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Healthy Pregnancy Center for Disease Control (CDC) Learn what you can do before and during pregnancy to improve your chances of having a healthy baby. Before you get pregnant, try to reach a healthy weight. Obesity increases the risk for several serious birth defects and other pregnancy complications. If you are underweight, overweight,…
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How can I help? During the days following a newborn’s arrival, family members and friends might be excited to rush over to cuddle with the new little one. While this is an exciting time as a friend, aunt, godmother, etc., it is important to remember the mother and her well-being. It is easy…
Continue ReadingGrief and Loss as a Waiting Family Grief and loss may be commonly associated with losing a parent, baby, or friend. In the context of adoption, grief and loss may be connected (and rightly so) with the birth mother’s grieving after placing their child for adoption. Another area of grief and loss in…
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The first thing that I want to address is “the fit” when choosing the adoption agency that you plan to work with. Our belief at Hopeful Beginnings is to do your due diligence in researching the different agencies out there. You will get an immediate feel by how they address certain issues such…
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With the recent news of an infant being found in a Chicago alley, we felt it important to continue to spread awareness on the life saving Safe Haven Law. It is clear that the likely terrified and desperate biological parents of that infant had no idea what to do. If only they knew…
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My information is taken from “What to expect when you are expecting,” by Heidi Murkoff. I have recommended her books for years! I will cover crawling, standing and walking. Crawling Safety Congratulations — and welcome to a whole new phase of babyhood! Now that your infant has mastered movement on…
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Discipline/Shaken Baby Syndrome/Positive Reinforcement Shaken Baby Syndrome is also known as Abusive Head Trauma. This can take place within the home by relatives, friends, and Care Givers in a Day Care Situation, or a Home Day Care. According to Wilkepia: Shaken baby syndrome (SBS), also known as abusive head trauma (AHT), is an…
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Child sexual abuse has become a true public health issue worldwide but especially so here in the United States. Wide-scale public health issues like this need to be addressed on all levels, including national, state, and local. With that being said, the first place to teach children about difficult topics such as sexual…
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When there is a new baby in the house, the focus is on the baby, bringing presents, holding the baby, and sharing the joy of bringing new life into the family. No matter what the situation is, whether it is a difficulty in getting pregnant, having your fourth child, or first, this is culturally…
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You took a baby home from the hospital and then thought about adoption because circumstances have occurred that make it just about impossible or unsafe for your baby? Illinois has a plan in place for children less than 30 days old to be placed into a policeman’s, fireman’s, or hospital’s arms called The…
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