Among the long list of gender tests is the belly test for gender of a baby. This test offers a few benefits–it’s a safe and free gender test. The process is simple observation that on the surface seems very easy. However, it is important to get a clear definition of the terms used in the test to avoid confusion.
* Carrying low means that the baby bump, the part of the belly that protrudes the most, is settled close to the hips.
* Carrying high means that the baby bump rests high in the abdominal area. She may be carrying the baby close to the ribs rather than closer to the hips.
* Narrow refers to the shape of the uterus when it protrudes outward, toward the front.
* Wide refers to the shape of the uterus when it settles to the sides.
According to the belly test for baby’s gender, a woman can tell the sex of her baby by observing the position and shape of her belly.
1. Carrying low and narrow, the baby is a boy
2. Carrying high and wide, the baby is a girl
This can be more difficult to detect than it seems since the way a woman gains weight is thought to measure into the equation. Women who have bellies that are prominent with extra weight in front are carrying boys while women who carry extra weight in the rear and hips are carrying girls.
Can these observations women uncover the gender of their babies relatively early in the pregnancy? Like any unscientific gender test, it’s accurate about half the time, but it is important to consider physical factors that determine the size and shape of a pregnant belly for a more realistic perspective.
Belly Shape and Size
Many things factor into the shape and size of the belly during pregnancy, though gender does not make the list as far as medical science is concerned. An explanation of different belly shapes is discussed by doctors from the Columbia University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in an article featured on Revolution Health. Their observations include:
* Good muscle tone may make the bump appear smaller
* Weaker muscle tone may make the bump appear larger
* Bigger babies make bigger bellies
* Multiples naturally lead to large bellies
* High level of amniotic fluid can cause the belly to bulge
* Natural shape of the woman’s uterus can dictate the shape of the bump
* The baby’s position changes the shape of the belly
* Shorter torso may translate into carrying wide
* Longer torso may translate into carrying narrow
Many different combinations can exist. A young woman with tight abdominal muscles who has a long torso may appear to be carrying a boy when she is carrying a girl. An older woman with a short torso and other pregnancies may appear to be carrying a girl when the baby is really a boy. Nevertheless, many believe that the belly test for gender of a baby is a reliable test.
How Does the Belly Predict Gender?
There is no real explanation of the reasoning behind the belly observation test. Some may hold on to the idea that infant males are larger than infant females are and this size difference would naturally lead to a protruding belly that rests low in women carrying males. Females who are smaller and lighter than males would be closer to the body and carried high.
Realistically, babies come in a variety of sizes, with some males being smaller than females. Factor this into the many different elements that feed into the size and shape of a pregnant woman’s belly, and the test falls short.
July 23rd, 2010
Teenagers having personal, social and family problems are very easy prey of depression. Depression is a problem which haunts not only adults but also teenagers. During teenage a child suffers from intense emotional and mental stresses due to which child tends to develop feelings of depression.
As a responsible parent you must know all the signs and symptoms of depression so that you can help your child if he/she is suffering from these feelings of disgust. If you want to bring back happiness into the life of your child then you must take preventive measures and proper medication in order to help your child. With the right motivation and remedies you can certainly bring back the peace of mind of your child. Here are some of signs of teenage depression.
1. A teenager suffering from depression becomes sad and even shows tearfulness. There are many other ways of identifying sadness apart from tears and crying. Dressing is the most common way through which teens try to convey their sadness. Teenagers usually compose poems and stories so with the reference of the content you can find out whether your child is depressed or not. Always look out for a sense in every activity your child does, if there is some change in his/her daily routine, the child might be suffering from depression.
2. Another sign of teenage depression is reflection of hopelessness in your child’s attitude. There can be instances when your child might feel that life is no more worth living indicating that your son or daughter has lost complete hope in survival. Your child becomes least bothered what others think about his/her appearance and behavior. If your teen displays these symptoms then he or she may be suffering from feelings of depression.
3. If your child is suffering from depression then you can identify it by keeping an eye on daily routine of your child. Usually a child starts showing les interest even in his favorite activity. There would be sudden change in behavior of your child. A teenager might be dropped from school or club due to lack of interest. If something like this happens then you must consult doctor as your child might be depressed.
4. Teenagers suffering from depression tend to display lack of energy even in their favorite activities. Usually a child shows boredom in an enjoyable activity. Lack of motivation and low grades in academics can be signs of depression in teenager.
5. If your child starts avoiding socializing amongst friends and families then you need to take care as he or she might be suffering from depression. Usually during depression a teenager avoids talking of things that are bothering him. Your child might try to isolate himself from the world outside.
6. Another sign of teenage depression is lowering if confidence. Your child will develop negative feelings and start complaining about everything. A person who lacks confidence is worst affected by failures. So you child might end up being depressed.
September 23rd, 2008
It is Saturday morning. Twelve-year-old Christine and her mother are engaged in their weekly battle. Mother yells, “This room looks like a pigsty.” Christine sticks to her guns and maintains, “My room is clean. I just cleaned it.” Oddly enough, it has never occurred to Christine’s mother that all this arguing is not resolving the problem. Fortunately it is called behavior contracting.
WHAT IS BEHAVIOR CONTRACTING?
Behavior contracting is an aspect of parenting that is based on the premise that rewards and praise are more likely than punishment to encourage desirable behavior. Some parents tend to use behavior contracting as a way of disciplining a child. But EAP Counselor Eva Sansom believes that its goal is not to discipline - it is to teach responsibility.
“In its simplest form, a behavior contract is an oral contract between a child and a parent,” says Sansom. For instance, a father might say to three-year-old Tommy, “Help Dad put the toys away and then you can have a cookie.” Or, he might reward Tommy with praise for doing the task well. It is important, however, to praise specific behavior rather than just saying, “You’re a good boy.” “A written contract can be used when a child is old enough to understand what a contract is all about,” says Sansom. However, it should not be used for every little difficulty that comes along. Reserve a written contract for a situation where an oral contract has not worked. It is especially helpful when a Disagreement with a teenager has resulted in a deadlock. Let us find out more about these written contracts.
BENEFITS OF A BEHAVIOR CONTRACT:
What is noteworthy about the following benefits is that they benefit both child and parent: Helps both parties to be more objective by focusing their thinking on the goal rather than on their feelings. Allows children to feel that they have some say in their lives and, therefore, reduces the power struggle between parent and child. Leaves less room for misunderstanding and procrastination because the facts are in black and
white. Provides parent and child with a sense of accomplishment, because it is a goal-centered approach. Encourages mutual respect by expecting both parties to honour the terms of the contract.
FEATURES OF A BEHAVIOR CONTRACT:
Now comes the difficult part - the actual writing of the behavior contract. Basically, a good contract – one that is likely to work - will have the following features:
It will be a mutual agreement. This means “both the parent and the child must agree without being coerced”, says Sansom. In other words, the parent must treat the child as an equal when negotiating the contract. Sansom also points out that the contract must be in the interests of both parent and child. The contract should be specific. It must say exactly what the child is to do. For instance, in our scenario, Christine and her mother had never agreed on what actually constituted a “clean” room. Is Christine to hang up her clothes? Make her bed? Dust the furniture? Vacuum the rug?
By being clear about these points, they will ensure mutual understanding and prevent problems. The contract should state not only who is to monitor the contract, but also when he or she is to do it. And it is just as important to stipulate how long the contract will last. As a general rule, it is a good idea to evaluate a written contract after one month and either terminate it, or renegotiate it after three months. The contract should contain either a reward, or a reinforcer. A reward could be a new toy, favorite food or the privilege such as extra TV time. What is important is that the reward is something that the child really wants. Effective contracts also spell out exactly when the reward is to be given to the child. Sansom points out that the reinforcer may simply be greater family harmony. For instance, Christine’s mother might promise neither to nag nor to threaten.
WHEN A BEHAVIOR CONTRACT DOES NOT WORK…
If the desired change in behavior is not achieved, a parent will often blame the child. Sansom believes, however, that the fault lays with the contract, not the child. There are a number of things that you can do to increase your chances of success with behavior contracting. Here are some of them. Keep the goal within easy reach. For instance,
Christine is more likely to be successful at keeping her room tidy for a week, than a month. Give small rewards and positive feedback along the way. A point system is one way of doing this.
A child can trade the points for a reward. Provide a child with the necessary training if the contract involves mastery of a task. Remind the child about his or her commitment. This is something that should be discussed when the contract is negotiated, because some children may consider a reminder as a form of nagging. Take the contract seriously. Parents are just as likely as children to forget about the contract after a few days of weeks. Do not delay in giving the reward. Remember that a deal is a deal.
If a contract must be redesigned, allow the child to help. Discuss why the previous contract is not working and ask for the child’s input.
Now you know - behavior contracting takes time and commitment. You may have a win/win situation - provided that, when all goes well, you could succeed in this endeavor. You’ve just read a number of really good reasons to use contracts between you and your child, and you may be able to come to an agreement to the terms on your own, for the terms to which you both contributed. However, we do understand life is not as simple, nor ever will be, between parents and children, as we would like. We do know that you may need the help of someone outside the relationship to introduce the concept and help to define terms, and then assist in the implementation of the contract.
October 31st, 2007