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Raising without myths, a guide to a more informed parenting without so many worries

Posted on 08/09/2021 - 15:29 by Desarrollo WebAdictos

Raising without myths: It seems that being a mother is a synonym of worries, but this, like many other false beliefs that exist around parenting and how to care a baby, is a lie.

That is why Emily Oster, an economist by profession and mother of two, wrote the book Criar sin mitos (Parenting without Myths) approaching with data and scientific evidence, the doubts that parents have:

“To help them feel more informed and less likely to google answers”, says the author.

We chatted with Emily Oster about her book, which is a guide that all moms and dads should have at their bedsides. In the end you will understand that everything will be fine, stop worrying!

Life changes and you have to adapt

The birth of a baby not only turns the life of the parents upside down, but also of the whole family.

At first it can be very difficult, “My first year as a mom was especially hard. With both my kids, I have had times when I wanted to give up for different reasons, but with my first girl I felt sad. I love my daughter very much, but I missed my old life”.

“With my second child I felt better, but I was feeling sad because I didn’t want to lose the closeness I already had with my first daughter, who at that time was already four years old”.

“I think the main challenge was how to manage my time and identify what part of what people say about motherhood was a lie, what I should repeat with my second baby and what not”, explains the author.

Instead of sticking with “what people say”

Emily decided to dig deep and document every major decision she had to make as a mom. From how to take care of a baby the first days, to topics such as breastfeeding, vaccinations, bedtimes, choosing a daycare, or going back to work.

“When I got pregnant I didn’t realize how everything around me would change. I faced and overcame many challenges, but it was not until the birth of my second child that I understood the things that I had done well and those that I had not, my mistakes and successes. Then came the book”.

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Parenting without Myths or any additional stress

While being a mom and dad does come with a lot of anxiety and worry, you don’t have to add to the stress with unsupported sayings and advice.

In the book

The author demolishes myths and puts on the table, based on facts, her sentence, an informed opinion that she hopes will help other parents.

“A myth that I address in the book is everything that people say about breastfeeding. It certainly has benefits, but it is exaggerated. They say it is wonderful, that it will help you lose weight, and it will make your children more intelligent and successful”.

“I tried to identify what was true and what was not. I found that it does have benefits, especially when the baby is very young; for example it helps with his digestion. But not everything that is said is true and I think that magnifying it adds a lot of pressure to moms”, adds Oster.

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Make decisions based on what makes you happy

One conclusion Oster drew with her book is that parents have the right to make their own decisions and should always focus on what makes them happy.

“When people make important decisions, they think that deciding based on the baby is the only way to go. However, in the book I found that you should also think about yourself as a parent”.

During the research

“For example, during the research, I found that there are not many differences between children whose parents go out to work and those who are at home. That is why I tell you to think about what is best for you as a family, as a whole, what makes you happy”.

Conclusion

Finally, the book leaves us with a reflection that should be clear to us: don’t worry, you’re doing well as a mom and dad. “There are many ways to be a good parent, and you don’t have to do things as someone else says, it’s okay to find your own solutions”, the author concludes.

Criar sin mitos de Emily Oster (Parenting without Myths)

Publisher: Diana / Planeta

Books Review: Any new mom or dad knows that friends, family, doctors and even strangers on the internet give a lot of often contradictory advice about raising a baby.

This is a guide to decipher your baby’s first years.

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version

What is emotional intelligence and why should you promote it in your children?

Posted on 07/09/2021 - 16:35 by Desarrollo WebAdictos

The first ones to develop the concept of emotional intelligence were the American psychologists Peter Salovey and John D Mayer. In 1990, the authors published an article in which they defined the term as “the ability to accurately perceive, appraise, and express emotion”.

In 1995, New York Times journalist Daniel Goleman published a book that became a world bestseller and put the concept on everyone’s lips. Two years later, in 1997, Mayer and Salovey polished their definition to focus on four emotion-related skills:

Perceiving: The ability to monitor the feelings and emotions of oneself and others.

Understanding: The acquisition of emotional knowledge, identify why emotions are produced, what triggers them and how they are expressed exactly.

Using: The ability to discriminate among feelings and to use this information to guide one’s action and thinking.

Managing: The ability to regulate emotions, self-knowledge and self-control.

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Why is emotional intelligence important?

According to Luz María Peniche Soto, psychoanalyst, author of the book Entender las emociones, una guía para criar hijos sanos y seguros (Understanding Emotions, a Guide for Raising Healthy and Safe Children), people who manage to develop their emotional intelligence “decrease their anxiety, stress, indiscipline and risky behaviors”.

In addition, “they increase their tolerance for frustration, their resilience, and their well-being”.

Luz María Peniche Soto, psychoanalyst

At the beginning of the 21st century, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) launched emotional learning programs in schools and measured the results before and after the courses.

The conclusion was blunt, it is possible to modify the way in which people process, interpret and manage their emotions.

“Curiously, the countries that continued to promote these programs are well-developed and have a great economic growth, which in some way indicates that emotional intelligence not only has repercussions on mental health, but also on people’s professional and economic success”, explains Luz Maria Peniche.

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How to Teach Emotional Intelligence to Children

Think of emotional intelligence as being aware of feelings, paying attention to them to adapt to the environment and get benefits for both ourselves and others.

Mayer and Salovey propose a model to identify and work on the four branches of emotional intelligence:

Perception of emotions: Help your children to identify their own emotions and those of others. Not only with words, but also with gestures, postures, tone of voice, behaviors and even art. When they are experiencing an emotion, have them acknowledge it. Ask them what they feel. Have them express the name of the emotion in all its letters. “I’m angry, bored, confused”, “I’m scared, sad”, “I’m happy, excited, intrigued”. Remind them that no emotion is bad and that by identifying it, they can control it.
Understanding emotions: Once children know what they feel, help them analyze the reason for that emotion. That is, what is the relationship between the word that defines what they feel, with what is happening to them. “For example, recognizing that if we feel sadness it is because we had a loss”, says Peniche. This point also includes the ability to recognize changes between emotions. It is possible to go from sadness to anger, from frustration to anger, from joy to tears.
Facilitate thinking: Intense emotions can block our ability to think, so we need to ‘step back’ and calm down a bit to make better decisions. When we are able to make that stop, we can reflect better and solve the factor that catapulted that emotion. The ability to postpone impulses, regulate moods, manage anxiety is also learned. How? Ask your children what they would do if they were someone else, what piece of advice they would give to another person to solve the situation. If they move away, they will find a solution easier.
Manage emotions: When you learn to distance yourself from the emotion, you can have perspective, calm the negative ones and enhance the positive ones without repressing or exaggerating. At this point it is possible to use emotions to guide and improve our behavior. When you use emotions as a stimulus, you facilitate creativity; on the contrary, when you repress them, a depressive state blocks thinking.

Undoubtedly, emotional intelligence is a very interesting topic that we should promote in our little ones.

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version

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10 educational YouTube channels for kids

Posted on 07/09/2021 - 14:24 by Desarrollo WebAdictos

On YouTube there is very interesting content designed for our girls and boys. They go from fun songs to children’s stories or playful resources to reinforce what has been learned at school. You don’t have to ban them from watching videos! Rather, check if they are suitable for them and much better if they are also educational.

Here is a selection of 10 YouTube channels with free educational resources that your little ones will surely love.

1. Toy Cantando

A fun channel with catchy songs and very colorful videos. If you have a young child at home, he will be fascinated by Lola the Cow and other classics such as Josefina the Little Hen, The Colored Bird or Susanita has a Mouse. It also includes children’s stories such as The Three Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty.

2. Luna Creciente

It also shares songs that your little ones will love, such as: I have a dairy cow, Old McDonald has a farm or Let’s play in the forest, but there is also a very educational list with The Monkey Sílabo to learn the main syllables in Spanish.

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3. Doctor Beet

If your little one is a little older, in this channel you will find many educational resources. Countries and capital cities of Latin America, states and capitals of Mexico, Roman numerals from one to a thousand, multiplication tables, addition, the alphabet, the history of the Independence of Mexico, among many others.

4. Super Simple Songs

If you are looking for your baby to become familiar with a second language, this channel has many songs. It is especially educational for toddlers because they teach little words in English for objects, parts of the body, animals; little by little, your child will gradually learn that there is another way of calling things.

5. El mundo de Luna

Luna is a super smart and super curious girl who wonders, just like your children, how everything works. Through her fun adventures, the children discover, as well as the protagonist, all the answers to her questions: Why do stars shine? Why does everything fall straight to the ground? Where are the Martians?

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6. Cuentos infantiles cortos

In this channel you will find video stories that will help your children learn important human values. The Smug Rat, The Tortoise and the Hare, Peter and the Wolf, Goldilocks, The 7 Little Goats and The Ugly Duckling among many others are the stories found here. There are also some short stories in English, for those who want to inculcate a second language.

7. Telmo y Luna

These two brothers teach children fun songs, cooking recipes, CRAFTS and surprising experiments. These videos belong to the television series Pumpkin Reports and are available in several languages, including Latin American Spanish.

8. The Artful Parent

Arts and crafts for children of all ages. It’s in English, but you won’t need a translation because it’s super simple and visual. This channel is from Jean Van´t Hul, a writer and mother, who also founded the blog https://artfulparent.com/ On both platforms, she provides guides and tutorials for children and adults to explore their artistic side.

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9. Green Light

Another channel based on the Pumpkin Reports cartoon series, but now focused on children’s road safety. It teaches road safety when getting off a bus, what traffic officers do, what a seat belt is for, etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2Bhc2zouTA

10. Mundo Primaria

An educational channel that will help you reinforce the lessons your children learn at school. Subtraction, addition, shapes, prime factorization of numbers… The concepts are very simple and the videos are fun and attractive. We are grateful!

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version: Here

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Does a strict mother raise successful children?

Posted on 06/09/2021 - 13:20 by Desarrollo WebAdictos

Some time ago a reseach by the University of Essex, in the United Kingdom suggested that people who had an authoritarian mother tended to achieve more goals in life than those who had a permissive mother. Is it true that a strict one leads her children to success?

The reality is that you have to be very careful with that statement. One thing is to be a mother who guides and encourages her children to achieve her goals and another very different thing is to be a toxic and controlling mother who imposes her will.

Authoritarian mothers and the success of their children

Erica Rascón, professor at the University of Essex, and lead author of the research, says there is a correlation between successful people and the demands of their mothers. To draw this conclusion, she surveyed more than 15,000 children ages 13 to 14 over a six-year period.

In her results, she shows that children, whose mothers had high expectations, had much more confidence and security. Additionally, daughters who had persistent and “annoying” mothers had a 4% lower chance of getting pregnant prematurely, while boys had a higher chance of finishing college.

However, the research, which was not published in any renowned scientific journal, does not specify or define the term “authoritarian”, “strict” or “naggish”. Can we call authoritarian a mother who guides her children and teaches them discipline through consensus? Of course not. Is it the same for a mother who decides for her children the path they should follow and controls them even in adult life? No!

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The harm of being a toxic-controlling mother

According to Lucy Serrano, psychologist and individual, family and couple therapist, author of the book El precio del amor (The price of love), although we have idealized the mother as an example of love, dedication, self-sacrifice and concern for children, sometimes there is a different reality. “Of course you shouldn’t generalize, but there are mothers who unintentionally, wanting to protect their children, become controlling, absorbing, limiting”. Instead of doing well and leading their children to success, they become a factor against their children that can have repercussions throughout their lives.

“Of course there are no perfect mothers, we all make mistakes. But how many mothers think that by controlling their children is how they protect them of danger, they fill them with resentment, such as when these mothers tell girls that all men are bad?”

According to the expert, controlling mothers want to direct the lives of their children, even when they have already started a family. Although they do not admit it, they are narcissistic, wishing to have flawless children as a reflection of their own perfection. Before society, she is an exemplary mother, but she can be critical or distant in her relationship with her children.

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They can cause deep wounds

There are many subtypes of the controlling mother, such as the competitive mother, who sees her children (especially her daughters) as clouds that do not let her shine, so she becomes aggressive or rejects them. In all cases, although it is possible that they force their children to reach certain standards, this type of mother tends to leave deep emotional wounds in them. “In many cases the emotional wounds are very deep. For example, if there was some type of abandonment or physical abuse, professional help is required to analyze each individual case”, explains the therapist.

If you have a controlling type of mother, the expert recommends, besides seeking professional help, be discreet, focus on making your own decisions, and stop seeking her approval. “If you have a controlling, toxic mother, the first thing I ask is not to tell her everything. The more information you give her, the more she will get into your life. Look for help and remember that, not because she is your mother and she is older than you, she is the possessor of the absolute truth. I’m not telling you to lie to her, but if you know she’s that type, be discreet and don’t ask her permission or approval to take any step. Set limits through dialogue. Tell her that you are sorry that her opinion is different, but that it is your decision and you will deal with the consequences”.

In many cases, it helps when the children achieve independence and are old enough to live in a different place. However, as long as the child continues allowing it, that mother will continue to interfere in his life.

Remember that you borrow your children

The expert points out that it is important that all mothers, whether they have young, adolescent or adult children, think that children are independent people; they have to guide them but, in the end, they will have to carve out their own destiny. “I do not agree that a mother, just because she gave birth to you, thinks she is the owner of your life. Here I speak to the mothers. It is not like that, your children do not really belong to you, they are not your property. You are in charge of them for a little while.

You do have a responsibility towards them and there is no better way than giving them all your love, but they are not puppets or marionettes to handle as you please”, says Serrano. So, is it that a strict and authoritarian mother raises successful children? The answer is… it depends on many factors, it depends on what you mean by strict, it depends on the reaction of the children.

Undoubtedly, we always have to encourage our little ones to reach their goals, but I repeat, there is a big difference between being a mom who promotes discipline and a mom who becomes toxic. What kind of mom do you want to be?

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version: Here

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How breasts change during pregnancy

Posted on 06/09/2021 - 10:19 by Desarrollo WebAdictos

The human body is perfect and proof of this are the changes that occur in women when we are pregnant. Everything lines up to receive our baby, each of our cells prepares to give life. These transformations not only occur in the uterus and internal organs, but also physiologically and, after the womb, the breasts are where the increase in size is most appreciated.

This is how breasts change during pregnancy

Breast enlargement starts from the beginning of pregnancy. “The increase in estrogen and progesterone causes the mammary glands to mature, then they begin to prepare themselves to produce milk when the baby is born”, says gynecologist Susana Haquet Santana, academic from the Department of Embryology and Genetics from the Faculty of Medicine, UNAM.

How breasts change in the first trimester

The first thing that many women identify when they are expecting a baby is some tension in the breasts; they begin to feel sore and often it is even the first sign of pregnancy. The increase in hormones makes both the nipples and the breasts more sensitive.

Each woman is different, some would notice that they grow from the beginning, others would not see drastic changes until delivery (with the milk coming in). Breasts may feel swollen, tingly, or the nipples stick out more than usual. All this is normal.

“The changes in the breasts begin from the moment the embryo is implanted, the increase in estrogen and progesterone happens; therefore, the breasts will increase in size and may feel painful and sensitive. Women notice this changes from the beginning”, adds Dr. Haquet.

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Breast changes during the second trimester

Some women would feel their breasts larger and heavier. At this stage you may need a larger bra, or perhaps you would think of a special one that will also help for breastfeeding. There are elastic ones, without seams, with wide straps which unfasten right where the breast is to feed the baby. Choose one that makes you feel comfortable, just try to avoid the ones with underwire.

At this point it is possible (or not, remember that we are all different) that you notice that the areola and nipples area darkens. Some also have small bumps or pimples (Montgomery’s tubercles).

There is a reason for these lumps: they secrete moisturizing oil that protects you from pain and their scent helps guide the newborn to your nipples. It is highly recommended that, just as you take care of your belly, you keep your breasts hydrated to avoid stretch marks.

You can use a special cream or sweet almond oil. Note: When you are breastfeeding, it is important that you do not remove the natural oils from your breasts, just clean them after each feeding with a towel with warm water and gently dry them.

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Changes during the third trimester of pregnancy

“In the end, from week 36 or 37, there could even be some milk secretion”, explains the gynecologist Susana Haquet.

The breasts begin to grow a little more. You may notice a yellowish discharge coming from the nipples (some women notice this as early as the second trimester). This is colostrum and it is the first food given to the baby.

It is said that it is our children’s first vaccine because in addition to nutrients, mainly proteins, fats, water and lactose, it also contains immunological factors, which protect them against germs in the environment.

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What happens to the breasts after giving birth?

You will notice that your breasts are full. This is because you are starting to produce milk, but also because the blood circulating through your breasts has increased. Probably you will feel that you have milk “balls”, this is called congestion and is quite common.

Your baby will eat and release the load of milk. If you still have too much milk, you can use a manual pump and save the milk for the moment when your partner bottle feed your baby. If you feel very uncomfortable, talk to your doctor, he will be able to tell you what to do for your particular case.

As the baby grows, you will see that the feeling that your breasts are full decreases, but that does not mean that you will produce less milk.

Around the time your little one reaches 15 months of age, you will notice that your breast size is similar to what it was before you got pregnant no matter if you continue breastfeeding or not.

The reason is that your breasts are working more efficiently after six months of your baby’s birth, so it is very likely that there is a redistribution of breast tissue that allows you to have milk without engorgement.

After weaning, your breasts return to their pre-pregnancy size within three months. Obviously if you get pregnant again, the process starts all over again.

Isn’t it amazing how our body works?

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version: Here

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10 movies for children that teach the value of solidarity

Posted on 03/09/2021 - 16:32 by Desarrollo WebAdictos

When two people come together and collaborate with each other to overcome a problem, it is called solidarity. It is a unique value that is based on love, respect and empathy towards others.

How to explain and instill in your children the value of solidarity?

In Mexico we have many real examples of how we have come together to overcome natural disasters; this side by side work arises spontaneously within societies to rise from wars and diseases, but also in smaller circles.

Solidarity can come from anyone and can also be applied to anyone: family, friends, neighbors, even strangers. It comes from the desire to help, and when the goal is achieved, your heart is happy, that is the best reward.

Perhaps your children are very young, and it is difficult for them to understand the meaning of solidarity, that is why the cinema can be a playful tool that helps you in that purpose.

10 movies for children that teach the value of solidarity

1. Finding Nemo (Andrew Stanton, 2003)

Review: Nemo, a small fish, much loved and protected by his father, gets lost outside the Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. After being captured, Nemo ends up in a fish tank in Sydney. His father, a clown fish, sets out to find him and embarks on a dangerous adventure with Dory, a fish with a very short memory span. At the same time, Nemo and his new friends are already hatching a plan to escape from the fish tank.

Teaching: This film teaches many values and solidarity is one of them. Solidarity shows in all the different animals that help Marlin get his son back, but also in the fish that accompany little Nemo in the fish tank and fight together so that he can escape and reunite with his dad.

2. Chain of Favors (Mimi Leder, 2000)

Review: Trevor, an 11-year-old boy, decides to carry out an experiment for his social studies class with the intention of improving the world under a simple premise: he will do a series of favors for three people and, in return, they will return the favor by doing something for three others, and so on. His idea becomes a national phenomenon, which also has profound consequences on his family.

Teaching: The entire film deals with the value of solidarity. A change of life of the characters is proposed through small daily gestures of kindness. Trevor’s simple idea is magnified. If you help three people with something they really need, and those three people return the favor by helping three different people, the chain of solidarity becomes immense. Can you imagine what the world would be like if we all applied that premise?

Chain of favors. Photo: Warner Bros. — Photo: Warner Bros.

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3. French Roast (Fabrice Joubert, 2008)

Review: In a Parisian cafe, a stiff businessman asks for more coffee to hide the fact that he has lost his wallet.

Teaching: This is a short film, only 8 minutes long, but with a very powerful message. A man in a suit is indifferent to what is happening around him, he even refuses to help a homeless man, but he will learn his lesson when he realizes that he forgot his wallet and out of pride, instead of explaining the situation, he complicates it even more. He would never imagine who is going to help him.

French Roast. Photo: Pumpkin Factory — Photo: Pumpkin Factory

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4. Minuscule: The Valley of the Lost Ants (Hélène Giraud, Thomas Szabo, 2014)

Review: A young ladybug befriends a black ant and helps her save her people from a war with red ants.

Teaching: This story does not need dialogues, the sound of nature and the bugs is enough for children to understand the story. It shows in a very didactic way how the ants are organized and how they can achieve many things through the union. The ladybug joins the black ants for a common goal, to get a lump of sugar.

Minuscle. Photo: Amazon Prime Video — Photo: Amazon Prime Video

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5. Kirikou and the Wild Beasts (Michel Ocelot, 2007)

Review: Grandfather, on his throne in the blue grotto, tells us how Kirikou becomes a gardener, detective, potter, merchant, traveler, and a doctor to fight against the sea. The little hero will have to search within himself to find the courage and cunning to succeed.

Teaching: Kirikou’s main virtues are kindness and courage. In this story, children learn what cooperation and solidarity are, but also respect, conservation of the environment, inclusion and interculturality.

Kirikou and the wild beasts Photo: Les Armateurs — Photo: Les Armateurs

6. City of Joy (Roland Joffé, 1992)

Review: In Calcutta, two very different people find understanding in each other: a doctor suffering from a depressive crisis, and a Hindu looking for a job to support his wife and his three young children.

Teaching: It is based on the best seller by Dominique Lapierre. Fate makes a young American doctor, who finds no consolation after the death of a patient, know the poorest areas of Calcutta. Helping others was how he rediscovered himself.

7. Said’s Journey (Coke Riobóo, 2007)

Review: It tells the story of a boy who lives in a coastal town in Morocco and, one day, decides to embark on a journey to that place where everyone believes is the land of opportunities.

Teaching: Although in the beginning it seems that the trip is a great opportunity, the truth is that the new destination is full of tragedies and difficulties. This story makes us reflect on the need to be supportive. Small gestures make us live in a fairer world.

Said's Journey Photo: Jazzy Producciones and Tembleque Producciones — Photo: Jazzy Producciones and Tembleque Producciones

8. The Largest Flower in the World (Juan Pablo Etcheverry, 2008)

Review: A little boy leaves home ready to embark on fantastic adventures, crossing the fields, forests and deserts, until he finds a withered flower that requires his help not to die but grow. The child be rewarded.

Teaching: Based on the book by José Saramago, this film is full of symbols in a world full of individualism, hopelessness and violence. Through it, children learn the meaning of courage, altruism and solidarity. Saramago himself narrates this beautiful fairy tale.

The largest flower in the world Photo: Continental Producciones. — **Photo: Continental *Producciones*.**

9. The Mantis Parable (Josh Staub, 2015)

Review: It is the story of a humble caterpillar, trapped in a collector’s jar, who needs a helping hand.

Teaching: The caterpillar enclosed in a glass jar tries to get out by all means without success. The Mantis decides not to help her, but her luck doesn’t help her and she ends up locked inside the jar herself. Inside, she finally understands the situation the caterpillar is in and realizes her mistake. This film shows us the lack of sensitivity and empathy towards others. Despair and hope. Courage and solidarity.

The Mantis Parable Photo: Filmaffinity — Photo: Filmaffinity

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10. Patch Adams (Tom Shadyac, 1998)

Review: The late 1960s. Hunter Adams volunteers at a mental health hospital. Despite the harsh stories that take place in the center, he has managed to earn the nickname “Patch” (patch) for helping his classmates never lose heart. Shortly after, “Patch” decides to become a doctor and enters the University of Virginia. There, he questions the methods of treating patients with serious illnesses and revolutionizes the world of medicine.

Teaching: The film is based on the true story of a doctor who stood out in the medical community for his original therapies with cancer patients. Through laughter therapy, he got many patients to recover their spirits during their illness. Patch Adams is a white-coated hero who is worth your kids meet.

Patch Adams Photo: Universal Pictures — Photo: Universal Pictures

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version

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Children and technology, why you should find a balance

Posted on 02/09/2021 - 17:59 by Desarrollo WebAdictos

Balance instead of banning: give children alternatives so that they naturally limit the use of technology. Do not condemn devices, seek a balance that helps them participate more of the real world. What do you think about the idea?

Children and technology

Since long before the pandemic, children have been immersed in the technological revolution. They were born into a hyper connected world and, after Covid-19, the use of digital platforms became the means of communication, learning and even socialization par excellence.

There is no turning back, digital tools are here to stay, but now it is up to us as parents to teach the new generations to enjoy the world as much as possible, at least as it was before.

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The ban in China

Recently, in China, the authorities decided to prohibit the use of electronic devices to those under 18 years of age, outside the established hours. The restrictions included any devices like smart phones, and online video game companies cannot provide services to minors after hours. Children in that country can only play one hour a day between 8 and 9 at night, Fridays, weekends and holidays. The measure, announced by the National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA), seeks to curb what the authorities call video game addiction. According to the Chinese government, this addiction is guilty of social illnesses, including distracting young people from their school and family responsibilities.

According to the research, Niños en un mundo digital (Children in a Digital World) carried out by UNICEF, the excessive use of digital technology can contribute to depression and anxiety in children. Although prohibition should never be the approach, we do have to give our children alternatives so that they understand by themselves that the world is better seen with their eyes, not though a screen.

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“Children should be a little hungry, a little cold, and have less technology”

Alejandra Velasco, author of the book Ayuda, tengo hijos (Help, I have children), explains the need for balance in our little ones through a blunt statement: Children should be a little hungry, a little cold and have less technology. “With this, I mean hunger as the desire to do something for themselves. When I was a child, I remember that, for me, the best gift was going on a trip with my family; or if they asked me what I wanted, I had many options, I was hungry to know the world. Now you ask a lot of kids what they want and they say they don’t know”. “Cold means let him struggle a bit. But this is what goes on these days: if his shoes are a little worn, instead of polishing and cleaning them, you say you’ll buy new ones. And the last point is to have less technology, setting limits. Control the hours they watch television or use devices, but giving them alternatives, through consensus”, says the author.

Children require alternatives to technology

According to Velasco, it’s easy for moms to distract their kids with devices. “It’s very easy, really. You have them at home absorbed in the devices; you are tired, or you need to do other things”.

But children are made of imagination, and their creativity must be stimulated. To do this, the parenting expert recommends some measures:

Give them artistic things to do: Whether inside the house or going to lessons (with precaution and hygiene measures), it is important that children explore their artistic side. Painting, crafts, building or even board games (chess, dominoes). “It can be once a week”, adds Velasco.
Children need to play sports: The expert recommends that at least twice a week your little ones do sports or some vigorous physical activity. They have a lot of energy, they need to jump, run, get tired. Exercise will make them feel happy. Don’t miss: What if my partner doesn’t set limits on our children?
Learn to play an instrument: Music is another option. It helps them coordinate their breathing, relax their pulse, learn to concentrate and control their emotions. The power of music puts children in good spirits. Try several instruments or just singing, look for something they like.
Invite them to play: Regardless of Covid-19, we are in a world where children can no longer roam the streets alone safely, as in past generations. However, you can make yourself some time to accompany them.

“For example, after lunch or on the weekend, they will surely want the technology, but give them alternatives. You can tell them to go out and play hide-and-seek or invite them to walk the dog. Set a balance and try to lessen technology. The main point is to reach a middle point in upbringing”.

“It is a constant struggle with the children, but set a timer on it. Kids get into technology and they want to go on and on; there is no end. In the past, we used to go to sleep with a bed time video clip. Now it’s 8, 9, 11… 1 in the morning and there are still cartoons on TV”. They get the iPad and there is always content on YouTube. Remember that you are a mother, and mothers are here to encourage them, not to be permissive with them.

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

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My baby just wants to be with me

Household chores that children should do according to their age

Posted on 31/08/2021 - 10:57 by Desarrollo WebAdictos

Many parents make the mistake of believing that their children’s only responsibility is school, but it has been shown that when children participate in housework from an early age, they get used to having commitments to fulfill. These are some tasks that children can perform according to their age.

Why it is important that children have household chores according to their age

Julie Lythcott-Haims, from Stanford University, author of the book Cómo criar a un adulto (How to raise an adult), assures that by giving children tasks according to their age we increase their chances of success in life, in addition to promoting their participation in the family and we give them a sense of belonging and social cooperation.

“The largest research in humans ever conducted shows that those who were professionally successful in life did chores as children (or had a part-time job in high school)”.

Why?

Because “doing chores around the house teaches a child work ethics. They learn to roll up their sleeves, to collaborate, to do the things that need to be done, even the unpleasant ones, to contribute to a greater whole. That’s what moves them forward in the workplace”, explains Lythcott, who is also an American educator and speaker. “If they are in charge of some tasks like taking out the garbage or organizing the clothes, the children realize that work is part of life.

If, on the other hand, we have children who do not wash even a dish, it means that someone else does the work, so they do not learn that each of us must contribute to improve the functioning of things”, adds the author.

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The gradual process of children acquiring responsibility

Fernando Pineda, psychologist and coach, specialist in child education and upbringing, explains that the process of children to acquire responsibility is gradual, “responsible people are not born, they are made. If we want that our kids learn that value, we must promote it in them from a very young age”, explains the expert.

It is not giving the children excessive tasks, nor preventing them from their main job at this stage (playing), you simply have to give them small tasks to promote the value in them. With organization there is time for everything:

“Playing is a fundamental part of the development of any child, but if we only give them time to play, what do you think will happen when they are older and have to spend six hours learning or working?”

“Having no preparation for making an effort is what causes many children to have difficulty doing their homework and paying attention in class. From a very young age, children must be taught that there is time to play and time to study or work; and the faster and better we do our job, the sooner we can enjoy a game or a break”, says Pineda.

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Montessori Housework Guide

Dr. Maria Montessori, Italian physician and educator, founder of the pedagogical method and philosophy that bears her name, drew up a list of tasks for children according to her age.

Household chores, said the scientist and pedagogue, help the child enhance the development of his motor, psychomotor and sensory abilities.

But that’s not all, they also favor the child’s autonomy, personality and self-esteem, because you let them know that his help is essential to reach the family goal and that makes them feel important.

According to Dr. Montessori

Young children love order and discipline, which leads them to an active, not submissive obedience. Because of the abysmal difference in physical and intellectual development of a two-year-old child and a seven-year-old, they should not carry out the same tasks, and they should learn them step by step, as in a ladder.

“In theory, children acquire responsibilities in steps according to their stage of development. It is evident that the earlier they start, the easier it will be. But if your child is in his second or third stage of development, do not expect to sow the little seed of responsibility immediately. Do not worry, better late than never”, adds the psychologist Fernando Pineda.

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List of house chores according to the age of the children

This list of tasks is suggested by Dr. Maria Montessori

2 to 3 years old

“Many people think that it is impossible to promote responsibilities in early childhood, but from the age of one, simple but effective foundations can be established so that later it becomes more natural for the child to help”, says Pineda.

Pick up his toys and put them away in a box
Put dirty clothes in the laundry hamper
•Help clean up when liquid is spilled
Stretch the duvet on his bed
Throw trash away
Dust
Water the plants with a watering can
Put his books away
Eat by himself
Set (simply) the table

Always guide him. At this stage, probably it will be more difficult for you to finish your chores, but that is fine, remember that the objective is not that they really help you, but that they get used to cooperating. Remember that words must be linked to action. If you tell him to pick up his toys, take his little hands or pass the toy to him so he can take it where it belongs.

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4 to 6 years old

“In the second stage we can already give more responsibility to the child. I recommend going little by little. Please, don’t give them five chores at once, you have to start one by one; and as in the previous stage, we have to teach them how to do it, then we help them do it and finally we allow them to do their chores alone”, adds the psychologist.

These are the tasks suggested by Dr. Montessori:

Tidy up your room
Wash the dishes
Order the cutlery
Unload the dishwasher
Fold clothes (easy ones)
Set or clean the table
Get dressed by himself
Brush his teeth or wash his face by himself
Feed the pet and fill its water bowl
Help prepare simple meals.
Sweep with a broom adequate to his height
Choose his clothes

“At this stage it is important that, as a mother or father, you organize their work because children love routines and once acquired, they will stick to their routine. Of course, when the routine is to do nothing and be messy, they also stick to it. Using timers or timetables for tasks helps a lot”, adds the expert.

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From 7 to 9 years old

Throw the garbage away
Make his bed
Fix salads
Prepare simple meals
Using an alarm clock, get up in the morning independently
Fold his clothes
Prepare his schoolbag
Set the dishwasher
Vacuum the carpet
Mop the floor
Change light bulbs in low lamps

“At this stage, children must also do activities that benefit the other members of the home, not only those that correspond to their personal things or their personal care. This will help move from the natural self-centeredness that children have in the earlier stages”, says the parenting coach.

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Older than 10 years old

Clean and organize a whole bedroom
Wash the dishes
Prepare his food without help
Take care of the garden
Set the washing machine or dryer
Clean the bathroom
Hang out the laundry
Paint a wall
Do the washing up
Iron
Perform simple home repairs
Teach a sibling how to do chores

“In the later stages I also recommend promoting the responsibility of managing and obtaining their own money. Otherwise we are teaching them that parents are a kind of ATM and they only have to stretch their hand to get money”.

“The responsibility of managing money is also acquired gradually. You can give your child an allowance, making it clear that it is neither a prize nor a gift, but rather the positive consequence for helping at home. Giving him a modest and fixed amount is adequate, as long as you don’t give him more if he runs out and teach him to save”.

Psychologist Fernando Pineda

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version

Vaginal discharge during pregnancy, is it normal?

Posted on 30/08/2021 - 19:45 by Desarrollo WebAdictos

Pregnancy causes changes in vaginal discharge. The color, texture, volume and frequency may vary, but you should NOT confuse them with vaginal fluid. In this article we will explain what is normal and what is not.

All women have vaginal secretions

Whether we are pregnant or not, all women have vaginal secretions. They start a little before puberty and stop with the menopause. What is their purpose? Well, they help the vagina be clean, without infections; they are a mixture of cervical mucus and other fluids produced in the vagina itself, the uterus or the cervix. “Vaginal secretions help keep vaginal tissues healthy, provide lubrication, and provide protection against infection and irritation. The amount, color, and consistency of normal vaginal secretions vary: from whitish and sticky to clear and liquid depending on the stage of the reproductive (menstrual) cycle”, explains the Mayo Clinic.

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Every woman is different. Some have discharge from time to time, others have a little daily. The amount varies from woman to woman, and it even changes throughout life. But not all secretions are normal.

Is vaginal discharge normal during pregnancy?

The flow as such is NOT normal (at any time), what are normal are the vaginal secretions. Especially in the second trimester, according to the Mayo Clinic.

During pregnancy it is possible to notice “a sticky, transparent or white vaginal discharge, which is normal”. However, if it has a strong odor, an unusual color (intense green or yellow), or if it is accompanied by pain, discomfort, or itching in the vaginal area could indicate a vaginal infection.

“There should be no discharge during pregnancy. Some women detect cervical mucus, which all women have, but during pregnancy it becomes thicker, a whitish, but there should be no discomfort such as itching, bad smell or burning”.

“The cervical mucus looks thick and stains the panties, that’s it. If vaginal discharge is present, it is a symptom of infection and then we would be talking about another issue that requires medical treatment”, explains Susana Haquet Santana, an academic from the Department of Embryology and Genetics of the Faculty of Medicine, UNAM.

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Why is there vaginal discharge?

Abnormal vaginal discharge has many causes. When the woman is not pregnant, most discharge is relatively harmless (such as vaginal candidiasis or bacterial vaginosis) although they are very uncomfortable. It can also be a symptom of sexually transmitted infections.

But be careful, when the woman is pregnant it is very important that the doctor provides treatment before the baby is born because infections can be transmitted to the baby during childbirth. Your gynecologist will be able to provide you with treatment that will help you against abnormal vaginal discharge and infections, without putting your baby at risk. If you are expecting a baby, never try to solve it on your own with over-the-counter medications, go to your specialist; remember that at this stage we must be very careful with medications.

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If you are at the end of pregnancy, pay attention if there is a sudden increase in mucous vaginal discharge. Pay attention if it is thick and transparent, light yellow or brown, sometimes stained with blood. In this case you could be losing your mucus plug, which indicates the moment of delivery.

Also at the end of pregnancy, be very careful that the secretion you are losing is not amniotic fluid because it is a vital element to protect the baby inside the womb. In all cases, if in doubt, contact your doctor immediately.

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version

Symptoms of pregnancy before a missed period

Posted on 30/08/2021 - 17:41 by Desarrollo WebAdictos

How wonderful it would be to have clear pregnancy symptoms before the period is missed! However, although it is one of the most frequent searches on Google, there are very few signs that could indicate that we are expecting a baby before the absence of menstruation.

Pregnancy symptoms before a missed period

The clearest sign of pregnancy, when we all go for a test, be it home or blood in a laboratory, is the absence of menstruation. But, can I tell you something? The woman’s body begins to prepare itself from the moment of conception.

They are subtle symptoms, most of the time unnoticed, and can be confused with premenstrual symptoms or other external factors. According to Susana Haquet Santana, an academic from the Department of Embryology and Genetics of the Faculty of Medicine, UNAM, the symptoms of pregnancy before the period is absent are very few: “It could be a little pain or tension in the mammary glands. Perhaps a slight nausea”, explains the expert.

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Breast changes

Do you notice something different in your breasts? Are they more sensitive, even hurtful?

“From the beginning, there is a greater secretion of hormones that affects the breasts. Estrogen and progesterone cause the mammary glands to mature; they begin to prepare so that when the baby is born, milk production can occur”.

“This begins from the moment the embryo is implanted, breasts begin to increase in size, you can also feel the painful and sensitive mammary glands. This change can be noticed by women from the beginning”, explains the gynecologist.

A little bleeding

Implantation bleeding, usually defined as staining or light bleeding that occurs 10 to 14 days after conception, is normal and can appear before you even expect your period.

Yvonne Butler Tobah, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic explains: “It occurs when the fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the uterus. Implantation bleeding usually occurs around the time you would expect to have your period, a little earlier. This bleeding is lighter than the one that occurs when menstruating”. But beware, some women do not have implantation bleeding, and in others it goes unnoticed. It is also possible to confuse it with a light menstruation. If this happens, you may not realize you’re pregnant, which can lead to confusion when determining your baby’s due date.

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Sickness

A classic that you see in the movies to refer to pregnancy before the period is missed is nausea. Dr. Mary Marnach, also from the Mayo Clinic, explains that nausea and vomiting during pregnancy are due to the effects of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). “Pregnant women begin to produce HCG soon after the fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus”.

Dr. Susana Haquet, from UNAM, adds, “Nausea occurs before there is a menstrual delay and during the first three months. Especially there is a peak between week 10 and 12″.

But despite the hype in movies, many women never experience nausea. In addition, it is very common to believe that it is because some food has made them sick, which is why the vast majority of women do not perceive them or relate them as such.

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Other possible symptoms of pregnancy before the missed period

In the article Symptoms of pregnancy, what comes first, Mayo Clinic explains some other signs at the beginning of pregnancy, but they are not exclusive to this stage either. Most are due to hormonal changes:

Increased urination: The amount of blood in the body increases during pregnancy, causing the kidneys to process extra fluid that ends up in the bladder.

Fatigue: It is also one of the first symptoms. During the early stages, levels of the hormone progesterone rise, making you feel drowsy.

Mood swings: The rush of hormones can make you feel unusually emotional and tearful.

Bloating: Hormonal changes in early pregnancy can make you feel bloated like you would feel at the beginning of your menstrual period.

Cramps: Some women experience uterine cramps (stinging pain in the lower abdomen).

Constipation: Hormonal changes can cause the digestive system to slow down.

Food aversions (disgust): You may become more sensitive to smells and your sense of taste may change.

Nasal congestion: Also, due to the increase in hormones, it is possible for the mucous membranes of the nose to swell and it can make your nose feel “stuffy”.

Am I really pregnant if I have any of these symptoms?

Here we go again, unfortunately all these signs and symptoms are NOT exclusive to pregnancy, so do not hallucinate, otherwise your doubts and stress may increase.

If you have doubts, the best thing to do is to take a pregnancy test and make an appointment with your doctor to confirm it, rule it out or, in any case, find out the causes of your weird symptoms.

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version: Here

Other notes:
Symptoms of pregnancy before a missed period

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Grandparents’ Day, Day of Wisdom. Congratulations!

Posted on 27/08/2021 - 17:25 by Desarrollo WebAdictos

“If I had known how wonderful it is to have grandchildren, I would have had them first”, says humorously Filiberta Arteaga, grandmother of Luis, Julio, Paola, Mariana, Samantha, Karla, Ximena, Sofia, Miguel, Daniela, Renata, Nicole, Hannia, Julieta and Victoria. “All of them, at different times, have been my joy with their pranks and, although they have grown up, they keep filling my soul. They are a garden of love that grows in the heart”.

Grandmothers and grandfathers are love, understanding, wisdom, dedication and strength. They offer us a priceless treasure. They are a fundamental pillar in the upbringing of their grandchildren; thanks to them many parents can go out to make a living; they transmit experience, tranquility, stability… simply LOVE.

August 28th, Grandparents’ Day

On August 28^th, Grandparents’ Day is celebrated in Mexico. The date is different from the one celebrated in other countries in Latin America or Europe. For example, in Colombia it is celebrated on August 16^th, in Venezuela on May 29^th, in Chile on October 15^th, and in Spain on July 26^th. Anyway, this August 28^th is our Grandparents’ Day, a date that has several possible origins.

The possible origins of Grandparents’ Day

Some people say that it was established on August 28^th since it is the feast of Augustine of Hippo, who lived in the fourth and fifth centuries and is considered the ‘father’ of the Catholic Church. Saint Augustine laid the foundations of Christianity as we know it to these days. It is said that his conversion to Christianity occurred in adulthood, thanks to the influence and prayers of his mother, Santa Monica.

Saint Augustine by Philippe de Champaigne. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Another possible theory is that, in 1957, the Pan-American Congress of Gerontology (scientific discipline that studies aging) was held in Mexico. During the congress, Colombian Guillermo Marroquin Sánchez instituted August 28^th as Grandparents’ Day, and since then in Mexico adopted it.

The most accepted and credible theory is that on August 28^th, 1994, the radio broadcaster Edgar Fernando Gaytan Monzón instituted the date from his radio show “La Hora Azul” in Chihuahua. María Grever’s song Cuando vuelva a tu lado (When I Come Back to Your Side) performed by Eydie Gorme and Los Panchos served as background music and witness to that event.

The Statement that Edgar Gaytan read when establishing Grandparents' Day. Photo: Facebook @edgar.gaytan.585 — The Statement that Edgar Gaytan read when establishing Grandparents’ Day. Photo: Facebook @edgar.gaytan.585

Although in Mexico City there was already a day dedicated to grandparents since 1983, it was not until 1998 that August 28^th was instituted as the Day of the Elderly. Interesting, isn’t it?

Phrases to reflect and dedicate to your grandparents

They are full of wisdom.

1. “A grandmother is a person with silver in her hair and gold in her heart”, anonymous.

2. “There are parents who do not love their children, but there is no grandparent who does not adore his grandchildren”, Victor Hugo

3. “One of the most powerful handshakes is given by the new grandchild on the finger of his grandparent”, anonymous.

4. “We should all have a person who knows how to bless us despite the evidence. My grandfather was that person for me”, Phyllis Theroux.

5. “One of the joys of being a grandfather is to see the world again through the eyes of a child”, David Suzuki.

6. “It is natural that we often feel closer to distant generations than those immediately preceding us”, anonymous.

7. “Perfect love sometimes doesn’t come until the first grandchild”, English proverb.

8. “A grandmother is a wonderful mother with many years of practice”.

9. “A grandfather is an old man on the outside but still a child on the inside”, anonymous.

10. “Some of the best educators in the world are grandparents”, Charles W. Shedd.

11. “Grandparents are there to help the child get into mischief they haven’t thought of yet”, Gene Perret.

12. “When grandparents walk through the door, discipline flies out the window”, Ogden Nash.

13. “My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty years old. She’s ninety-seven years old now, and we don’t know where the hell she is”, Ellen DeGeneres.

14. “Every generation rebels against their parents and makes friends with their grandparents”, Lewis Mumford.

15. “A grandmother is a mother who has a second chance”, anonymous.

16. “The grandparents, like the heroes, are as necessary for the growth of children as vitamins”, Joyce Allston.

17. “For a little boy, the perfect grandpa isn’t afraid of big dogs or fierce storms, but he is absolutely terrified of the word ‘boo’”, Robert Brault.

18. “Your daily life is better understood if you know the history of your grandparents”, anonymous.

19. “Grandmothers are voices from the past, role models from the present, open doors to the future”, Helen Ketchum.

20. What children need most are those that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, life lessons. And most important, cookies”, Rudy Giuliani.

21. “Beautiful young people are accidents of nature. But the beautiful old ones are works of art”, Marjory Barslow-Greenbie.

22. “My grandfather has the wisdom of an owl and the heart of an angel”, anonymous.

23. “No one can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents drop stardust on the lives of young children”, Alex Haley.

24. “The reason why grandparents and grandchildren get along so well is that they have a common enemy”, Sam Levenson.

25. “There is no accomplice in our lives more beautiful than a grandfather; in him we have a father, a teacher and a friend”, Leticia Yamashiro.

Congratulations to grandparents on your day! Photo: PxFuel

Translated by: Ligia Mabel Oliver Manrique de Lara

10 frequently asked questions about pregnancy

Posted on 26/08/2021 - 16:19 by Desarrollo WebAdictos

When we get pregnant or trying to get pregnant, many questions come to mind. When do we have to go to the doctor? How much weight did we gain? Can we know if we are pregnant before the period is missing? It is time to clear the most frequently doubts about pregnancy.

Frequent questions in pregnancy:

1. Is it possible to detect pregnancy before the period is missed?

The gynecologist Susana Haquet Santana, academic of the Department of Embryology and Genetics of the Faculty of Medicine, of the UNAM answers, “There could be a little pain or tension in the mammary glands. Maybe a slight nausea, but there are no other symptoms before the missed period.

2. When is it advisable to go to the doctor?

“The ideal is to go before pregnancy. If a woman is trying to get pregnant, I think she should start seeing her gynecologist about six months earlier”.

“Both man and woman should have laboratory tests done, take their blood pressure, analyze the risk factors they have for a normal pregnancy, or detect the risk of any pregnancy disease such as diabetes, preeclampsia and depression. It is good to take prenatal vitamins that contain folic acid and iron before trying to get pregnant”.

3. Why do you feel so sleepy during pregnancy?

“During pregnancy the metabolism increases and the body stores cholesterol, glucose, etc. Yes, there is some tiredness and sleep. This is because the metabolism is saving up. Progesterone also increases in levels, so you feel sleepy”.

4. Why does nausea occur? Can it be avoided?

“Nausea occurs since the beginning of pregnancy, even before there is a menstrual delay and goes on during the first three months. It occurs because the pregnancy hormone (human chorionic gonadotropin hormone or hCG) increases too much and peaks between weeks 10 and 12. That is what makes us very nauseated”.

“It can be avoided by removing highly seasoned and fatty foods. Broths also cause a lot of nausea, chicken broth, for example. The ideal would be to take a dry diet, fruit, toast, etc. And try to eat small meals, at least five times a day to not have an empty stomach, but not overloaded either. Crackers can help and there are doctor-prescribed medications that can help as well”.

5. Is vaginal discharge normal during pregnancy?

“There should be no discharge during pregnancy. Some women detect cervical mucus, which all women have, but during pregnancy it becomes thicker, whitish, but there should be no discomfort such as itching, bad smell, or burning. The cervical mucus may stain the panties, it looks thick, but that’s it. If vaginal discharge occurs, it is a symptom of infection that requires medical treatment”.

6. Why do breasts grow during pregnancy?

“Breast swelling also starts from the beginning of pregnancy. The increase in estrogen and progesterone causes the mammary glands to mature, then they begin to get ready for the child birth and milk production can occur”.

This begins in the moment the embryo is implanted, and this increase in estrogen and progesterone causes the breasts grow in size and may feel painful and sensitive. Obviously the change is well noticed by the woman since the beginning of pregnancy. In the end, from week 36.

7. How much weight should a woman gain during pregnancy?

According to Mayo Clinic there is no single approach to weight gain during pregnancy and it depends on several factors such as the woman’s weight before getting pregnant and her body mass index.

Women with normal weight can put on between 17 and 25 kilograms, overweighed ones between 14 and 23 kilos and obese women between 11 and 19 kilos. In general, an increase between 10 and 15 kilos is considered healthy.

At the beginning there is very little gain. Most pregnant women gain one to five pounds throughout the first trimester, and then a pound a week for the rest of the pregnancy. It is important that they eat a balanced diet, rich in nutrients.

8. When do I start to feel my baby?

“Midway through your pregnancy, or as early as 18 weeks after conception, you may feel your baby move (first fetal movements). The baby sleeps and wakes regularly. He can be woken up by noises or your movements. At this point, the baby could measure about 6 inches (160 millimeters) from crown to rump, and weigh more than 11 ounces (320 g)”, says Mayo Clinic.

9. What complications are there during pregnancy?

The National Institute of Health explains that the most frequent complications (that should be monitored) are high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, infections, preeclampsia, premature labor and risk of pregnancy loss or miscarriage.

10. How do I recognize contractions?

During the last few months of pregnancy, you may have the occasional, sometimes painful sensation of your uterus contracting and relaxing, known as a contraction. “These are called Braxton-Hicks contractions”.

To tell the difference between Braxton-Hicks contractions and true labor, the Mayo Clinic recommends: Calculate the time of the contractions from the beginning of one to the beginning of the next.

Look for a regular pattern, they progressively get stronger and more regular. False labor contractions are irregular.

How long do they last? Figure out the duration of each contraction. True contractions last between 30 and 70 seconds.

Do the contractions stop? True contractions keep going regardless of activity level or position. With false labor, contractions may stop when you walk, rest, or change positions.

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version: Here