The Happenings During the Pregnancy Period

If you are pregnant for the first time, you should know more about the pregnancy period: all the dos and don’t, as well as the happenings you should expect throughout your pregnancy.

The pregnancy period is divided into 3 trimesters: first trimester (week 1 through 12); second trimester (week 13 through 26), and third trimester (week 27 through 40). A full-term pregnancy is actually 38 and not 40 weeks (why not: conception generally occurs 2 weeks after the first day of your period).

    

The First Trimester

 The Happenings

    

Conception takes place (week 1).

Breakthrough bleeding may happen (week 2-3) (why: fertilized egg becomes embedded in the lining of the uterus).

The breasts feel fuller and more tender (week 5-6) (why: stimulation of milk-producing glands). The nipples become darker with bluish veins (why: increase of blood supply to breasts).

Morning sickness (week 6-7) may occur. Morning sickness that begins in the first trimester may last until early second trimester. It is generally not harmful to the baby unless you have the following:

You vomit blood.

You have lost several pounds.

You vomit as soon as you drink even water.

You vomit well past the fourth month of pregnancy.

The dos and don’ts of morning sickness

Do suck a slice of fresh ginger in your mouth on rising every morning or any time you feel sick.

Do get sufficient sleep.

Do eat small meals.

Do eat more cold foods (why: they are less aromatic and therefore less likely to trigger vomiting).

Do eat more carbohydrates.

Do get a higher dose of vitamin B6 (50 milligrams).

Do get acupressure wristbands from the Internet (why: they are worn to overcome seasickness).

Don’t let yourself become hungry.

Don’t get out of bed too quickly; stretch yourself first before getting out of bed.

Don’t stress out; avoid any time stress.

The skin around the nipples begins to grow darker (week 6-7) (why: blood supply to the breasts increases significantly).

The waistband becomes tighter (week 8-9) (why: the uterus doubles in size).

Anxiety and irritability may develop for no apparent reason (why: change in hormones); hands and feet become warmer (why: increase in blood volume); dehydration becomes more frequent (why: extra fluids are needed by the uterus) (week 9-10).

The body weight may have increased by 2 to 3 pounds (week 10-11).

The risk of miscarriage is reduced by approximately 65 percent (week 12).

The Second Trimester

The Happenings

    

Most discomforts experienced in the first trimester should disappear by the second trimester.

Constipation may become more frequent (why: higher level of progesterone may affect muscles of the intestine; growing size of the uterus affects bowel movements). Do drink more water, and eat more fruits with fiber, such as apples (week 14).

Baby begins to move (week 16-20).

Perspiration may become more common (why: weight of the uterus increases, affecting body movements).

Dark patches of skin may develop on the face (week 17-18).

Breasts start leaking colostrums, the baby’s first food (why: the moisturizing substance protects the nipples during breastfeeding) (week 20-23).

Indigestion and heartburn may develop (why: larger and heavier abdomen may affect the digestive system) (week 22-23). Do take smaller meals with snacks; take a walk after meals.

Backache, pressure in the pelvis, cramps in the leg may occur (week 24-25). Do be mindful of posture, and do get plenty of sleep.

Stretch marks begin to develop around the breasts and abdomen (week 26-27). Do rub coconut oil on breasts and abdomen.

The Third Trimester

The Happenings

Discomfort in the ribcage may occur (why: the uterus is pushing up against the bottom of the ribcage, forcing the ribcage to spread out) (week 28-30).

Varicose veins may be formed (why: pressure is exerted on veins from legs to the heart) (week 28-30).

Episodes of forgetfulness or lack of concentration may occur (why: preoccupation with childbirth) (week 30).

Backache may intensify (why: change in the center of gravity) (week 31)

Better digestion and breathing may result as the baby gets into the head-down position (week 32).

Hands and feet become swollen (why: due to fluid retention in the body). Do wear loose-fitting clothing (week 33).

Aches and pains may occur in the pelvis area (why: due to hormone relaxation and increase in baby’s size) (week 34-35).

Hardening (about 30 seconds) and relaxing of the uterus becomes increasingly frequent (week 36-37).

Anxiety and depression may occur (why: due to physical discomfort and worry about the forthcoming childbirth) (week 38).

The uterus is taking up all the space in the pelvis and a great deal of room in the abdomen (week 39).

During the final phase of the third trimester, the body weight normally plateaus; some weight loss may even occur.

Smart Learning Environment

A smart baby needs a smart learning environment to learn

Most real learning in the first year occurs within the context of ordinary everyday life. It doesn’t require formal training; it is a natural consequence of everyday experience. Be that as it may, to maximize your baby’s learning potentials, you need to create an enriched learning and teaching environment. The typical American child, however, does not live in an enriched environment: he spends hours watching television or playing electronic toys; he is often engaged in self-directed play, instead of interactive and imaginative play with his parents.

An enriched learning and teaching environment for babies and children to reach their maximum intellectual potentials includes the following:

Your baby needs to spend time in a safe, secure, and quiet environment.

Your baby needs a dimly lit environment to see better; use only 40-watt or less light-bulbs in the nursery.

Your baby needs freedom of movement; use the crib or playpen sparingly.

Your baby needs age-related toys and art materials.

Your baby needs new things to look at all the time.

Your baby needs regular contacts with adults, especially eye contacts.

Your baby needs smiles, as well as friendly and affirmative words.

Is Your Baby Ready to Play and Learn?

There are some obvious physical changes and signs if your baby is good and ready to play and learn.

Your baby needs good rest before he can play and learn. Adequate rest avoids mood swings and improves the brain function in your baby.

Your baby’s breathing is always slow and even, with a relaxed abdomen, if he wants to play and learn.

Your baby sucking rate also slows down considerably.

Your baby’s attention focuses on the source of stimulation, his fingers and toes fanning with excitement towards it, as well as his pupils dilating and his eyes widening.

On the other hand, your baby may show signs of overstimulation when he cries and squirms, flailing his arms and legs, and even thrusting out his tongue.

Good parenting means providing an enriched learning environment for babies and children to learn while playing. A study conducted at the University of Chicago found out that some accomplished adults, such as distinguished athletes, musicians, mathematicians, and scientists all had parents who shared certain outlooks about enriched environment in which they were raised and reared.

They all unintentionally produced a prodigy

They all encouraged their children to play and to explore the world.

They all stimulated and motivated their children through playing and learning.

They were all dedicated to their own interests, and encouraged their children to do likewise, but without pushing them in that direction.

They all supported their children’s self-chosen interests, and made their passion a top priority.

They all encouraged their children to have independent thinking, and to think for themselves through curiosity and asking questions.

The key to successful parenting is to provide an enriched environment for learning while playing, as well as for recognizing talents and potentials that may or may not be the skills and abilities you value most. Praising your baby’s efforts and his accomplishments strengthens your baby’s neurological connections between activity and emotional 

Bottom line: the more your baby enjoys spending time with you as he explores the world, the more motivated he will become, and the more he will learn. Relax, loosen up, and always look at the environment and the world through your baby’s eyes, rather than those of your own. It is just that simple.

Sustained Drive and Curiosity

It is important to maintain and sustain the learning and teaching process of your baby. According to novelist John Steinbeck, a genius is “a child chasing a butterfly up a mountain”; let your baby’s curiosity be the butterfly and let his learning environment be the mountain. 

Also, visit my new website: Health and Wisdom Tips.

Stephen Lau

Copyright© by Stephen Lau

How to Solve Reading Problems in the United States

WHY IS THERE A READING PROBLEM IN THE UNITED STATES?

The United States is the most affluent and technologically advanced of all the industrial nations on earth. With its “free” compulsory education for all, a network of state-owned and state-operated teachers’ training colleges, strict teacher certification requirements, and more money and resources dedicated to education than any other nation on earth, the appalling illiteracy rate of the country is a disgrace to educators. Teaching children to read should be the foremost responsibility of all parents. Well, sometimes you cannot blame the parents, because they themselves may be poor readers to begin with—it is something like the blind leading the blind.

Even if parents are educated, they may not want to spend quality time with their children. It is not surprising to find some parents with the notion that their only parental responsibility is to bring their children into this world, leaving them to fend for themselves in matters of education and learning, or simply relegating the intellectual well-being of their children to their teachers.

In addition, many people may erroneously believe that in this day and age, information can be readily obtained from the visual media, such as the television, such that there is little need to turn to the written word, and hence the general indifference to developing reading skills.

WHO SHOULD TEACH CHILDREN TO READ?

Reading should always begin at home, and parents should be children's first teachers. Ideally, teaching children to read should be the joint efforts of both parents and teachers. It has always been a wrong presumption that teachers alone should do the teaching of reading and that teaching should be conducted only at school. Contrary to popular belief, educational researchers have found that important aspects of intellectual behavior are often acquired at home rather than at school.

Parenthood is not just a moment; it is an ongoing process. It would be wrong for parents to assume that they could ease their responsibility of teaching once their children attend school. At best, the nursery or kindergarten should be an adjunct to, not a substitute for, the home and the role of parents.

Since parents teach their children to talk, it is only natural that they should teach them to read as well. If parents think they should educate their children, they should shoulder the responsibility of teaching their children to read. To teach their children to read and write is the greatest gift and enjoyment of all parents. If you do not enjoy your child, why did you bother having one in the first place?

WHY CAN ALL PARENTS TEACH THEIR CHILDREN TO READ?

Parents, who are interested in their children's intellectual development and who are responsive to their children's interest in printed language can teach basic reading skills. They not only can but also must if they want their children to become early and proficient readers. Children are born learners; and parents are natural teachers and main educators of their children in reading and writing in their early years. Parents do not need a course in reading instruction before they can effectively teach reading and writing. Parents often have the following advantages over their teachers:

They understand much better the temperamental climate of their own children—their interests in certain activities and their readiness to learn.

They can provide consistently daily reinforcement in developing their reading skills—something that may not be possible at school.

They can afford the one-on-one relation with them, which is virtually impossible in the classroom.

They can create a learning environment that makes learning easy and possible, since parents already provide for them all of their basic daily needs.

29 Smart Steps to Teach Your Smart Kid to Read

  

This 117-page is based on how I taught my daughter to read some 30 years ago.  She learned how to read at two-and-a-half. If I could do that, so could you -- what you need is the how.

Stephen Lau

Copyright© by Stephen Lau

Do You Want Your Smart Baby Becoming Super Smart?

Make Your Smart Baby Super Smart

Is this book right for you? Just look at what this book is all about. This book covers the following:

• The wisdom of smart parents: understanding the baby’s vision, hearing, sensitive skin, sense of taste and smell; knowing the baby and knowing the self. 
• Knowing the baby’s brain: how the baby learns and remembers.
• Enhancing the baby’s learning environment.
• Sustaining the baby’s drive and curiosity to learn.
• Stimulating through repetitions and discipline.
• Understanding the baby’s emotional development
• Knowing what toys to buy, and what play activities to engage in.
• Teaching artistic skills, math and science capabilities, and languages
• Overcoming many challenges. 

Stephen Lau