Size, Breast Feeding, Formula Feeding, and More.

Hello everyone! If you want me to cover any specific subject on the site, leave me a comment.. I'll be sure to post up information on anything that anyone wants to know, pregnancy-related.

What determines the size of my baby? Size is determined by the environment as well as genetics! There's an old-wives tell that claims the size that the mother was at birth is the size her baby will be. This hasn't been proven to be true but is not considered a myth since it is common! The environment plays a role on the babies size in various ways. If a pregnant woman smokes, drink, or does drugs then she may deliver a smaller than average baby. Women who have high blood pressure are also at risk for delivering "small" babies as well as women who do not maintain good eating habits.

Breast Feeding vs. Formula Feeding

(Editor's Note: This is just for education purposes. I am not on either side of the fence since I have done both. Ultimately, it is up to what you feel is right and whatever decision you make, I am sure will be a great one for your baby.)

The advantages of Breast Feeding:

1) Breastfeeding gives time for a bond between the mother and baby

2) Breastfeeding has been associated with a higher I.Q

3) Breastmilk is always available

4) Breastfeeding drecreases the mother's risk of breast cancer

5) Breastfeeding will help the mother lose weight after birth

6) Breastfeeding decreases the risk of the baby developing diabetes

7) Breastfeeding decreases the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome)

8) Breastfeeding means more sleep for mom, dad, and baby

9) Breastfeeding saves money on expensive formula

10) Breastfead babies get fewer cavities

The advantages of Formula Feeding:

1) Formula feeding can offer more freedom and flexibility for mom

2) You may feed your baby less using Formula feeding because it takes longer to digest formula milk

3) With Formula feeding, it's easier to feed the baby in public

4) Someone else can help with the feeding other then the mother

5) Baby may sleep longer between being fed with Formula

6) Formula has added Vitamin K in it

7) You will know exactly how much formula your baby has had

8) A formula feeding mother can back to taking medications she might have had to take during pregnancy. During breast feeding the mother still may not be able to take any specific medication due to the possibility of it getting into her breast milks and getting to the baby.

9) You can pre-make the bottles

10) Breastfeeding can lead to sore nipples, so if you're not breastfeeding, your breasts will return to normal soon after giving birth.

Exercise and Pregnancy

So, you may have realized that you would like to keep the rest of your body in shape while your stomach, which you have no control over at this point, continues growing larger and larger. This is perfectly normal! In this section, you can learn about the types of exercises that are appropriate for women who are pregnant. Please remember that during pregnancy, your regular pre-pregnancy workout routine may not be suitable now.

#1 Walking— Probably considered one of the best exercises when pregnant, walking is very helpful. It is safe to continue walking throughout your entire pregnancy, even when you're 9 months and ready to pop! You should walk about 30 minutes a day, if possible, and if you would like you can walk more than that as long as you do not feel extremely exhausted, dehydrated, or out of breath.

#2 Swimming— I know this is probably not possible for all women especially considering the weather and temperature in some area's but for those of you that have access to a pool (even if you don't have one, you can always swim at the YMCA), swimming is great during pregnancy. The breast stroke is a particularly good form of swimming that is beneficial during pregnancy. Remember, never over-do it. If you feel exhausted, take a break.

#3 Prenatal Yoga— This exercise is particularly one of the funnest! You should sign up for a prenatal yoga class at your local gym.

#4 My personal workout plan— Some of you may be interested on what I do to stay in shape during pregnancy. I start off with stretches. Pregnant or not, it is always important to stretch first before doing exercise. I sit on my butt and stretch my legs together out in front of me and lean forward, as forward as possible, and then hold for 10 seconds. I continue doing this for about 5 minutes. Then, I open my legs wide and stretch from the left side to the right side (every 10 seconds), with my toes kept pointed. Next, I lye on my back and keep one leg bent while stretching the other as far toward my face as the leg can go. Then, I do 10 sets of kicks backward and forward, then reverse and do the same for the other leg. After I am finished with that, I lye on my right side with my head held on my hand and my toes pointed. I kick my left leg up 10 times.. then I roll over onto my left side and kick the right leg as high as it can go 10 times. After this, I am ready for my squats. I do a set of 20 squats. I do 10, take a breather, and 10 again. Squats are great for keeping the hips, legs, thighs, and buttocks in shape. After my squats, I do a short jog in place for about 3 minutes. I use the last stair of my steps and I step up down, up down switching legs each time. After this, I take my weights.. I am using 4 pounds weights (you can use up to about 15 pounds during pregnancy) and stretching my arms, lifting up, then down in a cycle for about 40 times each arm. After I am finished doing my leg and arm exercises, I go for a short 15 minute walk.. I make sure to have water with me at all times; it's important to stay hydrated especially during pregnancy. I feel as though this workout has really helped me out and I do this workout 5 days a week. It's okay to have a few days of a break from exercise.

ACTIVITIES TO AVOID DURING PREGNANCY!

Avoid contact sports (such as football, volleyball, dodgeball), skiing, gymnastics, horseback riding, sit-ups, snowboarding, surfing, tennis, and amusent park rides.

Pregnancy Nutrition & More

Hello girls (and the few guys that may frequent this site) ! I just wanted everyone that frequents this site to know that I update every 2-3 days with new stuff. Sometimes I will post fun things, other times I will post FAQ, informational things, mommy graphics, and much more. I hope that this site helps you and also educates you in a sense...... If you need any help whatsoever, feel free to leave a comment and I will answer you in another post!

So, you may have been questioning the things you're eating. "Is my baby really getting anything out of this burger and fries?" And, if that's a question that's going through your mind, realize that you're not alone! Many women question if what they're eating is healthy enough for their growing baby. Below is a list of the foods and drinks you should be having for nutrition value (for the baby and yourself) as well as calorie intake.

You should be having DAILY:

Milk- This includes a glass of milk, yogurt, cheese, and even some ice-cream. This doesn't mean that's what you have to eat everyday but you should try to have your milk intake. So one day you can have two glasses of milk throughout the day and a yogurt during breakfast and then another day you may have a bowl of cereal with milk and then a grilled cheese. Either way, it's important to get the dairy on in!

Eggs- You can do what you want with them but it's important to have them. You can scramble, fry, do omelette's, or french toast, egg salad, and much more.

2 servings of protein food- This includes meat, fish, beans, cheese, and tofu. So, even if you're vegan, you can still get your protein from tofurkey!

2 servings green vegetables- This includes all types especially spinach, asparagus, string beans, peas, and broccoli.

1 serving Vitamin C- You can get this source in a glass of Orange Juice

1 serving of fruit- Pick your favorites... or do fruit salad! I love bananas mixed with strawberries, pineapple, and grapes.

Other things to have throughout the week (these aren't must-haves but are helpful and simply a suggestion) are baked potatoes and other vegetables such as yams, squash, corn etc.

Don't forget that WATER is very important during pregnancy. Those 8 glasses are very helpful to keep you hydrated. Some women faint or feel like they almost fainted a few times during pregnancy and that is usually caused by dehydration; not getting enough of that good ol' H20.

FOODS TO AVOID DURING PREGNANCY!

Raw Meats- Because the meat is uncooked, that gives it a risk of having contamination and bacteria. The last thing you want is to be pregnant and end up having salmonella!

Deli Meats- Most deli meats are contaminated with Listeria, which is okay when you're not pregnant, but during pregnancy Listeria (which is a bacteria) can cause miscarriages. It doesn't mean that you cannot eat deli meat for as long as you're pregnant, but you've got to be careful. A better decision would be to purchase Oscar Mayer's packaged lunch meat since it has been heated before packaging.

Seafood/Fish- Seafood can be contaminated with Listeria as well and some fish contain high levels of Mercury which has been linked to brain damage in fetuses.

Raw Eggs- There is an exposure to salmonella with raw eggs, as with raw meat. You may think, "Oh, well I don't eat raw eggs" but some diner's and restaurants make Cesar salad dressing with raw egg, so that should be avoided. If you're going to have the Cesar salad, first ask the waiter to find out if there is raw egg in the dressing or not.

Caffeine- In moderation, it is okay.. but it has been linked to miscarriage. To be on the safe side, it is best to avoid caffeine. If that seems nearly impossible altogether, then it's best to cut back as much as possible for the sake of your growing baby.

Fun Section

I thought, for fun, you ladies might like to check out these beautiful graphics! They're nice to use for myspace, baby-gaga, and other forums/boards and sites you may be using. I didn't make these! Just thought sharing them would put a smile one some faces =)

<img src=http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k14/xox0xo/aerocharm/signs/moms/07/42.png>



<img src=http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k14/xox0xo/aerocharm/signs/moms/07/42.png>


<img src=http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k14/xox0xo/aerocharm/signs/moms/07/36.png>


<img src=http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k14/xox0xo/aerocharm/signs/moms/07/33.png>


<img src=http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k14/xox0xo/aerocharm/signs/moms/07/05.png>


<img src=http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k14/xox0xo/aerocharm/signs/moms/02/08.gif>


<img src=http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k14/xox0xo/aerocharm/signs/moms/02/05.gif>


<img src=http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k14/xox0xo/aerocharm/signs/moms/03/09.png>


<img src=http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k14/xox0xo/aerocharm/signs/moms/04/02.png>


<img src=http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k14/xox0xo/aerocharm/signs/moms/05/10.png>


<img src=http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k14/xox0xo/aerocharm/signs/moms/05/04.png>


<img src=http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k14/xox0xo/aerocharm/signs/moms/05/01.png>


<img src=http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k14/xox0xo/aerocharm/signs/moms/06/32.png>


<img src=http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k14/xox0xo/aerocharm/signs/moms/06/01.png>


<img src=http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k14/xox0xo/aerocharm/signs/moms/06/16.png>


<img src=http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k14/xox0xo/aerocharm/signs/moms/06/23.png>


<img src=http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k14/xox0xo/aerocharm/signs/moms/06/29.png>


<img src=http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k14/xox0xo/aerocharm/signs/pregnant/01/15.png>


<img src=http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k14/xox0xo/aerocharm/signs/pregnant/01/06.png>


<img src=http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k14/xox0xo/aerocharm/signs/pregnant/01/16.png>


<img src=http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k14/xox0xo/aerocharm/signs/pregnant/01/24.png>


<img src=http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k14/xox0xo/aerocharm/signs/pregnant/01/24.png>

Trying To Conceive Tips

For those women who are having a little bit of trouble conceiving (and don't be alarmed; it usually takes the average couple a year to conceive a baby) there are some tips on how to get pregnant. These are accurate, but doesn't necessarily mean that you will get pregnant, it depends on you. Here are a few tips!

#1 Before trying to conceive, cut back on bad habits. If you're overweight, it is better to get into better shape and healthier eating because overweight women have a higher risk of miscarriage and complicated pregnancy. If you're a constant smoker, try cutting back as of now.. this way when you're pregnant, it will be easier for you to stop.

#2 Ovulation is important! Ovulation typically occurs two weeks before your next period. For women with irregular periods, it may be harder to track ovulation. Taking your basal body temperature will help inform you of when you're ovulating.

#3 My OB actually gave me this piece of advice. She said go out and purchase a BBT thermometer. She said digital kind is okay but for even better results, stick to the old fashion kind that you read yourself. Have your BBT thermometer sitting on the side of your bed. From the day of your first period, begin taking your temperature when you wake up, before you get out of bed and do anything. It's best to take your temperature before you get up and use the bathroom and such because you get more accurate results. Have a small book to keep a note of your temperature BBT by your bed side. Usually your BBT will remain the same throughout the days.. then it will drop, usually by .5, and suddenly the next day it is much higher. This is your peak of ovulation, which means it's a good time to have sex (you're most fertile).. this is pretty much fool proof. Here's an example:

"Jessica's" BBT Log:

Day 1: 96.5
Day 2: 96.5
Day 3: 96.5
Day 4: 96.5
Day 5: 96
Day 6: 98

Since Day 6 shows that her temperature suddenly sky-rocketed compared to the steady pace of the other days, and assuming she's not sick, this means that this is the peak of ovulation, a good day to have unprotected sex if you're trying to conceive.


Last, but certainly not least, TTC takes time. Try not to stress yourself because stress can be a reason for conception not taking place. For an overview of this entry, remember to try and be as healthy as possible before trying to conceive and take things one step at a time.

Myth Busters & More

In this section, I am going to let you know what is true and what is false about pregnancy.. As well as helping you cope with some of the not so great side effects of pregnancy.



I've heard that if you carry low you're having a boy and if you carry high then it's a girl. Is this true? No. The way a woman carries actually depends on her (her height & weight may have a role in this), the babies postion, and the location of the baby and placenta. As you know, each baby lyes in different positions.



If you have morning sickness very bad, then you're definitely having a baby girl. Wrong! This is such an old-wives tale. Let me be the first to say that I had a very severe case of morning sickness and am expecting a baby boy!



If you have a lot of heartburn during pregnancy, your baby will be born with a full head of hair. This one is always debatd. It's not a complete myth and it's not complete truth either. Studies have shown that the hormones that cause pregnant women to have heartburn are the same hormones that help a babies hair grow. However, just because you have heartburn doesn't mean your baby will be born with much hair. It all depends.



If you're expecting a baby girl, you may have more breakouts then you would if you were carrying a baby boy. This actually has some truth to it. Studies show that mothers carrying girls had worse breakouts and the reason was discussed that it's probably caused by extra hormones, since that baby girl has hormones as well.





Stretch Marks: We all hate them! However, if you do get stretch marks during your pregnancy you should see them like a badge of honor. Those stretch marks will simply be a reminder of the lengthy journey you and your baby went through together. If you haven't gotten stretch marks yet, there's a chance you might not. However, to be on the safe side, you should always have some Palmer's Cocoa Butter by the head board and apply morning and night, if you want to try to avoid stretch marks all together. No, Palmer's Cocoa Butter isn't the magical cure to preventing stretch marks, but it can help diminish their appearance as well as smoothen the skin if your skin has been dry, itchy, or irritating lately.



Nausea: Morning Sickness or as some like to call, All Day Sickness, is one of the not so sweet things about being pregnant.. Try to stay positive and think that it won't last forever! Morning sickness usually subsides sometime at the ending of the first trimester/beginning of second trimester. If you're having a hard time keeping things down and are worrying about your baby; here's some relaxing news! As of now, eat what you can hold down. It will not harm your baby if it isn't the most healthiest thing. At this point it's just important to get something in your system. When your morning sickness is gone, that's when it is important to eat healthiest for you and your growing baby. Some things I would suggest trying to have if you're having a hard time keeping things down are: Saltine Crackers, Ginger Ale, Coca-Cola (Limit to 1 or 2 cups. Too much caffeine is bad for your baby, but if you limit yourself, then there shouldn't be any problems. Drinking flat Coca-Cola worked for me because it is like cola-syrup that helps vomitting), Plain Potato Chips, Toast, and perhaps some Ginger Tea. These are just a few suggestions, they may be helpful for you or they may not.. it all depends on the person. If your morning sickness is beyond horrible and you're unable to keep anything down which is keeping you in bed and possibly dehydrated, contact your doctor or OB asap!

Frequently Asked Questions When Expecting

Congrats! You're now expecting a bundle of joy, or more if you're expecting multiples. Now that you're expecting a child, you have tons more questions that I am ready to answer to reassure you that everything should be fine during this lengthy journey.

How often will I see my OB? In the beginning, you will see your OB every 4 weeks, so basically once a month. If you're in the "high-risk" (if you've got hypothyroidism, are overweight, etc) category, then you may see your OB every 3 weeks. Around your 7 month, you will begin going to the OB about every 2 weeks, so twice a month until delivery!

How soon can I find out the sex of the baby? With advances in technology, some women have been able to have the sex of their baby determined at just around 16 weeks, although the most common time to determine the sex of the fetus is anywhere between 18-22 weeks. Even if you get an u/s around the time, ultimately it depends on the cooperation of the baby! Some babies are in a great position to get a full veiw of which sex they are. Other babies lye in positions where it is difficult to tell whether or not baby is a boy or a girl. I've had a friend who had to wait until her 8th month to find out the baby's sex simply because her baby was not cooperating. I, on the other hand, was able to find out about my baby boy at 5 months. I was 21 weeks.

How will I know if I am pregnant with twins? Before you even have an ultrasound, you may notice your stomach is protruding forward faster than normal and you may have more severe symptoms. An early ultrasound will be able to determine if you're carrying multiples.

I'm having more discharge then ever before. Is this normal? Yes. In most instances it is normal.. unless the discharge has brown, pink or red in it, then you should seek medical assistance. However, if you're discharge is more frequent and noticeable now more then ever, remember it is simply one of those additions to being pregnant. Blame it on the hormones! Also, if your discharge is accompanied by an itch/irritation as well as a smell, then you could have a yeast infection. In that case, talk with your OB about using the right yeast infection medication during pregnancy. There are certain ones you cannot use!

What medicine can I take during pregnancy? Of course during pregnancy, certain medicines are off limit because they may cause risk to the unborn baby in your belly. Here's a list of medicines that are approved for pregnant women to take.

Tylenol (original only, no PM's or anything like that)

Claritin or Benadryl (for allergies)

Metamucil, Milk of Magnesia, Citrucil, Colace, and Senekot (for constipation)

Neosporin and Polysporin (first aid ointments)

Preparation H, Tucks, Witch Hazel, and Anusol (for hemorrhoids)

Ginger, Sea Bands, Emetrex (for nausea)

Monistat (for Yeast Infection)

If you're a visitor of sites, boards, and forums for pregnant women then you may be wondering what all the codes mean! I'm going to translate them for you so you can understand what your fellow future mommies are talking about.

EDD: estimated day of delivery
TTC: trying to conceive
AF: aunt flow (period)
OB: obstetrician

Pregnancy: Frequently Asked Questions

Am I pregnant? If you've been having unprotected sex, using the "pull out method", aren't on the pill; then the chances are endless. If you're not ready to be a mother then I would highly suggest visiting your GYN and scheduling an appointment. You're GYN and you can then discuss the type of birth control that is right for you. Even if you are on birth control, you should still be using other contraceptives, such as condoms, because birth control doesn't prevent from STD's or HIV.

My period is late. Could I be pregnant? Yes, you could. If you've been having sexual intercourse then you could be pregnant but don't automatically assume you are..especially if you're TTC. Some women who are TTC get so caught up in wanting to be pregnant that it actually throws their menstrual cycles off; which isn't good if you're calculating your ovulation. I would suggest that you wait a week and if your period has still yet to arrive, purchase an at home pregnancy test (one of the good ones like First Response or Clear Blue). If the test says positive, it's most likely accurate. If it's negative, you may want to take another one. If the second test still comes out negative but your period still doesn't come within the next few days, then you should make an appointment for your doctor to take blood. By doing a blood test, the doctor can check your hormones (HCG levels) to tell if you're pregnant or not.

Can I get pregnant while on Birth Control? Birth Control is created in order to prevent pregnancy but even with that said, it's 98 percent effective. So, there's always a 2 percent chance that you can get pregnant on the pill. Also, each pill is different, so if you don't want to be pregnant then speaking to your GYN about the right pill for you is the right thing to do. Other factors that can change the effectiveness of birth control is taking it at different time, missing some pills, and other medicines you may be taking for other health issues. The only way to be 100% sure you cannot get pregnant is by obtaining abstinence. However, by taking the right pill the right way, and using other contraceptives, your chances of conceiving are very slim.

Can I get pregnant after a miscarriage? Yes! Studies show that about 40% of all pregnancies result in an early miscarriage; sometimes so early that a woman was not even aware that she was pregnant yet and may mistake an early miscarriage for a heavy period. If you've miscarried, just remember that there was a reason. Usually it's because the fertilized egg ended up implanting itself in the wrong place, or the failure of the baby's development.. that is when the egg attaches in the right place but doesn't continue developing. Most women who've had miscarriages go on to have healthy pregnancies afterward. If you were to miscarry more than two times, your doctor may check into having tests done to see if there's something wrong other then a string of bad luck. Now, there are some factors with pregnancy that can up the chances of miscarriage. If you're a woman over 35, if you're under-nourished, if you smoke/drink, or if you're overweight, your chances are higher of miscarriage. So, the your best bet when trying to become pregnant is to first get down to a healthier weight not just for the future baby's safety but for yourself as well. If you smoke or drink you should start by cutting back and then quit all together, for the sake of that growing baby. Make sure that you drink plenty of water to stay dehydrated, eat healthy, stay away from too much caffeine like energy drinks, and take good care of yourself. If you're over 35, this doesn't mean you cannot have children, but your pregnancy may be a bit more complicated. The chances are endless but remember there's always a chance you will breeze by your pregnancy with little or no complications.

Can I get pregnant if I have unprotected sex during my period? Yes. Any time you have unprotected sex you are risking a pregnancy whether it is wanted or not. The chances are slim because in order to get pregnant you have to be ovulating and ovulating occurs about 12-16 days before your next period, but it is always possible.

What are the first symptoms of pregnancy? Although these symptoms vary from woman to woman, the most common first symptoms of pregnancy are a missed period, tender or swollen breasts, and nausea. There are now pregnancy tests that can determine if you're pregnant up to 4 days before your missed period, so if you've been feeling "differently" lately and are curious to find out if you're pregnant, one of those tests may be a good idea.