Archive for September, 2009

La Buena Vida: Pregnancy Post: Week 22


Well, I am now either 5 or 6 months pregnant, depending on who you ask (some say you change at 22 weeks, and others at 23). I feel like so much has happened pregnancy wise lately between the nursery, and the new baby developments! Here are a couple of updates from the week:

-I am now definitely feeling movement, and Justin was even able to feel a kick or two the other day.

-Most people can tell that I’m definitely pregnant. Though I have to say that when people say “You’re hardly showing!” I’m never quite sure whether that’s meant to be a compliment, or what, because um, my stomach didn’t look like this before. I am pretty obviously showing. On the other hand, I do appreciate the “You look great!” comments, which affirm that I am showing, but haven’t totally ballooned yet. Although I feel like I have!

-I am enjoying being able to eat pretty much whatever, and not gain much weight, even with minimal exercise. This was NEVER the case pre-pregnancy. Since high school, I’ve had to work hard to stay at a reasonable weight. I better not get into the habit of this though! Let me tell you…I am hungry all the time. Especially for pizza. If pizza’s on the table, I WILL eat pizza anytime.

-We’ve received some incredible gifts, including our first giraffe outfit, which Kaitlin thrust in my direction with an, “I’m sorry, but I HAD to!” By the way, I love it. I just didn’t really want to go for a giraffe themed nursery! Lisa also sent me a belated birthday/early baby present in the form of an Old Navy gift card with the instructions to buy some maternity clothes, which I have ordered and can’t wait to share. It was great timing because most of my regular shirts aren’t long enough anymore. Also, Lisa knows me too well–the gift card was not in one of the “typical” amounts, and my total was exactly ten cents over the amount on the card. Perfect! Such blessings!

-Elizabeth is approximately the size of a papaya, or about 10-12 inches, and 12-20 ounces. She’s also settling into a sleep pattern of about 12 hours a day. Luckily, she doesn’t keep me up too much during the night at this point.

-Lastly, for the first time during the pregnancy, I really feel pretty good! I’m tired all the time, but what’s new?!

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What Is Pregnancy Tea And How Safe Is It?

pregnancy teaPregnancy tea or herbal tea is a kind of tea that is made not from the usual tea leaves, but from other herbs and has been used for centuries for helping with easing the discomforts of pregnancy and also with improving the pregnant woman’s health.

This herbal tea may be made from roots, berries, flowers, seeds, and leaves of a variety of plants rather than from the actual tea plant leaf.

However there are questions often raised about the safety of pregnancy teas and the herbs contained therein during pregnancy.

If you are planning to use pregnancy teas, it is a good idea to decide based on the following pros and cons:

  • Pregnancy teas contain no caffeine since they are not made from tea leaves that are typically fermented and oxidized
  • They are known to help with preterm labor or long term labor
  • Some experts believe that pregnancy teas can help prevent preeclampsia
  • It is also thought that these herbal teas may help with postpartum bleeding

Also it is important to remember that regular tea contains beneficial antioxidants, which most women can continue to have safely throughout pregnancy.

One of the doubts that women face when considering pregnancy teas is the fact that many formulations contain raspberry leaf which is thought to induce contractions.

However, this is thought to be safe to take during pregnancy and in fact is thought to have benefits such as shortening labor, and regulating date of delivery. It may even ease labor pains and help in lactation.

Though there has not been adequate research carried out on herbal teas to accurately gauge their safety and efficacy during pregnancy on both the woman as well as the fetus; it is generally recommended by medical practitioners that use of pregnancy teas may best be avoided during the first trimester of pregnancy.

While most practitioners clear herbal teas for consumption in moderate quantities during pregnancy, it is important that the ingredients be checked before buying.

It is best to buy the kind of pregnancy teas that do not contain strong bitter herbs such as feverfew, tansy, goldenseal, bloodroot, broom, mandrake, and barberry.

Herb is also thought to be best avoided. Other ingredients to watch out for are Peruvian bark, poke, cotton root, and male fern. Even laxative herbs, like senna and cascara are to be avoided according to some experts.

So pregnancy teas are fine so long as you keep a vigilant eye on the list of ingredients.

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Pregnancy Centers Get Boost with New Partnership …

Christian Leadership Alliance and EvanTell come alongside movement with new resources, programs, and training

BALTIMORE, MD, Sept. 8 /Christian Newswire/ — Care Net will celebrate its 26th National Pregnancy Center Conference on Sept. 9-12, 2009 in Baltimore, MD, attracting more than 900 individuals from across North America for training, worship, inspiration, and encouragement. Despite a down economy and a changing political climate, the pregnancy center movement is alive and well, thanks to the support of individuals, foundations, and organizations providing new partnerships and resources to support its critical work.

“Care Net could not be more thrilled to see such amazing organizations come alongside our nation’s pregnancy centers, providing organizational excellence and mission-critical resources,” said Care Net President Melinda Delahoyde. “It is evidence that our movement is growing stronger as more people catch the vision for reaching out with compassion and help to those facing unplanned pregnancies.”

While full details will be revealed at the conference, two national organizations will announce new partnerships and programs to support the pregnancy center movement.

  • Christian Leadership Alliance (CLA), the nation’s leading knowledge resource for enhancing the organizational effectiveness of Christian nonprofit organizations, and Care Net will partner to provide Care Net pregnancy centers with best practices for operational excellence, resources, and training.

  • EvanTell, one of the foremost evangelism training and resource ministries in the world, is partnering with Care Net to launch a new online training program and a wide array of resources to equip pregnancy center peer counselors to share the Gospel with those they serve.

These new partnerships add to the growing support for pregnancy centers from groups like Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, Alliance Defense Fund, Americans United for Life, and Christian Legal Society.

The Care Net conference will also feature on Thursday evening a pre-screening of a new pro-life film, “Sarah’s Choice” and a guest appearance by lead actress and Christian singer Rebecca St. James. Conference keynote speakers include the Honorable Marilyn Musgrave, author of unChristian David Kinnaman, Melinda Delahoyde, Star Parker, Ellie Lofaro, and Pastor Herb Lusk of People for People, Inc.

The conference will culminate on Saturday evening with an awards banquet honoring both pregnancy center directors as well as pro-life leaders who have significantly supported the movement.

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Celebrity Moms

Heidi Klum is featured on the cover of the quarterly edition of Page Six Magazine. Inside the Project Runway host talks about husband Seal and pregnancy the fourth time around.

Some highlights from the interview:

On pregnancy, the fourth time around:
“It’s hard when you don’t fit in your things anymore. The last month is unbelievable, how rapidly your stomach goes. It’s huge. The thighs, the butt—everything explodes in the end. But it’s bizarre. Just as it’s a miracle that you can grow a human being in your belly, it’s a miracle that your body goes back to normal again. I don’t think you ever get back to exactly the way you were, but you do get close. And I’m happy with that. Especially when you see your kid for the first time.”

On knowing that husband Seal was the one for her:
“Aside from his sexy stature? He’s a gentle giant. [Seal is six- foot-three-and-a-half.] We’re very into family values. If you come to our house in L.A., you’ll see that it’s not a big, museum-like house where you can’t touch anything or sit anywhere. It’s a family house, where three children [Leni,5, Henry, 4, and Johann, 2 1/2] are living. We have toys all over the place.”

On keeping her distance from the Project Runway designers:
“Otherwise, I’d get too attached, and I’d take their life story into consideration, which I don’t want to do. Either I like the clothes or I don’t. I don’t want to know that you live with your sick mother. I don’t want to feel badly because they have a sad story, like, ‘Poor thing, let’s keep him on.’ ”

Source: Page Six Magazine

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Sciatic Nerve Pain During Pregnancy

pregnancy exerciseThe sciatic nerve is one of the largest nerves in your body, running from your lower back across your buttock and down the back of your thigh and then around toward the front of your leg toward the sole of your foot.

During pregnancy, the combination of the baby’s weight and your shifting pelvic bones can put pressure on this nerve, causing intense pain.

There are several things you can do to minimize this pain. First, stay active; swimming is a good exercise when you suffer from sciatic nerve pain.

Second, try lying on the side opposite the pain to help relieve pressure. Do not stay in any one position too long, and if you must stand for longer periods, take frequent breaks.

Performing pelvic tilts can help get the weight of your uterus off of the sciatic nerve. To perform a pelvic tilt, get on your hands and knees on a firm surface. Your back should be parallel to the floor. Gently allow your stomach to sag toward the floor.

Then, tighten your buttock muscles as you tilt your pelvis up and arch your back. Repeat this exercise several times, working up to 40 repetitions as you become stronger.

Any muscle pain should always be brought to the attention of your care provider, especially if it is intense. While sciatic nerve pain is not harmful to you or the baby, severe muscle pain can signal the presence of a blood clot, which can be quite serious.

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Pregnancy and parenting: My deep concern for my baby's illness …


I’ve just returned to blogging and writing days after Alisha, my little Almost 3 years old was down with fever, cough and other ailments like vomiting, diarrhea at different times during the month of August. Being a mother it was my responsibility to care for the little one as my first priority even though i know my passion for blogging is beyond realms. I haven’t even updated my other main personal blog much the whole of last month but it can understood that i was a more concerned mom of a little sick girl as the monsoons caused us additional worries. Alisha, was too weak by a diarrhea and dehydration which started off as a fever and cold. We had to check her up twice by the doc because while she recovered after the first visit, days later, she took ill again and this time for worse.. In a few articles from now, i’d like to post on my experiences and some advice and information on a toddlers illness especially vomiting and diarrhea because i know how panicky a parent would get if she/she saw her child in a helpless state, and not only would the parent be panicking, the child would panic too.. :-)

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Trying To Get Pregnant? What To Eat And What To Avoid?

eating fruitsWhile there are plenty of myths floating around, about foods that increase fertility, there is scientific basis to show that there are certain foods that significantly help with the regulating of ovulatory cycle; thereby improving fertility.

The sort of infertility caused by ovulatory disorders can in fact benefit from the kind of food you eat.

Changing the type of fat consumed is important; cut out on trans fats and increase intake of monounsaturated fats.

Protein consumption is obviously important, what is also important is that the source of the protein is vegetable rather than animal, though fats and protein derived from dairy sources are good at this time.

Protein from vegetable sources can include beans and lentils. At this time whole fat dairy products are beneficial.

Whole grains and fresh vegetable and fruit are important to take because they are unrefined and contain many of the essential vitamins and nutrients.

Green tea is also recommended by many experts as being a fertility enhancer, even orange pekoe is good for boosting immunity and tea drinking in general can boost chances of conceptions according to some studies.

It is important to shore up on ones intake of essential nutrients such as iron and vitamins. If required, supplements can be taken. Vitamin C is known to boost the immunity system as also improve the chances of a healthy conception.

A Folic acid supplement is important to start taking as soon as a woman determines to get pregnant, because this is useful in avoiding neural tube defects that can very early on in a woman’s pregnancy, very soon after she conceives. Vitamin B6 and folic acid are important to consume and can be found in leafy green vegetables, nuts and whole grains.

Water is not be forgotten, it is important to have at least 8 glasses of water a day.

It is important to avoid all the things that may contain mercury such as certain kinds of salmon and certain other kinds of sea food. Mercury has been seen to be responsible for several different kinds of birth defects.

Highly refined things such as white flour and sugars must be avoided, because these are high calorie, high glycemic carbohydrates that are not high in nutrition. This will also help to avoid gestational diabetes.

Canned foods are also best avoided because they have very high sodium levels.

Eating healthy, nutritional food and avoiding junk food will go a long way to get to healthy in anticipation of pregnancy and consequently will also boost your fertility.

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What Prenatal Tests Should You Consider?

prenatal testPrenatal diagnosis of any abnormalities can be done by a range of available prenatal tests.

These prenatal tests can detect birth defects such as neural tube defects, Down syndrome, chromosome abnormalities, genetic diseases and other conditions, such as spina bifida, cleft palate, Tay Sachs disease, sickle cell anemia, Thalassemia, cystic fibrosis, and fragile x syndrome.

Some tests and checks during gestation are routine, such as Ultrasounds.

However more invasive methods such as amniocentesis for detecting birth defects are done only when indicated.

In the usual course, only non invasive techniques and tests are considered; such as the examination of the woman’s uterus from outside the body, obstetric ultrasounds from 7 weeks to confirm pregnancy dates, the specialized nuchal scan at 11-13 weeks may be used to identify higher risks of Down’s syndrome.

Later morphology scans from 18 weeks may check for any abnormal development. External fetal monitoring may be done when indicated. The obstetrician will also routinely check the fetal heartbeat; check the pregnant woman’s blood pressure, weight and other physical characteristics.

More invasive methods of detecting fetal abnormalities may be considered:

  • If a woman has become pregnant for the first time when over the age of 35
  • If a woman has previously had one or more miscarriages, premature babies or babies with a birth defect, especially heart or genetic problems
  • If a woman has previously had a still birth or the child has died soon after birth
  • If a woman has high blood pressure, lupus, diabetes, asthma, or epilepsy
  • If the pregnant woman has a family history or ethnic background prone to genetic disorders, or whose partners have these
  • Women who are pregnant with multiples (twins or more)

In the event that the above factors raise the possibility of complications and birth defects, then invasive methods of testing are considered, such as Chorionic villus sampling, Amniocentesis Embroscopy and fetoscopy. These methods are however associated with the chance of a miscarriage (with Chorionic villus sampling there is chance about 1% and with Amniocentesis it is about .5%). So the probable risks have to be considered prior to getting any invasive tests done.

Even after the tests are conducted and results indicate some or other abnormality, women have to consider whether they are emotionally and physically prepared to abort the fetus, because it is the very few cases wherein any kind of corrective measures can be carried out on the fetus.

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Home Birth With Registered Midwife Safe As Hospital Birth

pregnancy laborAccording to recent Canadian study, giving birth at home in supervision of registered midwife can be as safe as hospital birth for both infant and mom.

In fact, planned home births with registered midwives may have lower rate of pregnancy complications, reports a study in Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Midwives provide round the clock care for women during pregnancy, child birth and postpartum in birthing centers and also at homes of pregnant women.

Dr. Patricia Janssen from the University of British Columbia and her team, says that women planning birth at home experienced reduced risk for all obstetric interventions  like postpartum hemorrhage or vaginal tearing. Even the babies were also less likely to need oxygen therapy or resuscitation.

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Female Fitness and Nutrition Scientist: Pregnancy and Weight Lifting

Pregnancy: It seems to me that society treats this as such a delicate time. But, really, does it have to be like that?

What I’m referring to mostly is weight lifting exercise, and what pregnant women can and can not do to help them have a healthier and happier pregnancy and delivery.

When I did a Google image search for pregnancy and exercise (or weight lifting), all I saw were pictures of very pregnant women doing yoga or ball exercises. The only weight lifting picture I could find was the one you see above. And, I wouldn’t even really consider that weight lifting (I think the last time I did a lateral shoulder raise I was 16 years old and a newbie). No squatting, no pushups, no chipups, nada.

But, what I really want to know, and what I need help from YOU (the female “you”, that is), is how and can a pregnant woman lift during her pregnancy?

Obviously, in the first 3-4 months, almost anything that you can tolerate should be do-able (when there’s not any nausea or uncontrollable fatigue). Then after the belly starts to bulge, any supine (lying on back) positions, should be avoided due to the potential to restrict blood flow through the vena cava.

The American College of Ob/Gyn has a one-sentence line about strength training:

Strength training will make your muscles stronger and may help prevent some of the aches and pains common in pregnancy. ”

But, other than this, it’s really a grey (or gray) area as far as weight lifting and pregnancy goes.

So, I’m doing as much research as I can here, scanning the peer-reviewed literature, and reading text books. But as I said, I need some help from real women who have lifted during their pregnancies:

What did you and could you do for weight lifting during your pregnancy?

Did you stop and just walk or doing light aerobics?

Did you keep doing what you were doing prior, but with some modifications (and what were they)?

Did you train harder? Did you try a new training program (And which one)? Etc.

I’d love to hear what you ladies out there did. One of my readers told me she was doing pull-ups the day before she delivered (wicked!) and another said she road her bike 10 miles a few days prior to delivery (and she was 2 weeks late, so she was quite big at this pt).

You can post your reply here, or send me an email (cassandraforsythe@gmail.com).

I promise that your thoughts and comments will be kept private if that’s what you’d like. Also, this information might end up as an article in the next issue of Muscle and Fitness Hers and Fit Pregnancy.

Cheers to a healthy and strong pregnancy!

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