The last trimester of my pregnancy was spent on nutrition classes, visits to my endocrinologist and daily injection of insulin. This was due to gestational diabetes that I developed on the 27th week of my pregnancy.
Gestational Diabetes (GD) occurs when our body cannot produce enough insulin to cope with the effects of changing hormone levels due to a growing baby inside us.
I was put on a diet of high protein and strictly no sugar. I love my table sugar (sucrose), but it shoots up my glucose level, so I was prohibited by my dietitian from consuming it. However, to my surprise, artificial sweeteners was allowed to replace my sugar intake.
This puzzled me, since I always thought that artificial sweeteners are worse than sugar. In fact, my husband even stopped drinking diet soda due to the articles he read about their adverse effects. And he warned me never to consume artificial sweeteners during my pregnancy.
I understand where my husband was coming from. There are many conflicting reports in the media and on the internet about artificial sweeteners. Attending nutrition classes and doing my personal research helped me address my concerns on their safety.
Dear readers, let me share the facts that may be able to shed light on the controversial question that most moms-to-be are concerned about: are artificial sweeteners safe during pregnancy?
Artificial sweeteners: To take or not to take.
Artificial sweeteners are sugar substitutes that have a sweet taste that can be found in pre-packaged foods and drinks. Some artificial sweeteners may be added to coffee and tea, or may be used for baking and cooking.
Health Canada is more direct on its take on the issue: consumption of sugar substitutes during pregnancy does not pose a health risk.
However, it is important to note that pregnant women should use artificial sweeteners in moderation. The publication also warns that we should avoid consuming too many food products with artificial sweeteners, since they may be replacing more nutritious options for a healthy pregnancy.
Furthermore, there are different kinds of artificial sweeteners and some are not advisable to be taken during pregnancy. Read on to familiarize yourself on sugar substitutes and avoid using the types that are not advisable for pregnant women.
Types of Artificial Sweeteners.
There are two main types of artificial sweeteners: those that have calories (sugar alcohol) and those without.
Sugar alcohol have fewer calories than table sugar and have small effect on the blood glucose level. They are used in pre-packaged foods and drinks and in some liquid medication. Large amounts (more than 10 grams/day) can cause diarrhea, cramps, gas and bloating.
Artificial sweeteners with no calories do not have an effect on the blood glucose level. However, they are often used in very small amounts since they can be 30 to 3000 times sweeter than table sugar.
The US Food and Drug Administration and the Dietitians of Canada enumerate the types of sweeteners that have been approved for use.
1. Aspartame (more popularly known under the brand names Equal™ and Nutrasweet™)
- it is used in soft drinks, yogurt, candy and as a table-top sweetener.
Warning: people with a condition called phenylketonuria (PKU) must avoid foods with aspartame.
2. Sucralose (brand name Splenda™)
- it is used for home cooking and baking.
- it is widely used in soft drinks, candy, baked goods and frozen desserts and ice cream products.
3. Acesulfame potassium
- it is not used as a table top sweetener.
- it is used only by food manufacturers as an ingredient for sweetening soft drinks and candy.
4. Sugar alcohols (sorbitol, mannitol, maltitol, xylitol)
- cannot be bought as table sweeteners but are used by food manufacturers in foods and beverages such as candy, frozen desserts and ice cream products.
5. Saccharin (table top sweetener Hermesetas®)
- It can only be bought at pharmacies in Canada.
Warning: For pregnant women, check with your doctor before using saccharin.
6. Stevia leaf and extract of stevia leaves
- approved for use as ingredients in certain natural health products in Canada. Purified stevia extract is approved as a table top sweetener and food additive in some foods such as candy, gum, baking mixes and snacks.
- Whole leaf and crude stevia are not permitted for use as sweeteners in the United States.
- No clear research that provides it is safe to take during pregnancy
7. Cyclamate (marketed as the table top sweeteners Sucaryl®, Sugar Twin® and Sweet ‘N Low®)
- it is not permitted as a food additive in Canada.
- it is currently prohibited by FDA for use in the United States.
8. Sweet Advice on Artificial Sweeteners
The following are important guide for pregnant women:
- Always read the ingredients list to determine if there is artificial sweetener in a package of food or bottle of beverage you have purchased.
- Sweeteners may be listed in many different names. Know your sweeteners; some types may be best avoided during pregnancy such as saccharin.
- If you have concerns about using your sweeteners, talk to your doctor or a dietician.
Do not forget: consume artificial sweeteners in moderation. I was under strict diet monitoring, but I was allowed to have diet soda after meals once in a while, and I took artificial sweeteners for my occasional coffee. The only time my blood sugar went up was when I used saccharin; I avoided it all through out my pregnancy.
Be sure to eat healthy while you are pregnant. As my dietitian sternly reminded me when I failed to stick to my diet: this is not about you, this is about the health of your baby.
Her words stung! But in the long run, I realized that was the sweetest advice I had ever received. Although I had to be induced a week earlier, my baby girl came out healthy and strong.
And may I say, she is one sweet bundle of joy.
SOURCE: Momtricks
Looking for some fun ways to break the baby news to your family? We put this one to our users—here's what they came up with:
“I have an older sister who already has a son. At an extended family gathering my mom said, ‘Well, I'm going to be a grandma again!’ Everyone (aunts, uncles, cousins) turned to my sister and yelled out her name. She was shaking her head no and then they turned to me and said ‘You're pregnant?’” — vagirl06
“For my family: I made a onesie for my 7-month-old niece that said, ‘I'm getting a cousin!’ My husband's family: On Easter, I wore a maternity tank that said, ‘I ♥ baby.’ Everyone was too nervous to ask me about it, so I said to his mom, "I see you looking at my shirt. Aren't you going to say anything?’ And she got all excited and told me she thought maybe I was just wearing the shirt because I thought it was cute or something.” — jesnbrent
“We waited until Easter, and had the whole family on both sides over for dinner. My husband asked for everyone to hold hands right before dinner, so he could say grace. He started with how many things that we are all thankful for, and ended the list with an addition to the family — that we were expecting. The family was so excited, it was a great dinner.” — Dunkin
“I told my parents after coming back from the OB at week nine. I had decided in my mind not to tell them for another three weeks, even though I had the sonogram in my pocket. My mother asked me, ‘So what's going on with your testing? You decided not to do it, didn't you?’ I smiled and threw out the sonogram picture. Shocked them too!” — Ingrid&Richard
“I wanted to tell family members individually, which was neat because everyone got to have their own moment. The best one was when I told my 15-year-old sister. I actually went and pulled her out of cheer practice and she was just ecstatic! It was a total shock for everyone, but it certainly made all of our family members happy.” — Sara0110
“We went to visit my in-laws for my husband's birthday, which is just a few days apart from his brother's birthday. I baked a cake and decorated it with King Cake babies. I wrote ‘Happy Birthday Uncle A and Daddy A’ on the cake. My husband asked my mother-in-law to cut and serve it. She commented on how cute the babies were and read the text. She was so confused, but after a minute she said, ‘Are you expecting?’” — Iguanita
“With our friends, we did the group photo announcement. My husband gathered us all into a group and took pictures with several of my friends cameras, and finally his own. So it went, ‘Say cheese...’ with one camera, ‘Say cheese...’ with the next, and finally ‘Say xyz's pregnant’ with his own camera. Everyone said it and then laughed... but then it set in, and we were able to capture everyone's reaction forever!” — RunAway
“We had an ultrasound at 6 weeks, 4 days. We had a photo of the sonogram, so we scanned it and printed out copies for each grandmother-to-be. We made excuses to give them gifts, then presented each of them with the sonogram in a baby frame. We also had my digital camera ready, which secretly films a movie, too — so we have it all captured for our journal!” — finallyPG
“For my parents, we told them the night before their anniversary with a poem I wrote for them from the baby. My dad got it after the second line and my mom read the whole thing then looked at me crying. — fairytalebride5
“When I found out I was pregnant with my daughter, we had plans to go to dinner with my husband's family (mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law and sister-in-law). My sister-in-law was 12 at the time and I found a bib that said ‘I love my aunt’ and put it in a gift bag. I sat next to her at dinner and slipped the bag to her. She opened it without my in-laws seeing and just kinda looked at it confused. She showed my mother-in-law who didn't get it either. My father-in-law finally understood and starting crying. — RugbyBride
SOURCE: Thebump
In our culture, there are very few topics that are more controversial than sleeping in the same bed as your baby. This is most often referred to as “co-sleeping,” “bedsharing,” or “the family bed.”
Many moms choose to co-sleep out of convenience, especially if breastfeeding. On the other hand, it is risky and has been associated with SIDS.
I had read about co-sleeping before having my daughter and thought that it was best to avoid it.
When Maxine came home from the hospital, I had her sweet little bassinet ready by my side of the bed and was convinced she would easily sleep through the night right away. It was a nice theory, but it didn’t seem like she slept well in it.
When she did sleep, I couldn’t: I would wake up at least once an hour to check on her and make sure she was still breathing.
After a few weeks of this, I was exhausted (as I’m sure you are right now) and decided maybe it would work out better if Max slept beside me.
It was like night and day: she slept better, and I slept better knowing that she was right beside me and I could feel her breathing. There was also a bonus: my husband is a truck driver and is away from home quite a bit, so cuddling with our sweet baby helped with those lonely nights when he was away (I’m sure all you military wives can agree).
While opinions are conflicting, many agree that co-sleeping is safe if done responsibly. Whether or not you decide to co-sleep, you must take some steps to ensure your baby’s safety while he sleeps.
1. Co-sleeping is common.
While bedsharing is frowned upon by many here in America, many cultures currently co-sleep with their babies.
According to BabyCenter,
“It turns out that many families sleep together all over the world. While it’s hard to tell exactly how many parents in the United States co-sleep, there’s no doubt it’s a growing trend: According to one national survey, about 13 percent of parents practice sleep-sharing, a number that’s more than doubled in recent years. Even parents who don’t subscribe to the idea of a family bed may allow a child to co-sleep on occasion when they feel it’s necessary.”
In an article on SciJourner.org, Dr. Danny Lewin (director of the Sleep Disorders Medicine Program in the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research at the National Institutes of Health) states:
“Co-sleeping is a common practice in about 75% of the world….that closeness of proximity at night is probably one of the most powerful cues to help us…let down and let go. So a child who does not want to sleep alone at night is doing something very, very natural.”
Tracy Hogg writes (with co-author Melinda Blau) in Secrets of the Baby Whisperer (which I highly recommend, by the way):
“[Parents] who share the family bed philosophy often cite parenting practices in cultures such as Bali, where infants are not allowed to touch the ground until they’re three months old.”
Whether you are part of the group in favor of co-sleeping or decide that it’s not right for you, it is imperative to know the risks as well as the benefits so you can make an educated decision (no matter how common or uncommon it is).
2. There are benefits for mother and baby.
In 1992, Dr. William Sears, a well-known advocate of “sleep sharing”, did a study on the benefits for both mother and baby: he set up equipment to monitor his eight week old daughter’s breathing in two different sleep environments: sharing a bed with her mother (his wife, Martha) the first night, and sleeping alone.
Martha nursed Lauren to sleep the same way both nights. He and a technician observed and recorded the information, which was analyzed by a computer and interpreted by a pediatric pulmonologist (who was purposefully kept in the dark as to what data came from which sleeping situation).
Sears states, “Our study revealed that Lauren breathed better when sleeping next to Martha than when sleeping alone. Her breathing and her heart rate were more regular during shared sleep, and there were fewer “dips,” low points in respiration and blood oxygen from stop-breathing episodes. On the night Lauren slept with Martha, there were no dips in her blood oxygen. On the night Lauren slept alone, there were 132 dips.”
Sears also shares the preliminary findings of studies done (on mothers and babies ranging from two to five months) in sleep laboratories that were set up to mimic the home bedroom as much as possible:
- “Sleep-sharing pairs showed more synchronous arousals than when sleeping separately. When one member of the pair stirred, coughed, or changed sleeping stages, the other member also changed, often without awakening.
- Each member of the pair tended to often, but not always, be in the same stage of sleep for longer periods if they slept together.
- Sleep-sharing babies spent less time in each cycle of deep sleep. Lest mothers worry they will get less deep sleep; preliminary studies showed that sleep-sharing mothers didn’t get less total deep sleep.
- Sleep-sharing infants aroused more often and spent more time breastfeeding than solitary sleepers, yet the sleep-sharing mothers did not report awakening more frequently.
- Sleep-sharing infants tended to sleep more often on their backs or sides and less often on their tummies, a factor that could itself lower the SIDS risk.
- A lot of mutual touch and interaction occurs between the sleep-sharers. What one does affects the nighttime behavior of the other.”
Many mothers agree that co-sleeping makes breastfeeding at night easier, and sleep better while bonding with their babies.
3. There are risks you should know about.
There are many who disagree that the benefits outweigh the risks when a mother decides to co-sleep.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) as well as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission strongly recommend against sharing a bed with your baby due to the increased risk of SIDS, death from suffocation, strangulation, or another unexplained cause. The AAP says, “Room-sharing without bedsharing is recommended – there is evidence that this arrangement decreases the risk of SIDS by as much as 50%.” (Courtesy of Kellymom.com)
Many experts disagree, arguing that deaths that occur while co-sleeping are most often associated with one or more risk factors that result in suffocation or SIDS.
James J. McKenna, Ph.D., a world-recognized infant sleep authority, notes:
“In sum, overwhelmingly, bedsharing deaths are associated with at least one independent risk factor associated with an infant dying. These include an infant being placed prone (on its stomach) and placed in an adult bed without supervision, or no breastfeeding, or other children in the bed, or infants being placed in an adult bed on top of a pillow, or who bedshare even though their mothers smoked during the pregnancy therein compromising potentially the infants ability to arouse (to terminate too little oxygen, or to terminate an apnea).
Drug use and alcohol have historically been associated with poor outcomes for bedsharing babies so if drugs and/or alcohol are present, please don’t bedshare. You can see what else Dr. McKenna has to say about co-sleeping in this video.”
Dr. Sears agrees, “I believe that in most cases SIDS is a sleep disorder, primarily a disorder of arousal and breathing control during sleep. All the elements of natural mothering, especially breastfeeding and sharing sleep, benefit the infant’s breathing control and increase the mutual awareness between mother and infant so that their arousability is increased and the risk of SIDS decreased.”
A lot of mothers (including me) still choose to co-sleep despite the warnings of many. Knowing that there is a risk of SIDS or suffocation obviously made me anxious, but I think that as a parent, you have to choose what’s best for your baby at the time no matter what warnings you hear.
4. You need to be responsible.
If you decide to co-sleep with your baby, make sure the environment is as safe as possible:
- Don’t sleep with your baby if you or your partner smokes.
- Always lay baby on a firm, flat surface. So no soft mattresses, couches, pillows, egg-crate mattress toppers, or any other surface that can interfere with your baby’s breathing.
- If you or your partner are extremely overweight, it is much safer to keep baby in a crib or bassinet next to your bed.
- Don’t sleep with baby if you already share a bed with an older child or your pet.
- Check each night for gaps between your mattress and the wall (if your bed is against a wall), and remove any headboard and footboard that have cutouts or slats more than 2 3/8 inches apart.
- Make sure your bedroom is childproof, and keep your bed away from anything that could be unsafe for a baby (glass tables or furniture with sharp edges, lamps that can be pulled over, window blind cords, etc.)
- Sleep with only a light blanket (I always preferred to sleep with the afghan-type blankets that have holes you can breathe through). Keep pillows away from your baby to prevent suffocation as well as overheating.
- Dress your baby in lighter clothing than if she was sleeping alone. Your body warmth is sufficient enough; it is very easy for a baby to become overheated when sleeping with you.
- If you or your partner are heavy sleepers, you should avoid co-sleeping. One of the reasons I was comfortable enough to sleep beside Max is because I stay completely still when I sleep; I can fall asleep with a full drink in my hand and wake up hours later to discover I hadn’t spilled a drop.
- If you have long hair, twist it into a bun and avoid wearing any clothing that has long ribbons or straps on it – any of these can become wrapped around your baby’s neck.
- If possible, place your mattress on the floor, or invest in some mesh bed rails to be prepared for when your baby surprises you by rolling over for the first time..right off of the bed in the middle of the night (like mine did).
- Always make sure you put baby to sleep on his back; he may roll onto his side towards you when he sleeps, but the main thing to remember is to never let a baby sleep on their tummy.
- Never, ever sleep with your baby on a couch – you may think it’s safe because the back keeps baby from falling off, but it is way too easy for them to suffocate this way. A study done in 2014 revealed that 12 percent of the 8,000 infant sleeping deaths in the U.S. were sofa-related.
What if my baby wants to sleep on my chest?
One big no-no that I found myself guilty of doing is sleeping with your baby on your chest. This is hazardous in more ways than one:
- Your baby may roll off of you, and either fall off the bed or get caught in a situation where it is impossible to breathe.
- Your baby can become overheated, which is one of the possible contributing factors to SIDS. I know this can easily happen from experience; poor Max would always wake up a sweaty mess after sleeping on my chest.
- If baby is sleeping on your chest, they are sleeping on their stomach, which is not safe.
If your baby does fall asleep on your chest, it is best to put them down on their back to sleep right away. If you happen to fall asleep too, your baby could roll off of you and get trapped, and you won’t be as aware of any other risk factors surrounding you. Most of the time this will happen on the couch, so if you find yourself getting sleepy, make sure to move your baby to a safer spot right away.
Another reason you shouldn’t sleep with your baby on your chest: if you start doing this early on, your child may start to see you as a “prop” and refuse to fall asleep anywhere but on you or your partner’s chest. I know it’s so sweet when they’re sleeping like that, but trust me, you don’t want your baby to always need you to fall asleep.
Hogg writes, “Remember that everything you do teaches your baby. Therefore, when you put him to bed by cuddling him on your chest or rocking him for forty minutes, in effect, you’re instructing him. You’re saying, ‘This is how you get to sleep.’ Once you go down that road, you’d better be prepared to cuddle and rock him for a long, long time.”
5. You need to be flexible.
Another definition for “co-sleeping” is sharing a room with your baby, in the form of a bedside sleeper or a crib in your room. This is what the AAP recommends as the safest option, and it may be helpful to get your baby used to sleeping in their own space early on.
In this article, the Nemours Foundation advises:
“If you let your infant share your bed, get him into his crib by six months of age before he has time to make co-sleeping a habit and developmental issues such as separation anxiety become problematic.”
In hindsight, I wish I had let Max spend more nights in her bassinet and take naps in her crib, so she could get used to sleeping in a number of different places. It would’ve made the transition to her crib so much easier.
Ann Douglas writes in The Mother Of All Baby Books:
“Even if you usually co-sleep with your child, you might want to consider an alternate sleeping arrangement on nights when you might exhibit some of those risk factors yourself – for example, if you have a couple of glasses of wine at a party or you take a cold capsule to help you ward off a miserable cold. Co-sleeping doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. You can do it on a part-time basis.”
Let me remind you that I am in no way a medical professional and no advice of mine will substitute for your doctors. If you do decide to co-sleep, be honest with your doctor and listen carefully to what they have to say. Make sure you are educated in every way on the risks to avoid the unthinkable.
It is also crucial to communicate with your partner and be respectful of their opinion on the subject. One of the most common problems couples report when sharing a bed with their child is decreased intimacy. While you can get creative on the time and place you make love, it is best to find a better option unless everyone is 100 percent on board with the idea.
If you are a co-sleeping parent, remember to cherish these precious moments; you’ll miss them when your child is older. We recently drove 2100 miles during our move from Texas to Oregon.
Maxine has been sleeping in her crib in her room for over a year now, and I thought she would be okay sleeping with me in the bed at the hotels we were staying at along the way.
It turns out I was wrong: Max decided during the first couple nights that it was an “all you can eat buffet” and nursed all night, which I used to be able to sleep through, but not anymore.
The first good night of sleep we both got was when the wonderful front desk lady at the La Quinta Inn provided us with a crib for Max (thanks again, Debbie!). There was a time when she used to sleep so much better next to me, but things change so fast.
I’m proud of her that she is independent enough to want to sleep in her own space, but I can’t help but feel a little sad that she is growing up so fast.
SOURCE: Momtricks
Cankles. One of the strange but real side effects of pregnancy. Though they’re totally normal, they can be uncomfortable and perhaps, um, unsightly.
Really, what’s the deal with swollen feet during pregnancy?
Can swollen feet be avoided? Is there anything you can do to relieve the swelling? Can swollen feet ever be a sign of something more serious?
Read on, mama. 😊
What does it mean to have swollen feet during pregnancy?
Swollen feet during pregnancy, or edema, is due to your body hanging onto excess fluids, especially in the hands and feet. Though it can happen to anyone at any time for various reasons, edema is particularly common in pregnant women.
What causes swollen feet while pregnant?
Edema is a normal reaction to the inflammation caused by pregnancy. When you’re pregnant, your blood volume and bodily fluids increase by 50%. This excess fluid ensures baby has what she needs when she needs it. But it needs to be stored somewhere, hence your swollen feet.
Besides the feet, swelling can occur in the ankles, calves, hands, and face.
Your kidneys regulate the fluid in your body. If it’s particularly hot out or you’re becoming dehydrated, your kidneys react by telling your body to store excess fluid in case it’s needed. Additionally, your kidneys work to process the stored fluid to give necessary body parts what they need.
The excess strain of a heavy uterus can make circulation from your lower extremities back to your heart a little less efficient, causing pooling of fluids.
What can I do about swollen feet during pregnancy?
There are a number of diet and lifestyle choices that can help with swollen feet while pregnant.
👟 Don’t sit or stand for long periods of time
This may be tricky if you work in an office, but changing positions often can really help relieve edema in pregnancy. A treadmill desk is a great solution, but if you can’t get one of those, you can try a standing desk, or sitting for a while and getting away from the desk frequently to get circulation flowing.
👟 Use gravity to your advantage
If you’re having swollen feet during pregnancy, one great way to relieve the swelling is by putting your feet up often. When you’re lounging at home, try to keep your feet above your heart.
👟 Drink more water
It may seem counterintuitive, but drinking more water will actually help you get rid of excess fluids. When your body is dehydrated, your kidneys think they need to hold onto as much water as possible since there doesn’t seem to be enough. Giving your body the fluids it needs will remind your kidneys that it can get rid of the excess.
👟 Drink less caffeine
Caffeine is a diuretic, which means it increases the amount of fluid you eliminate through urine. However, it also causes dehydration, which makes your kidneys hang onto more excess fluid. Try to reduce the amount of caffeine you have each day—which is good advice for pregnancy anyway—and when you do drink caffeine, make sure to drink plenty of water too.
👟 Balance your electrolytes
Salt is very important for staying properly hydrated. Be sure to get plenty of healthy sea salt in your diet. That means staying away from table salt and processed foods, and instead eating real food seasoned to taste with high-quality sea salt.
In addition to salt (sodium), there are 3 other main electrolytes (potassium, magnesium, and calcium) necessary to keep you adequately hydrated. It’s important to keep these electrolytes in the proper balance.
For example, too much salt without enough potassium can cause heart problems. That’s why balancing the electrolytes is usually more important than adding just salt to your diet. You can get these electrolytes in this liquid supplement form, in a powder form, or from food (some suggestions below).
👟 Exercise regularly
Though exercise can cause some edema (have you ever noticed your hands get puffy after a workout?), its benefits are much greater. Regular exercise optimizes the circulatory system so that excess water doesn’t pool in the legs or hands.
👟 Optimize your diet
In addition to a healthy pregnancy diet, edema can benefit from a high-protein and high-salt diet, known as the Brewer’s diet. (I know, seems counterintuitive!) Protein in the blood acts as a sponge to hold water inside blood vessels. When there is not enough protein, fluid leaks out of the blood vessels and into the surrounding tissue.
We know that salt is important in keeping fluid in the blood rather than in the tissue, so the combination of the two is an excellent way to manage feet swelling during pregnancy.
Dr. Brewer had great success working with patients with edema, toxemia and preeclampsia with his diet and protocol. Always check with your doctor before making any diet or supplement changes.
👟 Apple cider vinegar
Mix a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with a cup or two of water, and drink twice a day. ACV is high in potassium, which can help balance your electrolytes.
👟 Magnesium oil or salt bath
Spray your inner arms and legs with this magnesium oil spray per the label’s instructions (again, check with doctor before using.) Place a cup of magnesium flakes into your bath water. Magnesium is best absorbed through the skin, so this is a great way to increase your magnesium levels.
👟 Use a skin brush
This skin brush supports the circulatory system that can help relieve mild cases of edema. Start at feet and brush upward toward the heart. You can then start brush at hands and brush upward toward the heart. This will help move fluid throughout the lymph system and support blood circulation. Do this skin brushing twice per day.
👟 Swimming
Just like water helps with birth, water can also help relieve the pull of gravity on the fluids in your body.
👟 Electrolyte drink
You can try this elecrolyte drink or sip on coconut water with a dash of sea salt.
When should I be worried about feet swelling during pregnancy?
Though edema in pregnancy is incredibly common and normal, it may also be a sign of preeclampsia. If you are having any swelling at all, you should let your health provider know right away. Swelling on its own doesn’t mean you are developing preeclampsia, but it is one of the markers for the condition, so it’s important that your practitioner knows about it to assess other related signs and symptoms.
Other warning signs of preeclampsia:
- Swelling that comes on suddenly
- Excessive swelling in the face
- Ashen appearance
- Skin pitting (when you press on the swollen area and it doesn’t bounce back)
- High blood pressure
- Severe headaches
- Changes in vision
- Upper abdominal pain, usually under your ribs on the right side
- Nausea or vomiting
- Decreased urine output
That being said, the natural remedies discussed above are usually still OK to try even if you have preeclampsia, as the swelling is just a symptom that needs to be managed. The Brewer’s Diet is particularly helpful for preeclampsia. But as always, check with your healthcare provider to see whether it’s safe for you to try any of these home remedies if you are developing preeclampsia.
Swollen feet during pregnancy, what’s the bottom line?
If you have swollen feet while pregnant, there’s no reason to be too concerned. It’s normal and can be treated easily with home remedies.
Keep your practitioner in the loop on your swelling just in case, and keep an eye out for other signs of a problem, like preeclampsia. Chances are, it’s just the normal swelling of pregnancy, but better safe than sorry!
SOURCE: Mamanatural
http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/heart-failure/edema-overview
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/preeclampsia/basics/symptoms/con-20031644
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1360273/
My baby's first steps are the entrance to a world of new beginnings. What used to be so "far" is suddenly just a few wobbly steps away. As a dad, before my eyes, I get to watch my little guy start exploring, cause joyful mischief, and find a world of excitement all on his own.
In recent weeks, our house has been filled with "moving" moments that make a father proud-as well as make any parent realize they needed to prepare!
To help with that, here's a look at the top 5 things that change when baby starts to move.
Your Home:
Cupboards, ovens, drawers, laundry... it's all fair game now. If they hadn't been exploring before, with their newfound freedom, those baby latches better be on tight. Folded clean clothes will become a pile on the floor, placemats in the bottom drawer will be strewn across the kitchen floor, and everything becomes a destination. A place to celebrate the journey.
Your Job Description:
When those tiny toes start moving across the floor, I instantly turn into a cheerleader, motivator, and backseat driver. While we're still using a learning walker, I can't get enough watching him cruise the kitchen with me cheering him along! As I gently steer and direct from behind, he's ready to race into the outstretched arms of Mom, waiting for him. We try to keep him safe, while setting him free. Sounds of giggles and glee fill the house (and that's just from me).
Your Memory:
As a new parent, these first 11 months have been a whirlwind of exhaustion, excitement, and memories. We've filled phones, memory cards, and our minds with beautiful visual images of all his firsts. And his first steps will be like starting anew - a transition, a change, an exit from baby into toddler. Any parent can tell you when their kid started walking, it's a memory-making moment that stays with you forever.
Your Baby:
The feeling of freedom is something we as adults can often overlook. As babies take their first steps, it's a feeling they've never experienced. The look on their face, the excitement, and confidence they gain from those first steps forward may be forgotten by them, but will live on with you. Maybe even captured on camera? You'll never forget their look of experiencing freedom for the first time!
You:
Keeping up with a baby is hard when they're crawling. Now that they're walking, you're on the go with them at all times. Holding their hands to keep those unsteady feet sturdy and strong as they go. From this point on, you'll be chasing, wrangling, and loving every, nearly every moment of it. They're growing up, wanting to tackle new challenges, and ready to let you lead them (from behind) into the next steps of life.
As a parent, there's nothing quite like the feeling of those first few steps. They're conversation starters, office bragging material, and sentimental feelings that tug on your heartstrings as your baby grows up. With camera or phone in hand, you follow them around, waiting to document these first steps into a new stage.
And if you're like me, conflicted feelings may just wash over you. I'm elated for those first few steps... only to realize as my mini-me is moving forward, I'm taken back to all those cuddly moments after his birth.
Image: heymattallen-5186112/Pixabay
SOURCE: Huggies
Red-Light Foods
During your pregnancy there are a few things that might stress you out, but eating shouldn't be one of them. Unfortunately, all of the advice you hear -- from friends, family, and yes, even total strangers -- about what is and isn't safe during pregnancy is enough to confuse anyone. "There are a lot of old wives' tales out there," says Elizabeth Ward, RD, of Reading, Massachusetts. So if you're wondering what's okay to eat (and whether you have to give your favorite foods the boot for nine months), check out our guide.
Foods to Avoid
Why are some foods off-limits when you're pregnant -- but fine if you're not? First, changes to your immune system now make you more vulnerable to food-borne illnesses. What would've meant stomach upset before could mean serious complications now -- from dehydration to miscarriage.
So to be safe, avoid the common culprits of food-borne illness:
Eggs: Because raw eggs may be tainted with salmonella, a bacterium that can cause fever, vomiting, and diarrhea, watch out for restaurant-made Caesar salad dressing, homemade eggnog, raw cookie dough, and soft scrambled or sunny-side up eggs -- any dish in which the eggs (both yolk and white) are not cooked completely. "If eggs are cooked, the risk is gone," adds Madeleine Sigman-Grant, PhD, maternal child health and nutrition extension specialist at the University of Nevada.
Sushi: With the exception of California rolls and other cooked items, sushi is not safe when you're expecting, either, because it may contain illness-inducing parasites.
Unpasteurized Juice: Stay away from juice (like cider) sold at farm stands; it may not have undergone pasteurization, a processing method that kills bacteria and toxins. Though the majority of milk and juices sold in stores today are pasteurized, there are still some brands on shelves that aren't, so read labels.
Other foods are unsafe due to possible contaminants that can harm the fetus:
Some Varieties of Fish: Fish, which boasts omega-3 fatty acids that help baby's brain development, is a great meal choice right now. But some varieties should be shunned due to high levels of methyl-mercury, a pollutant that can affect baby's nervous system. These include swordfish, shark, and tilefish -- all big species that live longer, accumulating more mercury in their flesh. (You may want to avoid these fish entirely during your childbearing years because your body stores mercury for up to four years, Ward advises.)
In fact, most types of fish contain traces of mercury, so you'll want to limit your weekly consumption of safer varieties too. According to the newest guidelines from the FDA, you can enjoy up to 12 ounces a week (roughly two meals) of lower-mercury fish such as salmon, catfish, pollack, shrimp, and canned light tuna. Of those 12 ounces, only 6 should come from canned "white" albacore tuna, which tends to contain more mercury than light tuna. If you're eating fish caught in local waters, check online with your state's department of health for advisories (if you can't find any information, limit yourself to 6 ounces).
Yellow-Light Foods
Some foods are fine in small amounts, but don't go overboard.
High Levels of Caffeine: When it comes to caffeine, "the studies can be very confusing," says Sigman-Grant. While one small study did link caffeine to increased health risks in the fetus, stronger studies have shown that caffeine is not harmful in moderate amounts. So currently the guidelines suggest no more than 300 milligrams per day, roughly the amount found in two or three 8-ounce cups of coffee. And that comes as a relief to many moms-to-be. Stephanie McClure, a mother of two, in Westerville, Ohio, had a terrible time going cold turkey. "After a few months I went to my doctor and asked if there was any way I could have just a little bit of coffee," remembers McClure, who says her doctor gave the okay for a couple of cups a day. "I immediately ran to Starbucks and ordered a mocha latte."
Nitrate-Rich Foods: It's also smart to go easy on hot dogs (which should always be eaten cooked) and cured meats such as bacon and sausage. These contain nitrates, additives that have been called into question for possible links to brain tumors and diabetes. Although studies aren't conclusive, it makes sense to limit your consumption -- these foods aren't great nutritional choices anyway. What about your beloved diet sodas? They're considered safe during pregnancy and, beyond not being a stellar nutritional choice, there's no scientific evidence that they cause harm. But on the downside, at least one artificial sweetener (saccharin) that's often found in diet sodas does cross the placenta, and artificially sweetened drinks are usually low in nutritional value. So again, we recommend moderation.
Green-Light Foods
Good news! A few foods you may have thought were forbidden actually aren't.
Soft Cheeses: Soft cheeses such as Brie, feta, and Gorgonzola were once considered potentially harmful because they can harbor listeria. Listeriosis, an illness caused by the bacteria listeria, can be passed to the fetus, leading to miscarriage, premature delivery, or stillbirth. However, the FDA now allows soft cheese during pregnancy, as long as it's made with pasteurized milk. Most cheese sold in the United States is, but "don't ever take that for granted," says Ward. It's still important to check labels, especially with imported brands. If you live in a border state, steer clear of soft Mexican cheeses like queso blanco in markets (they aren't typically pasteurized).
Cooked Deli Meats: When Jennifer Vito, a mom in San Antonio, heard that deli meat was also off-limits because of listeriosis concerns, she found it difficult to eliminate it when she was expecting. "If I can't have deli meat, what am I supposed to eat for lunch?" she says. "I ate a lot of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and snacked on veggies." But deli meat is fine during pregnancy as long as you heat it first to kill bacteria (pop your sandwich in the microwave or order a hot or toasted sandwich at the deli -- just make sure the meat is steaming before you eat it). "It's a pain to heat it, but it would be worse to get listeriosis," says Ward. If you would prefer to pass on deli meat, try other high-protein lunches like a veggie burger, a bean burrito, or chicken salad made with some leftover grilled chicken breast and low-fat mayo.
Fresh Produce: Finally, fruits and veggies should be a staple in your diet, especially during pregnancy, because they're high in vitamins and fiber. But take a few commonsense precautions: Rewash bagged lettuce (even if the label says it's triple-washed) to wash away any possible traces of salmonella or E. coli. In fact, you should wash the outside of all fruits and vegetables -- even if you're not going to eat the skin. "Otherwise you drag the germs into the flesh when you cut it," says Sigman-Grant.
But what's the bottom-line best advice on what to eat these nine months? Mix it up. "Don't rely on the same foods every day," Sigman-Grant says. "You dramatically diminish your risk of being exposed to something harmful if you eat a variety." What's more, by varying your diet, you'll also deliver a healthy mix of nutrients to your growing baby.
The News on Alcohol
Alcohol has long been considered a no-no during pregnancy. But many doctors still advise their patients that an occasional drink is okay. "My doctor told me I could have up to 4 ounces of red wine once or twice a week and that it would actually be good for me," remembers Amy Quinn, a mom in Mullica Hill, New Jersey. So have the rules on drinking changed?
Absolutely not, warn many experts. Heavy drinking can lead to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), which causes mental retardation and a host of abnormalities. But according to the March of Dimes, even moderate drinking may lead to more subtle physical and mental damage. And because no one knows exactly what amount of alcohol causes FAS, it's smart to steer clear.
Sally Kuzemchak is a registered dietitian and writer in Columbus, Ohio.
The information on this Web site is designed for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any questions or concerns you might have regarding your or your child's condition.
SOURCE: Parents.com
As soon as parents learn that their little one is teething, they might wonder… which tooth will pop out first? And is there a handy baby teeth chart that I can refer to so it feels a little less unpredictable?
While we can’t tell you how your baby will handle teething (sorry—every kid is truly different!), we can tell you which teeth come in which order, and at what age to expect them!
When do babies start teething
Most babies begin teething around 6–8 months of age, and those teeth will usually emerge in a predictable order. However, babies are all unique, and some can get their first tooth as early as 3 months—or as late as 1 year.
Do yourself a favor and don’t sweat it. As long as your baby is happy and meeting other developmental milestones, he or she is right on track. (My children were always on the late side of teeth development, not getting their first one till 9 and 10 months!) If you still have concerns, talk to your child’s doctor.
How many teeth do kids have? How many baby teeth?
As you’ll see in the teeth diagram, by the time your child is 3, she should have all of her baby teeth, which includes:
- 4 central incisors
- 4 lateral incisors
- 4 canines, and
- 8 molars
- for a total of 20 baby teeth.
When babies begin to shed teeth at around 7 years, they will begin to get the full set of adult teeth (32 teeth, including wisdom molars).
Baby Teething Chart
If you’re wondering when your baby might be getting her first (or next) tooth, here’s a handy tooth eruption chart to help you figure it out.
Baby Teeth Schedule
When does baby get each tooth? And what are they for? We’ll tell you in this list.
Central Incisor
These are typically the first teeth a baby will get. The lower central incisors come in around 6–10 months, while the upper central incisors come in around 8–12 months.
These first teeth are meant to help baby bite into and shear food into small pieces. Many parents delay solids until this first tooth appears or until 9 months of age if no tooth yet. However, the gums and jaws of babies are quite strong so they can enjoy pureed or very soft solids even before a tooth comes in. If she only has the bottom teeth, baby can use them to bite soft foods (like liver or egg yolk) by pushing the tooth against the top gums.
Some believe this is evidence that babies don’t need foods to be puréed—in lieu, these parents often opt for a more intuitive style of infant feeding, called baby-led weaning. With proper teeth for biting and cutting food, baby-led weaning supporters believe there is little reason to worry about choking. Additionally, they believe allowing baby to bite into appropriate foods gives her practice at using those teeth, learning to manipulate food in the mouth, and bringing food to the back of the mouth for swallowing.
Lateral Incisor
These teeth typically come in second. The upper set tends to come in slightly earlier (9–13 months), while the lowers come in around 10–16 months. These teeth are also for biting and shearing food into manageable pieces, but both the central and lateral incisors are used for more than biting food. These teeth actually help keep the shape and form of your face. Your lips rest against your teeth, and without them, your face would sag (a bit weird to think about isn’t it?). The incisors also help you speak! If you try to say words with a th sound (like in birth), you’ll notice that you must press your tongue against your top incisors to make the sound. Finally, incisors help guide your jaw when you close your mouth.
Cuspid (Canine)
Again, the upper canines come in slightly earlier, at 16–22 months, while the lower canines emerge around 17–23 months. Canines are sharp, pointy teeth that are used to bite and tear denser foods (like steak). Canines are at the corner of the mouth, bridging the front teeth with the back. They also help align the jaw when you close your mouth, keep your face shape, and help you speak. Additionally, canines are like corner-posts that help guide your teeth while you chew.
First Molar
The first molar tends to come in before the canines, but not always. The first lower molar emerges around 14–18 months, while the upper first molar can come in anywhere from 13–19 months. Molars are used to grind and crush certain foods that are tough to chew otherwise, like seeds and hardy grains. In fact, some healthcare professionals believe you shouldn’t feed babies grains until the molars come in, as these teeth help baby to grind and break down grains to better digest them.
Second Molar
The second molars come in later. When life has settled down from teething, all of a sudden it’s back with a vengeance! The lower second molar pops out around 23–31 months, while the upper emerges at 25–33 months. Both sets of molars help support their face shape by filling out their cheeks, as well as support chewing grains, nuts, seeds and hard, raw produce like carrots and apples.
Baby teeth chart explained
Each child will develop differently, and that includes baby teeth order and time of emergence! However, they all come in a typical order and sequence—even if they vary somewhat from baby to baby.
So what’s the reason for this?
Some research shows that the emergence of teeth may indicate what foods would be good for baby to eat at that time. That makes sense too, since the role of the teeth—chewing!—comes at the beginning of the digestive process (right after our sense of smell and sight activates the salivary glands to release saliva and enzymes in the mouth in anticipation of food!).
SOURCE: Mamanatural
