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pregnancy

Myths And Superstitions Of Not Announcing Pregnancy During The First Trimester

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Pregnancy is that wonderful period of our life, when you are about to be a mom. Whether for the first time or with your second child the excitement always remains the same. Couples become more careful with their lives and financial conditions, as they prepare their world to welcome a new member to their family.

But, just like with majority of important things in your life, pregnancy usually comes along with some superstitions, especially during the first three months of conceiving. People have mixed emotions with such first trimester superstition. However, as they become more possessive during that time, you may find them immersed deeper in the superstitions than you would have imagined. Their main intention is to keep child safe.

Reasons to need to work on:

There are some actual good reasons to follow such first trimester superstition. Couples are not expected to announce their pregnancy unless they have crossed the 3 months’ time. But why? For that answer, you might want to catch up with the points mentioned below:

  • The reason to keep this amazing news a secret is that women have higher chances of miscarriage during these initial stages. They might even be the victim of spontaneous abortion during those few initial months. So, they try to keep it a secret to keep bad luck away as well as to prevent having to share the devastating news of a pregnancy loss with everyone.
  • Another reason to keep your pregnancy a secret is if you are already tired of hearing pregnancy tips and advice! People get overexcited when they hear about a new bundle of joy arriving. They have so many natural remedies for you to follow. If you don’t want to be a part of this hassle, keep these three months a secret.
  • Sometimes, suffering in silence seems to be the main medicine for many women. The first three semesters can be the worst in women’s life, when they feel the morning sickness at its height. From vomiting to terrible stomach ache, there are loads of problems which a woman has to undergo. These are common signs of pregnancy, which they don’t want to share with others. They want privacy, and that forces them to keep this news a secret. After these symptoms subside after three months, they may be more ready to share the news with the world!

It is based in emotion:

Superstition or not, women are given full liberty with their baby’s news announcement. Whenever they feel ready, they can share the news. If they believe in good luck, then they can keep this news a secret. So, let them decide on the next steps to take!

 

 

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Common Issues Man And Woman Face While Having Sex During Pregnancy

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Pregnancy causes so many bodily changes. You are likely to feel nausea most of the time and even start to vomit without any notice, especially in the mornings, or even when just smelling specific foods. Most of the time, you remain tired and do not feel up to a lot of intimacy with your partner. As both of you are quite cautious about the new baby coming into this world, what’s the first thought that crosses your mind? Is it safe to have sex during pregnancy? Well, there are certain common issues which men and women might face that deserves consideration for venturing down that path.

Common issues faced:

However, not all people are comfortable with pregnancy sex.  You may find yourself trying to have sex with your partner, but find yourself brought up short by your own personal thoughts and concerns. That might cause some distance in your relationship. However, this is not going to take place if you have a supportive husband. It’s time to talk about some issues, which couple face while facing sex during pregnancy.

  • Nausea: This is the first and foremost problem which most of the pregnant women face. Their stomachs are bloated and achy and with the feel of vomiting every other heartbeat away is one of the main reasons on why they love to keep intimacy at bay during such instances. Especially in the mornings.
  • Fear of hurting baby: As new parents are quite cautious with their unborn child’s health, they feel that having sex might hurt the baby inside. Safe, gentle sex is always safe with a pregnancy.  However, if your pregnancy has been dubbed high risk, it’s quite possible that the doctor may order, for few initial months, for you to refrain. After that, the doctor will check the woman’s health and can give you a green light on future sexual activity.
  • Abdominal cramps: Sometimes, women cannot tolerate abdominal cramps. Those get too painful and out of their control. It can also cause them great distress worrying about the viability of their pregnancy. Trying to force intimacy during such instances can make the matter worse. So, it is important to avoid all these problems, especially when you are suffering painful cramps towards the lower abdomen region.
  • Always feeling tired: Due to multiple hormonal changes, women feel tired most of the time during pregnancy. As they are carrying a baby within, so they need complete rest. So, leave the matter on her hands. If she wants to have sex, she will let you know.

Majority of times it is not unsafe to have sex during pregnancy. But, just to be on the safer side, you might want to consult a doctor first. What is often under discussed is the emotional part of this lack of intimacy and it’s important that you talk to each other about the barriers, be for her or him the lack of contact can play a substantial role in stress on the relationship. Intimacy is an important part of relationship health, find other ways to fill this need and continue to enjoy each other. Happy parents make for a happy baby!  

 

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Keeping Father Involved In The Entire Period Of Pregnancy

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Defined as an important part of prenatal bonding, you should try to involve dad in the entire pregnancy procedure. He is a major reason behind the amazing feeling of parenthood. Involving him in the entire procedure will not just strengthen the bond between dad and child, but can let him appreciate the importance of mom. It is not just good for the baby, but great for the daddies out there. These simple and easy steps will not just help your guy to be involved in the procedure, but will make him feel special.

  • Start sharing your celebrations:

There are no particular rules on how you can let daddy participate in your baby shower, but you have the liberty to innovate ways and styles of your own. Ask him to help you with the decorations and give him freedom to use his imagination. The baby shower may be a public celebration before your little one enters the earth, but it can also be a great way to help your man be a part of this wonderful journey.

  • Take him to classes:

There are special prenatal sessions available for expecting mom, with the goal being to help her feel relaxed and rejuvenate energy as and when needed. Take your guy with you. There are special couple sessions, where the husband needs to hold his wife’s belly and participate in the massaging session. This is a great way to help daddy bond well with mom and the unborn child.

  • Let him feel the kick:

Baby kicking from the womb is a surprisingly nice feeling. It’s a sign that your baby is healthy, alive and responding to your thoughts and feelings. This is a joyous moment for the woman, and for the man as well. So, the next time your baby feels like becoming a footballer, try to call your husband and let him feel it too. That is going to be a wonderful experience to cherish and share.

  • Inside the operation theater:

Most of the time doctors rely on normal delivery, followed by quick recovery procedure. This is the high time when your husband needs to be by your side, to support and care for you, when the actual time arrives. Doctors and nursing staffs are helpful and can help husband to cut the umbilical cord to separate mother from child.

Following these suggestions will help your husband to be a part of this wonderful pregnancy journey. He will fall deeply in love with you and the child even more.

 

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Running Safely While Pregnant For A Smooth Body Function

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Just because you are pregnant, that does not mean you have to sit idle all day long. Definitely, you need some rest, but that doesn’t mean you won’t exercise at all. Healthy running during the first trimester is amazing for your body, and will help it to adapt to the hormonal changes taking place. Moreover, running at moderate speed after consulting doctor can help in addressing proper blood flow circulation and keep swollen feet and other necessary problems at bay.

Keep baby fat away:

Running can help in keeping your baby fat away. Remember that you are eating for not one, but two people at the same time. So, after giving birth, there are high chances that extra food will turn into fatty molecules and add in some unwanted spots. Avoid falling into that shackle of unhealthy physique by maintaining moderate running, just as your body permits. Never overdo yourself, as that might cause some serious problems later.

Ways to run safely:

Running during normal times is something else, and running during pregnancy is a completely different ball game. Your body does not have the same old stamina, and you might lose your energy more often. Following some steps might help you to run safety when you are carrying a baby within.

  • You have to a bit easier as you are pregnant. Do not forget to warm yourself up and cool down properly, when needed. If that takes a bit more time, then dedicate that without fail.
  • As already mentioned, avoid pushing yourself too hard. You should be running in such a pace, which will help you to carry conversation smoothly while performing this task.
  • Do not fail to wear comfortable shoes. Uncomfortable shoes will not just prevent you from running smoothly, but can give rise to some dreadful accidents unwantedly. So, provide plenty of space and support to your feet, as safety is your first hand priority during such times.
  • Before, during and after running, ensure to add more water in your diet plan. This will prevent you from getting dehydrated, whose chances are high when you are pregnant. Always carry a bottle of water, from where you can take a sip while on move.

Simple yet effective measures:

It just takes few simple steps to follow and enjoy proper running during pregnancy. However, if you are facing any complication and your doctor is dead against this exercise, then it’s better to skip it completely.

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5 Things to Expect in Your Last Trimester

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The third trimester of your pregnancy is characterized by a mixture of emotions.  By this point, you’ve already formed a bond with your baby, and you can’t wait to meet your new boy or girl.  But you’ve also endured the physical demands of carrying a child for several months.  It’s time for relief.  As you hit the home stretch, expect to encounter these 5 things.

Late Arrival

Your due date is simply an estimate of when you can expect your new bundle of joy.  It’s not an exact science.  In fact, overdue deliveries are extremely common.  If you’re a few days or even a couple weeks past your initial due date, don’t fret.  Pregnancy resource What To Expect specifies the third trimester lasts until week 40.  Around week 42, your doctor will likely induce labor.

Baby’s First Transformation

Your baby goes through several important milestones in this trimester.  His or her eyes open for the first time, the bones reach their final stage of development, the nervous system forms, hair and fingernails grow, and this is when he or she will gain the most weight.

Contractions

It isn’t just your baby going through changes during this time.  You’ll feel it too.  You’ll start to experience Braxton Hicks contractions.  These contractions aren’t the real thing, and you won’t notice a pattern or any increase in strength.  They’ll pop up after you’ve had an active day, and they’ll go away if you simply change positions or use the bathroom.  Real contractions will keep intensifying no matter what you do.

Other Changes in Your Body

The third trimester might be the roughest on your body.  From an achy abdomen to heartburn to varicose veins and stretch marks, you could find that various parts of your body are in pain or are changing.  This is normal, and there’s no need for alarm.

Signs of Labor

Towards the end of your pregnancy, around week 36, you should start looking out for signs that your little guy or girl is ready to make a debut.  These symptoms include your water breaking, true contractions, and the baby’s shifting and dropping on your pelvis.

Pregnancy is a beautiful and life-changing time.  The third trimester is the most active and affecting.  As long as you know what to look for, nothing will surprise you.

 

 

References:

Transition from #Pregnancy to #Parenthood: A Love Path

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Author Eligreg López

For first time parents, pregnancy can be a bliss. If this period is risk-free, you’ll find yourselves awning in the thought of your soon to be born baby. The only thing is nobody is quite prepared for what’s coming. The transition from pregnancy to parenthood is a period of adjustment that most people feel is quite difficult. Nothing in the world can prepare you for this new stage of your life but we would like to share some thoughts with you. Remember that parenthood has never come with a book and no matter how much advice you receive, it’s the experience of holding that child of yours in your arms that will change your perspectives on life.

Parenthood is a universal experience. Since the beginning of life, all beings have reproduced to be able to endure. Us, as humans, experience joy at becoming parents. The catch of this whole situation is becoming a parent for the first time. The transition between these two stages is crucial in the lives of many people and that’s what we’re going to talk about: How to ease the passage from having a baby in your womb to taking care of a baby and choosing how to raise that child.

Educate yourself

The BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Journal published in 2009 a study on the transition to parenthood. Even though it could be considered outdated, it goes to show the great similarities every parent must face, from the early stages of humankind to their last. Being a single person with no children is certainly different than having to care about someone.

Nobody knows what it means to have children but parents. Seriously. No matter if it is a priest or a teacher: If they don’t have children, it’s impossible to really know what it means to feel the responsibility of being the person designed to care for that human being in such a vulnerable stage of their lives.

The study we previously mentioned was held in the United Kingdom, where people feel in a somewhat stable environment to have children and raise a family. Those interviewed expressed that besides family and friends with children, health professionals and midwives, the main source of reliable information were antenatal courses.

You will never learn everything there is to know about your family and your children but getting educated on these issues can relieve you from many distresses. Nobody knows everything there is to know about children and how to raise a family but it’s alright.

Expectations vs Reality

Pregnancy, when risk-free, can be a bliss. From your family to the media and every surrounding tell you that motherhood will be a joyous experience. You start envisioning every moment of your parenting days as they tell you. The only reference you have is the parents around you and the things you see on the internet, on TV or even in movies. You dedicate in choosing every dĂ©cor you want for your baby’s nursery and when watching parents you tell yourself what you would do in that situation

The reality is another. When you’re facing your child for the first time you feel love, you feel scared, you feel so many things at once that it overwhelms you but it’s necessary that you know everything is going to be alright.

Children are tiny. There is nothing to fear. Their minds will develop and so will their feelings. We know that this new stage in your life might cause you some distress but that is also why these lines exist. New parents need any help they can receive and family members, friends, health professionals, doulas alongside books, courses and blogs can be quite helpful.

We can’t tell you how it is really going to be. Maybe your experience will be the best in the world or it will feel like drowning sometimes. What matters is that you feel alright most of the time and that your child is being taken care of. You should try to battle those over the top expectations and know that the only thing certain is that you need to have your baby in your arms to know how you feel about parenting.

New beginnings

As Developmental Science talks about it on a post “The transition to parenthood is profound, as many parents already know. Developmental scientists consider it to be one of the most massive reorganizations in the lifespan, changing the brains, endocrine systems, behaviors, identities, relationships, and more, of everyone involved”

Your life changes when you have a child. It seems quite perfect that pregnancy lasts nine whole months where you prepare yourself to birth a child. When that new human being arrives at your life, undoubtedly the feeling starts showing up. Ask any parent.

While pregnant you don’t really know who is that person inside you but once you meet that special little chap, everything you’ve learnt, heard, or read starts to make sense. Good thing that child still needs a lot of closeness and caring in the first years of their lives.

That time when you get to see your child face to face and your parental instinct shows up is when you start to decide your parenting methods and how do you want to approach that child. This is an advice we strongly believe in and we want to teach you. Don’t try to hurry things up. You, as a parent, need your time to figure out things and that’s fine. Everything will find a solution, all you need is to love your child first. Writer Robin Hoffman talks about it in The Huffington Post.

Parenting

Maybe you started outlining your parenting style way before he was born but as we assured before, one definitely know as a parent what will work for each of our families the moment that we have our child in our arms. You might as well choose from this list from Parent.co or outline your own parenting method, the results will be the same: As your child grows, you’ll learn which things work better for you and your family.

As the BMC study outlined, education is the best tool you have. It also showed that mothers were the ones who got more education regarding children upbringing and those first days as parents. It is true that aspects of breastfeeding are almost only concerned to mothers, it is important that in our modern society we keep the other parent involved too. Whoever is raising the children should get totally involved in every aspect of their beings.

Every bit of help to make the transition from pregnancy to parenting is great

We’ve been outlining how impossible it is to know everything about children and parenting from others but we need to remind you that it does help. Try to remember this advice when you’re at that critical moment that is having your newborn in your arms after that busy time pregnancy was.

Parent Partner

If you’re on this journey with company, also remember they exist as people. You need to take care of your partner’s feelings, that’s why you’re together. As they take care of you, you take care of them. It’s just logical. Share the co-pilot seat of parenting with a person that you feel is your accomplice in many aspects of your life. Before baby, during pregnancy, it is good to start outlining parenting methods and when the baby comes you will have a partner in heart and soul.

New baby, new friends.

Trust me on this one. You might keep your closest friends but single people and people with family sometimes don’t match. You’ll find yourself talking about what your child does or doesn’t do, that new thing you read online, the new priorities in your life and if your old friends don’t seem to accept that, you’ll be making new friends. And that is not bad, don’t feel guilty about it. Your priorities are just different.

Remember you are a person too

You liked music before your baby, you liked a certain movie, going to certain places, talk about certain things. Remember all this once your baby is born. You might not have the time or the energy at first but you will, eventually. Remember that you were someone who enjoyed certain things and you need to keep being yourself. Your kid will love you, I can attest that.

If you feel like failing, keep trying.

During pregnancy, the very thought of raising a human being might seem overwhelming. When the baby is here you might feel that too. The love you have for your child will overpower any feeling of failure and you will keep trying to do your best.

Love comes first

A bassinet is good, that new brand of diapers that don’t cause a rash is great, who are going to be the baby’s godparents is also good to know but, above all, love is going to be the most important thing you feel/do/give to your baby. Love your child with all your being and you’ll be the best parent in the world.

That period where you transition from pregnancy to parenthood is crucial in your life. Your baby won’t remember anything, don’t worry. You will figure everything out if you are aware that you love your child and you see what works best for your family. Parenting isn’t easy but millions of parents over the years only prove that parenting is a natural ability. Let your child teach you what love means and you’ll have a hang of parenting.

 

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Lifestyle changes that may help you conceive

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Choosing to have a baby is one of the biggest steps you will ever take in your life. It is only natural, then, to create the greatest odds. There are certain lifestyle changes that you will have to make once you are pregnant, but they will also help pre-pregnancy by getting your body into the best condition to prepare for an upcoming pregnancy.

Among the lifestyle changes you should consider are eliminating alcohol and drugs, picking up an exercise routine and lowering your stress levels. These lifestyle changes may not seem huge, but they will definitely be beneficial to your chances of conceiving.

First you should minimize, or if possible, eliminate all alcohol and drugs from your routine. This includes cigarettes which contain nicotine among many other drugs that are no good for your body. Alcohol has been proven to lower a woman’s chances of getting pregnant, especially if consumed in high amounts.

Cigarettes also decrease a woman’s chances of getting pregnant by sacrificing the quality of a woman’s reproductive system. Any recreational drugs should be discontinued immediately to properly give your body time to prepare for pregnancy. If you are on medication for a disorder, it is best to talk to your physician prior to conceiving to determine which, if any, effects the medicine will have on your chances of conceiving and subsequent pregnancy.

Exercise is great for the body and helps you stay in shape. If you are out of shape, this is the best time to be diligent about getting into shape. Exercise in conjunction with a proper diet increases your odds of a successful conception. Exercising also helps to keep your weight gain slow and steady throughout pregnancy and will aid in delivery. You may continue exercising throughout and after pregnancy as long as your doctor approves the regimen.

Stress can lead to weight gain, loss, hair loss and even infertility. Believe it or not, stress can make you miss your menstruation cycle and subsequently, your ovulation. Since ovulation is necessary for conception, stress levels should be contained. This may require simple relaxation techniques or an action as drastic as a career or job change. Lowering your stress level will improve your odds of conceiving.

While getting pregnant is a very exciting time, making the decision to get pregnant should not be taken lightly. If you are serious about making the decision to have a baby, you should consider some lifestyle changes as well.

Avoiding alcohol, drugs and stress can greatly improve one’s odds of conceiving. Exercising and proper diet are very important as well and can aid your pre-pregnancy and post-pregnancy body too. Most of all, making these lifestyle changes can be the key to a successful conception.