When a pregnancy comes along there is usually a baby shower involved in the process. This will be the saving grace for your baby’s first year or more. Clothing, shoes, diapers, furniture, and other items that will be needed when the baby arrives. One slight problem that arises at almost every shower is the clothing items that will not be used in proper timing with the seasons. If your Aunt buys your baby Winter clothes in a 3-4 month size, but your baby will be 7 months by Winter, then it comes to conclude that you will be giving away some of those unusable items. You may run across this for several items and you can turn these into cash or usable sizes.

Ask friends and family about putting together a baby-swap. No, not a literal baby swap, you plan a day for all ladies with children ages 3 and under to gather old clothes (in good condition) and come to a tea party. The items that others can use for their children have a swap-off. This way everyone gets something they need in exchange for something they couldn’t use.

If you don’t know enough ladies to gather a baby-swap then you should turn your sites toward a better deal. Resale stores can be an amazing place to find infant clothes, most of which still have tags in place, and other necessities for baby. The best part is the slightly used furniture that can be gently restored with minimal work for only pennies on the dollar. Two in One furniture items are the must-haves to put on your list. These combo pieces can serve double duty for things such as changing tables plus a dresser. Cribs are now made with extra drawer space for hiding diapers, and other items that you may need on hand. You’ll be amazed at the amount of sales and savings that you can find at your local resale store. This is the type of place to purchase the clothing for your baby’s fast-paced growing years. Find name brands for pennies, and furniture at amazing discounts. Sometimes resale stores offer in-store credit when you donate items. So go and offer them your Aunt’s too-late Winter clothing and grab a shopping bag. You and baby will be ready when the time comes.

There are 6 alternatives to epidural or medication to relieve pain during labor. Discuss them with your doctor and go for the one that suits you the most.

Aromatherapy

This involves the use of aromatic essential oils. They soothe the senses and helps you relax, thus, enhancing the smooth progression of labor. Ask your partner or midwife to massage you with these oils and watch your delivery turn into a pleasant experience!

Acupressure And Acupuncture

These focus on certain pressure points in the body that affect the nervous system and blood circulation. They ease pain and help you relax. In case of acupuncture, thin needles are pierced at specific points on your body while in case of acupressure; these points are pressed gently by finger tips. Both these therapies are more effective when done in the initial stage of labor when you’ve just begun to get contractions. This is a terrific non-medicated labor pain relief alternative.

Hypnosis

This affects the mind more than the body. It gives you an illusion of decreasing pain. When your mind starts believing that you’re relaxed and are ready for a smooth delivery; your body works towards supporting the belief. The sub-conscious mind has immense power and hypnosis helps you unleash it. This technique relaxes you deeply and kicks out your fear of labor. However, make sure you consult a qualified hypnotist.

Active Birth

This is a completely different method. Here, you concentrate on your pain and work with it for effective progression of your labor. This usually consists of coping techniques, which give you more control over your delivery process. When you’re strong enough to cope with labor, you require less medical intervention. Your partner, midwife, or doctor can help you with this non-medicated labor pain relief alternative. However, if your labor extends for a longer period, you may need help.

Water Therapy

Taking a warm shower during labor can be quite relieving. There are many women who choose to labor in a pool or tub of warm water. This is called “midwife’s epidural.”

Doula

A person who provides professional labor support is known as doula. She is there to aid you right from the beginning of labor till the birth of the baby. Doulas have the expertise and knowledge to help you relieve pain during labor. They know innumerable ways to let your labor progress smoothly. It has been observed that women with doulas by their side did not ask for epidurals in about 60% of labor cases. Even if you opt for epidural, a doula can provide you the best support and advice.

So, if you’re approaching your last days of pregnancy, this is the right time to discuss about non-medicated labor pain relief alternatives with your doctor or midwife. Why suffer from pain when you’ve the power to control it?

There are a large number of women who simply choose to deliver at the hospital because that’s the only place they know about. Some are fearful of delivering at home and so choose hospitals. Some others don’t have enough people to aid them during labor at home.

Delivery At Home

You must go for this childbirth option only when you’re absolutely confident of delivery without medical intervention. Besides, there should be no complication in your pregnancy. A midwife is competent enough to help women deliver at home. Ponder over this option and check whether your partner and other support people will be able to arrange for essential things during delivery. If everything looks positive, get ready to welcome your baby right at home!

Delivery At Birth Centers

There’s yet another delivery place that many women are still ignorant about. These are birth centers. Most of these places are fully equipped with the latest technologies. The staff is dedicated to providing utmost comfort to the women in labor. You get more choices in terms of medications, non-medicated relief options, birthing positions, and other things in such places. You may want to know more about these centers before you decide.

Delivery At Hospital

Hospitals have their own rules when it comes to childbirth. Besides, they may be lacking in certain things. You may want to go for aromatherapy instead of epidural, but the hospital may not have the necessary arrangements for it. So, you may have no other choice but to opt for epidural. Some hospitals make it mandatory to get an IV test done, or at least a heplock.

So, if you’re the lady who makes her own rules and are particular about your delivery process, the hospital may not be the best place for you to give birth. However, if you have a good rapport with your doctor at the hospital, you may be allowed to bend some rules and do your own thing in the labor room!

The catch is to make your delivery experience, a positive one. You wouldn’t want to shudder after remembering your delivery moments later in life, would you? Increase your knowledge about childbirth and the various places to deliver. Then decide. Don’t let anyone else take this decision for you.

Medical experts are making constant endeavors to reduce labor pain in women. They’ve tried all sorts of methods. Water is one of the recently acceptable methods of labor pain relief. Before we know more about water and its relation to labor pain, let’s know something about the pain relief chemicals secreted in our body.

Natural Painkillers

Our body releases narcotic-like chemicals known as endorphins in the blood stream. These chemicals are also secreted during physical activities like sex, cycling, and running. These chemicals are also produced during labor contractions. Also, a research with weightlifters has suggested that endorphins are secreted when a woman grunts and grimaces during labor. Unfortunately, the medications provided to ease labor meddle with the natural production of these “happy” chemicals.

Water Therapy

It has been found that women who took warm showers or immersed in warm bathtub during labor had a quicker and easier delivery. They were able to handle the pain of labor in a better way; some even reported to have felt less pain.

Studies have revealed the pain relieving properties of water. In fact, it has been compared to epidural, but with zero side effects! And it’s not necessary to take a shower. You can induce labor pain relief by applying washcloths dipped in warm water on your back or belly.

When you enter warm water, it soothes your body. It lowers the level of adrenaline and stimulates the production of endorphins. This is because sensations like touch, stroking, and warmth (that provide comfort) travel faster to the brain than sensations that provide discomfort such as labor contractions. So, when your body comes in contact with warm water, all the negative sensations are washed out and soothing sensations take their place. You become better equipped to deliver.

Combating The Fear Factor Through Water

In a large number of cases, it’s the fear that leads to difficult or painful labor in women. Fear tenses your muscles and thwarts the secretion of endorphins. It’s no wonder that you begin to feel the pain of labor more sharply.

Water can fight off your fear! This is the reason why many midwives encourage women to relax in a bathtub when they’re feeling tensed. Water breaks the cycle of fear-tension-pain. It also supports your baby’s weight, thus, lifting off the pressure from your pelvic and back muscles. It relieves pains associated with late pregnancy. In short, it induces an easy labor.

It won’t be long before women discard epidurals and medications to relieve pain during labor. Water will soon become the hot favorite labor pain relief option for women across the world. Water, known as the “elixir of life”, will then help you bring in a new life into the world!

Here are 5 pregnancy symptoms that may leave you feeling embarrassed. Watch out for them!

Urine Leaks Through Your Pants!

Omigosh! You wet your pants! This can be quite embarrassing when you’re sitting in a board meeting. You stand up to give your presentation only to feel a gush of urine wetting your socks! Well, this happens during pregnancy and you can’t do anything about it. Blame it on the expanding uterus exerting force on your bladder. This makes it difficult to hold even a small amount of urine.

The only remedy for this is to drink less water, especially before an important presentation! Or you can wear sanitary pads, which will keep you free from tension all day. Kegel exercises are great to tone your pelvic muscles.

You Vomit On Your Friend!

We all know about the dreaded morning sickness. But, sometimes things can go out of hand and you may actually throw up in the least expected situation. To avoid such a happening, it’s advised to take your prenatal vitamins at dinnertime, along with your food. If this doesn’t help, take a low-iron supplement, as iron can trigger nausea.

Besides this, wear an anti-seasickness band on your wrist. It presses a point on your wrist that is related to nausea. You can also suck a ginger or lemon flavored hard candy.

You Fart In Public!
You’re sitting with a bunch of colleagues and are just about to explode! Blame those raging progesterone hormones that retard motility in your stomach, causing build up of excess gas. This leads to sudden belching or farting.

Watch your pregnancy diet. Stay away from carbonated drinks, beans, and broccoli. Eat 5-6 small meals throughout the day.

You Scratch And Scratch!

One of the nasty pregnancy symptoms is problem in vagina and vulva. This may include odor, discharge, itching, and swelling of vulva. The expanding uterus and pregnancy hormones are the culprits for this. There’s an increase in fluids in the body that causes itching. You may even get a burning sensation down there.

Keep your V-zone clean as well as dry. Wear fresh panty liners. If the swelling in vulva turns red or purple, it’s vulva varicosities. Keep your feet off from the ground as much as you can and consult your doctor.

You Forget Small Things!]

You enter the grocery store and forget what you wanted to buy! This usually happens in the second trimester. This is normal. You’re not losing your memory; relax! It’s just that your mind is overloaded with so many things to do and think about at this time that everything gets jumbled up.

Just keep away from stress and don’t rush into doing things simultaneously.

Certain pregnancy symptoms can really make you think why you got pregnant in the first place! Don’t worry. All this will pass and you’ll soon have your bundle of joy in your arms!

Exercise To DO During Pregnancy

Walking, stretching, swimming, stationary cycling, bowling, playing tennis, or golf, floor exercises, and yoga are beneficial during this time.

Exercises To AVOID During Pregnancy

• Unnecessary bouncing or stretching.

• Certain asanas in yoga. It’s best to perform yoga under supervision of a trainer.
• Holding breath for a long period.
• Exercising your abdomen vigorously.
• Excessive cardio vascular exercises. You must not strain your heart or get short of breath at this time.

  Before starting any form of exercise during pregnancy, you must consult your doctor.

  Tips To Exercise During Pregnancy

  • If you’ve have been exercising before getting pregnant, you just need to modify your workout session a bit and continue staying active.

  • If you have never exercised before, start with mild activity such as walking or swimming. Check out with your doctor to know what’s best for you.
  • Join exercises classes meant especially for pregnant women.
  • Always do warm ups before exercise.
  • Include rest days during the week.
  • Emphasize on non-impact workouts such as water aerobics or stationary cycling.
  • Wear cushioned shoes for walking. For beginners, you can start by walking short distances at first and then increase.
  • As your belly grows bigger, there is a shift in your center of gravity. Therefore, you must be careful not to trip over while jogging, walking, or aerobics.
  • After the first trimester, avoid exercises that need you to lie on your back.
  • Wear loose and comfortable clothes while exercising.
  • Avoid excessive sweating or getting too hot.
  • Drink lots of water.
  • Don’t exhaust yourself. Exercise during pregnancy should be moderate and refreshing.
  • Listen to your body. If you don’t feel like exercising on a particular day, skip it.
  • Along with exercise, follow a healthy diet plan.

    Great Exercises

    Wall Squats - This is a great exercise for strengthening and toning your thighs, lower back, and hips.

    Swimming – This strengthens your muscles and renders better breathing and endurance. You develop buoyancy that helps you relax your lower back muscles, which usually gets strained due to pressure of the womb. Besides, you make new friends while swimming at the pool designed for pregnant women!

    KEGEL Exercises – These exercises are great for enhancing your control over the pubococcygeus muscles, which are muscles of the pelvic region. This helps during labor. Also, it reduces your chances of hemorrhoids or bladder leaks.

    So, if anyone’s told you shouldn’t exercise during pregnancy, pity them on their lack of knowledge! Who says you should feel unattractive and fat? Exercise and feel beautiful!

    ]]> http://pregnancyinfo911.com/exercise-during-pregnancy-is-a-must-2/feed/ http://pregnancyinfo911.com/birthing-position-that-makes-your-delivery-easy/ http://pregnancyinfo911.com/birthing-position-that-makes-your-delivery-easy/#comments Sat, 10 Jan 2009 07:52:10 +0000 admin http://pregnancyinfo911.com/?p=19 Who says you have to deliver with the same birthing position throughout? If you feel uncomfortable, you can change your position to avoid cramps or straining of muscles. The catch is to reduce pain and make way for smooth delivery of the baby.

    Let’s take a look at the different birthing positions and their comfort levels.

    Standing

    This position gives you the advantage of gravity. As the labor initiates, you can walk around a little to help it progress. Thereafter, stand with a support. This position dilates your cervix better and widens the opening of your pelvis. You get powerful contractions without much pain. The muscles of your uterus get ample oxygen and there’s less stress to the baby.

    The only pitfall of standing during delivery is that your doctor finds it difficult to see the baby and has less control over the delivery process.

    Standing On All Fours (Hands And Knees)

    If you feel too tired to deliver by standing, you can try to get down on your hands and knees. It reduces contractions and eases back labor. (This happens when your baby’s head presses against the rear part of your pelvis.) Standing on all fours can avoid the need for episiotomy or laceration. Also, if the baby is large, this upright position is beneficial.

    The only mild discomfort arises when the baby comes out. This is because it passes through the mother’s legs.

    Kneeling

    If you want to stay upright, but cannot stand, you can kneel on a pillow. Place your hands and knees on the bed. The knees should be apart according to comfort. This position eases the pain of contractions as well as backache. It helps when the baby exerts pressure on your spine. Also, it aids in rotation of the baby.

    Semi-Sitting

    This birthing position uses pillows under your arms, back, and knees. As you get contractions, you should wrap your hands around knees. Bring your knees near your shoulders. This position utilizes gravity effectively. It’s good for hospital beds. Doctors, too, can observe and access the perineum (area between rectum and vagina) easily.

    Sitting

    Sit with one knee relaxed and the other bent. Lean just a little to the back. Sitting helps your uterus to drop forward. This enhances blood circulation to your contracting muscles and lifts off pressure from your diaphragm. It also relaxes your perineum.

    Sitting on the toilet seat might be painful though, as it exerts pressure.

    Lying On One Side

    This birthing position helps if you’ve high blood pressure, or are tired, or have opted for an epidural. It relaxes your perineum and lifts off pressure on your baby’s main blood supply. Besides this, giving birth while lying on your side hastens labor and makes way for easy contractions.

    The pitfall is that it’s difficult to access fetal heart tone.

    Squatting

    This is perfect when you reach the second stage of labor. Squatting needs support. This position helps to open up your pelvis, turns gravity in your favor, and gives better control to you during delivery. It leads to fast passage of the baby and aids in its rotation. Your pelvis opens up 28% more than that in supine delivery position. Squatting can be tiring though.

    Choose a birthing position you find most comfortable and turn your delivery into a pleasant experience.

    ]]> http://pregnancyinfo911.com/birthing-position-that-makes-your-delivery-easy/feed/ http://pregnancyinfo911.com/to-eat-or-not-to-eat-during-labor%e2%80%a6/ http://pregnancyinfo911.com/to-eat-or-not-to-eat-during-labor%e2%80%a6/#comments Sat, 10 Jan 2009 07:51:04 +0000 admin http://pregnancyinfo911.com/?p=16 Since ages, doctors have advised women not to eat during labor. However, recent researches have revealed a startling fact – eating during labor is beneficial!

    But the question is: What to drink or eat during labor?

    Beneficial Foods During Labor

    As you approach the last days of your pregnancy, you must switch to a high carb diet. Carbohydrates raise the level of glycogen, something that your body needs during this time. If you don’t take enough carbs, your body will convert the stored fat into glycogen. This process leads to the formation of a by-product known as ketones. This by-product slows down labor and causes fetal distress.

    It’s ironical that doctors don’t permit eating carbs during early labor and then later they administer IV’s to prevent ketosis, which could have been prevented by a carb diet in the first place!

    Now you realize how your pregnancy diet affects labor! Medical experts recommend eating cereal, breads, crackers, pasta, corn, rice, potatoes, and fresh fruits to build glycogen reserves. As you enter into early labor, you can safely have plenty of fruit juices, water, or sports drinks. They keep you hydrated during labor and substitute electrolytes effectively.

    Foods To AVOID During Labor

    Avoid orange juice, as it may lead to nasal vomiting. Also, avoid dairy products, fried and spicy foods, and foods with heavy protein content.

    To Eat Or Not To Eat…

    The reason behind stopping food and drink during labor is the risk of aspiration, in case the woman has been administered general anesthesia and she throws up. But, this risk is rare. Unless you take heavy foods, there’s no risk in taking simple carbs that are digested easily and provide energy bursts to cope with labor.

    Moreover, researchers have questioned this reasoning because even if your stomach is empty, there are still gastric fluids present in it. Besides, anesthesiologists have the expertise to prevent aspiration of food or fluids.

    Many women have reported to have felt hungry during labor. Most were of the view that had they been allowed to eat during labor, they wouldn’t have gotten sick while giving birth. Several hospitals feature nourishment rooms with freezers where you can store fresh fruit, juices, honey, and other simple carb “energy boosters.” You can have them in small amounts at regular intervals while you’re at the hospital waiting for your baby to arrive.

    It has been found that women who ate during labor had more active labor than those who stopped all food and drink. If you’re feeling hungry, you must eat during labor. At a certain point, during labor, your body will automatically tell you to stop eating. You won’t feel like eating any more. Your digestive system will get sluggish. It’s more beneficial to listen and act according to your body than to the hospital rules!

    So, if you’re in quandary whether to eat during labor or not, listen to your body. After all, it’s your body that has to work hard for delivering a baby. Give it the energy to endure labor and provide you a pleasant experience!

    ]]> http://pregnancyinfo911.com/to-eat-or-not-to-eat-during-labor%e2%80%a6/feed/ http://pregnancyinfo911.com/is-traveling-during-pregnancy-safer-by-air-or-land/ http://pregnancyinfo911.com/is-traveling-during-pregnancy-safer-by-air-or-land/#comments Sat, 10 Jan 2009 07:46:34 +0000 admin http://pregnancyinfo911.com/?p=13 Traveling during pregnancy should be more of a relaxation trip than a strenuous one. What a unique experience to travel with your baby inside! Although many women are scared of traveling during pregnancy, it’s absolutely safe provided you’ve taken all the safety measures.

    Tips For Safe Travel During Pregnancy

  • First of all, check with your doctor and discuss your travel plans.
  • Eat regularly and drink lots of fluids during travel.
  • Stretch a bit and walk around at regular intervals to avoid swelling and to maintain good circulation.
  • Keep juice and crackers handy to avoid nausea.
  • Always wear comfortable clothes and shoes while traveling during pregnancy.

    You must never take medication during travel without consulting your doctor. Some women make the mistake of taking pills for bowel problems or motion sickness during travel, leading to unwanted effects. You must be extra careful while traveling abroad because the time zone as well as climate changes. Discuss your trip with your doctor so that you know the right time to take the recommended medicines or supplements. Also, you must always have a copy of your prenatal record during travel.

    High Altitude Travel

    If you’ve a complicated pregnancy, you must avoid high altitude traveling during pregnancy such as mountaintop excursions. Even for normal pregnancy, your body and baby need to adjust to lower oxygen levels and air pressure at high altitudes. If you intend to travel above 8,000 feet, you must allow your body to adjust to 6000-8000 feet for several days at first.

    The following are the recommendations by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG):

    Land Travel: It’s recommended that you should not exceed your travel to 6 hours a day. While traveling by car, wear your seatbelt by positioning the lap belt between your upper thighs and abdomen for comfort. Position the shoulder strap across your shoulders, between the breasts. You MUST wear a lap shoulder strap at this time. This protects your baby in case of accident. Unless a lady is severely injured, her baby in the womb remains safe due to the cushioning effect provided by the fluid-filled sac in her uterus.

    Air Travel: According to ACOG, this is relatively safer. In America, pregnant ladies are permitted to fly before 36 weeks of their pregnancy. Get an aisle seat. It’s spacious and makes it easy for you to walk to the bathroom. You must get up and move around every hour to reduce the chances of formation of blood clots in your legs. Drink ample water during the flight. Always wear layered clothing so that you aren’t caught off guard by temperature dips. If you’ve a risky pregnancy, such as pre-term delivery, poor fetal growth, or pre-eclampsia, you might need oxygen supplement during the flight. Talk to your doctor about it.

    Sea Travel: Pregnancy is not the best time to go on a cruise, especially if you haven’t been out in the sea, ever. Seasickness is a common problem, even with those who are not pregnant. Therefore, it’s likely that you’re going to be affected by this motion sickness even more. If you really have to travel by sea during this time, notify your doctor and check the medical facilities available on board the ship.

    Traveling during pregnancy shouldn’t petrify you. Take care and enjoy your trip with your baby!

    ]]> http://pregnancyinfo911.com/is-traveling-during-pregnancy-safer-by-air-or-land/feed/ http://pregnancyinfo911.com/12-smart-tips-to-avoid-excess-weight-gain-during-pregnancy/ http://pregnancyinfo911.com/12-smart-tips-to-avoid-excess-weight-gain-during-pregnancy/#comments Sat, 10 Jan 2009 07:38:58 +0000 admin http://pregnancyinfo911.com/?p=10 One of the major concerns of every mom-to-be is weight gain during pregnancy. You need to eat for two during pregnancy is a myth. The fact is you need just 300 extra calories everyday to keep you and your developing baby healthy.

    If you’re simply stuffing in food that adds to your pounds, you need to get some smart tips to avoid gaining excess weight during this time.

    Smart Tips To Avoid Weight Gain During Pregnancy

    1. Never skip meals. It makes you overeat in the next meal. Your energy levels also go down.
    2. Plan your meals so that you’re not lured by junk food or eating extra.
    3. Follow an exercise regime.
    4. Eat a healthy breakfast. Your body needs fueling up after a long night of 6-8 hours without food. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. A nutritious breakfast kick starts your morning with energy and keeps you active throughout the day. Your breakfast should consist of healthy food choices such as fruit, carrot sticks, whole grain crackers, milk, and others.
    5. Select food items that are high in fiber, but low in sugar and fat. You must know that sugary foods make you hungry after just 20-30 minutes of taking them. This is because sugar hikes insulin production. If you want to eat a high sugar snack, combine it with a healthy option such as a glass of milk. This prevents blood sugar fluctuation, which encourages deposition of fat. Fiber rich food is filling and helps in removing extra fat.
    6. It’s best to steam, bake or broil your foods. This not only retains their nutritive value, but are also keeps them devoid of extra calories that add up due to frying.
    7. When eating out, check out how your dish is prepared.
    8. When shopping for food, go on a full stomach. This way, you won’t be tempted to buy unnecessary eatables.
    9. Before attending a party, eat something. This prevents you from binging on the food there.
    10. Forget popcorn with butter or coke at the movies. Carry fresh fruit instead.
    11. Gulp down 7-8 glasses of water daily. Many times, thirst is mistaken for hunger. If your diet is balanced, yet you feel hungry, it means you’re dehydrated.
    12. Don’t eat to please the people around you. It’s a tendency for people to encourage pregnant women to gorge on food, especially that which is high in fat. They think it’d nourish the baby, but the only thing it does is increase your weight gain during pregnancy.

    Meditation During Eating!

    Do this: Switch off the TV or keep aside your book during mealtime. Take your food in the plate and sit comfortably. Take a bite. Chew it 20 times before swallowing it. Relish the taste of the food. Feel it pass through your food pipe down to your stomach. When you concentrate on the eating process, you begin to feel full from the first bite itself.

    Eat slowly and enjoy every bite you take. This is the key to a healthy weight gain during pregnancy.

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