Health During Pregnancy: 9 Tips for Expectant Moms

If you’re reading this, most likely you’re already or soon to be pregnant. And if that’s the case, I’m pretty confident this isn’t the first post you’ve read about how to maintain optimal health during pregnancy.

Beyond that, I would imagine that you have had conversations with your medical professionals about how to maintain health during pregnancy for you and your unborn child. Here we have a few “less traditional” pieces of advice for staying in great health during pregnancy.

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Do’s and Don’ts of Things to Register For Baby

If you have ever registered for gifts, or helped someone do it, you fall into one of two categories: those who get euphoric over the experience, and those who get overwhelmed by the experience. No matter which category you fall in, registering for a baby takes research, planning, and an understanding of what you will really need. If you are getting ready to get all click happy with a registry gun, here are some do’s and don’ts for being a SmartMom registry pro, and a guide to what things to register for baby.

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Posted in Lifestyle Pregnancy by Kristin Miller. Leave a reply

The Importance and Benefits of Skin to Skin Contact

Skin to skin contact, also known as Kangaroo Care, is the practice of placing a naked (or near-naked) baby with his chest down onto his mother’s bare chest. Research has shown that the earlier (ie: immediately after birth) and more frequently skin to skin contact is made by mother and baby, the more beneficial it is for both of them. The benefits of skin to skin contact are astounding, including the health and progress premature babies make with this kind of care.

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Posted in Parenting Pregnancy by Darlene MacAuley. Leave a reply

Everything to Avoid During Pregnancy

Photo by Andria Lindquist

Growing a baby is a lot of work. In order to ensure your body is functioning at its best and that your baby is developing in a safe and healthy environment, it is important to know what can be detrimental to the health of you and your baby. Here is a comprehensive list of everything to avoid during pregnancy.

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Posted in Health and Wellness Pregnancy by Darlene MacAuley. Leave a reply

How To Find A Doula In 7 Easy Steps

Thinking of having a doula present at your baby’s birth? Here’s some information on how to find a doula, and a great one at that.

A doula (which comes from the ancient Greek meaning “woman’s servant”) is someone trained and experienced in childbirth who offers physical, emotional and informational support to a mother in labor.

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Posted in Lifestyle Pregnancy by Audrey Brashich. Leave a reply

What Is A Birth Doula?

Photo by Sally Brewer

Many mothers are discussing natural childbirth lately and I kept hearing the term “doula” being thrown around. I was wondering, what is a birth doula? When I was pregnant with my youngest child, I was suddenly faced with the prospect of giving birth alone. My children’s father had passed away when I was five months pregnant. While I have a wonderful relationship with my mom, I’m not one that’s incredibly comfortable having my body on display for the world to see, even during the miracle of childbirth. I’m cool with the doctor and a few nurses being in there. But that’s it.

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Posted in Pregnancy by Angela Moore. Leave a reply

Why Swaddle A Baby?

After giving birth (and even before) mothers hear so much advice on how to treat their newborn, including the term “swaddle.” But why swaddle a baby, and what is swaddling anyway? Many people label the few months of your baby’s life as the “fourth trimester” because newborns want to be near their mothers at all times. They are so used to being snug and warm in the womb that being out in the world can be overwhelming for them. Because of this, it may be difficult for parents to help settle their babies when they seem inconsolable. If your newborn is fed, burped and doesn’t have a dirty diaper, swaddling may help calm them down and even help them drift off to sleep!

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Posted in Lifestyle Parenting Pregnancy by Tamar Mekredijian. Leave a reply

How to Treat Pregnancy Acne the Natural Way

Pregnancy can affect the body in all types of ways. For the lucky ones this means a glowing complexion and thick, luscious hair. But for others the effects can be negative, and a perfect example of this is dreaded pregnancy acne. Women who have spent their entire lives with crystal clear complexions can sometimes find that their skin suddenly breaks out in unsightly pimples and spots. But being pregnant means many don’t want to treat any part of their body with harsh chemicals and over the counter remedies, and many new moms wonder how to treat pregnancy acne in a natural way.

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Posted in Pregnancy by Dawn Young. Leave a reply

Why You Should Be Honest About Your Feelings During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a time of day dreaming and buying lacy things and rubbing a rounded belly at dusk while exhaling a happy, contented sigh. Right? Well, maybe it looks that way in pregnancy photo shoots, and maybe you do have moments like that, but let’s be honest – pregnancy can be hard. Even if you’ve been trying to conceive for years and this pregnancy is fulfilling your life long dream, actually being pregnant can be challenging. Physically, you’re likely to be experiencing all sorts of discomfort, but the part of it that isn’t talked about quite as often is the mental part. A mom’s feelings during pregnancy are anything but peaceful.

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Posted in Health and Wellness Pregnancy by Scarlet Hiltibidal. Leave a reply

How to Help the Postpartum Baby Blues

If there’s one thing I know, it’s that bringing a new baby into the world can be totally overwhelming. You start to realize this more and more the closer you get to your delivery date. With every passing day, the fact that your growing baby bump will soon be a little bundle of joy in your arms begins to feel a lot more like reality. And along with that amazing feeling of excitement for your new little one can come some little doubts – for example, questioning whether you’re really ready to care for a newborn. This all culminates after your baby is born – they call it the postpartum baby blues.

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Posted in Health and Wellness Pregnancy by Cortney Galster. Leave a reply

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