About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Stripping the Membranes

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

Stripping the Membranes Jul 15th 2013, 09:08 Stripping the membranes that is something done at the end of pregnancy to try to lessen the chances of you going to a full 42 weeks of gestation and hopefully decreasing the risk of having an induction of labor. It is done during a vaginal exam and most women find it fairly uncomfortable to very painful. Most moms say they would be okay with the stripping of the membranes, if they were asked about it before it was done.  Though there are some practitioners who do discuss the risks and benefits of this procedure, some also fail to mention it all together until after the woman has had a painful exam with no understanding of what's being done to her cervix. So if she then has some bleeding or irregular contractions afterwards, she might not understand why and be frightened. So, as you go to your last few prenatal appointments, if your practitioner is going to do a vaginal exam, ask about stripping the membranes before you take your pants off! Have you had your membranes stripped? Did your practitioner talk to you about it before? Related: Readers Share: Having the Membranes Stripped Source: Boulvain M, Stan C, Irion O. Membrane sweeping for induction of labour. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2010, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD000451. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD000451.pub2 Photo © Mark Scott/Getty Images Stripping the Membranes originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Monday, July 15th, 2013 at 09:08:41. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Combination Fatigue and Insomnia: a Cruel Joke in Pregnancy

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

Combination Fatigue and Insomnia: a Cruel Joke in Pregnancy Jul 14th 2013, 13:30 Fatigue is one of the earliest symptoms of pregnancy. I remember waking up after a full nights sleep and only being able to stay awake for a few hours before requiring a nap. I'm not using the word requiring lightly here, it honestly felt like I was going to go mad if I didn't sleep. (And I am not a napper by any stretch of the imagination!) It was a really rough time in my early pregnancy. That went on for a few weeks and I thought that this was going to be as bad as it got.  But, being my first baby, I'd come home from work and go to bed without a problem.  That is until I was about eight weeks pregnant and I started to get insomnia on top of everything else. It was a cruel joke that I was so tired, had the time and yet could not sleep. Some nights I'd fall asleep but wake up to go to the bathroom and not get back to sleep.  Other nights I simply couldn't fall asleep.  This let up in the second trimester, but it did come back with a vengeance in the third trimester. Have you had any of this type of combo-pregnancy symptoms when it came to sleep? How did you cope? Related: Pregnancy Sleep Tips 6 Dreams Pregnant Women Have . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Join the conversation! NEWSLETTER | PINTEREST | TWITTER FACEBOOK | GOOGLE+ | CONNECT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Photo © iStockPhoto Combination Fatigue and Insomnia: a Cruel Joke in Pregnancy originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Sunday, July 14th, 2013 at 13:30:04. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Dollar Store Pregnancy Tests

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

Dollar Store Pregnancy Tests Jul 13th 2013, 18:06 I've seen this question come up a lot this week, so I thought I would weigh in.  Dollar store pregnancy tests are accurate. You simply are getting a pregnancy test without the fancy packaging. These are every bit as reliable as other basic pregnancy tests at a drastic reduction in cost. Now, what you do not get with a dollar store pregnancy test is a decent set of instructions. There is nothing to say how many drops of urine or how long to wait. Nor do you get a fancy 1-800 number staffed by a nurse to answer your pregnancy test questions. (I've got some of the answers to those questions.) I like to keep a stash of the dollar store tests because I can test easily and quickly without worrying about blowing $15 on a pregnancy test. If you've spent any time trying to conceive, it seems like breaking out a pregnancy test is a great way to bring on a late period. And, I'll admit it, I take a ton of pregnancy tests, even when they are positive. I take one daily just to help it sink in. Do you use dollar store pregnancy tests? What about their $1 ovulation kits? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Blood Pregnancy Test hCG Chart Photo © Thomas Northcut/Getty Images Dollar Store Pregnancy Tests originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Saturday, July 13th, 2013 at 18:06:12. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Healthy Pregnancy Cravings

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

Healthy Pregnancy Cravings Jul 12th 2013, 11:40 Cravings are a notorious symptom of pregnancy. You always hear about the wild cravings (pickles and ice cream) or the things that send your partner out in the middle of the night (triple mocha fudge ice cream). What's really surprising to some pregnant women is that they find they have healthy cravings just as often as they have cravings for wild pairings or unhealthy items. In the first trimester, I usually craved really fresh fruit. Now, I certain fruits I preferred, like mangoes and bananas, but it was still a lot better than craving cookies. When I ask moms what they crave, healthy items often make the list. One mom talked about her obsession with raw broccoli and another liked fresh peanut butter on whole grain bread. Did you have any cravings that fell into the healthy category? What did you crave (even if it wasn't in the healthy category)? 6 Things You Can Do About Cravings in Pregnancy Some Women Crave Pickles... Harmful Cravings in Pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Join the conversation! NEWSLETTER | PINTEREST | TWITTER FACEBOOK | GOOGLE+ | CONNECT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Photo © Noe Montes/Getty Images Healthy Pregnancy Cravings originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Friday, July 12th, 2013 at 11:40:09. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Doulas Don't Replace Childbirth Class

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

Doulas Don't Replace Childbirth Class Jul 11th 2013, 09:09 The fun and often hilarious Kristen Chase wrote an article entitled Birthing Classes Are a Big Waste of Time. This was a provocative title to be sure and intentionally so, but I took the bait and read her article. In may ways her title doesn't match her thesis. She apparently did learn something in her classes, but had wished she had spent more time preparing for the what comes after labor part. I completely agree, but consider a couple of things. They are called childbirth classes. So from the name, I'd expect them to be about - childbirth. These aren't parenting classes. They aren't breastfeeding classes. (Although many classes will at least touch on the basics and tell you where to get the other stuff. It might even be an extension of the class you're already in!) Hire a Doula, Hold the Class? Her suggestion is that you should: "Hire a doula if you want a natural child birth." I agree that if you want a natural birth you should hire a doula. (Also if you'd like support for a medicated birth or even if you're having a planned c-section or simply don't know what you want.) But the bigger issue here is that a doula's job is not synonymous with that of a childbirth educator. That's why they are two different trainings and certifications. Certainly some doulas are also childbirth educators, but not all. You can't take a class in labor. As a doula, I learned a long time ago that my clients have to meet me half way. They have to know about the process of birth coming in to the game. Sure, I spend time with them prenatally, but it's not the time you'd get in a class that meets multiple times for several weeks. I need to hear about what you want to do with the information you've gathered. You just learned ten comfort measures, which ones appeal to you most? How do you feel about pain medication? What do you see is my role in your birth? Once you're in labor, I don't have time to explain to you your options on positions, we've got to be ready to go with the flow of labor, not try to stop for a lesson. In fact, I have, for years, had it in my contract that someone who hires me as a doula, will take a separate childbirth class. I feel that strongly that it is not the level of education that I can provide and be a doula simultaneously. Focus on both before and after. Now certainly I do recommend that you focus on what comes after the birth. I try to help you have reasonable plans to meet your family's goals. That might include good breastfeeding classes and care, a baby class, a parenting group and lots of other things. So I'm calling for some reason here. Let's not throw the proverbial baby (childbirth classes) out with the bathwater because some parenting classes were forgotten. A good doula, like a chef, isn't going to let you forget any of the key ingredients in a good experience. Your thoughts? Photo © Aprils Grapevine Photography Doulas Don't Replace Childbirth Class originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Thursday, July 11th, 2013 at 09:09:05. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Ode to a Tennis Ball in Labor

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

Ode to a Tennis Ball in Labor Jul 10th 2013, 08:59 As a doula, I've had my fair share of tools that I can use in labor to help make a mom more comfortable.  The truth is, there is one labor support tool that has stood the test of time  - the tennis ball. I know, it's simple. It's iconic with it's yellow, fuzzy skin. It's amazingly helpful. It's easy to use and feels good to those in pain. So, do you want to know the secrets to using this inexpensive wonder tool? Here you go: 7 Ways to Use a Tennis Ball in Labor Need some more ideas for ways to relieve pain in labor? Birth Ball Relaxation Breathing Water IV Medications Epidural Anesthesia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Join the conversation! NEWSLETTER | PINTEREST | TWITTER FACEBOOK | GOOGLE+ | CONNECT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Photo © fotopak - Fotolia.com Ode to a Tennis Ball in Labor originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Wednesday, July 10th, 2013 at 08:59:47. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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About Pregnancy & Childbirth: The Trouble With Taking Time Off Before Baby

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About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

The Trouble With Taking Time Off Before Baby Jul 9th 2013, 10:04 I have a lot of moms who talk to me about taking time off before the baby is born. They have a lot of questions about whether or not I would recommend it.  There are actually a couple of things that you need to think about before making that decision.  The first is your maternity leave. Do you have maternity leave that is limited? Is it paid?  Are you planning to take six weeks off or twelve weeks off before returning to your job? This matters because, let's say you took off at week 39 and didn't have the baby until week 42, you've now used three weeks of your leave up and the baby isn't even here yet. The other thing to think about is your job. Are you fairly comfortable? Is your job physically easy for you to do? How are you hanging mentally?  If you're taking off simply because you think you should and not because you're physically or mentally exhausted by your job, I'd recommend staying as long as you can. Even if you consider doing it, before you do that, ask if you can have shorter hours, flexible days, longer lunch break (read nap time!) or any other variation to your schedule. The problems I see most often are women who feel a lot of pressure to have the baby simply because they've stopped working. That feels awful. What's your take? When did you take off for baby? Returning from Maternity Leave Taking Time Off Before Baby   Photo © E Dygas/Getty Images The Trouble With Taking Time Off Before Baby originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Tuesday, July 9th, 2013 at 10:04:38. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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