- Accessibility: You want to be sure that you will be able to meet with your doctor on your schedule. Obviously the doctor will be busy, but if their schedule doesn't work with yours, that relationship will be short lived.
- Gender: Some women feel comfortable with a male doctor, others need a female. This is a personal preference. There are great doctors, both male and female, and as long as you are comfortable with him or her, you will be taken care of.
- Distance: You will be making several trips to the hospital or doctor's office. It will be important that the drive is not miserable and an easy route is available.
- Philosophy: An interview with a perspective doctor is never a bad idea. Make sure you and the doctor see eye-to-eye on the important aspects of your pregnancy.
Four Things to Remember when Choosing Your Doctor
An important aspect of any pregnancy and something I can't leave out of my pregnancy blogs is the doctor. Due to various circumstances, I had to meet with a few doctors before I was finally able to settle on the doctor that would be with me through the delivery. Each doctor was great and I was able to gain something from each one. Here are 4 things to remember about choosing a doctor during pregnancy:
What to know about pregnancy
Wow. If someone asked me: 'What to know about pregnancy?' Before I got pregnant, I probably wouldn't have said much. I mean yes, you have to take your prenatal vitamins and you feel tired and you have cravings and all that, but wow... There is so much to know about pregnancy.
You have to think about naming the baby, finding an OBGYN, thinking about a pediatrician, who will give me a baby shower, how many pairs of newborn clothes should I buy... The questions are endless. I could write pregnancy blog post after blog post with all there is to think about.
The best advice I can give is to take it one day at a time. That is what I've tried to do this entire pregnancy and it has kept me fairly sane. We live in a time period with very smart doctors and wonderful technology. Pregnancy isn't what it once was and there we have come a long way. So what is there to know about pregnancy? My answer: Take it slow and enjoy the ride.
You have to think about naming the baby, finding an OBGYN, thinking about a pediatrician, who will give me a baby shower, how many pairs of newborn clothes should I buy... The questions are endless. I could write pregnancy blog post after blog post with all there is to think about.
The best advice I can give is to take it one day at a time. That is what I've tried to do this entire pregnancy and it has kept me fairly sane. We live in a time period with very smart doctors and wonderful technology. Pregnancy isn't what it once was and there we have come a long way. So what is there to know about pregnancy? My answer: Take it slow and enjoy the ride.
Angry Birds for Pregnancy
About 5 months into my pregnancy we got an iPad in our family. It has been great to have a new toy to play with that is so mobile. Our favorite game so far is Angry Birds. It is great to sit down and play and take my mind off the pains of pregnancy. The best part is that this app comes out with updates and new levels frequently. Recently they came out with a Valentine's Day version. Here is a peek what it looked like:
What's in a name?
Ever since I began writing my pregnancy blogs we have been discussing what name to give the little one. How do we choose a baby name? Should we use a family name or get creative? These are all considerations that we have to think about. We want our little one to like the name, a name to be proud of. We also want to have the name ready. We don't want to be in the hospital for a few days and have our baby remain nameless. So here we go. We round up our collection of baby name books and get to work!
Great deal on books
Hey all, I know this isn't related to my pregnancy blogs, but I wanted to share a cool site I found. As you can imagine, I've been sick lately and I have needed to find ways to stay occupied. Netflix, Hulu, and TV only offer so much entertainment, so I've turned to books.
BookCloseOuts.com is amazing. They have a huge selection and a wide variety of books to offer. There is seriously something for everyone. I get what I want, I find neat gifts for my family and friends, PLUS I can stock up on cute books for the little one.
So yeah, this is an honest endorsement, BookCloseOuts.com is the real deal!
BookCloseOuts.com is amazing. They have a huge selection and a wide variety of books to offer. There is seriously something for everyone. I get what I want, I find neat gifts for my family and friends, PLUS I can stock up on cute books for the little one.
So yeah, this is an honest endorsement, BookCloseOuts.com is the real deal!
Five of the Best Foods to Eat When You're Pregnant
It's very important to eat a nutrient-rich diet to maintain good health, but it becomes even more important when you're "eating for two."
There are many key nutrients pregnant women need to ensure they get plenty of, including calcium, iron, folate, protein and vitamins A through E. Fortunately, it is not difficult to find many delicious and healthy sources of these nutrients -- the five foods below all contain more than one of them, and are therefore ideal choices for managing health and nutrition for pregnant women.
1. Low-fat milk. Best known as an excellent source of calcium, which not only creates strong bones and teeth but also aids the function of nerves and muscles, milk provides protein, as well, and is often fortified with vitamin D. Some other good low-fat dairy options: cottage cheese and yogurt. (Check labels for the calcium percentage, however, as these may not be as high per portion as milk. Also, these products are usually not vitamin-fortified.)
2. Lean meats. Lean cuts of beef and pork provide protein and iron that you and your growing baby need; two of the many benefits of getting enough iron are that it can help prevent low birth weight and premature delivery. Some other good iron-packed proteins, especially if you're not a meat eater: legumes. (See lentils below.)
3. Lentils. In addition to iron and protein, which is an important source of energy that aids in cell repair, legumes like lentils are an excellent source of digestion-aiding dietary fiber. Some other good legumes to include: chick peas, black-eyed peas, navy beans and kidney beans.
4. Strawberries. A source of fiber and vitamin C, among other nutrients, strawberries are a smart choice for a sweet treat. Vitamin C boosts the immune system and significantly improves the body's absorption of iron. Some other good choices for vitamin C: citrus fruit, broccoli, tomatoes.
5. Spinach. Like its fellow dark green leafy vegetables, spinach is not undeserving of its reputation as a nutritional powerhouse: its many nutrients include several vitamins, iron, calcium and folate, which is essential for preventing neural tube defects such as spina bifida. Some other dark green leafy vegetables: kale, romaine lettuce, Swiss chard.
So as you can see, once your pregnancy symptoms start arriving, it is time to make sure you start including the above 5 foods in your diet. Making sure you put the right things in your body will give you the best chance of having a healthy and happy baby!
Thanks to SureBaby.com, one of the best pregnancy blogs, for providing this guest post!
There are many key nutrients pregnant women need to ensure they get plenty of, including calcium, iron, folate, protein and vitamins A through E. Fortunately, it is not difficult to find many delicious and healthy sources of these nutrients -- the five foods below all contain more than one of them, and are therefore ideal choices for managing health and nutrition for pregnant women.
1. Low-fat milk. Best known as an excellent source of calcium, which not only creates strong bones and teeth but also aids the function of nerves and muscles, milk provides protein, as well, and is often fortified with vitamin D. Some other good low-fat dairy options: cottage cheese and yogurt. (Check labels for the calcium percentage, however, as these may not be as high per portion as milk. Also, these products are usually not vitamin-fortified.)
2. Lean meats. Lean cuts of beef and pork provide protein and iron that you and your growing baby need; two of the many benefits of getting enough iron are that it can help prevent low birth weight and premature delivery. Some other good iron-packed proteins, especially if you're not a meat eater: legumes. (See lentils below.)
3. Lentils. In addition to iron and protein, which is an important source of energy that aids in cell repair, legumes like lentils are an excellent source of digestion-aiding dietary fiber. Some other good legumes to include: chick peas, black-eyed peas, navy beans and kidney beans.
4. Strawberries. A source of fiber and vitamin C, among other nutrients, strawberries are a smart choice for a sweet treat. Vitamin C boosts the immune system and significantly improves the body's absorption of iron. Some other good choices for vitamin C: citrus fruit, broccoli, tomatoes.
5. Spinach. Like its fellow dark green leafy vegetables, spinach is not undeserving of its reputation as a nutritional powerhouse: its many nutrients include several vitamins, iron, calcium and folate, which is essential for preventing neural tube defects such as spina bifida. Some other dark green leafy vegetables: kale, romaine lettuce, Swiss chard.
So as you can see, once your pregnancy symptoms start arriving, it is time to make sure you start including the above 5 foods in your diet. Making sure you put the right things in your body will give you the best chance of having a healthy and happy baby!
Thanks to SureBaby.com, one of the best pregnancy blogs, for providing this guest post!
Trouble Sleeping
My pregnancy has come with some surprises. Some happy and fun, others not so much. One wall that I have run into is trouble sleeping. I guess I should have just expected that being pregnant just means trouble sleeping, but things have got pretty bad. I wake up about every two hours and sometimes I can't fall back asleep. Last night I woke at 3:30 AM and I ended up staying up to read for a couple hours. Obviously I was exhausted when it came time to get up for work.
We bought a new bed to try to help me sleep better. We have always wanted a king size bed and the circumstances made it so we needed to do it. I hope the new bed helps with my pregnancy sleeping troubles.
We bought a new bed to try to help me sleep better. We have always wanted a king size bed and the circumstances made it so we needed to do it. I hope the new bed helps with my pregnancy sleeping troubles.
My 16 Weeks Doctor's Appointment
Today's doctors appointment was good. There wasn't much new stuff that happened or any big updates from the doctor. Next month we get to see the ultrasound and find out if we're having a boy or a girl!
In other news, I'm starting to show a little more each day. I can't hide that I'm pregnant anymore. All my friends and family have been very supportive and I'm happy to share a bit of this adventure with them.
Pregnancy blogs are great and this pregnancy blog helps me to document what I'm going through (maybe even help some new moms out there).
In other news, I'm starting to show a little more each day. I can't hide that I'm pregnant anymore. All my friends and family have been very supportive and I'm happy to share a bit of this adventure with them.
Pregnancy blogs are great and this pregnancy blog helps me to document what I'm going through (maybe even help some new moms out there).
Hearing the Heartbeat
I was really looking forward to my 12 week appointment in hopes I would get to hear the heartbeat. After waiting for a short time, the doctor came in and gave me an overview of the changes my body would go through during pregnancy. We also discussed my health and any concerns or questions I had.
Then the doctor said, "Let's get to the fun part. We get to hear the heartbeat today!" She used a Doppler Machine and placed it over the placenta. I could hear the sound of the placenta first and then the fast heartbeat of my little one! It was amazing :)
Then the doctor said, "Let's get to the fun part. We get to hear the heartbeat today!" She used a Doppler Machine and placed it over the placenta. I could hear the sound of the placenta first and then the fast heartbeat of my little one! It was amazing :)
Our First Doctor's Visit
I remember our first visit with my doctor. We were excited to meet with the person who would help us through this pregnancy adventure. The doctor was very kind and answered all our questions. We felt a good vibe and confident that we would be well taken care of.
After a short meeting with a nurse and drawing blood, we were ready to go. We left the hospital with a new excitement and comfort that we had made the right decision with our doctor and our hospital.
After a short meeting with a nurse and drawing blood, we were ready to go. We left the hospital with a new excitement and comfort that we had made the right decision with our doctor and our hospital.
Our Pregnancy
It was about a year ago that we decided to try to expand our family with a little one. After trying for more than 6 months and trying various fertility methods, we finally got pregnant. We were so excited and that began a journey that has taught us so much.
I decided to start this blog to share all that I've learned in my pregnancy journey. I decided that the name, My Pregnancy Blog was a good title, because, well, this is a blog all about my pregnancy with tips to help new families out there.
Thanks for reading and I hope you like my blog :)
I decided to start this blog to share all that I've learned in my pregnancy journey. I decided that the name, My Pregnancy Blog was a good title, because, well, this is a blog all about my pregnancy with tips to help new families out there.
Thanks for reading and I hope you like my blog :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)