Pregnancy and lactation are covered in most childbirth preparation classes. Knowing what is normal during pregnancy and lactation can help a mother recognize potential problems and seek the appropriate care should a abnormality arise. Learning about the basics of pregnancy and lactation can help a couple feel more prepared for the arrival of their baby.

Information about the benefits of breast feeding for the nursing mother can greatly influence a woman’s decision about breastfeeding. Breast feeding mothers experience fewer complications after the delivery since the hormones released by the suckling of an infant helps a mother’s uterus to contract.

Breast feeding mothers also burn more calories during lactation. They also require a higher caloric intake while nursing. Breast feeding can help a mother shed those last few stubborn pounds following the delivery of the baby. Breast feeding mothers bond quickly with their infants because of the frequent intimate contact between mother and child during feedings.

The benefits of breastfeeding are evident in an infant as well. Breast fed infants are reported to have higher IQ’s, have fewer digestion problems and have an intense bond with their mothers. Breast fed infants nurse more frequently than bottle fed babies since breast milk is digested more quickly. Breast fed infants with acid reflux or colic may also experience fewer symptoms while breast feeding than when nursing a bottle.

Researching a few baby websites is a great way to learn the basic pros and cons of breast feeding. Advocates and opponents of breast feeding can often be found in discussion forums and chat rooms. Many baby websites offers message boards, discussion groups and chat rooms dedicated to the topic.

If you have a few favorite baby or parenting magazines, chances are that they offer baby websites as well where you can connect with others and find breastfeeding information and answers to your questions.

A lactation consultant can also answer your breast feeding questions and can even visit your home following the delivery of your baby to help you get started should you choose to breastfeed your baby. A lactation consultant is a breastfeeding specialist and is often associated with the local La Leche League in your community.

The La Leche League is a group of breastfeeding advocates who offer support and breastfeeding information for mothers. Contact your local La Leche chapter to get in touch with a lactation consultant in your area.

Breastfeeding information can be summoned with a few keystrokes, a trip to the local library or even with a telephone call to an experienced mother or lactation consultant. New parents can get breastfeeding information from a variety of sources to help them prepare for parenthood.

Breastfeeding information can help parents prepare intellectually and emotionally for the arrival of their little bundle of joy.

By: Mike Selvon

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Quitting Smoking Pot Gradually

Opponents of the cold turkey method primarily believe that ending such an ingrained habit so suddenly can erode willpower very fast and the stresses of not being able to have any of the substance they think they need will lead them to crack and take it up again. Gradual decline seems a lot easier to deal with as weaning your body off marijuana over time can make this seem like less of a chore and a way to function more normally as you quit smoking weed.

However, this method involves a lot more planning than quitting straight up as you need to follow an exact plan on how much you will cut down on over the next weeks. You would need to make sure you never smoked more than a certain amount per day and make sure that amount is steadily reduced over time until you are at a stage you can stop smoking all together. This has its problems in that when you are smoking pot how much you smoke can easily get out of hand leading to a breaking of the contract you made with yourself and once high it becomes harder to judge these things. Many also believe that this method does not truly allow people to quit as they are avoiding the final outcome and also not being entirely honest with themselves about their NEED to quit.

Pros: Less Stress
Cons: More strict planning, ease of breaking goals, possible lack of true commitment

Quitting Smoking Pot Cold Turkey

Cold turkey supporters believe that if you have a date to stop smoking and you plan for that date to be done with marijuana you stand the best chance of quitting because you are being honest about wanting to stop and must muster the courage and motivation to actually do it. With only one goal to achieve it is actually easier to manage also.

The downside is of course that an immediate stop to smoking weed may be very difficult and very stressful for some and if you break under the pressure it may be easier to just give up as many feel a sense of failure which is not as great if you are gradually coming off pot.

Pros: Honest, Builds commitment and motivation, easier to plan for
cons: Stressful

By: Michael Porteous

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