Coping with Pregnancy Fatigue

Author: Gabriella Gometra

One of the hardest parts of pregnancy is going through the fatigue that comes along with it. Most women feel that it is hard to get up and be active when they want to sleep and stay in bed. This fatigue usually comes around during your first trimester of pregnancy because the body is not used to being pregnant. Since your body is working nonstop to create a bundle of joy inside of you, increase your blood supply, as well as keeping you healthy, and you can get very tired from the strain. Also, the change in hormones and the rise in progesterone make it hard for you to sleep properly. Not to mention morning sickness will cause you to get tired and nauseous.

Do not fret though; this fatigue usually ends around the second trimester of your pregnancy. But it may come back around seven months into the pregnancy since the baby is heavier and it is a lot harder to sleep. You may get backaches and leg cramps from the baby's weight and his moving around constantly. If the fatigue continues into the second trimester of pregnancy, you may want to see your doctor, since it may be a problem.

There are many different ways to deal with your pregnancy fatigue to make things easier during your pregnancy. Firstly, you should sleep more and go to bed earlier. Napping at points in the day help you get rest. Even a quick ten minute power nap will help you pick up your energy and beat the fatigue. If you're at work, you can find an empty room or sleep in your car for a while. Body pillows are very helpful since they can make you more comfortable.

Remember that since you're pregnant, you should be doing fewer activities and keeping yourself relaxed and stress free. Do not go to social activities that you do not need to go to; they will understand if you are absent. Also, try to get your family members to help you out with the chores and housework. You can also ask your boss to let you take work home so you can do it comfortably, or take a sick day if you're really feeling unwell.

Food is an important part of gaining energy, so make sure that you're getting enough in you. During pregnancy, you will need at least 300 more calories a day. Junk foods may seem tempting, but they can make you lose energy after a while. Healthy and natural foods will give you energy to go through the day. Have snacks every so often and do not have too much caffeine in the form of coffee, tea or soft drinks. Instead, have fruits and water.

Although you might feel tired, it is important to get a little bit of exercise every day. You can do stretches and take a brief walk, as this will relax you and keep you energized. Remember that you only have to deal with this for a few months, before you know it you'll be up and running again. And soon, you'll have a little bundle of joy which will make everything worth while.

Author Bio:

Gabriella Gometra builds sites on diverse topics, such as http://mensmessengerbag.org, which has information about men's messenger bags and JanSport messenger bags.

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_1354096_61.html

Arriving Safely

Author: printclever

Being in control is great when you have foresight. Parenthood removes this comfort zone and nobody tells you in advance. It's like plunging in to the sea not knowing the temperature of the water before you hit it ... you have to get used to the new environment fast or perish. It's all a new adventure and you really don't know what's in store from one day to the next, or should I say from one night to the next. A full nights' undisturbed sleep is a thing of the past and Christmas would definitely change.

For me the first urgent situation was the drive into the hospital. Liz and I had discussed it at length. We live about thirty miles from the city, so a fifty minute drive was estimated with normal traffic and of course keeping to the speed limits. As soon as Liz became aware that baby was on the way I was to get a call on the mobile. I wanted to be organised and have Liz in well capable hands as early as possible, as I was not all too cool on the medical side of things and I would feel far calmer if I could be sure that there was a mid wife in the room!!

So when the call came I finished up my work and left the office to head home. I was greeted at the door by Liz's Dad. He too liked to be organised and had carefully documented the time between contractions. Both mother and father in law dutifully handed over their daughter for me to finish what I had started! Upon my arrival I was unsure of what to expect but Liz looked calm. She was calm and in total control. She said we still had a wait before we headed for the hospital. I as usual was unsure if the wait was to be a long one or a short wait, there was no set timeframe. Five hours later it was time to go, the contractions had increased as Liz expected them to and the next stage was imminent.

The bag was packed for ages and had all the baby products were in it � baby nappies, baby vests and all the various ointments that I would become overly familiar with over the next few months. As we got into the car I asked "are you ok" to which I got a strange look. Our now long in the distant detailed discussions had specifically required for me to drive carefully, stopping at all the traffic lights and obeying the rules of the road. This I did as a duty filled expecting father until we got half way to the city where my calm �co driver!!� let out a high pitched command that I speed up and get to the hospital NOW.

This is every guys dream, at the wheel of the car with an expecting mother beside him being commanded to hurry up. With the smell of burning rubber from the tyres I did just that and if stopped by the police I had the perfect get out of jail card! So we did speed up to the point that we got to the hospital in a record breaking 30 minutes with no interruptions from the Law. I whisked Liz into the maternity ward and handed her over to the medical staff, where after another eight hours delivered Zac. Our lives had now changed. Little did I realise that the trip into the hospital would be the last time there would be two people in our family.

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Upon the birth of his son Zac, Tony and his wife Liz created a card to send out to family & friends thanking them for their kind gifts. The interest was so great http://www.mybabycards.ie/ was born. Customers can take a card design, customise it with their own message of thanks and upload a baby photo, proof it and order direct to their door. The site is really simple to use and delivers to Ireland.

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_1360767_61.html

Keeping You Healthy During Pregnancy

Author: Zach Hunt

What ways can I be sure not to gain too much weight while I am pregnant?

One of the biggest concerns that women have when they decide to have a baby is the weight gain. This weight gain is different in all women. Some gain a lot, some don't gain any. Also this weight gain can vary between kids. So it can be hard to maintain a healthy weight during your pregnancy if you do not exercise at all and if you exercise too much. The bottom line is you will gain some weight, which is healthy for you and your baby. Maintaining this weight gain at a healthy level your doctor sets for you should be your goal.

Guidelines...

has some of best doctors. The most important, and key component to maintain a healthy weight during pregnancy is follow what your doctor says. He or she will be monitoring you closely so if he or she says you need to cut back on the exercise than that is what you must do. There might come a time when your doctor tells you not exercise any more other than walking. Also certain exercises just are not possible at some point during the pregnancy. For example, sit-ups/crunches will have to stop due to the biology of the abdomen moving so that the womb can grow outward during pregnancy. Again, consult your doctor in every exercise you do.


A healthy diet.
has many good health food stores. A good diet will keep both you and your baby healthy and help you minimize weight gain. You need to consume about 300 more calories a day while you are pregnant. A well rounded diet is best. Fruits, vegetables, protein, and dairy all are good for you and your baby. High fiber and calcium will really keep you and your baby healthy. Your doctor should have a good diet plan to follow. Staying away from fast foods will really help.


The best exercise.
has some a lot of places to go to exercise. A good exercise routine will definitely help you maintain a healthy weight. Not to mention make you feel better and make it easier on your body to handle the delivery. The best kind of exercise is a low impact routine. Swimming, walking, elliptical machines, light weights, etc. Also find a specialized pregnancy aerobic type class. All these are typically safe but consult your doctor before starting any exercise program.

The end result.
You are going to gain some weight but don't let that worry you.

Common Question: How I minimize baby weight I will gain during my pregnancy?

This is natural and nature has a way of taking care of itself. After birth, if you breastfeed, your body will release a hormone that helps you lose the weight. Also there is that cute little person that is keeping you on the run. Last but not least if you continue to eat a healthy diet you should have no problems with losing this extra weight. After your mandatory rest time, make sure you get right back into your exercise routine. If you need a really good exercise program click here.

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Zach Hunt is a Spokane Minimize Baby Weight expert and the owner of Physzique, a personal fitness coaching company in Spokane, WA helping people to look and feel great. .

Fall Maternity Fashion 2009

What to wear, what to wear. When you're pregnant, that question can haunt your daily existence. Season to season, fashions and trends change. Maternity fashions change but typically don't reach the outer boundaries of the ultra edgy, ultra hip mainstream runways. Designers typically gear their styles toward the more classic with the fashion leaders creating interest and style through the use of gorgeous fabrics and interesting details with an eye on the season's mainstream trends. Afterall, I haven't seen too many pregnant women willing to don the short-short and over the knee boots featured in this month's mags. But, luckily for our gorgeous pregnant clients, the fall promises beautiful, feminine styles in gorgeous jewel tones, fabulous and flattering new denim washes for that LA hip look and an array of the oh so in dresses that go from casual day looks into the evening for an elegant dinner date. We hope you enjoy Fall 2009 and have an amazing pregnancy!

HypnoBirthing - Fearless ChildBirth

HypnoBirthing® is a complete Childbirth Education course which covers everything parents need to know about pregnancy and childbirth. HypnoBirthing also helps to release conscious and subconscious fears. This method has become increasingly popular among expectant moms and their partners who want to experience more control over their birth process. Many OB/GYNs and midwifes are recommending HypnoBirthing because they find that parents are more relaxed and their birthing process is easier.
After learning how to use self hypnosis and the deep breathing techniques, mothers have given birth naturally with little or no pain and less desire for medication. When the body is relaxed, it releases endorphins, nature’s anesthesia. The HypnoBirthing techniques, once learned, eliminate fear and tension, shorten labor, and give the birthing companion a more integral role. The fear-tension-pain syndrome is the cause of most labor pains. When there's fear the body tightens and causes the muscles of the uterus to work in opposition during labor. A relaxed body allows the muscles of the cervix to open so the baby can move down easily.
Article courtesy of Alisha Tamburri, Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and HypnoBirthing® Practitioner. She has helped hundreds of couples to experience the benefits of this simple yet powerful approach to childbirth. Additional information is available on Alisha’s website, www.clearmindhypnotherapy.com. Alisha Tamburri is located in Southern California and is available for private and small group sessions. Ph (818)-775-1868.

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parenting & baby solutions

Parenting & family coach Bette Alkazian shares her tips

How can I get my baby to sleep at night? mommywood

http://www.balancedparenting.com/

Tips for Successful Breastfeeding

Breastfeed as soon as possible after birth. The baby is wakeful and ha a good sucking instinct in the first 60 minutes after birth.
Be patient with yourself. Breastfeeding is new and it may take a little time for you and your baby to learn.
The baby should breastfeed 8-12 times each day in the first 6-8 weeks.
Avoid bottles and pacifiers in the first few weeks if possible.
Tender nipples can be avoided by having the baby approach the breast with a wide-open mouth, latching onto the dark area around the nipple. Using a product like 'Soothies' can help ease pain.
Learn a few comfortable breastfeeding positions before leaving the hospital.
Feed you baby as long as he or she desires, usually 10-30 minutes. First offer one breast and let the baby finish, then offer the second breast as long as desired. Alternate which breast is first with each feeding.
You are giving your baby enough milk if they have 6-8 wet diapers a day after the sixth day and if there are 2-3 stools a day that turn yellow in color by day four.
Even though breastfeeding is natural, many moms need a little education to help things go smoothly. Seek out help if you have questions or problems.
Article courtesy of Lori Manduke RNC,NP,CLE
Certified Lactation Educator, Certified OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner