4th month boitday!

sophia marie gabrielle is now 4 months old!! yey!!

we bought her cake. she was sooo happy. as if she can eat it! hahahahaha!

teething

zoie's first set of teeth are slowly peeking from their gums and so she goes like this most of the time -->> hahahahha..
nway, i read in one article that a child's teeth develops as early a when they are still in the womb. zoie's pediatrician even said that there are some babies who are born with teeth, which is amazing. this probability is albeit one in 2000 but nonetheless that fact is amazing.. wonder how breastfeeding moms would react to this. zoie's milky whites are in their spurting stage, i bet and i know they will hurt like daggers when they (her teeth) are fully formed. ang mga bangkil, waaaaa!

for now she is constantly fussing with her tongue and with her gums. I can imagine these can be quite itchy and even painful for some babies. it's a good thing my darling princess is just getting by it by showing her tongue to anyone and everyone every few minutes.

we noticed those white caps as early as when she was 3 months old. usually baby's teeth start to grow from age 4 months up. i guess my child is an early developer, go zoie, go! =)

another unusual zoie fact, her first set of teeth are molars. generally, this is the pattern:

Age	Teeth	Position
6 to 7 months	Incisors	Two central bottom & Two central top teeth.
7 to 9 months	Two more incisors	Top & bottom; making four top & four bottom teeth in all.
10 to 14 months	First molars	Double teeth for chewing
15 to 18 months	Canines	The pointed teeth or “fangs”
2 to 3 years	Second molars	The second set of double teeth at the back

** info taken from http://www.thenewparentsguide.com/baby-teething.htm

suwail jd ni ako anak oi! =)

also from the same site, here are a few tips to help your teething baby:

What are the symptoms of teething?

The symptoms of teething vary from child to child. Because of these different experiences, parents and physicians often disagree as to the symptoms of teething and how painful it is. The list below shows symptoms that a teething baby may experience. While most parents usually agree that some or all of the symptoms below happened around the time of teething, it is still recommended that if your baby experiences any of these symptoms you check with your pediatrician to rule out other possible causes for the symptoms.

Irritability: As the sharp little tooth rises closer to the surface your baby’s gums may become increasingly more sore and painful, leading to your baby being very fussy. The pain and discomfort is most often worse during the first teeth coming in and later when the molars come in because of their bigger size. This is most often the case since babies become accustomed to the sensations of teething and learn to live with them. But you may find your baby may be fussy during the whole time that every tooth comes in. Every child reacts differently.

Drooling: From three to four months of age you may see your baby start drooling more often than normal. Teething stimulates drooling, which is often worse with some babies than others.

Coughing: The extra saliva can cause your baby to occasionally cough or gag. This is usually nothing to worry about as long as your baby seems fine and shows no signs of a cold or flu and does not run a high fever.

Chin rash: If your baby is a big drooler, the constant contact with saliva can cause the skin around the chin and mouth to become irritated. To help prevent this, gently wipe your baby’s mouth and chin periodically throughout the day.

Biting & gnawing: A baby that is teething will gnaw and gum down on anything she or he can get their mouth around. The counter pressure from biting on something helps relieve the pressure from under the gums.

Cheek rubbing and ear pulling: Pain in the gums may travel to the ears and cheeks particularly when the back molars begin coming in. This is why you may see your baby rubbing their cheeks or pulling at their ears. However, keep in mind that pulling at an ear can also be a sign of an ear infection.

Diarrhea: While this is a symptom that is disagreed upon by physicians, researchers and parents, most parents usually notice slightly looser bowel movements when a baby is teething. While the recent study done by the Children’s Hospital in Australia found this to be the most common symptom of teething, there are still many people that will agree and disagree with this recent study. It is believed that the most likely cause of this is the extra saliva swallowed, which then loosens the stool. Be sure and report any diarrhea to your doctor that lasts more than two bowel movements.

Low-grade fever: A fever is another symptom that doctors are sometimes hesitant to directly link with teething. But there are many parents who will disagree with this and find their baby gets a slight fever while teething. The best thing to do is be extra safe and notify your doctor if a fever last more than two days.

Not sleeping well: With teething pain happening during the day and night, you may find your child wakes more often at night when the pain gets bad enough. Most parents agree that the night waking happens more often during the first set of teeth and with the molars.

Cold like symptoms (runny nose, etc.): Some parents find that their baby will show signs of having a cold. Runny noses, coughing and general cold symptoms are believed to come from the baby having their hands in their mouth more often. Play it safe and always notify your doctor if symptoms such as this occur.

How can I help my baby with the pain?

There are several things that you can try to help ease the pain of teething; some work and some don’t, but most parents agree they’re always worth a try. Teething rings, water filled and chilled rubber teething toys; mom and dads fingers can all provide counter pressure that can sometimes bring relief. Offering your baby a cold bottle of water can also help. If sucking on the bottle bothers your child, offer a cold cup of water. The water can also help replenish your baby’s fluid if they’re drooling a lot or have loose bowel movements.

Cold food has also been found to be helpful by some parents. Chilled applesauce, yogurt and pureed peaches may be more appealing to your baby and also more nutritious than a chilled teething ring.

When nothing else helps, you can also turn to the Infant Tylenol. Before giving your child Infant Tylenol (acetaminophen) always check with your doctor first. Your doctor will tell you if it’s all right and what the proper amount is to give your baby. Baby Orajel and other teething pain medicines that are applied to the gums can also provide some relief. Some parents say the Baby Orajel type products work great, while other parents will say it doesn’t. Also check with your doctor before giving this type of over the counter pain reliever to your baby.

The teething process will come and go just like so many other things with new babies. Keep trying different things until you find what provides the best relief for your child.

Note: Before trying any of the suggestions listed above or any other type of home remedy it is highly recommended that you contact your pediatrician first. You should follow your pediatricians advise first before trying anything mentioned on this site or on any other site. Your child's doctor knows what is best for your child.

here are more pics of me and zoie with stuck out tongues.. her gums must be really itchy!

a massage for mom

ronald and i visited the spa the other day to get a full body massage. Body massages are our favorite indulgence even before we got married. we used to get 3 to 4 sessions a month, lesser when I was pregnant with zoie of course; when i had to content myself with a foot massage. either way, i would never get tired of body massages. I particularly like the Swedish kind because i get to snooze off. i get awaken by thai massage on parts where they need to stretch you out.

anyway, i had thought twice about going for a massage as I had just given birth. figured, 3 months past is enough and decided to go for it. it was ok. felt a little sore around the thighs though. asked the therapist not to apply too much pressure there. guess it does take some time to let those tired muscles (which pushed zoie out) time to heal.

found a great article on the net on postpartum massages. written by Elaine Stillerman, a licensed massage therapist in New York City, who has been specializing in prenatal and postpartum massage since 1980 and has worked with hundreds of expectant women. here is an excerpt:

The Massage Techniques

Women in tribal societies resume normal activities almost immediately after birthing. To get back into shape quickly, these women employ a number of natural techniques, including massage, abdominal binding, herbal treatments, diet, and steaming of the perineal region. All of these methods help the new mother to regain her strength, heal faster, and ease her way in subsequent births.

Massage is a sensuous, relaxing, and loving treatment that has the added bonus of being especially good for you. It is one form of "medicine" most people delight in taking! Massage is a wonderful way to reduce stress and promote general well-being.

While you are pregnant, your body is undergoing stress-producing changes. Massage pleasantly and effectively eliminates many of the adverse effects of stress and the accompanying discomforts. Let's look briefly at some of the physiological changes that occur during a massage and see how they benefit your health and the health of your developing baby:

• Massage will help prepare you for an easier delivery. Self-massage to the perineum (the area between the vagina and anus) promotes flexibility and elasticity. It might actually help you avoid an episiotomy.

• Massage stimulates glandular secretions, stabilizing your hormonal levels and making their side effects less severe.

• Massage to the legs can control varicose veins, and the draining effect of massage facilitates reduction of edema (swelling) of the extremities.

• An increase in general circulation offers a rise of blood to all areas of your body, including the placenta. This brings greater nutrition to the tissues of the body and enhances waste product removal.

• "Lazy" red blood cells lining the vessel walls are reintroduced into circulation, thus increasing the red blood cell count. This is of particular importance to those women with anemia. A rise in the red blood cell count also helps to eliminate fatigue, since more oxygen-carrying hemoglobin is released into the bloodstream.

• The lymphatic system circulates faster and more efficiently. The result is more energy and less fatigue.

• The strain on the muscles of the lower back, abdomen, and shoulders can be greatly reduced through massage. As your pregnancy advances to its final trimester, this relief will be most welcome.

• Muscle tone can increase with regular massage. Muscle spasms and knots are easily released, and muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints enjoy greater flexibility. This is most advantageous during labor.

• Massage sedates the nervous system, producing much-needed rest and relaxation. In utero, your baby feels the same way. Frazzled nerves are lovingly soothed, and insomnia can be relieved.

Massage accompanies childbirth nearly everywhere in the tribal world. Noted anthropologist George Englemann, who studied tribal customs, wrote in 1884, "There is hardly a people, ancient or modern, that do not in some way resort to massage and expression in labor, even if it be a natural and easy one."² The elder women of the Nama Hottentot tribe of South Africa massage the expectant mothers several times a week in preparation for childbirth. Pregnant women of Uganda receive treatment to make their bones supple for an easy delivery. Women of Kiribati (formerly the Gilbert Islands) receive "shampoos" by expert massage practitioners to train their muscles to bear contractions.

The massage techniques you will be using are derived from Swedish massage, Shiatsu acupressure, and foot reflexology. Mother Massage also includes herbal remedies, nutritional information, and exercises and postures as part of its holistic scope of pregnancy health care.

The Swedish strokes are effleurage, petrissage, friction, tapotement, and the nerve stroke.

to read the whole article, click on this link:

http://www.enotalone.com/article/5646.html

i have yet to know about a spa or a massage parlor meant for pregnant women or new mothers here in the cebu or in the philippines. hopefully, someday i will fulfill one of my dreams and put up one myself. wouldn't that be great? i feel giddy just thinking about it. =)