Pregnancy Help & Info

There are different settings in which women give birth. Some women need to have a C-section because of the risk of complications to the mother and the baby. This type of birth is different from a typical vaginal birth in a number of ways.

After the Procedure

One of the concerns that many women carry when they have a C-section is not being able to bond with their baby. Don’t fret over this. You and your baby will have an entire lifetime in which to bond. Your baby doesn’t realize how they got in the world, just that they have arrived.

If you have any concerns about breastfeeding, be sure that you ask the nurse any questions you might have. She is there to help you, and no question you ask will seem silly.

You will experience some pain after having a C-section, so don’t forget to take your pain medication. The more rest you get after the procedure, the better mom you will be to your new baby. Once you go home from the hospital, you will not have the convenience of nurses and nursery nannies, so take advantage of them while you can.

The most important thing for the new mother to remember is not to compare her birth experience to others. There will always be the woman who tells in dramatic detail about her forty hour labor and delivery, but there are just as many women who have had a C-section. Always remember that having a C-section is no reflection on you as a mother, it is more than likely a precaution to ensure the good health of you and your baby.

And always remember, no matter if you have had a vaginal birth or you have had a C-section, if you feel overwhelmed and need help, don’t be afraid to ask. There will be many people in your circle who would be honored if you asked for their assistance.

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Everyone wants to have a happy, risk-free pregnancy. There are some tests and exams you can have before you are pregnant that can give you a better chance of having a hassle free pregnancy that culminates in the delivery of a healthy baby.Seeing the Gynecologist

Make an appointment to see your doctor and inform the medical team that you are trying to conceive. They will do a thorough pelvic exam, and take the necessary blood tests to ensure that you are in the best of health.

An important test to be done at this time is a blood pressure check. Women who are pregnant and already suffering from high blood pressure have a higher risk of developing a condition called pre eclampsia and may also have problems with the placenta. If your doctor is aware you have high blood pressure before you become pregnant, you can map out a treatment plan that will help make the pregnancy safe for both baby and you.

You will also need to get a urinalysis. Many times this screening can pinpoint any type of undetected infections that may cause the unknowing to miscarry. A urine sample will also tell the doctor if diabetes is present.

Other Information and Tests

Before attempting to conceive, it’s always a great idea to go over your immunization records with your physician. If you need to be vaccinated against diseases like rubella or the German Measles, you’ll have to wait a minimum of three months after you’ve been vaccinated before becoming pregnant.

You may also want to have your thyroid function tested. Having an under active thyroid can lead to fertility problems, miscarriage and improper development of the fetus.

Having all the necessary tests and exams done before you attempt to conceive is always advisable. Starting out on your best foot is the best way to deliver a healthy baby.

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Many pregnant women tend to feel unattractive and left out of things. If you feel blue because you think you look fat and can’t join in the fun the way you’d like, look on the bright side; there are perks to being pregnant.

They Will Kill You with Kindness

One of the biggest perks of pregnancy is that people are suddenly so kind to you. You can always expect get a big, bright smile when you encounter strangers, as just about everybody loves babies. You will be treated preferentially in many cases such as getting a seat on a crowded bus, getting to go ahead in the line for a bathroom, plus a host of other unexpected niceties.

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, Let Down Your Hair

Another terrific bonus when you are pregnant is that thick, shiny head of hair you will be sporting. Once you hit the 2^nd trimester of pregnancy, your hair not only looks healthy, but full as well. It is not that you are growing more hair, it is just you aren’t losing as much as you did pre-pregnancy. For those ladies who complained about their limp and lifeless hair, this will be a real boon!

Shine Little Glow Worm, Glimmer

A healthy complexion and rosy cheeks often greet the expectant mother in the 2^nd trimester too. This is another perk that will lift your spirits when you’re feeling low. Your skin will be radiant and glowing from the hormones that your body is pumping for the baby.

Va Va Voom

As an added bonus, your man will reap some benefits of your pregnancy as well. Your bosom will be quite impressive. If you’ve always been irked by your C cup, you’ll enjoy flaunting your newly enhanced assets!

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Pregnancy always involves some amount of risk, and none is scarier than the presence of bleeding.  How can you tell if it is an indication of something serious or harmless? No matter how light or heavy your bleeding is, and whether it is accompanied by cramps or not, you should call your gynecologist immediately. It is especially better to be safe than sorry in this situation.

Vaginal bleeding can happen in the first three months of pregnancy. This is not necessarily a sign of trouble. If you find you are bleeding during the later part of your pregnancy, this can be an indication of complications. There are a number of things that can cause bleeding when you are pregnant.

Things to Know about Bleeding

1. If you notice any bleeding, it is wise to wear a pad in order to keep track of the amount of blood present. Your obstetrics team may ask you how often you need to change your pad to assess the danger.
2. Never wear a tampon or any other device that must be inserted in the vagina
3. If you are experiencing spotting or bleeding, don’t use a douche
4. Avoid intercourse until the doctor tells you otherwise

It may comfort you to know that more than half of women who experience bleeding in the first trimester of pregnancy do not miscarry. Studies that show it is fairly common for women to bleed during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. It is thought that an average of 20-30 percent of women will experience bleeding during the first trimester. Much of early bleeding can be attributed to implantation bleeding or existing infection.

Of course, bleeding during your pregnancy can also mean complications to the fetus such as an ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage and a molar pregnancy. It is always sound advice to speak to your doctor whenever you notice bleeding of any kind, even the slightest amount of spotting.

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Eating healthy is important to everyone, but it is never more vital than when you are carrying a baby. Developing fetuses need lots of vitamins, minerals and essential nutrients in order to reach their full potential, and moms need to eat well too so they can feel their best. Though most foods are safe for you to consume during this special time, there are some foods you should limit or avoid completely.

Bounty from the Sea

Fish are packed with essential Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and eating fish prior to your pregnancy was maybe an important part of your diet. Fish that are high in mercury should not be part of a pregnant woman’s diet. Stay away from certain kinds of sushi or avoid it altogether. Tilefish, king mackerel, swordfish and shark should also be avoided as they can cause brain damage or delays in your baby’s development because of high mercury levels. Commercially canned tuna has a lower level of mercury than fresh tuna, but eating tuna while you are pregnant should be done in moderation.

Watch Your Deli Sandwiches

Conventional luncheon meats have a risk of being tainted with listeria. This bacterium has the ability to cross the placenta, and can affect the fetus by causing an infection or blood poisoning. Women infected with listeria are also at risk of miscarriage. If you choose to eat deli meats, heat the meat until it steams in the microwave to ensure you’ve killed any lurking bacteria.

Cook Your Meat Thoroughly

Making sure that meat, including poultry, is cooked all the way through is never more important than when you are pregnant. Salmonella and the E.coli bacteria are very real threats as is toxoplasmosis. You should also avoid eggs that are not cooked thoroughly. Order and cook your hamburgers and other beef products well done for the duration of your pregnancy. You can go back to eating juicy burgers once the baby is born.

You can find more information on what to eat and what to avoid here.

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Though the use of the relatively newer class of antidepressants hasn’t been thoroughly investigated relating to the effects of taking these medications when a woman is pregnant, there have been some preliminary studies done that are pointing towards the dangerous risks to the fetus. Such risks should be brought to the attention not only to expecting mothers, but to general practitioners and most especially to gynecologists and obstetricians.

What are The Risks?

Small studies showed that mothers who took SSRIs when they were pregnant had a higher instance of babies that went into some form of withdrawal which included symptoms of disturbed sleep, tremors, and high pitched crying. The researchers of the studies are said to have found that at least 30-percent of babies whose mothers took SSRIs when the babies were in utero, had neonatal abstinence syndrome symptoms. Of those, 13-percent had extreme symptoms of this particular syndrome.

The dangers seem to increase as the pregnancy progresses. Those babies born to moms who took SSRIs for their entire pregnancy were found to have serious congenital anomalies, and other than these anomalies, they were free of any other serious complications.

Pulmonary Hypertension and Your Baby

The New England Journal of Medicine carried a report by Christina D. Chamber, PhD, MPH, as well as her research colleagues; they discovered that using SSRIs late in the pregnancy, newborns with persistent pulmonary hypertension have been attributed to the medication. This problem only seems to exist at the end of the pregnancy and not in the beginning, and using non-SSRI drugs is not associated with the risk of this serious condition.

If you have been taking antidepressants prior to your pregnancy, you will have to work closely with your prescribing mental health care professional as well as your ob/gyn to ensure the best methods to care for yourself without harming the fetus. You can find out more about the risks versus the benefits of taking antidepressants at this site.

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Pregnancy does result in a host of foot related problems. The reason your feet will be affected by your pregnancy is not because your belly gets lower, but because of the water retention and weight gain you experience. You may notice that your back curves as your belly grows. This puts a lot of stress on your fragile toes. Some women may find they gain at least ½ a shoe size for each of their pregnancies. That is not good news for those who prize the delicacy of their pretty feet.

You may also notice that you are losing your arch. This is a common complaint of pregnant women. Those high arches you proudly slipped into your deliciously high heels will become a thing of the past once they get taste of the load they have to carry for the next nine months.

Swelling of the ankles is another side effect of pregnancy that can cause you to feel uncomfortable and cranky. It’s not as if you don’t have as much water in your body when you’re not pregnant, but the water typically shifts to other areas during pregnancy, specifically your feet and ankles and often your hands and fingers.

Take extra care of your feet during this time. Soak them in warm soapy water scented with fragrant bath salts, and wear comfortable shoes that will give you extra support so that you can lessen the effects of your increased weight on your feet. Have a regular pedicure. Treat your feet to some tender loving care. They are doing a lot more work than you realize, and will appreciate the extra care they receive!

To learn more about the problems you may face with your feet and how to take care them, check out Pregnancy and Your Feet.

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Not all women will retain the scars of their labor of love. But, according to medical experts at least half of all pregnant women will develop unsightly stretch marks, and many of these women will go on to retain these marks over their lifetime. . What is it that separates those who get severe stretch marks, those who get just a few minor ones, and the lucky ones who get absolutely none?

What the Experts Say

The scientific name that the medical community has given to stretch marks is striae gravidarum. The only thing women call them are “ugly.” You can lessen the effects of stretch marks by applying a liberal amount of cocoa better daily, and especially after a shower, to help combat the effects. Stretch marks are caused when the skin separates from the collagen due to the rapid growth of the abdomen experiences. They are not painful or harmful, but women hate them just the same.

Dry skin is more likely to irritate your stretch marks.  Oils and lotions don’t promise to remove them completely, but they can lighten the appearance. The good news is that stretch marks fade over time, so what you see when you first come home from the hospital will not likely look like that five years down the road.

The color of stretches marks varies depending on your skin tone. If you have light skin, you are more likely to have stretch marks that are a pinkish hue; ladies with darker skin have stretch marks a few shades lighter than the skin that surrounds them.

And stretch marks aren’t limited to just your expanding belly. They can also be found on your hips, breasts, behind, or your thighs. It might comfort you to know   that 90 percent of women who have carried a child have stretch marks somewhere on their body as a result of the pregnancy.

For more advice on stretch marks and skin care tidbits and tips, visit Hip Chick

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You expected your body to change, you expected your moods to change, but what the heck is up with your hair? Pregnancy changes lots of things about you and one of those things might be your crowning glory.

Your hormones are in overdrive when you are pregnant, and it affects many areas of your body. Your hair is no different. In some women, hair thickens and becomes just what they always wanted it to be, full and lush. Don’t expect it to last though. Once the baby is born, your hair will change once again. Sometimes hair color is affected, getting darker or lighter.

Not only can your hair be affected, but your nails too. You may notice that your hair is growing quicker than usual as are your finger and toenails. Take a look in the mirror; you may notice your hair is not only thicker, but shinier as well.

Sometimes women experience a curling or waving of their hair. This is a bonus for women who have complained about having straight hair all their lives.

Don’t get too attached to that bouncy mane you’re sporting these days. Once the baby arrives, it is normal, common even to experience hair loss, especially noticeable around your hairline. As it grows back as you will see lots of little hairs trying to blend in with the rest of your tresses. So don’t worry too much about your hair right now, concentrate on eating healthy and providing your baby with a peaceful environment in which to nurture and grow.

To find out more about how your hair changes when you are pregnant, visit Hair Finder . Here you’ll find plenty of tips for keeping your hair looking its best during and after your pregnancy.

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Pregnancy brings about so many changes to your body it may be hard to keep up with them. Your body is constantly evolving and craving things. One of the signs of your pregnancy may be extreme thirst and even if it isn’t, it is more important than ever to hydrate your body with healthy beverages during your pregnancy.

What to Drink

Of course the best beverage available is water. The good news is that it is absolutely free, and will help you flush any toxins out of your system. This is especially important if you are prone to bladder infections. Milk is an excellent source of calcium, and green tea is packed with antioxidants and other health boosters. If you have a sweet tooth, avoid drinking soda and replace your cravings with fruit juices that have been diluted with water.

Beverages You Should Avoid

Caffeinated drinks don’t necessarily have to be avoided, but don’t over do it either. It’s a no-brainer that you should totally avoid alcoholic beverages. Some people like to drink an occasional glass of wine, but that is a personal decision you must make for yourself. You may find that as your pregnancy progresses, you experience acid reflux. Avoid beverages that can cause symptoms to flare up like orange juice, cranberry juice and lemonade. These will only cause you discomfort even though they are healthy and full of the essential vitamins and nutrients you need when pregnant. If heartburn is a concern, do some research on not only the beverages that may cause signs and symptoms, but foods as well.

It seems like there is so much to learn when you are pregnant; from how to eat and drink to what you should listen to on the radio. For eons before us, women have been having healthy and happy babies with barely any instructions. Trust your body and your instincts, and use some basic common sense and you can have a healthy and happy pregnancy.

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