What to Ask Your Obstetrician During Your First Trimester
The first trimester is the most critical time for growth and development of your baby. At the end of these 3 months, your baby will have developed functioning organs and a nervous system. There will be a lot of questions that you may have for your obstetrician in order to prepare for your baby’s arrival. Below are some key questions to ask your obstetrician during your first trimester. What is Prenatal Screening and Testing? Based on your family medical history and your pregnancy history, your doctor may offer you the option of screening for chromosomal abnormalities with prenatal testing. Recent advances in technology have paved the way for non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), which requires only a blood draw and can be performed as early as week 10 in pregnancy. Work with your obstetrician or your genetic counselor to learn more about your testing options.
5 Things to Watch Out for During Pregnancy to Keep Yourself Healthy
Most women go into healthy living overdrive as soon as they start trying to get pregnant, which is highly recommended. As soon as conception occurs, your body begins changing, and the healthier you are, the easier it is to cope with all the changes. Unfortunately, issues can come up during pregnancy that you may not expect or can’t control. But keeping informed and following the health tips below can help you and your baby stay as healthy as possible during all 40 weeks of the pregnancy.
The Importance of Reducing Stress in Your Life During Pregnancy — and Some Ideas for Doing So
In a perfect world, all women who become pregnant would have a relatively peaceful nine months, with plenty of leisure time to rest and to plan for the joyous arrival of their babies. But in the real world, adversity happens often. Sometimes, a woman is subjected to high stress levels during her pregnancy, whether the stress is related to money worries, family, a tragedy, or even problems with her partner. Life does sometimes throw us curves that we did not anticipate. But if you are pregnant, you have an even greater reason to do everything in your power to take control of the stress in your life.
10 Tasks New Parents Should Master
Even if you have read all the books and been to all the classes, you cannot know exactly what it is like to be a parent until it actually happens. Every new parent encounters surprises and unexpected challenges. And while most of these challenges are easily overcome, they are quite serious given the fact that you now have a young human being’s life, comfort, and happiness in your hands. There is no reason to panic, though. Most new parents hit their stride within a couple of weeks, and the everyday tasks become second nature. But if you are preparing for the arrival of your first, here are ten tasks to be familiar with.
How to Lose Your Mommy Tummy
One of the hardest things that new mothers face is figuring out how to lose their mommy tummy. The outer abdominal muscles become so stretched out during pregnancy that even once you have given birth and your uterus has shrunk back down to its normal size, it is very difficult to get those muscles back into pre-baby shape.
Becoming A Father – Fatherhood
by David McSweeney “I’ve just been to the Doctor’s and told I’ve only got nine months to live!” “Really, what’s wrong with you?” “My girlfriend is pregnant….”
CAFFEINE DURING PREGNANCY Is it Good Or Bad?
By Cyndra Neal Pregnant but still craving your caffeine fix? A new study published by the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology may help dissuade you from reaching for a second cup of coffee. It finally answers the question of how much is too much caffeine during pregnancy.
Top 10 Tips for Expectant Mothers
by: Annicedda Journal: Chart your pregnancy using a pregnancy journal. Diet: When pregnant eat foods that are nutrient rich including items from all the food groups. Important nutrients include folic acid, calcium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and Vitamin D.
COLIC- WHY IS MY BABY CRYING?
It is day four of incessant crying. No sleep for anybody in the family. The new baby, a precious gift, is no bundle of joy. You would do anything to help relieve the obvious pain your baby is experiencing. The worst part is nothing seems to help. Many parents end up in the emergency room in an attempt to find an answer to their baby’s suffering. But there doesn’t seem to be any definitive answers. Experts can’t agree- some say the baby is trying to change the dynamics of the household to focus more on the infants needs. Others insist that the baby is not in any real pain but uncomfortable outside the womb. Still others maintain allergies to breast milk or formula is keeping your baby gassy and fussing. While all of these theories may have a very small place in the very large, all encompassing diagnosis of colic, an immature digestive system learning to synchronize itself seems the most plausible answer. After talking with hundreds of colic-challenged moms let me dispel some popular colic myths.
Pampering Yourself during Pregnancy: Are Salon Treatments Safe?
There is nothing like a manicure and pedicure, a new haircut or hair color to make you feel like a new woman. Especially when a pregnancy can leave you feeling tired and changing hormones can make you feel not quite yourself. But are these treatments safe for your developing baby? Exposure to certain environmental agents called teratogens during pregnancy can cause birth defects. Experts are divided on how much exposure is too much but at this time there are no proven risks for most salon visits and there are many things you can do to help minimize any potential problems.
Nine Moons: Holistic Home Birth
by Joan Logghe Holistic Home Birth Irish Yotvat’s chronicle of her VBAC homebirth at age 40 is an amazing document. Pregnant with her third child, and shaky at the prospect, she introduces us to her numerous support networks: women friends, massage, her midwife, body-centered hypnosis with Gayle Peterson, movement classes, sound harmonics – the full gamut of pregnancy possibilities.
How to Find a Good Doula
For many parents today, the issues that surround childbirth don’t only concern the various birthing methods or the reputation of a particular hospital or obstetrician. There can be a myriad of factors…
The 101 on the Bradley vs. Lamaze Childbirth Techniques
A descriptive analysis of the differences between the Lamaze and Bradley childbirth techniques. Written for the expectant mother.
Tips for Choosing a Lactation Consultant
There is nothing more exciting or overwhelming than becoming a parent for the first time. What if there was someone who could help to take some of the guesswork out of being a new mother and answer all of your breastfeeding questions?
How to Improve your Chances of Getting Pregnant
For countless women, becoming pregnant is relatively easy. For others, it can be far more complicated. Many women feel helpless if they do not conceive quickly, and they begin to…
Eating Your Way To Pregnancy Nutrition
Hello New Mom! It’s you and Baby now, so you’ll want to eat what’s best for both of you. Keep in mind that while you are eating for two, only one of you is a full grown adult so…
Finding the Right Pediatrician for You and Your Baby
Congratulations, you’re pregnant. As the count-down to the birth of your new child approaches, you should consider finding a pediatrician who will work the best with your…