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Dec 16
0

Sciatica or Leg Pain

Posted by | Symptoms & Remedies | No Comments

Sciatica is irritation of the sciatic nerve.  This is the major nerve that comes out of the back and runs through your pelvis and down your leg.  It allows you to move and supplies sensation to your leg.  With all the changes taking place with your body, especially in the pelvis, it is easy for the sciatic nerve to get irritated during pregnancy.  This is called sciatica. There are many ways to treat sciatica when you are not pregnant.  These include medications, injections and sometimes surgery.  However, none of these options are appropriate during pregnancy.  Physical therapy can sometimes be helpful, sitting in an easy chair with your back flexed and your feet up can also make it feel better temporarily.  Walking on a regular basis can ease sciatica, but not always.  Tylenol is felt to be safe during pregnancy for an occasional episode of sciatica, but is not a…

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Dec 16
0
Crying Baby

Can I Spoil My Baby By Picking Her Up Every Time She Cries?

Posted by | Lifestyle, Pregnancy Health | No Comments

[Featured Image Credit:  Nutdanai Apikhomboonwaroot / FreeDigitalPhotos.net] Will picking up baby every time he/she cries result in behavioral issues? There is a lot of controversy surrounding this issue because many parents think that  picking up a child too much will spoil them and make them feel that they are in control. Picking up baby when he/she cries doesn’t lead to behavioral issues if you understand when you should pick the child up and when it’s alright to let him/her cry a little longer. Should I always pick up my newborn when s/he cries? The answer to that question is “yes.” Your newborn has just entered a new world that can be both exciting and frightening. During those beginning months of life, it is important for you to respond to your baby’s cries so that he/she will know that they aren’t alone and that they are surrounded by loving people who will care for…

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Dec 16
5

What Are the Benefits of Eating Vegetables During Pregnancy?

Posted by | LENS, Nutrition, Pregnancy Medicine | No Comments

A healthy diet is an extremely important component to a healthy pregnancy and newborn baby. However, according to research published in the Nutrition & Dietetics Journal, only about half of pregnant women eat the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables that they should for a healthy pregnancy. There are two important reasons why eating healthy is important during pregnancy: the long-term health of the mother and the health of the unborn child. Vegetables During Pregnancy – Healthy Benefits for Baby The 9 months during which a fetus develops is a crucial time for healthy eating by the pregnant mother. Her baby relies completely on her ability to sustain a healthy diet, and vegetables are an integral part of that. There are several benefits for the baby of mothers eating vegetables while pregnant, including healthy birth weights of babies and reduced risks for long-term health complications and diseases. The following are…

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Dec 15
0

How Can A Pregnant Mother Deal For Heartburn?

Posted by | LENS, Nutrition, Symptoms & Remedies | No Comments

Despite its name, heartburn is not related to your heart. Heartburn is a form of indigestion caused by acid regurgitation into the esophagus. Approximately 20% of Americans suffer from a weekly occurrence of uncomfortable heartburn and it’s common among pregnant women. While occasional heartburn isn’t dangerous, chronic heartburn could lead to other issues. It’s important for a pregnant woman to know and understand heartburn. Is It Important To Treat Heartburn In Pregnancy? This is a more complicated question than it may appear.  People can and do live with heartburn so why not just put up with it until the pregnancy is over.  In pregnancy, heartburn is frequently associated with nausea and vomiting and the combination can have a serious impact on the pregnant mother’s quality of life.  Frequently by reducing heartburn, the nausea and vomiting of pregnancy is lessened as well.  This is beneficial for both mother and baby, so treating heartburn is…

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Dec 15
0

Spotting During Implantation

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Spotting during early pregnancy is not uncommon.  It may occur when the fertilized egg implants in your uterus.  There is rarely heavy bleeding.  The vast majority of women do not spot or bleed however, a little spotting is not an indicator of any sort of problem.  Bleeding can be however, and if you find you are bleeding early in pregnancy, please consult your OB.

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Dec 14
12

When Does Menstruation Return After Birth?

Posted by | Because You Asked, Pregnancy Health | No Comments

Does the menstrual cycle return soon after giving birth? Menstruation does not continue immediately post partum. As your body slowly goes through natural changes and stages, preparing to give birth, it may seem as though it will never get back to “pre-pregnancy normal.” Many mothers-to-be find some pregnancy patterns enjoyable and rather convenient, such as not menstruating during pregnancy. Of course, the menstrual cycle will return soon after giving birth—but how should you define “soon”? How long does it take before my period resumes, after giving birth? Many women begin menstruating between three and ten weeks after giving birth and the average is 45 days after. However, it’s important to realize that the normal timetable for the return to menstruation differs greatly from woman to woman. The range considered normal may extend from one month up to a year or more, before you’ll need to put tampons on your shopping list once…

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Dec 14
4

Can a Baby Be Bipolar?

Posted by | LENS, Lifestyle, Pregnancy Health | No Comments

The classic signs of a bipolar disorder are extreme ups and downs.  If we think about infancy, all young babies are by definition bipolar.  They can go from crying one minute to smiling and laughing the next.  If we saw that type of behavior in an adult we would suspect they were bipolar.  In a young baby, these bipolar symptoms are normal.  That is why pediatric bipolar disorder is rarely diagnosed under the age of nine; but occasional reports indicate in it can present as young as six. Pediatric bipolar disorder is often diagnosed on the basis of behavior because a child may not always be able to express himself appropriately in words. They may lose weight secondary to a poor appetite, no longer enjoy their usual activities, and have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.  These are the usual characteristics of depression.  When children are in the manic phase…

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Dec 13
1

I’m Pregnant and Exhausted, But I Still Can’t Sleep! What Do I Do?

Posted by | Stress, Symptoms & Remedies | No Comments

Image courtesy of Pinterest. Pregnancy is a time of many changes in a woman’s life. Her outward appearance changes as her body grows to support her developing baby, while inside her body is also undergoing many changes that can’t necessarily be seen by looking at her. One of those changes a pregnant woman faces is increased tiredness and even fatigue. To make it worse, however, this problem is compounded by the fact that sleep is not always as easy or as natural as it once was. At some point, you may be saying to yourself or anyone who will listen, “I’m pregnant and exhausted, but I still can’t sleep!” How Can Pregnant Women Sleep Better and Stay More Energized? The emotional changes your body endures during the first trimester often account for much of the fatigue you might be feeling. The energy it takes to create a life-sustaining placenta is…

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Dec 13
0

Cord Blood Banking

Posted by | LENS, Lifestyle, Pregnancy Lifestyle | No Comments

When I was pregnant I heard a lot about cord blood banking and received many pamphlets from different companies offering cord blood banking services.  I didn’t know much about the process or the reasons to bank my baby’s cord blood, so I decided it was worth some research.   Cord blood is the blood that remains in your baby’s umbilical cord after delivery.   The blood is a source of stem cells that can be used in different medical treatments.  Cord blood and stem cells have been used to treat different ailments, including cancers, blood disorders, and immune diseases.  If needed in your child’s lifetime, he or she will always be a perfect match to the cord blood collected at delivery.  Cord blood banks cryogenically freeze the blood and hold on to it for you if ever needed.  When discussing the topic with other pregnant moms, someone told me that they weren’t…

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Dec 12
0

My neighbors must think I’m crazy

Posted by | LENS, Lifestyle, Pregnancy Lifestyle | No Comments

Growing up with very curly hair, I learned at a young age how to prevent frizz with chemicals products.  I’ve since come to cherish the extra volume that comes with textured hair and use almost no product – except for the occasional spritz of hairspray on humid days.  Hairspray contains many different chemicals and it is not safe to inhale constantly.  My solution? I wear a mask, only use non-aerosol products, and I do not use it in my house.  Yes, I stand in my front yard with a dentist-like mask on and spray my hair.  I firmly believe that there has to be balance between doing everything said to be “right/healthy/perfect” and doing what makes you feel good and look good.  Other ways to cut down on chemicals in your beauty routine: Try using grape seed oil instead of lotion to prevent stretch marks. It’s all- natural, inexpensive, odorless,…

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Dec 12
0

Why You Need Folic Acid in Your Pregnancy Diet

Posted by | Nutrition, Pregnancy Health | No Comments

What is Folic Acid? Folic acid is one of the B vitamins that occurs naturally in foods, like legumes, oranges, papayas, broccoli, spinach, cauliflower, asparagus, greens, dark lettuce and eggs. Foods high in folic acid are also high in other important vitamins and minerals. Folic acid is necessary for the growth of new cells. What Are the Benefits of Taking Folic Acid During Pregnancy? There are some important advantages that result from taking folic acid: It enhances fertility – In a study released in 2006,  American researchers reported their findings after having followed the progress of 18,500 nurses who planned to become pregnant over an eight-year period in the 1990s. The researchers evaluated the nurses’ diets including whether or not they took vitamin supplements. They found that the nurses taking multivitamins with folic acid six days a week or more had a 40 percent reduced risk of ovulation failure, a…

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Dec 11
0

Why am I being screened for gestational diabetes?

Posted by | LENS, Lifestyle, Pregnancy Medicine | No Comments

Pregnancy can take its toll on your body, and your health care provider may offer you many tests and screenings during the three trimesters of pregnancy. One of the most commonly used tests is the screening for gestational diabetes, which measures how your cells are using sugar supplies. Gestational diabetes that is left undiagnosed or untreated can be medically devastating on both you and your baby. Even if you have no prior history of diabetes, or even any signs or symptoms, your body might be reacting differently because of all of the changes and demands that pregnancy puts on it. A healthy pregnancy relies on the placenta to supply increased levels of certain hormones to help you and your developing baby. However, these hormones don’t always allow your body’s natural insulin levels to work, blocking them from doing their job (regulating your blood sugar). When the blood sugar levels are…

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Dec 10
0

What Are Symptoms I Might Be Pregnant?

Posted by | Lifestyle, Pregnancy Medicine | No Comments

Even though on the outside it might seem like there are no signs or symptoms of pregnancy, on the inside your body is going through tremendous and significant changes. Many of these changes will trigger symptoms even in just those first few weeks that when all put together point to the same answer – you are pregnant. Early Signs of Pregnancy One of the very first signs of pregnancy a woman might notice is very light bleeding, which can happen 10-12 days after conception. This is known as implantation bleeding from the fertilized egg implanting in the uterine wall. For women who do have implantation bleeding, many think that it is just an early, light or slightly unusual menstruation period. Don’t assume you’re not pregnant if you don’t have this symptom – many women become pregnant and never experience noticeable implantation bleeding. There are many other signs and symptoms of…

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Dec 10
0

It Takes a Village

Posted by | LENS, Lifestyle, Pregnancy Lifestyle | No Comments

It’s funny to see how peoples’ roles change when kids come into the picture.  While my husband’s worries and priorities changed, his day-to-day life didn’t change that much.  He still worked the same hours, everyday.  He’s an amazing husband and father.  He changes diapers, he does nighttime bottles, and when my kids were newborns, he fed the first bottle in the morning before he went to work…which was heaven.  The difference of getting up at 5am and 7am is literally night and day.  Anyways, it’s been a blessing living in the same town as both my parents and my husband’s family. I always tell my mom how grateful I am for her company and help.  She remembers how exhausting this phase of life is and wished her mom didn’t live across the country when she had four kids in four years, and a husband who didn’t do any of the…

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Pregnancy Calendar

1st Trimester

Weeks 1-4

Week 6

Week 8

Week 10

Week 12

Week 5

Week 7

Week 9

Week 11

Week 13

2nd Trimester

Week 14

Week 16

Week 18

Week 20

Week 22

Week 24

Week 26

Week 28

Week 15

Week 17

Week 19

Week 21

Week 23

Week 25

Week 27

3rd Trimester

Week 28

Week 30

Week 32

Week 34

Week 36

Week 38

Week 40

Week 29

Week 31

Week 33

Week 35

Week 37

Week 39