What You Need Before Meeting with an Obstetrician

A 3D ultrasound taken of a fetus at 17 weeks.

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An obstetrician needs to understand you before they can help you make the best decisions for you and your baby. So, there are a few things that you need to collect before meeting the obstetrician that you found on canada 411.

The first thing you need to be certain of is that you have is your medical records. There are a few important items on them that are necessary for an obstetrician to know. You should include information on past pregnancies, miscarriages, or records of your past cycles. Also, included in your medical information are any medical conditions which change during pregnancy and need monitoring.

A listing of current medications is essential. Make certain to include all of your over the counter drugs and any herb supplements you are taking. The herbal supplements are important to list because of their exposure to your baby.

Another thing you will need is a list of the things you eat. An obstetrician will likely ask about your diet. They are checking to see if you are getting adequate nutrition.

You will also need a list of any questions or concerns that you want to bring up. Sometimes, those questions get forgotten during the meeting. Writing them down will make sure that you get answers you need before you leave the office and will save you the hassle of calling later.

Finally, don’t forget your insurance card. It is necessary to have it handy if something has changed with your insurance. Don’t expect the office to know about any changes your insurance company has made before the visit.

Filed Under: Advice, Health Tagged With: , ,

Choosing the Right Doctor During Pregnancy

Choosing the doctor that will help throughout your pregnancy is a major decision since having a child is a long process in which there are no redo’s. Thus, during pregnancy you will be spending a lot of time with your doctor and you want to be assured that he or she is making the right decisions for your baby. But when finding the right doctor, all the work falls on your shoulders.

While pregnancy is a life-altering event, the simple characteristic of convenience should be a factor because the baby won’t wait for anyone. Therefore, getting to your doctor in a timely manner is crucial. Finding a reputable, local doctor is easily done online, where you can acquire location information and read reviews. And in the case of substantial complications during labor, you can also find online local legal help by searching terms like “birth injury attorneys California,” or whichever state applies to you.

Trusting your doctor is another significant consideration when deciding which obstetrician you will spend the next nine difficult months with. Since it can be tough to decide which doctor to trust, it’s best to follow the advice of someone already close to you, such as a friend or family member. A friend or family member will be able to provide detailed information about a trusted doctor you will not find anywhere else. Another great resource for making the right choice is your current doctor who will be able to provide a recommendation of someone in their medical facility or another doctor nearby.

Filed Under: General, Health Tagged With: , ,

Getting in tip top form before trying for a baby

If you’re planning for a child you want to give that little person the very best start in life possible and here are a few tips to get your bodies in tip top form and ready to fall pregnant!

Firstly don’t put too much pressure on yourselves! Relax and enjoy the quiet times as all too soon you will have another person in your life waking you up for 2am feeds.  Stress on a relationship is not good for you and certainly not good for your bodies!

Know your bodies.  Really get in tune with yourself.  Work out the menstural cycle and the optimum window of opportunity for conception. A general rule is five days leading up to ovulation and 12 hours after.  Work within this timeframe for optimum chances of conception

CYCLE : menstrual cycle tracker for women

Image by *Luana* via Flickr

Enjoy yourselves! Dont make sex a chore, or something that has to get done before you go to work because its the “right time”.  If you know your cycle then plan intimate dates and romantic dinners around these times.  Discover each other again and re-ignite that passion!

Look after your body externally.  Be careful which tampons you use and the chemicals that are in vaginal washes and sprays. Go for organic, natural products where possible.

Look after your body on the inside, and that goes for the men too!  Take extra vitamins and look at your diet.  For healthy sperm go for a healthy heart diet full of oatmeal, veggies and a reduction in red meat and alcohol which can be attributed to restricted blood flow.

In summary, listen to your body, go natural and organic where possible and get your body in the best shape it can be to increasst your chances of conception.

Newborn Baby - Edinburgh Photographer

Filed Under: Reproductive health Tagged With: , ,

Improving Your Chances of Starting a Family

Family watching television, c. 1958

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Starting a family with a significant other can be a lot of work. While a lot of families start out naturally, some families take a little planning and extra help to get started. If you are considering starting a family with your significant other, here are some things you should keep in mind that can help improve your chances of becoming pregnant.

Dietary Needs. It might be surprising to find out that what you eat can really affect your chances of becoming pregnant. It is important to try to avoid processed foods or foods that are high in fat or sodium as they can reduce your chances of becoming pregnant.

Exercise Regularly. Research shows that those who exercise regularly and are fit have a better chance of becoming pregnant than those who lead a sedentary lifestyle. If you are trying to become pregnant you should try to increase the amount of exercise you do. This can include relaxation methods like yoga, breathing methods or cardio workouts.

Avoid Stress. It is important to reduce the amount of stress that you experience if you are trying to get pregnant. Research has shown that those that lead a relaxing lifestyle will improve their chances of becoming pregnant. Relaxation methods can include taking a warm bath in the evening or taking part in yoga or meditation. As long as the body is relaxed, you’ll be able to improve your chances of becoming pregnant.

By following these steps you can improve your chances of becoming pregnant. It is important to remember that the moment you notice the first signs of pregnancy you should take a pregnancy test to confirm the results. Regardless of what the test results show, it is a good idea to consult with a health care provider as they can recommend what to do next or better ways to improve your chances of becoming pregnant.

Filed Under: Sexual Education, Sexual health Tagged With: ,

Family Planning and Birth Control

If you are married or in a committed relationship and you and your partner are not ready for children yet,it’s important todiscuss the various forms of birth control. Some types work better than others, thus decreasing or eliminating the possibility of an unplanned pregnancy.

Types of birth control include the use of condoms, spermicidal, or other exterior forms of birth control. Internal forms of birth control includediaphragms and intra-uterine devices (IUDs), and prescription birth control. Condoms and spermicidal can purchased without a prescription; IUDs have to be implanted by a health care professional; and prescription birth control requires a written prescription.

Depending on the type of birth control you use, your health insurance may cover all or most of the cost. This may only be true, however, for devices that require a minor medical procedure to implant or for prescription birth control such as pills and birth control shots.

If you do not have health insurance, now is a good time to look into getting some. Health insurance doesn’t have to be very expensive if you compare rates and benefits, and one of the easiest ways to do this is to get online insurance quotes.

By entering “online insurance quotes” into a search engine, then specifying “health insurance” by using the “&” symbol or entering “for health insurance” or similar wording after the initial entry, you can find a good deal of information on health insurance. From there, you can browse those sites that you think will offer you the best coverage for the most reasonable price.

When considering the type of health insurance you will need, don’t forget to think about the future. Check to see if the online insurance quotes you receive are from companies that will allow you to add other family members to the coverage. This will be especially important when you and your partner finally decide you are ready to start a family.

Filed Under: Advice, Sexual health Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Sorting Through the Myths of Birth Control and Contraception

When it comes to the different types of birth control and ideas behind contraception there are a lot of myths and old wives tales out there. While some of them might be rooted in fact, a vast majority of the commonly heard ideas about birth control and contraception is widely misinformed. The problem with this vast amount of misinformation is that if someone were to follow it they could end up with an unexpected pregnancy.

Here are some of the common myths regarding pregnancy, birth control and contraception that will be sorted out.

Breast Feeding Prevents Pregnancy. Many women believe that just because they are breast feeding they cannot become pregnant. This is not 100% true. While some women who breast feed might have their ovulation postponed, not every women does which means that they can become pregnant.

Having Sex in a Certain Position will Prevent Pregnancy. This is 100% completely false. It does not matter how you are engaging in a sexual relationship the fact of the matter is the sperm goes inside the vagina which can cause a pregnancy to occur.

Plastic Wrap as A Condom. This is a widely believed myth that if a male uses plastic wrap or some other form of plastic it is the same as a condom. The problem is that these do not fit well and can often times have holes which will cause a pregnancy to occur.

Showering Will Prevent Pregnancy. This goes along with the sex in certain positions belief. Showering will not prevent pregnancy as the sperm has already entered the vagina. The same goes with urinating after sex.

The Pill and Patch Work Right Away. In most cases the pill or birth control patch will take up to a month to work. A back-up method is recommended until the body can regulate itself and prevent ovulation from occurring.

Filed Under: Health, Sexual Education Tagged With: , ,
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