Baby’s Movement As You Near Your Due Date

Baby’s Movement As You Near Your Due Date

October 20th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

There are so many things about pregnancy that are truly magical. That moment when you first find out that you are pregnant is hard to describe. Then you go through the variety of symptoms, which though hard to deal with can hold some mystique as you recognize that this tiny little being has taken up residence. Seeing your baby for the first time on an ultrasound is of course a defining moment for most parents.

One of the most memorable moments that a woman experiences during pregnancy is feeling their baby move. This is hard to explain and even harder to describe, and it elicits some rather emotional reactions. You enjoy that movement from early on in your second trimester throughout the remainder of your pregnancy in most cases. It’s something that ties you to your baby and something that you will likely miss once you give birth. It is however important to understand that the baby’s movement patterns will change as you get later into your pregnancy.

Movement Patterns Change

Once you start feeling the baby’s movement in your pregnancy, you will likely be pretty tuned into it. Though it may be a bit sporadic at first, you may find that it starts to even out and maybe even become a bit predictable. Though this may not be the case for everyone, most women can plan on feeling their baby move at a certain time of day or after a certain activity such as eating sugary foods or a larger meal. Though your doctor will tell you not to worry if things aren’t quite so unpredictable, but they may very well ask you to ensure that you check for baby’s movement at least once a day. This is a good habit to get into so that you can ensure baby is doing what she’s supposed to in there.

Keep in mind that as you move throughout your pregnancy, your baby is growing tremendously. Your baby is putting on weight and taking up some major room in your growing uterus. Though the movement patterns may have started out with a flutter, they quickly evolved into kicks, rolls, and even what may have felt like punches in your belly. This is amazing and takes a woman’s breath away, but you do need to remember that just as this evolution took place so too will a new one. Once you enter into the third trimester and especially near your due date, you are going to feel things a bit less. This is nothing to be concerned about, but rather a very normal part of the pregnancy and the preparation for birth.

Less Movement Means Baby is Getting Ready

Though you do want to be careful to ensure that baby is moving here and there, as you near your due date the movement will be very different. While as you used to feel the baby roll over and could maybe even see this, you will likely experience a bit less of that as the baby gets into position for birth. Not only that, but the baby has grown so much that it has taken up a good amount of space leaving it far less room to move about within.

As you near your due date, you do want to ensure that baby is moving and always ask your doctor if you are concerned. However you do want to be aware that baby may very well be moving into position, have far less room to move, and is doing exactly what it’s supposed to do if you experience less movement.

C-Sections and The Health of Your Baby

C-Sections and The Health of Your Baby

June 15th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Old Title: Is It True That Having a C-Section May Affect My Baby’s Immune System?

There is a great deal of anticipation when it comes to the birth of your baby. If you take a birthing class, then they tell you to create a birth plan. Even if you have one, there are always the unforeseen circumstances that you can’t quite plan for. Giving birth to a child is a very intense process and involves a great deal of factors to be lined up. If you go in assuming that things will go one way, they will almost certainly go another way. It just goes to show that when it comes to delivering your baby, you should be prepared for anything. There are many moms out there that worry about a C-section, and understandably so. There are however certain times when it can’t be avoided, but you do want to know what it means for your baby.

The Potential Risks

Though there is contradictory evidence, you can find information to support that a C-section could somehow create health problems for your baby down the line. What many believe happen is that the DNA is somehow compromised using a C-section as a method of delivery. When that happens, it can lead to a potentially weakened immune system or may even make them susceptible to health problems such as diabetes or asthma later on. This doesn’t become a certainty, but as you can see that the potential risks are there.

It is believed that babies delivered via C-sections don’t have time to properly prepare for birth. This means that it can put additional stress on the birth and the experience overall. While some may debate this, others believe that this is what can lead to all of the potential problems down the line. It’s important to talk to your doctor to see if this is the best delivery method for you. It is also important to talk to your doctor to understand when it is safe to plan for a C-section if that is deemed necessary. Anything before 39 weeks of pregnancy should be seriously questioned as baby’s full development isn’t complete.

There Are Instances Where It’s Safer

It is important however to remember that there are instances where a C-section may not only be desirable, but actually recommended as well. When the baby is breech and shows no signs of flipping in time for delivery, then the C-section creates a much safer delivery for mother and baby. When the woman has had another C-section in the past, there are many conditions that must be in line to ensure that vaginal delivery is even possible. Therefore a planned C-section may be the best possible option for a woman in this situation. If there is any distress within the baby or anything that could cause potential harm to mother or baby during delivery, then this too is an instance where a C-section is recommended.

The timing of the birth is an important factor, and many will find that the baby will respond much better to a planned C-section over an emergency one. So while there may be potential risks that can be scary to mom, doing whatever is best for the baby is what rules out in the long run. If a C-section is recommended, just ask a lot of questions and be sure that everything is happening as it is meant to so that there is no worry of potential health problems down the road.

Taking the Stress Out of the Last Days of Your Pregnancy

Taking the Stress Out of the Last Days of Your Pregnancy

June 11th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Early on in your pregnancy you may feel as though you can’t wait for your due date to arrive. You are inundated with symptoms of all varieties, and you may feel as though nine months is an eternity away. You make it through your pregnancy, your series of doctor’s appointments, tests, and ultrasounds to arrive at the big day. You had such high hopes and anticipations for what it would be like to get to the end, and you initially feel excited.

Once the reality that your due date is near hits you, it’s likely that you are feeling a whole host of other things. Many women feel a great deal of stress as they approach the final days of their pregnancy. It’s not that they’re not excited to meet their little babies, it’s just that they know their lives are about to change. Additionally they may feel as if they aren’t quite ready for labor, and so it’s important to take the stress out of this final stage of pregnancy.

Getting Your Head on Straight at the End

The problem for most women is that they feel as though they have so much to do. They feel like they are grossly unprepared for the birth and arrival of their little baby. Though you’ve likely been planning for the birth for nine months now, it can still feel like it comes at you rather quickly. One of the most important things you can do to take the stress out of your final days of pregnancy is to relax. This means that you should try to get in all of the naps and restful nights of sleep that you possibly can. There is nothing wrong with putting your feet up and closing your eyes for a few minutes – as a matter of fact that may be a good recommendation. This can help you to get your head on straight and to decompress as your due date approaches.

Get Ready and Then Wait

The final few days of a pregnancy are almost a game of “hurry up and wait” so just be prepared for this. The best thing that you can do is to be prepared in every sense of the word. Take your preparation time very seriously and take your time with it. Avoid the temptation to pack everything in at the last minute, as the baby may arrive faster than you thought. Take your time along the way to get baby’s room ready for their arrival. Also be careful to get your overnight bag packed well in advance of your due date as this can always work to your advantage. There is no such thing as too prepared when it comes to your due date, and this really helps to take a lot of the stress out of your final days.

Once you have learned to embrace relaxation and done everything you possibly can to get prepared, then it’s time to sit back and wait for that little baby. Try not to let your mind wander and let all the bad or scary thoughts in. You will be just fine and you will give birth as millions of women have done before you. Doing your part in advance and learning to embrace relaxation can do wonders for your final days of pregnancy, and of course for your labor and delivery as well.

Uterine Contractions In The Third Trimester

Uterine Contractions In The Third Trimester

June 8th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

There’s just so much to think about during pregnancy. You want to ensure that you are doing the very best to take care of your baby. You want to ensure that you are in good health and that you care for yourself in the proper way. There is so much to think about and just as you get used to one phase or symptom of pregnancy, an entirely different type comes about.

You may feel as though you know what you are doing, particularly if you are beyond your first pregnancy. However, there are so many things to think about and many elements of pregnancy that can literally take you off guard. One such thing that tends to cause a woman to lose her breath is uterine contractions. If you have never experienced these before, they can be a little intimidating. They can be scary as you prepare for the upcoming birth of your child. It is good to know though that these are not only common, but very normal.

So What Exactly is Going On?

You can be going about your business, not have a care in the world, when all of a sudden one of those uterine contractions may strike you. Some women will go an entire pregnancy without feeling them, and some will start experiencing them somewhere around the 20th week. As you can see here there are many different symptoms as you move about your pregnancy, and this is just one of them. If you feel uterine contractions, know that they are normal.

What usually happens at this point of the pregnancy is that the uterus contracts, but not in a painful way. Though contractions will be painful and rhythmic as you enter the final days before delivery, this is totally different. Uterine contractions, or Braxton Hicks contractions as they are called, are felt earlier on are often more of a tightening than anything else. They are shorter in nature, usually around 15 to 30 seconds, and then go away. There is often no rhythm nor rhyme or reason to these contractions because they come on and go away just as quickly. If there is any pain associated with them, it is often very minor as the focus is usually more on the tightening of the entire area.

Preparation for the Big Day

The uterus has gone through a lot to prepare your body for pregnancy. It has also grown exponentially to house your baby and ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible. The uterine contractions felt are very normal as the uterus contracts along the way as a result of all of these changes. Consider this to be a bit of preparation for the big day, but in a much more minor way than you will consider.

Some women will feel these uterine contractions as early as the 20th week, and they may actually get used to them as they stay for the remainder of the pregnancy. As the due date nears and the baby prepares for birth, these Braxton Hicks contractions may come faster and furiously. You will know when it’s actual labor as there will be much more pain and regularity to them, but know that the Braxton Hicks contractions may very well stay with you up until the big day.

What Daddy Should Pack for the Hospital

What Daddy Should Pack for the Hospital

June 7th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

There’s so much emphasis on the mother-to-be throughout pregnancy, and often the dad is overlooked. As he is just as important a part of the process, there should be some thought put into the role that he plays. Without the dad or a similar system of support, the entire experience is made much more difficult for the mom. Both partners need each other and that’s why it’s so important to ensure that dad is available and present.

The dad wants to be a part of the birthing process just as much as anybody. He can offer comfort and support as the mom makes it through all of the different stages of labor. Every dad wants to be there to meet their new little bundle of joy for the first time, as it’s one of those precious moments in life that you will always treasure. So just as the mom has to get ready for the big arrival, the dad should be prepared and packed for the hospital stay as well.

Playing the Support Role

Though this role is crucial to the birth of his child, the dad will ultimately play a support role. As he packs for the hospital, he should ensure that many of the items on his checklist reflect this role and are in place to help mom through the stages and get everything in order after the birth. Take a look at this checklist for example whereby many of the items recommended for daddy to bring include those which will support his partner. Consider bringing items such as a stop watch and a pad of paper to write down contraction times and track the labor overall. Be sure to bring along a video camera, regular camera, and anything else that can be used to capture every aspect of the birth that you will surely want to remember later on.

Bring whatever is necessary to keep your partner comfortable and focused. This can include massage oils, scented items to keep her calm, pillows, special comfort items, and of course music. Talk to your partner in advance and be sure that you know what she would like to help keep her calm and as happy as can be throughout the birth process. This is where your support role becomes very important and therefore you want to be prepared to help out in any way that you can.

Getting Yourself Comfortable

Chances are that you’re going to be in the hospital for a while. Either the labor may carry on longer than you had anticipated, or you may be staying with your partner throughout the duration of her hospital visit. Either way you want to be sure to pack a change of clothes and even something comfortable like pajamas for the occasion where you spend the night. Bring some pillows along for you as you can’t always be sure of what the sleeping arrangements will be.

Pack some snacks for yourself as you need to keep your energy up during the long birthing process. Also be sure to bring some money as you will surely have to grab a meal or a snack from the cafeteria during your stay. Along with the camera and any other items that you bring to capture the precious moments, be sure that you bring along the phone numbers of anybody that you’ll want to contact with the good news after the birth. All of these things will make your stay more comfortable and allow you to focus on your partner and your new baby.

Baby’s Preparation for Delivery

Baby’s Preparation for Delivery

June 5th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

You know that the moment is nearing because your due date is just around the corner. You are now at the stage where you go in for weekly appointments, and therefore the time is coming closer and closer. You feel as though you are ready though you have anxiety about the big arrival. It’s an exciting time and you give much thought to what you are ready for and how you will fully prepare.

You’ve probably not given that much thought to what your baby goes through in anticipation for the big arrival. As your body gets ready, you know that things are happening as you can just feel it. There are many stages and things happening that get you ready for the big delivery. Just as you prepare both physically and mentally for the baby’s arrival, the same things are happening with the baby. Though they can’t really prepare emotionally, they are going through some changes at the last minute to ensure that they are ready for the big arrival as well.

Is Baby Really Getting Ready Too?

There are certain things you can feel and certain things that you can’t. You will be made aware of some of the changes that are occurring as you go through the weekly doctor appointments. Your doctor is checking to see if you are dilated at all or if your cervix is thinning in preparation for the big arrival. While all of these things are going on with you and your progress, baby is going through some important stages as well. You may be feeling a bit less movement than you have throughout the second and third trimesters. Not only has baby run out of room to romp about, but she has also begun her descent downwards towards the birth canal.

Your baby has developed all of their organs and body parts by the third trimester. However what they are doing up until the moment that they are born is bulking up, that is adding a whole lot of weight onto their tiny little frame. By week 38, they have fully developed lungs that they are working at until that very week. These are all important sings that they are getting ready for their big debut, though there’s a good chance that you’re not feeling a thing at all. The baby will do everything on their own time schedule and will get themselves ready for the arrival all on their own, often without you knowing a thing.

Getting Into Position

The most important thing that baby does to get ready for the big arrival is to get into position. This is something that you may or may not feel, and the way it works out will determine the type of delivery that you can have. If all goes as it should, then baby will move into the “heads down” position as she prepares for her entry into the big world through the birth canal. This may be felt by mom as a flip or some major movement as they move lower in the uterus and work towards the necessary “heads down” position.

Sometimes baby doesn’t really want to cooperate and may be “bottom down” which presents some problems for a vaginal delivery. If this happens, then the baby is considered to be breech and a C-section may very well be necessary. Remember that baby will do everything that she can to get herself ready for the big arrival, and they will do son their own timeframe.

Late Babies – When You’re Past Your Due Date

Late Babies – When You’re Past Your Due Date

March 22nd, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Being past your due date can be worrisome, uncomfortable, and frustrating. However, in most cases there are absolutely no reasons to worry. While it may be uncomfortable, pregnancies extending one to two weeks past the expected due date is common and absolutely normal.

There are several reasons you may be going past your due date. The most common reason is that the due date is not one hundred percent accurate. Your due date is calculated based on the date of your last normal period, as well as the development of your baby during the first ultrasound. There are many problems with this calculation that leave room for error.

First, some women have a period after they are pregnant. It may be lighter than normal, but if you give that date to your doctor, your due date could be calculated as much as a month off. Second, this is based on the precipice that you have an exact 28 day cycle, with a precise number of days for ovulation. Unfortunately, most women are not textbook cases, so this can leave room for error of up to one week. Finally, ultrasounds do not provide a fool proof method of determining gestation, because the size, weight, and developmental measurements used to determine your due date are variable by pregnancy. There is a relatively wide range of normal for different stages. This can cause an error in calculating your due date of up to two weeks.

For all of these reasons, doctors do not become concerned until you have reached two weeks past your due date. At this point, the doctor may begin talking to you about inducing labor. This is not actually necessary in most cases. Babies have been born overdue without inducing labor up to one month after their due date for millennia, usually with no complications. The only real concern is that the baby will continue to grow in size as long as it is in the womb, making delivery harder on your body. In short, unless the doctor sees some type of stress in the baby, the decision to induce is entirely up to you.

There are some things you can do to try to induce labor naturally at home. Walking tends to help bring on, intensify, or increase contractions, and progresses labor. Taking long walks can really make the difference between contractions lasting a few seconds twenty to thirty minutes apart for days, and getting those contractions to a point that constitutes labor.

Many women have also found that sex can induce labor. The movement of intercourse alone has an effect on your body. However, the real stimulator for labor here is the pleasure of sex. It causes your reproductive muscles to contract, which includes the uterus, and can induce labor very effectively. Of course, this method will only work if you can get past the discomfort of being so very pregnant to enjoy the experience and get those contractions going.

Your doctor may be able to give you more advice on how to induce your labor naturally, although you should not take any herbal supplements without your doctor’s approval. There are some very old “remedies” for being overdue that are not necessarily safe for you and your baby.