Pregnancy Rights in the Workplace

If you are working while pregnant, you should know your rights in the workplace. There are laws in place that protect pregnant women from discrimination and ensure that they have the accommodations they need to feel safe and comfortable while working. Keep reading to learn about these protections and make sure that you are being treated fairly at work.

Pregnancy Rights in the Workplace

Nine Pregnancy Myths and Facts Every Woman Must Be Aware Of

Take a look at this article to get an in-depth idea of the common myths and facts about pregnancy, which you probably didn’t hear about or know.



The period of pregnancy is thrilling. A typical pregnancy lasts forty weeks, during which a lot of things happen to a mother. Several developments that occur throughout this time may be expected, while others could appear fascinating or shocking.

Pregnancy also involves significant psychological and physical alterations that many pregnant women cannot comprehend or estimate at times. And hence, to avoid such unpredicted circumstances, many women go for pregnancy handbooks.

And seeing the list of dos and don'ts in a pregnancy handbook when you first start reading it can be overwhelming. Many of them may not be true.

Now no matter how well-intentioned your loved ones or friends are when they offer counsel, you frequently receive incorrect facts and, therefore, must decide which is true.

And to help you out, we outlined the nine pregnancy myths and facts every woman must know. Read the article to find out more!

What Should You Do If You Can’t Get Pregnant?

What Should You Do If You Can’t Get Pregnant?


You've reached a stage in your life where you want to have kids. Or, this could be a stage in your life where you want another child to add to the one you already have. Some time has passed since your first baby, and you're older and biologically different from back then. In either situation, you may be hit with the realization that pregnancy is no longer possible. This could be due to either male or female infertility, and it hits you like a ton of bricks when you find out. You feel like your world is crumbling as you can't add a child to this world. Thankfully, modern medicine means this isn't as big of a worry as it used to be. In fact, there are many things you can do when you can't get pregnant: 

6 Unexpected Symptoms of Pregnancy (Which Are Totally, Totally Normal)

Readers who have kids will understand all-too well that parenthood is an uncertain journey across unknowable terrain. Of course there are many people who can offer you part of the road map. Your own parents, friends and colleagues, parenting book and even blogs like this one can help you to navigate certain twists and turns on the long and winding path of parenthood. But ultimately, it’s a map you need to draw yourself. And you may well find that if and when your next child comes along, the topography has changed even more. If there’s one piece of advice this blog can impart to parents, dear reader, it’s to expect uncertainty. If fact, it’s just about the only thing you can rely on. Parenthood is, by definition, wracked with uncertainty. Parents constantly agonize over whether they’re doing the right thing, whether their actions as parents measure up to those of other parents, and whether they’re doing the right thing for their little ones.



What’s more, the uncertainty begins long before your first baby is born. Pregnancy is a beautiful experience… but it can also be terrifying. Your body changes in all kinds of ways, and even when your OB-GYN lets you know exactly what to expect, you’ll likely find that something surprises you every day of your pregnancy. The good news, however, is that while many of them seem shocking most of them are totally, totally normal and not necessarily an indicator of complications. Let’s take a closer look…

Chronic Stress During Pregnancy Tied to Early Labor

This is a guest post.


Pregnancy can be a time where you experience more changes at once, more than any other time in your life. Whether it’s emotional changes or physical, everything changes and it can be extremely overwhelming, especially if you don’t know what to expect.

From dealing with morning sickness to dealing with a whole world of responsibilities, there are all kinds of different factors that are now being introduced into your life that can turn your world upside down.

You may think that you’re ready for these changes, but one change particularly that you might not be expecting: is stress. Stress is something that seems to hit you right when you least expect it. It can disrupt your life and literally put you down constantly if you don’t know how to see it coming and put a stop to it.

So many people have this idea that being pregnant is butterflies and roses, so many individuals constantly think that when you’re pregnant, you’re just a mother, you don’t have to worry about anything else. But this is completely false.

The Perfect Mattress for Pregnant Women

This post contains affiliate links.

Pregnancy is a beautiful, miraculous occurrence, but let’s face it: it’s also extremely uncomfortable at times.  From swollen feet to morning sickness and everything in between, carrying a child is certainly no picnic. According to the Sleep Foundation, “78% of women report more disturbed sleep during pregnancy than at other times.” It can be difficult enough to sleep while pregnant, and the last thing you need is your mattress adding to your discomfort and inability to sleep. Memory foam mattresses as well as heated mattresses provide many benefits for women during their nine months of pregnancy and beyond.


Image Found HERE

Pregnancy Problems That No One Talks About


I'm going to tell you a story that not many people know about. When I was pregnant with my daughter, I was a nanny and use to take them regularly to this bounce house place. It was a little bit of a drive from their house, but totally worth it because the kids loved it. One day, my friend had invited us to come jump and I noticed that the girl I was watching had a dirty diaper. No big deal, they had awesome family restrooms. My friend watched the little boy I cared for while I went and changed the diaper.


 
The diaper was a bad one. So bad, I couldn't stand the smell and started getting sick. Actually, this was normal for me. I had terrible morning sickness with my first pregnancy, the difference this time.

5 Things to Take Care of During Pregnancy

This is a sponsored guest post.
 
Pregnancy can be the most important phase in the life of a woman, and if it’s the first time there is a lot of anticipation, anxiety experienced by the to-be parents. These are the nine most important months of your life when you are actually creating the basic character of new life. Here are five things to take care of during this phase to make it smooth and stress-free.


Physical Changes of Pregnancy {+ $50 CVS Gift Card Giveaway}

This post is sponsored by P&G and CVS. All opinions are my own.

People will tell you that your body will change after pregnancy and you won't believe them. You may say, I'm going to work out and et everything back to the way it was before (or better)! Yeah I said that too. And while you can get your pre-baby body back in some ways, there are some things that are just going to be different after you have a baby. Here are some things that changed for me, your experience (will hopefully) be different. Just be aware that this is also a TMI post (what is up with that this week), but there is a giveaway at the end of this one too. :)

Maintaining Back and Pelvic Support During Pregnancy

 
 
Although a woman's body is designed to carry and deliver a baby, it may still suffer as a consequence of pregnancy. A woman's back and pelvis can suffer stress from carrying a developing baby as well as because of hormonal changes. Coping with the stress is important in order to protect your back and pelvis throughout the pregnancy and beyond. The following tips will help you protect your back and pelvis during pregnancy.
 

Importance of Dental Health During Pregnancy And Beyond

This is a sponsored post written in partnership with One2One Network and Crest Pro-Health. All opinions are 100% my own.

The Importance of Dental Health During Pregnant and Beyond! #CrestProHealth
When my husband and I were trying to get pregnant with SweetPea, every online pregnancy/baby site told me how I should keep up with my regular dental visits or start going. I never even considered that this was an issue! But there are possible dental health problems during that can be elevated during pregnancy, such as: 

Benefits of Taking a Natural Probiotic While Pregnant

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser. #NaturalProbiotic #shop #bias




I have been fighting off colds left and right this pregnancy. I never really went through this with my first pregnancy. Based on the information I have found from the research I've done, the skin is our first line of defense from infection, but 60-70% of our immune system lies within our intestines. Pregnancy causes the immune system to work harder and taking a natural probiotic may decrease the risk of colds and respiratory infections. So each time I get better, I have turned around and just got another cold. BTW sneezing and coughing while pregnant stinks. Big time.

And the thing about having a cold? You basically can't take ANYTHING while you're pregnant. There is a HUGE list of medicine that you just can't take. I have heard the wonderful benefits of probiotics for a few years now, but never made the plunge. But when I found out that you can take them while you are pregnant (and I received confirmation from my doctor), I jumped all over the opportunity because something had to give.

About two weeks ago, I went to CVS to shop for Insync Natural Probiotic. Of course I checked out the magic coupon machine first, which I'm glad I did because I got to save $2 on any vitamin! It was very easy to find and along side all the other different varieties of probiotics.



Notice this disclaimer? I asked my obstetrician before taking Insync Natural Probiotic and she was excited to see that I was taking such a proactive approach to my health. So Doctor Recommended!



Everyone knows that probiotic consumption can treat constipation, indigestion, nausea, and vomiting by restoring the digestive system balance of healthy bacteria in the intestines and by promoting regularity. With increasing hormones, fatigue and stress, pregnant woman are more prone to these issues. Research shows that probiotics also help prevent urinary tract infections, yeast infections and skin inflammations like dermatitis, all of which are common complaints during pregnancy.

Plus there are TONS of benefits that can be passed on to baby even after they are born through the breastmilk!

During the recent ice storm, I went to my in-laws and forgot my probiotics at home so I couldn't take them. I could tell on those days that I didn't. My cold and cough has drastically improved as well as my digestive health since I first started taking Insync Probiotic. And I know what you're thinking, "I have a hard enough time taking my horse pill of a prenatal, how am I ever going to swallow another?" It isn't a as large as my prenatal that are prescribed from my doctor and it's thinner so it goes down smoother. I have been taking them both with a small glass of juice.



So what do you think about Insync Probiotic? You can keep up with Insync Natural Probiotcs online on Facebook or Twitter.

Have you ever considered taking probiotics? Did you know the benefits of taking a natural probiotic for you (pregnant or not) and baby?

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser.




Why I Want A Drug-Free Birth

Why I Want A Drug-Free Birth


People tell me I'm crazy because I don't want to find out the gender until birth and that because I don't want to have an epidural, I'm stupid because why would I take all that unnecessary pain when I don't have to. Well I have done my research. And this is why I have decided that I don't want to have an epidural this time around. I feel it is the mother's choice. And as long as you make an educated decision for your needs, then you are doing what is right for you. This is just why I have decided to go down this path this time around.


1. Epidurals can lead to sleepy babies which can be damaging to breastfeeding. I recently came across an article from Medical News Today that basically said just this. Sweet Pea was a super sleepy baby and it caused her to have a lazy latch which made it even more difficult considering she had lip tie. She would constantly fall asleep at the breast. And re-latching was uncomfortable, because you know being a first-time breastfeeding mom and all. Thank goodness we were able to make it 14 months, but I feel it could have been an easier process.

2. Back spasms...yikes! Reading all the stories on BabyCenter and WhatToExpect about other moms who had this happen to them, terrifies me. What if I'm not as lucky the second time around? This is what brought my husband on board with the no epidural ruling. He has back spasms periodically and so he knows I don't want to have to deal with that mess.

3. Risk being disconnected from labor because I can't feel contractions. PLUS being too numb can make you have trouble pushing which can lead to a possible cesarean. And I am terrified of c-sections.

4. Prove it to myself. "You won't win a medal for not having an epidural." True. But I feel it will be an empowering experience. I dilated to 9cm without an epidural when I was in labor with Sweet Pea and I felt that was brag worthy. Now my intentions are not to be able to brag, I just want to see if I can do it. I felt the ring of fire, I was getting into that mind set of just going to push the baby out, then the anesthesiologist came in. Machines failed me last time and so did medical intervention. The nurses said I wasn't even in labor because the machine wasn't picking up my contractions. I knew I was, but because I was a first time mom the nurses ignored me. I trust my body more than machines or medicine because of this.
Someone posted this comment on TheBump and I just loved it: "Why go through the pain if you don't have to?" "Why cook dinner when you could just get takeout or go to a restaurant? Why not watch TV instead of going to the gym? Because I like the challenge too."

5. Big needle in my back? No thanks! I was scared of this with Sweet Pea. And that's my main fear this time.

I was induced due to complications of pre-eclampsia with Sweet Pea. I want more than anything to be able to go into labor on my own. Going into this with the knowledge I have, I feel I can do it. More than anyone pressuring me to do what they want, I feel like I'm making an educated decision. Call me crazy, but our bodies were designed for this. I'm having a hospital birth, so if there are any complications my doctor will be right there. I'm learning that exercise before hand and breathing are the most important things to help me through this so I have been amping up my cardio. I know how to push this time, so I think I can beat my previous time of 45 minutes.

What are your thoughts on a non-epidural birth? What do you think about a mother's choice during labor? Tell me about your birth story, I'd love to hear it!





Welcome to the October 2013 Carnival of Natural Mothering! 

This article is a part of the Carnival of Natural Mothering hosted by GrowingSlower, Every Breath I Take, I Thought I Knew Mama, African Babies Don't Cry, and Adventures of Captain Destructo. This month's topic is Natural Birth Choices. Be sure to check out all of the participants' posts through the links at the bottom of this page.




Bloggers, visit GrowingSlower to sign up to be a part of next month's carnival. 




Barely the Size of a Kumquat

That's what I read on BabyCenter today (or a prune according to TheBump or a Strawberry if you look at my side bar and see my LilyPie ticker).

10 weeks: Baby is the size of a strawberry
Original Source

The exciting news this week? Baby has fingernails. FINGERNAILS!

Now for the other stuff. I want to stay open with all of my readers. I was in the beginning through my first pregnancy's journey and I want to through this one as well. With that said, I have a doctor's appointment on Monday. I have been spotting the past few days. Very lightly. But I am past the point where it could be implantation bleeding. I haven't been doing anything crazy, like lifting boulders or running a marathon. So I'm impatiently awaiting my appointment. Today, my nausea has subsided and that just makes me even more nervous. I never spotted with Sweet Pea. I read that some women have more cramps and spotting with the second, but I don't know how true that is and can't find any explanation as to why. My sister-in-law is a nurse and she said she thinks I am fine. It's so wonderful to have a medical professional in the family. She eased my mind a lot.

Sweet Pea eating kale at trivia

So needless to say, I have been taking it easy. I was craving steak yesterday and Hubby took me out to get one. We also played trivia for the first time in ever. Sweet Pea did so good that we are thinking of making it a weekly thing. Sweet Pea is also mastering potty training. She has become a pro. She even stayed dry through dinner last night. I couldn't be more proud.

My appointment on Monday makes me nervous because not only because of what I have going on, but I also have to go by myself. Hubby couldn't get it off work because of Labor Day being so close and my mother-in-law is watching Sweet Pea for us. The only time I went to an appointment by myself, I had to go straight to the hospital to be induced due to pre-eclampsia.
So needless to say I haven't been sleeping well and a bundle of nerves.

Official Nuby Mommy Blogger

Something else exciting has happened today, I got an email confirming I am official Nuby Mommy Blogger. So keep an eye out for exciting reviews and possible giveaways! I am very excited to be a part of their team because I have been loving Nuby products for almost three years now. And I can't wait to share their new products with all of you.

So that's how we are doing this week. How has your week been going? Please share below or if you have a post, I'd love to see for myself. :)




Wordless Wednesday - Pregnancy Problems

I thought this might be a fun little series to start. :)

#pregnancyProblems: Morning Sickness

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