Search Results for: blog fetal growth in the third trimester

Medication and the First Trimester

At the beginning of the week I cautioned against going off medication when you get pregnant.  Now I want to write a follow-up, because it actually is important to know any potential dangers with medicine and the first trimester. As a rule I’ve avoided reading lists of dangers, side effects, and rare pregnancy and birth problems.  They’ll just cause me unnecessary stress, and since pregnant women usually see their doctors at least once a month, I trust mine to keep me informed about anything that will actually/is actually affecting me.  But it is important to know that the first trimester … Continue reading →

Our Eleventh Prenatal Visit

These weekly visit come and go in the blink of an eye. It is astounding how quickly time seems to be going now that I am nearing the end of my pregnancy. Our last prenatal visit began with an ultrasound to check the position of the baby and the fluid levels and ended with our midwife coming to our house to get a feel for the flow of the space. Before we head off to our visit with the midwife, I wake up early to get in a workout before we leave knowing that the day is going to be … Continue reading →

Snoring in Pregnancy

Many women find they snore during pregnancy. Snoring is the result of obstructed airways, which make normal breathing difficult during sleep. Snoring can vary from a light snore to loud noise that disrupts the sleep of the pregnant woman and her partner. Nasal congestion, which is common in pregnancy, can contribute to the problem. For most people, snoring is merely an annoying problem for the partner and the woman if her sleep is disrupted. In some cases, the problem may be sleep apnea and may require treatment. A few studies suggest that snoring may not always be benign. A 2000 … Continue reading →

Working Out With Your Preemie to Prevent OOP

To be born premature is to be born at a disadvantage in life. Significant development happens in the last trimester of pregnancy and even the last few weeks. One major concern is osteopenia of prematurity. Some thirty percent of premature infants suffer from osteopenia which can cause bone fractures and rickets in infants and osteoporosis, later in life. During the last trimester of pregnancy, the mom’s body is making extra calcium and phosphorous for her baby; things that are extremely important to bone development. Obviously, premature babies are missing out on all those extra nutrients. Pediatric researchers are trying to … Continue reading →

Dealing with Rib Pain

Rib pain is common in the third trimester of pregnancy. I experienced severe rib pain with my son and it was very difficult to deal with at times. In my experience, it was one of the most painful side effects of any of my four pregnancies. The cause of rib pain is the baby growing and the uterus moving up toward the rib cage. This causes the ribs to become compressed. The result is tenderness or pain in the ribs. The pain can occur on either side of the body, or both sides at once. Many women find that if … Continue reading →