A birth plan allows for everyone involved in the birthing process to know what your wishes are for before, during, and after labor. A birthing plan contains information such as: your healthcare provider, who you want present during labor and birth, what positions you want to be in for labor, if and what drugs you would like to ease pain during labor, if you want to breastfeed your baby, if you want your baby boy circumcised, and special traditions that take place when the bab

Nutrition is very important during pregnancy because because your baby requires certain nutrients to develop. Eating a balanced diet helps the baby to be healthy and can minimize some symptoms like nausea and constipation. It’s also important to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water. Some things need to be restricted or avoided altogether during pregnancy. Caffeine and artificial sweeteners should be restricted. Pregnant women can safely have 200 mg or less of caffeine per

Maintaining a healthy weight before pregnancy and gaining a healthy amount of weight during pregnancy is important. Living a healthy lifestyle helps the baby to grow and develop and also helps create a more positive pregnancy and birthing experience for the mother. On the other hand, the risk of a baby being born with a birth defect increases slightly when their mother is obese. You have probably heard the saying “eating for two” while pregnant, however, that is an exaggerati

Exercising while pregnant is safe for women who are healthy and do not have any pregnancy complications. Not only is it safe, there are also multiple benefits, including: easing back pain, reducing constipation, promoting healthy weight gain, and decrease the risk of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and cesarean delivery. It is recommended that pregnant women exercise at a moderate intensity for 150 minutes per week. Some exercises that are safe during pregnancy are: walki

Women who are pregnant or are trying to become pregnant should make sure they are getting enough folate/folic acid in their diet. It is recommended that pregnant women get 400-800 mcg of folic acid per day. Folic acid helps to prevent miscarriage and birth defects. Folic acid can be taken in a supplement, like a prenatal vitamin, and there are also lots of ways to get folate through food. Foods that are high in folate are broccoli, spinach, lettuce, asparagus, okra, lemons, b

There are three different settings to give birth in: your home, a birthing center, and the hospital. Home birth may seem like a new concept to some, but before the 1900’s, home births were the norm. Home birth are a safe alternative for women who are having a healthy, low-risk pregnancy. During a home birth, a midwife will come to the home once a woman starts to go into labor. Midwives usually bring with them the following: Oxygen for the baby if needed IV’s for mom if she be

There is a widespread belief that chiropractors are only meant to work with back or neck pain. This is so far beyond the truth! Chiropractors are doctors that focus on the function of the spine and nervous system. If someone is not in pain, it doesn’t exclude them from being a great candidate for chiropractic care. There are so many benefits to being adjusted. If you are newly pregnant or even in the second or third trimester, chiropractic care can do so much for you! First o

Only a couple generations ago, women were being x-rayed while pregnant. At that time, it was considered protocol and a safe way to monitor pregnancy. Decades pass and the FDA pronounce x-rays to be unsafe and the new way to track a woman’s pregnancy is through an ultrasound. We’ve all seen the pictures. They’ve been proudly posted on the fridge and online. You can even get a 3-D version of these pictures now! But how safe are ultrasounds, really? It was only a short time ago