.::.BabyGiggles.::. pregnancy, birth and parenthood community

You may notice that the 'Terrible Twos' start a little before your child's 2nd birthday.

Your toddler is becoming increasingly negative and seems to object to everything you ask. The slightest upset can send her into a tantrum.

Much of this behaviour is reserved for you as a primary caregiver. However, siblings or other children may feel the brunt of her anger if they touch her possessions or otherwise annoy her.

Try to stay calm and patient with your toddler. Gently but firmly remove her from the situation and channel her attention elsewhere.

Inducing labour

Labor Inducing Eggplant Parmesan

One of the methods of self-inducing labor that's been sweeping the internet in recent years is the myth that eggplant will start labor. This maternity myth started when a news story began circulating about a restaurant in Georgia named Scalini's. Apparently the mothers of over 300 babies have gone into labor in the past 23 years, within 48 hours of eating the eggplant parmegiana.

The funny part is, it may just be that the dish causes the women to go into labor, but it's not the eggplant. The herbs Oregano and Basil have properties that may cause contractions, though it is not yet known how or in what quantities. This is why, in aromatherapy circles, these herbs and essential oils are to be avoided whenever possible during pregnancy.

Oil Dept Balze

Fire crews are to begin fighting one of Europe's biggest peace time blazes on Monday after a wave of explosions ripped through a fuel depot.

A spectacular plume of smoke turned the sky black for miles around after blasts caused widespread damage and started a blaze which sent fireballs shooting into the air early on Sunday.

Police said it was too early to say what caused the explosions, which injured 43 people, one seriously, although they said it appeared to be an accident.

The blasts, reportedly heard up to 100 miles (160 km) away, initially raised fears of a possible repeat of the deadly wave of suicide bombings in London in July.

Understanding Baby's Colic

About one quarter of babies will suffer from colic from around age 3 weeks - and you will suffer too! All babies cry of course, but those with colic will cry relentlessly for at least three hours several times a week, usually in the evening when your partner gets home from work. This can be a stressful time for you all, but it will go away of its own accord once baby reaches about 12 weeks. In the meantime there are some things you can try to ease her discomfort and the decibel level.

Symptoms Of Colic
As well as the crying and general distress, baby will often extend or pull up her legs, arching her back; and her tummy may feel bloated.

Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction - SPD

Where is the Symphysis Pubis?

The pelvic girdle is made up of three large bones, the Sacrum (base of the spine) and two large isometric bones which form a joint at the front, the Symphysis Pubis, and join with the Sacrum at the back, at the Sacro-iliac joints. The Coccyx or tailbone is attached to the Sacrum. Separation of the Symphysis Pubis is known as Diastasis Symphysis Pubis but there can be other causes of Symphysis Pubis pain during pregnancy and after the baby is born.

What is Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction?

During pregnancy hormones soften and stretch the ligaments of the body in order to allow the pelvis to open slightly during labour so that the baby can move easily through. Symphysis Pubis and/or lower back pain can occur as early as the 12th week of pregnancy. During pregnancy, and after, the Symphysis can gap slightly and walking, climbing stairs and turning over in bed can be difficult or even impossible.

Not all women suffer from pelvic pain during pregnancy, some only suffer postnatally. There are also those who suffer both during and after pregnancy. Some women will experience pelvic pain in their first pregnancy and not subsequently, while other suffer from this distressing problem with each and every baby.

Hurricane Rita

The state of Texas has urged the US federal government to put 10,000 troops on standby for search and rescue work as Hurricane Rita approaches.

While the storm has weakened, the Gulf Coast as far west as Mexico is on alert and more than a million people are fleeing, causing huge traffic jams.

Texas is due to bear the brunt of Rita but storm rains also threaten New Orleans' newly repaired flood defences.

President George W Bush is due to visit Texas to see preparations there.

Man shot by armed police

Man shot by armed police on Tube

A man has been shot at Stockwell Tube station by armed police officers.

Passenger Mark Whitby told BBC News he had seen an Asian man shot five times by "plain-clothes police officers" with a handgun.

Passengers were evacuated from the Northern Line station in south London. Ambulances including an air ambulance have been sent to the scene. Police have cordoned off surrounding streets.

Toll climbs in Egyptian attacks

At least 88 people have been killed in bomb attacks in the Egyptian resort of Sharm al-Sheikh, hospital staff say.

Some 200 more were injured in the blasts last night. The first, in the Old Market, was followed by two more in Naama Bay, where a hotel was badly hit.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak vowed to continue the "battle with terrorism" as he visited the sites of the attacks, the worst in Egypt's recent history.

Most of the dead are Egyptians, but foreigners are among the victims too.

A 34-year-old Italian man on his honeymoon and a Czech citizen have been confirmed dead, and at least 20 of those injured are thought to be foreign.

NASA sends shuttle back into space

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - NASA successfully launched space shuttle Discovery on Tuesday, but anxiously reviewed video showing debris falling from the craft during liftoff, the same problem that caused the fatal Columbia disaster 2-1/2 years earlier. The debris did not appear to hit the shuttle during the smooth morning blastoff, marking a triumphant U.S. return to manned space travel after the long struggle to recover from Columbia's breakup over Texas. Engineers hoped to know by Sunday whether Discovery was damaged and whether the crew should attempt repairs, flight operations manager John Shannon said. A chunk of foam from an external fuel tank hit Columbia's wing during liftoff on January 16, 2003, and caused a breach that tore the shuttle apart when it reentered Earth's atmosphere 16 days later. All seven astronauts aboard were killed. Discovery, also carrying seven crew members, soared into slightly hazy skies on Tuesday, leaving behind a trail of smoke and flames, while the roar of its booster rockets rattled windows and shook the ground across Cape Canaveral in Florida. "I want to ask you all to take note of what you saw here today," said NASA's new administrator Michael Griffin, basking in a palpable sense of relief that swept through the launch management team after Discovery safely reached orbit. "The power and the majesty of the launch, of course, but also the competence and the professionalism, the sheer gall, the pluckiness, the grittiness of this team that pulled this program out of the depths of despair two years ago and made it fly."

Is baby sitting safely?

Buying and fitting a car seat for your baby is a potentially life-saving decision. By law, it’s the responsibility of the driver (not necessarily the parent) to use a suitable car seat (or restraint) in the front or rear seat of the car, when carrying a child under the age of three. But it’s not just a matter of choosing the right seat for your baby, you also have to make sure that the seat will fit your model of car. So this is a purchase that can turn out to be a minefield of tricky decisions. It’s certainly a challenge best taken on before your baby is born. That way, you can practise getting the seat in and out of the car, and you can bring your baby home in it from the hospital.