the9months

Many Muslim women fast during pregnancy though it is not a must for them to do so. The following is an interesting article on Ramadan and pregnancy. You can also find it at http://www.babycenter.com.ph/pregnancy/nutrition/ramadan/pregnant-fasting/ At the end of the day, observing a fast is your personal choice.

Is it safe?

There is no clear answer, even though medical studies have looked at the effects of fasting (Cross 1990, CIA/NHS 2007). At the moment, we don’t know if fasting is completely safe for pregnant women and their babies (NHS Choices 2008). (more…)

What they are: The varied collection of skin peculiarities that crop up during pregnancy, including rashes, redness, acne, discolorations, and other delightful (not!) eruptions. (more…)

The upside of pregnancy

Reasons to be happy during your pregnancy would often include:

• A glowing complexion accompanied with faster growth of hair and nails. This is especially true for the second trimester.
• Some women get naturally more inclined to shift to healthier food options during the first trimester instead of junk food and an overdose of caffeine. So you do not really have to leave your bad habits – it’s likely they will leave you!
• You and your hubby are keeping a secret from the world during the first trimester and that can be very exciting for some. Imagining how different people would react to the news is fun as well. (more…)

Research has shown that moms-to-be who read aloud to their unborn child, during and after the sixth month of pregnancy, are more likely to have intelligent children and build a stronger bond with the baby, as compared to those who do not. The learning function of the brain begins in the sixth month, which means that the baby is able to retain things from hereon. One can argue over the retention part but the key is that the baby is getting familiar with your voice. An important finding is that it is the feelings generated by the particular piece of literature that you are reading, which will have an impact on the personality of the baby. (more…)

Wednesday, July 22, 2009 marked the longest total solar eclipse of this century and Selma (my dear four months pregnant friend) was asked by her father in law to stay indoors till half past 12 at noon. Her mother in law learnt through her loitering around the house that it was the solar eclipse on that day. She prohibited Selma from going out for the whole day and told her some rather interesting stories which the older woman actually believed in. (more…)