What is a breech birth?
Right before birth, most babies are in a head-down position in the mother’s uterus, which is why most babies are born head-first. Sometimes the baby is in a bottom-first (or feet-first) position. When a baby is in that position before birth, it’s called a breech birth or breech baby. Many babies are breech early in pregnancy, but most of them turn to the headfirst position near the end of the pregnancy. Babies that are born early (more…)

Fetal Kick Counts
Taking time to register these movements is a great way for you to bond with your baby and check in on his well-being.
How to Count
Every doctor has a slightly different way of tracking Baby’s movement, so be sure to check in with your OB to find out how he or she prefers you count kicks.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG ) recommends that you find a quiet and comfortable spot to sit (or lie down on your left side, which is optimal for providing your baby proper blood and oxygen circulation) and perform a kick count at least once a day from your seventh month of pregnancy until you deliver.

Try doing the test 20 minutes after eating and see how long it takes the baby to move (kick, flutter, swish, or roll) 10 times.

Again, you should feel your baby move 10 times in about two hours. “If it takes longer than four hours, it is a good idea to call your doctor,” suggests Dr. Gerard M. DiLeo, MD, BabyZone’s board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist.

By the way, if this is your second (or third or fourth!) pregnancy, chances are you’ll notice Baby moving around much earlier. (Some women profess to feel movement as early as week 12!)

When to Call Your Doctor

The ACOG recommends (more…)

Preterm labor can happen to any woman: Only about half the women who have preterm labor fall into any known risk group. About 12 percent of births (1 in 8  )in the United States are preterm. Babies who are born preterm are at higher risk of needing hospitalization, having long-term health problems and of dying than babies born at the right time.

Three groups of women are at greatest risk of preterm labor and birth: 

• Women who are pregnant with twins, triplets or more
• Women with certain uterine or cervical abnormalities
• Women who have had previous preterm birth 

Preterm labor may sometimes be stopped with a combination of medication and rest. More often, birth can be delayed just long enough to transport the woman to a hospital with a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and to give her a drug to help speed up her baby’s lung development.

Treatment with a form of the hormone progesterone may help prevent premature birth in some women who have already had a premature baby.

What you can do?: (more…)

Home remedies for some of the less enjoyable experiances of pregnancy.

For Morning Sickness

-Calcium-fortified antacids
-Mouthwash, breath fresheners or flavored dental floss
-Motion sickness wrist bands (also known as “sea bands”)
-Cool, unscented wet wipes for freshening up

For Sensitive, Swollen Breasts
-Cool gel compresses (NOT frozen, as this might add to the pain and sensitivity)
-Heating pads on a warm (not hot) setting
-Non-restricting sports bras or shelf-bra lined undershirts OR
-Bras without underwire (sewn-in seaming under busts)

For Upper and Lower Back Pain

-Long body pillow to fold/bunch along back where needed
-Abdominal support bands (also called “Belly Bras”) to reduce stress on the lower back
-Contoured chair pad for home and/or office
-Deep heating rub (have your spouse/partner use liberally on affected areas) (more…)

Ninth Month

Your baby is approximately 20 inches long and weighs about 7 pounds, although he or she is still gaining about an ounce a day. He or she is preparing for birth this month by shedding most of the lanugo and vernix that has been covering and protecting his skin. Your baby can survive outside your body now, even if he or she is born (more…)

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