Blisstree » Talking about your pregnancy

Do babies cry in utero?

Marijke Durning, RN — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 21:35:09 +0000

Does your baby cry while still inside you? This video claims yes. It’s from Discovery.com.

Just click on the TV screen to watch it. What do you think about it?

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Image: iStock

Tags: pregnancy blog, baby crying

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Do babies cry in utero?

Have I got a blog recommendation for you

Marijke Durning, RN — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:12:40 +0000

Sometimes blogs on pregnancy can get a bit too serious (like this one sometimes). We need to remember the lighter side of life and for this, I share with you a blog I just found yesterday. Love it! And – it’s for dads too. A whole section in the forum is for guys only.

The blog is called His Boys Can Swim and this is the post that drew my attention to it: List of 51 pregnancy old wives tales: Your baby’s sex revealed!

Have a peak at it and have some fun.

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Tags: pregnancy blog, pregnancy old wives tales

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Have I got a blog recommendation for you

As requested: Baby book recommendations

Marijke Durning, RN — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 08:05:43 +0000

A few days ago, I received an email from a new Womb Within visitor. His wife is pregnant and he was looking for book recommendations. I love getting requests like that because it gives me something tangible – something that I know someone wants to read about.

Now, I’m going to do a few book reviews in a few weeks, but until I get a chance to do that, I asked some fellow writers over at Freelance Success and Eliza over at Babylune for suggestions and this is what we came up with:

There is some dissension over how good the book, What to Expect When You’re Expecting is. The book, by Heidi Murkoff is extremely popular. I remember reading it when I was pregnant. You have some women who absolutely loved it, but I’m reading about women who didn’t like it at all. One writer told me that her doctor specifically told her to use the book to pick and choose information, but to ignore the diet advice. A few other writers mentioned that about the diet too. So, if you want a good book to describe what’s happening, this is one for you – but don’t take all the advice as gospel.

Another strong recommendation was the book Your Pregnancy Week by Week by Glade B. Curtis, MD and Judith Schuler, MS. She appreciated the week-by-week approach over the more common monthly approach.

These three books came recommended by someone who found them very helpful:

The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer and Rhonda Wheeler

Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin

And Dr. Sears’ book, The Pregnancy Book: Month-by-Month, Everything You Need to Know From America’s Baby Experts

Brette Sember, a member of the writer’s group has written a few books, including Your Practical Pregnancy Planner, Your Plus-Size Pregnancy and The Everything Guide to Pregnancy Over 35. I’m going to review those for you when my life slows down a bit.

And Nancy Hall, another writer in the group said that her book, Balancing Pregnancy and Work: How to Make the Most of the Next 9 Months on the Job is one she is very proud of. It discusses many issues about work and pregnancy.

Finally, a reader over at Babylune loved Jennie McCarthy’s book on pregnancy, Belly Laughs.

I hope this helps you with book choices. Does anyone have any favorites to add or comments on the ones chosen?

Tags: pregnancy blog, pregnancy books, jennie mccarthy, brette sember, nancy hall, dr sears, baby experts, pregnancy planner, pregnancy guide

Post from: Blisstree

As requested: Baby book recommendations

Have you changed habits since being pregnant?

Marijke Durning, RN — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:42:54 +0000

Once you found out that you were pregnant, did you change any of your habits or did you go on as you were all along?

Some of the vices that could harm a baby are the traditional changes that many women make. They stop smoking or cut down as much as they can, the cut down or eliminate alcohol and they watch what medications they take. Most also try to watch their diet and take prenatal vitamins. But what about more subtle changes.

Did you start trying to get more sleep, not because you were tired, but because you thought it was important? Did you start exercising, did you ease up on exercising? Work more, work less?

I don’t recall making many changes. I didn’t smoke, so that wasn’t an issue. I did have the occasional glass of wine, but never anything more. My diet didn’t really change all that much and sleeping was about what I’d done before. But, I do know women who radically changed their lives from eating only certain kids of organic foods to ridding their homes of anything remotely toxic.

What about you? What did you do?

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Tags: pregnancy blog

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Have you changed habits since being pregnant?

Nashville, TN, seminar on pregnancy, birthing & parenting: Dec. 13

Marijke Durning, RN — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:20:52 +0000

A hat tip to Women’s Health News for this great piece of information for parents or parents-to-be in the Nashville, TN area:

Seminar about pregnancy and birthing choices to be held Dec. 13

Expectant parents and birthing professionals are invited to the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing for a free seminar about pregnancy, birth and parenting choices on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., in Room 140, Frist Hall. The seminar is free and open to the public.

Writer and activist Judy Norsigian, co-author of the 1973 classic Our Bodies, Ourselves and the new book Our Bodies, Ourselves: Childbirth and Pregnancy, will be participating in a workshop along with Nashville’s own Barbara Nicholson, co-founder of Attachment Parenting International and co-author of Attached At the Heart: 8 Proven Parenting Principles for Raising Connected and Compassionate Children.

The workshop, “Our Bodies, Our Babies: Exploring Birth and Parenting Choices for the Whole Family,” will include talks, a book signing, a radio documentary, exhibit hall and a panel discussion.

For more information or to RSVP (suggested, but not required), call (615) 322-2816 or e-mail: 9monthsandbeyond a t gmail dot com.

Contact: Kathy Rivers, (615) 322-3894
kathy dot rivers a t vanderbilt dot edu

I had that original Our Bodies, Ourselves. It was a great book. I wonder what happened to it.

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Tags: pregnancy blog, pregnancy seminar, parenting

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Nashville, TN, seminar on pregnancy, birthing & parenting: Dec. 13

How to manage painful contractions in your last trimester

Marijke Durning, RN — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 08:51:55 +0000

Yeah, I know. You were told that Braxton Hicks contractions don’t hurt. So, if they don’t hurt, why do they hurt?

For some people, contractions can begin a good few weeks before the actual labor begins. And, for some, these contractions can be very much like the real thing, because they are. So, if you’re going to have contractions for a while, you’re going to have to find ways to make them bearable if they get too intense.

More4Kids has a good post called Contractions, Contractions! Natural Pain Relief Options. I wish I’d known about them 21, 19 and 17 years ago, that’s for sure.

Please come back to tell us if you try any of the suggestions and how they worked for you.

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Tags: pregnancy blog, contractions, braxton hicks contractions, pain relief options

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How to manage painful contractions in your last trimester

Are you worried about bleeding in the 1st trimester?

Marijke Durning, RN — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:36:06 +0000

Being pregnant can be worrisome if you experience bleeding, especially during the first trimester, the first three months. But sometimes, the bleeding is nothing to worry about.

So, how can you tell if it’s serious or not? Over at FitPregnancy.com, there’s a wealth of information for pregnant women and their partners. The Ask The Labor Nurse has a great article called First Trimester Bleeding and Miscarriage. If you’re concerned or just want to learn more about it, check it out.

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Tags: pregnancy blog, first trimester bleeding, bleeding in pregnancy, miscarriage

Post from: Blisstree

Are you worried about bleeding in the 1st trimester?

Designer barf bags for pregnant women

Marijke Durning, RN — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 00:25:26 +0000

Ok – you’re stuck in traffic, shopping, or in a meeting, you’re sick, you’re going to throw up. This so-called morning sickness is plaguing you day and night. What do you do? Do you run to the bathroom? Do you run outside? No…if you’re the well-prepared pregnant woman that we all know you are, you’ll pull out of your purse your Designer Vomit Bag.

Think I’m kidding? Go check out Designer Vomit Bags for Morning Sickness? Really?

Please come back and tell me what you think. I’d love to know!

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Tags: pregnancy blog, morning sickness, vomit, barf bags

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Designer barf bags for pregnant women

Quiz, Day 5: Do you know how your baby is growing?

Marijke Durning, RN — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 08:29:57 +0000

The developing baby is a true miracle. He or she starts off as two cells but then grows into this living, breathing human being who will become the center of your universe. How much do you know about fetal development and how your baby grows?

Here is the quiz for Day 5 of 9 quizzes and chance to win a prize pack (Quiz week and prizes at Womb Within).

How Much Do You Know About Your Growing Baby?

Don’t forget to come back and leave a message about the quiz and your comments to be entered into the contest.

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Tags: pregnancy blog, growing baby, fetal development

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Quiz, Day 5: Do you know how your baby is growing?

Quiz, Day 3: Do you know what to expect?

Marijke Durning, RN — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:23:59 +0000

With so many women not having as much close contact with female relatives and friends who may have had babies already, sometimes being pregnant comes as a shock. Do you know what to expect?

Here is the quiz for Day 3 of 9 quizzes and chance to win a prize pack (Quiz week and prizes at Womb Within).

Do You Know What to Expect When You’re Expecting?

Don’t forget to come back and leave a message about the quiz and your comments to be entered into the contest.

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Tags: pregnancy blog, what to expect when pregnant

Post from: Blisstree

Quiz, Day 3: Do you know what to expect?