pregnancy

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27
Jun 11

Showing Your Love From Far Away – Maternity Clothes For That Special Lady

The mother-to-be in your life deserves to be treated with care and love. At a time when her hormones are raging out of control, one thing that will help her feel good about herself is to have beautiful and well-fitting clothes that bring out her natural beauty. This will increase her self-confidence and help her to feel good about herself and the pregnancy. Loved ones who live far away can purchase her a special maternity outfit to show their love and support. As summer approaches, why not consider maternity capris and a cute little top? These would also be interchangeable with other items in her maternity wardrobe and would therefore maximize what she already has.
There are some things you need to know before you purchase that unique outfit for her; here are 3 of them:

Her measurements
The web site you are purchasing from will have measuring details. Generally though for most clothes you purchase the same size she wore prior to the pregnancy. For dresses you’ll need special measuring.

The right colors
Find out the mother-to-be’s preferred colors. Or, if she looks fantastic in red, get her that beautiful red top that will make her eyes pop when she puts it on. Don’t be afraid of color.

What she already has, and what she needs
Are there maternity clothes she would really like to have? Is there a special “little black dress” she would just love to wear for special occasions, like going to the theatre, or does she need a maternity bathing suit?
When all the details are put together, get on the internet and purchase something beautiful for your pregnant lady for the remainder of her pregnancy.

In conclusion, purchasing maternity clothes for that special mother-to-be makes a perfect gift. She will be delighted and you will be showing her you care while supporting her through the pregnancy.

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25
Jun 11

Finding Relief in a Pregnancy Pillow

When a woman gets pregnant, it is most often, the happiest time of her life. This is what she dreamed of – having a family of her own. Of course, the 9 months of pregnancy is not without its downside, and one of this is discomfort especially during the last trimester of the pregnancy.

This is when it becomes difficult to move, and sleeping becomes a discomfort at best. One innovative product designed to ease the woes of a troubled sleep for a pregnant woman is the pregnancy pillow.

This is an odd-shaped pillow that is as long as a person when she is lying down. It can curve according to the body shape and contour, providing ample support in the back, neck, legs, and even stomach area.

There are at least two different ways to use this pillow. First, you can use it as one whole pillow and simply shape it according to how you want it to support you. The other way is by taking it apart. A pregnancy pillow consists of three smaller pillows. Once you take it apart, you can position each pillow where you want to. For instance, one pillow could be supporting the neck; the second pillow could be put under the legs, and the third pillow will support the back.

You can buy a pregnancy pillow online which makes it very convenient for someone who is not able to go around as much. It can then be delivered to you, so you don’t have to drive anywhere. You just need to make sure you order your pregnancy pillow from a reputable online store, just in case there is a problem with the product.

The beauty of buying a pregnancy pillow is that you can even use it after giving birth. It will make a wonderful support when you are nursing your baby, or after a long day and all your muscles are screeching in pain.

Your husband can also use it when he gets back aches from exercise or just from overstretching. The pregnancy pillow will be a great addition to any household, pregnant mother, newborn baby, daddy, or even a grandparent.

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24
Jun 11

Tips to an Effective C Section After Diet Treatment

C section after diet treatment is more challenging than those women who have undergone natural birthing process. Unlike the latter, those who have undergone Cesarean section will have to wait for more months to heal incision wounds before tackling diet regimen and exercise. Consult your physician first on the right time to start embarking on a strict diet. If you start on this too early, you could jeopardize your and your baby’s health. Here are more tips you can put to good use:

Tip 1: While waiting for your body to fully recuperate, you can start by breastfeeding your baby. This can actually burn calories as if you just had an hour of work out. On top of that, your baby can benefit from mom’s milk as it is loaded with nutritional benefits.

Tip 2: Already plan your diet schemes and your exercise routines. Search online for good recipes you can try at home. Stick to low fat, healthy carbohydrates and protein diet. You can still get your fat intake but it should be healthy fats such as omega-3 fatty acids. This can also help reduce weight according to many nutritionists.

When you do plan your meals, you lessen the instances of bingeing on emergency snacks. Plus, you only fill up your pantry and your refrigerator with healthy foods that even if you do binge on them, you will feel less guilt.

Tip 3: Ditch sodas and caffeine and replace it with healthier substitutes. If you must have caffeine because you did not have enough sleep the night before, which If I may add is a usual thing for many parents, instead of drinking a second or a third cup of coffee, why not go for apples instead? This also contains components that can help you stay focused, alert and awake. What is even better about this is that it does not zap your energy if it is used up by your body which is what happens when you drink coffee.

Tip 4: Choose a smaller white plate when you are eating. Colored plates whets up your appetite according to some people and a smaller plate gives you the impression that you are eating the usual amount of food you have been eating.

Tip 5: Savor every bite of your food. Converse with your family while eating and savor every bit of food so you feel more satisfied. A C Section after diet treatment should not be all about the amount of calories you are burning or the amount of carbohydrates you are taking. It should be about making the right food choices.

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24
Jun 11

The Joys of a Healthy Pregnancy Depends on Water

Whether you are a pregnant female or not, water is the key fluid required for the healthy functioning of all body organs. During pregnancy, your body actually needs more of this fluid to withstand the demanding changes that are being placed on your body to produce and nurture a healthy offspring.

Adequate water consumption for the safety of the developing fetus, as well as the mother is one of the most important preventive health maintenance strategies recommended by prenatal health care professionals. Of which, water is the main substance for the production of breast milk and necessary for good lactation.

Drinking plenty of water during pregnancy helps the mother avoid dehydration problems that can lead to quite a lengthy list of negative health complications such as headaches, water retention, nausea (morning sickness, cramps, oedema (ankle swelling), dizziness, heartburn, and elevated blood pressure. During the third trimester, the lack of water in the body can can cause early contractions that leads to premature labor.

A common health problem, among women that are pregnant, is the risk for developing a urinary tract infection. Increased water intake helps lowers this risk considerably, by keeping urine diluted and from pooling up to long in the bladder. Thus, your entire urine excretion system stays flushed.

Although it may seem counterintuitive, the more water you drink during your pregnancy, the less water the body will try to hold on to, especially if there is water/salt imbalance (more salt than water). It will also help avoid constipation and hemorrhoids.

So, how do you know if you are drinking enough water? The best indicator that you are getting enough is by the color of your excreted urine. If it is dark yellow or orange it is a signal to increase your water intake. Light yellow to pale colored urine, and you are doing fine.

An easy way to measure how much you are drinking everyday, is to fill a two or three quart container, with a goal of trying to finish it all by the end of the day.

Summer season pregnancies require awareness on your part to add an extra glass or two to accommodate for mobile exertion that results in perspiring and equals more fluids being lost. Try to steer clear of of caffeinated beverages such as tea, cola, or coffee, and do not make the mistake of counting them as part of your regular daily water intake. Caffeine is considered a mild drug and is a diuretic. These types of drinks, although made with water, will actually cause more urination and force more water out of your body.

So, what if don’t like the taste of water, and are having a hard time making yourself drink what you should?

To help ease yourself into the healthy habit, hopefully a good habit you will keep after delivery, try one of these easy tips. Try freezing up some small ice cubes made with your favorite fruit juice. Add a few cubes to a tall glass of water. It will have a weak fruity taste, as well an eye catching appearance. Or, if you like the taste of lemon or lime squeeze a small wedge into your glass of water.

If tap water safety concerns you, you may want to invest in a home filtration system for your drinking and cooking needs. When traveling or away from home, opting to drink bottled water may be more convenient than bringing your own with you, just make sure the seal is not broken and check expiration dates closely. Avoid prepackaged water in questionable plastic containers, certain types of plastics have been linked to hormone problems.

While meeting the nutritional needs of both mother and baby are very critical issues, adequate water intake education seems to take a back seat in its level of dominance for a healthy pregnancy, delivery, and a healthy infant. In fact, dehydration problems in the general population is the single most important preventable solution in healing a very long list of degenerative health conditions in itself.

The issue of morning sickness has often been attributed to deficiencies of specific nutrients lacking in the mothers diet by many nutritional health experts. According to Dr. F. Batmanghelidj, M.D., author of “You Body’s Many Cries For Water”claims, although it is very subtle and simple by nature, morning sickness is the first sign that a pregnant female and her fetus are dehydrated.

Dr. B states in his book, page 15, “during the intrauterine stage of cell expansion, water for cell growth of the child has to be provided by the mother. However, the transmitter system for water intake seems to be produced by the fetal tissue, but registers its effects on the mother during the early phase of pregnancy”.

This very unpleasant symptom of being pregnant hinders many women from eating properly, sometimes well into mid-day. Instead of trying to figure out what type of food nutrient may be missing from the diet, why not treat the nausea with water first?

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24
Jun 11

What To Take To The Hospital

When you are a first time mother, you don’t know what to expect period. People tell you all about their personal experiences and this just tends to be more nerve wracking for you the expectant mother. You hear that you need to pack a bag and get it ready for the hospital, because you will be in such a rush to get there. But what do you take with you to the hospital? Well here are some helpful tips so you have everything ready to go when your water breaks.

First of all, you shouldn’t wait until your water breaks to pack your bags. Have your bag packed and waiting by the door you leave out of, at least a week before your due date.

Make sure that when its time to go to the hospital, you or your husband has a watch with a second hand. This way you can time your contractions, this will be very helpful for when you get to the hospital.

Make sure you have a cell phone, and on your way to the hospital make the necessary calls to family and relatives that you want to be at the hospital. Grandparents, sisters, and brothers, mothers in laws etc. Let your husband concentrate on driving and if your not in to much pain then you should try to make the calls.

For your laboring room when you are in labor, you should bring warm socks, hospital rooms are usually cold, a couple of washcloths for sweating and if you would like your own birthing gown, which can be a nightgown or whatever you want it to be. The hospital usually supplies these things for you so if you are a light packer you can leave these things at home.

For your hospital room you are going to need a robe, and some nightgowns, again the hospital will provide these if you don’t want to take these. Slippers and some sweatpants and a sweatshirt, your makeup and everything you are going to need to get ready, hairdryer curling iron etc. You most likely won’t look so hot after you have your baby, and since you will have visitors it’s a good idea to bring thes thing. Also if you have a preference on sanitary napkins bring these or else the hospital will have these as well.

For going home you are going to need, an outfit, a nursing bra, if planning to breast feed, or just a bra. Underwear, shoes you get the point. A jacket if it’s cold outside. Last but not least a couple bags to bring home flowers and presents

For the babies ride home you are going to need a car seat, an outfit including an undershirt and socks or booties, a couple of heavy baby blankets, one to swaddle baby in and if it’s cold outside another one to cover babies head.

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23
Jun 11

When Will I Go Into Labor?

If you are pondering “when will I go into labor?” you are most probably very near to your estimated due date. Especially, if you have passed you EDD and are nearing you 40th pregnancy week, you might not only wonder “when will I go into labor” but be saying “I want to go into labor!”

What the Numbers of Dilation and Effacement Really Tell You?
?br>How far you are dilated and effaced will give an idea how near your labor would be. Additionally, hearing how well you are dilated and effaced gives you a sense of progress with your nearing labor. However, if you are NOT dilated, or effaced, rest assured that you will eventually give birth to your baby! Some pregnant women dilate to 4 cm and are 100% effaced for a full month before they go into labor. On the other hand some women, who were not dilated at all, can go into full labor and give birth within hours. Each body is build a little bit differently. Therefore our bodies work a little bit differently in pregnancy, labor and delivery, although the end result is the same – giving birth to a baby.
?br>There is no magic hour or day that coincides with dilation and effacement. Some pregnant women dilate quite silently without feeling contractions. Other expectant mothers have Braxton Hicks contractions for weeks before their labor starts. This is why vaginal checks are helpful in determining how much your cervix has dilated and how far you have effaced. However, the internal examination only gives you an idea of what is the situation on the moment of the examination. It won’t tell you exactly when you will be in labor.
?br>When You Should Go to the Delivery Hospital?
?br>It is quite a common belief that if you are dilated to a certain number, you will automatically be admitted to the hospital – even if they you not having contractions. There are some hospitals that won’t let you leave if you have dilated to at a certain number, on the other hand there are hospitals that will send home although you were dilated up to 5, 6 and even 7 cm but are you are not having contractions. Many hospitals feel quite comfortable sending a woman home who is not contracting at is 4 and even 5 cm dilated. The reason for this is that you can be dilated quite a bit, and still not go into labor very soon.
?br>And the Answer to Your Question “When Will I Go Into Labor?” Is …
?br>So if you are dilated, and want to know when you will go into labor, there is simply no guessing. If you are NOT dilated, there is no guessing. Neither clearly indicates going early, or going late. Most OB’s, midwives, nurses, doulas and childbirth educators love to help you out with your labor and delivery questions. The truth is that if someone could give a precise answer to your question “when will I go into labor?” they were very wealthy!

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21
Jun 11

How To Lose Weight After Having A Baby

Undoubtedly, one of the most common questions women will ask after delivering a baby is, “What’s the best way to lose my pregnancy weight fast?”. The problem is, that losing weight, not just pregnancy weight, too fast is not the safest nor best method for the long term. Remember, it took at least six months to put that weight on. To expect to shed it in a week and a half is unrealistic. That said, there is no reason it has to take six months to get rid of either. With a good plan of diet and exercise, you can drop most, if not all of it in just a couple of months. Lucky for me, I found a great diet and exercise program designed by a professional trainer who specialized in dealing with pregnancy weight. Joining a program not only gave me the guidance and direction I was looking for, but it really boosted my confidence and self esteem. In other words, I was not alone.

One of the first things I learned about losing my pregnancy weight was to start right away. By this I don’t mean that I started a 2 hour a day high impact workout the day I came home from the hospital. Rather, just take the first step. Put aside some time each day to start doing a few low impact exercises. Take fast strolls with your baby, swim a little if it’s convenient to do, or maybe some light aerobics. Like many things in life, getting started is half the battle. One great jump-start to losing those pregnancy pounds is breast feeding. Much of the extra weight our bodies gained during pregnancy was done so to physically prepare us for breast feeding. When women opt not to breast feed, they are making the pregnancy pounds that much harder to lose. I, myself was on the fence about whether or not to breast feed, until it was explained to me just how beneficial it was, not only for my babies, but for me as well.

Another great reason to start losing the weight right away is that, for me anyway, psychologically you have sort of a head start. Having just delivered, you feel a little lighter and your clothes are instantly a little looser. Combine this with breast feeding, a nutritional diet, and a low impact exercise program and you’ll be amazed at how much slimmer you’ll feel in just a couple of weeks. Not only will you feel slimmer, but the compliments will start coming in as well. Obviously, this will be a great motivator to keep up with your program. As you continue, over the next couple of weeks you’ll look and feel better and better. Seriously, it is not an unrealistic goal to lose most, if not all of your pregnancy weight in just a couple of months. If I could do it, so can you.

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19
Jun 11

Alternative Infertility Treatment Options

If you are struggling to become pregnant, you have many different options. You can try standard infertility treatments such as IVF and drugs, or you may want to look into alternative fertility treatment options. There are many alternative fertility treatments available. Some you can do yourself at home, others may require a specialized practitioner.

At Home Alternative Fertility Treatment Options

There are several different at home infertility treatments available. Probably the most common has been the use of various fertility herbs to treat infertility. Herbs have been used by women (and sometimes men) to treat infertility conditions for thousands of years. The science backing the effectiveness of fertility herbs varies by the plant you choose, and you should certainly do your research before starting on any herbal treatment program.

There are also lifestyle and dietary changes that can help improve fertility. For example, reducing stress, getting more exercise and eating healthy are three major changes that can dramatically improve fertility. There are special fertility diets (some developed by doctors) that stress foods such as whole grains and full fat dairy that you may want to follow.

Some alternative fertility consultants also suggest you consider doing a whole body cleanse (or fertility cleanse) prior to becoming pregnant, to help remove toxins from your body which may be interfering with conception.

Specialized Alternative Fertility Treatment Options

There are two main alternative treatments for which you should consult a specialized practitioner. The first is acupuncture. Acupuncture has been scientifically shown to improve a woman’s chances of conceiving, as well as reduce the chances of miscarriage. Fertility massage is another option for which you may or may not need a specialized practitioners (self fertility massage is also an option). Both acupuncture and massage help reduce stress hormones which can interfere with fertility.

As you can see, there are many different alternative fertility treatments available, and many women report the most success with a combination program using many of these therapies simultaneously.

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15
Jun 11

Healthy Foods For Pregnant Women

When shopping for healthy foods for pregnant women, there are a few items that should top your list every trip. With their high nutritional content, these types of foods will help mom and baby be as healthy as possible. Good choices in healthy foods for pregnant women include dairy products, proteins, and fresh produce.

Adding a Milk Mustache

It should come as no surprise that calcium is an important food for pregnant women. Of all the healthy foods for pregnant women, this is certainly the one that gets the most media attention. But what does it mean in terms of helping baby grow? Read on to learn more about calcium being a healthy food for pregnant women.

When pregnant women take in at least 1200 milligrams of calcium per day, they encourage strong bone growth for the baby as well as keep up their own stores of calcium. Because mom’s body is going to be giving a lot of her own nutrition to baby, it’s important that she gets enough calcium for both to stay strong.

Good sources of calcium include milks and cheeses, but also yogurt. If you’re unable to have lactose because of an intolerance condition, soy milks work well too, and there are lactose-free milks available for purchase as well.

Adding Meats and Poultry

Just as with calcium, healthy foods for pregnant women are helping to create a strong body for both mom and for baby. When you are pregnant, your body is using up about 300 calories more each day to help nourish baby, but these calories can be burned off as muscle, if you’re unable to get the right amount of protein.

Protein helps keep you strong and active during your pregnancy, as well as helps your body grow a strong and energetic child.

Adding Fruits and Vegetables to Your Basket

Of course, no advice on healthy foods for pregnant women can be complete without guidance to the produce section of your grocery store. By adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet, you will make sure you are getting enough vitamins and minerals for your child.

What you may want to do is choose organic produce whenever possible to make sure you are reducing your exposure to potential chemicals. With healthy foods for pregnant women, you can ensure that mom and baby are going to be strong during the entire nine months and beyond.

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14
Jun 11

Your Body and Your Pregnancy – What Can You Expect

You have just had the delightful news that you are pregnant. It is understandable to wonder about the many changes your body will go through. Every woman is different but there are many things that will be common for all women. Some women will simply thrive when pregnant, others will have minor nuisance factors, but whatever happens you can always rely on your medical practitioner if there are any concerns.

Make sure you visit your dentist during your pregnancy and inform him that you are pregnant. About half of all pregnant women develop a condition called pregnancy gingivitis. No need to be concerned about this because it is only a reddening of the gums caused by the increased blood flow to the gums which is common during pregnancy. So you will need to be gentle with brushing and flossing your teeth if you have this condition as your gums will bleed easily.

It is possible that you may suffer from leg cramps because of your pregnancy, especially in the later months. This could be because of a calcium or magnesium deficiency and should be discussed with your doctor if this becomes a nuisance as he may suggest helpful supplements.

You may still be working and notice that you have to go to the toilet more often. This is perfectly natural and to be expected especially as your pregnancy progresses.

Your body is now working extra hard, growing and feeding another little life so you are bound to start feeling more tired than usual. Take the opportunity to rest as much as possible.

You have probably heard about the ‘pregnancy blues’. This is because you may experience constant mood swings. Fluctuations in mood are often experienced in pregnancy because your body will be undergoing many hormonal changes. Even the strongest of women may break down in tears often and wonder what is happening. Don’t worry if all part of the many processes that your body is undergoing.

Pregnancy is definitely a joyful time in a women’s life, so if there are any difficulties or concerns please consult your medical practitioner who is on hand to guide you and help you at this vital time.

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