Record Baby’s Heartbeat

October 22nd, 2014

The sound of your baby’s heartbeat is one of the most precious moments of pregnancy.  BabyView 3D Ultrasound has had a huge response towards our Heartbeat Animals.  This unique pregnancy keepsake is adored by parents-to-be, siblings and grandparents, all who want to cherish the sound of baby’s heartbeat forever in these cuddly animals.  Each animal comes with a red heart recorder that easily records your baby’s heartbeat at your BabyView appointment. Heartbeat Animals also make fantastic baby shower gifts, birthday, mother’s/father’s day gifts and Christmas gifts!!  You can add your Heartbeat Animal to any BabyView Ultrasound package for $35 or $45 without a BabyView package.

3D and 4D Elective Prenatal Ultrasounds

April 22nd, 2014

Obstetric ultrasounds are a standard part of the process of caring for a pregnant mother and her baby as it develops in the womb. Ultrasounds allow doctors to get a visual image of the fetus which can be used to determine the sex of the baby and to find early warning signs of developmental difficulties. In addition to these prescribed ultrasounds, parents may choose to have further ultrasounds taken, allowing them to see images of their baby at subsequent stages of development within the womb. For many parents, seeing images of their unborn child fosters deep feelings of love and attachment for the child while it is still in the womb. The technology now exists to generate 3D images, and even moving pictures of babies in-utero. While these processes are not medically necessary, parents are often interested in having photos and video of their babies as keepsakes from every stage of the child’s development.

3D and 4D elective prenatal ultrasounds have grown quite popular, and there has been some controversy surrounding them. It is important to remember that a 3D or 4D ultrasound is not an acceptable replacement for a medical ultrasound under the supervision of an obstetrician. Most insurance companies will not cover the costs of elective ultrasound procedures.

For parents who strongly desire to have additional ultrasounds, there are many facilities with licensed and experienced sonographers on staff to provide 3D and 4D ultrasounds in a safe and comfortable environment. These facilities can be excellent places for ultrasound technicians to spend part of their career as well. For anyone interested in learning more about 3D and 4D ultrasound, the sites here have useful information about the procedures, the facilities, and the field as a whole. These sites and facilities are not being ranked, and are listed in no particular order, and this should not be construed as an endorsement of any particular business. However, the information in the blogs, FAQs, and other resources on these sites may prove useful to ultrasound techs and parents wanting to learn more about this fascinating process.

http://onlineultrasoundschool.com/3d-4d-ultrasound-resources/# 

Atticus’ Journey: A Life Not Defined by Seizures

March 27th, 2014

Atticus, 2, has seen his share of challenges in his life, suffering from several types of seizures. His parents Melissa Springstead and Terence Porter enlisted the help of Grandview and are thrilled with the help he is receiving.

By Lindsey Cole/The Oshawa Express

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“There’s a lot of ugly things in this world, son. I wish I could keep ‘em all away from you. That’s never possible.” – Atticus Finch, in To Kill a Mockingbird

Melissa Springstead and Terence Porter were elated when little Atticus came into the world. The pregnancy was normal. The first few months of his life were not unlike any other baby’s. Atticus was making all the right milestones and seemed to be progressing well. Then, in 2012, at four-and-a-half months old, the little boy started showing signs that something wasn’t right. That’s when he had his first seizure.  His body would stiffen, his head would droop and there would be excessive arm flailing. Atticus was experiencing a severe form of epilepsy called infantile spasms.

“Apparently it is very very rare,” Melissa says.

All those milestones he’d reached, all the precious moments his mother and father experienced were beginning to fade. Atticus was now responding at the level of a newborn.  “It took all his motor skills away from him,” Terence explains. “He wouldn’t smile. He’d just kind of look at you.”  The little boy needed medication, a hormone injection every two days, but the treatment would come with terrible side effects. The result would be a baby that was exhibiting signs of acne and growth spurts, plus a severe loss of appetite. It felt surreal- like a dream. This couldn’t be happening to us,” says Melissa. “People used to look at us and stare.” But the treatment worked and the family was on the right track. After referral, assessment and treatment at Grandview Children’s Centre, work began to help Atticus reach milestones again.

“He was cured of infantile spasms,” Melissa adds, and he was seizure free.  “I woke up in the morning. He usually scratches his bed,” as a symbol that it’s time to get up, his father explains. But after a few minutes Terence knew something was terribly wrong. “The sound kept going.” He ran to check on Atticus to find, “He was in a full grand mal seizure.”  Those seizures would continue daily for a month. With medication, the grand mal seizures subsided.

After 11 months seizure free, Atticus started experiencing a different type of seizure called drop seizures. He was now facing up to 20 drop seizures a day – his little body would crumble with each one.  It’s been trial and error with medication ever since.  “His development has been pretty off. He’s non-verbal. He is a baby at two,” Terence says.

“It’s been six months and six medications,” his mother adds.  And while at times the couple gets down, they say thanks to Grandview and the staff there, they have reason to hope and be optimistic with Atticus’ progress. At the centre, the toddler takes part in physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy twice a week. He has been at Grandview since he was nine months old, and will likely be there until he is at least seven, Terence explains.

“We love the staff, we love the team,” says Melissa. “It (Grandview) is special. They get just as excited as we do (when there are milestones Atticus reaches). We’re all there for the same reason.”

Dr. Carolyn Hunt is a developmental paediatrician who has been working at Grandview Children’s Centre since 2002. She has been the medical director at the Oshawa-based centre since 2008. She sees first-hand the importance the services have and what they can mean to a family.  Since she is usually the first one to see a child and meet with families, she can follow the progression along and see the benefits and growth along the way.  “We’ve become much more focussed on evidence-based care and family-based care at the same time,” she says. “The kids will see me and we’ll make the decisions. (It’s about) providing the best care for the kids. A lot of people will say to me, ‘how do you do that job? Even if it’s small, it’s amazing. The little things that people might take for granted, like a child pointing for the first time, smile for the first time…the families get to see that.”

Dr. Hunt explains that there are some challenges Grandview is facing when it comes to wait times for children and funding.  “There’s a long wait list,” she states, adding it’s about a nine-month wait list for a medical appointment. “There are other kids waiting just like him (Atticus).”  When it comes to funding, Dr. Hunt says garnering more community support would go a long way, as the service centre is the only one of its kind in Durham providing specialized programs, outpatient clinical treatment, and support to thousands of children and youth with special needs and their families.  “Funding is our biggest challenge,” says Dr. Hunt. “A lot of families characterize Grandview as a lifeline. Without new funding there’s nothing we can really do. We have a growing population in Durham.”  Continued community support is needed, she says, as it would help manage wait lists and allow Grandview to plan for expansion in the future with a new building.  “It’s extremely difficult to address the changing needs of the region. We need the community to rally behind us so we can advocate to the government,” she explains.  At the end of the day, Dr. Hunt says, it comes down to helping children like Atticus reach their fullest potential.  “For Atticus, he’s had some setbacks…now that he’s a little bit older, he’s getting more skills,” she recalls, adding she is thrilled to see him coming along. She too attributes his progress and that of other children to the therapy team.  “We focus on what kids can do,” she says.

And while Melissa and Terence have had their share of challenges, they say seeing Atticus reach certain milestones again is rewarding.  “There’s always hard, dark days. As difficult as it may get, all you need is a smile from him. You have to try and stay positive,” his mother says looking at Atticus with a smile. “He’s very tough, but he’s also snuggly. He’s a teddy bear.”  “He may have epilepsy but epilepsy doesn’t have him,” his father says, adding his name comes from the classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird as Atticus Finch “portrays an awesome character. He’s strong.”

His son shares that trait with the character, Terence says.
“He’s my hero. Strongest boy I know,” he says.

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Baby Atticus needs a walker and we would like to make a difference in this little boys life and raise as much funds as we can to help his family pay for this.  Send your donation through PayPal using info@babyview.ca. 100% of money raised will go towards Baby Atticus walker.

Children’s car seats and booster cushions: How long are they safe?

February 7th, 2014

This information has been taken from Transport Canada website.

Is it safe to… during pregnancy?

January 30th, 2014

I know when I was pregnant with my two daughters I often came across this question during my 9 months. Is it safe…?

This article from www.babycenter.ca answers many of the questions you may have.

http://www.babycenter.ca/pregnancy-is-it-safe

Pergnancy Brain is REAL!! Science backs up confused Preggo’s everywhere.

January 17th, 2014

By Vicki Clinebell http://www.momtastic.com/pregnancy/382375-pregnancy-brain/

Your skin is glowing, you look radiant, but somehow you feel a little…dim. Uh-oh! Maybe you’re starting to worry just a bit: does being pregnant make you dumber? Of course not…but scientific research published in the American Journal of Neuroradiologyhas shown a definite link between brain cell volumes and pregnancy.

One of the symptoms of pregnancy that comes as a surprise to first-timers is the effect hormones can have on brain cells. While your women friends who’ve been through the pregnancy drill may warn you about the discomforts of pregnancy and gleefully share terrifying stories of giving birth, more often than not they’ll neglect to mention that you’re about to become more forgetful.

Research shows that the flood of hormones released during pregnancy actually decrease brain cell volume in women. The result? Pregnant women forget things more easily, so they are frequently less organized and more frustrated in the initial months of carrying. For normally responsible women, this can be especially annoying: losing their keys, forgetting appointments, and generally feeling like a scatterbrain. The good news is the brain cells do come back after giving birth, returning to their normal higher volume.

This pregnancy symptom is actually very common, and medically there’s not much that can be done about it. The best way to combat it is to always put necessary items like your cell and keys in the same place so you’ll easily find them, and to write notes and reminders to stay on track with your must-do’s. There’s nothing wrong with making lists when you need a little memory boost! Just like morning sickness and swollen ankles, pregnancy-induced forgetfulness will eventually pass.

Reviews and New Arrivals

January 9th, 2014

Cheryl,

I can not thank you enough for being the person to introduce Sean and I and our parents to our little baby boy.

I could never have imagined that this would be as great of an experience as it was. I will never forget the moment you congratulated us on our son, those words left me speechless in the best way possible.

To have a glimpse of our little guy and what he’s been up to in there was so amazing to see and I never thought it would mean so much to me.  He looked like a tiny version of Sean’s face and for that, I now look forward even more to meeting our little guy.

Thank you again, I know I have promoted you in the past but now experiencing this first hand I will be sure to keep telling every woman I know what a great experience this was.

The way the office is set up so that our parents could be there without interfering with the moment for Sean and I is well planned and the perfect set up for someone like myself who wanted the moment to still feel private between my husband and I but also wanted to share this with our very loving and very excited first time grandparents.

I feel like most office visits while pregnant can be overwhelming or make a pregnant woman feel anxious. This was the first visit during pregnancy where the focus is on the joy of being pregnant, this is a true gift you give to women and something I now feel is worth doing even just to gave a positive and exciting connection between parent and baby at this stage

Shannon

 

Are you ready for Parenting? Take this hilarious Parent Test.

October 31st, 2013

Think you are ready to have children? Hilarious new parent test taking mummy blogs by storm MIGHT just put you off…

By Bianca London

PUBLISHED:15:05 GMT, 16  October 2012| UPDATED:07:45 GMT, 27 November 2020

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2218515/Think-ready-children-Hilarious-new-parent-test-taking-mummy-blogs-storm-MIGHT-just-off.html#ixzz2jJQIyrpA

Most broody mothers see having a child as a wonderful gift from God but one blogger has set about putting paid to that ideal.

A candid parent test highlighting the high and lows of motherhood is taking the internet by storm after being reposted on countless mothering blogs.

The Test For Future Parents by author Colin Falconer comprises 14 steps to follow before you have children and was originally printed in his book ‘A beginners guide to fatherhood’ in 1992 befor  finding it was on to parenting blogs in the UK, most recently Mamami by Chet, who was sent the parenting test by a friend.

Chet said: ‘Most people will tell you that “it” is the hardest, most rewarding, rollercoaster job you will ever have - there’s no pay, you are on duty 24/7 and, at times, it seems like there are few rewards.

‘Being a parent has its ups and downs. I wouldn’t change my title as “mummy” for anything in the world, however when this came through my inbox from a great friend it made me laugh (a lot!)’

If you think you are ready to embrace the joys of motherhood, we have printed the 14 tests here to see if you are really up to the challenge…

Test 1: Preparation

Women: To prepare for pregnancy

1. Put on a dressing gown and stick a beanbag down the front.

2. Leave it there.

3. After 9 months remove 5% of the beans.

Men: To prepare for children

1. Go to a local chemist, tip the contents of your wallet onto the counter and tell the pharmacist to help himself

2. Go to the supermarket. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.

3. Go home. Pick up the newspaper and read it for the last time.

Test 2:  Knowledge

Find a couple who are already parents and berate them about their methods of discipline, lack of patience, appallingly low tolerance levels and how they have allowed their children to run wild.

Suggest ways in which they might improve their child’s sleeping habits, toilet training, table manners and overall behaviour.

Enjoy it. It will be the last time in your life that you will have all the answers.

Test  3: Nights

To discover how the nights will feel:

1. Walk around the living room from 5pm to 10pm carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 4 - 6kg, with a radio turned to  static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly.

2.  At 10pm, put the bag down, set the alarm for midnight and go to sleep.

3. Get up at 11pm and walk the bag around the living room until 1am.

4. Set the alarm for 3am.

5. As you can’t get back to sleep, get up at 2am and make a cup of tea.

6. Go to bed at 2.45am.

7. Get up again at 3am when the alarm goes off.

8. Sing songs in the dark until 4am.

9. Put the alarm on for 5am. Get up when it goes off.

10. Make breakfast.

Keep this up for 5 years. LOOK CHEERFUL

Test 4:  Dressing Small Children

1. Buy a live octopus and a string bag.

2. Attempt to put the octopus into the string bag so that no arms hangout.

Time Allowed: 5 minutes.

Test 5: Cars

1. Forget the BMW. Buy a practical 5-door wagon.

2. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment. Leave it there.

3. Get a coin. Insert it into the CD player.

4. Take a box of chocolate biscuits; mash them into the back seat.

5. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.

Test 6: Going for a walk

a. Wait.

b. Go out the front door.

c. Come back in again.

d. Go out.

e. Come back in again.

f. Go out again.

g. Walk down the front path.

h. Walk back up it.

i. Walk down it again.

j. Walk very slowly down the road for five minutes.

k. Stop, inspect minutely and ask at least 6  questions about every piece of used chewing gum, dirty tissue and dead insect along the way.

l. Retrace your steps.

m. Scream that you have had as much as you can stand until the neighbours come out and stare at you.

n. Give up and go back into the house.

You are now just about ready to try taking a small child for a walk.

Test 7: Conversations with children

Repeat everything you say at least 5 times.

Test 8: Grocery Shopping

1. Go to the local supermarket. Take with you the nearest thing you can find to a pre-school child - a fully grown goat is  excellent. If you intend to have more than one child, take more than one goat.

2. Buy your weekly groceries without letting the goat(s) out of your sight.

3. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys.

Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.

Test 9: Feeding a 1 year-old

1. Hollow out a melon

2. Make a small hole in the side

3. Suspend the melon from the ceiling and swing it side to side

4. Now get a bowl of soggy cornflakes and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon while pretending to be an airplane.

5. Continue until half the cornflakes are gone.

6. Tip the rest into your lap, making sure that a lot of it falls on the floor.

Test 10: TV

1. Learn the names of every character from  the Wiggles, Barney, Teletubbies and Disney.

2. Watch nothing else on television for at least 5 years.

Test 11:  Mess

Can you stand the mess children make? To find out:

1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains

2. Hide a fish behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.

3. Stick your fingers in the flowerbeds and then rub them on clean walls. Cover the stains with crayon. How does that look?

4. Empty every drawer/cupboard/storage box in your house onto the floor and proceed with step 5.

5. Drag randomly items from one room to another room and leave them there.

Test 12: Long Trips with Toddlers

1. Make a recording of  someone shouting ‘Mummy’ repeatedly. Important Notes: No more than a 4 second delay between each Mummy. Include occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet.

2. Play this tape in your car, everywhere you go for the next 4 years.

You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.

Test  13: Conversations

1. Start talking to an adult of your choice.

2. Have someone else continually tug on your shirt hem or shirt sleeve while playing the Mummy tape listed above.

You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.

Test 14: Getting ready for work

1. Pick a day on which you have an important meeting.

2. Put on your finest work attire.

3. Take a cup of cream and put 1 cup of lemon juice in it

4. Stir

5. Dump half of it on your nice silk shirt

6. Saturate a towel with the other half of the mixture

7. Attempt to clean your shirt with the same saturated towel

8. Do not change (you have no time).

9. Go directly to work

You are now ready to have children.  ENJOY!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Baby’s Heartbeat Bear App

October 21st, 2013

Hello to all of our friends who have experienced 3D ultrasound at BabyView. If you have purchased a Heartbeat Animal during your visit at BabyView there is now an App available to back up your baby’s heartbeat. In the unlikeliness of your baby’s heartbeat being erased from the animal you will always have a backup available by downloading this free App. The App is available on Android and IPhone devices.

How to do this?
Once you have downloaded the App into your phone your baby’s heartbeat can be recorded directly from your animal. Not only will your baby’s heartbeat be backed up at “http://www.mybabysheartbeatbear.com/” you can also email the recording directly to yourself.

Future BabyView customers can have the App downloaded prior to their visit and at the time be able to record your baby’s heartbeat while a Heartbeat Animal recording is taking place.

 

Baby Bootie Camp: Exercise with your Baby

August 29th, 2013
Exercise with baby with our workout for busy moms and dads!

By Nicole “Nikki” Glor

http://www.health4mom.org/a/baby_bootie_camp_816

There’s no need to wait for nap time to work out; bring baby into the action and enjoy increased bonding with the added benefit of fitness.
If given the choice, my baby would probably prefer a whistle in his mouth to a pacifier. He is my own 4-month old personal trainer.
When he’s fussy, he doesn’t like small jiggle moves or swinging back and forth, instead he calms down when I hold him and perform large up and down motions—like lunges and squats! So I created the Baby Bootie Camp workout to soothe baby and slim and sculpt mommy (and daddy, too!)

6 of the best moves for exercise with baby:

1. Inner Thigh Squats

I find that when my baby cries, this is his go-to move to bring quiet and calm. Hold your baby in front of you, either by hand or in a carrier, and separate your feet in a wide plié stance, so that your knees are directly over your ankles when you bend them at 90 degrees. Toes point 45 degrees out to the sides, not directly in front of you. Stand to straighten legs for one rep. Repeat sets of 10.

2. Lunges

Separate your feet bringing the left in front and right leg behind, placing your feet in a widened stance, as if they were along a railroad track, not a tightrope, so that you have good balance with your baby. You can also hold onto a piece of furniture for added balance. Lunge forward so that your front knee aligns directly over your ankle and then rise up to straight legs again. Do 15 repetitions with this stance, and then switch legs, bringing the right leg forward, taking the left leg to the back, and repeat.

3. Calf lifts

Give your quadriceps a break and stand with feet shoulder-width apart; babe in arms in front of you. Rise up onto the balls of your feet 20 times to work your calves and keep baby happy and moving.

4. Squat and Lunge Combo

This move requires a little coordination to complete. Combine moves 1 and 2, slowly, by performing one inner thigh squat down and up, with toes pointing 45 degrees out. Then lift your right heel and pivot on the ball of the foot, turning to face your left and perform one left lunge down and up. Pivot your foot back for another inner thigh squat. Then lift left heel and pivot on the ball of that foot to turn to your right for a right lunge, then turn back to center. That completes one full combo move. Perform 10 of these.

5. Rocking Outer Thigh

Start by standing straight, with your baby in your arms or carrier. Squat and rock your weight to your left leg. Stand up on your left leg and lift your right leg to the right with a flexed foot, noticing the contraction in the right outer thigh.
Rock back to the middle and squat low (like sitting back in a chair) and then stand on your right leg and lift the left leg outward. For added stability, hold on to a wall or piece of furniture while performing the move. Perform 20 on both sides for one set. Do 2–3 sets depending on your time and energy.

6. Patty cake crunches

Lay on the floor face up, with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Sit baby on your hips, facing you. Then, crunch upward using your abs to lift your shoulders and head from the floor, and touch your right hand to baby’s left hand. Repeat with your left hand touching baby’s right hand. Perform 10 reps, and 2-3 sets, or until baby gets bored.