Myths About Things to Avoid While Pregnant

Myth: You Should Not Get a Flu Shot
Fact: Quite the opposite, actually.  The flu shot is very important for pregnant women because if one was to become infected with the flu, they have a much higher risk of becoming very ill and a higher risk of dying from the flu than those who are not pregnant.  The immunities are also transferred to the baby which will help protect its delicate immune system during the first months after birth.  Some pregnant women worry that preservatives in the flu vaccine will hurt their unborn child, but studies show there is no evidence that the flu vaccine harms fetuses.

Myth: You Can’t Have Your Hair Colored While Pregnant
Fact: Chemicals from hair dyes are absorbed through the skin, but only in very minimal amounts, which are not harmful.  Play it safe by making sure you are having any chemical hair treatments done in a well-ventilated space with a fan.  And for those that are really worried, you can save all your hair treatments for the second and third trimesters.

Myth: You Shouldn’t Fly While Pregnant
Fact: Many pregnant women worry that radiation from airport body scanners and x-ray machines will harm their unborn babies.  But, have no fear.  The amount of radiation is very small will not harm unborn babies.  We are actually exposed to small amounts of radiation on the ground all the time.  So, go ahead and plan that babymoon.  Just make sure that you are safe and sound at home by 34 weeks, as that is usually when most doctors advice you cease travel.  Many airlines will also not allow you to board without a doctor’s note after 34 weeks.  You may run into some leg/ankle swelling while in-flight so make sure to pack some super-comfortable compression socks.

Myth: Skip the Gym While Pregnant
Fact: If you’ve been a gym regular, there’s no reason to give it up.  It can actually be quite healthy for you and baby.  Just be sure to keep your workouts low-impact and avoid contact sports or any exercises done on your back.  Be sure to check with your doctor to make sure your routine is still safe.  You can help support your belly with the help of support garments or legwear.

Myth: Avoid Sleeping On Your Back
Fact: Doctor’s suggest that it is best to sleep on your left side since this sleep position is known to help increase blood flow to the uterus.  But, if sleeping on your back is more comfortable, there is no harm for your baby.

Myths About Eating While Pregnant

Myth: Double Up On Your Servings Because You’re Eating For Two
Fact: Not so fast!  Even though you are eating for two, you are not eating for two adults!  The average pregnant woman only needs an additional 300 calories per day to adequately nourish both mom and baby.  Normal weight gain should average around 25 to 35 pounds during the whole pregnancy.  Gaining too much can have lasting negative effects on the baby.

Myth: Don’t Eat Fish or Seafood While Pregnant
Fact: Fish is actually very healthy for both mom and baby, as fish contains high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, which help with baby’s brain development.  Just make sure to stick with coldwater fish, salmon, shrimp or canned tuna, and avoid fish that are high in mercury, such as swordfish, shark, tilefish and king mackerel.

Myth: Eat Three Healthy Meals A Day
Fact: It is actually better for a pregnant woman to eat 6 or 7 small meals per day.  Eating small amounts of healthy food frequently will help keep your blood sugar in normal ranges.

Myth: It’s Okay To Have a Small Drink
Fact: Nope!  Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend that pregnant women completely avoid drinking alcohol.  There is no amount of alcohol that is safe during pregnancy.

Myth: Avoid Caffeine While Pregnant
Fact: Just say no to alcohol, but a little bit of caffeine is okay.  You will definitely want to limit the amount of caffeine that you consume, but most doctors say that 200 milligrams or less a day is perfectly safe.  This amounts to roughly one 12-ounce cup of coffee.

Myth: Avoid Cheese While Pregnant
Fact: No need to cut out all cheeses, but do avoid the soft, unpasteurized cheeses like Brie, feta and goat cheese, as these can carry food-borne illnesses.  Other cheeses are perfectly safe.

Myths About Baby’s Gender or Appearance

Myth: How High or Low You Are Carrying Determines the Baby’s Gender
Fact: There is no scientific fact behind gender playing a role in the shape and position of a pregnant belly.  The look of your bump is determined by the woman’s muscle structure and abdominal fat, as well as the baby’s position and size.

Myth: Craving Certain Foods Reveals What Gender You Are Carrying
Fact: Scientific fact is lacking in this one, too.  Every woman, baby and pregnancy is different.  Different food cravings have no bearing on the baby’s gender.

Myth: Heartburn Means Baby Will Have a Lot of Hair
Fact: This one is certainly one of the more common myths, but heartburn and hair do not actually go hand in hand.  Many women who had heartburn have bald babies, while those who sailed through pregnancy without the hand on the Tums bottle have had babies with a full head of hair.

Myths About Labor and Delivery

Myth: Your Water Breaks When You Are In Labor
Fact: Sometimes a woman’s water breaks at that start of labor, but more than likely it is a further point through labor before it breaks.  Some doctors will even break your water to help labor progress further.  The bottom line is don’t wait for your water to break.  If your contractions are strong, regular and frequent, don’t wait.  Make your way to your hospital or birthing center.

Myth: Having an Epidural Increases Your Chances of Needing a C-Section
Fact: Studies show that getting an epidural to help relieve some of the pain of labor does not actually increase the risk of a c-section.  Every labor, childbirth, woman and baby is different.  Some may even find that the epidural help move things along.

Myth: First Babies Always Arrive Late
Fact: While there is a greater percentage of first time moms that deliver late, this is certainly not the rule.  Your menstrual cycle is actually a more accurate way to determine when your baby will arrive.  If your cycles are shorter, you’re more likely to deliver early.  Longer cycles might indicate a later baby.  But, even this is not an exact science.

Myth: Your Second Childbirth Will Be Easier
Fact: Although your first childbirth experience is usually the longest, it isn’t always.  And the second and subsequent births may not always be easier.  Everything will depend on the baby’s position and condition, as well as anything that might be affecting your health.

Myth: You Will Feel An Instant Bond With Your Baby
Fact: Although many moms do feel the bond right away, others may be feeling too exhausted or overwhelmed.  If you don’t feel that bond right away, don’t worry because your bond will grow stronger before you know it.

Myth: Your Delivery Will Be Like Your Mother’s
Fact: Although you may have a similar body structure as your mother, this is not the only factor in determining what type of labor and delivery you will have.  The size and position of the baby is the main contributing factor, as well as your health, lifestyle and any number of complications that you may be experiencing.

Disclaimer: This article is meant to be informational.  Always follow the advice and recommendations of your doctor.  Consult your doctor before doing anything that you feel might be risky.

Image courtesy of topstep07 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

As the dad, you might have been somewhat of a spectator for this pregnancy thing, but Coach is about to put you in the game.  So, since Father’s Day is right around the corner, the Preggers team put together a list of tips for new dads – think of it as your playbook.  Like football, parenting is a team sport and Mom needs you on the first string team.  Put on your helmet and pads and keep your eyes open for trick plays.  Kickoff will be here before you know it!

1. Sleep – Forget about sleep. It’s nothing more than a fond memory.  It may return again in . . . well, it’ll never be what it was.  Your wife has probably already said goodbye to sleep, since housing your offspring often makes sleeping difficult.  And once Baby is here, he’ll be up every few hours to eat – meaning that someone will have to get up to feed him.  If you’re bottle feeding, you should take some of the feedings.  And when you finally reach the point where Baby sleeps through the night, you’ll be so ecstatic, you won’t even notice that you’ve forgotten what sleeping in feels like.  It might be years before you do this again.  PLAYBOOK ADVICE: People have always told moms to sleep when the baby sleeps, but this should apply to everyone in your house.  If your baby is sleeping, SLEEP.  It may be all you get for a while.
2. Poop – You will spend more time talking about and dealing with poop than you ever imagined. Most parents remember the first time their child had a full blown blowout diaper – the kind the poop goes up the child’s back and out the leg holes of the diaper . . . probably ends up in her hair.  Just know that as you’re cleaning the poop off of everything within a mile radius, one day you’ll be laughing about this.  This and the 18,563 other poop stories between now and your child’s high school graduation.  Okay, we kid, you’ll get it figured out before that. PLAYBOOK ADVICE: Whether you’re going to the mailbox or across the country, always travel with extra diapers, extra wipes and extra clothes . . . for baby, but also maybe for you.  Never know when that blowout is going to happen or where the poop will end up.
3. Vomit – The baby variety is known as spit up and the very young ones will do this quite a bit. Eventually, they get the hang of things and won’t spit up.  The really bad stuff is when they’re older.  And when one of them says to you, “Daddy, I don’t feel so good,” you have exactly 5 seconds to get your child over a toilet or trash can before the vomit explosion. 5. . .4 . . .3 . . .2. . . .1 PLAYBOOK ADVICE: Be prepared.  If it’s baby vomit, keeping a burp cloth handy is all you’ll need.  If it’s the child variety, I suggest keeping your child in close proximity to the toilet/bucket/trash can . . . and possibly wear a rain poncho.
4. Crying – Baby’s cry, everyone knows this. But, sometimes it feels like the crying has gone on forever and will never stop. You’ve fed him and changed him and you can’t figure out what could possibly be wrong.  He won’t stop crying and he won’t go to sleep.  PLAYBOOK ADVICE: Strap your little one into his carseat and take him for a ride in your car.  It doesn’t matter where you go – driving around the block will work.  Sometimes the vibrations of the car engine will sooth your baby enough that they will fall asleep.  Hopefully, he’ll stay asleep once you decide to call it a night and head home.  But if not, don’t get frustrated.  Put him down in a safe place like his crib and step away for a few moments of peace.  He’ll be okay if it’s in a safe place and you haven’t gone too far away.
5. Children’s Shows – Whether it’s princesses and ponies or ninjas and cars, your TV viewing is about to change . . . drastically! Your DVR may be full of episodes of The Walking Dead and Breaking Bad right now, but it won’t be long before you’ll be sitting down to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Yo Gabba Gabba and Doc McStuffins.  PLAYBOOK ADVICE: Embrace it!  Learn the names of the characters and talk about the episodes with your kids.  You’ll be the coolest dad ever!  We promise you, they won’t be stuck on these shows forever.  Their viewing preferences will improve with age . . . sort of.

Well that’s a good start to your Fatherhood Playbook.  But, a good playbook always needs new plays.  We encourage any experienced dads (and moms!) to add your Plays in the comments or on social media. #preggerspapasplaybook.

Happy Father’s Day, Dads – Rookies and Veterans – from the Preggers Team!

“Lavender’s Blue, Rosemary’s Green . . .”

Spring is here and soon enough the flowers will be blooming – not unlike you, Preggers mamas!  We’re celebrating spring with a site wide sale.  Everything on our website is 25% off between now and April 15.**  It’s the perfect time to pick up some extra pairs of Preggers maternity compression hosiery.  Your legs will feel as good as they look – especially in the beautiful spring colors.

Since you’re blooming, let’s have a little fun!  We’re including an extra special surprise in each Preggers web order placed after March 24 – a special flower seed paper packet!  Plant your flower seeds and watch them grow along with you.

Flower Seed Paper Packets

Historically, individual flowers have held special meaning.  Along with your flower package from Preggers, plant some flowers that represent thoughts and ideas that you have for your growing baby.  Here are a few that give us good thoughts for blooming babies:

Aloe                                  Healing, protection, affection
Basil                                 Good wishes
Chamomile                        Patience
Crocus                              Youthful gladness
Daisy                                Innocence, hope
Heliotrope                          Eternal love
Holly                                 Hope
Honeysuckle                     Bonds of love
Hyacinth                           Constancy of love, fertility
Jasmine                            Sweet love
Lilac                                 Joy of youth
Lily-of-the-valley                Sweetness
Marjoram                          Joy and happiness
Pansy                              Thoughts

Get to planting and share your sweet garden with Baby.  Ready, Set, Bloom!

** Offer ends April 15, 2015.  Excludes 15-20mmHg, 20-30mmHg and 30-40mmHg, Clearance and Discontinued items.

There are so many things to consider when preparing for a new baby.  If some of your family members are of the four-legged variety, you’ll want to remember them in your planning.

From: http://www.kochanemordki.pl/strefa-psa/item/166-ciaza-i-pies, http://www.mousouda.gr/eidiseis-gia-zoa/toksoplasmosi/491-toksoplasmosi, http://galleryhip.com/angry-pregnant-woman.html

When my husband and I were preparing for our son’s arrival, we had two fur babies at home – our two beloved cats.  I had no intention of giving them up, so I had to make sure that our home was safe for our human baby, and our fur babies smoothly transitioned into the new dynamic.  The first thing I did was to call our family veterinarian.  He said that my questions were common among his patients and gave me a list of things to remember to ensure that everyone in our home stayed happy and healthy.

Tips for pets, pregnancy and baby:

1. No litter boxes, ladies!  First things first. Pregnant mommas should not handle cat litter boxes due to the risk of toxoplasmosis.  Yay!  I gladly handed over this job to my husband (and it’s still his ladies, you never know!).  Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a nasty parasite.  The harm to the already born is pretty minimal, but womb residents are at a pretty severe risk for stillbirth, long-term structural and neurological damage, and other unpleasant things.  Thankfully, the chances of contracting toxoplasmosis from your felines is pretty slim when they are strictly indoor kitties, and especially if they are kept to a diet of commercial cat food.  But, it wasn’t worth the risk, so the hubby is the only litter handler in our house!

From: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/litter-box-problems

2. Visit your veterinarian regularly. There are other things that you can be at risk for while pregnant, so it is always important to make sure that your animals are all up-to-date on vaccinations and have regular visits with their vets. This will help to keep you, your baby, other family members and most especially your pets safe and free of disease.

http://learningpath.org/eguides/Veterinary_Medicine.html#/page/1

3. Let your pets adapt . . . Help your animals get used to all the new things associated with baby. My cats love to investigate every new thing brought into our home – especially if it is associated with a new scent.  Let them sniff out and investigate baby gear ahead of time.  They’ll be less likely to investigate later when baby arrives home.

4. . . . But not adopt. Watch for things that they may want to adopt as their own and correct their behavior right away. You may want to teach them to steer clear of baby’s bed, or maybe even the whole room.  My cats tried to adopt a bassinet and a vibrating bouncer chair.  We sprayed them with water each time we caught them sitting in either one to help them understand that these places were off limits to them.

5. Gently introduce Fifi and Fido to Junior’s scent. Use an object to help introduce baby to your fur family. Most vets suggest a hat that baby wears in the hospital or a blanket he’s wrapped in.  (Make sure that it is a blanket or hat the baby used AFTER his first bath.)  Have your partner or another family member bring the item home the day before you and baby arrive and let your animals smell it and get used to the baby’s scent.

6. Never leave baby alone with pets. One important thing to remember is that no matter how much you’ve prepared your animals and how much you trust them, you should never leave baby alone with the animals. It is their nature to act on instinct and you never know when a dog or cat may feel threatened by your child.  Just be safe and make sure you or another adult is always in the room if your pets and baby are together.

7. Desensitize pets to a kid’s roughness. One of my best girlfriends has dogs. For several months before their first pregnancy, they played rough with their dogs – pulling their ears and tails.  They were desensitizing them to what a young child might do.  Their dogs were ready for all the “abuse” a toddler would delve out in the coming years.

from: http://content.tailster.com/blog/dog-baby-love-affair/

8. Provide a safe zone for your pets. Give your animals a safe place to hide. Sometimes, they’ll just need to get away from baby and they need to know there is a place in your house where they can do that.  When my son was a toddler he was very generous with his “love”.  His “love” included regular body slams to his kitties.  Ouch!  Thankfully, by this time, our cats had thoroughly accepted our son and were even somewhat protective of him, so they never returned his “love” with bites or scratches.  But, whenever they had had enough, they knew there were places they could go where he just couldn’t.

With proper preparation and planning, you can create a happy home for the human and fur babies in your life.  And you’ll probably be fostering a love and friendship that will last for years to come.

From: http://www.desicomments.com/funny/little-baby-talking-the-dog-for-a-walk/

From: http://theamazingphotos.com/2013/11/21/cute-baby-and-cat-funny-photos/cat-and-baby-6/

From: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/danpeterson/2013/12/little-girl-with-big-dog-and-stethoscope.html

For other advice, check out these guides to pets and babies from the American Humane Association and the Humane Society.