Blog Posts by FitPregnancy

And 5 more simple, surprising ways to become a lactation maven

In case you haven't heard, breastfeeding is a pretty rockin' way to feed your baby. It's cheap (no need to buy formula); it's easy (no mixing or warming necessary); it's "green" (no formula containers in the landfill); and it's good for his body and mind (a lower incidence of short- and long-term health threats like diarrhea and leukemia, plus an IQ boost). It's even good for you, conferring a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancers. But it can also be challenging. So how can you make it work, especially in those all-important first days? Read on for our experts' best tips.

1. Get yourself-and your partner-educated If you haven't signed up for a breastfeeding class, do it now. "It's essential that you take a class while pregnant," says Shari Criso, a registered nurse, board-certified lactation consultant and certified nurse-midwife in Denville, N.J. "And make sure it's a class that includes partners."

Not

Read More »from Undress For Success

Here are nine subtle clues that you might be pregnant.

Before my first pregnancy, I enjoyed a glass of wine with dinner and an occasional big, juicy chili dog. But even in those very first days after I conceived, the wine tasted flat and the hot dog repulsed me. Fast-forward a few weeks. With a positive pregnancy test in hand, I realized that my body knew I was pregnant before my mind did. Of course, the earliest symptoms of pregnancy wax and wane and are different for each woman; in fact, some women may experience (or notice) none of them. But several can crop up well before you even miss a period. If you're the impatient type, here are the most common early-pregnancy clues to look for.

Clue 1} Breast tenderness
Your breasts may be extra tender as early as a week or two after conception. "You're making so much estrogen and progesterone in early pregnancy that the glands in the breasts start growing," explains Jasbir Singh, M.D., an OB-GYN at Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie Read More »from How early is too early for a pregnancy test?

Advice on overcoming these hurdles
Pregnant women have less sex than they're used to having, particularly in the last trimester, research suggests. Considering that sex is usually safe, free and a good way for partners to stay close during what can be a stressful time, why is this? "Women aren't having intercourse during pregnancy for many reasons," says Shannon Clark, M.D., an assistant professor in the department of OB-GYN at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. "They're experiencing physiological and hormonal changes that impact their desire, they don't have a lot of energy, they're carrying around more weight, and their growing belly may get in the way." They also often fear that having sex could be risky. Here's Clark's advice on overcoming these hurdles:

PROBLEM: Low or mismatched desire

SOLUTION: Communicate, especially during the first and third trimesters when many women are tired, nauseous or uncomfortable and feel insecure about their

Read More »from (No) Sex With A Bump

Some Oregon hospitals agree to take a stand against elective and early surgical deliveries.

Starting next week, many hospitals in Oregon will be taking a stand against early and elective Cesarean sections, MSNBC.com reports. C-sections have become commonplace, and federal statistics now show that surgical deliveries account for more than 30 percent of all U.S. deliveries.

However, Oregon officials are now working toward the goal of giving "babies more time for important development and to reduce costly complications after birth," MSNBC reports.

Seventeen Oregon hospitals (including all nine birthing hospitals in the Portland area) are implementing a "hard stop" on these elective procedures, says the March of Dimes' Oregon chapter, as quoted in the MSNBC report. According to a 2009 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, about 1 in 3 C-sections is performed before 39 weeks (37 to 41 weeks is considered full term).

"Thirty-nine to 40 weeks is the gold

Read More »from Oregon Plans Ban on C-Sections

I've mentioned in passing that Leo has been hard work lately. And I'm not the only one who has been mentioning this, either. "Leo had a hard day," his teachers have been saying-more often than not-when I pick him up. Or, "Leo was loose with his hands today." "Leo really tired us both out," Grandpa Ron will say when they get back from the park. "I did not quiet rest today," Leo will tell me, "I made noise. The teachers said SHHHH!" "I heard Leo was sent back to the two's room until he could be a big boy," a friend of another parent at his school mentioned recently.

Right. I get it. We see it at home, so I'm not surprised to hear all this. Just…disheartened. And just about clueless. "We don't hit, we keep our hands to our bodies," Leo tells me. Which is nice except how many times has he had to be reminded of this at school if he's reciting it spontaneously in his stroller?

Still, when I saw those "loose hands" in action at playgroup last week, I was caught off guard. It was so

Read More »from Tears at Playgroup: Mostly Mine

The IRS reverses stance, now says breastfeeding costs can be medical expenses.

Good news for nursing mothers (and their wallets)! The cost of breast pumps will now be considered tax-deductible medical expenses under a reclassification issued by the Internal Revenue Service, according to a report on MSNBC.

The new decision means women can use money set aside in pre-tax flexible spending accounts (FSAs) to buy the pumps and related equipment, MSNBC reports. For women without FSAs, breast pumps and supplies will be tax deductible if their total medical costs exceed 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income, MSNBC reports.

Breastfeeding advocates have long pushed for this reclassification. Previously, the IRS considered breast pumps to be feeding equipment, not medical devices. As for the IRS's "breast milk is food" stance, advocates would argue: How many foods are produced by the human body and require an FDA-regulated medical device to be safely extracted?

Breast pumps

Read More »from A Tax Tip for New Moms

From FitPregnancy.com's Crib Notes blog:

• A hospital in Pennsylvania is wrapping newborns in the Terrible Towels usually seen at Steeler football games to commemorate this weekend's Super Bowl. Remember, childbirth is the ultimate team sport. Check out our fun look at a mom-to-be's lineup for her big day!
  
• Not even a hazardous blizzard can stop babies from being born. Check out these stories from across the U.S. of couples in labor trying to get to the hospital during this week's massive snowstorm. As our Ask The Labor Nurse blogger recently noted, the idea of the "perfect birth" is a myth-so be ready to be flexible and go with the flow.
  
• One of my favorite bloggers (and soon-to-be new mom) shares her tips on dressing your growing baby bump in the second trimester . (Thanks for the shout-out this week, Aura Joon!) Check out our Pregnancy Style page for everything you need to know to keep you feeling beautiful inside and out.
  
• Regulators are reversing earlier decisions

Read More »from This Week's Blizzards: At Least You Weren't Giving Birth...

How to keep your pregnancy glow during these long winter months.

With the cold weather in full swing, we are sure most moms-to-be are struggling to stay happy and healthy during these long winter months.

However there are special considerations for a winter pregnancy that most women never even think about (maternity coats, anyone? How about a warm cover for the stroller?). After all, it's hard to avoid the harshness of winter when at some point this month it was snowing in 49 of the 50 U.S. states on the same day.

Being pregnant during the winter has its advantages and disadvantages. So check out our tips for braving the winter months:

SAFETY

• Flu shots for everyone-that includes you, mama (or mama-to-be)! They're not only safe but necessary when dealing with dropping temperatures and germs floating everywhere.

• Drive with extra precaution, and always wear your seat belt (no matter your due date)! Don't forget to pack emergency essentials, such as a

Read More »from The Pregnant Woman's Guide to Winter