Healthy Pregnancy Centre

Archive for June 5th, 2009

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Pregnant women are filled with joy along with fears of the unknown. Lots of questions go through an expecting mom’s mind. Will I be a good mother? Will my baby be a boy or girl? Will I be prepared when the baby comes? There are so many questions during this stage of life and we’ve compiled the top 10 most common questions and provided you with great answers to help make your 9 months of pregnancy exciting and worry free.

1.) What are the most common symptoms of pregnancy?

Don’t be alarmed if you experience slight bleeding or cramping. A small amount of spotting or vaginal bleeding is often one of the first symptoms of pregnancy. Tender or swollen breasts and fatigue also top the list and can be attributed to all the hormonal changes taking place.

2.) Now that I’m pregnant, are there certain things I should avoid?

From the obvious to the not so obvious (think fish), you need to be aware of the many different things that can have a potentially adverse affect on your unborn child. Some fish have high mercury levels that can cause harm to your unborn fetus. Do some research about fish and pregnancy if you’re a seafood enthusiast. Avoid alcohol and smoking. They contribute to a myriad of problems from miscarriage and stillbirth to physical defects and low birth weight. The jury is still out on how much caffeine is too much, so be sure to check with your doctor before drinking or eating caffeine-infused beverages and foods.

3.) What is morning sickness? What can I do to alleviate it?

Morning sickness is one of those unfortunate symptoms that affect some pregnant women making them feel nauseous, sometimes to the point of vomiting. It can hit at any time of the day (or night) and can begin as early as two weeks after conception. Some women experience a heightened sense of smell that can make nausea even worse. Luckily, morning sickness usually dissipates after the first trimester. Sometimes symptoms can be lessened by eating smaller meals, sucking on peppermint or drinking ginger tea. If you’re morning sickness is really bad you should talk with your doctor.

4.) How often do I need to see the doctor?

During the first six months of pregnancy, you will generally see your doctor once per month. Once you hit your seventh month, every two weeks. In the final month, your appointments will be weekly.

5.) Should I exercise during pregnancy?

Exercise is beneficial for numerous reasons, but mostly will help prepare you for the physical challenge of labor and delivery. Avoid contact sports or exercise that gets you too over heated. As with all exercise, be sure to check with your healthcare provider first.

6.) Is it normal to get abdominal pains during pregnancy?

When you hit week 20, it is normal to experience pain in the lower part of the abdomen. The ligaments that support the uterus are starting to stretch. Although occasional discomfort is a common complaint, severe or persistent abdominal pain should be checked out by your healthcare provider.

7.) Why am I so moody?

Blame it on the hormones. The most dramatic hormone shifts occur between the sixth and tenth week of pregnancy and in the final weeks leading up to the delivery. While hormones are the main culprits, sudden mood shifts can also be traced to fatigue, physical stress, and changes in metabolism.

8.) When should I stop having sex? Is it dangerous for the baby?

Provided your pregnancy is normal, you can continue having sex right up until your water breaks or you go into labor. You don’t have to worry about hurting the baby – the amniotic sac protects your baby, and a thick mucus plug seals the cervix to guard against any possible infection.

9.) How will I know when I’m in labor?

Labor is different for every woman. But, here are some general characteristics:

• Contractions are regular and follow a predictable pattern
• They become progressively closer, longer, and stronger
• Changing your position or activity will not slow down the contractions
• There may be a bloody discharge and membranes may rupture

10.) How long should I wait before going to the hospital if I think I’m in labor?

A contraction is considered strong if you can’t talk through it. If you are having strong contractions that are coming every four to five minutes for one or two hours, it’s probably a good idea to call your doctor or midwife. And, if your water breaks, you should get to the hosptial immediately to avoid any risk of infection. If your cervix is open to approximately 4 centimters and is effaced, you are in active labor. Congratulations!

Kim Proulx knows lots about kids, parenting and strengthening the family bond. As a Certified Parent Coach she vows that surrounding your baby in a safe and comfortable environment is the first step in creating a happy family. To set up the ideal baby environment she recommends you check out the beautiful baby cribs at SimplyBabyFurniture.com.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pregnancy-articles/will-pregnancy-make-me-moody-950722.html

There are many misconceptions about homebirth that you see in the opinions of the mainstream. If you really want to consider a homebirth, don’t let their opinions keep you from exploring your options.

Misconception #1: Homebirthing is Dangerous

This is untrue. In fact, a recent Dutch study of over 500,000 homebirths show that it is perfectly safe for low risk women to birth at home. The attendance of an experienced midwife also decreases the risk of complications.

Misconception #2: Homebirthing is Selfish

Some think that staying home is only for Mom’s comfort. They will even go so far as accusing those who birth at home of not caring about the safety and well-being of their baby. They say that homebirthers only care about the Mom’s experience of the birth. This is hogwash. Homebirthing parents choose to stay at home so their baby has a gentle entrance into the world. They don’t want their baby subjected to pitocin augmentation, ultrasound waves and drugs. They want the first moments of their baby’s life to be spent bonding with his or her parents, not being poked, prodded and weighed. By letting the labor progress without interruption, both mother and baby are infused with the natural hormones they both need for an optimal start together.

Misconception #3: Homebirthing is Painful

Well, there is some truth to this. Birth can be painful at times. Unlike most pain, which is the way your body tells you something is wrong, labor pains are from exertion. Your body is working hard to birth your baby, and sometimes hard work can be strenuous and painful. There are comfort measures that can be used besides drugs to make pain more bearable. Immersion in water is very effective, as are hot and cold packs, massage and being active. Contractions are often more painful when a mom is lying down than when she is upright. By following what her body wants her to do she can make the contractions much more comfortable. Some women can even have ecstatic births. These rarely happen in the hospital, because of all the people coming in and out and all the interruptions.

Without pain medications and interruptions, your body produces endorphins, which also help make the contractions bearable. I won’t lie… labor is intense, especially towards the end. How you approach it mentally makes a world of difference. I suggest embracing it… this is helping your baby emerge from within so you can hold him in your arms. With all the hormones that are flooding through you and your baby at this time, the moment she emerges, there is such an incredible sense of love from the oxytocin and prolactin that the pain of a moment ago seems insignificant.

So, plan your homebirth. Go with the flow of labor. Sway, dance and sing your birthing song. Follow where your body leads you until you hold your baby in your arms.

Homebirth is a wonderful beginning for many low risk families. Join us at http://organic-birth.com to learn more about homebirth. Toni Rakestraw is the mother of 8 children, 4 of whom were born at home.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pregnancy-articles/dont-let-these-common-homebirth-misconceptions-keep-you-from-staying-home-951052.html

You probably already know how important it is to eat a well-balanced diet, but it is even more important when you are pregnant. Keep in mind now you are eating for two. Whatever you eat, the baby eats as well. In fact the baby actually takes your nourishment so you must eat enough for both of you. The healthier you eat the better it is for the baby during pregnancy and you.

Never miss a meal while you are pregnant, especially breakfast. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and your baby has probably been waiting since he/she woke up in the middle of the night. You may learn that if you wait so long before eating you start to feel sick, this is your body telling you to eat. Do it!

Make sure you are getting enough of the food you need daily. It takes 4-6 servings of dairy produce a day for a healthy baby pregnancy, this can include some cheeses, milk, yogurt. This provides the baby with calcium which it’ll need to develop healthy growing bones. Adding extra calcium to your diet wouldn’t hurt you either, especially your teeth and bones.

Don’t forget about your fruit and vegetable servings. Lots of green is always a good choice, so are sweet potatoes. Not only will you be giving your body what it needs but you’ll start to have more energy. Try laying off the sweets for a week and replace them with healthier items and see how alive you feel.

Foods to Avoid
Not all foods are safe during your pregnancy, there are a few things you should avoid eating:

- Raw eggs

- Caffeine- soda, chocolate. If you find this difficult you can wean yourself off, but the less caffeine in your system the better it is for the baby.

- Certain fish- exotic, shark, swordfish, anything potentially high in mercury

- unpasteurized products- brie and other soft cheeses if unpasteurized.

- Undercooked meats- lunch meats. If you are buying a deli sandwich you can ask for them to heat the meat up a little.

If you are ever unsure of the foods you can eat, you can ask your doctor for a list of items to avoid during pregnancy. They’ll be more than happy to share this with you.

You may also learn that your stomach won’t handle certain foods that it would before. Some of those foods may include foods that contain grease, fast foods, meat, and certain foods that have a strong odor.

Eating healthy doesn’t mean you have to cut out all the fun in your life, you can still treat yourself from time to time. Go out and get a frozen yogurt or a smoothie.

While you are making sure you get enough to eat throughout the day, that doesn’t mean neglecting your fluid intake. You’ll need lots of water and juices from here on out. The baby will thank you later. Who knows, you may discover that you really enjoy eating healthier meals and continue it even after the pregnancy.

Read my article about children games.

I am psychologist, Indonesian people. I have concern to babies/kids world. My article about parenting, nanny services, daycare, children games and musics,etc, available at http://mombabykids.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pregnancy-articles/healthy-eating-during-baby-pregnancy-951259.html