Tag Archives: pregnancy

Mucho Macho Pains: Two Husbands Experience Simulated Labor (ouch!)


Posted on May 21, 2013 by

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For those who have experienced labor and childbirth, the pain can be indescribable. I can recall many moms talking about how, during labor, their husbands acted like they were over exaggerating or acting dramatic. Since males cannot experience the pains of pregnancy naturally, some smarty-pants scientists came up with a way of simulating labor pains via abdominal electrodes. I came across this video a couple of days ago (which has gone viral) in which two husbands get hooked to electrode-simulated labor-pains as their wives watch on (see the wives high-five about half way through, ha ha!). What a nice way for these guys to identify with the strength and courage moms everywhere!

Ever Heard of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome?


Posted on January 21, 2013 by

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pcos1Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is an imbalance of the sex hormones estrogen, progesterone, and androgen. It causes symptoms that are easily explained by other things and aren’t obviously linked, so getting diagnosed can be a frustrating process.

The symptoms include irregular periods or lack of periods altogether. Virilization, or gaining male-sexed characteristics, can also occur, like growing body hair on the chest, face, or other areas. People with PCOS may also experience thinning of hair, acne, darkening of skin, and deepening of the voice. PCOS is also affiliated with diabetes, hypertension, & obesity. It causes higher risk of endometrial cancer, breast cancer and infertility, and in fact most women with PCOS will have difficulty getting pregnant.

To diagnose, the provider may do a pelvic exam to look for swollen ovaries. There are also blood tests to determine hormone and glucose levels. There is no specific test, so your healthcare provider will make his or her diagnosis based on test results, exam results, your medical history, and your symptoms combined.

Once you are diagnosed, treatment is largely based around managing your symptoms. Your provider may recommend trying to lose weight to fight your increased risk of diabetes or high cholesterol. There are also medications to treat abnormal hair growth. Metformin, a diabetes drug, may also be prescribed to regulate periods and prevent diabetes. If you don’t want to get pregnant, birth control pills can help control your menstrual cycle and clear acne. If you do want to get pregnant, there is a medication called Clomiphene to stimulate ovulation. Once pregnant, you will need extra monitoring due to increased risk of high blood pressure and gestational diabetes.

Unfortunately, there is no cure and no one answer to managing PCOS, but a combination of lifestyle modifications and medications are necessary.

If you are living with PCOS, check out these links:

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association, Inc: “An all-volunteer grass-roots organization that is operated by women with PCOS and those who support them.”

The PCOS Foundation. They have a support group program.

Things Not to Say to a Pregnant Woman


Posted on December 27, 2012 by

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I am now 38 weeks pregnant.
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I am obviously very pregnant to friends, family and strangers. It can be really fun and exciting for people to notice and ask you how far along you are, but it can also be a little intrusive or annoying.  Here are a few of the comments that my friends and I have received.

- A friend and I were at the gym and an older woman came up to my friend and asked her when her due date was and if she wanted her hand-me-down baby clothes. She was not pregnant! It also made her feel even more self-conscious about her weight, which is why she was at the gym!

- I have had 8-10 different people ask me if I planned the pregnancy. These individuals obviously don’t know me because if they did they would know that it was a very planned pregnancy. This is not a question you should ask unless you know the person very well.

- I have had a slew of comments from elderly men. I was in the checkout line and the man behind me pointed at my belly and very loudly asked the cashier if she was going to charge me for the watermelon. I had another man stop me as I was leaving a restaurant and tell me that the song, “Any Day Now” came to mind for him as he starred at my belly. The others have just made comments about how I must be giving birth soon because, “I look like I’m going to pop any second.”

- I have had several friends who were asked when they were expecting and they had already had their babies several months ago. They were not happy campers!

I am posting this blog because it is funny, but also to caution anyone who might be well-intentioned but could end up sticking their foot in their mouth. I also caution people to ask if someone is pregnant unless they are really sure, because I have had several friends who were thin and visibly showing, but miscarried around 4-5 months. For more comments on what people shouldn’t say, but have to pregnant women, visit Baby Center.

Smoking For Two and Why You Should Quit Now


Posted on December 25, 2012 by

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We all have our vices but smoking is one of the hardest addictions for people to quit. I have seen family members, coworkers, and friends who have all battled or are still battling their addiction to cigarettes. With that said, I can’t think of a better reason to quit than the health of your baby. Smoking during pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth, prematurity, and low birth weight. It can also decrease the amount of oxygen and nutrients you supply to your baby and increase the baby’s chances of developing respiratory problems later in life. It is also important to note that second-hand smoke is harmful to the developing fetus. If a pregnant woman is continuously exposed to second hand smoke, it can increase the risk of mother and baby developing lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema, allergies, asthma, SIDS, and other health problems.

If you are someone you know is thinking about becoming pregnant or is pregnant and would like to quit smoking, here are several tips.

  • Change your habits and replace smoking with mints or sugarless gum when you have the urge to smoke.
  • Find something that helps you relieve stress in a positive way like Zumba, walking, or a pottery class.
  • Avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages because they can stimulate your urge to smoke.
  • Throw away all lighters, matches, cigarettes, and smoking devices.
  • Tell your family, friends, and coworkers that you are quitting and you do not want them to smoke around you or at your home.
  • Do not go to places (i.e. bars) where a lot of people are smoking.
  • For support in quitting, including free quit coaching, a free quit plan, free educational materials, and referrals to local resources in your state, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visit the website.
  • Some counties and states also provide free aides like nicotine patches and gum.
  • Contact your local Healthy Start to find free or low cost programs to help pregnant or parenting mothers.

Old Wives’ Tales: Is it a Boy or a Girl?


Posted on December 24, 2012 by

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When I was pregnant people everywhere would stop and ask two questions: “How far along are you?” and “What are you having?” I could always answer the first question, but I chose not to find out what I was having until she was born. Then, of course, everyone wants to take a guess. People judged on the shape of my belly, the “moons” in my fingernails, growth pattern of my hair, looking at me from behind, etc. etc.

To have some fun with it, I put together all of the old wives’ tales I could find about predicting the sex of a baby and used them as a game at my baby shower. Want to play along? Just answer the questions below and add up the number of times you get boy or girl. (P.S. I found that sometimes the answer didn’t apply.) (P.S.S. Only an ultrasound can give you the correct answer.)

What are you craving?
Sour/salty/protein: boy
Sweets: girl
Which way does your pillow face?
North: boy
South: girl
Morning sickness in first trimester?
Yes: girl
No: boy
Chinese Lunar Calendar – Add the month in which the baby was conceived with your age at the time of conception:
Even number: boy
Odd number: girl
Where is mom gaining weight?
In front: boy
In hips or rear: girl
Is partner gaining weight during pregnancy?
Yes: boy
No: girl
Is baby’s heart rate is above 140 beats per minute?
Yes: girl
No: boy
Hair growth on your legs?
Faster: boy
Same rate: girl
Carrying baby high or low?
Low: boy
High: girl
Baby’s activity level?
Very active: boy
Calmer: girl
Hands chapped/dry or softer?
Chapped: boy
Softer: girl
Eating more or sick/nauseated?
Eating more: boy
Sick: girl
Can people tell you are pregnant from the back?  Or are you pregnant all over?
Just from back: boy
All over: girl
Which breast is bigger during pregnancy?
Left: boy
Right: girl
During the pregnancy, have you been crabby or happy?
Crabby: girl
Happy: boy
Which side do you lie on when resting?
Left: boy
Right: girl
During the pregnancy, have you been clumsy or graceful?
Clumsy: boy
Graceful: girl
Did the older sibling say mom or dad first?
Mama: girl
Dada: boy
Consider the mother’s age at conception and the year of conception.
Both even or both odd: girl
One is even and one is odd: boy
Hair growth on nape of first child?
Grows into V shape: opposite sex of first
Grows straight across: same sex of first

Soooo, what are your results? Tell us in the comments section.

Bring It On! Tips to Bring On Labor


Posted on December 19, 2012 by

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I am now at 39 weeks and want my baby to arrive yesterday! I am ready to not be pregnant anymore. During my last visit to my obstetrician/gynecologist, I asked if there were any natural methods to help speed up the process and hopefully get this baby out!

Here are the tips that I would like to share with you that may help your baby make its appearance sooner than later. I was told that these methods only work if you are right at the edge of going into labor.

(Note: Always consult with your medical provider before trying any of these methods.)

  • Sex. This is the last thing I want to do with the substantial watermelon that is taking up my entire midsection. They recommend sex every 4 hours to receive an adequate dose of prostaglandin. (I don’t know about you, but I cannot imagine having sex every 4 hours even when I wasn’t pregnant!) This method is supposed to help move things along by using the small amounts of prostaglandin found in each dose of semen to soften the cervix.
  • Nipple Stimulation. This may release oxytocin, the natural form of Pitocin. You can rub your nipples yourself, have a partner do it for you, or run hot water over your chest for approximately 10 minutes, 3 times a day. My doctor said it may or may not work – but it is fun, so why not give it a go?
  • Evening Primrose Oil. This may help to soften the cervix and act as a prostaglandin. Most medical providers recommend inserting a capsule at night right before you go to bed.
  • Stripping or Sweeping the Membranes. This is usually done at 40 weeks and is performed by a doctor, nurse, or midwife. The medical provider places their fingers into the opening of the cervix and separates the amniotic sac from the uterus. The procedure can be pretty uncomfortable and feel like very strong menstrual cramps that may accompany spotting. I have friends that swear by this and have stated that their labor began the next day to two days after the procedure was administered.

There are several things that the ob-gyn stated do not work but many people will still try.

  • Spicy food. This does nothing to help labor along, but could cause indigestion or heartburn in some women. I thankfully have not had any problems with spicy food, but many women cannot tolerate it during pregnancy.
  • Walking. This is a great way to stay in shape, help alleviate hip and leg discomfort, help with varicose veins, and reduce stress. This might help women during the early stages of labor, but there is no evidence to suggest that it does anything to help induce labor.
  • Acupuncture. This has not been studied in the United States but has been used in different parts of Asia for centuries to help kick start labor.
  • Massage. This is something that several friends have told me helps to reduce the amount of time you are in labor, but I haven’t heard anyone state that it helped induce labor. If nothing else, it is something that feels good and is relaxing.
  • Castor Oil. This can cause explosive diarrhea and dehydration. My medical provider is strongly against this method.
  • Black or Blue Cohosh. This method can cause a lot of bleeding and may act like estrogen in the body. This was also something I was warned not to try.
If any of these methods ended up working for me, I’ll make sure to pass it on!

The Other Walk of Shame: From the Pregnancy Test Aisle to the Check-Out Counter


Posted on December 12, 2012 by

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Recently a patient told me that she had waited a couple of extra weeks to confirm she was pregnant because she was too embarrassed to purchase a pregnancy test from a store where the clerk might size her up. I felt compassion for her, since I’ve had my share of run-ins with mean mugging at the register.

If you’ve had an unintended pregnancy scare, you likely can relate to the hyper-vigilant nature of securing the test, the adrenaline of peeing on the stick, and your booming heartbeat in your head as the timer ticks down so casually… one line or two… one line or two…

So last week I was with a friend who was in said position. She was late on her period, had been feeling very moody, and feared the big plus sign. It was early on a Sunday morning, and Planned Parenthood was closed, so we decided to head to our local pharmacy. After weaving through the brightly lit aisles, we finally came to the wall of pregnancy tests. Deciding which one to choose was daunting task enough, (check out E.G. Hanna’s post on how to choose a pregnancy test for help with that!) but since she had me with her, I tried to muster up enough medical sense to choose an appropriate set of sticks. I was shocked at the sticker price of many of these… $30? Again, Planned Parenthood for the win, at $10 testing!!

So after selecting the test, she asked me if I would take it to the counter and purchase it since she was overwhelmed by nerves and didn’t think she could make it through the encounter. Of course, sisterhood is forever!

She walked to the car and I walked up to the register. A man who appeared to be in his early 20’s stood there as I approached, and as I placed the cardboard box of anxiety on the counter, he literally said “ooooooooh, damn!” and chuckled. A wave of rage coursed through my veins; I was shocked! The complete lack of empathy and awareness that this dude was exhibiting made me sick. I felt ashamed for my purchase, like I needed to justify my situation to this stranger; it was not the weight of my entire future sitting on my shoulders, just my dearest friend’s who was cowering in the parking lot, terrified. I wasn’t the one who’d had unprotected sex, I was really responsible, I promise, blah blah blah, justify justify justify, shame, humiliation, embarrassment…. Evoked. Really, Dude? Really?!

Impulsively, I snapped my attention right to educating this guy about the lack of tact he was exhibiting, and how inappropriate it was given the situation. I told him what he had done was incredibly rude and insensitive. He responded with a certain shock and shame of his own; he began apologizing and saying he was “just kidding.” I told him it really wasn’t a joking matter. I told him that half of all pregnancies are unplanned, and that many people who are purchasing these types of tests are incredibly stressed and anxious, and by drawing public scrutiny to a very private matter, he was unnecessarily humiliating me. He dropped his cool vibe and got real with me. He told me he was sorry, and that his girlfriend had an unintended pregnancy and that they now have a kid together. He got “real” about how tense and stressful the whole situation was. He apologized for his remarks.

TEACHABLE MOMENT TAUGHT!

I thanked him, took the bag, and headed back to the parking lot. I spared my friend the details of the check out, as she had narrowly dodged the humiliation bullet and was stressed enough. We went back to her apartment, she peed, I talked her down, and then we found the results to be “negative.” Her period eventually came a few days later, and we praised that menstrual flow.

So, friends, the real deal is that people who work in stores that sell pregnancy tests are not formally trained in the art of tact and sensitivity regarding these issues. If you have a similar experience, I hope you will have the gusto to make it a teachable moment, but I understand if the redness of your cheeks won’t allow it. Might I then suggest another option? Planned Parenthood!

Yes, Planned Parenthood offers low cost pregnancy tests, and will administer them with sensitivity, professionalism, and confidentiality. We will provide you with informational resources if you are pregnant, and can discuss better family planning strategies with you if you’re not.

Hyperemesis Gravidarium?, or How to Deal With Severe Morning Sickness


Posted on December 4, 2012 by

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Perhaps you’ve heard the news published all over the world – Prince William and his wife, Kate, are expecting a little royal baby!

Poor Kate, though, was hospitalized with hyperemesis gravidarum, also known as severe morning sickness. So, we’re tackling the topic on how to deal with the wrongly-termed “morning sickness” – it should really be called “ill-at-any-time-of-the-day” sickness.

Mom craving picklesIt is believed that morning sickness is an evolved trait that keeps any mom-ingested toxins from getting to the fetus and is related to increase estrogen levels during pregnancy. Besides following your doctor’s advice throughout your pregnancy, we gathered a few tried methods of treating the symptoms of morning sickness:

  • Keep crackers beside your bed. A dry cracker or two before you get out of bed may help; just don’t get the crumbs everywhere or you’ll be nauseous and cranky.
  • Keep hydrated and make a special effort to drink water or fruit juice a half hour after eating solid food. If you have problems with acid, avoid citrus/tomato acid provocateurs and go for grape or apple. If liquids don’t stay down, ice cubes and hard candy is the next step.
  • When smells make you nauseous: cut up some fresh lemons, bring a baggie to work with a few slices for lunchtime and other odors you can’t always avoid
  • Eat cabbage. Yes, you read that right. You can go back to hating it after the birth.
  • Don’t go for the empty stomach even if that sounds good to you. Eat small snacks frequently and avoid large meals; don’t let yourself go hungry.
  • Ginger: ginger tea, ginger ale, ginger snaps. Some recommend staying away from capsules for pharmacological reasons, but the natural introduction of ginger can be soothing.
  • Obey the cravings. Yes. Indulge. Don’t overdo it but if you need a little pickle and ice cream fix, go for it. Just keep it small and oh-so-satisfying. Until the next time.

As always, follow your doctor’s advice because if your morning sickness is extreme, an anti-nausea medication may have to be prescribed. Morning sickness aside, we hope these recommendations help make your pregnancy a joyful (and mostly vomit-free) experience!