Robin's Pregnancy / Birth Blog

Pregnancy & Childbirth

Robin's Pregnancy / Birth Blog

By Robin Elise Weiss, LCCE, About.com Guide to Pregnancy / Birth since 1997

Due Date Clubs!

Wednesday December 3, 2008

If you're looking for someone to share the ups and downs of pregnancy with, look no further than our expectant mothers clubs based on due dates. Simply choose month you're due and get going:

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Ultrasounds for Fun: Yes or No

Tuesday December 2, 2008

We've been discussing the ultrasounds that you pay for that are not ordered by your doctor, known as keepsake ultrasounds. There is obviously not one opinion, but a lot of good points, including: who does them, what happens if they see something, what about guests at an ultrasound. Our readers are a well educated bunch and bring up several issues that were very interesting, including the cultural perspective. But what it comes down to is should ultrasounds purely for fun be allowed? What are your thoughts?

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Tips for Pregnancy Tests

Monday December 1, 2008

So, your period is late. Your breasts are sore. You might even be having some nausea. What are the first signs of pregnancy? Are you pregnant? Pregnancy tests are certainly one kind of test you want to prepare for before hand, particularly if you're having pregnancy symptoms. Being ready for test day does involve some preparation and prior knowledge. Here are tips to getting it right the first time whether you're using the ept, First Response or other brands...

While you're checking out the pregnancy tests, you might want to see some pregnancy pictures in our newly updated Belly Gallery.

Are you confident in your home pregnancy test results?

See the poll results.

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_{Photo (c) EyeWire}

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Returning from Maternity Leave

Sunday November 30, 2008

I've got a co-worker returning from her maternity leave this morning. While I'm anxious to talk to her and have her back, I also know she's anxious about being back, for many reasons. We often talk about how much time to take off of work, or when to take that time, but little attention is paid to what to do when you go back to work after having a baby.

What is your biggest worry about work after baby?

See the poll results.

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Pregnancy Jokes and Humor - What's in a name?

Saturday November 29, 2008

So I was reading our Humor Guide's list of aptonyms, names that are perfectly suitable for someone or their job, and couldn't help but be tickled by some of the names I've heard for obstetricians, midwives, lactation consultants and others in the pregnancy field. So I thought it might be fun to share with you some I've heard and see what you can add to the list just be sure to tell us the name and profession.

Dr. Hyman (Obstetrician)
Dr. Pain (Obstetrician)
Dr. Beaver (Obstetrician)

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Prenatal Testing Basics

Friday November 28, 2008

I just attended a birth yesterday where the mom was lamenting that she felt like she had had every invasive test known to man in her pregnancy. The wide variety of prenatal tests available in pregnancy always made my head swim. Which test was best for what problem and what posed the least risk to me and my baby - that was what I wanted to know. I've compiled a quick list of the most common prenatal tests and answers to common questions about how they are used in pregnancy. Hopefully this will help you find what you're looking for in prenatal tests.

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_{Photo (c) A.D.A.M.}

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Where were you when your water blew?

Thursday November 27, 2008

So, we've been discussing where you were when your water broke. Some of the stories are really hilarious and others you can just breathe a sigh of relief for mom. Here are some of the ones I laughed at and identified with:

"Had just gotten into bed and was reaching up to turn off the light when I heard the pop and yelled for dh to get towels (fortunately I had put a water proof mattress pad on the bed months before). Lovely ride to the hospital with folded towels in my already too small pants in below freezing temps."
"Logan's sac was opened during the c-section delivery. It was the weirdest feeling. My OB estimates that Logan had 5x the amount of fluid most have. It went everywhere and got everyone. As soon as the OB did it, I remember saying, 'Oh I can breathe again!' Everyone just laughed."

Did you know that your water breaking at the start of labor only happens about 13% of the time? Doesn't sound very movie-like, but it's memorable none the less! Add your water breaking story!

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Travel in Pregnancy

Wednesday November 26, 2008

It's the day 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.

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Pregnancy & Make Up

Tuesday November 25, 2008

I remember walking into work when I was about 13 weeks pregnant with twins. I hadn't told my co-workers about the babies yet, but they knew something was up. Finally one of the nice ladies from the front office came back with a bowl of chicken noodle soup, "Honey, you look awful! Just drained, maybe you need to go home and rest awhile." The problem was that I actually felt better than I looked! I didn't go into work again without putting on some blush.

Beyond that my skin changed with each pregnancy. One pregnancy I'd be oily and full of acne like a teen and the next my skin was dry and itching. I couldn't win. So, what do you do about pregnancy and your skin care? Do you wear the same old make up? Or forget it all together? These tips and tricks for pregnancy make up might be helpful.

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_{Photo Courtesy of iStockPhoto}

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Do You Recognize the 25 Early Pregnancy Symptoms?

Monday November 24, 2008

Are you trying to get pregnant? Trying to figure out if you're pregnant or not can be a big deal. I know that my first sign of pregnancy is different than most people - I get horribly, can't-get-your-head-out-of-bed exhausted. This usually happens before a late period even. Some women know they are pregnant from the time of conception, because they are so tuned in to their bodies. Sore breasts rank fairly high on the list of new signs of pregnancy. Other women need that pregnancy test to show them what they may be wondering about. What was your first pregnancy symptom?

What was your first pregnancy symptom?

See the poll results.

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