Search Results for: blog getting enough iron

The Need for Iron

Just when I thought I had my daily dietary routine figured out and basically ingrained, I learned that my iron levels are lower than they should be. This is common enough in pregnancy and my midwife said that I might need to start taking an additional iron supplement if my recent blood work showed my iron levels to be too low. As it is, my iron levels have dropped since my first round of blood work (I guess that is not uncommon). So there are some thing that I need to do to remedy my minor iron deficiency. First thing … Continue reading →

I Shall Never Iron Again

Today I gave away my ironing board. Thanks to the wonders of Freecycle, someone else got an ironing board and I got closet space back. A few weeks ago I went into the closet, looked around, and noticed the ironing board hanging on the wall as it always does. I repeat, as it always does. I rarely if ever take it down and actually use it. Yes, I’m a non-ironer, and now it’s out of the closet and so am I. When I was a child and a teen, my household chore was ironing. I could not stand ironing, and … Continue reading →

Questions To Ask Before Getting Your Infant’s Blood Drawn

From the time my daughter was about three months old, she’s had blood in her stool. It’s not every diaper and not even every week, but it consistently reappears. Her pediatrician and a G.I. specialist have almost entirely ruled out the possibility that it is anything to worry about. Even so, they recommended we get her blood drawn to test for and rule out any blood clotting disorders. I’m not the type of parent who immediately goes along with what a doctor tells me. I like to do my research, weigh the pros and cons, and then make a decision. … Continue reading →

Environmentally Friendly Gifts

Christmas and holiday gift giving is getting both harder and easier to do each year. I remember having to stretch my dollars to buy gifts for people that I hardly new: the person I see at the office coffee machine in the morning, kids of acquaintances, and a bevy of college friends. These days, things are a bit easier in the sense that most of us have agreed to stop the present giving madness. We are toning down the excess, which is always a good thing. Instead, we chose things for our immediate family, parents and very close friends. It … Continue reading →

Baby Blog Month in Review: August 2008

Isn’t it crazy the way babies grow so quickly? It seems that you just get used to one stage and boom they are already into another. Tonight, were busy getting the household all set for my eldest child’s first day of second grade. My two younger ones are excited and want to start school, too. It will be a busy month. Don’t worry about the missing last week of blogs. I’ve gotten quite a few questions about where I have been. The Baby Blog tends to go on hiatus the last week of the month. That may change in the … Continue reading →

The Pregnancy Blog Review June 7-21

Each month in the pregnancy blog, I try to cover topics related to infertility, conception, pregnancy, birth and the post partum period after your baby is born. The blog review is a good place to get caught up on the recent topics covered. Hypoglycemia is a condition characterized by low blood sugar and excessive insulin production. It is common during pregnancy. To learn more read Hypoglycemia in Pregnancy. The high price of airplane tickets causes many families to take road trips for vacation. Sitting in the car for long periods of time isn’t always fun, particularly when you are pregnant. … Continue reading →

Why Does My Body Need Iron?

Posted on by

Iron is one of the most abundant metals on the planet. Good thing, too — iron is essential to most life forms, including humans. Iron is important to many of the proteins and enzymes that help maintain good health. What does iron do for the body? Iron is an essential component in the proteins that carry oxygen through the body. An iron deficiency can reduce oxygen delivery to the cells, leaving a person fatigued and with a compromised immune system. Iron is used by the body to help regulate cell growth and cell differentiation. The majority of the iron in … Continue reading →

Exploring A Coral Reef Without Getting Wet

Last month first lady Laura Bush traveled to the 50th state to unveil the new Hawaiian name for the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument. Mrs. Bush announced the new name would be Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, which symbolizes the genealogy of the Hawaiian Islands. Unfortunately, she didn’t stick around long enough to see the marine life that calls the waters off the uninhabited chain of small islands home. The atolls, reefs and submerged banks around the islands are populated with more coral reefs than anywhere else in the nation. However, because of its isolated location there are few people … Continue reading →

Ask a Baby Blogger: Vitamin D Supplements & Breastfeeding

Question: I have heard that you are supposed to give your baby Vitamin D supplements if they are breastfeeding. I am not sure how I feel about this, but I am also concerned about rickets. I also follow a vegan diet. What is your opinion on giving vitamin supplements to exclusively breastfed babies? I have to say that I rarely go against the advice of my pediatrician. I think she’s fantastic and I trust her. However, I am still the parent, and I still have the right to decide what is best for my child. Supplementing our babies with vitamins … Continue reading →

The Let’s Talk Pregnancy Blog Top Ten: Prenatal Eating Tips

This quick list will help you to make sure you get optimum nutrition during your pregnancy with ease. As long as you remember these ten simple things, you should have no trouble maintaining a healthy pregnancy, barring any unforeseen complications such as preeclampsia, etc. Along with your prenatal supplements, there are certain things that your baby will need to get from you while in utero. You could even print out this list and tape it to your refrigerator for a quick reference before snacking. Without further ado, here are the top ten tips to prenatal eating: TEN: If you don’t … Continue reading →