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Nov 20
24

How Important is Support From Significant Others During Pregnancy?

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

Pregnancy is a time of joy, excitement, and anticipation, but it can also be a time of concern, apprehension, and even fear for expectant mothers. The support a pregnant woman receives during pregnancy can have several impacts on her emotional and physical well-being, both of which in turn affect the health of the unborn baby. Studies on prenatal relationships and health have discovered that one of the main causes of emotional turbulence for expecting mothers is a stressed relationship between her and her partner. On the other hand, those pregnant mothers who feel supported have fewer instances of mental health issues, and are less likely to be negatively affected by things like work responsibilities and financial concerns. The journal BMC Public Health reports that a poor relationship with a significant other during pregnancy is the strongest predictor of stress during pregnancy. Positive relationships with significant others during pregnancy can help…

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Nov 20
0

Finding Out

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

You know that moment you find out you’re pregnant and you think, I can’t wait to tell everyone! That thought is soon interrupted by several more thoughts along the lines of Who do I tell first? How long do I wait to tell everyone? If I tell one person, I have to tell everyone. Do I have to tell my boss? I need to call a doctor. My doctor’s office isn’t even open right now. Those thoughts soon become overwhelming so you decide to pause and start thinking about what this means for yourself and most importantly…your baby. Now those thoughts start rushing through your brain. What can’t I eat? What am I supposed to eat? How much do I need to eat? When do I get to start eating a lot? Can I work out? Should I work out? What does this mean for my job? I need to…

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Nov 19
0

Can I Induce Labor?

Posted by | Because You Asked | No Comments

What will make my body start labor? The factors that cause labor to begin naturally are numerous, delicate and mysterious. Even today, scientists don’t fully understand the mechanisms that cause natural labor to begin, but researchers at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center have found that one important trigger for labor is a protein that the baby’s lungs release when they are ready to begin functioning. Is there a natural way for me to induce labor? Over the centuries, many folklore-based methods of inducing labor have been handed down. The majority of these have not been scientifically proven effective, but if trying one of these tricks makes you feel like you’re being proactive, check with your doctor and then go ahead. Each of these methods has its proponents, who will swear that it works: Dancing: As long as your doctor hasn’t told you to restrict activity, you can dance all you want…

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Nov 18
0

What to expect while Teething?

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

Most parents would agree, there’s not much cuter than the grin of a toothless baby.  Even so, the same parents often anxiously anticipate their baby’s first teeth.  When will they arrive? Will her smile look like her Mom’s or Dad’s?  Will he be fussy and irritated during the “teething” process?  Each of these questions is a legitimate concern for many parents. What we know about teething is it’s a very natural process in which teeth buds develop beneath the gums surface while the baby is still in the womb.  Around age 4 to 7 months, most babies get their first tooth, although teeth can arrive as early as 3 months and as late as 12-15 months of age.  Each one appears individually in a typical pattern of the bottom two middle teeth, then four to eight weeks later, the top two middle teeth.  The teeth along the sides and back…

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Nov 17
0
How can you prevent stretch marks?

Stretch Marks: What You Need to Know

Posted by | LENS, Lifestyle | No Comments

What causes stretch marks? You are thrilled to be growing a new life inside of you. Your body is accomplishing an amazing feat, but, unfortunately, growing a baby also comes with some not-so-pleasant by-products. One of these is stretch marks: the result of your body growing too fast for your skin to keep up. Essentially, stretch marks are the fibers of your skin breaking to accommodate your growing body. Since it is believed that 90% of women will get some stretch marks somewhere on their body during the pregnancy process, you may be relieved to know you are not alone. Most stretch marks usually appear on the stomach, but be prepared to also notice them on your breasts, buttocks, and thighs. Can I prevent stretch marks? The easy answer is no. There is no magic cream, lotion, or potion to prevent you from getting stretch marks, so don’t waste your…

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Nov 17
0

Should I Have My Vitamin D Levels Checked?

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

If you are pregnant you have probably heard many times the value of making sure you take your prenatal vitamins and get enough nutrients in your diet. Vitamin D is an especially important vitamin to the health of your unborn baby. Why Do I Need Vitamin D? Vitamin D has many jobs for you and the health of your baby. It regulates the necessary levels of calcium and phosphorus, which in turn helps to build your baby’s bones and teeth. If you do not have enough vitamin D your baby is at risk for skeletal malformations and retarded growth, impacting the healthy birth weight needed to get your infant started on the right track. Pregnancy puts a lot of demands on your body, and if you lack vitamin D during this time you can be at an increased risk of developing preeclampsia – which is highlighted by high blood pressure,…

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Nov 17
0

Prenatal Yoga

Posted by | Exercise | No Comments

When Should I Start Prenatal Yoga? Prenatal yoga is not only an effective way to maintain your flexibility and provide your body with the health benefits of this form of exercise, but it can also help to prepare your body for the demands of labor and delivery. The Benefits of Prenatal Yoga The benefits of prenatal yoga are many, including: Stress relief Sleep improvement An increase in overall body strength Increases in flexibility and endurance Improves balance Improves circulation Reduces blood pressure Teaches you breathing techniques you can use during labor and delivery Reduced symptoms from things such as nausea, back and hip pain, headaches, and other common complaints during pregnancy Preparation for the physical stamina you will need during labor and delivery Preparation for the physical stamina you will need for caring for your newborn Before you start any new exercise program, however, it is important to check in…

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Nov 16
1

Where Can I Find Comfortable Shoes for My Swollen Feet?

Posted by | Lifestyle, Pregnancy Medicine | No Comments

Your abdomen isn’t the only part of your body that will change and expand during your pregnancy. One of the most common complaints of pregnant women is swollen feet. If your feet feel like they have turned into balloons by lunchtime, it’s time to find some comfortable shoes to wear during pregnancy that support your swollen feet. Shopping for Shoes during Pregnancy One of the challenges that pregnant women face when finding comfortable shoes during pregnancy is that their feet can change sizes between the time you put them on in the morning and the time you come home for dinner. Look for shoes that have laces or straps that you can adjust throughout the day. Avoid heels whenever possible. Standing and walking in heels puts added stress on your feet, strain on your ankles, and increases the risks of falls that can be dangerous to you and your baby….

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Nov 16
0

Is One Glass of Wine OK for the Baby During Pregnancy?

Posted by | Lifestyle, Pregnancy Medicine | No Comments

There are many adjustments an expectant mother needs to make during the months she awaits the birth of her baby. She needs to pay attention to her diet, follow guidelines for exercising during pregnancy, and she might need to adjust her social activities as well. For some pregnant moms, giving up that glass of wine shared with girlfriends can seem like a hard adjustment to make, but there are many reasons why doctors strongly advise against drinking while pregnant. What Does Alcohol Do to a Developing Baby? When a pregnant mother drinks alcohol, the alcohol is passed on to her unborn baby through the blood and into the baby’s tissues and organs. Not only is the alcohol passed on to the baby, but then the baby’s organs have to process the chemicals in the alcohol, and this is done much more slowly in a baby than in an adult. This…

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Nov 15
0

I Heart Ginger.

Posted by | Nutrition, Pregnancy Lifestyle, Symptoms & Remedies | No Comments

12 weeks along and I still feel like I could throw up at any second. While I have to admit, I don’t really care for the taste of ginger (I’d prefer it more if it tasted like cherry. Or chocolate. Or maybe both…on top of ice cream. I digress), I do appreciate how much better it makes me feel. Lately, I’ve been eating anything that has real ginger in it. Ginger chews, ginger hard candies, natural ginger ale, and ginger tea are staples in my daily diet. I keep it in my purse, in my car, in my bedside table, everywhere. While ginger has been proven to help aide morning sickness and nausea in general, it also has many other health benefits including: preventing cancer, boosting your immune system, and acting as an anti-inflammatory. Ginger is a natural remedy for morning sickness and completely safe to consume during pregnancy. What’s…

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Nov 15
32

Why Does My Baby Move Around A Lot After I Eat?

Posted by | Nutrition, Pregnancy Medicine | No Comments

Does your baby seems a bit more active after you’ve eaten a large meal or suddenly start to kick after you’ve had a cold glass of lemonade? Developing babies react in the womb to the food and drinks that mothers consume by kicking, moving more rapidly, and in general being more active than just before the meal or snack. Not only do babies move more after you eat or drink something, but the things you eat and drink during pregnancy will contribute to your baby’s taste preferences for food later in life. Which Foods Will Encourage a Moving Baby? Kick Counts A kicking baby is often the sign that parents look to of a healthy baby. There are various times throughout your pregnancy when your doctor might recommend that you perform what are known as “kick counts”. Because there isn’t a window into which you can peek to check on…

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Nov 14
0

How to Quit Smoking During Pregnancy

Posted by | Lifestyle, Pregnancy Medicine | No Comments

Can I Use a Nicotine Patch to Help Me Quit Smoking While Pregnant? You’ve probably heard that smoking is bad for your health, but if you’re pregnant you might have even more reason to try to quit smoking – your growing baby. There are many health concerns for both you and your baby that come from smoking during pregnancy, but there are ways to quit that are safe. The nicotine patch is just one way people stop smoking, but quitting during pregnancy can be more challenging and certain methods are safer than others. What are the Effects of Smoking During Pregnancy? Smoking during pregnancy is not only harmful to a mother’s health, but to the health of her unborn child. The developing baby is exposed to carbon monoxide and extremely harsh chemicals, including nicotine. When carbon monoxide enters the mother’s bloodstream it narrows the blood vessels that in the umbilical…

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Nov 14
0

Food Cravings

Posted by | Symptoms & Remedies | No Comments

Over 60% of women during pregnancy experience food cravings.  Some of this can be explained by what you need or the baby needs.  For instance, the baby really needs a lot of glucose so sweets taste especially good and in proper amounts can help nourish your child.  You need increased amounts of sodium and potassium, so salty foods and fruits and vegetables all taste good.  You may also be making up from deficits in food following significant morning sickness and nausea.  Food cravings are rarely harmful as long as you don’t skip eating a regular balanced diet or eat too much.  Satisfying food cravings should be enjoyed.

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Nov 13
0

What Do I Need To Know About Maternity Leave?

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

The first few weeks/months of a child’s life are a wonderful time. The mother and father finally get to know the baby that the mother has been carrying around for 9 months. You want to spend all the time with your newborn. In order to do so, it’s necessary to understand the rules surrounding maternity leave. How long can you take off? Do you get paid? Can you be fired from you job? These are all questions that someone has asked at some point. Let’s take a look at maternity leave considerations. Maternity leave rules and laws are largely a patchwork of state regulation.  Before 1993 and passage of The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) there were essentially no national rules governing maternity leave.  At that time, during the Clinton Administration, the FMLA finally guaranteed women the right to 12 weeks off of unpaid leave after delivery.   However in order to…

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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