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

No. Kelly Osbourne is not pregnant. She is, however, helping get the word out that you can prevent unplanned pregnancy. She is backing the World Contraception Day, which I mentioned in a previous post was yesterday.

This year's theme was "Your life, your... more

It seems that once again unplanned pregnancy and teen pregnancy is in the spotlight as the news of the unplanned pregnancy of Sarah Palin’s (the Republican Vice Presidential Candidate) came to light. I honestly debated whether or not I wanted to write about this. The media is reporting on this a lot at the moment but I also think that there are lessons to learn and things to think about as a result of this situation becoming public.

First of all, I feel sorry for Bristol Palin. If you have experienced an unplanned pregnancy your self, I’m sure you can relate to the... more

In my last post, I wrote about giving some thought to who you want to be in the delivery room with you when you are in labor. But another issue that will arise during your hospital stay is who you want or do not want to visit you in the hospital.

Typically most new mothers will have anywhere from one to three days in the hospital after giving birth. It depends on your health, hospital policy, what type of delivery you have, etc… Unless you take your baby home... more

Have you given any thought as to who you would like to be in the delivery room with you when you give birth? As your due date draws near this is something that you will want to give some thought to.

If you are still involved with your baby’s father, have a boyfriend or spouse, then they are an obvious choice. If you are still friendly with your child’s father but not “together” then you may still wish to ask him to be in the delivery room with you since this is his child too, but also don’t do anything or ask anyone who makes you feel uncomfortable.

If... 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