Exercise During Pregnancy
One of the most exciting chapters of your life has begun. You’re pregnant! Life is about to change, and so is your body. Exercise can not only help you stay in shape, but also help prepare you for labor and delivery. Did you know that exercising is safe and healthy for most pregnant women, even…
Dental Health and Your Pregnancy
Noticing sensitivity with your teeth or a little pink on your toothbrush now that you’re pregnant? In my experience as a certified dental assistant, and a mother, I was often asked, “Why are my gums bleeding now that I am pregnant?” “Why are my teeth more sensitive during my pregnancy?” Or “Is it safe to…
Constipation During Pregnancy
Picture this. I was pregnant with my third child and having a hell of a time during the first 15 weeks. I was working full time, exhausted, eating poorly, vomiting often and to top it off I hadn’t pooped for 5 days. Pregnancy constipation is defined as having fewer than three bowel movements a week.…
Breastfeeding and Birth Control
We believe it’s just as important to understand your options and feel empowered in your decisions about birth control as it is for giving birth. In this post we share insight into breastfeeding as a form of birth control, called the lactational amenorrhea method (LAM). Is breastfeeding my baby an effective form of birth control?…
Second Trimester Checklist: What To Do in the Second Trimester of Pregnancy
Congratulations, you’ve made it to the second trimester! Hopefully you are settling into this new life of being pregnant and the exhaustion and nausea has decreased. Maybe you’re even starting to feel that second trimester boost of energy. We’ve put together a helpful checklist for you to use as you navigate the next several weeks…
First Trimester Checklist: What To Do in the First Trimester of Pregnancy
The first trimester is exciting! Congratulations, you’re pregnant! And now your mind is probably swirling as you think of all the things you need to do. For this reason, we’ve prepared a first trimester checklist to help you get through your first twelve weeks of pregnancy. 1. Remove stress from your life. Yes, this is…
My Surprise Breech Baby and Tips
My first baby was breech and was born via an emergency c-section. We only discovered he was breech when I was well into labor, which is pretty unusual. “I think we need to head to the birth center,” I told my husband. At 37 ½ weeks pregnant, I had gotten up in the middle of…
Adventures in Morning Sickness
Morning Sickness. If that isn’t a misnomer, I don’t know what is. Morning Sickness, or as I like to call it, All Day Sickness, should really just be labelled pregnancy nausea and vomiting. A lot of pregnant folks experience it and there are various different degrees of severity. It can happen in the morning, or…
When Will My Period Return after Pregnancy?
Lovely bonus of pregnancy? No periods! Unfortunately, at some point postpartum, your period will return. But when? Breastfeeding suppresses menstruation at least for a while. For some mothers, there may be an absence of menstruation for weeks, months, and even years while still breastfeeding. Some mothers will even need to completely wean before they see…
5 Things a Women’s Health Physical Therapist Can Help With
We recently met with Christina Noonan, a local Tampa Physical Therapist who focuses on women’s health. We learned all about the services she provides and are happy to share more information here in our latest guest blog post: As we all know, having a baby is not an easy task. It is also not easy…
Pregnancy Diabetes: What Is Gestational Diabetes?
What is Pregnancy Diabetes / Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)? According to Stanford Children’s Health, pregnancy diabetes, gestational diabetes mellitus or GDM, is “a condition in which a hormone made by the placenta prevents the body from using insulin effectively. Unlike type 1 diabetes, gestational diabetes is not caused by a lack of insulin, but by other hormones…
Ack! Why Does My Belly Hurt So Much?
Many pregnant women suffer from a specific discomfort during pregnancy caused by the round ligament. This pain is usually felt low on the front of their abdomen, near the pubic bone, and may continue towards their groin. It may be felt on one side or both. The round ligament connects the uterus to the groin,…