Pregnancy Health

Kegel Exercises 101: A Guide for Pregnant Women

Are you tired of leaking urine? And do you want to have an easier childbirth experience? You have to try Kegel exercises.

Kegel exercises (also called pelvic floor exercises) are one of the most recommended ways for you to prepare your body for labor and delivery. Kegels strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, which are the muscles that support your uterus, rectum, bladder, and urethra (the tube that carries urine from your bladder to the outside world).

These special exercises are named after Dr. Arnold H. Kegel, a gynecologist in the 1940s, who recommended these exercises to help women with urinary incontinence and diminished bladder control. (There are also Kegel exercises for men, which have nefarious sexual reasons. Kegels were original designed for women, though.) [Read more…] about Kegel Exercises 101: A Guide for Pregnant Women

Fatigue in Pregnancy: 7 Ways and Remedies to Cope

by DP Nguyen 5 Comments

Being overly tired is part of the roller-coaster called pregnancy. Fatigue and tiredness are normal pregnancy symptoms that strike in the first and third trimesters. (Fortunately, most women get a temporary break and have more energy in the second trimester).

Many pregnant women feel extremely tired and exhausted early in pregnancy, even before they’re proudly bearing that lovely “bump.” There are some unlucky women who feel tired throughout all 40 weeks of pregnancy.

Sleeping in Pregnancy: 7 Tips to Help You Sleep Better

by DP Nguyen 5 Comments

Getting enough sleep can be rough when you’re pregnant. Your hormonal fluctuations, uncomfortable pregnancy symptoms (like having to constantly get out of bed to pee, restless leg syndrome, cramps, etc.), and other physical discomforts can make a good night’s sleep an impossible dream. Not to mention, you may struggle with stress and anxiety, too. Thoughts like, Will I make a good mother or How am I going to handle another baby with other kids in the house.

Labor and Delivery: Helpful Advice and Tips for an Easier Childbirth

by DP Nguyen 4 Comments

So it’s getting close to the big day – how exciting for you! Labor and delivery can be a scary and nerve-wracking experience, or it can be a wonderful occasion. It’s just in how you look at it.

You may have heard labor stories of first labors, but try not to worry or be stressed out. (Fear and anxiety actually prolong labor.) Focus on the little bundle of joy that you’ll be holding in your arms at the end of it all.

Here are a few tips to help you have an easier, more positive childbirth experience. [Read more…] about Labor and Delivery: Helpful Advice and Tips for an Easier Childbirth

Safe Sex in Pregnancy: 8 Things to Know

by DP Nguyen 1 Comment

One of the most commonly asked questions about pregnancy has to be – “Is sex in pregnancy safe?” For most women, who are having a low-risk pregnancy (with no risk of complications), having sex when you’re pregnant is absolutely normal. In fact, you can actually continue to have sex in pregnancy right up until your water breaks or you go into labor.

Sex in pregnancy is considered a normal and healthy way to express your love with your husband. Don’t worry – you aren’t hurting your baby by having sex. Your baby is safe and sound, protected by the amniotic sac and the muscles in your uterus. Plus, you have a thick mucus plug that seals the cervix and protects your developing baby from bacteria and infection. [Read more…] about Safe Sex in Pregnancy: 8 Things to Know

Colds in Pregnancy – Natural Remedies and Safe Medication

by DP Nguyen 9 Comments

Ever since you became pregnant, you’ve probably asked your doctor about what’s safe and what’s not. From safe eating during pregnancy to tips for surviving morning sickness, you are naturally concerned and you want what’s best for your baby.

And when you get sick during pregnancy, you’ll be wondering what’s a safe medication for colds? What are natural remedies to treat the common cold during pregnancy?