Rumors that female bodybuilders and athletes struggle with infertility more often than the general population have been in existence for a long time. Is this really true? It might be if you listen to the story of Sarah Joyce, a United States competitive distance runner. Sarah Joyce, from Indiapolis, had no trouble at all running 60 Miles a week and had no body fat at all. But the female runner, in her twenties, did have trouble getting pregnant. She is now 30 years old and has a newborn daughter, and decided to speak about her experiences. Read the rest of this entry »
Can you be “too fit” to conceive a baby?
September 2nd, 2010Reasons to keep your baby’s gender a surprise until birth
September 2nd, 2010Just like there are some very good reasons to find out your baby’s gender through an ultrasound, during your pregnancy, there are also great reasons to keep your baby’s gender a surprise until you give birth. Modern medicine, which makes nearly everything possible – or so it sometimes seems – gives most expectant parents the chance to find out if they are expecting a boy or a girl. But of course, the decision is ultimately yours. Here are some reasons some parents choose to keep their baby’s gender a surprise until birth.
Reasons to find out your baby’s gender before birth
September 2nd, 2010With ultrasounds being extremely common, and most pregnant women having at least one and probably several over the course of their pregnancies, most mothers to be now have the possibility to find out the gender of their baby before birth. I would say that the vast majority of expectant parents opts to try and find out whether they are having a girl or a boy before their baby is born, at least in the United States. What are their reasons to want to know their baby’s gender in advance? If you are still debating if you should ask the ultrasound tech what gender your baby is, here are some compelling reasons to find out.
When your parents, family or friends don’t like your chosen baby name
September 2nd, 2010Your pregnancy is a magical time in which you begin to adjust to the challenges of motherhood. There is plenty to be excited about when you are expecting a baby, and choosing a name is definitely one of them! But what if you have picked a name, and your mother, or even worse, your mother in law, keeps suggesting other names, or makes it very clear that they are not happy about your chosen baby name? It seems like everyone thinks they have a right to interfere and make hurtful comments about the name that you think is just perfect! Mothers and mothers in law are especially good at this, but other relatives and friends enjoy interfering in this just as much! If you have already publicly announced what you will name your baby, how do you cope with people who don’t like your chosen name?
How do you know when your baby is due if you had irregular cycles?
September 1st, 2010When you go for your first prenatal appointment after having a positive at-home pregnancy test, the first question your chosen healthcare provider is bound to ask is, “When was your last menstrual period?”. Believe it or not, the same question is extremely likely to come up at subsequent appointments too, even though they should have written it down, and calculated your due date on the basis of the date you provided. After asking about your last menstrual period – often called simply LPM in pregnancy jargon – you are going to meet with questions about your ovulation dates, and when you got your positive pregnancy test. But what if you had irregular menstrual cycles, and your LMP does not hold much relevance for you? Or what if you simply don’t know when you had your last period? How will you know when your baby is due in those cases?
Prenatal care – why blood tests are carried out
September 1st, 2010Blood tests are all but inevitable during pregnancy. No matter if you chose an OB, a midwife, or even a general practitioner for your prenatal care, pregnant women can hardly escape blood tests. “Congratulations on your pregnancy! Can I have many vials of your blood, please?” I not really something you want to hear, but I can assure you that you are going to. Knowing what tests your blood is used for might make you less resentful of the nurse with the syringe. We’ll look into the purpose of blood tests as part of your regular prenatal care today.
What to expect from a prenatal appointment with a midwife
September 1st, 2010If you have chosen a midwife as your healthcare provider, the chances are that your prenatal care will be more personal. Midwives, whether we’re talking about Certified Nurse Midwives, Certified Professional Midwives, or direct entry midwives, are known for their ability to listen to pregnant women and support them. Midwives tend to see pregnancy as a natural event that just needs a little guidance, and their approach is less medical than those of obstetricians, which is no surprise given the fact they are surgeons! But at the same time, midwives are very skilled professionals who will be able to monitor your health and your baby’s health, to make sure everything is going well. So, what exactly will a midwife normally do at your typical prenatal appointment?
Prenatal testing for Down Syndrome
August 31st, 2010Down Syndrome, also known as Trisomy 21, is a medical condition that almost everyone knows about. Additional genetic material causes developmental delays and physical conditions in patients with Down Syndrome. Some people with Down Syndrome function relatively normally and do not need much medical attention, while others have a myriad of problems. Some Down Syndrome patients do suffer from many medical problems, including heart problems. Prenatal testing for Down Syndrome is a personal decision. There are different factors that need to be taken into account when deciding whether or not to test for Down Syndrome.
Expecting twins – what you need to know about your pregnancy
August 31st, 2010Twin pregnancies are on the rise. More twins are being born now than ever before. Fertility treatments play a large part in twin statistics, but of course you can get pregnant with twins totally naturally as well! For many women, being pregnant with twins means a change of plans. Their plans for the future change, because they will need a lot more help, organization, and baby items! But their pregnancies are different as well. If you are expecting twins, what do you need to know about your pregnancy?
Tips to prevent too much pregnancy weight gain
August 31st, 2010Many women go into their pregnancies worrying about gaining weight. This whole attitude is only strengthened by many doctors, who are obsessed with weighing women every time they come to prenatal appointments. I guess most women worry about putting on too much weight in pregnancy, and wonder if they will be able to get rid of that excess weight after they give birth. It is perfectly understandable that you don’t want to look like you are six months pregnant with a newborn in arms! Let’s look at ways to prevent gaining too much weight in pregnancy, without worrying too much. After all, pregnancy is hardly the time to go on a diet!
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