Who knew there was a website totally devoted to curing acid reflux? Well, if you suffer from heartburn during pregnancy, here’s an article that might be helpful. They say there is no way to completely elimitate it, but some helpful suggestions are offered to make you as comfortable as possible.
Good news for Pregnant Women who like to Eat!
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, according to this article, has declared that pregnant woman need to consume more calories that previously recommended.
For normal-weight women, the extra energy needs during the first trimester of pregnancy were “negligible.” However, these needs rose to 350 kilocalories per day in the second trimester and to 500 kilocalories per day in the third trimester.
It was originally thought that a woman in her last trimester did not have to consume more calories, due to her tendency toward less physical activity. However, even if she has the luxury of slowing down the pace in the third trimester, this study shows that she still needs to up the calories to properly feed that baby! So eat up, ladies, and enjoy. It’s good for you!
Treating Acne during Pregnancy
As if cramps, swollen ankles, weak bladders, and exhaustion are not enough to deal with, some lucky women find that the surplus of raging hormones is making their skin break out! Pregnant woman are advised against using treatments such as Accutane, Retin-A, Tetracycline, and products with salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide (some are very dangerous to the fetus and can cause birth defects). In this “How to” article, you can learn how to safely care for your skin to prevent acne.
The three basic steps are:
1. Buy “baby-friendly” products to cleanse your skin. They recomend a certain cosmetic comapany that caters to pregnant women, but I assume that any cleanser without harmful ingredients will do the trick. (Why spend money onfancy products when your corner drugstore carries something that works just as well??) Ask your doctor if you are unsure about the safety of any products.
2. Drink 8-10 glasses of water to flush out toxins and keep skin hydrated. (This is a good idea even if you don’t have problem skin…)
3. Keep taking those prenatal vitamins. They’re not just good for the baby, they’re good for you and your skin as well.
Photographing Pregnancy
When something special happens, many people reach for a camera. Weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, births… we all want to remember the beauty, the joy, the feeling of anticipation these events bring, and a photo is often the perfect way to capture that fleeting moment. Well, nine months of pregnancy does not exactly qualify as a “fleeting moment,” but once your baby has arrived in the world, you only have memories of carrying her inside you for all those months. Unless, that is, you choose to photograph yourself, and more importantly, your belly.
Some photographers specialize in capturing the beauty of the pregnant woman. If you’ve been thinking about celebrating your pregnant body in this way, but not sure how to go about it, the best place to start is with someone who’s done it many times before. To see samples, you can visit Lori Nordstrom’s website and view photos of her lovely expecting mothers. Another beautiful photograhpy site is Jennifer Loomis Fine Art Pregnancy Photography. And one more website with striking and dramatic pregnancy photos to check out: Linnea Lankus Fine Art Portrature.
If you chose the right artist to take your photos, you definitely won’t regret it! “Is the beautiful 37 week pregnant woman in those pictures really me?” raves one of Jennifer Loomis’ clients. “To call them pictures is not an accurate description — they’re art… You have given our family a wonderful gift by magically capturing the hope and the love Tim and I felt at such an exciting time in our lives.”
Empathy Belly: As close as he’ll ever get
Sometimes I walk around with my huge, pregnanty belly, shlepping my 2-year old daughter and a few package to boot, and I wonder why it is that the “weaker sex” was chosen to bear children while those manly men can only thank thier lucky stars it’s not them. But while most of them are content to leave it at that, one man chose to empathise with his pregnant wife, at least for 24 hours. Meet Darren Garnick, who dons the “Empathy Belly” so he can get some idea of what pregnancy feels like. What exaclty is the Empathy Belly? It’s filled with warm water and sports strategically placed weights. A rib-constricting belt causes shortness of breath and an increased heart rate, while a six-pound sandbag rests on your bladder, creating an“increased sense of urgency and frequency of urination.” Sounds like fun, doesn’t it?? Read all about Darren’s Great Belly Adventure here!
Eating healthy on the go
We all know how important it is to eat healthy, especially when you are growing a baby. But sometimes it seems that the hours speed by so quickly, you don’t have time for well-balanced meals. Nutritionist Jennifer Putnam begs to differ. She points out that today, low-fat, healthy meals on-the-go are easy to come by. Want to know more? Check it out.
Seven…six…five…?
I was walking down the street today and an older woman stopped me to wish me well on my apparent pregnancy. She told me she has been working as a midwife at a hospital for 40 years. Then, looking at me with an experienced eye, she said, “Seven months, huh?” I smiled (what else could I do) and said, “Not quite.” “Ahh, six months!” she proclaimed, wished me well, and went off on her way. I didn’t bother telling her I was barely 5 months pregnant. I guess I’ve got a loooong way to go…
Eating fish linked to healthy infants
The Nigerian Tribune (do they lack credibility just because I never heard of them before?) cites a study by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that states, “women should eat oily fishes like sardines, mackerel, salmon, tuna, etc, during pregnancy so that their children could be brilliant, intelligent, as well as have sharper problem-solving skills.” When you forgive the gramatical errors, this is actually very interesting and informative reading. You may also want to check out the picture, whose caption explains, “Fishes supply vitamins to the body.” Oh yes, they sure do. And these people certainly look like they’ve been taking their vitamins!
Pregnancy Q & A
Pregnancy Questions & Answers: (from bulterwebs.com)
Q: Should I have a baby after 35?
A: No, 35 children is enough.
Q: I’m two months pregnant now. When will my baby move?
A: With any luck, right after he finishes college.
Q: What is the most reliable method to determine a baby’s sex?
A: Childbirth.
Q: My childbirth instructor says it’s not pain I’ll feel during labor, but pressure. Is she right?
A: Yes, in the same way that a tornado might be called an air current.
Q: When is the best time to get an epidural?
A: Right after you find out you’re pregnant.
Q: Is there any reason I have to be in the delivery room while my wife is in labor?
A: Not unless the word “alimony” means anything to you.
Q: Is there anything I should avoid while recovering from childbirth?
A: Yes, pregnancy.
Q: Do I have to have a baby shower?
A: Not if you change the baby’s diaper very quickly.
Q: Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to feel and act normal again?
A: When the kids are in college.
Nursing Bras: Getting the right fit
Pregnancy brings many changes, and among them you will discover that those old bras just don’t fit any more (good news for some, bad news for others!). If you are going to buy new ones, you might as well go ahead and buy nursing bras, so you can continue to wear them after the baby arrives. Here is a helpful blog that gives tips on how to get the right fit!
What I discovered when shopping for nursing bras is that almost any bra can be converted into a nursing bra! I desperately wanted a minimizer but was told that they don’t sell minimizing nursing bras… but they could convert a regular minimizer into a nursing bra. I went with that option and was very pleased (I should have gotten two, that’s the only one I really wore…) I think some people are concerned that the pressure of a minimizer can clog milk ducts but I never had any problems, and was grateful to fit back into my old clothes.