A Healthy Mom Means a Healthy Baby: 3 Important Pregnancy Health Tips to Practice Today

If you’re pregnant or trying to conceive, then you’re probably overwhelmed by all the information surrounding the topic. You can’t do this, you shouldn’t do that, you can’t eat this, and the list goes on and on.

The good news is that you can sit back and relax. It’s time to cut to the chase with the top three tips that you can use today to have a healthy, safe, and happy pregnancy before you welcome your bundle of joy into the world:

Consider your dental hygiene. When you’re pregnant, the last thing on your list may be making a dental appointment. But due to higher levels of progesterone and hormone changes during pregnancy, it can promote increased bacterial growth on your teeth. Basically, your gums will be much more susceptible to infection and inflammation, which leads …

Get This Baby Outta Me! Will Old Wives Tales Work?

Anyone who’s been pregnant before can tell you that they scoffed at all of the old wives tales and superstitions that everyone and their mother tried to share with them. That was, until they found themselves two or even three weeks overdue with no end in sight.

If you find yourself in the same predicament, or even if you’re just a little bit curious about how to induce labor naturally, superstitions surrounding labor and delivery are worth exploring. More and more expectant mothers are considering these alternative methods, according to a recent study from Ohio State University. Roughly 50% of mamas who are 37 weeks pregnant have tried different superstitious methods to stimulate labor, including masturbation, sex, and eating spicy food.

The good news is that none of the above methods are harmful, so many pregnant ladies …

3 Reasons to Get a Prenatal Massage

Massage has been used for centuries to improve health, relieve stress, and ease tension in the muscles. And who would benefit more from this than a mom-to-be? Pregnant women often experience strain and muscle cramps as a result of carrying extra weight coupled with changes in their growing bodies.

Prenatal massage is an excellent way for a pregnant woman to relax, unwind, and relieve stress safely and naturally.

Here are some of the top reasons to enjoy a prenatal massage today:

Reduce Anxiety: Studies have confirmed that regular massage treatments throughout pregnancy can help to reduce anxiety and even alleviate depression. Most prenatal massage is done through the lighter therapy of Swedish massage, which helps to relax tension in the muscles and improve circulation using mild pressure applied to the muscles. Swedish massage is the recommended form …

How to Name Your Baby

Many of us have the perfect baby names picked out by the time we hit fifth grade. But what happens if you aren’t one of the “lucky ones” that made up your mind well before puberty? Or what if your spouse completely derails your plan and vetoes all of your favorite baby names because they are “too girly”?

Don’t let the baby naming blues get you down! Whether you are totally stumped or just can’t come to a compromise with your spouse, here are a few tips that you can use to pick out the perfect name for your bundle of joy well before he or she born:

What is your baby naming style? This could be where you and your spouse fall into a disagreement. Perhaps you are a traditional namer who likes Michael or Jessica. Your …

First-Ever Infertility Tax Credit Legislation Could Improve Access to Medical Treatment and Encourage Potential Donors

On May 12, 2011, New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand introduced the first-ever legislation that, if passed, would dramatically improve access to infertility medical treatment by way of tax credits. The Family Act of 2011 fills a void in current political legislation that aims to directly support the growth of families through the course of in vitro fertilization.

In the United States today, the cost of in vitro fertilization starts at around $12,400 per cycle. Most often, it takes multiple cycles of IVF in order for it to prove to be effective and still, at the end of your treatment, there is no guarantee that you will come out with the success you had hoped for.

Infertility is recognized by the World Health Organization as a legitimate disease and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has …

Tips For an Active Pregnancy

This is a guest post by Olivia, a woman who is passionate about fertility awareness and women’s health. You can find her at Trying to Conceive, where you can also download a free ovulation calendar to help you get pregnant.

Eating well, keeping stress at bay, and exercising regularly are all important for everybody, but perhaps even more-so for expectant moms. Women who work out or are otherwise physically active might heave easier and more enjoyable pregnancies. Prenatal workouts and fresh air can even help reduce pregnancy signs like morning sickness, fatigue, and mood swings. But how do you stay active?

Prenatal exercises and an active lifestyle are suitable for almost every woman. Only if you are on bed rest for a threatened miscarriage or pre-term labor should you shun physical activities, as they …