About Pregnancy & Childbirth

Baby Shower Diaper Cake

2009-11-28T08:20:55Z

Okay, I like to consider myself crafty, though I'm very obviously no Martha Stewart. Once I even made my own butterfly cake for a baby shower. So when I saw that I could make my own diaper cake for a baby shower, I quickly plotted how much time I had left until my next shower and started planning. I found that this was a pretty easy thing to do, though I wound up having to make it very quickly, despite my planning, and with the help of three little girls. So just imagine what you could do with some time and no helpers.

So if you're planning a baby shower in the next few weeks, you probably are trying to gather up some baby shower ideas. Are you trying to plan a baby shower? This eight day eCourse on Baby Showers will help you in all aspects of planning from invitations and food, to guests and presents. You will learn a bunch of etiquette tips, baby shower foods recipes, baby shower themes and much, much more! Learn more about this and other eCourses.

Related Baby Shower Information:

Baby Shower Diaper Cake originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Saturday, November 28th, 2009 at 08:20:55.

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National Day of Listening: Birth Story Version

2009-11-27T11:25:00Z

Today has been declared the National Day of Listening by Story Corps. Story Corps travels around the country recording conversations and stories between people. My husband and I actually were able to do this several years ago. It was really a neat experience, very intimate and emotional. We talked for the whole hour about birth, babies and pregnancy loss.

Today, they are asking that you share a conversation with someone.� I'd like to encourage you to do the same, with my own spin.� Consider sharing your birth story.� Whether you write it down and put in your baby's journal, whether you record it as a podcast for your baby for later or simply share it online the act of remembering your birth is an important one. With whom will you share your story?

Related:

National Day of Listening: Birth Story Version originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Friday, November 27th, 2009 at 11:25:00.

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Pregnancy Videos

2009-11-26T08:10:58Z

These videos on pregnancy and birth cover a wide variety of topics, but it might be helpful for you to use these quick videos as a learning tool for the various aspects of pregnancy and birth. I really like the prenatal yoga videos!

_{Photo (c) About.com}

Pregnancy Videos originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Thursday, November 26th, 2009 at 08:10:58.

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Inexpensive Pregnancy Tests

2009-11-26T05:00:35Z

We're heading into the season - pregnancy test season that is...� December and January are when so many women will be having positive pregnancy tests, also know as a BFP (big fat positive).� The problem is that everyone worries about the accuracy of their pregnancy tests.

Pregnancy tests have come a long way since they were first introduced, for example, they no longer require rabbits and can be done in the privacy of your own home (or the bathroom of a store).� One of the biggest differences is the cost of pregnancy tests.

Today the range of prices for pregnancy runs from less than a dollar to nearly $20 per pregnancy test.� While they can test for different ranges of pregnancy hormone (hCG), they basically all work the same way, no matter how much they cost.� The more expensive the pregnancy test there can be a difference in how the readout works, with the more expensive tests having a digital readout of pregnant or not pregnant.� The less expensive tests are typically merely small strips of paper, but they work really well.

So consider saving your money on pregnancy tests and go for the less expensive models.� That works really well for those who are addicted to pregnancy tests.

Pregnancy Test Related:

More Thrifty Thursday from About.com Parenting:

Inexpensive Pregnancy Tests originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Thursday, November 26th, 2009 at 05:00:35.

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What do you know about pregnancy?

2009-11-25T08:00:52Z

So you've read a lot of good pregnancy books and you think you've got it all under control. Maybe you've had a baby already and known your way around a birthing room. Here is a fun quiz to test your knowledge of pregnancy and birth. How well do you score?

Should Dad be in the labor room or the waiting room? Quiz

Do you talk about pregnancy too much? Quiz

Pregnancy Quiz

Which childbirth class is right for you? Quiz

Do I need a doula? Quiz

Postpartum Depression Quiz

Celebrity Baby Quiz

Conception Quiz

Am I in Labor Quiz?

Related:

_{Photo (c) iStockPhoto}

What do you know about pregnancy? originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Wednesday, November 25th, 2009 at 08:00:52.

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Dads Gaining Weight in Pregnancy

2009-11-24T10:45:39Z

As Thanksgiving and other food laden holidays approach people start to talk about watching their weight around the holiday meals and good food about to come. Being pregnant, you might be less worries, but it brings up an important topic: Dads who gain weight in pregnancy. You might wonder about how many dads gain weight along with moms-to-be. While there isn't a lot of data out there, there are plenty of anecdotes of men who claim to have gained weight. My own husband claims he gained 10 pounds with each pregnancy, though admits he lost it much more easily than having to give birth.

Recently someone told me about a husband who gained over 50 pounds during his wife's pregnancy. I couldn't help but wonder how, since that's more than even a pregnant woman is supposed to gain. You just don't know what to say in those situations.

So tell me, what's been happening in your pregnancy? Is he gaining weight along with you? And why? More food? Better food? Less exercise?

Related:

_{Photo � iStockPhoto}

Dads Gaining Weight in Pregnancy originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 10:45:39.

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Travel in Pregnancy

2009-11-23T08:07:10Z

It's just a few days before Thanksgiving and you may be considering a travel plan for the upcoming holiday. You might be worried about long lines at the airport or even high gas prices, but I urge you to take a minute to worry about your precious cargo - you and your baby. I can remember flying and driving both while very pregnant (I flew to Toronto when I was 37 weeks pregnant with #4!) and just remember how miserable I was expecting to be, but with a few tips, was able to stay quite comfortable. Well, as comfortable as any woman 9 months pregnant can feel. So if you are planning a trip, enjoy yourself - but there are some travel tips to help get you there safely and with some minor modifications.

Related:

Travel in Pregnancy originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 08:07:10.

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Weaning Your Baby

2009-11-22T08:38:39Z

Recently, someone I worked with saying that his wife was getting ready to wean their baby, who was just over one. He mentioned his wife was going to be sad. I had to ask the question, then why wean? He told me that she was ready and had done an amazing job. It just reminded me that there is so much that goes into breastfeeding other than science and food.

The decision to wean your baby from the breast can be simple or complex, how and when to wean is different for every family. Here are some suggestions to help you make weaning a smooth process. What are some good weaning tips that worked for you?

Related:

Weaning Your Baby originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 08:38:39.

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Baby Shower Planning Guide

2009-11-21T08:37:20Z

Now that fall is here, you may now be thinking forward to your baby shower. So if you're planning a baby shower in the next few weeks, you probably are trying to gather up some baby shower ideas. Are you trying to plan a baby shower? This eight day eCourse on Baby Showers will help you in all aspects of planning from invitations and food, to guests and presents. You will learn a bunch of etiquette tips, baby shower foods recipes, baby shower themes and much, much more! Learn more about this and other eCourses.

Related Baby Shower Information:

_{Photo (c) iStockPhoto}

Baby Shower Planning Guide originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Saturday, November 21st, 2009 at 08:37:20.

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Just a Little Early...

2009-11-20T10:30:21Z

When we're pregnant the first thing we want to know is our due date. Once we are armed with that information we find out that a term pregnancy is defined as 37 weeks to 42 weeks. Many moms start eyeing that 37 week mark as the healthy birthday mark. The problem is that this is only the healthy birthday mark, if labor starts spontaneously. Some babies need all 42 weeks to be healthy.

At 35 weeks, your baby's brain weighs only two-thirds of what it will weigh at 40 weeks. Your baby's lungs are still maturing. Your baby is still perfect that whole suck-swallow-breathe routine that is imperative for living.

Debra Bingham, DrPH, RN, LCCE says "Late pre-term" typically describes babies born between 34 and 37 weeks, though studies have also shown babies can have difficulties when they are delivered in the 37th and 38th weeks:

A 2007 study showed that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks were six times more likely to die during the first week of birth than babies born full-term

Another 2007 study showed late pre-term babies were at increased risk of learning and behavioral problems

A 2009 study showed babies born at 37 weeks were four times more likely to have serious breathing problems or be admitted to the newborn intensive care unit (NICU) and that babies born at 38 weeks had twice the risk of these health problems as babies born at 39 weeks

The problem comes in when we look at all the babies born, many "voluntarily," prior to the natural conclusion of pregnancy - spontaneous labor. When you allow your baby to start labor when he or she is ready, you can greatly reduce these risks. If you are in a medical situation where the benefits of being born sooner outweigh these risks, you are able to move forward knowing the risks and accepting them. But many moms, don't know the risks involved.

"While we don't suspect many physicians are delivering babies at 35 or 36 weeks for convenience, non-medical reasons can drive a lot of deliveries at 37, 38, or 39 weeks. These early deliveries can come with a price," said Sharon Dalrymple, RN, BN, MEd, LCCE, and president of Lamaze International. "The problem is compounded when women and their care providers pre-empt spontaneous labor and rely on due-dates that are often inaccurate."

So what can you do to ensure that your due date is accurate? You can be sure of your dates. Do not let your practitioner change your due date based on ultrasounds done later in pregnancy. These are often inaccurate or at least as accurate as your date by your period. If you are unsure of your last normal menstrual period date, then you will want to have an ultrasound as early as possible. Ultrasounds performed before 12 weeks are more accurate for dating purposes.

Related:

_Sources:

_{Engle, W.A., et al, and the Committee on Fetus and Newborn. "Late-Preterm" Infants: A Population at Risk. Pediatrics, Volume 120, Number 6, December 2007, Pages 1390-1401.}

_{Tomashek, K., et al. Differences in Mortality Between Late-Preterm and Term Singleton Infants in the United States. Journal of Pediatrics, Volume 15, November 2007, pages 450-456.}

_{Engle, W.A., et al, and the Committee on Fetus and Newborn. "Late-Preterm" Infants: A Population at Risk. Pediatrics, Volume 120, Number 6, December 2007, Pages 1390-1401.}

_{Tita, A., et al., The Eunice Kennedy Shriver NICHD Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network, Timing of Elective Repeat Cesarean Delivery at Term and Neonatal Outcomes N Engl J Med 2009 360: 111-120}

Just a Little Early... originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 10:30:21.

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