Search Results for: blog pregnancy and posture

The Top Five Reasons Why I Love to Exercise During Pregnancy

As hard as it is to get starting on a regular exercise routine, maintaining it can be even harder. We all know that there are a million reasons why we cannot seem to find the time or motivation to exercise, but we cannot deny the benefits of regular exercise. While we tend to focus on the negative aspects of exercise (overcoming obstacles, finding the time and motivation, etc.), there are even more positive reasons to start a workout regimen. Upon my own personal reflection of the last few years of my own exercise routine, I realized that I have gained … Continue reading →

Standing Up

Recently my shoulder has been hurting. I’m not sure if it is due to having a “I-want-to-be-held” twenty-or-so pound child or if it has more to do with the large amount of time I spend at a desk with fingers on a keyboard each day. Either way, it had reached a tipping point recently. At first it was my wrists, which were quite relieved by an ergonomic keyboard (very recommended if you’re having the same trouble I was). The keyboard helped the braces come off and the pain disappear. The back was a new issue though. I wasn’t entirely sure … Continue reading →

First Pregnancy vs. Second Pregnancy (or Third, Fourth…)

I was guilty of it. Most women are guilty of it during their first pregnancy. I bet many of you did this as well. As soon as your pants were even remotely tight, you donned the maternity pants. You might have put on the whole ensemble, including the adorable fitted shirt with side ruching. First time moms are notorious for pulling out the maternity wardrobe long before it’s absolutely necessary, while it’s not uncommon to see “experienced” moms waiting until the last second. In protest, they button their pants with an elastic band and stretch out their t-shirts. Putting on … Continue reading →

Fame and Pregnancy

Periodically I scan the media for pregnancy-related news. It usually consists of a few new studies, old advice with a new take, and plenty of celebrity-scandal. Hollywood and everyone watching is so obsessed with celebrity pregnancy. I’m really glad I am not famous. Have you ever considered the freedom you have in being anonymous? You can go to a drug store and buy a pregnancy test, or ten pregnancy tests, and no one cares. I know this because when I was trying to get pregnant, I bought ten pregnancy tests at the Dollar General, and the cashier didn’t even blink … Continue reading →

Treating Headaches During Pregnancy

Reacting to whatever life throws you is so much more simple when you are not pregnant. But when you’re expecting, suddenly you have to consider every decision in a whole new light. This never more true than when you’re deciding whether to take a medication. When your head is pounding, is it okay to just take a pain reliever like aspirin or ibuprofen? Should you consult your doctor? Are there safer ways to cope with a headache? Between the surge of hormones and the extra blood flow associated with pregnancy, headaches are not that all uncommon. They are especially prevalent … Continue reading →

How To Prevent Falls During Pregnancy

It happened when I was going down the steps in my home: my socked foot slipped off the edge of the stair and I fell on my butt. Fortunately I did not fall any farther down the stairway, but I nearly had a heart attack and I was worried for the safety of my baby. I was about six or seven months pregnant at the time. The baby and I were okay, but I was much more careful about stairs after that. A fall during pregnancy can be dangerous for both mom and baby, but mostly for mom. In most … Continue reading →

Improve Your Posture in Just Ten Minutes

You don’t have to spend hours to improve your posture — and prevent back problems. In just ten minutes a day, you can straighten and strengthen your back. Every morning, take a minute to look in the mirror. Stand facing sideways and make sure everything is aligned. Your ears, shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles should form a straight line. If they don’t, straighten up and see if you can get everything into place. Do this every day and your body will start to remember how it feels to be aligned correctly. When you get to work, check your posture. It … Continue reading →

Preventing Neck and Back Injuries

Did you know that 8 out of 10 people will see a physician for back pain some time in their life? As anyone who has had a problem with their back can tell you: it’s a problem, and it’s debilitating. Taking care of your back is serious business, but often we take it for granted. Often, a lot of our problems with our neck and back could be prevented if we were more aware of (and nicer to) our bodies. Let’s start with posture. Your mother, and your piano teacher, knew what they were talking about when they said “don’t … Continue reading →

Calendar of Strange Holidays and Other Events for Scrapbooking in May

Imagine the strange and jazzy layouts you can make celebrating some of these wild, wacky and unusual holidays. These have been collected and compiled from various sources over the years of my teaching and we celebrated many of them in the classroom. Celebrate them with your children and family and create fun and wacky layouts! The Month of May Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Awareness of Medical Orphans Month Better Hearing and Speech Month Clean Air Month Creative Beginnings Month Family Wellness Month Fibromyalgia Education and Awareness Month Freedom Shrine Month Get Caught Reading Month Haitian Heritage Month Heal the … Continue reading →

Your Back & Pregnancy

One of the most common problems you may encounter during pregnancy is back pain. It’s unsurprising that your back will hurt when you are carrying an additional 30 pounds of weight in your abdominal area and your center of gravity changes. Also the s-shaped curve of your back is deeply accentuated. This increases the stress on both your upper and your lower back. Your breasts also grow significantly larger when you are pregnant. The engorgement begins by the end of the first trimester and this increases the amount of stress on your upper and lower back. So back pain is … Continue reading →