​There are a surprising number of things that you can do to improve your baby’s development while they’re still in the womb. These can help with development in areas such as language development, memory, sight, and sensation.

Talk, Read, or Sing
After 32 weeks, your baby may actually be able to understand language to the point of recognizing certain vowels. Hearing your voice may help with both increasing their development and the connection between the two of you.

Use Pregnancy Apps
This can be a great way to track your progress and feel connected with your baby. It’s also a great way to help track milestones and know where they’re at developmentally.

Rub Your Belly
After 26 weeks, your baby can move in response to a rubbing a hand on your belly. This is also a great way for siblings to bond.

Find Ways to Relax
Don’t be afraid to take some extra time to relax and unwind. This can help you reflect on your pregnancy and reduce overall stress. Evidence shows that stress can actually lead to increased risk of health problems and even premature birth.

Write a Journal
There are an endless number of things you can write about in relation to your pregnancy. Not only is this a great way to document your pregnancy, but it also provides an opportunity for both bonding and reflection.

Involve Family
Having other family members talk to the baby can help them get used to their voices. This can also help family members feel closer to the baby.

Document Your Bump
This is a great way to get excited about your pregnancy and how far you’ve come! Sharing your progress on social media or creating an album can be a fun way to preserve the memories of this experience.

Respond to Your Baby’s Kicks
During the last trimester, you can softly touch or rub on your belly where your baby last kicked and sometimes, you’ll get a response! This can help create a special communication that will connect the two of you.

Here at TheraB Medical, we understand the importance of bonding with your baby during their first few days of life. While SnugLit allows for breastfeeding during treatment, it may still be a bit tricky regardless. Here are a few tips to hopefully help things go a little smoother:

Be Patient
It generally takes about 3-4 days for your body to begin producing mature milk and this time frame varies greatly. Breastfeeding is also something brand new that might take some time to adjust to. So, go easy on yourself while you're still figuring everything out!

Get Comfortable
This one’s for both you and your baby. It’s difficult to relax when you’re uncomfortable and your baby may have issues latching correctly if they sense this. It’s important to find positions that are best for you, so don’t be afraid to test things out! For your baby, they’ll likely find their own favorite position, so keep a close eye on how they’re positioned once they begin to breastfeed successfully.

Take Care of Your Skin
The main thing here is to keep up with moisturizing your nipples, especially after feeding. Some products that the Mayo Clinic recommends are Lansinoh or Tender Care Lanolin. It’s also important not to over wash your breasts and to use a gentle cleanser when you do. Over washing can lead to dry or irritated skin.
 
Let Your Baby Determine Things
Your baby knows best right now about when they’re hungry and when they’re not. Early on, it’s best to let them choose how often and how long they should nurse, rather than setting predetermined times. Nursing might last for 5 minutes or 45 minutes, this may just depend on how fast or slow your baby is eating.

Get Help Right Away
Regardless of how confident you are, the first time you breastfeed your baby you should ask for help. Maternity nurses and lactation consultants are there to assist you! They can provide tips to make sure that things are going their absolute best.

Hearing that your baby has been diagnosed with jaundice can be very scary as a new parent. We understand this and want to help you learn about what it is and how common it really is.

First of all, don’t panic! It’s normal for babies to have at least some degree of jaundice and this shouldn’t usually cause any issues. Physiologic jaundice is the most common type of jaundice and it actually exists in about 60% of full-term newborns within the US, so you’re not alone here.

Jaundice occurs because your newborn’s blood has too much bilirubin built up in it. Bilirubin is a molecule that forms when red blood cells get broken down. It has a yellow pigment and gets broken down by the liver. So, when there is too much of this, it can build up and cause a yellow discoloration of a newborn’s skin and eyes. This yellow discoloration generally begins within the first 2-4 days after birth and usually starts in their face before spreading to the rest of the body. If jaundice occurs starting on the first day of life or extends past 1 week, this could become a problem larger than physiological jaundice.

It’s important to treat jaundice because these bilirubin molecules can reach into the brain. This can lead to other conditions such as cerebral palsy, mental retardation, or even death. While jaundice treatment is common and doesn’t cause any lasting effects, if levels are left high and untreated it can lead to these serious issues.
 
What to Look For:

• Yellow coloration of the skin
• Yellow coloration of the eyes
• Your baby seems to be lacking energy, sick, very sleepy, or hard to wake up
• Your baby isn’t gaining weight or feeding much
• Any other signs or symptoms that appear concerning
  
  

Possible Causes/Risk Factors:

• Liver is not fully developed or has a malfunction
• A blood incompatibility between mother and baby
• Premature birth
• Medical conditions, such as blood clotting issues
• Excessive bruising during birth
• Difficulties breastfeeding or getting enough nutrition
• Abnormality of your baby’s red blood cells that causes them to rapidly break down
• Enzyme deficiency
• Blood infection (sepsis)
• Viral or bacterial infections
• Internal bleeding (Hemorrhage)

 
Recommended Resources for More Information:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/infant-jaundice/symptoms-causes/syc-20373865
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/best-not-worry-baby-jaundice/
https://americanpregnancy.org/first-year-of-life/newborn-jaundice/
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/pa/umphototherapy.htm