Monday, June 28, 2010

Pregnancy Tips For Single Moms

Being pregnant and single can be a scary experience for most women. The very thought of facing different issues alone can send a chill down their spine. However, the joy of giving birth to a new life can give any mother the drive to overcome any difficulty.

If you are single and pregnant, there is no need to worry about anything. Single motherhood can face extra challenges, but it doesn’t have to be as scary as it sounds. There are ways to make those whole nine months a real and exciting time.

Include people close to you: Pregnancy is a big decision that can cause concern and confusion not only to you, but to people close to you. Include them during your pregnancy and it does help when you get support and help from your loved ones.

When you need help, just ask: It is normal for any expectant woman to need help at any time. Being independent is good and of course you can tackle any problem, but if the task is too big for you, don’t feel hesitant to seek help from others.

Read and be informed: The future is blank and that’s the scariest part of being a single mom. Make sure you get full information about the whole process of giving birth, the pains you may expect and how to ease pregnancy discomforts. With all this information, you will be prepared when the time comes.

Maintain your health: Maintaining health as a single pregnant woman can be daunting, but don’t forget to follow a healthy diet that is full of nutrition during pregnancy. Your baby is developing and if your diet isn’t healthy, you and your baby may suffer from nutrient deficiency. A healthy diet is vital, but also remembers to include prenatal vitamins along with it. A prenatal multivitamin makes sure you get the necessary vitamins and minerals for the health of you and your baby.

Join a support group: You must have known that you are not the only single expectant woman in this world. There are millions of women like you who are facing pregnancy alone. Joining these groups or forums can help you share some important tips, valuable information and encouragement.

Remember, being single and pregnant doesn’t have to be complicated or difficult. You can follow the above guidelines and enjoy a happy and healthy pregnancy. Good luck!

Do You Want to Keep Working During Pregnancy?

Expectant mothers become more sensitive and tender during pregnancy. At all times, the existence of the child inside their body makes them more careful and hopeful. But when it comes to working mothers, it is very important to schedule everything.

Many women prefer not to work during pregnancy, mainly due to fear of complications occurring. However, working while you are pregnant isn't all that harmful, depending on the type of job you are doing. If the mother is exposed to heavy work like lifting heavy objects, exposed to hazardous materials, or is made to stand for a long time, it might harm her and her baby. In that case, she needs to stop working. But if the working environment is good where the mother can expect something that she needs for the development of her to-be-born baby, her health and mental pleasure or where she will not have to face any hazard, then she can comfortably keep working right until the onset of labor.

Expectant mothers having no medical reason can continue working safely during pregnancy. Women who have high risk in pregnancy should only be involved in light activities. Remember that for a protective and healthy delivery, being active and alert throughout the pregnancy is a must. Still, it is very important to first consult with a doctor. Only a health care provider can tell you exactly what to do and what not to do.

Nowadays, there are powerful and highly effective prenatal vitamins available in the market, which help to reduce the risk of pregnancy and ensure the safety of the mother. As far as the dosage is concerned when it comes to taking prenatal vitamins, supplements, pills, and nutrients, every woman must first consult with her doctor.

If an expectant mother begins to take the prenatal without knowing what her body lacks, then there are chances of her experiencing opposite effects and suffering from imbalanced iron, folic acids, and other nutrients in her body.

So, keep working during pregnancy. But do so only after consulting with a doctor.

Morning Sickness! What to Eat to reduce the Discomfort?

Studies have shown that morning sickness during pregnancy is strangely nature’s way of taking care of and protecting the mother from illnesses and the unborn baby from toxins. During pregnancy, most women complain of finding certain food types obnoxious. Studies have shown that these food varieties generally contain harmful chemicals! Nature really has a strange way of taking care of its children!

A bland diet is always recommended or a diet that is high in carbohydrate and protein. Low fat diets are recommended. Salt and vinegar chips have proven in the past to ease the effects of morning sickness during pregnancy since it dries up excessive saliva, which was originally thought to cause nausea. However, according to various experts in the field, there are several other diets and food varieties that can help reduce the effects of pregnancy morning sickness. These include:

• Ginger ale, pretzels, chicken broths, frozen desserts or gelatin based desserts.
• Green apples, natural yogurt, whole wheat bread, rice cakes, etc.
• Chamomile tea or herbal teas.
• Foods that are high in carbohydrates can be helpful like white rice, bread, pasta, noodles, mashed potatoes, etc.
• Seafood, eggs, nuts, beans

Chewing a mild mint flavored gum in between your meals is an excellent choice. It is important to have many small meals throughout the day to ensure that your stomach is never empty. An empty stomach will always lead to nausea. Avoid fatty foods since it takes longer for these food types to digest. Rich or spicy food can cause heartburn and irritate your stomach – stay away from these. Almonds are said to be extremely beneficial during pregnancy, so keep chomping on these nutty wonders. Lastly, a protein shake mixed with soy milk is a very good choice.

Speak to your health care provider and find out more ways to get rid off the discomforts of morning sickness. Or, you could just follow these tips and glide through an easy pregnancy!

Prenatal Care For Both Mother and The Baby!

Prenatal care or medical care recommended for expectant mothers before and at the time of pregnancy has been around for centuries. The main aim of prenatal care is to find out problems early on in the pregnancy and to prevent them if possible through exercise, nutrition and vitamin intake. It also includes directing the mother to the appropriate hospital or doctor, if required.

Prenatal care is essential because it plays a significant role in reducing miscarriages and maternal death rates, as well as detecting birth defects, low or high birth weight, and other preventable problems. Usually, a pregnant woman will go for monthly visits to the doctor during the first trimester, followed by two visits a month from weeks 28 to 36 and then weekly from 38 to 40 weeks, or till the delivery.

During these prenatal visits, the expectant mother will be asked to provide her medical history to the health care provider, who will check her blood pressure, record her weight and height, will perform a pelvic examination, collect the urine and blood samples, etc. The mother can ask any questions she may want to ask about her pregnancy and the unborn baby or about the delivery.

Sonograms or ultrasounds are the methods that have been used for years. These are considered safe and are used to monitor stages of pregnancy. They are performed during the second and third trimesters. Ultrasounds can be used to determine the sex of an unborn child (though in some countries it is considered illegal), to check for more than one fetus, and also assess any risks to the mother like a low-lying placenta, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy or molar pregnancy. They can also be used to determine any kind of problems in the unborn child, such as spina bifida or clubfoot. Also, the developmental progress found during an ultrasound is helpful in determining the due date of the baby.

Just like prenatal vitamins, prenatal care is very important for both mother and child. Expectant parents can also attend prenatal classes. These classes prepare them for the labor and birth process. Prenatal classes teach pregnant women the right kind of relaxation techniques that can be used during labor. So, if in the near future you are planning to increase you family, then ensure to get the best prenatal care.