BABY FOOD

BABY FOOD

At about 6 months of age, your baby will be ready for "solid baby food". Don't be fooled though: at these very early stages, "solid food" isn't very solid. It's all mashed up and gooey.

Start with rice cereal. After a week or two of this, try oatmeal cereal and then barley cereal. If there is one grain that he does not like, you can buy a mixed cereal that has all 3 grains in it. Once you've exhausted all those options, then it is this time to introduce fruits and vegetables. You can mashed fruits into the baby cereal to make it more interesting. As your baby grows older, you can leave the fruits in soft chunks so that it gives the baby cereal texture.

In general, it is not recommended to give your baby breakfast oatmeal that are designed for children & adults. These tend to be too sweet and have lots of added stuffs (honey, cinnamon) which your child may be allergic to. Go for good ol' fashion plain, baby cereals 

If your baby cries during his first few feedings, or he spits all the baby cereal out, he may not be ready (in the latter case, he may still have the Tongue-Thrust Reflex). Stop offering solid foods and wait a month or two before trying again. Some parents introduce solid food as early as 4 months of age (not recommended by pediatricians) while others start solids after 12 months of formula/breast milk (somewhat extreme), so there's a lot of flexibility in when you introduce solid baby food

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NEW BORN BABY

The first week with the newborn baby can be quite taxing for new moms. While they have not still recuperated from the tiring and painful labor experience, the chores of the newborn are burdened on them. Add to it the constant stream of friends and relatives, who come in to see the new child and congratulate the parents. Rather than being happy, you and your partner are under constant stress, which can only lead to baby blues for many couples. In such a scenario, support from partner or spouse and other friends and family can relieve the stress on the mother to a great extent and leave her free to enjoy the bliss of motherhood.

Surviving Baby's First Week

Help From Husband

For the first week, husband should try to take as much leave from his work as possible and encourage and motivate the mum by praising her and telling her how well she is managing everything. Don't feel jealous of your child for he/she may be steering attention of your wife away from you. Instead, look at it as a family-bonding phase. Dad and child bonding is as important as mom-child relationship, so be ready to do your share of work for the newborn including changing diapers and bottle feeding the baby.

You may also help the new mother with house hold chores, such as cleaning the room, cooking, attending visitors and telephone calls. Remember, you should be supportive of your wife's feelings. Know that she may be susceptible to mood swings temporarily. If you need to go to the office, once you are back, let your wife take rest, while you take up the responsibility of taking care of the baby. Remember, you may have to sacrifice your sleep as well. Try to wake up after every few hours, to ensure that the baby is sleeping tight.

Help From Family & Friends

Instead of advising a new mom, be supportive. She would like if you actually come forward and offer help, instead of heaping her with advice. One of the easiest things to do would be to pay an empathetic ear to the new mom. There are a lot of changes that happen to a new mom, be it physically, emotionally or spiritually. All you need to do is allow her to give vent to her feelings. A small reassurance by you can make much of a difference in the life of the new mother.

If the new mom has older children, take them out for a while. This would solve dual purpose - while the mother would be relieved off the tension about her elder child, the child, on the other hand, would also feel nice. If the newborn baby is a wakeful one, take him/her for a stroll, so that the mother can rest. Help the new mother make a chart of what are the things that need to be done, so that when people come over, they can pick a job and complete it. Small chores like cleaning a cupboard or paying off the telephone bill will be your bit of help to the new mom

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HEALTHY EATING WHEN PREGNANCY

Healthy Eating When Pregnant

• Eat a variety of foods to get all the NUTRIENTS you need. Recommended daily servings include 6-11 servings of BREAD AND GRAINS, two to four servings of fruit, four or more servings of vegetables, four servings of dairy products, and three servings of PROTEINS sources (meat, poultry, fish, eggs or nuts). Use fats and sweets sparingly.
• Choose foods high in fiber that are enriched such as whole-grain breads, CAREALS, PASTA, RICE, fruits, and vegetables.
• Make sure you are getting enough VITAMIN AND MINERALS in your daily diet while pregnant. You should take a PRENATAL VITAMIN supplement to make sure you are consistently getting enough vitamins and MINERALS every day. Your doctor can recommend an over-the-counter brand or prescribe a PRENATAL VITAMIN for you.
• Eat and drink at least four servings of dairy products and calcium-rich foods a day to help ensure that you are getting 1000-1300 mg of CALCIUM in your daily diet during pregnancy.
• Eat at least three servings of iron-rich foods per day to ensure you are getting 27 mg of iron daily.
• Choose at least one good source of VITAMIN C every day, such as oranges, grapefruits, strawberries, honeydew, papaya, BROCCOLI, CAULIFLOWER, BRUSSELS SPROUTS, GREEN PEPPERS, tomatoes, and MUSTARD GREENS. Pregnant women need 70 mg of VITAMIN C a day.
• Choose at least one good source of FOLIC ACID every day, like dark green leafy vegetables, veal, and legumes (lima beans, black beans, black-eyed peas and chickpeas). Every pregnant woman needs at least 0.4 mg of FOLIC ACID per day to help prevent neural tube defects such as SPINA BIFIDA.
• Choose at least one source of VITAMIN A every other day. Sources of VITAMIN A include carrots, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, spinach, water squash, turnip greens, beet greens, apricots, and cantaloupe. Know that excessive VITAMIN A intake (>10,000 IU/day) may be associated with fetal malformations.  
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                                                              see video for tips                       

Good NUTRITION during pregnancy will help to keep a developing baby and its mother healthy. The need for certain nutrients, such as iron and folate, is increased at this time but only a small amount of extra energy (kilojoules) is needed.

If you are pregnant, a good approach is to eat to satisfy your appetite and continue to monitor your weight. A normal weight gain over the course of a pregnancy is around 10–13kg for women who have a healthy pre-conception weight.

A varied diet generally provides our bodies with enough of each VITAMIN AND MINERALS each day. However, pregnant women may need supplements of particular VITAMIN AND MINERALS. Be advised by your doctor before taking supplements.

Healthy foods for pregnant women
It is important to choose a wide variety of foods to ensure the nutritional needs of both mother and baby are met. Try to eat:

• Lots of fruit and vegetables, wholegrain breads and CAREALS
• Moderate amounts of low fat dairy foods and lean meats
• Small amounts of foods high in fat, sugar and salt
• Lean meat, chicken and fish
• Dried beans and lentils
• Nuts and seeds
• Green leafy vegetables.

Folic acid (folate)
Folate (known as  FOLIC ACID when added to foods) is a B-group VITAMIN found in a variety of foods. Some breakfast CAREALS, breads and juices are fortified with folic acid. This will be listed on the NUTRITION label of these products.

As well as a healthy diet, it is recommended that women planning a pregnancy take a FOLIC ASID supplement prior to conception and for the first three months of pregnancy to reduce the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida. Folate taken over this period can prevent up to seven out of 10 cases of neural tube defects.

If you are planning a pregnancy or are in the early stages of pregnancy, you should increase your folate intake by an additional 0.4mg (400µg) per day above the recommended daily intake (RDI) of 0.6mg (600µg) per day for pregnancy.

Folate in your diet
Excellent food sources of folate include:

• Asparagus
• Bran flakes
• BROCCOLI
• BRUSSELS SPROUTS
• Chick peas
• Dried beans
• Lentils
• Spinach.

Very good food sources of folate include:

• Cabbage
• CAULIFLOWER
• Leeks
• Oranges
• Orange juice
• Parsley
• Peas
• Wheat germ
• Wholegrain bread.

Good food sources of folate include:

• Hazelnuts
• Vegemite
• Parsnips
• Potato
• Salmon
• Strawberries
• Tomato
• Unsalted peanuts
• Walnuts.

Although liver is high in FOLATE, it is not recommended to women who are, or could be pregnant, because of its high vitamin A content.

Iron
Pregnancy increases the need for IRON in the diet. The developing FOETUS draws enough iron from the mother to last it through the first five or six months after birth so a woman has an increased need for iron during pregnancy.

Iron losses are reduced during pregnancy because the woman is no longer menstruating and so loses less iron from menstrual blood loss. It is useful to include foods that are good sources of iron in the diet every day (for example red meat) and to have foods that are good sources of v VITAMIN C (like oranges) to help absorb the iron.

The recommended daily intake (RDI) of iron during pregnancy is 27mg per day (9mg per day more than that for non-pregnant women). The amount needed depends on the amount of iron the woman has ‘stored’ in her body prior to pregnancy. If your iron stores are very low, you may need to get more from supplements. It is important to discuss your need for supplements with your doctor, as iron can be toxic in large amounts.

Iodine
IODINE is an important mineral needed for the production of thyroid HORMONES, which is important for growth and development. Inadequate iodine intake during pregnancy increases the risk of mental impairment and cretinism in the newborn baby.

Foods that are good sources of iodine include seafood and seaweed (including nori and kelp), eggs, meat and dairy products. Women who are pregnant should also use iodised table salt when cooking or adding salt to food.

Vitamin A
Although VITAMIN A requirements do increase during pregnancy, VITAMIN A supplements are rarely recommended for pregnant women. This is because an excessive intake of vitamin A may cause birth deformities.

The best way to increase your intake  VITAMIN A, if it is low, is through food sources like milk, fish, eggs and margarine.

Multivitamin supplements
MULTIVITAMIN supplements may be recommended for the following groups of pregnant women:

• Vegetarians
• Teenagers who may have an inadequate food intake
• Substance misusers (of drugs, tobacco and alcohol)
• Obese pregnant women who are restricting their energy intake to prevent large weight gains.

Always be advised by your doctor before taking vitamin or mineral supplements.
 
There is no need for extra calcium during pregnancy
Until 2006, Australian dietary recommendations advised increased calcium intake during pregnancy and lactation. This advice has since been revised. Although there is a large ‘shift’ of calcium to the baby during the third trimester of pregnancy, as it starts to develop and strengthen its bones, the mother’s increased capacity to absorb dietary CALCIUM makes up for this loss without the need for extra intake.

The recommended dietary intake for non-pregnant women (1,000mg per day for women aged 19–50 years and 1,300mg per day for adolescents or those aged over 51) remains unchanged during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Dairy foods, such as milk, cheese and yoghurt, and calcium-fortified soymilk are excellent dietary sources of calcium.

Eating for two
There is no need to eat more food during pregnancy. It is recommended that for the first trimester, a woman’s energy (kilojoule) intake should remain about the same as it was prior to the pregnancy. During the second and third trimesters, energy requirements should increase by about 600kJ a day. Increasing fruit intake to four serves each day (from the recommended two serves for non-pregnant women) will provide all the extra energy needed.

The dangers of dieting
Some women fear the extra weight gain of pregnancy and decide to eat sparingly to avoid putting on body fat. Restricted eating or crash dieting in any form while pregnant can seriously compromise your health and that of your baby.

Pregnancy in adolescence
Pregnant adolescents need more nutrients than adult women, because they are still growing themselves. Adolescents may give birth to smaller infants because they are competing with the growing FOETUS for nutrients.

ANEMIA is more common among adolescents than older women.CALCIUM intake is also important because young women have not yet reached their peak bone mass and inadequate calcium intake may increase the risk of OSTEOPOROSIS developing later in life.

Nausea and vomiting
Nausea and VOMITING, especially ‘morning sickness’, are common during pregnancy – particularly in the first trimester. Small carbohydrate snacks (a sandwich or fruit) every two to three hours may provide some relief. The following suggestions may also help:

• Eat some dry bread, biscuits or cereal before getting up in the morning. Get up slowly, avoiding sudden movements.
• Drink liquids between rather than with meals to avoid bloating as this can trigger vomiting.
• Avoid large meals and greasy, highly spiced foods.
• Suck something sour like a lemon.
• Relax, rest and get into the fresh air as much as possible. Keep rooms well ventilated and odour free.
• Slowly sip a fizzy drink when feeling nauseated.
• Try food and drinks containing ginger as these sometimes relieve nausea.

Heartburn
HEARTBURN is common in pregnancy because, as the baby grows, there is more pressure on the abdomen. Small, frequent meals may be better than large meals. Try to avoid:

• Eating late at night
• Bending, lifting or lying down after meals
• Excessive consumption of tea or coffee.

You may also like to try sleeping with your bedhead raised a few inches. You can do this by putting a folded blanket or pillow under your mattress.
Alcohol during pregnancy
The safe level of alcohol consumption is unknown. Consuming  ALCOHOL DURING PREGNANCY increases the risk of miscarriage, low birth weight, congenital deformities and effects on the baby’s intelligence.

The National Health and Medical Research Council advises women that it is best not to drink during pregnancy. Australian Alcohol Guidelines recommend that women who are pregnant or who are considering pregnancy should never become ‘drunk’ and may like to consider not drinking at all. If you choose to drink, it is suggested to have less than seven standard drinks in a week and no more than two standard drinks on any one day.

Listeria infection
Listeria infection, or LISTERIOSIS, is an illness usually caused by eating food contaminated with BACTERIA known as LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES. Healthy people may experience no ill-effects from listeria infection at all, but the risks are substantial for pregnant women. The greatest danger is to the unborn baby, with increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirth or premature labour. A listeria infection is easily treated with antibiotics, but prevention is best.

Some foods are more prone to contamination with listeria than others. Exclude these foods from your diet if you are pregnant:

• Soft cheeses, such as brie, camembert and ricotta – these are safe if served cooked and hot
• Precooked or pre-prepared cold foods that will not be reheated – for example, pre-prepared salads, paté, quiches and delicatessen meats like ham and salami
• Raw seafood such as oysters and sashimi or smoked seafood such as salmon (canned varieties are safe)
• Unpasteurised foods
• Soft-serve icecream.

The organism that causes listeria infection is destroyed by heat, so properly cooked foods are not a risk.
Salmonella
SALMONELLA is a cause of food poisoning that can trigger miscarriage. The most likely sources of salmonella are raw eggs and undercooked meat and poultry.

Good food hygiene
Good food hygiene is the best way to reduce the risk of salmonella and listeria infections. Suggestions include:

• Always wash your hands before and after preparing food.
• Keep your kitchen surfaces clean.
• Do not let uncooked food contaminate cooked food.
• Wash fruit, vegetables and salad before eating.
• Cook food thoroughly.
• Keep pets away from kitchen surfaces.
• Wear rubber gloves when handling cat litter trays or gardening.
• Store food at correct temperatures.

Mercury in fish
It is suggested that pregnant women eat 2–3 serves of fish every week for the good health of themselves and their developing baby. Caution should be exercised when choosing the type of fish you will eat. There are a few types of fish that need to be limited because they contain high levels of mercury, which is dangerous for the developing FOETUS.
Pregnant women should:

• Limit to one serve (150g) per fortnight – billfish (swordfish, broadbill and marlin) and shark (flake), with no other fish eaten in that fortnight.
• Limit to one serve (150g) per week – orange roughy (deep sea perch) or catfish, with no other fish eaten that week.

Women should not be worried if they’ve had the odd meal of fish with high levels of mercury. It is only a potential problem when that type of fish is eaten regularly, which causes a build-up of mercury in the mother’s blood.
Where to get help

• Your doctor
• Midwife
• Obstetrician
• An Accredited Practising Dietitian, 

Things to remember

• A pregnant woman needs to boost her nutrient intake, rather than her kilojoule intake.
• Pregnancy creates extra demands for certain nutrients including iron and folate.
• Good food hygiene is particularly important during pregnancy.

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PREGNANCY

Pregnancy is the carrying of one or more offspring, known as a FETUS , inside the worm of a female. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple GESTATION , as in the case of twins or triplets. human pregnancy is the most studied of all mammalian pregnancies .Childbirth usually occurs about 38 weeks after conception; i.e., approximately 40 weeks from the last normal menstrual period (LNMP) in human. The World Health Organization defines normal term for delivery as between 37 weeks and 42 weeks.

Introduction

Pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks, counting from the first day of your last normal period. The weeks are grouped into three trimesters (TREYE-mess-turs). Find out what's happening with you and your baby in these three stages.

What is the first trimester (week 1-week 12)?

 see video early pregnancy 1-4week(1month)

 

During the first trimester your body undergoes many changes. HORMONAL changes affect almost every organ system in your body. These changes can trigger symptoms even in the very first weeks of pregnancy. Your period stopping is a clear sign that you are pregnant. Other changes may include:

• Extreme tiredness
• Tender, swollen breasts. Your nipples might also stick out.
• Upset stomach with or without throwing up (morning sickness)
• Cravings or distaste for certain foods
• Mood swings
• Constipation (trouble having bowel movements)
• Need to pass urine more often
• Headache
• Heartburn
• Weight gain or loss

All About the First Trimester

For most women, the first 12 or so weeks of pregnancy are the most consuming because everything is all so new, so exciting, even overwhelming. To satisfy the little voice inside your head that keeps asking questions, here's a primer. Keep it handy.

      see video pregnancy 5-8weeks(2month)

 

Aversions (and cravings)

Being repelled by certain tastes and smells is common. “Your digestion is slowing down, so some formerly appealing foods become intolerable,” explains certified nurse-midwife Lisa Kane Low, Ph.D., R.N., a faculty member at the University of Michigan School of Medicine. Ignoring an aversion may only make you feel sicker, so don’t feel you have to eat something just because you think it’s good for you. Cravings are the flip side of aversions: Although the cause is unknown, they may simply be your body’s way of telling you to eat what you can stand. Unless they could be harmful (see “H”), go ahead and indulge them.

Breasts

“Pregnant women always think of their bellies as the focal point,” says Low, “but usually the first physical symptom they notice is a too-tight bra.” In fact, the symptoms of early pregnancy, such as acne, mood swings, cramps and especially swollen, tender breasts, closely resemble PMS.

Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)

This diagnostic test for CHROMOSOMAL disorders such as DOWN SYNDROME is usually performed between weeks 10 and 12. CVS can be done earlier than amniocentesis, but unlike  AMNIO, it cannot detect neural-tube defects such as SPINA BIFIDA. In addition, says Donald R. Mattison, M.D., senior adviser to the directors of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and Center for Research for Mothers and Children, the miscarriage risk is slightly higher with CVS—around 1 percent vs. less than 1 percent for AMNIO.

Due date

Pregnancy is based on a 40-week (280-day) calendar. To calculate your estimated date of delivery, add seven days to the first day of your last normal menstrual period, then add nine months. Your baby is considered full term if he arrives anywhere from three weeks before to two weeks after this date (more than 90 percent of babies do). If your menstrual cycle regularly is 28 days long, you’re more likely to give birth near your due date. If your cycle is usually longer than 28 days, you’re more likely to deliver later; and if it’s shorter, earlier. But the most accurate way to date a pregnancy is via ultrasound measurement of the fetus’s crown-to-rump length between eight and 12 weeks. 

                   see video pregnancy 9-12weeks(3month)

Fatigue

Extreme fatigue is very common in the first trimester of pregnancy. “Your metabolic rate—the amount of energy you burn just to exist—is way above normal then,” explains Low. The emotional ups and downs can also take their toll on you. Fatigue should let up in your second trimester. But if it doesn’t, you may be anemic—more than 50 percent of pregnant women are IRON-deficient to some degree by week 28, according to Susan Watts, M.D., an obstetrician-gynecologist at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas.

Genetic counseling

If you’re at risk for having a baby with an inherited disorder, counseling can help you and your partner decide whether to undergo tests to determine if either of you is a carrier or to see if your fetus is affected. Age and personal and family medical histories are just a few factors to consider when deciding on testing.

Infections You may be surprised—and concerned—if your doctor prescribes antibiotics to treat a condition such as a simple gum or bladder infection. But infection anywhere in the body may lead to preterm labor. If your obstetrician prescribes antibiotics, it’s likely because the benefits outweigh the risks. If another physician prescribes them, get your OB’s approval before taking them. 

All About the Third Trimester

Our guide to the exciting last third of pregnancy

With your due date finally just around the corner, you’re eager to hold that baby in your arms—and maybe nervous about giving birth, too. You enter the third trimester filled with energy, but as your body continues to grow and change, you may start to feel tired and experience new aches and pains. How much bigger can I get? you wonder. Let’s face it: You get a tad tired of being pregnant. But there are plenty of things to do to keep your mind off of your expanding figure and the annoyances that come with it. Just follow our guide to the exciting last third of pregnancy, weeks 29–40.

Your Body

As you head into the final stretch, remember to keep eating right and exercising so that your baby gains the proper amount of weight and you’re in the best possible shape for labor and delivery.

Eat often You should gain one pound a week. To do this, get 300 extra calories a day from one serving each of protein and carbohydrate foods, advises Kelly Kullick, R.D., a personal trainer and the Atlanta-based owner of HealthyMoms, LLC. You may feel full halfway through meals because your uterus is pressing on your stomach. Kullick’s solution: “I recommend six to eight smaller meals a day rather than three big ones.” Keep in mind that you still need prenatal vitamins, at least eight glasses of water a day and 1,000 milligrams of calcium daily.

Keep moving As long as you’re not at risk for delivering a preterm baby, exercise is safe in the third trimester. But if you’re used to doing moderate- or high-impact exercise, discuss with your doctor or midwife whether you should continue your routine, says Lisa Stone, a certified pre- and postnatal fitness specialist and president of Fit For 2 Inc., a fitness program for pregnant women and new moms in Atlanta. Avoid lifting heavy weights, as they can put too much stress on tendons and ligaments, which become more relaxed late in pregnancy. Whatever your exercise level, scale back if you feel dizzy or lightheaded and try prenatal yoga classes or brisk walking instead. “Pay attention to your body’s signals,” Stone says. “They’ll let you know when you’re overdoing it. “Keeping up abdominal and back exercises is important to help with postural changes and stability,” she adds, “and to keep your body strong after the baby’s born, when you’ll have a lot of lifting to do.” Since doing crunches on your back is not safe, switch to standing pelvic tilts or lying on your side or on your hands and knees; concentrate on bringing your navel toward your spine. 

Rest up Feeling uncomfortable and going to the bathroom a lot at night can leave you tired. Use a body pillow when sleeping and limit your liquid and food intake after 6 p.m. To combat fatigue during the day, take a five-minute break every hour. Sit back, relax, do deep-breathing exercises or take a walk to rejuvenate yourself.

Stay sexy Sex and orgasms are generally safe unless you’re at risk for preterm labor, but intercourse may begin to be uncomfortable. Now’s a good time for you and your partner to experiment with alternate positions, such as lying on your sides.

Countdown To Delivery

Follow this timeline recommended by Rebecca Burpo, a certified nurse-midwife in Dallas, to prepare for the big day.

Week 30 Start shopping for items you’ll need in the hospital (nursing bras, nightgown, baby clothes, car seat) and at home (diapers, wipes, etc.). Week 31 Attend childbirth classes. The sessions should end by week 36.Week 32 Interview doulas or labor coaches—they book up quickly. Week 33 Have your baby shower about two months before your due date so you’ll have time to shop for items you didn’t receive as gifts. Week 34 Interview baby nurses or postpartum doulas; locate a lactation specialist in case you need one later. Research cord-blood-banking options. Week 35 Meet with several pediatricians and choose one. Your baby will need to be checked immediately after birth. Week 36 Pack your bag for the hospital (don’t forget your phone book). A baby is considered at term three weeks before your due date, so be prepared. Week 37 If you plan to breastfeed, read up on techniques and gather resources to have at your fingertips when you come home. Join a local La Leche League group to meet the leader and other moms; you don’t want to be a stranger if you need to call them for help. Week 38 Tour your hospital’s maternity floor. Decide which family members and friends may visit you at the hospital and at home in the first few days or weeks after you give birth. If you don’t, good intentions can overwhelm you: It’s easier to say “This is our plan” beforehand than to reject offers on the spot. Week 39 Many women begin maternity leave weeks before their due date. If you plan to work up until the end, post an “If I go into labor tonight” memo at work. 

Your Mind

At some point, the energy and good mood of the second trimester may start to dip. “As women begin to experience an anticipatory anxiety, things can take a downhill slide,” says Ann Dunnewold, Ph.D., a Dallas psychologist who specializes in the emotional aspects of reproductive issues. Mentally preparing for labor and delivery, as well as a newborn, can cause a great deal of uncertainty. Talk with other women who can offer realistic support for such decisions as whether to circumcise your baby or bank his cord blood. Don’t listen to horror stories or read every pregnancy book. Instead, find one author whose philosophy you like and stick with him or her.

 It’s also easy to feel tired of being pregnant, and body-image issues are often to blame. “Many women are larger than they ever thought they’d be and feel unhappy with how they look,” says Rebecca Burpo, a certified nurse-midwife in Dallas. To get past any discomfort with your weight, first confirm with your doctor that you’re gaining pounds appropriately, then remind yourself that you’re doing the right thing. “It’s important to accept that this is what you need to weigh to make a healthy baby,” Burpo says. To feel good about your looks, choose clothing that skims the body rather than bunches or billows out.

Worry about weight stems from other issues as well. “When you’re pregnant, you have less control of your body,” Dunnewold says. The more you can let go of any illusion of control, the better you’ll feel about yourself. Spending a lot of time with your partner can help. “Often couples get closer as they try to eke out every last available minute alone together,” she says.

If your partner’s level of excitement and anticipation doesn’t match yours, it may be that the baby hasn’t become as much of a reality to him as it has to you. Involve him as much as possible in preparing for the delivery and bringing the baby home. If he’s happiest in his workshop, ask him to try his hand at building a toy chest or other nursery items.

Your Baby

Your doctor or midwife will want to see you every two to three weeks starting at around week 28, then every two weeks at weeks 36 and 37, and weekly at 38 weeks, says Russell Laros Jr., M.D., professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the University of California, San Francisco. At 36 or 37 weeks, your doctor will order a culture for Group B strep, an infection that can affect the baby. (If you do have Group B strep, you will likely be treated with antibiotics during labor.) During these last visits, your doctor will be looking for potential problems with you or the baby, including preeclampsia (pregnancy-induced high blood pressure) and indications that you might go into premature labor. Fortunately, a child born as early as 28 weeks has an excellent chance of survival.

What should I eat?

Eating a balanced diet is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your baby. There are a few foods that you should be more careful about eating while you are pregnant. Meat, eggs and fish that are not fully cooked could put you at risk for an infection. Do not eat more than 2 or 3 servings of fish per week (including canned fish). Do not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel or tilefish. These fish sometimes have high levels of mercury, which could hurt your baby. If you eat tuna, make sure it is light tuna and eat no more than 6 ounces per week of albacore tuna and tuna steaks. It is safe to have 12 ounces per week of canned light tuna.


Wash all fruit and vegetables. Keep cutting boards and dishes clean. Eat 4 or more servings of dairy foods each day. This will give you enough calcium for you and your baby. Do not drink unpasteurized milk or eat unpasteurized milk products. Soft cheeses such as Brie, feta, Camembert, blue cheese and Mexican-style cheeses such as queso fresco may have bacteria that can cause infections.


If you drink coffee or other drinks with caffeine, do not have more than 1 or 2 cups each day.


It is okay to use artificial sweeteners such as aspartame (some brand names: Equal, NutraSweet) and sucralose (brand name: Splenda) while you are pregnant, but you should use them in moderation. If you have a genetic disease called phenylketonuria, or PKU, you shouldn't use aspartame at all..

• Iron is also a very important component for the growth of the baby.
• Use only iodized salt.
• Eat good quality proteins ‘“ 3cups milk, Soya bean and pulses.
• Yellow and red foods like papaya, mango, pumpkin, orange, carrot, tomato are very good sources of vitamin A. Consume 1 serving every day.
• Drink plenty of water. It prevents constipation and urinary tract infection. Take fluids in between 2 meals. Never along with the meal.
• Avoid fried food, processed food (sugar, white flour, canned juices, soft drinks), stimulants (tea/coffee) and excessive seasoning in the food. 
• Nausea and vomiting is a common symptom during pregnancy.
• Mix a quarter of a lime with dry ginger and a little water. Have this 1/2 hour after breakfast and lunch.
• Consume 1 apple/ banana/ day. It aids digestion.
• Constipation is another troublesome symptom which you must check.
• 3 liters of water intake is very essential for regular bowel movement
• In case of stubborn constipation take 2 spoons of psyllium seeds with a little warm milk before going to bed.
• Raw salad increases fiber in the diet and prevents constipation.
• Do not use artificial laxatives.

Trying for a baby? Being healthy before, during and after pregnancy involves so many different aspects of your life. So, I've compiled a quick list to help you stay on the healthy side.

1. See your practitioner before becoming pregnant.
2. Start changing your food habits to include a healthy variety of foods.
3. Exercise! Starting now will help you stay in shape during pregnancy, can lower your risk of miscarriage, and has been proven to help reduce labor complications and length.
4. Educate yourself!
5. Eat a new vegetable you've never tried.
6. Check out a book on pregnancy.
7. Figure out what to do about chemical birth control, like the birth control pill.
8. Stop smoking. There are many programs to help you.
9. Take a prenatal vitamin. They can be prescribed by your practitioner or you can buy them over the counter. Ensure it contains 0.4 mg of folic acid.
10. Ask your partner to join you on your new healthy habit changes.
11. Track your cycles. Learning what you can about your cycles will help determine when you ovulate and when you conceived. These make for more accurate due dates.
12. If you need a new practitioner, interview before you become pregnant.
13. Ask your friends about pregnancy and parenthood.
14. Avoid chemicals that could possibly harm your baby. You can find these at work, in your home, and just about anywhere, be environmentally sensitive.
15. See your dentist before you get pregnant and brush your teeth daily.
16. Tell any medical professional that you may be pregnant if you are trying to get pregnant. This can prevent exposure to harmful tests and chemicals if you are pregnant and don't know it yet.
17. Stop changing cat litter.
18. Remember, it can take up to a year to become pregnant. If you have been actively trying for a year or more than six months if you are over 35, see your practitioner.
19. Act pregnant. This includes not drinking alcohol, even while trying to conceive. There is no known safe level during pregnancy and alcohol can cause birth defects.
20. Announce your pregnancy when you are ready.
21. Talk to your parents, what do you want to take from their experiences? How do you want to be different?
22. Rest when you can. Nap!
23. Start a journal or a pregnancy blog.
24. Use non-medicinal remedies for problems like nausea, heartburn, and constipation.
25. Drink six - eight eight ounce glasses of water a day.
26. Read yet another book!
27. Join a prenatal yoga or exercise class.
28. Keep your prenatal appointments with your midwife or doctor. This will help ensure that if you have any problems that they are caught early and kept to a minimum.
29. Take an early pregnancy class.
30. Remember to add 300 - 500 calories a day while pregnant.
31. Tour your selection of birth facilities before making a choice if you are not having a home birth.
32. Review the signs of premature labor and warnings signs for when to call your practitioner.
33. Talk to local doulas and start interviewing. Doulas can help you have a shorter, safer and more satisfying birth.
34. Keep a food diary to ensure that you are keeping up with your daily requirements.
35. If you are decorating your house or a nursery remember to avoid fumes often associated with paint and wall paper. Perhaps have friends do the heavy work while you help make snacks for them. Keep the windows open!
36. Baby sit a friend's baby and learn a bit about caring for a newborn.
37. Take a childbirth class. Sign up early to ensure you get the class and dates that you want.
38. Swimming is great in late pregnancy. It can help relieve a lot of aches and pains and makes you feel weightless.
39. Take a breastfeeding class to help prepare you for the realities of breastfeeding.
40. Stretch before bed to help prevent leg cramps.
41. Continue to exercise, even if you have to slow down. This will help you recover more quickly.
42. Write a birth plan. Something to help you clarify what you want or need for your birth experience. Share this with your practitioners and those you have invited to your birth.
43. Have film and cameras ready!
44. Practice relaxation whenever you can. Try for at least once a day.
45. Do pelvic tilts to help with late pregnancy back pain. It will help relieve your pain and even encourage the baby to assume a good birth position.
46. Pack your bags if you are going to a birth center or hospital. Don't forget your insurance cards, pre-registration forms, camera, birth plan, etc.
47. Review the signs of labor and warning signs.
48. Take a picture of yourself before the baby comes!
49. Read birth stories.
50. Kiss the baby! 

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Peg Perego Year End Sale

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Babytime Show - This weekend!

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NEW! Olli and Lime

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