You will be working very hard to have this baby, working up a sweat and then some. So, one essential is your own soaps, shampoos, and lotions. It is true that the hospital will supply you with these, but using your own will make you feel more comfortable and more like yourself. Don’t forget to bring your own toothpaste and toothbrush too. There’s nothing like a good tooth brushing to give you the lift you may need.

Another item that was not in my bag the first time was my pillow. The hospital beds do have pillows on them, but if you normally take your pillow to a hotel, then make sure you take it to the hospital. You want yourself to be comfortable and to feel as at home as possible. Also, those found at the hospital are not usually the most comfortable pillows on the earth.

Your favorite fuzzy socks and/or slippers are a must have. Keep your toes warm in style while feeling the most at home as possible. Now if you forget these, you can always use those non-skid socks the hospital staff can provide, although they are not as comfortable or as stylish as your own.

During the long, exhausting process of labor, you will undoubtedly become dry, and somewhat dehydrated. You won’t be allowed to drink much during labor and so your lips will become very dry. Bring your favorite lip balm with you to keep your lips as moist as possible during the process.

The next one should be very high on your list, as the hospital will provide you will some interesting replacements if you do not have your own. Underwear, the ones you wore during your pregnancy, will be very useful. Pack a few pairs as you will be very grateful for them. The ones from the hospital are often either a paper version or an odd netting type. Take it from me and bring plenty of your own for a more comfortable stay.

Depending on the hospital will depend on whether you need the next essential or not. Pack a variety of non-perishable snacks and drinks for your husband and for you after giving birth. The hospital I gave birth in had a kitchen for the patients and their significant others, filled with drinks and healthy snacks. This was great as I labored through the night with both of my children and my husband was very grateful to just walk down the hall for a snack and not have to move to a different floor. But if you hospital does not offer this luxury, do pack some of your own for everyone’s sake.

Something to pass the time with, like some magazines or a MP3 player with your favorite songs loaded. Remember, you will not want anything that takes lots of brain power, as that will be in full use already. Some hospitals have a cd player in the room, and you can bring cd’s in to listen to. Your own personal MP3 player or such is another great option.

Pack your nursing bra. This will be useful soon after birth and make the ride home more comfortable. You will learn how to use it in a situation where there are people that can teach you some simple basics about them.

Don’t forget your CAMERA! If it is not digital, then make sure you pack plenty of film. If you are worried that you will forget it, throw in a disposable one to be sure you can capture those precious moments before, during and after birth.

Of course make sure to pack a variety of clothes for yourself and for your husband. You may be there for a few days or longer depending upon what happens during the birth.  Also, be sure to pack a few sizes of infant outfits as your child may be bigger or smaller than you think.  Pack a baby blanket (or two depending upon the season) and of course the baby car seat.

I wish the best of luck packing your “bag” for the trip to maternity ward.

Number 10:

If you are a feline lover, you probably own at least 1 cat.  Being pregnant means you will not have to do the dirty job of cleaning out the cat litter box for at least nine months.  Since being pregnant the first time, 10 years ago, I clean out the litter box very seldom!  This perk can be long lasting if you let it be.

Number 9:

When out shopping, people will generally offer to carry your bags for you.  Your significant other will even offer to carry the laundry up and down the stairs.

Number 8:

Sandals and slip on shoes are the only way to go.  Comfort 100% of the time!  If you decide to wear some that tie, feel free to ask anyone to tie them for you, as  they surely will.

Number 7:

Why bother shaving your legs, you can’t see them past your belly!  Why not take advantage of this and take a breathier from shaving.

Number 6:

Have that “gotta go, gotta go, gotta go right now” feeling but don’t see a sign for a public restroom.  Just ask!  Most places will let you use theirs as they understand you needs.

Number 5:

No need to suck it in!  Let that stomach hang out there, it’ll never be this cute just hanging lose, so enjoy it while you can!

Number 4:

When you go out to dinner, truly order your heart’s desire.  There is no need to have just a salad, or to keep it light, order your favorite indulgence (unless you go out to dinner every night) and truly enjoy the experience.  If this is your first child, enjoy the quiet, peaceful dinner experience, as things will change soon enough.

Number 3:

No more DIETING!  That’s right, eating healthy is still the best bet, but that does not mean you cannot have dessert too!  If you want seconds there is probably a reason, make sure you are eating enough to keep that growing baby satisfied.

Number 2:

Were you always jealous of the girl that was voluminous? Spilling out of her bra in just the right way?  Well, there is no need to be jealous anymore!  Pregnancy is nature’s way of giving a breast enlargement.  You can enjoy them while you have them.

The NUMBER 1 perk of being pregnant is: you end up with a BABY!

I want to remind you to try and enjoy your pregnancy as there is nothing like have a baby growing inside of you.  My “baby” is now six, and I still will close my eyes at times and remember when he was growing inside me.  A time I do not want to forget, but rather cherish with all my heart.  One way to help you remember these times is with a journal.  Journal your thoughts and emotions, how your felt, talk about your doctor’s visits, record everything so you and your child can look back at this magical time.

A missed period is often the first clue that a woman might be pregnant. Sometimes, a woman might suspect she is pregnant even sooner. Symptoms such as headache, fatigue, and breast tenderness, can occur even before a missed period. The wait to know can be emotional. These days, many women first use home pregnancy tests (HPT) to find out. Your doctor also can test you.

All pregnancy tests work by detecting a special hormone in the urine or blood that is only there when a woman is pregnant. It is called human chorionic gonadotropin (kohr-ee-ON-ihk goh-NAD-uh-TROH-puhn), or hCG. hCG is made when a fertilized egg implants in the uterus. hCG rapidly builds up in your body with each passing day you are pregnant. Read on to learn when and how to test for pregnancy.

Home Pregnancy Tests

HPTs are inexpensive, private, and easy to use. Most drugstores sell HPTs over the counter. The cost depends on the brand and how many tests come in the box. They work by detecting hCG in your urine. HPTs are highly accurate. But their accuracy depends on many things. These include:

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Everything is going just fine until you are stricken with the idea … it’s a food, something you don’t normally eat, but you just have to have it. Or do you? Pregnancy cravings are very strong, even overwhelming cravings for a certain food or foods. When the craving strikes, do you really need to give in?

In the movies, if you are pregnant, you grab a tub of ice cream and a pickle spear and go to town to satisfy your cravings without compromising your health or figure. In the real world, it’s unlikely that indulging in cravings like that will leave you with a defined waistline, let alone a healthy pregnancy. Naturally, you want to give your child the best start possible and want to eat the most nutritious foods. But when your hormones conspire to take over your eating habits, can you resist?

Practice makes perfect

Some say that resisting cravings is just a matter of exercising self-control and restraint.

When Jessica Senkyr-Robinette, who pens andshelivedhappily.com, was pregnant with her first child, the long-time vegetarian had a craving that seemed unlikely to her: meat. She managed to resist the urge to indulge throughout her pregnancy. “I stopped eating meat at the age of 12 but there were some things that I liked that were pretty hard to resist so I was pretty used to resisting it by the time I got pregnant,” says Jessica.

The power of suggestion

Some moms are lucky enough to not really experience cravings. That was the case with Rosalie Rung, except for one time when she saw an episode of Friends that featured a meatball sub. “Honestly, I didn’t have too many specific cravings aside from the meatball sub ‘incident’. But when that one kicked in, I didn’t feel like indulging immediately b/c (A) was very late at night and (B) not a ‘healthy’ food or even one I generally ate much of. So I just kind of blew it off, mentally, but it kept coming back,” says Rosalie.

She resisted for as long as she could, but the urge kept coming back. Determined not to give in, Rosalie did indulge … but in a slightly different food. ” I used to love [meatball subs] as a kid, and haven’t had one in at least that long. I tried to resist, but couldn’t get it out my mind, so settled on a close second: an enormous chicken parm hero….and it was delicious,” Rosalie saidx

source

Green your pregnancy

What steps should you take to have a healthy, non-toxic pregnancy? For some pregnant moms, taking steps to live a more environmentally friendly life is a natural step when expecting. So, how can you green your pregnant life?

When you are just you, with no one else to worry about, it can be easy to just grab the popular, mainstream brands of products that you’ve always seen and used. But when you decide to have a baby, suddenly you can become hyper – aware of all the potential for harsh chemicals around you.

That’s what happened to Colleen Levine of FoodieTots.com. “I had remained in my blissfully ignorant bubble about (cancer/asthma/allergy-causing) toxins in our environment until finding out I was pregnant with my son,” Colleen said.

“Realizing I couldn’t control everything he would be exposed to, I resolved to clean up my diet and switched to green cleaning products, to ensure he wasn’t exposed to unneccessary toxins in the womb and that our home was safe from toxic chemicals when we brought him home,” Colleen said.

So, how can you green-up your pregnancy?

Green fashion

Face it. Those maternity clothes? They are a short-term use thing. And if you want cute ones, they can cost a bundle. I am talking Big Bucks.

Fortunately, you don’t have to hit up Destination Maternity to look cool while you are expecting. Instead, moms who are greening up start by shopping their own closets.

Look for empire waist tops, long maxi dresses and pants and skirts with a drawstring or stretchy waistbands that will fit throughout your pregnancy. Products like Bella Bands, which are stretchy bands that fit over your pants allowing you to wear them unbuttoned without giving the world a show, can help you extend your wardrobe.

You can also buy gently worn clothes at consignment stores or online. Or, better yet, borrow them. “Before I buy anything new I try to find it used. I have been able to borrow lots of clothing and now that my feet are growing, shoes too,” says Jessica Russell of shoptumbleweed.com.

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Being pregnant and working can leave most pregnant women with some interesting challenges. How do you manage to remain healthy, stress free, control morning sickness and still ensure that your work does not suffer?

It’s a good idea to get a handle on how you can manage all of these issues and perhaps more importantly to recognize when the everyday duties of your work may affect you and your baby.

Dealing with morning sickness

Anyone who suffers from morning sickness knows that it can hit you at anytime – it doesn’t know the difference between morning and afternoon. This particular pregnancy symptom can leave you feeling terrible at the best of times, so how do you control it and prevent it from affecting your everyday work?

Avoid triggers. If the smell of coffee makes you sick, then try and stay out of the kitchen or away from the coffee shop. Avoid foods that may make you feel queasy – there is nothing worse than having to work if you are feeling like you are going to vomit every 5 seconds

Snack often. Eat smaller meals or snack more often, especially dry crackers, hard candy, lemon drops

Drink plenty of fluids. Keep your intake of liquid up will help keep the nausea at bay. Try ginger team ginger ale as these often help relieve that nasty feeling

Take it slow in the morning. Allow yourself extra time to get ready for work. Rushing around can contribute to nausea

Get enough sleep. The more tired you are, the more nauseated you may feel. Make sure you get to bed early and that you have a solid night sleep.

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The second trimester is a great stage of pregnancy to go on holiday.  You won’t be too big yet, you’ll be feeling pretty good and it will be still safe to fly. However, there are some safety precautions you should take when travelling during pregnancy.

Avoid destinations where malaria is endemic.

These include India, Africa and parts of South America. If you do have to travel to a country where malaria is common, ask your GP to prescribe you an anti-malarial drug that’s safe for pregnancy, such as chloroquinine. You may need to add proquanil for some destinations.

Avoid countries where you will need vaccinations.

Although some are safe in pregnancy after 12 weeks, live vaccines such as oral polio are not.

Stay safe on the plane.

Pregnant women who fly are at a small but significant increased risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT), the medical name for blood clots. These clots can prove life threatening if they reach the lungs. Keep well-hydrated, wear flight socks, and get up and walk around at least every hour to boost your circulation. Practise clenching your calf muscles by flexing your feet up and down 10 times every hour to boost circulation. Try to do this on any long car, bus or train journey too, as they also pose a risk of DVT.

Take a photocopy of your medical notes with you.

Just in case you go into labour prematurely, pack your notes – they contain valuable information that will be needed by your healthcare professionals. It’s also important to know your blood group in case of an emergency.

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Infection in early pregnancy indicates genital tract infection in upper layers is distinct in pregnant when compare to non-pregnant women. Women who suffer from pelvic inflammatory disease are encountering difficulty when they become pregnant suffering from acute infection in the uterus tracts which has the

process of interfering with the processes of fertilization and implantation of the ovum which has the reputation of establishing pelvic inflammatory disease which results in scarring, ectopic pregnancy as well as infertility. These infections do occur in development stages during the process of pregnancy itself. Because of some events which indulge in disruption of the body’s defense instincts which are normal in nature.

Spontaneous or induced abortion is surmounted by problems of complications of early pregnancy which are related to these symptoms. Spontaneous abortion or miscarriage is a common phenomenon in the first trimester when you are prone to high risk of infection if it is performed in unsafe postulations and conditions. These abortions are incomplete when the tissue is embedded in the uterus and the infection has probabilities for development in the remaining products of conception which should be removed otherwise it will expose infectious conditions.

These details do not come to surface whenever medical care and attention is sought after for combating complications relating to abortion. Women who encounter problems follow induced abortion may not give a passing reference adopted in this regard. These conditions are with a rider when abortion is tainted with illegality. People may simply allege complaints with regard to spontaneous bleeding or other problems in this regard. You are cajoled to harbor of higher degree of suspicion and manage a possible infection without following abortion triggered by objective signs with reckless disregard to the history or the background.

The treatment of abortion complications includes stabilization of the patient with regard to his or her history by the removal of the residuary products of conception from the uterus which also involves administration of intravenous intramuscular antibiotics. These complications can be life threatening as well as over imposing without losing track of timely assessment as well as its managements which are critical or near hyper critical. All woman who are suffering from signs of shock of infection in early pregnancy stages should also be administered a facility that can provide technologies as well as methodologies of management which may interalia include safe evacuation of the contents of the uterine tract.

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Now that you’re pregnant, taking care of yourself has never been more important. Of course, you’ll probably get advice from everyone — your doctor, family members, friends, co-workers, and even complete strangers — about what you should and shouldn’t be doing.

But staying healthy during pregnancy depends on you, so it’s crucial to arm yourself with information about the many ways to keep you and your baby as healthy as possible.

Prenatal Health Care

Key to protecting the health of your child is to get regular prenatal care. If you think you’re pregnant, call your health care provider to schedule an appointment. You should schedule your first examination as soon as you think that you are pregnant.

At this first visit, your health care provider likely do a pregnancy test, and will figure out how many weeks pregnant you are based on a physical examination and the date of your last period. He or she will also use this information to predict your delivery date (however, an ultrasound performed sometime during your pregnancy will help to verify that date).

If you’re healthy and there are no complicating risk factors, most health care providers will want to see you:

• every 4 weeks until the 28th week of pregnancy
• then every 2 weeks until 36 weeks
• then once a week until delivery

Throughout your pregnancy, your health care provider will check your weight and blood pressure while also checking the growth and development of your baby (by doing things like feeling your abdomen, listening for the fetal heartbeat starting during the second trimester, and measuring your belly). During the span of your pregnancy, you’ll also have prenatal tests, including blood, urine, and cervical tests, and probably at least one ultrasound.

If you still need to choose a health care provider to counsel and treat you during your pregnancy, there are several options:

• obstetricians/gynecologists (also known as OB/GYNs — doctors who specialize in pregnancy and childbirth, as well as women’s health care)
• family practitioners (doctors who provide a range of services for patients of all ages — in some cases, this includes obstetrical care)
• certified nurse-midwives (advanced practice nurses specializing in women’s health care needs, including prenatal care, labor and delivery, and postpartum care for uncomplicated pregnancies; there are also other kinds of midwives, but you should look for one with formal training who’s been certified in the field)

Any of these is a good choice if you’re healthy and there’s no reason to anticipate complications with your pregnancy and delivery. However, nurse-midwives do need to have a doctor available for the delivery in case an unexpected problem arises or a cesarean section (C-section) has to be performed.

Nutrition and Supplements
Now that you’re eating for two (or more!), this is not the time to cut calories or go on a diet. In fact, it’s just the opposite — you need about 300 extra calories a day, especially later in your pregnancy when your baby grows quickly. If you’re very thin, very active, or carrying multiples, you’ll need even more. But if you’re overweight, your health care provider may advise that you consume fewer extra calories.

Healthy eating is always important, but especially when you’re pregnant. So, make sure your calories come from nutritious foods that will contribute to your baby’s growth and development.

Try to maintain a well-balanced diet that incorporates the dietary guidelines including:

• lean meats
• fruits
• vegetables
• whole-grain breads
• low-fat dairy product

By eating a healthy, balanced diet you’re more likely to get the nutrients you need. But you will need more of the essential nutrients (especially calcium, iron, and folic acid) than you did before you became pregnant. Your health care provider will prescribe prenatal vitamins to be sure both you and your growing baby are getting enough.

But taking prenatal vitamins doesn’t mean you can eat a diet that’s lacking in nutrients. It’s important to remember that you still need to eat well while pregnant. Prenatal vitamins are meant to supplement your diet not be your only source of much-needed nutrients.

Calcium

Most women 19 and older — including those who are pregnant — don’t often get the daily 1,000 mg of calcium that’s recommended. Because your growing baby’s calcium demands are high, you should increase your calcium consumption to prevent a loss of calcium from your own bones. Your doctor will also likely prescribe prenatal vitamins for you, which may contain some extra calcium.

Good sources of calcium include:

• low-fat dairy products including milk, pasteurized cheese, and yogurt
• calcium-fortified products, including orange juice, soy milk, and cereals
• dark green vegetables including spinach, kale, and broccoli
• tofu
• dried beans
• almonds

Iron

Pregnant women need about 30 mg of iron every day. Why? Because iron is needed to make hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying component of red blood cells. Red blood cells circulate throughout the body to deliver oxygen to all its cells.

Without enough iron, the body can’t make enough red blood cells and the body’s tissues and organs won’t get the oxygen they need to function well. So it’s especially important for pregnant women to get enough iron in their daily diets — for themselves and their growing babies.

Although the nutrient can be found in various kinds of foods, iron from meat sources is more easily absorbed by the body than iron found in plant foods. Iron-rich foods include:

• red meat
• dark poultry
• salmon
• eggs
• tofu
• enriched grains
• dried beans and peas
• dried fruits
• dark leafy green vegetables
• blackstrap molasses
• iron-fortified breakfast cereals

Folate (Folic Acid)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all women of childbearing age — and especially those who are planning a pregnancy — get about 400 micrograms (0.4 milligrams) of folic acid supplements every day. That can be from a multivitamin or folic acid supplement in addition to the folic acid found in food.

So, why is folic acid so important? Studies have shown that taking folic acid supplements 1 month prior to and throughout the first 3 months of pregnancy decrease the risk of neural tube defects by up to 70%.

The neural tube — formed during the several weeks of the pregnancy, possibly before a woman even knows she’s pregnant — goes on to become the baby’s developing brain and spinal cord. When the neural tube doesn’t form properly, the result is a neural tube defect such as spina bifida.

Again, your health care provider can prescribe a prenatal vitamin that contains the right amount of folic acid. Some pregnancy health care providers even recommend taking an additional folic acid supplement, especially if a woman has previously had a child with a neural tube defect.

If you’re buying an over-the-counter supplement, keep in mind that most multivitamins contain folic acid, but not all of them have enough folic acid to meet the nutritional needs of a pregnant woman. So, be sure to check labels carefully before choosing one and check with your health care provider.

Fluids

It’s also important to drink plenty of fluids, especially water, during pregnancy. A woman’s blood volume increases dramatically during pregnancy, and drinking enough water each day can help prevent common problems such as dehydration and constipation.

Exercise

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 150 minutes (that’s 2 hours and 30 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week if you’re not already highly active or doing vigorous-intensity activity. If you are very active or did intense aerobic activities before becoming pregnant, you may be able to keep up your workouts, as long as your doctor says it’s safe. Before beginning — or continuing — any exercise regimen talk to your doctor first.

Exercising during pregnancy has been shown to be extremely beneficial. Regular exercise can help:

• prevent excess weight gain
• reduce pregnancy related problems, like back pain, swelling, and constipation
• improve sleep
• increase energy
• improve outlook
• prepare for labor
• lessen recovery time

Low-impact, moderate-intensity exercise activities (such as walking and swimming) are great choices. You can also opt for yoga or Pilates classes, DVDs, or videos that are tailored for pregnancy. These are both low-impact and work on strength, flexibility, and relaxation.

But you should limit high-impact aerobics and avoid certain sports and activities that pose a risk of falling or abdominal injury. Typical limitations include contact sports, downhill skiing, and horseback riding.

It’s also important to be aware of how your body changes. During pregnancy, your body produces a hormone known as relaxin, which is believed to help prepare the pubic area and the cervix for the birth. The relaxin loosens the ligaments in your body, making you less stable and more prone to injury.

So, it’s easy to overstretch or strain yourself, especially the joints in your pelvis, lower back, and knees. In addition, your center of gravity shifts as your pregnancy progresses, so you may feel off-balance and at risk of falling. Keep these in mind when you choose an activity and don’t overdo it.

Whatever type of exercise you choose, make sure to take frequent breaks and remember to drink plenty of fluids. And use common sense — slow down or stop if you get short of breath or feel uncomfortable. If you have any questions about doing a certain sport or activity during your pregnancy, talk to your health care provider for specific guidelines.

Sleep

It’s important to get enough sleep during your pregnancy. Your body is working hard to accommodate a new life, so you’ll probably feel more tired than usual. And as your baby gets bigger, it will be harder to find a comfortable position when you’re trying to sleep.

Lying on your side with your knees bent is likely to be the most comfortable position as your pregnancy progresses. It also makes your heart’s job easier because it keeps the baby’s weight from applying pressure to the large blood vessels that carry blood to and from your heart and your feet and legs. Lying on your side can also help prevent or reduce varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and swelling in your legs.

Some doctors specifically recommend that pregnant women sleep on the left side. Because one of those big blood vessels is on the right side of your abdomen, lying on your left side helps keep the uterus off of it. Lying on your left side optimizes blood flow to the placenta and, therefore, your baby.

Ask what your health care provider recommends. In most cases, lying on either side should do the trick and help take some pressure off your back. To create a more comfortable resting position either way, prop pillows between your legs, behind your back, and underneath your belly.

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facing down position, the blades of the forceps will slide easily into appropriate positions along with the directions of the doctors that is in the abdominal tract are carried out effectively. Normally, the left blade is inserted in the same manner as that of the lock of the two blades which should concentrate together very

easily. The right blade then utilized and inserted in the same manner, the size of the blade should be about a finger’s width below the soft spot in the back of the baby’s head between the cranial bones which are unfused with proper extension of blades from the baby’s ears which go on to the cheeks.

When the baby is facing up in an occiput position which can be applied in the same fashion for a presentation vice versa, the tips of the blades will rest on the cheeks of the baby but in this position they must face and meet below the anterior soft position. When the baby’s head is in a transverse direction and position facing the side of the pelvis the back blade is positioned for stabilization of the position of the head of the baby.

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