What I wish I'd known about preparing for life with a newborn

Here are some of the "I wish" things voiced out by moms....about the preparation of life with a newborn

"I wish I'd bought at least four nursing bras. I only got a few, and ended up hand-washing them all the time."

"I wish I had cleaned and organized my house before the baby was born. That way, when I came home I wouldn't have been stressed about cleaning and I would have known where all the important things were."

"I wish I'd given my husband a list of all the things I do in an average day and asked him to pick at least three chores he could take over. That way he would have been on track once the baby arrived, and I wouldn't have gotten so angry because he wasn't pitching in."

"I wish my husband had played more of a role in selecting things for the registry. He wasn't interested in gear during my pregnancy, but now he doesn't like the stroller I picked."

"I wish I hadn't bought so much newborn-size clothing. My son was almost too big for it when he was born!"

"A friend highly recommended having the changing table ready and stocked. I listened, and I can't imagine what life would have been like in the first weeks without it!"

"It would have been a big help to have all my older daughter's clothes organized according to season and size, so they'd be easy to find when our new daughter grows into them."

"I wish I'd set up some playdates for our 4-year-old daughter for the days following the birth of our new baby."

"I wish I'd investigated groups and activities that my baby and I could have participated in during my maternity leave."

"I wish I'd completed more things on my to-do list, like getting an eye exam or taking the car into the shop to be fixed, that are really difficult to do with a baby in tow."

"I should have learned to use the breast pump before the baby was born."

"I recommend reading more books on the baby's first year, especially the parts on sleeping and nursing."

"I wish I'd thought more about how I was going to mother my new son. I was so busy buying baby clothes and decorating the nursery that I never thought about how I was going to raise him."

Acah jer...

Rasanya semalam tu mmg betul lah false labor...heheh. Buat panick jer. Dah contact mak kat kampung suh pack pakaian and barang yg perlu....dah suh anak2 prepare mentally..manalah tau kena gi hospital tgh2 mlm.

Rupanya acah jer. Agaknya semalam tu byk sgt kerja buat. Kemas living room, study room, basuh pakaian, basuh beg afafita, sport shoes and sandal afafita...etc. Agaknya sakit pinggang sebab byk buat kerja.

Mudah2an baby nie faham..dia nak tunggu after 21 october barulah dia keluar. Dia tak nak susahkan Papa yg byk kerja sekarang nie. Dia nak bagi chance Mama Mia tolong Abang and Kakak buat revision untuk exam dulu. 

Apa2 pun sebenarnya Mama Mia tak kisah dah..bila2 nak keluar..sebab Mama Mia pun dah mula rasa tak larat dgn kaki yg bengkak, asyik nak ke toilet jer dan lower abdomen yg selalu sakit.

Is it a false labor?

This may be a very short entry. I've been feeling this uncomfortable backache since asar today. I'm not pretty sure of it; is it because of the hovering and chores that I've done today, or is it a sign of the early labour stage? Eventhough this is not my first delivery, I'm still confused and unable to define and differentiate between intense Braxton Hicks (which may become the false labour) and the contraction in the early stage of labour. Oh....I hope Allah will make it smooth for me. I've called my parents to pack up their things...just in case I'm going to the labor room later tonight or tomorrow. I need them as my caregivers during the early days after delivery. I asked hubby to buy some "tamar", since the it's out of stock in our home. I learnt that tamar is good for a mother in the labour stage and after the delivery. I ate tamar as much as I could during my last labour. Since the backache is not getting serious or more intense after 5 hours, I think it is just a false labour! So..tonite, I spent my time sitting with the kids....helping them out with their revisions for the final exam this coming monday. 

Tomorrow evening, after asar, if there's still no signs of labor, I guess, I'll follow hubby spend the night at the hotel in PJ. He has do be there, to coordinate an important program with the Kementerian Pelajaran. I think it's better for me to stay close with him, rather than staying at home, and calling him if anything happens.

Dah turun!!!!

Yesterday, I met my gynae again. From now on, I have to meet her once a week until the delivery. Well, updates on me and my pregnancy: The baby has gained 600 gram in a fortnight, that means she's approximately 3 kg now. Her estimated week thru the ultrasound scan is 38 plus, but according to the doctor's estimation, she's only going to 37 weeks. It means she has quite a big head diameter. Her amniotic fluid is still plenty, her head is in the right position, but most importantly...the doctor said surprisingly "eh...baby dah turun! Cepatnya!!".

Ya Allah! Dah turun??? No wonder I have this feeling that my belly is becoming smaller and looks more compact than ever. Bukannya makin kecil....but actually baby dah kemaskan and siapkan diri to go down "the tunnel". Dah turun..it means...she could come out anytime... just depends on whatever Allah has planned and written in the Luh al-Mahfuz.

I keep on pushing the doctor to give me an expected new date of delivery. Is there any possibility that I may deliver her in a few days or maybe next week? But of course...the doctor couldn't give me the exact date. She smillingly said," it all depends on ur lifestyle and activities..the baby is down already, ready to be in the delivery position, if there are strong contractions, pressures and if u are very active...she would just come out at any time".

Alamak. suspense betul.

And what makes me more nervous is....I can feel the Braxton Hicks and tightening are getting more frequent and stronger nowadays.

Hubby lagilah nervous. Kalau boleh....he wished that I can postpone the delivery until after 21 october. heheh. Yelah tu. 

So now..kenalah Mama mia slow down segala activities and daily routines. Kalau tak nak masak pun takper...ada excuse! heheh. Ini peluang yg baik.......sebab lately mmg MALAS dan takder moos langsung nak masak. Kalau masak pun setakat goreng ikan...sup sayur.....itupun sebab kenangkan hubby dan anak2 yg kelaparan.

The 36 weeks...

How your baby's growing:

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.

How your life's changing:

Now that your baby is taking up so much room, you may have trouble eating a normal-size meal. Smaller, more frequent meals are often easier to handle at this point. On the other hand, you may have less heartburn and have an easier time breathing when your baby starts to "drop" down into your pelvis. This process — called lightening — often happens a few weeks before labor if this is your first baby. (If you've given birth before, it probably won't happen before labor starts.) If your baby drops, you may also feel increased pressure in your lower abdomen, which may make walking increasingly uncomfortable, and you'll probably find that you have to pee even more frequently. If your baby is very low, you may feel lots of vaginal pressure and discomfort as well. Some women say it feels as though they're carrying a bowling ball between their legs!

You might also notice that your Braxton Hicks contractions are more frequent now. Be sure to review the signs of labor with your practitioner and find out when she wants to hear from you. As a general rule, if you're full-term, your pregnancy is uncomplicated, and your water hasn't broken, she'll probably have you wait to come in until you've been having contractions that last for about a minute each, coming every five minutes for an hour. Of course, you'll want to call right away if you notice a decrease in your baby's activity or think you're leaking amniotic fluid, or if you have any vaginal bleeding, fever, a severe or persistent headache, constant abdominal pain, or vision changes.

Even if you're enjoying an uncomplicated pregnancy, it's best to avoid flying (or any travel far from home) during your final month because you can go into labor at any time. In fact, some airlines won't let women on board who are due to deliver within 30 days of the flight.

The 35 Weeks...

How your baby's growing:

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

How your life's changing:

Your uterus — which was entirely tucked away inside your pelvis when you conceived — now reaches up under your rib cage. If you could peek inside your womb, you'd see that there's more baby than amniotic fluid in there now. Your ballooning uterus is crowding your other internal organs, too, which is why you probably have to urinate more often and may be dealing with heartburn and other gastrointestinal distress. If you're not grappling with these annoyances, you're one of the lucky few.



From here on out, you'll start seeing your practitioner every week. Sometime between now and 37 weeks, she'll do a vaginal and rectal culture to check for bacteria called Group B streptococci (GBS). (Don't worry — the swab is the size of a regular cotton swab, and it won't hurt at all.) GBS is usually harmless in adults, but if you have it and pass it on to your baby during birth, it can cause serious complications, such as pneumonia, meningitis, or a blood infection. Because 10 to 30 percent of pregnant women have the bacteria and don't know it, it's vital to be screened. (The bacteria come and go on their own — that's why you weren't screened earlier in pregnancy.) If you're a GBS carrier, you'll get IV antibiotics during labor, which will greatly reduce your baby's risk of infection.

The 33 weeks...

How your baby's growing:

This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

How your life's changing:

As your baby fills out even more of your belly, lots of things might start to change: Whereas before you were sashaying, you may find yourself waddling. Finding an easy position to sit in — let alone sleep — is becoming more of a challenge. And bumping into chairs and counters is par for the course.

You may be feeling some achiness and even numbness in your fingers, wrists, and hands. Like many other tissues in your body, those in your wrist can retain fluid, which can increase pressure in the carpal tunnel, a bony canal in your wrist. Nerves that run through this "tunnel" may end up pinched, creating numbness; tingling, shooting or burning pain; or a dull ache. Try wearing a splint to stabilize your wrist or propping your arm up with a pillow when you sleep. If your work requires repetitive hand movements (at a keyboard or on an assembly line, for instance), remember to stretch your hands when you take breaks — which should be frequently.

Managing stress and anxiety during pregnancy

Reviewed by the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board

Highlights

Is it common to be anxious a lot during pregnancy?
I have a lot of stress in my life right now. Will it affect my baby?
How can I calm down?

Is it common to be anxious a lot during pregnancy?

Pregnancy brings out the worrywart in all of us. And for good reason: You're growing a life inside of you.

It's natural to fret about what you eat, drink, think, feel, and do. It's also perfectly normal to worry about whether your baby is healthy, how this new person will change your life and relationships, and whether you're truly up to the task of parenthood. But if your anxiety is becoming all-consuming and regularly interferes with your day-to-day functioning, it's time to find a better way to deal with it.

To start, gently share your fears with your partner — even if they're about him. Chances are he's harboring concerns of his own. Communicating openly about your anxiety can help you both feel better. Turn to friends or family members for support, too. Other moms-to-be are another source of support, as they're probably experiencing the same worries you are.

If you're extremely anxious or have a specific reason to be concerned about your baby's health, share your concerns with your caregiver. If anxiety still plagues you after you've aired your worries and checked in on your baby's well-being, professional counseling can help you get to the bottom of your troubles.

I have a lot of stress in my life right now. Will it affect my baby?

While everyday pressure is a part of modern life, a high level of chronic stress can boost your odds of preterm labor or of delivering a low-birthweight baby. If you're used to caring for others or giving 110 percent at work, making yourself a priority may seem unnatural or even selfish. But taking care of yourself is an essential part of taking care of your baby. Cutting down on stress — or learning how to manage it — makes for a healthier pregnancy.

How can I calm down?

Here are a few ways to manage your stress and reduce anxiety at work and at home:

• Practice saying "no." Now's as good a time as any to get rid of the notion that you can do it all. You can't, so learn to let your superwoman ideals go. Make slowing down a priority, and get used to the idea of asking your friends and loved ones for help.

• Cut back on chores — and use that time to put your feet up, nap, or read a book.

• Take advantage of sick days or vacation whenever possible. Spending a day — or even an afternoon — resting at home will help you get through a tough week.

• Try deep-breathing exercises, yoga, or stretching.

• Get regular exercise such as swimming or walking.

• Do your best to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet so you have the physical and emotional energy you need.

• Go to bed early. Your body is working overtime to nourish your growing baby and needs all the sleep it can get.

• Limit "information overload." Reading pregnancy books, surfing pregnancy Web sites, and listening to your friends' pregnancy stories are fine — but don't delve into all the scary things that might (but probably won't) happen during your pregnancy. Focus instead on how you're feeling and what's happening to you now.

• Join (or create!) a support group. If you're coping with a difficult situation, spending time with others in the same boat can ease your burden. Many women create support networks online.

• If you're under unusual stress or feel like you're at your breaking point, ask your healthcare provider to refer you to a therapist, who can better assess how strong your anxiety has become and what you may need to do to feel better. Listen openly to what she has to say. Getting help during pregnancy will protect you and your baby from unnecessary risks and reduce your chances of postpartum anxiety and depression.

Mood in pregnancy affects early child development

Thu, Sep 4, 2008 (Reuters Health) — Some of the harmful effects on early child development attributed to postpartum depression may be caused in part by depression during pregnancy, a UK study shows for the first time.

Maternal depression during pregnancy "has a negative impact on children's cognitive development, even when postnatal (after delivery) depression has been taken into account," Dr. Toity Deave told Reuters Health.

"It is widely acknowledged that postnatal depression has a negative impact on child development but this is the first study that has demonstrated that the children of women who experience low mood during pregnancy are also at risk," said Deave, from the Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, University of the West of England, Bristol.

The findings come from a long-term study of 9,244 women and their children. A total of 1,565 women, or 14 percent, suffered from depression while pregnant but not after 2 months following delivery, Dave and colleagues report in the medical journal BJOG.

Standard developmental screening tests in the children showed that 893, or 9 percent, were developmentally delayed at age 18 months. A developmental delay is any significant lag in a child's physical, cognitive, behavioral, emotional, or social development, in comparison with established normal ranges for his or her age.

Deave and colleagues found that persistent depression in the mother during pregnancy increased the odds of developmental delay in the son or daughter by 50 percent.

After factoring in the effects of depression early after delivery, the researchers say they found evidence of an "independent and statistically significant" 34 percent increase in the odds of developmental delay in children of mothers who were depressed while pregnant.

This study, they say, adds to "increasing evidence that the mother's mood during pregnancy is important" and that any persistent depression during pregnancy has the potential to raise the risk for developmental delay in childhood.

"For the women who might be worried reading this, I would recommend that, if they do feel depressed or experience a low mood that is unusual for them, they go and see a health professional," Deave suggested.

"I would like to reassure parents," Deave added, "that there is a lot that they themselves can do to promote their child's development even if there is depression in the family. This can be through close parent-child interactions and, for example, stimulating and fun play."

By Megan Rauscher

Pregnancy symptoms you should never ignore

Reviewed by the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board

How do you know whether that sudden ache is normal or warrants a 2 a.m. call to your doctor or midwife? Here's a rundown of symptoms that should set off your warning bells. But even if you don't see your symptom on this list, it's better to err on the side of caution and make that call than to agonize for hours, wondering whether you've pulled a ligament or gone into preterm labor.

Note that some of these symptoms may be more or less urgent depending on your particular situation or health history and on how far along you are in your pregnancy. Ask your practitioner to review with you which signs warrant an urgent call at various points in your pregnancy.

• Your baby is moving or kicking less than usual (once he begins moving regularly). Ask your caregiver if you should monitor your baby's activity by doing daily "kick counts." She can give you specific instructions on how to count and when to call.

• Severe or persistent abdominal pain or tenderness.

• Vaginal bleeding or spotting.

• An increase in vaginal discharge or a change in the type of discharge — that is, if it becomes watery, mucousy, or bloody (even if it's only pink or blood-tinged). Note: After 37 weeks, an increase in mucus discharge is normal and may indicate that you'll be going into labor soon.

• Pelvic pressure (a feeling that your baby is pushing down), lower back pain (especially if it's a new problem for you), menstrual-like cramping or abdominal pain, or more than four contractions in an hour (even if they don't hurt) before 37 weeks.

• Painful or burning urination, or little or no urination.

• Severe or persistent vomiting, or any vomiting accompanied by pain or fever.

• Chills or fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

• Visual disturbances such as double vision, blurring, dimming, flashing lights, or "floaters" (spots in your field of vision).

• Persistent or severe headache, or any headache accompanied by blurred vision, slurred speech, or numbness.

• Any swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes, anything more than a little swelling in your hands, severe and sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, or a rapid weight gain (more than 4 pounds in a week).

• A persistent or severe leg cramp or calf pain that doesn't ease up when you flex your ankle and point your toes toward your nose or when you walk around, or one leg being significantly more swollen than the other.

• Trauma to the abdomen.

• Fainting, frequent dizziness, a rapid heartbeat, or heart palpitations.

• Difficulty breathing, coughing up blood, or chest pain.

• Severe constipation accompanied by abdominal pain or severe diarrhea that lasts more than 24 hours.

• Persistent intense itching of your torso, arms, legs, palms, or soles, or a feeling of itchiness all over your body.

• Any health problem that you'd ordinarily call your practitioner about even if it's not pregnancy related (like worsening asthma or a cold that gets worse rather than better). Just call a little sooner than you would normally.

If you're not sure whether a symptom is serious, you don't feel like yourself, or you're uneasy, trust your instincts and call your healthcare provider. Your practitioner expects such calls. If there's a problem, you'll get help right away. If nothing's wrong, you'll be reassured.

Your body is changing so rapidly that it's hard to know whether what you're experiencing is "normal." Do yourself and your baby a favor and get any unusual symptoms checked out.

Finally, if you're near your due date, check out the signs of labor so you'll know what to look for and when to call your caregiver.

The Week 29...

How your baby's growing:

Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

The 26th week...

Alhamdulillah, the baby is around 26th week, and this pregnancy is becoming more smooth and enjoyable. During this second trimester, I feel more comfortable with my pregnancy and alhamdulillah, all the worries and sleepless nights are gone. My belly somehow has became quite apparent and keeps on adding its diameter.....due to my BIG appetite. Heheh....

The tiny human inside, who weighs approximately 900g (according to the latest ultrasound scan), is becoming more and more active. Recently, she starts to kick, playing futsal, practicing taekwondo and doing some gymnastic routines in my belly. As much as I enjoy it, I also feel angry and irritated at times, especially when she kicks too hard at midnites, when I'm about to fly in my dreams. I also know her timetable and sleep routine; usually she wakes up around 8 am, and starts palying around 10 am, feels hungry at 12 noon, then sleep again until 4pm. After 4pm, she starts playing again, happily and excitedly watching the "Indonesian sinetron" with Mama Mia. But I'm not sure whether she loves my lectures or not, cos' she always response to my Professor's high pitch voice by kicking vigorously during class. Heheheh....

The doctor said that the ant. placenta is on top of the baby now, alhamdulillah. Anyway, the baby is still in breech position. Hopefully she will turn downwards after 7months to prepare herself for the labour stage. The recent ultrasound scan was very interesting and satisfying. We could see the four valves in her heart, the cross-section view of the ambilical cord, and the doctor really took an effort to explain all the things that I wanted to know about the baby. The gender? Well, most probably she's a SHE....but yet to be confirmed again next month. But most importantny, the doctor said that she's quite an active baby. O God, I can imagine a baby like Afafita, who was very active, and started to walk independently at 10 months!

If she's turns out to be a SHE, I don't care much about how will she resembles or looks like. It doesn't matter if she looks like Angelina Jolie, Catherine Zeta Jones or Aishwarya Rai. I only pray that my baby will be a healthy one, and be among the pious believers and those who loves Allah and Islam. Amin...

What They Don’t Tell You about Labor & Delivery

10 Things Every Mom-to-Be Should Know.

You’ve read all the books, attended childbirth classes, subscribed to the magazines and talked to your friends and family about their experiences. The thing is, no one tells you what you really need to know. For instance, everyone’s experience is different! So don’t let that lady in the grocery store telling you her horror stories freak you out. In the same vein, you’ll be able to pull some useful information from the following list, but not everything will apply to your situation. Just take some of those deep, diaphragmatic breaths and read on!

1. It’s messy, messy, messy! Do you envision the birth of your child just like it happens on TV? Wearing full makeup, you’ll do a lot of huffing and puffing, maybe say something nasty to your husband, and out pops your baby. Guess again. I’ll spare you by not going into too much detail, but imagine fluids exploding from every orifice of your body at the same time!

2. Don’t wear your own nightgown. How many articles advise you to wear your own nightshirt? Some childbirth instructors stress this as one of the most important aspects of the birthing experience: “You shouldn’t feel like property of the hospital,” they say. See #1 above! Hopefully the nurse on duty will persuade you to wear a hospital gown. Although not glamorous, at least it’s soft and practical.

3. Consider having more than one support person. Some people won’t feel comfortable with this option, but it worked great for certain moms.

4. You’ll know when it starts! Trying to figure out when labor actually started was the hardest thing about being a first-time mom. I had no idea how I was supposed to know if this was the “real” thing or only Braxton-Hicks contractions. Guess what? You’ll know! It will hurt more and the contractions will come at regular intervals for a longer period of time.

5. Don’t bring flowers, bring food! After living on ice chips and slushies for almost 36 hours and feeling like I’d run a marathon, all I wanted was food. Hospital food didn’t cut it either! . In my foggy state, it took me two meals to figure this out and by then I was almost checked out of the hospital. My sister-in-law was a lifesaver when she thought to bring me a steaming-hot chicken pot pie, plate of mashed potatoes and berry cobbler from my favorite restaurant. My hero!

6. Rules for baby – wash your hands and no kissing! It’s probably one of the hardest things to ask of your family members, but it will save you the ordeal of a sick baby.

7. Have someone at home to do chores. Even if you can’t stand your mother-in-law, if she’s the only one available to do the housework, laundry and cooking while you learn the ropes of parenthood – take advantage of her offer. If you don’t have a family member to count on, it’s worth shelling out some cash to have someone come to your home for the waking hours of the first week. You’ll need the time to adjust to your baby’s schedule.

8. Keep a journal from Day One. Even if you’re not a writer, just scribble down a few thoughts every day. The world will seem so upside-down, you can’t remember your name. You’ll want to remember some of the cute little things that happen. I think I treasure my journal more than the baby book or photo albums. It holds memories that would be quickly forgotten had I not recorded them in a journal.

9. Beginning breastfeeding hurts, but it’s worth it. Nobody told me that! I just thought I’d be a human bottle. My breasts hold the milk and the baby drinks it. Well, it’s not quite that simple. You will feel sore and swollen for the first few weeks. Lanolin on your nipples will be the only thing that gets you through it. You will get into a rhythm eventually, but you’ll still have to deal with leaking and other wonders of breastfeeding. Just wait until the baby gets teeth! Remember, you’re burning a ton of extra calories and your baby is benefiting immensely from every drop he drinks.

10. You’re doing everything right. There are very few wrong ways to parent in the days after you bring your baby home. Of course, everyone will have advice, but you will know your baby better than anyone. Let him set his schedule and take some time to cue into his natural rhythms. Don’t stress, just let it all happen.

Week 15

Your baby can hear your voice, move, kick, and swallow.

Your Baby

The skeletal system is getting harder as your baby takes in nutrients from Mom, namely calcium. If you did a x-ray or even looked through the baby's very thin skin, you would see the outline of a skeleton. Fine hairs called lanugo also cover the body.

You

Oh my aching...gums? Yes, your hormones are even affecting your dental health. You may notice swollen or bleeding gums, particularly in your second trimester. Make sure to brush your teeth at least twice a day (and after each bout of morning sickness) using a soft brush and floss at least once a day. You should also have at least one oral checkup/cleaning during your pregnancy and discuss any problems with your dentist.

You may also be experiencing some constipation as your pesky hormones cause your bowel muscles to relax and work less efficiently and your uterus presses on your intestines. Increasing the fiber in your diet can help. For the same reasons, you also may be experiencing heartburn. Try eating smaller meals more often throughout the day and don't lie down right after you eat. Ordinary antacids can also help.

If you are planning on having an amniocentesis or other second trimester prenatal tests, consult with your doctor and make the appointments now.