Is It Safe to Get a Tattoo While Pregnant?

Is It Safe to Get a Tattoo While Pregnant?

Pregnancy is not the best time to get a new tattoo. Many tattoo artists will refuse to give a pregnant woman a tattoo for several reasons. They are concerned for their client's well-being and don't want to risk something going wrong. In general, they are probably right to be worried. While the odds are relatively slim that something will go wrong, pregnancy is not the time to be taking those kinds of chances. It is probably safer for you and your baby to wait until after delivery to have that tattoo. Some women are concerned about the tattoo ink affecting their pregnancy. While there is no hard research suggesting a danger from the ink, there is no research indicating that it is...

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Exercises to Stretch and Strengthen Your Back While Pregnant

Exercises to Stretch and Strengthen Your Back While Pregnant

Today we have a special guest post from Dr. Brent Wells from Better Health Chiropractic. Happy reading!      Even though I, myself, have never been pregnant, I’ve been through two pregnancies with my wife and I’ve also had hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of pregnant patients in my many years practicing as a chiropractor. So, while it’s common knowledge that pregnancy often causes back pain, I’ve certainly gotten an education over the years about exactly how much back pain some women endure. What They Didn’t Tell Me in Med School Chiropractors get some fairly extensive training on pregnancy, but I don’t recall there being much emphasis placed on back pain except for the third trimester. I have since discovered that...

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Bird’s-Eye View of the First Trimester

Bird’s-Eye View of the First Trimester

  Congratulations on your pregnancy! If you’ve not been here before – or maybe even if you have – it’s helpful to know what’s coming. Here’s a look at what you can expect to experience for the next 14 weeks or so to come:   Week 3 and 4. At this point, you’re probably going to discover that you’re pregnant. High-sensitivity pregnancy tests like the ones at BabyHopes.com may be able to give you a positive result in as little as a week or 10 days after conception.   Week 4 through 6. This time period will include the official “first day you missed a period” milestone. If you haven’t taken a pregnancy test yet, chances are you will be...

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Tags: Early Signs
Why Do I Have a Metallic Taste in My Mouth during Pregnancy?

Why Do I Have a Metallic Taste in My Mouth during Pregnancy?

  Pregnancy symptoms can range from the ordinary and mundane like morning sickness to the truly bizarre like pica (craving and/or consuming non-food items during pregnancy). One of the more common but less known symptoms you might experience during your pregnancy is dysgeusia. Dysgeusia is the medical term for a relatively simple condition. It means that your sense of taste has changed. During pregnancy, you might experience a metallic or a sour taste in your mouth, even when you’re not eating anything at all.   What Causes the Metal Taste? The hormones involved in pregnancy, especially estrogen, seem to be connected to your sense of taste. During pregnancy, your estrogen levels can change dramatically, causing your sense of taste to...

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Fatigue in Early Pregnancy

Fatigue in Early Pregnancy

There are several reasons why women typically experience fatigue during the first months of pregnancy. Your body is going through changes very rapidly. Although the baby growing inside of you is still tiny, your body is busy preparing for her to grow and develop. Even though it will be eight or nine months before you have your baby, your body is already in the beginning stages of preparing for labor and delivery. In addition to dealing with the changes in their bodies, many women have difficulty getting adequate sleep at night because of the constant need to use the bathroom. Add in nausea, morning sickness, soreness and other early pregnancy symptoms, and you have a combination that’s bound to leave...

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Relieving Pregnancy Symptoms Naturally

Relieving Pregnancy Symptoms Naturally

You’re pumped up about being a new mother. However, you’re not sure if you’re ready for the headaches, nausea, heartburn, and hemorrhoids that are common symptoms of pregnancy. Fortunately, there are natural and safe solutions that help women feel better and make their journey through pregnancy with the least amount of discomfort. Morning Sickness Experts recommend morning sickness sufferers should take in protein-rich foods such as a warm glass of milk, a serving of yogurt, or a cheese stick. Peppermint or sour candy, ginger ale, and ice water also help soothe your nausea. You’ll want to avoid spicy or greasy fare. Ginger is historically a natural morning sickness remedy. Many OB/GYN recommends nauseated mothers to take a ginger pill every...

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Cervix Position in Early Pregnancy - Reliable Indicator of Pregnancy?

Cervix Position in Early Pregnancy - Reliable Indicator of Pregnancy?

Cervix Position and Menstruation The position of your cervix will change through your monthly cycle and its position and cervical mucus consistency can determine your fertility. During menstruation, your cervix will descend to a low level. You can feel the firmness of your cervix is by inserting your middle finger into your vagina. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before you do this! During menstruation, your cervix should feel firm – like the tip of your nose. It will also be slightly open to allow the menstrual blood out.  Cervix Position and Ovulation During ovulation, your cervix will rise, and its texture will be softer – like to your lips. You might have a more difficult time reaching it around...

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Tags: Early Signs
Can Lower Back Pain be a Pregnancy Sign?

Can Lower Back Pain be a Pregnancy Sign?

 Back Pain as an Early Sign of Pregnancy When trying to get pregnant, you become acutely aware of how your body is feeling. Some women wonder if lower back pain can be a sign that you are pregnant. Considering the lifestyles we have, lower back pain is pretty common whether you are pregnant or not. It also isn't specific to women. Everyone ends up with back pain at some point or another. In very early pregnancy, there are much more reliable early pregnancy symptoms. Symptoms like mild cramping, fatigue, breast tenderness, having to pee ALL THE TIME, and nausea are better indicators that you may have successfully conceived this month. The most significant sign that you are pregnant will...

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Tags: Early Signs
Will My Body Temperature Go Down if I am Pregnant?

Will My Body Temperature Go Down if I am Pregnant?

Basal Body Temperature and Pregnancy Body temperature varies throughout different parts of a woman’s cycle. During the first couple of weeks of it, her temperature should be a bit lower than at other times. For example, it should be somewhere around 97-97.5 degrees. During ovulation, her body temperature should go up between .4 and .6 degrees. When she is pregnant, her body temperature will remain slightly higher than usual in this manner for the rest of the term. A drop in body temperature after ovulation can be indicative of a woman not having conceived. The easiest and most accurate way to monitor these changes is to monitor your resting temperature, also known as your basal body temperature. It should be...

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Tags: Early Signs