While reading the Sunday Secrets over at Post Secret yesterday, I came across one that really made me stop and think. It made me think about my own unplanned pregnancy. It made me think about my life before that positive pregnancy test. And it made me think of our readers on this blog. The photo was of two hands resting on a very pregnant belly. The text read:

If... more

Recently I have been having a lot of trouble sleeping at night. It takes me forever to fall to sleep and then once I am asleep I wake up multiple times. While I am not pregnant, this sleeping issue reminds me of being pregnant with Charlie. Towards the end of my pregnancy, I had the hardest time finding a comfortable position to sleep in.

Are you experiencing difficulty sleeping during your pregnancy? You are not alone! Issues with sleep are common amongst pregnant women especially during the third trimester.

Below are a few things that could be preventing you from sleeping or could be waking you up during the night as well as ways to deal with them.

Do you wake up... more

An unplanned pregnancy can be scary. No matter your current lot in life, it can be a really daunting time in your life. Suddenly you are forced to think not only of yourself and your well being but the well being of the child growing within your womb. At the same time, you need to continue living your life as you were planning, whether that is working, going to school or both. (Or more!) While you will be very busy, do not use that, or fear, as an excuse to skip prenatal care.

I know that finding medical care, especially if you are uninsured, is possibly... more

As I mentioned in a previous post, it is good to stay indoors whenever possible during the hot summers while pregnant but there may be times during the summer in which you have to be outdoors or in which you just want to be outdoors. As a pregnant woman out in the sun, there are a few things you should remember.

Drink lots of water. It’s easy to get hydrated when you are outdoors for extended periods of time so be sure to drink plenty of water. Don’t forget the sunscreen! Pregnancy can do weird things to the body and even if you are not normally the type of... more

We hear a lot about depression after pregnancy, known as post partum depression, but pregnant women can also suffer from depression during their pregnancy. I think, as a woman in an unplanned pregnancy, you could be more apt to suffering from depression during pregnancy as you may not experience some of the joyful moments that other expectant mothers experience. Some of those joyful moments of pregnancy could be replaced with worry, fear, and anxiety.

According to the March of Dimes, out of every ten pregnant women, one or two of them will experience symptoms... more

It’s blazing hot here in the south. I can recall from my past pregnancies that being pregnant in the summer is not fun, especially if you are in the third trimester of your pregnancy. Being pregnant typically makes you feel hotter regardless of what season it is but during the summer when the heat isn’t just caused by your hormones, getting comfortable and staying cool can be challenging. Dr. Nardone, an OBGYN in Rhode Island advises expectant mothers to pay attention to the heat index.

“If the heat index (meaning how hot the temperature feels because... more

The recently released results of a new study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology show that there is a correlation between the amount of caffeine a pregnant woman consumes and miscarriage.

Most doctors warn pregnant women to cut back on their caffeine intake, but this study is saying that pregnant women should avoid caffeine in any form (coffee, tea, soft drinks, etc) because pregnant women who consume caffeine (even in small amounts) are at a higher risk of miscarriage than those who do not. This study involved more than 1,000 pregnant women... more

As the weather begins to get cooler, it also brings about cold season. Dealing with a cold is never any fun but is especially not fun during pregnancy when you may already not being feeling your best and when you are limited as to what medications you can take to ease cold symptoms.

Symptoms of a cold during pregnancy don’t differ from the normal symptoms of a cold, although you may feel the symptoms stronger. I can recall from pregnancy that my colds were stronger and lasted longer during pregnancy than normally. Cold symptoms include cough, congestion, sore throat, watery eyes,... more

I recently ran across an interesting article about positive affirmations during pregnancy. At first, as I was reading and thinking about what I was reading, I thought it was a little on the kooky side but as I continued to think about it, it began to make sense to me.

Think about it – how many times in pregnancy have you said or thought something negative? I think that a lot of women in unplanned pregnancies probably have low self esteem during the pregnancy and negative statements and thoughts... more

Are you having trouble sleeping during your pregnancy? You are not alone! Many women complain of this especially in the third trimester. You toss and you turn trying to get in a comfortable position, which can be hard to do with your ever expanding belly! There are some common pregnancy culprits that could be hindering your sleep. Below are some ways to deal with those culprits and get some much needed rest!

Getting up a zillion times a night to go to the bathroom? Do not drink a lot of fluids before going to bed but be sure to drink plenty through out the day so you do not get dehydrated.... more