Many women are concerned about flying while pregnant as they are not sure whether it will be safe or not. Except for some women who are facing certain pregnancy-related conditions, flying is generally safe during pregnancy. You can take an air trip as late as a month before your due date. However, as precautionary measures, airline policies regarding pregnant travelers might not allow you to fly beyond a certain time period. Not because you may find it difficult to fit in those crammed airline seats, but because it will be a nightmare for the airline if your baby decides to make its grand entrance in the plane! How many airline attendants do you know that can deliver a baby?

Is It Safe to Fly When Pregnant?

Usually, all women who are going through a smooth and normal pregnancy can fly without any difficulty. However, it is recommended, even for these women, to stay on ground after their 36th week of pregnancy as the risk of labor is high after this time. In the case of women who have complications (such as, high-blood pressure, diabetes, hypertension, sickle cell disease, placenta abnormalities or are at risk of premature labor) flying can be problematic and is not recommended.

Are There Any Risks?

If you’ve got a clean bill of health, there may be one risk that you face if you are flying during pregnancy – the lack of blood circulation. Especially if you are taking long flights, you might have to stay put for too long which can increase the risk of thrombosis or blood clotting, and of varicose veins. However, wearing support stockings and moving around a bit in the flight can regulate blood circulation enough to avoid these issues.

When Is The Right Time to Fly?

The second trimester is considered to be the best time for flying for pregnant women. Since you may not experience as much morning sickness during this phase, you will feel more energized and up for traveling. In the first trimester, traveling can also be fine if you don’t have a bad case of morning sickness. For the third trimester, flying can definitely take more of a toll on your body. In most cases, airlines won’t allow you to travel during the third trimester.

Fly or Not: How To Decide?

Before you make the decision whether to should fly or not, the best thing to do is to ask your obstetrician or midwife. While you might be having a smooth and healthy pregnancy, it is still better to get your doctor’s go ahead before setting off.

Some Tips for When You Are Flying

• Before you book a ticket with an airline, find out its policies and guidelines regarding pregnant women who want to travel.
• During pregnancy, it is better to get an aisle seat so that you can have more space and comfort, and because it allows you to move freely.
• Make sure you have fastened the seat belt properly. You can secure the lap belt below your abdomen for safety.
• In order to keep circulation normal, try to walk up and down the aisle whenever possible. If you can’t do that, keep flexing your legs and ankles while staying seated.
• Flying can often cause dehydration so make sure you are drinking enough non-caffeinated fluids, especially water.

Zika virus alert: Zika is a virus spread by mosquitos that typically causes a mild and short-lived infection. The Zika virus can, however, cause very serious birth defects if your fetus is exposed. If you’re pregnant or plan to become pregnant, health experts recommend postponing any non-essential travel to areas of the world where Zika virus is prevalent. Zika has been found in Central and South America, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, a number of Pacific island countries, and several countries in Africa. In the US, Zika has been found in Florida. If you’re planning to travel to one of these areas, speak with your healthcare provider about the best way to protect yourself and your unborn baby.

Written by Manal, first time mom, rearing an infant.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

Do people make comments to you that you don’t even look pregnant, or that you don’t look big enough to be 6 months along? Does everyone seem to have some sort of random opinion about the size of your belly, how you are carrying – or what your pregnant self looks like?

Seriously, when it comes to pregnant women – it seems that the world around them loses its filter. And often, the health of a pregnancy and the size of a baby is outwardly determined by how big your baby bump is. When Princess Kate was pregnant, the media was constantly talking about how tiny she was (only to comment that she still had a baby bump 24 hours after delivery). Really!?

Eventually, people commenting on the fact that you are not big enough, or that you are too big – can cause some unnecessary worry on your part. You might worry that being small means your baby is unhealthy, or that your baby is not growing properly. You may think you need to be eating more. You may even feel ‘less pregnant’ than other women who are seemingly waddling around in their pregnant glory.

The harsh reality is that you have prenatal check ups for a reason. And your health care provider is the only one who should be commenting on whether the size of your belly is too big, too small or just right!

Another reality is that each and every woman carries differently. Depending on your frame and on your genetics, and whether or not you have been pregnant in the past, you may show at 11 weeks or not really be showing until 5 months along. And as long as you taking care of yourself nutritionally, following the orders of your healthcare provider and progressing as expected you have nothing to worry about.

Pregnancy is quite often the first time in your life that you will realize just how much advice and commentary the world around you has to give. Consider this a time of prepping yourself for the realities of parenthood where you will have to follow your own judgments, make your own rules about what is right or wrong for your child and your family, and believe in your decisions without constantly ruminating about the albeit well-intended, annoying commentary from the rest of the world.

Your baby bump is what it is – and underneath it lies the person who will now hold your heart and soul. Be proud of your belly whether it is as round as a basketball, or as petite as a cantaloupe and stop allowing yourself to be compared to other women. You are you!

Written By Stef, Mom of 4 @Momspirational

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice.  All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

You’re pregnant. Naturally this means you are going to feel all sorts of new aches and pains. In fact, you might wake up with a new pregnancy symptom every day of the week. Most of these are normal. Still, there are some pregnancy symptoms NOT to ignore. Remember, it is always better to err on the side of caution rather than wait something out when you are pregnant.

The following are pregnancy symptoms that require you to get in touch with your help practitioner. (Please note: some of these can be a normal and natural part of your pregnancy, so don’t be immediately alarmed if you have any of these.)

1. Less fetal movement. If you notice a significant decrease in fetal movement, or no movement at all for an extended period of time, you should call your doctor. Try laying down on your left side after drinking something sweet, like orange juice, to see if you conjure up movements. In late pregnancy, a change in the types of movements is natural as space is limited. But your baby should still move regularly. If you cannot get your baby to move – then call your doctor immediately.

2. Extreme abdominal pain. Pulled or strained muscles are par for the course of pregnancy. Cramps are fairly common too, and can be Braxton-Hicks contractions. If, however, you are experiencing deep and strong or sharp pains, you should call your doctor. The best rule of thumb is know your body, and know whether this is a normal, routine pain – or something more. If you think it’s something more, then a check-up won’t hurt.

3. Vaginal Bleeding or Spotting. Some women spot and bleed their whole pregnancy without a problem. However, if you notice sudden spotting or heavy bleeding (accompanied by discharge) that starts out of nowhere and is accompanied with cramping – check yourself into an emergency department, or call your healthcare provider for an appointment that day. Remember, better safe than sorry.

4. Extreme swelling of the face or extremities. Obviously, some swelling is normal. If you notice a sudden increase in weight gain and swelling, you may have preeclampsia, which can be life threatening to you. Call your doctor.

5. High fevers, chills, and severe headaches accompanied by blurred vision. This could be something as normal as the common cold or flu, or something more. Its always best to have your provider treat you for illness during pregnancy.

6. A swollen leg, or pain in one leg that doesn’t go away. Blood clots during pregnancy are often caused by hormones, and one of the first signs is leg swelling or severe pain in the legs.

7. Exposure to influenza. H1N1 flu exposure has been proven to be risky to pregnant woman. If you have been exposed, it is important to let your doctor know. Also exposure to chicken pox, rubella, and Fifths disease should be reported to your doctor.

8. Itchiness all over your body. Occasional itchiness as skin stretches is normal, but sudden unexplained itchiness may signal a problem.

9. Shortness of breath or difficult breathing, whether in pregnancy or not – should prompt a trip to the emergency department of the nearest hospital. If this is combined with chest pains, fainting spells, or high fever, you need to be seen ASAP.

The reality is that pregnancy can make you feel all sorts of things. If you listen to your intuition and let it guide you to knowing that something may be wrong, you will be better off in the long run. You should never feel like you worry too much, or that a doctor or ER is going to think you are crazy simply because you are concerned about something going on with your body. Even though the chances are high that you will find out everything is fine, it is always better to know for sure so you can relax. You owe yourself peace of mind.

Written By Stef, Mom of 4 @Momspirational

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

I was having coffee with a pregnant friend who had just been running errands. She said the teller at the bank told her, “You’re having a boy. You always lose your looks with a boy.” Rude, you say? And insulting, I might add. But such stories are part of the advice people feel free to give pregnant women – solicited or not. We’ve all heard stories like these, but we scoff and carry on. Still, a part of our mind wonders if there’s any truth to these old wives’ tales. Here a look at some of the most popular:

• If you’re carrying your baby low, it’s a boy. Gender prediction is the most prolific area of pregnancy advice. Carrying high or low, craving certain foods, a high fetal heart rate, and more – all of these tales can be a fun way to guess at whether the baby will be a boy or a girl, but none have a basis in fact. Gender is determined at conception; and, whether male or female, there are no tell-tale signs to clue you in apart from an ultrasound or genetic testing. By the way, carrying low may just mean your abdominal muscles aren’t as strong or toned as other women. Or it could just mean that you are genetically prone to a certain body shape.

• Don’t hang the wash or reach to a high shelf, or your baby will be entangled in the umbilical cord. In Jamaica, women are told not to step over a donkey’s tether or the baby will end up with the cord tightly around his neck. In Sicily, wearing a scarf can cause the same mishap. Or, if you’re Navajo, it could be the sitting with your legs crossed that does it. Take a deep breath, and stop worrying about this one. At birth, the umbilical cord is about twenty inches (50cm) long, and this gives plenty of length for baby to move, twist and turn throughout pregnancy and birth without becoming knotted or entangled. In fact, true knots occur in very few pregnancies.

• If you have heartburn, your baby will be born with lots of hair. Strangely, this one may have some fact to it. One study showed over 80% of babies born to moms who had moderate to severe heartburn had lots of hair! This is probably related to hormones that not only control growth, but that initiate changes in a mom’s body to keep pregnancy healthy.

• Never take a bath when you’re pregnant. The tale goes that if you submerge your belly in water, your baby will drown. While you don’t want to sit in water that’s too hot (and raise your body temperature too much), a warm bath can safely soothe the aches and pains of pregnancy. Also, you may be told not to take a bath in labor after your water breaks because it increases your risk of infection. Studies have shown this is not true, and that even a water birth is safe.

• If you crave a certain food, you’re baby must want it. Hungry for salsa? Your little one must be ordering it up. Well, not really. But there is a chance he might like spicy foods if you eat them often. Amniotic fluid takes on the flavors from mom’s diet, especially strong ones, like garlic or hot pepper. Another thought about cravings is that your body must need certain nutrients when you crave particular foods, though it hasn’t been proven.

• Sex will start labor. Sex is typically safe throughout pregnancy, and, even though it may cause some mild uterine contractions, it won’t start labor necessarily. If your body is ready for birth, however, sex may get things moving. The oxytocin release with orgasm, along with the prostaglandins in semen, may help to soften the cervix and induce regular contractions.

Before the advent of modern medicine, old wives’ tales served as a way of understanding and explaining the unknown. Today, we have ultrasound to track fetal development and all sorts of medical tests to help us understand the intricacies of pregnancy and birth. But these tales persist. Perhaps we still seek to rationalize and exert some control over bodily processes. Or perhaps the tales just serve as a way to connect with the past and with each other.

What are some of the more outrageous old wives’ tales you have heard?

Written by Michelle, writer, editor, Lamaze instructor, lactation consultant, and mother to 4 busy kids.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice.  All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

In the first trimester of pregnancy, and sometimes later, experiencing extraordinary fatigue is very common. For some women, this fatigue can prevail throughout their pregnancy (very debilitating, I know!). However, it is not a worrisome condition. Sustaining another life inside can naturally take a toll on your body and drain it of energy. However, the fatigue often comes with some aches and pains and makes it difficult for you to carry on with your daily routine. Let’s first take a look at what causes fatigue, before you set off to deal with fatigue during pregnancy.

Causes of Fatigue

Pregnancy-related conditions that can be the underlying cause of fatigue include:

• Anemia or lack of iron to carry oxygen to the baby sufficiently.
• Lack of exercise (even if you hate it) since it slows down the flow of blood and affects your stamina.
• Over-exertion, especially lifting heavy things.
• Too much heat or dehydration.
• Vitamin deficiency and lack of B-complex vitamins.
• Improper diet that doesn’t fulfill the necessary nutritional requirements for pregnancy.
• Depression, which can occur during pregnancy.

By knowing the underlying cause of fatigue, you can be in a much better position to cope with it. So, if you are feeling unusually fatigued, ask your doctor about these possible causes.

How to Cope With Fatigue

If you are finding the fatigue too much to cope with, there are several ways you can deal with it and try to keep it to a minimum.

• Try to Take Short Naps: This may be an easy one for many of you out there, because who doesn’t like to nap! When you feel too tired, take a short nap. The good thing is that while you are pregnant, even a short nap of a few minutes can work wonders for you, making you feel refreshed and energized.

• Cut Back on Your Activities: Cut back on your usual activities. Socialize less, let the housework go once in a while, take an occasional off day from work in the middle of the week, and send the kids to a friend or relative for the afternoon. Give yourself a break and put your feet up, you’re pregnant so you deserve it!

• Eat a Healthy Diet: You need to get at least 200 extra calories every day during your pregnancy; and, as much as you want, you definitely can’t get them from junk food and snacks. You need to follow a proper and balanced diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, lean meat, diary, and whole grains that can give you energy.

• Drink Water: Your body needs plenty of fluids during pregnancy to stay hydrated. However, you should cut back on drinks that have caffeine and instead drink plenty of water. While this may make you go to the toilet more than you like, it is important to have fluids in your body at this time.

• Exercise Regularly: While there is no need to overexert yourself, believe it or not, too much rest can also be bad for you. Make sure you have a regular exercise regimen to follow, even if it means taking a short walk every day. However, for some women, exercising is not recommended so get a go-ahead from your obstetrician or midwife first so you can properly deal with fatigue during pregnancy.

In what ways are you fighting your pregnancy fatigue?

Written by Manal, first time mom, rearing an infant.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice.  All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.