the9months

Coping with bed rest

Most pregnancies are healthy and allow you to be active. Sometimes, however, complications require a mother to be inactive instead. If your doctor says you must rest-even staying in bed until you deliver-to prevent premature labor or another possible danger to you and your baby, take heart. Many women and their families have found ways to cope. (more…)

Pregnancy and exercise

Exercising during your pregnancy will help you feel good, and may make your labor and delivery easier. While gaining 25-30 pounds is healthy for most pregnant women, becoming seriously overweight can cause health issues for mothers and babies. To stay fit through pregnancy, here are a few things to keep in mind:

* Most exercises are safe during pregnancy, as long as you exercise with caution and stop when you feel tired. The safest and most productive activities are those that carry little risk of injury, benefit your entire body, and can be continued until birth. These include swimming, brisk walking, indoor stationary cycling and elliptical machines, and low-impact aerobics. (more…)

Planning ahead: cord-blood banking

In recent years, a new option has become available for parents who wish to prepare for every possibility. In the past, after a baby was delivered, the placenta and umbilical cord were discarded. Then it was found that these organs are a source of the same kinds of blood-forming stem cells as is bone marrow. These cells can be collected, stored, and, if needed, used to treat a range of serious illnesses. (more…)

Sleeping comfortably

As your pregnancy progresses, finding a restful position in which to sleep may become difficult. Extra pillows placed at your back, against your stomach, and between your knees will make you comfortable. Your doctor or midwife may encourage you to sleep on your left side, rather than on your right, as well. (more…)

Sneak peeks: ultrasounds

These days, almost every woman at some point in her pregnancy is given a sneak peek at her growing baby with an ultrasound. Usually done to find out a fetus’s size and position, ultrasounds use reflected sound waves, rather than X-rays or other types of radiation, to produce an image of the fetus and placenta on a monitor. They are considered completely safe for both fetus and mother. (more…)