Sunday, February 10, 2013

About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Have an Open Mind in Pregnancy

About Pregnancy & Childbirth
Pregnancy & Childbirth
Have an Open Mind in Pregnancy
Feb 10th 2013, 17:02

Pregnant Belly Question Mark

I saw a quote on Facebook today that said something like the highest form of ignorance is dismissing something you'd never tried before, paraphrasing Dr. Wayne Dyer here. That really resonated with me about when it came to childbirth. I hear so many moms, in classes, in consultations, even just in every day conversation, saying how they won't give whatever idea the time of day. The truth is they know next to nothing about it or they heard something about it from a source that is knowledgeable or isn't unbiased.

Certainly the easiest thing to talk about would be the thought of using or not using epidural anesthesia for labor. I've often said that if you're six weeks pregnant and you have never thought about any other way to give birth that with or without an epidural - you have research to do. This means going to classes, talking to other moms on both sides of the aisle and getting some basic info.  (I personally also recommend that all moms go into labor with an open mind, stating that labor might be easier or harder than you expected.)

This concept works for so many things:

What else would you add to this list of things parents should have an open mind about?

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Photo © Fotolia

Have an Open Mind in Pregnancy originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Sunday, February 10th, 2013 at 17:02:38.

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Friday, February 8, 2013

About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Easy Intervention to Lower Infection After Cesarean

About Pregnancy & Childbirth
Pregnancy & Childbirth
Easy Intervention to Lower Infection After Cesarean
Feb 8th 2013, 15:46

C-Section Born Baby

A new review shows that a simple vaginal wash just prior to cesarean birth, with something called povidone-iodine, can reduce postcesarean endometritis. This is a type of infection that happens after a cesarean birth. (There was no effect on the wound/incision or the rates of fever in mom.) The benefits were greater if the mom's water had broken prior to the cesarean.

This might seem like no big deal, but infection in the postpartum period can lead to further problems in future pregnancies.As we work towards make cesarean birth safer, this can be one of the many things that you can do to increase that safety.

What did you have in your cesarean birth plan to help plan for safety? Source:

Vaginal preparation with antiseptic solution before cesarean section for preventing postoperative infections. Haas, DM, Morgan, S, Contreras, K. 31 JAN 2013, DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007892.pub3

Photo © H. Snow

Easy Intervention to Lower Infection After Cesarean originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Friday, February 8th, 2013 at 15:46:59.

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Tuesday, February 5, 2013

About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Prince William and Kate: Due Date Announced

About Pregnancy & Childbirth
Pregnancy & Childbirth
Prince William and Kate: Due Date Announced
Feb 6th 2013, 00:00

Since Buckingham Palace confirmed that Kate Middleton was expecting her first baby, everyone has been scurrying to find out when the baby was due. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are both 30 and this will be the first child for both. Their royal baby is due in July of this year. Kate was hospitalized briefly in December for hyperemesis gravidarium, excessive nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. She is now said to be doing better.

Prince William is the grandson of Queen Elizabeth and is third in line for the throne. The couple has been the source of pregnancy rumors ever since their wedding in 2011. Now let's just hope she took my advice and told everyone that her due date was later than it actually was to avoid all the end of pregnancy drama so many women face.

Have you had trouble with people stalking you at the end of your royal pregnancy?

Kate Middleton is pregnant

Related:

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Photo © WPA Pool/Getty Images

Prince William and Kate: Due Date Announced originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Wednesday, February 6th, 2013 at 00:00:07.

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Monday, February 4, 2013

About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Look Forward to Your Period (A Little Bit)

About Pregnancy & Childbirth
Pregnancy & Childbirth
Look Forward to Your Period (A Little Bit)
Feb 4th 2013, 08:30

Juniper Subscription Box for Your Period

Look, we all have to have periods. In fact, they are helpful to those trying to conceive. That said, they aren't any fun. First of all, it means you're not pregnant and that just sucks. But then there are all the nasty symptoms that can accompany your menstrual cycle, like bloating, cramping, mood swings, etc.  And well, the bleeding.

Before this blog post gets to be a bit too depressing, I wanted to share with you something I'd never heard of before until recently: subscription boxes for your period. There are companies out there who cater to women and their monthly cycles. I've reviewed:

Each has a slightly different take on the business, but the basics are: they send you the protection that you need in the form of your chosen methods of feminine hygiene and some treats to make it tolerable.

So, if you have to have a period, and when you're extra disappointed that it showed up (a.k.a You're not pregnant this month, BFN!), these might be a bit of sunshine.

Have you tried any of these before?  Do you know of any that I missed in my reviews?

Related:

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Photo © REW

Look Forward to Your Period (A Little Bit) originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Monday, February 4th, 2013 at 08:30:34.

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Sunday, February 3, 2013

About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Study Shows Bleeding Not Connected to Cervical Shortening in Preterm Birth

About Pregnancy & Childbirth
Pregnancy & Childbirth
Study Shows Bleeding Not Connected to Cervical Shortening in Preterm Birth
Feb 3rd 2013, 10:32

Effacement of the Cervix

If you have bleeding in mid-pregnancy, preterm labor must be one of the things that you are concerned about. However, a new study says that while you're still at risk of preterm labor, one tool they can use, measuring the length of your cervix, will not be beneficial.

"Pregnancies with vaginal bleeding are at risk for preterm birth but do not appear to undergo progressive cervical shortening. This suggests that women with vaginal bleeding undergo a different mechanism leading to preterm birth." Unfortunately, we're not sure what that means.

As for cervical shortening, if you have cervical shortening, you're at a 20% increased risk of preterm birth "for each additional millimeter per week increase in cervical slope. " Your doctor or midwife will talk to you about what this means and how best to treat it.

Source:

Behrendt, N, Gibbs, RS, Lynch, A, Hart, J, West, N, & Iams, JD. (2013). Rate of Change in Cervical Length in Women With Vaginal Bleeding During Pregnancy. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 121(2), 260-264. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e31827d8e1b

Study Shows Bleeding Not Connected to Cervical Shortening in Preterm Birth originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Sunday, February 3rd, 2013 at 10:32:17.

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Saturday, February 2, 2013

About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Are Dogs the New Doula in the Delivery Room?

About Pregnancy & Childbirth
Pregnancy & Childbirth
Are Dogs the New Doula in the Delivery Room?
Feb 2nd 2013, 09:15

Pregnant Mom and Dog

There has been quite a stir about a mom in England who requested, and was allowed, to bring her certified therapy dog with her to her birth. There are reports that the staff at the hospital were "appalled."

I have to raise an eyebrow at that - I mean, I'm not really concerned with how they felt about it. If the hospital cleared it, it's all good. Remove the word dog and fill in birth ball or rice sock. How does that feel now?

I'm not advocating that everyone bring a dog in, but if the hospital yes to her request and she wanted it - why are we being so judgey?  I don't think dogs are the new doula.

Would you bring your dog? If you had a home birth and had your pets with you - how was that?

Related:

 

Photo © Fotolia

Are Dogs the New Doula in the Delivery Room? originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Saturday, February 2nd, 2013 at 09:15:23.

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Friday, February 1, 2013

About Pregnancy & Childbirth: A Cool Pregnancy Announcement

About Pregnancy & Childbirth
Pregnancy & Childbirth
A Cool Pregnancy Announcement
Feb 1st 2013, 09:35

I'm Pregnant! Mug

I was totally floored the other day as I was meandering around Etsy looking for a mug to give as a Valentine's Day gift. It was an amazing pregnancy announcement via mug. I could immediately imagine giving my husband his morning coffee and impatiently waiting for him to finish it. I could even see him spit of it out as he realized what the bottom of the mug said.

I've seen a lot of pregnancy announcements, but this one was just adorable. Certainly you'd have to plan ahead to use it, but it would totally be worth it.  You could even use it on multiple people and still have a nice keepsake to give to baby.

I'm Pregnant Mug Full

Photo © Jennifer Goff of Kungfuclay

A Cool Pregnancy Announcement originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Friday, February 1st, 2013 at 09:35:11.

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