Its not me thats pregnant, Im not ready for that yet (!) but a close friend of mine's girlfriend just found out that shes pregnant. She is TOTALLY in the dark about what pregnancy entails, and when I say in the dark I mean she doesnt even know what she should be (or should not be) eating, what prenatal vitamins are, etc. Im sure you get the picture...Im really trying to help this girl out, shes sweet, shes excited, and she means well, but she has no clue what to do. I am no professional nor can I speak to her from experience (obviously) so I was wondering if you mamas out there that have kids could help me out on this one. What are some good books for her to read? Any other tips? How can I help her become informed? Thanks for your help, its muchly appreciated!
She needs to be taken 800mg of folic acid a day. Taking a woman's multi and a folic acid supplement is good. She doesn't need a prenatal. Those can actually make morning sickness worse. Papaya chewables are good for heartburn. The brewer diet is the best way to make sure she and the baby get enough nutrients without putting her at risk for pre-eclempsia and other icky pregnancy-related issues. But most importantly, education is the key. If she wants a good, healthy pregnancy and a good birth and nursing experience, she needs to know her options, how pregnancy and birth work, and what is natural. And not to rely on doctors to do what is in her best interest. *hugs* to you and her. Good luck with the pregnancy!
most of pregnancy and childbirth books are not all that helpful.make sure she takes vitamins,eats healthy [or as healthy as poss. since she will prob. get cravings] goes to dr or midwife regularly,use a little bit of common sense,and have a good support system.remember to follow gut instincts not drs dumb idea that her body is exactly like everybodies elses. everybody reacts differently to different things.i am a mother of two and would be glad to give any help that i can.
Thank you mamas so much, this helps a lot!. Bikerperson, Im sure she wont need that stuff until shes much older, thanks! And Hippyfreek, that is a beautiful beautiful babe youve got there!
tell her to NOT eat any FISH, even if her doctor tells her to do so. There is a lot of evidence linking mercury and autism. google it if you'd like. i'm writing a paper and procrastinating at the moment.
But there is also evidence linking television watched in early childhood and a genetic link as well. As far as I can tell, everything and nothing causes autism. If you can find farm-raised fish, eat it. The fish oil has lots of omega fatty acids that are good for you (prevents preggo-brain) and the baby.
get her the Baby Book by Dr. Sears. Its an amazing referance guide. I used to have a hell of a time keeping track of what I ate in a day... so I made myself a laminated score card that had check boxes next to food selections... stuff I had to have more than one serving of a day just had more check marks. For example, my fruit section had 8 check boxes next to it. I checked things off with a dry erase marker, and kept the list and marker with me at home or away. I mean, how else do you remember if you've eatten enough fiber!? Oh... and speaking of fiber, remind her that fiber is her friend and that it will help keep the nasty Hemeroid monster away.
Does she have the internet? Dr Sears has a website that is really informative also: www.askdrsears.com
Please tell her NO ALCOHOL. Alcohol can be deadly to a baby. And don't smoke pot if you're going to an inner city hospital or having the baby on welfare. If she has private insurance and is going to a small town hospital she probably won't be drug tested, but still don't tell her doctor. Other than pot, no other drugs or alcohol at all. Kathi
Fish is very good for you while your pregnant Its the fish that has Mercury in it . You can eat Halibut and a few others..... FACT: "What is methylmercury?" It's a metal that can be found in certain fish. The methylmercury in these fish can be harmful to your unborn baby if you eat these fish. Mercury occurs naturally in the environment and can also be released into the air through industrial pollution. It falls from the air and can get into surface water, accumulating in streams and oceans. Bacteria in the water cause chemical changes that transform mercury into methylmercury, which can be toxic. Fish absorb methylmercury as they feed on aquatic organisms. "Is there methylmercury in all fish?" Nearly all fish contain traces of methylmercury. However, larger fish that have lived longer have the highest levels of methylmercury because they've had more time to accumulate it. These large fish pose the greatest risk to pregnant women who eat them regularly. "How could I become exposed to methylmercury?" Fish in the diet is the major source of methylmercury, and eating certain types of fish leads to the accumulation of methylmercury in the body. Methylmercury can build up in your blood stream, and can then pass from your blood into that of your unborn child. Methylmercury is removed from the body naturally, but it may take over a year for the levels to drop to a safe level. Thus, it may be present in a woman even before she becomes pregnant. This is one of the reasons that women who are trying to become pregnant should also avoid eating certain types of fish. "How can I tell if I've been exposed to methylmercury?" You will not show noticeable symptoms from eating commercial seafood, but your newborn may experience symptoms (see next question). If you think you've been exposed to methylmercury, see your doctor or health-care provider immediately. "How could methylmercury affect my baby?" Some fish and shellfish contain higher levels of mercury that may harm an unborn baby or young child's developing nervous system. "What types of fish should I avoid eating while I'm pregnant or trying to become pregnant?" You, along with nursing mothers and young children, should not eat the following fish, as they can contain high levels of methylmercury: Swordfish Tilefish King mackerel Shark It's okay to eat other cooked fish/seafood as long as you select a variety of other kinds while you're pregnant or trying to become pregnant. You can eat up to 12 ounces (2 average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury. Five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish. Another commonly eaten fish, albacore ("white") tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna. So, when choosing your two meals of fish and shellfish, you may eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) of albacore tuna per week.
Question: Is it safe to take Accutane for acne while I'm pregnant? Answer: No. Accutane is known to cause birth defects, so it's not safe for any woman who's pregnant or trying to conceive. In fact, it would be very difficult to get a prescription for this drug while you're pregnant. Accutane is a man-made form of vitamin A that's taken orally to treat severe acne when other treatments have not been effective. The generic name of the drug is isotretinoin, and it's also sold under the trade names Amnesteem, Claravis, and Sotret. var ad2=''; document.write(ad2);dcmaxversion = 9dcminversion = 4DoOn Error Resume Nextplugin = (IsObject(CreateObject("ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash." & dcmaxversion & "")))If plugin = true Then Exit Dodcmaxversion = dcmaxversion - 1Loop While dcmaxversion >= dcminversion Your baby runs a very high risk of birth defects if you take this drug during pregnancy, even if you take only a small amount for a short period of time. Birth defects associated with the drug include mental retardation, various brain malformations, heart defects, and facial abnormalities. Accutane can cause these defects in the early weeks of pregnancy — before you may even know you're pregnant. Taking the drug also significantly raises your risk of miscarriage, premature delivery, and infant death. Before receiving a prescription for Accutane, you must agree to the "iPLEDGE" program. This program was designed by the drug's manufacturer to make certain that the drug is not prescribed to anyone who is pregnant and to ensure that no one becomes pregnant while on the drug. You'll be warned about the consequences of taking Accutane during pregnancy, required to show two negative pregnancy tests, and asked to watch a video on contraceptive methods and how to use them properly. Before you're given a prescription for the drug, you'll have to sign a consent form showing that you've been warned about the risks. Unless you're going to be abstinent, you must agree to use two different forms of birth control while you're on Accutane. You can only get a prescription for one month's supply at a time. In order to renew the prescription, you'll have to see your caregiver and take a pregnancy test every month while you're on the drug. If you're taking Accutane and want to become pregnant, you must stop taking the drug at least one month before you start trying to conceive. The drug should be cleared from your body within ten days after the last dose, but you must wait a month to be sure. If you've been taking Accutane and have just found out you're pregnant, stop taking the drug right away and call your caregiver. She can tell you what the risks are and what kind of testing you can undergo to see whether your baby has been affected. You can have a special ultrasound during your second trimester to screen for birth defects. But tests cannot tell you whether your child will have learning or developmental problems. Pregnant women also need to avoid other drugs related to vitamin A, including Tegison (etretinate) and Soriatane (acitretin). While there's no current evidence that using vitamin A creams (such as Retin-A) on your skin can harm a developing baby, it's best to avoid them as well when you're pregnant. Finally, don't take more than the recommended amount of vitamin A itself during pregnancy since high amounts can cause birth defects and liver problems Also; If your friends gf isn't she should be consuming 10,000 IU of Vitamin A whether its food or vitamin. I don't know the conversion in micrograms. But that is what i was told by my pharmicist.
