In life there’s a select few things that are amazing, exciting and terrifying at the same time:  having a baby is definitely on that list of things.  The comforting part is that as each generation learns more about successfully making it through pregnancy and the first year of their newborn’s life, we become more knowledgeable and resourceful in finding out all of the helpful tips and resources for new mommies and daddies.

Here are a few things to consider:

Utilizing a Midwife:

Midwives, like doctors, offer the full range of OBGYN care—preconception visits, gynecological visits, STD checks, and contraceptive counseling.  They also provide labor support, present alternatives for parents to consider when making decisions that affect the health of themselves or their baby, and offer postpartum care and assistance with breastfeeding as well.  Basically, with the experience and knowledge midwives bring to the table, they are indeed a great partner to have over the entire process.

Photo_Lydia_Rhodes_Guiding_Hands_Midwifery_Omaha_NebraskaLydia Rhodes, Certified Nurse Midwife at Guiding Hands Midwifery explains, “Midwives are there to make sure that women and their babies are healthy, and that expecting and new mothers are informed when making decisions, every step of the journey.  One of the huge benefits is that midwives spend more personal time addressing concerns with our clients.  Often the problems women are worried about are actually very normal, but they just need help understanding what is occurring and why to ease their minds.  Also, with so many new things to learn about and keep up with, it can be hard to know if what you are doing is the right thing.  And sometimes common sense isn’t always so clear when you’re apprehensive of doing something wrong.  A prime example of this is being aware of what to expect from the drastic change in the amount of sleep you will get as a new parent, and knowing when the best times to sleep are.  Be prepared for a sleep deficit for the first few months—I always stress to sleep when your baby sleeps.  Though it’s often hard for new parents to sleep until they can’t fight it off any longer, not catching those naps can put new mothers at risk for postpartum depression and a decreased milk supply that commonly result from lack of adequate sleep.  My advice to new parents is always to simplify and try not to stress.  Having a baby is a natural process for humans, and it’s important to trust that the body will do what it needs to do most times without intervention.”

Advanced Ultrasound Technology:

In today’s busy healthcare environment, ultrasounds performed in a doctor’s office can be rushed due to time constraints and the necessity to obtain the required set of images to adequately examine the baby’s well-being. Many times family members and siblings are not permitted in the examination room and very few images of baby are provided for parents to take home and cherish for the remainder of the pregnancy.  In addition to the proper prenatal care, expecting parents now have the option of seeing their baby in a whole new way with real-time 3D and 4D imaging!

“Ultrasound is a wonderful tool that has many uses during pregnancy,” says Cathy Fraser, RDMS, BA, owner of Stork Vision Omaha.  “It is created solely by sound waves and does not emit radiation so studies have shown that it is perfectly safe for mother and baby.  Most women receive a screening ultrasound also knows as a ‘Diagnostic’ or ‘Anatomy’ scan; they help to detect abnormalities and assure baby is developing normally.  These exams are often covered by insurance and referred by the expectant mom’s healthcare provider.

Stork Vision offers ‘Elective Ultrasounds’ which are not covered by insurance, however, we try to keep our rates low and offer many specials and discounts to assist with the cost.   We do require proof of prenatal care in the form of an ultrasound picture from the current pregnancy, appointment card, or the like; Stork Vision believes very strongly in the importance of proper prenatal care.  All of our scans are reviewed by a board-certified OBGYN and provide a limited report that includes fetal number, position, heart rate, and adequacy of fluid.  Our Medical Director will address any abnormalities that are detected; however, this is not a substitute for a detailed Diagnostic/Anatomy scan.

The benefit of 3D/4D imaging is the remarkable bonding that mom, dad, siblings, and family members experience by being able to ‘meet’ baby before s/he is even born. Watching baby move, suckle, and open his/her mouth, while still in the womb, is an once-in-a-lifetime experience–as one client said, ‘It’s like we’re cheating!’  Stork Vision allows family members and children; as many as the client wants to bring.  We have two full-sized couches and a 60” viewing screen.  We also allow Face Time and the like for loved ones who are not able to attend in person.

The best time for 3D/4D imaging is between 26-33 weeks.  At this point baby has had time to build up subcutaneous fat and looks much more like a newborn.  However, this is simply a recommendation, we have imaged earlier than 26 weeks and later than 33 weeks.  We will always work with our clients to give them the best possible images at any point in their pregnancy.”

Chiropractic Care for Expecting Mothers & Newborns:

Photo_Dr_Katie_Briley_Performance_Chiropractic_Omaha_NebraskaStudies have found that about half of all expectant mothers will develop low-back pain at some point during their pregnancies.  This is especially true during late pregnancy, when the baby’s head presses down on a woman’s back, legs and buttocks, irritating her sciatic nerve. And for those who already suffer from low-back pain, the problem can become even worse.  “Chiropractic care during pregnancy is completely safe for expecting mothers and provides significant relief of discomfort,” notes Katie Briley, DC of Performance Chiropractic.  Aside from the benefits for the mother during the pregnancy, the newborn will also greatly benefit from adjustments.  Dr. Briley explains, “Often the very first spinal misalignment of a newborn occurs during the birthing process.  The force that is applied to the head and neck to pull and turn the baby in order to get the shoulders through the birth canal puts stress on the upper cervical spine and nervous system.  A chiropractic adjustment for a newborn entails gentle pressure applied to the misaligned segment.  The most significant benefits from a chiropractic adjustment for a baby include maximizing brain and nervous system development, decreasing any pain or discomfort, improving immune system function, increasing resistance to common ailments like colds and ear infections.  Chiropractic care also helps with improved sleep patterns, improved breathing, and improved digestion which decreases constipation and gas.  To sum it up, proper spinal alignment creates the best communication for your infant’s brain, spinal cord and nervous system.  Both Dr. Steve Stonebraker and I offer complimentary consultations to discuss if a newborn is a good candidate for chiropractic care.  For each infant/child we will take a case history and perform a chiropractic exam to determine if spinal misalignments exist; we are very thorough and will explain exactly what we are doing during the examination.  Chiropractic adjusting procedures are then modified to fit the baby’s size, weight, and unique spinal conditions.  Most babies and children respond very well to chiropractic adjustments, and parents report that their children look forward to subsequent visits.”

Insurance Coverage for New Families:

Finding out what is best for your baby starts with asking all of the right questions, and this can also be applied to having the best health insurance coverage.  Having an insurance plan that provides coverage throughout and after a pregnancy can really help to defray all of the associated costs, and coverage afterwards is a necessity for both mother and baby.

Photo_Mark_Anson_Vesta_Voluntary_Specialists_Omaha_NebraskaMark Anson of Vesta Voluntary Specialists advises, “Many employers offer options for insurance coverage that can span from pregnancy to well after the baby is born.  Plans may include hospital coverage, covering the cost of being admitted and delivery followed by a daily benefit for the rest of the stay.  Many of them will also cover some type of surgical benefit for vaginal or caesarian deliveries, and also with most the child is covered immediately from the moment of birth. With deductibles consistently rising year after year, and so many variables for medical care that babies and mothers might need, insurance coverage helps greatly to protect against huge out-of-pocket expenses for growing families.  Employers may even offer a guaranteed issue, which is quite valuable because it covers the mother even if she’s already pregnant.  Another tool that can help is short term disability, which generally covers 60% of a person’s income up to 6-8 weeks post pregnancy.  This allows mothers to be able to stay at home with their babies without as much stress or worry about finances.  And if complications arise during the pregnancy resulting in doctor-ordered bed rest, it is covered most times as well.

The best approach is to be aware of what type of coverage you have and what your options are.  Check out your plan and see what it offers, check out other comparable plans for comparison, and ask questions or schedule a consultation to make sure your plan is the right fit for you and your family.  Health insurance isn’t the only type of coverage for new parents to consider.  Once you have a family, life insurance also comes into play.  Don’t forget to discuss those options with your agent as well.”

Newborn Photography Tips:

Photo_Brandy_Miller_Brandy_Miller_Photography_Omaha_NebraskaNothing is quite as adorable as newborn photos, but there are a few things that parents should keep in mind.  Brandy Miller, owner of Brandy Miller Photography, offers a few of her go-to tips for maternity and newborn photo shoots:

“As both a mom and a photographer, the first and by far most important thing to keep in mind is safety.  Many folks don’t necessarily consider safety; the photographer is unquestionably entrusted with handling and posing the most valuable thing in their lives.  Props are definitely cute, but must be chosen with care and my style is generally more minimalist. The newborn is the main focus in the photos, and I keep things simple and safe.  Babies will let you know if they are not comfortable, and your photographer should be able to provide a whole litany of things to do to assure that your new child is safe and secure in their studio while still capturing tons of lovely shots.

I include a free maternity session with each of my newborn packages, so I like to shoot those at around 33-36 weeks.  There are a ton of soon-to-be moms who don’t feel like they look good during their pregnancy.  All I can say is ‘don’t miss this time!’  When people talk about expectant moms having a beautiful ‘glow’, I can tell you for sure, it’s there.  I know with my first daughter I was a little hesitant to do them, as everyone does, I’d put on weight and didn’t feel like ‘showing it off,’ but I can tell you that they’re some of my most treasured pictures.  Also, it is always best to book your newborn session BEFORE your little one arrives, preferably while you are pregnant, as this will ensure you have your session reserved.  I really like to photograph them between 6 and 14 days.  This puts them in the ‘sweet spot’ as far as being able to take those great ‘curly baby’ pictures that everyone loves.  If they get past that, don’t fear, we can still get some great shots, but many times the poses are limited as, physiologically, they just can’t do what they could do during their first two weeks of life; the baby is more alert and baby acne can also start to set in.”

Having a baby requires a lot of preparation; there are a lot of things to consider whether you’re a first-timer or an experienced parent.  Furthermore, even for the most prepared, there are tons of things to remember once a baby has made its debut in the world.  It does, indeed, take a village and in Omaha, this includes professionals who are dedicated to making sure that you are able to enjoy every wonderful moment of parenthood and that you and your family live happily, and healthily, ever after!