Female Care

Somewhere in my 2nd trimester of pregnancy I realised that my body was not coping too well with the stress and tension that carrying our much-wanted child placed on it. We have complications, and the worry of these, together with the normal pregnancy problems, had me in agony with taut muscles. I looked to the Internet for help and found a message recommending this book. Although I find massage a relaxing way of sharing love with my husband, I didn’t know if it could actually solve the problem – but it was worth a try. A quick e-mail and 5 days later the Amazon.co.uk box arrived. I eagerly opened it, and spent an enjoyable afternoon reading the book. Continue reading »

Premature labor is classified as labor that begins before 36 weeks of pregnancy, but it can be as early as 22 weeks. For obvious reasons, preterm labor is dangerous for the baby who is not yet ready to face the world. If you know that you are at risk for giving birth early, there are a few steps you can take to help your baby make it to term.

First, you need to know if you are at risk. Your doctor will most likely let you know, but here are some basic guidelines for your personal use. At risk pregnancies include the very young (under 17 years of age) and older (over 35) women, women carrying multiple babies, women with a history of preterm births, women who suffer from cervical or uterine variations (such as a divided uterus), and African American women. Continue reading »

You’ve been pregnant for 40 years huh? Wait, I mean 40 weeks. Most women can’t wait for their baby to be born once they hit the last month of pregnancy. Bladders are small, backs are sore, feet are swollen, and they can’t wait to meet their new bundle of joy. Many women seek advice from friend, books, or the Internet on how to naturally induce their labor. Nipple stimulation almost always comes up in conversation. If you are pregnant and someone tells you to use nipple stimulation to induce your labor, smile but don’t take their advice.
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Your relationship with your caregiver is the most important one you should develop during your pregnancy. It is important that your OB/GYN or midwife shares the same beliefs and views that you do. You have chosen this person to bring your precious bundle into the world and have entrusted them with not only your life, but the life of your unborn child – and your aftercare. It is important that you set up a time to meet with them before making your final decision; you can then determine if they are the right fit for you. You may be able to get recommendations from friends or even your family doctor if they do not deliver babies themselves. A lot depends on whether you want a natural birth in a birthing center, which is more personal and less clinical, or if you want to go the traditional route in the hospital. A lot will also depend on your medical condition during pregnancy. You may be limited. No matter which one you choose, it is important to make your views known. Continue reading »

It seems that our dependence on technology is such nowadays that we’re happy to let it take over the job of Mother Nature – at least when it comes to helping us deliver our babies. Not content to let nature take its course, more and more women are undergoing induced birth with the aid of technological intervention. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the number of induced births has doubled since 1990, and in 2006 22.5 percent of births in the US were induced.
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