Archive for prenatal
Starting a Prenatal Care Regimen
Posted by: | CommentsIf you recently have learned that you are pregnant, you need to begin the process of creating and implementing a proper prenatal care regimen. Through this article you will be provided with the tips and pointers that you need to bear well in mind when it comes to starting (and following through with) a prenatal care regimen.
The first step that you must take when it comes to initiating a prenatal care regimen is to schedule a consultation with your doctor or OBG-YN. Your doctor must be closely involved in your overall prenatal care program. Of course, your doctor plays a huge role in medical decisions associated with your pregnancy, but your doctor also has a crucial role to play when it comes to other aspects of your pregnancy, including nutrition and exercise.
One aspect of your prenatal care regimen will involve your doctor directly. Your doctor will develop a general schedule for visits with him or her. He or she will also generally plan out when you will have other medical procedures and tests undertaken as part of your pregnancy experience – including such things as an ultrasound.
Another aspect of the prenatal regimen will be developing a diet plan for the course of your pregnancy. Nutrition related issues are crucial to your health and the health of your baby when you are pregnant. Therefore, your doctor will work with you on developing a nutrition plan for your pregnancy.
There are other resources that are available to you as well when it comes to nutrition planning for your pregnancy. For example, there are nutritionists that specifically work to provide assistance to women who are pregnant. Moreover, there are some wonderful resources on the Internet and World Wide Web that are ideal for a pregnant woman looking for guidance when it comes to nutrition issues.
In addition, most medical experts and nutritionists tend to recommend certain nutritional supplements for a pregnant woman. Of course, maintaining a balanced diet is the fundamental course a pregnant woman needs to take. However, nutritional supplements can play a helpful role in a pregnancy. This particularly can be the case if a woman is experiencing pregnancy nausea (commonly called morning sickness) and who is finding it hard to keep down food.
As part of planning your prenatal regimen, exercise will also be a part of your considerations. Experts agree that appropriate exercise is essential when it comes to having a healthy pregnancy, when it comes to maintaining your own health and when it comes to the health of your unborn baby. There are now solid resources online and in the brick and mortar world through which you can obtain helpful information to aid you in coming up with an exercise program that will be perfect for you during the course and term of your pregnancy.
By starting to a prenatal regimen that involves the elements discussed in this article early on, and by sticking to that regimen throughout the term of your pregnancy, you will be in the best possible position to enjoy good health and to give birth to a healthy baby.
If you are trying to conceive or are conceived and want to know more and get your own ovulation calendar and everything you need for your own pregnancy calendar feel free to visit our site.
Article from articlesbase.com
Bellingham, WA (PRWEB) April 2, 2008
Ever wondered about the quality of your prenatal vitamin supplement? Or considered whether you are actually getting all the nutrients claimed on the “supplement facts” label? A recent independent study demonstrates that is not a concern with Fairhaven Health’s Pregnancy Plus Prenatal Vitamin.
Not all vitamin brands are alike – and a recent quality test by an independent consumer protection agency, ConsumerLab, has proved this alarming point. Of twenty-one leading vitamin brands tested by ConsumerLab, only ten met the ingredient claims and quality standards advertised on their labels. For consumers who depend on nutritional supplements, the results of this independent report may come as both a shock and a wake-up call to make informed choices when selecting your vitamin brand.
The good news is that Pregnancy Plus Prenatal multivitamin was randomly selected among ConsumerLab’s twenty-one leading vitamin supplements and passed – “with flying colors” – all ingredient claims and quality standards. Which is to say, with Pregnancy Plus Prenatal, 100% of the nutrients claimed on the label were found to be present in the vitamin during independent assay screening by ConsumerLab. In addition, Pregnancy Plus was approved for quality benchmarks associated with both product purity and efficient digestibility (or vitamin dissolution rate).
For trying-to-conceive women and expectant mothers who rely on Pregnancy Plus every day for prenatal nutrition, this is reassuring news. Formulated by pregnancy and fertility expert, Amos Grunebaum, MD, Pregnancy Plus boasts a “just right” formula that brings together a balanced spectrum of important vitamins and minerals, including folic acid. Folic acid is essential to a healthy pregnancy and has been shown to reduce the odds of birth defects. Minerals like iron are central to both mother and baby health during pregnancy. Pregnancy Plus was formulated to support prenatal wellness from preconception through pregnancy and nursing.
While Pregnancy Plus was approved in all categories by ConsumerLab, other leading vitamin brands failed key benchmarks for ingredient content, presence of contaminants, and rate of tablet dissolution. ConsumerLab, as part of “a mission to independently evaluate products that impact health and nutrition”, acquired several leading multivitamin products sold in the U.S. and Canada and tested them for ingredient levels, correlating independent test results with the supplement facts label claims. While consumers certainly expect to receive what is stated on a supplement label, over half of the multivitamins tested were found to be deficient on specific ingredients, were contaminated with potentially harmful heavy metals like lead, or failed to dissolve properly (which means that the vitamin does not break down properly for efficient absorption of available nutrients). In some instances, products were also found to have excessive amounts of certain ingredients, which also poses a risk of adverse side effects, particularly in the case of prenatal nutrition.
Because dietary supplements are not regulated by the FDA, there may be little quality control or oversight with regard to issues like product integrity or ingredient purity. It is ultimately the responsibility of the product manufacturer to ensure that quality standards are met and the supplement content matches all label claims. In the case of Pregnancy Plus Prenatal vitamin, the product manufacturer, Fairhaven Health, conducts its own random third-party quality assurance testing. Moreover, according to Fairhaven Health’s Kelly Andrews, “It’s important to us that our supplements are made here at home in the USA – in certified facilities that adhere to strict GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) standards. People deserve to get what they pay for. Particularly when it comes to prenatal nutrition and fertility health.”
Along with Pregnancy Plus Prenatal, Fairhaven Health is also the maker of products like FertilAid fertility supplements and Pregnancy Plus Omega 3. The latter product, which is used during pregnancy to support infant wellness and prenatal development, is certified free of mercury and other contaminants. Fairhaven Health is a specialty manufacturer of preconception and pregnancy products and works closely with noted fertility experts like Dr. Grunebaum.
We take it for granted that a vitamin product should hold good to its content claims and be free of impurities. Sadly, the 2007 ConsumerLab report reveals that there is more than meets the eye when it comes to supplement quality, even among leading brands. Selecting a vitamin brand means making informed choices. If you have questions about a specific prenatal vitamin, you can visit ConsumerLab.com or contact a product manufacturer directly regarding quality assurance protocols and good manufacturing practices. In the case of Pregnancy Plus Prenatal, the jury is already in: Pregnancy Plus has been approved for product quality, purity, and integrity across the board.
Fairhaven Health (http://www.fairhavenhealth.com), the maker of Pregnancy Plus and FertilAid products, is a leading manufacturer of fertility products for both women and men. Fairhaven Health is also the maker of FertileCM, Pregnancy Plus Omega-3, and the Fertile Focus ovulation microscope.
ConsumerLab (http://www.consumerlab.com) is a consumer protection organization whose mission is to identify the best quality health and nutrition products through independent testing.
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Pregnancy Tips: Nutritional Diet and Prenatal Vitamins
Posted by: | CommentsCongratulations! In nine months you’re going to be a mother, BUT it will never be an easy task. Your body will physically experience changes, your moods will swing, your senses will be sharp, and you’ll crave for a lot of things — and food.
As an expecting mother, what you EAT matters to your unborn baby as he or she is dependent on you for nourishment. In pregnancy check-ups, your doctor might tell you this mantra: you are what you eat, and what your baby eats. Clinical studies show that what you eat has a connection to your baby’s health and growth, which is why during pregnancy, it is essential that you make “healthy food choices” and “healthy habits”. Healthy habits like exercising, “quitting on smoking and alcohol,” and taking up pregnancy vitamins are as essential as eating nutritional diet.
In the beginning of your pregnancy, you will experience adjustments significantly about food. And since you are eating for two, you will be eating twice the serving of your usual food intake, or in a more-frequent-basis.
Eating the right means knowing what foods to eat and what to avoid. Ideally, as an expecting mother you need 300 extra calories a day in addition to your recommended daily calorie intakes or allowances.
When you strictly follow a healthy pregnancy nutrition diet, as recommended by your doctor, it can counteract the baby’s risks low birth weight, susceptibility to infections and birth defects. On your side, following the recommended diet can provide positive effects against fatigue, morning sickness, constipation, leg cramps and later on an easy child birth and post-partum depression.
For pregnant mothers, the USDA approved Food Guide Pyramid and Dietary Reference Intakes should strive to consume the following servings: 6-11 servings of bread, cereal, rice and pasta; 3-5 servings of vegetables; 2-4 servings of fruits; 3-5 servings of milk, yoghurt and cheese; 2-3 servings of meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs and nuts; 8 8-ounce glasses of water; You should also limit caffeine containing beverages to no more than 2 cups per day.
Nevertheless, try to consume — in moderation — foods groups rich in protein, carbohydrates, fats and Protein and Amino Acids is the building material for muscles, teeth and bones; and instrumental in normal growth patterns (build and repair cells) and immune system antibodies. Minerals, like Calcium and Zinc, are critical to maintaining healthy bones and promote healing and easy delivery, and like Iron, which supports blood circulation.
Foods to AVOID are those that has risky levels of mercury like swordfish, shark meats, mackerels, and others that might put you and your baby at risk of bacteria-related problems like raw
Pregnancy Vitamins
Prenatal supplements provide extra nutrients and boosts for expecting mothers. Pregnancy vitamins like Folate/ Folic Acid can minimize risks of hemorrhoids and constipation, or alleviate nausea or vomiting due to morning sickness.
There are literally dozens of prenatal supplement brands available. Don’t buy impulsively. Ask your doctor. Every woman has different needs. For example, an expecting woman has anemic tendencies; her doctor might prescribe her to take iron supplements.
To give you an idea, these are the ideal vitamins and minerals supplements you need while expecting: Vitamin A: 4,000 to 5,000 International Units (IU); Folic Acid (Folate): 600-1000 micrograms (mcg); Vitamin D: 200-400 IU; Calcium: 200-300 milligrams (mg); Vitamin C: 85 mg; Thiamin: 1.4 mg; Riboflavin: 1.4 mg; Vitamin B-6 (Pyridoxine): 1.9 mg; Vitamin B-3 (Niacin): 18 mg; Vitamin B-12: 2.6 mcg; Vitamin E: 15 mg; Zinc: 11 mg; Iron: 27-60 mg.
Pregnancy Reminders
Follow your doctor’s instruction throughout pregnancy. Take your pregnancy vitamins each day or as required by your doctor. Should you have concerns about your pregnancy, ask and discuss with your doctor.
Sunnie Southern is the Senior Product Manager of Nutrition for DuetDHA.
Article from articlesbase.com
Prenatal Diet Tricks for Healthy Pregnancy
Posted by: | CommentsSome women anticipate pregnancy, meaning it is very much planned. These lucky ladies can begin to ready their bodies for gestation by changing their prenatal diet to optimize mom’s health, support conception efforts and build up the body’s nutritional reserves.
Start Off with a Healthy Pregnancy
The best diet for a healthy pregnancy should begin long before baby is even a glimmer in anyone’s eye. If the prenatal diet is not up to snuff, it can be very difficult to make the complete turnaround required to achieve the balanced diet pregnancy requires.
The time to begin dietary changes is at the same moment dreams of baby become an active pursuit. Learn what an excellent daily diet for a pregnant woman and her baby is, and then make small changes in current eating habits to reflect the diet.
Where Prenatal Diet and Daily Diet Overlap
Remember; no matter how much earnest desire there might be for baby’s arrival, until the positive pregnancy test is in hand, eating habits should still reflect the needs of a pre pregnancy diet. This means that while an expectant mother should eat 60 plus grams of protein daily, there is no need for a woman who is not expecting to consume that much meat.
Instead of fixating on the exact needs of gestation, when there is no need to do so, focus on the areas of nutrition where daily diet and the prenatal diet overlap. When you start the groundwork early, the pregnancy diet changes will seem small.
Eat Well ALL the WAY through Pregnancy
If a child were asked to clean his room, but all the mislaid items were simply shoved under the bed, the task would not really be completed. It is the same with nutrition. Eating proper portions in the specified frequency of all the healthiest foods each day is of small benefit if these nutritious options are consumed right alongside a mountain of junk food.
Facing the facts that all humans have a sweet spot for some kind of junky fare–be it sweet or salty–makes it unreasonable to ban all poor quality foods forever, or even just for nine months.
This does not mean that the spinach salad eaten at lunchtime somehow entitles mom to a triple-decker ice-cream sundae at midnight. The key to indulgence is occasionally doing so. This does not even mean daily.
Taste buds can and will accept substitutes–if the eyes don’t clue them into the switch. Instead of eating potato chips, make your own in the oven. Instead of candies and cakes, satisfy sugar cravings with exotic fruit and perhaps a bit of melted chocolate.
There are many ways women planning for pregnancy can change their diets to reflect their healthy pregnancy desires.
Isabel De Los Rios, nutritionist, exercise specialist, author and successful business owner has unlocked the secrets to healthy weight maintenance not only for life but during the especially crucial time of pregnancy. Learn her secrets to a healthy prenatal diet for a healthy pregnancy. Visit www.WhatToEatWhilePregnant.com to get the body, health and vitality you’ve always wanted.
Article from articlesbase.com
How to Benefit From Prenatal Yoga Instructions
Posted by: | CommentsYoga is good for overall health. It relaxes the body and the mind and has ben used for thousands of years.
Taking advantage of learning the prenatal yoga instructions and the most gentle types of yoga are appropriate during pregnancy. New mothers recommend the physical and mental benefits of prenatal yoga during pregnancy.
It is for women who want to continue to practice yoga and have an easier pregnancy and birth. Many people use yoga to stay fit and maintain weight gain.
You can continue to do this even while you are pregnant. Choose an instructor who will provide you with individualized guidance.
A good choice for pregnancy is a low impact exercise that provides several benefits both physical and mental, like the prenatal yoga instructions.
The meditation techniques can be individualized to suit your lifestyle needs. The instructors keep you mindful of your breath and proper positions for pregnancy.
The prenatal yoga instructions can be a wonderful way to put time aside for yourself and your baby each day.
The prenatal yoga instructions will increases your overall strength, flexibility and well-being.
The deep breathing necessary for working through the yoga poses properly is another benefit to prenatal yoga.
The deep breathing calms the mind while maintaining the awareness through movement.Yoga has been known to ease many of the problems present during pregnancy like nausea, cramping and high blood pressure.
It can help you maintain a good posture and is know to help with easing delivery.
The prenatal yoga instructions are aimed to help ease the delivery and prevent complications. The instructor will advise on which yoga poses are safe when you’re pregnant and can offer you private instruction for one-on-one training.
He will help you to safely practice prenatal yoga in the second trimester of pregnancy and avoid poses that should be avoided during pregnancy.You want to stay in shape and do what is best for your baby.
The prenatal yoga is a wonderful way to do both. You will learn how to modify your practice as your pregnancy progresses, poses and techniques that can ease your pregnancy and delivery, and how to get back in shape after you give birth.
S. Brooks is a specialized researcher focusing on providing valuable information & solutions for every day issues
For more interesting & useful information on this subject go to: http://www.prenatalyogainfo.com
Article from articlesbase.com
Prenatal (pregnancy) care: How to choose a prenatal caregiver
Posted by: | Commentswww.howdini.com Prenatal (pregnancy) care: How to choose a prenatal caregiver Every pregnant woman needs regular prenatal care, right from the start. But what type of prenatal caregiver to choose? Midwife, obstetrician, family practitioner? Dr. Keith Eddleman, author of Pregnancy for Dummies, explains the factors to consider. Keywords: prenatal care pregnancy care pregnant care prenatal help
New Prenatal Fitness and Wellness DVD Released
Posted by: | Comments
(PRWEB) May 19, 2005
After noticing a lack of effective and educational fitness programs for expectant mothers during her own pregnancy, Patrea Aeschliman, president and founder of 15toFit.com has released this fitness DVD. Through extensive collaboration with a team of physicians, nutritionists, physical therapists, personal trainers and expectant mothers, Mrs. Aeschliman carefully structured a series of 15 minute programs designed specifically to benefit pregnant women.
The DVD, “15 to Fit: Prenatal Fitness Designed for the Total Body,” draws on a variety of disciplines from Pilates to Yoga, and offers six 15 minute programs which focus on total well-being and emphasize proper form and breathing throughout. The DVD outlines programs that can be used by real women with busy schedules, and this is the only prenatal workout that offers a segment which allows a partner to be included in the program. Including the whole family in activities like stretching will reinforce healthy habits for a lifetime, and expectant fathers who join their partner for stretches will notice fewer back problems and a lower stress level before, during and after delivery.
The short programs are adaptable to any fitness level and are flexible enough to allow women to combine them to design their own workouts to fit their individual needs. Additional features include bonus segments featuring Kate Copeland, M.D., discussing the importance of Kegel exercises, and Diane Banker, a Registered Dietician, considering the benefits of breastfeeding.
Patrea Aeschliman is a personal trainer and mother living in Indianapolis, Indiana, and holds a B.S. in Exercise Science and Fitness along with a host of professional certifications. She has been a fitness model for companies including Fila, Nike, Champion Sports Apparel, The Finish Line and Galyans Sports, as well as a two-time Ms. Fitness USA finalist and ESPN 2 Series Fitness America Fitness Champion.
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Pregnancy & mum yoga – Calm down with YogaYin
Posted by: | CommentsYoga teacher and mother of two Allannah Law demonstrates a breathing technique to help you calm down and relax when you just can’t take it anymore. Suitable for preggies and all mums. For more info and videos go to www.yogayin.com.
Prenatal Fitness Tips
Posted by: | Commentshttp://diet.com Wondering what makes up a healthy and happy pregnancy? Perinatal fitness expert Dara Zall Kelly confronts some of the major questions expecting mothers have during pregnancy.
