Just a quick update from your "Feet on the Street".  I was visiting my "high risk pregnancy" friend yesterday and saw something I've NEVER seen before.  She said her baby was very active all the time, but yesterday I saw for myself just what she meant.  We were sitting on her couch talking, and suddenly her dress started moving and flapping around.  At first, I thought it was just her moving, but I saw that her abdomen would push out in several different directions at the same time and it became very obvious that it was actually the baby.  We started laughing about it, and the baby really started moving. If I didn't know that she was in her third trimester, I would have thought she had a puppy under her dress. She said he moved like that a lot, and that she would used BabyPlus when she needed a rest.  She stated that BabyPlus has actually started putting the baby to sleep, so when he becomes so active as to cause her pain, she would bring out BabyPlus.

My friend and I have talked about the benefits of prenatal stimulation, so I'm very happy that she can use the BabyPlus Prenatal Education System to stimulate her prenatal child's development.  Lucky for her, she can also use it to enhance his sleeping schedule as well.

I know my friend will have a smart baby, but I wonder if she's ready for a future Olympic gymnast?

I'll keep you posted!!!

Your "Feet on the Street".   

 

OK you Dads-To-Be,  Listen up!  You guys are going to take really good care of the Mom-To-Be in your life. Remember men, she's the pregnant one, not you. She needs the TLC and you are just the one to give it to her.

Last time we talked about all the things that you have to investigate and learn about when you are having a baby. Fetal development, baby stimulation and how to have a smart baby are just a few. Not to mention all the infant sleeping schedules, breast feeding schedules and even something called prenatal learning!

Well let me tell you all that is fine and good, but if your Mom-To-Be is not happy, that's not good for anyone. So let's try to help her feel comfortable. It will result in a happier and healthier baby and mom.

Previously I explained how to give your lady a back massage, well how does a foot massage sound to you? I'll  tell you what, it will sound like heaven to her! No doubt about it. I'm going to give you a few pointer about foot massage.


Fill a large tub with warm water, and then add Epsom salts and eucalyptus oil. Place the tub on a towel in front of a comfortable chair or sofa. Have your Mom-To-Be sit down and place her feet in the tub and soak for 5-10 minutes. Then dry her feet with a soft fluffy towel.

Do basic stretches with the foot; pushing the top of the foot away from you and pulling the top toward you.

Warm up the foot by rubbing it all over and appling lotion or oil in a sweeping motion. Include the top, heel and arch. Gliding strokes work best. It is important to rub the entire foot first to warm it up. If you start to apply deep pressure to the foot before warming it up, there is a greater risk of causing injury.





Cup the foot with your hands and squeeze with the appropriate amount of pressure. You may move up and down as you are holding the foot.





Wrap your hand around the top of the foot, and then apply pressure with your fist to the underside of the foot. You can apply pressure by pushing in and out or in a circular motion.





Using your thumb and a moderate amount of pressure, start at the top of the foot on each side. Now glide toward the bottom along the sides of the foot. There are tendons that run along each side of the foot, these can be good to stretch.





Wrapping your hands around the foot from the front, squeeze firmly and pull upward alternating hands as you pull upward.






Rotate each toe starting the largest working to the smallest.




Finish giving a foot massage with a few sweeping strokes then gently rest your hands on her feet.

Trust me, she will love it!

Hey Dad-to-be! Pregnancy isn't just for women. If your woman is pregnant there is a lot you can do. I know you have been reading a bunch of articles on Prenatal development, baby stimulation and fetal development. You have seen everything there is about Critical period in prenatal development, having a smart baby and fetal brain development.

But what do you know about taking care of your new mom-to-be? Let me tell you that a happy mom-to-be = a healthy mom-to-be = a healthy baby. And you can do something about it. In the next several blogs I will tell you how you can pamper the mom-to-be in your life.

The Pampering Dad-To-Be Massage

The healthiest and safest time to begin having pregnancy massages is in your second trimester. Lying on your back is  not a good idea after the 20th week of pregnancy, so the position that works best is to have your mom-to-be straddle a chair, with the back facing her front. This works especially well if you place the chair in front of a table, and then stack one or two pillows over the back, allowing them to spill out on to the tabletop. This will enable her to lean forward during the massage and rest her head.

Now, lubricate your hands with either high-quality commercial massage oil, or one you make yourself. This can be done by combining a few drops of a relaxing essential oil, such as lavender or chamomile, with a carrier oil such as sweet almond or jojoba. Be sure to warm the oil by pouring a small amount into your hands and rubbing them together. This is an important step, since cold oil causes muscles to tense, causing her to feel stressed.

Now, place your hands on her lower back just below the waistline, and slowly begin sliding up her back on either side of her spine. Never massage directly on the backbone, or over the spinal column. As you reach her shoulders your hands should slowly move across the upper back, then down the opposite side of the spine, to the starting point. This up-and down motion should continue for at least several minutes, until the muscles of her back start to warm and relaxed.

Your can then begin applying gentle pressure to any area of her back where she is feeling pain -- using the heel of your hand or the pads of your fingers, bearing down slightly and continuing to move in a circular motion. The operative word here, however, is "gentle." The point of massage is to relax and soothe muscles, so a rubdown should never hurt. If it does, you are is pressing too hard -- so ask her if she experiencing discomfort.

Your massage finishes with a repeat of the up-and-down motion that started the back rub, done for a several more minutes. You should then wrap her body in a soft blanket or beach towel, to keep muscles warm. Have her remain in her massage position for five to 10 minutes.

The massage can be as short as 10 minutes, or as long as 60 minutes; it's not a good idea to go beyond that time limit, no matter how great it feels. During her second trimester, you can give her a massage once a week; during the third trimester, you can increase massages to twice weekly or more if needed. Again, never give her a massage during the first trimester, even by a professional therapist

Using BabyPlus during pregnancy provides a wonderful bonding opportunity for mother and baby.

In the prenatal period, the brain is at its most receptive stage of learning. By enriching the auditory environment during this crucial period, independent studies have shown that a child's long term learning capacities are improved.

This early advantage means children will be able to absorb and appreciate far more of their environment than if they had not received prenatal enrichment. BabyPlus children have an intellectual, social, creative, and emotional advantage from the time they are born.

What families are saying about BabyPlus...

We receive so many letters and emails from parents who have used the BabyPlus Prenatal Education System and would like to share their stories with you. We've included just a few so that you can get an idea of the impact BabyPlus has made and continues to make on so many lives.

Click on the picture to read some of these stories, as well as what doctors, therapists and other professionals who have used our product and believe in its benefits have to say.

 Your womb...the perfect classroom...

You take a prenatal vitamin every day to enrich your child's earliest physical development.

Your child's brain development begins during these prenatal months, too.

Now is the time for the BabyPlus Prenatal Education System.  Click on the picture to learn more about prenatal care, our prenatal care curriculum, and, most importantly, prenatal development facts.

BabyPlus parents report about the benefits of using the BabyPlus:

Babies at birth and infancy:
more readily nurse
display an increased ability to self-soothe
are more interactive and responsive
are more relaxed and alert at birth

And, later in life demonstrate:
earlier developmental milestones
improved school readiness
enhanced intellectual abilities
great creativity and independence
longer attention spans

Using the BabyPlus Prenatal Education System's simple and safe lessons during the stages of pregnancy can show these tangible benefits and more. 

Joyful Time

The BabyPlus Company is lucky to be able to participate in the truly joyful time of a pregnancy.  We hear from expectant parents often; we love being a part of your lives.  Every parent wants to make sure they are giving the best prenatal care available to their child.  Your amazing concern and love for your child is so evident with every phone call and email you send us.  We believe in the benefits of infant stimulation during the stages of pregnancy, and clearly, so do you!  Think of the bond you are already establishing with your baby!

It's not very often that you get a hug at work.  But that is exactly what I got at a recent conference I attended. A nurse walked into my booth, wrapped her arms around me, and said "Thank you for BabyPlus". (I wished I could take credit for it, but I told her "your welcome" anyway.)  She proceeded to tell me that I had given her a BabyPlus Prenatal Education System at a conference we had both attended.  Her baby was now four months old, and she credited BabyPlus with her child's very calm demeanor, his very contented nature, and that he was a very good sleeper, but she said the most noticible thing about her baby was that he nursed like a pro from the very beginning. (As a mother of two, I know what a struggle breast feeding can be.)  I was happy to tell her that many first time parents who used the BabyPlus Prenatal Education System, have reported the same thing to lactation consultants. I'm excited to hear from this wonderful mother in the future about her childs developments.

See you next time!
From Your "Feet on the Street"

I sometimes hear an expectant mother say "I don't know when I would find the time to use BabyPlus". In my travels, I've heard some interesting suggestions from mothers who have overcome this.   One second time mother said she would use BabyPlus to lull herself and her two year old to sleep at naptime.  She would simply lie down, position BabyPlus, and cuddle up with her two year old. She would let the soft, rhythmic sounds lull her and her son to sleep.  Now, not only is everyone getting the rest they need, the prenatal baby is receiving the beneficial stimulation that BabyPlus provides. Having a smart baby is as easy as taking a nap! 

See you next time,
from your "Feet on the Street"

As I watched the Chinese Olympics every night, I thought about what a beautiful and exotic culture it is.  In the ancient Orient, expectant mothers tried to create the ideal prenatal environment with a practice called "Tai-kyo."  This practice consisted of tapping in rhythm on their bellies in regular intervals.  They believed fully that there were post-natal benefits for their child.  The longest term benefit being strengthened learning capabilities for that child's lifetime.  All this by using a prenatal curriculum during the most critical period in infant development!  I often think how much an ancient culture such as China actually knew.  It's time again to revisit Tai-kyo. 

We all know that babies have different personalities and temperaments.  While one baby may be able to self soothe, another may require much more attention to calm and relax.  One may enjoy bath-time and squeal with delight; the other may scream when their toes touch the water.  While there isn't a magic formula for the perfect baby, we can influence them even while in the womb.  Studies have shown that mothers who have used a prenatal curriculum such as BabyPlus have babies with an increased ability to self sooth and are more relaxed and alert at birth.  It doesn't guarantee that your baby will sleep all night, will never cry, or will be a genius, it just means that you have given your baby a head start by using the one constant they experience throughout their nine months--their mother's heartbeat.

About the Comfort Pouch

The BabyPlus Prenatal Education System includes a comfort pouch.  You put your system in the pouch to wear during these critical times in child development.  One question we often hear is "How do I adjust the size of the comfort pouch?"  Click on the picture of the comfort pouch straps for directions to "re-size" the comfort pouch.  Some moms even buy two or three pouches to have extras on hand!  The pouch should be worn snug to your belly, and your baby will hear the sounds similar to a mother's heartbeat sounds.  This is how learning begins! 

Having another baby can be an adjustment as well as a learning experience for the entire family.  Jealousy can set in when so much attention is on the new baby, especially if you have an only child.  By starting early on, some of that might be alleviated with just a little extra attention.  The perfect chance to do this is while doing your BabyPlus prenatal lessons.  Just muffle the sound with a pillow and take the time to read to the brother or sister-to-be or use it as a time to learn numbers by having them count the “heartbeats.”  It’s also a great time to sit and talk with them about having a new brother or sister.  Help promote sibling bonding even prenatally while in the womb.  It may not eliminate sibling rivalry completely but might help encourage the relationship in the long run.

Born Learning - Already!

All parents know that learning actually begins before your child goes to school.  Learning really begins in the womb.  Everyone knows that baby development after birth is important.  However, the research now confirms that the critical period in prenatal development - especially early brain development - is impacted week by week in pregnancy.  Using the BabyPlus Prenatal Education System - a simple set of sounds similar to the mother's heartbeat - helps during the stages of prenatal development.

Don't wait to begin teaching your baby after he or she is born - help them to be born already learning!

     A baby who sleeps through the night- that would be wonderful!  I remember when I had my 3 children. During all of the stages through pregnancy with my first child I thought about the delivery and how I would handle it. However, for my second and third child, during the pregnancy trimesters, I thought about the sleep deprivation that came after delivery and how I wished that those second and third babies would sleep through the night at an early age.  I, unfortunately, had my babies before BabyPlus was available.  Now, I know how I would be able to ensure that my baby would have a good chance of sleeping through the night at an early age.  Parents who have used BabyPlus report that one of the key benefits is their baby's ability to self soothe.  This means that the baby can calm herself down thus leading to better sleeping patterns, early on. This is especially important if you have other children or are planning to go back to work and can't afford the sleep deprivation that frequently comes with new babies.  So, give yourself and your baby the benefit of a early infant sleeping schedule that you both can enjoy.

Posted by LJ Russell

Hi:  I’m Doria LaFlamme, Medical Accounts Manager for the BabyPlus Company.  I travel the country, attending many different healthcare conferences, where I represent BabyPlus to thousands of prenatal and postnatal health-care professionals, as well as expectant parents.  I’ve just returned from the National AWHONN Conference in Los Angeles and I can tell you that the BabyPlus Prenatal Education System caused quite the excitement!  Many of these health care professionals understand the benefit of early infant stimulation, which is exactly what BabyPlus provides.  In fact, several nurses have stated they are using the BabyPlus Prenatal Education System in the NICU, because they understand that premature babies have been taken from the natural environment (mom’s heartbeat)  during a critical period in prenatal development. Using BabyPlus replaces this stimlus for the continued development of the prenatal child.  I have many great stories that I will be sharing...

 

Look for future blogs from me, your “Feet on the Street”, as I will keep you posted about exciting news I uncover during my travels!

 

Becoming a parent for the first time can be a little scary.  There is an overwhelming amount of information about what to do and what not to do.  It can be quite intimidating.  By stepping back and taking time to decide what you want can help you begin to narrow down what things to research further.  An example would be a baby's feeding schedule.  On one hand, some say to set the baby's schedule and feed them only at specific times.  On the other hand, some say to feed the baby when they act hungry and to not depend too much on the clock to dictate the schedule.  There is a lot of information to support both sides but each method may not fit everyone.  Think about what type of lifestyle you will lead after the baby is born and how feeding will fit into it.  Once you've decided what would be best for you, then research more into that method. 

Always remember there are no hard and fast rules to parenting so if something doesn't feel right or doesn't work, try something else.  Take cues from your baby and above all, try not to over think or get stressed.  You'll find that your baby is quite forgiving and won't hold it against you if you don't know everything!

Recently, I visited a Mimi Maternity store in Chicago that was selling the BabyPlus Prenatal Education System.  One of the sales associates was 20 weeks pregnant.  I asked her whether or not she was using the BabyPlus system since she was selling them to customers.  She replied that she was not using one because she was more of an "earth momma" and didn't believe that we needed to be "pushing" babies in the womb to learn.  She felt that once her baby was born that she would have plenty of time to teach her baby what he needed to know. I told her that BabyPlus is not actually "pushing" your child to learn but is helping the child's brain to develop so that it will reach more of its full potential. Research has shown that the mother's heartbeat sounds, which the baby hears 24/7, trigger early brain development during pregnancy. BabyPlus offers a new sound like the mother's heartbeat, but different enough that the baby's brain will automatically compare that sound with it's mother's heartbeat.  Then, as the BabyPlus curriculum changes over time, the baby's brain will compare each new sound to previous sounds.  This comparing and contrasting helps enhance the baby's cognitive development so that when the baby is born, he will have "exercised" his brain and it will be receptive to learning at a higher level.  At that point, the sales associate said that explanation made a lot of sense to her.  She was not forcing her baby to learn in the womb but offering him an opportunity to strenthen his learning ability.  Kathy ended up buying a BabyPlus and wearing it to work to talk to other mothers about the importance of prenatal learning.   

Posted by LJ Russell

We receive emails and testimonials from grateful parents weekly.  They share the stories of how their children have benefitted from the baby stimulation provided by BabyPlus during the critical period in prenatal development.  The main goal of the BabyPlus Company has always been education.  With over 30 years of PhD scientific research behind us, we know that using the mother's heartbeat sounds during the pregnancy trimesters with help create an environment to strengthen all that is being developed in the womb.