The frequency of the fetal ultrasound scans which you have during your pregnancy can vary, due to whether there is some cause for concern or any possible complications. The general rule is 2 or possible 3. You will usually have a fetal ultrasound scan at around 20 weeks of the gestational age of the unborn child, which is when many people choose to find out whether they are expecting a son or a daughter. By 20 weeks you can generally distinguish between the different body parts and features of the child, although sometimes it is still difficult for the untrained eye. If you were to have an ultrasound scan every month, the pictures would clearly show how the unborn child grows and develops throughout that time.

During the first two months, though your hormones are changing and you may begin to feel pregnant, the baby will only measure between 0.1 and 0.2 mm by week four, and by the end of month two your unborn baby becomes an embryo with a heart beat. A fetal ultrasound picture should show that the child measures around 8 - 11mm, but you will find it difficult to see which way up it is. By month three the baby will begin to move around, but you won't feel anything. It should measure around 90mm long, with a head around half the total size of the body with large, wide open eyes.

The baby should have grown to around 16 cms by month four, and it is sometimes able to detect the gender, although you need to wait longer to be more accurate. The fingers and the toes begin to form by month five, and it may be possible to feel the baby moving around inside you, which should measure around 25cms. An ultrasound picture at five months will certainly look more like a baby! This is when you can often (but not always) reading of the gender of the baby, and the scan which very many expectant parents look forward to.

By the sixth month, although still very early, some babies born at this time have survived, even though they probably weigh only about 600 grams. Over the next few weeks your baby should grow up to around 35 cms and will be running out of room to move around freely. The baby may start to move towards the birth canal ready for the birth. It is sometimes difficult to get a clear ultrasound picture at this time, but if you can it will clearly show the tiny fingers and finger nails. It might even show your baby with a head of hair, although it is also quite usual to have a baby which is completely bald.

Your baby might be born within two weeks either side of the expected due date (determined from an early ultrasound scan!). You will then be able to take plenty of photographs of your newborn child, but hopefully you'll already have started the family album well before then.

At Adorable Baby 3D/4D Ultrasound, you are able to "meet" your unborn baby! We use brand new 3D and 4D ultrasound technology so that you can actually see your baby in live 4D motion while in your womb.To book an appointment call 925-522-5700 http://www.adorablebaby3d.com Article by Nichole Clark

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While drinking more water is a good idea for everyone,
especially during hot summer months, too much water can be
harmful to infants 6 months old and younger. According to a
study in Clinicians Reviews a 1997 survey of new mothers
found that nearly 25 percent give their babies water at
least 3 times per week in the first month of life.

Water intoxication is rare in children and adults who are
able to judge their own water needs by thirst and activity.
But babies are not able to do this. Also, the kidneys of
newborns filter more slowly than those of older infants,
causing sodium levels in the blood to be diluted.

According to doctors, 24 cases of water intoxication were
reported at the St. Louis Children's Hospital in the years
1989 to 1991. The problem seems to be increasing since only
10 cases were reported from 1985 to 1988. In the cases
reported the otherwise healthy babies were 4 to 5 months old
and drank three 8-oz. bottles of water within 6 to 12 hours.

Symptoms of water intoxication include pale urine, using
more than 8 diapers a day, and baby sleeping more than usual
and being difficult to wake up.

Mothers should be advised that healthy infants get all the
water they need in breast milk or formula.

A baby can get water intoxication as a result of drinking
several bottles of water a day or from drinking infant
formula that has been diluted too much.

Water fills baby without adding calories, so water
supplementation can result in weight loss or insufficient
weight gain for the baby.

Pediatricians advise feeding babies 2 to 3 oz. more than
their age in months at each feeding. For example, babies 4
months old would be fed 6 to 7 oz. three times a day. More
than 8 oz. at any one feeding rarely necessary. The usual
proportions of milk to water should be about two-thirds milk
to one-third water. With these proportions, the baby
receives about 8 oz of water equally spaced over a 24 hour
period. If the formula is diluted, mild should not be less
than 50 percent.

Only around seven months of age, when baby has started
eating solid foods, should a little water be introduced in a
cup.

Water intoxication can be prevented by following your
physicians instructions.

For more information on water and it's healthy benefits for
old and young alike: http://www.apluswriting.net/health/babywater.htm

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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
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Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
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When you hold a newborn baby, in so many ways it appears to be tiny and helpless. It's hard to believe that a baby is in fact a highly developed being. Perhaps they haven't learnt how to put everything together yet, but all the building blocks are there, just waiting to be put to use.

One of the most amazing things about a baby is the amount of instinctive reflexes a baby has. A health professional will check these reflexes, because their presence shows that baby's central nervous system is working properly.

These reflexes exist to help nurture your baby, as well as protect him. Most reflexes last only for the first few weeks, and will gradually be replaced by voluntary, controlled movements as baby's development progresses.

Search Reflex

If you gently touch your baby's cheek with a finger or breast, baby will instinctively turn that way and open his mouth, ready for food. After about 12 weeks this reflex disappears, which is probably just as well! Mind you, sometimes when a toddler is being fussy about food, mouth closed, arms crossed, it would be nice to gently tap him on the cheek with the spoon and watch his mouth open.

Sucking Reflex

Another reflex designed to help nurture your baby. If you place a clean finger in baby's mouth, he will start to suck on it. This sucking reflex is essential for feeding in the early months, although by the time solids are introduced it has usually disappeared. Sucking can also help a baby to relax - both my babies used to love sucking on one of my knuckles when they were a bit cross or tired - they found it very soothing.

Grasp Reflex

We've all tried this one - put your finger in the palm of baby's hand, and he will instinctively grasp it. Babies will do this up until about 3 months old.

Crawling Reflex

When you lay baby on his stomach, he will bend his legs and poke his bottom in the air - the crawling position. Baby will continue to do this for a couple of months, after which he will be able to lie flat on his stomach.

Walking Reflex

If you life a baby upright, and let his feet touch the floor, his legs will start to make a walking motion. Many babies do this for the first month or so. Be very careful though - baby's neck muscles are still very weak, and his head should also be supported in an upright position. Once this reflex disappears, baby won't be ready to try walking again until around the 12-month mark.

Diving Reflex

I'm not sure I'm keen to test this one, but babies have a diving reflex. If your baby is placed in water, either at birth or later in a swimming pool, his throat will automatically close so that he can't swallow any water. So baby won't drown if born in water, and is in fact a natural swimmer. Usually this reflex lasts for about 2 months, although it can be extended if you regularly take baby swimming.

Babinski's Reflex

If you stroke the sole of baby's foot, his big toe will curl up, while his other toes will spread out. I'm not sure why baby does this, although personally I think it's an early stage of being ticklish! Babies will do this automatically for up to two years.

So there you have it - far from being little blobs that have yet to learn how to do very much, babies are in fact fascinatingly developed. So I hope this article helps you to appreciate all the hidden qualities of your baby.

For more fascinating baby information, visit Info About Baby You can sign up for a FREE Baby Tips newsletter at Baby Tips Newsletter. The author's book about babies is available at Baby's First Year [http://www.baby.learnheaps.com]

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Being a mother of a child with sensitive skin, I often find myself wondering about the rashes my son will sometimes have. There is nothing worse than the feeling of helplessness that you can feel when you do not know what is wrong with your child. For a mother's peace of mind, here are some of the most common skin rashes:

Baby Acne - This is due to the mother's hormones and looks like pimples. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for this, and you just need to wait it out. Baby acne can last for a couple days up to a couple months.

Erythema toxicum - This rash looks like mosquito bites. This is another rash that has no treatment. The causes for this rash are unknown.

Little White Bumps - These are caused by blocked oil glands. When the glands enlarge (which can take a few days up to a few weeks), the white bumps will disappear.

Salmon patches - These are sometimes called stork bites or angel kisses. They are often found at the back of the neck or even sometimes between the eyes. They tend to fade away on their own after a few weeks or months.

Mongolian spots - These are common in dark-skinned babies. They almost look like a bruise and are flat. They are caused by some pigment that didn't make it to the top layer when baby's skin was being formed. These harmless spots usually fade away by school age.

Cradle cap - This shows up usually at1-2 months of age. Yellowish crusts appear on the scalp and can also include a red, irritating rash on the face, behind the ears, on the neck, and even in the armpits. Depending on your baby's symptoms, your doctor can direct you how to proceed.

Eczema - This is red, itchy patches on the skin. You often will see it on your baby's chest, arms, legs, face, elbows, and behind the knees. It is caused by dry, sensitive skin, and sometimes even allergies. Your doctor can determine if the rash looks like eczema and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

Prickly heat - This looks like small red bumps and will show up on areas of your baby's body that tend to overheat and sweat like the neck, diaper area, and armpits. The treatment is to try to keep the area dry and avoid overheating.

Candidiasis - This is a fungal infection and can show up in different ways. It is called thrush when it is on the tongue and looks like dried milk that can't be scraped off. In the diaper area, it looks like an intense red rash. Candidiasis can be treated with antifungal oral gel, liquid medicine, or antifungal cream (or a combination of all three).

Sometimes, your baby's rash isn't caused by any of these (though, these are the most common reasons for a rash). If your child has sensitive skin (like my son has), sometimes the changes you have to make have to do with the fabrics that touch your child's skin. All diapers are not created equal and not all fabrics will affect your child's skin the same. My own doctor recommended when we were having breakouts that we find the softest material we could find and put him in that. That is when fabrics like bamboo come into play. It is hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, and has natural wicking abilities that make it super absorbent. It also has no chlorine, no formaldehyde, and is pesticide free.

Parenting is a tough job. Sometimes it is hard to know what is normal and what is not when it comes to rashes. This is a list of the most common baby rashes you may encounter and how to treat them.

Douglas Michaels Jr. writes educational articles for Green Earth News, the authority on everything Bamboo. For more information on Baby Rashes. Check out Green Earth Bamboo for bamboo sheets, bamboo baby, duvet covers, clothing and bamboo bath towels, all made from the world's most sustainable and renewable resource on the planet.

On January 28th NBC announced it was pulling its new reality series The Baby Borrowers from its mid-season schedule and replacing it with My Dad's Better Than Your Dad, a new family competition series. This makes Baby Borrowers the second unscripted, kid-centric series to drop into scheduling limbo. CBS's Kid Nation 2 is also in the can and ready to air, but both shows are being held back despite the demand for new programming created by the 3 month old writers strike. What's up?

NBC's The Baby Borrowers is a version of a UK show that premiered on BBC 3 in January, 2007. The premise was controversial from the start: 5 teenage couples attempt to look after a baby (between 6 and 11 months) for three days, then a toddler, a pre-teen, teenagers and finally an elderly person. Pundits slammed the concept as child exploitation and a significant risk to the babies and toddlers involved. The criticism was muted by the revelation that the teens were "under 24-hour supervision by nannies and the real parents who are stationed next door, watching via monitor, and able to step in at any time."

CBS, anticipating the same type of criticism for Kid Nation, said nothing about its series until a season was in the can. The moment the press release for the series went out, media criticism of the premise began, exacerbated by an insider leak that one of the Kids required medical attention during shooting after drinking bleach. The controversy mounted as the premier date approached, with the New York Times weighing in and various state governments announcing they were examining their child labor laws to prevent Kid Nation 2 or similar series from shooting in their jurisdiction. What wasn't reported was that Kid Nation 2 was cast before episode 1 of season 1 had even aired and was already in post-production by the time the Kid Nation season 1 finale aired Dec. 12th.

Why, at a time when new unscripted programming is desperately needed to fill in the scheduling gaps created by a now 3 month long halt in the production of scripted shows, are these 2 shows still not scheduled to air?

Could it be ratings? CBS has never officially renewed Kid Nation. The show was consistently beaten by Deal or No Deal and the one true scripted hit of the fall 2007 season, Pushing Daisies. That said, ratings can't have anything to do with NBC's decision to hold back a show that has never aired.

Could it be quality? If it were, we'd know - test audiences have notoriously loose lips.

Could it be strategy? Probably. Because both series appeal to the same demographic, the schedulers may be playing chicken, with NBC wanting to run Baby Borrowers against KD2 in an effort kill it off for good. Also, the original UK Baby Borrowers was accompanied by two spin offs; The Baby Borrowers: Compilation, a clip show that ran highlights from the previous week, and The Baby Borrowers: Friends and Family, which put the camera on the teenage couples' loved ones for their reactions.

Whatever it is, there is an audience for both, and one can't imagine both series won't see the light of day sometime before the end of the May sweeps.

Lyle Burwell, President, VPTV, The Directory of Viewer Participation TeleVision. VPTV tracks application and audition information for all North American, English, viewer participation programming.

Brand: Rare Editions

Brand: Nike

After discovering you are pregnant, an overwhelming amount of questions pop into your mind. How you will you educate your baby is one of the myriad of questions you will have. Some parents choose to utilize tools such as video tapes and toys to help their babies learn, while others prefer personal interaction. It is important to consider how the human mind develops so you provide your baby an educational experience which is relevant to her level of development.

A 2-month-old baby spends most of their time eating or sleeping, and really won't have much interest in rudimentary arithmetic no matter what the people trying to sell you the videos may say. There are things that will engage your baby's interest and help him develop his or her brain and senses, however.

Firstly, young babies love faces. Your mouth moves and makes sounds, your eyes blink, your cheeks can puff out, your head can nod, and shake, and your tongue can move in and out. For baby, this is the best toy ever invented. For you, it is the most affordable educational toy ever invented. The words you speak, their inflection and intonation, all attract the baby's interest as well. This is still the best education your baby can get in spite of the fact your baby is still quite a long way away from. Faces are fundamental to the human social world, and your baby will spend the rest of his or her life trying to interpret facial expressions. Forget all those dopey videos, the best educational entertainment for your baby is to watch your face and watch and hear you speak.

It is impossible to spend all your waking time talking to your baby and entertaining him. Most parents hang a mobile over baby's crib. This kaleidoscope of shapes and colors engages their attention and hones the connections between their eyes and brain. It is possible for babies to get bored just like everyone else. You will want to change the appearance of the mobile, or maybe replace it with another mobile, at intervals. The changes can be small or large. For example, of baby's mobile has horses, you can tie bows around their neck one day and bells the next.

When your baby can sit upright for long periods of time without falling over, it's a great time to get a set of blocks. These blocks have to be small enough that your baby can hold them but big enough that they won't try to swallow them. A good game to play with baby is "stack and tumble." You stack the blocks, and your baby is charged with the task of knocking the blocks over. How many blocks can be stacked before baby knocks them down. This may seem rather pointless to you, but baby is learning something absolutely fundamental: cause and effect. This simple experiment says to baby: when I do something, it causes something to happen.

Baby eduction is quote simple, ultimately. Elaborate 'educational' videotapes are not needed; babies need to develop the basic connection between their senses and their brains.

David Cummings is a devoted husband and regular author on many topics. He is committed to helping parents create better family time and to working with children's organizations. David is also the General Manager for BustlingBaby.com - a company offering products for active parents and babies, such as baby travel systems and baby strollers

• Material: [Shell] fleece; [Palm] fleece
• Windproof: No
• Waterproofing:
• Weight:
• Recommended Use: Winter wear
• Manufacturer Warranty: 30 Days

Brand: Outside Baby

Two important baby scrapbook ideas to bear in mind are physical changes and milestones. First smiles, first roll over and crawl, first words and gestures are all priceless and need to be recorded quickly before the infant advances to toddler hood (which could be a whole other scrapbook and will happen in what will appear to be the blink of an eye)!

Here are some baby scrapbook ideas, which will help you organize your material.

1. Begin the baby scrapbook journey during your pregnancy.

Start with photos from baby showers and early ultrasounds. Include doctor's visits and the actual delivery day. What was the weather like? Anything else special happen on that day? (Of course, there couldn't be anything more special than baby's arrival into the world.) Who was present at the birth? Doctors, nurses, visitors? Record it for all time in your baby scrapbook.

2. Focus on the first year of life.

Some things should be written down for the sake of posterity, like weight and length at birth for example. You might also want to include color of eyes and hair, time of birth, doctor's name and how long you were in labor. Other baby scrapbook ideas will come to you as you progress in your project such as perhaps, the price of gas, houses and cars at the time of birth and information on the family tree.

3. Use photos to indicate milestones.

Take photos every day of the first month of life and then once a month next to a large stuffed animal. Keep a list of events connected to each month until the baby is a year old. Take pictures of different looks and moods; happiness, sadness and don't forget the most adorable moments of sleeping time. Don't be afraid to take too many pictures, as that can never happen in the endless search for baby scrapbook ideas.

4. The baby scrapbook must reflect emotion.

You want to smile and maybe even cry whenever you look at your baby scrapbook. The way to insure this is to pick those topics to write about that cannot help but evoke special feelings even when viewed years later. Some baby scrapbooking ideas might include: how the baby got his or her name, what does the name mean, how often did he or she cry, where did he or she sleep, did the baby sleep through the night and how did the little one react around people? Have other close relatives and friends write their feelings about these events on a special page designated for this purpose.

5. Decorate your baby scrapbook with items that are baby-related.

Although this may seem obvious, it's still a good baby scrapbooking idea to keep in mind while trying to capture as many feelings and memories about past happiness. Use stickers and ribbons. Keep trinkets and mementos, even things like wrapping paper from special presents. Capture all these moments of baby's first year with pictures and journaling. One baby scrapbooking idea for use of ribbons could involve cutting a journaling block into strips and then tying a ribbon in a bow to the left end of the first strip, then the right end of the second strip etc. Still another effective baby scrapbooking idea for ribbon might involve scraps, which could be made into bows and used to cover a spiral binding.

Don't forget real mementos, such as a clip of hair from baby's first haircut and also famous quotes and sayings about babies and babyhood might be appropriate as headings or captions on the different pages. The world of literature is your source material. Try to choose selections that are not so common. It may take a little research but this is one baby scrapbooking idea that is sure to pay off at the end.

Your baby will only be an infant for a moment in time. Capture it for always with a memorable baby scrapbook. Use these baby scrapbooking ideas, and as you do you will certainly come up with ideas of your own. But hurry. Time's a wasting!

Michele Cardello, director of marketing and creative for Life Imprints, a creative scrapbooking [http://www.lifeimprints.com] supplies company also offering contemporary picture frames, in Cleveland, Ohio, has worked in the photo packaging industry for 10 years. Cardello helps customers find creative ways to preserve and appreciate a lifetime of memories.

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In order to lose 60 pounds in 3 months you will need to shock your body into losing a lot of weight fast. Just so you know, to lose 60 pounds in 3 months isn't the easiest thing in the world and will require you to commit to this process heart and soul. However, with the right will and determination, it can be done.

In order to lose 60 pounds in 3 months, I suggest that you begin by cleansing your body. What this does is get rid of a lot of undigested pounds which have accumulated inside your body and which are weighing it down and damaging your health. Each person carries around some undigested weight. By using a detox diet, you can quickly flush out of your system all those pounds, lose a lot of weight fast and be ready for the next step of the process. This detox phase takes 10 days tops and you will see a great reduction in your weight. I suggest using the Master Cleanse detox diet as it's a program that's been around for many years and has many positive testimonials from men and women.

After you finish with the detox diet, you should take a few days to a week off any dieting and eat regularly (but healthy). Then the next phase of your process to lose 60 lbs in 3 months will commence. In this phase you will choose one of 2 courses:

1. Follow a Calorie Shifting diet (namely the Fat Loss 4 Idiots diet), a highly recommended weight loss diet that's been used by tens of thousands of people.


2. Follow a fitness oriented fat loss program (I suggest the Turbulence Training program). This program involves intensive workouts, many of which can be done in the privacy of your own home.

You should follow either of these 2 programs for 2 months. These will provide a slower weight loss rate than the Master Cleanse, but they're more healthy to use for a long time straight. They should bring you closer to achieving your goal of losing 60 pounds in 3 months.

About 10 days before your 3 months are over, you should go on the Master Cleanse again to give your body the final push it needs to shed the last of those 60 pounds. If you do everything right, you have a good chance to lose 60 pounds in 3 months.

To read more about the Master Cleanse, Fat Loss 4 Idiots, and Turbulence Training, visit this webpage:

How To Lose 60 Pounds Fast. It's a review of ways to lose 10 pounds fast, but the same things apply to losing 60 pounds.

John Davenport lost over 30 pounds in his twenties after being overweight most of his life. To read more about fast weight loss, click here: Fast Fat Loss Diet

Brand: Westcoast Baby