Monday, June 25, 2012

8 Myths About Pregnancy

1. The worse the morning sickness, the more likely you are having a girl.
     * No one knows exactly why morning sickness occurs, although it has been thought to be because of elevated hormone levels.

2. If you raise your arms above your head while pregnant, the baby will get the cord wrapped around its neck.
    * Up to 25% of babies have their umbilical cord wrapped around their neck; it is the baby's activity in the womb and/or just bad luck.

3. If you get a lot of heartburn during your pregnancy, your baby will be born with a lot of hair.
    * Heartburn is very common during pregnancy because the stomach is pushed up higher by your baby and it becomes eaiser for the stomach acid to move up.

4.Avoid sex and exercise during pregnancy.
   * The baby is protected in the uterus so it is unlikely to cause problems. Moderate exercise is recommended.

5. If you are pregnant, you cannot have X-rays and should avoid microwaves and computer terminals.
    * The amount of radiation exposure to the fetus is minimal. Some experts say you might receive a similar amount of radiation by taking several airplain flights!

6. Don't take a bath if you're pregnant.
    * There are no established risks known to be associated with bathing during pregnancy. The water should not be too hot however, since raising your body temperatur above 101 degress F may cause problems. However, if your water has broken or there is bleeding, baths should be avoided.

7. Avoid spicy foods-they can trigger labor before you're ready.
    * Evidence suggests that labor is triggered by biological signals.

8. Avoid bumpy car rides-they can trigger labor.
    * The uterus and surrounding fluid provide enough cushioning and protection.

** If you read or hear something that concerns you about your pregnancy, talk it over with your doctor, especially if it contradicts something they recommended before.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

What Your Baby's Kicks Are Telling You Is Important

Research shows that counting your baby's kicks may help reduce the risk of stillbirth. These helpful tips will help you to learn how to count them.

* Start counting your baby's kicks when you are 28 weeks. Try to do them at the same time every day.
* Pick a time when you know your baby is active. The best time is usually after you have eaten something.
* Sit down in a chair with your feet up or lay down on your side.
* Count each movement as one kick. Kicks can be twists, turns, swishes, rolls or jabs.
* Count until you reach 10 kicks. We want to see 10 kicks in 2 hours, but for most moms they can have 10 kicks in as little as 30 minutes.

Times when you should call your doctor right away:

* If you notice a major change in the amount of kicks or movement your baby is making.
* If your baby kicks less and less as the day goes on, or you don't feel any kicks on any given day.
* If you don't feel 10 kicks within 2 hours. Repeat the kick count in an hour, but call if you are still getting less than 10 kicks.

TRUST YOURSELF!!! You know your body best. If you are worried about your baby's movement, call your doctor right away.
Did you know that only 10% of babies are born on their due date!!
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