Search Results for: chance of pregnancy while on period

Fertility After 40

Yesterday was my 40th birthday. The occasion got me thinking about life and motherhood. No, I am not thinking of adding another baby to our family, but many women my age are having babies or trying to conceive. The common belief is that fertility drops off dramatically after the 40th birthday. While there is truth to the idea that conceiving at 40 is more difficult than at 25, the news isn’t all grim. Many women are having babies later in life. It happens every day. Getting pregnant past 40 is possible, but it is more of a challenge. Women over … Continue reading →

Why Women are Put on Bed Rest

While most women are healthy throughout pregnancy, some will be put on bed rest at some time in the pregnancy. About one million pregnancies each year are categorized as high risk. For many of these women, there will be restrictions on activity, including periods of bed rest. There are several conditions that will necessitate bed rest. Pre eclampsia commonly results in at least some bed rest. This condition occurs in five to ten percent of pregnancies. Bed rest may be at home, in the hospital, or periods of both hospital and home bed rest. Other reasons for bed rest include … Continue reading →

Visiting Hawaii—Where To Go

I was born and raised in Hawaii, but moved to the “mainland” shortly after graduating from high school. I moved back to Honolulu for a brief period in the late 90s, but eventually moved back to the Midwest to accept a new job position, and have remained here ever since. Regardless of where I move or how long I have been gone, Hawaii is always HOME, and I try to get back as much as possible. I just returned from Oahu five days ago and am so homesick (especially since I left 80 degrees temps—it’s 5 degrees in the city … Continue reading →

Let’s Talk About Dealing with Grief from Birth Loss

Having something other than your ideal birth can be a painful experience, especially if you truly desired to deliver naturally. Often, women who end up with an emergency c-section feel a sense of guilt, loss, and even failure. Or perhaps it wasn’t a cesarean that you or someone you know is grieving over, but an intervention that you desired to avoid. Sometimes opting for pain-relieving drugs can make a woman feel like she had less of a birth experience than she desired to. My first delivery went very well, and was a successful homebirth. I was very proud of myself, … Continue reading →

Your Toddler’s Sense of Smell

Your toddler’s nose is nowhere near as discerning as yours is. It’s important to remember that our senses are heightened after pregnancy. The scent of a dirty diaper is pretty powerful to us, but not so much to our kids. Our body odor doesn’t offend them either – that’s why they’ll snuggle up to you even when you haven’t had a chance to shower all day and you may think you stink, but your child doesn’t notice. This lack of acuity and sensitivity in their sense of smell is part of the reason why your toddler cannot distinguish between safe … Continue reading →

Why You Won’t Catch Me at a Nurse-In

Maybe I’m just not a good lactivist. I have the golden opportunity to participate in a “nurse-in” downtown in Times Square and I’m not going. It’s not because I’m too busy or don’t have the time. It doesn’t even have to do with the fact that I’m nursing twins and doing so outside of the Toys R Us in Times Square would be a nightmare. Rather, I’m actively participating in my own “nurse out”. I know, if you follow my blogs some of you are probably shocked. I actively promote breastfeeding every chance I get because I believe it’s that … Continue reading →

Your Post Partum Checkup

Most women return to the doctor or midwife six weeks after delivery for the post partum checkup. During this visit, the doctor will examine you to see how well you are healing. You will have the opportunity to ask questions or address any concerns you have with the doctor. You will have an examination of your pelvis and breasts. The doctor is checking to be sure the uterus has returned to its original size. If you had an episiotomy, this will be checked to determine how it has healed. If you had a c section, your incision site will be … Continue reading →

Increasing the Odds of Getting Pregnant

Trying to conceive can be a very stressful time. Once you decide the time is right for a baby, you want it to happen right away. When trying to conceive, keep in mind that you only have about a 25% chance of conceiving in any given month. There are some things you can do to increase your odds of getting pregnant. Maintain a healthy weight to increase your odds of conception. Studies have shown that it’s easier for women of normal weight to conceive. Being either under or over weight can reduce your chances. A healthy diet and regular exercise … Continue reading →