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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?

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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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Dec 09
18

Should I Be Worried That I Was Diagnosed with Subchorionic Hemorrhage?

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

What is Subchorionic Hemorrhage? This condition is also referred to as subchorionic hematoma. There is excessive bleeding and a collection of blood or hematoma that forms between the chorionic membrane surrounding the embryo, and the wall of the uterus. Subchorionic hemorrhage is caused because the membrane surrounding the embryo separates from the inner lining of the uterus. It is the most common cause of bleeding in the first trimester. How Does a Subchorionic Hemorrhage Affect My Baby? There are a number of factors that determine how this condition affects the baby including how large the hematoma is, the mother’s age and how far along the fetus is in its development. Older pregnant women with large amounts of bleeding have higher rates for miscarriage. Women who experience subchorionic hemorrhage in late first trimester or in second trimester also have an increased chance for miscarriage. Subchorionic hemorrhage also increase the risk for…

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Dec 09
2

What If I’m Measuring Small for My Dates?

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

Measuring Development During Pregnancy Your outward sign of pregnancy is your growing abdomen, and everyone seems to have their own opinions about whether or not you’re measuring too large or too small. Perfect strangers might offer you opinions on how you are “showing” and what that means for you and your baby. However, the opinion and measurements that matter most will come from your doctor. Typically during the 16th to 20th weeks of gestation your healthcare provider will begin to measure what is called the fundal height. Your fundal height is obtained when your doctor measures the distance from your pubic bone up and over to the top of your uterus (also known as the fundas) when you are lying down on your back. The size of this measurement in centimeters is roughly equal to the number of weeks along you are in your pregnancy. For example, if your fundal…

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Dec 08
0

What is Gestational Diabetes?

Posted by | Nutrition, Pregnancy Medicine | No Comments

Should I Be Worried? Once concern facing expectant mothers is whether or not they will develop gestational diabetes. This condition affects how well the cells in your body use glucose (sugar) that is responsible for giving your body energy. When the energy isn’t effectively used, there is an increase in blood sugar levels and causing dangerous symptoms for you and your unborn child. What Are the Associated Risks with Gestational Diabetes? Increased levels of hormones are thought to be partially responsible for a woman’s risk of developing gestational diabetes. A family history of diabetes in general, being over the age of 25 years, being overweight and underactive also increase the potential that women will develop this condition. When your body’s cells become inefficient at how they are reacting to the insulin, several consequences can occur. Often gestational diabetes occurs without noticeable symptoms for the mother other than possibly increased urination…

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Dec 07
0

What are the medical options for post-partum birth control?

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

You’ve just welcomed your new baby and you’re already anticipating all of those memories you’re going to make as a family. Somewhere between deciding on stroller options and pediatricians, you also have another choice to make – post-partum birth control. Most new parents aren’t quite ready to jump into another pregnancy just weeks or months after giving birth, so choosing a birth control method after baby arrives is an important decision for new parents. Factors for Choosing a Post-Partum Birth Control There are many factors that will influence the type of birth control that you decide to use post-partum. The amount of time you plan to wait before having another child Whether or not you plan to breastfeed your newborn Convenience Cost Side effects Any reactions to previous birth control methods Health concerns or pre-existing conditions Birth Control Choices for New Mothers Intrauterine Devices (IUD) The IUD is a preferred…

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Dec 06
1

What Changes Should I Expect During My Second Pregnancy?

Posted by | LENS, Stress, Tips | No Comments

Do Second Pregnancies Have Medical Differences? There are a few medical statistics about second pregnancies, and your doctor or midwife will talk with you about those. If you had certain complications such as pre-eclampsia in your first pregnancy, your doctor will be closely watching for those the second time around. However, if your first pregnancy was relatively uncomplicated, the risk of complications overall tends to be lower during a second pregnancy. Additionally, the risk of an early miscarriage falls significantly during second and subsequent pregnancies. If you had a C-section the first time, then you will be discussing with your doctor which type of delivery is advisable for the second birth. Will I Feel Different During My Second Pregnancy? Probably. Each pregnancy is unique, but the majority of women find that second pregnancies have the following characteristics: You may feel more tired. This is most likely due to the fact…

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Dec 06
0

Darkened Areola

Posted by | Symptoms & Remedies | No Comments

One of the changes to your skin during pregnancy is that the tissue around your nipple, called the areola, will darken.  This is absolutely secondary to the hormonal and metabolic changes that occur during pregnancy.  While the areola lightens up after pregnancy, they never go back to the color they were before you became pregnant.

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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