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

Towards the end of your second trimester or the beginning of your third trimester, you may wish to start looking around for a prenatal class.

Why should I take a prenatal class? Prenatal classes can be a valuable resource for women during delivery as they teach breathing and focusing techniques ahead of time and prepare you mentally and physically for what lies ahead.

What will I learn at a prenatal class? Classes will educate your about pregnancy and what will happen during labor and delivery. You typically will learn about... more

Teen Pregnancy is considered an epidemic is this nation and more teenagers get pregnant in Milwaukee than just about anywhere else in the United States. Milwaukee is one of the top ten cities in the United States with the highest percentage of births to teen mothers, 6th in the nation to be exact.

The long term cost of a Milwaukee teen having a baby is over $79,000 dollars. The ramifications of teen pregnancy are never ending. Girls born to teen mothers are 83% more likely to become teen mothers themselves and children of teen mothers are more likely to drop out of high school prior to graduation themselves. But part of the problem is that teen pregnancy is becoming so accepted that... 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

In my last post, I shared with you some great ways to enjoy your pregnancy, but you may want some ways to remember your pregnancy by.

You may be thinking though, “why would I want to remember this pregnancy?” Especially if you follow through with an adoption plan. Personally speaking, I wish I had more to remember my pregnancy with Charlie by and that I had enjoyed that pregnancy more because that was our special time, the time when I... more

In the midst of an unplanned pregnancy, it is probably hard to enjoy your pregnancy. You are stressed and worried about what you are going to do and trying to make decision for yours and your baby’s future, so enjoying the pregnancy may be the last thing on your mind. You may even have some terrible morning sickness (or all day sickness) or other pregnancy problems to deal with.

But in the midst of all the chaos that an unplanned pregnancy can bring, try to remember every now and again to enjoy your pregnancy. Celebrate the life you are carrying... more