Pregnancy Week by Week – The Final Stages

By Brian G Potter

A pregnancy is usually an expected happy event in a family, anticipated much like Christmas day to a young child, yet even so it is fraught with hormonal upheavals and emotions that affect the entire family. From before the moment a woman discovers she is pregnant to months after she delivers her body is being changed in many ways physically as well as emotionally and outside influence greatly affects the entire pregnancy.

In the third trimester of pregnancy a woman's hormones have pretty much stabilized and the mood swings have subsided by a substantial degree. Unfortunately, other mental and emotional problems may creep in during this final stage of pregnancy. The ability to focus mentally on a subject seems to be greatly diminished in many women making her job more difficult and in turn cause more concern and worry. Forgetfulness and just being mentally off is a common complaint that woman often share but is also something that many woman feel and because of fears never share with others. The fear of losing a job or being rejected is often high among women in the third trimester of pregnancy and she may begin to withdraw hoping to fade into the background and go unnoticed.

At this time nutrition and exercise becomes increasingly important. By getting the right foods, avoiding foods high in sodium and iron, particularly if taking iron supplements and getting moderate exercise will help to ease fears and anxiety as well as just making the physical and mental body feel well. Maintaining an exercise plan many emotional problems are lessened as well due to the endorphins that are released during exercise causing a feeling of well being. Always make sure the exercise is approved by the health care provider and is done in a safe way. Ensuring plenty of sleep and rest is a huge factor in curbing those emotional upheavals; take the time to center.

Allowing ones self to feel uncertain or fearful about the pregnancy in general is a helpful tool. Not every woman feels happy and excited as the approach to motherhood happens, sometimes they may feel uncertain about if this was such a good idea after all. They may feel a little resentful that their life will be changed more drastically then their partners. They may feel concern about their career and how it can be managed with a family, these are normal and common feelings and allowing them to be felt and experienced is helpful in letting them go.

When it comes down to it though, finding others to share in this is often the best advice. Seeking out others who have experience the same feelings or are currently experiencing them can be just what is needed. Books and videos, web sites and message boards, today's pregnant woman has the world at her fingertips and no matter the time of day or night she can connect with others and take comfort in the fact that what she is feeling is normal and she is not alone but most importantly it will pass. Father's too are seeking information and support more so than ever before and they are taking a more involved role in pregnancy, delivery and child rearing. Men too want to know what to expect in the various stages of pregnancy development and get support for the fears they have as well as the comfort in knowing that others are experiencing this too.

Brian G Potter is researching and writing on the different stages of pregnancy and will be adding more on this subject soon. Meanwhile however, if you would like more information and advice on your pregnancywhy not visit http://3trimesterspregnancy.com/ where you can obtain most of the help and information you need.

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8 Ways to Control Labor Pain

By Jenna Garvin

Recently giving birth to my third daughter, I learned the 8 ways to control labor pain. Having had given birth 2 times previously, I know how my body functions during pregnancy and I knew it was unlikely for me to go before my due date (but I will admit to hoping I would). My due date was Monday, September 1st and starting Sunday night, I began having lots of contractions. I contracted every few minutes for hours that night, and didn't get more then about 2 hours of sleep. When I woke my contractions had pretty much stopped and I was so upset. At my appointment the week before I had been 3 cm dilated and thought for sure that when my contractions started that that was it and that I was going to be one of the lucky ones to give birth on their due dates. But I wasn't.

The next day, Tuesday September 2nd, I had my 40 week doctor's appointment. My doctor checked me to see if any progress had been made the day before when I was having "false labor" (which is a very deceptive term because it does do more then keep you awake) and to my delightful surprise it had! I was nearly 5 cm dilated and 70% effaced. Not too bad for a woman NOT in active labor. After my appointment I had a few scattered very real labor pains, but they didn't get into an active pattern until later that evening. As soon as we knew it was the real deal, my husband and I were off to the hospital.

I got there and got checked in and the doctor did an internal to see how far along I was. I was 5 cm dilated. So the doctor left and the nurse popped her head in every now and then to see how I was doing, but for the most part they left us alone, which for me was a blessing. Once labor began I turned all of my focus to myself, my body, my mind, my needs, and tried to shove every other thought from my head. During my contractions I would close my eyes and breathe deeply and with control, not panting and hyperventilating like you see in the movies. After I got the green light to roam the halls, my husband and I did. We walked several laps and I told him I didn't like it and we went back to our room. Walking can be an aid in helping labor to progress, but to me it felt really weird and gross, and didn't allow me to properly relax, so I stopped.

We went back in our room and I sat in the rocking chair, hoping that would help. It was okay and I did it for about an hour, but I kept getting these really, really bad contractions all of a sudden, and would have to empty my bladder to ease the pain. About 45 minutes before my baby girl was brought into the world, the nurse came back in the room and told me the doctor would be in, in about an hour to check me again and break my water. At that point I decided to get in the birthing tub and try to relax for the next hour or so. I filled up the tub with lukewarm water (so I wouldn't overheat) and turned on the jets. I sat there, sitting up, not laying back, and allowed my mind to get lost in the sound of the water being blasted out of the jets. I kept trying to take myself to a happy safe place...I chose my honeymoon. I kept imagining I was in our honeymoon suite and trying to recall the smells and sights of the room. How warm and cozy it was, the smell of shampoo from the shower, the lovely wall paper and decorations. With eyes closed, and body totally relaxed (not one muscle was tense) I would mentally talk my way through the labor pain. One would come and I would relax my body even more, and go to my honeymoon suite. The only movement and sound to be seen or heard was my head moving side to side with the pain of the contractions and the water coming out of the jets. About 40 minutes after getting into the tub, I got a really, really bad contraction. It hurt so bad it forced me to stand up, and that is when I realized my water had broken in the tub and the baby was coming out!

Because I was able to control my mind and relax my body during labor, I was able to go completely non-medicated and had a quick, relatively easy labor. My daughter was born with only 3 pushes and the doctor nearly missed the delivery because of how quickly it all happened. My best advice to give birth naturally would be:

1.) Keep your bladder empty

2.) Focus all of your attention on yourself, you mind, your body, your needs.

3.) Use a birthing tub with jets

4.) Use lukewarm water in the tub so you don't overheat

5.) Have your husband rub you, comfort you, talk to you (if you want)

6.) Focus your mind on a place where you feel most comfortable

7.) Relax every single muscle in your body during contractions

8.) Do not talk and keep your eyes closed while they are happening.

Jenna Garvin is the owner and founder of The Pregnancy Health Center, the #1 online resource for pregnancy and conception health. Learn more about inducing labor naturally and easing labor pain Don't forget to get your FREE book!!!

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My Q and A – Baby is 13 Days Old

By Andrea Guzman

1. How long can I leave my bottle of breast milk out?

This is what I found out online: Freshly pumped breast milk can be kept for 10 hours at room temperatures below 72 degrees Fahrenheit. I also know that I can't keep that breast milk in the refrigerator for more than 5 days.

2. Why does my baby's belly button bleed?

I read that this is normal, and that most babies belly buttons bleed after they are born. But I also read that you need to constantly clean it with rubbing alcohol, which I have been doing. If it bleeds for too long, you are supposed to contact your doctor. The thing is to make sure that it is not infected. My girlfriend told me her baby's umbilical cord fell off after only two weeks. This kind of makes me concerned, because my baby's umbilical cord is still on there a little bit, and it hasn't dried up totally and fallen off. Standby, I will talk to my doctor about all of this at the next appointment.

3. What temperature is the bath water supposed to be?

90-120 degrees F; But my question is, how do you tell what it is without a thermometer? I read that without a bath thermometer, just test the water on your forearm. So far I have had no problems, my baby loves to take a bath. I think that she thinks she is back swimming in my amniotic fluid. (ha ha ha)

4. Is it okay for me to start breast pumping?

I asked my baby's pediatrician this question, and told her I was pumping once a day, and she told me to immediately stop. She said it would mess up my "flow" of milk. I am not sure what that meant, but I am still pumping once a day. Sometimes my breasts are so sore, that I have to pump to relieve some pressure off them!

5. When can I have sex again?

The standard answer is 6 weeks, but I have been reading several online Forums like M2B's own; "Mommies Place", and they give various answers from 2-3 weeks or less! Of course like anything, I am sure it is best to consult with your doctor. The reason I have this question is because these hormones-I think from the breastfeeding-are driving me crazy. Also, I truly miss the intimacy with my husband. Again, so many sacrifices that you make in order to have a baby. But like all the sacrifices, they are worth it. So far, I have not had sex. : (

Andrea Guzman, LMFT

For more information and blogs on pregnancy, motherhood, and parenting please go to: http://www.mommie2be.com

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Your Walking Baby

By Simon Brice

Well if you though crawling created problems...a walking baby is something else!

Nothing compares to watching your babies first few dodgering steps, arms flailing and then plonk! as he or she lands on their bum. From then on you are always wondering where she is. No longer the tell tell slap slap sound of her hands on the floor. No, now a more stealthy arrival.

Safety is paramount once your baby becomes mobile. Almost sure as eggs are eggs your baby will try to improve each day. Try and go faster each day. Climb higher each day. And reach higher each day. Soon you will find all breakables skyhigh or locked away. Work surfaces become a feature for a couple of fingers desperately trying to grab whatever is reachable. Stairs prior to stair gates will be scaled. Cupboards will joyfully be opened and shut. Items removed then misplaced. Saucepans will litter the floor. Washing machines will be emptied...the list goes on.

In order to combat the new walking demon kitting your house out with baby safety gadgets is a must. Stair gates, safety gates, safety door jammers(very highly recommended - stops their fingers getting caught in a door), cupboard safety locks and protectors, cable tidys etc etc. The list is endless. Depending on room a small pen area or a travel cot to plonk your baby at times of emergency, eg. going to the toilet in piece without worrying where the babies gone or what they are getting up to.

Once your house has been converted to a safety haven for your joyous moving disaster then you will be able to relax that little bit more and maybe enjoy the odd phone call or television programme without worrying as much.

It's always worth checking out the safety gadgets available as this can also highlight other areas of danger. Clip on plug socket covers and oven safety catches for example.

I did tell you the list went on and on.

http://www.maternity-babies-ladies.com

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