the9months

Congratulations are in order for Sultanat and Ayesha – our lovely moms – on the birth of their precious baby daughters Zaria and Aimen. These two moms were amongst some of our earliest fans on Facebook.

Swollen feet and ankles may not be sexy, but it’s what most pregnant women are wearing in any given season. Do your legs look like tree trunks? During your third trimester, swollen feet and ankles may not be sexy, but it’s what most pregnant women are wearing in any given season (especially in summer). To reduce that puffy look — which gets puffier when you’re overheated, or when you’ve been sitting or standing for a long time — try to take a five-minute walk around your house or office at least once an hour. Read the rest of this entry »

Planning for the first moments of your baby’s life

Before your baby is born, talk to your doctor or midwife about what will happen right after the birth of your new baby. In uncomplicated births and cesarean sections, it is usually possible and helpful for new parents to spend a quiet hour or more holding and getting to know their new baby. If a mother can hold her newborn skin-to-skin during this period, on her chest with a light blanket over both mother and baby for warmth, research suggests that the benefits are even greater. Read the rest of this entry »

Backaches and heartburn

What a pain! Backaches and heartburn are at the top of the list of late pregnancy discomforts for most women. As your baby and your uterus grow, the increased curve of your spine and weight centered in your abdomen put stress on your lower back, although a recent study suggests that women’s spines have evolved to support the weight of the fetus. Good posture-standing as straight as possible and keeping your chin level-may keep you more comfortable. Read the rest of this entry »

Braxton-Hicks contractions

You may have felt an occasional squeezing or tightening across your abdomen in the last few weeks. As you enter your third trimester, this feeling, called a Braxton-Hicks contraction, may get stronger and more frequent. As you near the end of your pregnancy, you may wonder how you can tell the difference between a Braxton-Hicks contraction and a true labor contraction.

* The uterus is a large muscle, and a Braxton-Hicks contraction is an irregular, involuntary flexing of that muscle-a gentle workout to prepare it for the hard work of labor. Usually, women feel them begin near the pubic bone and move up toward the top of the uterus.
* True contractions that kick off labor tend to be felt much lower and deeper. Read the rest of this entry »