Pros and Cons of Cloth Diapering

Pros and Cons of Cloth Diapering

Pros

• Cloth diapers are more economical. Once you purchase cloths you can use them again with future children.


• Cloth diapers are better for the environment. (This is a topic for debate but they do not contribute to filling up landfills, etc)


• Cloth diapers may aid in potty training as babies recognize wetness easier in cloths.


• Less diaper rash. Babies that use cloths are less likely to have problems with diaper rash. (If your baby has a diaper rash from wearing cloths it may be because of the detergent you are using to wash the diapers and not the diapers themselves)


• You don’t have to worry about running to the store every time you get low on diapers.
  

Cons

Cloth diapers need to be changed more frequently. Disposables are very absorbent.

However with disposables, baby may end up sitting in a wet diaper longer because mom can’t tell that the diaper is wet.

It may be harder to travel places with cloth diapers.

It may be less convenient because you have to wash diapers regularly.

Cloth diapers are more likely to leak than disposables.

Cloth Diapering 101 - What You Need to Know

What kind of cloth diapers to buy?

There are so many different styles of diapers and which kind you buy may be more of a personal preference. When making your decision you may want to factor in price and convenience. You can purchase flat diapers, prefolded diapers, fitted diapers or diapers that have everything in one.
Flat diapers are basically the old fashioned diapers that you probably think of when you think of cloths. They are a flat diaper and require you to fold them and fasten them with a diaper pin or other type of fastener.

Prefolds are already folded and just require fastening.
Fitted diapers are shaped with elastic around the legs to fit more snugly around the legs. They normally come with a built in fastener. (Flat diapers, prefolds, and fitted diapers require a plastic pair of pants or diaper cover to keep clothing from getting wet.)
The all in one diapers have everything built into one diaper and are the most convenient but they are also the most expensive.

How to wash cloths?

All you need is a plastic bucket to toss your diapers into. You can simply shake any dirty diapers into the toilet and toss your diapers into a plastic pail. (You can also purchase throw away liners to put inside your diaper to keep them from getting stained and make clean up easier.) When the pail is full throw everything into the laundry. You will want to run your diapers through two cycles to get them clean. The first cycle you can run on cold wash and cold rinse. The second cycle run through a hot wash and cold rinse. You will want to use a detergent that is free of dyes and perfumes. You may be tempted to use bleach on your diapers but this is not a good idea. The bleach may irritate your baby’s skin causing diaper rash. Bleach will also eat away the fibers in your diapers and ruin them in a matter of time

Pain Relief During Labor

Pain Relief During Labor

There are two different types of drugs that you can choose from to relieve pain during labor.One type of drug is called an analgesic. Analgesics, like Stadol or Demoral, relieve pain but they don’t cause you to lose feelings or not be able to move parts of your body. Anesthesia, on the other hand, blocks all of the feelings in the area where it is administered. This results in you not feeling pain. When you think of anesthesia you may think about being put to sleep. This type of anesthesia is called general anesthesia and you will most likely not need this type of labor during a typical labor and birth. We are going to give you the basics on analgesics and anesthesia and also try to answer the most common questions moms have about pain relief during labor.

Types of pain relief

Analgesics- You may want to use analgesics for your pain relief if you don’t like the idea of not being able to feel parts of your body or want to use something less invasive. Analgesics are generally avoided if you are close to delivering as they can slow down babies breathing and reflexes.

Epidurals

- Epidurals are a type of local anesthesia that causes you to lose feeling in the lower half of your body. An epidural is a very effective pain relief option for labor; however, it is more invasive and requires you to have a needle inserted into a small area of your lower back called the epidural space. It may take up to twenty minutes for your epidural to take affect and you may still feel your contractions even after getting your epidural. There are some side effects and risks including the potential to cause low blood pressure and spinal headaches. Serious complications are rare.

Spinal block- A spinal block is similar to an epidural and also requires a needle to be inserted in the lower back. It is inserted into the spinal fluid rather than epidural space. A spinal block works quicker than an epidural but only lasts for an hour or two. It is often used for csections as it works very quickly. It is generally only used once during labor so it is best to use when mom is very close to delivering.

Walking Epidural (combined spinal-epidural block)- A walking epidural is a combination of spinal and epidural block. Medicine is injected into both the spinal fluid and the epidural space. To explain this simply, the spinal fluid is a little deeper than the epidural space. The spinal needle is inserted through the epidural needle so that medication can be delivered to both areas. The reason this is called a walking epidural is because moms can move around around with this type of epidural (although most hospitals will not allow you to walk around) and then if the spinal medication loses effect more medication can be inserted through the epidural space.
General anesthesia- General anesthesia makes you lose consciousness. This is not ordinarily used during a vaginal birth but may be used in emergency situations or sometimes for cesarean births.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pain Relief and Childbirth
Are pain medications and epidurals dangerous to mom or baby? During your pregnancy you have been told to avoid taking narcotics and other medications to protect baby so you may be wondering if pain medications are avoided during pregnancy, why wouldn’t they be dangerous during birth? Pain medications cross the placenta during labor and do enter your baby’s blood stream. There are potential side effects that you should be aware of including respiratory depression, central nervous system depression, and problems regulating body temperature. It is best to avoid taking narcotic medications close to when your baby will be born to avoid these possible side effects. Epidurals are given to over half of all moms giving birth in a hospital and they are considered very safe. There are some potentially dangerous side effects; however, including a possible sudden drop in blood pressure, spinal headache, or permanent nerve damage in the area where the epidural is placed. Talk with your doctor or midwife about the risks involved.
How soon can I get something for pain?Analgesics are often given in the earlier stages of labor. In most cases you will be given an analgesic as soon as you ask for it. Epidurals are generally not given until you are 3 to 4 cm dilated and you are in active labor, meaning that you are having strong contractions 3-4 minutes apart. It used to be suggested that epidurals given too early in labor would lead to stalled labor and increase the chances of needing a cesarean. New studies have shown that this is not true. There is no reason that you have to wait until later into your labor to have an epidural but many women prefer to try to go as long as they can handle it before getting an epidural.
I have heard that epidurals sometimes don’t work, is this true?Epidurals work well for most women but, sometimes the medication doesn’t get into the epidural space properly and they do not get effective pain relief. Talk to the anesthesiologist if you are still having a lot of pain after twenty minutes and he can normally do something to remedy this without having to reinsert the needle. Epidurals do not always take away all the pain. You may still feel contractions, pressure or even some pain.
Can I wait too long to get medication or an epidural?Analgesics are not given right before delivery. If you wait until you are close to delivery to request them, you will most likely be told that you can not have them because they can slow down your baby’s breathing and reflexes. Epidurals, on the other hand, can be given close to delivery but keep in mind that they take up to twenty minutes to take effect. If you wait until very close to delivery it may not start to work in time to be of any use

During Sex Pregnancy

If you're pregnant or even planning a pregnancy, you've probably found an abundance of information about sex before pregnancy (that is, having sex in order to conceive) and sex after childbirth (general consensus: expect a less active sex life when there's a newborn in the house).
But there's less talk about the topic of sex during pregnancy, perhaps because of our culture's tendency to dissociate expectant mothers from sexuality. Like many parents-to-be, you may have questions about the safety of sex and what's normal for most couples.
Well, what's normal tends to vary widely, but you can count on the fact that there will be changes in your sex life. Open communication will be the key to a satisfying and safe sexual relationship during pregnancy.
Is It Safe to Have Sex During Pregnancy?
If you're having a normal pregnancy, sex is considered safe during all stages of the pregnancy.
So what's a "normal pregnancy"? It's one that's considered low-risk for complications such as miscarriage or pre-term labor. Talk to your doctor, nurse-midwife, or other pregnancy health care provider if you're uncertain about whether you fall into this category. (The next section of this article may help, too.)
Of course, just because sex is safe during pregnancy doesn't mean you'll necessarily want to have it! Many expectant mothers find that their desire for sex fluctuates during certain stages in the pregnancy. Also, many women find that sex becomes uncomfortable as their bodies get larger.
You and your partner need to keep the lines of communication open regarding your sexual relationship. Talk about other ways to satisfy your need for intimacy, such as kissing, caressing, and holding each other. You also may need to experiment with other positions for sex to find those that are the most comfortable.
Many women find that they lose their desire and motivation for sex late in the pregnancy - not only because of their size but also because they're preoccupied with the impending delivery and the excitement of becoming a new parent.
When It's Not Safe
There are two types of sexual behavior that aren't safe for any pregnant woman:
If you engage in oral sex, your partner should not blow air into your vagina. Blowing air can cause an air embolism (a blockage of a blood vessel by an air bubble), which can be potentially fatal for mother and child.
You should not have sex with a partner whose sexual history is unknown to you or who may have a sexually transmitted disease, such as herpes, genital warts, chlamydia, or HIV. If you become infected, the disease may be transmitted to your baby, with potentially dangerous consequences.
If your doctor, nurse-midwife, or other pregnancy health care provider anticipates or detects certain significant complications with your pregnancy, he or she is likely to advise against sexual intercourse. The most common risk factors include:
a history or threat of miscarriage
a history of pre-term labor (you've previously delivered a baby before 37 weeks) or signs indicating the risk of pre-term labor (such as premature uterine contractions)
unexplained vaginal bleeding, discharge, or cramping
leakage of amniotic fluid (the fluid that surrounds the baby)
placenta previa, a condition in which the placenta (the blood-rich structure that nourishes the baby) is situated down so low that it covers the cervix (the opening of the uterus)
incompetent cervix, a condition in which the cervix is weakened and dilates (opens) prematurely, raising the risk for miscarriage or premature delivery
multiple fetuses (you're having twins, triplets, etc.)
Common Questions and Concerns
The following are some of the most frequently asked questions about sex during pregnancy.
Can sex harm my baby?
No, not directly. Your baby is fully protected by the amniotic sac (a thin-walled bag that holds the fetus and surrounding fluid) and the strong muscles of the uterus. There's also a thick mucus plug that seals the cervix and helps guard against infection. The penis does not come into contact with the fetus during sex.
Can intercourse or orgasm cause miscarriage or contractions?
In cases of normal, low-risk pregnancies, the answer is no. The contractions that you may feel during and just after orgasm are entirely different from the contractions associated with labor. However, you should check with your health care provider to make sure that your pregnancy falls into the low-risk category. Some doctors recommend that all women stop having sex during the final weeks of pregnancy, just as a safety precaution, because semen contains a chemical that may actually stimulate contractions. Check with your health care provider to see what he or she thinks is best.
Is it normal for my sex drive to increase or decrease during pregnancy?
Actually, both of these possibilities are normal (and so is everything in between). Many pregnant women find that symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, breast tenderness, and the increased need to urinate make sex too bothersome, especially during the first trimester. Generally, fatigue and nausea subside during the second trimester, and some women find that their desire for sex increases. Also, some women find that freedom from worries about contraception, combined with a renewed sense of closeness with their partner, makes sex more fulfilling. Desire generally subsides again during the third trimester as the uterus grows even larger and the reality of what's about to happen sets in.
Your partner's desire for sex is likely to increase or decrease as well. Some men feel even closer to their pregnant partner and enjoy the changes in their bodies. Others may experience decreased desire because of anxiety about the burdens of parenthood, or because of concerns about the health of both the mother and their unborn child.
Your partner may have trouble reconciling your identity as a sexual partner with your new (and increasingly visible) identity as an expectant mother. Again, remember that communication with your partner can be a great help in dealing with these issues.
When to Call Your Doctor
Call your health care provider if you're unsure whether sex is safe for you. Also, call if you notice any unusual symptoms after intercourse, such as pain, bleeding, or discharge, or if you experience contractions that seem to continue after sex.
Remember, "normal" is a relative term when it comes to sex during pregnancy. You and your partner need to discuss what feels right for both of you.
Reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MDDate reviewed: October 2007Originally reviewed by: George Macones, MD