In a 2003 study that explored “ambiguous loss”, American researchers Tamara Golish and Kimberly Powell affirmed how “parents of premature babies underwent various grief emotions as they mourned the loss of a full-term pregnancy and feared for their child’s life and health. However, they were often unable to allow themselves to feel their grief and were unsure how to communicate it because their baby was still alive.” In an environment where more devastating loss easily happens to other families, it seemed almost disrespectful to even acknowledge pain points here and there, and yet they were real, looming menacingly.
Newborn Essentials 101
Yes, all new moms (and even second, third, and fourth time moms) have been there! That’s why hand me downs are so popular among siblings! Babies can rack up a bill like you wouldn’t believe, but the good news is that you don’t actually need half the things you see or are told you need. This is especially true in the first six months of the baby’s life, which is what we will cover in this list!
The Milestones Series: 10 to 12 months
It is starting to feel like the home stretch. Your baby is just three short months away from becoming a full fledged toddler! In these last three months you will see even more toddler like tendencies that you’ve already started observing. Below are the last three months of milestones in this first year!
The Milestones Series: 7 to 9 months
At this halfway point, it’s important to remind parents that milestones happen in a spectrum. If your six or seven month old is not yet hitting the milestones mentioned here, don’t worry! Some babies take a bit longer, and for as long as your pediatrician is happy and not alarmed with your baby’s progress, then you have nothing to worry about.
The Milestones Series: 4 to 6 months
You’re now halfway through your baby’s first year, and you’ll notice how your baby has grown, gotten heavier, and is slowly developing a personality. Keep reading the milestones series for your continued cheat sheet on what to expect from your baby!
The Milestones Series: First Three Months
Having a baby is one of the most exciting times for any couple or family. Whether it be the first baby or the second, third, fourth, or fifth, every addition adds to the excitement. With the excitement, however, comes a bit of anxiety. All parents watch their babies with wonder and love, but also with a bit of anxiety as they wait for their babies to hit their milestones.
How Involved Should Your Parents Be With Your Newborn?
You’re excited to have a new baby, and your parents are excited too. As you begin to plan and prepare for your baby, your parents are very likely to begin giving tips and advice. After all, they’ve done this! They raised you! Some couples may find, however, that some of the advice does not fit with how you thought you’d be raising your little one.
Introducing Your Baby to Your Pet
For many couples, their fur-babies are their first babies, occupying a very special place in their hearts and homes. This place, while seldom removed with the arrival of a human baby, can often get a little shaken up in a way that the furbabies don’t understand. Newborn humans require a lot of attention, smell different, make unusual noises, and generally introduce a plethora of new gadgets, gizmos, and toys that are all off limits for even the cleanest of pets, and this can be strange.
