STAGES OF NEWBORN SLEEP

Sleep is defined as a condition of body and mind which recurs for several hours every night, in which the nervous system is inactive,the eyes closed, the postural muscles relaxed and consciuosness practically suspended.

Sleep patterns in newborns are different from those in older children and adults.

For newborns, sleep is about equally divided between rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM sleep and follows these stages:

STAGE 1: Drowsiness, in which the baby starts to fall asleep.

STAGE 2: REM sleep (also referred to as active sleep), in which the baby may twitch or jerk her arms or legs, and her eyes move under her closed eyelids. Breathing is often irregular and may stop for 5 to 10 seconds—a condition called normal periodic breathing of infancy. The irregular breathing is normal as it lessens as the baby's brain matures. REM sleep is much more prominent in newborns taking up to 50% of their sleep (80% in a premature baby). It decreases to 25% by the time they reach adolescence.

STAGE 3: Light sleep, in which breathing becomes more regular and sleep becomes less active.

STAGE 4: Deep non-REM sleep (also referred to as quiet sleep). Twitching and other movements cease, and the baby falls into sleep that becomes progressively deeper. During these stages, the baby may be more difficult to awake.

Unlike adults, young children go through these stages very quickly; meaning that they can be in deep sleep in just a matter of minutes.
They are usually able to sleep in a noisy environment and this can be a good thing as it enables them to sleep in a variety of places such as in the car and in the stroller.

Non-REM sleep allows our body to recharge and is essential for a baby's healthy physical and mental growth.

 

#ShineOnNigeria

Though we lost
Happy with the performance
Moving on to the next round
That's all that matters to me right now.

Alcohol can mar you

Just a little argument,
And with his drunk staggering self,
He picked up a sharp object,
Hit his neighbour on the head.
Next thing...
On the floor lies a lifeless body.
Oh! What a painful exit.
It is now a murder case
He is on the run
His father is nowhere to be found.
His unfortunate mother taken in for questioning by the police.
Who knows what next?

This is the story of a young man who killed his neighbour under the influence of alcohol.
Who knows how many bottle he had taken on that fateful day.

From the minute you take your first sip, alcohol starts affecting your body and mind. After one or two drinks you may start feeling more sociable. After having too much drink, walking and talking becomes harder. You might start saying things you don't mean and behaving out of character.
One major constituent of alcohol is ethanol and ethanol is a psychoactive drug(psychoactive drugs are chemical substances that affect the brain functioning, causing changes in behaviour, mood and consciousness).

Just like any other drug, one can be addicted to alcohol. A person can get so addicted to it that you become broke. No life savings; no investments. Even Harvard School of Public Health calls it both a tonic and a poison pending on the dose. How alcohol affects someone depends on the person. So everyone should weigh the pros and cons of consuming alcohol regularly.

Drinking can also cloud your judgement paving the way for destructive decisions like getting behind the wheel of a car.
If you must drink, drink responsibly. Even the producers gave that warning.
Heavy drinking often leads to work and family problems, which in turn can lead to isolation and depression.
We should be moderate in all that we do; not just in alcohol intake.

When next you order for another bottle of an alcoholic drink, have in mind that alcohol is a kind of drug.
Don't abuse it; avoid overdose.

Word For Today

ROOTED IN CHRIST

The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree.

He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

Those who are planted in the house of the Lord,

Shall flourish in the courts of our God.

They shall still bear fruit in old age;

They shall be fresh and flourishing.

To declare that the Lord is upright;

He is my rock and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

(Psalms 92: 12 - 15)

Can you stand when the storm comes blowing your way?

In the storms of life, a man without a solid foundation gets knocked down but the man who is rooted in Christ is invulnerable to the storms that may come his way.

A close relationship with Christ can help you withstand any storm (like disappointments, health problems and financial crisis) in your life and come out unharmed.

Just like an uprooted tree withers; a man who is not rooted in God's Word withers when faced with the storms of life.

In your quiet time read; Psalms 1:3, Romans 8, Matthew 7:24 - 27, Phillipians 4: 4, 12.

Hope you were blessed?

Sing along (or read along)

1.My hope is built on nothing less 

than Jesus' blood and righteousness. 

I dare not trust the sweetest frame, 

but wholly lean on Jesus' name. 

Refrain:

On Christ the solid rock I stand, 

all other ground is sinking sand; 

all other ground is sinking sand. 

2.When Darkness veils his lovely face, 

I rest on his unchanging grace. 

In every high and stormy gale, 

my anchor holds within the veil. 

(Refrain) 

3.His oath, his covenant, his blood 

supports me in the whelming flood. 

When all around my soul gives way, 

he then is all my hope and stay. 

(Refrain) 

4.When he shall come with trumpet sound, 

O may I then in him be found! 

Dressed in his righteousness alone, 

faultless to stand before the throne! 

(Refrain) 

Clarion Call (2)

I wasn't so excited. I wasn't even ready. I could still recall a friend teasing me; saying I should go buy a boat and a life jacket. I wondered where I was heading to.

Eventually, I was en route to Bayelsa, Kaiama Camp (be careful the way you pronounce so you won't bite your tongue). Three weeks in camp was like three months. On the last day in camp, surprisingly, I started missing everything; the activities, the soldiers, my platoon, my room mates, amongst so many other things.

It was tough after I left camp but I conquered and overcame all issues. I was in love with Bayelsa not that there was anything special about the state but all I can say is that I was happy. Their transport system was terrific. The names of places in Bayelsa is what I termed, 'creative and funny'. You get to hear names like, Amassoma (where I served), Sagbama, Ekpetiama, Nembe, Otueke, Biogbolo, The great 'Swali market', Igbogene, Otiotio, Ekeki and Opolo. The names people bear wasn't spared either as Bayelsa is the only place where I have seen a child called, 'Nigeria'. It wasn't a nickname but a real one.
My experience in Bayelsa was an exciting one. I could write a book about it. I didn't need to buy a boat after all, because I witnessed no flood.
God bless that wonderful Ijaw family that housed me when I needed to stay close to my PPA (Place of Primary Assignment).
I was one lucky, blessed, favoured lady.

Seridowa!!!

First Aid

Many a times it has been seen that in case of a serious accident on road, people just gather around the victims and are just mere spectators. A person is bleeding profusely or has a broken bone. It is very sad to note that no one knows what to do. It is not always possible to get the immediate help of a doctor. Sometimes the injured person breathes his last breath before the arrival of a doctor.

So, it is very essential that someone around us should be able to give immediate help. We can have sufficient number of first aiders if first aid training is imparted in schools and colleges.
FIRST AID is the temporary care given to victims of an accident until the services of a doctor can be obtained. Its aims are to preserve life, prevent further aggravation of the condition and promote recovery.
FIRST AID KIT is a collection of supplies and equipment for use in giving first aid. It can be  assembled in any type of container whether commercially or by an individual.
CONTENTS IN A KIT include: disinfectants, painkillers, cotton swab, scissors, pocket mask,disposable gloves, thermometer, adhesive bandage.  To mention but a few.A well-stocked first aid kit is handy and kits should be checked regularly and restocked if any items are damaged or expired.First aid kit can be bought ready-made but you can make up your own with the equipment and items mentioned above.It is vital to have a first aid kit available and everyone should learn basic first aid techniques. You could be the difference between life and death. (Extracted from my Red Cross CDS report)

Clarion Call

It has always been my dream to serve in any Northern state of Nigeria because I hear food is cheap over there(I'm not a glutton though). I nurtured this dream through out my university days.

November 2011, I became a graduate. The next level was NYSC. Then I suddenly realized that my Northern dream was shifting to the South. Boko Haram as become the order of the day. Not that I was afraid but 'the fear of Boko Haram is the beginning of wisdom'. I was confused; should I just influence my NYSC posting or leave it and pray about it?

Hmmm, my faith this time wasn't strong enough.

Finally, I influenced it to Akwa Ibom. Some months later, on hearing that the Call-Up/Posting List was out, I quickly prepared to leave Lagos for Imo. On my way to Owerri, Imo state, I could remember getting a phone call from a friend who told me I've been posted to BY(Bayelsa). The first thing that came to mind was, FLOOD ZONE. Well, I consoled myself since it was still in the South.

Deep inside I wasn't so excited...

To Be Continued...

2014

2014, the year of;

Happiness

Laughter

Plenty

Good Health

Wealth

Peace...

I can go on and on.

God bless my hustle and yours this year.

#listening to Jaywon's 'this year.'