Real Tech Mom

What is Cradle Cap?

Cradle cap is a crusting and scaling rash found on the scalps of many healthy babies. This often happens because of excess hormones that get passed to baby from mom (from the placenta just before birth). The sebaceous glands(see picture) in their skin are hyperactivated because of these hormones. These glands pump out a greasy substance that keeps the old skin cells attached as it dries.

You might notice the same condition around your baby’s ears or eyebrows, or even in his armpits and other creases. When it’s not on his/her scalp, it’s called seborrheic dermatitis.

When does it appear?

Cradle cap can occur in any baby, and most commonly begins sometime in the first 3 months. I think my son had it pretty early. (within the first couple of weeks)

What are the symptoms?

I’m going to be non technical, baby’s head kind of looks like it has scales on it. It’s dry and crusty or flaky. But it can get pretty bad and sometimes the crusty flakes can weep a bit. Yeah doesn’t sound too yummy does it! But generally it doesn’t bother your babe, if it get’s pretty bad it may become itchy. You can always talk to your doctor about it if you are concerned! If it get’s red or inflamed your pharmacist may be able to suggest an over the counter cortisone cream.

Is it contagious?

No.

How long does it last?

Usually it disappears between 8 and 12 months, if it does persist talk to your pediatrician.

Is there anything I can do?

Yes! Most of the websites recommend washing with shampoo more frequently to get rid of the oil that builds up and holds the dried skin on. But to me it doesn’t make sense to shampoo the crap out of dry skin! So I was reading up on various things to do for dry skin and I came across something that worked wonders for my son! (That’s not his head in the above mentioned picture by the way—but it looked pretty similar)

1)Olive Oil or Almond Oil

At first I thought I was just supposed to leave it on, and bush his hair and shampoo the next day. After reading up on this, you aren’t supposed to leave it on for more then 30 minutes, because it can actually make the condition worse–remember it’s caused by excess amounts of oil trapping the dead skin onto baby’s head.  So I tried to brush it off, but not much dead skin came off. The oil is suppose to loosen the scales, and then magically they are suppose to be “brushed’ away. Well it didn’t work, and I hate the smell of olive oil.

2) Avocado

In ancient times this was used as a moisturizer (very high in oils), so I thought what the hay, I’ll try it!  So I picked up a ripe one (firm but a little mushy) and cut it in half, and mushed it with a fork.

So I had help with this because it’s messy! I took my mushed up paste (my son looked more interested in eating it) and spread it on his head–he was NOT pleased when I put this pasty cold stuff on his head. So (after I washed my hands and my husband held him awkwardly–trying not to get it everywhere) I proceeded to cover his head with a cap (a little beanie one)–if you are going to do this I suggest using a cap you don’t mind getting dirty. I waited 20 minutes and then gave him his nightly bath.

It left a green hue on his head (where the dead skin was) and I took a toothbrush to his head–god doesn’t that sound evil? This probably made all the difference. As long as you are careful about how hard you press, the bristles are so much stronger then the baby brushes, that it actually got all the dead skin off! He didn’t seem to mind either, so I knew I wasn’t hurting him. All in all a huge cosmetic success!

The bottom line

Some people actually use avocado as a deep treatment conditioner, so I was not completely off my rocker when I decided to try this.  You can actually use this on your skin too if you have moisture issues. For us the Avocado worked better then the Olive oil, and I would do it again in a heart beat. One thing they do suggest is to brush your child’s head after his/her bath to make sure you get the dead skin off, so maybe investing in another toothbrush for their head isn’t such a bad idea!

I’m sure when my son get’s older he’ll kill me for posting this, but for now I’m still the mom!

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Is your baby destroying your boobs with their painful grip and sharp nails? Then there may be an answer for you to entertain them. A Nursing necklace is a fashionable piece of jewelry designed to “entertain” your babe while you nurse them.

Around 3-4 months babies become more aware of their surroundings and if you are breastfeeding, that means your boobs ladies. So while they’re chubby little hands are so cute, they’re quite another thing when they tear your boobs to shreds!

I came across this website when my son was a little over 2 months, and was just starting to explore with his hands. I decided that I would try these necklaces out and see if they would do the trick to keep his focus at the boob but not on my boob! Also babies are detracted by new sounds and sites, these are supposed to keep their attention to the task at hand!

Laughing Starfish Jewelry

I found this neat site a few months ago and I have since ordered two necklaces. The woman who makes these necklaces is a stay at home mom (SAHM) which I always encourage others to support. She does amazing work, and I personally think that the 30$ (average cost) is not too much to pay for one necklace. Price ranges from (18.00-45.00$ USD) for necklaces and as low as 8.00$USD for earrings. Shipping isn’t very much cash either! Check out her shipping rates, I think I paid something like 7$ which is fantastic in my books!

Below is just a sample of her work:

Please visit her website for more selection. She makes necklaces, earrings, bracelets and matching sets! She has pictures of all the things you could possibly buy.

So what is the difference between a regular necklace and a nursing necklace?

There isn’t anything that really differentiates regular necklaces from these besides their ability to sustain a lot of grabbing! Babies love to grab our jewels around our necks! These necklaces have durable threads that allow your child to pull every which way and not shatter your precious jewels.

Some necklaces that you buy as nursing necklaces don’t seem to have the mom in mind, but these necklaces are beautiful and functional.

She does caution that they are not teething rings, and you should never let your child bite on them! That being said, you can get adjustable lengths (customizable at ordering time) of string depending on how long you want the cord of the necklace. This allows for you to make them longer or shorter depending on your child’s reach.

My experience:

I ordered two necklaces, I ordered the ones that I thought I would enjoy wearing. I would definitely order more things from her! They came very quickly (as an international order, I got my shipment within two to three weeks). The envelope came with stickers all over it, and each necklace came in a little pouch so that if I wanted to gift these purchases I could have done so. I kept both but think that these necklaces are fashionable and functional that I would definitely gift them for any expectant mom. Even if you don’t use them to distract your babe from destroying your boobs, or you child is disinterested, they’re still beautiful jewelry that you can actually wear out!

One of them was very long (as I ordered two different lengths on purpose) but I tied knots in the back of the necklace to keep them in place and higher up (I’m not a very tall person).

My son isn’t really interested in them as of yet, but I wear them out anyways. One of her points on her site is that children like the look of “real objects” versus the fake alternative. She gives the example of your car keys versus the toy ones, which one does your child prefer? The real ones! It’s the same deal with the necklace.

The bottom line

I’m just happy to know that if my son pulls on these necklaces I’m not scared of him breaking them! I see him release his “super strength” grip off of people’s delicate necklaces and I don’t have to worry about that with my fashionable ones! All in all a great experience. I can’t guarantee your child will be interested in them, but if you get one that you actually like wearing, the sky’s the limit!

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So I’m officially pregnant, what can I eat?

Ok, there is bound to controversy about what you can and can’t eat. So if you disagree with me, that’s your choice. These are just some recommendations to some women who choose to listen.

10 Don’t's

1) Sushi

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. If the restaurant serves frozen fish before it’s thawed your risks for parasites are lessened, but there is no rule that restaurants have to follow to serve frozen fish versus fresh fish.

Unfortunately, one concern about seafood, raw or cooked, is PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls), a persistent and potentially hazardous industrial chemical that has become nearly ubiquitous in our environment which pollutes what we eat.

2) Lunch meat and Hot dogs

It’s not safe to eat deli meats (or hot dogs) when you’re pregnant unless they’re heated until steaming hot. Pregnant women are about 20 times more likely than other healthy adults to get listeriosis, and newborns — not moms — suffer the most serious effects of infection during pregnancy. Listeria can cross the placental barrier, or more commonly, be transmitted in the birth canal, which can be devastating for the baby.

3) Honey

This was a new one to me, I couldn’t figure out what could possibly be wrong with Honey. In short it’s the botulism that “could” be in the honey. It has been linked to something called infant botulism. This is Dr. Greene’s response to the safety of Honey:

“Botulism spores are found throughout nature, in soil, in dust, and on the unwashed surfaces of unpeeled fruits and vegetables. The spores are present in about 10 percent of the samples of honey tested. These spores are tough to kill. They are quite heat-resistant; some can survive boiling for several hours. Honey is naturally resistant to many bacteria. Sometimes, honey is pasteurized – usually it is not. Pasteurizing does not reliably destroy botulism spores. Some honey is filtered; some is not. Filtering does not reliably remove botulism spores. There are advantages and disadvantages to pasteurizing and filtering. I don’t feel strongly either way, but this is one food I prefer un-pasteurized. No honey, though, is best for infants.”

4) Caffeine

Let’s see there are so many things that contain Caffeine in them these days, it’s not just limited to Coffee. Tea’s, pop and chocolate all contain caffeine. While most experts agree that small amounts of Caffeine is ok, large amounts of it (more then 3 cups of coffee) increase your risk of miscarriage.  It also has an effect on birth weight of your unborn child. For the first trimester, I would try to stick to decaf products or limit your caffeine intake to one pop/coffee a day.

5) Artificial sweeteners: namely aspartame

This is such a touchy subject for many women. Especially pregnant women. So in order to be politically correct I’ve consulted the Government of Canada’s website on this issue. Personally I don’t drink stuff with aspartame when I’m not expecting, and did not touch the stuff when I was pregnant. The body does not break down aspartame very well and it’s just being linked (inconclusively) to too many things for my comfort level.

Check out Wiki’s page on the Controversy of Aspartame

Government of Canada’s thoughts on Artificial Sweeteners:

Artificial Sweeteners

Aspartame is a dipeptide containing the amino acids phenylalanine and aspartic acid. The acceptable daily intake of aspartame is 40 mg/kg body weight/day, which is equivalent to a person weighing 60 kg drinking approximately sixteen 355 mL (10 oz.) cans of diet soft drink daily.  Individuals needing to control phenylalanine intake (I.e., phenylketonuria), should limit their aspartame intake”

Evidence suggests that consumption of aspartame by pregnant women is safe and does not pose a health hazard. However pregnant women should be cautioned against excessive consumption of products containing aspartame and other artificial sweeteners since such foods could be replacing nutrient-dense, energy-yielding foods.

Neither saccharin nor cyclamates are currently permitted to be added to foods sold in Canada due to health-related concerns that have been raised in the past.  However, they may be sold as table-top sweeteners with some restrictions as to point of sale and labelling. Pregnant women should be advised to carefully read all precautionary statements on the labels of these sweeteners and to only use them on the advice of a physician.

“Caution pregnant women consuming excessive amounts of products containing artificial sweeteners which are low in nutrient value, for example, diet soft drinks, because such foods could be replacing nutrient-dense foods.
Encourage women who are consuming large amounts of products containing artificial sweeteners to read food labels and to ensure that they do not exceed acceptable daily intakes.”

6) Soft cheeses (that are unpasteurized)

In Canada the cheeses that are sold at your chain grocery stores should say on the packaging if they are pasteurized or not, if they are then eat away. Yes ladies even Feta cheese is ok as long as it’s pasteurized. BUT anything not pasteurized is a big no no because of the unknown bacteria in the food could cross the placental barrier and affect baby.

7) Alcohol

Bottom line, there is no known safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy. That’s a good enough reason to stay away from it during pregnancy.

Herbal Tea’s

Herbal tea’s in small amounts are usually deemed safe.  The ones they caution you about are the ones that contain nutritional supplements (like St. John’s Wort or ginseng). It’s not so much that supplements are bad for the baby, but that “they” don’t know that they are necessarily good for baby. Keep in mind that being called “herbal” does not mean a product is safe. Some teas contain dissolved substances which have a drug-like effect on the body – and that would include an unborn baby. Herbal teas do not fall under Canadian drug regulations.

Certain herbs can produce negative side effects, ranging from allergies, dizziness, headache or nausea to toxic reactions or stimulation of the uterus. Here are some of the no no’s for herbal teas: calamus root, chicory root, coltsfoot comfrey,dong quai, elder flowers, feverfew, ginseng, goldenseal, groundsel, hawthorne berries, kombucha tea, juniper berries, licorice, life root (rag wort), lobelia, mistletoe, pennyroyal, pokeroot sassafras, St. John’s wort, uva ursi (bearberry).

Ladies often the tea’s that are “blends” of other tea’s contain one or more of these ingredients, so please read the label and make an informed decision.

9) Raw Eggs

Again bacteria that lives in our egg’s is usually killed off by pasteurization but you can’t be sure that your local restaurant’s Caesar salad dressing doesn’t have unpasteurized raw eggs in it. Best bet is to stay away from real Caesar salad dressing. The stuff that comes in a bottle should be fine because of all the preservatives. I would also caution you to not eat your eggs runny, but to make sure they’re cooked well.

10) Limit your Fish intake

Seafood can be an excellent source of nutrients, but it can contain contaminants These chemicals include methyl mercury and, to a lesser extent, dioxins, PCBs, and pesticides. When eaten in amounts higher than those found in most commercially sold seafood, these contaminants have been linked to developmental delays in children who were exposed to them before birth.

But because nearly all seafood–and food for that matter, contains trace levels of contaminants, it’s best to vary the types of fish you eat during the course of a week so that you have only one serving of any particular kind, and no more than three servings total. Removing the skin (where many of the contaminants are stored) and cooking fish thoroughly will also reduce some of the harmful chemicals it contains. So in short, yes you can eat tuna, but limit your intake of it!

The Bottom Line

There are so many, don’t do this and don’t do that when you are pregnant. The above list is a guide line, and some of the reasoning about why you should and shouldn’t eat and/or drink certain things. But you are the master of your own body. My concern during pregnancy was for my little baby, so no matter how much I wanted X I most often didn’t have X.

The problem stems from how over indulgent our lives are!  Our portion sizes are massive compared to European standards (who actually saying that having a glass of wine once in a while relaxes the mom). I think it’s more to err on the side of caution.

Women have been living for centuries with unpasteurized foods, alcohol etc. But infant mortality rates were higher, mother’s died more often in child birth etc. So you have to look at where science has brought us today, there may be some “oh come on, you mean I can’t do anything any more?”moments, but there are ways around things. Such as non-alcoholic bevies and small amounts of coffee (latte’s-I rationalized that they have less caffeine then coffee (the darker the roast of bean the less caffeine) plus they mostly contain milk!) While you can still live your life and eat what you want during pregnancy, making an informed decision is always better then walking into a situation blindly.

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My husband and I do not eat a great deal of meat, and I was never satisfied with the veggie burger’s that you buy in the store so I decided one day to make my own! They’re quite easy to make, I really just put what I would put in regular hamburger’s and cook away.

Real Tech Mom’s Veggie Burger’s

What you’ll need:

• Yves Veggie Ground Round (this is the “fake” ground beef–let’s clear this up, it doesn’t have the same taste as ground beef, but it’s certainly got the same texture and half the amount of fat)– Make sure you don’t get the flavoured kind of ground round as there are different ones (ie. Mexican)
• Three slices of yellow Onion finely chopped, or you can use Onion Soup mix. If you use the onion soup mix you won’t need to add in the spices I do, or you can it’s totally up to you!
• One large egg
• 1 tbs of Lea and Perrins Worcestershire Sauce (this sauce contains anchovies so for hardcore vegetarian’s you may want to skip this)
• Unbleached whole wheat flour (usually about a 1/4 cup, depending on how much sauces you put in, this is what you are going to use to make it sticky enough to form the burgers, you can use breadcrumbs but I never have–if they are still too runny to make your burgers add more flour)
• Montreal Steak Spice (I buy the clubhouse kind but any kind of spicy goodness is ok to add too!)
• 2 Tbs of Mustard (I like the french’s kind but again any kind you like)
• Buns (If you are looking to make this a lower carb option, I buy the weight watchers buns that have 2 points per bun, or you can buy the big fluffy white buns for the uncarb conscious people–featured in the picture)
• Kraft Cheese Slices (also the light version in this picture, but any kind will do)
• Your Condiments: Ketchup, Mustard, Relish, Tomatoes, Lettuce, Onions, basically anything you want to put on your burger

What do I do next?

Mix the onions with the whole package of ground round. Also throw in the mustard, the egg, the Lea and Perrins, the spices and the flour into the bowl, again if your hamburgers are too runny and aren’t holding together, add more flour.

You can cook these on the BBQ, but remember to cook them on tin foil, otherwise you’ll have one heck of a mess to clean up as they will stick to your BBQ.  I usually do them on the stove top. You can spray a non stick pan with your favourite oil, I generally just pour some olive oil (just enough so spread around). On Medium heat I brown each side, usually about 3-4 minutes on each side. Keep in mind that ground round does not need to be cooked like regular meat but there is a raw egg in there so as long as you see your burgers look “cooked” you should be fine.

I then take them off the heat, and I brown my buns. You can butter them if you like and then stick them on the pan for under a minute. Becareful not to burn them, as they’re usually uneven and the outsides brown but not the insides–so I press them down in the middle.

Once your buns are browned, take your burgers and a pot lid, and place your cheese on the burger and cover the burger until it melts–I find that having clear pot lids really helps in this step. Scoop your burger’s up and garnish your burger to your hearts content! I like to use mixed field green’s as my lettuce for my burger’s but again it’s personal choice! One package of ground round usually makes around 6 burgers.

Serve and Enjoy!

Asparagus Spears

This is just a super simple side that I thought I’d throw in!

What you’ll need:

• Asparagus (depending on how many people you are feeding, it’s really up to you!)
• Olive oil (1 tbs or less)
• Garlic salt (to taste, a few shakes usually does it)
• Ground pepper (to taste, I find a once around usually does it)

What do I do next:

Wash your asparagus, and trim the edges a good inch (so there is no white part showing)

Turn your stove top to Med/High heat, and warm the skillet up with the olive oil. Place your asparagus and spices, and cook uncovered for under 5 minutes for crunchy spears of asparagus. If you like your veggies softer cook for a little while longer. You’ll notice as you cook your asparagus that they will become more green the longer you cook them, you can always test one to see if they’re to your liking!

I usually do this dish last because they’re only crunchy for so long, and I’m not a fan of mushy veggies!

**Note: Wash all of your veggies, even the stuff that says prewashed, you just never know anymore what is on your veggies to make their shelf life longer. You can always buy organic veggies, but again wash them!

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Could you be pregnant? Some top symptoms of Pregnancy!

The signs of pregnancy are so closely linked together and sometimes are not so easily separated from PMS symptoms. But here are a few of the “signs” that may be telling you that baby is on the way! So I’ll just put the premise one on here as: you’ve missed period. Now some women still get a “period” but it’s nowhere near as heavy. And for those of you who have irregular periods, that might not be the first sign. So here are a few below that might help you clue in.

1) Your boobs

For many women the early sign of pregnancy is sensitive, sore breasts–and nipples (this is caused by increasing levels of hormones.) Remember what your boobs felt like when you were growing up? Well welcome back to adolescence! I had to wear two bras and limit motion, even laying down hurt. You will also notice that your girls become huge bigger to accompany the soreness. Some sites compare this to an amplified feeling of tenderness (I’m not going to call it tenderness, cause they bloody well hurt) that is similar to when you are about to get your period.

Another side effect of pregnancy is the darkening of the areolas, they also get huge! This is your body’s way to prepare your breasts to make milk. The reason your body does this is so that your little babe can see where to suck after your give birth. It’s almost like a bull’s eye target for them.

Tip: Wear a sports bra or two, and don’t take the stairs quickly.

2) What is that smell?

You’ll turn into a bloodhound. I remember my husband had eaten garlic for lunch one day and when he came to pick me up I had to roll the window down it was so strong. Not just food bugged me, he bought this horrible wonderful cologne that would make me want to vomit every time he put it on. I’d be in the other end of the house and smell the one sprits he sprayed on himself in the morning.

This new found olfactory wonder is not officially linked to increasing hormone (estrogen) levels but it does wonders for controlling your new nonexistent appetite. You may find the smell of something you love turn into something you can’t even have in the house. These feelings are so real they can actually bring you close to or make you vomit. Leading into my next point.

Tip: be aware of where the nearest window and or bathroom are so that you can either breathe fresh air, or puke in private.

3) You’ll notice that your toilet is not as clean as you thought it was…

While it’s called Morning sickness, it should be called all the freaking time sickness. It can happen; morning/noon/night there is no rule when talking about nausea. Now there are a few things to mention. It happens mostly likely in the am because that is when your blood sugar is lowest. For me it happened at night. And ladies, it often happens without warning. One time, I didn’t make it to the bathroom, but found a sink—not my proudest moment.

While some women don’t notice this lovely side effect until after their first month, some women notice it right away and some women never notice it at all–bastards! Now there is no rule that you will actually vomit, you may just be nauseous all day, or you may get bouts of it. It is “supposed” to subside once the placenta takes over for hormone production (around 12 weeks), but some unlucky women have it throughout their whole pregnancy. If it does happen to disappear after your first trimester, it may return in your third.

Tip: Carry some crackers in your purse, or by the nightstand and eat before you get up. Often eating something will help you not want to vomit. If it is really bad ask your doctor. They have a drug called Dilectin (prescription) that helps with morning sickness–it may be the only way you can function.

4) What could be mistaken for your period…? Cramps.

Ok the funniest book I read during pregnancy was Jenny McCarthy’s “Belly laughs.” I never suspected pregnancy because I had period cramps from hell. I had no spotting but cramps must surely be a sign my period was on its way. Well, little did I know that an expanding uterus hurts! Jenny described it like this, “I went to the bathroom expecting to find the remnants of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre in my underwear” only to find none. I couldn’t have agreed more! Not only that, but your vaginal discharge also increases, which she dubs the “snail trail.”

While cramping is normal, it can be stressing once you find out you are pregnant. I still experienced cramping from time to time during those first 12 weeks, but never any blood. There was a bit of pinkish discharge but nothing too noticeable. But Implantation bleeding is very common as the egg attaches itself to its uterine wall. The bleeding is very light (appearing as red spotting or pink or reddish-brown staining) and lasts only a day or two. (Let your doctor 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.)

If a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, it’s called an ectopic pregnancy. One in 50 pregnancies ends this way.
Here’s how it happens: After conception, the fertilized egg travels down your fallopian tube on its way to your uterus. If the tube is damaged or blocked and fails to propel the egg toward your womb, the egg may become implanted in the tube and continue to develop there. Because almost all ectopic pregnancies occur in one of the fallopian tubes, they’re often called “tubal” pregnancies.

Much less often, an egg implants in an ovary, in the cervix, directly in the abdomen, or even in a c-section scar. In rare cases, a woman has a normal pregnancy in her uterus and an ectopic pregnancy at the same time. This is called a heterotopic pregnancy and it’s more likely to happen if you’ve had fertility treatments, such as in-vitro fertilization.
There’s no way to transplant an ectopic (literally, “out of place”) pregnancy into your uterus, sadly ending the pregnancy is the only option.

Tip: But if you are ever unsure head to the hospital, it’s better to be safe. I would be cautious of using anything really hot on your stomach but as long as you don’t use it for lengthy amounts of time, a hot water bottle can help some of the soreness.

5) I have to go Peeeeeeeeee (no not the Robert Munsch book)

Frequent urination is a huge “side effect” of pregnancy. 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. Ain’t life grand!

Tip: find a close path to the bathroom!Oh and if you don’t know who Robert Munsch is, go look him up, I guarantee you’ll be reading him later to your child to be!

6) So now I’m fat!

Well not really fat, I mean I lost 10 lbs and gained 2 inches on my waist. This is because 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. Still made me feel fat! I think I was in maternity clothes at 9 weeks!

Tip: most clothes these days do not look like maternity clothes, but if you are forced to buy some buy it bigger, knowing that medium fits great now, it won’t in 4 months!

7) Huh what’d you say? Sorry I was just resting my eyes… fatigue set’s in.

Often the first sign of pregnancy, it’s not always the most obvious. Working women or women with other children may not notice being extra tired. 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.

Tip: Sleep when you can, it won’t always be this easy to take a nap

Heartburn… yes I sound like a man with my belches!

What can I say about this…? I had so much heartburn it was horrible. I had to pretty much sleep sitting up as well as have my own designated bottle of gaviscon. Hormones created during pregnancy may relax the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which opens the valve to allow stomach acids to flow up into the esophagus causing a burning sensation. Though this symptom got worse in my third trimester. I mean even Iced Tea gave me heartburn.

Tip: take Tums or another form of antacid recommended by doctors, but read the recommended dosage, certain ones are not pregnancy friendly. Herbal teas are also “cautioned” against but for me I drank in moderation peppermint tea and chamomile.

9) OH my head is pounding (headaches)

If you have never experienced regular headaches before pregnancy, be prepared for some throbbing pain in your head and neck during pregnancy. Not only the pain, but you’re not supposed to take anything for them. Changes in your body’s hormonal patterns is the primary cause of headaches during pregnancy. Other conditions like lack of sleep, poor posture, stress, dehydration and low blood sugar levels may also worsen of cause headaches.

Tip: drink lots of water, if it’s really bad take acetaminophen.

10)Constipation: I never thought it could be so hard.

Hormonal changes during pregnancy slows down the movement of food through your digestive system which results in constipation. This could be a sign of pregnancy if you do not experience constipation frequently–and trust me, it’s not fun!

Tip: Eat lots of fruits and drink lots of water!

11) Who’s that crazy woman who used to be my: Wife, girlfriend, companion?…Mood swings

Yes, that rational woman you once were, goes out the window with her thong. With your hormones raging, it is common for women to feel moody during their pregnancy. All women have to go through a period of adjustment to settle into their new roles as a pregnant women and that takes time. But it’s a roller coaster that is unpredictable! Even the slightest thing can make this woman burst into tears or tear your head off

Tip: tread lightly

12) Whoa, I don’t feel so great: fainting spells

Dizziness and fainting spells: Due to the lowered blood pressure in your body during pregnancy, blood flow to the brain may cause dizziness and fainting spells in serious cases.–Some women actually find out they’re pregnant this way.

Tip: try to recognize a warning sign and don’t push yourself, sit and stand slowly.

13)Ummm what’s that? I want some of it–and I WANT it now! Food cravings.

Cravings for food that you normally would not eat could be a sign that you are pregnant. Normally, women report cravings for salty and sweet food during pregnancy while others report an uncommon desire for spicy or starchy food. All I can say is that I wanted potatoes. I wanted potato everything and gravy. I was one of those women who never liked sweets before pregnancy and all of a sudden I loved cake!  You also can have food aversion, so that if you loved cake, you may hate it during pregnancy. The cravings may stay with you after the baby comes or it may disappear with the fierceness it came.

Tip: Try to balance your cravings as much as possible; while it’s good to give into your cravings, it’s not great to get off the extra weight.

14) Is it hot in here or is it just me?

High Basal Body Temperature (BBT): 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. If your BTT stays in the high temperature range for 18 days or more, you have a good chance of being pregnant.

Tip: Wear layers just in case you need to feel cooler quickly, know where your closest exits are.

15) Positive home pregnancy tests

Well folks this pretty much means it’s a baby that’s making you sick and tired.

Pregnancy tests measure a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). The placenta produces this hormone during pregnancy. The embryo begins to produce this hormone as soon as it attaches to the wall of the uterus – often as soon as eight to 10 days after conception. Although each woman is different, the HCG level usually doubles every 48 to 72 hours. How soon a pregnancy can be detected depends on:

• how much HCG is being produced
• the type of pregnancy test used (blood or urine)
• the amount of HCG the test measures (each test is more or less sensitive)

Tip: It’s very rare for you to get a positive test and not be pregnant. It is however very common to get a negative test and still be pregnant, if you are past due for your period and still get a negative result go see your doctor or a clinic.

The Bottom Line:

SO if you’ve taken a home pregnancy test (there are some at Dollarama–if you don’t want to shell out the 15-20$ that people have tested with) and has come back positive, then you most likely are. Remember that even if you get a negative result on a test before or even around when your period is due, you could still be pregnant. The advice given on those boxes is to wait a week and try again. If you can stand waiting a week, then you’re amazing. I would just go out and get 7 pregnancy tests from Dollarama and test every day to make sure, oh and I’d probably make an appointment to see my doctor! But knowing me I would probably spend the moola on a pricey test just to be sure. They all measure the same HCG some are mor sensitive then others.

Most of the symptoms masquerade like pre-menstrual syndromes so you may have no clue at all. If you are taking birth control, stop using it if you suspect you are pregnant. I would also stop drinking, smoking or using any other type of recreational drug. Which leads me to my next post…

So I’m officially pregnant, what can I eat? Is it still safe to have sex? How do I tell my loved ones, should I wait until the magic 12 mark? Until next time! Happy testing!

• Sponsoring a Child
• Creepy fake babies
• My appologies to the Emo and/or Cutter World

Pregnancy is an amazing time in your life. How many times did I hear that and think to myself, whoever believes that is crazy.  I’m sorry, I was not a big fan of being pregnant. Don’t get me wrong, I was happy that my husband and I were expecting, but I just did not enjoy being pregnant. I think a friend of mine described it very well, “it’s like becoming a teenager all over again.”  Your body is changing, there’s more fur where there was none before LOL —sorry had to add that one in from The Simpsons, and every morning, you look at your changing body and feel out of control of it all. Not to mention the crazy hormones that go along with the changing body, one minute you’re happy, the next minute you’re the crazy pregnant woman. I remember one time I had a huge melt down because I had forgotten my pants at the tailor’s over the weekend and had a Christmas party to go to, I even cried LOL But I digress.

First Things First… Congratulations!

Bringing a life into this world is scary and exciting at the same time. It’s almost impossible to describe the feeling. I was terrified. While our son is an amazing miracle, we had not actively been trying. Sure we charted ovulation and knew it was “possible”, but was it? Short answer yes.  And it only took once! What’s amazing is that once you pee on that stick and it turns—a variety of things meaning positive, there is no going back folks. Whether you thought you were ready and now are not so sure, it really doesn’t matter anymore.  It ceases to be about you, and starts to be all about your baby. Questions like: Am I really ready? Will I be a good mother? What will my partner think? What will my family think? What about my career? What can I eat? Also there are these questions: Oh no, I just found out, and now i’m worried about all those drinks I had, is the baby ok? I just read that i’m not supposed to take hot baths, and here I am sitting in one, Oops, we’re not supposed to eat sushi, but that’s what I had for supper, how’s my baby now?

If you were not expecting this pregnancy, this life is your choice but I urge you to look at this video before you make any decisions, please take a minute to watch this video:

I am all for a woman’s control over her body and before I had a child, I always thought that I was “ok” with abortion. I mean there are always extenuating circumstances but for me I never thought I could do it. There are so many people who can’t have children who would make wonderful parents. If you are newly pregnant and wondering if you could keep it please visit this link:

http://www.cfsh.ca/

So ummm when am I due? How far along am I?

These are some pretty standard questions. First things first… you need to figure out the first day of your last period. Here is a standard Due Date Calculator. I think it always helps to look at your ovulation cycle as well, because some women do not have a standard 28 day cycle, take a peak at when you may have conceived your bundle of joy! So depending on how you count it, three months does not happen until 12/13 weeks of pregnancy. Some women will count that she is 12 weeks but in her 13th week of being pregnant. I know it took me a while to get that too.

For example:

My LMP (Last Missed Period) was June 21st, 2007 so based on this date, my fertile times were between July 2nd and July 7th. My resulting due date was approximately March 27th. Before you even “know”  you are pregnant, your little bean is growing extraordinarily fast! When you find out you are pregnant (if you find out around the time your period is supposed to come) you are already 4 weeks along, so at that point there is only 9 months to go (yes pregnancy is 10 months long!)

Around the two week mark from your first day of your last period, your ovaries release an egg (often just one egg–they can release more then one.) When the egg is released, and travels down from your ovaries through the fallopian tube where fertilization most likely occurs. Once the egg is fertilized, it travels to your uterus and embed’s itself into the lining–this can actually cause cramping, as well as some spotting.

Will I miscarry?

A newly pregnant woman always has the same fears about miscarriage. While something’s are not recommended for newly pregnant women, most often miscarriages cannot be prevented.  There are a few things you can do to lower your chances of miscarriage but sadly, there is not always an explanation for a pregnancy loss.

Some suggestions to lower your risk: cut out the caffeine, studies show that excess amounts of caffeine increase your chances of miscarriage. This includes pop ladies!  Please remember that correlation does not equal causation and that it’s impossible to isolate one cause because of other lifestyle factors.

Sadly, the statistic’s on miscarriages are not always accurate because of the ones that do not get reported. But generally for women in childbearing years, the chances of having a miscarriage can range from 10-25% ( 1 in 4), and in most healthy women the average is about a 15-20% chance. It is also widely believed that if you reach your second trimester, the rate for miscarriages drop dramatically, and while they do lower you may still lose a baby at any stage in your pregnancy. Any loss of pregnancy before 20 weeks gestation, is a miscarriage, over 20 weeks 6 days it is called a still birth.

During the first trimester, the most common cause of miscarriage is chromosomal abnormality – meaning that something is not correct with the baby’s chromosomes. Most chromosomal abnormalities are the cause of a faulty egg or sperm cell, or are due to a problem at the time that the zygote went through the division process. Other causes for miscarriage include (but are not limited to):

• Hormonal problems, infections or maternal health problems
• Lifestyle (I.e. smoking, drug use, malnutrition, excessive caffeine and exposure to radiation or toxic substances
• Implantation of the egg into the uterine lining does not occur properly
• Maternal age (this can be either younger then 18 or older then 35)
• Maternal trauma

Interesting side note: some factors that are not proven to cause miscarriage are sex, working outside the home (unless in a harmful environment) or moderate exercise

An increase in maternal age affects the chances of miscarriage:

Women under the age of 35 yrs old have about a 15% chance of miscarriage

Women who are 35-45 yrs old have a 20-35% chance of miscarriage

Women over the age of 45 can have up to a 50% chance of miscarriage

A woman who has had a previous miscarriage has a 25% chance of having another (only a slightly elevated risk than for someone who has not had a previous miscarriage)

What are the warning signs of a miscarriage?

If you experience any or all of these symptoms, it is important to contact your doctor or a medical facility to evaluate if you could be having a miscarriage:

• Mild to severe back pain (often worse than normal menstrual cramps)
• Weight loss
• White-pink mucus
• True contractions (very painful happening every 5-20 minutes)
• Brown or bright red bleeding with or without cramps (20-30% of all pregnancies can experience some bleeding in early pregnancy, with about 50% of those resulting in normal pregnancies)
• Tissue with clot like material passing from the vagina
• Sudden decrease in signs of pregnancy

Keep in mind that you may have implantation bleeding during the first few weeks as well as cramping.  As for weight loss, I actually lost 10 lbs when I found out I was pregnant and not because I had morning sickness badly, your eating habits just change. Don’t freak out if you see white/pink mucus again could be a sign of implantation, but it turns bright red I’d go to the doctor or emergency. Often at the beginning of the pregnancy, there isn’t much they can do to prevent a miscarriage. From all of the people in my life that have experienced a miscarriage, have told me the same thing. The doctor’s treat it like a process (I have a check list here, and i have to go through it systematically), leaving you like a science experiment gone wrong. It’s almost like their ability to empathize that you are LOSING your baby goes out the window. Not only that but you are bombarded by (in Winnipeg anyway’s) student’s (at teaching hospitals) who have little to no experience with miscarriage. They often ask you the same questions over and over again, and then if there is someone new that comes on, be prepared to go through it again. I’m sure there are some very nice doctors and nurses out there but you are a needle in a haystack when it comes to emergency room care.

If miscarriage is suspected you may be asked to take a pregnancy blood test. This test will look for levels of pregnancy hormone beta HCG. 48 hours later you will be required to repeat this test. If the levels of the pregnancy hormone have dropped, then it means that you have lost the baby. If levels are continuing to rise, you are still pregnant.

If the pregnancy is lost, they may perform a D&C (Dilation and Curettage–small spoon shaped instrument) where your womb is scraped to make sure it is clear–often performed under light anesthetic. At hospital they may give you a vaginal scan to check that your womb is clear. If something does not feel right and they send you home go see your doctor or go back to the emergency room.

What happens after the curette?

Most women bleed for five to 10 days following a curette. Contact your doctor if you experience:

• Prolonged or heavy bleeding
• Blood clots or strong abdominal pain
• Changes in your vaginal discharge
• Fever or flu-like symptoms.

Your next period

Your ovaries will usually produce an egg about two weeks after your miscarriage. Your first period should occur within four to six weeks. You should have a check-up with your doctor six weeks after your miscarriage to make sure there are no problems and ensure your uterus has returned to normal size. You can also ask any questions about your miscarriage at this time, including the results of any pathology tests.

The most important thing if you’ve suffered a miscarriage is to find a support system that works for you. This can be family, friends or medical professionals. Often clinic’s or hospitals offer wonderful support groups and I encourage any women who have had the experience of a miscarriage to seek some type of counseling. Additionally there are fantastic resources online for women who have experienced a loss. There are also many message boards that you can join, to talk to other women who have or are going through exactly what you are feeling.

The Bottom Line

Ok so now that I’ve scared all the newly pregnant women out there, keep in mind while approximately 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage, 3 out of 4 pregnancies do successfully come full term. There is hope out there ladies. Even if you have suffered a loss you can successfully bring a life into this world. We may not know why we lose our little babies, but these little angles do not go on unloved or forgotten.

Stay tuned to find out symptoms of pregnancy…

• Use what you learn or stay in bed.
• Creepy fake babies
• Sponsoring a Child

So every week I receive countless forwards that are varying degrees of stupidness–yes I’m aware that’s not a real word. Once in a blue moon, or at least once a month, one is actually pretty funny.  Below is just that, a funny forward worth a read for pet lovers!

Excerpts from a Dog’s Diary……

8:00 am – Dog food!  My favorite thing!
9:30 am – A car ride!  My favorite thing!
9:40 am – A walk in the park!  My favorite thing!
10:30 am – Got rubbed and petted!  My favorite thing!
12:00 pm – Lunch!  My favorite thing!
1:00 pm – Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm – Wagged my tail!  My favorite thing!
5:00 pm – Milk bones!  My favorite thing!
7:00 pm – Got to play ball!  My favorite thing!
8:00 pm – Wow!  Watched TV with the people!  My favorite thing!
11:00 pm – Sleeping on the bed!  My favorite thing!

Excerpts from a Cat’s Daily Diary …..

Day 983 of my captivity.
My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.

They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.

The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet.  I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of.  However, they merely made condescending comments about what a “good little hunter” I am.  Bastards.

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight.  I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event.  However, I could hear the noises and smell the food.  I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of “allergies.”  I must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking.  I must try this again tomorrow — but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches.  The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released – and seems to be more than willing to return.  He is obviously retarded.

The bird has got to be an informant.  I observe him communicating with the guards regularly.  I am certain that he reports my every move.  My captors have arranged protective custody for him in a elevated cell, so he is safe.

For now…………….

• Sponsoring a Child
• Back in Action
• My appologies to the Emo and/or Cutter World