Special Considerations for the Premature Baby-Toddler
Special Considerations for the Premature Baby
Every parent hopes and prays that their newborn will be healthy and safe. Normally a pregnancy lasts nine months. The gestation of a full term pregnancy is traditionally between 37 to 42 weeks. Any baby born before 37 weeks is considered premature.Premature Babies face many challenges that full term babies often escape. This includes the possibility of being born with organs that are underdeveloped. Many premature babies have respiratory problems, as the lungs are generally one of the last organs to develop completely during gestation.Fortunately modern technology has provided hospitals with the ability to care for infants born prematurely. In times of old infants born before 34 weeks faced many challenges, and were much more likely to die. Modern technology has allowed babies born as early as 26 weeks to still survive. There are several factors which might contribute to a mother's likelihood of having a premature infant. These include the following:Having delivered a premature baby before, which increases your risk up to 40%Multiple gestations ? the parents of twins generally face delivering prematurelyDiabetesSmokingHigh Blood PressurePre-eclampsia ? a condition in the mother experiences high blood pressure and
edema, normally resulting from a buildup of toxins in the bodyMalnutritionAccident or injuryFetal Distress
Some premature babies have to stay in the hospital for several weeks after birth, until they are strong enough to venture home with mom and dad. Babies born before 34 weeks are often given steroids to help the lungs mature, in the hope that respiratory problems might be minimized. Some premature babies are too weak when born to suckle at mother's breast. Moms however are still encouraged to place their premature infant at their chests. Studies show that babies who have skin to skin contact when born prematurely are more likely to thrive and gain weight faster than those who are not.Mothers who give birth to a premature baby sometimes have to pump for the first few weeks in order to establish an adequate milk supply. If you find this is the case, you might consider renting a hospital grade pump to allow for optimal milk supply maintenance. Premature babies can be fed breast milk through a bottle. Premature babies will benefit from having the antibody rich milk from their mother's breast.Some babies born after 34 weeks require little extra assistance. Many leave the hospital after a few days, though the majority of babies born prematurely are not discharged until a time near their original due date. Signs that your baby is thriving include the ability to eat and a regular pattern of weight gain. The hospital staff will also take great care to ensure your baby is breathing well on his own. Some infants are born with a condition called jaundice, and are placed under special bilirubin lights to help the body break up the materials causing jaundice.All newborns are at risk for infection because their immune systems need time to properly mature. This is even more so the case for premature infants. Many physicians recommend that you not take your infant into public/crowded places until they are at minimum three months old, to reduce the likelihood that they will catch a potentially life threatening cold.Many babies born prematurely eventually catch up to their peers within a year. Thanks to modern technology a majority of babies born prematurely will do just as well as those born at or around their due date.Adriana Copaceanu is a busy mom of 2. Visit her Busy Moms Online if you are looking for ways to maximize your precious time. And if you are a new mom, you'll find everything you need to know at her Baby's First Year website.
West Highland WhiteTerrier Grooming – Key Considerations
West Highland WhiteTerrier Grooming - Key Considerations
Whether you intend to show your Westie, or keep him for a household pet, the first key to West Highland Terrier grooming is to start while he is a puppy.Take your Westie to his first groomer appointment after he has had all of his shots, at approximately 14 weeks. Acclimate your dog to the grooming process, and he will grow to accept it as part of his natural routine. If you intend to groom your dog at home, give him his first clipping at around the same age.West Highland Terrier grooming, whether performed at home or by a groomer, should be performed with the dog's safety and comfort as the first considerations. Be aware of the practices used by your groomer, and be sure to remain with your dog until you are convinced that he is safe.Contact your local Westie Club to find a reputable groomer. If you intend to show your dog, you will want to be sure that your groomer knows what a Westie cut looks like. It is not unusual for owners to find that their Westie has come home from a grooming looking like a Schnauzer or a Scottish Terrier. If you are uncertain, bring photographs to your first groomer visit.Although you might think that, after safety, your first consideration is price, how to groom your Westie is your next decision. A show dog must be hand stripped to give the dog its Westie look - round head, carrot-shaped tail, and blended skirt.Hand stripping involves actually pulling hairs. When they grow back, they tend to be straighter and coarser. Many claim that a hand stripped Westie coat sheds dirt, allowing the dog to go longer between baths. Hand stripping is not necessary for a Westie that is kept as a pet, and a regular clipping from your groomer, or at home, is all that your dog needs. A clipped Westie coat will be softer and curlier, and more prone to staining.Because of their white coats, staining is another problem peculiar to West Highland Terrier grooming. If the hair is white at the base, licking might be the problem, and is often triggered by cuts and abrasions, or objects lodged in the hair around the paw.Hair that is stained down to the base may indicate a fungal or yeast infection, and your Westie should see a veterinarian. Staining around the muzzle is most often caused by the food the dog eats. Check for red food dies, or beets in the formula. If you want your Westie to attain show dog perfection, a cotton ball dipped in hydrogen peroxide, and wiped on the beard daily, will lighten and prevent the stains.(Disclaimer: Any information contained in this site relating
to various medical, health and fitness conditions of Westies
or other animals and their treatments is for informational
purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for the advice
provided by your own veterinarian. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing the health of any animal. You should always consult and check with your own vet or veterinarian.)Jeff Cuckson
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Preliminary Considerations Before Building Your Own Backyard Garden Pond-Gardening
Preliminary Considerations Before Building Your Own Backyard Garden Pond
This article is geared towards the beginner water gardener, who is comtemplating the installation of his/her first garden pond. The key to a successful do-it-yourself project is to gather as much relevant information that you can. To follow are some preliminary considerations and design tips that must be taken into account, before embarking on a water gardening project.PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS1. LocationInstall it as close as the house as possible to maximize enjoyment. For safety reasons, make sure that there are no underground utilities where you will be excavating. Check with your local utility company before you begin digging.Be sure to consider the slope of the land and the location of the pond in order to avoid rainwater runoff. If the pond is located in a low-lying area, lawn fertilizers and other chemicals can wash into the pond and harm the fish and plants.To grow healthy aquatic plants, you will require adequate sun exposure. Most aquatic plants require four to six hours of sunlight per day to ensure healthy growth.2. SizeMake your pond as large as possible, to give you flexibility when you later fill up the pond with fish and plants.3. PurposeDo you want to focus on growing water lilies? If so, locate the pond in full sun. Do you want to raise pond fish? If so, shady areas would be preferred.4. EdgingYou can edge your pond with stones, boulders, plants, beaches, and docks. Plan ahead how you would like to edge your pond.5. StyleNatural style ponds are built to create the illusion of a mountain stream with waterfalls. Larger boulders and flat stones can be used in combination to create the look of a naturally formed stream. The sound of falling water can be fine-tuned through the careful arrangement and placement of stone.Urban ponds are typically smaller in area, and are designed to fit well in smaller backyards.Koi ponds must be able to accomodate fish that can grow to about 2.5 feet in length. Many koi ponds have no plants because koi have a tendency to eat certain types of plants. You must plan for an extremely large pond, and provide adequate surface area for the absorption of oxygen into the water. Ponds for koi must be at least 3 feet deep to provide room for mobility. They also require filtration to keep the water clean.DESIGNNext, you must make a decision on the type of pond that you want.Pre-formed ponds come in a variety of shapes, usually with plant shelves built in. They are ideal for first-time pond builders because they are extremely durable, and less susceptible to tears and punctures. Furthermore, their sturdy pond lips ease the task of leveling during installation. Preformed ponds are easy to install and clean, but require more skill to fit the hole in the ground with the shape of the pond. When properly supported, preformed ponds are ideal for above-ground, indoor, and patio setups.Flexible liners are ideal for the more experienced water gardeners. They allow for easy and very forgiving installations, which consequently promotes greater creativity. Because you can create various shapes with liners, it is possible to construct larger, and deeper configurations (when compared to preformed ponds).Concrete installations usually require a professional installation. Concrete is a medium that tends to crack as the ground freezes and thaws.Use a garden hose to lay out your garden pond shape on the ground. This will allow you to experiment with the size and shape of your pond. Once you have a plan for your water garden, it is important to get your design on paper. The design drawing is paramount because it will help you to make an accurate estimate of the material you will need. The diagram also will allow you to plan for the placement of all the accessories. Be sure to take into consideration the space that rocks and aquatic plants will take in the final design. The pond may appear much smaller visually after all the ponds and rocks are added. At this point, you should also plan for the amount of plant material that you may need to landscape the pond.Finally, it is now time to make a list of materials required. These materials can be purchased from our online store. In our next article, we will provide detailed instructions on how to install both liner and preformed ponds.This article was reproduced with permission from http://www.gardensupermart.com/tips.aspTo view the complete article (with pictures), please go to http://www.gardensupermart.com/tips/intro.asp