In the medical community, it is generally believed that breast milk is best for baby because of the nutrients and antibodies produced by the mother’s body that cannot be replicated by formula. It’s been medically proven that breastfed babies are often healthier and have stronger immune systems. However, some mothers may not produce enough milk or have other reasons that they choose to use formula. If this is the case, moms should know formula feeding does not leave a baby at a disadvantage over breastfed babies. A mother should talk to the pediatrician for the best formula recommendations. Some babies may have sensitivity to certain formulas, so it may take a few tries to find the one that works best.

Sleeping safety is also a key to a healthy baby. An infant should always be put to bed on their backs as this has been shown to significantly reduce the chances of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). It can be very tempting to put the baby to bed with fluffy blankets and stuffed animals, but until the infant has enough strength and motor control to remove anything that could smother them. If the room is cooler, there are wearable blankets or sleep sacks that can keep the baby warm without tangling around their body.

Preventative care including vaccinations is highly recommended before baby leaves the hospital; some immunizations and screening tests are even required by law. Immunizations not only keep the baby healthy, but they stop the spread of other diseases. Without having a majority of the population of immunized against contagious diseases, things like polio or small pox could make a reappearance in America. Another aspect of preventative health care is the use of cord blood banking. This process will collect stem cells from the umbilical cord blood after birth, which can then be stored and potentially used to help treat a variety of illness. This is becoming popular enough that many women are beginning to use a cord blood registry that allows friends and family members to donate money to defray the cost of this service.

Finally, a newborn or an infant should be kept in a clean and germ-free environment as much as possible. This may mean that a parent will need to ask visitors who have cold symptoms to refrain from spending time with the baby. It is also a good idea for mothers to insist that anyone holding or touching the baby should wash their hands with soap and water first.

This article was written by Katie Moore. Katie is an active writer within the blogging community who discusses maternity, motherhood, prenatal health, childbirth and other topics within this niche.  If you have any questions or would like to connect with Katie please contact by visiting her blog, Moore From Katie or her twitter @moorekm26.

Today’s post is written by Heather, a cancer survivor and mother of 6 1/2 year old.  Heather blogs at the Mesothelioma site.

It’s likely you have heard the phrase, "It takes a village." I truly started to believe in this saying after I had my daughter. My daughter Lily was born on Aug. 4, 2005, and our “village” surrounded us. Everyone was there to support me including my parents, friends and other relatives. Everything was perfect, but something terrible happened soon after.
Soon after I returned to work, I didn’t feel like myself. I felt very tired and weak. I thought it might be due to being a new mom, but I went to see my doctor anyway. After several tests, I found out I had malignant pleural mesothelioma, which was caused by asbestos exposure.

My first thought was not about me; it was about my baby. I was told I would have 15 months to live if I did nothing. I knew I had a child and husband to live for, so I wanted to do whatever it took to save my life. I knew that mesothelioma is very deadly, meaning I had to do something drastic. My husband and I flew to Boston, and I had a surgery to remove my left lung and the lining around it. I spent 18 days recovering in the hospital and another two months recovering before starting chemotherapy and radiation.

Treatment for mesothelioma would have been difficult to go through this if I didn’t have a village of people looking out for Lily. They made sure my daughter was taken care of and showed me a lot of love and support.

Lily lived with my parents while we were in Boston. Many people came to help watch Lily, including girls I baby-sat many years ago. In Boston, we made so many new and supportive friends. These people were going through the same things we were. The loving people around us made it easier for us to get through each day.  

Meanwhile, in my childhood home in South Dakota, my little girl was learning to do a lot of new things including eating and crawling. My mom sent me pictures of her firsts through email. I was so happy to see these pictures and couldn’t wait to be with Lily again. Because my parents raised Lily for so long, their bond is very deep, even if they sometimes don’t see her for months.
Even though cancer was terrible to deal with, it taught me that life is precious and that I should not take it for granted. It taught me that I should live every day like it’s my last day on this planet. I am thankful for everything I have because of cancer.

Follow Heather on the Mesothelioma site here.

Monday: Long run (8-12 miles)

Tuesday: Full body weights

Wednesday: Regular run (2-3 miles)

Thursday: Run (or walk 2-3 miles)

Friday: Full Body weights

Saturday and Sunday: Walk

Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, I’m on my own.  I listen to my ipod shuffle on those days (except Sunday, when I like to have a quiet walk).  I love to listen to podcasts, but I find I run faster when I listen to music.  I need more music though!  Do you ever find it embarrassing to share your playlist? I’d love some more ideas for music!  Here is what I usually listen to if I’m not listening to podcasts, which I love!

I had a little too much fun this weekend. When I should have been organizing things, we picked apples again, and I spent Saturday night at a Stake Dance!  So much fun.  I thought I was pretty good as far as not eating crap. The only bad thing I ate was some Great Harvest, Cinnamon Pull-apart bread… and it was BAD!!  If bad means good.  And if bad means so good I ate too much and then felt crappy the rest of the day. I mean physically crappy.  Not guilty crappy, cause it was kind of worth it

I started Saturday and Sunday with eggs though. Yum, Yum!

Funny quote of the weekend:  TJ is writing a paper for school about diversity. He’s 8 years old, in the 3rd grade.  His paper said :

“When you accept diversity you are kind. I have a friend Noa who is from Hawaii. I treat him like I would treat any American.”

I’m still laughing about it!

Erica got to spend the day with her Sunday School Class horse back riding:

Then we headed up in the canyon for a picnic/campfire.

It’s great to be up there, because my cell phone doesn’t work! It’s great to totally pay attention to my family and not be distracted.

As far as my health goes, I ran ten miles with my friend in Provo Canyon!  We had a pretty good run, but got super tired towards the end.

I ate a few bananas, carrots and hummus again, taco soup again, oatmeal again, chicken, potatoes, string cheese, apples, and one of those cookie/marshmallow’s we are roasting.

Breakfast: oatmeal, applesauce, apples, and cinnamon

Lunch: Taco soup

Snack: Caramel corn

Dinner: Hummus, carrots, string cheese.  (I know it isn’t much, but I was in a big hurry. As soon as dinner was finished, I had to leave for church.)  This is what my family had though:

Todays plan: We will get up into the mountains for some pictures!! I’m dying to get there.  Plus, in about 30 minutes, I’m headed up into the canyon anyway for a long run with a friend.  We are planning between 8-13 miles I think!

Let’s start with the fact that I lost three pounds this week just by cutting out flour products!  I really do not think wheat is bad for you. I’ve been tested for celiac and don’t have it.   I don’t get sick eating whole wheat.  I think it’s an amazing whole grain and I can’t get enough of it.  Which is exactly the problem… I can’t get enough of it!! Anytime I have a slice of bread, I want 3 more. Every time I have a bowl of noodles, I want a plate full of noodles.  So the very fact that I am deciding I just can’t control myself around whole wheat/ or white flour, it’s just easier not to eat it at all.

So, today I was 123lbs.  I feel like as long as I stay under 125 my jeans will fit.  At five feet tall, three pounds is the difference between tight jeans, and lose ones! I promise.

So, here was my breakfast I’ve been having most days:

• Oatmeal
• applesauce
• chopped apples
• cinnamon
• raisins

Lighting is bad, cause I eat when it’s dark, but it’s soooo Good!  I also read the paper every morning. I can’t start my day until I do.

Later today we are going to pick more apples!

The top dentists website is designed to help you with each and every aspect of dental care, and can make the process of setting up your child with a dentist extremely simple. To begin with, there is a very simple and easy to use “dentist finder” on the website, that allows you to search your area of the country to find dentist listings and recommendations (which can be especially helpful if you are not as familiar with your area, or if you are not taking your child to the same dentist that you use). Once you locate a dentist in a convenient area, you can begin to conduct research, and maybe speak to the dentist, to see if you want to give him or her your business.

Topdentists.com also has information on just about every specific aspect of dental care that you might want to learn about on behalf of your children. For example, you can contact a dentist to find out how to better care for young children’s teeth (when to start brushing, when to start flossing ,etc.). Additionally, you can research specific aspects of dental care such as orthodontics, or repairing chipped teeth, or other elements that might appeal to your individual child at a given time.

Figuring out the details and methods of dental care at an early age is very important for your children. Children who do not adequately take care of their teeth at a young age will face problems in a number of ways. To begin with, the teeth and gums can get off on the wrong foot, and be more prone to health problems as the child develops. Additionally, the child may develop yellow teeth and/or bad breath as side effects of poor dental care. Most importantly, however, the child will form poor habits if he or she is not taught how to care for his or her teeth – this can lead to further health problems later in life.

Wade is really good at snowboarding.  Erica is fast!  TJ is daring! and Nate is skilled.  Seriously, these kids had no trouble getting down the mountain.  And in a race, Erica won!

Every few years I schedule a colonoscopy.  I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at the age of 12.  I’ll be 38 this year, and they say the longer you have the disease, the more risk you are in for colon cancer.   For the most part, I don’t medicate and have very few symptoms. I get the colonoscopy because if I do get cancer, I want to catch it early.  The LAST thing I want to do is lose my colon.  I mean I really, really, really would like to keep that thing.

I think however after this last one, I ‘m going to start taking the medication.  Dr. Wynn Hemmert (Central Utah Clinic) is great!  Nice, but serious about the risks of not taking the meds.  He lectured me and made my husband attend (who already lectures me anyway). 

And PS, the prep was way easier this year.  Magnesium citrate was awesome!!!