Stretching the Limits

It is almost inevitable that when you get pregnant, you will probably develop stretch marks somewhere on your body. In fact, 75 to 90 percent of all pregnant women (90 percent of white women) do develop stretch marks. Usually appearing on your abdomen around the 6 or 7th month of pregnancy, they can also develop on other areas of your body. They are commonly formed on the upper thighs, backs of legs, buttocks, breasts, and depending on weight gain, your arms as well.
So what can you do to beat the odds and prevent stretch marks? Scientists argue about just what you can do for prevention, but one thing is fairly certain: genetics do appear to play a role in whether or not you are predisposed to getting stretch marks. This means that if your mother got stretch marks during pregnancy, you may be more likely to get them yourself. However, there are some things you can do to limit the possibility of getting stretch marks.
Here are a few things that you can do to limit the amount of stretch marks you get, or the chances you have of getting rid of them afterwards.

• Eat a healthy balanced diet to keep your weight gain between 25 and 35lbs. A nutritious diet is also crucial to the development of your baby.
• Drink plenty of water. It is critical to healthy skin.
• Take your vitamins.
• Keep your skin well moisturized. Try different products that are marketed especially for stretch mark prevention. Products like Vitamin E, cocoa butter and Bio Oil should be used as directed.

It is very important to take care of your body postpartum as well. If you follow these guidelines and still develop stretch marks, don't fret. In time, they should fade into very fine silvery lines that are barely noticeable.

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Breast is Best

Breastfeeding is the best form of feeding your newborn baby, especially in the first few days of your baby's life. It provides your baby with antibodies that are important for the development of their immune system. As natural of a process it is, it does not always come as naturally to all new moms. I will not forget being told by a nurse one time that we can read books and do research on breastfeeding, but our babies are not given a manual on this. It can also be frustrating for them at first until they get the hang of it too. Be patient. Listen to what helpful tips this lactation specialist has to help us new moms through the sometimes rocky start we may have with breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is not for everyone, but it's worth the effort. Formula can be very expensive and breast milk is FREE. Besides, who really wants to get up through the night to make formula when you baby is screaming and hungry. Not me. Enjoy.

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The Last Month

The last month of pregnancy is the worst month of them all. I would say even worse than the morning sickness. I believe it is the last month of pregnancy that makes us truely ready to give birth. Think about it: your pregnancy has probably for the most part been pretty enjoyable. It is an experience unlike any other. The feeling of another being growing and developing inside of you is pretty incredible. A feeling that no man will ever experience. The kicking, pushing and rolling all over. Giving birth to this miracle inside of you is the worst part of the entire process and nobody could look forward to the pain you are about to endure. So what else should your body do but make it so unbearable to be preggo anymore that you just have to get this baby out, and NOW! It's almost over. After this month of hell, you will be given the greatest gift anyone could ever receive, and you earned it girl. Look how hard you and your body just worked for it.

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Pain Management During Delivery (Health Short)

Great tip, really useful information.

http://www.cammyproductions.com/

Birthday Party Planning Mistakes

Plan the perfect party with these great tips. All you need to know about how to make your childs party a success.

Packing A Bag For Hospital Stay

Do you have everything ready to go? Not sure? Well your not alone. This video will help you plan for the perfect hospital stay!

I Felt It

So today might be the first day that it all seemed very real to me. Sure my body is changing, growing and my hormones out of whack, but sometimes I get used to how things are moving along that I sort of forget that I am pregnant. I still do a lot of things that I always have and work just as much as I did. People around me don't have trouble reminding me (not that I don't want to be reminded) by rubbing my belly, asking me questions, yelling "don't lift that", or "be careful". It is very comforting to have that many people surrounding me that I know care so much. I stare at my ultra sound picture all the time. It is very hard to envision that baby growing inside me. It often times feels so surreal.

Until yesterday.....Cam and I went out for breakfast at a nearby diner. I don't get to go out for breakfast often as I am always working during breakfast hours. Cam and I finally had the day off together so we decided to go out. After finishing a large meal of banana pancakes, sausage, pemeal bacon and eggs, I sat back and rubbed my full baby belly.
As I was circling my tummy, I felt something. It felt like a heart beat, only not quite the same. I put one hand on my heart and one on my stomach. The beats were not synchronized. I knew it had to happen sometime soon. People have been asking me for weeks. Did you feel it yet? Feel anything today? Nope. No and Nadda. I was starting to get worried. The doctor said between 18 and 20 weeks you should start feeling movement. Well I am into my 20th week now and I felt it! FINALLY! Now I feel like I have a real connection with my baby. I felt it. Next is kicking I guess. Let's hope I don't have a soccer star on my hands.

The Medicine Man Told Me So

I waitress at a resort restaurant in Ontario. Yesterday morning while serving breakfast, I went to approach a table, say "good morning" and pour coffee but before I could open my mouth, the gentleman at the table interrupts me and says "It's a Boy." I am at a point in my pregnancy when in my work uniform, you could sort of tell that I am pregnant but would still be a little scared to ask because I might just have a big belly and could be very offended that someone thought I was pregnant. So he proceeds again, " I know that its a boy." I stood there in confusion. I kind of cocked my head to the side and said, "okay." He then told me that he was something along the lines of an aboriginal medicine man. Well, I have had a strange suspicion since the beginning that I am having a boy but this takes me one step closer to believing. We are not finding out the sex of our baby before hand, so until the day that our baby is born, you are 50% right medicine man.

MAYBE!

Rub the BUDDHA's Belly for Luck!

Well I may not be the Buddha, but my belly sure gets rubbed enough. It won't bring you luck, or riches, or help you pay off your debts, but for some reason complete strangers feel compelled to rub your belly once you start showing as an expectant mother. I guess nobody feels they have to ask to rub a statue of the Buddha so why should they ask a pregnant woman? If I just approached a bald man and proceeded to rub his shiny head, would that be okay? Absolutely not! I would probably be slapped or at least abruptly asked to stop. I guess it's just one of those things that come with having a baby. In order to carry a child,you must accept that you will have your belly frequently rubbed by friends, family and of course - perfect strangers.

The Buddha also has a very keen sense of fashion. Well I guess not Buddha himself, but a girl named Ashley Stearns, founder/designer of Buddha Belly Maternity.

"Buddha Belly Maternity's goal is to provide young and stylish moms-to-be with maternity clothing that is comfortable, affordable, current with industry fashion trends, and most of all, makes women feel confident and proud to show off their new "Buddha Belly!!""

Thank you so much Ashley for giving the rest of us hope. After coming across your website, I now see that it is still possible to be fashionable, trendy and definitely a HOT momma-to-be.

Knowledge is Power...or so I thought

After my frantic visit to the doctor's to confirm my pregnancy, I began searching for knowledge. Never being pregnant before, I had next to no idea what to expect. I didn't know how I was supposed to be feeling, what to be eating and through reading, what not to be eating. I searched the internet for probably a week straight trying to cram as much information in my head as possible. Sites I find along my way that help me out will be listed at the side. I also went out and purchased a couple of books, which are nice to have too. It's always relaxing to sit back with a nice cup of coffee, which by the way...you have to monitor how much caffine you're consuming, and flip through a few pages.


Here are books I have began reading that I have found to be very useful.

All of these books can be purchased at your local book store and can also be found on Amazon.com new or used.

So....I Guess This Means I'm Pregnant

It was February 24 the day I found out I was pregnant. I had taken a pregnancy test about a week prior and I thought it was a negative test. After still not getting my period, I decided to take another test. I got the same result as I did the first test I had taken. I decided since the outcome didn't seem clear to me, I would call the toll free number on the back of the box. The nurse on the phone confirmed my results to me. Both tests in fact had positive results. Still in disbelief, I decided to buy just one more test. Just to be sure. Maybe this lady was wrong. So I purchased a different type of test. No lines or dots or colours to read. I had to go more technical. Digital. I purchased a Clear Blue Digital Pregnancy Test. This was the Cadillac of all home tests. I had to know right away so I went to the bathroom in the store since Cameron had dropped me off to go get gas. I took the test and waited... the longest 3 minutes of my life. I was so scared. I had a million things going through my head. Then I looked. The test read "PREGNANT". My stomach went into my throat. I discarded the test, swallowed my stomach and went outside to wait to be picked up.

Cameron didn't know that I was taking a pregnancy test, nor did he know I had taken one earlier that day. He knew I was late and that was enough for the time being. He pulled up, I loaded my bags and got into the car. We pulled away, I put my seat belt on, and began to cry. He stopped the car to see what was the matter and I told him. He couldn't figure out whether I was happy or sad or disappointed. Truth is, I was overcome with a million emotions all at once. He was nothing but happy. I think he had been waiting for this day for a very long time. I quickly pieced myself back together as we were on our way to a birthday party for my niece and I didn't want people to know I had been crying or know I was preggo. This subject was closed for discussion until this night was over.