Can You Drink Coffee During Pregnancy?

Have you noticed that when you are pregnant, the whole world seems to be watching you eat? Not only that, but everyone feels free to comment on what they see you eating. It can be downright infuriating because no matter what it is – healthy, unhealthy, large or small, the general idea behind all of the comments is that you are doing this whole pregnancy eating thing wrong. Unfortunately for pregnant women, everyone in society has his or her own idea about what pregnant women should and should not be eating. There are a few things that truly are unsafe … Continue reading →

A Beginner’s Guide to Bed Rest

Did you know that one out of every five mothers will be prescribed bed rest during her pregnancy? Since there is a chance that you may have to become familiar with bed rest, here are some basics to get you started. First of all, let’s talk about what bed rest is. Bed rest can mean anything from complete and total confinement to one’s bed for twenty four hours a day to taking time to lay down for an hour or so a couple of times a day. Make sure that your prenatal care provider is specific in telling you exactly … Continue reading →

Dental Care is Important During Pregnancy

You already know how important it is to get regular medical care during your pregnancy, but did you know that it is also very important to make sure that you get regular dental care as well? A few things can happen during pregnancy that can affect your oral health. What’s more, your oral health can also have an impact on the health of your baby. Morning sickness can be tough on your teeth in a couple of ways. First of all, many women report that the taste of their toothpaste can bring on a bout of vomiting. The easy solution … Continue reading →

Anxiety During Pregnancy

Even if you have never been one to worry about things, you may find yourself worrying quite a bit during pregnancy. Concerns about the health of your baby, what it will be like to be a parent, and, of course, labor and delivery are part of the pregnancy experience. Sometimes, though, a pregnant mother’s worry will escalate into clinical anxiety. Unfortunately, many prenatal care providers to not routinely address anxiety during their regimen of prenatal care. Although it can impact the health of both mother and baby, the topic of anxiety is not usually addressed unless the patient mentions that … Continue reading →

Tips for Avoiding the Flu While Pregnant

When you are pregnant, you may try even harder than usual to avoid getting sick. The symptoms of pregnancy can be unpleasant at times, and you may shudder at the thought of adding the symptoms of a cold, the flu, or that stomach bug that is going around town to what you are already feeling. Since many cold medicines and other remedies are not recommended for use during pregnancy, it is a good idea to do everything that you can to prevent illness. That said, you may not want to run to the nearest pharmacy with your sleeve rolled up to … Continue reading →

Happy News for the Royal Family Despite Illness

What wonderful news out of England, that Duchess Kate is now pregnant. She is early in her pregnancy, and is unfortunately experiencing a very severe case of a common early pregnancy symptom. Most of us are familiar with morning sickness, and many of us have experienced it at some point during our pregnancies. However, only about one percent of women will experience morning sickness as severely as Duchess Kate is now experiencing it. The scientific name for excessive morning sickness is hyperemesis gravidarum, or excessive vomiting during pregnancy. In case you are wondering what qualifies as excessive vomiting (after all, vomiting … Continue reading →

What Is Listeriosis?

Your prenatal care provider may have suggested that you avoid certain foods like soft cheeses and deli meats during pregnancy. In case you are wondering why, here’s the lowdown on a nasty food borne illness called Listeriosis. Listeriosis is caused by a bacteria called Listerium monocytogenes. Pregnant women and their babies can be seriously affected by Listeriosis, which can cause blood infections, meningitis, and other serious and life threatening complications. Fortunately, it is a relatively rare illness, with about 2500 cases annually in the United States. It is very serious, though, and can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, and infections … Continue reading →

Pregnancy and Heartburn

One of the most common pregnancy – related discomforts is heartburn. About half of all pregnant women experience heartburn to some degree during their pregnancies. I experienced it rather severely during both pregnancies. In fact, when I was pregnant with Blake (who is now almost five months old), I started having heartburn a few weeks before I even suspected that I was pregnant. One day, I found myself reaching for the Tums that I had not used since my first pregnancy. I blamed it on the pepperoni pizza that I had just eaten, and I figured that all of the … Continue reading →

Before You Get Pregnant

If you are thinking of becoming pregnant, or even if there is a possibility that you could become pregnant, you should access your health ASAP. Going into a pregnancy in the best possible health can make a huge income on the health of your baby and the health of yourself throughout pregnancy and even afterward. I don’t know how many obstetricians and pregnancy experts that I have spoken with who say that they wish more patients would seek out a health assessment and care before getting pregnant. Accessing your health before you get pregnant not only helps you identify and … Continue reading →

What is Preeclampsia?

With pregnancy, it is important to remember that things may not turn out the way that you had intended. I learned this during my first pregnancy, and I experienced it again during my most recent pregnancy. When I was pregnant with my first son, I developed preeclampsia towards the end of the pregnancy. I began to show signs of it before I was to term, but fortunately the symptoms did not present fully until about ten days before my due date. Preeclampsia is a medical condition where a pregnant woman’s blood pressure rises suddenly and other symptoms including protein in … Continue reading →