Should You Exercise During Pregnancy?
Unless a doctor has told you otherwise, you should exercise during pregnancy. Exercise not only helps you to stay in shape but will also make your delivery easier than it would have been otherwise.
However, it is very important to choose the right forms of exercise. Certain exercises, such as rollerblading, bike riding, skiing and skating are not recommended for pregnant women. A woman who is pregnant can have a miscarriage if she falls down; the above mentioned exercises are risky in that one can easily slip and have an accident.
Recommended Forms of Exercise for Pregnant Women
Swimming is one of the best forms of exercise for a pregnant woman. A woman can swim from the time she finds out she is pregnant up right up until the delivery. The only time when a pregnant woman should not swim is if she has lost her mucus plug early.
Yoga is also highly recommended for pregnant women. Certain yoga exercises will help to stretch a woman’s cervix and thus prepare her for the delivery. However, this does not mean that a pregnant woman can or should do all forms of yoga. A pregnant woman should find a book or exercise video with yoga exercises that are suitable for pregnancy. It is also important to be aware that certain forms of yoga are not suitable for all trimesters of pregnancy.
Walking is yet another excellent form of exercise. It is safe and provides a woman with a good workout. It can also be relaxing. A woman should find a safe and pleasant place to walk. It is also very important to choose comfortable walking shoes.
Take a Look at this Video from Dr. Mottola explaining the benefits of exercise during pregnancy
Pregnancy Exercise Do’s and Don’ts
- A woman should never do an exercise that makes her feel dizzy or uncomfortable.
- A woman who has had one or more miscarriages in the past should consult a doctor before exercising. Certain forms of exercise that are generally fine for pregnant women may not be suitable for a woman with an “at risk” pregnancy.
- Women who are not used to exercising should start out slow. It is never a good idea to overdo on a new exercise program but overdoing while pregnant can have serious consequences.
- Never use weights while pregnant.
- A pregnant woman will probably have more energy to exercise in the second trimester than in the first or third. However, it is important to exercise during the entire pregnancy. Simply exercise for a short length of time and then take a break. Even a fifteen to twenty minute walk is better than nothing.
Exercising while pregnant is important. It will help you to stay in shape and give you the energy needed to go through with the delivery. However, it is also very important to choose the right type of exercise. The above mentioned forms of exercise are suitable for most pregnant women; however, a woman should never overdo. Consulting a doctor before starting on an exercise program is also a good idea, especially if you have had one or more miscarriages in the past.
Do you have any pregnancy exercise tips you would like to share with the SaveARanch community? If so use the contact form to tell us about your favorite exercise.
The ABC’s of Shopping For A Crib Mattress
Buying the right crib mattress is extremely important. The reason is, infants spend at least 70% of their life on them and as they become toddlers, they’ spend 50% of their time on these mattresses too.
Generally speaking, there are four different types of crib mattresses that are certified by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. These are: foam, spring interior, natural fiber, and hypo allergenic.
Each type has its own set of unique features and functions. Thus if you want to purchase the right the mattress, you ought to get a crib mattress that can meet your baby’s needs.
The Crib Mattress Shopping A-B-C
One of the best ways to find the best crib mattress is to read through crib mattress reviews. However, before you get to that step, you also need to keep these ABC’s of baby mattress shopping in mind:
A – Always Have Safety as First Priority.
Babies are very delicate and they need to have a crib mattress that’s safe. Regardless of your budget, see to it that what you will purchase meets the current safety standards. It is recommended to have a firm mattress to avoid SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) as young babies cannot lift their heads yet and they have a tendency to get smothered.
The basic way to tell if the mattress is firm enough for a newborn baby is to gauge it to your own comfort — if the mattress is something that you personally find too comfortable, then that’s not firm enough yet.
B – Be Very Particular on the Materials
Never forget to find out what materials are used in the layers and other parts of the mattress. Also check if there are certain chemicals or preservatives used in its manufacturing. You should opt for a mattress made of hypoallergenic materials.
These days, hypoallergenic foam mattresses are recommended. Apart from being hypoallergenic, another reason is that foam mattresses are more durable and they’re safer in the sense that you won’t experience any possibility of having the spring sticking out of the layers.
The Sealy Soybean foam-core crib mattress and the Sealy Baby Ultra Rest mattress are ideal examples hypoallergenic crib mattress that’s are known to be both reliable and safe in terms of materials used.
C – Choose the Right Size
As required by the U.S. Consumer Products Commission, full-sized crib mattresses should be not less than 27 and 1/4 inches in width, and not less than 51 and 5/9 inches in length. As a rule of thumb, if you can fit two of your fingers between the mattress and the side of the crib or crib rail, that means your mattress is small for your crib.
We hope you have found find these tips useful in identifying the right mattress for your little angel. Once you do, be sure to return and submit your feedback and reviews to the SaveARanch.org team and community.
Team Contributor: Mariah Evans
The Importance of Sleep During Pregnancy
When you are carrying your baby, your body is working overtime to support not only yourself, but the baby that is inside of your belly. When you are pregnant, your heart is working four to five times harder to keep blood flowing through your veins and to your uterus.
Not only is your heart working harder, so are your kidneys. Imagine performing cardiovascular exercise all day and living with an elevated heart rate all day. This is what pregnancy is like.
If you are wondering why you are suffering from fatigue, this is the main reason. Pregnant women need to get plenty of sleep so they can stay healthy and support their growing child.
Why Is Sleep So Important During Pregnancy?
During your first trimester of pregnancy you are producing high levels of progesterone. This hormone causes fatigue and a sudden craving for naps. If you feel like you are worn out, you are not alone. While progesterone does cause drowsiness, it can also disrupt your sleep. You need to get past the difficulty so you can support your growing child. When you do not get enough rest, you can put stress on the growing child. You will have a healthier pregnancy if you get more sleep.
Some physicians also say that sleep directly influences the amount of time you spend in labor. Women who got more sleep each day spent less time during labor and also had an easier experience. Studies show that women who averaged 6 hours or less of less were more likely to get a C-section.
Why Is It Difficult to Fall Asleep?
Even though you are sleepy, falling asleep can be very difficult. While progesterone is one of the root causes, discomfort is another cause you need to consider. Some of the reasons why women cannot sleep during pregnancy include:
- Frequent trips to the bathroom
- The feeling of discomfort
- Choosing the right position
- Vivid dreams
- Nausea and vomiting
Here’s an Interview with a Doctor discussing the importance of sleep:
One Way You Can Get a Better Sleep?
If you are struggling with your sleep, there are a number of products that will help you get the sleep you need to have a healthy pregnancy. Many women use specialty full body pregnancy pillows. These pillows help you get comfortable and find the right position so you are not woken out of your sleep. They also reduce pressure on the uterus so you do not have to wake during the night to urinate. The pillows will support your body and help relieve tension so you can obtain the refreshing sleep you need to feel well rested during the day.
As you’ve read, sleep is very important both for the health of the expectant Mom and her growing baby. While the feeling of fatigue can be a challenge to deal with, you can rest assured knowing that lots of good sleep is an important component of delivering a healthy baby.
What are some of your tips for getting a good night sleep? Submit your best tips to the Save A Ranch community by using the contact us form.
Are Organic Crib Mattresses Worth the Higher Price Tag?
Many people do not know that an organic baby mattress is even an option. This will likely change, as the number of consumers that are opting for this type of mattress is on the rise. As with most things that are organic, a higher price tag accompanies these products. Understanding what the advantages and disadvantages of this product are is the key to making an educated purchasing decision.
Standard Synthetic Mattresses
Standard mattress choices are made from synthetic materials. Many of these materials contain chemicals. These chemicals are used to produce resistance to moisture. While this makes them easy to clean should a diaper leak occur, these chemicals can potentially be detrimental to the health and safety of the baby.
This is not to say that all non-organic mattresses are unsafe but parents should really do their research when purchasing one of these mattresses. Many parents with good intentions may not realize that they could be putting their baby at risk. It was not until research linked SIDS cases with synthetic materials that people started to take notice. Since SIDS is also related to the position in which the baby sleeps, it is important to choose a product that will provide the proper amount of body support.
Organic Crib Mattress Materials
Cotton and wool that are completely organic are used to make the core of organic crib mattresses. Rubber is also used to produce a product that is water proof. The difference between this rubber and that within synthetic versions is that it is taken from rubber tree plants. Once it has been extracted, it is transformed using no chemicals.
The Organic Crib Mattress Difference
Natural materials are proven to cause less allergies in babies. These materials work to naturally repel bacteria. Colds, flu, and other illness may be better fought off by allowing your baby to sleep on a mattress that is all natural.
Natural latex works to properly support the baby while sleeping. This may not only produce a better quality of sleep, but may also help reduce the chance of SIDS. SIDS may also be avoided by eliminating the potentially toxic chemicals that the baby may breath in while sleeping on mattresses containing harmful chemicals. This higher level of health and safety benefits are highly desirable. Continue reading “Are Organic Crib Mattresses Worth the Higher Price Tag?” »
Why Buying A Used Crib Mattress For Your Newborn Is A Bad Idea
Frugal parents are always on the hunt for ways to secure necessary items for their children without having to break the proverbial bank. Unfortunately, not all used purchases supply shoppers with the high measure of quality, safety or security that young children require.
This is especially true when opting to purchase a used crib mattress for a newborn baby or small infant. There are a number of health risks involved in the purchase of a secondhand mattress for infants, making the cost-saving benefits of a secondhand find, pale in comparison.
Recalled Materials And Designs
Not all secondhand sellers are ethical and responsible enough to track manufacturer recalls on the products that they sell. When purchasing a used crib mattress for an infant, this can be a major issue. A crib mattress can be recalled for a variety of different reasons including potential choking hazards, issues with children being smothered by defects in certain designs, and unsavory inclusions in filler materials. Parents who purchase secondhand selections for their infants are not likely to know the history of the mattress that is acquired, especially the history of factory recalls due to potential dangers. Continue reading “Why Buying A Used Crib Mattress For Your Newborn Is A Bad Idea” »
3 Items to Make Pregnancy More Comfortable
When you are pregnant, the excitement can be intense and can grow as the baby gets closer to being born. Along with all the excitement and happiness though comes quite a bit of discomfort. In this post we’ll discuss a few simple items that can make your pregnancy a bit more comfortable.
There are several things that you can get while pregnant to make life just a bit easier. In this post we’ll just highlight three of these items that are relatively low cost, easy to acquire, and will make your life easier.
Comfy slippers
We would all love it if we could just sit back, relax, and await the arrival of our new bundle of joy. If you’re like most pregnant moms though, you are still always on your fee. This may seem really simple, but having great pair of very comfortable slippers can make a world of difference.
With the extra weight you are carrying around, your feet and legs can suffer as you move around. Wearing comfortable and supportive slippers helps to relieve the discomfort that many moms experience, especially later in their pregnancy. Continue reading “3 Items to Make Pregnancy More Comfortable” »
Top Tips For Sleeping Well During Pregnancy
One thing you are likely to find out during pregnancy is that the sleeping positions you were used to before conceiving are no longer as comfortable as they used to be. However, this should not be cause for alarm.
There are a myriad of reasons why you would start experiencing this kind of discomfort. It could be due to the hormonal changes that your body goes through as a result of the pregnancy. These changes tend to disrupt your usual quiet sleep by causing heartburn, back pain, increased abdominal size, insomnia and shortness of breath.
The Best Pregnancy Sleeping Position
Sleeping on your side is the recommended position which you should strive to adopt during the embryonic stages of the pregnancy. Health experts highly recommend that you sleep on your left side as this would work to increase the amount of nutrients and blood reaching both the placenta and the baby. A study carried out by Cure Kids showed that the risk of stillbirths for pregnant women sleeping on the left was 1.96 percent as compared 3.90 percent for women who adopted other sleeping positions. Continue reading “Top Tips For Sleeping Well During Pregnancy” »
Breastfeeding Vs Bottle Feeding – Which is Best?
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Breastfeeding your baby offers both health and emotional benefits for the mother and the child. While infant formula is safe for your new baby, offering breast milk gives unique benefits that cannot be found in formula. Nursing is not always easy, but it is the healthiest way to feed your child and give him the best start in life.Benefits for the Baby
Unlike baby formula, breast milk changes to meet the baby’s nutritional needs. Just after birth, breastfed babies get colostrum rather than milk from the breast. Colostrum is a thick, yellow liquid often called liquid gold because it contains antibodies to protect the baby’s fragile immune system. These antibodies help prevent diseases that can be dangerous for a newborn.
As your newborn gets older, colostrum is replaced by milk by about the third day of life. Your body creates the perfect milk with just the right amount of nutrients to help your baby grow. Any antibodies that your body makes will also be passed along to the baby through your milk to protect him from diseases. These antibodies reduce illnesses such as cold, flu, ear infections and diarrhea.
Infant formula is derived from cow’s milk, so it is not easy for all babies to digest. Human milk is made especially for human babies, so it is easier for their stomachs and digestive systems to break down the proteins.
Health Benefits for the Mother
Continue reading “Breastfeeding Vs Bottle Feeding – Which is Best?” »
