they do not necessarily have the same nutritional value. A doughnut with 300 calories is not as beneficial to you and your child as is a bran muffin with the same amount of calories. When faced with similar decisions, try to choose the foods that have are the most nutrient-dense. Here are some good guidelines to follow in this regard:

- Always choose lean meats over fatty ones
- Drink fat-free, or low-fat milk instead of other versions.
- Try and reduce the number of fried foods you consume, opting for broiled foods.
- Decrease the amount of butter or margarine you spread on your bread.
- If sautéing, use 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil as opposed to greater amounts or vegetable oil.

5. Always use a clean cutting board and knife. Wash them well after using for raw meats, fish and poultry.

6. Refrigerate uneaten food promptly.

7. Eat smaller frequent meals if you are plagued with nausea problems or heartburn or reduced stomach space later in pregnancy. This can also help level out blood sugar levels making you feel a bit better during the day. You should also never skip any meals. Remember, if you are skipping a meal, so is your child.

8. Variety is very important. It helps ensure that you’re gathering the daily doses of recommended vitamins and minerals every day. It also helps prevent boredom with your diet which can lead to straying.

Foods to avoid:

- Deli meats (such as ham, bologna and salami) are an occasional cause of food poisoning. Avoid them or reheat them before eating.

- Some women need to be especially careful about what they eat while pregnant. If you have a food allergy (to peanuts, eggs, wheat or cow’s milk, for example), a family history of food allergies or a partner with a food allergy, you can avoid that food. Some studies indicate that your baby may have an increased risk of developing a food allergy later in life if you, your partner or a family member has a food allergy. You may wish to consult a food allergy specialist for help in planning your diet during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

- Alcohol. If you drink alcohol, your baby does, too. Even small amounts of alcohol can harm your unborn baby—there is no “safe” level of alcohol consumption when you’re pregnant. Women who drink heavily during pregnancy can have a baby with a group of birth defects called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). FAS is the leading preventable cause of mental retardation. Many more babies whose mothers drink lightly or moderately are born with lesser degrees of alcohol-related problems.

- Junk food. It’s not very practical to believe that you won’t touch and junk food during pregnancy. A more realistic approach is to watch portion sizes and to avoid going overboard. It’s easy to think of being pregnant as the time to put on as much weight as
you want, but that does go within reason. Develop a healthy attitude towards the sweets
and fatty foods in your life and the habit will take you a long way even after baby is born!

There has been a lot of recent discussion of how many cesareans a woman should have. One recent study aimed to find out if there were added risks associated with the repeat cesarean found that after [...]]]> A repeat cesarean is defined as a cesarean surgery done after a woman has had a prior cesarean birth.

There has been a lot of recent discussion of how many cesareans a woman should have. One recent study aimed to find out if there were added risks associated with the repeat cesarean found that after four or more cesareans there tended to be dense adhesions to deal with. Also, cesarean babies tend to be at an increased risk for breathing difficulties than their vaginally born counterparts. Basically the answer has been that four or more cesarean do not create more of a risk for mother. There is some question about the incidence of complications for the baby, but these may be more related to prematurity rather than the actual surgery.

A Large Baby Sometimes a baby is too big to pass safely through the mother’s vagina and the surrounding bones (pelvis). This is known as cephalopelvic disproportion. It is normally determined by the size of the baby on ultrasound [...]]]> There are many reasons why a cesarean birth may be the best way to deliver your baby:

A Large Baby
Sometimes a baby is too big to pass safely through the mother’s vagina and the surrounding bones (pelvis). This is known as cephalopelvic disproportion. It is normally determined by the size of the baby on ultrasound examination and the size of the pelvis as seen on X-ray, CT scan or MRI pelvimetry.

Multiple Pregnancy

Women having two or more babies may need
cesarean birth.
Failure of Labor to Progress
About one-third of cesarean births are done because labor stops.

Concern for the Baby
The baby could be having trouble during labor and may need to be delivered by cesarean birth. One reason may be that the umbilical cord is pinched or compressed or not enough blood is flowing to the baby from the placenta.

Problems with the placenta
Placenta previa is a condition in which the placenta is below the baby and covers part or the entire cervix. This will block the baby’s exit from the uterus. Abruptio placenta occurs when there is an extensive separation of the placenta from the uterine wall and the fetus is in danger if not delivered immediately. In this situation a cesarean section is done.

Medical Conditions
Women with certain medical conditions are more likely to have a cesarean birth. For example, if a woman has diabetes or high blood pressure. Fetal illnesses or abnormalities can also make labor and vaginal delivery unacceptably risky or traumatic.

Sexually-transmitted diseases
Since HIV can be passed from the mother to the fetus during vaginal birth a cesarean is normally performed. Also, an active herpes infection with evidence of cervical or genital lesions makes a cesarean section necessary.

Previous Cesarean Birth
Sometimes, having had a cesarean birth before can play a part in whether you will need to have one again. Many women, however, who have had a cesarean birth before can try to deliver vaginally. If the reason for the first still exists than a second cesarean is probably possible.
Preeclampsia or eclampisa
that doesn’t respond to treatment A postmature fetus when the uterine environment has begun to deteriorate.

Failure of labor to progress
A prolapsed umbilical cord,
which may cut off oxygen to the fetus, causing
fetal distress.

When a cesarean is done, the risks and benefits of the procedure need to be weighed. This includes looking at the added benefits and risks of doing a cesarean or of birthing the child vaginally. Sometimes the benefits of the cesarean will outweigh the [...]]]> The risks and benefits of the procedure need to be weighed.

When a cesarean is done, the risks and benefits of the procedure need to be weighed. This includes looking at the added benefits and risks of doing a cesarean or of birthing the child vaginally. Sometimes the benefits of the cesarean will outweigh the risks, and sometime the vaginal birth benefits will outweigh the risks of the cesarean. Cesarean birth is major surgery, and, as with other surgical procedures, risks are involved.

The estimated risk of a woman dying after a cesarean birth is less than one in 2,500 (the risk of death after a vaginal birth is less than one in 10,000). These are estimated risks for a large population of women. Individual medical conditions such as some heart problems may make the risk of vaginal birth higher than cesarean birth.

Risks for the baby – Premature birth. If the due date was not accurately calculated, the baby could be delivered too early. – Breathing problems. Babies born by cesarean are more likely to develop breathing problems such as transient tachypnea (abnormally fast breathing during the first few days after birth). – Low Apgar scores. Babies born by cesarean sometimes have low Apgar scores. The low score can be an effect of the anesthesia and cesarean birth, or the baby may have been in distress to begin with. Or perhaps the baby was not stimulated as he or she would have been by vaginal birth. – Fetal injury. Although rare, the surgeon can accidentally nick the baby while making the uterine incision. Risks for the mother – Infection. The uterus or nearby pelvic organs such as the bladder or kidneys can become infected. – Increased blood loss. Blood loss on the average is about twice as much with cesarean birth as with vaginal birth. However, blood transfusions are rarely needed during a cesarean. – Decreased bowel function. The bowel sometimes slows down for several days after surgery, resulting in distention, bloating and discomfort. – Respiratory complications. General anesthesia can sometimes lead to pneumonia. – Longer hospital stay and recovery time. Three to five days in the hospital is the common length of stay, whereas it is less than one to three days for a vaginal birth. – Reactions to anesthesia. The mother’s health could be endangered by unexpected responses (such as blood pressure that drops quickly) to anesthesia or other medications during the surgery. – Risk of additional surgeries. For example, hysterectomy, bladder repair, etc. – You can get blood clots in the legs, pelvic organs or lungs. – Your bowel or bladder can be injured.