The end of your pregnancy is a great time to prepare meals to freeze for you to eat after your baby is born. Not only does this task help you prepare for and lessen what needs to happen after your baby is born, but it is also a great distraction for those last few weeks or months when all you can think about is holding your new baby. Once your baby is born you may be too exhausted to cook, or too busy with the baby to worry about cooking…
Read MoreI am so excited to finally be back to blogging in my “ABCs of Pregnancy Blog” series!
Listeriosis is a very serious infection when you are pregnant. The bacteria Listeria monocytogenes causes Listeriosis and is why you commonly hear people refer to Listeria when they are discussing Listeriosis. Listeria is found in some animals, water, and soil which is why vegetables can be contaminated. The infection is caused by eating contaminated food and typically affects those with a weakened immune system including older adults, newborns, and pregnant women.
While Listeria can infect healthy people without a weakened immune system, it is not a serious disease for them—they will simply get sick. The reason doctors take Listeria so seriously in pregnant women is that Listeriosis can be deadly for your baby. Listeria is not killed by refrigeration or freezing; only heat can kill Listeria. Foods need to be heated to at least 165°F to kill the bacteria. This is why you should not eat raw sprouts or cold cut meats when you are pregnant…
Read MoreKegels are exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor which supports the bladder, uterus, and bowels. They are named after gynecologist Arnold Kegel. Many women don’t want to do kegels during pregnancy because they believe that the exercises tighten the pelvic floor and make delivery more difficult. But that is not actually what kegels do. Kegels, done properly, allow you to understand how to tighten, relax, and generally control those muscles, which is extremely useful during labor and delivery. Kegels are also said to help increase bladder control after pregnancy and decrease hemorrhoids during and after pregnancy. Some say that doing kegels during pregnancy can shorten your labor - this is unclear, however it can’t hurt to do them for the other benefits they provide…
Read MoreYou are pregnant and sore and nothing sounds better than a soak in a Jacuzzi, hot tub, or whirlpool. Before you jump in take a minute to read about why it may not be the best idea…
Read MoreWhat is Insomnia? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines insomnia as a prolonged and usually abnormal inability to get enough sleep. This can be caused by a difficulty to fall asleep, waking repeatedly overnight, difficulty falling back to sleep, or restless sleep. During pregnancy this is most common in the first and third trimester. Things that can contribute to lack of sleep are pregnancy hormones, increased need to pee, congestion, and heartburn. During the first trimester nausea, breast tenderness, frequent urination, and dreams can keep you up at night. During the third trimester the main contributor to lack of sleep can simply be your inability to get comfortable. This can be accentuated by back pain, leg cramps, breast tenderness, and heartburn which are all common complaints at the end of pregnancy. Anxiety or stress about the birth or motherhood can also keep you awake at night. Insomnia is not harmful to your baby; it is a common (and annoying!) pregnancy symptom…
Read MoreYou have the nursery all together, the car seat installed, the clothes washed – but have you packed your hospital bag? When is the best time to pack your hospital bag? For a regular pregnancy with no complications, it is a good idea to pack your bag between 37 and 38 weeks. If you are high risk or are having multiples, it would be a good idea to have your bag packed by 35 weeks. If you aren’t sure what car you will be taking to the hospital, then leave it packed and by the door, if you know what car you will be taking then have it in the car. This is where having spare chargers and travel size toiletries help, so you don’t have to worry about grabbing items at the last minute on your way out the door.
But what everyone really wants to know is, “What should I pack?!”…
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