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Five Weird Pregnancy Symptoms

There are a number of weird, though perfectly normal, side effects to pregnancy that no one tells you about.  You might get all or none of these, and it could vary from one of your pregnancies to another. 1. Bloody Gums.  Early in the second trimester I began noticing a bit more blood than normal when I flossed.  I went to my routine dentist appointment, and the hygienist confirmed that yup, that’s just something that can happen when you’re pregnant.  Chalk this one down to hormones; they’re making your gums (and other parts) more inflamed than usual.  Pregnant women are … Continue reading →

Advantages of Pregnancy

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There are many advantages to being pregnant, and I’m not talking about the adorable bundle of joy you get out of the deal. For the six months or so that you are visibly pregnant, that belly is like a free spin, the wild card, a “get out of jail free” card. You can get through crowds. Pregnant woman can part the red sea (or a crowd) simply by saying “excuse me.” As soon as one person sees you are expecting, it’s a domino effect and everyone gets out of your way. This is particularly useful when you are trying to … Continue reading →

The Pregnancy Blog Review for September 20-30

Somehow I overlooked the week in review last week. I will review the rest of September’s blogs in this review. The Pregnancy Blog offers useful information on everything from the time you start trying to conceive until you are home, resting and healing with your little bundle of joy. The week in review is a great place to catch up on your reading in one place. What Causes Stretch Marks? This blog covers one of the most annoying and lasting effects of having a baby. Once you understand how stretch marks are formed, the next question is how to get … Continue reading →

How Pregnancy Affects the Bladder

Pregnancy and child birth can cause bladder problems. How and when the bladder is affected varies from woman to woman. Some women experience a bit of stress incontinence in the first pregnancy. For others, it doesn’t become a problem until after the birth or with subsequent children. To understand how pregnancy affects the bladder, its important to understand how the bladder works. Two muscles help hold the bladder closed. These are located where the bladder meets the urethra. The muscles act like rubber bands, holding the urethra closed. These muscles can be weakened during pregnancy and birth, making them less … Continue reading →

It Happens To More Women Than You Think

I used to snicker whenever those bladder control commercials would come on, thinking only elderly women suffered from urinary incontinence. Then I gave birth, and in the days and weeks following, I discovered that older women are not the only ones who run to the bathroom if they laugh too hard. As embarrassing as it is, it’s completely normal. Did you really think you could push a human being through “that” and not suffer any kind of side effects afterward? If you did, you are in for a shocker! Childbirth really does a number on your body, especially when it … Continue reading →

Practical Ways to Manage Frequent Trips to the Bathroom

One of the most common complaints during pregnancy is frequent urination. Whether you are sprinting to the bathroom every half hour because of hormones (first trimester) or because of bladder pressure (third trimester), there are practical things you can do to manage the inconvenience of frequent urination. 1. Try to spread your water intake throughout the day, rather than drinking large amounts of water all at once, especially at night. This will prevent you from getting those sudden urges to run to the bathroom, since your bladder will fill slowly and gradually. 2. Avoid drinking a few hours before bed … Continue reading →

Preventing Incontinence

Incontinence is no laughing matter — especially if laughing, sneezing, or coughing makes you leak urine! That’s known as stress incontinence, and is one of several types of incontinence. I don’t think there’s anyone out there who really wants to have trouble controlling their bladder! Here are some tips to help prevent the problem before it starts. Maintain a healthy weight for your height and frame. Extra pounds can put extra pressure on the bladder. Exercise regularly — all over. Exercise can help prevent weight from becoming a problem… and it can help keep your muscles toned. Muscle weakness is … Continue reading →

Maternity Support Belts

Add wearing a maternity support belt to my “list of things to do next time” for pregnancy. A good friend of mine has been suffering from so much discomfort lately and her doctor recommended she wear a maternity support belt. She told me that she was in so much pain on the way into the store that she could barely walk, but on her way out (she put on the belt right away), she felt immediate relief and had no problems returning to her car. If I knew those belts were that effective, I would have bought one myself! There … Continue reading →

Dealing With Frequent Urination

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There are two times during your pregnancy you will have to deal with frequent urination. Early in your pregnancy, hormones send you to the ladies room constantly. It’s one of the early signs that cause you to ask yourself, could I be pregnant? It makes a comeback in late pregnancy when the weight of the baby presses down on your bladder, making it difficult to hold it for long. Ironically, sometimes this pressure also makes it difficult to let it out. Don’t feel bad if you relieve yourself, only to find yourself with a little “leak issue” a few moments … Continue reading →

My Experience With Natural Childbirth, Part 1

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People are always shocked to hear that I had my son without any pain medication. Even the nurses who cared for me were surprised when I turned it down. My doctor made a remark about not remembering the last time he did a non-medicated delivery. Am I really that rare? To me, choosing not to use pain medication was an easy decision for many reasons. 1. I preferred to be fully alert during the entire process. 2. I did not want to risk being subjected to any side effects. 3. I did not want to expose my son to such … Continue reading →