I still haven’t figured out why they call it morning sickness. If you ask me, it’s all day every day sickness. For many of us, dealing with the queasiness and nausea of morning sickness is the hardest part about being pregnant. Thankfully there are quite a few easy and natural ways to improve the way you feel without harming your baby. Here are a few of my favorite remedies to give you morning sickness relief.

Eat small meals spread out through the day. This way your stomach is never quite empty which helps prevent excessive stomach acid. Eating small meals will also keep you from eating too much at once, which can also make you feel sick.

Drink plenty of water. Carry a cup or a water bottle with you at all times and sip throughout the day. The water is important for the overall health and wellbeing of both you and your baby. It will also dilute any stomach acid, keeping you from getting quite as sick.

Take your prenatal vitamins right before you go to sleep at night. Mine used to make me really sick, even if I took them with a full meal. Taking them at night, right before I went to bed, allowed me to fall asleep before I started getting sick. Take them with a snack, like a bowl of cereal, or some crackers and cheese.

Ginger and peppermint will both help with nausea. Carry some ginger snaps, or some candied ginger with you. Nibble on it when you feel the first signs of morning sickness. Carry some peppermint candy or gum with. For bad cases of morning sickness, a cup of peppermint tea always helped me. It may be worth a try.

Please check with your OBGYN about these tips on morning sickness relief before implementing them.

Article Source: Health Guidance
 

Tips For Comfortable Traveling During Pregnancy

Women today take pregnancy in their stride and continue to work and enjoy everyday activities. Pregnancy does not mean termination of all work and play. If you plan carefully you can enjoy all activities throughout the pregnancy and travel for work and pleasure without experiencing any difficulties.

Here are a few tips:

* Avoid stress by leaving quite early for the airport. To alleviate rushing across terminals or parking lots have a friend drop you to the airport. Find out whether the travel agent or airline has pick ups and drops for special passengers. Travel light and only pack what you really need. Use a bag with wheels or buy a fold-up luggage rack.

* Keep your sense of humor and wits with you at all times. Eat a light meal before leaving for the airport and listen to music or read a book you love. A full stomach and happy frame of mind will ensure that you view all hassles like long queues, uncomfortable chairs, and tedious walks as a part of life. Avoid coffee and other caffeine filled beverages, these will just stretch your nerves and make things difficult.

* Plan your schedule well such that you avoid depletion of energy. Give yourself time to eat on time, catch forty winks, and to put your feet up. Quite times are crucial to pregnant women so weave in time for a long bath, reading on the beach, a leisurely walk in the garden or a slow swim. Things that relax and energize you.

* Eat well and balanced meals. Never ignore hunger pangs. Carry in your bag plenty of portable snacks, dried fruits, nuts, crackers, cereal bars, and small bottles of juice or water, fresh fruit and so on. To prevent dehydration when flying drink plenty of fluids this will prevent swollen feet and ankles. Eat 4-6 small meals a day. Ask your doctor whether you need vitamin and mineral supplements. Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. When you eat light meals you will prevent uneasiness and heartburn. Suck a mint or boiled sweet this will quell queasiness.

* Make time to visit the toilet. Go before you board the plane and also after you deplane. If the flight is short then this will alleviate the need to use the toilet on the plane. If you are flying a long haul choose a flight that has a stop over or break the journey such that you get a breather. Ask for an aisle seat so that you can visit the toilet or stretch your cramped legs without being a nuisance to others.

* Wear comfortable shoes and clothes. Keep the blood circulation going by walking down the aisle and doing simple stretch exercises while seated. Rotate your ankles and stretch your feet as well as wriggle your toes. Shoes must be supportive, use flat ones or trainers. Use blister pads to increase comfort. Slip on shoes is the best as you can remove them when seated.

* Do a few breathing exercises and try and meditate everyday. This will keep you calm and collected and ensure that plenty of oxygen reaches all the cells of your body.

Traveling when pregnant can be eased by taking sensible steps. It is safe to fly when pregnant Just carry your medical records, medicines, and first aid kit with you. Wear beautifully styled yet comfortable clothes and avoid carrying heavy luggage. Talk to your doctor before taking a trip; do ask about immunizations as well as medications you should carry. Make comfortable arrangements and you will enjoy your pregnancy.

Article Source: Health Guidance
 

The odds of getting pregnant decline with age. The odds of getting pregnant are the greatest for a woman in her early twenties and then slowly decline with the passing years. Here are some numbers related to the chances of getting pregnant and age:

1. For ages early to mid-thirties - a woman in general will be about 15-20% less fertile.

2. For ages mid to late thirties - fertility will generally decline by up to 50%.

3. For women ages early to mid-forties - fertility declines by over 90%.

Why do the odds of getting pregnant generally decline as the woman gets older? Studies have indicated the reasons for fertility decline are related to the quality of the woman’s eggs as well as the quantity. A woman in her lifetime will typically produce about 400 fully developed eggs (usually one per month) that are capable of becoming implanted in the uterus and causing pregnancy. As these eggs get used up over thirty years or so and estrogen production slows so that the uterine and vaginal linings are no longer properly stimulated, pregnancy becomes less and less likely.

And what about the male’s role, age and the odds of getting pregnant? Studies have found that the probability of causing pregnancy for a man in his late thirties declines by about 40% from the probability during his twenties to mid-thirties.

How does a woman increase the odds of getting pregnant? Here are some tips:

* Know your fertile time - ovulation generally happens about 14 days before your next period begins. For women with cycles of 28 days, that could make day #14 your most fertile for getting pregnant (day #1 being the first day that your last period began).

* Monitor your basal body temperature - the slight elevations in your body temperature upon awakening each day will signal your most fertile time.

* Monitor your cervical mucus - ovulation will cause a change in the appearance and consistency of cervical mucus. Check yourself each day and you’ll be able to see the ‘egg-white-like’ vaginal discharge that indicates ovulation and your most fertile time.

* Adopt a healthy lifestyle - the odds of getting pregnant increase the more healthy you are. Healthy living includes a sensible diet, nutritional supplements, adequate quality sleep, managing stress, some exercise and weight management. Planning to start a family, getting pregnant and pregnancy can be exciting, frustrating, fulfilling and without any certain outcome. Improving your health will add to the likelihood that you can become pregnant and have a healthy baby.

Article Source: Health Guidance
 

Becoming a new mother is certainly one way to incorporate more exercise into your life! From lifting to bending to picking up items, to carrying - seems like you never have a chance to sit still now that your precious bundle has arrived!

However, you may be feeling the need to exercise to get back into shape after your pregnancy. There’s no need to join an expensive club, though. Start by exercising with your little one!

One of my favorite exercises when my niece was born was dancing with her. We swayed to Mozart, twirled to 50’s tunes, and rocked gently to lullabies. Consequently, I became fitter, and Sarah has learned to appreciate all kinds of music.

Simply lifting your baby up and down and saying the words, “up”…. “down” give your arms a mini workout and help your baby learn! That’s right! Talking and moving help increase baby’s IQ! So sing to your baby, tell him or her that you’re moving “left”, “right”, “over”, “under”, “around”, etc.

Purchase a sturdy stroller and take baby out for a walk each day. The fresh air will be beneficial to you both, and it’s another great way to introduce your child to the objects around the neighborhood. You do want to make sure your stroller doesn’t jiggle too much - it’s not much fun pushing a stroller and ending up with numb hands (like you’re pushing a lawn mower!). A quality stroller will help you want to go for more walks with baby!

As your baby grows, he’ll mimic your movements. This is a fun time to incorporate some silly movement games into your “exercise” session. Watching her trying to do exactly what you do brings tears of joy and much laughter!

As you can see, exercising with a baby is not only possible, but loads of fun as well. It’s a time to bond, teach, and take care of yourself and your little one. One day soon you’ll be telling your school age child about all the fun you both had exercising together when he was a baby. And yes, it will happen quicker than you ever dreamed!

Article Source: Health Guidance
 

If you’re pregnant, you’re very likely concerned about the amount of weight you’re gaining, the effect it has on your body, even how difficult it will be to take off after your pregnancy. Your OB/GYN or midwife is your best source of advice about healthy weight gain during pregnancy, but there are general guidelines.

Depending on your weight at the start of your pregnancy, your doctor may tell you that a healthy weight gain for you is anywhere between 15 and 40 pounds. If you’re underweight to start (a BMI of less than 18. 5), 25 to 40 pounds is a reasonable weight gain during pregnancy. If you’re overweight, he or she may suggest you stick closer to 15 to 25 pounds. Of that weight, 6 to 8 pounds of it is the baby. The rest is amniotic fluid, extra tissue and blood to nourish the baby (including the placenta), and the increased size of your breasts and placenta. You’ll lose as much as 15 pounds of it WITH the birth (amniotic fluid, placenta and baby). Any doctor will tell you that pregnancy is NOT the time to go on a diet.

Your body AND your baby need the nutrients of an adequate, balanced diet to keep you both healthy. This doesn’t mean that you should throw all your restraint to the winds and ‘eat for two’, though. Your body needs approximately an extra 300 calories a day to build a healthy baby. Those 300 calories should come from the same healthy variety of foods that your normal diet gives you. (You were eating a healthy, balanced diet, weren’t you? If not, pregnancy is a great time to start.) You can expect to gain weight along a fairly predictable pattern. In the first three months, you’ll gain 2-4 pounds altogether. During the second trimester, you can expect to gain between 3-4 pounds a month (about a pound per week). During the last three months, you’ll gain an additional 8-10 pounds. Your doctor or midwife will weigh you regularly, and may express concern over a deviation from this pattern. A sudden sharp weight gain, for instance, can indicate pre-eclampsia or gestational diabetes. If your doctor advises you to try to limit your weight gain during your pregnancy, be sure to choose a healthy diet that provides all the necessary daily requirements for vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.

Remember that a ‘diet’ during pregnancy isn’t meant to help you LOSE weight, but rather to limit the amount of weight gained. Regular exercise is also good for both you and your baby. You can maintain most of your daily activities, and if regular workouts were a part of your daily routine, then by all means keep them up. You’ll feel better, and your body will be less likely to protest the extra weight with aches and pains.

Do keep in mind that exercise during pregnancy shouldn’t be overly strenuous, and that you should avoid activities with a risk of falling or injury. Also remember that your center of balance is different - it may feel awkward to do the things you usually do while you’re carrying your little bundle of joy. For specifics with regard to your own situation, speak with your doctor or midwife. If you’re concerned about gaining weight, or feel that you’re gaining too much, you can ask for a consultation with a nutritionist to help you design a healthy eating plan that will make sure the baby is well-nourished, and your concerns about your weight are met.

Article Source: Health Guidance