by Jennifer Shakeel
Congratulations! You just found out that you are pregnant! Whether this is your first child or not the excitement is just as intense. Trying to figure out what to expect and when is just as exciting. From one expecting mother to another, let me tell you that you are in for a journey like no other!
Unless you were trying to conceive, chances are that you found out you were pregnant and you are already about two months along. Don’t worry, if that is the case you haven’t missed much with the growing fetus inside you. I am sure that you have felt everything, while you couldn’t put your finger on it, something was different. You didn’t feel like yourself. You might have been more tired than usual, felt like you were coming down with the flu. These symptoms are probably still going on. This is what is called morning sickness.
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Tags: first trimester pregnancy pregnancy pregnancy guide pregnancy test
by Patricia Hughes You may have heard about kegel exercises from your doctor, at child birth class or read about them in a pregnancy book. Kegel exercises are intended to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor and vaginal muscles. When these muscles are strong, they are less likely to be weakened by the increased pressure of the growing uterus on the bladder and pelvic muscles.
There are several benefits to doing kegel exercises regularly, in pregnancy, during birth and in the years after you are finished having children. Toning these muscles throughout pregnancy helps strengthen them in preparation for giving birth. In addition, you will find that it is easier to relax the muscles of the perineum, which is helpful for natural pain relief during labor.
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Tags: benefits of exercise kegel exercise pregnancy
by Patricia Hughes
The sciatic nerve runs from the lower back down to the feet. This nerve can become inflamed due to pressure of the growing baby during pregnancy. When this happens, severe pain results. Sciatica is one of the more painful complications of pregnancy.
If you have sciatic nerve pain, you will know it. Sciatic pain is unlike other lower back and leg pains you may get during your pregnancy. It is also very different from the leg cramps that may wake you in the night. Sciatic nerve pain is a sharp, shooting pain that goes from your lower back, down the back of the leg.
There are some things that contribute to sciatic nerve pain. If your job involves a lot of lifting or requires you to spend long periods of time sitting or standing, you may be at greater risk of developing sciatica in pregnancy. Also, if you have experienced sciatic nerve pain in a past pregnancy, you are more likely to have it again this time. For some women, excessive weight gain my also contribute to the problem. The extra weight results in more pressure on the nerve.
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Tags: lower back pain pregnancy sciatic pain
by Jennifer Shakeel
There are so many joys of being pregnant. The excitement of carrying new life around inside you, the first kick, hearing the heart beat, the thought becoming a mom for the first time or for the second, third or fourth time. This is a wonderful time… all except for that morning sickness. While we all want to believe it will end after the first trimester, there are some of us that have to cope with it the entire pregnancy. My personal battle with morning sickness during my current pregnancy is the inspiration for this article. I am going to go over a number of natural remedies, but I wanted to make you aware that your OB doctor may have samples of “candy” that has been designed to help ease the nausea associated with morning sickness.
What to Eat
Yes, I know that is the last thing in the world you feel like doing when you feel nauseated. I am here to tell you that eating will actually help ease those feelings. Plus you need the calories to support that growing baby inside you. Eat foods that you would eat if you had the flu, dry toast, rice, applesauce.
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Tags: morning sickness nausea during pregnancy nutrition pregnancy pregnancy health
by Patricia Hughes
During pregnancy, you need enough of certain vital nutrients to support both your needs and the needs of your growing baby. Iron, calcium and protein are three important nutrients that may be lacking in a vegetarian diet. With proper meal planning and including the right foods in your diet, you and your baby can get all the nutrients you need while sticking to a vegetarian or even a vegan diet.
If you are vegetarian or vegan, you will have to make some modifications to your diet to ensure enough of these important nutrients. Talk to your health care provider for advice on meal planning. You may find that some doctors are not knowledgeable about a vegan diet in pregnancy. A nutritionist is a good source of information for getting the nutrients you need in your diet.
Nutritional concerns are most concerning for vegan mothers. Protein is one concern. The baby needs protein for the development of various tissues in the body. Since vegans do not eat any animal products, such as cheese, milk and eggs, getting protein is a bit trickier.
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Tags: pregancy diet pregnancy vegan mothers vegetarian diet
You have just been told that you are pregnant! This is both an exciting and scary time for you. This is especially true if you are expecting your first child. Many changes will start to occur in your body, as it prepares to construct the body of the little one on the way. It is important that you know and understand the ways that you can assist in helping your unborn baby develop. Here are a few of several different methods that can be used to ensure the proper development and health of your unborn child.
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Tags: fetal development fetus pregnancy pregnancy tips unborn baby
by Patricia Hughes
If you always eat a healthy and well balanced diet, you may not need to make changes when you discover you are pregnant. However, most of us aren’t that perfect. Once women become pregnant, what we ingest suddenly takes on new significance.
Increase Fluid Intake for the well being of both you and your baby. Milk and juice are good sources of nutrients, but don’t forget to drink your water. Water is important for many reasons during pregnancy. Water is needed for the production of amniotic fluid. This fluid protects the baby during pregnancy and is constantly being replaced. Dehydration can lead to preterm labor. This is another good reason to include plenty of water in your diet.
For the mother, staying well hydrated has several benefits. Staying well hydrated can reduce some common pregnancy discomforts, such as morning sickness and constipation. When you are dehydrated, you are more likely to suffer from urinary tract infections. Pregnant women should include eight glasses of water in their daily diet.
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Tags: healthy foods nutrition pregnancy pregnancy and fluids
Anticipating the arrival of a new baby is an exciting experience. There are a number of preparations to be made, and many decisions to make. One of the most important decisions that parents have to make – especially mothers – has to do with the nourishment of the child. A mother must determine whether she will breastfeed her child, or feed her child through the use of a bottle.
I know how difficult that this type of decision is. I have been there, and had to make the decision as well. Here, I will expound on some of the pros and cons related to breastfeeding. I feel that it is important to know and understand these so that you can make a better informed decision overall.
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Tags: advantages of breastfeeding breastfeeding disadvantages of breastfeeding pregnancy
by Patricia Hughes
If you are planning a natural birth for your baby, you will want to spend some time learning natural methods for coping with contractions. In classes intended for natural birth, you will learn a variety of techniques for coping with pain in labor. These techniques should be practiced throughout pregnancy to relieve anxiety and prepare for the birth of your baby, and even if you are not planning a completely natural childbirth, they will help you relax and reduce anxiety and stress that comes with pregnancy.
Breathing Exercises
Breathing correctly helps relieve tension. Most people take shallow breaths in the chest, rather than breathing from the diaphragm. This increases tension and impedes relaxation. Slow abdominal breathing helps release tension and relaxes the body. Fewer muscles are used for abdominal breathing, which makes it more effective for relaxation.
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Tags: bradley method breathting exercises natural childbirth pregnancy pregnancy exercises
by Patricia Hughes
Acupressure is a form of Chinese medicine which uses pressure at certain points in the body to relieve pain. These pressure points are also known as meridians. There are 14 meridians located throughout the body. Acupressure is a method of pain relief has been used successfully by thousands of women for natural pain relief.
In acupressure, the fingers are used to press the points on the surface of the skin. This pressure releases tension and stimulates the human body’s natural self healing capability. By applying pressure to these certain points, labor pains are decreased, the body and mind are relaxed and the patient experiences increased energy and a feeling of well being.
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Tags: acupressure labor discomforts pregnancy pregnancy discomforts
Choosing a name for your baby is perhaps one of the most important and difficult decisions for new parents. If your daughter’s name is Emily, or you are thinking about naming your new baby Emily, you may be either very pleased or upset by the fact that it has landed on the list of top ten baby names for the year 2007, and has been for the last twelve years. That means that out of all of the girls in the United States, more of them are named Emily than anything else, and it has been this way for more than a decade. Ema and Ava come right after Emily, followed by names like Madison, Sophia, Olivia, and Abigail among the top names for female children.
The most popular male name for 2007? It’s Jacob; that is an unexpected one for many people. Jacob for a boy’s name was followed closely by Michael, Joshua, and Matthew, all good names for respectable boys growing into men.
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Tags: baby names popular baby names social security baby names top baby names
by Patricia Hughes
Pregnancy is a time when women are generally more concerned with their health and well being. Health habits and diet improve significantly for many women after hearing the news they are expecting a baby. Chronic health conditions, such as asthma, should be carefully monitored during pregnancy.
Each woman experiences asthma differently during pregnancy. Some women find their symptoms improve when they are pregnant, while others experience more frequent or severe asthma attacks. A third group of women find their symptoms remain about the same as prior to the pregnancy.
Medications for Treating Asthma
Women worry about taking medications during pregnancy and for good reason since many commonly used medications are not safe for the baby. However, as a result of this fear some women may not take their medication as directed or skip it. This is dangerous since you are depriving both your baby and yourself of oxygen. Controlling your symptoms is the best thing you can do to ensure a healthy baby.
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Tags: asthma asthma and pregnancy pregnancy pregnancy health
Pregnant women are always beautiful, they glow because they are working to bring new life into the world in just a few sometimes short and sometimes long months, pregnancy always seems to drag on towards the end as the excitement builds. However, pregnancy can also take its toll on the body at the same time. It is just as important to take care of your skin while you are pregnant, as it is when you are not pregnant.
Before You Start Skin Care Tips
Before you start any skin care regimen while you are pregnant, it is important to consult with your doctor. Some skin care items, even topical elements could be dangerous to your unborn baby. You already likely know that everything you put into your body has an effect on your baby. However, you may not know that everything you put on your body may as well.
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Tags: acne pregnancy pregnancy skin care skin care tips skin discoloration skin tags stretch marks
Cord blood banks advertise heavily on television and in magazines read by pregnant women. The ads can leave mothers feeling guilty if they choose not to bank the cord blood or like they are tempting fate by not doing it. At the very least you may be wondering if it is worth the investment.
It is a significant investment for many families, especially in the current economic climate. Cord blood banks charge two different fees for their services. One is a collection fee which covers collection, enrollment in the program and the first year’s storage fee for the cord blood. This fee can be over a thousand dollars. The second fee is an annual storage fee, which usually is around $100.
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Tags: cord blood banks cord blood transplants pregnancy stem cells
by Patricia Hughes
At your first prenatal visit and again in the late second or early third trimester, your doctor will test your blood for iron. A low level of iron puts you at increased risk of developing anemia. Approximately 20 percent of pregnant women suffer from anemia caused by an iron deficiency in pregnancy.
The reason iron deficiency is so common in pregnancy is that women require about twice as much iron as when they are not pregnant. During pregnancy, your blood volume increases by about fifty percent, which can result in an iron deficiency. This often occurs in the second trimester, as the blood volume increases and the baby begins to demand more iron. For this reason, you will be tested again, even if your iron was fine in early pregnancy.
Women who experience iron deficiency in pregnancy are at risk of developing anemia. The biggest risks to the baby are low birth weight and preterm labor. A study in California showed that women who experience iron deficiency anemia in the second trimester are twice as likely to have a preterm labor as women with normal levels of iron. Check out:
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/71/5/1280S Read More
Tags: iron blood levels iron deficiency iron supplements pregnancy second trimester of pregnancy
by Patricia Hughes
When we discover we are pregnant, the foods we eat take on significance like never before. In addition to making changes in your diet to include a variety of healthy foods, consider what is in the foods you eat. Two potential issues are pesticides used in growing foods and artificial additives.
Pesticides in Food:
Many studies have demonstrated the danger of pesticide exposure on the fetus. Some of these studies looked at people that handle pesticides in their work, such as exterminators and farmers. A study in California found that mothers who live or work in agricultural areas of the state had an increased risk of having children born with defects of the limbs. Other studies have shown an increase in cleft palate and other birth defects with pesticide exposure.
Other studies have linked exposure to pesticides with health problems such as an increase in childhood cancer, neurological disorders and hormone disruption. For more information on these studies:
http://www.kidsforsavingearth.org/mnchec/articles/pesticides.htm. The studies have shown that the risk increases according to exposure. If the child is exposed to pesticides through food, in sprays and pest control products used in the home and in the community, the risk would be higher. For this reason, it is best to reduce or eliminate exposure to pesticides both during pregnancy and after the baby is born.
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Tags: food additives pesticides pregnancy womens health
Since the day you discovered you were pregnant, you’ve been counting the days until your due date. As the date approaches, you get excited and maybe a bit anxious about the birth, but mostly excited. Then the day comes and nothing happens and nothing happens the next day and the day after that. This is frustrating to say the least.
As frustrated as you feel, it’s important to remember that the due date is really just an estimate. In fact only about five percent of all babies are born on the actual due date. This means that ninety five percent of them will not arrive on that day. In the vast majority of the cases, the baby will come within two weeks of the due date, either before or after.
If the baby isn’t here by your first visit after the due date, the doctor may want to do a bit of monitoring to check on the baby and assess his condition. An ultrasound may be done to check the baby’s heart rate and general health. The placenta can also be checked during the ultrasound to be sure it is still functioning properly. The amniotic fluid will be measured to be sure the level is sufficient.
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Tags: baby heart rate due date going past due date pregnancy ultrasound
Welcome to the March 24th, 2008 edition of carnival of Pregnancy and Family. A blog carnival is where some of the best bloggers on the internet share their stories. This will be our first monthly carnival devoted to Pregnancy and our Families. We hope all our readers will enjoy these great articles:
Silveral presents Celebrity babies – new kids on the block posted at Celebrity News, and Gossip.
Malia Russell presents I Love You More from Homemaking 911 posted at Homemaking 911.
Karen Alonge presents bringing home Baby Number 2 posted at advice for parents.
Sonja Stewart presents Top 10 Things Not to Say to New Mothers | Parenting Squad posted at Parenting Squad.
Raymond presents Thinking of Having a Baby? Reserve That Domain Name Before It’s Too Late posted at Money Blue Book.
Steven Chang presents Chinese Conception Calendar posted at Gagazine.
Here at More4kids Pregnancy and Family we are presenting Should Siblings be Present at Birth.
That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of carnival of pregnancy and family using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.
Tags: blog carnival carnival of pregnancy and family pregnancy
If you are pregnant, you may be wondering if the baby’s older siblings should be present at the birth. This is largely a matter of choice. Some women believe that birth is a family event and welcome their children at the birth. Others prefer to give birth without the children present, but welcome them into the room after the baby is born to meet the newest member of the family.
The personality of each child is an important consideration. Some children are more sensitive and easily upset than others. A very sensitive child may find seeing mommy in pain to be very upsetting. In this case, waiting until after the baby is born may be best for the child. This is a matter of knowing the personality of your child and figuring out what is best in your situation.
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Tags: childbirth childbirth and siblings giving birth I saw my brother being born in the womb pregnancy
by Patricia Hughes
Amniocentesis is a medical test that is sometimes done in pregnancy. The test involves extracting a sample of the amniotic fluid that surrounds the baby. In this fluid are the baby’s chromosomes. These cells are collected and sent to a laboratory to be analyzed. It can take a week or more to get the results, depending on the testing done.
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Tags: amniocentesis amniotic fluid chromosomes genetic tests pregnancy pregnancy tests preterm labor risk
Hello and welcome to More4kids Family Portal! As proud parents and business owners, we are dedicated to bringing quality pregnancy, parenting and educational resources. This part of our website is dedicated to conception, pregnancy, childbirth, health, early signs of pregnancy, baby names, and the future mothers, fathers and their children. Proper planning is very important before the birth of a new child. We hope you enjoy your time here.