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Water Birth is an alternative child birth option in which the mother labors and/or gives birth to a child in a birthing tub filled with warm water.  Water birth may be considered in cases where few, or ideally, no complications are expected during labor, and when the mother does not have toxemia, infections, preeclampsia, or herpes.  If you are expecting preterm labor or multiple babies, careful discussion of this option should be had with your health care provider.

                There are several benefits to a water birth.  It is believed that, for the baby, the transition from the uterus to warm water is easier than the transition from the uterus to open air.  Water births also heavily aid in relaxation for the mother.  The warm water can help to lower blood pressure, and helps to relax the muscles, which helps to ease pain and can eliminate the need for anesthesia.  The buoyancy of the water helps to lighten the body weight, which will help you with repositioning during labor.  The water also helps the perineum become more elastic so the chances of tearing or needing an episiotomy are lessened. 

                As with every option there are drawbacks in addition to benefits.  There have been a few studies about the effects of water birth on the babies and the mothers, but not many risks have been found with high enough occurrence to determine whether the water births themselves or improper monitoring were responsible, namely the potential for the baby to aspirate water.  Proponents of water births state that the baby will not breathe under water so the risk of aspiration is negligible, but this statement does not appear to be based on any sort of research, instead based on anecdotal evidence.  Also, there is a chance that without careful attention, the umbilical cord can become snapped in the water.  Lastly, the water will make it difficult to tell how much blood the mother is losing, thus risking an unrecognized hemorrhage. 

                If you should decide that water birth is something you’d like to explore, check around your area to see what facilities have birthing pools available.  Many hospitals include birthing pools in their birthing suites.  If there are no facilities with pools available, or if you are having a home birth, birthing pools are available to rent for about $300 if you check online

Once you have your baby, your baby will need to have a regular doctor to visit.  When doing your research into choosing a doctor for your child, think about the type of doctor you want, the type of care you want, and the availability of the doctor.

                There are two main types of doctors that your baby can see:  Pediatricians specialize in child care.  Family practitioners specialize in treating an entire family, regardless of age.  If you see a family practitioner, it may be the most convenient to start your child seeing that same doctor.  If you want a doctor who has specific expertise on children’s issues, it may be a better idea to see a pediatrician.

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Gestational Diabetes is the onset of high blood sugar, called glucose, during pregnancy.  Symptoms of gestational diabetes most often occur during the second half of pregnancy, and include increased thirst, weight loss, blurred vision, and infections.  With gestational diabetes, your insulin stops helping to convert glucose into energy.  This is because there are hormones present during pregnancy that can block the insulin for doing its job, or even block the body from producing enough insulin in the first place.  Glucose builds up in your blood with nothing to do and nowhere to go.

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The most important thing to know about sex and pregnancy is that it is normally safe to have sex during your pregnancy.  The second most important thing to know about sex and pregnancy is that is normal to want lots of sex, and to not want to have sex at all.   All you expecting mothers out there can breathe a sigh of relief!

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When you are making the decision of what type of health care professional to choose to help you through your pregnancy and childbirth, you will consider mainly two There are several different types of midwives who can offer various levels of support and assistance depending on their certifications or licensing.  Midwives generally practice in your home or in a birthing center, and can provide their services as part of a team at a hospital. 

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The ideal weight gain for an otherwise normal-weight pregnant woman is 30 pounds.  If your normal pre-pregnancy weight is under-average, you should gain a little more; and if your pre-pregnancy weight is above-average, you should gain a little less.  If you’re carrying multiples, a normal weight gain can be up to 50 pounds.  But, generally speaking, the total weight of your baby, extra fluids, placenta, amniotic sac and all the rest of the package should weigh about 30 pounds. 

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80% of mothers experience early signs of depression in the first few days or weeks after giving birth. Because what is referred to as the “baby blues” is so common, it is often left untreated. In some women the symptoms go away, but in others full on postpartum depression may follow and once a woman has been diagnosed with postpartum depression she will often be prescribed antidepressants from her doctor. While this may help the mother deal with her illness, these antidepressants can hurt her baby which will gain access to the medication through the mother’s breast milk. Once diagnosed, a mother has one of two choices: stop breastfeeding or don’t take the medication at all and suffer through the depression.

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Pregnancy can be a joyous and exciting time, but also can be the time we as women experience the most anxiety we ever thought imaginable. Where does this come from? You name it! Whether it’s our own minds running on overdrive or the endless comments from friends, strangers, and even doctors. There are so many reasons for experiencing high anxiety and there are many ways to shift and refocus ourselves. If you are worried about the health of your baby, sometimes simply sticking to the facts of what you know for sure is the best. For example, if you went to the doctor and heard a strong heartbeat, you might want to take a digital recorder and record it. That way, you can listen to it later and reassure yourself that all is OK with the baby.

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