Do you have plans to be outdoors this 4th of July holiday? Perhaps you will be lounging by the pool, hanging out at the lake, or enjoying a local festival with friends and family. If not this 4th of July, at some point during the summer, you will probably be spending some time outdoors this summer. 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!... more

One of the reasons you may be considering adoption is that your unborn baby may have been diagnosed with special needs. You may feel unequipped to parent a child with special needs.

During your pregnancy, you could find out that your child has a special need, a disability, or a medical condition, such as Down Syndrome or a heart condition or defect. Sometimes whatever may be wrong could be corrected after your baby is born and other times the problem may be uncorrectable and a life long condition, such as Down Syndrome.

For any pregnant... more

Yesterday, I wrote about depression during pregnancy and today I want to talk about depression after pregnancy, which is most commonly known as post partum depression.

About ten to fifteen percent of women who give birth experience postpartum depression. Postpartum depression can happen anytime in the first year after giving birth. After pregnancy, hormonal changes in a women’s body can bring on the post partum depression. Post partum depression needs to be... more

At least one in ten women suffers from depression during their pregnancy. I would think (although I am no expert) that the added stress of dealing with an unplanned pregnancy may put you at a greater risk for depression during pregnancy.

Depression during pregnancy often goes undiagnosed because many women attribute it to the fluctuating pregnancy hormones and since you are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy you may attribute it to the extra stress that it brings. Depression during pregnancy can increase your risk of preterm labor.

Risk... more

Are you working during your pregnancy?

More than half of all women in the United States are working or are seeking employment. In the United States, more than one million babies are born to women who have been employed at some point during their pregnancy. Depending on the type of work you do and whether or not you have problems during your pregnancy, working during pregnancy is usually safe.

If you have a lot of complications during your pregnancy (such as pre-eclampsia or premature labor) or if in your work you are exposed to hazardous chemicals,... more

During an unplanned pregnancy, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the stress and drama of the whole situation. It’s important to try and take good care of yourself (which in turn is taking care of your baby) during your pregnancy.

Below are a few ways to take care of yourself. Most of these are simple things, but if you are like me you tend to forget the common sense things during a stressful situation.

Cut back and get plenty of rest. Try not to overshcedule yourself or take on too much. Pace yourself and learn to say no. You will probably... more

During pregnancy, stress not only affects you but it affects your baby as well. Pregnancy can be stressful for a pregnant woman anyways as she is dealing with body changes, anxieties of having a baby, etc. But when dealing with an unplanned or crisis pregnancy, you have the added stress of dealing with it.

A new study in London validates that stress can affect the baby. There is evidence from the study that shows that stress can affect the baby as early as seventeen weeks gestational... more

The Spokesman Review reported yesterday on a new study that pregnant women can drink caffeine during pregnancy in moderation. It has previously been thought that caffeine during pregnancy increased the risk of premature birth and low birth weight babies but this study of over 1200 pregnant women proved that there was no correlation. As the article jokingly says a pregnant women shouldn’t drink 10 grand lattes a day, but in moderation caffeine is ok.

Here’s a bit from the article:

Researchers... more

Are you having any of those crazy, wildly vivid pregnant dreams?? I vividly remember a recurring dream during my pregnancy with Charlie. My (now) hubby can probably recite this dream for you too!

I would dream that I was in the hospital and they were about to hand me my baby. He was wrapped in a baby blue blanket and I couldn’t see the face or anything, just a swaddled baby shape. The nurse would hand me the baby and I would peak at the baby’s face but it wasn’t a baby – it was a big, huge, marshmallow!

Maybe I was subconsciously craving marshmallows?!?... more

Part 1 Part 2

Last but not least, in my series on coping with stress during pregnancy, I provide you with some “stress busters.” Simple little things that you can do to try and relieve and deal with some of the stress in your life.

Relax. Relax for the health of your baby and yourself. Stress can affect not only... more