Queasy Come, Queasy Go
Written by Jeanie Dizon Britton on Nov 24, 2008
Just when you thought having a baby meant a free pass to abandon the diet and happily eat for two, morning sickness strikes—and it feels like you’re losing more than you’re ingesting. JEANIE DIZON BRITTON brings you survival tips you can actually stomach.
If you feel like you’re spending your pregnancy in the bathroom, you’re not alone—morning sickness varies from woman to woman and pregnancy to pregnancy, but when it strikes, it usually does so with a vengeance. The word “morning” can be misleading, since nausea and sickness can strike expecting moms any time of day. Because morning sickness is different for everyone, it’s up to you to find that magic combo that will ease the belly gurgling. Here are a few starting points:
1. Don’t go hungry! It’s understandable that when you’re feeling queasy, the last thing you want is food, but an empty stomach can aggravate nausea and make it worse. Eat small meals throughout the day to keep your tummy busy and blood sugar levels stable (since highs and lows in blood sugar can also add to feelings of yuckiness). When you eat, take it slow with small bites to avoid a yucky overfull feeling (not good for the nausea!).
2. If it is morning when the urge to purge is most often striking, try eating a little something before you get out of bed; leave a few soda crackers, pretzels or rice cakes on your nightstand and allow them to settle before putting your feet on the floor. Having a snack before bed can also stop early morning ickies—indulge in a little peanut butter on toast or string cheese. Yum!
3. It has long been thought that morning sickness is your body’s natural way of making sure you stay away from foods that could harm you or your baby. While that notion is up for debate, it can definitely help to be more selective about what you eat. Generally speaking, it’s best to avoid certain foods; those that are high in fat are difficult to digest, and spicy foods or those with a pungent odor can also leave the tummy gurgling and expecting gals gagging, so skip both categories if you’re having tummy troubles.
Do opt for stomach-soothing foods. Carbs rate high on the comfort food list, and foods high in non-fatty protein are also favorites. Yogurt can boost the good bacteria in your digestive tract, and cheese, boiled eggs and peanuts or peanut butter are all excellent sources of protein and make great snacks. Fruits and veggies: grapes, watermelon, bananas, avocados, celery, tomatoes, carrots and zucchini are all belly-friendly; onion, garlic, cauliflower and cabbage are not.
4. Take your vitamins! Women who take pre-natal vitamins before they’re pregnant have less severe bouts of nausea than women who start taking them after they’ve learned they’re expecting. Just be sure to swallow your vitamins during your meals rather than on an empty stomach. If sickness is severe, talk to your doctor about vitamin B6 supplements, which seem to control nausea and vomiting. Certain over-the-counter nausea meds are safe during pregnancy as well, but be sure to always check with your doctor before taking any supplement or medication.
What's Your Parenting Style?
Oct 15, 2008
Are you calm, cool and collected? Or has this parenting thing turned you into a total wreck? Take five minutes to have a little fun with our quiz, and find out what kind of mom you really are!
1.When you’re out to eat for the first time in months your baby throws a tantrum at the table. How do you handle it?
a. You pay your bill and leave the restaurant.
b. You quiet your baby while eating and ignore the nasty looks people are giving you.
c. You calm your baby in the bathroom before finishing your meal.
2.You’re shopping for a stroller. You buy the_____
a. Boring-looking economy model with above-average safety ratings.
b. Top-of-the-line model complete with all the bells and whistles.
c. Latest designer model, even though it got crummy safety ratings.
3.Your boss really needs you to work late on Friday, but you’ve been looking forward to spending time with your baby all week. What do you do?
a. Suck it up and stay late.
b. Agree, but say that you have to leave at a reasonable hour.
c. Lie and make up an excuse for why you can’t work.
4.Your baby started coughing this morning, but otherwise she seems fine. You_____
a. Immediately call the pediatrician in a panic.
b. See if the cough gets worse before calling the doctor.
c. Ignore it and hope it goes away on its own so you can avoid a costly doctor’s visit.
5.Your baby is now a toddler, and he’s gotten into the kitchen cabinets and broken your most expensive dishes. Your next move is to_____
a. Angrily put your kid in his playpen and seethe about your broken dishes.
b. This would never happen to you—your entire house has been childproofed.
c. Snatch your kid up before he cuts himself and buy childproof cabinet locks the next day.
SCORING:
1. a-2, b-0, c-1; 2. a-1, b-2, c-0 3. a-0, b-1, c-2; 4. a-1, b-0, c-2
5. a-0, b-2, c-1
7 TO 10 POINTS
CUT THE CORD, ALREADY
You just want to shield your baby from the world, but if you don’t loosen up a little, she could develop serious issues. “If [a child] grows up with an overprotective parent, change becomes hazardous and interferes with new relationships,” explains Bernie Siegel, MD, author of Love, Magic and Mud Pies. “It can instill them with a fear of life and of taking chances.”
Not sure how to let go? Dr. Siegel suggests doing things that feel right for you but aren’t necessarily what you think are the right things to do. “Let your heart participate in life, and give your head a rest,” says Dr. Siegel. “Love your chocolate ice cream.”
4 TO 6 POINTS
CALM, COOL AND COLLECTED
You understand how to balance both your needs and your baby’s, and you’ll both be better-adjusted people for it. “The infant learns that she is loved,” says Dr. Siegel. And taking time for a little self-TLC makes you a happier, calmer mom.
Keep doing what you’re doing, and as your kid gets older, keep
the lines of communication open. “A good parent learns from the criticism of their spouse and children,” explains Dr. Siegel. “[Criticism] is a sign that they know you care, [otherwise] they wouldn’t bother to talk to you about the problem.”
1 TO 3 POINTS
SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVE
We know you’re crazy about your baby, but you have some selfish tendencies left over from your pre-parenting days. And if you don’t pay more attention to your child, you could hurt his self-esteem. “The child will feel that he is a failure and inadequate,” explains Dr. Siegel. And too little attention could also stunt his development.
The remedy is to admit you’re not as attentive as you could be, and find enjoyable things to do together. Take your baby for a stroll in the park, or have a little tummy time—you’ll be surprised by how much fun hanging out with an infant can be.
No CommentsEw, gross!
Written by Meredith Parker Toy on Jul 16, 2008
You’ve got the pregnancy glow, the gorgeous hair … and gas that could clear an entire building. Pregnancy’s
pretty, but some of it is just, well, gross. P&N walks you through
Grossology 101.
Most women don’t find it difficult to bring a whole list of
“Is this normal?”s to their prenatal visits, but there are some questions that
only the bravest of us can muster aloud—those questions like, “Do all expecting
gals have funky discharge?” Or, “Why do stray hairs keep popping up in really
weird places?”
We all want to know, but ... well, we’d rather not have to
actually ask anyone. So here you go: a lineup of the disgusting,
uncomfortable—yet totally normal—effects
of breeding. You’re welcome.
Uncontrollable gas
Not only is your gas loud and offensive, it strikes all too
often and at the most inopportune moments. Your belly is already jam-packed
with baby, so those air bubbles have gotta go somewhere—and they definitely do.
(Technically, though, it’s the progesterone in your body slowing up your
intestines that makes you so gassy, and in turn the envy of 8-year-old boys
everywhere.) Of course, what goes down sometimes comes up, so expect a lot more
belching in your life, as well.
Yucky discharge
Every woman on the planet experiences discharge, but it
usually isn’t something anyone likes to discuss in depth. During your pregnancy
you can expect a sticky and thick coating of white to light-yellow discharge in
your underwear. (How’s that for a pretty picture?) Buy some panty liners to
save your panties and don’t douche, no matter how icky you’re feeling —it isn’t
recommended during pregnancy. If you also have vaginal burning or itching, or
your discharge gets particularly foul, suck it up and mention it to your OB.
He’s heard it all before, and he needs to know. Plus, if he can help, you’ll
feel better, too!
Bladder, hold the control
Your probably haven’t wet your pants since preschool, but
all bets are off once you’re growing a little one. Many women find that they
have trouble controlling their bladder when they laugh or sneeze, and others
might wake up (horrified) to soaked sheets. Again, not much room in that tummy,
so it makes sense that you can’t hold as much urine as you could before. Use
the restroom as often as you can and try Kegels for tightening muscle control
in your pelvic floor.
Constipation
Two words: horribly uncomfortable. To ease and hopefully
prevent constipation, eat lots of fiber and drink plenty of water, but don’t take
any medications or herbal remedies without your doctor’s or midwife’s OK.
Regular exercise will also help keep things moving. Unfortunately constipation
is a common pregnancy complaint, so if you’re suffering don’t be embarrassed to
bring it up to your healthcare provider, as it will only get worse if you sit
on the problem (no pun intended).
Nipple nasties
Not only do your nipples grow darker and larger, you might
see some stray hairs popping up around them, too —welcome to motherhood. Late
in your pregnancy, you might experience a thick, clear liquid leaking from your
nipples, which is a sign that your body is getting ready to nourish life on the
outside—that liquid is called colostrum, and it’s what your baby will be
snacking on until your milk comes in soon after you give birth.
Hemorrhoids
Here’s something we didn’t know: hemorrhoids are actually
varicose veins of the anus. Hmm. Well, whatever they are, they’re uncomfortable
to have and even more uncomfortable to talk about, but they’re also totally
common. You’ll know you have hemorrhoids if you experience itching, soreness
and pain (and sometimes bleeding) in the tissue around your anus. Sometimes
you’ll even be able to feel the bulge down there, if you explore a bit. While
you might be horrified by the discovery, your doctor really won’t—she sees this
all the time, and you should mention the problem at your next prenatal visit
(or call right away if you’re really uncomfortable). Sometimes mild ‘roids will
clear up on their own, while more persistent ones might need the help of your
OB.
One thing’s for sure—pregnancy is a crazy, exciting time
that will make all these strange side effects seem like no big deal. They’re
definitely well worth the end result. And they get you good and ready for the
embarrassment and joy that is parenting—just as your gas clears up, you get to
hit the road with baby, who will undoubtedly let loose some toots that no one
will believe came from an infant!
No Comments
We all make mistakes. Learning from our mistakes is a good thing. And learning from others’ mistakes, so we don’t have to make them on our own, is even better. Here are a few common pregnancy mishaps you can avoid.
