Brenda Lane's Blog
Posted by Brenda Lane
Mothers who are giving birth during the holiday season from Halloween until the New Year often have an added challenge of juggling holiday preparations, gift-giving, parties and cards along with preparing for your baby's arrival.
What can you do to make things easier if you are giving birth during the holidays?
- Do as much shopping online as you can to avoid long lines and fatigue from shopping.
- Use the option of gift wrapping and mailing directly to friends and family when possible.
- Send e-card holiday cards out this year if you do not have the time to mail paper cards or simplify it with a photo-type card.
- See if you can participate in decorating or tree trimming at a friend's house if you do not have the time to put up or take down your own decorations.
- If cooking is too much, try ordering a dinner (or just the meat such as turkey or ham) from your local grocery store or specialty kitchen store.
- Try not to be tempted to have an induction just for convenience. If your body is not ready for labor, your chances of multiple interventions and/or a cesarean is much higher if you opt to have your labor induced.
Don't forget to take good care of YOU so that your baby is also taken care of!
Stay Warm!
Brenda
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Posted by Brenda Lane
Many of you know that I have just finished writing my first book on the topic of pregnancy. It is called the Knack Pregnancy Guide and is published by Globe Pequot Press. The book has been extensively reviewed by an obstetrician I had the pleasure of working with as a doula many years ago, Dr. Ilana Kirsch, who now practices in Fort Bend, IN.
If you plan to be in the Washington, DC, Baltimore or Annapolis region next month, here is a great opportunity to get an autographed copy of this book and have a chance to chat with me! I would love to meet any of my suite101 readers. In the last 3 years as a Feature writer for Pregnancy and Childbirth, the weekly visits to the site has grown by more than 300%!
The book signing will be held on October 15, 2009 at 7:30pm at Barnes and Noble in Annapolis at the Harbor Center.
I look forward to seeing you there!
Warmly,
Brenda
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Posted by Brenda Lane
The summer months are quickly approaching and the heat and humidity are right around the corner. Here are some tips for staying cool this summer during your pregnancy:
- Keep a water bottle with you at all times to prevent dehydration.
- Park in the shade when you are shopping.
- Avoid extreme heat or humidity and stay indoors when at all possible.
- Install ceiling fans in each room of your house to keep the cooler air circulating.
- Wear light-colored, cotton or linen fabrics to stay cool.
- If you enjoy the pool, be sure to avoid the hottest part of the day between 10am and 2pm.
- Don't forget to wear sunscreen when you plan to be outside. Look for skin care products that contain sunscreen.
- Try refreshing drinks such as home-made flavored iced teas and fresh squeezed lemonade instead of sodas and fruit juices that add caffeine, sugar or artificial sweeteners.
Remember that you should be drinking at least 8 glasses of fluids each day during your pregnancy, especially during the warm summer weather.
Brenda
Posted by Brenda Lane
Announcing a birth video/documentary contest! $1000 prize!
As the national rate of c-sections surpasses 30% and the U.S. ranks 41st in terms of maternal mortality, it is more important than ever for women and their partners to be educated about the options they have during pregnancy and birth. Birth Matters Virginia advocates "evidence-based" maternity care, which simply means using the best available research on the safety and effectiveness of specific practices
to help guide maternity care decisions and to facilitate optimal outcomes in mothers and newborns. There are a lot of ways to approach that topic, and we're looking forward to the variety of entries.
Posted by Brenda Lane
Anytime from 38 to 42 weeks of pregnancy, your baby will be expected to arrive. Is it possible that seasons affect pregnancy? Will your baby be more likely to arrive past your due date in the cold weather months? Let's take a look at that theory to see if there could be any significance or truth to it. Especially given that many regions are now experiencing some of the coldest weather in a decade.
Women tend to be less active in winter months. This could have an affect on slowing contractions or labor or delaying it if mom is resting more.
In the summer months, she could much more easily become dehydrated from the heat. Dehydration can lead to contractions and even labor.
Storm fronts and pressure changes in the weather are notorious for bringing labor on. However this could happen as both.a winter snow storm and a summer thunderstorm.
There is more sickness in the winter months. Could this have an affect on starting labor? Potentially.
Other than that, it really may be a complete guess that the winter months cause babies to stay in longer.
What has been your experience with when your body went into labor? Let us know! :)
(For the record, both of my daughters were born in the spring and came before my due date.)
Warmly!!
Brenda