Guest Writer

Are Ultrasounds Safe in Pregnancy?

June 19, 2012 by Guest Writer 2 Comments

How safe are ultrasounds in pregnancy?

Ultrasounds, which were once considered a routine part of pregnancy, have many moms questioning whether or not they need this form of prenatal testing. While many expectant mothers look forward to seeing their baby on the ultrasound screen, some are choosing to decline the use of ultrasound since it is not typically medically necessary. Still, there is something reassuring about seeing your baby bouncing around on that screen, and ultrasounds offer the chance to discover the gender and screen for a wide range of abnormalities. But you should do a little research to ensure that your ultrasound is a safe experience for both you and your baby.
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Where To Give Birth – Your Childbirth Location Options

June 16, 2012 by Guest Writer 3 Comments

Deciding where to have your baby is one of the most important decisions you’ll be faced with. Your experience of labor directly affects how you feel in the first few weeks with your new baby. Fortunately, when it comes to choosing where to give birth, you have several options.

How Early Can I Test for Pregnancy?

March 18, 2012 by Guest Writer 31 Comments

Testing for pregnancy can bring about a wide range of emotions. From nervousness, to excitement, to happiness to sadness, finding out that you are pregnant is one of the most life-changing experiences a woman can have. So, it makes sense that most of us want to know about a pregnancy as early (and as accurately) as possible.

If you want to know if you are pregnant, taking a home pregnancy test is a crucial first step. But how early can you test for pregnancy?

Food You Should Avoid When Breastfeeding

March 17, 2012 by Guest Writer 17 Comments

When a new mom is breastfeeding, what she eats is passed on to her baby through her breast milk. There really isn’t any food that’s “off-limits” or foods to avoid when breastfeeding. It just depends on what your baby can tolerate, and what he or she can’t.

For example, although you might love eating your grandmother’s recipe for homemade spaghetti, all those tomatoes and garlic might not agree with your nursing child’s tummy. Your baby can get gassy and cranky, and it might be due to what you had for dinner.

Another baby might be fine if you get tomatoes, garlic, and cheese.

If you’re a first-time breastfeeding mother, you’re going to need to find foods that trigger gassiness and discomfort in your baby.

The Birth Control Pill and Weight Gain

March 4, 2012 by Guest Writer 4 Comments

Since the introduction of the birth control pill nearly 50 years ago, its side effects have been scrutizined – such as the link between weight gain and birth control.

Oral contraceptive pills are one of the most popular reversible methods of birth control. You can find dozens of brand names and different formulas available. In the United States, birth control pills and condoms are the two most popular forms of contraception. An estimated 10.7 million American women use the birth control pill to prevent unwanted pregnancies. [Read more…] about The Birth Control Pill and Weight Gain

Colic in Babies: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

February 29, 2012 by Guest Writer 1 Comment

Photo Credit: Milan Jurek

Babies cry — quite frequently. Since infants can’t talk yet, crying is their way of communicating when they’re hungry or tired. Sometimes, your baby’s cries are his or her way of indicating that something is wrong. If you’ve tried every soothing technique imaginable and your infant just constantly cries, he or she may actually suffer from colic.

What is Colic?

Colic is a condition that affects some infants’ gastrointestinal system, causing acute abdominal pain, bloating, and intense cramping. It can be some of the most intense pain your child will ever face during their infancy stages—hence the excessive crying.

While it typically affects babies only in their first month of life, it can in fact last up into a year (although this is rare). Colic tends to be worse when babies are between 6 to 8 weeks old, and it usually disappears by the time they’re 14 weeks old. [Read more…] about Colic in Babies: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments