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Pregnancy Awareness Month (Part IV)

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Our final topic for Pregnancy Awareness Months deals with what pregnant women need which is a topic that I am very passionate about. Meeting the genuine needs of pregnant women which in turn meets the needs of their babies. Five Things that Pregnant Women Need: Number One: Proper Nutrition You would think that this one is a no brainer, but it seems many people don’t understand what proper nutrition is and why it’s so important during pregnancy. A balance of nutrient dense foods plus a good prenatal are essential for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Pregnancy is not … Continue reading →

Should You Drink Diet Soda?

Whether or not pregnant woman should consume caffeine or artificial sweeteners is controversial. Caffeine has been blamed for miscarriages by some, and deemed safe in small quantities by others. Artificial sweeteners, such as the popular aspartame, which is usually found in diet soda pop, have not been found to have any adverse affects on pregnant women, or anyone else for that matter. The FDA has stated that artificial sweeteners are safe for anyone to consume. Some still shy away from them, however, due to the fact that in the past certain artificial additives were declared safe and then suddenly the … Continue reading →

How Much Water to Drink in Labor?

In the eleven years since I got pregnant with our first baby, I’ve often laughed at changing recommendations. Both during various pregnancies and with each baby there seems to be a new recommendation or a change from past ones. Recent research may lead to changes in drinking water during labor. With my kids, the nurses always started by asking how “well hydrated” I was when I got to the hospital. Eventually, they’d want to give IV fluids to “keep me well hydrated.” Similar advice is seen in pregnancy literature everywhere. As a result of these recommendations, women often begin drinking … Continue reading →

Food Additives and Diet in Pregnancy

When you become pregnant, you spend more time thinking about what you are eating. After all, you are nourishing your baby with every bite you take. As you read the labels, you may be concerned about the additives in many foods. Artificial Sweeteners such as Saccharin, Aspartame and Splenda are in a variety of sugar free foods. These are hundreds of times sweeter than sugar, so less is needed. This results in fewer calories for the foods. The safety of the artificial sweetener depends on the type that is used. Saccharin was the first artificial sweetener on the market. You … Continue reading →

Trans Fats and Infertility

By now, nearly everyone has heard of trans fats and the negative effect they can have on our health. These fats contribute to heart disease by raising the bad cholesterol and lowering the good cholesterol. A recent study at Harvard School of Public Health suggests that they may also impair a woman’s fertility. The study showed that women who ate a diet that included trans fats were more likely to have a fertility problem related to ovulation. If trans fats were 2% or more of the total daily calories, the risk of infertility was double, among study participants. Women with … Continue reading →

Is Your Drinking Water Safe?

Most pregnant women are aware of the importance of drinking water during pregnancy. Water is healthy for both mom and baby in many ways. However, some people have a concern about their drinking water. News coverage of contaminated wells and chemicals in water cause women to worry about the safety of their water supply. If you have any concerns, have your water tested. You can find independent testing labs in the phone book or online. It’s not really possible to test for the many hundreds, if not thousands of contaminants that can be in water. You can have it tested … Continue reading →

Are You Drinking Enough Water?

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Go fill a glass of water before reading this blog. If you are pregnant, you’ve probably heard that drinking water is important during pregnancy. You may not know how much you need to drink or why it is important. Pregnant women should drink between six and eight glasses of water each day. A glass is an eight ounce serving, so if you are drinking a twenty ounce bottle, that is equivalent to two and a half servings. If you exercise or engage in other light to moderate physical activity, you need to drink more water. The rule of thumb is … Continue reading →

Weaning off Caffeine

Consuming a lot of caffeine during pregnancy has been linked to problems such as low birth weight. In addition, babies born to mothers who consume large quantities of caffeine have been found to show symptoms of withdrawal after birth. For these reasons, women are advised to limit their intake of caffeine during pregnancy. Let’s face it; caffeine is a huge part of our culture. Some people drink cup after cup of coffee throughout the work day. These people often suffer withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop drinking coffee cold turkey. Headaches are common when caffeine is totally eliminated from … Continue reading →

The Pregnancy Blog Week in Review March 30 – April 7

The Pregnancy Blog week in review is a great way to catch up on your reading or just see what new topics are being covered. Fill your water glass, sit back and relax. Click on the articles that interest you. Sunday, April 1 Should I Get a Flu Shot? This is a common question among pregnant women during the flu season. Whether you need a flu shot is ultimately a decision for you and your doctor. This blog offers some insight about this common vaccine. Tuesday, April 3 Dealing with Seasonal Allergies is never any fun. It’s especially difficult to … Continue reading →

Why Soda Should be Avoided During Pregnancy

When we become pregnant, we all need to make changes to our diet and lifestyle for the good of the growing baby. These changes may include eating a healthier diet, cutting down on caffeine, quitting smoking and avoiding alcohol. In our quest to give our babies the best start in life, we scrutinize our past food choices. When you are trying to cut caffeine out of your diet, you need to remember that many brands of soda contain caffeine. Often, women mention caffeine as the reason they chose to limit their intake of soda during pregnancy. This is good since … Continue reading →