One of the perks of pregnancy, other than the miracle growing inside you, is your larger breasts. For some it can be exciting, while for others it may be a little uncomfortable to say the least. Usually, you will start noticing changes during the second trimester, and those will lead you to needing to replace your fashionable bra with a larger size that provides good support.

When you are ‘spilling’ out of your regular bras, it is time to invest in a good maternity bra. Good support is the name of the game. Just getting a larger size can be less expensive, but not necessarily the best fit. With a larger regular bra, you may find yourself constantly adjusting the straps, and not getting the support you need.

Buying a maternity bra for the first time can be confusing. All you know about buying regular bras does not necessarily apply to buying a maternity and / or nursing bra. For starters, plan to make two trips to buy maternity bras during your pregnancy. The first time get a maternity bra, not a nursing bra. Your breasts will change in size dramatically after childbirth when your milk will come in, at which time you will know the right size for you nursing bra.

Resist the temptation of buying a bra with room to grow. The bra will not support you properly to begin with and it will take a while till it will.

Purchase two or three bras, so you can wash them and still have one to wear.

When getting a nursing bra, consider buying two with support and two sleep bras, both to put your pads in so you don’t leak and easy night feedings. A nursing bra with good support to use during the day is important. You are already dealing with engorgement and other pain, and the support you will get from a good bra will help relive some of the pressure.

Vaginal birth is the normal biological consequence of pregnancy, regardless of previous births experiences. It is important to know you are not limited to a cesarean section procedure in future pregnancies even if your previous delivery was a cesarean section.

Vaginal Birth after Cesarean is actually quit common. Some 90% of woman who have had a cesarean delivery can deliver vaginally the next time around.

The biggest concern for women who have had a previous cesarean is the risk of a uterine rupture during a vaginal birth. Studies show increased rates of uterine rupture in women who go through labor induction or augmentation. Discuss the possible complications of induction with your OBGYN before you make your decision.

You can avoid a cesarean this time around if the reason for your first cesarean delivery is not repeated with this pregnancy, you have no major medical problems, you baby is a normal size, the baby is head-down

To be considered for VBAC you must have had no more than 2 low transverse cesarean deliveries and no additional uterine scars, anomalies or previous ruptures. You will be monitored through labor and may end up undergoing a cesarean if the situation shall call for one.

You may require a cesarean delivery if you are pregnant with twins, have diabetes or high-blood pressure.

When you decide to announce you are pregnant, or once you are showing, you will find that people around you may start giving you ‘advice’ as to what to do or not do while pregnant. So what should you really avoid while pregnant?

A warm bath is great for relaxation—pregnant or not. The danger is when the water temperature is too hot. In the first trimester, very hot water can cause developmental problems in the fetus and later in pregnancy it can cause preterm labor. When pregnant you should avoid anything that raises your body temperature above 102 or 103 degrees.

There is no need to quit caffeine altogether. One cup of coffee or tea a day will not do any harm to you or your baby if you are enjoying a normal pregnancy. Speak to your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns.

Drinking alcohol should be avoided while pregnant, especially during the first trimester when so much of the baby’s nervous system is being formed.

You don’t have to sleep on your left side, the right side is just as good, but you will most likely find that sleeping on your side, left or right, is the only comfortable position after around the 20^th week of your pregnancy. Sleeping on your belly will be technically impossible, and sleeping on your back can cause dizziness or make you sweaty from too much pressure put on the vena cava.

Most research does show that it is safe to dye your hair while pregnant, as the chemicals in permanent and semi-permanent hair dyes are not highly toxic. If you are concerned, dye your hair only after the 12th week of pregnancy, when the risk of chemical substances – hair dye or otherwise – harming the baby is much lower. If you color your hair yourself make sure to wear gloves and leave the dye on for the minimum time. Also work in a well-ventilated room.

In general, if you are concern that something may be harmful for you or your baby during your pregnancy, speak to your OBGYN to get answers. Don’t let people scare you out of your personal lifestyle and activities.

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We all have our moments; after all, there is no ‘class’ on how to become parents.  We gave birth, and suddenly this huge responsibility landed in our laps.

While pregnant, you prepare yourself for the arrival of your baby. You may take baby care classes at your hospital, speak to your family and friends about your questions and concerns, or maybe read books or research the internet. It is good practice to get advice and information and prepare for the future.

Still, as much as you plan for the future, when you hold your newborn for the first time, with all the joy and excitement, it is common and normal to worry about the unknown. After all, you have never been a Mom before.

If you sometimes worry that you’re not cut out to be a Mom, you are not alone. Some 70%-80% of moms have doubts about this big role in life. You may overcome this feeling after adjusting to your new title, or carry this feeling for years. Either way, if your child is loved and cared for, you are doing your job as a Mom.

As a Mom, it is expected that you will face times where you will need to be strong, resourceful, or just plain creative to deal with the situations of day to day life. Don’t forget to pat yourself on the back every once in a while and remember to cut yourself some slack.

If your due date has come and gone and you are still pregnant, with no signs of contractions in sight, your OBGYN will check you and have an ultrasound to estimate the size of the baby and how much amniotic fluid is around him. If the baby is estimated to be in any danger you will be induced soon there after.

If the baby still has room to grow, your doctor may let you wait for another week or two before inducing labor. The longest most practitioners will let you go before inducing is the 42^nd week of pregnancy. After that time the placenta may become less effective and many risks may present themselves to both baby and mom.

Some other reasons you may be induced are if your baby is too big, your water breaks and labor does not start on its own, your placenta no longer functions properly, you have a chronic or acute illness or if you previously had a full-term stillbirth.

Inducing labor means to use medication and other techniques to start or induce contractions. The method in which you will be induced depends on the condition of your cervix at the time. If your cervix hasn’t started to soften, efface (thin out), or dilate (open up), it’s considered “unripe” – or not yet ready for labor.

Methods used to ripen the cervix and induce labor include prostaglandins, Foley catheter, Stripping or sweeping the membranes, Rupturing the membranes and Pitocin.

Prostaglandins are used in situations when you need to be induced but your cervix is not yet dilated or thinned out. Once admitted to the hospital, your healthcare provider will start the induction by inserting medication that contains prostaglandins into your vagina. This medication helps to ripen the cervix and sometimes stimulates enough contractions eliminating the need to use oxytocin.

Foley catheter may be use instead of using medication to ripen your cervix. Your healthcare provider may insert a catheter with a very small uninflated balloon at the end into your cervix. When the balloon is inflated with water, it puts pressure on your cervix, stimulating the release of prostaglandins, which cause the cervix to open and soften. When your cervix begins to dilate, the balloon falls out and the catheter is removed.

Stripping or sweeping the membranes is used if your cervix is already somewhat dilated and there’s no urgent reason to induce. Your health provider will insert her finger through the cervix and manually separate your amniotic sac from the lower part of your uterus. This causes the release of prostaglandins, which may help further ripen your cervix and possibly get contractions going.

This procedure is most commonly done during an office visit. You’ll be sent home to wait for labor to start, usually within the next 48 hours. Many moms-to-be find this procedure uncomfortable or even painful.

Rupturing the membranes is a procedure performed only if you are at least a few centimeters dilated. Your healthcare provider will insert a small, plastic hook tool through the cervix to break your amniotic sac. Once your water has broken, most OBGYNs will want you to deliver within 24 hours because of risk of infection for you and your baby.

oxytocin (Pitocin) is given through an IV pump to start or augment your contractions. Your healthcare provider will adjust the amount you need according to how your labor progresses.

Before you get to shop for your newborn, YOU will have to take care of dressing for your changing body. When dressing for two, you have to consider more than just your growing belly. Your widening hips will narrow your selection of pants in your pre-pregnancy wardrobe, forcing you into either maternity clothes or sweat pants. The latter should NOT be your only solution, neither should your husband’s side of the closet.

Your will find that your breasts are changing throughout the pregnancy, getting bigger with time with the climax a few days after delivery when your body starts to produce  milk for your newborn. These changes will affect your choices of tops and dresses in your closet. Along with your growing belly and changes to your hips, you may find yourself with a shrinking number of clothes in your collection.

The best approach you can take to a constantly changing body is to divide your maternity shopping into two parts, and don’t shop for maternity clothes before you need them. You don’t know how your body will change. Even if this is not your first pregnancy, you can expect to be surprised with the changes to your body.

The first part to your maternity wear shopping should take place when you first notice you are running out of clothes that fit you. Don’t get carried away, especially with bras. Your breasts will keep growing. Get a good bra that supports you well, but wait with nursing bras until after the delivery, once you have reached your maximum size.

During your first trimester you may not need maternity pants or skirts, but can use a belly band to hold up and hide your unbuttoned pants, or a pants expander that will allow you to keep wearing your pre-pregnancy pants for a while longer.

The second trimester maternity wear shopping will probably take place when you outgrow your bottom options even with the support of the belly band or pants expander. When you are ready for maternity pants & skirts, buy a pair of maternity jeans , basic pants that will expand with your pregnancy and one nice pair of pants or skirt for special events or work meetings.

During the third trimester, if you plan on breastfeeding, you can start looking at nursing tops and nursing dresses. Maternity and nursing clothes of high quality will grow with your pregnancy and then shrink with your sliming body after the delivery, saving you money and time, you can spend with your spouse before the delivery, or your newly expanded family, after you give birth.

So you and your partner-in-crime decided it is time to expand the family. Congratulations! While you think and act on that notion, there are a few things you want to take care of simultaneously to prepare your body for a healthy pregnancy.

• Control your weight. Get as close to your ideal weight as possible. Obesity and/or underweight can affect your baby’s health as well as your chances to conceive.
• This is the time to quit smoking. Avoiding secondhand smoke is important as well, and this is not the time to take chances. Smoking can cause birth defects, premature birth and low birth weight. It also increases risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and asthma.
• Stop drinking alcohol. Fetal alcohol syndrome can cause serious birth defects and learning disabilities.
• Quit recreational drugs. They all have an adverse effect on your baby – some can cause permanent brain damage and/or severe birth defects.
• Talk to your healthcare provider about prescription medications you are taking. Some drugs for heart disorders, blood thinners and some medications for depression, anxiety and other emotional disorders are not to be taken while pregnant.
• Start taking prenatal vitamins, including folic acid, calcium and other nutrients. They are important to a healthy pregnancy and baby, and are recommended three months before conception.
• Talk to your OBGYN about genetic testing you may need to consider depending on ethnicity and family health history.
• Find out your HIV status. HIV-positive women can spare their babies from contracting the disease if they are aware of their HIV status before delivery.

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