The Pregnant Pause

When pregnant, one of the choices you’ll be researching and deciding on is how to feed your baby. Breastfeeding is an easy and natural way to feed baby, but formula feeding is a more convenient option for some mothers. When making your decision, take time to research all your options and ask yourself a few important questions.

Will you be working or staying home?

Will you have time to express milk at work for your caregiver to feed your baby?

What are your beliefs about breastfeeding and formula feeding? Are the accurate?

Take time to educate yourself about the benefits and drawbacks of both types of feeding before you make a decision. You’ll be glad you gave the matter the thought it deserves.

When you’re pregnant, every little bit of activity is a stretch. Chasing older children, parenting, working, and running errands can leave you with no energy left at the end of the day. However, it’s important to try to fit in a bit of daily exercise, as well.

Light exercises, like walking, swimming, or yoga are best for pregnant women. Check with your doctor or midwife before beginning any type of exercise routine, especially if you’ve had bleeding episodes or other health problems during your pregnancy.

Try to fit in 30 minutes of light exercise 2-3 times per week. Doing so will help with fatigue, and help your body be strong and flexible when you give birth.

As my pregnancy continues, I’m feeling more of a need for organization in my home - something my friends and family can tell you is a rare event. Sorting, decluttering, and organizing are all happening at once, and the house looks far better than it has for months. Of course, the three months I spent on the couch throwing up didn’t help the state of affairs, either.

www.flylady.net has tons of useful information, tips, and a forum for anyone who is interested in getting their home organized and running smoothly before baby comes along. There’s even a forum for pregnant moms who are organizing - something we can all use!  If you struggle with household, time, or financial management (or even all of the above), this is a great free resource that you can use to start getting organized.

Happy Nesting!

As a pregnant woman, it may have never occurred to you that you have the ability to make a variety of decisions about your birth. If this is your first pregnancy, take the time to research a variety of childbirth educators and styles. Take classes and read books about things that interest you, such as natural childbirth, home birth, hospital birth, and breastfeeding. New mothers have so many decisions to make about their birthing experience that they sometimes get overwhelmed. However, don’t allow the fact that you’re overwhelmed to overshadow your decision making power. This is your baby, your family, and your birth. Today just might be the day to decide what type of birth YOU want.