About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Fake Positive Pregnancy Test is Not Funny

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

Fake Positive Pregnancy Test is Not Funny Apr 1st 2013, 00:30 It's April Fool's Day again and no doubt you've already started seeing the jokes flying.  One joke that makes its way around every year is the fake positive pregnancy test or false pregnancy announcement.  Now, I found out that my first baby was coming on April Fool's Day many years ago, I have even told that story before.  I hadn't really thought too much about the false announcements until the other night when a Twitter friend wrote that we should brace ourselves for these announcements today. All of a sudden it hit me, these announcements aren't funny.  They can be very hurtful to moms suffering from miscarriages or infertility.  Women were bracing themselves for a series of unfunny jokes.  So, if you're considering a false announcement, don't do it on Facebook for the world to see today.  Your joke might do worse than fall flat, it might really hurt someone's feelings. Have you seen these false announcements?  What are your thoughts? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Join the conversation! NEWSLETTER | PINTEREST | TWITTER FACEBOOK | GOOGLE+ | CONNECT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Photo © Dreamstime Fake Positive Pregnancy Test is Not Funny originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Monday, April 1st, 2013 at 00:30:25. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Happy Easter!

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

Happy Easter! Mar 31st 2013, 06:23 Happy Easter today to those who celebrate. When I saw the adorable photo above, I couldn't help but smile.  The site of the adorable baby chewing on the Easter basket filled with eggs is enough to make most curmudgeons smile. The egg has been a long time symbol of fertility. WIth spring being a season of rebirth overall, it's fitting to stop and mention this fact. One thing I always think about is that even though the moms who will give birth when the birth rates peak, August and September, found out months ago that they were expecting, they've been inside for the winter. As their bellies start to bloom and the sun starts to shine, spring always seems like there are pregnant women everywhere. Have you noticed this too? Even if you're not someone who has been pregnant awhile. you can still celebrate.  I even have some ideas for sharing your pregnancy news today - maybe you just got the Big Fat Positive (BFP) while I was typing this post!  Or maybe you're further down the road and giving birth today and need an Easter inspired baby name. Enjoy this beautiful season of spring, no matter what stage you're in. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Join the conversation! NEWSLETTER | PINTEREST | TWITTER FACEBOOK | GOOGLE+ | CONNECT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Photo © Dreamstime Happy Easter! originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Sunday, March 31st, 2013 at 06:23:35. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Stress and Stillbirth

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

Stress and Stillbirth Mar 29th 2013, 17:06 Every year about 1 in 167 pregnancies will end in the stillbirth of the baby. That means that after the 20th week of pregnancy, the baby dies before birth. A new study was done to see if stress in pregnancy contributed to the rates of stillbirth.  Using a CDC questionnaire from Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), over 2,000 mothers who had experienced a stillbirth were asks about stress risk factors. These included things like abuse, financial situation, etc. Having two of these events increased the stillbirth rate by 40% and if a mother had more than 2.5 times the risk of stillbirth.  Don't panic. This doesn't show the cause and effect relationship, so at this point we can't really say any more about it than there appears to be a connection, but we don't know what that means. I would also encourage you to look at the questionnaire. Figure out what you can do to decrease the amount of stress in your life. And remember, all stress is not the same. If you feel that you are at a greater risk, talk to your midwife or doctor about this issue during your prenatal appointments. They may have some helpful advice. Source: Hogue, Carol J. R., Parker, Corette B., Willinger, Marian, Temple, Jeff R., Bann, Carla M., Silver, Robert M., . . . Group, Human Development Stillbirth Collaborative Research Network Writing. (2013). A Population-based Case-Control Study of Stillbirth: The Relationship of Significant Life Events to the Racial Disparity for African Americans. American Journal of Epidemiology. doi: 10.1093/aje/kws381   Photo © Dreamstime Stress and Stillbirth originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Friday, March 29th, 2013 at 17:06:22. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Readers' Choice Award Winners 2013

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

Readers' Choice Award Winners 2013 Mar 27th 2013, 08:51 I am so excited to announce the winners of the Readers' Choice Awards this year, you can find them here: 2013 Readers' Choice Award Winners Thanks for hanging in for this long but fun process. We will see you again next year for 2014! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Join the conversation! NEWSLETTER | PINTEREST | TWITTER FACEBOOK | GOOGLE+ | CONNECT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Readers' Choice Award Winners 2013 originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Wednesday, March 27th, 2013 at 08:51:56. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Easing Back Into Postpartum

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

Easing Back Into Postpartum Mar 26th 2013, 09:56 Pregnancy is nine very long months - if you ask someone in the first or second trimester. But by the time you have made it to the third trimester, you're perhaps wondering if maybe you didn't need a bit more time to prepare, even when you're physically over being pregnant. That said, postpartum is much the same. Before a baby, it can be easy enough to think of it as a six week vacation. The truth is that postpartum really is about easing back into life as well as physically recovering from your birth. A sad fact of life is that many moms don't give themselves this time to really recover - they are in a hurry to get back to the real world and don't take the time they need to truly recover. Remember, you're doing all of the above on limited sleep! So here are a few ways to ease back into the real world and maximize your postpartum time, including my appendectomy rule. What would you add? Related: 4 Ways to Ease Back Into Life After Postpartum What is a baby moon? Postpartum Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Join the conversation! NEWSLETTER | PINTEREST | TWITTER FACEBOOK | GOOGLE+ | CONNECT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Photo © April's Grape Vine Photography Easing Back Into Postpartum originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Tuesday, March 26th, 2013 at 09:56:51. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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About Pregnancy & Childbirth: When NOT to Exercise in Pregnancy

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

When NOT to Exercise in Pregnancy Mar 24th 2013, 14:23 I know that I spend a lot of time talking to you about how to have a healthy pregnancy. This might mean that sometimes you have to back off of something that might be healthy for other individuals. While the many pregnant women don't get enough exercise, there are a number of women who need to avoid some, if not all, forms of exercise in pregnancy. The problem is that many of them may not even know it. One day I had a conversation with a woman who was married to an OB/GYN. She told me that in her second pregnancy, her doctor (not her husband) had told her that she shouldn't "play tag." She told me that she now feels foolish for not understanding that he meant cut the fitness routines out. She thought he meant tag. Her husband took it to mean no sex. What's a mom to do? Ask questions. Talk to your midwife or doctor specifically about exercise. What should you be doing, how often and what signs say you should stop. Did your practitioner bring this up in your prenatal appointments? Related: 9 Reasons Not to Exercise in Pregnancy 7 Reasons Not to Exercise Postpartum Photo © Istockphoto When NOT to Exercise in Pregnancy originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Sunday, March 24th, 2013 at 14:23:34. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Does your belly get in the way?

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

Does your belly get in the way? Mar 21st 2013, 09:28 Having a big bump for a pregnant belly sounds like it will be a lot of fun. One of the most frequent questions I get is: "When will I show?" Having a big round belly, preferably without stretch marks, is something most pregnant women look forward to getting. It's fun, until it's not. Now I'm not complaining terribly, but having a big belly certainly gets in the way. There is the whole spilling your food all over your belly. Serious, when I am pregnant, I think I should use a bib with all the food that I drop down my shirt. (After the baby is born, I usually spill food on the baby!) I've also been known to bump my belly into things, not realizing how big I was. So in what crazy ways has your belly gotten in the way or been annoying? Related: When will my belly show in pregnancy? Photo © Steven Errico/Getty Images Does your belly get in the way? originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Thursday, March 21st, 2013 at 09:28:04. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Signs You're Miscarrying

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

Signs You're Miscarrying Mar 20th 2013, 12:15 When you're early in pregnancy, every twinge can send you panicking to the bathroom to check for blood. Spotting or bleeding are the signs that most people know to look for as a symptom of miscarriage. The problem is that there can be other signs or even no signs. This can make it difficult to tell when something is wrong with your pregnancy. Sometimes cramping or low backache can be a sign that you're miscarrying. This is to be thought of like contractions. Though sometimes cramping and backache aren't signs of anything other than cramping and backache. This can be terribly confusing. So the trick is to put it out of your mind as long as possible. I remember telling one OB that I wished I could sleep the entire first trimester away. She told me that was silly, but I'm not sure she understood how frightening every twinge was for me. In the end, I wound up trying to remember that I had no control over it. I couldn't wish away the symptoms, I couldn't prevent a miscarriage. And for the most part that's true of every pregnant woman. So while we can't stop the worry or the twinges, we can choose how we respond to it.  That response can be trying to calm yourself down or seeking the advice of your midwife or doctor to help calm yourself. What worked for you? Related: Signs of Miscarriage What to do if you're having a miscarriage... One Man, One Miscarriage: A Man's Story of Miscarriage Gifts for Pregnancy Loss, Miscarriage and Stillbirth Remembering Baby Pregnancy Loss "We're Pregnant!": Can we share the title? Miscarriage Guide Photo © Dreamstime Signs You're Miscarrying originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Wednesday, March 20th, 2013 at 12:15:39. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Taking Your Fertility for Granted

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

Taking Your Fertility for Granted Mar 17th 2013, 13:23 I spend a lot of time talking to women about their fertility.  Many times women who want to talk about their fertility are coming to me after many months of trying to conceive.  They are concerned about their ability to get pregnant.  Thankfully the majority of these women simply need to make some minor modifications like better timing for sex, figuring out when they ovulate, etc.  Many women just need more time. The lack of patience with our fertility is something that is frustrating for everyone.  I think it largely comes from being told all our lives that, when we didn't want to be pregnant, it would only take "once" to get pregnant.  While that is true, the proverbial once is the statistical anomaly. But it lulls us into a false sense of security about our fertility.  That "one time" fallacy is waiting for us when we're ready to conceive.  This leads us to panic when we've had sex way more than one time and we still aren't pregnant. So what can you do to not take your fertility for granted? Chart your periods Know when you ovulate Ask questions of your practitioner during routine exams Have a preconceptional health appointment Know your medical history Know your family history Get help if you think you have a problem Talk with your partner openly Be honest with your practitioner All of this is designed to protect your fertility and to help you identify problems early on.  This is one of the best ways to not take your fertility for granted. Related: 5 Signs You're Ovulating Before You See the Fertility Doctor How long does it take to get pregnant? Infertility Guide Conception Quiz 25 Signs of Pregnancy Pregnancy Announcements Ovulation Primer Can I get pregnant if... Photo © Shutterstock Taking Your Fertility for Granted originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Sunday, March 17th, 2013 at 13:23:34. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Avoiding Being Anxious About Labor: A Partner's Guide

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

Avoiding Being Anxious About Labor: A Partner's Guide Mar 16th 2013, 11:05 Having a worry about birth is fairly normal. Nick Cannon talked about his fear before the birth of his twin with wife, Mariah Carey.  Though it's not something that just celebrity dads suffer from - nearly everyone has some sort of anxiety about birth.  But this really got me thinking about birth and what we could do to help partners cope better in the delivery room.   Did your partner have concerns? What helped? Related: 10 Things to Help Dad Cope in Labor Concerns Partners Have About Labor Dad's Guide to Childbirth 5 Reasons Dads Should Demand a Doula Should dad be in the delivery room? 5 Ways to Make Dads More Comfortable at Birth Photo © Mel Curtis/Getty Images Avoiding Being Anxious About Labor: A Partner's Guide originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Saturday, March 16th, 2013 at 11:05:06. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Last Few Days to Vote for Readers' Choice Awards

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

Last Few Days to Vote for Readers' Choice Awards Mar 15th 2013, 17:10 Don't forget to vote in the Readers' Choice Awards. This weekend is your last few days to vote as the polls close early next week. Then we'll tabulate all the votes and announce the winners. Are you as excited as I am? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Join the conversation! NEWSLETTER | PINTEREST | TWITTER FACEBOOK | GOOGLE+ | CONNECT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Last Few Days to Vote for Readers' Choice Awards originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Friday, March 15th, 2013 at 17:10:38. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Fifth Disease and Pregnancy

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

Fifth Disease and Pregnancy Mar 14th 2013, 11:57 Fifth Disease is something that is contagious and that can be serious for pregnant women.  Those at greatest risk include moms who have older children or who have jobs working with children, like day care workers, teachers, etc. The good news is that the vast majority of women may already be immune to Fifth Disease. Have you had a scare with Fifth Disease? Related: Fifth Disease in Pregnancy Reader Share: Have you had Fifth Disease in Pregnancy? Pregnancy: The Second Time Around Photo © Dreamstime Fifth Disease and Pregnancy originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Thursday, March 14th, 2013 at 11:57:46. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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About Pregnancy & Childbirth: St. Patrick's Day Baby Names - Irish Baby Names

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

St. Patrick's Day Baby Names - Irish Baby Names Mar 13th 2013, 08:50 So you're due any day and you realized that St. Patrick's Day is around the corner. Are you going to choose a St. Patrick's Day inspired baby name? It might surprise you that many people actually do choose names for their baby based on what happens near the time or birth or even the conception, so why not choose a holiday inspired baby name? If that's not the naming tradition you use, tell me a bit about how you choose a name. I find it so interesting. I know so many people who pick names out way in advance and yet our last baby took three weeks to get named... Then again, I know that there are others out there who take a really long time to name their babies. I was just reading somewhere the other day about people who change their baby's name after birth and that number was rising. I wonder if people took more time or if they didn't name before birth if that number would drop. Most places don't require you have a name before you leave the hospital, though it's easier on them paperwork wise. Related: Irish Baby Names Baby Naming Advice Baby Name Hints Baby Name Books Baby Names Forum PR: wait... I: wait... L: wait... LD: wait... I: wait... wait... Rank: wait... Traffic: wait... Price: wait... C: wait... St. Patrick's Day Baby Names - Irish Baby Names originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Wednesday, March 13th, 2013 at 08:50:00. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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About Pregnancy & Childbirth: What do your baby's kicks say?

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

What do your baby's kicks say? Mar 12th 2013, 09:32 Have you ever wondered what your baby's kicks meant about your baby's personality?  Lots of moms and dads try to establish some kind of meaning to the kicks, rolls and punches of baby. Do the frequency of the kicks or type of kicks have any meaning? Related: Things You Think You Know From Baby's Kicks Baby Personality Kick Quiz Can you tell baby's personality from kicks? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Join the conversation! NEWSLETTER | PINTEREST | TWITTER FACEBOOK | GOOGLE+ | CONNECT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Photo © Fotolia What do your baby's kicks say? originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Tuesday, March 12th, 2013 at 09:32:55. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Easter Pregnancy Announcement

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

Easter Pregnancy Announcement Mar 11th 2013, 21:41 Telling your family that there is a baby on the way is fun and a bit nerve wrecking. Whether it is a real surprise or almost expected, people will remember it forever. Trying to find a neat way to tell your family that you're pregnant? Well here are some ideas from others who found out on Easter: Easter Idea #1 Easter Idea #2 There are also some ideas for baby shower games that use Easter ideas or products. Related: Easter Baby Names Easter Themed Baby Showers Easter Egg Nursery Hunt Easter Egg Baby Wishes When to Share a Pregnancy Announcement More Pregnancy Announcement Stories Photo © iStockPhoto Easter Pregnancy Announcement originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Monday, March 11th, 2013 at 21:41:30. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Cesarean Rates Vary Widely - Choose Wisely

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

Cesarean Rates Vary Widely - Choose Wisely Mar 7th 2013, 09:15 A new study out in Health Affairs shows that cesarean rates vary widely depending on the hospital. Some hospitals have cesarean section rates as low as 2% while others are as high as about 70%. This wide of a range is due to how doctors practice as opposed to what women need. Currently the cesarean is the number one surgical procedure done in the United States. About one in three babies is born this way. The reason that this is of concern is because of the added risk to babies, moms and future pregnancies. I'd also be lying if I didn't say that insurers, including Medicaid, are concerned because of the added costs in this and future pregnancies. My take home message for you is that your choice of provider and place of birth is critical in terms of what your risk of surgery really is in labor. While you might think it's more about your medical history or choices you make in labor, ultimately the choice of where and with whom to have your baby is primary prevention when it comes to cesarean section rates. How did you pick your provider? Related: 5 Ways to Avoid a C-Section Switching OBs in Pregnancy Cesarean Section: Step by Step Cesarean Scar Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Join the conversation! NEWSLETTER | PINTEREST | TWITTER FACEBOOK | GOOGLE+ | CONNECT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Source: Kozhimannil, Katy Backes, Law, Michael R., & Virnig, Beth A. (2013). Cesarean Delivery Rates Vary Tenfold Among US Hospitals; Reducing Variation May Address Quality And Cost Issues. Health Affairs, 32(3), 527-535. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2012.1030     Photo © Rigg Cesarean Rates Vary Widely - Choose Wisely originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Thursday, March 7th, 2013 at 09:15:34. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Feet Grow a Size in Pregnancy

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

Feet Grow a Size in Pregnancy Mar 6th 2013, 23:14 If you've heard me talk recently about my shoes, it's about how my feet have grown about half a size since my last pregnancy. Now I'd heard the old wives tale that your feet can grow while you're pregnant, but after seven kids, I hadn't found this to be true. But man, if that last kid didn't get me! Now we have proof that pregnancy does alter your foot size, by as much as a whole size. In addition to this, the scholarly article also talks about supporting the foot in general in pregnancy as the best thing for mom and her tired, aching feet. How do your feet feel in pregnancy? Related: Swollen Feet in Pregnancy Video What can I do with my rings if my fingers swell in pregnancy?   Source: Segal, Neil A., Boyer, Elizabeth R., Teran-Yengle, Patricia, Glass, Natalie A., Hillstrom, Howard J., & Yack, H. John. (2013). Pregnancy Leads to Lasting Changes in Foot Structure. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 92(3), 232-240 210.1097/PHM.1090b1013e31827443a31827449. Photo © Fotolia Feet Grow a Size in Pregnancy originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Wednesday, March 6th, 2013 at 23:14:02. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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