Benefits of Exercise During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, many women want to do as many things as they can to stay healthy. Eating good food is one way that pregnant women can stay healthy during pregnancy. Exercising is another thing that most pregnant women can do to maintain optimal health during pregnancy. Of course, the number one consideration regarding exercising during pregnancy is to stay safe. Discuss exercise with your prenatal care provider at every visit, so that you always know how much of what kind of activities are appropriate for where you are in your pregnancy, given how your body is responding to pregnancy. For … Continue reading

A Few Good Pregnancy Books

I have always been into reading, but during pregnancy I was even more so. Especially during my first pregnancy – you know, before I had a little one to take care of and had more time available for reading. I read a lot of things, and like many pregnant women, I spent a lot of time reading about pregnancy and childbirth. There are a lot of books on pregnancy and childbirth out there to choose from. If you have a lot of time on your hands, feel free to explore any and all of them. If time is at a … Continue reading

Pregnancy Resources: Internet vs. Books

There are tons of pregnancy books out there, and I have even reviewed a few on this blog, but does a woman really need to buy a book when there is so much information available online? Well… yes and no. In my opinion, both internet resources and traditional pregnancy books have value. The internet is full of information, most of which is free, and is easily searched for specific answers. The sheer volume of pregnancy resources online is also its pitfall, however, since it is so full of duplicate and inaccurate information, which can be a pain to sift through. … Continue reading

What To Include In Your Pregnancy Journal

Pregnancy is a fun topic to write about in a journal. This time in your life is so new and different from any other stage in life. So much is packed into nine months; if you don’t write it down, you’re bound to forget some of it. It can be really entertaining to look back at your pregnancy journal and relive some of the memories (or be grateful that some of them have passed, like morning sickness). Writing about your pregnancy might come naturally for some, but if you’re suffering writer’s block, here are some ideas for what kinds of … Continue reading

Worrying During Pregnancy

There are certain symptoms of pregnancy that are simply classic. Morning sickness, sore breasts, frequent urination and fatigue are all hallmark indications that you are expecting. But there is another symptom of pregnancy that is equally common: worrying. Worry is one symptom you won’t get, however, until you already know you’re pregnant. Once it hits, it hits hard. For the remainder of your pregnancy you find yourself worrying about everything from how much weight you are gaining to how much the baby is moving. Surfing the internet can make a pregnant woman crazy with all the stories of diseases, birth … Continue reading

When to Worry About Spotting in Pregnancy

Realizing you are spotting is one of the scariest moments in a pregnancy. It immediately brings fear of miscarriage to mind. However, there are several causes of spotting in pregnancy. Some are potentially dangerous and others are less serious. Spotting isn’t all that uncommon. According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, about twenty percent of pregnant women experience spotting in the first trimester of pregnancy. While spotting may not be cause for alarm, you should always report it to your health care provider. Spotting is one of the main symptoms of a miscarriage, so call your doctor and … Continue reading

Breastfeeding While Pregnant: Will Your Infant Suffer?

This morning we were talking about whether or not breastfeeding while pregnant causes miscarriages. The notion that it does is not backed up by any scientific studies at this point. However, based on what we know, it is reasonable to assume that it is perfectly fine to breastfeed while pregnant. Understanding how the uterus works and responds to hormones during various stages of the pregnancy can help us understand the complicated mechanisms of how it’s possible to carry one and nurse the other. The general rule of thumb is that if you’re medically cleared to have sex during pregnancy (which … Continue reading

Pregnancy Blog Review Dec 30 – January 12

A variety of topics have been covered recently in the pregnancy blog. The blog review is a good place to get caught up on the topics covered in one convenient place. Sit back, relax and catch up on your reading. As always, I welcome any questions or topics for future blogs. At each prenatal visit, the fundal height will be measured. This is the measurement from the pubic bone to the top of the uterus. The measurement is one way your health care provider uses to track the growth of your baby. A lack of growth from one visit to … Continue reading

Bringing Children to Prenatal Visits

If this is not your first pregnancy, you may be wondering if you should bring your other child or children to your visits. This topic has recently been discussed in our forums. There isn’t a clear answer to this question. For some it works well, but others prefer to focus on their own health care during visits. In some cases, there isn’t really an option. If the mother has nobody to watch the other children, it may be necessary to bring them to the visit. If they are unable to bring the child, they may miss visits for lack of … Continue reading

The Pregnancy Blog Review for November 24 – 30

A wide variety of topics have been covered recently in the pregnancy blog on everything from trying to conceive to discomforts in later pregnancy. If you haven’t been able to keep up with your reading, the pregnancy blog review is a great way to browse the recent topics. Click each link to view the entire blog. Some women find they are hungry much more than usual when they are pregnant. Indulging this hunger without thinking about nutrition can lead to excessive weight gain. This increases your chances of complications in the pregnancy and makes losing the weight after pregnancy much … Continue reading