March, 2009

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Diet, foods to avoid

Sunday, March 15th, 2009

You!  Dont even think about it

Well ladies, lets forget about all that damned freedom shall we! Pregnancy has more rules than a stimulus package. OK lets kick off the Spanish inquisition.
Fun! NOOOOOOOOOOooooo, lets deal with the good things you will miss if you are anything like me.

  • Alcohol although lets not get totally carried away, my Mum had the odd wine carrying me and I turned out a fat little baby. However if you are tipsy the baby is probably unconscious (as it is smaller) Avoid.
  • Coffee, Caffeine, Energy Drinks, this includes Redbull. Caffeine has been linked to miscarriage, birth defects and SIDS,
  • Artificial Sweeteners You are going to have to read the label here. They are found in soft drinks, deserts, chewing gum and lollies. Avoid completely.
  • Fish and Seafood Opinion varies a little here but my advice is to avoid it. Omega3 are excellent for the baby so I would consider supplements for this. If you are really determined to eat some fish research the possible mercury content and ensure it’s well cooked. Especially avoid sushi and sashimi.
  • Chamomile and other herbal teas can have harmful effects on the baby
  • Peanuts Eating these is thought to possibly make baby allergic, best to avoid
  • Raw or undercooked meat Enough said.
  • Soft cheeses, goats Cheeses, unpasturized milks or cheeses It hurts me to include camembert brie and blue veined.
  • Liver No Pate for you. Vitamin A can be especially dangerous.
  • Honey Actually its quite OK. But don’t feed it to the baby later as there is a small risk of infant botulism
  • Deli Foods These are problematic because of listeria bacteria.
    Processed and sliced meats salami, smoked meats are a NO NO. Skip any foods served from open containers.
  • Pre-prepared salads Eat fresh and make your own
  • Uncooked eggs such as found in hollandaise sauce. Avoid.

Ok thats a big list.. I warned you your civil liberties would be grossly infringed :-)
Eat carefully comrades.
{+}
Cheers

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Caesarean Csection Pros and Cons

Friday, March 13th, 2009
This guy turned out ok

This guy turned out ok

Pros and Cons
The “C-Section” or Caesarean birth is getting more and more common and is no longer just an emergency procedure. What attitude should you take towards it? Some women are strong as an ox and others are more sensitive and frail. Which are you? Our view on this depends on whether we see the world as too medicalized. Others strongly recommend the home birth, midwife, natural scenario. Considerations of pain and vaginal tone drive many women’s decisions. It also used to be that once you have given birth with this method you have to stick with it.
The procedure has a long history. Our infamous friend, Julius Caesar, supposedly entered the world this way, possibly providing the name.
Undoubtedly it has also gotten safer over time. What is involved? There is a horizontal incision across the lower portion of the uterus.
A modern caesareans’ scar is below the “bikini line” cosmetically. There is obviously a lot less trauma to the vagina in a C-section birth. Caesar babies tend to be prettier. You probably would be too if your head wasn’t squashed.

Recovering from labor and delivery is somewhat different if you undergo a cesarean section. There are the same pains as your uterus contracts back down to normal size. Usually you are up and walking within 24 hrs. This is uncomfortable but helps relieve the gas build-up. You might expect 3-5 days in hospital. The pain usually fades during this time and you get pain medication.

You shouldn’t lift anything heavier than your baby until you recover.

My sister-in-law claimed she could easily “spit out” an average weight baby. While my sister had two children both caesarean - she wanted to avoid the pain of labour. Don’t forget, with all the advice, in the end its up to you.

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Exercise during Pregnancy?

Wednesday, March 11th, 2009
Not recommended

Not recommended

Hi Girls!
Maybe limbo dancing is out for now but….
You tell me… how much exercise did you do before you were pregnant?
Carrying a baby is a pretty physical thing. Many wonder ….what about my body afterwards?
If you are a supermodel, fine. when the baby’s born the nanny can take full care while you concentrate on the body beautiful. Going to the gym, the beautician, and the cosmetic surgeon if necessary.
Reality: try to eat right and look after yourself emotionally while trying to deal with 3am screaming demands for feeds, a magic laundry basket that seems to never empty.

Ok there are several conditions that can totally mess with exercising:

  • Multiple pregnancy
  • Vaginal bleeding
  • Pregnancy-induced high blood pressure
  • Incompetent cervix
  • Intrauterine growth retardation
  • Ruptured membranes
  • Headaches
  • Chest pain

Yes it’s a good idea to check any exercise program you are considering - Is it appropriate for a pregnant woman.
If not, big deal - take a walk, best with a friend , low impact and keep the gossip flowing and the pace reasonable.
Face it - you’re pregnant , expect that maybe you don’t have the energy. But do try to keep fairly active and in contact with your own interests - just don’t overdo it!

Aunty's favorite, more fun than fish and chips

Aunty's favorite, more fun than fish and chips

Aunty Stretchmark’s Tips and Reminders
One way to check that you are not exercising too hard is: Can you still talk freely? If not ease up.
Don’t let your blood sugar fall too fast. This means easing up on processed foods that can cause a quick crash after an early boost.
I hope you’re eating a well-balanced diet. Usually, pregnancy increases your requirements by 300 calories a day, exercise even more.
Avoid jarring and risky sports. Overheating yourself is also a big no-no. This is another reason I like water aerobics so much.
Oh.. and yes, drink lots and lots of water.

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Sex during pregnancy

Monday, March 2nd, 2009
SEX: NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS

SEX: NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS

Ok here is a big one… Sex during Pregnancy. Da chicken and da egg.  Most of us like sex. Especially me.  That’s how we get pregnant. Make sense?

Hormones make us want to have sex and you have  plenty of these when you are pregnant. Many of us feel a LOT hornier about now. We also feel a bit guilty and wonder if it can hurt the baby. By the way the penis does not come into contact with the fetus during sex. You baby is safe in the the amniotic sac and protected by strong muscles around the uterus.

So hey, if your pregnancy is a normal one, you can keep doing the bad bad thing right until those waters break.

The second trimester can be the best for sex. The extra blood flow works a bit like viagra.  Guys can be a bit wierd about pregnant sex. Some feel uneasy and others like it, well,  just a bit too damn much. Perverts!

Should we go all Kama Sutra on you? We could draw kinky diagrams on butchers paper. If you have been a plain-vanilla-missionary type of a girl it might be a good time to experiment. You might try on the side or on top or semi supported or oral.  A pregnant girlfriend of mine had her first multiple orgasm the other day.

Some of us arent so lucky. There are conditions that interfere with sex. These can include

  • recent vaginal bleeding or cramping
  • preterm labour
  • placenta praevia, an oddly positioned placenta
  • incompetent cervix,  with a risk of miscarriage or premature delivery
  • multiple fetuses

But for most of us, just like the sex pistols say, lets see a bit more Anarchy in the UK.

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