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The shaken baby syndrome or the shaken impact syndrome refers to a drastic kind of abuse that is inflicted on a child. When an angry parent shakes a baby vehemently, the baby unfortunately may develop this kind of syndrome.

Know About The Shaken Baby Syndrome
When you become a parent, you should know how to handle your baby. Babies have a delicate structure; they need to be handled very tenderly and lovingly. Some unfortunate babies have parents shaking them vigorously for a minor reason like crying continuously.

Babies have weak and fragile neck muscles that are unable to provide support to the head. The violent shaking of the baby makes the head move back and forth severely. This usually results in serious and even fatal brain injury. During shaking, if the baby’s head hits a surface the problem is aggravated.

The Trauma
If the head of the baby hits a hard surface, the baby can develop subdural hematoma in which blood is accumulated between the dura (the fibrous outer membrane around the brain) and the surface of the brain. This is a direct outcome of the veins (connecting the brain to the dura) being stretched beyond its elasticity.

When the brain strikes the inner surface of the skull, the harm is inflicted on the brain substance itself. God forbid, if a child stops breathing during shaking, due to the lack of oxygen, irreversible damage can be caused to the brain.

The shaken baby syndrome can also lead to subarachnoid hemorrhage, which suggests bleeding between the brain and the aracnoid (web-like membrane filled with spinal fluid surrounding the brain).

Breakage of nerve cell branches (in the cortex and even in the deeper structures of the brain) can be caused by the vigorous shaking of the brain. When the injured nerve cells start releasing chemicals, it bars the brain from receiving oxygen resulting in further damage to the brain cells.

Apart from the brain-related injuries, the baby with the shaken baby syndrome may also suffer bone fractures, including limbs, collarbone and ribs. The baby has fair chances of suffering bruises all over the body too.

Shaken Baby Syndrome Symptoms
The babies within the age of 2 years stand chances of acquiring the shaken baby syndrome. The symptoms are essentially case-specific and keep changing for different babies. The symptoms usually appear soon after the shaking of the baby. The baby with the shaken baby syndrome may experience drowsiness with irritability, altered level of consciousness, decreased appetite, state of coma, seizures or convulsions; they develop dilated pupils that do not respond to light, breathing problems, vomiting, a posture with head bent backwards and back being arched, abnormally slow respiration, cardiac arrest and even death.

Word Of Advice For The Angry Parent…
If you are a parent and lose your temper very often, then you must vow to avoid the shaken baby syndrome under any circumstances. Firstly, learn to have a control over your rage and get it into your head that the baby must be dealt with affectionately and softness every time. If you find the crying of your baby unbearable, then leave the baby alone or call a trusted caregiver who can handle the baby well, but for God’s sake do not abuse the baby.

There are very few women who go through most or an entire pregnancy without realizing they are pregnant. Some telling signs of being pregnant are usually hard to miss, especially with those women who are in tune with their bodies.

If you become pregnant right after a period, chances are you won’t suspect a thing for several weeks or even longer as some women still have spotting, even after becoming newly pregnant. Therefore, some recognizable signs of being pregnant might help swing he possibility your way so that you can get confirmation from a doctor.

Perhaps one of the first signs of being pregnant are tender, sensitive breasts. Many women who sleep on their sides or bellies all of the sudden could not do so because of the pain in their breasts. Even wearing a bra could be painful. In addition, the nipple area becomes darker as your hormones change.

Sensitivity to food and smells are both telling signs of being pregnant. Some women’s appetite dramatically increases while others may start craving things that they normally would not eat. In addition, some ladies experience nausea or dizziness at certain smells that normally would be pleasing to them like frying bacon or brewing coffee, just to name a few.

Cramping and urination are additional signs of being pregnant. When the embryo is implanting, this can cause cramping, which can be worrisome, especially if it is an off-menstruation time. Going to the bathroom a lot is perhaps one of the most known signs of being pregnant.

Two more signs of being pregnant include fatigue and mood swings. Let’s face it – having a baby tends to make your hormones get thrown out of whack which affects moods. In addition, you have a new life form that will be sapping all your extra energy so that it can grow leaving you tired and in need of a nap.

Each woman is different and will probably exhibit signs of being pregnant that are totally unique to her. However, the signs listed above are some of the most predictably commons ones that many women experience.

If you think you might be pregnant, there are actually many signs of pregnancy that occur even before you miss your period. Some of these may be completely normal and may not mean you are pregnant, however if you experience several of them at once, then the odds are you may be pregnant.

Perhaps one of the most common signs of pregnancy is tender, swollen breasts. If your breasts feel a little more tender than usual, and are even a little painful, you might be pregnant. Fatigue that is more severe than normal is another sign. If you get home and find that you simply want to lie down and sleep and you feel tired even after a good night’s rest, you might be pregnant. If you begin to feel cramps similar to menstrual cramps but your period never comes, this is another one of the signs of pregnancy. The cramps are usually mild but noticeable, and can sometimes be coupled with just a little spotty bleeding as well. If you are pregnant and experience more than a day or two of even very light bleeding, contact your doctor immediately as you could be at risk for a miscarriage.

Morning sickness usually happens in the first trimester, but sometimes the early signs of pregnancy also include some vomiting or nausea. In most cases, this early sign does not include the vomiting. Some other signs of pregnancy include headaches and dizziness, mood swings, constipation, and even strange food cravings. Of course it is important to keep in mind that not all of these things are indicative of pregnancy. These could simply mean that your period is about to start, or that you are becoming sick. Listen to your body and pay close attention to the small changes that you notice. If your period is late and these symptoms are not subsiding, it may be best to talk to your doctor and have him or her run a clinical pregnancy test so that you can be absolutely positive.

Spotting during pregnancy can be a scary thing for expectant moms because it can happen for a variety of reasons. The most important thing to note is that if you are pregnant and have spotting, you need to contact your doctor immediately so you can be examined.

About 25% of women have spotting during pregnancy and more than half of them do not have any major problems before giving birth. However, there are other problems which must be monitored carefully.

Spotting during pregnancy can occur early on and can sometimes be attributed to the fertilized egg implanting itself in the uterine lining. In addition, internal examinations by your doctor cause this problem sometimes, as can sex. It’s quite normal.

An ectopic pregnancy can also cause spotting during pregnancy. This happens when the fertilized egg implants itself outside of the uterine wall. In this case, you could experience some stomach pain, usually on one side. Some women believed that they were having appendicitis.

A miscarriage can cause spotting during pregnancy and usually occurs before 20 weeks. There are a number of reasons for miscarriage from infection to problems with placental blood low or even abnormalities in the baby. Typically, with the spotting is also cramping too.

If you are far along and experience spotting during pregnancy, this could mean several things. First, it could be a signal that labor is starting. However, spotting during pregnancy in the late stages could also mean placenta previa or placental abruption. In placenta previa, the placenta partially or fully covers the cervix. Only with an ultrasound can this condition be diagnosed. With placental abruption, the placenta could detach itself from the uterine wall. This is a very serious condition which could cause death to the mother, baby or both.

Luckily, most incidences of spotting during pregnancy are fairly benign and resolve themselves. However, only with a doctor’s examination will you know for sure.

If you have just found out that you are pregnant it is going to be very important that you keep close tabs on what is going on with your body. Being aware of and understanding the various stages of pregnancy is important, for your safety and the safety of our baby as well. As you go through various stages of pregnancy, more than likely you will be able to anticipate what is going to happen with your body if you take the time to learn about how these stages will affect you. The following are the three stages of pregnancy and their unique characteristics.

The First Trimester
The first trimester is the first of three stages of pregnancy. More than likely this is the stage where you are going to experience a variety of pregnancy symptoms. Some of the symptoms you can expect to go through include nausea, fatigue, vomiting, breast tenderness, and frequent urination. During this time it is important that you take good care of your health by eating right and staying active.

The Second Trimester
During the second trimester you will see even more dramatic changes in your body. The uterus really begins to grown and your stomach definitely begins to show during this stage of pregnancy. Often women go through constipation and hemorrhoids during the second trimester as well. Your baby also grows during this time, getting up to 1.5 pounds during this stage.

The Third Trimester
Once you get to the third trimester of pregnancy you are an essence getting prepared for your baby’s birth. This is a great time to start deciding whether you want to breast feed, and many mothers also find that Lamaze classes are helpful as well. Most women find that this is the most uncomfortable time in your pregnancy, but it will soon be over.

As you go through these stages of pregnancy, get all the information you can and stay informed so you can be proactive throughout your pregnancy.

Teenage pregnancy is a social issue that has become prevalent in today’s modern society. There are many reasons why young women today are becoming pregnant at an earlier age. Some of these may include past abusive relationships, societal and peer pressures, or just a desire to feel loved. There are methods that can be put into place to help prevent teenage pregnancy. Perhaps the most important and fundamental method is education. By educating young people about the perils and consequences of having sex at a young age, it can be a great deterrent and a way to help prevent teenage pregnancy. In addition, teaching young people about abstinence and to try and influence them to wait until marriage is another effective way to help keep this problem at bay. Of course, not all teenagers are going to be abstinent, so other methods are also necessary to help prevent or at least keep the amount of teenage pregnancy down.

While giving out condoms to teenagers is no doubt controversial, it is also important since most teens are going to have sex in these crucial years at least once. By promoting safe sex teenage pregnancy is not only prevented, but so is the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Birth control for teenage girls is sometimes necessary as well, but this is of course up to the parents on a case by case basis, and is not up to the government to decide. Overall, education is really the best defense against teen pregnancy. By teaching young people what happens when you become a parent and showing them all of the hard work involved, they can get a clearer picture of what it’s really like to have a child at such a young and important age in life. Schools and families must work together to help teach our nations’ teenagers about the repercussions of sexual activity.

The umbilical cord is the apparatus through which a fetus derives all of its nourishment from its mother and is often disposed of immediately after the birth of a child. For many generations, few suspected an umbilical cord could have any possible use after the baby was born and started eating from its mother or drinking from a bottle. It has only been in recent years that the umbilical cord has been used as a source of healing for those with leukemia, lymphoma and other deadly diseases. Umbilical cord blood is rich in properties that produce blood cells, and people suffering from these conditions are usually lacking in blood cells and require bone marrow transplants from relatives. In many cases, there are no exact matches within the family, so they have to look outside the family for transplants.

Umbilical cord blood expands the choices for such patients and is saving the lives of many people per year. On any given day 6,000 people are in need of such transplants, and the umbilical cord may provide the answer to these diseases. It isn’t difficult to decide to donate umbilical cord blood, but arrangements should be made with the hospital ahead of time. If the staff is aware that you are prepared to donate umbilical cord blood, then the blood will be drained painlessly after delivery and preserved for donation.

The umbilical cord blood is needed because it has unique properties which produce blood cells. Some patients require red or white blood cells, and umbilical cord blood can be used as a transplant for many types of patients.

Since the usefulness of umbilical cord blood has been discovered, many more women are interested in donating umbilical cord blood to those who need a transplant or opt to save the blood in a special bank in case a family member should ever need it. Often people .need to find someone within their own families in order to find an exact match

Few would have thought a few years ago that umbilical cord blood would have any use. The term “cut the cord” was used to demonstrate independence, a freedom from something useless. Throughout most of history, the umbilical cord has been regarded as useless after the birth of the infant and is customarily discarded shortly after birth. However, in recent years, the wondrous, lifesaving properties of umbilical cord blood have been discovered. Leukemia and lymphoma patients who had to rely on a match within their families now have hope if they do not find what they are looking for through traditional meals. Umbilical cord blood can regenerate blood cells for these patients, and can save or extend their lives.

Unlike many kinds of blood, umbilical cord blood can build new cells. Most blood cells suffer from reduction or can stay the same, but do not produce more. Umbilical cord blood has the power of producing life-saving cells for patients with a variety of diseases. These cells produce more cells and can give patients a new chance at life.

Umbilical cord blood must be fit for use, so all donors must be approved. To donate umbilical cord blood, a pregnant woman must make arrangements with the hospital ahead of time and answer a questionnaire. After the umbilical cord blood is taken shortly after birth, the blood and the mother are tested again. Many women with certain conditions and blood problems cannot donate umbilical cord blood, but those who are in good general health are free to donate. However, not all umbilical cord blood even from healthy mothers is deemed acceptable to be kept in a blood cord bank. This is decided by professionals who inspect the blood.

Some women choose to store their umbilical cord blood in case their baby may have problems later and may need the blood, or for other family members who require treatment. Others donate their umbilical cord blood to banks that will give the blood to anonymous recipients.

Choosing when to give birth is something that we cannot decide for ourselves. However, it is up to us to choose where we want to give birth. It could be at home, in the hospital, at a birthing center, or even under water. The debate continues on whether underwater birth is good for the baby or not. Those in favor of this technique put forth some valid points. Underwater birth is proven to speed up labor, provide significant pain relief, reduces Caesarean section rates, minimizes the need for drugs and interventions, and gives the mother the flexibility of more positions during labor and delivery.

If you decide to have an underwater birth at home, you will need to consult with your doctor, midwife, and doula in order to make all the necessary arrangements for the arrival of your baby. Underwater birth has become popular the world over and one of the reasons behind this is research which points out that babies born in water develop at least six months faster than their counterparts in the first two years. They learn to walk, and talk faster than the other babies.

However, data to support this is very minimal and more research is ongoing on the subject.
Other than the fact that you would be giving birth underwater, there would be no major differences between this and giving birth in a hospital. Medical assistance would be at hand and so would your spouse. If you wish so, you could also have a home video made of the entire proceedings quite easily for you to preserve as a keepsake. Underwater birth also seems to be catching on as a fad with quite a few celebrities opting for it in recent times. There are also special classes conducted by trained personnel targeted at those preparing for such a birth.

There are two ways to deliver a baby. Expecting mothers will either experience a vaginal birth, or have a surgical procedure called a caesarean section. Delivering a baby vaginally is the safest way to bring a life into the world. Few complications are associated with a vaginal delivery, and mother and child can usually leave the hospital and return home within 24 – 48 hours. On the other hand, a caesarean or C-section involves risks. For example, there is always the chance of extreme blood loss with a C-section. Mother and child usually remain in the hospital for up to five days, and on rare occasions, some women have died during the procedure. For this reason, many physicians prefer a vaginal birth.

Even though there is no way to fully prepare for a vaginal birth, little techniques can help ease pain and nerves. For starters, pregnant women might consider accepting pain medications. Many expecting mothers attempt to deliver their babies without pain killers. Child birth involves intense pain. It’s often described as the “worst pain imaginable,” and feels like your body is being “ripped apart.” Nonetheless, some women want to experience natural child birth and refuse medications. As the pain intensifies the majority of mother’s breakdown and accept pain relievers.

If planning for a vaginal birth, another technique to prepare for delivery is to watch documentaries or videos of real child births. This way, you know what to expect. Many different situations can arise during labor and delivery. The baby might be positioned wrong inside the womb, or the cervix could dilate at a slow rate. Throughout this tense time physicians and nurses may use unfamiliar terms, which might cause the expecting mother to worry. However, the majority of complications are minor, routine, and easily fixable. Learning information about the vaginal birth process can prepare you for possible obstacles, and help ease your worries.