Food during pregnancy: 2014-06-01

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Saturday, June 7, 2014

snack foods during pregnancy?

ouangel77

whats some good snack foods? im about 5-6 months along and ive been eating fruits and vegtables and fruit snacks what else could i eat that would be good for me?

Answer
For my last pregnancy one of my favorite snacks was the Quaker mini rice cakes, they come in a bunch of different flavors. I really liked the carmel corn cakes they tasted sweet and not like a health food :) I also always kept a few granola bars in my car and purse along with some bags of nuts, twizzlers, and peanut butter m&m's. Another thing that I really enjoyed snacking on was hummus with either pita bread or veggies.

congrats on your pregnancy!

Dizziness in pregnancy?!?

justasking

I'm 18 weeks pregnant and I've been having bad dizzy spells for the past couple of weeks now. I'm afraid to leave the house or be alone because I'm afraid I'm going to faint. My doctor says this is normal and could be hormones and lower blood pressure. I'm waiting on the results of my iron check. This is all on top of bad acid reflux and occasional nausea. Is there anything I can do for relief? This is my second but my daughter was a breeze during pregnancy.

Answer
Feeling dizzy during pregnancy is very normal, common thing. i got dizzy tons during my pregnancies. i would feel faint a lot, or i would be walking in the store, and just feel like i might pass out, and had to sit down immediately. it happens. my doctor always said its normal for woman to be dizzy when pregnant. has something to do with the increase blood volume during pregnancy. there are other things that could be causing it as well. such as low iron and blood sugar levels. whenever your feeling faint in the future, try eating a little snack. i usually always felt better after i got some food/sugar in my system. always carry some granola bars on you for in public, when you feel dizzy. it does help to get food in your body.
talk to your doctor, and get all the blood work done to make sure nothing else is going on.

good luck.

How can I eat healthier?

derived

Im going to be joining kung Fu soon and im working out a lot but i want to eat healthier too. Im an extremely picky eater and the only vegetable ill eat is corn but i will eat any fruit.

also when i eat lunch it usually has a bolgna and cheese sandwhich, water,some cheese puffs and a cosmic brownie. and my breakfast is usually a hot pocket or cereal. what can i do?

Answer
The answer starts with learning what is healthy and what is not. One place is a food guide, the best being published by the Health Dept. (in Canada, it's in the form of a triangle with fats at the small point and fruits and veggies at the long line), but it's necessary to read the chart on boxes, jars and bottles, which lists how many calories a serving, how much fat content (good and bad), fibre, and vitamins. So compare brands.
Discipline over your willpower and hunger pains also helps. It is medically popular to eat 5 small meals through the day, instead of 3 big ones. I don't (or try not to) eat "white"--nothing with white flower, white rice, white potatoes, and white sugar (but brown or honey are equally as bad). Remember, don't punish yourself, if you do give in once a week to a brownie. Just get rid of it as a habit. And lastly, the more processed a food is, the better to skip it--like any cold cuts, puddings, etc.
Try out one new veggie each week for a few days--like a bag of washed and peeled baby carrots. V8 juice and other ones which add fruit are good also. But fresh fruit and veggies are better, sliced chicken is better than bologna, skim milk better than chocolate..
Do you work out at home or a gym? If a gym, ask a few guys (or girls) about their diets. Make it a lifestyle, not a diet. And I hope it goes well with your Kung Fu.

Are diet and lack of sleep large factors in the acquisition of certain mild illnesses and afflictions?

Graham T

The question title may sound complicated, but it really isn't. I'm just curious about something. Sometimes I tend to get mouth ulcers, white splotches on my fingernails and a yellowish coating on my tongue.

I remember when I used to ask my mother about these things, and she'd generally say it's down to my fairly unhealthy diet (though I've always been fairly slim) and low amounts of sleep. I was never sure if she was right, if she was guessing, or if she was just trying to make me sleep more and eat more vegetables. Who knows?

But anyway, I noticed that during summer holidays when I was off school for long periods of time, these three occurrences were rarities. Perhaps because I do indeed get significantly more sleep during summer holidays.

So do sleep and diet come into play with these conditions? If not, what causes them? I already researched each of them, so don't just copy a paragraph from wikipedia or somewhere I could easily have found on the first page of Google results.

Answer
Perhaps we don't like to admit that our mothers are correct but in this case, although your mother was not very specific in her logic, for all intents and purposes, she was basically correct.

You mention having mouth ulcers and coating on your tongue. These are two factors that I have found are very common among those people (including myself) who indeed have a diet that is lacking in certain elements as well as a lifestyle with poor sleep habits.

I have suffered mouth ulcers for a certain reason. Although for other medical reasons as well, I must eat a diet that contains all the recommended items in food guides (whether in the U.S. or Canada), it seems that I still manage to get these ulcers from time to time. I also have an unusual sleep pattern, getting only 4-5 hours of sleep per night and then I must nap for the remainder of time to 'catch up' to the recommended minimum of 7-8 hours sleep in a 24-hour period.

The primary reason which accounts for most of my troubles, and which may also be your concern, is that for most of my life, I have had one of the herpes simplex viruses. No, I don't mean the veneral disease 'herpes.' There are several different varieties of the herpes virus. One - which I am afflicted with, causes such problems as conjunctivitis (pinkeye), mouth ulcers, hives, cold sores and a few other irritating, and hard to eliminate concerns.

The only one of the above afflictions that I fortunately have not had to ever deal with is that of cold sores. My father had these but because they are part of the same herpes virus, he unknowingly passed the herpes virus along to me at birth. But because we do not start out as babies, and then in early adolescence, etc. with sleep problems or diet concerns (as a general rule), we do not encounter these things until later in life. Once we start having concerns about school, relationships, sleep problems and poor diet regimens, these problems such as yours and mine begin to surface once we reach a certain age - usually pre-teen and most assuredly, in the mid to late teens, early twenties and even for years afterwards.

I can only suggest that you try to obtain a standardized level of sleep as best you can - getting a minimum of eight hours sleep per night (regardless of summer vacation or other time off throughout the year) and most importantly, by trying to eat food items that you probably know are best for you. If one thinks about it, one usually knows when they are not eating the right foods, and/or at the wrong times, etc.

If you eat pizza (which is actually not considered 'junk food'), this is fine but not recommended every other day, for instance. The best things to do are those that you probably already know - eat a good breakfast; not a pop-tart but a wholesome cereal with bran of some sort in it, or whole grain bread and yogurt or fruit, etc. You get the idea, I'm sure.

Include as many vegetables and fruits, along with the whole grains for every day that you eat - not just once a week. That won't help. Also, maintain good oral health. Naturallly, if you have the same virus as I do, sometimes no matter how well you are keeping to a diet, sleeping well, going for regular dental checks - you will still encounter these annoying mouth ulcers and other similar problems until you reach a certain age.

Even then, you may still encounter them, as I do, no matter what. Please don't think that there is an instant cure because there isn't. By the same token, these types of viruses are in the long term, not serious, but are annoying and can take their toll on your patience. It may all sound very restrictive but just think how bad things could get if you eat whatever you want, whenever, and sleep a few hours here and there. By the time you reach a certain age, you will look and feel much older than you really are. You will feel lousy when you realize you could have done many things to prevent that from happening.

You sound like a clever and sensible person overall. If you try to maintain a solid regimen over the long haul, despite what all your friends may be doing - eating poorly, seldom sleeping much, partying, etc. - it is you who will win in the end. These friends will learn lessons the hard way and may encounter much more serious diseases or conditions than you.

At least you will know that you've done everything you could and can maintain some level of control with the conditions you presently (and perhaps may always) encounter from time to time.

I hope you will listen to me as well as your mother (despite the fact I am not a mother) as we both know what you should be doing. If indeed, you have one or more of the herpes viruses, as I do, there is a possibility that you will have many years ahead in which you will still encounter similar problems as you have now, but you can lessen their effects by following the best life regimens possible. Good luck and I think you will come out ahead in the long run! Please note my source(s) below and please know that I have never once researched an answer on the web. For me, it is not necessary.

Friday, June 6, 2014

Travel during pregnancy during 25 week ? please give comments?

happy_kary

is it safe to travel on a flight in my 25 week of pregnancy on a long 16 hours flight! if my pregnancy is healthy is there any risks. did you have any experiences.
t

Answer
I traveled internationally (14+ hours each way) this past summer while pregnant. I left when I was 13 weeks and returned when I was around 30 weeks. I also did another short (3 hours each way) international trip (left at 32 weeks and returned at 34 weeks). My daughter was born 23 December and is perfectly healthy and happy. I have also traveled internationally at various stages with my first two pregnancies (my children are now 8&6).

You are safe to travel by plane from the beginning of your pregnancy all the way up until the end portion of your last trimester (usually 9th month - 36 weeks) and can manage what ever kind of trip(s) you want to do as long as you and your pregnancy are healthy and the pregnancy is progressing normally. As long as everything is fine, air travel does NOT increase the risk of miscarriage or pre-term labor, and poses no other risks to you or your child.

It is the last four weeks (once you reach the 9th month - 36 weeks) that women are usually prohibited from flying. This is because after 36 weeks, a women can go into labor at any time, and the airplane is not made to handle such situations. For one, there is no guarantee that a doctor will be on board a plane, plus, should any complications arise during the labor and delivery, the plane does not have the medical equipment to handle such situations and it could put the health of the mother and child in danger.

You need to get a check-up from your doctor to make sure that you are in fit enough health, and that the pregnancy is healthy enough to allow for you to fly. Many airlines will require a medical certificate from your doctor dated 24-72 hours before your flight once you reach your third trimester (27 weeks). By the time you reach your eighth month (32 weeks) almost all airlines will require a doctors note.

All airlines make up their own rules and regulations regarding pregnant women. Some do not restrict travel at all, no matter what stage of pregnancy a women is in, and others start to restrict at 7 months, although the majority restrict around 36 weeks.

FAA Airline regulations state :

Obstetrical patients are free to fly, but pose a significant risk in later stages of precipitating delivery during flight. Pregnancy past 32 weeks should be carefully considered for restriction from flight and must be accompanied with an authorization note from a doctor. Those past 36 weeks should be prohibited from flying unless personally accompanied by their doctor. (Taken from my husbands flight security and survival manual & FAA site)
http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/designees_delegations/designee_types/ame/media/Section%20II.7.1%20Transportation%20of%20Patients%20by%20Airline.doc

While traveling I advise you to keep your medical records, and the name and number of your doctor. You should also get the name and number of a doctor where you will be staying/visiting in case an emergency comes up.

To keep yourself safe and comfortable on the trip, follow these simple things:

*drink plenty of water
*avoid caffeine
*don't eat food that causes gas for at least one day before you travel (pressure builds up as you ascend through the altitudes and could cause pain)
*walk around as much as you can (up and down the aisles)
*stretch while sitting
*wear loose fitting clothing
*wear slip on shoes (your feet may swell)
*wear maternity support pantyhose or socks
*try to get an aisle seat or a front row seat for more leg room
*eat light foods
*eat small meals or snacks at frequent intervals rather than big heavy meals
*do not eat salt
*Wear your seat belt just under your abdomen (depending on how big you are, you can also ask for a seat belt extender - just be sure that that too goes under your abdomen)
*relax

I wrote an article about traveling while pregnant. It gives more in-depth information if you'd like to reference it: http://jamiehassen79.angelfire.com/pregnant_travel.html

If I can be of any more help or assistance, please feel free to contact me.

pregnancy!?

Traylo W

do any of you have any idea what the furthist into yor preagnacy can be to fly abroard? hhhhhhheeeeeeeellllllllllppppp

plants, animal, sport and food that start with x?

sweetie ca

Answer
Hmm this is tricky - I like it!
Here we go:

Plant:
- Xanthoceras sorbifolium
Another word for 'yellowhorn', which can be grown either as a shrub or a small tree. It has beautiful white flowers with red centres, and green pods which split to reveal rich, dark brown seeds. It can grow to about 6 m high and 5 m wide.

- Xerophyte
Any plant that requires very little water.

Animal:
- Xenopus
An African clawed toad, used in embryological research and formerly in pregnancy testing (as it produces eggs in response to substances in the urine of a pregnant woman.)

- X-ray fish
A small almost transparent freshwater fish with an opaque body cavity, native to South America.

Sport:
- Xingyiquan
This is one of the major Chinese martial arts, allegedly originating in at least the 18th century. Xingyiquan translates roughly to "form/intention boxing", or "shape/will boxing." It is characterised by aggressive bursts of power, accompanied by apparently linear movements.

Food:
- XO sauce
A spicy seafood sauce developed in the 1980s in Hong Kong for Cantonese cooking.

- Xanthan gum
A gum made via the fermentation of corn sugar, which is used as a thickener, emulsifier and stabiliser in foods such as dairy products and salad dressings.

- Xocoatl (EDIT: Colleen is right - the more common spelling is 'xocolatl')
A cold drink made from cocoa flavoured with honey, spices and vanilla, originating in Central America.

- Xanthareel
A yellow eel formerly used in medicinal foods.

- Xigua
A Chinese fruit similar to a watermelon, but slightly shorter.

Hope this helps!

is it okay to eat......while pregnant?

Lo K

is it okay to eat sushi while you are pregnant? and what foods should i stay away from?
thanks!

Answer
Some types of sushi, such as California rolls (which contain steamed crab) and cooked eel, are fine to eat while you're pregnant. But it's best to avoid eating the kinds that contain raw seafood, such as tuna.

Fresh, raw seafood is potentially risky because it can contain parasites such as tapeworm, which, if they grow large enough, could rob your body of nutrients needed for your growing baby. Freezing and cooking deep-sixes the parasites. For this reason, many Japanese restaurants that specialize in sushi use frozen rather than fresh fish. But restaurants in the United States aren't required to freeze fish before serving it raw.

Unfortunately, one concern about seafood, raw or cooked, is PCB and chemical contamination. If you want to eat fish during your pregnancy, contact your local health department or office of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a list of fish in your area that haven't been contaminated with toxins.

As a general rule, ocean fish such as tuna, sea bass, sole, flounder, and snapper are safer than river and lake varieties. When eating out at any restaurant, order your fish well cooked. Many upscale eateries lightly sear fresh fish on the outside, then serve it rare.

In both the United States and Japan, many more people get sick from eating fish served at home than from eating fish at sushi restaurants.

For seafood safety at home, the Food and Drug Administration has a few tips. According to the FDA's 1997 Food Code, you should cook most seafood to an internal temperature of 145 degrees Farenheit (63 degrees Celsius) for 15 seconds. If you don't have a thermometer, the guidelines listed below can help you to determine whether seafood is done.

* For fish: Slip the point of a sharp knife into the flesh and pull aside. The edges should be opaque and the center slightly translucent with flakes beginning to separate.

* Let the fish stand three to four minutes to finish cooking.

* Shrimp and lobster turn red when cooked; the flesh becomes pearly opaque. Scallops appear milky white or opaque and firm.

* For clams, mussels, and oysters, watch for the point at which their shells open, which indicates that they're done. Throw out those that remain closed after cooking.

* When microwaving seafood, rotate the dish several times to ensure even cooking. After letting the dish stand, check seafood in several spots with a thermometer to see if it's reached the proper temperature.

Pregnancy Test Question And Pic ?

Ashley S

I had my last period on april 16th 2008. I have a normal 34-38 day cycle. The only time I had sex was may 11th. Since that day I been having some mild cramping, bloating, and a lot of thick whiteish clear discharge. Feeling like I was going to come on my period. I told myself If I didn't come on towards the end of the month I'd get a pregnancy test. So I went with first response because I heard those were the best. I took the pregnancy test the 27th and the 28th of may. Both said negative. I still haven't came on my period yet, but this whole month, I have been stressing about it. I can't take my mind off it, and plus dealing with a lot of others have stressed me out to. Also may 11th was the first time I had sex again in a year, maybe a new occurance could mess up my cycle as well. Is first response a good pregnancy test and how accurate do you think they are ? Anybody got a negative and got there period a few days to a week later ? Test Pic. http://i29.tinypic.com/2s7glsm.jpg

Answer
Pregnancy Tests detail can be found here at http://www.helponpregnancy.com/Pregnancy-Tests.html

Once pregnancy occurs, different effects take place in the body of the woman. Development of the baby in the womb produces many biochemical changes.

There are signs associated with pregnancy. Most common is a missed menstrual period, but since all women do not have regular menstrual cycles it is important to watch for other pregnancy signs such as: breast tenderness, nausea, heartburn, extreme tiredness and frequent urination.

Even if a woman has some or all symptoms it is important to reconfirm the diagnosis with a pregnancy test. This test will detect the presence of a hormone called chorionic gonadotropin, which is produced by the placenta and it is present in the blood and urine of the expecting woman.

Prenatal Care: Objective
The objective of prenatal care is to monitor the health of the pregnant mother and fetus.

It is important to visit the doctor as soon as you suspect you are pregnant. At each visit the doctor will examine you. This examination includes: monitoring weight gain or loss, blood pressure, circumference of the abdomen, position of the fetus and fetal heartbeat. Such variables are going to be closely followed during the course of your pregnancy.

Other tests your doctor may recommend are: Ultrasound and Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring.

Frequency of Visits to the Doctor
Your doctor may schedule your visits monthly during the first two trimesters (from week one to week 28 of pregnancy), every two weeks from 28 to week 36 of pregnancy and weekly after week 36 (until the day of delivery that could be between week 38 and 40 weeks).

Pregnancy associated discomforts

As the fetus grows, the uterus increases in size effecting other parts of your body. Some changes are triggered by the hormones your body secretes for nurturing the fetus to prepare both you and your child for birth.

During your pregnancy you will expect some discomforts such as:

Constipation and hemorrhoids
One of the reasons for constipation may be changes produced in the digestive tract due to hormones slowing down the movement of food. Added to this, during the last trimester of pregnancy there is more pressure on your rectum from your uterus. To avoid these try to drink plenty of liquids and eat fruit and vegetables with a high fiber content. Some pregnant women experience relief drinking a glass of tepid water before breakfast.

Nausea
As well as constipation, it is due to metabolic changes. In the morning before getting up try eating crackers and stand up very slowly. Try to eat in small quantities every three hours (fractionated diet). During your pregnancy it is good to eat proteins (meat, eggs, cheese) before going to bed at night.

Heartburn
This can occur when stomach acid from digesting food is pushed into your esophagus. As stated before, during pregnancy all digestive process is slowed down and in addition, the engrossed uterus presses up on your stomach. To avoid heartburn, eat in small quantities, several times a day. Avoid spicy and greasy foods and do not eat at least one hour before going bed. Some pregnant women experience relief resting at night by elevating their heads with two or three pillows.

Fatigue
Your body is doing a big job while you are pregnant. Try to sleep 8 hours daily and if you can take a nap during the day. Avoid hard work and eat a balanced diet throughout your pregnancy.

Headaches
You may have headaches during your pregnancy. Possibly because you are tense or in some cases it is cased by the higher level of blood in your body now that you are pregnant. Lay down and try to relax. Some women experience relief walking outside. Do not take medication while you are pregnant unless directed by your doctor.

Frequent Urination
During your pregnancy, your uterus is pressing down on your bladder and even if your bladder is almost empty this pressure produces the same sensation as if it were full. Do not avoid the urge of urinate.

Cramps
They are due to circulatory problems associated with the weight gain as you progress in your pregnancy. Ask your doctor to recommend some exercises to alleviate these discomforts

Chloasma
These are obscure marks in the skin caused by the hormones secreted during pregnancy and tend to disappear after delivery. Avoiding sunlight can help prevent them.

Stretch Marks
Skin tissue that has to support extra weight causes these marks. They appear on the abdomen and breasts and in most cases slowly disappear after delivery.

Varicose Veins
They are produced by the pressure of the uterus to the lower part of the abdomen that causes difficulty in circulation during the 9 months of pregnancy. They usually appear in legs especially if you must stand or sit for long periods of time. If you do need to stand or sit for long periods, move frequently to improve your circulation. Elevate your legs when possible or lie in bed with a pillow under your feet. While you are sitting try to keep your feet up. Do not wear tight clothing. Your doctor may recommends support stockings for you.

Breathing Difficulties
This happens during the third trimester of pregnancy because the fetus is occupying more space in your abdomen. Breath deeply several times a day (you can ask your childbirth instructor to teach you the correct way) but avoid hyperventilation. Sleep propped up and avoid crowded places and smoggy environments.

Backaches
This is a consequence of the growing of your abdomen and your weight increase. If you are suffering from backaches wear low-heeled shoes, try to keep your back straight and avoid lifting heavy weights. It is good to practice some relaxation exercises that will help to lower the tension in your muscles. Remember to stay as calm and serene as possible during your pregnancy.

Swelling
Due to the retention of water in your tissues, swelling has a high occurrence in your feet. Try to elevate your legs whenever you can and avoid tight clothes that bind your legs. It is important to notify the doctor if you notice that swelling is taking place in uncommon areas or if you register a sudden rise of your weight

http://www.helponpregnancy.com/Signs-of-Pregnancy.html

Does how you eat affect your babies size?

*me*

I mean if you eat like fast food all the time, does it mean you are going to have a big baby?? I kno that that cause cause HUGE health problems (blood pressure...etc) Just wondering what makes some babies bigger and some babies smaller :) Thanks :

Answer
I had no appetite my entire pregnancy and only gained 15 lbs. You would think I would have had a small baby, but nope, my daughter was 7lbs 12oz. I think heredity has more play in it then what exactly you're eating.

Best food`s to eat during pregnancy?

Chez

I want to give my baby the best nutrition possible, however I do no want to put on, any excessive weight. What are the best food`s to have during pregancy, and what are the food`s that I should be avoiding altogether?

Answer
The basis of a well-balanced diet is a balance of grains, fruits and vegetables, protein, dairy and fats. Ensure your diet contains the recommended amounts of the following food groups.

Grain products are the main source of complex carbohydrates, and should make up the majority of your diet. Complex carbohydrates provide you with energy and will keep your weight gain in check, prevent constipation and nausea, and give your baby essential nutrients including fibre, folate, Vitamin B and protein.

Eat at least six servings per day, preferably wholegrains such as whole-wheat bread, cereals, brown rice or pasta. One serving is two slices of bread, or a cup of cooked rice or pasta. Avoid refined grain products such as white bread and white rice, biscuits and cakes etc as these donât have the same nutritional value as their wholegrain counterparts.

Fruit and vegetables will provide you with essential vitamins and minerals as well as fibre to aid digestion and prevent constipation. Vitamin A derived from green leafy veges and yellow fruits is important for the development of your babyâs bones, skin, hair and eyes; however when taken in supplement format, Vitamin A has been linked to birth deformities so it's doubly important to source it from whole foods. Vitamin C is important for bone growth and tissue repair, however your body cannot store large amounts of it so itâs important to ensure a regular intake â around 3 serves per day. Good sources include citrus, tomatoes, broccoli, melons and berries. Fruit and veges also provide you with folate, Vitamin B, iron and calcium.

Eat at least five serves of vegetables and two serves of fruit each day. One serving is a cup of salad leaves or 1/2 cup chopped non-leafy vegetables or fruit (cooked or raw), one whole raw fruit, a small glass of juice or dried fruit (such as 4 dried apricots, or 1.5 tablespoons sultanas).

Protein is composed of amino acids, the building blocks of human cells which are crucial for a developing fetus. It is also important in protecting you against developing pre-eclampsia later in pregnancy. Protein foods are also normally the iron-rich foods, which is important to keep your blood well-oxygenated.

Eat at least two servings per day. One serving equals 100g lean meat, poultry or fish; two small eggs, 1/2 cup cooked lentils, split peas, or dried beans; 1/4 cup sunflower or sesame seeds; 2 cups low-fat yoghurt; 200g tofu; 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese. Nuts are a good source of protein but be careful not to eat too many peanuts during pregnancy to avoid your baby developing a nut allergy.

Dairy The calcium found in milk products helps build your baby's bones and teeth, as well as muscle, heart and nerve development and blood clotting. If your calcium intake isnât sufficient to meet your babyâs needs, especially later in the pregnancy, your body will draw on calcium from your bones and therefore expose you to the risk of osteoporosis. Choose at least four servings a day of low-fat milk, yogurt or cheese. A serving is one cup of milk or yogurt or two slices of cheese. If you have trouble digesting lactose, lactose-reduced milk products and calcium-fortified juice can help you get enough calcium. Another good source is canned fish with bones (such as salmon or sardines).

Fat Some fats are necessary for your babyâs development, but you should limit your intake to manage weight gain during pregnancy. Treat yourself to an occasional sweet treat: icecream, chocolate biscuit or piece of cake, but donât include them as a daily part of your diet. Essential fats are found in polyunsaturated oils such as sunflower and soya bean oils, and monounsaturated oils such as olive and canola oils.

Water and fluids: you need to drink at least two litres of water a day; and more if youâre retaining fluid or if itâs very hot. Your need for fluids will also increase as your bodyâs fluids increase in the course of the pregnancy. An adequate fluid intake will help in the prevention of early labour, stretch marks, and constipation.

While water is best, you can make up some of your intake with other fluids such as juice, milk, and soup. However, try to limit caffeine-containing beverages such as coffee, tea and colas to only one cup per day.

In an ideal world weâd all be eating according to the above guidelines before we fell pregnant, if not from day one of the pregnancy. But changing from bad eating habits to good takes dedication and hard work, so if you find it difficult to follow this diet, make changes gradually. Donât expect yourself to stick to it if youâre facing it alone: encourage your partner and family to improve their diet too.

Youâll also find it easier to eat well if you give yourself an occasional treat â so donât beat yourself up if you indulge in a late-night hot chocolate before bed or something sweet with your morning cuppa. Wherever you can, try to make it a healthy alternative though: a slice of banana bread vs a chocola

Almond allergy only during pregnancy?

cjs_mama2

I am pregnant with my 3rd child right now and I developed an allergy to almonds with the first two. I'm expecting to with this one as well. About 2 months after the baby is born the allergy goes away completely. What causes this? Is it something I'm doing?

Answer
hi, it has to do with your hormones and also your body chemistry changes when you are pregnant.

when my friend was pregnant she craved certain foods so badly that she had to eat them all the time, whereas before she was pregnant she hated them. few weeks or so after giving birth she went back to hating those same foods.

my other friend is a coffee maniac, when she became pregnant she couldnt even stand the smell of coffee it would make her sick.

seems that pregnant women are more prone to allergies and hayfever, many pregnant women complain they hayfever is out of control when they are pregnant.

if you are allegic to almonds be sure to read all labels.

best wishes on your pregnancy !!

Thursday, June 5, 2014

free pregnancy clinics?

my friend is pregnant, and she doesnt have any insurance....
she has some with her mom.. but it only covers 50% of everything, but she is moving out, and isnt telling her mom about the baby until she leaves.

where can she go?... she doesnt have enough money to pay for services... where can she go that she can have free check ups, etc.... help asap please
and also delivery???
ALSO SHE IS 15....does age have any difference with her getting her own insurance? i know she is really young. i dont want to hear about her mistakes... all i need is help. thnx <3

Answer
Call 1-800-230-PLAN.

That is Planned Parenthood's hotline. They have sliding scale fees, so what your friend pays is based on how much money she makes. If she doesn't make any money it's free. They will get her checkups and everything else she needs.

If they don't have an office close enough to her, they can refer you to an independent clinic with the same kind of fees.

Once she goes to Planned Parenthood and gets medical confirmation of the pregnancy, they will tell her how to apply for WIC (a food allowance) and Medicaid. She may have to wait to qualify for Medicaid because of her mom's insurance ... is her mom dropping her from it when she moves out? If so she can go to PP for her checkups and everything, then once she is dropped from the mom's insurance, apply for Medicaid and they will pay for the delivery.

Someone will answer at the Planned Parenthood hotline anytime between 8 and 5 on a weekday. So call tomorrow.

I read what you say about her age now ... Planned Parenthood will help whether she's 15 or 50. She can't apply for Medicaid on her own at that age, though. Her guardian would have to sign forms. So maybe it would be better to tell her mom and apply for Medicaid now, instead of waiting.

Would you order delivery Chinese food in the middle of a terrible blizzard? & a Q about playing in the snow?

troubledin

...assuming the restaurant is open, of course.

I know this isn't the section for this but I'd like answers from people I would consider my peers, instead of a bunch of kids playing on the computer. I usually get the best answers in here.

It seems to me that the Chinese food restaurant I usually order my delivery from is ALWAYS open and delivering. Would you order a food delivery (from any place) knowing full well that the delivery person would be putting themself in imminent danger.

2nd question - if you did order food and the delivery person got into an accident on his way to your home, would you feel guilty or just see it as an "oh well, it was his choice to work today, I just utilized the service being provided" kind of thing?

OK, and to make this legit for this newborn and baby section; how long do you/would you allow your little one to play outside in the snow before making them come in and warm up for a while?

Answer
Sounds like you're stuck on the east coast! Whew, it looks really messy out there.

I think it depends on how bad the snow is. If there is no way that it would possibly be safe for them to be on the roads, i.e. complete whiteout conditions, roads not plowed, their delivery cars have no 4 wheel drive or snow tires (if you happened to know that somehow), I don't think I would do that. But at the same time, I don't think you could be held liable in court if they were to leave and get in an accident. Personally, I would definitely feel guilty anyway, even if the law is on my side. If I absolutely could not stand a single thing besides Chinese for dinner (say, if I were pregnant - oh wait I am :) see I found another way to relate this to the pregnancy/newborn and baby section!), I might make my husband do pick-up in our 4 wheel drive chevy truck, unless it was truly terrible and I seriously thought something bad would happen. Ugh what a horrible thought!

I would let them play outside in the snow for a very long time. With me checking up on them, and there being lots of breaks. It also depends on how old they are. If they are five or younger, I would probably want to stay with them the whole time, so it would be a lot shorter than if they were eight, and I could trust them in the backyard for a while. But I would check on them every 15 minutes, and have them come inside to warm up a little when they were too cold, or needed some hot cocoa, probably every hour- hour and a half. Snow is SO much fun for kids!!!!!

Stay warm!

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Eating healthy for pregnancy?

Q. Okay so, I am ten weeks prego and the sight of vegetables really makes me sick and I really can't stand the taste now, I usually have no problem with eating them but now things are way different. I was just wondering if there is any recipes I could use to disguise the taste of vegetables with some kind of other food? Any suggestions?

Answer
I know something perfect for you! Buy a Juicer! (My Jack Lalaine was $89.00 at Costco) And here is a recipe for your juicer. (It's what I drink every day and put in my kids bottles) One full large stalk of Broccoli. (thats just the stalk, not the florets part) A very large handful of Califlower, a very Large Carrot or two medium ones, One apple, and one Orange. This drink is delicious, refreshing, and super good for you and your baby. Trust me it really does taste good. I would juice every day if I were you. Your baby will be so healthy!

And if you want your baby to be extra healthy after it's born buy the book called "Super Baby Food", by Ruth Yaron. That book was like my bible when raising my twins. It gives you a bunch of idea's on how to feed your kids healthy.

I want to switch our family to all natural healthy foods any suggestions or recipes?

thenewgard

Answer
Personally, I stay away from meat and dairy, because God knows what's in them. That and I'm not keen on the production of the "food" and that it's contradictory to being a good steward of the earth.

Yes, some things can be more expensive. I buy bread at $2 a loaf, but it's corn syrup free. I used to buy it for less than a dollar when we lived in Columbus, but that company isn't in Michigan. (The corn syrup was still in the company's "light" bread, but unde the "Less than 2% of" listing and I think even after the first three of those.)

I also agree with frozen veggies over "fresh" and canned. One thing that bothers me with "fresh" veggies are all of the consumers who poked and prodded the merchandise before I came along. Also, I've read that the good enzymes start to deteriorate after picking, which is why frozen is better--They're locked in. Also, my husband and I get frozen veggies for $.99 a 16 oz. bag. Cheaper than fresh, and maybe cheaper than canned, which are filled with sodium.

The last bags of brown rice I bought were for about a dollar a bag. The regular price of them is still under $1.50. Not bad, considering I have rice at least twice a week.

If you have a Trader Joe's near you, shop there. We go there about once a month to stock up. I get my tofu there for $.99 a package. Their store brands of all natural food (they also have organic) are comprable to the store brands of Wal-Mart and even Alid. I also get chocolate chip granola bars there for $1.99 a box. All natural and even cheaper than the Kroger brand and cheaper than Quaker (which has partially hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup; Yeah, real healthy). Last week, I also got a box of fig and whole grain bars and apple and whole grain bars (though I read the ingredients after I bought them; There's milk in them). I've not had one yet, but they seem to be like Nutri-Grain bars, but healthier and cheaper, at $1.69 a box.

Read labels. I still buy Cheerios and traditional cereals, for example, but I'm just pickier about what I put into my body, especially now, with the pregnancy. If the product contains corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, partially hydgrogenated oil (even if the product supposedly has less than one gram of trans fat, it's still too much), hydrogenated oil, and ingredients that look as though they were created by humans in a lab and not in nature by God, I won't buy it. Well, maybe, depending on how many of the ingredients are and how high they are on the ingredients list.

Check labels and prices. Kroger grocery store brand whole grain pasta is the same price, or about the same price as the white pasta. The Dollar Tree sells Hunt's canned pasta sauce. The ones at which we shop also sell the Hunt's organic pasta sauce for $1. Hunt's has all natural ingredients, I don't even think they have corn syrup or high fructose corn syrup in them. We buy Hodgston Mills pancake mix. It's whole grain and cheaper than Bisquick and just a bit more than the store brand and about the same price as Jiffy. It's the only one that's whole grain. Instead of adding the oil and eggs, we add soy milk and either ripe bananas, canned pumpkin, and/or apple sauce. (By the way, ripe bananas, canned pumpkin, and apple sauce work for egg substitutes in baking. Apple sauce also works for oil substitute in baking, too. We buy the sugar free.)

Despite what a previous poster said, it is possible after marriage to change, but maybe not as easy. Six years ago, when my husband and I married (well, six years June 23) I ate what I wanted when I wanted and gave no thought to what was or wasn't in my food. I frequented fast food joints, and bought boxes of Little Debbies to have in my car as snacks. Now, I won't touch either. (Well, I'll go to Taco Bell, and Burger King in an emergency; Panera Bread and Chipolte more daily, especially Panera.) Now I keep the Trader Joe's bars in my car if I need something, or trail mix. I'll go to Taco Bell and Burger King only if I'm traveling and I have nothing in my car. (Burger King because they do offer a veggie burger, though they still serve it on a white bun.)

Now, I'm a whole foods vegan. It took awhile for my husband to follow suit, but he has, to a degree. He'll still eat meat and dairy, but not daily. He does do healthier options, like Smart Balance instead of butter or margarine. Or whole grain tortilla chips and he has admitted to not really liking potato chips any more and doesn't buy them. He'll still do the occasional fast food run, but I've been discouraging him of that, too. Even at his parents', which is laden with "food", he doesn't over do it. He even commented on the yuckiness of the food the last time we went out and wondered if we had a small container or could get one to take along our organic ketchup.

I was blessed to be able to self-educate myself and through prayer and example, my husband has done some mimicking of me.

Also, as the mom said, she just gives the food to her kids. My parents were that way, too. If we didn't like it, we had to eat it anyway. That might be why I've always liked veggies and fruit. They were always readily available in my home. Well, I did like junk food, way too much, but eventually, once I learned what was in it (like the Little Debbies and Hostess) I developed an aversion. Although, I still go for Tim Horton's baked goods and homemade stuff. My MIL with her youngest daughter (my husband's younger sister) and my husband's older sister are good with giving their kids what they want, regardless of whether or not it's healthy. My parents allowed my siblings and I things like soda and Hostess snacks, but only on occasion. Birthdays, anybody's, were great, because we would get cakes.

Other than what I've provided, I have some sites for vegan recipes/cooking. However, I'm not sure how interested you would be. Please let me know. Or, you could do a search for vegan cooking or even vegan family and get some good results.

I hope this has helped, despite the length.

What happens when a pregnant women gets food poisining and vomits?

jennifer

Answer
It's realy no different than a non pregnant person getiing it. The only thing you have to be concerned about is dehydration. I got really sick when I was 33 weeks and ended up being in the hospital but just for the fluids. Everything turned out just fine- I'm 39 weeks now and still waiting!

Pregnant??

andrea

I ovulated around the 20th of this month. My breasts have been SORE for ~1 1/2 weeks. I was supposed to start my period yesterday, but haven't. ( I'm hardly EVER late). Also, none of the usual PMS signs are there. However, I had a negative HPT yesterday. Is it possible I could still be pregnant?

Answer
ok well i give the same info to all people who are wondering about being pregnant,i do hope that this info i have put together through my nursing school and personal knowledge will help you! this is an honest answer and probably the best answer you will get without being redirected to another web site or simply being told to just take a test like most others will say! This is a personal experience, i was on birth control pills and i had my period for the first 5 months of my pregnancy and every urine test i took came out negative it wasnt until i took a blood test that i found out i was pregnant. and now i am pregnant again and this time i was on the depo shot to avoid pregnancy and has been breastfeeding before i got on it and was never unprotected other than not using a condom, if you have sex without a condom there is ALWAYS a possibility of being pregnant no matter what u do...so here is a list of the top 10 earliest signs of pregnancy!!

10. Tender, swollen breasts
One of the early signs of pregnancy is sensitive, sore breasts caused by increasing levels of hormones. The soreness may feel like an exaggerated version of how your breasts feel before your period. Your discomfort should diminish significantly after the first trimester, as your body adjusts to the hormonal changes.

9. Fatigue
Feeling tired all of a sudden? No, make that exhausted. No one knows for sure what causes early pregnancy fatigue, but it's possible that rapidly increasing levels of the hormone progesterone are contributing to your sleepiness.

You should start to feel more energetic once you hit your second trimester, although fatigue usually returns late in pregnancy when you're carrying around a lot more weight and some of the common discomforts of pregnancy make it more difficult to get a good night's sleep.

8. Implantation bleeding
Some women have a small amount of vaginal bleeding around 11 or 12 days after conception (close to the time you might notice a missed period). The bleeding may be caused by the fertilized egg burrowing into the blood-rich lining of your uterus â a process that starts just six days after fertilization â but no one knows for sure.

The bleeding is very light (appearing as red spotting or pink or reddish-brown staining) and lasts only a day or two. (Let your practitioner know if you notice any bleeding or spotting, particularly if it's accompanied by pain, since this can be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy.)

7. Nausea or vomiting
If you're like most women, morning sickness won't hit until about a month after conception. (A lucky few escape it altogether.) But some women do start to feel queasy a bit earlier. And not just in the morning, either â pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting can be a problem morning, noon, or night.

About half of women with nausea feel complete relief by the beginning of the second trimester. For most others it takes another month or so for the queasiness to ease up.

6. Increased sensitivity to odors
If you're newly pregnant, it's not uncommon to feel repelled by the smell of a bologna sandwich or cup of coffee and for certain aromas to trigger your gag reflex. Though no one knows for sure, this may be a side effect of rapidly increasing amounts of estrogen in your system. You may also find that certain foods you used to enjoy are suddenly completely repulsive to you.

5. Abdominal bloating
Hormonal changes in early pregnancy may leave you feeling bloated, similar to the feeling some women have just before their period arrives. That's why your clothes may feel snugger than usual at the waistline, even early on when your uterus is still quite small.

4. Frequent urination
Shortly after you become pregnant, you may find yourself hurrying to the bathroom all the time. Why? Mostly because during pregnancy the amount of blood and other fluids in your body increases, which leads to extra fluid being processed by your kidneys and ending up in your bladder.

This symptom may start as early as six weeks into your first trimester and continue or worsen as your pregnancy progresses and your growing baby exerts more pressure on your bladder.

3. A missed period
If you're usually pretty regular and your period doesn't arrive on time, you'll probably take a pregnancy test long before you notice any of the above symptoms. But if you're not regular or you're not keeping track of your cycle, nausea and breast tenderness and extra trips to the bathroom may signal pregnancy before you realize you didn't get your period.

2. Your basal body temperature stays high
If you've been charting your basal body temperature and you see that your temperature has stayed elevated for 18 days in a row, you're probably pregnant.

1. The proof: A positive home pregnancy test
In spite of what you might read on the box, many home pregnancy tests are not sensitive enough to detect most pregnancies until about a week after a missed period. So if you decide to take one earlier than that and get a negative result, try again in a few days. there is a site you can go 2 to look at the exact test you took and see what other people got as either a positive or negative, the site is www.peeonastick.com, this way if you need advice on if its positive or neg this will give you a visual.

Once you've gotten a positive result, make an appointment with your practitioner

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Is honey and apples a good snack?

Franchesca

I find it really good to drizzle honey on apples, but I wanna know if it's healthy or not.

Answer
As long as you dont eat it to excess it is very healthy . Both apples and honey have extensive health benefits.

Apples offer:

Bone Protection
French researchers found that a flavanoid called phloridzin that is found only in apples may protect post-menopausal women from osteoporosis and may also increase bone density. Boron, another ingredient in apples, also strengthens bones.

Asthma Help
One recent study shows that children with asthma who drank apple juice on a daily basis suffered from less wheezing than children who drank apple juice only once per month. Another study showed that children born to women who eat a lot of apples during pregnancy have lower rates of asthma than children whose mothers ate few apples.

Alzheimer's Prevention
A study on mice at Cornell University found that the quercetin in apples may protect brain cells from the kind of free radical damage that may lead to Alzheimer's disease.

Lower Cholesterol
The pectin in apples lowers LDL ("bad") cholesterol. People who eat two apples per day may lower their cholesterol by as much as 16 percent.

Lung Cancer Prevention
According to a study of 10,000 people, those who ate the most apples had a 50 percent lower risk of developing lung cancer. Researchers believe this is due to the high levels of the flavonoids quercetin and naringin in apples.

Breast Cancer Prevention
A Cornell University study found that rats who ate one apple per day reduced their risk of breast cancer by 17 percent. Rats fed three apples per day reduced their risk by 39 percent and those fed six apples per day reduced their risk by 44 percent.

Colon Cancer Prevention
One study found that rats fed an extract from apple skins had a 43 percent lower risk of colon cancer. Other research shows that the pectin in apples reduces the risk of colon cancer and helps maintain a healthy digestive tract.

Liver Cancer Prevention
Research found that rats fed an extract from apple skins had a 57 percent lower risk of liver cancer.

Diabetes Management
The pectin in apples supplies galacturonic acid to the body which lowers the body's need for insulin and may help in the management of diabetes.

Weight Loss
A Brazilian study found that women who ate three apples or pears per day lost more weight while dieting than women who did not eat fruit while dieting.

Honey offers:

It is a natural antibiotic and boosts the immune system and is a good cure for many ailments.

FOR HANGOVERS:

When you get a hangover from drinking too much alcohol, combat its effects by applying honey remedy. Honey is gentle on the stomach and contains a mix of natural sugars such fructose which is known to speed up the oxidation of alcohol by the liver, acting as a 'sobering' agent. Follow this recipe: 15ml of liquid honey with 80ml of orange juice and 70ml of natural yogurt. Blend them together until smooth.

FOR SORE THROATS:

One of the better known health benefits of honey is that it is able to help treat sore throats. Thanks to its antimicrobial properties, honey not only soothes throats but can also kill certain bacteria that causes the infection. Professional singers commonly use honey to soothe their throats before performances. The Chinese believe that excess "heatiness" in the body causes sore throat and taking honey drink can be helpful. Direction: Take a spoonful of honey to soothe the inflammation or gargle with a mixture of two tablespoons of honey, four tablespoons of lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Personally, whenever I have a sore throat or cough, I especially like to take warm water mixed with Manuka UMF honey which is well-known for its anti-bacterial healing properties.

For SLEEPLESSNESS:

Unable to sleep? Use the famous Milk and Honey Remedy. Take a glass of hot milk with a teaspoon of honey to calm the soul and induce sleep. Or, add 1 or 2 teaspoons of honey to a cup of chamomile tea and sip.

When combined with cinnamon it is also believed to have extra benefits:

http://healthmad.com/alternative/10-miraculous-health-benefits-of-honey-and-cinnamon-combo/

Monday, June 2, 2014

Questions about feeding my 5 months old solids?

jordyn

My daughter is older then 5 months. She was holding her own head up the DAY I gave birth and has been sitting up since 3 months.

I breast feed only and I skipped rice cereal because I read that it's difficult for the baby to digest.

I knew she was ready. I researched and decided on mashed up avocado with a little water.

Earlier this evening I breast fed her and then fed her the avo with a spoon. She took it like she had been eating solids off a spoon for years. No hesitation at all. She laughed and would grab for the spoon.

Now, I have a few questions...

Was adding a little water a bad thing?

How much do I give her? She had about a table spoon (I hope I didn't give her to much) and I feel like she would have kept eating.

And how many times a day should I give her solids? Tonights routine was like this: Breast fed a little, gave her a bath, (I'll probably switch giving solids BEFORE the bath lol), fed her the avo, another breast feed, relaxation time till bed... Am I breast feeding to much? And should I just feed her in the evening like I did tonight or do a morning and afternoon feeding as well?

Also, can avo be frozen after mashed up? Or any recommendations on website/books that have baby food recipes and how to preserve?

Thanks for the tips and advise! I hope all is well! :D

Answer
You're perfectly right in starting her; she sounds ready for solids, and avocado is a wonderful first food. Until she's 9-12 months (possibly longer), breast milk will still be her primary source of nutrients, so continue to breast feed her on demand. You can give her solids 3 times a day, or more if she seems into it. I find 3 times a day works well, as it's a bit of an endeavor at first. You can experiment with any smooth foods: mashed banana, apple sauce, cooked & mashed squash, mashed sweet potato, oat porridge, mashed peas...whatever you can puree (just don't give her any honey until she's 1 year). When introducing a new food, make sure you don't combine it with something else until she's tried it a few times, as this is a good way of telling whether or not she has an allergy to the new food. Many people believe in starting a baby off raw (only uncooked vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds), which is perfectly healthy, and doable if you have a vitamix blender. You can give her anywhere from 1 tablespoon to 1/4 cup at a time--let her tell you how much she wants. As for the avocado, there's nothing wrong with mixing water into it, but that's not necessary. Avocado doesn't freeze well, but does keep in the fridge. It will turn brown from the oxidation, but the good thing about babies is that they don't care what the colour is, as long as it tastes nice!

Hope this was helpful--best wishes with your baby girl!

Good dog food for a 5.5 lb chihuahua, 7 months old?

Bella baby

I have a 5.5 lb female chihuahua, she has all her shots and she's about to get spayed. Right now I feed her Royal Canin Indoor Puppy 27 because she lives mostly indoors and the food was recommended to me. The problem I'm having is that she eats a ton of food, she gets 1/3 of a cup 2 times daily and gets one Greenie for a snack. She doesnt eat her food all at once, she kind of gazes on it and whenever its gone thats when we'll fill it again. She usually leaves her food over night and doesnt eat it til the next afternoon so I'm not sure exactly how much she eats a day.

My problem is, I pay $11.99 for a 2 lb bag of dog food...I need something that's a little more reasonably priced, she is my baby so I'm not going to feed her food that isnt good for her, I want to keep her healthy and strong like she is now.
I'd like to get some good recommendations with reasoning behind it, experience from using the food, etc...

thanks in advance!!
$11.99 isn't a lot of money, I'm not saying that, but she eats a lot! I feel like I buy her almost 2 bags a month since theres only 2 lbs in each bag.

Answer
Unfortunately the dog foods that are good for the dogs are more expensive. I currently use Royal Canin puppy 33. My chihuahua is 4mths old and just over 3lbs. Her name is Bella. I do supplement with people food through the day, she likes chicken, roast beef, salmon and quite often I'll give her 1/2 egg at lunch. I like the previous recipe given and I'll try it.

Do you have any other pets in the house that eat her food? We have a cat who just loves puppy food better than his own, though Bella has eaten his also. I do go through a bag every 2wks but the pet store I get it from has a program when you buy 10 you get 1 free..it all helps.

Food poisoning/stomach flu at 8 weeks. Worried about baby!?

mindblower

I am 8 weeks pregnant. I had a bad bout of vomiting two days ago but I thought that was nausea-related until the diarrhea started and had a slight fever at 100F. All the symptoms have now subsided butI am now sure that it was a case of food poisoning/stomach flu and now worried about the health of my baby since I read so much advice against having food poisoning in pregnancy esp. the first trimester. Has anyone had food poisoning during first trimester and successfully gave birth to a healthy baby?

Answer
Oh yeah, hate food poisoning, espeacially when your newley prego.. I was probably 10 weeks prego when i got the flu really bad, i could swear it was morning sickness except for all the other flu like symtoms... not fun times... I think as long as your fever didnt go over 103 your okay... I was at 102 degrees with the flu. 7-1/2 months later I had a happy and very healthy baby girl. Good luck!

PS I had food poisoning numerous times during that pregnancy and had it in all 3 trimesters, twice in my first!
I wouldnt worry too much.

is the first trimester of pregnancy the most critical stage?

jeannie26

What are the do's and don'ts for the first trimester?

Answer
No alcohol, drugs, or smoking. If you are currently doing any of these, then stop asap. The first trimester is the most important b/c most of the building blocks of your baby are formed then. It's imporant to take care of yourself by eating healthy and excerising in moderation! Here are some things to stay away from:
Seafood can be a great source of protein and iron, and the omega-3 fatty acids in many fish can help promote your baby's brain development. In fact, a British study published in February 2007 suggests that skimping on seafood during pregnancy may contribute to poor verbal skills, behavioral problems and other developmental issues during childhood. However, some fish and shellfish contain potentially dangerous levels of mercury. Too much mercury may damage your baby's developing nervous system.

The bigger and older the fish, the more mercury it may contain. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) encourages pregnant women to avoid:

Swordfish
Shark
King mackerel
Tilefish
So what's safe? Some types of seafood contain little mercury. Although concerns have been raised about the level of mercury in any type of canned tuna, the FDA says you can safely eat up to 12 ounces a week (two average meals) of:

Shrimp
Canned light tuna (limit albacore tuna and tuna steak to no more than 6 ounces a week)
Salmon
Pollock
Catfish
To avoid ingesting harmful bacteria or viruses, avoid raw fish and shellfish â especially oysters and clams â and anything caught in polluted water. Refrigerated smoked seafood is also off limits, unless it's an ingredient in a casserole or other cooked dish.

When you cook fish, use the 10-minute rule. Measure the fish at its thickest part and cook for 10 minutes per inch at 450 F. Boil shellfish â such as clams, oysters and shrimp â for four to six minutes.

MORE ON THIS TOPIC
Pregnancy nutrition: Healthy eating for you and your baby
Pregnancy: Essential nutrients when you're eating for two

Meat and poultry
During pregnancy, changes in your metabolism and circulation may increase the risk of bacterial food poisoning. Your reaction may be more severe than if you weren't pregnant. Rarely, your baby may get sick, too.

To prevent food-borne illness, fully cook all meats and poultry before eating. Look for the juices to run clear, but use a meat thermometer to make sure.

Skip medium or rare burgers and sausages. The Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria commonly found on the surface of meat may be distributed throughout the whole product during the grinding process. Unless you cook ground meat to an internal temperature of 160 F, you may not raise its internal temperature enough to kill E. coli. Use a meat thermometer to make sure the meat is done.

Be careful with hot dogs and deli meats, too. These are sources of a rare but potentially serious food-borne illness known as listeriosis. Cook hot dogs and heat deli meats until they're steaming hot â or avoid them completely.

MORE ON THIS TOPIC
Food poisoning: Prevention includes safe cooking temperatures

Dairy products
Dairy products such as skim milk, mozzarella cheese and cottage cheese can be a healthy part of your diet. But anything containing unpasteurized milk is a no-no. These products may lead to food-borne illness.

Unless these soft cheeses are clearly labeled as being made with pasteurized milk, don't eat:

Brie
Feta
Camembert
Blue-veined cheeses, such as Roquefort
Mexican-style cheeses, such as queso blanco, queso fresco, queso de hoja, queso de crema and asadero
Caffeine
During pregnancy, moderate caffeine intake â 200 milligrams or less a day, about the amount in two cups of coffee â seems to have no adverse effects. But that doesn't mean caffeine is free of risks.

Caffeine can cross the placenta and affect your baby's heart rate and breathing. Heavy caffeine intake â 500 milligrams or more a day, about the amount in five cups of coffee â may lower your baby's birth weight and head circumference.

Because of the unknowns, your health care provider may recommend limiting caffeine intake to less than 200 milligrams a day.

Herbal tea
Although herbal tea may be soothing, avoid it unless your health care provider says it's OK. Large amounts of some herbal teas â including peppermint and red raspberry leaf â may cause contractions and increase the risk of miscarriage or preterm labor.

Alcohol
One drink isn't likely to hurt your baby â but no level of alcohol has been proved safe during pregnancy. The safest bet is to avoid alcohol entirely.

Consider the risks. Mothers who drink alcohol have a higher risk of miscarriage and stillbirth. Excessive alcohol consumption may result in fetal alcohol syndrome, which can cause facial deformities, heart problems, low birth weight and mental retardation. Even moderate drinking can impact your baby's brain development.

If you think you might need help to stop drinking alcohol, talk with your health care provider.
Good luck!

What kind of tea is safe during pregnancy?

KissMyCowb

I've seen many lists of teas that are NOT safe during pregnancy. Does anyone know which ones are safe? I'm not terribly concerned about caffeine. I'll ask by Dr next time I see her, but I'm look for a short list for the meantime.

Answer
People often greatly exaggerate the degree to which tea is unsafe during pregnancy. The main issue with tea (pure tea, or true tea, like your regular black breakfast tea, green tea, etc.) is the caffeine. But the caffeine levels in tea are low, and the body is pretty resilient.

There's an article on a site that I run that explores this in detail, and cites several authoritative medical bodies and their recommendations:

http://ratetea.com/topic/tea-and-pregnancy/19/

Basically though, 3 cups of tea a day are TOTALLY within safe levels for caffeine for pregnant women. And unless it's really strong tea, 5 cups of tea might still be within those levels.

Tea is not like smoking or heavy alcohol use. Those things will harm your baby and increase the risk of all sorts of complications if you do them. There is some evidence that very heavy caffeine use may increase the risk of miscarriage by a very slight amount...but that's all. There's no evidence that moderate caffeine use (3 cups of tea or less) can cause any harm.

---

About herbs...this really depends on the concentration too. If you're drinking a single cup of an herbal tea for beverage use, it's really like a food, not a medicine...don't worry about it. I would avoid strong medicinal teas though, and I'd avoid large volumes of one type of tea. Example: chamomile tea can act as a blood thinner when you have a lot of it, so I wouldn't drink it every day or drink many cups of it. But for a single cup of one thing, or blends containing many herbs in small amounts, that's fine.

Stop worrying! Just practice moderation.

What drugs are usually safe to take during pregnancy? Anti-depressants? Ambien? Konopin? Tylenol? etc?

Left Foote

I'm on Wellbutrin, which I know I need to talk to my doctor about before i get pregnant. But I am so afraid that just going off of it will make my depression come back even worse. And with all those hormones swirling around, woohoo!! Also, I have bad allergies and asthma, and chronic insomnia for which I take Ambien for. I presume that I will have to learn how to live without these drugs for awhile? Sometimes they say that the mother taking drugs can sometimes outweigh the risks of going off the drugs. With my history of depression and anxiety, I have a feeling I might be one of those people....but I definitely would not want to cause any harm to my unborn baby. I know I should talk to my doctor, and I will, but I wanted to hear any of your experiences with this kind of situation?

Thanks in advance!

Answer
No one one here can give you a safe enough answer. Talk to your doctor. Talk to another doctor too to get another opinion. Talk to your pharmacists, or a variety of them from different stores that have pharmacy's you can contact people at. Get the answers from people who work in that type of field and deal with those important questions. Make a list of medications (perscribed, AND over the counter meds)/foods/mulitvitamins that they tell you are unsafe...a make a list of the ones they tell you are safe. Ask if they have lists already made up.

Anti-depressants are usually a no no. But in some cases they may be nessesary. Don't forget your moods throughout the pregnancy will have an impact on the child. This is something you have to talk to your doctor about, and something you may have to make the best educated choice.

Most drugs have a potential for harm (unless we know for sure otherwise), as we do not know if they cause harm or not....you can't very well test pharmacutical medications on a pregnant women like you can on mice.

Also something else you might want to take into consideration. Keep an eye on the things you eat...as any chemicals contained within the food maybe transfered to the growing child. Breating air in the city (all the exuast, and smog), is very unhealthy for the babe.

Best of luck.

Sunday, June 1, 2014

Help Me Make a Pregnancy Grocery List PLEASE?

ch3sh1r3_c

Hi, I am about 7 weeks pregnant. I have been trying to eat well, I cut out all soda and caffeine drinks and I haven't been eating junk food but can someone help me make a grocery shopping list good for a pregnant 22 year old? I'm a little picky but I would love to get some help from some other people.

I need snacks, lunches, dinners, drinks.. whatever you can suggest maybe that's simple but nutritious for my unborn baby.

Answer
Veggies
fruits
yogurt
chicken
cottage cheese
whole wheat bread
I can not believe it is not butter
olive oil
whole wheat pasta
cook at home

My wife just got pregnant, what foods should she avoid?

John

I heard somewhere that you shouldn't eat deli meat if you are pregnant, is that true? What about nuts and peanut butter? Thanks!!!

Answer
Foods to Avoid when Pregnant

Most expectant mums know that there are certain foods that should be avoided during pregnancy, but how much is true and how much is an old wives tale? UrbanBaby has compiled the following list with help from other mothers, and then researched to make sure it is as accurate as possible.

Listeria

Listeria is a rare type of infection that in most people passes with little or no symptoms. In the case of a pregnant woman, the risk of miscarriage, still birth, premature birth or a very ill baby at birth is very high.

Symptoms can be so mild that they pass unnoticed or can consist of fever, tiredness, headache, aches and pains. Foods that are known to occasionally carry the Listeria infection include the following and should definitely be avoided during pregnancy: -

* Ready-to-eat seafood such as smoked fish and smoked mussels, oysters or raw seafood such as sashimi or sushi.

* Pre-prepared or stored salads, including coleslaw.

* Pre-cooked meat products which are eaten without further cooking or heating, such as patÃ©, sliced deli meat, and cooked diced chicken (as used in sandwich shops).

* Any unpasteurised milk or foods made from unpasteurised milk.

* Soft serve ice-creams.

* Soft cheeses, such as brie, camembert, ricotta (these are safe if cooked and served hot).

Listeria is destroyed by conventional cooking, so freshly cooked foods are safe to eat. However, listeria is one of the few bacteria that will grow in refrigerated foods. This is why chilled ready-to-eat foods and refrigerated foods should be avoided.

Do not eat food that has been prepared and then stored in a refrigerator for more than 12 hours. It's best not to use salad bars in restaurants, supermarkets or delicatessens. Refrigerated foods that are past their 'use by' or 'best before' dates should also not be eaten.

Fish & Seafood

Fish at the top of the food chain tend to contain more heavy metals, especially mercury, which can cause developmental delays in children who are exposed to mercury during pregnancy. It has also been known to cause miscarriage.

Types of fish to avoid are; shark/flake, ray, swordfish, barramundi, gemfish, orange roughy, ling, and southern bluefin tuna. Tinned tuna is fine as long as you have no more than 2 servings per week.

It is recommended to eat other types of fish twice a week to obtain the nutritional benefits. Avoid all types of shellfish, prawns and smoked fish.

Raw and Seared Fish

Sushi, sashimi and seared fish are definitely out of the question. It is probably best to avoid all uncooked food prepared where you buy sushi and sashimi as the preparation surface may have been in contact with uncooked fish. Uncooked meat can contain toxoplasmosis parasite.

Red Meat and Chicken

All meat and chicken need to be thorougly cooked through or well done - so no more rare roast beef. Chicken especially should not be eaten cold the next day.

Deli Foods

Best to avoid all deli foods, as they are high risk for listeria.

These include all processed and sliced meats (salami, smoked meats), and any foods served from open containers (cheeses, olives, salads etc).

Fruit and Vegetables

Wash all fruit and vegetable thoroughly before eating. Do not use any that have gone mouldy- don't just cut off the bad area - throw the item out all together.

Soft Serve Ice-cream

Avoid all soft serve ice creams and yoghurts as there is a risk of listeria.

Eggs & Mayonnaise

Raw egg can contain salmonella, so make sure all your eggs are cooked through. Avoid sauces like hollandaise and Caesar dressing. Commercial Mayonnaise sold in jars is fine as it contains egg that has been pasteurised. Avoid fresh mayonnaise as it could contain raw egg.

Peanuts

Avoid peanuts during pregnancy and lactation to reduce your child's chance of allergy to peanuts and stop the possibility of an allergic reaction in the womb. A type of mould called aflatoxin which is dangerous also grows on peanuts.

Eating Out

Only eat food that is served steaming hot. Do not eat food that is served lukewarm. It is best to avoid smorgasbords. If this isn't possible, choose the hot foods only. Avoid pre-prepared salads (such as in salad bars).

If you buy ready-to-eat, hot food, make sure it's served steaming hot. When re-heating food in the microwave at home, make sure it's steaming hot throughout. Check your hamburger pattie is cooked through and avoid hotdogs and other processed meat.

Food Additives

Saccharin has been shown to be unsafe during pregnancy. MSG can cause headaches and stomach upsets.

Water

Do your best to drink purified, filtered or bottled water only as they are least likely to contain contaminates and can reduce birth defects.

Alcohol

There is not really any safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Even one glass a day can have detrimental effects on the unborn baby, especially in th

Are these teas safe for pregnancy? I'm so confused!!!?

I gave up my coffee and black tea because I don't want the caffeine to hurt the baby.
I went out and bought this package of tea made specially for pregnancy, with different types of teas in it. It's called "Earth Mama Angel Baby Organics, Mama-To-Be Tea Sampler". But after I bought it and brought it home I started looking at the ingredients and so many of the herbs listed are herbs that I read were considered NOT safe...
Here are the different teas:

Morning Wellness Tea:
Ginger root, spearmint leaf, chamomile flower, orange peel, lemon balm leaf, peppermint leaf

Peaceful Mama Tea:
Lemon balm leaf, chamomile flower, oat straw, orange peel, red raspberry leaf.

Third Trimester Tea:
Red Raspberry leaf, spearmint, stinging nettle leaf, oat straw, chamomile, rosehips, alfalfa

Heartburn Tea:
Marshmallow root, spearmint, chamomile, lemon balm, red raspberry leaf

Ok so I know I have seen some of these listed as "unsafe during pregnancy" before. Are they really unsafe? Is this tea/these herbs okay? Here is the company:
http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/
My doctor is not a naturopath or herbalist, I'd rather take this to a herbalist than a medical doctor.

Answer
Exercise moderation and stop worrying so much!!!

You don't even need to give up tea (or even coffee) during pregnancy. While there's some evidence that high doses of caffeine can increase the risk of miscarriage complications, this is only true for higher doses. If you're drinking <200mg of caffeine daily (1-2 cups of coffee, 3-6 cups of tea) you have NO risk. TOTALLY safe. And if you are drinking more than that, it's still not certain that there's risk, or how much there is. It's not like smoking or drinking a lot of alcohol or taking illegal drugs.

There is an article on my tea site which discusses this in more depth:

http://ratetea.net/topic/tea-and-pregnancy/19/

About the herbal teas? Again...if you're loading up on very strong medicinal herbs, then there is reason to be concerned. But if you're just drinking mild herbal teas as a beverage, don't worry about it. Yes, some of those herbs may be on the "avoid" list, for example, chamomile can be a blood thinner so you don't want to drink too much of it in the last trimester. But...big deal? If it's just one ingredient among many, it's not going to hurt you.

The body is meant to have a diverse diet, lots of different foods. Your body can handle a little bit of a lot of things, where it goes wrong is if you start consuming very high doses of an herb with medicinal effects.

Stop worrying!!!

How much fruit/veggies can a mouse eat a day?

Emly

I have pet mice and I want to start feeding them fruit and veggies as treats. I know I can feed them apple slices, melon slices, leafy greens, etc. but exactly how much should I be putting in the cage at a time? I don't want them to over eat and get sick! I only have two and they're still quite small so I'm assuming they shouldn't eat much.

And how often should I give them these treats? I've seen sites that say every day but I've also seen sites that say only every few days.

Answer
Mice should not be given vegetables/fruit more than twice per week as it can lead to loose stools. Be especially careful with the leafy greens. Only introduce one new food at a time as it can upset the tummy. Serving size should total about 1 tablespoon for the treats that day so if you are giving a bit of dog biscuit, carrot, pasta and oatmeal, all told it should not be more than that. This does not, of course, include their normal bowl of food.

TFM is an excellent mouse site with a Fancy Mouse Information page with a section on diet as well as a Nutrition category on the forum. The link to the FMI diet page follows along with one thread listing safe/unsafe foods. The latter was a Q about pregnancy diet, but the food list is for all mice:

http://www.thefunmouse.com/info/diet.cfm

http://forum.thefunmouse.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=16486&p=142528&hilit=tomato#p142519
(If you cannot read the above thread, you will need tor register first.)

Can I ask what kind of food you offer as the staple diet? Many people in the mouse community that feed a commercial mix use Brown's Tropical hamster/gerbil mix. Most mice should have between 13 to 14% crude protein, and the majority of the mouse mix brands on the market, including the BTC mouse/rat mix, have too much. I remove the peanuts, sunflower seeds, dried corn and raisins, though. The first and second are high allergy/calorie foods. The third has been linked to cancer/mold problems. The fourth can cause renal failure. Some mouse parents use lab block, too, but the consensus is to add some type of mix to the diet as mice are scavengers and being able to pick through the food to choose is good mental stimulation.

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