Are routine ultrasounds safe?

Well, that depends on who you ask. It seems that the majority of medical professionals would say “Yes”. 

However, there is an ever-growing number of professionals and mama’s who are shying away from the idea of getting routine ultrasounds during pregnancy.

In this article, I will do my best to give you the facts and let you decide. As with anything, there are benefits and risks. As parents, it’s up to us to decide what we think is best for our families! It’s also important to talk to your healthcare provider and share any concerns you have with them.

Please note: I am not a licensed medical professional. You should always talk to your healthcare provider about any medical concerns that you have. 

What Is An Ultrasound?

So what is an ultrasound anyway?

Well, an ultrasound is done by a trained professional who uses a machine that transmits sound waves. These soundwaves travel throughout the body and bounce back towards the transducer (a wand like device that emits the soundwaves) once they hit a boundary between soft tissues. 

The sound waves that bounced back are what the machine reads to create the images of the body that you see on the screen during the ultrasound.

Pretty neat technology! 

Ultrasound testing is used for all sorts of things. But when talking about pregnancy, they’re used to monitor  growing baby and to determine if there are any problems during development. 

What Are The Types Of Ultrasounds?

There are several different types of ultrasounds, but they fall into two main categories…

Transvaginal Ultrasound: Most often used during the early stages of pregnancy. The transducer is placed inside the vagina to emit sounds frequencies and gather reflections.

Transabdominal Ultrasound: Used for the later stages of pregnancy, the transducer is placed on the belly and moved around to locate baby. This is the one that we always see in movies and where they use the jelly.

Within the Transabdominal ultrasound category, there are several different variants that can be used when trying to look for something more specific. 

• 3D ultrasound: Creates a 3D image of baby. This is typically done when more detail is needed to determine if defects exist within neural tubes or facial features.
• 4D ultrasound: Also known as a 3D dynamic ultrasound. The main difference with the 4D is that it is a motion video rather than a flat image of a baby. The 4D captures a more detailed image of baby’s body- especially their facial features. 
• Fetal echocardiography: This ultrasound is specifically used to look at baby’s heart and determine if there are any heart defects or abnormalities
• Doppler Ultrasound: More commonly used to look at movement within blood vessels. The best use for a doppler is to evaluate the blood flow of baby and also your placenta!

How Many Ultrasounds Do They Give And What Are They Looking for?

There is no official schedule for how many ultrasounds are given. Generally, though there are two routine ultrasounds. More are given if the provider believes there is a problem. 

6-9 Week Transvaginal Ultrasound: This one is used to learn several things… 

• Determine if there is a heartbeat, and how many- could be twins!
• Estimate the due date
• Check gestation is occurring where it should. Not tubular or ectopic.

18-22 Week Transabdominal Ultrasound: Provides a more detailed image and also baby is larger so there’s more to see! Things they’re looking for during this ultrasound are… 

• Locate the organs to determine if they’re developing properly
• Checking on the placenta location and if there is the correct amount
• Sex of baby
• Possible characteristics of Down Syndrome 

If there are additional questions about gestation, placenta location, or possible complications then more ultrasounds may be ordered in addition to the usual two.

However, studies are coming out that the number of ultrasounds given is on the rise and that pregnant women receive an average of 5.2 ultrasound scans while pregnant. 

This is a 90% increase since 2004! Far more than the 2 routine scans that we so often hear about.

For my recent pregnancy, I ended up having 4, so I can understand where the 5.2 average is coming from. 

What are the benefits of Ultrasounds?

Screening for deformities 

One of the biggest benefits of getting routine ultrasound screenings during pregnancy is that it allows healthcare providers to identify and diagnose potential problems early on with baby. 

Mainly deformities of organs, limbs, or tissue. This can be important information to know as early as possible. However one must be cautious of a misdiagnosis which I explain later on in my post.

Determining Due Date

If done in the first trimester, ultrasounds are a great way to determine the due date of the baby. Especially if mom doesn’t have regular periods or can’t remember the date of her last menstruation cycle

Learning the Sex of the Baby

When I found out I was pregnant I was DYING to know if we were having a boy or girl. Greg wanted to wait it out till birth but- but I couldn’t!

Ultrasounds can easily and accurately identify what the sex of your little one is! 

What are the risks of Ultrasounds?

Despite the benefits of ultrasounds, there are some risks! All we can do as parents is weigh the benefits and risks of ultrasounds and decide what is best for the health and well-being of us and our children. 

There is no right or wrong answer- it’s what you decide is best for you! 

Long Term Effect Of Ultrasounds Are Unknown

Despite how often they’re given, very little is known about the long-term effects of ultrasounds on babies. The increasing use of ultrasounds on pregnant women is also concerning.

Ultrasounds can heat tissue which in some cases can create pockets of gas in body fluids or tissues. This is called cavitation.

As a result, the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine recommends that ultrasounds only be used when necessary. Additional Ultrasound sessions for “keepsakes” 3D-4D which is a growing trend are not encouraged. If you want a photo, it’s best to get it quickly during one of the routine sessions.

Ultrasounds have never been declared as “safe”

Just because there is no indication of a problem- does not mean that something is “safe”. In fact, most studies done to determine if ultrasounds are safe for use during pregnancy are based on old technology. 

According to a research paper in 2006 by radiologists at the University of California, San Diego. In 1992 at the request of manufacturers, the output by ultrasound machines was increased by eight time improve image quality!

What’s really concerning here  is that most safety studies were done prior to this 1992 change. 

The public is relying on old safety studies that are no longer valid. Today’s machine put out 8x more energy!

The American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine recognizes this, but still stands by saying there is no true evidence suggesting that they’re unsafe.

They are often misinterpreted leading to unnecessary medical procedures

Ultrasound results are too often misinterpreted. A study done in France between 2006-2009 found that approximately 8-9% of patients were falsely diagnosed. The sad thing is that medical actions are then unnecessarily taken, sometimes even leading to aborting the baby.

If you’re faced with a diagnosis and are considering drastic medical intervention- it may pay to get a second opinion elsewhere.

Ultrasounds are not shown to improve outcomes in birth

This last point I think really brings everything into perspective. A study out of Great Britain explains that 

Routine ultrasound scanning does not improve the outcome of pregnancy in terms of an increased number of live births or of reduced perinatal morbidity. Routine ultrasound scanning may be effective and useful as a screening for malformation. Its use for this purpose, however, should be made explicit and take into account the risk of false positive diagnosis in addition to ethical issues.

What ultrasounds do usually lead to? More medical interventions. 

Are Ultrasounds Proven to Be Safe?

There have been no studies that I’ve been able to come across that prove ultrasounds to be safe for babies. If you come across any- please send them to me!

The only thing it seems we have to go off of is the absence of any problems. At which point it’s merely assumed that ultrasounds are safe.

All of the studies that were conducted on ultrasound safety seem to have been on machines from back in the 90’s that use 1/8th the amount of energy compared to the machines used today. 

Knowing all this, experts say to only use ultrasound machines when medically necessary, meaning no keepsake sessions!

I’ve said this already a few times but it’s worth repeating. You need to do what’s best for you and your family. Talk with your partner, talk with your healthcare provider, and do what you feel is best. 

I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing an ultrasound. But it’s important to know what risks come with it. Hopefully this article shed some light on this for you. 

Our personal decision on Ultrasounds

During my pregnancy I received 4 ultrasounds. 

• 5 weeks: I had some bad cramping and wanted to make sure it wasn’t ectopic
• 8 weeks: Standard ultrasound to confirm pregnancy
• 20 weeks: Standard ultrasound for anatomy and measurement growth
• 32 weeks: Growth ultrasound and provider also wanted to check on placenta fluid that they had noticed on the 20 week scan. 

You can read more about My COVID-19 Natural Birth Story (And How It Didn’t Go To Plan)

Looking back on it I was pretty quick to receive that ultrasound at 5 weeks. Because I was a first-time mom not knowing what to expect I was worried something was going wrong. Next time around I won’t be so quick to get in for an additional ultrasound unless there is medical need.

In the future I’m still on the fence whether I’d opt out of the 8 week ultrasound or not. Even though there isn’t a huge medical need for it, it made my pregnancy seem “real” and I had that deeper connection with my little bean. But I think as my confidence as a new mother continues to grow that I’ll likely opt out of the 8 week ultrasound. 

After learning about the increased risks specifically around a 3D and 4D ultrasound, I can say that I will be avoiding them- especially if done just for keep sake photos.

So- are ultrasounds safe? Who knows….overall I think Ultrasounds are a great tool when deemed medically necessary. However the overuse within the medical community is concerning to me.

How about you- What are your thoughts on Ultrasounds? Do you think exposure should be limited? Or are you comfortable with going in for multiple scans during pregnancy?

The post Are Ultrasounds Safe? Consider The Risks Before Your Next Appointment! appeared first on Raising Them Naturally.

What I’m learning as a new parent is that oftentimes “less is more”. In other words, doing less (or nothing) in certain situations can actually be more beneficial for our children than “doing something”.

Greg and I believe that delayed cord clamping brings so many benefits to the table. In today’s post, I’ll share why we think that and why a growing number of mama’s and science itself is starting to think so too. 

As you’re writing your birth plan with your partner, take the time to do the research and make a decision BEFORE the birth of your child. Don’t just take our word for it- do what you believe is best! 

What Is Delayed Cord Clamping

Delayed cord clamping is pretty straightforward to explain:

It’s when the umbilical cord isn’t clamped right away after birth. 

The simple act of not clamping the cord immediately after birth can have a profound effect on your little one. Allowing billions of red and white blood cells, as well as other important bodily fluids to make their way back to baby. 

Only in recent history has the concept of “immediate cord clamping” been in practice. This is when a clamp is placed on the umbilical cord immediately after birth. Thus blocking the returning blood and fluid from within the placenta that your baby needs.

How Long to Wait Until Cutting The Cord?

The exact time of when to clamp the cord isn’t completely agreed upon…

 The WHO recommends waiting until 1-3 minutes before clamping. 

Whereas the ACOG (American Academy of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) recommends doing so 30-60 seconds after birth. 

However, the exact timing of when to clamp the cord varies from baby to baby. The most important indicator of when to clamp the cord is to look at the umbilical cord itself! 

I know right- shocker

A good indicator of when to clamp the cord is when it…

• Stops pulsating
• Is limp
• Turns white

This could take 3 minutes, it could take 10! It will vary from baby to baby.

The important thing is that when the above three criteria are met, it’s a good indicator that baby has received all remaining fluid within the cord. It would then be time to clamp and cut! 

Benefits Of Delayed Cord Clamping

1. Increased Iron levels- lower chance of Anemia

One of the biggest benefits of delayed cord clamping is the return flow of blood from the placenta and umbilical cord back into baby. Within 5 minutes of letting the cord empty back into baby, an estimated 50% of the baby’s iron is returned. 

This increased store of iron is then used up within baby’s first 6 months of life. At which point most babies start eating solid food! Hopefully iron-rich foods!

See!! Nature has a plan for everything. It’s amazing when you step back and think about it

Iron’s role within the body

Iron plays an incredible role within the body. If you’ve ever cut your finger and sucked on it and tasted a slightly metal taste- that’s the iron within your blood!

Babies need proper iron levels to create hemoglobin. Hemoglobin’s role is to carry oxygen through the bloodstream, something that’s very important as baby’s respiratory system comes online for the first time! 

When iron levels are too low baby may become anemic and display the following symptoms

• Pale
• Slow weight gain
• No appetite
• Irritable
• Develop more slowly

Now if your child wasn’t able to have their cord clamping delayed- don’t freak out! Babies are born with iron reserves that come from mama. On top of that, babies will get some additional iron through breast milk! 

Your baby still has iron, just not as much compared to a baby that had their cord clamping delayed.

Supplementation 

If you have a concern about the iron levels of your little one, be sure to consult with your family doctor or pediatrician! 

Generally speaking, be very careful about assuming your child needs additional iron supplementation. Too much iron through the form of supplementation can be harmful to your child. Instead, focus on eating iron-rich foods for mama, and for baby once they’re ready for solids!

2. Improves early brain development

Another huge benefit of delayed cord clamping is the improvement of early brain development for newborns! As a result of waiting to clamp the cord, more red blood cells are returned to baby.

This means more iron for oligodendrocytes which produce myelin. Myelin form protective barriers around nerves and are crucial for transporting electrical impulses from the brain to the rest of the body. 

In simpler terms, by allowing the red blood cells to return to baby-  it improves things like fine motor skills, and sensory abilities. 

3. Increased Oxygen Levels

Studies have shown that full term babies who had their cord clamping delayed had increased oxygen levels compared to those who were clamped immediately.

This is again a result of higher hemoglobin levels which help to not only carry oxygen throughout the body, but also to regulate it. 

This is key because as baby’s respiratory system comes online and oxygen levels increase, the need for oxygen regulation is greater. 

As it happens to turn out, supplemental oxygen is the most widely used agent when it comes to neonatal care. Approximately 1 in 10 babies receive it. With many many babies having their cords clamped immediately- there may be a correlation here worth exploring! Are babies who have their cord clamped immediately more likely to have supplemental oxygen? I couldn’t find a definitive answer, but reasoning could led us to this conclusion. You be the judge! 

Supplemental oxygen can be dangerous to baby and can cause Retinopathy of Prematurity, Chronic Lung Disease, Hemorrhaging or even Lymphatic Leukemia if proper precautions aren’t followed.

This is something I did not realize, and with the high rate of babies needing it- it’s something that I’ll want to learn more about before my next child is born!

4. Huge Positive Impact For Preemies!

For those babies who are preemies there are numerous studies on the benefits of delayed cord clamping such as 

• Higher Blood Pressure
• Increased blood volume
• More optimal oxygen flow
• Fewer days on oxygen and ventilation
• Less likely to need blood transfusions
• Decreased chance of brain bleeds 

It would seem that delaying cord clamping is even more important for preemies than it is for full term babies!

What I’ve learned from this so far is this. The umbilical cord is what’s given your baby life for 9 months in the womb. So it only makes sense to continue to let it do its job for a few more minutes after birth. 

This is clearly evident in this preemie example. 

5. Stabilizes Heart Rate and Blood Pressure

Immediately after birth- there are a TON of changes happening for baby. For the first time, life support systems like the respiratory system are becoming independent.

Keeping the umbilical cord attached for as long as possible helps to bridge the gap between being in the uterus inside mama, and surviving on it’s own in the outside world.

Keeping the cord attached allows for any remaining blood, and thus oxygen to come into the body which helps to the heart rate and blood pressure to stabilize.  

6. It’s Life Saving!

Two studies done in 2017 from the University of Sydney involving 3,000 babies with delaying cord clamping at least 60 seconds after birth found some amazing results!

“We estimate that for every thousand very preterm babies born more than ten weeks early, delayed clamping will save up to 100 additional lives compared with immediate clamping,” said the University of Sydney’s Associate Professor David Osborn, the review’s lead author and a neonatal specialist at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

“This means that, worldwide, using delayed clamping instead of immediate clamping can be expected to save between 11,000 and 100,000 additional lives every year.”

This is truly a great discovery and is yet another very strong reason to consider delayed cord clamping for your child. 

Delayed Cord Clamping Is How Nature Intended Birth 

There’s something to be said about sitting back and observing nature and thinking about how we can apply some things within our own lives.

For instance, not a single animal in the wild once a baby is born attempts to bite off the umbilical cord. Instead, it falls off when it’s ready! Humans are the only ones on this planet who are in a mad rush to clamp the cord immediately after birth! 

Think about that for a moment….

As a natural minded mama, I believe that Nature’s intuition (which works through God’s design) should be followed and closely examined. Instead of being swept away and ignored as what’s so commonly done by many today.

Many studies have been done on the benefits of delayed cord clamping, if only we listened to nature a little more often, we could potentially save ourselves so much grief later on! 

How to Request Delayed Cord Clamping

Maybe you’ve decided that you would like to delay the clamping of your newborns umbilical cord. That’s great! But how do you request it?

Three things to keep in mind here…

1. 1. Talk with your doula, midwife or healthcare provider! Be sure to bring this up as soon as you can. The more time you have to discuss your preferences with them. The better!
   2. Add delayed cord clamping to your birth plan! Your birth plan is a great place to indicate your desire to wait to clamp the cord. You are writing a birth plan right? Hopefully you are! If not, check out our post on what a birth plan is and why you should consider one. Sitting down and taking the time to write a birth plan with my husband was one of the best things we did to prepare for our child’s birth. If you give it your full effort- I think you’ll agree!
   3. Be sure to remind your provider several times once in labor that you wish to have a delayed cord clamp. Healthcare providers are very busy individuals and most don’t mind the friendly reminder! This especially rings true in a hospital setting where one doctor is seeing many patients at once.

Risks of Delayed Cord clamping

There are some risks associated with delayed cord clamping- Jaundice being the most prevalent. However, they’re very small and the benefits appear to outweigh any risks. 

Increase Chance Of Jaundice 

According to the Cleveland Clinic, Jaundice is a condition in which the skin, sclera (whites of the eyes) and mucous membranes turn yellow. 

It’s caused by an elevated amount of bilirubin which is a natural waste product of red blood cells. This makes sense because delayed cord clamping increases the amount of blood within baby.  With baby’s liver not fully functioning yet, it struggles to keep up to process the bilirubin out of the body. The result is Jaundice. 

Jaundice is common in babies born before 38 weeks and preemies. In most cases, no treatment is necessary and the risk of further complications is rare. 

What’s your thought on delayed cord clamping? Is this something you’ll be doing for your little one? If you’ve already done it- would you do it again? 

The post Benefits Of Delayed Cord Clamping + Why It’s Becoming The New Norm appeared first on Raising Them Naturally.

You may think it’s a weight issue but actually, it could have very little to do with your weight! It could be a muscle separation issue called- Diastasis Recti.

After the birth of our son in January I’ve noticed I have some separation, so I’m beginning to work on this and beginning to learn what’s working for me.

What Is Diastasis Recti?

Simply put, Diastasis Recti is a gap in the abdominal wall muscles. This is when your six-pack muscles are stretched sideways during pregnancy as the uterus expands. 

After pregnancy, the tummy shrinks but doesn’t fully return to normal because the connective tissues are stretched leaving mama with that half pregnant look! Exercises and physical therapy are then used to assist those tissues to return to their normal elasticity.  

Before researching for this article I had no idea what Diastasis Recti was- much less what exercises I could do to help improve it.

I was shocked to learn that between 66% to 100% of women experience Diastasis Recti during their third trimester of pregnancy.

For something that affects so many women, this is something that is barely talked about!  

What Causes Diastasis Recti?

Diastasis Recti is caused by a couple of different things. The main thing that causes it is the uterus expanding during pregnancy which pushes up against the abdominal wall.

This stretches the connective tissues between the abdominal wall muscles and creates a gap.

After pregnancy the uterus shrinks, less pressure is applied to the abdominal wall and that gap slowly shrinks. Only there’s a problem- the gap doesn’t close all the way! 

Like an overstretched rubber band, the connective tissues within the abdominal wall aren’t able to fully tighten u to how they were before pregnancy.

The second factor that causes Diastasis Recti- you guessed it- Hormones!! 

The hormone Relaxin is produced within the body as it prepares for the delivery of baby. This affects the joints and tissues which causes them to soften.

What’s interesting is that even AFTER DELIVERY the body will continue to produce the hormone Relaxin in those mama’s who choose to breastfeed. 

Relaxin can affect the body for 5-6 months after nursing has stopped!! 

Don’t freak out though because only about 39% of mamas still have Diastasis Recti at the postpartum 6-12 week mark.

For that 39% that’s where physical therapy and exercises come into play!

6 Diastasis Recti Exercises

An important thing to keep in mind is that everyone’s physical fitness level is different. Be sure to consult with your doctor and use common sense before jumping in and doing a bunch of different exercises. 

Don’t start off with such intensity that you cause more damage to yourself. Slow and steady is key here!

For best results, you want to focus on tightening up your abdominal muscles. Don’t just suck your tummy in! Imagine bringing your belly button to your spine- kinda like a vacuum!

If you do a quick search you’ll find 100’s of Diastasis Recti workout positions. It can be a little overwhelming! So I’ve compiled 6 that I myself am using to help close my abdominal gap. 

No matter what exercises you choose- it’s important to do ones that pull your abs inwards and focus on the deep inner ab muscles.  

1. Bridge/pelvic tilt

• For the starting position, lay down on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Keep your arms down at your sides. 
• Using your hips and feet push off the floor so your butt is off the ground. 
• Hold this position for 3 seconds then return to the starting position.
• For a BONUS add a Keagle when you are holding the bridge position. Work that pelvic floor mama!

2. Pelvic Pillow Squeeze

• Starting position is the same as the bridge. 
• Grab a pillow and put it in between your knees.
• Squeeze the pillow for 3 seconds, rest for 3 seconds, and repeat.

3. Toe Tap

• Start by laying on your back, your legs bent at a 90-degree angle in the air, and your arms down at your sides. 
• With your toes pointed, slowly lower one leg to the ground and touch the floor with your toes. 
• Bring your foot back to the start position and repeat with the other leg. 
• Going slow is KEY! Also, make sure you keep your back perfectly flat on the floor… no mouse holes!

4. Heel slides

• Starting position once again is on your back with your knees bent and both feet flat on the floor. 
• Slide one leg down so it’s parallel to the floor then bring it back to a bent position. 
• Repeat with the other leg. 
• To make this move more advanced you can add a leg lift upon return instead of sliding your heel back.

5. Bird Dog/Opposite Arm Leg Raises

• Start on your hands and knees, with both hands flat on the ground. 
• Raise your right arm and your left leg out so they are parallel to the floor. 
• Hold for 3 seconds then return to the starting position.
• Repeat with your left arm and right leg. 

Personally, I do each of these exercises for 60 seconds (resting for 10 seconds between each) and do the circuit 2-3 times.

Do what you are comfortable with, if something hurts or doesn’t feel right stop. Listen to your body! 

Remember to keep your core engaged and tight with ALL of these exercises!

Remember to consult with your doctor or physical therapist if you’re unsure if your body can handle these exercises. Everyone’s fitness level is different. What works for one person may not work as well for someone else!

Diastasis Recti Exercises To Avoid

One thing that I want to stress is that every mama is on a different level with their fitness abilities. Some exercises may be right for some, and not for others.

Correcting Diastasis Recti is about performing functional exercises to build that muscle back up. Not going all out on the latest abb busting workout!

Start slow and work your way up.  

Generally speaking, exercises like these shouldn’t be done by mama’s with Diastasis Recti

• Sit-ups
• Crunches
• Regular planks
• Any twisting at the waist
• Lifting heavy objects

If you’re apprehensive about easing back into exercising or unsure what exercises to do, talk to your doctor or hire a physical therapist to help give you that confidence boost. 

How To Check For Diastasis Recti

Checking for Diastasis Recti is pretty easy! Before I wrote this post, I tried myself and it only took me a few minutes. Turns out I had two fingers width of separation! 

To check do the following 

• Lie on your back in a crunch position. Legs bent, feet flat on the floor.

• Place fingers on your midline near your belly button and press down gently

• Keeping shoulders on the ground, bring your head up like you’re about to do a crunch

• Feel the sides of your abdomen muscles and how many finger widths apart they are

• How many finger lengths will determine how severe the separation of your abdominal wall muscles are 

How To Prevent/ Reduce Diastasis Recti During Pregnancy

As natural-minded mama’s we’re all about prevention. It’s way easier to take steps ahead of time to prevent an ailment or bodily injury from happening down the road than it is to deal with the problem once it’s here.

Prevention is a big reason why so many are choosing the natural route! 

So I want to be completely honest with you in saying that you can’t totally prevent Diastasis Recti from happening. Gasp! 

Well, you could- just don’t get pregnant! But that’s not helpful

Core separation is going to happen to every mama out there- sorry! Your body has to expand to make room for your baby. 

But it’s not all doom and gloom- there are some things you can to do reduce the severity of Diastasis Recti!

Exercise!

Staying active is important before and during pregnancy. Studies like this one show that women who exercise regularly have much smaller gaps in their abdominal walls.

This means they’re able to recover and bounce back much quicker from Diastasis Recti than those mothers who don’t exercise.   

Doing exercises like Kegels- that strengthen the pelvic floor, or core exercises are a great way to help reduce the severity of Diastasis Recti

Maintain Good Posture

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise- posture is important! Especially during pregnancy. 

• Stand tall
• Don’t look down when walking around, keep your head straight- looking forward
• Don’t lock your knees
• Use your core to hold your body up

These are just some of the important posture techniques to keep in mind.

Be mindful of your movements

Be careful how you move around- especially when you’re getting pretty large and near term! It can be easy to tweak something when you’re carrying a bunch of extra weight around the tummy.

Some things to be mindful of are….

• Bend with your legs instead of your back when picking things up
• Don’t just use your abdominal muscles when lifting yourself up
• Roll out of bed instead of sitting up
• Avoid exercises that put extra strain on your abs

All of these can go a long way to help reduce the likelihood of making Diastasis Recti worse!

What’s Your Take?

We want to hear from you! Do you have Diastasis Recti? If so, how bad is it? What exercises have you done to try and tighten those ab muscles back up?!

The post 5 Diastasis Recti Exercises That Actually Work! appeared first on Raising Them Naturally.

Plus, is burping even necessary? I mean, we don’t need to be patted on the back to burp after every meal!

If you’re like me when I first started out a few months ago, then read on to learn how to confidently burp your baby!

When To Burp Your Baby

This one is pretty straightforward. Typically you should burp your baby during and after every meal of yummy breastmilk or formula. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends burping baby when mama switches breasts while nursing. If bottle-feeding then pause every 2-3 oz. to get a quick burp. 

For me, I’ve been doing a lot of bottle feeding since I’m unable to produce enough breast milk. I’ve found that pulling the bottle away after every ounce or so is helpful for our son to slow down and catch his breath. If not, he’ll quickly gulp down four ounces of formula and then be left trying to get a huge burp out!! 

Also, if you find baby repeatedly pulling away from the breast, this could also be a sign that they need to take a breather and get a burp out.

Lastly, if you see your baby is colicky or spits up often- these could also be signs that it’s time for a burp!

Why Does Baby Need To Burp?

Why do babies need to burp anyway?

I mean, we adults don’t need to burp after every meal!

Well, it turns out that many babies swallow air as they feed. Now, it’s been said that breastfed babies don’t swallow as much air as bottle-fed babies. But it seems like this is more opinion than based on exact science. 

The trapped air in the stomach takes up space and makes baby feel uncomfortable. This is what colic is. The thing that many parents fear with a newborn and is often the source of the uncontrollable crying!

Why doesn’t this happen in adults as often as babies?

It’s because baby’s upper esophageal sphincter is underdeveloped. Which doesn’t allow them to burp by themselves as easily.

5 Best Burping Positions to Try 

Now there are countless ways to burp a baby. If you search the internet you’ll find all sorts of different positions with just as many names to describe them!

Below I’ve come up with a list of 5 that my husband and I have found to be the most helpful for us. Try these 5 first, and if they don’t work for you- then search for some more!

1. Over the shoulder 

This one is usually my go-to. It’s the most comfortable for me and so far it’s worked very well! 

Pick up baby and place them so their tummy is up against your shoulder. You want baby’s head above your shoulder so you don’t smother them while giving them the ability to move their head feely. 

Gently pat on their back, or rub in circles. Whichever seems to work best.

Another tip is to hold them by their bottom and let their legs hang freely. If you hold them by the legs, it’ll cause them to bend and bunch up. This can restrict airflow and make it more difficult for them to burp!

2. Sitting upright on leg

This method works well for babies that are a little older who have more muscle development. Start by supporting baby’s head and then placing them sitting upright on your leg. 

As they’re sitting, be sure to keep their back straight. This keeps their windpipe clear so they have an easier time burping!

The last step is to bounce your leg slightly. The idea is that the bouncing of the leg mimics a similar movement as patting them on the back. This movement will help them produce a burp.

3. Over the arm

This one works best for smaller-sized babies! Take one arm and bend it at about a 90-degree angle with your palm facing upward. Place baby on your arm with their tummy facing towards the floor. 

Holding your hand flat, rest their head on your hand. Pat or gently rub baby’s back to help them burp. 

4. Back to stomach

Sitting in a chair or rocker, place baby in your lap with their back to your stomach. Ensure that baby’s back is straight allowing for the windpipe to be clear. 

Once baby is in position, begin bouncing lightly. This is a very similar motion as #1.

5. Bicycling

I use this more for pooping and constipation, but it can also work for trying to get a burp out too! 

Place baby on their backs and move their legs in and out, like in a bicycle pedal motion. This gets their torso moving, and with their back straight on the floor it opens up the windpipe to allow that burp to escape more easily!

What to do when Baby just won’t burp?

If you can’t get baby to burp using one of the 5 methods above don’t stress out over it! Here are some additional things you can try….

Try wearing baby

Use a baby wrap to keep baby secure to your chest while you walk around the house. The movement from walking will help baby produce a burp. 

Be sure that baby stays in an upright position and keeps their back as straight as possible. 

Infant massage

Infant massage is one of my favorite things to do! I mentioned earlier that I love using it for constipation– but it works well for trying to get a burp out too.

Lay baby on their back and rub their belly in a clockwise direction. Be sure to not press very hard- that can make it uncomfortable for them.

Don’t do anything!

Sometimes no matter how hard we try our babies just won’t burp. This is totally ok- there’s no need to get concerned. Babies don’t always need to burp. Some suck in less air than others. 

If you’ve tried for 5-10 minutes and still can’t get a burp- just move on mama!

When To Stop Burping Your Baby

The general consensus is that parents can stop burping their babies anytime between 4-9 months. At this point baby’s once underdeveloped esophageal sphincter is now mature enough to be able to function and produce a burp on it’s own.

However, like most things when it comes to babies- there isn’t an exact time or hard rule when something should occur. When to stop burping your baby is no different. 

Some other things to look out for are when babies can sit up on their own and handle solid foods. These are both good indicators that you no longer need to assist baby with burping.  

Not Every Baby Needs To be burped

Mama, please do not stress if your baby did not produce a burp after their last feeding. Not all babies need to be burped!

As mentioned earlier, some babies suck in less air when feeding than others. This would mean that they don’t need to be burped, or at least not as often as other babies. 

According to this study, burping may not even be effective or necessary! 

Not even the “experts” are in agreement on the exact science of burping in babies. Imagine that! 

At the end of the day, the most important thing is to use your intuition as a mother! 

Watch and observe your baby. If they seem uncomfortable and colicky after feeding, try to burp them. If you’ve tried and can’t get them to produce a burp- that’s ok! Don’t get hung up on it and move on. 

Babies are resilient little beings, in the end, they’ll be just fine  

What burping positions work best for you? Share with us what your favorite burping position is!

The post How to Burp a Baby + 5 Best Positions To Get Them Burping! appeared first on Raising Them Naturally.

So for the first time- I’ll actually be on the receiving end of Mother’s day!

So for today’s post, I’ve found 13 things that most mama’s out there would love to receive as a mother’s day gift. They’re practical gifts that are budget-friendly!

1. Hanging Flower basket from a local nursery – $25+

Honestly, who doesn’t love flowers?!

Rather than flowers in a vase that die in a week, you can enjoy an outdoor hanging basket so much longer! With spring in the air, a hanging basket is always a nice choice and a great way to support a local nursery!

Hanging flower baskets are something that I’ve purchased in the past and as long as they’re cared for- will look amazing all summer long.

2. Gardening tool bag with tools – $31.99

For those mamas out there who have a green thumb -this set has everything that you need… well besides the actual flowers!

Gardening can be tough sometimes. But with the right tools nearby it can be such a more enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.

I love all of the pockets in this tool bag!

Gardening is something that Greg and I have just picked up as a hobby- AND WE LOVE IT!!

We are so excited for the day when our son is old enough to learn about growing flowers and vegetables in the garden.

3. Birthmonth Flower Pendant – $27.00

Another flower themed gift- Yay!!

These beautiful pendants from Etsy are a very cool way to have personalized jewelry of your littles without using their names or birthstones. The flowers are beautifully displayed on a quality pendant that will last for years.

Each month is a different flower. For example, if your little one is born in January- the flower would be a Snowdrop. If July, then the flower would be a Water Lily.

So cool and unique!

4. Birthstone Stacking Rings – $104

These modern stackable custom rings are so fun! The seller has other band options if you have more children or would prefer different colored metal.

I love how much you can customize them and find the perfect stackable set for you!

Wear them on your right hand, or on your left with your wedding ring. These rings look amazing and the reviews are all over the top positive!

5. Modern Birth Poster – $65

This poster is a 1 to 1 size ratio of your little babe when they were born! You can choose between a few different layouts and can add a stylish modern frame for an additional charge.

I personally love the continuous line design!

I’m always thinking to myself how fast our son has grown in his 4 months of life. Every time I pack up clothes that don’t fit I get teary-eyed!!

This is a super unique gift that reminds us how small our little babes once were and tugs on the heartstrings of every mama out there!

Use code “raising.them.naturally10″ for 10% off your order!

6. Custom photo gift – $4.99+ (depending on the item)

Mugs, canvas prints to photo books, and more- Snapfish offers a ton of awesome personalized gifts mama will love!

Their website is very easy to use. Just upload your image(s) that you want to use and order!

I’ve used them for a bunch of gifts in the past and the recipients have always loved each and every one of them. Snapfish ALWAYS has sales and discounts which makes this a pretty budget-friendly gift. A huge plus in my book!

7. WiFi Digital Frame – $110

I bought this for my mom as a Christmas gift and she LOVES it!

She lives about 4 hours away and doesn’t get to see her grandson often so this is great. I just send the picture directly to the frame and she is able to see it for her viewing pleasure. The frame showcases all of the images sent in the gallery.

My mom loves this because as she’s walking through the room she always sees another new picture of our little one!

8. Weighted blanket – $55.99

For the mom who loves hugs, this weighted blanket gives comfort and snuggles when the littles are away…

A great option for those mama’s who have anxiety or are needing a better night’s sleep! Those who have purchased this blanket say it helps with both.

9. Best Mom Ever Candle – $18 (7oz)

I am a total sucker when it comes to candles- I just can’t get enough of them!

Made with 100% soy wax and natural scents these candles are a perfect gift for a health-conscious Mama!

There are many other candle variations with hilarious and slightly inappropriate sayings, trust me there are some good ones you will want to see! I chose the “Best Mom Ever” one as the “safe” version for younger eyes.

You can pick your scent of the candle too, I’d personally choose Mimosa!

Use promo code RTM2021 for 10% off your total order!

10. Echo Dot Smart Speaker – $39.99

Hands-free smart speakers are all the rage these days! For a mama whose hands are always full, these are super convenient!

For such a small speaker, the sound quality is really great, and for $40 it’s affordable and makes a great Mothers Day Gift!

11. Charcuterie Board Set – $38.99

For the mom who loves to entertain…or just loves to eat snacks because snacks are LIFE!

Greg and I use our charcuterie board quite often when friends and family are over. It’s nice being able to arrange tasty treats on it instead of a plate.
This board set is great because it has grooves carved out to separate out your favorite snacks. It even holds the knife set!

12. Insulated Wine Tote Bag & Tumbler Set – $44.95

What Mama doesn’t love wine?! Even though I haven’t had a glass of wine in over a year while pregnant and breastfeeding- I look forward to that first glass!!

This cooler tote is perfect for picnics in the park and mommy play dates, kidding… but if you are into that, a wine picnic with your favorite mom friend sounds pretty great doesn’t it?!

Made of super-durable material, that will last for years to come!

13. Pebble Family Art – $44.33

For those mama’s who enjoy a more natural look, this is a cute and super unique way to showcase your family!

This is a beautiful piece of art to display in your home for all to admire.

Choose from four different wood frames to match the decor of the rest of the home.

Hopefully, this list gives you some good Mother’s Day gift ideas. I know I’ll be asking Greg to get me at least one this from this list!! Does anything stand out to you? What you would like to receive for Mother’s day?

** All prices were researched April 2021 and could be subject to change after publishing this post

The post 2021 Mothers Day Gift Ideas- 13 Things Mom Will ACTUALLY like! appeared first on Raising Them Naturally.

The post 5 Benefits of Chiropractic For Babies + And How It’s Worked For Our Child! appeared first on Raising Them Naturally.

Physical changes, hormonal changes, emotional ups and downs are all part of the process. But is postpartum depression part of that process too?

Postpartum depression, also known as PPD- affects approximately 13% of women after birth.

However, nearly half of us mothers will experience something called “baby blues”. This is a form of depression that is less severe and not as long-lasting as Postpartum depression.

I had no idea that so many of us women experienced some form of depression after our little ones were born. 

It’s well…depressing!  

After the recent birth of our first child, I did experience some baby blues…

 My confidence in myself was low, I was anxious and if it weren’t for my husband and family I’m sure I could’ve slipped into Postpartum Depression. 

So today’s post is about learning what Baby Blues and Postpartum Depression are, what causes it, and ways to help reduce and get rid of it. 

I try to convey this point often to other mamas. Pregnancy, birth, and raising your newborn is a journey we were never meant to go through alone. It’s imperative you find support, cause at some point you’ll need it. 

If you ever have questions or need support- please reach out to me. I will help you in any way that I can. I’m not a medical professional, but I’ll listen to you, and tell you what I did to help myself. 

After all, a lot of us mothers go through the same crap! So let’s lean on each other for support when and where we can. 

So without further ado- let’s get into it! 

What So Is Postpartum Depression?

Postpartum Depression (PPD) is a disorder that can sometimes happen during pregnancy or after birth.

PPD can affect both Mom and Dad. Though not as common- it does occur within 8-10% of men, usually within the first 3-6 months of baby’s birth.

Though rare, PPD can even affect the health of mama and her baby. 

Postpartum Depression vs Baby Blues

While I was pregnant I wasn’t familiar with the term “Baby Blues”. Though similar to postpartum depression, there are some slight differences! 

You’ll want to know what these are so you can monitor yourself or spot a loved one who may be going through a rough patch. 

Baby Blues

Baby blues are basically the shorter, less severe version of Postpartum Depression. I think of it as the precursor to PPD. 

Some signs of Baby Blues are…

• It occurs over a shorter time period of about two weeks
• Feelings of sadness or being moody are very common as well
• Crying a ton
• Having a difficult time making decisions
• Trouble sleeping 

Baby Blues usually go away on their own. However, if they linger for more than a couple of weeks, then it’s possible that it’s turned into Postpartum Depression.

Mama, I cannot tell you this enough. If you feel yourself down in the dumps and just trapped then please, please, please find help! 

Do not try and face it alone. You don’t have to, you’ll just make it so much harder on yourself if you do. 

Trust me on this!  

Postpartum Depression

PPD is basically baby blues that last for a longer period of time. Longer than the 2-3 week timeframe. And it can occur at any point within that first year after the birth of your baby.

But the thing about Postpartum Depression is that it’s felt on a deeper level emotionally. Much more so than Baby Blues. 

This is why Baby Blues if left unchecked can lead to Postpartum Depression.

Postpartum Psychosis

If mama has thoughts of hurting herself or baby-  this is known as Postpartum Psychosis. This is the next layer added on top of PPD. 

If you or someone you know is currently experiencing Postpartum Psychosis, please seek help immediately. Mama and baby could be at risk!

Symptoms of Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression can be hard to recognize in yourself, let alone trying to spot signs in someone you care about. 

For me, after coming home from the hospital with baby I dealt with a few of these symptoms, but I wouldn’t have considered myself suffering from PPD.

So you really need to exhibit more than just a few of these before you should start considering yourself or a loved one to have PPD.

• Feeling sad for a long period of time

• Quick to become annoyed, or snappy at someone

• Feeling guilty, not worthy, or helpless especially when it comes to feelings about your abilities of being a new mama.

• No desire for your hobbies or activities that you once did before your baby.

• Prolonged fatigue and a sense of decreased energy.

• Not able to sit still, or fidgeting

• Having a hard time concentrating, making decisions, or remembering things.

• Not able to sleep- even though your baby is sleeping, or sleeping for longer periods of time compared to before you had baby 

• Not eating the amount of food you used to, weight changes, or both. 

• Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not have a clear physical cause or do not ease even with treatment

• Having a difficult time bonding or forming an emotional attachment to your new baby. 

• Persistent doubts about the ability to care for the new baby. Continually doubting your own abilities as a new mother. 

• Having thoughts about death, committing suicide, or harming yourself or your baby. 

Again, it’s not always obvious if you or someone you know is suffering from PPD. But generally, Postpartum Depression symptoms are stronger and more drawn out when compared to a mama who isn’t experiencing PPD.

When To Get Help!

It’s never too early to get help! If you’re experiencing anything that I’ve talked about so far and you want help- go get it!

Especially if you’re 

• Having Baby Blues beyond 2-3 weeks
• Experiencing negative thoughts on a deeper- more emotional level
• Having negative thoughts about your abilities as a new mother

Remember to lean on your family and friends for support. If you built a support group around you for pregnancy and labor like I describe in this post here– this same team can help you now!

Help from family or friends isn’t an option? No problem! 

Remember- there are plenty of professionals who are trained to help. Just do a quick google search to find someone in your area. 

What Causes Postpartum Depression

As a natural-minded mama, I’m always looking for the root cause of any problem. When talking about Postpartum Depression, there can be a lot of underlying root cause issues.

Here are just a few…

Physical changes 

Self-image of oneself is usually directly tied to their self-esteem. Before I was pregnant, I was in great shape! No cellulite, a tight butt, and a flat belly. But after birth, I’m struggling to regain all three. Not feeling good about oneself physically can take a toll mentally. 

Emotional Issues

Being a mom, especially a new mom is an emotional rollercoaster. One minute you’ve managed to hold everything together, and the next it all just seems to be on fire. Add in poor sleep, stress, low self-esteem, and you can quickly see how emotions play such a big role in Postpartum Depression!

Hormonal Issues

 Ah yes, what’s responsible for so many of the changes that take place in our lives. From periods to pregnancy, labor, raising kids, and eventually- menopause. During pregnancy, we women experience a crazy amount of hormonal changes. 

Our estrogen and progesterone levels skyrocket during pregnancy, only to crash suddenly after labor. This adjustment in hormone levels is what many believe as a lead causing factor of Baby Blues and PPD.

Nutritional Deficiencies

 Physically speaking, as any mama will tell you- pregnancy is demanding on the body. As baby grows a TON of energy and nutrients are given from mama to baby. 

This puts a lot of nutritional stress on mama- especially if her diet is poor. 

Two things in particular Vitamin D and Iron are known to be important for mama. If levels are too low, mama’s cognitive abilities will be affected, decision-making may become more difficult and there is a greater chance of developing PPD.

Stress

 Bringing home a baby is stressful. Stress in the short term can actually improve cognitive ability. But if left unchecked over weeks and months long term stress can affect your body’s ability to respond to new challenges that come up.

Remember, stress can play a role how one feels emotionally, which can lead to PPD. So it’s a domino effect!

This is why I’ll say it again- don’t try and do everything by yourself. Get help from your partner, a family member, friends, or hired professionals.

Inflammation

 Inflammation is truly the root of all disease. Pregnant and Postpartum women are especially at risk because many get interrupted sleep, are consuming processed foods, tons of sugar and in general are just stressed. All of which lead to inflammation. 

Studies like this one show that depression and inflammation often go hand in hand with one another.

6 Natural Remedies For Postpartum Depression

1. Increased Vitamin Intake

Because many pregnant women and those who just gave birth are Vitamin D and Iron deficient, one should consume foods that contain high amounts of these.

Getting vitamins and minerals from organic, fresh sources is usually always better than supplementing with pills. Our bodies absorb nutrients from food more easily than from supplements.

In the case of vitamin D, foods like Tuna, salmon, and egg yolks are great sources of vitamin D.  

If your like me and can’t stand the smell or taste of fish and eggs- then supplementation is your next best option!

If choosing to supplement it’s always a good idea to talk with your doctor.

2. Probiotics

More and more evidence is showing the importance of good gut health. This means having a rich microbiome full of different kinds of good bacteria. 

Our bodies need these kinds of bacteria to perform basic functions like digestion and warding off pathogens that enter the body. 

Studies show that when your gut microbiome doesn’t have the right balance of good bacteria that it can even lead to depression or anxiety. 

Taking a daily probiotic is a great way to help rebalance your overall gut health. Probiotics introduce good bacteria to your gut and work to repair any damage done. 

Some foods that contain probiotics are

• Yogurt (watch the sugar content here)
• Keifer
• Sauerkraut
• Tempeh
• Kombucha (watch the high sugar content)

You could also take a probiotic supplement and mix it with water or a green smoothie! 

3. Don’t judge yourself

Being a mom isn’t easy! You have a little person who is depending on you to take care of them. Learning as you go if it’s your first time can be incredibly stressful and challenging. 

So go easy on yourself! Don’t judge yourself for not getting things right the first, second or even third time. 

Your baby doesn’t need you to be perfect. They just need you!

By not judging, you’ll find more confidence in yourself which is exactly what you need when facing Postpartum Depression. 

So keep your head high mama and keep moving forward!

4. Set realistic goals

This is a big one. Greg and I have found that setting goals is super important. Writing them down on a list is even better. Especially if you’re a list person like me!

When creating goals you want them to be specific and measurable. Like..

 “I’m going to do the laundry today before dinner.” 

Or

 “I’m going to give baby a bath today by 10am.”

Start off with more realistic goals. After you’ve accomplished them- cross them off your list. As you do this you’ll start to gain more confidence in yourself and your abilities. 

Get into a daily routine of doing this and you’ll be amazed at the state of mind this can put you in!

5. Set up your Support Group

I mentioned this already, but it’s worth reemphasizing. Pregnancy, birth and raising a child are not things us women were ever meant to go through alone. 

That’s not to say we aren’t capable of doing so. What I’m saying is that if you have the option- go out and find help. Good help that you can trust. 

Friends, family, or a professional in whatever area you need help in. 

Need help with lactation?  Find a lactation specialist! 

Baby care? A postpartum doula!

Someone to watch baby for a few hours while you get some other things done or to take care of yourself? Get a baby sitter!

Don’t be afraid or ashamed to get help!

By the way, if you assembled a support team around you during your pregnancy as I describe in my post here- many of those same individuals can help you after your baby comes too

6. Exercise

Exercise is really important for not just your physical health- but also your mental health as well. Studies show that women who exercise routinely reduce the severity of their Postpartum Depression 

During the first 6 weeks after birth you should be taking the time to rest and recover as much as possible. If you had a Cesarean or other procedures done, that recovery time could be longer. 

But once you’re done recovering- then it’s time to start getting into an exercise routine.

“But I don’t have time to exercise! I’m a new mom!” I tell myself all the time…

Exercise doesn’t have to be long or complicated! It could be anything from walking baby in the stroller a few times a day to trying mommy and me yoga.

Consistency is key here, so try and get into a routine of daily exercise. Above all- keep it simple!

Final Thoughts

So many mamas out there struggle with Postpartum Depression. If you’re one of them, I hope this article helps shed some light on exactly what it is, how to alleviate it, and give you a path forward. 

If someone you know is dealing with Postpartum Depression- please forward them this article so they too can learn what steps to take to help themselves get through it. 

When did you realize that Postpartum Depression was affecting your life? What did you do to get through it? If you’re experiencing it right now, what are some things you’re going to start doing to help alleviate it?

We want to hear your story!

The post Postpartum Depression Symptoms + 6 Natural Ways To Help You Beat It! appeared first on Raising Them Naturally.

Seeing your little one trying hard to poop with nothing coming can be hard to watch as a parent!

Just recently our 3-month-old son was battling with constipation. 

Luckily- we were able to help him get through it, and now he’s on track and pooping daily- Yay!

Signs of Constipation In Babies

Knowing what signs to look for when trying to determine if your baby is constipated is important!  

Our son had several of these signs, which led us to the conclusion that he was in fact constipated. 

Infrequent pooping

This one may seem pretty obvious, but trying to determine the frequency of your baby’s poops can sometimes be tricky!

As new parents, we’re always tired- especially if you are living with a newborn. So trying to remember your baby’s pooping schedule can be next to impossible!

Greg and I quickly learned that we needed to keep a schedule of babies bowel movements, among other things. 

I highly recommend you create a baby log of your own- or use our free template below! 

This is a super helpful tool that really helped us in the beginning. 

Remember, just like adults- baby’s pooping schedules are a little different from child to child. 

There isn’t a hard rule here stating how often your baby should be pooping. Generally, it eventually should be at least once a day, but sometimes that isn’t always the case!

Hard belly

This one is an easy one to check for. Gently press on your baby’s tummy, if it feels hard- then it could be a sign they’re constipated or bloated. 

I can tell you from personal experience that this is usually what I check first, as it’s a quick and fairly accurate way to gauge constipation. 

Once your baby goes poop and starts passing gas, you should notice their belly starting to soften up and not feel as hard to the touch. 

Clay like / hard poop

When I first came across this with our son I was really surprised to see it- but afterward, it made total sense why he was so bound up!

Clay-like and hard poop is typically seen with formula-fed babies. This is because formula takes longer, and is more difficult to digest than breastmilk.

Breastmilk will give your baby’s poop a runnier- more seedy consistency. Whereas formula will not. 

If your baby is formula-fed, you may want to consider switching it to another brand. We did this and we noticed results pretty quickly. 

Blood in poop

Blood in poop is always something that you should be on the lookout for. And not just for babies- for you as well!

Bloody poop can indicate different things…

But it’s likely a tear in the anus, which can happen from a large, hard poop. 

If you do end up seeing blood in your baby’s poop- you should consider calling the pediatrician. That way, other more serious complications can be ruled out. 

A long period of straining or crying while pooping

An important thing to remember here is that straining or whimpering while trying to poop can be a normal thing for some babies. 

Remember- all babies are slightly different, so this is where monitoring your baby’s pooping habits over time can really be helpful. 

However, if baby continues to strain, cry or face starts to become red- these could all be signs of constipation. 

I can tell you from my own experience that our son does lift his legs, grunts, and crinkles his forehead when trying to poop. Sometimes his face even turns red. 

The key is to monitor how much effort they’re having to put in to pass a poop! 

Remember mama, no one knows your child better than you. So trust your gut!

Causes of Constipation in Babies

Depending on how old, and what stage of growth your baby is in- there can be several likely causes of constipation.

Exclusively formula-fed

As I mentioned earlier, babies who are exclusively fed formula are more likely to become constipated than those who are breastfed. This is another great benefit of breastfeeding!

Formula is more difficult to digest for baby, as a result, it takes longer to make its way through baby’s digestive system. 

This is also why they seem to sleep harder and longer than those babies who are breastfed! 

If your baby is dealing with constipation and they’re drinking formula- be sure that you’re mixing it properly. 

Not mixing it properly usually means that baby isn’t getting enough fluids, which can lead to constipation.

You could also try switching the formula to another brand. Look for one that has a probiotic in it. Probiotics are important for gut health which relates back to constipation. 

We switched to HiPP and within a day or two, we noticed a difference! HiPP also has probiotics in it so that’s another plus!

Eating Solid Food

If your baby is at the 6 + month mark, then you’re likely starting to introduce some solid foods to them. 

Great!

But be mindful, this transition period of solid foods can cause constipation for baby. 

Be sure to look at the types of solid foods you’re giving baby. Focus on high fiber, and low sugar.

Mama’s diet

Even after birth mama’s health and lifestyle choices can play a direct role in their baby’s wellbeing!

If you notice your baby starting to become constipated, start keeping track of the different foods you eat- and start eliminating some of them. 

Look for improvement. If there is none, then try eliminating other foods that you eat daily. 

One of the first you may want to start with is dairy. Dairy is known to cause constipation for both adults and babies! 

Besides dairy, cleaning up your diet is always a good idea. Less sugar, eliminate processed foods. Eat organic whenever possible. 

Remember, what you eat- gets passed onto your baby through your breastmilk!

Not getting enough liquid

This one is a super important one. I cannot overstate the importance water is to your health and the health of your baby. 

Infants get their water through breastmilk or formula. If baby is latching poorly, is fussy or does not seem to be gaining weight- these could all be signs that they’re not getting enough breastmilk or formula.

This can lead to dehydration over time. 

Our bodies are made up of nearly 60% water. Mama, make sure you’re drinking enough! 

You should be drinking half your body weight in fluid ounces per day. This is especially important while breastfeeding, as your body needs more water than normal to produce breastmilk. 

6 Natural Remedies For Constipation In Babies

As natural-minded parents, we’re always looking for alternatives to drugs and medications. Greg and I were happy to discover that there are many things parents can do to help their children with constipation!

1. Massage

Massage is my favorite way to help our little guy pass his poops! For us, massage has worked very well. 

There are two main ways to massage your baby’s tummy to help them poop.

First method- Rub their tummy gently and slowly in a clockwise direction. Be careful not to press down too hard. 

Their tummy will likely be firm to the touch and it may cause them some discomfort. If it does, then try the second method…

Second method- place your fingers on the sides of baby’s tummy. Slowly massage and pull towards the front and downward. This one has worked very well.

The idea behind massaging the tummy and intestines is that it’ll help stimulate those areas and encourage the digesting food and poop to move on through!   

2. Warm Bath

Placing your baby in a warm bath is a great way to help them pass a poop.

The warmth from the water really helps to stimulate the digestive system- which is what your baby needs when constipated and trying to go poop.

Just be prepared for a messy bathtub when it works!

I’ll also pour warm water over baby and massage their tummy as well.

Our little guys LOVES this and immediately starts cooing! So cute

3. Exercise

Exercise is really important- not just for bone and muscle strength, but for digestion as well!

Our digestive system uses movement as a way to help stimulate it- just like the massage that I mentioned earlier. 

If your baby isn’t crawling yet, placing them on their back and moving their legs in a bicycle kick motion is a great way to simulate physical exercise.

You could also place them on their stomach for some tummy time. However, keep in mind that if their stomach is hard and pushed out- tummy time may not be comfortable for them!

4. Diet changes

Baby’s diet can play a role in constipation as well… so there are a couple of things to keep in mind here

Consider switching up formula

Some baby’s don’t react well to certain formulas. This isn’t uncommon! 

Try switching types or brands. We started out with Earth’s Best, but ended up switching to HiPP. After a day or two we saw significant changes and since switching- there’s been little to no constipation in our son!

HiPP is a European formula that doesn’t contain soy- but contains probiotics! This is super helpful when dealing with constipation.

Breastfeeding

Breastmilk is easier than formula for baby to digest. So if you’re currently formula feeding your child- try and get some breast milk into them if you’re able. 

Avoid high sugar and processed foods

Sugar and processed foods are not able to be easily absorbed into the body which can cause constipation. So avoid those sugary drinks and snacks, and if it’s processed- stay away!

High Fiber Foods

Just like adults- baby’s need fiber too! If your child is eating solid food- try to give them more foods that have higher fiber content. 

Things like pears, plums, peaches, or prunes- all contain a high amount of fiber and are known to help those who have constipation.

5. Homeopathics

Homeopathics can be very effective at treating acute problems like constipation. 

The following remedies have been known to help with constipation…

• Alumina
• Bryonia
• Calcarea Carb
• Nux Vomica
• Sepia
• Silicea

The trick with Homeopathics is finding the right one. Not all listed above will help your little one with their constipation. 

The correct homeopathic match must be found in order for it to work.

The best way I’ve found to use Homeopathics is to find a good book on the subject. The one I use is Homeopathic Medicine for Children and Infants. This is a great book and I’m really glad I bought it. It gives clear definitions of the remedies and which ones to use for a symptom.

Best of all it’s easy to read! 

6. Probiotics

Probiotics are something that often gets overlooked in babies and can play a big role when it comes to constipation. Having good gut health is extremely important in order to maintain a proper balance within the body- especially when it comes to digestion.

Consider switching to a formula like HiPP that has probiotics in it already, or you can purchase probiotic supplements to give to your baby.

We use a powdered probiotic that we mix in with our baby’s formula bottle. If you’re exclusively breastfeeding you could also apply the powder to your nipples right before baby latches. 

Be sure to talk to your pediatrician first before giving anything other than breastmilk to your baby. 

Know When To Get Help

Guys- this is a big one! As much as us natural mama’s want to help our little ones on our own using a more natural approach, it’s important to know when to get your baby’s pediatrician involved. 

There isn’t a strict rule of how often your baby should be pooping. But in general, if your baby hasn’t pooped within 5-8 days- you will likely want to get help from the pediatrician. 

Generally speaking, your baby should be pooping once every day of like up till day 5. So by day 5, they’re pooping 5 times a day! 

However, by week 6 they may not poop every day. They may only go every 2-3 days. 

Our little guy is not 10 weeks old and seems to be pooping once a day consistently now!

Preventing Constipation in Babies

As crunchy parents, we’re always interested in prevention rather than correcting the problem after it’s already here. 

One of the best ways to reduce the chances of constipation is to make sure your baby is getting enough water! 

They have to stay hydrated- just like you!

Whether it’s through breastfeeding, formula, or actually drinking water once they’re old enough for it. 

Other important ways to prevent constipation like I already mentioned are exercise, a good diet, and probiotics.

If you’re proactive about it, you can greatly reduce the likelihood your baby’s plumbing gets clogged up! 

What’s the longest your baby has gone without pooping and what did you do to get them pooping again? Tell us what you did- we’d love to hear it!

The post Constipation in Babies- Signs, Causes and 6 Natural Remedies That Work! appeared first on Raising Them Naturally.

Just thinking about it brings back a flood of memories and emotion…

My husband and I didn’t plan on having kids quite this soon. We wanted to get a little further along in life- but as we’ve learned, plans rarely go to plan!

Now that our son is here, we couldn’t imagine life without him. 

He’s made Greg and I such better people. 

I’m truly amazed every day when I wake up and look over at our son with his peaceful, calm look.

“Wow- he truly is ours!” I often think to myself.

I’m opening up and sharing our birth story not because I necessarily want to. But because I think it’ll bring value to you and give you an inside glimpse of my experience. 

Throughout this journey- Greg and I have learned the most from listening to others who had recently gone through a birth of their own. 

My hope is that we can help you too, and give you a better understanding of how a natural birth can play out. 

Remember- no matter how much preparation and planning you do- as with everything else in life- it rarely all goes to plan…

Our Natural Birth Plan

One thing that Greg and I learned early on was that we didn’t want a traditional hospital birth full of interventions. 

If you’re reading this blog, I’m assuming (maybe incorrectly) that you also are yearning for a birth that’s not filled with medical interventions.

We wanted a natural- unmedicated birth. 

Not because we think we’re better than those who use medication- but because it’s what we believe is best for us and our baby. 

For Greg and I, doing things the natural way is important!

It’s the Idea of working with and supporting the body- rather than getting in the way of it. Whether it’s treating a cold, working on a healthier lifestyle, or in this case- giving birth. 

So for us this meant no….

• Induction
• Medications
• Episiotomy
• Antibiotics
• Pitocin
• Epidural
• Few, if any vaginal exams
• Minimal fetal monitoring

Just to name a few…

We believe a woman’s body is created extra special for giving birth.

In most instances, there’s no need for any medical intervention. 

That’s not to say intervention shouldn’t ever be used- I’m thankful that we have those options to use when necessary. 

But for us, it’s a last resort- not our first choice…

To help us accomplish our birth goals we also signed up at the natural birth center at our local hospital. 

This would ensure we got the support we needed to make it through with our birth plan in-tact. 

Or so we thought…

Preparing for Natural Birth

The further along our journey Greg and I went we realized that if we truly wanted to pull off this natural birth successfully- then we needed to dive in headfirst and learn about the process. 

Giving birth naturally doesn’t require planning and thinking ahead. But if you choose to do the work upfront- the chances of you succeeding and actually enjoying your birth experience go way up!

There were 5 key things Greg and I did to help prepare us for our special day…

1. Took a Hypnobirthing class

As we quickly figured out, giving birth naturally usually isn’t something that you can just show up to the hospital for and expect to go flawlessly. 

We didn’t know anything about birth… 

So we needed to learn quality information from somewhere 

Taking a Hypnobirthing was one of the best things we did throughout this whole journey. 

It not only taught us about the process of birth and how the body functions, but gave us the tools to support the body through each phase of birth.

In case you’ve never heard of Hypnobirthing before, it’s sorta like a mindset one has while going through labor.

The goal is to keep the body relaxed so the body can open and release the baby out into the world. 

 Staying relaxed through labor is that tricky part- and that’s where the hypnobirthing technique comes into play. 

Using a combination of birthing positions, breathing techniques, gentle touch, affirmations, meditation, and a few others- to keep your mind focused on staying relaxed and not focused on the pain during labor. 

If done successfully it truly does work!

2. Hired a doula

Because this was our first birthing experience, and knowing we wanted a natural birth- hiring a doula was something we wanted to do nearly from the beginning of our birthing journey. 

Just like the hypnobirthing class we took, hiring a doula was a great decision. 

When asked, my husband will tell you that “It was the best money we spent during this whole journey”.

And I’d have to agree with him. 

Not only did our doulas support us through the third trimester and birth. But they stayed with us during postpartum recovery. 

Not sure what a doula is? Check out my post What is a Doula (And Why You Should Hire One) 

Our doula’s advice during all three stages proved to be extremely helpful.

From assisting us with our birth plan, to delivery day, to lactation support and baby care after we got home. 

They’re a great resource and are often overlooked by so many! 

I can with almost certainty that we’ll hire a doula again for our next child- they’re that helpful!

3. Created a birth plan -together!

Creating a birth plan without a doubt was the single most important thing we did throughout our birthing journey. 

I’ll briefly cover why here, but if you are really looking to learn more- read our earlier post What is a Birth Plan (And Why You Should Be Writing One). 

In that post, I go over all the nitty-gritty details and how to write your own!

Creating our birth plan brought Greg and I so much closer together and ensured that we were on the same page on what we both wanted. 

By creating a birth plan you force yourself to think through the entire process, do the  research if necessary and then make a decision on what you would like to have done when. 

This prepared Greg and I well ahead of time on the potential problems that could arise, the medical procedures to get past it, and the risks associated with those procedures.

Had we not done the research ahead of time, we would’ve been at the mercy of the doctor who was on site that night.  

Although we trust most medical professionals, we always prefer to do our own research and look at thing from a more natural perspective!

4. Went to the hospital before the due date

When I first mentioned to my husband Greg that we should go to the hospital a few weeks before I was due, he wasn’t exactly thrilled of the idea… 

I couldn’t blame him, it was 40 minutes away with heavy traffic across town!

But we can both say that doing this turned out to be such a great thing! 

And you’ll soon learn why… 

I highly recommend getting to the hospital, or wherever you’re planning on birthing before your big day. 

That way you know where to park, where to walk in, and where to go. 

It may seem petty and a waste of time- but for us it was worth it! Especially given the high-stress situation that our birth ended up being. 

5. Read a ton of online resources and blogs

And finally, the last important thing we did to prep for our natural birth was research, research and research. 

Guys, there can be a lot to know when it comes to giving birth naturally. 

Greg and I spent hours learning about the birthing process, what things could go wrong, what medical procedures we would be offered if things did start going wrong, etc.

This gave Greg and I more peace of mind about the whole process. 

Don’t get me wrong- I was still super nervous- like really nervous…

But we knew a lot so if something came up, chances are we already knew what our plan was for it. 

This is why having a birth plan is so important too. Your research should make its way into your birth plan. 

You can’t research and plan for everything, but you can put yourself in a better position for success!

Our Natural Birth- What Actually happened

While at Home 

Two days before my due date I started to feel contractions roughly 15 minutes apart at around 11pm. 

I didn’t think too much about it because I had some Braxton Hicks contractions earlier in the week.

Just to be sure I reached out to our doula.

She thought it was the beginning stages of labor!

Excited! But super nervous, I laid back down in bed, going over some positive affirmations- trying to rest the best I could.

Then 1am hit..

I hadn’t slept a wink! 

And the contractions were getting more frequent and intense… 

I rolled over and told Greg “I don’t think you’re going to work tomorrow, I think I’m having this baby soon”. 

“Wake me up at 5am” he said. Thinking he had plenty of time to get ready and go to the hospital.

3am rolled around and my contractions were getting super painful and much closer together. 

Frantically, I was logging them into my phone, trying to determine when we should leave for the hospital. 

I felt like I was having to go poop, which is a sign that baby is shifting further down on the pelvis, getting into position for birth. 

Covered in a cold sweat and starting to shake I was sitting on the toilet trying to keep my cool… 

By 3:30 I had our doula on the phone trying to talk to her in between contractions and holding back tears. 

My mucus plug had dropped and left the “bloody show” in the toilet- another indicator that things were starting to progress. 

But my contractions were still 6-7 minutes apart!

We were taught that as a general rule you start driving to the hospital when your contractions are  about 3-4 minutes apart… 

Being further away from the hospital… we were planning on leaving closer to 5-6 minutes apart. 

We didn’t want to leave too early because if I wasn’t dilated fully- they’d send us back home or make us wait in triage. 

Neither of which we wanted to do…

The pain kept getting worse…

At this point we couldn’t wait any longer. Greg called our OB GYN office and told them that we were coming to the hospital so they would be ready for us. 

We hastily grabbed our packed overnight bags birth plan binder- threw them in the car and drove off. 

Getting to the hospital

15 minutes into our drive I was nearly levitating off the seat of the car…

My body felt like it was trying to let go and release our baby, but I was doing all I could to keep it in.

That feeling to me was much more difficult than the actual delivery itself.

Trying to keep him in when every nerve in my body was trying to force this baby out… 

You know that feeling when you need to throw up or have diarrhea… try to keep that inside your body when it’s coming out at full force… all while having excruciating and intense pain.

I kept shooting glances at the GPS, counting down the minutes when we would be there..

40 minutes…

35 minutes…

22 minutes…

Clenching my cell phone in one hand, and the car’s “oh shit” with the other- I was trying to listen to my doula on the phone reminding me to breathe and stay as calm as possible. 

I’ve never clenched my cheeks so hard in my life. 

I was terrified- as I’ve told Greg from the beginning that my worst fear was having our baby in the car. 

And we were about to have exactly that!!

It was this moment where our doula really came through for the win! 

Talking with me, allowing Greg to focus on the road and get us to the hospital as quickly and safely as he could. 

Meanwhile I’m yelling in the passenger seat with each new contraction swearing at all the red lights that we came to at 4 o’clock in the morning!

Finally, we get to the hospital!!!

Arrival at the hospital

We finally arrived at the hospital after what seemed like an hour!

Greg pulls right up to the front door- because we checked it out a few weeks earlier we didn’t have to spend precious moments looking for where to go in a large metropolitan hospital 

Half bent over Greg gets me into the lobby..

A staff member brings a wheelchair over and whisks me away.

With COVID restrictions- our Doula had to stay in the lobby- this was a huge bummer- we were really looking forward to her support through this process.

Down the hall and up the elevator to the 3rd floor birthing center…

3 minutes and another contraction later we finally arrive at the birthing wing of the hospital. 

The nice lady behind the counter starts checking us in, asking for insurance cards and to fill out paperwork.

I felt another contraction hit me and I started levitating again in my wheelchair and yelled out in pain. 

Within seconds 4 nurses came running out-they rushed me through a set of double doors and into a triage room. 

According to our birth plan, we were supposed to head over to the Natural Birth Center across the hall- but nope!

That didn’t happen! 

There was just no time for it! 

After checking a few vitals and the staff getting a plan together they wheeled me into a hospital birthing room. 

In the labor room

At this point I was having contractions every minute or so. 

Everything in our birth plan about wanting a quiet, dimly lit room with few staff was thrown out the window.

There was no time- this baby was coming and he was coming now!

Before Greg  could say anything, the nurse was hooking up an IV on my hand so they could get fluids into me or any medications if it came to that. 

At this point I was laying on my back, on a hospital bed with my legs and feet lifted up. 

The exact opposite of what I wanted and not what we had planned for. 

The doctors instructed me to “push push push” with each new contraction. I was burning up- my cheeks on fire and my mouth felt like it was filled with dry cotton.

It didn’t help I had to wear a mask due to covid-19 protocols… 

They didn’t have time to administer a COVID test so I was forced to wear a mask doing one of the most difficult things my body has ever endured… not fun at all!!

Greg stood there feeling helpless, but doing his absolute best trying to remind me to stay calm and breath as best I could.

Getting me plenty of water and ice cubes in between contractions, and lifting my mask up off my face so I could get a few deep breaths in.  

The Baby’s stats were dropping so the doctor there gave me two more attempts to push him out before they would do an episiotomy. 

Well, I wasn’t able to push him out, so they did an episiotomy- something that we also didn’t want to have to do. 

Two excruciating pushes later- baby’s head had finally popped out.

With a third and final push the rest of him was out in the world for the very first time. 

Finally- he was out!

It was a beautiful, exhausting moment- one that I’ll never forget. And one that really only a mother can truly understand. 

All that pain, stress, and endurance ended with an awesome finish of holding a new little life in my arms. 

It was truly amazing…

As the doctors stitched up where they did the episiotomy and the two second degree tears, I held our new little boy and just stared at him in amazement. 

“We made this! He’s ours!” I kept saying to Greg. 

After a while they moved us to a recovery room where we stayed for the next 36 hours checking baby’s vitals among other things. 

We had done it! We successfully gave birth naturally, albeit not exactly to plan, but it was accomplished nonetheless. 

At 5:01am our son was born – 25 minutes after we arrived at the hospital!

We barely made it- yikes!

They say your second baby usually comes faster… so for the next one you shall find me camping out in the hospital parking lot 2-3 weeks before the due date or possibly considering a home birth  

Several weeks later, I requested my hospital charts to get a better understanding on what exactly happened during that crazy whirlwind of events. 

It turns out that my placenta had an abruption, Which is why my body was trying to flush out baby so quickly!

Preparing For Your Natural Birth

So I tell you all this for a couple of reasons. 

First, despite all of our preparation and planning- not everything went how we wanted it to…

Your attitude during this process is everything! 

We didn’t give birth in the natural birth center…

I wasn’t able to labor in a quiet, dimly lit- stress free environment…

An episiotomy was done…

I had an abundance of vaginal bleeding after delivery so they gave me Pitocin after birth… (also to help shrink my uterus)

But, there were a lot of things that happened that we did in fact have on our birth plan.

Like..

No medications during labor

Minimal fetal monitoring…

Few vaginal exams…

Delayed cord clamping…

A quiet golden hour after birth…

Just to name a few.

Guys- despite our best efforts, it didn’t go exactly as planned. 

And that’s totally ok! Few things always go to plan. 

Our preparation still paid off in the end.

And it was that preparation that helped Greg and I get through this. 

Another reason I’m sharing my story is that during labor things can change so fast. This is where it really helps to have a solid support team around you. 

Birth was never meant to be done alone. 

Get your partner involved, hire a good doula or midwife, get your family involved if you’d like.

Another thing we struggled with was the fact that due to COVID restrictions, our doula wasn’t able to be in the room with us during labor. 

Or in the recovery room…

It was just Greg, myself and the hospital staff. No doula, family or friends allowed at all during our hospital stay.

Hopefully these restrictions will go away soon so you won’t have the same problem.

The point is, having that additional support- even if it’s only your partner- really goes the extra mile when things feel like they’re spinning out of control. 

Now, for the vast majority of you, your birth experience will be much slower and more relaxed leading up to active labor. 

But for some of you- it’ll be similar to mine. 

This is your first lesson as a new mom- to take what you get, and roll with the punches. 

Things aren’t going to plan? 

That’s ok!

What are my options?

When do I have to make a decision?

What are the risks involved?

These are the questions you should be asking, and the attitude you need to have. 

Above all, lean on your support team. 

Whether that’s your husband, partner, doula, midwife, mom, dad or someone else whom you trust. 

You don’t have to make all of the decisions on your own- that’s exhausting! 

Birth is a wild adventure that can throw you a curveball at any moment. 

But that’s why it’s so rich and full of beauty!

What are some things that you have questions about concerning natural birth? 

What can we help you with?

Leave a comment below!

The post Our COVID-19 Natural Birth Story (And How It Didn’t Go To Plan) appeared first on Raising Them Naturally.

Well, it did eventually come- but so too did a bunch of other things!

Things that I had no idea were going to happen… 

So today’s post is a list of 8 things that no one told me I’d experience during the first trimester of pregnancy. 

Come to find out, these are all very common- meaning you’ll likely experience most of these yourself!

1.  First Trimester Morning Sickness Can Be ALL DAY Sickness

Morning sickness is something that most of us have heard about. So I wasn’t surprised when I started to experience it. 

But what did catch me by surprise is how often it happened…

Don’t let the name fool you!

“Morning” sickness happens more often throughout the day than just mornings.

I had it so bad I didn’t even want to get out of bed, or eat anything… 

But over time I learned how to cope with it and actually got through it pretty well!

I learned a couple of things along the way that I really think you’ll find useful!

I write about it in an earlier post-Surviving The First Trimester- 7 Tips Every New Mama Should Know.

Some are obvious, but there are a couple in there I bet you hadn’t thought of yet  

What causes First Trimester morning sickness?

So there are actually a couple of causes of morning sickness. The most obvious being… You guessed it..

Hormone changes…

Specifically the increased level of the Hcg hormone.

Hcg is produced in the body once an embryo implants itself on the uterus. The purpose of Hcg is that it signals to your body to continue producing progesterone. 

Progesterone is the hormone that turns menstruation on and off. By producing progesterone, the body stops menstruating. 

This stops your period, meaning the uterine wall stops shedding which protects the uterine wall during pregnancy.

Yay- no more periods! Who wouldn’t like that?!

Another thing that can cause morning sickness is the stretching of the uterine muscles. 

As those muscles begin to stretch it puts a strain on that area of the body which causes that sick feeling. 

Remember, just because I felt this really bad doesn’t mean that you will. 

Morning sickness and all aspects of pregnancy will be slightly different for each one of us mamas. 

But generally, we’ll all feel these things… sorry!

BUT!

I’ve been told that the first pregnancy is often the worst in terms of morning sickness.

Meaning that the second time around won’t be as bad- so we’ll see!

2. You Don’t Instantly Glow… Many Mama’s Get Pregnancy Acne

After I found out I was pregnant I was eagerly waiting for that pregnancy glow to hit!

But what hit instead was pregnancy acne…

I felt like I was back in high school… seriously!

Waking up in the morning looking in the mirror and seeing those pimples was disheartening…

I mean, what woman wants acne… it’s embarrassing!

Luckily, I was able to get a handle on it, and it did eventually pass.. Whew!

What Causes Pregnancy Acne?

So you’re going to see a common theme here…

Hormones!!

They seem to be at the root cause of a lot of these things on this list. 

During pregnancy, more progesterone is produced which causes the sebaceous glands within our skin to produce more oil.

Because more oil is being produced, this makes it easier to get clogged pores and have dirt trapped within the skin. 

But don’t worry- it’s not forever!

Oftentimes most mamas will see pregnancy acne go away in the 2nd or 3rd trimester. 

For others, it may not be until after your new addition to the family arrives. This is because your pregnancy hormones are balancing back out and returning to a normal level. 

Keep in mind, however, that eating poorly and living an unhealthy lifestyle will greatly contribute to how bad your pregnancy acne will be!

How To Help With Pregnancy Acne

To help with pregnancy acne there are several things you can do!

• Clean your face often using a soap-free cleanser. The reason for this is because soap will actually dry out your skin! Which will then act as a signal to your body to produce even more oil. Which is not what you want!
• Steer clear of sugar and junk food as best you can, and eat plenty of dark leafy greens. Remember- diet is usually key to everything.
• Drink LOTS of water! You should be drinking half your body weight in fluid ounces per day of pure-clean water. This gives your body what it needs so you can properly detox. 
• Lastly, try and get rest and reduce stress! Your body needs this time to heal and regenerate. This is especially important now that you’re growing a tiny human inside of you!

3. You Will Probably Have A Supersonic Nose

This is one that hit me suddenly and caught me by surprise!

I couldn’t be anywhere near the kitchen when my husband Greg was cooking with meat, eggs, or intense spices. 

One of my favorite foods- hamburgers I couldn’t eat anymore! 

During my pregnancy, I really leaned into a more vegetarian diet. Now that our son is born I’m able to eat more meat and protein-based meals.

But it’s still not like what it used to be.

What causes Mama’s nose to be supersonic?

You guess it!

Changing of hormones… more specifically an increase in hCG. 

An increase in the hCG hormone tightly correlates to a heightened sense of smell. 

How to cope with your new sense of smell

• One of the best things you do is to start looking into different foods to eat. One’s that aren’t as smelly. I found that I was able to be around more vegetarian dishes than ones that had meat in them. 
• Use unscented products. As a general rule, if it’s not a completely natural-based product- if there is a scent to it- a chemical was added to give it that scent. Think laundry detergent, hand soaps, candles, air fresheners- all toxic! 

An example of a great all-natural, unscented product that I love is Burt’s Bees Belly Butter.

• Get outside for some fresh air! This was a huge help for me and I was able to get some exercise as well! I talk more about this in my post about Surviving The First Trimester- 7 Tips Every Mama Should Know

4. Your First Ultrasound Probably Won’t Be Over The Tummy Like You See In Movies

After finding out I was pregnant- I was so excited to see my little guy with the ultrasound machine!

I had assumed that it was the over-the-tummy like what I had seen in movies and heard about from friends and family. 

But that wasn’t the case for my first ultrasound at 6 weeks…

In most cases, mamas will have their first ultrasound vaginally. 

The reason for this is because at that 6-8 week stage of pregnancy, baby is so small that it can’t be easily picked up with an ultrasound over the belly. 

The purpose of this ultrasound is to confirm you’re in fact pregnant by checking for a heartbeat. 

Risks of ultrasounds

Now I don’t want to get too much into this- as this will be another post all by itself. But I do want to quickly mention a couple of things… 

There a potential risks with using ultrasounds… 

I was not aware of this at the time I was pregnant as I was seeing my local OB-GYN office and simply following their recommendations when it came to using ultrasounds. 

For my next baby though, I’ll probably skip this first ultrasound. As it’s not considered necessary by many medical professionals and midwives. 

The point I want to make is that we don’t know if ultrasounds are completely safe. Just because we don’t see or experience many problems as a result of using ultrasounds- doesn’t mean they’re safe. 

Much of the risk assessment done on ultrasound machines date back to the 1990s. Today’s machines emit 10-15 times as much energy! 

Now, are there benefits to having an ultrasound done? Sure! Being able to detect issues earlier is usually a good thing.

I tell you this not to scare you away from getting an ultrasound- but simply to bring awareness to the issue.

As I learn more about pregnancy, giving birth, and now raising our first child- the recurring theme of “less is more” keeps coming up.

Maybe that can be applied here to. Especially when looking at it through the lens of a natural-minded mama!  

5. Waking Up In The Middle Of The Night To Pee Isn’t Uncommon

Before I was pregnant I usually slept through the night like a baby (pun intended)!

But all that changed as I came closer to the second trimester.

I felt like I was running to the bathroom to pee every 20-30 minutes!

At night I was getting up at least twice…

Why the more frequent urges to Pee?

The answer again lies with an increased amount of hCG! Big surprise- I know…

hCG increases the blood flow to the kidneys which allows them to filter more efficiently. This is important because they’re now filtering for you and your baby.

With more filtration comes more urges to urinate!

Another reason is that the uterus is increasing in size which presses up against the bladder. Though this won’t really be a factor until the 2nd and 3rth trimester. 

6. You May Need To Purchase A Larger Bra Sooner Than Later

I’ve always thought I’ve had smaller boobs, so I was pleasantly surprised when I realized that they were starting to slowly get bigger! Whoohoo!

This is normal- they need to get bigger as they prepare to start lactating and producing milk for when baby arrives!

I recommend you purchase bigger bras early in pregnancy.

Have a comfy bra is so important! There are enough uncomfortable changes happening already- don’t let an uncomfortable bra be one of them.

I purchased wireless nursing bra’s and they work really well. 

Since you will need nursing bras anyway (if you are breastfeeding) this is a great option to go with because you’ll still be using them after baby arrives.

7. You May Notice Darker Veins All Over Your Body That You Didn’t Notice Before

Dark veins aren’t something that anyone wants, and it was something that caught me by surprise. 

But after a while, I learned to appreciate them because I knew they were important and benefitting my baby!

Why are the veins darker?

Darker veins are actually a good thing! It means…

• More blood is being carried to the placenta. This is important for growth and development.
• Increased blood volume throughout the body. Your body has to create more blood because you’re growing a little person inside of you!
• More blood needed to carry nutrients to the fetus. Blood through the umbilical cord is how important nutrients are carried to your baby.

Even after delivery, I still have darker veins on my chest. This is common, as there is still increased blood flow while breastfeeding. 

Darker veins is very common- so don’t freak out if you happen to have them during your pregnancy. In fact, about 20% of women even get varicose veins. 

8. You May Also Notice Some Belly Hair Appear

I have a ton of hair on my head…

However, I wasn’t expecting it to come in on my belly during pregnancy!

It isn’t a ton, but it’s noticeable to me. 

Increased hair growth on your belly is totally normal and is a healthy indicator that your hormones are working as they should.

What causes belly hair to grow?

Hormone fluctuation- specifically estrogen while you’re pregnant is known to increase hair growth. 

And not just on your belly either…

It’s also common for the hair on your scalp and fingernails to grow thicker and quicker as well!

I was pleasantly surprised just how well my nails were growing!

See? It’s not all bad- there are plenty of positives when it comes to being pregnant.

So stay positive mama and enjoy this beautiful, natural process- you got this!

It’ll be over before you know it, and you’ll look back on these days with a smile!!

What are some other things you’ve noticed during your first trimester that you didn’t know about or prepare for?

Key Points

• First Trimester Morning Sickness can be ALL DAY sickness

• You don’t instantly glow… many mama’s get pregnancy acne

• You will probably have a supersonic nose

• Your first ultrasound probably won’t be over the tummy like you see in movies

• Waking up in the middle of the night  to pee isn’t uncommon

• You may need to purchase a larger bra sooner than later

• You may notice darker veins all over your body that you didn’t notice before

• You may also notice some belly hair appear

The post 8 Things They Don’t Tell You About The First Trimester of Pregnancy appeared first on Raising Them Naturally.